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Hellogoodbye

Power-pop band to visit GVSU

By Haley Otman GVL A&E Editor
3/11/2009

Google Hellogoodbye, and there are 1,540,000 results.

It may seem impossible, but Grand Valley State University students will have a chance to see the popular power-pop band right on campus - and one lucky person will win a guitar autographed by the band members.

The five-man group will play at GVSU on Wednesday, with opening act Sullivan Skye.

"We're really excited to play with Hellogoodbye; they seem like really cool guys and we're pumped about the show," said Paul Kiger, a member of the GVSU student band Sullivan Skye, which has previously performed with the Taking Back Sunday.

Hellogoodbye will be brought to campus by the Music Committee of Spotlight Productions, GVSU's programming board.

Alicia Dembinski, the music chair of Spotlight Productions, said they are confirming the band's travel plans, and confirming the final details with Hellogoodbye's agent.

Travis Head, the band's bassist, said he loves playing at colleges because the event planners are always really accommodating.

"Everybody's just so welcoming and stuff at a college," he said.

Plus, colleges usually give them everything they request; usually items such as chips, drinks, hummus and pitas, peanut butter and jelly - "normal kid food," Head said.

Hellogoodbye's keyboard player Joe Marro said concert guests should expect to hear the band's staple songs, in addition to, most likely, two new songs.

Marro's current favorite, "You Sleep Alone," will be one of the new songs audience members will not have had a chance to listen to before the concert. The other new song, "The Thoughts That Give Me the Creeps," is available for purchase on iTunes in the band's "Ukulele Recordings" EP.

Hellogoodbye will likely play their most popular song, "Here (In Your Arms)" at the concert as well.

"People just go nuts for that song," Head said. "I don't know if the band would be where it is now without that single."

Even though he has played it so often, Head said he does not get sick of it because of the positive response it draws from audiences.

With less than a week before the concert, Spotlight's Music Committee is busy not only ironing out the details, but also working hard on promoting the show.

"We're expecting a good turnout," said Courtney Jones, the president of Spotlight Productions.

She added they already sold close to 1,000 tickets before spring break.

Dembinski said they are shooting for 2,500 people to attend the concert.

At the show, guitarist Forrest Kline will play a brand new Hagstrom guitar.

After the show, the band members will all sign the guitar, and one lucky guest will win the guitar.

The winner will be decided via a raffle, which is free to enter with a valid ticket.

Sullivan Skye will open the show at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, followed by Hellogoodbye at 9 p.m.

The show will be at the Fieldhouse Arena on GVSU's Allendale Campus.

Tickets cost $5 for GVSU students, $10 for GVSU faculty, staff and alumni and $15 for the general public.

They can be purchased at the 20/20 desk in the Kirkhof Center, or at http://starticketsplus.com.

arts@lanthorn.com

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