Posted: Saturday, February 21, 2015 9:08 am
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/campus/thon/article_2956c592-b9d3-11e4-9a2d-2f642bbf9c08.html
Reviewed by Caitlin Wolper | Collegian Staff Writer
With a fresh, lively sound, State College band Lowjack returned to THON for a fifth year this morning.
The band started off its concert at the Penn State Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon with a cover of The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army" at 8 a.m.
Lowjack's biggest strength throughout the performance was its energy and cohesiveness as a unit.
The lead singer's voice paired well with all of the band's song selections; this allowed Lowjack to play rock 'n' roll without being too loud or jarring for the dancers, who have now been standing for over 15 hours.
Electric fiddle ablaze, the band rolled through two more songs before covering Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline."
While floor activity had continued normally during most of the performance, "Sweet Caroline" got a lot of attention from the floor. The cover had the most people, both on the floor and in the stands, dancing and singing along.
With an upbeat but still laid-back song selection, Lowjack's set was a pleasant wake-up for those arriving at or returning to the Bryce Jordan Center this morning and was equally pleasant for those who've stayed in the Bryce Jordan Center for the duration of the event.
Songs played include "Wagon Wheel," "Stand By Me," "I'm Shipping Up To Boston" and "Wake Me Up."
Lowjack used primarily throwback sing-alongs to keep the crowd pumped, inviting them to join in when they played both "Jumper" by Third Eye Blind and The Killers' "Mr. Brightside."
Telling the crowd that "This song makes me think of you, THON," Lowjack broke out into a cover of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down."
Lowjack's versatility and music diversity rolled the band through their hour-long set, with songs ranging from more bluesy rock to punk.
The band didn't perform any original songs, but perhaps that was better suited for THON — the crowd is likely more interested by songs they can sing along with and will be excited by songs they recognize.
Caitilin Wolper can be reached at cqw5313@psu.edu or (814) 865-1828. Follow her on Twitter @CaitlinWolper.