Augustana delivered a memorable performance last night, fending off a noisy audience and looming bad weather in the process.

Organized by the Student Programming Association, it was the first-ever concert held at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park since it opened in 2006, and the California quintet made it worth the wait.

Opener Cloverleaf warmed up the crowd of 1,600 that turned out for the show, delivering a unique brand of piano rock.

The group developed a good rapport with the crowd throughout the set.

Two songs in, an audience member shouted for an obligatory "Freebird" rendition, but keyboardist T.J. Cornwall retorted, "Man, you suck." The group came back with a tune equally familiar to the crowd, playing the Beatles' "Let It Be."

Following Cloverleaf's set, Augustana modestly took the stage.

The band members made do with their available instruments since they said they forgetfully left a mandolin and piano in California, causing two members to share a piano on select songs.

Vocals instead served as a driving force behind certain tracks, such as when the entire band gathered around a microphone and performed "Reasons" in an a cappella five-part harmony. Keyboardist John Vincent Fredericks' Hammond B-3 organ also took center stage.

The band picked up speed as the night wore on, getting a big reaction from the crowd upon launching into "Stars and Boulevards."

A few logistical problems plagued the field's first show, detracting from an otherwise thoroughly satisfying set.

Dark clouds filled the sky throughout the show, prompting the Medlar Field grounds crew to roll the tarp across the infield after Cloverleaf finished playing.

Also, instead of performing in between home plate and the catcher's mound, their seemingly miniscule stage was set up in left field.

A much-too-quiet mix accompanied the peculiar positioning of the stage. The reason many rock shows are so ear-splittingly loud quickly became apparent as hundreds of conversations in the crowd threatened at times to drown out the music.

While the band played delicate melodies, members of the crowd grew antsy, entertaining themselves by attempting a wave, crowd surfing, repeatedly requesting the hit "Boston" and idly chatting.

When the group actually did play "Boston," Augustana won back the crowd's attention and held it for the rest of the night.

Some students, like Tim Vitullo (freshman-civil engineering), were enthralled by the show.

"They have a great sound," Vitullo said. "They blend in with the indie movement and they stick out among the lot. They have great chemistry and are humorous at times."

As the set came to a close, Layus joked about departing, asking the audience as a whole on a second date amid a spirited rendition of Van Morrison's "Baby Please Don't Go."

Judging by the standing ovation during the song's last chord, the answer was 'yes.