By Gail Waterhouse

The line to get into afterHOURS stretched past the venue’s awning and into the rain Saturday night as students waited in anticipation to see the Virgina-based band Mae perform.

The event, which had about 80 people in attendance, was hosted by fraternity Kappa Sigma as part of its fall concert series, said Vice President of Membership and Recruitment Robbie Sambuca.

“Mae has a huge following,” Sambuca said. “We were asking people who they would like to see. We try to bring bands to campus that people want.”

Emily Dugan, a sophomore psychology major, said that although she did not know the band well, her boyfriend had come from New Jersey to hear Mae play.

“I have a few of their songs,” she said before the show. “It’s a good band and I’m excited.”

Mae took the stage at 10 p.m. and began with a long instrumental that transitioned into “Suspension” from their 2005 CD The Everglow. The crowd was enthusiastic, and many people held up their cameras to snag pictures of the band. A screen in the background flashed images that were associated with the song lyrics, an effect that seemed to energize the band’s stage presence.

Mae played a diverse selection of songs, from the slower, more guitar-heavy songs like “Rocket” and “Just Let Go” to rock songs with more pop vocals like “All Deliberate Speed” and their final song of the night, “Someone Else’s Arms.”

The band seemed to relate well to the crowd, and people danced to the music and sang along. Near the end of the night, the lead singer, Dave Elkins, took a few minutes to speak about the band’s new project.

He said starting Jan. 1, 2009, Mae will release a new song every month on their website. The songs will be free to listen to, he said, and about $1 to download.

“All proceeds from these songs will go to charity,” Elkins said to a cheering crowd. “We want to try to make a difference all over the world, together.”

After playing one last song, the band stepped off stage to greet fans and sign autographs. Drummer Jacob Marshall said he enjoyed being able to play smaller venues because he can talk with fans afterward.

“It’s great being able to connect with people, and connect on such a personal level,” Marshall said.

Junior chemical engineering major Patrick McMahon, one of the people who waited in line to chat with the band after the show, said he also enjoyed the intimacy.

“It’s a tight atmosphere,” McMahon said. “I was able to get so close to the stage and feel like I was really a part of [the experience].”

Shanna MacLasco, a freshman music industry major, said the show was “amazing” and “went beyond [her] expectations.”

Opening for the headliner was the Jordan Rudd Band, from the Berklee College of Music.

“We try to offer an opportunity for smaller, less well-known bands to play with bigger venues,” Sambuca said.

Despite some technical difficulties throughout the performance, the crowd seemed to warm up to the Jordan Rudd Band near the end of their set. The band played a mix of original songs and covers, like “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood.

Jesse Flannery, a sophomore nursing major, said he though the band was “pretty good,” but also shared the sentiment of some other audience members who thought that “they were better individually than collectively.”

Sambuca said he was pleased with the way the evening turned out.

“I could have asked for a bigger turnout,” he said, “but the show was unbelievable.”