Section A·Page 8
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, May 1, 1998
Hill to come alive with the sound of music
Unknowns sink fangs into show
By Curtis A. Schartz
Special to the Kansas
A three-man band with one KU student and a fascination for snakes will open at Day on the Hill tomorrow thanks to its victory at the Farmers Ball last week.
The band, 2 Player Option, entered the Farmers Ball by submitting a tape to the selection committees, said John Orcutt, SUA live music coordinator. An SUA committee narrowed the 80 missions to eight finalists who were invited to the Farmers Ball. Four of the bands played at the Bottleneck on April 20, and four of the bands played on April 21. The top two bands each night, selected by ballots submitted by the crowd, moved on to the finals last Friday.
2 Player Option includes David White, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore, on lead guitar, and vocals; Davy Derr on bass guitar and vocals, and Jimmy Colems on drums.
For a recent practice, 2 Player Option gathered at a friend's house in a small, basement furnace room which has been converted to a practice area. The band borrows the practice space which is painted sky blue and covered with music posters from local concerts. Each member squeezed through the door of the 12 foot by 15 foot room cramped with amplifiers, speakers, two drum sets and a furnace.
"We used to play at Jimmy's apartment, but someone moved in upstairs, so we've just been kind of floating." Derr said.
Coles walked in to practice, carrying a four foot, green-and-white blow-up snake with a six-inch red tongue. He said he bought 22 snakes on their trip to Kansas City that day, including 10 of the blow-up snakes.
"We might use them for props on
stage, but we don't know, "Derrr said, 'Whatever happens, happens.'
The band has a unique fascination with snakes, and they like to incorporate it in their show.
"We throw out toy snakes at our shows," Derr said. "We just like snakes because they are scary yet intriguing and interesting."
"Most people would say our music is a pop/punk style, but we don't want to limit ourselves to that." Coles said. "We mix it all together and play what we think sounds good."
Band members said they were not influenced by any particular band or style of music.
The members, who are fans of Green Day, said song writing is a group effort.
"We take someone's idea and practice till we get it," White sand. "Then whoever wrote the lyrics will usually end up singing it."
The songs are written about men and women, friends, feelings, and everyday experiences.
"We usually get drunk and play," Derr said.
But the band is taking a more seri
approach to Davon on the Hill.
"The last couple of nights, we have been practicing sober." Coles said.
The show could change their public recognition.
"We hope this will get our name out and get us more shows," Coles said. "Hopefully someone will see us."
The band is trying to get a tour together for this summer.
The 1996 Day on the Hill crowd awaits the headlining band. Crowds have ranged from 3,500 in 1996 to a reported 40,000 people who came to see Pearl Jam in 1992. Contributed art
"We have the transportation," Coles said. "We just need the shows."
Day on the Hill tunes in for 10th year
By Marcelo Vilela
mvilela@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The sound of guitar riffs cuts across the hill while a crowd of young people gets ready to rock n-roll. Groupies cheer, bands prepare to step on stage and exhilaration fills the air.
Tomorrow, Student Union Activities will sponsor its 10th Day On The Hill.
Who: Soul Coughing performs last as the headline act. Los Amigos Invisibles, Fear & Whiskey, The Believe It Or Notes, The Creature Comforts and 2 Player Option.
The festival begins at noon and features Soul Coughing, Los Amigos Invisables, Fear & Whiskey, The Believe It Or Nots, The Creature Comforts and 2 Player Option also are scheduled to play on the stage in the parking lot north of Potter Lake. Seating will be on the hill behind Carruth-O'Leary Hall.
"This is an end-of-the-year, thank-you and going-away event for KU students," said Sue Buckley, SUA manager.
Student Senate and donations from local businesses pay peripheral costs, such as security, stage set up and merchandise.
on the Green.
DAY ON THE HILL
The Day on the Hill tradition started in 1989, but the free concert actually dates from the late 1970s, when the festival was called Day
"The whole premise of the concert used to be different," said Mike Fine, SUA adviser. "If there was money left over in the end of the school year, we tried to do something with live music. A lot of times it was pretty modest. Ten years ago was when it really became a major event."
The first Day On The Green took place in August of 1978. Since then, it has been called "Wheatstock," "Jayhawk Jam," "Summer On The Hill" and "Day On the Green Hill."
The location of the festival also has changed during the years. Early festivals were held on the lawn of Allen Field House. Then the festival relocated to the hill near Potter Lake.
The 1989 Day on the Hill was organized with a $3,000 budget. As the event has grown, the budget has increased to $20,000 this year.
work with."
"We couldn't bring in just anybody because we have a spending cap on the event of $20,000," said John Orcutt, Hutchinson senior and SUA live music coordinator.
"So, the most we could spend on a band was $8,000. As far as national bands go, it's not a lot of money to
"For the bands, it's a huge recognition factor," Orcutt said. "It really opens up opportunities in Lawrence, Kansas City and surrounding areas."
Last year, They Might Be Giants received $7,000 to perform during Day On The Hill.
In 1996,3,500 people attended the event, and last year, attendance was estimated at 6,000 people.
To enjoy the seven-hour band marathon, people bring couches, chairs, tables and TV sets. Omnipresent frisbee throwers, hacky sackers and moshers will crow the hill. High school students and dogs will join the congregation.
Police will monitor the a crowd.
"People give SUA a hard time because there's a lot of high school kids there, but when we go through summer orientation, we are known for the event," Buckley said.
"Safety is always a concern in activities inside and outside," said Jim Long, director of the Kansas Unions. "We supply private security, and there's KU police and Douglas County ambulances."
tal element for a successful Day on the Hill. In previous years, mosh pits became mud pits and attendance suffered because of the rain.
Good weather is also a fundamen-
"We have a stage that has a cover to protect the bands," Buckley said. "We have played in rain, and it's never been canceled, and I hope my 10th one isn't."
Rumors always surround Day On The Hill. In 1996, mysterious flyers popped up around campus announcing that the band Phish would play the festival. To the dismay of Phish fans on campus, the flier was a hoax. Instead, the band Poster Child was the headline act.
Where: The concert will take place on West Campanile Hill. The stage will be in the parking lot north of Potter Lake and seating will be on the hill behind Carruth O'Leary Hall.
When: Noon to about 6:30 p.m.
This year's novelty will be the presence of campus organizations at information tables and tents.
Organizations scheduled to be present include Lawrence Food Not Bombs, Delta Force, KU Environs, Amnesty International, Students For A Free Tibet and Adopt-a School.
"It's really the most fun event of the year," Buckley said. "I love watching it, and I love watching the students' faces. It's the culmination of the hard work we put forth throughout the year. I'll have a blast."
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for more information about Day on the Hill, or any other SUA sponsored event; call SUA at 864-3477 or check out our web site at www.ukans.edu/~sua/
.