News-Letter

In classic Spring Fair fashion, the potential merriment of the Homewood campus was slightly dampened by rain. The victims of this precipitation were plentiful, but, in particular, the stellar line-up of bands, set to play on Sunday at the Beach, was unfortunately prevented from performing.

I had been ready and anxious to rehash my middle school days with Jimmie's Chicken Shack and take a funkified journey with the eight-piece group known as The Boogie Hustlers, but a follow-up to Saturday's Beach-based live music would be impossible. Alas, I would have to be content with only half the recommended dosage.

When I got there, I was greeted by an extensive set up at the bottom of the Beach. Under a Spring Fair banner, the large stage and impressive speakers combined to make a very respectable venue for the visiting bands.

Since not even the lure of Spring Fair can coax me into leaving my house before noon on a Saturday, I was tragically absent for the kick-off band, 3Fifths. Had I been there, I probably would've learned they were an indie-rock outfit, big in the Baltimore-D.C. underground scene. The band came about after two local musical factions joined forces to combine jam-based influence with more structured and melody-driven song-writing.

I made it just in time for the start of Mad Sweet Pangs, the second group of the day. Made up of 20-somethings from Delaware, the boys were taken right out of the Phish mold, except with a little less talent (though they had plenty of it, nonetheless).

They call their sound a folk-funk blend that they've christened as "Organic Rock". They even had a live trombone player looked a little like Hurley from Lost.

The music was very good, though the crowd wasn't quite giving them the respect and attention they deserved. Despite the beautiful weather, the Beach was mostly vacated, and, for the few that were there, they kept closer to the library than to the stage.

While Mad Sweet Pangs had an appreciable sound, I couldn't help feel a little sorry for them when they requested, "Anyone who can hear us, give us a wave." As my two friends wandered away, I gave a pity wave before following suit, making it look like I was pleading with my friends to stay.

As I wandered the maze of apple fritters, deep-fried Oreos and giant turkey legs, I pondered the decision to relegate such high-quality acts to the beach while heavy rock bands like Tears of Mars semi-awkwardly dominated the sound space at the Beer Garden.

While it surely has something to do with the Beer Garden's sponsorship, it is a shame that Mad Sweet Pangs, an ideal fit for the spirited atmosphere of said garden, were stuck entertaining an audience mostly consisting of young parents picnicking with their 2-year-olds. In all seriousness, Mad Sweet Pangs would have gotten a larger turnout at the Beach on a sunny Tuesday afternoon than they did at Spring Fair.

I made it back to the Beach stage for Basshound, Saturday's closing band. Spring Fair veterans, the Baltimore-based jam-rock-jazz group provided an entertaining set. Their thoughtfully composed yet wild and energetic songs (with some Jimi Hendrix and Traffic covers tossed in) would have been another perfect fit for the Beer Garden, or at least for more people. In any case, the release of the Basshound E.P. coincided, more or less, with this performance and is available for order online for anyone who wants to experience the group.

As we all know, this proved to be the finale for the Beach, as rain washed away any chance of hearing live music on Sunday. Of course, I wasn't surprised as this has thrice been the case in my Spring Fair experience. In the words of Cubs fans: maybe next year.

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