Excited cannot even begin to describe how I felt about this year’s Spring Jam. The main act was N*E*R*D, which meant that Pharrell, along with Chad Hugo and Shae Haley, performed at Drexel. Ever since the Campus Activities Board (CAB) made the announcement of the line-up, I’ve been ecstatic. To see Pharrell, a slim, skateboard-type with tattoos up his arms, a couple earrings and one of the most disarming smiles ever, along with the group’s high energy music would definitely be one of the highlights of this year.

N*E*R*D, which stands for No One Every Really Dies, is an American rock, funk, and hip-hop band created in 2001 by the producers and songwriters of The Neptunes, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, and their friend Shae Haley.

I planned my arrival just in time for 9:45 p.m. (the concert started at 6 p.m.) and entered into the expansive hall of the armory. The only lights came from the temporary stage set up at the 32^nd Street end of the building. Kevin Rudolph was supposed to play earlier, though his set was cut short to just 20 minutes, but I had no clue who that was, so I didn’t think it necessary to join the crowd. Loud music came from the huge speakers, keeping the crowd in the mood, as the stage crew set up for the main event.

Hyped up on free Monsters and the general mood, the crowd was dancing; friends were greeting each other and taking pictures. Girls were dressed in their best outfits and killer heals. Some wore bright orange glow stick headbands, necklaces or bracelets. One guy managed to cover himself in linked, circular bright orange glow sticks that snaked from his head down his torso, over his arms, and down his legs. He was not the only concert-goer sporting these decorations, but certainly the only one who managed to cover himself so completely.

I waited impatiently with my friends for the amazing group to come on stage and drive the crowd crazy. The excitement in the usually cold building was palpable. The screaming started as soon as N*E*R*D’s DJ came on stage. Once the red hoodie-wearing figure of Pharrell jumped on stage the fan’s screams were deafening. As the sounds of their first top single “Lap Dance” blared over the speakers, the screams got even louder (what I thought to be an impossibility). However, my view of one of the sexiest men in the world, (about which my friends readily agreed) was blocked by the seemingly 10-foot-tall frames of four or five of Drexel’s basketball players. They stood behind the huge mob crowding the stage, rather like fixed statues, obnoxiously enjoying their perfect vantage point. All I could do was sigh, move back and forth to find peepholes through the mass of heads, and stand on my tiptoes to catch a glimpse of the talented man.

You may wonder why I did not try to get closer to stage, allowing for a better view. But that would have meant joining the “mosh” pit and surrendering myself to the whims and movements of the crowd. Or, more importantly, who stepped on my shoes. I had on my black, white, purple and silver pastries, and there was no way I could subject them to trampling. I would be surrounded on all sides by crushing bodies, and probably not be able to see any better than my current location. Now, I don’t easily get claustrophobic, but I certainly don’t like to put myself in a position that could lead me to potentially be stepped on, pushed, or worse: trampled and in a crowd full of N*E*R*D fans (plenty of females willing to have Pharell’s baby).

My concerns were substantiated when the most popular single from their latest album, “Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom),” caused the entire pit to jump up and down and rock out with all the energy they had. The group’s goal for expression through sound and lyrics was achieved via the energetic response of the crowd.

Pharrell even encouraged such behavior, requesting that everyone in the mosh pit participate, particularly in crowd-surfing. Highly experienced with performing in front of large crowds, he was even willing to have someone thrown out if they didn’t behave correctly. “Man in the green, quit what you were doing or I will have you thrown out,” he warned mid-song.

From my vantage point I could still get a great feel for the music as the bass resonated in my chest (you have to appreciate the power of modern speakers) and the collective enjoyment of the same high quality music that makes you want to dance alongside hundreds of people. New songs from their upcoming album, “Nothing,” as well as known singles like “Rock Star” and “She Wants to Move,” were played until closing time.

The highlight for many fans, especially for the women, was when Pharrell descended from the temporary stage (set up in the back of the armory) to shake the fans’ hands. As soon as they realized what was happening, many female fans clamored at the metal barricade to touch him. I will admit that I joined them, was able to shake his hand, and got a pretty good picture out of it. But willing to have his baby? Definitely not my style.

Overall, it was a great night. Experiencing N*E*R*D’s songs live for the first time sealed my admiration for the group, as they were even better live than on record.

Nicolle A. Morales Kern is a senior at Drexel studying Global Journalism in the College of Arts and Sciences.