The Daily Campus

Issue date: 9/22/08 Section: Focus

Media Credit: Ashley Pospisil Chad Stokes, the lead vocalist and guitarist for State Radio, performed along with his band, consisting of bassist Chuck Fay and drummer Mike Najarian, Saturday in front of the Student Union.

Music and sun set the stage for a laid-back Saturday afternoon outside the Student Union, with a free outdoor concert sponsored by SUBOG.

Three different local bands opened for State Radio on the quad outside the Union Café.

The concert began at 2 p.m. and included a variety of genres of music for concert-goers to enjoy.

Last year, SUBOG sponsored a small outdoor concert with a number of ska bands. This year, the idea was broadened.

"I took the idea [from last year] and blew it up and put together a show with a paid headliner, local and UConn bands," said SUBOG concert chair Amanda Campbell. "It's the perfect fall event."

As the concert began, patches of students sat scattered across the center lawn facing the stage. Each of the opening bands played sets that lasted about 30 minutes.

UConn band The Athens Stance opened the show. The band's MySpace page says they're a combination of rock, pop and emo.

The next band up was Fate Kills the Hero, whose lead singer and guitarist went into the crowd to interact during part of their set. The band fused rock and pop and played some original songs plus a cover of *NSYNC's "Bye, Bye, Bye."

Johnny 9 and the Racers a ska band from Connecticut went on, but not without some difficulties. One of the guitars was not working but after about 15 minutes the show went on. The lead singer encouraged audience members to stand up and dance at least for the first song.

The last opening band to play was Look West, a band from Hartford. With a powerful lead guitar and some screamo vocals, the band's set included a cover of the Spice Girls' "Wannabe."

There was a notable difference in the amount of concert goers from the start of the outdoor concert to right before State Radio took the stage. Right before the headliner went on more audience members stood up and began to fill the area in front of the stage.

State Radio is a band from Boston, whose lead singer Chad Urmston previously sang for Dispatch a band that was together in the mid 90s until 2002.

Many students seemed excited to be able to come out and see the band.

"I came because I love State Radio," said Chelsea Ibsen, 3rd semester pre-education major. "It is free too, so why not come."

State Radio went on around 5:30 p.m. to a fairly large crowd. The bands sound combine's reggae upbeats, a folk sound and catchy lyrics that resonated with the audience.

"I listed to Dispatch and I have followed State Radio," said Reed Hall, 1st semester history major. "The other bands that played were okay. Some were a little emo for my taste, but [the concert] was not bad."

As State Radios set came to an end, the sun began to set and students put on sweaters as the event concluded.

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