Playing as the opening band for Vertical Horizon, the Pat McGee Band is proving just how much they’ve grown in popularity in the last few years.

“I think people will be pleasantly surprised by the opening band,” said Ian Martin, Program Coordinator for the Association for Campus Entertainment (ACE).

This Virginia based band has been gaining national acclaim. Both MTV and Billboard have recognized the Pat McGee Band for their stellar live performances.

“I think you’ll hear just about as much from (the Pat McGee Band) as you will from Vertical Horizon,” Martin said.

The Pat McGee Band has recorded three albums and each has sold over 100,000 copies. However, the albums do not give justice to the type of talent the band displays while playing live. The band’s sounds are rhythmically structured around a cool acoustic wind, while encompassing great lyrics and form. Each note has distinctive clarity that can be discerned upon the first strum of the guitar.

The band was formed in 1996 and continues to sell out venues across the United States. Since their beginning, due to notoriously great live performances, they have sold out such places as the House of Blues, and Virginia’s infamous Wolf Trap Amphitheatre. They have also played on the H.O.R.D.E. tour and performed with artists like the Wallflowers, Fleetwood Mac and Counting Crows.

Freshman Melissa Meadows bought her ticket for the concert because Vertical Horizon is going to perform, but she is interested to hear the Pat McGee Band as well.

“I’ve never heard of (the Pat McGee Band) before, but I want to see what this band is like,” Meadows said.

Perhaps the greatest achievement of the band was their performance for President Clinton. The Pat McGee Band bid Clinton a proper White House farewell with a performance on Jan. 4.

The band consists of Pat McGee on vocals and guitar, Jonathan Williams on piano and keyboard, John Small on bass, Chardy McEwan on percussion and Chris Williams on drums. After the UNCW show, they will continue to tour across the states until May 12.