With the familiar seasonal weather rolling in also came eager students, dressed in costumes ready to start trick or treating and moshing to the tunes at Otter Media’s 5th annual Monte Mash.
This year’s music lineup included the musing of well known and beloved performer Miss Fortune, who really set the tone and got everyone up onto their feet and grooving. Followed by some original rap and songs by JS. Next to take the stage was Phone Booth, who midway through their first track called out to the audience to, “Stop studying, we have more important things to do!” The encouragement was for attendees sitting and crafting at tables to join in with the dancing crowd. Next up was Hotel Club, who took to the stage playing a blended setlist of their own songs and a few popular covers. Last up for the night was Sancta, a newly formed Monterey County indie, alternative and Spanish rock cover band.
Alora Cochrane, a fourth year, communication design major, came dressed as Celeste from the video game Animal Crossing. This being her third time attending the event she shared how excited she was to see the night’s first performer Miss Fortune, take the stage.
Devanah Anderson, first year visual and public arts major, showed up in an entirely thrifted green fox ensemble with friend Berlin Prost, a second year communications design major. “We both are excited to jam out with Phone Booth,” said Anderson. “I was super excited to see Miss Fortune again, I have been to six of her shows already,” said Prost.
Third year accounting major Paul Dodson came dressed as Death Note protagonist Light Yagami, though his energy was quite the opposite of the character. The highlight of his night was being able to see everyone show up and show out. “It’s a real community showing,” said Dodson.
“As much as these little things on their own are awesome, with this event, everything is happening all at once.” Having the chance to get your face painted or learn about a new campus organization “wraps it all up together in a nice bow,” said Dodson.
Working together this year, Otter Media and the Inter Club Council (ICC) provided students and the tabling clubs plenty of fun supplies. This gave students the opportunity to decorate their own trick or treating bags, get their face painted, or use the paints provided on the tables in the center to paint pumpkins or anything else they may have brought to the event.
Each club registered for the event was also provided with candy by ICC to give out at their tables to the students coming up to learn about each club, adding to the ambiance of the night with a playful trick or treat feel.
The night also featured a fun costume contest where roughly 15 students took to the stage in an array of costumes from Dracula to even an Etsy Witch, who concluded her appearance on the stage by sharing that she could “Get your man back after an easy payment of just $5” earning a loud laugh from the crowd.
The winners of the contest included Spider Man in fourth place, Celeste, our Animal Crossing character in third, Dracula in second and The Invisible Man in first!
The night also featured a duo’s costume contest, where psychology majors Mirabella Picart and Itzel Fahey Vivo came dressed as the Cheshire Cat and Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland.
While Picart was enthralled with both the contest and the bands performing, Fahey Vivo loved how the attendees shared her enthusiasm for dressing up. “ I love to go all out on my costume and it’s nice to see that I’m not the only one.”
Fahey Vivo and Picart’s costume combo placed second to a knight and a dark prince, though they were the only pairs who entered into the contest.
“I loved how people committed to their costumes, people committed like crazy tonight. I feel like I respect that so much because people worry about being cool, but this crowd did great. There were a lot of really good costumes for the competition,” said Jadyn Sacoolas, the lead singer of Phone Booth,
For Sacoolas, this Halloween marks one year with the band. The singer recalls having played her first show with them last Halloween.
“We are made up of two of us from Salinas and two from Santa Cruz,” said Sacoolas, “and so we try to play a majority of our shows all around the area.”
“It was not as cold as I thought it would be, last time I played on this campus it was freezing,” said Noah Gordon the band’s bassist, who dressed as a bag of Cheetos for his Halloween costume.
“We also are playing a show on Nov. 14 at Sixth Ave Studios with a band called Tooth, we hope to see some familiar faces at that show too,” said Sacoolas, noting that people can check them out on Instagram @phoneboothband for details about their shows. For Sancta lead singer Sebastian Silva, his favorite part of the night was the food provided to him and being able to meet CSUMB mascot Monte. “He was actually, like, really nonchalant,” said Silva. “I felt kind of intimidated to talk to him.”
That wasn’t the only highlight of his night, though, as the laidback environment of the event and the kindness of everyone in attendance made the night a success for the newly formed band. “I was able to rub some shoulders with some pretty cool people around here. That’s what it’s all about.”
While they don’t have any upcoming shows planned, their focus has turned to making some original music, and Silva ensured that CSUMB would be the first to know of any new releases.
“I had a great time and I’m ready for whatever’s coming next,” said Silva. You can check them out on Instagram under the handle @sancta.ca.
The event was summed up by Dodson, Picart, and Fahey Vivo, as they all described the core sentiments of the event in one word each.
“Fun,” said Dodson.
“Community,” said Fahey Vivo.
“Vibrant,” said Picart.