Spring Break
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 4/16/07 Section: News
Mixed reviews for Fling show
Paul Richards
"The Luckiest" Penn students were flinging at full force on Friday night in Wynn Commons.
The Spring Fling concert, headlined by Ben Folds and Third Eye Blind, was Friday's main event, and, despite cold temperatures, long waits between sets and a parking ticket issued to Third Eye Blind, the Social Planning and Events Committee labeled the sold-out evening a big success.
"I think the concert ran really smoothly," SPEC Concerts co-director and Wharton and Engineering senior Matt Mizrahi said. "Other than the somewhat cold weather, people were very happy with it and enjoyed the show very much."
"The number of people in the venue was a good number," Mizrahi added. "There was lots of empty space in the back because people, of course, push as far as they can to the front."
In the weeks leading up to the concert, debate arose regarding whether Wynn Commons was an appropriate venue for a concert in such high demand.
"It was crowded - someone passed out on me," College freshman Rose Feinberg said. "I think it could've been in a bigger location, but I noticed that a lot of people started to leave before it ended, so, by the end, space wasn't an issue."
Mizrahi also said there were no real problems with non-ticket holders trying to sneak in.
"We certainly had enough security for that," Mizrahi said, adding that the security was also sufficient to handle the one or two fights that broke out without major incident.
But despite high praise from SPEC officials, concert-goers pointed to a variety of setbacks that took away from the show.
One of the biggest complaints from students was about the long waits before the concert and in between sets.
"The almost-hourlong wait for Third Eye Blind to come on was inexcusable," College freshman Stephen Krewson said.
Third Eye Blind took the stage on schedule at 8:45 p.m.; the long wait was the result of problems with the opening act, Eef Barzelay, who was supposed to play from 8:00 to 8:30 but didn't, Mizrahi said.
The Spring Fling concert, headlined by Ben Folds and Third Eye Blind, was Friday's main event, and, despite cold temperatures, long waits between sets and a parking ticket issued to Third Eye Blind, the Social Planning and Events Committee labeled the sold-out evening a big success.
"I think the concert ran really smoothly," SPEC Concerts co-director and Wharton and Engineering senior Matt Mizrahi said. "Other than the somewhat cold weather, people were very happy with it and enjoyed the show very much."
"The number of people in the venue was a good number," Mizrahi added. "There was lots of empty space in the back because people, of course, push as far as they can to the front."
In the weeks leading up to the concert, debate arose regarding whether Wynn Commons was an appropriate venue for a concert in such high demand.
"It was crowded - someone passed out on me," College freshman Rose Feinberg said. "I think it could've been in a bigger location, but I noticed that a lot of people started to leave before it ended, so, by the end, space wasn't an issue."
Mizrahi also said there were no real problems with non-ticket holders trying to sneak in.
"We certainly had enough security for that," Mizrahi said, adding that the security was also sufficient to handle the one or two fights that broke out without major incident.
But despite high praise from SPEC officials, concert-goers pointed to a variety of setbacks that took away from the show.
One of the biggest complaints from students was about the long waits before the concert and in between sets.
"The almost-hourlong wait for Third Eye Blind to come on was inexcusable," College freshman Stephen Krewson said.
Third Eye Blind took the stage on schedule at 8:45 p.m.; the long wait was the result of problems with the opening act, Eef Barzelay, who was supposed to play from 8:00 to 8:30 but didn't, Mizrahi said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 8
Joe
posted 4/16/07 @ 8:44 AM EST
Great Job... Kudos to Mizrahi and SPEC !
Josh
posted 4/16/07 @ 9:38 AM EST
I agree that the sound was pretty lousy. I was in the 3rd or 4th row and could barely hear vocals or the piano. The guitars cut in and out throught 3EB's set as well. (Continued…)
Jackie
posted 4/16/07 @ 10:58 AM EST
The cold, the wait, and the poor sound quality were all somewhat to be expected in a concert of this nature. My biggest problem with the entire concert was that there wasn't any water. (Continued…)
John
posted 4/16/07 @ 1:38 PM EST
Ben Folds and Third Eye Blind suck balls...get Tom Petty next year SPEC.
Alex
posted 4/16/07 @ 8:51 PM EST
So, overall, I think the concert was great. Outdoor venues always pose a problem because the wind distorts the sound at such varied levels. Also, the acoustics of Wynn Commons aren't the best for concerts. (Continued…)
John
posted 4/17/07 @ 1:09 AM EST
Both the sound production company and the person(s) who authorized the hiring of this particular sound production company need to find new occupations. (Continued…)
senior
posted 4/17/07 @ 1:28 AM EST
I have been to an amazing Ben Folds concert before, and I agree that the sound was horrible. I actually left after he played his 1st song because I couldn't even hear the piano and his singing was muffled. (Continued…)
Post a Comment