Boyscott, an indie surf rock band led by singer and guitarist Scott Hermo, headlined a backyard concert at 80 Broad Street, the Creative Arts Society (CAS) house, on April 4. The concert was sponsored by WRCU FM 90.1, Colgate University’s radio station. Two student bands, The Proof and Happy to Be Here, opened for Boyscott.
As the night went on, it got colder and colder, yet the backyard was still filled with students from all across campus coming to celebrate good music. The excitement and energy were palpable in the crowd from the very beginning, and as the sun went down and Boyscott took to the stage, students were packed in up to the very front.
Junior Lara Blanton was there to support both Boyscott and the opening acts. Boyscott, she said, exceeded her expectations.
“Boyscott had a fun indie feel, and you could tell they really enjoyed performing for an audience of college kids,” Blanton said. “People were dancing, singing and socializing, and overall it was a very relaxed concert, which was perfect.”
A college concert is the perfect place for bands to get a relaxed, enjoyable crowd. Lead singer Hermo commented on the band’s origins and college show presence.
“The first record came out in 2015, so pretty much 10 years. It’s crazy. We’ve only made two records, so it’s kind of insane,” Hermo said. “We actually have played a lot [of college shows]. We have played at most Ivy Leagues in the past six years.”
Following on the heels of CAS’s packed basement concert on Feb. 7, the backyard provided room for a larger stage and a bigger crowd. The turnout was similar, and students were just as excited for the openers as the main event.
First-year Layla Federoff, who also attended the CAS basement concert, agreed that the concert was a similar success.
“I loved it. There’s nothing more magical than seeing the campus engage in the arts,” Federoff said. “Boyscott rocked.”
With the emergence of many new student bands, the campus music scene is increasingly ramping up. Junior Max Shah — a member of The Proof, one of the student-run bands that opened for Boyscott — enjoyed the unforgettable experience.
“The setlist we performed, in my opinion, was our best yet,” Shah said. “I really enjoyed the outdoor venue despite the chilly weather and would love to do another show in the CAS backyard.”
This concert was particularly special, as WRCU made it a benefit concert. Different student groups were present at the concert: Democracy Matters, Colgate Vote Project and Students for Environmental Action (SEA) tabled at the event. Democracy Matters and Colgate Vote Project advocated for voting rights and advertised upcoming political campus events, while SEA advertised an open letter urging the University to divest from fossil fuels.
Junior Matt Walinski ran the table for SEA.
“It was super nice for WRCU to let us table and get the word out about SEA’s initiatives,” Walinski said. “We got a bunch of signatures.”
The Boyscott concert was an incredible way for multiple campus clubs to come together as we near the peak of the semester. Between the different clubs tabling and WRCU, the concert brought together students from all different areas of the community.
Boyscott’s feel-good energy also brought a wave of summer to a campus that has been lacking in warmth. At the tail end of what felt like one of Colgate’s worst winters in years, Boyscott’s indie surf rock charm and good music was the perfect way for Colgate students to come together and celebrate the coming warm weather and brighter days.
