Surviving The Devil’s Anvil: Staying Motivated & Healthy Until Graduation

As of April 12th, 2017, spring graduates are just about a month away from graduating from Sac State and either entering entering the job market or heading to graduate school. It seems like just yesterday, we were entering our freshman year here at Sac State or just transferring from our community college. Now, we’re just about to call ourselves alumni of this great university.

 

But don’t get too ahead of yourself, fellow graduate as we got a almost a month or so left to survive. That means that final or that late in the semester midterm could still make its mark on those final grades and if those final grades aren’t good enough, you may be having an extended stay at good ol’ 6000 J Street. Do not fear for you are not alone! For you, I have some advice on how you can survive what will possibly be the longest four or so weeks of our lives.

 

1. Stay On Top Of Your Assignments & Study Well

 

You’re probably feeling the same senioritis that you were feeling in high school some time ago. Your motivation is probably slowly dwindling and your mind seems to float away in those early morning lectures. It may seem that your body and mind can’t take anymore of these factors and just wants to break down, but you’re a strong person and have the ability to keep pushing on. Allow yourself an hour or two each day to keep up on your reading and homework each night. I know having work, meetings, or a social life can interfere with this time, but even the smallest of commitment to some studying can make your grades survive the final push through the semester.

 

2. Get Some Sleep & Eat Well

 

It may be hard to not stay up so late, but to feel revitalized for the upcoming commencement and summer season, it may be a good thing to get some adequate sleep and some good nutrition along the way. Instead of all of those all-nighters and sleepless nights (less than five hours of sleep), jump into the sheets and count some more sheep and shoot for six to eight hours of shut eye. It will allow your body to get that energy it deserves and keep you going strong through the day.

 

To accompany that sleep, try to get some healthier grub into your stomach as well. I understand that as college students, we don’t have the capital that can get us the freshest foods and healthiest ingredients, but it is still possible to make it work. Try to get some fruits and vegetables into your system and get some of those key vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Try to skip out on a panda bowl in the union and enjoy a delicious whole wheat sandwich with an apple as a lunch. Your body will feel more energized as you make your way through these last few weeks of classes.

 

3. Get Some Exercise

 

Something some of us dread is a nice workout; something to get us off of our behinds and making our hearts pump a little bit. However, getting a little exercise can be therapeutic and serve as a break from the stress of exams, homework, and big term papers. Exercise doesn’t mean lifting heavy weights or running miles on end, but even a stroll through the park, a midtown bike ride, or even a swim can count as some exercise. Just 15-60 minutes of exercise a day can make the case and as someone who exercises on the daily, it contributes to my days being a little less stressful. Though it may sound dreadful, take the stairs, take a stroll around campus, or get your gym clothes and head for the Well.

 

4. Enjoy Yourself

 

We’re in the twilight of our college careers and that time is quickly coming to an end as our final semesters is coming close to ending. Enjoy it while you can. Gather your closest friends and take some time to appreciate the moment. Go one a night out on the town and enjoy the company of your friends. Go on a hike, to a ballgame, or enjoy a board game night in your apartment, house, or dorm. We won’t get this time back so make the best of it all while you can.
As graduation looms, we will be leaving the comfort of our fellow Hornets and try to find a career or opportunity for higher education. We will join fellow alumni into making a difference in the world. However, until we walk the commencement floors and earn our final grades, we must stay strong, stay healthy, stay on track, and enjoy life. Congratulations on reaching this point and good luck with the rest of your semester! Stingers, up

The Finals Week Rally Cry

To Hopefully Make This More Inspiring, Read This To This (Especially the last minute and forty five seconds (4:13) or so): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7dfZoz6fGc

For most of us, it has probably been a long, tough semester. There have been demoralizing exam results, the feeling of defeat as we type our term papers, and the grueling 8 a.m. lecture have attempted to take us out of the game.

We have had all-nighters, mental breakdowns, and our fair share of failures that have made us wonder if the direction that we have chosen was the right one. There are times where we ask ourselves: Do I have what it takes to keep pushing forward?

