It’s beginning to sound a lot like Veishea. Wednesday night, outdoor main stages began to take shape around campus, and in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union, William Hung regaled the audience of Cyclone Idol with his unique interpretation of “She Bangs.”

Meanwhile, a different type of music could be heard drifting upstairs from the Maintenance Shop: The adrenaline-pumping sound of musical warfare from Veishea’s Battle of the Bands Wildcard Playoffs.

“There were probably over a hundred [people] in there, I would say at one point,” said M-Shop co-director Tim Hackbarth, junior in marketing, about the crowd for Wednesday night’s playoffs. “That’s pretty good for a Battle of the Bands. We don’t get that for some national acts.”

Wednesday was the second of three consecutive nights of playoffs at the M-Shop. Eventually, 10 local bands will have their shots to rock the crowd and earn an opportunity to join eight other local acts in the Battle of the Bands final Friday night on Central Campus.

Seven of the 10 groups will be chosen to play Friday. Wednesday, four bands pled their case for advancement with shredding guitars, leveling bass and flamboyant stagemanship.

Leadoff group The Lone Strangers, similar to their namesake band from the movie “Airheads,” played a show which was primarily noted for something not associated with music. Lead vocalist Mat Heerema said his group hopes its Veishea experience this year will be better remembered – if less exciting – than previous experiences playing on Welch Avenue.

“Last time we played on Veishea main stage [was] right before the riots broke out,” Heerema said. “I guess it was one of the best turnouts for a main-stage event, but nobody remembers that part because all anyone remembers is the riot.”

The Lone Strangers and the night’s other groups played to a crowded M-Shop audience. Hackbarth, who is also judging the competition, said the turnout picked up from the first night and is representative of the Veishea spirit.

“It’s the last chance to have fun before Dead Week and finals and all the dreary stuff,” Hackbarth said. “I think that is part of the reason people are coming out.”

Wednesday night’s show also featured local groups The F-Words, metal trio Vow of Silence and thrash metal quartet Tarkaitos Diablos.

Diablos made their M-Shop debut at the playoffs. Lead vocalist Nahiyan Ali, sophomore in electrical engineering, said his band is excited about the possibility of playing in a big outdoor show and competing with other local bands – that is, if they can ever come to a consensus on a new band name.

“The only thing we can agree on is the music,” Ali said. “The band name we keep arguing about.”

After his band’s previous Veishea experience, Heerema said it is hoping for a less destructive audience at this year’s events.

He offered a few words of wisdom for festival participants.

“Veishea is a good time,” Heerema said. “You don’t need to drink too much and throw bricks. It will be fun anyway.”