The Woodies were meant to honor music popular with college students, and mtvU's Web site describes the Woodie of the Year award as "The music you lived your life to... this year." The group beat out Panic! at the Disco, the Academy Is, Gym Class Heroes and Atmosphere to win the award.
Many students said their fandom of Angels and Airwaves carried over from listening to Blink 182 when they were younger.
"I'm an Angels and Airwaves fan because I've been a huge Blink 182 fan since sixth grade," Aric Butler (freshman-premedicine) said.
Butler said he saw the group in Chicago over the summer, and DeLonge did a few solo performances and played portions of Blink 182 and Boxcar Racer (his other project) songs.
"I heard of Angels and Airwaves from my friend," Ebun Adewumi (senior-journalism) said, "but I realized that a song I had been listening to for a while was by them and became really excited that they were coming."
And though some fans still miss Blink, they said they are excited for DeLonge's new project.
"I am still upset about Blink 182 breaking up," Lou De Fazio (freshman-kinesiology) said. "But I think that Tom DeLonge has made good music that is extremely easy to listen to, as well as catchy."
Critically, Angels and Airwave's debut album has received mixed reviews, gathering a 50 out of 100 for its composite score. Reviews have ranged from Alternative Press's four out five to a middling 2 1/2 stars from Rolling Stone.
Kevin Cassidy (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said he thinks Angels and Airwaves stands out from other current rock bands, particularly because of its lyrical content.
"Unlike the majority of rock bands, most of their songs deliver a positive message to the listeners," Cassidy said.
Sohel Afza (sophomore-mechanical engineering) said Angels and Airwave's epic sound is a dramatic change from the short songs and high energy of Blink 182.
"Angels and Airwaves has a different style than Blink, and Tom Delonge has really changed over the past two years," Afza said. "His song-writing style has also changed from the simple riffs we're all used to."
One of the opening acts, The Sounds, a group with a heavy new wave influence, is influenced by groups like Blondie. The band's songs prominently feature female singer Maja Ivarsson and heavy use of keyboards.
Though large-scale success has still eluded the group in the U.S., the band has been building a fan base and has been featured on the Warped Tour. The group also released its sophomore album, Dying to Say This to You, in March.
Envy on the Coast is a band from Long Island, New York, with just a five-song EP to its name. The band has also toured with groups like 30 Seconds to Mars and Head Automatica.
