Concert receives mixed reviews

Cheers of joy and groans of disappointment were heard across campus in response to the choice of bands for the fall concert.

The Student Activities Board announced in October that Jack's Mannequin and Relient K would be the bands featured in its fall concert on Nov. 6. Almost immediately, students began voicing their reactions to the selection with an overwhelming mix of enthusiasm and disapproval. As of Monday, more than 1,050 tickets have been sold.

The Facebook page for the event is covered with comments from students who are ecstatic with the choice of bands, others who are critical of the selection and even some who are disappointed at the concert's cost.

One student who is ecstatic with the choice is sophomore Erin Nicol. Nicol has been a fan of Relient K for years and owns several of the band's albums. She said that when she saw the concert on Facebook, she was so excited she squealed.

"I was excited because I love both of those bands," Nicol said.

Nicol attended the SAB concert last year, which featured Flogging Molly in Pershing Arena. She has talked with other students about the concert and said they all seemed excited to see the show.

Freshman Sara Perkins said she was disappointed with the fall concert announcement. Perkins said she would have preferred other bands that SAB had on the survey, such as Kid Cudi.

"I thought that both Relient K and Jack's Mannequin are good bands, but when I heard who could've been here I was a little disappointed," Perkins said.  

She also said Relient K's music is out of date. Perkins said she can't remember the last time she heard a new song from Relient K.

Perkins might disapprove of the performer selection for the concert, but she spoke favorably of SAB events as a whole.

"I think it's a really good organization and it gives us something to do, whereas Kirksville doesn't offer a whole lot as a city," Perkins said.

Some students are unfamiliar with the bands selected. Senior Taira Meadowcroft first heard about the concert performers this year from a friend's Facebook status. She was immediately excited to see Relient K but is not as familiar with Jack's Mannequin.

"I have never actually heard any of his music," Meadowcroft said.

Even if Meadowcroft isn't familiar with the band, the results of last year's survey showed that students wanted these bands. Relient K and Jack's Mannequin were voted the no. 1 and no. 2 choices in the student survey.

Meadowcroft recalls taking the survey but doesn't remember what band she voted for. She said she is pleased with the SAB events in general, but that she is disappointed students have to pay $8 to see the concert.  

Senior Valerie Spencer has been involved with SAB since fall 2008 and currently serves as the chair of the fall concert. She has heard both criticism and praise about SAB's choice of bands. Spencer said the responses on the day the concert was announced made her want to work harder.

"It was really motivating to see all the positive feedback the day we announced," Spencer said.

Spencer said that SAB also is prepared to receive negative feedback, but that the choices of bands are based strictly off of surveys taken by students. Spencer offered advice for the students who are unhappy with this year's band choices.

"I encourage the students who have negative feelings about the concert to take the fall and spring survey, because those surveys are really what we base our decisions on," Spencer said.  

The next SAB survey will be out before the end of the semester and will include questions about who students want as future concert guests, speakers and comedians.