By SHARON MOORE

Senior News Editor

Ingram Hill, This Holiday Life and Switchfoot flavored last Thursday night with everything from slightly alternative to solid Southern rock.

The bands performed in the Thomas Assembly Center to a crowd of about 3,100 for the Union Board-sponsored spring concert.

"This is a great college, inside and out," Switchfoot's lead vocalist Jon Foreman said after the show. "It seems like a great school with really nice people."

The house lights faded to red at 7:59 p.m., and Ingram Hill began their performance at 8.

The Memphis-based band was soon sweating under the stage lighting and introduced themselves after their fourth number.

"What's up, Ruston?" Justin Moore, lead vocalist for Ingram Hill, asked the audience. Moore thanked everyone for coming, and the band continued with their set.

The Ingram Hill guys are no strangers to the Tech scene.

"I can't even count how many times we've played here," Moore said after the show. "We love Ruston. For us, it's a great place."

The band members seemed like Ruston natives as they raved about Rabb's Steak and Spirits, located at 2647 South Service Road W, and they even ate there after the show.

"We love Mr. Rabb," Moore said. "Rabb's keeps us coming back."

The next band to perform Thursday night was This Holiday Life. The California-born band played to a low crowd response.

"They were a last minute addition," Stephen Bell, president of the Union Board and a senior biology major, said. "We didn't find out they were being added until the Friday before the concert. But we were cool with that."

Though doors opened at 7:20 p.m., a snaking line of eager fans trickled down the TAC steps for nearly three hours before.

Most of the fans in the front of the line were high school students from all over North Louisiana. Clayton Delaney is 15 years old from Vernon, La. He was one of the few lucky kids to be on the floor against the rail, directly in front of the stage.

"Switchfoot is sweet," Delaney said. "They rock, and you can put some fingers in that," he said, forming his hands into the symbol for "rock."

Switchfoot took the stage at exactly 10 p.m. Fans crushed into the rail, or crowd-surfed over it, in efforts to be closer to the band.

The Switchfoot show featured more crowd participation than either of the previous two bands, with directions from vocalist Foreman to clap along or hold up lighters and cell phones.

"My friends, how are you feeling?" Foreman asked after the third number. The crowd screamed in response, then Foreman replied, "I feel very good, thanks for asking."

Switchfoot members also met fans and signed autographs after the show.

"What does the 'Tech' in Louisiana Tech stand for?" Foreman asked Tim Connolly, a junior professional aviation major, and his friend Matt Shaw, explained Tech's name and a few of its offered degrees.

"They were real stand-up guys," Connolly said. "They treated us with respect, and they were interested in us and what we had to say."

Bell said the shows could not have gone better, from a Union Board perspective.

"It was the best turnout in three years. Everyone seemed to enjoy [the event], so we couldn't be happier."

Members of both Ingram Hill and Switchfoot were also pleased with the shows and crowd.

"A good concert is like a good conversation; it is two-sided," Switchfoot drummer Chad Butler said. "The crowd tonight sang back to us louder than we sang to them.

"We had a good conversation."