The Social Planning and Events Committee announced yesterday that hip-hop trio De La Soul will headline this year's Spring Fling concert on Hill Field.
And though many students have expressed disappointment with the choice, some students couldn't be happier with this year's selection.
"I was on my way out of class and I picked up [a copy of The Daily Pennsylvanian]... I saw De La Soul is coming and I was like 'Oh my God!'" an excited Wharton sophomore Theo Kwon said.
But other students said they were entirely unfamiliar with the band.
"I had never heard of them. I was hoping for somebody more exciting," College junior Allison Goldberg said, noting she had been more enthusiastic about seeing Ben Folds Five two years ago.
To the many students who said they were unfamiliar with the group, Kwon said, "That's not really that surprising at Penn, but De La Soul are pioneers of hip-hop... they've brought hip hop to another level, a more soulful level."
"I'm definitely going to be taking my vinyls down to get signed," he added.
Some students felt that an upbeat hip-hop group would be an improvement over more relaxed acts such as last year's headliner, Ben Harper.
"It's good because normally Fling bands have been kind of mellow, and it puts kind of a sleepy tone to Friday night of Fling," said College Junior Ilana Wolfe, who was excited to learn of the band's coming.
Previous Fling acts have included rap group The Roots, who shared the stage with Ben Folds Five in 2000, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, who kicked off Fling weekend in 1999.
"I saw [De La Soul] a couple years ago... and they know how to move a crowd," College freshman Dan Rainer said.
Of those students who are not familiar with the group, Rainer said, "They'll get into this, but I think they might not enjoy this as much as something that is mainstream. I think a lot of people have been kind of close-minded about that."
Yesterday, SPEC Director Kirk Freeman said that scoring a headlining band was a challenge this year because "a lot of groups aren't touring that much, and a lot of groups that are are really popular," and thus too expensive to land for Fling.
Other universities have drawn big names for April concerts. No Doubt will be performing at Cornell University on April 14. And Saturday, Sugar Ray performed at nearby LaSalle University before heading to other college campuses including Wellesley College and Minnesota's Bemidji State University.
Some, like Nursing freshman Allison Lerer, said though they did not know De La Soul's music well, they were still interested in attending the concert.
"I've downloaded some of their songs," Lerer said, adding that she thought as students listened to the band, they would recognize more De La Soul songs they already knew. "People don't know names, but they know music," Lerer said. De La Soul is "all about getting the crowd going. It's a good start to a fun weekend."
But for others, recognizable names are what counts.
"I guess it is kind of a disappointment that I haven't heard of them," College senior Annemarie LaCroix said, adding she probably will not be attending the show.
Other students echoed LaCroix's sentiments.
"I guess it's kind of close-minded to say, but if I haven't heard of a band, I usually don't go," College junior Megan Collins said. She added, "If [tickets] were really cheap, then I guess it wouldn't matter, but they're usually not."
Similar to last year, tickets will be available in advance on Locust Walk and through Ticketmaster at a cost of $15 for Penn students and $20 for the general public. The day of the show, prices will jump to $20 and $25, respectively.
SPEC has not yet announced who will be opening the April 12 concert, but that news is slated to be released later this week.
