Harper draws mixed reviews as Fling pick

To College senior Leigh Miselis, the Student Planning and Events Committee may have finally gotten it right by picking Ben Harper to play for Spring Fling. Having listened to previous Fling concerts packed into the Palestra due to rain, and then only to walk out due to lackluster performances, Miselis thinks that this year's catch of acoustic folk-rocker Harper might finally get her to stick around. But only if it doesn't rain. "I think that it will be a very good last fling," Miselis said. Harper -- who will headline April 20's Spring Fling concert -- follows in the footsteps of such past Spring Fling acts as Ben Folds Five and The Roots when he graces Hill Field. As word of Harper's upcoming appearance at Penn made its way around campus yesterday afternoon, student reviews of the choice were mixed, though many reveled in the news. "I'm really excited -- I didn't expect them to be getting someone that good," Nursing sophomore Tori Beebe said. Harper has opened for such bands as Dave Matthews, Pearl Jam and PJ Harvey. Not a stranger to the Philadelphia music scene, he also performed at an Electric Factory concert last fall. "I saw them at the Electric Factory -- they were so awesome," College freshman Mehreen Zaman said. "He's really laid-back and he puts on a good show." However, some feel that Harper's blend of folk, blues, soul and hip-hop might be more suited for a coffee house than the grassy expanse of Penn's venue. "It's thoughtful music, but he'd be more suited for a small room, with people huddled around him," Engineering sophomore Alex Chen said. Although excited about Harper's appearance, College freshman Carol Jin agreed. "He's a little mellow," Jin said. "I don't know if he has the same level of excitement as other bands -- he's more of an opening act." But College junior Ariel Kramer sees his quiet nature as a positive. "It needs to be more mellow -- you wouldn't want it to be like a club scene," Kramer said. SPEC Concerts Co-Director and College senior Matt Dicker said he is very pleased with campus reaction so far. "While we did look at Moby, Harper was really the only guy in the running -- that's what we wanted and he was always interested," Dicker said. "He'll put on a great show." But of the 4,000 to 6,000 Penn students and area residents who attend the concert each year, College sophomore Jessica Perry said she will likely not be one of them. "I was expecting a little more. [Harper] is just an okay alternative," Perry said. And some others also don't appreciate Harper's distinct sound. "I'm surprised that they picked a band that doesn't appeal to as many people's musical taste as they should have," College sophomore Maura Caffrey said. SPEC has yet to select the opening acts, and will likely do so in the next several weeks. "Once you secure the headlining band, then you work towards the openers," said Dicker, adding that two other bands will likely be chosen. "Because Harper plays such a diverse type of music, we can really have a lot of freedom choosing an opening." Students recommended smaller, local bands to kick off the concert for Harper. Beebe thought that "Philly-ish small bands" such as Saves the Day and Get Up Kids would be good selections for the opening. And Perry said that she'd only attend if the opening bands lived up to her expectations. "I'll only go if they had a really good opening band, like Incubus or D'Angelo," Perry said. College sophomore Jennifer Broussard -- a die-hard U2 fan -- has the problem of finding an opening act solved. "U2 would be cool -- they're a great, classic band," Broussard said of her ideal Spring Fling band. "Maybe Ben Harper could open for them."