Big Blue Bash brings the rain

Jenna Murphy / Contributor / The USD Vista

On any given Friday night, Torero Way is a ghost town. Few students walk the campus, as many are elsewhere getting started on their weekend plans. Yet this past Friday, the Torero Program Board (TPB), brought the weekend fun to USD.

TPB is the primary coordinator for USD’s annual Big Blue Bash, which takes place each year during Homecoming and Family Weekend. This year, the parking lot across from the Torero Store was transformed into a fairground. Walking through a purple-hued tunnel, students made their way into the parking lot, decorated with lit-up palm trees and hanging lights. This year there was free catering from the Habit, Stacked, and Afters Ice Cream.

Along with great food, Big Blue Bash offered activities such as bungee trampolines and virtual reality simulations. And if this wasn’t enough already, there was also a live concert. All of this and more, right on Torero Way.

An attraction that gained the attention of many people at the fair was the virtual reality simulator. Putting on a headset that resembles binoculars, one is placed in a virtual reality. In the simulator, the viewer is transported from where they once stood into a whole new world. What first appears before them is the interior of an elevator. Using a remote to press the “up” arrow on the elevator, the viewer is then taken to the highest floor of a city skyscraper. The elevator door opens to reveal a wooden plank that juts out of the elevator. The only option is to walk the plank and jump off the building. Although in reality you are in the parking lot of USD, through the lens of the headset you feel as though you are truly jumping off a building. The simulator makes this experience feel all too real, despite the viewer being fully aware that what they are experiencing is merely a simulation. Sophomore student Kelly Faenza commented on the virtual reality simulator made available for usage at Big Blue Bash.

“It was very weird,” Faenza said. “I didn’t expect it to actually feel like I was somewhere else but it truly felt like I was jumping off a building. It was terrifying!”

While this particular event may sound like a stressful experience, the overall atmosphere of the night was relaxing, featuring live music from Tribal Theory and J-Boog. Both artists have a soulful, reggae sound that set the mood for a high-spirited and enjoyable night.

Guitarist performs at USD for Big Blue Bash 2018.
Photo Courtesy of Zoe Morales/The USD Vista

For those unfamiliar with Tribal Theory, the local San Diego band describes their music as “the fusion of their Pacific Island culture with the feel good vibes of Reggae, grittiness of Urban Ska, and the soulful harmonies of R&B.” Their urban reggae style has led them to headline in performances all over the world, including Hawaii, Guam, and Eastern Asia. They describe their sound as “not just music, it’s a lifestyle.”

The four-man band came on stage first, singing popular songs such as “Stuck in the Middle” and “Cali Love,” to name a few. Their high-energy performance created a festive atmosphere that attendees enjoyed throughout the night. Not only Torero students, but their parents as well danced to the beat of the music.

After performing for about an hour, Tribal Theory introduced J-Boog to the stage.

J-Boog is a singer who fuses R&B, hip hop, and rock. Originally from Compton, Calif., his fascination with reggae music inspired him to write his own songs early on in life. After a move to the island of Hawaii in 2005, J-Boog entered into a contract with Hawaii’s Wash House Records label and in 2011 released his self-titled EP. Three months later, he released his first successful album titled “Backyard Boogie.” His EP and album featured some of his most popular songs like “Sunshine Girl” and “Let’s Do it Again,” both of which he performed at Big Blue Bash. Known for his Hawaiian and Pacific Islander reggae style, his music has a unique and refreshing care-free sound.

About halfway through Tribal Theory’s performance Friday night, the clouded sky began to shower on the university event. The light drizzle turned into heavy rain and lightning storms by the time J-Boog came on stage. With only a small amount of people planning for the weather and bringing umbrellas, the crowd became soaked in a matter of minutes. The weather could have easily put a damper on the concert, but the crowd embraced it, dancing in the rain and singing along to J-Boog’s acoustic version of his hit song “Let’s Do It Again.” USD sophomore Emma Valdiserri speculates that the weather may have been part of the reason there wasn’t as big of a turn-out as last year.

“The rain was a bummer,” said Valdiserri. “J-Boog was good but I think his music and vibe didn’t attract as many students as last year’s artist B.O.B. But overall it was very fun to go and hear him play!”

Despite the weather, the night was a success, filled with a wide array of different activities and events for everyone to enjoy. Perhaps the laid-back and carefree musical style of the performers that night helped everyone to relax, go with the flow, and embrace a little rain.