On Friday, the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center hosted “Sound of Champaign,” a concert featuring some of the most well-known acts from the local music scene. 

While some house show venues, such as Walugi’s Mansion, have faced closures in recent weeks, there still remains a thriving music scene in the C-U area. 

This event was organized by Jack Hsiao-Wecksler, senior in FAA, as part of his senior capstone project. 

“I’m basically making a live album out of this concert tonight,” Hsiao-Wecksler said. “We’re going to record it, and I’m going to mix and master and then that’s what I’m going to turn in for my senior capstone project.”

The lineup consisted of fan-favorite artists JayyB, Dumbed Down, Sitrus Sol, Jamere_XO, Sea of Samsara, Red’s Head, Daisy Chain and Haunted X Humans.   

Hsiao-Wecksler said that IMC and Punch Line, an RSO for promoting student bands, helped him set this project up.

“Punch Line really helped out with funding,” Hsiao-Wecksler said. “IMC has been a huge help because I interned here before, so they already knew me. They trusted me. It’s been really great.”

Hsiao-Wecksler also said he got to know the bands before he booked them for the show. 

“I built up all of these connections this year basically just working as a sound tech and a photographer around town for different house shows,” Hsiao-Wecksler said. 

The concert lineup was musically diverse, featuring artists across multiple genres: punk, alt-rock, indie and hip-hop. Cade Whitt, guitarist for Sea of Samsara, spoke about his appreciation for this.

“We’ve got more indie based acts like Sitrus Sol … Sea of Samsara plays more punk rock and alt-rock,” Whitt said. “Dumbed Down (are) pretty heavy punk rock and Daisy Chain … it’s kind of alt rock, kind of in the middle. So, some similarities for sure, but a lot of diversity in the bands and artists.”

The bands were energetic, playing both original records and punk classics. Daisy Chain, another one of the bands performing, had an especially eventful set that included an impromptu piano session and one of the members using guitar pedals while wearing clogs.

Some of the bands said they have benefited greatly from C-U’s rich culture of local house shows and the student body’s ever-growing affinity for them.

Justus Payne, one of the members of Haunted X Humans, attributed this culture to the history of the town.

“I think that’s because there’s a lot of bands here, but I also think partially because we had the American Football house, so there’s a legacy,” Payne said. 

The “American Football house” is a house on High Street in Urbana that featured on the cover of Midwest-emo band American Football’s self-titled 1999 album. 

Since the album’s release, visiting the location has become a place of pilgrimage for emo fans across campus.

“It’s almost like you’re following a tradition or following in someone else’s footsteps,” Payne said. 

While some groups like Haunted x Humans have been together since they were in high school, others discovered their future bandmates after arriving on campus. 

The members of B.A.T.T, another local band, spoke about the strong community they found with other bands that originated in the dorm Allen Hall.

“All the Allen Hall bands are kind of friends, and I guess if at least one of the bands are playing then (we) almost always go to watch their show,” said Ashvin Raghavan, a member of B.A.T.T. 

The importance for an outlet to play a diverse range of music is seen through the various events hosted throughout Urbana-Champaign. The popularity of these shows has risen and a sense of community has been built.

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