The Mee-Ow Band closed out Spring Quarter with a high-energy show Tuesday at Evanston SPACE, sending a farewell to the four seniors in the Mee-Ow Band.
Part of the longest-running college improv comedy show in the nation, the Mee-Ow Band brought the house down with a powerful mix of rock anthems, such as “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar and “Misery Business” by Paramore.
“Tonight’s setlist is what we like to describe as ‘power power power power sexy ballad power,’” Communication junior and Mee-Ow vocalist Yara Nasr said.
Nasr said the band prepared a setlist blending familiar hits with new arrangements, including early-2000s favorites.
Throughout the evening, the Mee-Ow Band frequently engaged with the crowd, sharing shout-outs and words of gratitude.
“We’ve been having a great time rehearsing, but there’s just nothing like the feeling of performing in front of a live audience,” Nasr said.
Inertia, an indie rock group made up of freshmen, opened the night with covers and original tracks.
“It’s really cool to see Inertia come so far in just one year,” said Communication freshman Kyle Vetter, who attended the show.
Walter, an indie rock band that began in 2023, followed with a charged set featuring rock staples like the Foo Fighters, amping up the crowd ahead of the headliner. Audience members danced, sang and formed mosh pits as the band played.
The music drew students from across all grade levels. For some, it was their first time seeing these bands live, whereas others were returning, eager to see them perform again.
“This definitely met and exceeded my expectations, it was a lot of fun,” Communication junior Josh Ogbomo, a returning fan, said. “My favorite part of the show was Mee-Ow having a revolving door of singers, and I got to hear a lot of great songs with a great range of voices.”
Nasr, who joined the Mee-Ow Band last Fall, said the student music scene at NU has grown over the past few years. She credited efforts like Local Mojo Northwestern — a student organization that hosts and promotes live music events founded at the end of Winter Quarter — with the recent growth.
For Nasr, the show was a bittersweet goodbye.
“We’re losing our guitarist, our vocalist, our drummer and our keyboardist,” Nasr said. “I’m going to miss them so much.”
The night concluded on a high note as other members in the Mee-Ow Band thanked the seniors ahead of their upcoming graduation this June. The group recently held auditions to fill vacant spots for the upcoming year.
“I always like to see the Mee-Ow Band because they’re so much fun,” Communication freshman and audience member Angella Ma said. “I’m curious to see where they go in the future.”
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