You bet you do! Not even the force of of bad professors and group projects can bring you down. Keep your head up and let your determination, your preparation, and your will to push on keep you sane and make your trek through this dark time known as finals week be out finest hour.

Remember the reason why you are here, the future you want to have, and the thirst of success and keep marching on, take every test with conviction that you can pass and you can achieve what you once thought was impossible.

You have come a long way to get to this point in time. You have passed through the transition from teenager to adolescent. You have survived the scary realm known as high school, where drama and disaster loom around every corner. You have survived tough times and excruciating tasks that have made you stronger and more resilient for the looming threats ahead.

Pain is only temporary, but glory lasts forever. These finals may be a disaster now and life may be a little cloudy, but when the sun shines through the clouds, there is a world beyond the classroom and it is waiting for you.

This world, depending on the way you see it, can be paradise or perdition, an oasis or a vast wasteland with no hope given by the rivers of the waters of life. With the right mindset you are battling your way though this university to find paradise after you leave the halls of the Riverside, the walls of Tahoe and Alpine, or the great Mendocino.

With the right mindset, you will find happiness and accomplishment after you finish at this university. Finals week may be a tough time that makes you lose hope, but never lose sight of why you’re here. Believe in yourself and the causes that keep you alive and moving forward and allow good feelings to get you beyond finals to accomplishment.

To all of you who are graduating this semester or in the spring such as myself, congratulations. You probably have worked hard and been through grueling and rewarding experiences alike and soon it is about to all pay off and you will resent to the real world to find your paradise.

However, never lose sight of where you came from. Remember the friends and the great experiences that have positively influenced your upbringing into adulthood. Thank those who had supported you through your finest hours and the dark times of your college career and finally, make your university proud!

And for those who still have a bit of classes left, keep on moving forward for commencement will be closer than you think. As the great coach Jim Valvano once said, “Don’t give up… Don’t ever give up.”

Tips to survive the final wave of assignments

I have a few tips to survive the final wave of assignments.

Tip 1: Do not procrastinate. Of course this is always a suggestion, but no one actually does it. I have honestly been procrastinating this semester because of the weather. It makes me not want to do anything. I just want to stay in bed all day but I can’t. I recently checked my calendar and we have three weeks left of this semester after Thanksgiving. Two weeks for the lucky students. I have many assignments, tests, and papers do the week after Thanksgiving. I became overwhelmed for a while but then I had to stop myself and take a deep breath. I realized there is enough time to complete my assignments before the week of Thanksgiving. So the week that everything is due, I can have it completed ahead of time. This will give me enough time to study for my tests the two weeks after Thanksgiving without a huge workload.

Tip 2: If you have any tests, papers, or assignments due soon try to start them whenever you have free time. What I usually do is go to classes throughout the week, stay on campus to do homework, then go home. Completing assignments throughout the week will give you time to relax on weekends. Especially doing assignments once the class is over so you won’t forget later. I understand many students work over the weekend, go to parties, or have a few days off. If you complete your work throughout the week, there shouldn’t be a lot of assignments to complete over the weekend, and you can have your free time.

Tip 3: Staying on campus is a great way to survive the wave of assignments. The library and the AIRC is always available for students to study, do assignments, or projects. Also, making a study group with classmates to meet up on campus is helpful. Staying on campus gives you the choice of actually doing your work. Going home is too distracting. Your bed will look so comfortable, there are so many good movies and shows on television, and roommates are distracting. Just wait to go home until it’s actually time to go home.

Tip 4: The last thing I want to share is make sure you take naps throughout the day, eat a well balanced diet, and exercise if you have time. We all forget to take care of our bodies when the end of the semester comes. We go to class with sweats on, hair not done, probably four hours of sleep, and feel horrible when we wake up. Coffee is our only solution to get through the day.

The end of the semester is stressful but remember this is just another semester that will end soon. Keep a calendar in your phone with due dates and try to make a plan to where you can complete all of your assignments, projects, and papers ahead of time. Finals week will pass by faster than we know it. Good luck you all.

