Big Blue Bash starts Homecoming weekend with a bang

Student openers and popular artists perform on Paseo de Colachis

Jenny Han / Assistant News Editor / The USD Vista

Beach balls, great music, and good vibes: these elements filled the air last Friday, Oct. 15 at the Big Blue Bash concert. Over half of the Colachis Plaza was packed by excited USD members as they sang along to “Traitor” by Olivia Rodrigo, covered by Taylor DeGuzman and Drew Felix, “Magic in the Hamptons” by Social House, and “Show Me” by Kid Ink (feat. Chris Brown). They cheered and screamed as artists filled up their presence on the huge stage underneath the brilliant spotlights. Considered to be the highlight of USD’s Homecoming Week, it was the first time that this annual event was held since 2019.

According to Ashley Montrezza, Vice-Chair of the Torero Programming Board (TPB), preparation for this concert started in June. 

“We started looking at artists, getting our budget together, kind of figuring out what direction we want to go and what the Homecoming weekend, family weekend will look like with different artists,” Montrezza said. “We work really closely with Concert Ideas (advertised as The Nation’s Leading Major Event Producer For Colleges and Universities) and they help us with budgeting, getting into contact with artists, and then we get contracts signed.” 

During this entire process, TPB focused heavily on trying to find the perfect lineup for the concert. In the end, Taylor DeGuzman (Current Editor-in-Chief of The USD Vista) and USD alumnus, Drew Felix, were chosen to start the concert off as the student openers. They were followed by Social House and then Kid Ink as the headliner. 

“We wanted a bigger name for our headliner, which is part of the reason we chose Kid Ink, just because it’s a bit of a throwback,” Montrezza said. “We also had asked Social House cause they’re a more upcoming band, which we were looking for as well to promote and help beginners out. And then, we also have Taylor for student opener and it’s really cool cause she’s the only female performer in the lineup tonight.”

 For DeGuzman, the concert and her performance with Felix was indescribable, surreal, and a “dream come true.” 

“My freshman year, I was like, I really want to be a student opener for one of these, but never really thought it could happen,” DeGuzman said. “And so, to be able to open for artists like Social House, that I’m huge fans of, was just so cool.”

Part of her preparation for the concert was spent choosing the setlist. One factor was the popularity of the songs. 

“I wanted to have a few songs where a lot of people knew it so I can hear them singing at me and draw from that energy,” DeGuzman said. She also remarked that it was also important for her to perform a few of her original songs live for the first time, as well as a song from Olivia Rodrigo who she claimed to be the number one fan of; “I am her number one fan. Unconfirmed, unofficially.” 

But for her, the biggest challenge was balancing the performance with student life. 

“I had a big paper due, I had a midterm this week. I basically work and go to school from nine to nine Monday through Wednesday, which really gave me like two days to practice,” DeGuzman said. 

Despite that, she was feeling more excited than nervous.

 “When I got up on that stage and saw how many people there were, the nerves started kicking in. But then when I started performing, and saw all my best friends in the front, it felt easy,” DeGuzman said. 

These student artists attracted a large crowd of USD members. USD sophomores, Jewlz Humphrey and Shiara Mateo, both wanted to come to support their USD Filipino community. 

“We’re both in FUSO (Filipino Ugnayan Student Organization) and we heard that Drew and Taylor would be performing. We thought it’d be really cool to see them,” Humphrey said. 

Mateo shared similar sentiments with Humphrey. “I thought it would be fun to go with my friends and thought it would be something fun to do on a Friday night.” 

The headliner also brought in many people as well. That was certainly the case for USD sophomore, Jacob Hellman. 

“Kid Ink I heard is pretty cool and I just wanted to see him,” Hellman said. 

After the concert, many students seemed both excited and exhausted. USD sophomore, Aidan Pearce, shared his concert experience.

“I thought the concert was a lot of fun. Neither Social House or Kid Ink are really artists I listen to, but it was still fun to see everyone I knew there and do something out of the ordinary like that,” Pearce said. “I did get stuck in a mosh pit and I am very exhausted from that now.”

Overall, Big Blue Bash was a success in terms of student enjoyment, excitement and attendance. One can only imagine what next year’s Big Blue Bash will be like.