The Back Country Boys will play covers of country music songs at CHP.
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Calling all space cowboys to Centralhallapalooza at the George Roche Sports Complex parking lot this Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight.
Three student bands, Spike Jäger and the Spitfires, Schizmatics, and Runaround, will open for the headlining band, the Back Country Boys.
Sophomore Daniel Doyle, a member of the SAB promotions team and lead singer of Runaround, said that while the outdoor event, whose theme is “Space Cowboy,” will have catered food and different attractions, the central focus of CHP is the music.
“CHP is just this big party put on by SAB,” Doyle said.
Doyle said the growth of student bands has contributed to what CHP looks like today.
“Student bands have been around on campus for a long time,” Doyle said. “Now there’s so many student bands, and the level of talent in the bands is just insane. The best musicians on campus all come together and make these bands.”
Junior Matt Byrne is a singer and a bassist for both one of the opening student bands, the Schizmatics, and the professional band The Back Country Boys. He said he has been playing with the Schizmatics since his freshman year.
“They’re some of my closest friends,” Byrne said. “It’s been one of the greatest blessings of being at Hillsdale — it’s getting to play with those guys.”
Doyle said SAB does a lot of preparation for CHP far in advance, working with non-student employees of the college to reserve tents and assemble food. He said SAB holds nothing back especially for the music of CHP.
“The stage is the biggest stage that any band will play on because it’s all rented out from a professional company,” Doyle said. “The sound is incredible.”
Byrne said he looks forward to performing two sets with both of his bands.
“I think there’s definitely a subset of campus that’s been waiting for a country band that at least plays songs people know,” Byrne said.
Byrne said the Back Country Boys is mainly a country band that occasionally plays classic rock and alternatives.
“The spirit of the band is good-hearted, fun, easy listening,” Byrne said.
Bryne said some people are hesitant to listen to a cover band that sings country, but he hopes Hillsdale will give the band a chance.
“I hope that people will come watch, have fun with us,” Bryne said. “We’ll play a lot of well-known, popular music, so if that’s your thing, get ready.”
Doyle said SAB has been focusing on the creative side of designing CHP with its theme of “Space Cowboy.”
“We’re making all the backdrops, creatively making the vision come to life, where we want things to be, how we’re going to decorate it, how the lighting is going to be,” Doyle said.
Sophomore Ashlyn Linton said she doesn’t know much about space or cowboys, but she is excited regardless.
“I have no idea what to wear,” Linton said. “But it’s unique.”
Junior Abby Richardson, who co-leads the SAB events team and worked CHP last year, said the team is working on painting and designing the pieces for the event.
“On the events team side of things, we are reserving the attractions that we will have at the event,” Richardson said in an email. “I’m looking forward to seeing our creative vision come to life.”
Doyle said that the pressure is now on for Runaround to make the most of their hour of performance at CHP.
“We’ve got to deliver because you’re expected to bring it for the third spot,” Doyle said. “We’re preparing the set of our lives and making sure it’s going to be as good as we can make it.”
Doyle said he likes how CHP brings all groups on campus together to an event where everyone can have a good time.
“If someone’s playing ‘Crazy Train,’ everyone goes crazy,” Doyle said. “Having that crowd to play to is just exciting.”
Doyle said while SAB is preparing for the event, the bands will be practicing their sets like crazy as well.
“It’ll be a busy week for all of us, for sure, but it’s gonna be worth it,” Doyle said.