 

FIRST HORNET FOOTBALL VICTORY IN FIRST HOME CONFERENCE GAME

In a game that the Hornets came into without a win, turned the ball over three times and were down by 17 points going into the fourth quarter; Sacramento State won its first game (1-4, 1-1 Big Sky) by a final score of 41-38 against the Montana State Bobcats this past Saturday at Hornet Field.

The Hornets kept the game close in the first half, having the lead 7-3 after the first quarter and only trailing by three heading into halftime. Montana State scored first in the game on a 38-yard field goal from the true freshman kicker Gabe Peppenger. The score would remain 3-0 in favor if the Bobcats until junior wide receiver Isiah Hennie caught an 11-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Nate Ketteringham with 31 seconds left in the first quarter.

 Montana State would go on to score twice to pull ahead 17-7 with 10:01 reaming in the second quarter until Ketteringham threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end John McGill to bring the Hornets within three with 6:34 left in the first half. Both teams would score one more touchdown before heading into halftime and Bobcats had a three point lead at 24-21.

The Bobcats seemed to put the game away in the third quarter in which they forced Ketteringham to throw two interceptions, not allowing the Hornets to convert on a third down and Montana State scored two touchdowns while Sacramento State didn’t have a touchdown or a field goal. The score was 38-21 at the end of the third quarter and with a majority of fans leaving during and after the third quarter, the game seemed all but over. However, the Hornets still had three timeouts remaining and they began the final quarter with possession as they recovered a fumble on the 4-yard line with five seconds to go in the third quarter.

On a quick drive that only took three-and-a-half minutes, senior running back Jordan Robinson was able to score for the Hornet’s on a one-yard rush to bring them within 10. The Bobcats and Hornets would then exchange possessions, both having to punt on fourth down. Montana State had the ball once again with 8:35 remaining in the game, but after senior running back Chad Newell rushed for a first down, the Bobcats had to punt for the second possession in a row with a little under seven minutes remaining. The Hornets took advantage of keeping the Bobcats within 10 points and Ketteringham finished a two-and-a-half minute drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to redshirt sophomore Jaelin Ratliff.

Montana State would receive the ball with 4:28 left in the second half but after two first downs, the Bobcats were penalized twice for a false start and holding, which brought them to their own 24-yard line with a second down and 24 to go. The Grizzlies had to punt with 1:35 remaining and the Hornets once again took advantage of holding the Grizzlies to no points allowed.

The Hornets began their drive on their own 32-yard line and within one minute and fifteen seconds; Ketteringham threw another touchdown pass to Ratliff, this time for 15 yards, to give the Hornets a 41-38 lead with 15 seconds remaining in the game. Montana State attempted a quick drive down the field, but they were unsuccessful and the Sacramento State Hornet’s football team earned their first win of the season and defeated the Montana State Bobcats for the first time since 2005. 

Ketteringham completed 34-of-54 pass attempts for 356 yards and threw for four touchdowns. Jordan Robinson had eight rush attempts for 60 yards and two rushing downtowns. Jaelin Ratliff led all receivers with seven receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns, both were the final two touchdowns of the game.           

Sacramento State will play again at home to face the North Dakota Fighting Hawks (3-2, 2-0 Big Sky) this Saturday at 6 p.m. This will also be the homecoming game for the Hornets.

           

ASI? What’s that?

Did you know that each month ASI hosts a legal aid to give free one-on-one information to students? Did you know that their is a collection of students that work year round to advocate for student rights and access to a quality education? Did you also know, ASI runs the on-campus Food Pantry for students in need?

The truth is, you might have known these things, but you might not have. There are many things that ASI offers students on campus that you may not have known even existed, but have the opportunity to utilize every day. Associated Students Incorportated, or ASI for short, is a 501c3 non-profit corporation. “501c3” is a fancy financial classification that puts the organization into a non-profit category according to its size. ASI is run for students and by students. Each student at Sacramento State pays $66 into ASI every semester in order to run the various programs and services that it hosts such as the ASI Aquatic Center, Safe Rides, Peak Adventures, KSSU radio, the on-campus Food Pantry, ASI Children’s Center, and many more. Not only do they run programs and services that any and all students can utilize, but ASI also hosts events to bring the campus community together. Last month, ASI hosted its annual Block Party where students could interact with on-campus resources, play games, win prizes, eat food, and enjoy great music. All students are invited and encouraged to take advantage of events and resources ASI provides to add to their quality of life during their college career.

