Study breaks usually consist of watching Netflix episodes or browsing Buzzfeed listicles, but thanks to Campus Events+Entertainment Headliners, students took a break Wednesday night by dancing it out on the Texas Union Patio.

By Belicia Luevano

Headliners hosts an annual free campus show in the fall featuring local acts, and switches up the genre each year. This year, the organization invited bands Major Major Major and Night Drive to play “Plugged In on the Patio” for a night of guitar solos and thrashing.

Major Major Major started off the show, drawing students outdoors who were ordering at Wendy’s and studying at the FAC. The duo warmed up the crowd with their fast-paced and staccato-like jams, the audience bobbing their heads and swaying in their chairs while munching on some free Tiff’s Treats. The drummer sported a University of Texas at Austin tank paired with American flag-patterned leggings, managing to celebrate the UT event and Veteran’s Day in one look.

As the sky grew darker, a larger crowd gathered for Night Drive to take the stage. It took a bit of encouragement from the lead singer, but after one tune, folks abandoned their seats to show off their moves. The crowd continued to grow with each song and the dancing became more fluid and less stiff — people started to let go and really enjoy the night. A friend mentioned Night Drive reminded her of The Lost Boys, and she’s right: they exude ’80s vampiric vibes, but in a good way. In a fitting reflection, the crowd debuted their ’80s-inspired dance moves.

The show didn’t feel like an awkward school event — it was a great time complete with a rotating disco ball, confetti, free food and music to jam to. After Major Major Major’s set, singer and guitarist Adrian Haynes reminisced to ORANGE about his college days, and shared upcoming band news including talk about their first full-length record set to come out Spring 2016.

ORANGE: What were your first thoughts when invited to play at UT Austin?

Haynes: I was super pumped because we’ve only had the pleasure of playing on campus one other time, when we were actually going to school here. I haven’t been here in three years since I walked. It’s cool to be back.

O: When was the last time you stepped on a college campus?

H: Well, this is really embarrassing, but when I walked, I still had two science classes left and I was like, ‘I’ll do them in the summer, I’ll get it done,’ and then I never did. Then next semester came, then fall semester came, nope. Then came spring semester, nope. So I’m just finishing those classes right now. I had to go and figure out if I was doing everything right four months ago, over this summer. I’m just finishing college now, I just have a few more weeks left.

O: What’s one favorite college memory?

H: I was just telling Andrew [drummer of Major Major Major] that one of the things I realized I missed, and this sounds really stupid, but it’s sleeping on campus. There are so many amazing places to sleep, and I can’t just walk around now in my daily life and just sleep anywhere.

O: What’s one tip you’d give college students right now?

H: Finish, for one, because I’m just now finishing. And I didn’t live on campus my first year since I took some classes at ACC, and I’m so glad I lived off-campus. It forced me to make friends outside of school, and I wasn’t really good at doing that anyways. I made friends and used my connections in school to help in different areas in life, like music.

It’s a well-connected city and everyone here is really trying to help you, so just to go above and beyond school in order to find people that you can connect with or share similar interests. You can find anything in this city, so look outside of the school. The school has a lot of great resources, but experience Austin. I’ve been here for eight years and it’s changed so much, I’m so glad I’ve been a part of that the whole way.