The Good

Students danced, sang along to mash-ups of popular songs and chilled with their friends.

“It was fun, not necessarily because of the people playing, but that people there were in the mood to have fun. It didn’t really matter who was on stage,” freshman Luke Dobben said.

“I had a really fun time. I thought White Panda was phenomenal. I thought Mike Posner was good, but there’s always the challenge of having a headline artist live up to what people might hope they will be,” sophomore Josh Aiken said.

“It’s a good vibe in here, people seem happy and active. They’re not chill but upbeat,” senior Kate Benedict said.

The Bad

Some students were disappointed with Mike Posner, saying his performance was not good enough for him to headline W.I.L.D.

“I’m a senior, so I definitely think it’s the weakest W.I.L.D. I’ve been to, and attendance was low compared to other years…I thought Mike Posner was pretty bad and reactions to him were pretty negative,” senior Mariana Oliver said.

“It’s kind of weird to listen to music like that in a concert setting, but it’s W.I.L.D., so people had fun,” junior Matt Miller said.

“The main act was not what I would consider a good headliner. I left after two songs because he wasn’t good. A lot of people were at DAYGLOW which was a huge reason a lot of my friends left or didn’t go,” junior Brad Lewis said.

The Wild

This W.I.L.D. was matched with a number of unusual occurrences. The headliner kissed a member of the audience, a gigantic paint party called DAYGLOW took place just blocks away, and the power failed during Mike Posner’s performance.

Mike Posner pulled a woman on stage, gave her a giant teddy bear and kissed her on the mouth. “It was just weird. I thought that was very uncalled for,” Oliver said.

“It was interesting that DAYGLOW was the same day, and it didn’t seem as packed as it had been at past W.I.L.D.s, which was interesting,” Aiken said.

It would have been awesome to be a member of the Class of 2003…in terms of W.I.L.D., that is. With just one glance at the lineup they had during their four years at Washington University, anyone would be envious. In the spring of 2000, their freshman year, Outkast and Dispatch played. Then, in the fall of 2002 the Black Eyed Peas came, followed by Better Than Ezra in the spring of 2003.

OutKast’s quadruple-platinum fourth album “Stankonia” was released in Oct. 2000, only a few months after the hip-hop duo appeared at W.I.L.D. OutKast is one of the most successful hip-hop groups of all time. To be able to claim that you heard OutKast when they performed at your university would warrant major coolness points in my book. If only I could actually say that; too bad I was still in elementary school.

Better Than Ezra skyrocketed to number one on the charts with their first single “Good” in 1995. In the spring of 2003, the band’s most popular recent single would have been “Extra Ordinary” or “A Lifetime.” Their rock/alternative music was perfect for a spring W.I.L.D. That is not to mention their considerable discography that would have been even more popular to Wash. U. students.

If the Black Eyed Peas’ W.I.L.D. performance was anything like their performances today (think back to the Super Bowl), it must have been epic, to say the least. Why wasn’t I born a decade earlier to witness this performance?

However, it is worth noting that the Black Eyed Peas came to campus before they became the big music sensation they are today. Fergie had just joined the group in 2002, and their first hit single, “Where is the Love?” did not drop until 2003. This begs the question: Does time make the past W.I.L.D. acts seem larger than they really were? Team 31 has picked W.I.L.D. artists on the brink of success before. For example, take B.o.B (“Nothin’ on You,” “Airplanes”) who performed in the spring of 2009, a year before his debut album was released. From Grammys to MTV Video Music Awards to American Music Awards, B.o.B. has himself a true music career—and all of us who were here at Wash. U. for his W.I.L.D. performance got an early look at his talent.

The class of 2003’s W.I.L.D. experiences are something that, unfortunately, I will only be able to experience through stories passed down. Nonetheless, I’ve got my own W.I.L.D. experiences to pass on, and hopefully, in ten years, a Wash. U. student will envy the performers I have had the privilege of seeing.

Present: Are the acts worth coming to?

We have a feeling that all of you reading this probably have an idea of how you’re going to spend your W.I.L.D., but for those who’ve never done it before, here’s a blow-by-blow of the day’s official acts. Cadenza trusts you’ll be able to figure out what to do before the concert actually starts.

4 p.m.: Doors—It’s time to make the extraordinarily difficult walk all the way to the Brookings Quad. For those coming from faraway lands like Shepley or Greenway, be prepared. There’s no water in the quad. But once you make it, you get the fun experience of waiting in line and (possibly) getting patted down. Then it’s on to the glorious grassland.