Not only are these ASI programs and services your resources, but there are ASI reps that are resources as well. At the heart of this organization is student representation on the ASI Board of Directors. The board is comprised of students and on-campus representatives and advisors that make decisions in order to help drive the campus community forward and be a voice for students. The structure of the board is fairly standard. There are 8 students elected by their peers to represent a particular college/population on campus (ex. College of Arts & Letters, College of Business Admin, Graduate Studies etc.). These individuals work closely with the Dean of their college, the clubs/organizations affiliated with the college, and their students in order to help make appropriate decisions on their behalf. Also on the board are 5 executive officers (President, Executive VP, VP of Finance, VP of University Affairs, VP of Academic Affairs). These executives work with the college directors on the board to move the organization and campus forward as a collective force.

At any point in your career here at Sac State, if you need help scheduling classes, you want to start a club, you need a help from a student that understands your needs, or you simply want to get involved, reach out to a board member! These students are here for you. Each week they host office hours in the union and around campus specifically to be there for you to access. They go to committee meetings, they go to club meetings, events, fundraisers, rallies, all to better serve students. Be sure to reach out to them, they are there for you.

In order for you to get a better idea of the wide breath of programs, services, and resources ASI provides to Sac State students, stay tuned each week to learn more about what ASI is really about and the people that work so hard to better the lives of students.

If you are interested in getting involved in ASI or have any questions, check out the ASI website at http://www.asi.csus.edu or contact me at asibusdirector@csus.edu for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction-How to Adult Series

We live in the age of instant gratification, short attention spans, and even shorter sighted goals. The myriad of distractions available have such a hold on our generation—mind you, I am no exception— they can and often do usurp from our minds all things uninteresting and dull. What motivation do we have to spend any amount of thought on the practical when the time could be passed scrolling through social media while watching Netflix and simultaneously Facetiming our S.O.? It is human nature to take the path of least resistance, and we see this played out most dramatically in the lives of us young adults.  The problem is a snow-balling self-fulfilling prophecy; as college students we are aware it is happening, we understand that each moment willingly spend on the readily available distractions does nothing to improve the quality of self, yet we do not resist. That new cat video on YouTube is still more interesting after 30 views than some article about the election, or the pile of homework that never seems to go away, right? Arguably the most depressing part of that idea is not that we are such terrible people who don’t find academics and learning interesting, it is that no one creating curriculum tries very hard to make it interesting—or even relevant half the time.
As a collective, college students are stuck on a cycle of ‘memorize, regurgitate, forget’ and are unwittingly perpetuating the assignment of tasks that can be depressingly menial, all in order to beget knowledge that often times is never interesting enough to file past short-term memory. It is my hope though, that knowledge and learning that has a practical application to life will have ability to hold our interest in a way that a teacher telling us something is relevant does not.
All that being said, I am going to endeavor to do something here that should have begun in grade school. In a series of Blogs I will attempt to share important life skills—knowledge that will actually benefit the life of a college student, or anyone—in a brief and hopefully interesting way. It is my hope that these short, beneficial lessons on ‘How to Adult’ will be able to contend with those ubiquitous distractions and impact in a meaningful way.
Join me here on the KSSU Blog for our first instalment next week: ‘How to Adult: Establishing a Credit Score’ which will be a precursor to our second article ‘How to Adult: Improving a Credit Score’.

