Students, some in costume, kicked off their Halloween night at the Student Union Ballroom, where they saw WHUS Radio’s annual Mischief After Dark concert on Saturday. The concert started at 5 p.m. and featured performances from two bands, Whisper Doll and Ovlov.
The first band to play was Whisper Doll, a dream pop band based out of New York City. At first a solo project by lead singer Fiona Tagami, she soon met her future bandmates while playing in New York City; drummer Shawn Majeed, guitarist Maya Lagman and bassist Julia Chrzanowski. All four joined forces to create their first record, “Lucky Clover,” named after Tagami’s cat Lucky.
Whisper Doll arrived at the University of Connecticut for the last stop of their album release tour. After playing shows all around the U.S. the band appreciated all the people who came out to support them during their shows.
“It’s nice to just see people come out just for the music. It’s been very sweet,” Majeed said in an interview with WHUS.
In an interview with Ones To Watch, the band said “Lucky Clover” came from the time they were trying to find whimsy in their life. When asked how they bring this feeling into their lives, Tagami talked about “noticing the small things in your day-to-day that make you feel happy and grouping all of those things together to make you kind of feel grateful for life.”
Tagami, Lagman and Chrzanowski took to the stage dressed up as characters from “Alice in Wonderland.” The audience were treated to a selection of songs from their latest album, like “Bluebells” and “I dream next to you,” and the band’s first live cover, “Dreams” by The Cranberries.
Ali Bokhari, a third semester acting student, thought Majeed’s drumming stood out during the set.
“What really captured my ears, my imagination, was the drummer,” Bokhari said. “I don’t know how to explain it, but the drummer played his drum set and played what he was supposed to do with such vigor and intensity.”
Bokhari also liked the work and creativity people put into their costumes, having seen people dressed as Spider-Punk and Doctor Octopus from “Spider Man,” along with an Éowyn costume from “Lord of the Rings”
“When people really, really try, it’s great to see. It really shows you how creative people are,” Bokhari said.
After Whisper Doll’s set, there was a break in the action as attendees took part in a costume contest. Aspiring participants could put their names down for either the best solo or couples costume and attendees would vote on their winners.
Spider-Punk took home the prize for best solo costume, while a couple dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Fox from “Fantastic Mr. Fox” took home best couples costume. Contest winners went home with concert posters signed by Whisper Doll and Ovlov.
Headliner Ovlov soon took the stage to perform their set. Formed in 2008, the Connecticut-based shoegaze band features the three Hartlett brothers; Steve on vocals and guitar, Theo on drums and Jon on bass along with their longtime friend Morgan Luzzi on guitar as well.
Ovlov’s set brought a lot of energy to the SU Ballroom, as people started jumping around to their frenetic playing. One audience member even joined the band on stage and played guitar for the song “Strokes” off their 2021 album “Buds.”
Leo Pagano, a seventh semester computer science major, didn’t hear about Ovlov until the concert but loved their set.
“They’re doing an amazing job, just amazing vibes,” Pagano said. “I’m thoroughly impressed by them.”