Geneseo was covered in a fine layer of glitter on Sunday night, as students and community members prepared to ‘get sleazy' with Ke$ha and 3OH!3, the two performing acts at this year's spring concert.
After last year's disappointing showing and the lack of a fall concert earlier this year, it was clear that Geneseo was in need of a high-energy party act. Judging from the consistent excitement throughout the show, the performers did not let the audience down.
Hundreds of people packed into Kuhl Gym as opening act Beardo, a rap-punk musician from Van Nuys, Calif., took the stage to hype up the crowd.
Once 3OH!3 came out on stage, the show picked up. The electro-pop duo of Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Mott, both from Boulder, Colo., played an exciting set. The duo is known for their cheeky lyrics and interaction with the audience, and definitely demonstrated these characteristics in their performance.
They played songs off of their album Want, such as "Don't Trust Me" and "Starstrukk," as well as other well-known songs off their newer album Streets of Gold, like "My First Kiss" and "Double Vision."
After 3OH!3's set ended, anticipation surrounded the audience as the house lights dimmed once again, smoke machines activated and neon lights welcomed Ke$ha onto what seemed to be an industrial-styled stage. Once she opened, however, with "Take It Off," a track off her 2010 album Animal, sections of the stage lit up to highlight where the singer was standing.
It was clear that Ke$ha had intentions of partying while on stage, especially when she told the audience that she hoped we would be on our "worst behavior." Some audience members may have taken the request more literally than others. Everyone was able to enjoy themselves, though, because most were able to recognize at least a few songs; Ke$ha played tracks off both Animal and her newer extended play, Cannibal.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of Ke$ha's performance was her use of back-up singers and dancers, and the theatrics surrounding each song. During "Dinosaur," her dancers came out dressed in wigs and costumes, and threw in some choreographed moves during the chorus. At one point in the night, one of her dancers handed her a large drumstick, with which she beat a big drum that projected glitter all over the stage. During her well-known single "Tik Tok," the audience was treated to a shower from a glitter gun.
One of the more provocative moments of the night came when Ke$ha sang to an audience member during "Grow A Pear" while she danced around with a man dressed in a giant penis costume on stage.
Ke$ha underwent no less than four costume changes, and each included more sparkle than the last. The audience went wild when she performed the single "Your Love Is My Drug," and was surprised when one of her dancers donned a blonde wig to pretend to be one of Ke$ha's ex-friends during "Backstabber."
Other songs she performed included one of her newest singles, "Blow," and "Animal," the title track off her first album, which she claimed was her "favorite song she's ever written." It was more stripped down than her usual party anthems, allowing the audience to see a different side of her personality.
While there was a lot of doubt when the spring concert line-up was announced, it was apparent that Geneseo was long past due for a jolt of fun. Even those who aren't the biggest fans of 3OH!3 and Ke$ha's music have to admit that it was a well-put-together show and a pretty sleazy way to spend a Sunday night.