“Who cheers for the apocalypse? Plymouth State University students do, or at least everyone who attended the tri-billed back to school concert headed by Atlanta based band Manchester Orchestra cheered for the apocalypse at the chiding of lead singer Andy Hull before starting their new song about the end of the world, titled, I can barely breathe.
The three bands, Human Flight Committee, The River City Extension and Manchester Orchestra represented varying styles of music descended on the small campus on September 1. The event was sponsored by WPCR and PACE.
Much of the planning was attributed to Sam Spence, a PSU junior, the Director of WPCR and the Vice President of PACE. Spence described the experience of planning and coordinating a big name act as her baby, as she and others combed through dozens of possible headlining acts for the back to school concert. “I have been getting constant positive feedback,” Spence said, adding that students have even hugged her in recognition for helping to attract the popular alt rock band.
The show was well received by PSU students, while the number of those present for the opening act, Boston’s Human Flight Committee, a punk rock band in the traditional sense was estimated in the low hundreds, “It [the number of students at the show] really picked up for River City Extension,” Spence said. The New Jersey band drew a large crowd with their folksy sound, reminiscent of bands like Modest Mouse, a group that Joe Michielini counted as an influence.
While the band did not receive top billing, they pumped up the crowd, suggesting, that since they hail from New Jersey, they would not be back in the area for a long time they get better aquatinted with PSU students. This meant finishing their set off stage in the crowd.
Manchester Orchestra graced the stage, as any rock band should, dirty, sweaty and looking for a good time. Hull proved his right to the stage by calling out those who were on the grass as being afraid of the noise. Whether or not he meant it, the crowd cheered him on.
Manchester Orchestra’s set was high energy even while they played slower pieces, “It’s some sweet music and its hot, so I figured I’d get hot and sweaty with a lot of people,” Steve Lanciani, a PSU junior said. Others were excited for Manchester Orchestra, “I saw them a few years ago, I’ve really liked them ever since and I wanted to see them again. They came to my school so why not,” Jake Desmarais, a junior said.
The band ruled the stage past 11 p.m., finally wrapping up with an acoustic set. “It was a good crowd,” Spence said of those in attendance. No disturbances regarding the crowd were reported. All the hard work did not go unnoticed either, “Billy from River City Extension came up to me and said, ‘Sam, you have a lovely baby,” Spence said. Check out PACE Events and WPCR in the HUB or on Facebook to keep tabs on other planned events in the coming school year.