2008 Woodie Awards
Serendipity '08
Jack Sinclair and Deena Zaru
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Features
"Besides being drunk, there's the music and the events, but to me, it is more just about everyone bonding and having a good time," said sophomore Martin Brown. "To me, Serendipity is a time for fun and letting go, no matter who you are and whether or not you are a partier."
Along with the thunder, lighting and rain, Serendipity 2008 came with many more bands than 2007. Former students returned for the events, as well as people from the outside community who were attracted to the various performers. Rain forced most performances into the Ragen-Brown Field House.
Friday's performances were rock-themed, and Bria, a band whose lead singer is a former Guilford student, started off Serendipity.
"Bria was really good," said sophomore Rasha Ali. "It's nice to see one of our former students pursue their dreams and do what they love and actually be really good at it. She has an amazing voice."
Unfortunately, many of the early performances had very small audiences. In between acts, a DJ played music.
The low energy intensified when the New Familiars began their performance and more people came into the gym. They ended with a cover of the Pink Floyd classic "Another Brick in the Wall" spliced with another song.
"The New Familiars were amazing," said first-year Kelsey Albert. "They had a mandolin, how could they not be great?"
Then a Guilford student band, the Clay Pigeons, performed to the delight of many students. They played mostly original songs but added a Stone Temple Pilots classic, "Interstate Love Song," to their repertoire.
After they finished and the DJ did his interlude, the much anticipated Recycled Percussion came on stage. They did some of their own original songs, but then really got the crowd rocking with their versions of famous rock songs, everything from Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" to Green Day's "American Idiot." They eventually ended with Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven."
"They were awesome, and it was really sweet that they played on all recycled instruments," said sophomore Rachel Dede. "I feel like this band is really appropriate for Guilford and C.A.B. did a really good job finding them. To me, they send the message that you don't have to have new instruments in order to play and to play passionately."
Their performance also included a famous piece by one of the percussionists, Justin Spencer, who claimed to be the fastest drummer in the world. Because of the "great crowd," they rewarded the audience by the playing three extra songs.
"We were honored and humbled by the recognition," Spencer said. Their performance left many impressed as they left the gym.
On Saturday, the performances were hip-hop themed. The same DJ who played during interludes on Friday had a whole time slot. After him, Jadon Success came on, Endless Mic followed and then Rise. All were met by very few audience members, especially from the Guilford community.
Some members of the Guilford community beat-boxed, which brought a bigger audience. This was followed by a hip-hop performance by H/N/X.
After H/N/X, the Flaming Fairies had the first and only performance outdoors. This brought a big audience since it could be seen from anywhere near the tennis court. The Flaming Fairies, who last came on campus for "What the Hell Con," danced and fought with each other with the guidance of fire. There was a slight problem with the finale, but they quickly adapted and did the best they could.
Even though some performances attracted a larger audience, the shows were generally sparsely attended.
"I was very disappointed to see that there was not a lot of support for our local artists from North Carolina," Ali said. "This is their starting point, and they need all the help and fans they can get and the campus did not even give them chance to introduce their music."
Ali said that students proved that they don't deserve such events because they don't take advantage of these opportunities.
"They didn't care to show up for free music," said Ali. "People here would rather go to parties and do the same thing they do every weekend instead of appreciating music and the work that C.A.B. had to do in order to get these bands to come to our campus."
The biggest audience came for Mickey Avalon. As the crowd piled in, they were confused to see a member of Avalon's posse performing, which caused confusion among the crowd. Finally, "Mr. Right," Mickey Avalon, came on the stage.
Along with the increased number of bands, the presence of Public Safety and members of Campus Life increased as well.
"Contrary to common belief, Campus Life is looking out to the best interest of the students," said Dede , who is a Shore Hall Resident Advisor. "There were no added rules, but they were a little more enforced during Serendipity for safety."
Senior Yacoub Saad, Binford Hall Director, said that Campus Life wanted to make sure that students know that the policies of the school will remain valid during Serendipity.
"In the past there was a common idea that it's okay for people to break the college's policies during Serendipity without getting in trouble," Saad said. "This year they wanted the students to know that this is not true and that this is like any other weekend and they need to be safe and careful and respectful of the college's policies."
Dede said that the Resident Advisors were "advised to be consistent and cautious" in order to ensure safety.
Regardless of the increased presence of campus security this year, Bryan Hall, Kaiser House and assorted apartments were bursting with people and noise, as most of the campus celebrated Serendipity with laughs, drinks and drama.
