VIP MGN Tickets

Remember my VIP seats for Airband 2007?  And my recap of My Gen 2007 (in which I didn’t have VIP seats, because no one did)?  Well, this year, there are VIP My Gen (they’re calling it MGN this year, so I’m indulging them, because that’s ridiculous), and guess who has two thumbs and a VIP seat?

This guy.

It should be pretty good.  At least, it better, because some guys and I tried out with this song, and didn’t get in (there were some sound problems that were sort of out of our hands – i.e. my guitar was too loud on the solo – but we still nailed it), and I know of at least a handful of other good acts that got cut, so I have high hopes.

I was going to give the setlist with links to videos by the original artists, but realized that might not be a good idea for a number of reasons.

Also, No Shave November!!  I meant to put something about it in my last post.  I’m participating, and I’ve never had more facial hair.  I wish, however, that my facial hair was more brown and less strawberry blonde (the sideburns are brown).  I tend to think that having an unshaven neck adds to the holistic experience, by the way.  However, I do plan to shave between now and next Wednesday, as I’m accompanying my girlfriend to her family’s Thanksgiving, and don’t want to look like a bum the first time I meet her family, so I’m not the most adherent follower, I suppose.

At lunch today, Amanda pointed out that NSN (like MGN, but less confusing) is a good time for romantic relationship development, because, if you have a bad beard, there is some absence of shallowness required from the female side to really appreciate that you’re not shaving anyway.  We sort of had that – last November is when we first had that, “so I like you…” conversation.  I’m getting to observe that from outside the situation this year, as a friend and an acquaintance are getting to that point as we speak, and the male party has a pretty goofy set of facial hair.

I’m going to make coffee.

Filed under: Uncategorized , "MGN", Airband, Airband 2007, Amanda, coffee, fall 2008, My Gen, My Gen 2008, No Shave November, romance, two thumbs, VIP

Finally – Airband’s Best Commercial

Remember in my Airband wrapup how I mentioned I couldn’t find the best commercial of all?

IT’S HERE.

(thanks, Josiah).

That’s Josiah at the 1:15 mark.  There’s also an old Sammy II guy at 1:27, and then obviously, BARB! at the 3:00 mark.  Great job by Jack, too.

Filed under: Uncategorized , Airband, Airband 2008, Barb, college, Jack Read, Josiah, Josiah Hatfield, Sammy II

One more Airband Commercial

I almost forgot about this, and I don’t know how – it was one of my favorite videos of the night.

…

(also, MAN, I don’t wanna jinx it, but I am on a blog roll {rimshot}/[pardon me] lately).

Filed under: Uncategorized , Airband, bad puns, parentheses

Airband 2008: The Videos

Last year I wrote about Airband and then brought you some videos of the occasion.  Well, here’s some selections from 2008’s Airband, with some videos to boot.

A group of international students kicked off the show with a Lion King medley.  Bright and colorful; I applaud the effort, but this was not really my favorite.

Another cute one involved 3SE, 3CE, and my friend Joe doing a song from Men In Black.  Gotta love the sleeping bag alien in this one.

Here’s one of my top three:  1EO with “Morris Brown” by OutKast.  Loved the energetic song choice, loved the set and costumes, and the performance was not too showy, just tight enough.

2WO did “Hard Knock Life.” The teeny bopper pop turn this one took at the midpoint confused me; I would have enjoyed it more with just the straight musical number.  Good job nonetheless.

Here’s probably my second favorite act of the show:  2WW and 3WO audaciously attempting a Daft Punk medley, and doing a pretty fine job of it.  Love the glowsticks, guys.

Finally, here’s the consensus favorite, 2EW with “Step in Time” from Mary Poppins.  This is just excellent; I’ll let the video speak for the performance without commentary, except to say that I liked this a lot, just like most everyone.

BONUS VIDEOS!

Sadly, I can’t find the best Airband commercial of all; it was about bike stealing, but I don’t want to spoil the twist – let me know if you find the video.

Here are two other commercials – the final chapter of the James Wahl saga (check out the video creator’s page for the first two editions) was pretty good; nothing will top the original Wahl exposure, though.

Here’s another favorite – lots of inside jokes, but pretty good whether you get them or not, I would think.

Lastly, this is Broho’s tryout video (here’s another version).  There’s really no excuse for this one not being in the show; it’s really funny, original and entertaining.  Enjoy.

