Missed the event that Oregon State University’s Program Council is calling one of their “biggest events of the year?” Here’s what you may have missed.
This year’s Dam Jam saw history repeat itself in the most musical of ways.
Friday, May 15, saw the band Neon Trees pass the torch of having local artists open for a big-name band. Similar to their own break in 2008 by opening for the multi-award-winning band, The Killers.
As Friday’s sun sank into the west, students buzzed towards the Student Experience Center Plaza to catch the first band of the Dam Jam lineup, Honeydrome. The Portland-based band kicked things off with a distorted and melodic groove.
Wanting to keep their name stuck to the Corvallis music scene, the band expressed their interest in playing locally more often.
“We want to get (students) to dance a little. Just have fun… friendship,” said Guitarist and Lead Vocalist of Honeydrome, Mara Babasin. “Anything is allowed at Dam Jam! And come to the next one… We love KBVR, they’re the sweetest!”
Bassist and Additional Vocalist for Honeydrome, Logan Foster, added that the band intends to be back in the Willamette Valley in June and July.
The second opener of the night didn’t have to drive far to get to their venue.
Similar Product, a Corvallis-based rock band, was serving up some new sounds for the venue that night. The heavy melodies and screaming vocals of Lead Singer and Rhythm Guitarist Austin Miller had the growing crowd head-banging and moving along with the music.
“(Students) should come out because you got a lot of local talent that you could be going and seeing in other people’s garages other nights. But this is the chance to see them on the big stage!” Miller said in regards to the importance of events like Dam Jam.
In between the sets, the air was filled with the sounds of LJD, an OSU student and KBVRFM volunteer DJ. LJD’s mixes kept attendees moving until the main event of the night.
The SEC plaza was filled with light sticks and students eager to listen to the headliner of the night, Neon Trees.
As students packed shoulder-to-shoulder, the SEC Plaza was filled with students singing along to some of Neon Trees’ most popular songs.
In addition to playing one of their fan favorites, “Animals,” Neon Trees performed a cover as well. That being, “Don’t You Want Me Baby?” by The Human League.
Neon Trees finished off the night with their 5 time platinum single, “Everybody Talks”, which had the crowd singing and dancing almost as much as the band on stage.
“It feels like a bonus! Now you know, we’re happy doing it at the level we are, so anything else feels like extra.” Similar Product’s Lead Guitarist, Chava Cazarez, said regarding the opportunity to play the venue.
Miller noted that having a good time and being able to play bigger venues with his band-mates is something he holds dear.
In reference to the opportunity to play an event like Dam Jam, Honeydrome’s Babasin said, “This is the biggest stage we have played; biggest stage, like, biggest band we’ve opened for, obviously, because we’re just like a local Portland band.”
