Lifehouse, an alternative rock band from Southern California, has been selected as the National Act for spring 2009.
National Act, Wabash’s largest entertainment event held each semester, has been in place for many years and has taken many forms, including famous comedians, bands, solo artists, and pseudo casino nights.
In accordance with last year’s precedent, the spring concert will be preceded by a three part National Act in the fall: Casino Night, which was held last Saturday; Lavell Crawford, a runner-up in Last Comic Standing who will be coming October 15; and the First Annual Wabash Talent Contest.
The purpose of the three-prong Fall Act is to save money for a larger Spring Act.
Lifehouse, which was formed in 1999, is most famous for their single, “Hanging by a Moment,” on their first album, No Name Face. Since 1999, the band has experienced varying degrees of success.
There have been mixed reviews about this selection. According to many students, the selection of Lifehouse is a “joke,” and it won’t compare to last year’s Spring Act, the famous band Third Eye Blind.
Sophomore Tim Kraft said Lifehouse is essentially a one hit wonder. “I think [Lifehouse] is an absurd choice,” he said. “Nine out of ten people you ask would not be able to name any other song of theirs other than ‘Hanging by a Moment.’ “
Also, the complaint has been made in printed form, with the article “Lifehouse: $100 Per Ticket” by Bachelor Opinion Editor Brent Kent ’09. This piece even states that the selection of Lifehouse “castrates Wally Wabash.”
However, other students remain positive, hoping that the concert will be successful and that it will help bring girls to campus, at a time when visiting other schools is a limited option as finals and exams loom on the horizon.
“I want people to realize how difficult selecting the National Act is,” said Chris Hawes ’09, Senior Council Activities Committee (SCAC) co-chair. “It’s much more than paying the band and picking one you like.”
SCAC Advisor Coach Stephen House explained all the “variables” in choosing National Acts. “I feel like we explain this every year,” House said. “But there are a lot of variables. We don’t just randomly pick a selection. We have to catch the band when its tour comes our way, and these bands are used to big venues. We have to find groups on their way up or down the fame scale, in order to afford them. For instance, Jimmy Buffet costs $250,000. Larry the Cable Guy costs nearly the same. Rascal Flatts is entirely out of our budget. Most students don’t realize that.”
In addition to paying the band, which is arbitrated by a talent agent out of Indianapolis, House explained that many other costs come into effect.
“Lifehouse costs about $70,000,” he said, “but that isn’t everything. There are still production costs. There is lighting, and we have to set up the stage. We have to pay hospitality and catering to whatever band comes to play. We have to hire security. And then when it is said and done, we tear the stage down again. The total cost of production can be over $20,000.”
As if those weren’t enough hurdles to leap over, there is still the problem of scheduling and location. The Pioneer Chapel can hold comedians and other acts, but bands have to play in Chadwick court. This means that the SCAC has to schedule around the basketball team’s season, which can extend into early March.
SCAC co-chairs Hawes and Will Hoffman ‘10 invite students to send in their suggestions. Many complaints are raised about the final selection some years, but the SCAC and House hope that in the future students will help be part of the solution and not contribute to the problem.
A new addition has also been made to the Spring Act, tying it to the Act in the fall. The Wabash Annual Talent Contest, which will be held for the first time in Ball Theater on November 1, will host three categories: instrumental, vocal, and variety talents. The winner of the show will be selected as one of two opening acts for Lifehouse in the spring.
Lifehouse will be playing in Chadwick Court on April 25. Students will get in free with their ID cards and guests will have to pay a fee of 20 dollars. They will bring one opening act in addition to the winner of the Wabash Talent Show