Jeremy Zucker headlines second-ever Moody X-Fest
Jeremy Zucker headlined Rice’s second annual Moody X-Fest in Founder’s Court on April 19. In advance of Zucker’s set, student groups like Basmati Beats, Rice Philharmonic and BASYK performed. The festival also offered complimentary merchandise and food from Dripped Birra, Cane’s and Oh my Gogi.
Students said they appreciated this year’s outdoor venue — last year’s X-Fest was held in Tudor Fieldhouse due to inclement weather — and expanded food options.
The event celebrates the Moody Foundation’s $100 million dollar gift to Rice, which will fund construction of the new student center and support undergraduate extracurricular activities. Moody X-Fest is a part of inquiry week, which highlights research, design and creative works at Rice.
Lana Nguyen, who performed with Rice Lions, the lion-dancing team and one of X-Fest’s featured student groups, said that they were excited to interact with the audience. The Rice Philharmonic performed a cappella renditions of popular songs, including Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” and Hozier’s “Too Sweet.” It was the second year they had performed at X-Fest, and singer Taylor Stowers said she appreciated the crowd’s energy.
“It was so fun,” Stowers, a Duncan College junior, said. “The energy of the crowd was fantastic. Even at soundcheck earlier, the fact that we worked with professional equipment in there, we feel that this is a real, actual performance. We had to step up our game a little bit, but it was a really positive way.”
Zucker took the X-Fest stage at 8:30 p.m.“Who wants to cry?” he asked at the beginning of his hour-long performance, before launching into a setlist that included popular songs like “comethru,” “all the kids are depressed” and “talk is overrated.”
X-Fest was open to both undergraduate and graduate students, and Ph.D student Sandro Serpone said that he was glad that he came.
“It’s been a great event so far, the music is good, the food has been good, the environment and the atmosphere,” Serpone said.
Nithya Ramcharan, a Lovett College junior, said she wasn’t familiar with Zucker’s music prior to the concert, but understands his appeal.
“I thought it was really incredible, it was a really nice atmosphere overall and I loved how the community was brought together,” Ramcharan said. “I think he was a really good choice, because I do know he is popular among a lot of Rice students, so I think he was popular enough for there to be a good ambiance. I think he appeals a lot to college students, being a relatively young person too.”
Towards the end of his set, Zucker paused from singing to talk about his own time in college.
“Many years ago, I majored in molecular biology,” he said. “Where the science people at?” The crowd answered with a collective scream.
More from The Rice Thresher
New art opens behind Brochstein’s closed doors
The morning after a terrible storm, inspiration struck Karyn Olivier on her commute to work. In a North Philadelphia neighborhood she had driven through countless times before, a huge swath of vines and ivy had been peeled off of a concrete wall by the rain and wind, crumpling forlornly over an adjacent fence. Olivier stopped her car and took a photograph.
Observations and adjustments after Rice football falls to Charlotte
Rice football led for more than 53 minutes during Saturday’s conference battle with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, but it wasn’t enough. The Owls surrendered a touchdown with 47 seconds remaining and missed a potential game-winning field goal as time expired, falling to Charlotte, 21-20.
New RWRC directors bring ‘hot girl walks’ to campus
With new initiatives like “Hot Girl Walks,” menstrual cups and the revival of a gender-focused zine, the Rice Women’s Resource Center’s new directors say they’re making sure Rice’s women feel supported on campus.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.