End of Year Bash plays to large crowd

Students screamed, danced and sang their way through the night as the End of Year Bash unfolded Saturday at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

More than 4,000 tickets were sold for the bash. Students could reserve a seat for $1 or floor seating for $5. The bash featured bands Nico & Vinz, a Norwegian music duo, and MKTO, named for the band dou Malcom Kelly and Tony Oller, initials.

For Asian studies junior Josh Jones, the decision to go was not a difficult one.

“Yes I will be going because it’s cheap and it’s going to be a good concert,” Jones said.

Sociology junior Ryota Hashimoto was mostly interested in going for one of the two featured bands.

“The reason why I go to the bash something is cause Nico & Benz,” Hashimoto said. “I want to hear ‘Am I Wrong.’”

Not all people were as excited as Hashimoto to go.

“I’m probably not going,” general engineering freshman Jeram Tano said. “I’m new here. I don’t really know what it is.”

On the night of the bash, audience members were greeted with the musical performance of the local band Kitfox and free drinks provided by Rockstar.

Soon after Kitfox finished performing, Nico and Vinz came out to the stage.The music duo first debuted in 2010 at the Emengeza Festival, where they won first place, and performed “Am I Wrong,” “In Your Arms,” “Up and Away” as well as a few others.

The crowd erupted when Vinz started playing a harmonica. In the middle of the performance, the two started arguing about which one was the better dancer.

Once Nico & Vinz finished performing, there was a short break to set things up, and MKTO came out on stage. Both members of the group are actors, who first met while working together on the same show.

While on stage the two performed “Afraid of the Dark,” “American Dream,” “No More Second Chances,” along with others.

“It was a really good environment, they did really good, and so did Nico & Vinz,” said anthropology sophomore Nayda Hernadez after the show.

Her friend, human movement science sophomore Bethany Mendoza agreed.

“It was just really fun,” she said.

— mthomasmcbride@gmail.com