Georgetown University Radio (WGTB) put on a spectacular spring concert Sunday, March 15, turning Bulldog Alley into a pulsating, gleeful and professional venue as indie rock singer-songwriter Eliza McLamb graced the stage, preceded by a Georgetown student band, m.e.n.
Even before the doors opened at 7:30 p.m., it was clear that the ambiance was meticulously curated. From the table boasting WGTB merch designed and printed by Georgetown students to the playlist that filled the background before and between sets, the concert achieved a perfect balance between mellow and danceable, with each choice feeling deliberate.
When m.e.n., the acronymic band consisting of Georgetown students Maxine Messina (CAS ’29), Elliot Anderson (CAS ’28) and Nick Hasbun (CAS ’28), took to the stage, opening with a beautifully heart-wrenching rendition of Elliot Smith’s “Angeles,” Bulldog Alley was instantly transformed. Lead singer Messina’s strong, angsty crooning was perfectly complemented by her and Hasbun’s guitars along with Anderson’s clarinet. Though hesitant at first, the crowd was quick to close in on the stage with Hasbun’s prompting, welcoming a toned-down but nonetheless lively cover of Wilco’s “Pot Kettle Black.”
M.e.n.’s set consisted of three other covers, including two in different keys and an original written by Messina. In addition to their covers of songs by Silversun Pickups and Searows, the cover of Geese’s “Au Pays du Cocaine,” which they chose to close their set with, was a personal favorite and crowd favorite, as evidenced by the applause and dancing. Messina’s original “I Wish I Wasn’t” was a moving, sorrowful exploration of self-resentment. The song had skillfully written lyrics and an accompanying melody that occasionally felt dissonant, yet maintained clear intention and overarching harmony.
After a brief interlude between sets, Eliza McLamb took to the stage, kicking off her performance by jumping right into “To Wake Up,” an apt choice to reel the crowd’s attention back toward the front. The song opened with restrained, calm vocals with parallely muted and acoustic instrumentals, but morphed into a more explosive, rocky sound, sparking relaxed dancing throughout the crowd. This sonic transition was mirrored throughout the night, with songs like “Suffering” opening with a lullaby-like feel, only to later erupt into electric guitar and intense drumming.
Transitions between songs were seamless, despite difficulties with changing instruments or switching keys — even when McLamb’s guitar strap broke, she stayed composed. Instrumentals from both her and her band never ceased. McLamb’s performance was marked by this dance between quieter, emotionally-wrought songs and powerful, almost angry ballads as she traversed her discography, offering a delicious taste of her music.
When McLamb spoke to the crowd, she expressed her gratitude and awe for WGTB’s impeccable planning, which she claimed rivaled even professional, more established venues. She maintained a somewhat shy but completely endearing disposition as she talked about her time in Washington, D.C. and on Georgetown’s campus, as she previously studied political science at George Washington University.
Musical highlights included “Modern Woman,” a timely and catchy reflection on modern femininity accompanied by enthusiastic singing from the crowd and “California,” an ode to the sun-kissed beaches and self-discovery the Golden State promises. Not one song McLamb performed was disappointing — the evening was a blur of strong lyricism, bright instrumentals and whimsical joy painted across everyone’s faces.
McLamb ended the night with an encore (though she didn’t leave the stage, expressing the difficulty with going on and off-stage), performing “Mythologize Me.” A better choice could not have been made — the crowd burst out into dancing and harmonized with McLamb as though it was all one big, heartfelt choral performance.
Overall, from WGTB’s clearly diligent organization of the concert to the glowing and engaged audience and, of course, the splendid performances from both McLamb and m.e.n., the spring concert was a night to remember. Highlighting up-and-coming artists is more important than ever at a time when the ability to discover new music seems completely suffocated by monolithic streaming services and WGTB offered just that with their hugely successful spring concert.
