By Daniel Deza
Rock band Circa Survive drew hordes of hipsters to afterHOURS last night.
The event, which opened with The Speed of Leading of Boston and Philadelphia-based Circa Survive, was organized by the Northeastern chapter of the Music and Entertainment Industry Student Association (MEISA). Doors opened at 8 p.m., but students began lining up outside the club at 6:30 p.m.
Speed of Leading kicked off its fifth show ever by bringing the band’s pop rock sound to afterHOURS.
“Waiting to perform is like being in line for a rollercoaster,” said Mark Hevert, sophomore English and philosophy major and guitarist for The Speed of Leading. “Personally I have been following Anthony Green’s [of Circa Survive] work and he is in my top three of all time.”
While equipment was being set up, Circa Survive tuned its guitars and munched on snacks while watching an episode of “Family Guy.” Anthony Green, lead singer of the band, said he was not concerned about afterHOURS’ small size.
“We prefer to do things in a smaller venue so that you can really interact with your audience and create a more intimate atmosphere,” Green said.
Resident Student Association (RSA), the Council for University Programs, afterHOURS and MEISA co-sponsored the show. Sophomore music industry major Jason Black, the MEISA live coordinator and the afterHOURS liaison, organized the event.
Black said he e-mailed the band’s record label, Equal Visions Records, and worked with assistant director of student activities and afterHOURS manager Tasha Henderson, as well as RSA’s Catherine Armato to make the MEISA live event possible.
“I got the overwhelming feeling that everyone wanted to help and everyone was really psyched and gave off great vibes,” Black said before the show. “The response was more than I can ask for within MEISA and outside of the MEISA community.”
Students waiting outside afterHOURS said they were excited about the show’s free admission.
“I am a huge Circa Survive fan. I have never seen them live but when I heard it was free I had to come,” said sophomore communication studies major Allison Garlick. “[I’m] not too thrilled about the line but I know it will be worth it.”
Once the doors opened, a crowd of students waiting for Circa Survive formed around the stage. Green’s movements excited the crowd as he performed some of Circa Survive’s newest songs from their 2007 album “On Letting Go.”
Crowd favorites were the intense “In Fear and Faith” and ” Act Appalled,” which brought students to their feet, creating a chain reaction of crowd surfing.
“It was the best show I have ever been to. I had to fight my way to the front but it was worth it,” said freshman engineering major Frankie Piccirillo. “Anthony Green knows what he is doing.”
