The Daily Titan: Cal State Fullerton students and guests flocked to Titan Stadium for the 2012 Spring Concert on Friday. Hunter Hayes opened for Mike Posner and DJ Dyphekta (Jonathan Thiranop and Ian Martinez) was on the turntables in between the two sets.
Posner proved to be quite the entertainer as he dashed around the stage. Before he started his song, “Do You Wanna?” Posner told the audience chorus so everyone was able to sing along. This definitely worked in his favor. He was able to include everyone in the song, even those who were not familiar with the song.
During this set, Posner showed off his grinding skills as he sang his hit song. The crowd (or at least the girls) screamed as he gyrated his hips, both standing and in a seat.
Posner was interactive with the crowd throughout the entire show. He was great at pumping up the audience and getting it to move. He even taught everyone how (what he considered) to two-step. The entire audience swayed back and forth. Posner joked that even the white people could do this move.
After singing a few of his own songs, Posner changed it up and sang R. Kelly’s song “Ignition.” Immediately, the crowd started to sing along. Posner also covered Adele and Oasis.
During Adele’s song, “Rolling in the Deep,” Posner had a tom drum on stage. When he hit the drum, water shot up from it and the crowd seemed to be in awe. Then, Posner’s two DJs came on stage with their own tom drums and the trio performed a drumline-style choreography.
Before starting his song “Drug Dealer Girl,” Posner was sitting at his fire engine-red piano and a guy walked up and lit what looked like a blunt. The guy handed it to Posner, who inhaled, exhaled and then began singing his song. The interaction seemed like the perfect segue for a song of that nature.
Posner’s spastic energy stayed at the same peak throughout the show. He jumped off the stage a few times and leaped onto the railings that blocked the crowd from the field. The audience seemed to love his enthusiasm (once again, probably the girls). During one song, he even had the crowd snapping their fingers. Anything Posner commanded the crowd to do, they obeyed.
At one point I thought the paramedics were going to have to revive a female after Posner pointed her out as “the girl in the pink shirt” and blew a kiss at her. All the girls in the general area began squeaking like dolphins. Posner, the heartthrob, also spoke about his time as a college student.
He explained how two years ago he was a college student and made beats in his dorm room. Posner’s point was that he had a dream and followed it. The musician, turned inspirational speaker, was able to connect to the crowd unlike other candidates who may have performed at the concert.
Posner was dressed in a red letterman’s jacket, jeans and dramatic white shoes with red on the tip. Before singing his song “Bow Chicka Wow Wow,” Posner showed his humorous side by stripping off his jacket and having his DJ dress him in a red robe with a black sash.
A female stood on stage and Posner began to slow dance with her while he sang his song. Posner continued his showmanship by handing the girl an enormous teddy bear. The lights were then shut off onstage, and with his quick wit Posner joked that he was “cock-blocked.”
The highlight of the night was when Posner stood on his vibrant red piano, took off his shirt and put on a Titans basketball jersey. After ending his set with his most popular song, “Cooler Than Me,” Posner took off the jersey and threw it to a female sitting in the stands.
Though the concert was off to a slow start, eventually the entire audience was into the various musicians. The most important moment of the concert was when Posner told the audience to always follow your dreams and your heart and put up your middle finger to anyone who says no.
