The Fray, performing in the William H. Pitt Center at Sacred Heart on Sept. 23
Courtney Perlee
Chief Copy Editor
Some fans had been waiting since July, when the Sacred Heart University Web site first announced The Fray would perform a concert at the William H. Pitt Center on Sept. 23.
When the opening act took the stage at 8 p.m., there was still a flurry of activity and anticipation on the floor as the crowds filtered into the William H. Pitt Center. Friends talked amongst each other and wandered across the darkened gym floor while openers Nathaniel Rateliff & The Wheel provided mellow background music to the conversations.
It wasn’t until the lights went down for a second time last Wednesday that the crowd turned to face the stage and cheered as The Fray played the opening chords of “Over My Head (Cable Car),” their first single to hit Billboard’s top charts.
Director of student activities Amy Ricci reported about 1,500 Sacred Heart students attended the concert and approximately 2,600 total tickets were sold.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better show,” Ricci said, after seeing student reactions and witnessing the overall energy of the show.
Sophomore Alex Zeller attributed the band’s popularity to their softer sound.
“I like how they incorporate a more classical sound, and put piano into it. A lot of rock bands won’t really venture into that,” said Zeller.
Other students said they wouldn’t consider themselves fans of the music, but the energy of the concert surprised them. Sophomore Kerry Browne admitted he felt the concert was almost too short.
Freshman Chris Mastrocola invited two of his friends from home to Sacred Heart for the concert.
“It was a concert, they were mainstream, and I hadn’t seen my friends since summer, so why not,” said Mastrocola.
The only downside for Mastrocola was the timing of the concert╤a Wednesday night, and right in the middle of his week for classes.
Some, like junior Amy Dalrymple had class to attend on Wednesday night. It was a tough decision for Dalrymple, who purchased a ticket in hopes that she could attend, but academics ultimately took the upper hand.
“I was a bit disappointed not being able to make the concert,” said Dalrymple. “Most of my friends were there; I was basically the only one left out.”
Perhaps better suited to those students caught in class instead of grabbing a relieve from college life, The Fray’s frontman, Issac Slade, had a few words of advice to offer the college crowd.
“I know you’re just college students╔just doing your thing, getting grades,” said Slade before delivering the final song of the night. “The real world’s coming. Some of you are already in it and it’s rough, and it sucks sometimes, but it can be so good. So keep going, don’t stop, and thanks for having us.”
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