SPRING FLING 2010!!

The acts playing at Spring Fling have been booked for awhile now, but the rumors are now confirmed!

Social Committee has officially announced the lineup for the show on May 6th, and it is excellent. In the order they’ll be playing in…

1. DIRTY PROJECTORS
2. BLACK LIPS
3. BIG BOI

BAM!

This cohort follows the loosely defined Spring Fling template that’s fallen into place over the past few years: pedigreed rap act, indie buzz band, raucous opening act. But who’s complaining? Don’t complain.

Headliner Big Boi is half of Outkast, hip-hop international superduo whose tracks defined your high-school experience. Did I date myself? He’s the more staid counterpart to Andre 3000’s eclectic, flamboyant persona, laying down Southern-fried rhymes described variously as “stuttery-smooth” and “coolly effervescent.”

For the past two years, Big Boi has been slowly dribbling out tracks from his upcoming solo album, “Sir Luscious Leftfoot,” due later this year – among them 2009’s slick “Shine Blockas.” Yeah, not gonna block his shine. Shawty. Will be a real good time.

Opening act the Dirty Projectors have been around since 2002, and rode (and survived) a massive wave of media accolades last year with their latest release and 6th full album, Bitte Orca.  Known for their cooing female vocals and intricate (and at times, almost inaccessible) arrangements on previous albums, the DP’s have branched out with a sound that’s no less difficult to describe, but that Pitchfork attempts to label as “breezy… inventive… triumphant art-pop.”

Alright, that might sound ridiculous if you’re not all up on your music blogs or already familiar with them. But even if you can’t get into their off-kilter rhythms and yelping vocals, they will certainly provide a chill soundtrack for a lovely afternoon – a “breezy… triumphant…” Spring Fling act.

Black Lips are without a doubt the act I’m most looking forward to – a self-identified “flower-punk”  act from Atlanta known for NOTORIOUS LIVE ANTICS.

There is their music, a guitar-driven punk/garage revival sort of sound that’s catchy, exuberant,  and nostalgic, with a distinct layer of filth. And then there’s their stage reputation – since forming in 2000 they’ve been given to “vomiting, urination, nudity, band members kissing, electric mini-car races, fireworks, a chicken, and flaming guitars”.

Wikipedia says they claim to have “matured a little bit”, but we can only hope that is a BOLD-FACED LIE.

So there you have it – you got yr smooth Southern-fried rap, yr arty critical darlings, and yr irreverent punk contrarians.  Sounds like a formula for a sweet Spring Fling!

And before you scroll down for videos (and a 3 AM Gchat analysis of said videos with Whatshername), know that Social Committee is holding a Spring Fling poster design contest. It must use only two color tones (for printing ease), but no other requirements. Email submissions to eaberger@wes.

Whatshername: As usual, I’m not really familiar with the acts for this year’s Spring Fling. I won’t even lie; I’m all about the Top40. Yeah, there are some “indie” acts that have good rotation in my iTunes, but I’m really all about the Britney, Lil Wayne, and Rihanna when I party. My feeling is that a lot of our readers probably have similar tastes (don’t lie!). So, I’m here in this post to do some representin’. Sheek played their music and videos for me and we g-chatted it out.

Big Boi- Shine Blockas (ft. Gucci Mane)

Sheek: Come on, say ho. He just asked all the ladies.
Whatshername: I only respond to Beyonce when she rallies all the ladies.
Sheek: So you don’t respond to “shawty”, shawty?
Whatshername: …
This guy looks like any dude from the block.
Sheek: …
What’s a shine blocka? How would one block Big Boi’s shine?
Whatshername: I think a shine blocka is like a hater. I don’t know. This song is kinda boring me, I’m not really listening anymore. It needs some Rihanna so I can sing along.
Sheek: Hah! You just blocked his shine.
Whatshername: Damn, I feel like the beat is letting him down. But I guess I just like the mainstream Polow and Mystro stuff. I want bubbasparxxxxxxxx.
Sheek: You are awful.
Whatshername: Well, that’s what the ACB says.
Sheek: LAWL

Dirty Projectors- Stillness is the Move

Sheek: You will hate them. And here is why; listen. They are known for their sensuous melodies and densely textured harmonies.
Whatshername: …
Ok, it’s not so bad.
Sheek: There’s a good remix of this that makes it sound almost like a top 40 hit.
Whatshername: I can’t be fooled. But I could potentially dance to this high or reallly drunk.
Sheek: Exactly!
Whatshername: …
Ok, I like them.
Sheek: Yeah, listen to her coo!
Whatshername: Wait, this could totally be on z100 with more references to partying or the club.
Sheek: Soundtrack to your life?
Whatshername: This would give me sweet dreams passed out on the hill. This video’s like that crappy movie The Village, with a llama.

Black Lips- Bad Kids

Whatshername: Haven’t I heard this before?? Was this in a commercial?
Sheek: I don’t know, that would be counterintuitive for this track. They would smash TVs to this.
Whatshername: They’re making me lol. I’m liking these guys the best.
Sheek: Onstage antics!
Whatshername: Yeah, this is kinda what I hoped Wes parties would be like – I dig it.
Sheek: Aimless destruction!!! SPRING FLING WHOOO