Students and Lexington community members shook off some stress in Evans Hall on March 26 as a Taylor Swift tribute band performed some of the pop star’s greatest hits from the Eras Tour.
The tribute band, “Midnight Rain,” was advertised as the No. 1 Taylor Swift Tribute Band in Virginia in their promotional materials. While performing, the band tried to match moments from the Eras Tour by chanting out some of Swift’s catchphrases and motioning for the audience to make heart hands between verses.
The Eras Tour was the highest-grossing tour of all time with over $2 billion made in ticket sales. The tour featured songs from every studio album Swift has produced, spanning 18 years of music.
“I was lucky enough to go to the Eras Tour, and the band really captured her transitions between songs,” said Katherine Eubanks, ’28. “She may not be Taylor, but she obviously had researched [Swift] really well before the performance and it was really cool to see.”
The band also aimed to mimic the Eras Tour through colored lasers that flashed to match songs’ album covers.
“This other Taylor stayed in one costume the whole time, but it was very similar to [Swift’s]. She did a good job with everything, even just coming down to her mannerisms, like the way she holds a guitar and the way she actually holds herself while she sings,” said Eubanks.
While the event was held on campus, not only Washington and Lee students attended. Many young girls were dressed in tutus and sparkly outfits and were doing cartwheels around the stage.
“It was nice to see daughters and their mothers dancing around Evans during the concert,” said Riley Spangler, ’28. “There was a lot of girlhood and camaraderie present.”
Those attending had the option to enjoy the music in different ways. Certain groups danced together on the open floor, some sat and socialized with others at tables, and some observed from afar in the back of the hall.
March was full of live music performances. On March 12, the Contact Committee brought “Austin & Ally” star and pop singer Ross Lynch to speak in University Chapel and then perform a few of his old and new songs. Later that night, the General Activities Board hosted four student bands to perform at Canaan Green for a Student Band Spotlight. The Lenfest Center for the Arts has also been hopping with multiple senior recitals, student ensemble groups and faculty performances.
“I think that it’s really fun to have live music on campus in any form. It’s just a great way to connect to friends over a love of music and also to highlight some smaller artists and give them a chance to learn about another group,” said Spangler.
