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TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2009
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THE JUSTICE
THE JUSTICE
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TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2009
A SUNDAY OF ART Greeting spring with creativity Brandeisians awoke Sunday morning to the warmest day of the spring so far. The weather was perfect for venturing out onto Chapels Field or the Great Lawn for some of the many events planned as part of the Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Arts. Students tanned and picnicked in between concerts and other “happenings,” perhaps pausing to take part in interactive events such as sidewalk chalk drawing and origami tutorials. After enjoying free food provided by Student Events and taking in the spirited performances by Mochila, Deerhunter, Asher Roth, RJD2 and the Decemberists, students returned home exhausted but happy with the day’s festivities. —Sarah Bayer CAMPUS HAPPENINGS: Due to the beautiful weather, outdoor events drew large crowds on Sunday, the final day of this year’s Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Arts. The result was an atmosphere of enthusiastic creativity throughout campus. From left to right, the day’s events included an origami folding session, Brandeis saxophonists performing in front of Shapiro Campus Center, a concert by Boston folk musicians The Guy Mendilow Band, sidewalk drawing with Brandeis students and families from the community, a roving performance by Big Nazo and “Philosophical Love,” a dance performance choreographed by Justin Becker ’09. JULIAN AGIN-LIEBES/the Justice
MAX BREITSTEIN MATZA/the Justice
DAVID SHEPPARD-BRICK/the Justice
MAX BREITSTEIN MATZA/the Justice
DAVID SHEPPARD-BRICK/the Justice
DAVID SHEPPARD-BRICK/the Justice
SUPER SPRINGFEST
Stars take the stage By RACHEL KLEIN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Nothing could have been more picturesque and collegiate than this year’s Super Springfest, which took place Sunday afternoon. Hundreds of students flocked to Chapels Field to take in the beautiful weather, good music and free food. Student Events and WBRS organized Springfest, and it ran smoothly with the help of many volunteers clad in bright red shirts. Although there were several moments when there seemed to be a bigger crowd around the food than around the stage, everyone seemed to enjoy the atmosphere, and Student Events, WBRS, Peers Educating about Responsible Choices, National Collegiate Volunteers and Student Sexuality Information Service provided activities for students who wanted a break from the music. Springfest kicked off with a performance from student band Mochila, followed soon after by the band Deerhunter. Both drew modest-sized crowds and provided mostly background music for the sunbathers and Frisbee players. Asher Roth, the suburban college dropout, provided amusement with a rap set. Roth, best known for his single “I Love College,” spent close to half an hour espousing the benefits of marijuana, and indeed the smell of marijuana was so pungent that it was clear that many crowd members agreed with his sentiments. While Asher Roth performed an interesting spoken word piece about the production of fast food in America, his less impressive raps overshadowed it. After his performance, Roth hung out with concertgoers on Chapels Field, sharing their common “interest” and proving that he is indeed just another young guy. Roth was followed by RJD2, a DJ known for creating interesting mixes. His mixing amassed a fair amount of dancers, and the trippy atmosphere was only improved by a group of bizarrelooking puppets who joined the crowd. However, it was the
The concert was a grand finale to the Festival of the Arts headlining group, the Decemberists, who really stole the show. For fans of the Decemberists, Springfest provided a unique opportunity to see this exciting band in a close and personal space. The group lived up to its reputation and performed a high-energy and engaging show, much to happiness of the singing crowd. Colin Meloy, the lead singer, drew the audience in and got them to actively participate in the songs. The group performed several songs, ranging from old favorites like “July, July” and “The Crane Wife 3” to songs from their newest album, The Hazards of Love. The Hazards of Love is a rock opera, the first of its kind for the group. The Decemberists played “The Hazards Of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won’t Wrestle The Thistles)” and “The Rake’s Song” from the new album and provided the crowd with a glimpse of their upcoming tour in which they will perform the album in its entirety. Unfortunately, Meloy had to leave soon after the show, and most audience members were unable to get a picture with him. But considering that the band had to prepare for its appearance on The Colbert Report the next day, the Decemberists’ swift departure was easily forgiven. Springfest was a beautiful day for the students of Brandeis University to enjoy the music and the weather, and it served as a reminder of how lucky we all are to go to this school.
JULIAN AGIN-LIEBES/the Justice
MAX BREITSTEIN MATZA/the Justice
DAVID SHEPPARD-BRICK/the Justice
DAVID SHEPPARD-BRICK/the Justice
MAX BREITSTEIN MATZA/the Justice
PLAYFUL PERFORMANCES: There was plenty going on to keep students entertained on Sunday afternoon. Top, a performer from Big Nazo in full costume. Above, Deerhunter’s bassist performs for the crowd on Chapels Field. Below far left, Brandeis world music collective Mochila opens the Springfest concert, a distinction the band won at November’s Battle of the Bands. Below left, a Student Events volunteer with a hot dog, one of the free food options available at Springfest.
REBECCA NEY/the Justice
JULIAN AGIN-LIEBES/the Justice
MUSICAL MELANGE: This year’s Springfest concert featured a wide variety of high-powered performers due to its merger with Student Events’ semester concert. The crowd gathered on Chapels Field enjoyed six hours of the latest hits from a range of genres, all free of charge. Student Events and several clubs collaborated to provide free food and games for those in attendance. Counterclockwise from above: “I Love College” rapper Asher Roth shows off his Brandeis pride as he performs at Springfest; frontman Colin Meloy performs new music from the rock opera album by indie darlings the Decemberists, the concert’s headliners; RJD2 mixes songs that brought students to their feet; concertgoers enjoy beautiful weather, great music and free food on Chapels Field.
JULIAN AGIN-LIEBES/the Justice
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