DJ RJD2 and Michael Jackson tribute band Who’s Bad drew crowds of students to Saturday’s 2008 Homecoming Ball, housed in a large white tent surrounded by blue lanterns and strings of gold lights on Asbury Circle.

While Who’s Bad kicked off the night singing and dancing under turquoise, purple and pink lights, crowds of students gathered to the front and cheered the band on. With their smooth slides and turns and performance of favorites such as “Smooth Criminal,” the band kept its audience screaming and jumping with their hands flung high in the air.

Taking the stage next, RJD2 changed the mood with selections consisting of intense beats and bizarre tunes. His song “The Horror” kept students upbeat, but the high energy that had characterized the audience during Who’s Bad’s performance slightly tapered down.

Even so, people booed when the music paused for a moment. The overall spirit, as exemplified by College freshman Adam McCall who said the DJ livened up his night, remained high enough for RJD2 to declare: “I’m jealous! I want to go back to school!”

As the night carried on, more and more people filed in, dressed in widely varying attire. Many were dressed up in formal dresses, suits, high heels and well-polished shoes, but just as many showed up in jeans and T-shirts.

College junior Becky Reed said that though the concert “would have been more fun if more people came and stayed for longer than five minutes,” she still had a good time.

Noting that not many people danced, College freshman Adam Ginsberg said he felt like “most people had a great time hanging out with friends.”

Ginsberg said he appreciated the food, which included chips and dip and brownies, and found RJD2’s performance “really neat and cool to watch.”

Student Government Association Vice President Alex Kappus said he was impressed with everything that went on behind the scenes.

Kappus, who works closely with the Homecoming organizers at the Student Programming Council, said he thought SPC’s creativity in the past week deserves to be applauded.

“The atmosphere could not have been better tonight,” Kappus said. “The weather was on their side but they made the most out of the venue to create a spirited event. Everyone I ran into seemed to be having a great time.”

SPC President Zach Krame said the performers went above and beyond SPC’s expectations.

“At one point, the entire circle was filled with people,” Krame said, adding that while students filled the tent last year, this year students spilled out of the tent and surrounded all of Asbury Circle.

“It was unbelievable and exciting,” Krame said. “There was so much energy there.”

Krame said that though people came and went, those who stayed seemed happiest and were able to get the most out of the night.

Last night, SPC announced that the rock band Of a Revolution (O.A.R.) would be performing at the Fall Band Party, set to take place on Nov. 7.

— Contact Alice Chen.