Killing me softly

By Casey Toner

A $6 ticket price and three bands pulled about 300 sweaty teens into the Regency Room on Friday night for Kill Hannah.

Openers Murder By Death played a complicated set that was underscored by classical piano and electronic cello.

“The show tonight was fun; everyone was really nice,” said Sarah Balliet, Murder By Death cellist.

Because of academic constraints, (one member had to take a test, said John Ugolini, Campus Activities Board concert president) Preachers Gone to Texas arrived late. When they finally took the stage, they encouraged audience participation by using “come here” gestures with their hands.

The gestures were responded to with a series of boos from the younger Kill Hannah fan base. Preachers Gone to Texas persevered through the hail of jeers delivering a crisp, hardcore set filled with ear-splitting screaming, melodic guitar riffs and an energetic stage performance.

Kill Hannah, the featured band on the bill, came out dressed in their gothic attire. Lead singer Mat Devine looked as if he was dressed up as a woman, with his hair tied up in two pig tails in the back. Devine’s high voice also was similar to that of a woman.

The crowd bounced to tunes such as “10 More Minutes” and “Nerve Gas,” enthusiastically responding to Kill Hannah’s electronica sound.

Kill Hannah’s electronic backbone was emphasized by some stylized secondary vocals, drum beats, a tambourine and a synthesizer powered by the CD player that the sound technicians operated in the back of the room.

While it seemed the majority of the Kill Hannah fans enjoyed the show (as demonstrated by the sheer number of fist pumps and audience sing-a-longs), some members of the audience felt out of place.

“I feel like I’m in ‘Dawson’s Creek,'” sophomore psychology major Amanda Budzynski said.

Kill Hannah ended its set with “No One Dreams.”