Meet Some of Our Bands
Written by Jesse Tollestrup
We love our bands and we know you do too. Specifically, we all love the people who are a part of each band and the unique energy and vibe they bring. To show what we mean, we sat down with three of our bands to get a better feel for what makes them tick.
RAGE AGAINST THE VENDING MACHINE
Together since: 2024
Meet the band:
- Luca F. (a.k.a. “Luca One”) - Guitar
- Matt - Guitar
- Luca R. (a.k.a. “Luca Two”) - Piano
- Will - Piano
- Rowan - Drums
Set list for “Don’t Stop the Music Rock Show”:
- “Money City Maniacs” by Sloan
- “Animal I Have Become” by Three Days Grace
Inspired by: Metallica, Three Days Grace, and ACDC
How they chose their band name: You guessed it - “Rage Against the Machine” - which Rowan was introduced to through a movement break video at his school.
Advice for new Backbeat bands: Listen to your teacher!
Advice on how to handle stage nerves (when we asked this question, the band exploded in a simultaneous cacophony):
“I do not!” - Luca One
“I just take a deep breath and vomit everywhere and tell myself I can do it.” - Rowan
“I don’t do anything, I just scream when I’m done the second I get outside.” - Luca Two
“I feel like noodles after every performance…but I’m used to it” - Will
If they could play any gig in the universe: …it would definitely be somewhere in the Bahamas.
An important message the band wants to let the people know: “WE ARE RAGE AGAINST THE VENDING MACHINES AND WE RAGE AGAINST THE VENDING MACHINES!”
"I feel like noodles after every performance...but I'm used to it."
- WILL
LITZOMANIAA
Together since: 2025
Meet the Band:
- Mireille - Bass and Vocals
- Chase - Drums
- Rose - Guitar
Set list for “Don’t Stop the Music Rock Show”:
- “Garbage” by Mireille
- “Mercenary” by Panic at the Disco
- “Beauty School” by Deftones
“We’re playing a song I wrote called Garbage. It was about some friends that I had that were not very nice people, and then they ditched me and my other friends, and then I kept watching them and I was like, you just keep doing this over and over to people” - Mireille
Inspired by: 90s bands like Deftones, grunge, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, emo fashion trends from the early 2000’s
How they chose their name: The word “Lisztomania” - which is indeed in reference to the famous composer and pianist Franz Liszt - was discovered by drummer Chase. “Not gonna lie, I saw the word on a Pinterest post with a definition and I thought it sounded really cool.” It refers to the phenomenon of frenzied Liszt fans who would swarm shows dressed in Liszt cosplay, vying for ephemera such as locks of hair or piano strings broken during performances. It was essentially the Beatlemania of the Romantic period! After a few stylistic changes to the spelling, “Litzomaniaa” was born.
Advice for new Backbeat bands: “Please practice your songs, PLEASE” begs Rose. However, even the most prepared musicians can (and probably will!) make mistakes. “Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, it happens,” says Chase. Mirielle’s advice is simply “Have fun”. So - practice, make mistakes fearlessly, and have fun. That’s pretty sound advice!
Advice on how to handle stage nerves: Chase says “I just gaslight myself into thinking nothing bad is gonna happen, I’m gonna do great.” “I wear sunglasses,” says Mireille. As for Rose? “I can’t say… I’ve been on stage like my entire life, so I don’t get nerves.” If only we could all be so lucky!
If they could play any gig in the universe: …it would definitely be as the opening act for Deftones.
FOLLOW LITZOMANIAA ON INSTAGRAM: @litzomaniaa
RUFFLED
Together since: 2024
Meet the band:
- Jacob - cowbell (and presumably rest of the drum kit)
- Dax - bass
- Rio - guitar
- Francis - keys
- Lainey - vocals
Set list for “Don’t Stop the Music Rock Show”:
- “Good Times Bad Times” by Zeppelin
- “Lover You Should’ve Come Over” by Jeff Buckley
- “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac
Inspired by: Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Better Lovers, and Kool and the Gang
How they chose their band name: At first it was a struggle. Then Rio brought a bag of Ruffle potato chips to a rehearsal. “We made a rule where you had to come up with a band name [before you could] eat a chip,” says Jacob. “Then I got the bag,” says Francis, “and I was like ‘Ruffled!’ Wouldn’t that be funny?’” And thus the band was named.
“When we hang out, it’s such an amazing experience.”
- DAX
Advice for new Backbeat bands: Practice! “The only way that you can get better as a band and do well at shows and be confident in yourself is to practice,” says Francis. According to Rio, practicing also helps with stage nerves: “Practice a lot so it’s all muscle memory before you go on stage.”
Advice on how to handle stage nerves: Jacob advocates for ignoring nerves: “Just pretend you don’t have stage nerves - gaslight yourself!” Francis, on the other hand, recommends communicating with your band: “Confide in your bandmates because you’re probably not the only one with stage fright and so if you all come together and say you have stage fright you’ll do better on stage.” Another thing that helps? The chemistry between band members. "When we hang out, it's such an amazing experience" says Dax.
If they could play any gig in the universe: …it would be in close proximity to Rio’s house. Like, literally inside Rio’s house. Or, barring that, then at the senior’s center near Rio’s house. But if it were somewhere else rather than Rio’s house? “On top of the Empire State building, like we’re the Beatles,” says Jacob. “When the ball drops on New Year’s Eve, we’re in the ball,” says Francis.
FOLLOW RUFFLED ON INSTAGRAM: @ruffled_official
Come watch all our band do their thing, this Sunday at our "Don't Stop The Music Rock Show." The bands have one goal: to not. stop. the. music.
Don't Stop The Music Rock Show
Sunday, March 1, 2026
11am-7pm
At Backbeat (10011 82 Ave.)
Free admission. All ages welcome.