Spring Fling 2009: CLIPSE

The first confirmed act for Spring Fling this year is CLIPSE.

Confirmed by Myspace, which has them performing at Wesleyan University on the 6th of May this year, two weeks after they're at Coachella.

So we've got a big rap act down. Based on previous years I would still expect another headlining act with indie cred, and a smaller opening act with indie cred... which doesn't usefully narrow the field of existing artists.

Grainy two-year-old footage of the Clipse:


Although, anonymous respondent #21 on this ACB thread claimed earlier today that the full lineup will have King Khan and the Shrines joining Clipse and SONIC YOUTH (!!!), which would fit the established pattern and be fantastic. But Clipse is the only one of those confirmed so far, so as of now this excellent lineup is an only partially substantiated rumor.

Sonic Youth's official site has the band booked through May, although there is a conspicuous gap between their shows in Luxembourg on April 26th and Brooklyn on May 16th. It's possible that they could make it to Middletown halfway between those dates.

King Khan and company also have a May 6th gap on their itinerary - they're in New York on the 3rd of that month, and in Boston on the 7th, so a stop at Wesleyan the day before the latter date is feasible.

But this is unsubstantiated! In the meantime, keep speculating. Post rumors/further substantiation as you wish.

Did you snap this photo?

Thirteen brave, bare students run across Andrus during Spring Fling 2005. Originally found on Facebook, the photographer is unknown.

Are you the one who captured this moment of naked Wesleyan history on film? If so, please email me as soon as possible at jlaselva@wes.

A different perspective on Spring Fling

Ed McKeon, a Middletown resident and the prolific blogger behind Caterwauled, provides a different perspective on the happenings at Spring Fling:

Suddenly, a young woman, topless and distraught walked by, followed by a friend who persuaded her to get her blouse back on. The distraught woman and her friend struggled and argued across the length of the courtyard until a Wes Security SUV arrived, and the distraught woman was confronted. She struggled with the security personnel, and another security car arrived. She was handcuffed. The original responders were quickly followed by four Middletown Police Cars, an ambulance, and a fire truck. Whatever this sad young woman was struggling with, the response to her belligerence seemed a bit over-the-top. (There may be a legitimate reason for the response that I can't fathom because I observed the entire altercation from a distance, and don't know what kind of threat she represented.)

Needless to say, the combination of exuberant, end-of-the-semester, pre-finals over-indulgence, and on-high-alert safety personnel, creates an atmosphere that is, to say the least, tense.

In other news, Goodnight to the Rock & Roll Era has posted a review of The Hold Steady's performance, and has photos and videos from Spring Fling... like the one below:

GZA bootleg

An anonymous donor sent in a recording of GZA's set from Spring Fling today. He says:

All the songs are tagged correctly, I think. Also, all the tracks are split up, so you don't have to deal with one hour-long file. Oh, and he played every song but the last one ("B.I.B.L.E.") off Liquid Swords.

Get it here!

For those interested, here's the setlist:

1. "Liquid Swords"
2. "Dual Of The Iron Mic"
3. "Living In The World Today"
4. "Swordsmen"
5. "Cold World"
6. "Labels [a capella]"
7. "General Principles [a capella]"
8. "4th Chamber"
9. "Shadowboxin'"
10. "Killah Hills 10304"
11. "Beef [a capella]" (Boogie Down Productions)
12. "Investigative Reports"
13. "Gold"
14. "I Gotcha' Back"
15. True Master freestyle
16. "Illusory Protection [a capella]"
17. "Crash Your Crew"
18. "Destruction Of A Guard [a capella]"
19. "Clan In Da Front" (Wu-Tang Clan)
20. "Animal Planet"
21. "Hip Hop Fury"
22. "Breaker, Breaker"
23. "Legend Of The Liquid Sword"
24. "Older Gods" (Wu-Tang Clan)
25. "Queen's Gambit [a capella]"
26. "Reunited" (Wu-Tang Clan)
27. "Silent"
28. The Tongue Is Like A Sword
29. "Triumph" (Wu-Tang Clan)

Thanks, Anon!

Spring Fling, Things of Note

The WSA and Dean's Office throw down rules for the big day:

Students are not allowed on the stage. Having students on the stage endangers both students as well as the sound equipment and performers. In addition, performers have the right, by their contract, to stop performing if individuals climb on the stage.

[Uhh right... because Project Pat's homeboys were clearly really pissed last year when all these girls barged on stage and started dancing with them (see below).]

Of course, booze is an issue. Go through the proper channels or use discretion if you must:

Anyone who is 21 years of age and wants to consume alcohol at the event must present a valid government issued ID and a Wesleyan ID in order to obtain a wristband. Anyone of legal age possessing or consuming alcohol without a wristband will be directed to obtain a wristband or dispose of the alcohol. Wristbands will be available free of charge at a station near the observatory throughout the event.

· Anyone who violates the Code is subject to being referred to Student Judicial Board.
· Bulk containers of alcohol, such as kegs, will not be allowed at Spring Fling.
· Only outdoor/lawn furniture will be allowed at Spring Fling. Large pieces of furniture, such as couches, will not be allowed.
· Large coolers will be checked and turned away if they contain more alcohol
that can be reasonably consumed by those in possession of it.

And how about an unofficial rule - no hate criming.

72/52 degrees, clear skies and sunny all day Wednesday. Enjoy!

Photos courtesy of Joanna Dicke '10.

Yalies envious of our Spring Fling lineup

From the Yale Daily News:

The YCC was given $140,000 dollars for Spring Fling; Wesleyan was given $56,000 for theirs. But Wesleyan is getting a lot more with their dirty liberal arts dollar. Instead of trying to check a whole lot of boxes – like our mix of pop-punk bullshit (Jimmy Eat World), legitimate hip-hop (The Roots), and unattractive/untalented crooning (Sean Kingston) – Wesleyan assembled a line-up, that while not homogenous, works harmoniously together.

Zachary Fuhrer, the writer of the article, also provides a spot-on characterization of Jimmy Eat World:

Now, if I were in 7th grade again, and had a lifetime supply of white and black sweat bands and Dep hair gel, I might be down with Jimmy Eat World playing at Spring Fling. But even Jimmy Eat World fans didn’t listen to any song other than “The Middle.”

Well, I dunno... "Sweetness" was at least decent...

Pwned by Brown?

Sigh.

In recent years, the Spring Weekend has seen Brown play host to the likes of the Flaming Lips, Yo La Tengo, the Roots, Ted Leo, Common, Wilco, the Shins, and others. And this year's spring fling, taking place April 11-12, will once again pack a mighty wallop, with Vampire Weekend (representing Brown nemesis Columbia) joining Lupe Fiasco on Friday night, and M.I.A., Girl Talk, and jammy jammersons Umphrey's McGee doing their thing Saturday.

-Link (Pitchfork)

TVOTR: Staring at the Sun

Anna Pachner '09 took this film of TVOTR performing "Staring at the Sun" yesterday at Spring Fling:

Spring Fling

Greg Silver '10 submitted these great photos of Spring Fling to Pitchfork:

Fare thee well, O kegs!

It looks like a few of you may have a slightly more sober Spring Fling than intended. P-Safe just dug up two kegs buried under Foss Hill. Much to my dismay, the P-Safe officer on guard declined to pose with them.