IE Music Club Presents The Grand Check-Out

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On Saturday, May 10, IE Music Club hosted its “The Grand Check-Out” concert at La Cocina Bar as a way to celebrate the end of the academic year. It is important to note that classes and exams for third and fourth-year students are over, however, exams for first and second years are just about to start. As a result, the timing of the event was impeccably chosen by the IE Music Club Officers. The concert started at 8:45 p.m. and ended at midnight. Afterward, the bar gradually turned into a club. 

This concert stood apart from previous ones as it was held at a new venue. The new location has a story behind it. The club members had been contemplating a change in location for a while because the prior bar where most of their concerts were held was relatively small. However, this was not the biggest issue. The most pressing problem was the recurring technical difficulties they had continually experienced with the sound quality and malfunctioning of the speakers at the previous venue. 

This is exactly why IE Music Club’s new officer stepped in and offered to find a new place for the upcoming concert. Since he knew the owner of La Cocina Bar before, it did not take much time to organize the concert for the IE Music Club. 

The concert took one month to prepare. Vladimir Monakhov, one of the IE Music Club officers, shared during an interview that the bands had rehearsals 2-3 times per week depending on the availability of the musicians. “For a long time, we tried to come up with some interesting and original theme for the concert. Something that would bring positive emotions to people. But eventually, we decided to dedicate it just to summer vacations so people can celebrate the end of studies,” Vladimir explained. Thus, the songs were chosen in accordance with the theme of the event. 

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Weapons for Children (Cringe Day) musicians (from left to right) Juan Pendavis, Nikita Monakhov, and Constanzia Muñoz de Alba playing their set, May 10. Photo by Camila Gutierrez.

Regarding the program of the concert, five music bands performed. IE Music Club consists of multiple bands that can perform independently. The converted kicked off with the so-called “Officers Band” playing “Bennie and the Jets” by Elton John, “Heart of Glass” by Blondie, “YMCA” by Village People, and, finally, “If I ain’t got you” by Alicia Keys.

Noteworthy as well is the process by which musicians selected the songs to perform. According to Vladimir, each musical group consists of 6-7 musicians, each of which chose one piece that he or she wanted to perform. During the concert, each group played about 8-10 songs (besides the opening act which only played four). Thus, a few final songs were chosen by the group together. For example, Vladimir’s band “Tombreakers” performed Bohemian Rhapsody as the final song of their set. Each band performed for about 40 minutes.  

The concert was a success as about 240 people came to the event, according to IE Music Club estimates. Such a high number of attendees was partially due to the fact that the concert was free for anyone who registered in advance. IE Music Club Members and owners of the club were involved in marketing and advertising for the concert. Club owners created their own registration link, which both Campus Life and Student Government later promoted. In addition, friends of many of the performers came out to support them. The atmosphere was very friendly and the hall was full of musical energy. It made the concert unforgettable.

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Cognitive Dissonance musicians (from left to right) Arturo Velilla Martinez, Marina Klimann Nuñez, and Tancrède Thoma playing their set, May 10. Photo by Camila Gutierrez.

Musicians said afterward that they were very content with the quality of sound and the way the concert went overall. IE Music Club’s concerts are always a great success, but by playing at a new venue this time, the experience was absolutely unique. The only criticism event organizers received was unreasonably overpriced drinks in the bar. However, this was not the fault of the musicians. The bands played many hits, such as “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele, “Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles, and “Voulez-Vous” by Abba. The audience sang along and even turned on flashlights on their phones. The Grand Check-Out was a concert to remember. 

List of bands and sets:

Band 1: Officers Band

1. Elton John – Bennie and the Jets

2. Blodnie – Heart of Glass

3. Village People – YMCA

4. Shakira – Suerte (Whenever, Wherever)

Band 2: Tombreakers 

1. Adele – Rolling in the deep

2. Chuck Berry – Johnny B Goode

3. Elton John – Crocodile Rock

4. Shakira – Suerte (Whenever, Wherever)

5. Maná – Oye mi amor

6. Eagles – Hotel California

7. Maneskin – Beggin’

8. Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

Band 3: Weapons for Children (Cringe Day) 

1. Ghost – Square Hammer

2. Green Day – American Idiot

3. Pearl Jam – Alive

4. Soda Stereo – Ciudad de la furia

5. Foo Fighters – The pretender

6. Queen – Don’t stop me now

7. Paramore – All I wanted

8. Black Sabbath – Paranoid

Band 4: Cognitive Dissonance 

1. Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams

2. TOTO – Hold the line

3. The Jackson 5 – I want you back

4. Daniel Caesar – Japanese Denim

5. Pomplamoose – Jamirobeegees Mashup

6. Santana, Maná – Corazon Espinado

7. Remi Wolf – Pink + White

8. Bonnie Tyler – Holding out for a hero

Band 5: Neon Vultures 

1. The Dandy Warhols – Bohemian Like You

2. Foo Fighters – These Days

3. Bee Gees – Staying alive

4. RHCP – Under the bridge

5. Seeing Double – Leah

6. Neon Trees – Everybody Talks

7. Ray Charles – Hit the road jack

8. Aurora – Cure for me

9. AC/DC – You shook me all night long

10. ABBA – Voulez-vous

Cover image by: Alisa Lazurenko

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