4:15 p.m.: Battle of the Bands Winner—The Second Stage winner won’t be announced until tomorrow, because, well, the Battle of the Bands won’t happen until tomorrow. If you’ve already made it to the Quad, it’s time to enjoy the sounds of Rhyme N Reason, the Jake Bertons or the Greasy Watermelon. It’s also time to pray that the losing bands are able to accept defeat in peace instead of rebelling during the show.

4:45 p.m.: DJ Khizcuts—Also known as Khiz Munir, Washington University’s own DJ Khizcuts gets to take the stage now. Time to begin the DJ’d/mashup portion of the evening.

5:35 p.m.: OCD: Moosh & Twist!—This Philadelphia hip-hop duo has a weird name. Combining a mental disorder with two rap aliases makes me confused, but somehow it starts to make sense when we consider that the performers just graduated high school a few months ago. Remind me why we don’t just save money for one big act.

6 p.m.: Alcohol Cut-Off—This is the most important part of the night for those lucky, but late-coming, non-minors (majors? over-21ers?) Make sure you lug the six-pack before the dreaded deadline, or else that far, far walk was for nothing.

6:45 p.m.: The White Panda—Okay, the group may not be as cool as Super Mash Bros., but we take what we can get. It’s always a good experience to start singing along to your favorite song for five seconds, only to realize it’s disappeared from your auditory cortex before you actively recognize the song.

7:45 p.m.: 3lau—The second Wash. U. DJ of the night, 3lau, also known as Justin Blau, takes the stage. If you’re a little worn out by the recorded music, feel free to take this opportunity to “lie down.”

8:35 p.m.: Mike Posner—Although “Cooler Than Me” may be slightly less cool than the country’s biggest paint party, we have a leading act that people have actually heard of. If you’re still standing by 8:35 p.m., it’s time to enjoy the smooth sounds of the 2010 Duke graduate.

Top things you’ll wish you had known by W.I.L.D.

Your first W.I.L.D. is a learning experience. It’s like a tailgate, but there’s not much food…or a sporting event to follow. Instead of just learning the lessons yourself, listen to some advice that future-you will certainly want you to have known.

1. From far away, it’s acceptable to think that Mike Posner looks like Justin Timberlake. Less acceptable? Shouting that he looks like a JT bobblehead doll during his performance.

2. SLR cameras will not be allowed in. Don’t bring your super-special camera just to be turned away at the door.

3. Pretending to be the bassist of Battle of the Bands winner will not get you groupies.

4. You’re never going to find your friends once you’re on the quad. Try having a charged cell phone, and you’ll have a chance, but the best thing you can probably do is force all your friends to wear the brightest shirt they own. And if you can’t find them, you can at least provide the rest of us with amusement at seeing a 6’4” guy in neon pink.

5. No matter how short the food line is, it will take a disgustingly long time to get your burrito/pizza slice, especially when the beer-induced, time-distorting goggles are on. Try to get in line before you’re starving.

6. It’s important to drink just the right amount. They warn you about getting so drunk that you end up in the hospital, but has anyone ever told you how lame it is to have a hangover by the time Mike Posner comes on? Being exhausted and dehydrated while standing in a mosh pit is never a good situation.

7. Speaking of being dehydrated, there was no bottled water at W.I.L.D. last year. We all know the University’s vendetta against bottled water, but this was a little ridiculous. Advice for the future? Sneak into the quad tonight and hide some in the bushes. You won’t regret it.

8. And in regards to drinking enough, all the buildings on the Quad will be locked. Your only bathroom option is a port-a-potty, so come having emptied your bladder before you get trapped.

9. The upperclassmen guys aren’t trying to hook up with you because you’re a drunk freshmen—they’re not that discriminatory. It’s just because you’re a drunk girl.

10. Worst mistake you can make during W.I.L.D.? Staying sober during the day because you’re planning to go to frats after. Word to the wise—they’re all closed.

While “31 Minutes” brought Posner to mainstream media’s attention, the Duke graduate’s buzz had been building online for over a year before the album’s release. In March 2009, Mike posted his second mixtape, “A Matter of Time,” on iTunes U for free. The mixtape, a mixture of pop, R&B and hip-hop, catapulted Posner into tastemakers’ consciousnesses. The tape, which features his now-signature breathy falsetto, showcases Posner’s unique voice over his own production.

Four months later, J Records signed the Internet phenomenon. This led to another mix tape, “One Foot Out the Door,” which was released in October 2009. Similar to “A Matter of Time” in many ways, “One Foot” also featured hints at Posner’s upcoming major label debut. Although none of the snippets appeared on “31 Minutes,” they nonetheless gave his fans a look into what his debut would sound like. That same month, Posner was also featured on the ever-popular PerezHilton.com, an achievement that foreshadowed his success to come.

