After an energizing opening performance by the electrofunk-inspired Javelin, psychedelic indie rock band Yeasayer played an infectious set Friday for the dance-happy audience in the RISD Auditorium for the Brown Concert Agency's Fall Concert.
Students from Brown and the Rhode Island School of Design packed the 520-seat auditorium. Despite the stadium seating, Javelin's opening song brought audience members down into the first five rows, where an enthusiastic dance party spilled out into the aisles.
BCA administrative chair, Alex Spoto '11, said the concert went "really well." The fall concert was previously held in Alumnae Hall, but Spoto said he was pleased with the move to the RISD Auditorium, citing Alumnae's poor acoustics.
"The sound in that room was a million times better than Alumnae, or even Sayles, so I think it was a pretty ideal spot," he said.
The auditorium was transformed by a jungle of white globe lights that flashed different colors throughout the two performances. The lights were supplied by Yeasayer, whose concerts often feature a light show, Spoto said.
Javelin's Tom Van Buskirk '04 and George Langford, dressed in matching green T-shirts, were visibly enjoying themselves, jumping up and down and chatting casually to audience members.
Their hour-long set featured upbeat songs that seemed inspired by everything from the kitschy rhythm of a 1980s aerobics video to the nursery melody "Frere Jacques," which they sampled over a pounding electronic beat.
"Javelin was a little surprise hit," said Manvir Singh '12.
Even though the audience seemed to enjoy Javelin's high-energy performance — even Green Horn Management security officers were bobbing their heads by the last song — many were primarily there to see Yeasayer.
BCA Booking Chair James Hinton '10 said the fall concert traditionally features a lesser-known band like Javelin in addition to a "big-name band."
"We really like to bring up-and-coming bands for people to get excited about," he said.
Hinton said Yeasayer has often ranked highly in BCA polls of which bands students would like to see at Brown.
"In terms of their sound, they have enough in common with those popular, indie Brooklyn bands, but they're distinct. They've done a good job of coming up with some new sounds," Spoto said. "It's catchy, it's fun."
Yeasayer took the stage with barely a pause after Javelin's performance and immediately launched into their first song. Remaining solemn-faced for the majority of their set, the band members seemed serious about playing seriously good music.
Chris Keating, Yeasayer's lead singer and a RISD alum, told the audience he used to sleep through art history lectures in the same auditorium.
"It's really surreal, because no one who goes here now knows any of my friends. I feel like there are ghosts sitting up there in the back," he said. "But you guys are the new friends!"
Audience members joined the band on stage during the popular "2080," a song about the future and the importance of appreciating each moment.
By the end of the set, so many students were dancing on stage that it was impossible to tell band members from the audience as the globe lights flashed wildly in time with the song.
"I loved Yeasayer," Louis Medina '12 said. "I've known them for two years and loved them for two years. I've been waiting to see this band for a long time."
Both Spoto and Hinton said they were happy to share the concert with RISD students, who accounted for nearly 20 percent of the audience.
"I think people are interested in meeting students from down the Hill and vice versa," Hinton said. "We bridged the gap, or at least we started to."
Spoto said he hoped to involve RISD-based bands in future BCA productions. "I think involving the RISD community, both musicians and people who come out to see the shows, gives us more diversity," he said. "It's a really fun experience."
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