Syracuse University students agree: Mae was worth the wait.

Uniquely melodic rock music filled Schine Student Center Underground on Tuesday night when the band played to a sold-out audience in a performance rescheduled from last semester.

While the Underground was only about half full when the show started at 8 p.m., a large audience filled the venue when Mae eventually came on stage. The lights dimmed and ‘Someone Else’s Arms,’ the electronic introduction to their sophomore album, ‘The Everglow,’ played when Mae graced the stage in flurry of applause and screams.

‘I thought the show was really awesome,’ said John Wurzbacher, a recent graduate of Houghton College who traveled from Rochester to see the show.

Mae’s characteristic rock sound with mellow harmonies came across thunderous and energetic in the live setting.

Kristen Pieper, a sophomore English and textual studies major, said Mae was even better than she expected.

‘They were really rocking out,’ Pieper said. ‘I was surprised how into the music they got because they don’t sound like a hardcore rock band on their CD.’

Mae played songs from both of their CDs, ‘Destination Beautiful’ and ‘The Everglow.’ Audience favorites included ‘All Deliberate Sound,’ ‘Summertime’ and ‘Soundtrack for Our Movie.’ Most of the songs were played in succession with Mae’s characteristic electronic and keyboard interludes.

While at times Mae sounded like any stereotypical rock band, their heavy use of keyboard and the electronic interludes set them apart from other rock acts.

Lead vocalist Dave Elkins seemed to connect to the audience through sung lyrics rather than spoken words. He apologized for having to cancel the show in December, but said he was happy to be performing now.

‘We are having a lot of fun onstage,’ Elkins said. ‘How are you guys doing?’ he asked the audience.

As the show continued, the audience seemed to be enjoying itself more and more. At the beginning of the show, only the first few rows bobbed along. By the middle of the show most of the audience moved to the rhythm of the music. Many people sang along with the band, eyes closed in appreciation.

While the band played loud and powerfully for most of the show, some of the best moments were when simply Elkin’s voice, the piano and a quiet cymbal tap echoed through the venue.

Mae left the stage after performing ‘Giving It Away’ to the very enthusiastic audience, who began chanting ‘Mae’ the minute the band left the stage. The chant quickly turned to ‘one more song.’ Loud clapping accompanied the chanting. After a few minutes, Mae returned to the stage.

Mae had saved two very popular songs from their sophomore album to play for the encore. Much of the audience passionately sang along to ‘The Ocean’ and ‘The Suspension.’ Some audience members swayed their cell phones in the air like lighters. When the show was over, audience members excitedly discussed the show.

‘It was amazing,’ said Pieper, who purchased tickets to the show in December. ‘The show was definitely worth the wait.’

Local bands The February and Hidden in Plain View opened the show. The two bands had a more punk rock feel than Mae, but they seemed equally appreciated by much of the audience. Many audience members jumped around during The February and Hidden in Plain View’s performances.

‘It’s cool when we get to do these university shows,’ Mike Saffert, guitarist of Hidden in Plain View, told the audience. ‘We love it.’

Melanie Dammel, a sophomore fine arts and modern languages major who came to see Hidden in Plain View, said the band really interacted with the audience.

‘The lead singer was making a lot of contact,’ Dammel said. ‘He was very personable.’

The small size of the venue gave the show an intimate feel. All of the bands took advantage of the small performance space and really tried to connect with audience. Most audience members felt the concert was a success.

‘It’s always worth the wait for a good show,’ Dammel said.

Published on February 28, 2006 at 12:00 pm