As college can become extremely stressful, especially when midterms and finals always seem to creep up on everyone, it is important for all students to always find downtime to relax and find fun in the mundanity. However, as college students, having a night out in Downtown Los Angeles or Melrose is not always affordable or easily accessible as we would like. Thankfully, UCLA students may not have to look further out, but instead take a deeper look into what their school has to offer. Perhaps what students are looking for isn’t so out of reach, but something they walk by every day, yet simply goes unnoticed. Introducing a band of student musicians who host small concerts and gigs here at UCLA Fowler — 9 Ball.
From remixing renowned songs such as “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer and “Kingston” by Faye Webster, to showcasing some of their own composed songs, 9 Ball is a group of student musicians who work to host small gigs here at UCLA for students to ease their mind and rewind with friends or just by themselves.
They performed in an outdoor amphitheater right outside the Fowler Museum at UCLA, the area was dimly lit only by the stage lights, surrounded by crisp air and enclosed by trees beneath the setting sun. The atmosphere was a perfect spot for students to relax and take a breather to look around. Their music consisted of lo-fi and R&B — the perfect mood for students to decompress and socialize with their friends at the sunsetting hour.
Students came by in groups after a long, chaotic day of classes, and some parents and grandparents were also spotted as they join to enjoy the quiet serenades and romantic atmosphere. Students who were walking back to the campus dorms could be spotted dropping in for a quick minute or two to enjoy the music and see what all the hustle was about. Other students stopped by just by themselves and enjoyed a quiet moment with the ambient music.
Cheers and words of encouragement could be heard from the crowd as the musicians interacted with their audience. The interactions between the musicians and the audience made the experience an interactive and engaging performance, allowing students to destress instead of just experiencing an ordinary concert where live music is performed.
The connection between the audience and musicians made up a friendly ambience and provided a sense of casualness, allowing students to fully unwind and for everyone to be brought together.
Drop by this community to enjoy a live concert hosted by Bruin musicians to wrap up your hectic night on a serene note.
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Featured Image Photographed by Siena Hunt/BruinLife
