Gym Class Heroes' Concert Review

GW students and friends sang, danced, and jumped along Saturday night to the hour and a half long set by Gym Class Heroes, this year's Spring Fling headlining act.

The performance included some of the band’s most popular songs such as “Cupid’s Chokehold” and “Clothes Off”, as well as some new material from their upcoming album “The Quilt.”

During their performance of “Clothes Off,” the band asked the crowd to throw their clothing onto the stage for the collection to later be given to charity. Most of the donations were t-shirts, including many of the free lime green “fling it” shirts given to Spring Fling attendees. But lead singer Travis McCoy also happily displayed a black bra that landed among the clothes on stage.

Though lead guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo, 25, lamented that the band's last visit to Washington "sucked," he explained the importance of a performance like Saturday's.

“I think it’s good to get it out there,” said Lumumba-Kasongo, who attended Cornell University. “It’s good to reconnect with the college audience and let them know that we were in the same position ourselves.”

“I want people to know that if you follow your heart,” he said, “and put in a little bit of work, you’ll be where you want to be.”

For Tiffany Meehan, concerts chair of Program Board, the success of the concert required months of planning. After choosing a band, Meehan gave the name to a booking agent, who then submitted a bid. Once the bid went through, suspense gave way to excitement, an emotion that was tangible the day of the show.

“We’re really excited,” Meehan said before the show. “They showed up on time and we’re just really excited to have a fun band. Gym Class Heroes have a great show.”


Choosing Gym Class Heroes as the main act for Spring Fling was not an easy choice for the Concerts Committee. Meehan said the potential performer had to meet certain criteria including being someone people had already heard of, was well liked, and had been seen on television.

“We were looking at a lot of different Hip Hop bands,” Meehan said, mentioning that Lupe Fiasco and N.E.R.D. were two other acts the concerts committee considered. Both are on tour with Kanye West and unavailable.

But Saturday night, Gym Class Heroes seemed like the only band on attendees' minds. When the band left the stage after its final song, crowd cheers of “GCH, GCH, GCH!” brought the musicians onto the stage for an encore performance. Much to fans' delight, McCoy chose to perform the last song in the middle of the crowd.

By Sholeh Aixa, DailyColonial.com