![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
January–February Concert Guide
Going to a concert can be an unusually stressful experience. With so many musicians, tours, and venues to choose from, how do you decide which events to attend?
Don’t worry–Aquila’s here to help! Here are some popular and relevant concerts within the next six weeks that shouldn’t be overlooked. With the help of this guide, you’ll be a concert veteran in no time.
Some highlights:
Washed Out with Kisses at The Fillmore, 1/28
Zen lyrics amidst ambient electronica, a chillwave dream-pop feel, and just the right bit of shoegaze. Alternative/indie singer-songwriter Ernest Green, better known by his stage name Washed Out, will take the stage in San Francisco tomorrow. He will be performing as part of a short West Coast tour to kick off the 2013 year. Green’s soft spoken vocals mesh in a cohesive unit with hypnotizing electropop backgrounds, making the music of Washed Out uniquely refreshing. Although Ticketmaster is sold out of tickets for the show, Stubhub is offering General Admission tickets as of publication.
Young The Giant with Cayucas at Fox Theater, 2/6
California natives Young The Giant exploded onto the mainstream music scene in 2010 with their popular self-titled album, featuring hit singles “Cough Syrup” and “My Body.” The band’s catchy, upbeat tracks showcase lead singer Sameer Gadhia’s folk rock croon, underlayed with simple electric guitar riffs and relaxed percussion. The indie rockers will perform at Fox Theater in Oakland on February 6, in support of their upcoming album Mind Over Matter. The album will be released on January 21 by the alternative label Fueled By Ramen. The band won’t be performing alone– beach pop trio Cayucas will be opening the concert.
Panic! at the Disco with The Colourists, X Ambassadors, Fox Theater
After a brief period of inactivity, Panic! at the Disco are back with a tour date in support of their most recent album, Too Weird To Live, Too Rare to Die!. The concert will take place at Oakland’s Fox Theater on February 15. The baroque pop-punk trio has become a household name in alternative music, despite their numerous lineup changes. P!ATD started with emo-pop roots but evolved with time to their current status as an edgy, vaudevillian punk outfit. Indie pop group The Colourist and alternative-rock X Ambassadors will be joining Panic! as the two opening acts.
Pixies with Best Coast at City National Civic, 2/22
The legendary alt-rock Pixies will play Fox Theater in Oakland on February 21. Formed in 1986, the Massachusetts band merged the separate genres of surf rock and punk, creating their own distinctive music style. Lead singer and primary songwriter Black Francis is also credited with ingenious lyricism, dealing with strange and unusual topics previously considered taboo. This creativity resulted in their rise to the forefront of the music scene in the late ’80s to early ’90s. The opening act is California’s own quirky Best Coast, a feel-good indie pop duo not to be missed.
Miley Cyrus with Icona Pop, Sky Ferreira at SAP Center, 2/25
Former Disney Channel star Miley Cyrus is making her way back to the Bay: she will perform at SAP Center in San Jose on February 25, just one of the dates on her upcoming concert tour. Cyrus is prominent in the media for her sometimes risqué behavior, which falls in direct contrast to her role in the hit television series Hannah Montana. The music video for the single “Wrecking Ball” off her 2013 album Bangerz, featuring a nude Cyrus swinging from a wrecking ball, holds the Vevo record for most views within 24 hours of upload. “I Love It”’s Icona Pop and the electro-pop princess Sky Ferreira will be opening for Cyrus.
Juhi Gupta is the Multimedia Editor for Harker Aquila. She is a junior and has been part of the journalism program since her freshman year. Her position...