WBAR’s annual WBARBQ returns to Futter Field for the first time since the pandemic and shows out with a lineup of Godcaster, Thoom, and CLIP. 

Barnard’s freeform college radio station WBAR hosted its annual WBARBQ festival on March 30, much to the acclaim of the students in attendance. Themed “Camp WBAR,” WBARBQ was back on Futter Field for the first time since the pandemic and hosted a stacked lineup of alternative musicians including Godcaster, Thoom, and headliner CLIP. Furthermore, the event had plenty of activities for those just looking to hang out, from tie-dying to hula hooping. Food was bountiful, with Yerba Mate and Roti Roll available for guests.

Godcaster kicked off the festival around 2:30 pm. They are a six-piece rock group from Brooklyn known for their unusual version of rock and eccentric live performances which often take place at unconventional venues, notably a large abandoned subway tunnel. They performed abrasive-sounding rock songs from their self-titled album Godcaster. The group was loud, rowdy, and somewhat unsettling. The lead singer acted like a demon being possessed by the music, beating his chest and throwing his body around. When he entered the crowd, it felt like a wild animal had escaped from the zoo. Nobody really knew how to react when he got close. Everyone sort of just looked around like they were waiting for him to return to his enclosure (the stage). If a bit weird, one cannot deny that the group was attention-grabbing. With that said, Godcaster rocked. They brought their unique performance style and signature music in full force. 

After Godcaster was the illustrious Thoom. Thoom has previously opened for Yves Tumor’s tour and her music is a mix of electronic, alternative pop, and dance. She is tapped in with the local hyperpop community, getting remixes from Frost Children who performed at last year’s WBARBQ. After making a grand entrance through the back of the Diana Center, Thoom ascended the stage to a cheering crowd. She brought the energy, dancing and singing as her music played over the speakers. Her performance of “American Terrorist” was particularly stunning and she spoke to the crowd from the heart in between songs. 

Finally, headlining the show was CLIP. CLIP gained popularity first at the beginning of the pandemic in part due to TikTok. However, don’t let that fool you, as she has diversified and strengthened her catalog over the years mixing hyperpop and hip hop in a unique blend. CLIP’s blown-out instrumentals matched the energy she brought on the mic perfectly. She performed a variety of songs, including some unreleased tracks and her biggest hit “Sad B!tch.” The crowd adored her, enthusiastically dancing and welcoming her into their ranks when she got off the stage to dance alongside them. CLIP invited audience members onto the stage by the end to dance with her, creating an environment where everyone in attendance was having a fantastic afternoon. 

WBARBQ 2024 was an overwhelming success. Performances were timely. The lineup was well-curated. The audio mixing was great. There were no technical difficulties. The non-musical elements such as the activities and food complimented the music excellently. The weather was incredible. 

Amongst all of this praise, the biggest indicator of WBARBQ’s success was the emotion of the artists, a reflection of the energy given by the audience in attendance. CLIP and Thoom in particular seemed to be having a genuinely wonderful time. They connected with the audience, helping them to go above and beyond in their performance. Godcaster and Thoom both hung around the festival for a bit after their performance, indicating that they were in no rush to leave. The Instagram accounts of Thoom and CLIP were very active, with both expressing their joy to be at WBARBQ. Overall, WBARBQ went off without a hitch and delivered everything one would expect it to be and more.

Photo via Ted Schmiedeler