Platinum-selling rock band The Fray will grace the TD Bank Sports Center on Sunday, April 18 for the Student Programming Board’s (SPB) annual Spring Concert.
The Fray, best known for hits “Over My Head (Cable Car)” and “How to Save a Life” was the second-most popular rock band in SPB’s concert survey earlier this year. Rock band O.A.R, who is not currently touring, was the top choice.
“It was clear from the survey that students wanted a rock show,” SPB’s Mainstage Chair Megan Doyle said. “And, for the most part, they wanted The Fray.”
Forty percent of the 2,529 students surveyed chose The Fray as a top choice for a rock band. Akon and Drake were the popular rap choices, but the largest chunk of students (44 percent) called for a rock show. Only 28 percent wanted rap.
“It’s what the students asked for,” SPB adviser John Stinchon, assistant director of the student center and student leadership development, said. “It may not be the first choice, but we got a talent that the students wanted.”
The Fray, a four-person piano-rock band, released their second, self-titled album in February 2009, highlighted by the single “You Found Me.”
“Every student’s heard at least one of their songs,” Doyle, who coordinated the contract, said. “It’s really significant that we signed them to play here. They’re a very right-now band, and they have a huge upside.”
Tickets will go on sale March 22 in the Student Center. Floor seating for undergraduates will be $25, and arena seating will be $20. Tickets will also sold on April 2 at the North Haven campus.
The Fray come after a sold-out Third Eye Blind concert on Oct. 10, 2009, the first sold-out concert in recent memory, Doyle said. She was “confident” that this Spring Concert will also sell out.
“If we sell out 2,700 seats, I will be the happiest person ever,” she said. “We broke a barrier selling out Third Eye Blind, and I think we can do it again.”
The Fray played on Sept. 23 at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. According to Carli-Rae Panny, editor-in-chief of the student newspaper The Spectrum, the rock band was better than expected.
“I was already a fan of their music but I honestly didn’t expect the show to be as great as it was,” Panny said. “I actually liked some of their songs better live because they performed them with a harder rock sound–as opposed to their softer-sounding recorded versions.”
SPB originally planned to have the concert on a Friday or Saturday night, but scheduling issues forced the concert to Sunday.
Because of the Sunday date, SPB plans to open the doors at 6 p.m. and begin the concert at 7 p.m.
One of the openers will be indie rock band We Shot the Moon, according to Stinchon. The other, which will be touring with The Fray, has not been named.
Michele • Mar 3, 2010 at 1:33 pm
I have been to two Fray concerts, and I think people are much too quick to judge. Though their songs on the radio have been more slow and piano-filled, they have some songs that are brilliant in concert, and the show they put on by NO means puts you to sleep. The Fray is a huge band, and I’m really impressed they’re coming to QU, and I think people need to get over the fact that it’s not a Drake concert.
Andrew • Mar 3, 2010 at 12:24 am
If you don’t like The Fray, then stop complaining and leave the tickets for someone who will enjoy The Fray.
Mike • Feb 26, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Personally, there are bands and singers I enjoy more than the Fray. But I truly don’t believe they could have picked a better band to attempt to please the overall student body. I mean come on, think about it, everyone knows at least 3 to 4 songs on EACH of their two very successful albums. They are a pop band, but the place will be insanely packed.
Its better than Uhart • Feb 26, 2010 at 3:13 pm
I dont even go to Q, but i go to university of hartford and our spring concert is INSIDE (usually a huge party outside) and we got someone by the name of girltalk…. id rather go to your spring concert lol
qu • Feb 28, 2010 at 8:20 pm
hahahahahaha
a) our concert is also inside you fool.
b) girl talk is miles and miles and miles and miles better than the fray for a spring concert.
Sharona • Feb 25, 2010 at 10:07 pm
There honestly is no way to please everyone, because as someone already pointed out, music tastes are subjective. You may be made because you don’t like The Fray and wanted Drake (whoever that is), but someone else may not like Drake and want The Fray.
The fact that there are good/decent acts that are popular and current that come to your school to perform is a BIG deal that not every school gets to experience. And the work that goes into planning a show like this is something that most people would not be able to do.
