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SCSU can count on Counting Crows
By Paul Solsrud
The SCSU University Program Board proudly announced the Counting Crows as this year's entertainment for the spring concert. The long-awaited news was publicly released Monday to the campus as well as the surrounding communities.
The concert, to be held at Halenbeck Hall April 7, was chosen for several reasons including band and venue availability.
According to UPB Concerts Coordinator Ryan Meints, setting the date for the concert was challenging for the 25 members of the concerts committee. Due to the limited availability of open spots at Halenbeck Hall as well as the band's touring schedule, it was hard to find a day that fit everyone's schedule. Also, the availability of bands that are willing to do college tours has been limited recently.
"It's been a really slow year (for bands to tour), that's why we didn't have a fall concert. Bands were too expensive or not touring," he said. "There's a lot of luck, it just depends on how available they (the band) are and we are."
A helping factor in the selection of the band was the National Association for Campus Activities. Kim Haiman, concerts adviser, said that this association was the primary means to get connected with bands as well as other entertainers.
"It's a national programming association that links program boards and student governments to the entertainment industry," she said. "They provide information (about upcoming events), it's a way we, as members get routing information."
Once the band selection was approved by the concerts committee, it was then sent to be approved by UPB, and finally the Student Government.
The concerts committee doesn't have a set budget so a loan was needed from the student activity fees, until the tickets are collected. "We're the only committee in UPB that tries to make money," Meints said. "We have to find the right band; have to promote it the right way. It's run like a business."
"Counting Crows," is being promoted just that way with advertisements running on several local, as well as on Twin Cities' radio stations.
Students' preferences are of course the first priority; however, a close second is making a profit.
"(We) see what students want as well as what sells in general," he said. "Will SCSU students go for (it) and will the public go for it?"
The bands are quite expensive; however, they are cheaper for college tours.
"(The goal is) to promote themselves to students by making it (the concert) cheaper," he said.
In addition to the St. Cloud show, the Counting Crows will visit Vermillion, S.D., Winona, Minn. and Mankato, Minn. as part of the band's Midwest run, before heading to Ohio.
In 1996, the Counting Crows released "Recovering the Satellites" which climbed to number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
Their Alternative Country-Rock and Traditional Rock styles performed by members David Bryson, Charlie Gillingham, David Immerglok, Ben Mize, Adam Duritz, Dan Vickrey and Matt Malley will be sure to entertain long-time listeners of this relatively new band.
They became an overnight sensation in 1994, with their ticket to fame being the track "Mr. Jones" on the 1993 release of the album "August and Everything After." Their new album "Hard Candy" released July 9, 2002.
Student tickets are available Feb. 24 at the Atwood information desk, with faculty, staff and public tickets available on Feb. 28.
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