A year ago, Lancelot didn’t make it into the battle of the bands. This year, they say they’ve avenged themselves, as they won the fifth annual homecoming battle of the bands Thursday evening.

“Last year we couldn’t get in, so we felt like we had something to prove,” said Chad Lewis, junior in graphic design and the band’s bassist.

Mike Taylor, co-director of the Maintenance Shop and judge for the event, said Lancelot had the most crowd participation.

“There was definitely a lot more noise coming from the crowd while they played,” he said. “We look for more than just music — we have to look at how the crowd responds and how they are on stage.”

Upon Lancelot taking the stage, a majority of the crowd migrated toward the front of the stage, which had been left bare during the rest of the concert. The four-piece band goofed around between songs while encouraging the crowd to dance. They played two originals and opened with a cover of “Lucky,” by Britney Spears, complete with an a capella intro.

“If we do covers, we try to make it our own,” said Alex Erwin, junior in pre-business and guitarist.

Each member shares a role in singing, including drummer Tom Hopkins. The group plays around the Ames bar scene and is trying to branch out to other Iowa cities.

The quartet has been together for about a year, and they’re planning their next show to be a CD release at Paddy’s Irish Pub, 124 Welch Ave.

Aside from winning a large trophy, the band got the grand prize of a show at the M-Shop next semester.

Lancelot is:

Alex Erwin, guitar and vox and junior in pre-business

Tom Hopkins, drums, sophomore in business management and music

Zack Amick, guitar, freshman in pre-business

Chad Lewis, bass, junior in graphic design