For some State High students, GloRilla’s April 3rd concert at the Bryce Jordan Center was a planned night out. For others, it was an impulsive decision driven by FOMO. Regardless of how they ended up there, the night delivered high energy, unexpected moments, and a surprising sense of community.
Gloria Hallelujah Woods, known professionally as GloRilla, is a rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. GloRilla garnered attention from the public eye with her 2022 hit single “F.N.F. (Let’s Go).” This track not only showcased her distinctive voice and energetic style, but also earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance. Following this success, GloRilla collaborated with artists like Cardi B on “Tomorrow 2,” further proving her place in the hip hop scene. Currently, GoRilla is on her Glorious Tour, promoting the album with performances across North America.
Sophomore Avery Fuller didn’t originally plan to go to the concert. “My sister gave me free tickets because she got food poisoning,” Fuller said.
Sophomore Savannah Morris ended up attending even more unexpectedly.
“On the night of the concert, I made the impulsive decision to go to GloRilla and I bought tickets one hour before, honestly because of FOMO and I didnt wanna miss out” Morris said.
Once the venue started to fill up with fans, it became clear that it was going to be a chaotic night. Fuller shared her feelings about the energy of the space.
“The energy of the crowd was very hype, everyone was dancing, we were all very close together, and everyone was really excited,” Fuller said.
Morris agreed with Fuller’s sentiment. “The energy was so lit, people were dancing on top of each other, it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it,” Morris said.
Although this intense energy can be fun, sometimes things can get a little too out of hand. Morris witnessed a lot of violence in the pit, and shared what she saw.
“Here’s what happened: I was casually sitting there up in my seat and then I looked down and three fights were breaking out at one, people were getting dragged off of each other. It was really entertaining and GloRilla had to stop the show. I believe this happened because there were so many rowdy college students and because they were drunk. Someone probably stepped on someone and it just escalated,” Morris said.
Fuller, in the pit herself, shared one of the most exciting moments of the night for her.
“I loved when Waka Flocka Flame, the opener, came out into the crowd and walked around,” Fuller said.
Waka Flocka Flame is a rapper known for his high energy performances and crowd hyping anthems like “No Hands” and “Hard in Da Paint.” Emerging in the early 2010s, he became a staple in the Southern hip hop scene with his aggressive style and party ready sound.
Waka Flocka’s energy helped set the tone for the rest of the night, getting the crowd fired up before GloRilla even stepped on stage. And when she did, the energy didn’t let up.
Morris shared another highlight from the night.
“She played my favorite song ‘Yeah Glo’, it was so cool to be able to hear it live” Morris said.
Fuller echoed Morris’ excitement.
“She played ‘Yeah Glo’ at the end and I knew that one which was cool, but she didn’t play my favorites” Fuller said.
While the music and energy made the night unforgettable for many students, the impact of the concert went beyond just the performances. GloRilla’s stop in State College was more than just a fun night, it was a sign of how the local music scene is starting to shift and grow, bringing in bigger artists and drawing out new communities of fans. Morris shared her thoughts about the idea.
“I think it’s a big deal that she came here because we’re a small town in the middle of Pennsylvania and she’s like this big artist that’s collabed with Tyler, The Creator and Sexyy Red. I think that this concert brought out a new community of all the people who don’t really like country/folk like most of the people in Pennsylvania, it brought together a community of R&B fans which was very nice to see” Morris said.
Fuller agreed, but shared some different thoughts.
“I think it’s a big deal that GloRilla came to our town, she’s pretty popular right now. I think this concert really shows how a lot of people want to come here, a lot of performers have been coming here like Drake, and Travis Scott, and Lil Yachty” said Fuller.
With both students reflecting on the growing presence of major artists in State College, it’s clear that concerts like this one are leaving a lasting impression on the culture of the town itself.
As more artists like GloRilla choose to include State College on their tour routes, it opens the door for a wider range of music and experiences for students and the community alike. This concert was a sign that State College is becoming a place where big moments in music can happen. Whether it was the excitement in the pit, the performances, or the feeling of being part of something bigger, this night proved that the local music scene is alive and evolving.
