Bands rock Fling concert

With clear skies in sight, people came out in droves on Friday night to see the annual Spring Fling concert on Hill Field, featuring Ben Harper and the Black Eyed Peas. Over 7,000 students and area residents turned out for the concert, typically the highlight of Fling weekend. "The concert went above and beyond our expectations," said Social Planning and Events Committee Concerts Co-Chairman Matt Dicker, a College senior. Dicker said he was particularly excited about the large turnout, estimating that they sold well over 7,000 tickets in all -- 2,000 of which were sold at the door. He also said that there was "not just a large crowd, but they stayed to the end as well." Fling Committee Co-Director and newly-elected SPEC President Kevin Meyers also noted the diversity of the audience. The luck of good weather not only influenced the decision to hold the concert outdoors, but also contributed to the overall turnout and success of the concert. This year's concert was the second to be held outdoors, following a five-year pattern of bad weather, which demanded indoor relocation. Students expressed mixed reactions to the overall ambience. "Ben Harper was awesome," College freshman Diana Feinstein said. "He played all of his greatest songs, with only a few exceptions. The mood was perfect for Ben Harper -- it was chill, grassy and full of fun-loving people." College sophomore Mauricio Achata said, "The main reason I went was for the atmosphere." While some audience members appreciated the "chill" atmosphere, other students preferred the louder hip-hop style of the Black Eyed Peas. "I liked the show, but Ben Harper was a little too mellow," College freshman Lauren Furst said. "I wanted something with more energy." Harper's two-and-a-half hour set included two encores. The Black Eyed Peas' opening act lasted a little over an hour. This year, organizers set the stage on the north end of Hill Field rather than the east side -- where it was held last year -- which allowed better traffic flow for both the equipment and students moving in and out of the venue. Dicker commended his committee for its music picks. "At this year's show, the Black Eyed Peas were excellent and constantly warming up the crowd for Ben," Dicker said. "It was a testament to us picking a great band that people wanted to see." "I'm sure people liked Sexual Healing," Dicker said, in jest, of Ben Harper's contribution. He was apparently right on target. According to Dicker, the show went off without a hitch, with the bands seemingly very appreciative of their Philly audience. SPEC Concert members were content with the overall production. "I went to sleep with a big smile on my face that night," Dicker said.

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