While some students may pass on this year’s Spring Kick-off Concert to avoid a trip back to middle-school angst with headliner Third Eye Blind, the Georgetown Programming Board should be commended for their remarkable competency in organizing this year’s concert.
In contrast to the past, this year’s event features more than one artist. So even if the headlining band’s brand of 90s pop doesn’t suit your fancy, the acoustic folk rock of Joshua James and mash-ups of Super Mash Brothers round out a refreshingly diverse slate of performers. Hosting artists with different styles of music encourages more students to attend, and ultimately makes for a better experience for all.
GPB should also be applauded for releasing the results of its poll, which asked students to rank eight artists as potential headliners. Compared to similarly sized institutions, Georgetown’s spring concert is restricted by a low budget that immediately limits the University’s ability to attract top-tier acts. It is therefore essential that organizers bring in artists that students actually want to hear. Fortunately, GPB listened carefully to student feedback in organizing this year’s event. The organization’s effort toward transparency in its artist selection process, such as the release of the poll results, indicates that the organization has learned from the lackluster turnout of past concerts and realized that students outside the organization must remain involved in the process.
One final decision made by GPB is worthy of commendation. After last year’s less-than-stellar performance by T-Pain, the horrendous acoustics of McDonough Gymnasium must be taken into consideration. Any true Deadhead will recall that the just-blossoming Grateful Dead appeared at the gymnasium in October 1970, resulting in a fantastic audience recording of the concert. In other words, music in McDonough can sound good, but needs to be left to professionals. (https://almomento.net/) Fortunately, GPB has hired a professional outside group to ensure that the sound quality is satisfactory. After all, it’s the music that counts in the end.
