Plain White T’s engage the campus
An anonymous quote states that music is what feelings sound like. If that is the case, music is proud and amazing! It encompasses the culmination of campus-wide efforts focusing on bringing entertainment to USI in a unique sense.
On Tuesday, April 21, Plain White T’s sang their hearts out to a crowd of 1,000-plus. Following performances by Single File and Danger Radio, they engaged the crowd with hit songs like “Hey There Delilah” and “1234.” The Physical Activities Center was home to this magical night. It was a proud moment for me as the advisor of the Activities Programming Board and the concert was amazing, to say the least!
This event is the largest that the Activities Programming Board has planned in my less than two years at USI. We jumped in head first and took a risk with nothing but excitement and high expectations. A group of 25 APB members worked tirelessly throughout the planning process, and on the big day they really shined. APB members began their shifts at 8 a.m. on Tuesday and didn’t go home until 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning. We were determined to provide nothing but the best for our students!
The concert began at 8 p.m. with an introduction from Atom and Shawnda of Hot 96 kicking off the show. The crowd gathered against the barricades to see what the buzz was all about. The first band, Single File, took the stage nervously. Their management mentioned that USI was a large venue for the group. Fortunately, nerves did not get in the way. They engaged the audience and groups of all ages clapped, jumped around, and managed to sing along to songs that seemed so new.
Danger Radio soon followed and numerous USI students were shocked at the quality of their performance. Several have asked about their return to our campus. It’s a great feeling when positive feedback is the result of going outside of the box with entertainment.
Our icing on the cake was the Plain White T’s. They entertained us with their “Three Part Harmony” show, singing different variations of popular songs. The lead singer, Tom Higgenson, jumped from the stage, interacting with students as they sang in the microphone together. The screams and cheers were almost deafening as several of the event staff stood in PAC 200 watching the show.
The night came to a close with one final song from Plain White T’s. Weeks of hard work ended on a chord from lead guitarist, Tim Lopez. That moment was bittersweet. We ended the show successfully, but the show came to an end. The night seemed to fly by, but what matters most is that the audience was pleased.
I know that this event is the result of collaborative campus efforts; from the USI Bookstore volunteering to sell tickets to Administrative Staff taking time to review contracts. Without the support of campus officials and genuine student interest it would have never been the success that it was. So, from the bottom of the Activities Programming Board’s heart, we thank you, USI!
We hope to see you at more events soon, but what matters most is that the beat goes on.
POST CONTRIBUTED BY: KATHY S. JONES, program advisor for Student Activities