 "Photo: Steffany Montes")
"You guys are lucky," Yellowcard lead singer Ryan Key said between songs during Saturday afternoon's concert. "You've got the best band ever for the best weekend ever."
Though a few students may have disagreed (Key was hit in the shoulder by an apple and two others missed their mark), the majority of the student body seemed to enjoy Spring Weekend 2007. Fordham's "Best Weekend Ever" was sponsored by the Campus Activities Board (CAB) and The Office of Student Leadership and Community Development (OSL&CD). There were strong turnouts at all of the major events, especially at the concert, the Under the Tent Dance on Saturday night, and the VH1 "Best Week Ever" comedy show on Sunday night.
"I thought they did a really great job; there was always something interesting to do," Andrew Dellarippa, FCRH '10 said. "They really kept it fresh."
The weekend kicked off on Thursday night in the Ramskeller with spoken-word poetry from Gemineye. The New Jersey native shared his tough, erotic street poetry with the roughly 35 students in attendance.
"The only thing you have to choose/is whether the fabric in your casket is red or blue," he said in a poem about gangs in New York.
"He was quite thought-provoking," Matt Cardinale, FCRH '09 said. "He spoke about things college kids think about. I just wish more people could have heard him."
CAB provided an intimate setting for the performance. Couches were set up near the mini-stage at one end of the Ramskeller, and there was little light except for the candles sitting on several tablecloth-covered high tables.
Friday featured three more events. Peer Educators sponsored the Rose Hill Rush, a five-kilometer race around campus. Approximately 80 runners participated in the singles race. Later, the Ramblers released their new CD, Fordham Road, at their spring concert in Collins Auditorium. The male a cappella group sang their usual mix of traditional and modern pop songs for the crowd.
Students also had the opportunity to flaunt their ethnic pride Friday night when the rugby team played their annual Irish v. Italian game. Many students wore Irish green or Italian blue in support of their side. One fan sported an Irish flag in lieu of a shirt.
The first of Spring Weekend's most anticipated events began on Saturday. Fordham band Hiroko Saki opened the "Best Concert Ever" on Martyrs' Lawn. Hiroko Saki's lead singer Nelso, wearing a purple tank top and short shorts, sang about Fordham, Sodexho and free speech. Their dedicated fans, The Fordham Freak Parade, danced and sang along.
"No party, no fun, no rights for anyone," they all shouted with the band during one song.
Webster, the other winner of Fordham's Battle of the Bands, followed with their Pearl Jam-inspired riffs. They brought 1992 to 2007 with their flannel shirts, long hair and longer beards. They also invited the crowd to their apartment on Bathgate Avenue where they claimed to have "10 kegs."
Singer-pianist Jon McLaughlin was the major opening act of the afternoon. He had played that morning on CBS' "The Early Show" in support of his new album, Indiana. McLaughlin sang his piano rock tunes and love ballads with obvious emotion; he very rarely sat on the stool behind the keyboard, instead choosing to half-stand in a contorted position for maximum intensity.
"McLaughlin was my favorite part of the concert," Dan DiPasquale, FCRH '09 said. "I would have preferred to have seen him in a poorly lit room, but he was still very good up there."
All of the opening bands led up to the premier act of the afternoon, Yellowcard. On tour in support of their 2006 release, Lights and Sounds, the pop-punk band gained widespread popularity in 2003 with Ocean Avenue. They played an even mix of old, current and new songs, plus a cover of Weezer's "Say It Ain't So."
The crowd was really able to get into their popular songs, many of which have been heard on top-40 radio stations and MTV. Students swayed and sang along with Yellowcard's love ballad, "Only One," and jumped and danced to the popular "Ocean Avenue."
"Everyone had low expectations for Yellowcard, but once they started to play, we all were able to get into it and just have a good time," Emily Pereira, FCRH '10 said.
Despite the administration's attempts to provide a secure environment for the concert (everyone was searched thoroughly at the gate), there were some small incidents. Security removed one student for fighting and another for crowd-surfing. The students who threw the apples at the band were not identified. Before playing their last song, Key did warn the crowd to "watch out for projectile apples." At this point, though, he was laughing at the incident and he thanked the crowd for their support and energy.
Besides the bands, CAB also provided a carnival-like atmosphere on Martyrs' lawn. They had a photo booth, DDR, a huge Twister game, strawberry banana smoothies, a High Striker, Dippin' Dots, Henna tattoos, and caricatures.
Spring Weekend continued that night with the Under the Tent Dance. Tickets were sold out, but everyone was let in after 11 p.m. Many students were upset about the sellout, and many had to wait in line up to an hour to gain entry. There was a live band, Pink Noise, and a DJ, Mike Errichiello. The dance had an Asian theme, with oriental decorations and food. Dipasquale was very happy with the live band.
"How can you complain when they play "Don't Stop Believin?" He said.
The weekend closed out Sunday night with the comedy show in the Rose Hill Gym. Johnny Cardinale opened the evening with guitar-comedy, making fun of everyone from Nickelback to R.E.M. The highlight of the night, however, was VH1's "Best Week Ever Live!"
Chuck Nice, Jessica St. Clair, Laurie Kilmartin and Mike Britt split stand-up time. All four comedians had the crowd rolling in the aisles with their politically incorrect humor (two of the comedians joked how they would never be allowed to speak here again).
The show ended with the "Best Week Ever" competition, in which four students went on stage claiming to have had the best week ever. It came down to two students and highlighted the dichotomies of the University. One boy said he had the best week because he had convinced a girl he liked to go to the dance with him. The other said that he and his friends had been drunk since Thursday and had finished 300 beers.
The audience chose "Lovestruck Anthony" over "300-beer Mike," though both received plenty of support.
Josh Hatcher, FCRH '07 and President of CBA, was satisfied with the way Spring Weekend turned out.
"It was the smoothest in my four years," he said. "We got lucky with the weather and it went off without a hitch. It got a little iffy on Friday with the rain, but we had support from Jen Mussi and the administration to keep it outside. There was a great turnout at all the events, and it was a safe and responsible environment."
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