Students react to Moody X-Fest headliner

By Saahithi Sreekantham     4/8/25 10:54pm

Moody X-Fest is back, and like it or not, British alt-rock band bôa is bringing their Whiplash tour to Rice to headline for the event on April 25.

Rice’s annual Moody X-Fest was created to celebrate the Moody Foundation’s $100 million donation to Rice and its commitment to building a student center on campus, marking it as the “largest single gift in the university’s history.” 

Last year, Jeremy Zucker headlined the second annual X-Fest, along with performances from a cappella organizations Basmati Beats and The Rice Philharmonics, lion dance group Rice Lions and K-pop dance group BASYK. 

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Scheduled for the last day of classes, this year’s festival will again feature student music groups and a bounty of free food, as well as a concert from bôa, a British alt-rock band whose 1998 single “Duvet” recently had a resurgence on TikTok. 

Selecting bôa to headline — a decision program manager Andy Osborn said was made after surveying Rice students — prompted a range of student reactions. Other headliner options in the survey included artists Peach Pit, Saint Motel and Bea Miller.

McMurtry College freshman Rani Sooda, a self-titled diehard fan of the band, said she was happy about the decision. 

“I’m so excited to see bôa perform here at Rice,” Sooda said. “I’ve listened to their music for so long, and it’s going to be surreal to see it live.”

However, Poema Sumrow, a Jones College sophomore, said she disagreed with the choice. 

“All I know is [bôa has] the song ‘Duvet,’” Sumrow said. “I voted for Peach Pit. But [Peach Pit] is coming to Houston in July, so I’ll be there.” 

Giann Ruiz, a Baker College sophomore, said she was unfamiliar with the options given and did not have any opinion on the headliner.

“I don’t even remember if I voted or not, purely because I don’t know who any of [the options] are,” Ruiz said. “I probably shouldn’t vote if I don’t know anyone. Besides, we’re a small school; it’s fine to have small artists perform.”

Matti Haacke, a Sid Richardson College senior, said they voted for bôa simply because they were the only option that rang a bell among the ones listed, and because their peers did as well. 

“A couple of my friends voted for them in the form,” Haacke said. “I voted for bôa because I didn’t really know the other ones.” 

McMurtry junior Berny Guerra Arthur said they were excited to see on-campus acts perform for the third year in a row.

“Mariachi [Luna Llena] performed a couple of years ago, and they might perform again,” Arthur said. “I’m also interested in seeing Los Búhos del Norte — the Owls of the North.” 

Imaje Harvey, a Sid Rich junior, said she had suggestions for future X-Fests to improve student satisfaction.  

“For the future [headliners], put more rappers,” Harvey said. “Do something for the culture. I knew at least a few of the options [on the ballot], so we can only go up from here. Like, let’s get Flo Milli — she performs at every school.” 

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