To some, the nineties may have been a time where those Dawson’s Creek kids wore awful turtlenecks and complained way too much. Others may have felt nostalgic for the era’s many trends. Homecoming seemed to be the opportune moment for us to teleport back to the nineties, with this year’s theme of “CU Through the Decades.”
Program Council held a “90’s Throwback Concert featuring Eve 6 with Nine Days” at the UMC’s Glenn Miller Ballroom Oct. 23.
Eve 6 frontman, Max Collins, alongside guitarist and back-up vocalist, Jon Siebels, Sunday at the CU Homecoming Concert. Eve 6 headlined the "90's throwback" themed concert put on by Program Council. (CU Independent/Nate Bruzdzinski)
The concert featured three alternative rock bands. Eve 6 headlined the event with PLACES and Nine Days opening.
The concert audience was a combination of solid fans and those who were curious to see what kind of show these bands would put on. Could a band from the nineties really rock just as hard as they had, almost twenty years earlier? Considering that most of the student population was in diapers during the band’s biggest hits, it seemed reasonable that some viewers may have been skeptical.
Blaine Wajdowicz, a 19-year-old sophomore integrative physiology major, was not quite sure what to expect from the night, as he waited in the long line for the doors to open.
“I came pretty much for the free show,” Wajdowicz said. “I am pretty stoked for the show though.”
His indifference to the bands’ music seemed to be the opinion of many concert attendees. However, many others came to see a favorite musical talent play.
Kelly Mellott, a 19-year-old sophomore sociology major claimed to be a fan of the music, expressing her love for alternative rock and the nineties.
“I love nineties music, it’s my favorite,” Mellott said. “Third Eye Blind is my favorite band, but my ultimate favorite Eve 6 song is ‘Tongue Tied.'”
Once the show began, the hall began to fill up and skepticism seemed to wash away, leaving the audience to enjoy a rock show. While most members of Nine Days and Eve 6 had obviously aged in appearance and were now sporting wedding bands, the level of rock remained the same.
The opener PLACES, stationed in Denver, held their own playing music with these ‘relics,’ as the lead singer of Nine Days, John Hampson, called himself. They had a similar sound to the other bands, and while the crowd did not know many of the lyrics, most seemed to be engaged in the music.
Nine Days came on stage after, obviously looking older than when they first began the band in the mid 1990’s. These musicians poked fun at their age, referencing that most of us were watching Disney Channel while they were debuting a mainstream album. The highlight of their set was the song “Absolutely, (Story of a Girl),” which seemed to be an anthem, with the entire crowd reciting its lyrics over and over again.
The crowd waited with anticipation for Eve 6 to come on stage. A very enthusiastic fan Grant Chandler, a 23-year-old film major, shared his love for the upcoming band.
“I know almost every lyric to their songs,” Chandler said. “They are probably my favorite band from the 90’s.”
Eve 6 did not disappoint. The three-man band was able to get the entire audience to jump up and down in unison for almost an entire song. The level of energy in the Glenn Miller Ballroom was exhilarating. The band played their signature song “Here’s to the Night” at which point many people got out their lighter and swayed their arms back and forth.
After the show, Wajdowicz was dancing and smiling toward the back of the crowd. “(Eve 6) is good,” he said.
The concert gave the audience a true rock show, with great sound and lighting effects. If you believe that the loud ringing in your ears that persists the day after a show is a fair measurement of a good time.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Victoria Vargas at Victoria.Vargas@colorado.edu.
