The Daily OrangeBlock Party headliner has wide appeal; opening act needs different sound
By The Daily Orange Editorial Board
Posted: 3/17/09, 4:05 AM EST Section: Opinion
University Union announced Monday that Ben Folds will be headlining this year's Block Party on April 26. Alternative rock group Guster will be opening the concert for Folds.
Ben Folds looks to be a good selection for this years Block Party, as his music seems to have broad appeal in the college demographic. The selection of an artist with a wide fanbase is a welcome turnaround from the niche audience of last years headliner, Fergie.
Although UU did pass up on a great opportunity with its opening act selection; Guster. The opening act for an event with campus wide appeal should try to reach out to different tastes and listeners and Guster hardly does that with its sound similar to Ben Folds.
Folds is the first headliner since 2003 who is not categorized as hip-hop, which means there will be two major concerts this academic year with rock bands, the first being Juice Jam.
UU director of concerts Kelly Bertog said that the organization was looking forward to a seeing what kind of crowd the concert would draw, but it is pretty clear that this concert will draw the same audience as Juice Jam, leaving a significant part of the campus with a different musical pallete, without a musical act.
Although Folds is a name that will resonate among a good deal of students and members of the Syracuse University community, Block Party has traditionally included a hip-hop act, which gives fans a different sound from Juice Jam. Choosing an opening act with a varied type of music would have brought in a bigger and more diverse crowd and a more popular event for UU.
It is impossible to book an act that would please the entire campus but UU should be able to secure an artist that has a large appeal. Ben Folds is on the cusp of mainstream. But Guster is on the brink of obscurity and does not live up to the openers of previous years.
It is commendable for UU to bring in such as known name as Ben Folds, but UU should make an effort to reach out to all sorts of musical tastes.
Ben Folds looks to be a good selection for this years Block Party, as his music seems to have broad appeal in the college demographic. The selection of an artist with a wide fanbase is a welcome turnaround from the niche audience of last years headliner, Fergie.
Although UU did pass up on a great opportunity with its opening act selection; Guster. The opening act for an event with campus wide appeal should try to reach out to different tastes and listeners and Guster hardly does that with its sound similar to Ben Folds.
Folds is the first headliner since 2003 who is not categorized as hip-hop, which means there will be two major concerts this academic year with rock bands, the first being Juice Jam.
UU director of concerts Kelly Bertog said that the organization was looking forward to a seeing what kind of crowd the concert would draw, but it is pretty clear that this concert will draw the same audience as Juice Jam, leaving a significant part of the campus with a different musical pallete, without a musical act.
Although Folds is a name that will resonate among a good deal of students and members of the Syracuse University community, Block Party has traditionally included a hip-hop act, which gives fans a different sound from Juice Jam. Choosing an opening act with a varied type of music would have brought in a bigger and more diverse crowd and a more popular event for UU.
It is impossible to book an act that would please the entire campus but UU should be able to secure an artist that has a large appeal. Ben Folds is on the cusp of mainstream. But Guster is on the brink of obscurity and does not live up to the openers of previous years.
It is commendable for UU to bring in such as known name as Ben Folds, but UU should make an effort to reach out to all sorts of musical tastes.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
fjadl
posted 3/18/09 @ 8:38 AM EST
Are you high?
1. Ben Folds and Guster do not have similar sounds. Have you ever even listened to them?
2. "Brink of obscurity"... again, are you high? Guster has been big for the past decade. (Continued…)
kannman
posted 3/18/09 @ 8:54 AM EST
I think the DO editorial staff is indeed high. Guster isn't at all obscure. Also seems like you don't understand the idea of an opening act. It's usually not quite as popular as the main act, which is, you know, why it's the OPENING ACT. (Continued…)
Cuserell
posted 3/18/09 @ 6:31 PM EST
Another lame hip hop or top 40 act? No one is forcing you to sit through them as I won't step foot inside the Carrier Dome to see these guys.
The University Union failed with this choice. (Continued…)
Adam
posted 3/18/09 @ 8:39 PM EST
This is one of the dumbest things I have ever read. Brink of obscurity? Doesn't live up to past opening acts? Guster has had a huge following for over a decade and play the same venues that Folds does. (Continued…)
Ben Folds
posted 3/18/09 @ 10:40 PM EST
Matter of fact, I toured with Guster and Rufus Wainwright a few years ago.
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