Lights, Fog, Ben Rector

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Opening for Rector was frontman for The National Parks, Brady Parks. Performing a variety of songs, Parks included some of the band’s songs from their latest album “Places.” During Parks’ set, he did a cover and tribute for Tom Petty from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Petty died from cardiac arrest on Oct. 2 at the age of 66.

As fog and flashing lights filled the arena, Rector gave the crowd a quick “hello” and started his set with his song “When I’m with You.” Other songs of Rector’s of the night included “Men That Drive,” “Forever Like That,” and more. Rector added a T-Bird name drop into his cover of “I Got Sunshine” by The Temptations.

Mikaela DeFilippo, a freshman exercise science major from Abbottstown, Pennsylvania, said she loved the event and thought Rector sounded the same live as he does in the studio.

“When we got our tickets (for the concert) we started listening to him a lot,” DeFilippo said. “We actually knew a lot of his songs.”

During the event everyone stopped to watch Vincent Fez Enfield, a junior psychology major from Phoenix, propose to his now fiance, Mariah Clayson, an ACE Mentor from Kanab.

Rector played his hit single “Brand New” after taking an Instagram video with the crowd. Rector has multiple Instagram videos from his tour across various college campuses.

Alumni & Community Relations Event Assistant Kelli Griffin May, a graduate candidate of professional communication from Richfield, said having Ben Rector and The National Parks was a dream event.

“The band was awesome to work with,” May said. “Everything went really smooth, we had a great crew, it was really awesome. I think it was a success for sure.”

May said even though she doesn’t have the final say, the future will most likely hold more country music for SUU. May and her team are excited for the upcoming events of Homecoming 2017 and Friday’s Forever Red.

For more information on this years homecoming, click here.

Story By
Samantha Burfiend
webchief@suunews.com

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Opening for Rector was frontman for The National Parks, Brady Parks.

Opening for Rector was frontman for The National Parks, Brady Parks.

Opening for Rector was frontman for The National Parks, Brady Parks.

Opening for Rector was frontman for The National Parks, Brady Parks.

Opening for Rector was frontman for The National Parks, Brady Parks.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Ben Rector, American singer, songwriter and musician, performed to a crowd of well over 1500 people in the American First Credit Union Event Center on Oct. 3.

Photos By
Mitchell Quartz
photos@suunews.com