Collegiate Times

MC "EZ" Eddie McClain of the band HopeHop at one point announced to the audience, "If (Obama) fails, we fail." The band was one of a few who played at the Young Democrat's Rally for Change, supporting candidate Obama.

The band's sound is funky and smooth with hip-hop undertones. MC "EZ" Eddie McClain delivers with a flow similar to that of Zach de la Rocha from Rage Against the Machine, but with less aggression and more swagger. The band had been invited to play at the last minute after hearing about the event through a friend at a radio station. Once on stage, McClain riles up by the crowd by speaking about Obama.
"If he fails, we fail," he announced to the audience.

Moments after their music starts up at 3:42 p.m., people begin to mill to the front as well as dance excitedly in between the rows. After each song, a flurry of either official red, white and blue or richly colored homemade Obama signs sail into the air with a chorus of cheers. The band believes that the crowd's encouragement and response was a sign that everyone was on the same page.

"It was kind of easy because I like to think the vibe of our music matches up with the vibe of Obama," said bassist Nick Kalen. "Positivity and change -- it was easy to transpose that."
"We just have to pick songs, and all of our songs are to that tune," McClain said about the message of the band. McClain believes the band's message has a positive outlook for many different reasons.
"My little girls are around listening and they sing all my words back to me," McClain said. "It's something to think about when you're writing positive lyrics or just making songs in general."
McClain's favorite act of the day was the Enlightened Gospel Choir, whose high-energy performance caused the audience to demand an encore.

"They actually moved me," he said, "That was the most noteworthy thing I saw."

With the heavy enthusiasm from both the crowd and the acts, it was not hard for many to consider the afternoon a success.

"I was really surprised," Bey said. "It lived up to more than my expectations. I was definitely excited with the way it turned out."

Bey's only disappointment in the day is the fact that not everyone got to share in the atmosphere that filled the theater.

"I feel like it needed to be shared with as many people as possible," Bey said. "Regardless of what side or campaign it's supporting, I think people need to hear about anything that's positive."

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