Spring Break
Fish, Bone Thugs perform different but effective sets
Issue date: 5/1/08
This past Friday, marking the true beginning of Spring Fair, hundreds of people flocked to the practice field, were felt up by security guards, and set up camp on the turf in small groups, waiting for the entertainment to begin. The air was warm and breezy and all conditions proved perfect for an outdoor concert. In typical Hopkins fashion, about an hour after its allotted time, the concert finally began.
Despite the various complaints and concerns about Reel Big Fish as a headliner for Spring Fair, these guys really pulled out all the stops. The minute they hit the stage, the six bandmates were teeming with energy, and it definitely transferred onto the crowd.
While there was a section of the crowd which was obviously lingering in the back waiting for the second act of the night, even they were bobbing their heads and trying to suppress a smile. The band opened with a few jokes in a lighthearted tone that they maintained the entire show, accompanied by what is without a doubt their most well known song: "Sell Out." This was a very wise move on their part. Although the song may have been popular in 1997, when most of us were somewhere between nine and twelve, it is so catchy and was played so often back then that just about everybody at least vaguely recognized it.
It was a great segue into the upbeat sound of ska music, featuring all the instruments fairly evenly, including the trombone and trumpet, those classic big band staples of ska. By the end of the song, everybody was in the mood for a little time travel. For some unknown reason, a somewhat sad excuse for a moshpit formed in front of the stage. Luckily, a few musically educated people began a miniature pit of their own where they were all skanking, the form of dance appropriate to accompany ska music.
The band gave the school its money's worth. The members themselves were outgoing and dynamic personalities who kept the energy up throughout their set. Aaron Barrett, lead vocalist and guitarist and only founding member still a part of the band, was perhaps the most effervescent of them all. With their eclectic and bright clothing, as well as sunglasses at night, they admittedly looked a bit odd for people of their age (or anybody above fifteen); however their oddities only further energized the crowd.
Despite the various complaints and concerns about Reel Big Fish as a headliner for Spring Fair, these guys really pulled out all the stops. The minute they hit the stage, the six bandmates were teeming with energy, and it definitely transferred onto the crowd.
While there was a section of the crowd which was obviously lingering in the back waiting for the second act of the night, even they were bobbing their heads and trying to suppress a smile. The band opened with a few jokes in a lighthearted tone that they maintained the entire show, accompanied by what is without a doubt their most well known song: "Sell Out." This was a very wise move on their part. Although the song may have been popular in 1997, when most of us were somewhere between nine and twelve, it is so catchy and was played so often back then that just about everybody at least vaguely recognized it.
It was a great segue into the upbeat sound of ska music, featuring all the instruments fairly evenly, including the trombone and trumpet, those classic big band staples of ska. By the end of the song, everybody was in the mood for a little time travel. For some unknown reason, a somewhat sad excuse for a moshpit formed in front of the stage. Luckily, a few musically educated people began a miniature pit of their own where they were all skanking, the form of dance appropriate to accompany ska music.
The band gave the school its money's worth. The members themselves were outgoing and dynamic personalities who kept the energy up throughout their set. Aaron Barrett, lead vocalist and guitarist and only founding member still a part of the band, was perhaps the most effervescent of them all. With their eclectic and bright clothing, as well as sunglasses at night, they admittedly looked a bit odd for people of their age (or anybody above fifteen); however their oddities only further energized the crowd.
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