Hundreds stand cramped into the space between the bars and the stage, bathed in pink light, waiting for the band to descend from upstairs, through the door, and down the path to the stage. The stage waits under blue lights for the band members, too. Crew members run back and forth placing water, beer, and shots where each member can reach them once on stage.

Though some fans were new and some had been with Augustana for years, when the band finally took the stage after much anticipation and began ever-so-softly with "Hey Now," the fans beamed with quiet excitement that really shone once the chorus kicked in. Fans gazed at the stage starry-eyed song after song, both new and old.

Overall, the mood for the evening was very mellow, though many of Augustana's songs are very upbeat and catchy. Maybe it's that Austinites are jaded with the amount of shows they're able to see, but I feel like the band would have been more into it had the crowd themselves been into it. Maybe an entirely acoustic performance would have fit the mood better than the full band, and indeed the fans seemed to highly enjoy the acoustic version of "Sunday Best" toward the end of the set. After finally reeling them into the show a bit further, "Sweet and Low" had a good response, with fans showing their full potential during "Boston," which was, unfortunately, just one song away from the end of the set. The mood shifted, the band became alive, even when fans left in large numbers after hearing "Boston," which was presumably the only reason why many people were there in the first place.

Unfortunately for the fans who ditched Antone's after "Boston," they missed an amazing cover of Bob Dylan's "Baby, Please Don't Go." I have never been a fan of Dylan, but I am so glad I was around to enjoy this version for upwards of ten minutes. During a slow and quiet place in the song, a simple slip in of the word "Austin," got fans going again.