Why The Mannequins Prepare for Battle of the Bands by Watching Sports and Rocky

Most bands try to look cool. ⁠The Mannequins⁠ show up in full gym-bro uniforms, laugh their way into a Battle of the Bands final, and still make a serious case for why live music should feel unpredictable, communal, and alive. If you care about new rock bands, West Michigan music, or the weird magic of a great set, this one is for you.

Grant, Luke, and Carter from The Mannequins join the conversation fresh off their win in the previous round and heading into the finals at ⁠The Stray⁠. What starts with playful confusion about sports turns into a sharp, funny look at how a band balances goofiness onstage with songs that still hit with real emotional weight.

You'll discover:

• Why The Mannequins deliberately keep their live shows loose, spontaneous, and different every night

• How watching sports and Rocky became part of their battle prep

• Why songs they wrote as teenagers are still in the set list today

• How their music evolved from basement jams and original ideas instead of the usual cover-band route

• Why they believe West Michigan's scene is a rare, sweet spot for artists and fans alike

Grant opens up about music being core to his identity, while Luke and Carter talk about the band's early days, the original spark that formed The Mannequins, and the decision to keep songs changing over time instead of locking them into a recording. They also break down what makes the Grand Rapids-Holland corridor such a strong place to build a band, from the size of the scene to the community around it.

We also get a tour of the bands they respect most right now, including ⁠Julie's Bones⁠, ⁠Paper Sound⁠, ⁠Smothers⁠, ⁠Secret Satan⁠, and ⁠New Troy⁠, plus a few unexpectedly perfect side quests involving costumes, live energy, and the eternal question of whether very small shorts help or hurt your chances in a battle.

Image Courtesy of Isabel Dowell