Utah rock band heads Senior Fling

A glowing pink microphone stand, leather pants and cotton candy-colored hair were the first things students saw of Neon Trees’ at Senior Fling. Lead singer Tyler Glenn, who wore a T-shirt with “School Is Cool” handwritten on the front and the UD logo on the back, was all about crowd participation as the attendees put their hands above their heads and danced to the music.

This annual event, sponsored by SCPAB to honor the graduating class, was held Friday on the North Green. The bands, The Active Set and AWOLNATION, opened for headliner Neon Trees.

Neon Trees is an alternative rock band from Utah that received nationwide exposure after opening for The Killers in 2008. Their first single “Animal” reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was No. 1 on the Alternative Rock Chart.

According to junior Nicole Rasco of SCPAB, approximately 3,000 students attended the free event to listen to the music, enjoy food and enter to win the senior prizes.  There were also free products from UDairy Creamery, Pespi, Muscle Milk and Rock Star Energy.

Every May, SCPAB and attempts to bring big name bands that will appeal to the majority of students on campus.

Senior Nicholas Bisignani, says he was familiar with Neon Trees, but not the opening acts, The Active Set and AWOLNATION.

“I had never heard of the other two bands, but I love Neon Trees,” Bisignani says. “So when I heard they were playing, I was excited.”

AWOLNATION, an indie pop band out of Los Angeles, has recently been touring with Neon Trees. Their hit single, “Sail,” reached No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Chart of Alternative Songs.

The Active Set is an indie band from Los Angeles with a post-punk, new wave feel to their music.

The lead singer of The Active Set, Matthew Stolarz, says that they started touring with Neon Trees after Glenn asked if they wanted to open for the band as they toured. He says that performing for Neon Trees’ fanbase is a good opportunity for The Active Set.

“That’s part of why we were so excited to get this tour, because I know what kinds of fans they have,” Stolarz says. “They’re people who live it and that’s inspiring.”

Junior Laura Bloemeke says that she heard about the event from SCPAB, which also advertised using fliers and social media.

“I got the SCPAB emails [about the event] and as soon as I heard, I started freaking out because I love them both, Neon Trees and AWOLNATION,” junior Laura Bloemeke says.

This year, SCPAB chose to get feedback from students to help pick the performers.  
“We decided to send out an online survey to all of the students,” Rasco says. “We gauged where all of the votes went and we decided who was in the top three and did our own work from there.”

Sophomore Simone Austin says she did not get to see the band she requested, but she still enjoyed the performance.

“I took the survey and voted for someone else, but I was still completely satisfied with who they picked,” Austin says.

Last year, the band Jack’s Mannequin performed .

Bloemeke says, “It’s hard to compare to Jack’s Mannequin last year because they’re different bands, but I think this one was so much crazier.”