Frost Children filled the Hub with their signature fusion of hyperpop and electroclash. (Courtesy of Spotify)

The fluorescent lights of UC Santa Barbara’s University Center Hub rarely flatter anyone, but between the blown-out bass, flashing lights and packed crowd, Frost Children never looked better. On May 7, the dining area briefly stopped feeling like a food court and resembled the sweaty underground electro rave the sibling duo Lulu and Angel Prost were built for. Presented by the Associated Students Program Board (ASPB), with tickets selling out the night before the concert, it drew one of the more eclectic crowds the Hub has seen this year. Students in popped polo collars and mini skirts crowded toward the barricade well before the opener began. 

“Everyone knew the memo of what to wear, how to dress,” third-year economics and accounting major Christian Magcalas said.

Because attendance was open to the general public, students from across Southern California were able to attend, including those from California State University, Northridge and University of California, Los Angeles.

Opening act Cowgirl Clue took the stage at 8:30 p.m. in a Sailor Moon-style top, bending genres in her set filled with pop remixes and energy that matched the crowd’s — at least until the speakers abruptly failed several minutes into her set. Once the speakers cut out, the lights dimmed and the room fell into confusion as Cowgirl Clue walked offstage. 

Moments later, the crowd began voicing their frustration. 

“Boooooo! You guys suck, what the fuck!” Several attendees shouted toward the sound booth as ASPB staff scrambled to fix the issue.

She finally returned and pushed through the technical difficulties to complete her set, eventually leaving the stage at 9:15 p.m. to the sound of Grimes echoing through the Hub speakers.

Despite the rough start, many attendees appreciated the opener’s performance.

“I like Cowgirl Clue. I think she did a great job, but I wish she had played some of her original music instead of just remixes,” second-year feminist studies major Gwyneth Boatwright said.

Other members of the audience were just happy she was here, despite any technical difficulties.

“I love Cowgirl Clue, she can do no wrong,” third-year psychological & brain sciences major Natasha Liu said. “I also know she doesn’t perform live very often so it was easy to give her the benefit of the doubt so I don’t blame her for any technical difficulties because she was probably really anxious.”

The room erupted as Frost Children emerged onto the stage at 9:30 p.m. Lulu donned an all-black outfit featuring a Polo Ralph Lauren shirt and a visible Supreme waistband, while Angel wore a white button-up and pleated skirt and a long blonde wig wrapped dramatically around her microphone stand, the same visual centerpiece she had used at a past Los Angeles performance.

“The wig on the mic was so cunt,” Boatwright said. “I loved it.”

Liu saw the visual as something deeper than just aesthetics. 

“I thought Angel’s hair extensions on her mic was literally everything because it made her stand out as the sister of the duo,” she said. “I think it also represented her hyperfemininity in a visual form which was also artistically transfemme.” 

The visual theatrics matched the music almost instantly. Frost Children launched into a run of fan favorites including “ELECTRIC,” “Shake It Like A” and “Dirty Girl,” filling the Hub with their signature fusion of hyperpop and electroclash.

The duo constantly interacted with attendees between songs, yelling random bits into the audience. 

“We saw sea lions earlier!” they yelled at one point, with responses of confused yet enthusiastic cheers coming from the crowd. 

At one point, Frost Children paused to ask, “Who’s the best concert you’ve seen here?” 

“You!” the audience screamed back almost instantly.

The pair also repeatedly encouraged audience participation, at one point sending the wigged microphone stand out to crowdsurf and eventually asking everyone to pull out their phone flashlights during “Sister,” the title track for their sixth studio album.

The Hub briefly transformed into a glowing sea of lights, the moment added a strangely emotional pause to an otherwise relentless set.

“When everyone took out their phones, it was great, it kind of felt like Euphoria, that was the vibe,” Magcalas said.

“I think the best parts were obviously the music but more importantly the energy and the cohesive unity of the crowd towards the artist’s performance. To be honest, I don’t think there were any bad parts,” Liu said. 

Several students noted how surprisingly respectful the audience felt despite the intensity of the pit. 

“The best part of the show was the energy of the crowd. Easily. Everyone was dancing and looking out for each other,” fourth-year communication major Joya Strubing said.

“What stuck out to me was how involved the crowd was,” third-year economics and accounting student Sara Rosales said. “I’ve been to a lot of shows at the [University Center] and a lot of the time no one‘s even dancing so it was really fun that everyone had really good energy.” 

For longtime fans, the concert carried significance beyond the music itself. Frost Children’s growing popularity has coincided with increased visibility for queer and transgender artists within electronic music spaces, something several attendees felt was important to see represented at UCSB. Liu, who has listened to Frost Children since her senior year of high school, said she “loved the representation Frost Children brought” and expressed that they had never witnessed a university “bring a trans artist to perform.”

“It was also a celebration of queer art, peak transfemme electronic music and nightlife culture despite the current political state and views towards trans people,” she added.

The duo closed the night with “2 LØVE,” ending a set that felt chaotic and emotional. As students slowly spilled out of the Hub afterward, sweaty and blinking to adjust to the dark, conversations about the show lingered around the UCen long after the music ended.

The last Hub show of the year ended in a huge success. 

“I think the show was the best show I’ve ever been to,” Liu said.