Hip to be Square

The Daily Pennsylvanian reports that the Social Planning and Events Committee at Penn has booked the band O.A.R. to play Spring Fling this year.

Apparently, last year's concert -- which featured Sonic Youth, Cat Power, and Citizen Cope -- was a debacle. Fewer than 400 students came out to see them.

Students seem happier with this year's choice:

"I'm glad they finally got a decent band," [Engineering senior Peter] Aquart said. "After the last couple of years, the expectations are so low that it's not very hard for [SPEC] to find a group that will make everyone happy."

The editors of the paper chimed in with a few words of wisdom:

Last year's Spring Fling concert was simply an embarrassment. Fewer than 400 people turned out to see little-known and over-the-hill Sonic Youth perform in Wynn Commons. However, after last year's overwhelmingly negative response, the Social Planning and Events Committee -- the group responsible for Fling planning -- seems to be working hard to bring the Fling concert back into the mainstream.

Now, I'm not going to claim that Sonic Youth and Cat Power are ideal party bands. But, Jesus -- "little-known and over-the-hill Sonic Youth"?

I'd advise these students to enroll in a music appreciation course, but it seems that their senses have been permanently impaired by a steady stream of derivative corporate rock. What a pity.