With the first SEC home game of the season a day away, Gavin DeGraw and Sean Kingston pumped up team spirit for Tiger fans during Gold Fest.The stage was arranged in the middle of the PMAC, while purple and gold lights stained the air. The Tiger Girls, the LSU cheerleaders and LSU football coach Les Miles all made an appearance before the concert.”We save our best play for fans at Tiger Stadium,” Miles told the cheering crowd. Staci Pepitone, assistant to the vice chancellor, coordinated the event.”It cost about $150,000 to put the show on,” Pepitone said. “And we booked two well-established artists with multiple No. 1 singles. It takes a lot to book a touring act.”Mariah Johnson, a native of Austin, Texas, opened the show, bravely wearing purple and gold against her hometown roots. Her rendition of “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis brought awards of applause as she hit every high note as perfectly as Lewis. Her performance was followed by Deniro, Sean Kingston’s DJ, who excited the crowd.As an 18-year-old platinum selling artist, Kingston has plans for another album. Kingston announced he would be collaborating with Alicia Keys, Kanye West and Akon. Backstage, Marlon Favorite, LSU senior defensive tackle, told Kingston they should switch places.”I’ll rap and you’ll play Mississippi,” Favorites said.Gavin DeGraw closed the show. This was not his first visit to Baton Rouge.”It’s a great little town,” DeGraw said. “If I get another invite, I’ll RSVP and definitely come back.”Backstage, DeGraw asked for suggestions of places to go out and was directed to the Roux House or Happy’s. Onstage, he sported a purple and gold jersey. “I want to go to Bogie’s,” DeGraw said. “I heard it was fun.”—-Contact Ashley Norsworthy at [email protected]