In recent years, the Spring Fling headliners have been acts billed as hip-hop, R&B or rap. This year, however, the PSU campus was due for a change. During Spring Fling 2007, students were rocked by a stellar Battle of the Bands on Friday, May 4 and a killer rock-show from Catch 22 and Dropkick Murphys on Saturday, May 5.
On Friday night there was an impressive turnout on the HUB Green as people gathered to support local student bands. Fried dough and french fries fed attendees as they took their turns on the mechanical bull, the high striker, smashed vans with sledge hammers and took shots at the dunk tank.
The Plymouth portion of the BOTB was closed out with a bone shaking performance from The If In Life, who came in as underdogs but still won over the crowd with incredible energy and crowd participation. The If In Life ended their set with a cover of Rage Against the Machine’s “Bulls on Parade”, which got the crowd totally pumped.
As a special treat on Friday, the Boston-based punk quartet A Loss For Words, performed, keeping students hyped up until the night’s end. With plenty of product tosses between bands, two-stepping and breakdowns, this year’s BOTB was a rock-solid event back to front.
On Saturday night thousands of PSU students and their guests trekked down to the Rec. Field to see Catch 22 and Dropkick Murphys perform. Since The If in Life, who won the BOTB, were unable to perform, the night instead began with a spirited set from Blue Camp, the runners up in the Battle of the Bands.
The boys were more than up to the task of getting the gathering Spring Fling crowd energized and ready for a night of high energy music, dancing and good times. With sing-alongs and solid grooves, Blue Camp was an excellent intro to the night’s first featured act, Catch 22.
Catch 22, hailing from New Jersey, got the crowd going with their infectious and steady reggae rhythms, rocking horn section and great stage presence. With plenty of dancing and crowd surfing to accompany their high energy set, Catch 22 did not disappoint.
Even concert attendees unfamiliar with the bands playing had a good time and got into the spirit of the event. They were able to enjoy novelties like the climbing wall and the inflatable joust as well as the Beer Garden, which saw plenty of action this year.
The dipping evening temperatures didn’t slow students down, and the crowd reached a fever pitch when Boston’s own Dropkick Murphys took the stage. Students lingering close to the stage quickly pressed themselves up to the barrier.
Delivering their trademark sound that mixes traditional Irish folk influences and instruments with a more modern punk sound, Dropkick was fantastic. Fans threw their “rock hands” in the air and pumped their fists to the band, singing along to such Dropkick favorites as “Tessie” and “Shipping Up to Boston.”
The night was not without its skirmishes and disagreements, but overall the event went off smoothly and hassle-free. A number of faculty and staff were concerned about the potential for student rioting at the show but the injuries that occurred were all minor. The security and police on hand had surprisingly little to do as students remained energetic and rowdy but under control.
Judging by the outcome, this year’s Spring Fling was a good one. Sophomore Stephanie Guilbeault said, “It was great having a rocking band that represented a city so many of us hail from, or have friends in. It didn’t feel like some random rap act from the West Coast, more like a local band that we all can support and have a good time listening to. And I got to dance onstage.”