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‘Pushin P’ and going green? Gunna dominates GreenFest

By Ryan Hardison ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

To cap off an exciting week of eco-themed arts and wellness activities aimed at promoting sustainable learning, GreenFest hosted a free concert for students featuring rapper Gunna at the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre on Friday, April 8.

Usually an annual spring tradition at San Diego State, this was the first GreenFest Concert held since Daniel Caesar performed in Spring 2019. Alternative rock band Young the Giant was slated to perform at 2020’s GreenFest Concert before it was cancelled, due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. That being said, students were eager and ready for the night’s big show.

Before the concert began, GreenFest held a concert kickoff event in the Aztec Student Union where student musicians set the tone for the rest of the evening.

Starting off the festivities, a trio of SDSU student artists: alexandra!, Caleb Hampton and GONE performed at the kickoff. Before the artists graced the stage, students in the union spent their time playing air hockey, foosball and ping pong in the union while snacking on free Ike’s sandwiches and complimentary shaved ice and ice cream.

Going first, alexandra! performed a dreamy cover of Stevie Wonder’s “My Cherie

Amour” along with her song “birthday! (I’ll be alright)” and two unreleased tracks, including “mystery machine,” which references the super corny scooby-doo quip delivered by Dr. Strange in “Spiderman: No Way Home” (you know the one). Her brief set was lovely and set the tone for the great live music to come.

Hampton followed alexandra! with a performance of a few songs from his debut project “Atuk,” including “Wiseguy” and “Chains” along with several unreleased tracks, two of which he’d finished within 24 hours of his performance. He brought great intensity and passion to the stage, with his song “Pettigrew” being an instant highlight. Hampton steadily rapped his verse along with the guest verse from his friend Dre the Monarch, moving closer to the crowd and cementing himself as an engaging performer.

Finishing off the three sets, GONE sang several songs from his new EP “444,” which was released on March 8. He also performed his single “Bang My Line” which is about being in pursuit of someone who he promises to treat right. GONE’s alternative R&B sound provided a soothing, laid-back atmosphere for students to sway and groove as the sun went down over the union roof.

Following the performances in the union, the doors opened at the Cal Coast for the night’s main event.

Rap superstar Gunna performs “Poochie Gown” as fans frantically pull out their phones to take a video of his entrance at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre on Friday, April 8.

Photo by Ryan Hardison

Beginning at 8 p.m., the concert began with opener Outside the Frame, an SDSU punk rock band and winners of GreenFest’s Battle of the Bands competition last November. The group performed a mix of original

material as well as popular covers like “Somebody Told Me” by The Killers and Kings of Leon’s “Sex on Fire” which got a lot of the crowd on their feet and singing along. Their set brought a lot of spirit and energy that got people hyped for the concert’s headliner.

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