Senior bands are always a treat. Putting aside the obvious factor of age, there are a couple other reasons why seniors tend to lead the greatest bands at Skidmore at any given time:
1. The in-band chemistry. Some of these guys have been playing together for four years. They've really gotten to know each other as people, but more importantly here, they understand each others' musical personalities. Members of an unexperienced band often do not understand their own roles, and tacit genre/sonic limitations have not yet established themselves. One great example of this is Skidmore's own Otter, four guys who have been jamming for years and have a chemistry no one witnessing them play can deny.
2. Experience in the scene. A new band doesn't know what people like. And sure, of course a young band should form its own identity, but the key to putting on a good show is understanding what your audience wants. Why else would covers of certain songs ("Killing in the Name" and the obligatory Weezer cover, for instance) be passed down from year to year, always appearing in the next generation's setlist? The answer is simple: someone saw another Skid band play that song and the crowd went nuts. It's pretty logical, really. Moreover, fanbases build, slowly but surely, through word of mouth, new friends, etc. Fans come to the shows knowing all of the lyrics (the important ones at least) and go wild. Bands like Otter and Mugsy Boges have consistently fun shows not only because they are good in their own right but because that one group of goons is always there having a good time and having a good time is infectious.
Even the term "senior band" itself is slippery, though. What about bands like Pooch, who, though a senior band, haven't been around as long as many of their peers? What of mixed-class (no, not an economic thing you asshole) bands like Yo Soy Milk or Queen Ambrosia? Either way, it's probably safe to say that any senior has put their time in, whether that time was in recording projects, at open mics, or at Falstaff's/in basements.
Does this mean we should give senior bands priority over all other bands? Absolutely not. Los Elk isn't a senior band (though they are getting up there) but they are an undeniably hard-working band with lots of gigging experience and consistently solid releases, not to mention they've been together for as long as many senior bands have or even longer. Young bands deserve the chance to shine, too. Otherwise, how will they become great senior bands? Also, something new is always nice. If we let the same three or four senior bands do everything, it will get pretty monotonous pretty fast.
Seniority, however, should still remain an important factor for any selection of bands playing any event. Just remember, before too long they'll be gone, while a younger band can always play later.
