A spectrum of rock music pulsed across Cal State Fullerton’s Becker Amphitheater on Thursday, transforming it into a subculture scene for students to step away from assignments for the night and recharge with live music and a lively atmosphere ahead of finals.
Red Bull and rock music mixed at Titan Radio’s biannual No Stress Fest, this time outdoors and underneath the last full moon of the year, welcoming the punk and alternative scene to campus.
“Even if you’re not really a part of the scene, or this is your first few times, it’s a really good way to express yourself,” said Toby Dennis, a participating cameraman. “This has always been a place where everyone’s been able to be themselves.”
A total of four bands took center stage: The Hart, Integra Pink, NoiseGate and Pulse. Throughout the night, each one brought its unique blend of driving rhythms to promote self-expression and community.
The rhythmic guitar strums and aggressive drumming heard from afar were hard to ignore and lured people passing by to sit in and observe, even enticing a few students to jump into the crowd and dump their pent-up emotions onto the dancefloor.
“I was going to a different thing,” said Flynn Vickrey, a fourth-year studio arts major. “But I’m glad I stumbled upon it because it’s something for me to do instead of going home and watching TV.”
The long-running event has gained traction over the years, shifting this time from indie pop to a plethora of rock music for students to immerse themselves in. Emily Lopez, Titan Radio’s general manager, mentioned that this change was strategic.
“We’re trying to make sure that we’re in tune with our audience and what’s really popular,” Lopez said. “We’re trying to alter it but also gain our numbers, gain our followers and support.”
This decision to cater to such a large student body with diverse music tastes paid off by exposing more students to the underground scene of rock music.
“I think it’s great for students to dive into different genres,” said Martin Guevara, a fourth-year international studies major. “It’s a great way for them to come together and still socialize before this stressful week.”
The debate over music’s positive influence on students’ mental health was indisputable, with several students experiencing firsthand the connections that come from listening to live performances.
“Live music feels like you’re more in a moment rather than just plugging your headphones in,” said Sean Porto, a fourth-year psychology major. “When you get to see how it’s happening, it creates a different sensation that music from your phone just can’t really convey.”
Even the artists recognized the audience’s collective energy in response to the performances, which only further amplified the lively atmosphere and worked as a mutual exchange.
In between performances, attendees check out local clothing and jewelry vendors. (Jenny Guzman / Daily Titan)
“College kids throw down the f—ing hardest,” said Eric Blay, NoiseGate’s guitarist. “So without them, we can’t have the hard bits we do.”
The show’s set list wasn’t the only thing helping students unwind. Titan Radio thought ahead and delivered free Red Bulls to guests and invited small businesses to set up shop, providing students with much-needed sweet treats and retail therapy on the outskirts of the stage.
“I respect the fact that they do this every semester,” said jewelry vendor Zoee Beaver, the owner of Boeebeads. “That first band (The Hart) was actually really good; it’s hard to make a two-piece sound full and they did a really good job.”
The crowd’s raw energy powered the show, evident in spontaneous circle pits and chants throughout the night before students checked out when the countdown to finals week resumed.