Killer lineup promised for MEC concert

The Music Entertainment Committee is hard at work again planning their next concert and, as usual, battlling the ever-pressing issue of picking an artist the student body recognizes.

However, MEC representative Karl Rogers ‘11 claims this upcoming concert will be different. The artist will be  entirely student chosen, and should be a ground-breaking concert in St. Olaf history.

"Haven't we heard that before!" Hans Franklin ‘10 said, shaking his head. "Last year we all voted and somehow ended up stuck at a  Hellogoodbye concert. I'll believe it when I see it."

Judging by the voting options on the form creator survey MEC recently sent out, Rogers wasn't kidding.

Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley and Nirvana are only some of the staggeringly amazing artists that fill the list.

While these are definitely artists St. Olaf students have heard of, like everyone else on the planet, Betty Williams ‘11 voiced the lingering question when she examined the list: "Um, aren't all these people dead?"

Rogers claims that's the beauty of this concert.

"A constant problem we have booking artists is making our schedules match, but by choosing to work with only dead artists, we eliminate that problem," he said. "They have a lot more free time in the afterlife, let me tell you."

He added, "Also, money won't be an issue because who's more desperate for a comeback than a singer who bit the dust too soon? And what better way to bring publicity to the college than hosting the first ever postmortem concert?"

When asked if MEC has personally been in contact with Jackson, Lennon and other artists, Rogers shifted nervously.

"Well, we've hit a little snag because contacting the spirit world isn't as easy as it sounds," Rogers said. "But the other day the Ouija board started giving us the lyrics to ‘Beat It' over and over again, which we think is a good sign."

"No worries, though. All MEC concerts have a backup plan," Rogers said. "Not that we ever have to use them..."

He pulled an armful of DVDs of Jimi Hendrix and Elvis Presley performances out of his bag.

"Almost as good as the real thing!" Rogers said. "You don't think they'll notice if Hendrix is onscreen instead of on the Pause stage, right?"

"Editor's note: this article appeared in the April 30, 2010 satire issue of the Messenger."