The Georgetown Program Board (GPB) held its annual Spring Concert on April 10. This year’s fantastic lineup, featuring student opener Cornerbooth, indie rock band Good Neighbours and rapper Yung Gravy, kept the energy fun and upbeat for the entire concert at McDonough Arena.
I arrived at the venue 20 minutes early and was able to get within a few feet of the stage, which made for a fantastic concert experience. From the very beginning, everyone in attendance brought enthusiasm and energy. The first performance of the night came from student band Cornerbooth, which graced the arena with several original songs and a cover. Their smooth, alternative, indie rock sound was fun to listen and dance to. Cornerbooth’s beautiful vocals and haunting but catchy songs definitely made me a fan. After catching everyone’s attention with their performance, Cornerbooth ended their set with a stunning rendition of “Baby Come Back” by Player, a sly hint at Yung Gravy’s later cover of the same song.
Cornerbooth’s alternative sound proved a perfect transition to Yung Gravy’s openers, the London indie rock duo Good Neighbours. From the moment the duo entered the stage, I knew I was in for a fantastic time. Though I was only familiar with a few of their songs, I still fully appreciated Good Neighbours’ energy and talent. Between their songs, the duo hyped up the crowd, encouraging us to sing along and wave flashlights. I haven’t been in many audiences where the entire crowd seemed to be enjoying themselves, but this was definitely one of them. Good Neighbours performed some of their more popular songs like “Ripple” and “Home” and kept the good energy going the whole time.
Like Cornerbooth, Good Neighbours’ tracklist consisted of smooth but upbeat indie rock songs. I didn’t know how well their sound would serve as an opener for Yung Gravy, but their tireless energy and fun presence proved the perfect lead-in to the main performance. Both members, Oli Fox and Scott Verrill, frequently switched between instruments, showcasing their talent and versatile sound and vocals. Good Neighbours proved to be such an amazing time that I thought they could have definitely performed as the night’s main performance.
Soon after Good Neighbours’ set ended, Yung Gravy’s DJ, DJ Tiiiiiiiiiip, came on stage and began mixing various upbeat club songs in anticipation of Yung Gravy’s set. It was a fantastic way to maintain the energy while shifting the genre from indie rock to hip-hop. After several songs, Yung Gravy came onto the stage, and there was an immediate frenzy throughout the audience. Starting off with one of his earlier singles, “Magic,” Yung Gravy immediately commanded the room with the fan favorite. The night’s setlist included songs such as “Betty (Get Money),” “C’est La Vie” and “Mr. Clean.” The audience was screaming along to every song, and Yung Gravy matched the energy by making dance circles in the audience, throwing cereal and roses and crowd-surfing a miniature stuffed Jack the Bulldog. At the height of his performance, Yung Gravy even changed into a Georgetown jersey with his name on it, a fun tribute that really completed the night. Transitions between each of his songs were filled with fun moments like these, especially since he prioritized audience involvement.
There wasn’t a boring moment in Yung Gravy’s set, and his appreciation of his DJ, fans and audience was evident. He wasn’t just an artist showcasing his songs; he was truly the epitome of a performer.
The entire concert was structured wonderfully, with fantastic transitions between artists and a growing energy with each set. GPB’s Spring Concert proved to be a fantastically fun and impressive night. The inclusion of smaller but growing bands like Cornerbooth and Good Neighbours was one of my favorite parts, as they showed that large commercial popularity isn’t necessary for a successful performance. Yung Gravy’s audience-centered set made for the perfect end to an already fantastic night. If GPB continues to bring the energy of this concert to future Spring Concerts, I can only see an extremely popular concert series ahead.
