Bruin Bash lineup looks to fulfill diverse musical tastes

Like guessing the contents of a neatly wrapped present, the Bruin Bash Facebook page was lit abuzz by anticipatory comments of guesses and hopes for this year’s artist lineup, which was revealed to be Gym Class Heroes frontman Travie McCoy, the rap duo Ying Yang Twins and the Bay Area-based duo The Cataracs.

Presented by the Campus Events Commission, the Cultural Affairs Commission and the Student Committee for the Arts at UCLA, this year’s lineup was meant to be a hybrid list of artists that could appeal to the various musical preferences of the students at UCLA. 

“It’s impossible to please 25,000 peoples’ musical tastes,” said Kinnery Shah, Cultural Affairs commissioner for the Undergraduate Student Association Council. “The idea behind our diverse lineup was that we wanted to give everyone the opportunity to connect with at least one of the artists.”

Influenced by Bay Area rap artists such as Keak da Sneak and Mac Dre, The Cataracs, who will be opening the show on Sunday, consists of David “Campa” Benjamin Singer-Vine and Niles “Cyrano” Hollowell-Dhar. The group gained popularity after being featured on the Far East Movement song, “Like a G6,” which will be played at Bruin Bash. So what does flying “like a G6,” a popular lyric of the song, actually mean?

“It’s open to interpretation, but I think when we were writing, David wanted it to rhyme with three-six, which was a reference to the rap group, Three 6 Mafia, and he’s like, ‘Well there’s a G5; why not take it to the next level and call it G6?’ We made it up ’cause it sounded cool,” Hollowell-Dhar said. 

For Hollowell-Dhar, The Cataracs’ success playing in Los Angeles has been tantamount to the years of hard work and determination. 

“We were doing this for six years, and we got out of college, and we decided we wanted to focus on music. And we spent a year living with our parents and thought we made a big enough name in the Bay and came down to Los Angeles. Now that everything is happening, it’s cool because sometimes you work really hard at something and wait for it and it’s going to amount to something. It’s slowly, but surely, an affirmation to all the work we’ve put in,” Hollowell-Dhar said.

The Ying Yang Twins consists of rappers D-Roc and Kaine, who sees Bruin Bash as a sort of economic equation.

“I enjoy everything about performing and people want to see us. It’s called supply and demand. They demand that we be seen and we supply them with what they need for entertainment purposes,” Kaine said.

With a long repertoire of explicit rap and party music, Kaine said to expect the Ying Yang Twins to play a whole gamut of their hits.

“We going to perform everything you’ve heard, from “˜Get Low’ to “˜Salt Shaker,'”Â Kaine said. “(UCLA students) can expect getting crunk.”

And this year, Bruin Bash will literally be bigger. With Pauley Pavilion, where it is normally held, under construction, the concert will be moving to Drake Stadium, a larger venue that would prevent less elbow-colliding and sweaty arm-touching.

The diversity of artists also seems to be drawing in students, despite lukewarm comments on the Bruin Bash Facebook page. 

“I’m sure all the ravers will bust out their light shows and whatnot for The Cataracs,” said second-year undeclared student Aaron Testa. “They sound like if Ke$ha was a boy, and there were two of them. I think they’ll surprise everyone and blow everyone away.”

For first-years, Bruin Bash is also a social gathering for new Bruins to mingle in the crowds.

“I’m just hoping that I’m having fun and not having to worry about anything, really, and just having fun with friends, meeting new people, especially for me, since I am an incoming freshman,” said first-year business economics student Jonathan Yee.

And forget about wearing high-heels and fancy shoes to Drake Stadium on Sept. 19. Hollowell-Dhar said to expect a dance-fueled night. 

“Our set is extremely dance-driven and energy-driven so I think people are going to go … nuts. I think that Travie’s going to put on a good show and the Ying Yang Twins are the best party music makers of all time,” Hollowell-Dhar said. “I think it’ll be fun to enjoy the UCLA debauchery.”