Along with the thunder, lighting and rain, Serendipity 2008 came with many more bands than 2007. Former students returned for the events, as well as people from the outside community who were attracted to the various performers. Rain forced most performances into the Ragen-Brown Field House.
Friday's performances were rock-themed, and Bria, a band whose lead singer is a former Guilford student, started off Serendipity.
"Bria was really good," said sophomore Rasha Ali. "It's nice to see one of our former students pursue their dreams and do what they love and actually be really good at it. She has an amazing voice."
Unfortunately, many of the early performances had very small audiences. In between acts, a DJ played music.
The low energy intensified when the New Familiars began their performance and more people came into the gym. They ended with a cover of the Pink Floyd classic "Another Brick in the Wall" spliced with another song.
"The New Familiars were amazing," said first-year Kelsey Albert. "They had a mandolin, how could they not be great?"
Then a Guilford student band, the Clay Pigeons, performed to the delight of many students. They played mostly original songs but added a Stone Temple Pilots classic, "Interstate Love Song," to their repertoire.
After they finished and the DJ did his interlude, the much anticipated Recycled Percussion came on stage. They did some of their own original songs, but then really got the crowd rocking with their versions of famous rock songs, everything from Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" to Green Day's "American Idiot." They eventually ended with Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven."
"They were awesome, and it was really sweet that they played on all recycled instruments," said sophomore Rachel Dede. "I feel like this band is really appropriate for Guilford and C.A.B. did a really good job finding them. To me, they send the message that you don't have to have new instruments in order to play and to play passionately."
Their performance also included a famous piece by one of the percussionists, Justin Spencer, who claimed to be the fastest drummer in the world. Because of the "great crowd," they rewarded the audience by the playing three extra songs.
"We were honored and humbled by the recognition," Spencer said. Their performance left many impressed as they left the gym.
On Saturday, the performances were hip-hop themed. The same DJ who played during interludes on Friday had a whole time slot. After him, Jadon Success came on, Endless Mic followed and then Rise. All were met by very few audience members, especially from the Guilford community.
Some members of the Guilford community beat-boxed, which brought a bigger audience. This was followed by a hip-hop performance by H/N/X.
After H/N/X, the Flaming Fairies had the first and only performance outdoors. This brought a big audience since it could be seen from anywhere near the tennis court. The Flaming Fairies, who last came on campus for "What the Hell Con," danced and fought with each other with the guidance of fire. There was a slight problem with the finale, but they quickly adapted and did the best they could.
Even though some performances attracted a larger audience, the shows were generally sparsely attended.
"I was very disappointed to see that there was not a lot of support for our local artists from North Carolina," Ali said. "This is their starting point, and they need all the help and fans they can get and the campus did not even give them chance to introduce their music."
Ali said that students proved that they don't deserve such events because they don't take advantage of these opportunities.
"They didn't care to show up for free music," said Ali. "People here would rather go to parties and do the same thing they do every weekend instead of appreciating music and the work that C.A.B. had to do in order to get these bands to come to our campus."
The biggest audience came for Mickey Avalon. As the crowd piled in, they were confused to see a member of Avalon's posse performing, which caused confusion among the crowd. Finally, "Mr. Right," Mickey Avalon, came on the stage.
Along with the increased number of bands, the presence of Public Safety and members of Campus Life increased as well.
"Contrary to common belief, Campus Life is looking out to the best interest of the students," said Dede , who is a Shore Hall Resident Advisor. "There were no added rules, but they were a little more enforced during Serendipity for safety."
Senior Yacoub Saad, Binford Hall Director, said that Campus Life wanted to make sure that students know that the policies of the school will remain valid during Serendipity.
"In the past there was a common idea that it's okay for people to break the college's policies during Serendipity without getting in trouble," Saad said. "This year they wanted the students to know that this is not true and that this is like any other weekend and they need to be safe and careful and respectful of the college's policies."
Dede said that the Resident Advisors were "advised to be consistent and cautious" in order to ensure safety.
Regardless of the increased presence of campus security this year, Bryan Hall, Kaiser House and assorted apartments were bursting with people and noise, as most of the campus celebrated Serendipity with laughs, drinks and drama.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
brent wall 76-85 19 ;)
posted 4/15/08 @ 10:51 PM EST
darn'it. hot dang it! so glad's ~ ou, also 74&5. Now, sharpen your pencils, come up for air ( more than just wednesdays) and learn, darn'it, learn learn learn. (Continued…)
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