Owen Gerth and John Schaefer from Schizmatics perform at CHP Showdown 2022.

Several student bands will compete to open for DWLLRS at Centralhallapalloza during the Student Activities Board’s CHP Showdown on Friday, April 14 from 8 p.m. to midnight.

“The point of the event is definitely to showcase student bands, and give the students the chance to vote on who they want to see at CHP,” sophomore and SAB member Josiah Jagoda said. “The students will vote on their favorite bands, and the top three bands will all play at CHP.” 

According to Jagoda, the theme of the night is Apres Ski, with a strongly encouraged whiteout dress code. SAB will provide tokens for students to vote on their favorite band of the night. 

“CHP showdown is one of the most hype events of the year,” Jagoda said. “The bands know that a big prize is on the line, so the competition is at its peak and the bands go all out. You simply cannot miss Showdown.”

Eight bands will be competing at CHP Showdown, including campus favorites and new groups, Jagoda said. 

“The band line-up for the night is looking extraordinary,” he said. “All the most popular bands are playing as well as some awesome newcomers.” 

Last year, a group of now sophomore boys formed Schizmatics to compete at CHP Showdown, according to sophomore and band member Gavin Listro. They had the opportunity to open for Arlie at 2022’s CHP.

“It was kind of crazy that we won because we didn’t have an expectation of winning,” Listro said. “We were hoping just to get third place. When we woke up, we’re like, ‘Oh, wow, we won.’ Opening for a band that has a career was kind of surreal.”

This year, Schizmatics is back at the competition with a “hype” setlist, according to Listro. 

“The main goal when we were picking the songs was to make sure that we kept the energy up throughout the setlist,” Listro said. “We’re trying to keep incorporating the funk elements that we had before and keep an upbeat tempo.”

Listro said students should come support other campus bands at a fun event.

“I think live music is kind of the lifeblood of campus in a way. I think every event is better with live music,” Listro said. “If you want to see a band play their best come to CHP showdown because everything’s on the line. They’re going to prepare the most they can, and they’re going to be the best they are that night because that’s when it’s all on the line. So if you haven’t seen these bands play before, I think this would be the event to come to to get to see what it’s all about.”