Eagle Palooza returned to Downtown Hattiesburg on April 24, in the Commons, bringing together students, alumni and the Pine Belt community for live music, food and more.
The event started at 5:30 p.m. and lasted well into the nightfall. The music could be heard, and the food could be smelled from blocks away.
Attendees were dancing, eating, drinking and singing along throughout the Commons. There were also booths for T-shirts, and a few outdoor games for entertainment.
The bright lights from the stage kept the city lit up as performers for the night took the stage.
Houndmouth headlined the free live music event. Houndmouth is an alternative blues-rock band from New Albany, Indiana. The band has been on The Late Show with David Letterman and Conan.
The event also featured Joslyn and The Sweet Compression. They are a soul-funk band from Lexington, Kentucky. The band is led by the vocalist Joslyn Hampton. The lineup also included a Hattiesburg-based independent band, The Fogies. The Fogies brought many students out, due to their familiarity with the USM community.
USM Freshman Tayliah Baker said that The Fogies were the reason she came out, after she heard them rehearsing at USM.
“I saw this band, The Fogies, at this rehearsal for guitar at USM, and they were so good. Like I really wanted to come to see them,” said Baker.
As a freshman, Baker said she was very anxious at first, but the campus was very welcoming to her, and events like this helped her talk to people.
“I just want to be very anxious about going out and stuff, but I think USM’s campus makes me a lot more comfortable, especially cause it’s so welcoming,” she said.
“Especially at events like this, cause everybody is so friendly and it’s not hard to talk to people,” said Baker.
DJ Kujho was also a performer, with sets for the crowd to dance to. He said he is always happy to get a call about doing events for the community.
“It’s always an amazing time partying with the students, partying with the alumni, partying with my city,” said Kujho.
I am always blessed to be able to get a call and say they want me on the bill, so I’m just happy to be here as always,” he said.
Like Tayliah Baker, Noah Williams said he went out to see The Fogies. He especially wanted to come because one of his friends plays in the band. He also went to see Houndmouth perform. Williams said next year he would like to see more rock bands.
“Honestly, just like more rock songs, more rock bands. That’s more of my thing, I’m like an indie-rock type of guy,” he said.
Williams said that his year at USM has been crazy, and he went to Eagle Palooza to try to de-stress from studying.
“School in general has been outrageous,” he said. “I think the main reason I came here too was cause I needed to unwind from all the studying I do,” said Williams.
Like Williams, many students look forward to this part of the year. It is a time where they can come unwind, engage with peers and the Hattiesburg community and have fun without hurting their pockets.
To learn more about one of Southern Miss’s most anticipated events, visit the website. usmeaglepalooza.com.
