Sweat$ in Steven$
In an all-pink outfit, down to his Croc Clogs, PinkSweat$ lived up to his name as he took the stage with his crew of musicians wearing matching pink jackets, ready to take Santa Clara students on a journey through his discography of R&B love songs.
Photo by Amy Suh
Santa Clara’s Activities Programming Board returned last Friday, April 19 with their annual Spring Revival Concert, featuring the platinum artist, with student band Dental Insurance opening.
A $15 admission price got you into the makeshift concert venue in the entrance area of Stevens Stadium.
While the queue for doors wasn’t quite the wrap-around-the-block crowd you see at most venues, a few eager groups of students showed up early and rushed to the barriers to secure a good spot and grab some pictures.
Student indie rock band Dental Insurance got the show started around 8:00 p.m., opening with an instrumental intro before performing a ten-song set consisting of both originals and covers.
The band consists of sophomore Tommy Lewis on vocals and guitar, senior Will Fergusson on lead guitar, first-year Charlie Lewis on rhythm guitar, first-year Luke Carlson on bass and senior Kyle Burroughs on the drumset.
“The APB concert was definitely the biggest show we’ve done so far–keyword being so far,” said Carlson. “We didn’t really know what to expect once they announced that PinkSweat$ was the headliner, because we’re just so different”
Carlson explained that, despite the contrast between their styles, Dental Insurance would take this as an opportunity to introduce themselves and play what they want to play, no matter who the audience is there to see.
“We seemed to have found our crowd because a lot of people seem to have really liked that set,” he said.
Photos by Amy Suh
Some highlights of the set were the group’s cover of The 1975’s “Sex,” their original songs “Mystery Lady” and “Toothache” and their closing cover of Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl.”
“I think it’s awesome because when I graduate I’ll probably be working,” Tommy Lewis said. “I feel like these four years are the perfect time if I’m ever gonna make a band and fuck around and play shows.”
After the sun had set and the crowd had secured a bit more anonymity, a battle between security and what seemed to be a lone vaper commenced. After a series of clouds made very obvious by the lights above the stage alerted a security guard at the barrier, the cat-and-mouse game began.
Following some back and forth, the conflict came to a resolution in the form of a security posting right in front of the area of the perpetrator.
Later in the show, the crackdown on vapes and no re-entry after 8:45 pm seemed to force some people to get a bit retro and switch to smoking cigarettes in the bathroom.
By the time PinkSweat$ was due to come on, the crowd had seemingly doubled.
The artist, who first rose to popularity with “Honesty” in 2018, jumped around his discography during the set, playing both older and more recent tracks while making sure to mix in all of his big hits, including “At My Worst” and “Run Through Fire.”
Throughout the show, PinkSweat$ took some time between songs to share stories, give advice and even share his self-affirmation routine with the audience.
He talked about his early career, going through the stereotypical starving artists' phase of couch surfing and depleted savings and how focusing on pursuing his dream kept him motivated.
PinkSweat$ curated a great night of music and good vibes. He engaged with the audience as much as possible, hyped up fans who knew the lyrics and even gave his best attempt at an encore with the chorus of “17,” despite the looming 10 p.m. sound curfew.
Although it was hard to forget the venue was a patch of pavement next to the soccer stadium, the audience tried their best to emulate some of the classic concert-goer experience–and, with clamoring crowds, a shockingly good opening set, too-sweaty dancing, shameless vapers and bathroom cigarettes, they were ultimately successful in making this year’s Spring Revival one to remember.