The Justice

Click here to view the Justice's Springfest spread

Nothing could have been more picturesque and collegiate than this year's Super Springfest, which took place Sunday afternoon. Hundreds of students flocked to Chapels Field to take in the beautiful weather, good music and free food. Student Events and WBRS organized Springfest, and it ran smoothly with the help of many volunteers clad in bright red shirts. Although there were several moments when there seemed to be a bigger crowd around the food than around the stage, everyone seemed to enjoy the atmosphere, and Student Events, WBRS, Peers Educating about Responsible Choices, National Collegiate Volunteers and Student Sexuality Information Service provided activities for students who wanted a break from the music.

Springfest kicked off with a performance from student band Mochila, followed soon after by the band Deerhunter. Both drew modest-sized crowds and provided mostly background music for the sunbathers and Frisbee players. Asher Roth, the suburban college dropout, provided amusement with a rap set. Roth, best known for his single "I Love College," spent close to half an hour espousing the benefits of marijuana, and indeed the smell of marijuana was so pungent that it was clear that many crowd members agreed with his sentiments. While Asher Roth performed an interesting spoken word piece about the production of fast food in America, his less impressive raps overshadowed it. After his performance, Roth hung out with concertgoers on Chapels Field, sharing their common "interest" and proving that he is indeed just another young guy.

Roth was followed by RJD2, a DJ known for creating interesting mixes. His mixing amassed a fair amount of dancers, and the trippy atmosphere was only improved by a group of bizarre-looking puppets who joined the crowd. However, it was the headlining group, the Decemberists, who really stole the show.

For fans of the Decemberists, Springfest provided a unique opportunity to see this exciting band in a close and personal space. The group lived up to its reputation and performed a high-energy and engaging show, much to happiness of the singing crowd. Colin Meloy, the lead singer, drew the audience in and got them to actively participate in the songs. The group performed several songs, ranging from old favorites like "July, July" and "The Crane Wife 3" to songs from their newest album, The Hazards of Love. The Hazards of Love is a rock opera, the first of its kind for the group. The Decemberists played "The Hazards Of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle The Thistles)" and "The Rake's Song" from the new album and provided the crowd with a glimpse of their upcoming tour in which they will perform the album in its entirety. Unfortunately, Meloy had to leave soon after the show, and most audience members were unable to get a picture with him. But considering that the band had to prepare for its appearance on The Colbert Report the next day, the Decemberists' swift departure was easily forgiven.

Springfest was a beautiful day for the students of Brandeis University to enjoy the music and the weather, and it served as a reminder of how lucky we all are to go to this school.

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