Can’t Stop the Music

The life of a student band doesn’t end with Commencement. On the eve of this year’s Battle of the Bands, here are some of the memorable performers to come out of Kenyon.

By Ryan E. Smith
Date

Kenyon bands know how to make a name for themselves — and, sometimes, their professors.

Just ask Walk the Moon, whose breakout single was inspired by memories of Kenyon and the melodic name of Anna Sun, a former associate professor of sociology and Asian studies.

They are among the many talented performers who have walked Middle Path over the years and gone on to rock the world. This year’s crop of contenders will take the stage Saturday, Feb. 21, as part of Battle of the Bands at the Horn Gallery.

Bands will start playing at 8:30 p.m., competing for one of three spots to open at Summer Sendoff in April. To help get ready, here’s a look back at some of the memorable musicians who made a name for themselves — on campus and in the world.

The members of Walk the Moon in 2009 were, from left, Adam Reifsnyder ’08, Adrian Galvin ’12, Nick Petricca ’09 and Nick Lerangis ’09.

Walk the Moon

Before this band became a household name, founding frontman Nick Petricca ’09 (third from left) was playing Summer Sendoff with original bandmates (from left) Adam Reifsnyder ’08, Adrian Galvin ’12 and Nick Lerangis ’09. Their song named after former faculty member Anna Sun became a sleeper hit on alternative radio in 2011, and a new lineup still featuring Petricca hit it big in 2015 with its single “Shut Up and Dance,” which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Galvin went on to perform solo under the moniker Yoke Lore. He has played at the SXSW festival, and his song “Beige” received an RIAA Gold Certification.
Read more about Walk the Moon in the Kenyon Alumni Magazine
Pinegrove performing in 2016.

Pinegrove

Named after an area at the Brown Family Environmental Center, this indie band, pictured performing in 2016, was started by Evan Stephens Hall ’11 and longtime friend Zack Levine, and has included Nandi Rose Levine ’11. It released its first full-length album, “Cardinal,” in 2016 and was featured on “CBS This Morning,” reviewed in Spin magazine, and performed a “Tiny Desk Concert” on NPR.
Watch Pinegrove perfrom on CBS This Morning Read Spin magazine’s review Watch Pinegrove’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert on Youtube

Half Waif

Singer-songwriter Nandi Rose Levine ’11, who has performed with the band Pinegrove, started another band in 2012 called Half Waif that was featured in The Washington Post last year after releasing her sixth full-length album, “See You at the Maypole.” (Photo by Ali Cherkis)
Read Half Waif’s feature in the Washington Post
Remember Sports (Photo courtesy of Emily Reo)

Remember Sports

The indie rock band, originally called Sports, formed in 2012 and includes vocalist Carmen Perry ’15, guitarist Jack Washburn ’16 and bassist Catherine Dwyer ’14. Its latest album, “Refrigerator,” was released just last week on Feb. 13, and the band is in the middle of a tour that will take it everywhere from Los Angeles to London. (Photo courtesy of Emily Reo)
Justin Roberts ’92 has returned to campus to perform, including during Reunion Weekend in 2015.

Justin Roberts ’92

Roberts, shown during Reunion Weekend in 2015, has made a name for himself by creating album after album of indie kids’ music — he has five Grammy nominations in the children’s category, most recently for his 2022 album “Space Cadet.” Sometimes compared to They Might Be Giants, he performs with The Not Ready For Naptime Players, which includes Liam Davis ’90. At Kenyon, he formed a band called Pimentos For Gus that played alternative folk music.
Read about Justin Roberts in the Kenyon Alumni Magazine

Noah Weinman ’16

Weinman, pictured as a student in 2012, is a former music director of the Kokosingers who now performs indie rock under the stage name of Runnner. His most recent studio album, “A Welcome Kind of Weakness,” came out in 2025, the same year he served as producer on Gigi Perez’s 2025 viral hit “Sailer Song.”