Neha Middela, Contributing Photographer

Yale students packed Toad’s Place on Thursday for drinks, dancing and a night of live music performed by local artists.

On Oct. 13, Ante-Fling returned with a bang, featuring a roster of musical acts headlined by indie-hip hop solo artist Binki. The night began at 8:30 p.m. with a set by This Is a Land, an indie rock band comprised of Jack Lewitt and Jason Altshuler ’23, followed by performances from rock band Keila Myles & the Moose Knuckles, Pinc Louds and Binki. 

“[The show was a] culmination of so many people’s efforts to make something they are passionate about,” said Eda Uzunlar ’23, one of the organizers. “It was a phenomenal show – the best we could have asked for.” 

Event tickets were free for Yale students and $5 for attendees outside of Yale. 

The setlist of Keila Myles and the Moose Knuckles, a self-proclaimed “edgy soul rock rap band,” included songs entitled “Potency,” “Consistency” and “American Dream.”

Combining rap, instrumental performances and singing, Myles invited the audience to participate in the performance on several occasions, both by asking the audience to respond to chants and inviting audience members to come up onstage. 

“I wish the mic was cordless for this song,” Myles said, explaining that she wanted to move freely around the stage for a performance of her song “Consistency.”  

Their performance was followed by a performance by Pinc Louds, a New York City-based group consisting of lead singer Claudi, drummer Rai Mundo and bassist Marc Mosterein. The band has played in multiple venues in New York City, Puerto Rico, Chile and Europe. Thursday was their first time in New Haven. 

“I get really nervous when I go to college towns,” Claudi said before opening their set. 

The night ended with a headlining performance from Binki, another New York City-based musician who synthesizes elements of different musical genres, including indie music, pop, rock and funk. Binki’s discography consists of several singles, as well as “Motor Function,” their debut EP, which they released in 2021.

In the past, WYBC’s Ante-Fling has featured artists such as Mitski, Mia Gladstone and Naytronix.

According to Uzunlar, WYBCx has hosted Ante-Fling for over a decade. The event allows WYBCx organizers, part of an “Ante-Fling committee,” to engage in the practice of booking shows and venues, developing contracts and reaching out to artists. 

While the event is traditionally held as a precursor to the YCC-hosted Spring Fling, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted this cycle. In 2020, Ante-Fling canceled scheduled performances from Japanese Breakfast and Armani White. The organizing committee presented a virtual event in 2021 that featured a performance and discussion with musician Mia Gladstone.

While the event was postponed to this fall, Uzunlar added that the WYBC organizing committee plans to return to the normal spring event time for future years, starting spring 2023.

Other than heavy rain before and during the event, Uzunlar said, the event went as planned, adding that organizers were “really happy” with event turnout. Organizers and attendees alike were engaged with the music and reacted enthusiastically to performances, she added.

According to Uzunlar, WYBCx seeks to showcase local music and artists and student bands and will have several events later this year, under the direction of new general manager, Megan Buzbee ’24. 

Toad’s Place is located at 300 York St.