Band hits chord with crowd

Hey Stroker band members' peroxide blonde heads glowed in the afternoon sun as they played to a crowd of more than 100 on the West Patio of the University Student Union on Wednesday.

Curious students on their way to class stopped to listen to lead singer Jake Gilfillan's powerful voice and the band's contagious punk rock sound.

"They were really good, they brought a lot of hype, and they had good rhythm," said freshman Ngoc Nguyen, a political science major. "They sound like they're going to make it."
 

Two guitarists, one bassist and a drummer provided a strong supporting cast for lead singer Jake Gilfillan's voice. The energy and contagious sound radiated through the crowd, as guitarists Chad Kulengosky and Mike Espino jumped off of the stage and ran through the crowd.

Cal State Long Beach freshman Landon Asbury played hard on the drums and his numerous friends cheered him on.

"It went well," said Asbury, the only member attending CSULB. "But I was nervous because I knew the people."

Kulengosky, the lone brunette in the group, enjoyed the audience.

"It was mellow, and we were able to play fast stuff and slow stuff," he said. "It was kick back."

The highlight of the show was Hey Stroker's infamous song, "Titties," which delighted the audience. Both men and women cheered as Gilfillan sang about Pamela Anderson's significant assets and what he'd like to do to them. At the end of the song, the audience showed its approval as a skateboard was waved in the air and people yelled "kick a--!"

A mosh pit that started during the last song upstaged the band, but no one seemed to mind.

"I enjoyed the energy from the crowd," Gilfillan said.