By 1 a.m. Thursday Feb 19, most of the original crowd at Brick Street Bar had filtered out, leaving a few empty spots at the bar and the dance floor all but empty. This is the time slot allotted for the last band of the night.
Sibling Rivalry was to be the fourth and final band in the first preliminary round of Delta Sigma Pi's Battle of the Bands, and the trio was stepping onto the stage after many people had already called it a night.
Singer and guitarist Mike Becker plugged in his Les Paul Custom and opened up the show with Eve 6's "Inside Out," quickly catching the attention of the remainder of the crowd.
The show continued in similar fashion with the band playing catchy '90s tunes, such as a few early Third Eye Blind songs and Oasis' "Champagne Supernova." The crowd continued to grow slowly throughout the show, and the band responded by playing songs to which everyone could sing along. After completing their initial set, they closed with "Semi Charmed Life" as an encore.
Sibling Rivalry received official word Thursday afternoon they were one of the two bands chosen from the first preliminary round to compete in the finals on Wednesday, March 4. The other finalist chosen was Dave Stump.
The band, which is comprised of senior Mike Becker, drummer and younger brother Chris Becker and bassist Rob Hart, has performed at several small campus parties throughout the last year. The band, however, continues to perform only covers. When asked why they had never written or performed anything original, Mike Becker thought for a moment.
"I would," he said, "but who would want to hear it?"
When asked the same question, Chris Becker replied in much the same way.
"We're not creative," he joked initially, "but really, we're a party and bar band. Who wants to hear our own stuff?"
Both Mike Becker and Hart are seniors, so the future of Sibling Rivalry is unsure past the end of the spring 2009 semester. This in mind, the guys continue to play for fun at fraternity parties and the occasional bar. For now, their dynamic seems to be working.
