Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Too Young to Drink, But Not to Rock. Echosmith Performs For Students at the Burrow Bar and Grill

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Echosmith had the crowd cheering when they performed at The Burrow on FAU’s Boca Campus on Feb. 3. 

Videography and editing by Miranda Schumes

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Ocean engineering major Peter Amirato takes a group photo with Echosmith at the photobooth. Photo by Sean Webster
Ocean engineering major Peter Amirato takes a group photo with Echosmith at the photobooth. Photo by Sean Webster

It was an unexpected, one-of-a-kind event Monday night at The Burrow Bar and Grill.

The indie-pop band Echosmith exploded on the the stage with their energetic and powerful songs to an audience of about 25 students. After the performance, the students lined up to have a chance to meet the young members of Echosmith and take photos with them.

“Just because we’re young, doesn’t mean we have to play like it,” Sydney Seriota, the lead singer of Echosmith, said during an interview after the show.

Siblings Jamie, 20, Noah, 17, Sydney, 16, and Graham Sierota, 14, showed  talent beyond their years. The band put on a frenzied pop show with Jamie shredding guitar, Noah rocking bass, Graham destroying drums and Sydney, who stood out as lead vocalist.

Freshman studio art major Jonathan Rojo takes one of the best selfies of the night with Echosmith. Photo by Sean Webster.
Freshman studio art major Jonathan Rojo takes one of the best selfies of the night with Echosmith. Photo by Sean Webster.

Before the show, the crowd seemed more interested than excited. Most students were there for other reasons than the band.

“I just came here because I wanted to eat and noticed the band sign outside and came in,” Jonathan Rojo, a junior computer science major said. “But I’m gonna stay and listen to them now because they seem interesting.”

“Karaoke. That’s why we came,” said freshman and undecided major Kristyn DeJesus. Her friend, freshman english major Raquel Hollman said. “We were just interested in hearing them. They made a big deal about them.”

At 8 p.m. lights flashed on the students who became quiet as they waited for the band to come on stage. Everyone cheered as Echosmith took the stage dressed in bright colors.

Students pack into the Burrow Bar & Grill to watch Echosmith perform. Photo by Sean Webster
Students pack into the Burrow Bar & Grill to watch Echosmith perform. Photo by Sean Webster

The band started with a bang, as each instrument intensely rolled in one by one, trying to one-up the previous instrument in their introductory song.

They opened with “Ran Off In The Night,” which set the tone for the rest of the performance: fast paced, energetic and enthusiastic. The crowd was attentive but they weren’t matching Echosmith’s energy, not yet at least.

During their next song — “Let’s Love While We’re Young” — pool players, who were focused on playing a game throughout the first song, started peeking out from behind the corner to see what was going on.

Echosmith won the audience over with their original song “Come Together.” The band put their hands together and told everyone to join in. Audience members were enthralled with Graham’s enthusiasm and Jamie and Noah’s energy as they moved in choreographed patterns on the small stage.

Echosmith performing its first song of the night for FAU. Photo by Sean Webster
Echosmith performing its first song of the night for FAU. Photo by Sean Webster

This was also the first song to highlight the lead singer, Sydney’s, voice. It was powerful, especially during the acapella segments. The bridge in the middle of the song had the audience wide-eyed, as well as seeing Jamie and Noah get to show off their talent.

During “Talking Dreams,” the crowd clapped and danced along with Echosmith, though they did cringe when the feedback sounded throughout the bar. This was a recurring problem throughout the show, but didn’t get in the way of people enjoying it.

Students were enjoying the show, some even pulling out their camera phones to record the band.

In the sixth song, “Safest Place,” the uncomfortable feedback returned. To their credit, Echosmith didn’t let it deter them. With Jamie’s guitar solo and the entire band jumping and dancing with the music, it was impossible for the crowd to do anything other than follow along.

In a moment that elicited a surprised murmur, Echosmith said they were covering the Talking Heads’ song “This Must be the Place.” In this song, Echosmith’s own style of music could be heard mashed together with the Talking Heads’ style perfectly.

Sydney Sierota, lead vocalist of Echosmith, rocking the cocktail umbrella during her performance at the Burrow Bar & Grill. Photo by Sean Webster
Sydney Sierota, lead vocalist of Echosmith, rocking the cocktail umbrella during her performance at the Burrow Bar & Grill. Photo by Sean Webster

Turning it down with a slower song, “Bright” had the crowd snapping their fingers and clapping along to the beat while still being energetic and peppy.

Then Echosmith played  the song the fans of the band had come to see.

As Sydney announced the next song as “Cool Kids,” a group of people in the crowd screamed. While the band performed their single, the crowd danced and sang along. Halfway through the performance the lead singer took out her phone and videotaped the crowd chanting the song lyrics “I wish I could be like the cool kids.”

With “Nothing’s Wrong,” they ended the show like the started it: strong. When they left the stage for the merchandise table the line to take pictures with the band and buy their album was almost outside of the bar.

Criminal justice major Sasha Ortiz said that her favorite part was when “they brought everyone to the front to join in.”

“She literally told us today,” said freshman psychology major Natalie, gesturing to her friend Natasha N, a freshman and education major. “[Echosmith] were so young and so great.”

When the crowd first walked into The Burrow, most of them only vaguely knew who Echosmith was. But after the performance, they couldn’t get enough.

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Indy-pop band Echosmith talks to the University Press about what it’s like to be a band consisting of young members.

Jamie Sierota (Guitar, Back Up Vocals)-18
Noah Sierota (Bass, Back Up Vocals) -20
Sydney Sierota (Lead Vocals)-16
Graham Sierota (Drums) -14

Videography and editing by Miranda Schumes

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