By the time pop-rock star Gavin DeGraw took the stage on Wednesday evening, many Loyola students had already seen the musician in person.
Before his show on Nov. 2, DeGraw socialized with students at Alumni Gym and a local bar.
When he took the stage at around 9:30 p.m., approximately 2,500 eager students had packed the Gentile Center, ready to hear him play. The line to enter the concert began early in the afternoon and by the time the doors opened at 7 p.m., students had formed a line that circled the St. Ignatius statue several times. Some students even made signs for DeGraw.
Before his performance, DeGraw spent time around the Loyola campus and surrounding area. While playing a game of basketball, senior Chris Nelson, along with three other LU volleyball players, saw DeGraw shooting around in Alumni Gym. According to Nelson, his friend Chris Kozlarek spotted DeGraw and said, "That's Gavin DeGraw! Lets ask him if he wants to come play with us."
DeGraw then proceeded to play with Nelson and the other volleyball players for an hour and a half.
"He was a defensive stopper and was pretty good," Nelson said.
He was later seen at Brunos and Tim's Lounge on Sheridan Road and was there until minutes before he went on stage.
"Gavin DeGraw came over with a Loyola security guard as his bodyguard," bartender Marty Halston said. "His friends handed him a drink, he talked to some kids and then walked out."
DeGraw's performance following his trip to Bruno's was an enjoyable experience for students, including freshman Stephanie Snow.
"I absolutely loved the concert," Snow said. "I kind of wish I could have gotten his autograph at the end, but I couldn't afford a T-shirt for $25. Other than that, I had a really great time. Gavin is totally awesome."
The concert opened with Southland, a California-based band. Most seemed to enjoy the concert despite the break between the opening performance and DeGraw.
Many students, including freshman Maria DeGaetano, were enthusiastic about the opportunity to hear a popular artist for $5. "I was really happy that we had the chance to go see a known artist on campus for such a reasonable price," DeGaetano said. "The only downside was the wait between the opening act and Gavin."
Sophomore Nick Bryden, concert chair for Campus Life Union Board, said that the arrangements for the concert had been in the works for awhile. "The process for choosing an artist started back in May of this year. The Concert Committee along with the Executive Board of the Campus Life Union Board made a list of artists that they would like to see on campus," Bryden said. "From there we work from the top of that list down and see the feasibility of bringing each artist to campus. Gavin DeGraw was chosen because with the realistic options we had, we thought he would best fit the entire Loyola community."
The choice was successful in terms of the student reception.
"It's really cool that Loyola brings people like Gavin DeGraw to campus for the students,"freshman Rachel Gengler said. "I'd like to see more concerts in the future."
DeGraw performed several of his popular songs, including "I Don't Wanna Be" and "Chariot."
"Gavin DeGraw put on a great show," freshman Nicole Dawson said. "He did a good job of including the audience in his performance. The rather small venue made the show seem more personalized."
Junior John Hetland thought DeGraw gave an excellent performance.
"Gavin was awesome. I am a straight male and at the end of the night I thought hewas a hottie," Hetland said. "All the girls that did not like him before the concert fell inlove with him during it.
"The energy was good ... and it was one of the bigger crowds I have seen there," Hetland said.
Though some were complimentary of DeGraw's energy, others were less impressed with his performance.
"I remember at one point I couldn't even hear him singing. [ screaming," freshman Jessica Anthony said. "I know Gavin is amazing in concert usually [because] I've been to five [shows] before. I just feel that this one was a little too high-strung for me."
Others, such as freshman Cindy Cook, appreciated his energy and enthusiasm. "You could tell he was passionate about what he was doing," Cook said. "He just loved performing and we just naturally loved watching and singing with him."
After the concert, DeGraw completed his tour of Rogers Park at Hamilton's Bar and Grill on Sheridan Road. He arrived at approximately 12:45 a.m. and stayed until the bar closed. He signed autographs and took pictures with fans.
Senior Hilary Stromath was about to leave the bar until she saw DeGraw walk in the door.
"I thought that it was pretty sweet of him to come to a local establishment like Hamiltons," Stromath said. "He came in and signed autographs and I thought it was especially rad when some girl asked him to sign her breasts."
Stromath also said that she also enjoyed the concert.
"He sang really well and got the crowd involved," Stromath said. "He sang my favorite song, 'Chariot.'"
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