C.A.N. Pop Up Concert Featuring Bryce Vine
Bryce Vine performs for Central for the second time, this time over a YouTube live stream.
May 2, 2020
The cancellation of social gatherings exceeding five people or more did not stop Central Activities Network from holding a Spring Concert.
On Friday, April 17, C.A.N. organized a “Pop Up Concert” with rapper and singer Bryce Vine, whose songs “Drew Barrymore” and “La La Land” both charted in the Billboard Hot 100.
The original Spring Concert was set to take place on Saturday, April 25 in Welte Auditorium. Singer, rapper and songwriter Doja Cat was set to headline the concert before COVID-19 regulations were put in place.
Doja Cat’s song “Say So” peaked at number five in the United States and United Kingdom after becoming popularized on the social media app TikTok.
“#dojacat was going to be headlining spring concert… surprise,” C.A.N. posted on their TikTok account on March 12. The message ended with a crying emoji.
Despite the unforeseen circumstances, C.A.N. still provided a musical performance for students. Vine, who performed at Central back in September of 2014 performed for the Blue Devils once again, only this time virtually.
The free concert took place on YouTube, which helped offer a higher quality performance. Students could access the private livestream video by clicking a link sent out by SGA. Over 300 students tuned in to watch the concert at 9 p.m..
Vine performed six feet apart from drummer Tosh Peterson and guitarist Alex Williams. Peterson and Williams wore face masks, and Vine did not as he would be singing and did not want his voice to sound muffled.
“This is so weird by the way, I just have to acknowledge that,” Vine said regarding the fact that the concert had to be virtual. “It’s weird to speak to a camera instead of you guys. I would much rather be with you guys right now.”
At one point Vine jokingly gestured toward the camera as if motioning for the audience to sing the lyrics back to him, despite him not being able to hear the students.
Between songs, Vine answered questions and read shout outs from Central students. Vine answered questions such as where his favorite venue to play is, how the stay at home orders have affected him and what advice he had for his ten year old self.
“A ten year old Bryce Vine wouldn’t listen to what I had to say,” Vine laughed. “He wouldn’t be capable.”
Vine shouted out C.A.N., C.O.L.A.D.A., the Orientation Leaders, Dr. Toro and other various Central students, staff and organizations.
Toward the end of the live stream, Vine played unreleased songs. One of the unreleased songs, “Problems,” addresses COVID-19 and other issues in the world.
“The first two weeks of quarantine, personally I didn’t do anything,” Vine said. “I just laid on my bed and I read. I think everyone was a little in shock after that. This is the first song I wrote with a friend of mine about the situation we’re in right now.”
Vine told the audience that he will be shooting the music video for “Problems” by himself in his house sometime this week, and to expect the song to be released soon.
