The annual fall concert commenced last Friday, Nov. 11, in the Annex once CAB organizers finally opened doors to students at 7:30 p.m. Following weeks of anticipation, CAB announced that the fall concert would be opened by Annie DiRusso and headlined by indie pop band Peach Pit. Following an immediate scramble for tickets the days and week prior, students waited in a line stretching outside Howard Diner until doors opened at 7:30 p.m. Greeted with red wristbands and a complimentary merch table with “Peach Pit” embossed pins and tote bags, students migrated toward the annex to witness the upcoming performances.

The show opened with indie rock musician Annie DiRusso and her band, entering the stage wearing Hamilton sweatshirts and jumping into guitar riffs to begin the show. After beginning with a heavy rock number and shedding the sweatshirts to reveal matching black and white tunics, DiRusso greeted students and introduced her band. She elaborated on her background in music being influenced by her childhood, saying she was born in New York City but raised in Nashville, Tennessee, exposed to the differing styles of urban and country rock. DiRusso also added that these influences culminated in her college years when she began to pursue music seriously, and went on to introduce her next song as being inspired by the Beatles poster in her college dorm room. The set continued with songs about DiRusso’s college years, her late dog and past relationships that echoed a touching yet punk attitude so often associated with those years in young people’s lives. All were strung together with a solidly rock musical style, punctuated often by the insistent drumming and colorful lights. DiRusso amped up the crowd with her evident enthusiasm about being able to play for students, dropping in anecdotes about her own college days and connections to the College through social media. She closed out her opening set with her guitarists playing their instruments behind their head to which the crowd wholly cheered their approval of.

After an opening from Annie DiRusso, headliners Peach Pit burst onto the stage with a full force entry, violently playing their instruments and illuminated by changing lights to capture the attention of the crowd. The opening song verged on the edge of rock and metal with frontman Neil Smith crowd surfing at its apex into the audience. After returning to the stage and finishing the song, Smith greeted the crowd and requested that everyone drink water so they don’t faint, sarcastically emphasizing that he will make fun of audience members if they do. Smith then introduced the band: guitarist Chris Vanderkooy, bassist Peter Wilson and drummer Mike Pascuzzi, and continued their set with hit single “Alrighty Aphrodite.” The band’s technical team greatly contributed to the atmosphere of the show, designing colorful combinations of mood lighting to match the energy that their songs stirred up in the audience, shifting in between hard rock anthems to more poppy and groovy ballads, a very noticeably impressive element of their stage show. At one point, guitarist Chris Vanderkooy brought out a sleek multi-neck guitar that took center stage for a time, showcasing the band’s musical skill and strong stage presence. Another member also brought out a violin later into the show during one of the slower songs that added a surprisingly folky touch to the concert that was greatly welcomed by the audience.

Peach Pit concluded their set, peppered often with witty remarks from Smith, with a number that featured the crooning guitar and upbeat attitude that the band is so well known for, and in line with their Canadian homeland in Vancouver. Before ending with one last encore, Peach Pit truly displayed their Canadian-nice tendencies by bringing cases of water to the front sides of the audience and checking in with the group as a whole. Finishing with an epically loud and grandly rock encore, Peach Pit offered their most sincere thanks for the opportunity to play the fall concert. If the audience reactions were any indication, CAB organizers delivered a stupendously successful fall concert that students will look forward to down the line.