Get the Most out of Sac State

The first week of the fall semester has come and gone and is now in full swing. If you’re like me you’re juggling school life, work life, and your personal life; and finding the balance has proven trickier than running simple planning in your mind. Just a quick tip: use the calendar widget on your smart device to set reminders! But however busy you may be, at least make your time on campus worth while to make for a great semester. Whether you are an incoming freshman, transfer student, or on your way out as a senior, there is plenty of opportunity to get involved with an organization on campus. Using community organizations as networking platforms increases your chances of landing a career in the field that you’re most interested in, and regardless of what major you’re in, there is a group, club or society that is just right for you! If you were too busy to catch up with a club in the quad for the first week, Associated Students Inc. is a great way to get involved on campus, or just to obtain information on the wide variety of clubs on campus. ASI programs include Safe Rides and KSSU radio, but as mentioned earlier, most majors have a group to join. For instance, the Sacramento Anthropological Society (SAS), the Hornet Film Society, The State Hornet Newspaper, or you can venture off campus to groups at the aquatic center, like the Sac State Rowing Club, or contact the friendly folks at The Well sports complex to see what sporting clubs are currently offered. Whatever you might be interested in, whether it involves your major or not, seek out the opportunities to get involved and make new friends on and off campus, because your future really does depend on it.

KSSU Celebrates 25 years of Student Run Radio

Sacramento, CA: KSSU, Sacramento State’s student run radio, turns 25 years old this semester. Although the actual anniversary is on May 14th, the official celebration is slated for April 15th in the University Union from 10:00am to 8:00pm.

KSSU is an online radio station that broadcasts live 24/7 on KSSU.com. It is run entirely by Sac State students. Being the only student radio station of Sacramento State, KSSU provides the opportunity for Sac State students to learn about broadcast media with no prior experience necessary. KSSU is a non-commercial and free format radio station, which allows students the ability to express themselves with each show. This brings a diverse selection of programming to the station, which reflects the diverse interests of the Sac State student body. KSSU is a Student Engagement and Outreach (SEO) program of Associated Students, Inc., (ASI) at Sacramento State. For more information on KSSU and its history, go to kssu.com/about.

The celebration of being a radio station on campus for 25 years will happen throughout the day on April 15th in the University Union. KSSU alumni will be taking over the airwaves in honor of the anniversary. Various alumni from the past 25 years will program radio shows throughout the day for all to listen on KSSU.com. Some highlights of the day include: a student-produced video presentation on KSSU’s history, and a panel discussion with the founders Jim Bolt and Chris Prosio. At their panel discussion, the founders of the station will discuss their journey to start what is now known as KSSU. Following the panel discussion will be a Q&A. At the conclusion of the day, there will be a reception for attendees. Music will be provided by KSSU Alumnus, DJ Mappquest. The reception also features a photo booth. Food will be provided by Epicure Catering. A photo slideshow highlighting the achievements of KSSU alumni will be on display. The specific schedule for the day is as follows:

• In-studio sessions with KSSU Alumni: 10:00am – 3:00pm, 5:00pm – 8:00pm, live on KSSU.com.
• Panel discussion and presentation with KSSU Founders: Jim Bolt and Chris Prosio: 3:30pm – 5:00pm, Delta Room in the University Union
• Reception: 6:15pm – 7:45pm, University Union Ballroom 1.

More on KSSU: To stay updated with the anniversary and KSSU, follow us on social media. Follow @KSSUsparky on Instagram and Twitter or like KSSU, Sac State Student Run Radio on Facebook. Go to KSSU.com for more information and to listen to KSSU live.  

 

Introducing DJ Rivers

Hey there! My name is Angelina, otherwise known as DJ Rivers. I am a new DJ here at KSSU and excited to be a part of this awesome community.

Since I am a newbie here, I think its best that I properly introduce myself. I am a second year student at Sac State, but I am a junior (hopefully graduating next year) majoring in communication and minoring in business. All those advanced placement tests in high school let me skip a year in school and I’m incredibly thankful for it. Sac State offers so many opportunities and I am gladly taking advantage of this one here at KSSU. I’ve loved my experience here thus far and look forward to getting more involved on campus.

Now let’s get a little more personal!

Beautiful Noise, Exquisite Tastes, and Creative Minds: The Complete TBD Fest 2015 Experience

This past weekend TBD Fest has left a mark of music, art, design, food, and ideas in the city of Sacramento. The festival drew in thousands of diverse people, locals and visitors alike, to experience the unique Sacramento festival that is TBD.

