Alumni Arena can hold 8,464 spectators at a normal event. Spring Fest failed to utilize this space.
At first glance the annual concert, which this year featured Ima Robot, Lostprophets and Hoobastank, looked as though it had attracted an impressive crowd. An incredible line snaked its way from the front of the arena all the way back to the intersection feeding the building's entrance. The image was deceiving.
The three-and-a-half hour event was quite barren in terms of audience members, especially when compared with past Spring and Fall Fests. Large or not, the crowd brought its energy.
Most of this energy was negatively directed at show openers, Ima Robot. Audience members filled the arena with boos and middle fingers as the Californians played songs from their self-titled debut. The new-wave synth poppers failed to win over the crowd with their single "Dynomite," and anthems like "Party All the Time." The crowd began chanting "You suck," instead of singing along.
This reaction prompted quite a whiny response from Ima Robot frontman Alex Ebert.
"But we got five stars, though," he said, referring to an album review the band had apparently received.
Needless to say, few cared.
The negative energy directed at Ima Robot quickly transformed into aggressive energy with the introduction of Welsh rockers Lostprophets. Swirling mosh pits broke out as the band played hits from their first and second CDs, including "The Fake Sound of Progress" and "Shinobi Vs Dragon Ninja" from their freshman release, and "Last Train Home," "Burn, Burn" and "Wake Up (Make a Move)" from their sophomore effort, "Start Something."
"These guys are way better (than Ima Robot)," screamed a fan to his buddy before jumping into him.
Despite the warming of the crowd to Lostprophets, the night belonged to Hoobastank. They opened their lengthy set with "Out of Control" and went on to play a varied mix of songs from both of their albums. Faithful fans bellowed the song lyrics and danced heartily to "The Reason," "Never There" and "Running Away," just to name a few.
"I think they're awesome," said junior nursing major Meghan Underhill. "I have their CD in my car."
The crowd's appreciation showed, as lead singer Doug Robb went on to praise their excitement and energy.
"This show has been one of the best on the entire tour," he lauded. "Honestly."
Hoobastank wrapped up their set with a rocking version of the Cyndi Lauper's 1983 classic "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" - complete with falsetto on behalf of Robb. The Lauper classic soon gave into the Mountain Dew advertising theme "Crawling in the Dark." Robb unified the crowd's "baby pits," as he called them, into one large mosh pit for what he proclaimed to be "the grand finale of all music." Hoobastank delivered, as did the crowd.
Both Lostprophets and Hoobastank videotaped footage from their sets that they said will be used in a future DVD chronicling the tour. More information regarding this compilation will be released in the future, so to see if Buffalo made the cut, keep an eye out for it.
