Heather Smith ’15: Every January, Radio 104.5 hosts a free, alternative concert called Winter Jam. This year’s concert fell on January 25th, a freezing, snowy day. The performers included An Honest Year, MS MR, Switch foot, New Politics, and Twenty One Pilots.
By the time I arrived at the Piazza, hundreds of people were already lined up in the blizzard getting ready for the bands to perform and hoping to catch a glimpse of a musician walking around.
While the crowds waited outside, I had the opportunity to go backstage into the old Schmidt Ale House that sits at the top of the Piazza’s courtyard and get ready for the day. From there, I was led to the press area where I set up my camera and received my press pass. I could see Twenty One Pilots huddled together in the corner, and I felt the vibrations of Matt Mckay’s deep, vivacious laugh. Then I was led outside to the press pit, an area between the stage and the crowd barriers, and prepared for show time.
After Wendy, Radio 104.5’s host, gave the massive crowd a large welcome, the first band came on stage. The first to perform was An Honest Year, one of the local bands that had been voted to appear. They played two of their songs: “You and all Your Friends” and an untitled song they wrote just for the concert. The atmosphere was already buzzing, and their set got everyone moving to the catchy beat.
The next to play was MS MR, an all time favorite of mine. The spunky duo sang “Hurricane” and “Fantasy,” two of their more popular songs. Despite the 29 degree weather, everyone was singing along with the wavy, green haired chick on stage. After the duo performed, New Politics took the stage and sung their popular song “Harlem,” which really got the crowd moving. Adding to the energy, their lead singer, David Boyd, went crowd surfing and climbed the stage lights system! Switchfoot played next, calming the crowd before the main band. With their soothing voices, the crowd simmered down and became calm as everyone sang along and swayed to their classic songs.
Then, finally, in the moment everyone was waiting for, Twenty One Pilots came on stage. Their lead drummer set up his own island in the crowd, and the whole courtyard was lit up with blue strobe lights. The atmosphere was electric, despite the numbness affecting everyone’s fingers and toes. After an amazing drum solo by Josh Dunn, the day ended with Tyler Joseph, their lead singer, singing a mash up of “House of Gold” the all time classic “Brown Eyed Girl”.
The crowd never stopped singing until the day was over, and the snow did not slow anyone down. By the time we left the Piazza, our whole bodies were numb, but it was well worth it.