To start off, this weekend was incredible. Everything from the acts to the food was something to look back on. The lineup fit the flow of the weekend; starting Friday off with bang, reaching a pinnacle of epicness on Saturday, and concluding with a sure sense of satisfaction on Sunday       (sorry for the tongue twister).

 

Festival Grounds

A vital part of any festival is to get a feel of where you will be for the next few days. The first thing to do is find a schedule and a map. They weren’t readily available, but the customer service tent had no problem handing out printed schedules (nothing too fancy, just a print out). Since there was no map, the only option was to explore the grounds.

Having fun with the displays!

The grounds weren’t too vast and the layout was simple: a main stage on opposing sides with smaller stages near them. In between there was the “Rise + Create” space. A vendor village, complete with local vendors selling food, drinks, art, and clothing. All the food and drink being carefully crafted, the clothes being hand-made or hand-pressed, and beautiful pieces of art being created. This section of the festival truly shows the creative and tasteful minds of Sacramento. Near and around the “Rise + Create” space there were some awesome displays. Changing pillars of light, painted pyramids, murals, and the great display by PORTAL SAC. the perimeters of the grounds had the bars and food trucks. The festival even had it’s own giant ferris wheel (which all the proceeds from went to helping those recently affected by the California wildfires). There was a lot to see and do at TBD Fest besides watch the musical acts.

 

Demolicious Derby

If none of the musical acts were catching your attention or it was just too hot for you to be standing outside, then the “Demolicious Derby” was the place to go! It took place under a shaded tent with a nice patch of grass (I’m assuming so none of the dirt or dust flies into your food). It’s a cook off between two Sacramento chefs of the fine dining scene. They both have to use a certain ingredient. They also have to cook and serve out of a food truck. The food was completely free and completely delicious.

While waiting for the food, festival goers could watch the cooking from a live video feed screened on a large screen outside. The visuals and smells would make the audience even more hungry. Some moves such as adding the spice would make the audience “ooo” and “ahh.” A comedic MC would be hosting the event so it’s not just two dudes cooking food. Attendees would have to partake in both dishes and place their used forks in their respective choices. Both competitors were always good and humble chefs.

A little example of a cook off: both chefs had to use lamb. One made street tacos, but instead of a tortilla, he a used flattened and fried pork bun. The other made a greek style lamb poutine. Drooling yet? We were.

 

The Music

As mentioned  earlier, each day had a lineup that made a great flow for the weekend. Little disclaimer: I’m not really a big fan of EDM, so I didn’t catch much of the DJ sets.  

Toro Y Moi

Friday was explosive. The first artist was the band, Cathedrals. With their chill, new wave sound, and heavy bass, Cathedrals gave the crowd something great to vibe to. Then I was able to catch Towkio, Chicago based rapper associated with Save Money and Vic Mensa. Even though the crowd didn’t know the words, Towkio and his DJ were able to pump up the crowd. Head back to the main stage and you would be able to catch the dreamy set of Toro Y Moi. This was one of the artists I was looking forward to watching the most, and they did not disappoint. Playing a good blend of the newest album, What

Tyler, The Creator

for?, and their older stuff, the set was great. Ty Dolla $ign got the entire crowd dancing or jumping to his songs. The best part of his set was when he pulled out a bass and started groovin out (I didn’t know he could even play instruments). He was even able to stage dive into the crowd during the end of his set. The only EDM set I caught on Friday was some of was RL Grime’s. Playing a heavy trap set for the festival, he had everyone moving. The craziest crowd goes to the set of Sacramento native, Death Grips. The experimental industrial noise rap group made the biggest mosh pit of the weekend, bringing the first big dust cloud into the air. Being in the mosh, I breathed in a little too much dirt. The night ended with Tyler the Creator bringing  energy to the stage. Although he couldn’t bring the visuals he wanted, the set was still crazy. The crowd moshed, jumped, and sang along to the words. It wouldn’t be a Tyler the Creator set without his comedic side comments. The day really set the mood for the rest of the weekend.

