Last Friday, the 27th, 2021, at  Penn State Behrend, there was a mixture of electric liveliness and reminiscence. American Authors threw a wild performance playing new songs such as Brick by Brick, Nice and Easy, and of course, a popular favorite  Best Day of My Life. The band is currently on tour, so to see them perform as a freshman was an amazing experience. They brought excitement and entertainment to our campus soccer field. From watching the performers prepare last-minute mic checks backstage to the crowd huddling together in the front row, cheering  “Let them out,” this concert was one for the books. 

The opening act, Lisa Heller and her four band members, created a laid-back ambiance that made for the perfect Friday night concert. The band’s main singer Heller states that she has been writing music since 13 years old. Heller is currently 25 and played with her current band for about a month, which was shocking considering how well they sounded. It was definitely a great way to open the concert with a band that knew how to incorporate upbeat instruments with a free and easy performance. Lisa and her band then showcased the song 18. The way the band had captured the audiences’ attention was impressive and surreal. Heller and her band made sure to connect with the band in such a sentimental way. Heller was open and honest about her struggles with depression and talked about how important music was in her life. 

 People automatically had woken up from a relaxed state of mind and were somehow activated and cultivated by the band and their passion for music.  The audience was able to connect with the song, more importantly, had shown interest in the band’s easygoing and exciting performance. The audience was even more thrilled to hear a newer song by the band  Cheetos and Coke. The music was relatable and memorable in a similar way to American Authors, a type of indie feel. After Lisa Heller and the band had their successful performance, everyone was ready for the main event. 

Once everyone heard the base on the speakers, saw the red lights peaked behind the band on stage, the crowd was then wrapped into party mode. People put their hands up, danced, and jumped to the music. I could easily say the crowd was fully engaged in the band. Of course, the band played Best Day of My Life, and as expected, it created an explosion of excitement. A group of people near the stage jumped in a huddle, almost creating a mosh pit, the rest of the crowd throwing their hands in the air, and the occasional crowd screaming the lyrics in the most thunderous way possible. Something about listening to mid-2000’s music, especially American Authors live, generated nostalgia and excitement in the best way possible. When the song came out, most of us were just kids, so finally, having an opportunity to party to our generational music was euphoric. The band also performed covers for other popular songs in today’s music, such as Don’t start now by Dua Lipa, and asked the audience to join in. Zac Barnett, the lead singer, sat on the stage, creating that very personal atmosphere that the audience definitely appreciated. Adding that calm down feel and having people sing with the band was a good way to balance the music. 

Needless to say, Behrend sure does know how to host an event. The way the show came together with the artists, the set-up, the music played, and the number of students that attended it was exhilarating and yet intimate.