The Boston College Music Guild’s Battle of the Bands had especially high stakes this year for contestants, as the first-place prize was to open for The Chainsmokers’ sold-out 2026 Modstock concert.
Friday, in the Vandy Cab Room, three BC student bands—German Exit, Perchance the Band, and Letters in June—duked it out to win this year’s Battle of the Bands.
Taking the stage first was German Exit, a group composed of a lead vocalist and guitarist, another guitarist, a bass player, and a drummer. Filling the silence before their first chords, a recording instructed listeners to buckle their seatbelts and issued a few other warnings.
After the recording, German Exit hit the audience with its signature wall of sound.
There are no whispers or lighthearted melodies when German Exit runs the show. The reverbed voice of the frontman soared with the guitars, supported by insistent bass and earsplitting drumming.
The band flew through its originals, such as “Harm Sound,” all encapsulating a similar moody passion. But German Exit music isn’t just defined by angry yelling. Exquisite guitar riffs, heavy power chords, and thoughtful dynamics also marked the band’s performance.
German Exit kept its audience engaged with quieter interludes between the usual volume and chaos. As the bandmates played, they invited all listeners to dance and shake through an edgy, catchy set
Fleetwood Mac’s “Little Lies” played during the quick set transition to Perchance the Band, preparing the audience for a more easygoing vibe.
Perchance is made up of a full five members: two vocalists, two guitarists, a bassist, and a drummer. The band was featured on The Heights’ first-ever Live From The Newsroom this past February.
With the first few chords of their first song, all bandmates were grinning ear-to-ear. This could’ve been for a few reasons: their excellent coordination playing as a group, My Mother’s Fleabag members cheering them on in the audience, or the pure grooviness of their indie rock originals. All were likely.
In “Throw It Away,” drummer Reine Lantin, CSON ’28, shattered the air with the most memorable drum solo of the night. Faster than the flashing lights illuminating the stage, Lantin’s drumsticks worked as extensions of his arms, smacking every part of the drum kit.
Perchance played many originals, like “Sea Foam” and “Two Capos,” that highlighted each instrumentalist through crowd-pleasing solos. With two lead vocalists, harmonization was possible, and the pair’s voices blended, making each song a little more whole.
Throughout their set, Charlie Stautberg, MCAS ’28, constantly bantered with the audience. And at the very end of their performance, he had a final interaction with the crowd, asking what genre Perchance should play next to help them decide their last song. The Vandy Cab Room was filled with the loudest cheers for a rock ’n’ roll cover, so Perchance broke out into a spirited performance of “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet.
Finally, Letters in June joined the fray with their energetic alternative rock.
A fan favorite, the band’s playing filled the Vandy Cab Room with excitement and boisterous moshing. Audience members clapped along, held signs, and did everything they could to cheer on the group.
They played originals, like “Ride It Out,” characterized by yearning melodic undertones and unstoppable bursts of energy. The build-ups were palpable, and the band members showed off exceptional talent in each of their areas of expertise.
The best moments of their set were when vocalist Olaf Konrad and guitarist Liam Doney, MCAS ’26, dominated the room with guttural shouts and piercing guitar riffs, respectively. Together, ever-supported by the pulsing beat of the drum, they maintained the crazed spirit that had taken over the room.
In particular, Letters in June excelled in the category of group chemistry. Exchanging looks, mouthing lyrics, and other interactions between the bandmates were constant throughout their performance.
As their final song, Letters in June pulled “Red Gloves” out of the archives, a track from their 2025 album, Sentiments. The thunderous applause for Letters in June sounded quiet in comparison to the overwhelming wave of deafening noise that had just ended.
After a quick deliberation, it was announced that powerhouse contestants Letters in June were the champions of the 2026 Battle of the Bands and would be opening Modstock.
