3Oh!3 delighted crowds at the Sokol Auditorium on Friday, putting on a Fallapalooza concert that will be difficult to top next year.
Glow sticks, a packed crowd and a surprise balloon drop were all pieces in a puzzle of successful evening that began with uncertainty over severe weather and rain.
Two opening acts served as a precursor to when the headline artists took the stage.
Creighton students played electronic pop mixes before the opening act, Omaha-based Purveyors of the Conscious Sound, took the stage. Purveyors of the Conscious Sound (PCS) put on a performance that, while engaging to the middle and front of the crowd, left those on the edges antsy and uninvolved in the music and performance. The highlight of their multiple-performer show being when they donned Creighton jersey.
The Denver duo Nathaniel Motte and Sean Foreman were welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd around 9:10 p.m. Backed by three band members, the sound quality was great. The two main performers performed a mix of their more famous songs (from my high-school days) and their newer material that, while generally unknown and without radio play, seemed to draw the crowd in.
The group performed their more popular songs, such as “Starstrukk,” “My First Kiss,” “Touchin’ on My,” and “Don’t Trust Me,” which served as their encore….even though it omitted some lyrics pertaining to Helen Keller.
They also pulled out some of their newer material, including “Two Girlfriends” and “Young Blood.” The best moment of the night was during “Young Blood,” a song they had dedicated to the state of Colorado, which caused numerous audience members to go wild. The lights dimmed, and CSU program board members released hundreds of balloons on from either side of the audience, causing a magical effect that seemed to only entrance the crowd even more.
Audience participation made the show memorable for all students packed in Sokol Underground. After one tersely uncomfortable moment when the group verbally confronted an audience member who made a crude hand gesture, the rest of the interaction with the audience was bizarre yet positive.
3OH!3 band members were talking to those in the front row. At one point, the two front men brought a tray of roast beef on stage and explained that it was leftover from rehearsal. They pretended to throw it into the audience, which was weird and slightly uncomfortable, yet endearing at the same time. The band also seemed to really enjoy the glow sticks. In yet another strange moment, one band member, Nathaniel encouraged the audience to throw their multicolored glow sticks at another, Sean.
Overall, the performance was high quality as the band didn’t rely on gimmicks or props, but rather they used their enthusiasm and strong vocals to put on a show that pleased Creighton students and guests alike.
In between the antics and the singing, it looked like the band was enjoying themselves. The performers announced that “this was the best crowd we have had in a long time.” I would respond by saying that it was the best Fallapalooza artist we have had on campus in my four years at Creighton.
Despite a relatively unengaging/unknown opener that left me scratching my head, 3OH!3 put on a wonderful show in a small space that left everyone with a smile on their faces.