Filed under: Uncategorized , Airband

2007 Airband Extravaganza in Review

Considering most of my readers probably know what I’m talking about when I say “Airband,”  I think it might be enjoyable to do my own personal review of it.  The school paper here had a decent review, considering it was “on newsstands” the day after the event, but I’d like to go for a slightly different perspective on the night. 

 

Gerig won, of course, with “Tradition” from Fiddler on the Roof.  They deserved it; I think everyone would’ve been surprised if they didn’t win.  After first place it gets hazy for some; I certainly agreed with the judges that 2^nd East Wengatz’s rendition of “Greased Lightning” was the second most impressive, but my roommate was unimpressed.  Similarly, 2^nd West Olson had great costumes for their rendition of Wicked’s “One Short Day in the Emerald City”, but didn’t bring much else to the table.

 

So, without further ado, an Airband 2007 rundown…

 

Best Performance:  Gerig, of course.  They had costumes to rival anyone’s, energy to spare, great lip-synching and choreography…the clear cut number one effort.  Even accounting for the fact that their show-stopping, bottle-balancing climax was doctored (the bottles were attached, surprise!!  Oh wait…duh), this was no contest.

 

Runner-up:  2^nd East Wengatz, as detailed above.  Their show was fun and energetic, well-choreographed…the only thing it missed was that, um, “One Shining Moment” that really set it apart.  It was among the most fun to watch.

 

3rd place:  Well…I can’t really award a third place.  The other acts I really enjoyed were Sammy II+2^nd East Olson doing “West Side Story”, Sammy II’s “Shake Your Tailfeather” from The Blues Brothers, 2^nd English and Foundation and their Elvis Medley, and 3^rd East Olson’s “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”  Hopefully I’ll cover all those in greater detail further on down. 

 

Here comes the fun part…

 

Certified Superstar:  James Wahl.  Seriously, Mark Williamson’s flaky Texan character overshadowed (almost) all other commercials (the exception being the fake movie trailer for the rockumentary, “Out of Tune”).  Mark’s a junior, so next year…

 

Best part about sitting in the 2^nd row:  You’re a part of the show.  Things that actually happened during the show:

1.  One of my friends in the Elvis Medley heard me whisper her name, looked up, and smiled.

2.  Baby Bleu handed my roommate his cardboard guitar.

3.  Handsome Rob heard me yell his name.

4.  Baby Dan jumped over my roommate, who was sitting right next to me.  No kidding.

5.  Everyone makes eye contact with you.

 

Oddest Cameo by someone I know:  A senior I’ve known for my entire life humorously playing a seductive heiress in a commercial. 

 

Best Faculty Cameo:  Tie:  Jessica Rousselow-Winquist/Jerry Cramer trashing the WTUR studio, Justin “Crazy” Heth on a dance solo in “Shake Your Tailfeather,” and Dr. Habecker’s show-ending cameo…even if he was late on his cue.

 

Show that wasted the best gimmick:  3^rd South English/1^st Berg’s “Hairspray.”  I mean, you had a very large man dressed as a woman  and didn’t finish in the top three?!?!  And it’s not like they got gipped…

 

Costliest “Wardrobe Malfunction”:  The falling skirt during the Elvis Medley.  The dancers, of course, are prepared for things like this, with leggings and such, but the only things that weren’t great about the Elvis Medley were that one falling skirt and some awkward lifts.

 

Musical I could live without:  Wicked.  I haven’t seen it, or even really heard the music other than the songs used by 2WO and Swallow-Robin, but it was just reeaaaally bland.  Sorry if you’re a fan, but…

 

Most fun show:  I might sound like a homer here, but I loved “Shake Your Tailfeather” by Sammy II.  It was brimming with energy, featured Crazy, plus my floormates, and how can you not love Noah and Paul as the Blues Brothers?  Or Dubem as Ray?  Just loved it.  But really, they were all great.

 

Random ending thought:  It seems to me that it would be a very good idea for the small dorms (i.e. Gerig, Swallow) to focus on being just flat-out awesome at things like “Airband.”  And also, I am forever spoiled with regards to Airband—great show, VIP treatment and seats…it’ll be hard to top.  So thanks to everyone involved (although I doubt you’re reading this) for making it a great time.

Filed under: Fall 2007, college, friends , Airband, Airband 2007, college