Chance the Rapper

Saturday was big. With the longest day of TBD Fest, there was a lot to do. Although the day was spent mostly walking around the grounds, eating, and hanging out, all the musical acts were great. Dark pop duo, ASTR, started the day off for me. They gave an electrifying performance with some heavy bass hits, melodic scales and licks, and some crazy dance moves. I even had the pleasure of interviewing them backstage (interview coming soon, really cool people). Joywave, an electronic indie band, drew one of the larger crowds for the small stages. Before playing, they took time to perfect their sound and it was worth it. The crowd was very responsive with each song and it was awesome to be apart of. Ratatat was one of my favorites for the weekend. The electric guitar duo had holograms and lasers, putting on one of the best visuals for the weekend. Porter Robinson had some nice visuals as well. Although I couldn’t really vibe to the music, he still put on a good show equipped with anime graphics and massive confetti shots. The crowd loved it. I was able to catch the tail end of Magic Man’s set on the opposing small stage. Although there weren’t that many people watching the set, they still gave it their all and ended with their hit, Paris. Chance the Rapper was the main act I was looking forward to for the whole weekend. The set was amazing. He came with his full band, Donnie Trumpet and The Social Experiment, which made for a much fuller sound. The visuals weren’t top notch, but it didn’t matter because the music and energy put out from the performance was, to me, the best for this weekend. Sing alongs, jumping around, crowd participation, amazing trumpet solos, it had it all. Even though he admit to go out of order of their intended set due to excitement (Chance would become a father two days later) they still made it the best. Saturday had something big for fans of all different music genres.

Tears For Fears

Sunday was a great way for the weekend to wind down. Up and coming rap/r&b artist (who recently made a song with Kanye West) Post Malone put on a good five song set to start off our day. Although he has blown up due to the success of his hit song, White Iverson, Post Malone still kept it humble, and kept it entertaining. He even performed White Iverson again for his closer, having the crowd sing the entire last verse to closer. After, we were walking and on the nearby small stage, this band O began to play. They were able to keep us and the others for their whole set. They’re an indie band from San Francisco, do check them out. I was sad to have missed Dr. Dog and A Place to Bury Strangers due to attending a Demolicious Derby, but I heard the sets were amazing. Right when we got to A Place to Bury Strangers, the lead singer had just smashed his guitar to end his set. Sad to have missed that, but it was on to the 90’s alt rock band, Dinosaur Jr.! Although they are getting old, they can still play flawlessly. With great

Madeon

tunes and heart reaching solos, Dinosaur Jr. had a high-caliber set. After, Black Lips took the smaller stage. This goofy garage rock outfit from Georgia had a really fun set. After some jokes and moshing ensued, it was time for the OG (an older act, usually more famous in the 80’s)  headliner (every festival has to have one amiright?), Tears for Fears! Watching their set was like jumping back into the past, a time where most of the people attending TBD were either not alive or too young to go to a concert. Of course, the crowd sang along to classic hits such as Everybody Wants to Rule the World and their closer, Shout. They even surprised the audience with a slower yet full version of Creep by Radiohead. Madeon electrified the crowd as the last EDM performance of the weekend. I had to jump around a few times for that performance. I wasn’t able to stay, but I heard and read that crowd favorite Chromeo properly wrapped up TBD Fest with their funky tunes.

 

Closing Remarks

Overall, TBD Fest is a must-go for anyone in Sacramento, the surrounding Northern California area, or anyone in the world that wants to have a good time. Although not as big as famous festivals such as Cochella, TBD Fest is able to provide some of the top acts in music today in a comfortable yet enthralling environment. Everyone from the acts to the volunteers to the workers to the security to everyone else helped make this weekend what it was. It wasn’t just  about the music, but about the local artistic minds and tastemakers coming together to bring entertainment to Sacramento. It’s exactly what this city needs, a positive driving force in today’s creative culture.

 

 

Check out our mini Instagram Vlogs of the Festival!

If you liked this article, be sure to tune into KSSU.com on Wednesdays from 6:00pm-7:00pm for the 30/30! 30 minutes of music followed by 30 minutes of talk with me, Jerel Labson! 

Also be sure to follow my personal blog, jmbldup.wordpress.com!