by Kelly Sheehan
Stop crossing your fingers and holding your breath, because the only way you’ll be hearing “Crazy Game of Poker” at volumes that make your ears hurt, will be if you blast your personal stereo (before quiet hours, of course).
But don’t transfer quite yet. After popular college band, O.A.R. rejected FUSA’s bid on Friday, a second bid was placed on Monday for hip-hop band, The Roots.
Many students expressed their disappointment in losing O.A.R., who appeared at Fairfield only four years ago.
“I was supposed to go see them two times over the summer and my plans fell through,” said Liz Leone ’06. “I was really counting on seeing them this year at Fairfield. I can’t believe I’m missing them again.”
Although many students had their hopes up for the first bid’s approval, the second bid doesn’t seem like a second choice.
“It would be amazing if The Roots came to Fairfield,” said Pryce Gaynor ’07. “They’re upbeat music that everyone enjoys- they’re on a par with O.A.R.”
According to Jessica DiBuono, co-chair of music in the programming department, FUSA offered O.A.R. two dates: April 23 and April 29, but the band rejected both. O.A.R. said they want to end their current tour by April 27, so they can start recording their new album, and April 29 is when the band will be observing Passover.
The preferred date that FUSA wants to schedule a performance remains April 29, during the May Day celebration.
“We were disappointed,” said DiBuono. “O.A.R. would have been a great band to have on campus, but at the end of the day, we have little control over the band’s ultimate decision.”
“Particularly when our dates conflict with their schedule,” she added.
But FUSA is confident that Fairfield students will enjoy The Roots, if the band accepts the new bid.
“We have received very positive feedback about The Roots from a number of different sectors,” said DiBuono. “I think they reach a broad spectrum of musical interests on campus.”
Students agreed.
“I feel like there would be such a bigger turnout for them than last year’s concert put on by Third Eye Blind,” said Gaynor. “People were listening to Third Eye Blind in ’95 but people are listening to The Roots today.”
According to DiBuono, Harris Goldberg, FUSA’s agent, is currently waiting to hear back from The Roots’ agent. The band has 10 business days to respond to the university until the bid runs out.
Bringing The Roots to Fairfield will cost the same as bringing O.A.R.: about $30-40,000.
If The Roots pull an O.A.R. and reject the bid, DiBuono said FUSA will reexamine the possibilities while talking to their agent and “keeping the student body’s interests in mind.”
FUSA hasn’t started to think about what would happen if all bands they bid on decline Fairfield’s offer.
“We haven’t discussed that yet,” said DiBuono. “We started this process early enough in hopes that we would book a great spring act, and will continue to work just as hard in an attempt to book someone.”
“I think we have a great chance at landing an amazing spring act,” she added.
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