Three student bands rocked The Mansion’s attic space on Sept. 13.
Opener LHRK went on at 9 p.m. and played a mellow take on 1979” by the Smashing Pumpkins. Last Call followed at 9:00 p.m. with a jazzy rendition of “Pool House” by the Backseat Lovers. Headliners Naked by 9 took the stage at 11 p.m. and kept the energy high past midnight with a mix of unreleased originals and crowd-pleasers. Their cover of Oasis’ “Don’t Look Back in Anger” had the crowd of over 100 people singing along.
For Last Call, the night was more than just a strong start; it set the tone for the semester.
“We’re eager to hit the ground running,” Last Call vocalist Ellie McArthur, ArtSci ’27, said in an interview with The Journal.
The band’s saxophonist and drummer, Nic Farinaccio, ArtSci ’27, explained in an interview with The Journal that the band hopes to write original material in the future, but balancing songwriting with constant rehearsals and performances is a challenge. With plans to average four shows a month this fall, Hunt says the group relies on their camaraderie to stay in sync despite the busy schedule.
That sense of teamwork carries into their setlists, where the band’s shared enthusiasm shapes which songs make it to the stage. When asked which new cover they were most excited to debut at The Mansion, all seven members made eye contact before answering in unison: their version of Blondie’s “Call Me.” As the opening song, their rocking rendition had audiences jumping along.
LHRK is also excited for the year ahead, bringing fresh material to audiences. The band opened their first gig of the school year with a new single, “Fade.”
“It feels good to be back,” LHRK’s lead vocalist, Brandon Liang, CompSci’26, said in an interview with The Journal. While balancing rehearsals with school has been a hurdle, Liang said the group is eager to play more this semester.
“You get the best shows in September and April,” LHRK drummer, Callan Robinson, Sci ’26, said in an interview with The Journal.
Headliners Naked by 9 reached out to venues like The Mansion in June to secure show dates in September. Lead guitarist Will Spence, Sci’27, calls the back-to-school season a “prime time” for live music. “It’s the first week of school. Now is the best time to see a concert,” he said in an interview with The Journal.
This was a great time to see Naked by 9, who hit their stride at The Mansion in their third gig ever. Balloons shaped like the number 9 bounced throughout the crowd, demonstrating the enthusiastic fanbase the band has already built. The band debuted new original songs “Blame” and “451,” which drew excitement from the crowd.
Guitarist Ryan Robinson, Sci ’26, explains that original songs offer more “freedom” than covers, where audiences often bring set expectations. “It’s fun to try [and] blow people away with stuff they’ve never heard,” he said in an interview with The Journal.
What really blew the crowd away was when Spence jumped into the audience to crowd-surf, a tricky feat for any rock star. Naked by 9’s fans, cheering, were there to catch him.
With an excited kickoff concert this weekend, Naked by 9 and guests set a powerful tone for this year’s music scene, one set to grow louder and more vibrant this fall.
Tags
Arts, Music, Student bands, The Mansion
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