This post was written by Hatchet reporters Zinhle Essamuah and Nick Ong
Hundreds of students battled the heat Saturday in University Yard as electronic-pop duo Timeflies and mash-up artist DJ Earworm revved up a sweaty crowd for two hours.
There was plenty of free space on the Yard, as the majority of students swarmed the lawn just as Timeflies took the stage for their opening number, “Lose My Mind.”
The duo – Cal Shapiro and Rob Resnick – continued to deliver a mix of covers (Fun’s “We Are Young”), original numbers (“Turn It Up”), and freestyle raps, including a GW-themed freestyle with mentions of “Thirsty Thurston,” the GW Deli, actress and alumna Kerry Washington, and President Barack Obama’s motorcade.
Jonathan Carfagno, executive chair of Program Board, said the organization picked Timeflies because more and more people are recognizing the group, and its popularity is on the rise.
“We want GW to be one of those universities that had them first,” Carfagno said.
Timeflies, who goes on their second nation-wide tour, “The Warning Signs,” this fall, gained prominence with regular YouTube videos dubbed “Timeflies Tuesdays.”
While the crowd struggled to sing along to earlier hits, like “Until the Sunrise,” many knew the words to the duo’s closing act, “I Choose You,” which became a staple on radio stations this summer.
DJ Earworm, who opened the show, told The Hatchet earlier this week that he anticipated lively crowds Saturday night.
“I expect that there should be a lot of energy there. It should be a big party,” said Earworm, whose real name is Jordan Roseman.
Still, the crowd was much tamer than last year’s Spring Fling headliner, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, who pushed concert attendees as far back as the Media and Public Affairs building.
And this year’s performers had big shoes to fill.
“We had Diplo, we had Girl Talk,” said senior DeAnna Adonnino, listing off the last two Fall Fest headliners. “We had these big names and now we’re going downhill.”
Senior Yash Jain said the crowds seemed even smaller than his first Fall Fest at GW.
“I think it’s getting shorter, because freshman year [the show] went until nine,” Jain said as the concert ended at 7 p.m.
The Program Board declined to provide the cost for the performers this year, but booking agency Pretty Polly Productions, which specializes in college campus shows, estimated booking costs for Timeflies at $35,000.
This year’s show saw more security, after a student was arrested for assaulting officers at last year’s Spring Fling show.
