B.o.B, New Boyz perform Friday night in Events Center

Kalamazoo sophomore Allie Bowditch said she brought her “swag” to the B.o.B and New Boyz concert Friday evening at McGuirk Arena.With her bright blue skinny jeans, Nike kicks and snapback hat on backwards, Bowditch belted the lyrics to B.o.B’s opening song “Bombs Away.”

The concert came with a $75,000 price tag to bring in the hip-hop artists, Program Board Adviser Damon Brown said.

The doors for McGuirk Arena opened at 7 p.m. and around 200 people stood in line in hopes of a front-row seat to the show. Among the people to see the action up-close was Saline freshman Chelsea Strauss who was attending her first concert.

“I had to go big for my first concert and get the front row,” she said.

DJ Rome from Lansing’s Power 96.5 took the stage at 7:15 p.m.

New Boyz took the stage around 8:15 p.m., but the duo was not complete as one of the members had a family issue, the rapper said.

A fan from Hastings, Dallas McKay, said she came to see New Boyz, specifically.

“I’m a little disappointed,” she said.

New Boyz said, “It’s too hot. These lights are giving me a headache.”

The arena went dark and the crowd sang along to “Better With the Lights Off.”

“Central Michigan University, ya’ll have made my night,” New Boyz said leaving the stage.

Hastings junior Kacy Hooten said New Boyz stole the show although one was MIA.

Jackson freshman Christian Burns said he will be jerkin’ all night, and won’t leave satisfied unless B.o.B performs “Ray Bands.”

Burns said his night was complete, as B.o.B performed the hit song third on his set list, with his Ray Bands on.

But not everyone was so pumped to see B.o.B and New Boyz on stage.

“I’m only in here because it’s free,” Grand Rapids junior Kate Tessier said who received a free ticket from Residence Hall Assembly. “We’ll see how I like it.”

Trenton senior Christine Hatty said the Events Center seemed empty, although the floor seats were sold out.

“It looks dead,” she said.

Tawas freshman Chase Blackmore said he was expecting a lot of lights, bass and fun, and he didn’t leave disappointed.

“B.o.B reacted really well the crowd,” he said. “Almost everyone in the front row got to touch his hand.”

The power went out on the stage as B.o.B made his entrance and the crowd chanted for 15 minutes until he took the stage again.

“I got that ATL speakers, this beat couldn’t handle me,” he said.

B.o.B performed “Bombs Away” with his red pants, combat boots and vest.

His second song, “Beast Mode,” made the crowd go wild. He stood on the speakers and threw water from his water bottle into the crowd.

B.o.B concluded the night with “So Good” … shirtless.