Article and photos by Naomi Gizaw

Picture this: the sun dipping below the horizon, bare feet in the grass, and a refreshing glass of lemonade in hand — Juice brought a taste of summer to Lincoln Hall in the middle of January. It was as if their youthful, synth pop style had transported me back to the quad of Boston College, where the roots of the band first intertwined.

The Hails set the casual, groovy tone for the evening, bringing their indie-rock tracks from Gainesville, Florida, adding another chapter to the ever-growing saga of college bands with stories to share.

Juice consists of Ben Stevens (lead vocals), Christian Rose (violin, vocals), Kamau Burton (guitar, vocals), Daniel Moss (guitar), Michael Ricciardulli (guitar), and Rami El-Abidin (bass). Now, here’s the twist: a violinist stealing the spotlight. Christian Rose, armed with a Yamaha Electric Violin, proved that strings can dance and sing with the best of them. The violin, hollow and loud, took center stage during the soul-stirring solos, especially during the performances of “Cruelest Thing” and “Playa Delfino” from their 2024 EP Nothing Like a Dream. The crowd, filled with energy, transformed into a lively dance floor. As soon as Ben Stevens introduced the fan-favorite “Workin’ on Lovin’”, partners twirled and swayed, creating a kaleidoscope of movement that mirrored the sounds emanating from the stage as the show concluded.