Redgate hosted Kevin Holliday, Sammy Curcuru, and Mimicking Mars for an electric show at The Lost Horizon on Friday.

By: Ciara Carolan / Photography by Callan Nagel-Dubin / Graphic by Griffin Turner

On Friday, September 22nd, The Lost Horizon was filled with SU students prepared to watch some of their peers perform at the iconic venue thanks to a collaboration with house venue Redgate. The Lost Horizon has seen many legendary acts – from Bon Jovi to Guns n’ Roses to the Red Hot Chili Peppers – and now Kevin Holliday, Sammy Curcuru, and Mimicking Mars have joined those ranks.

To ensure that students could make it to the venue from campus, Redgate teamed up with Nick’s Tomato Pie to provide free transportation to and from the destination. Every 10 minutes, a yellow school bus – referred to as the “Nick’s Tomato Pie shuttle” –  would arrive at College Place, ready to be repacked with concert-goers. 

The first act of the night was Mimicking Mars, who performed a set of their energetic original music. “Oh wow, he’s good,” shouted one audience member as Jeremy Lanuti, the lead singer, first started to sing. As their set went on, the crowd became more and more electrified. The band’s high-energy music mixed with their sumptuous stage presence practically forced the audience to dance and jump around. 

These songs were not just fun – they were also brutally honest stories from the artists’ lives. In fact, as one song started Lanuti told the audience that it was written about one of them. 

Being at a venue where so many legendary acts have played is certainly a jump-up for most student bands, who play most of their shows in people’s basements. Syracuse sophomore Josh LeViseur, the drummer of Mimicking Mars, explained, “There’s always pressure to put on a good show, but I feel like we thrive under it. Playing for crowds like that is awesome, especially when you get to do it on a stage where some of your biggest influences have played as well. And hopefully one day, we’ll be in the conversation of those famous artists that have played at The Lost Horizon before.” 

After a brief intermission, Sammy Curcuru took the stage to perform as people continued flooding into the venue. His lively set was a mix of original pop tracks like “Look @ U” and a handful of covers including “Misery” by Maroon 5 and “Blind” by Role Model. Whether he played sprightly originals or poppy covers, Curcuru’s entire show had the crowd hyped. 

Curcuru has played many shows in the Syracuse area, yet his energy level never wavers. With his confidence and the way he carries himself, you can’t deny that he’s meant to be on stage. When comparing performances between college basements and established venues, Sammy said “There is inherently going to be a difference in atmosphere when you change the setting to a legit venue versus an intimate and DIY setup. That being said, both environments are sick and I think it's remarkable how much people seem to resonate with the scene regardless of the place.” 

To close out the night, headliner Kevin Holliday put on a fantastic performance. Despite his set starting at 12:20 a.m., The Lost Horizon was still full of students eager to see the Brooklyn-based artist. With Holliday’s unique alternative pop sound, it’s hard not to vibe to songs like “2Wrongs.” He delivered an incredible performance on both vocals and guitar, displaying both talent and stage presence. As the evening began to wind down, the energy stayed electric and the spirits high through the very last song. Holliday’s set was the perfect end to a night full of good music and good vibes.