The Plains roared with feedback from Switchfoot and Ben Rector Friday, Aug. 29 at PlainsFest, the University Program Council's fall concert.
Hundreds of students, families, residents and out-of-state football fans gathered at the Gay Street parking lot to hear two of the most dynamic voices in alternative rocks.
Radio veterans Switchfoot headlined the show, rocking the stage with songs from across their nine albums such as "Dare You To Move" and "Say It Like You Mean It".
Originally a Christian-rock trio, Switchfoot has never shied away from their faith, instead turning passages from scripture into stadium-sized anthems.
"I've listened to Switchfoot when I was growing up and I enjoy their lyrics and what they have to say about music and how it relates to our faith," said Logan Blake, freshman in pre-med. They do a good job of fitting into the mainstream, but I'm mature enough in my faith to understand what they're saying. A lot of their [religious] references I understand pretty well."
Though the San Diego quintet is approaching its second decade as a group, their arena-sized anthem "Meant To Live" sounds as good as it first did in 2003.
Despite being the lesser known of the two acts, Ben Rector's rollicking piano playing and soulful, almost gospel-like singing captivated the audience early in the show.
The audience had no trouble singing along to energetic ballads like "White Dress" and "Thank God For The Summertime;" when Rector played the first notes of "When A Heart Breaks," the upliftingly melancholic single from his new album Into The Morning, audience members followed along word for word.
"I'm not really into the indie-folk music scene but I really like the way he sounds, its smooth music," said Nick Johnson, senior in fiber engineering. "My favorite song he sings is Hank, it was a song he wrote for one of his younger nephews who was just born, I heard it on a random Pandora radio station but no one seems to know about it. Yet."
Rector, who incidentally graduated from the University of Arkansas, couldn't help but crack a joke about football halfway into his set.
"Though football season has already technically started, and A&M looked incredible last night, you guys will probably beat 'em," Rector said. "As well as you will probably beat my beloved Razorbacks tomorrow."
As the show progressed into the evening the audience spread around the block, even climbing up onto the parking deck behind the stage to watch.
With ample space to either watch or rock out, the Gay Street parking lot hold a lot of promise as the next big concert location in Auburn.
"Other groups have used this area as a venue before but this is UPC's first event," said Molly Lawrence, UPC public relations assistant director. "This turned out well and it's definitely an option for future events."
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