It’s impossible to capture the true energy of Dillo Day through a live stream. Among the list of things you can’t do are: attend a tailgate hosted by a fraternity you’ve never heard of, hug people from your PA group despite not speaking in years and celebrate the rare return of Cheesies in food truck form. Nothing will compare to the glory of Dillo Day 2018 when it rained during Young the Giant’s headlining performance. Still, I had faith this year’s performances would bring some excitement to another day at home social distancing.

The Regrettes, a punk band that has been gaining popularity in the last few years, were a definite highlight. Their songs reflect personal experiences and are, according to Ones to Watch, “essentially a diary entry into [lead singer] Lydia’s life.” They performed their upbeat set on a soundstage with no audience; Some of the performance’s best moments happened between songs as they made jokes about performing to an empty room. The Q&A that followed the performance was an even better glance into the personality of each band member.  Technical difficulties left the band members speaking among themselves for a period when the interviewer lost connection and their banter was a great look into their friendship. They also addressed the current political situation and showed their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Mir Fontane performed a bit later in the day. The rapper/vocalist is known for a “mix of classic hip-hop and 90’s R&B,” according to AllMusic. His performance was low-key overall, but his lyrics stood out. “Bodega,” which is a song about growing up in Compton, New Jersey, is just one example of Fontane’s unique storytelling style. Though there wasn’t much banter during his performance, the Q&A after — a feature we would have missed on a normal, in-person Dillo Day — allowed the audience to get to know him better.

Headliner Rico Nasty danced and rapped with stuffed animals instead of backup dancers. Her performance was upbeat and casual, which fit my personal Dillo celebration of watching from the comfort of my bed. Like the performers that preceded her, Rico’s Q&A was a highlight. While answering questions in a hoodie with a unicorn horn, everything the rapper said came across as genuine. Among other things, she talked about growing up in the D.C. area and about how she makes music for everyone, not just one specific group. Her interview also included a passionate speech about the Black Lives Matter movement.

All of the acts did well, especially when taking into account the challenging nature of performing to an online audience. The Student Art segment was a great way to fill time and showcase what NU students created recently. Sure, some of the fillers were not as entertaining as others (I’m looking at you 30-minute block of DM dancing), but overall Digital Dillo receives the ultimate quarantine stamp of approval: it made the day go by pretty quickly.

Article Thumbnail: Colin Catrambone / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)