Saint Louis University students filled the Busch Student Center ballroom on Jan. 14 for Vibe, a high-energy concert hosted by the Student Activity Board featuring Matt Bennett and Neon Trees.
The event, part of the Student Activity Board’s ongoing effort to bring large-scale entertainment to campus, combined DJ-driven crowd interaction with a full live band performance. Matt Bennett opened the evening with his Party101 DJ set, a show concept he has taken to several college campuses across the country.
Bennett is best known for his role as Robbie Shapiro on Nickelodeon’s “Victorious,” but in recent years has built a career as a DJ and live performer. His shows blend recent pop hits and throwbacks and heavily feature audience participation.
Bennett leaned fully into that interactive style at SLU, handing out coconuts to students and tossing bananas into the crowd during his set. A few lucky event-goers, including SLU student Maya Sarkis, got to take their coconut home with them.
“It was an absolute blast. I didn’t know what to expect from the opener, but hearing a lot of nostalgic tunes was really fun,” Sarkis said.
When asked what she did with her prize, Sarkis said, “My friend and I made virgin Pina Coladas. It was delicious. I think I talked about it for two days.”
Earlier that afternoon, Bennett was also seen handing out vegetables to SLU students ahead of the concert, a surprise moment that added to the playful tone surrounding his visit to campus.
Following Bennett’s set, Neon Trees took the stage to close out the night. The alternative pop band, formed in Provo, Utah, is best known for blending sounds of new wave, pop and rock.
Neon Trees rose to prominence in the early 2010s with hits like “Animal” and “1983” and has continued touring and releasing music over the past decade.
During their performance, the band put a creative spin on their catalog, including a remix of their song “Secret” that incorporated lyrics from Sabrina Carpenter’s “Taste” and Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club.”
Neon Trees ended the night with their biggest hit, “Everybody Talks,” inviting the audience to sing along. Students shouted the lyrics back to the band, bringing the concert to a high-energy close.