It’s not easy to pick an act that you think will satisfy the rest of the student body but that might not. It’s a risk you have to take. Jack’s Mannequin was a risk- but it paid off because a good part of the student body was happy and attended the show. Ashanti was a risk that didn’t pay off, but did you know that she was the number one choice on the survey that year? It’s a crapshoot that you put yourself on the line for and hope for the best.
So, you people who are haters, why don’t you try thinking about the whole process instead of just who you want. There’s over 5,000 students at Quinnipiac, and you can’t all be happy all the time.
Fail • Feb 26, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Well you just fail for having no idea who Drake is. Come on. But overall, I agree that not everyone can be pleased. However, I think that a college concert should be one that’s upbeat and exciting, not the put-you-to-sleep Fray. Third Eye Blind worked because they have old school hits that bring back the good ol’ times hahaha… The Fray have two hits, and aren’t nearly nostalgic or exciting enough.
Lenny Neslin • Feb 25, 2010 at 5:18 pm
“Also, having a panel of people ‘who actually know music” would most likely not work. Why? Because a lot of “technically” good musicians are not all that popular.”
I’ve been trying to tell that to my friends for the LONGEST time. How come nobody gets that?
Me • Feb 25, 2010 at 4:14 pm
First of all, the idea of what “good” music is and what “bad” music is is completely subjective and cannot possibly be agreed upon by a college campus with over 5,000 students.
Second, it’s not true that there are rappers that would please everyone…because there is not one rapper that I would pay to see, or see for free for that matter. And I understand that the same is true for some students about rock bands. But did we not have Ludacris here last year?
SPB is not completely inept- and no, I’m not on SPB. They had a survey. Students filled it out .They got the performer that they could book who had the highest number of votes. What exactly is inept about that system?
However, I do agree that maybe the survey should eventually be narrowed down to a smaller group of performers for students to vote on.
Also, having a panel of people ‘who actually know music” would most likely not work. Why? Because a lot of “technically” good musicians are not all that popular. And for the amount of money that they school is spending on the concert- they need to make a portion of it back in ticket sales. And they aren’t going to do that without a big name. Maybe sad, but true.
What it comes down to is that if the concert happens to be a band or performer that you don’t like…don’t go. It’s not that difficult.
And next year, make sure your friends with similar musical tastes vote on the survey. And if your choice loses…deal with it. That’s life.
lol • Feb 26, 2010 at 10:46 am
there are plenty of good acts at there that are very artistically credible, not very mainstream, and would please most this campus.
lol • Feb 25, 2010 at 11:40 am
drake or AKON LOLOL. LOL @ AKON.
here’s an idea (and it’s a *******CRAZY one, so hang with me here)…
why don’t they create a PANEL of people who know about MUSIC?
what about the guys and gals at qu music and wqaq WHO ACTUALLY KNOW ABOUT MUSIC? maybe put them in charge!
the spb is completely inept. and don’t say that third eye blind was a success, because yeah sure it sold out, but if you think third eye blind is still relevant to anything than you’re an idiot.
there are rock bands that would please everyone at this school out there. there are rappers that would please everyone out there.
THERE ARE COMBINATIONS OF THE TWO YOU COULD PUT ON ONE SHOW AND :GASP: please everyone out there.
wutang • Feb 25, 2010 at 11:31 am
word word
the fray sucks
that got 2 good songs and that is debatable
they had rock in the fall and again in the spring give me a break
third eyeblind was also a mistake
their album recordings are missin energy and personality
now we got 4 dudes sitting behind a piano
woot
i have never been more excited in my life
Carl • Feb 25, 2010 at 11:09 am
Was the majority of the voters 13 year old deaf girls? The Fray is awful, how about we start doing a secondary survey when we narrow it down to one or two choices so that the concert doesn’t suck again. Who ever is in charge of this committee must have been dropped on the head as a child. You think you’re gonna sell out? only if the opening bands don’t suck as much as the Fray.
Jones • Feb 24, 2010 at 11:41 pm
Good job QU another s***** rock band, should of been drake or akon, we had a rock concert in the fall, how about some hip hop in the spring
Bri • Feb 24, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Awesome, another disappointing concert to NOT go to! Thanks QU.
Remember Ashanti…haha