Fast-forward to the summer of 2010. Posner has just graduated from Duke while recording his album and touring the country. Now ready to commit to his career, he released his first single, “Cooler Than Me,” which he originally featured on “A Matter of Time.” The single came with revamped production and without Big Sean, who was featured on the original. A few months later, the single hit the Top 10 and was a radio mainstay throughout the summer.

The album, released in August 2010, unfortunately failed to spark consumers’ interest, unable to sell a substantial number of copies. Likewise, his two following singles, “Please Don’t Go” and “Bow Chicka Wow Wow,” while successful (peaking at numbers 16 and 30, respectively), failed to match the success of their predecessor.

Now, once he finishes this album cycle, Posner will begin work on his sophomore release, “Sky High.” Less than a year after his last visit to St. Louis—he performed at the Pageant last October—Posner will now be headlining this year’s fall W.I.L.D., proving why he’s “cooler than” the other guys.

None of the acts had returned signed contracts as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Mike Hayes, executive director of campus life and director of Greek Life.

But while the group may be up against the wire, this is not the most last-minute W.I.L.D. booking that Team 31 has made, said Mike Saxvik, coordinator of programming and leadership.

Saxvik said that more than five years ago (before he worked at Washington University), an artist hadn’t even been picked out two weeks before the performance date.

“[Booking an artist] is a long process of negotiation. It’s a normal process to have them go through our office and the artists’ offices,” Team 31 President Alex Levitt, a junior, said.

Multiple parties are involved in booking an artist. Team 31 presents a list of artists it is interested in to the Social Programming Board, a group comprised of two SU representatives, a member each of Team 31, CPC and the Gargoyle and three other students. The Board must approve the list. Only then may Team 31 approach approved artists for availability and price.

If an artist fits the bill, Team 31 appeals to SU for funding. The artist’s agency then sends a contract to Washington University’s legal counsel. The artist must sign, and a University administrator must give final approval.

On Aug. 8, Team 31 appealed for $50,000 to fund Mike Posner. It appealed to fund the opening performers (the White Panda and OCD: Moosh & Twist) on Aug. 15 and 23 for $12,500 and $2,500, respectively.

Last year, Team 31 had received funding for all of fall W.I.L.D.’s artists by July 28.

Mike Posner is a pop, hip-hop and R&B artist from Southfield, Mich., best known for his singles “Cooler Than Me” and “Please Don’t Go.”

He broke onto the music scene while attending Duke University, which he graduated from in 2010.

Posner posted a mixtape, “A Matter of Time,” on iTunes U in March 2009. By the summer of that year, “A Matter of Time” topped the charts, and he began to garner national recognition.

Since then, he has released a full-length record, “31 Minutes to Takeoff,” and has worked with such artists as Lil Wayne, Bruno Mars and Wale.

The White Panda is a mashup duo consisting of Tom Evans (Procrast) and Dan Griffith (DJ Griffi).

OCD: Moosh & Twist is a rap group out of Philadelphia, Pa., formed by two current high school seniors.

Fall W.I.L.D. will take place on Sept. 16 in Brookings Quadrangle. See Cadenza for a review of all three artists performing.

With additional reporting by Sahil Patel and Alex Dropkin.

A mixture of pop, R&B and hip-hop, Posner started to make real noise when he released his first mixtape, “A Matter of Time,” in February. The mixtape, hosted by Don Cannon, was released for free download on iTunes U and features a mixture of new songs and sampled songs, mostly produced by Posner himself. Throughout the mixtape, Posner reworks popular songs (like The Fray’s “Over My Head,” Beyonce’s “Halo,” and Gorilla Zoe’s “Lost”), reproducing them and, of course, changing the lyrics. Mixed in with these songs are original tracks produced and sung by Posner along with a few featured guests (including Kanye West’s signee Big Sean). Although all of the songs are great, the standouts are by far “Drug Dealer Girl” (which is now Posner’s first official single) and “Cooler Than Me” with Big Sean. On “A Matter of Time,” Posner created super-catchy songs using his unmistakable voice. While maybe not the best or fullest, Posner’s voice is unique in its breathy falsetto. It is instantly recognizable and alluring.

(Courtesy of JessieLouiseMark)

Then, in July, after touring and much buzz, Posner was signed to J Records. Of course, at this point, he had the choice either just to focus on his burgeoning music career or to finish his senior year at Duke University. As he puts it at the beginning of his Web series, “To make my parents proud, I returned to Duke University to finish my senior year. I’m taking a full load of classes, rocking shows every weekend and finishing my debut album.” So, he decided to combine the two—finish out school and work on his music.

This leads us to Thursday (Oct. 29), when Posner released his second free mixtape on iTunes: “One Foot Out the Door.” He kept much of the same formula on this mixtape, though with fewer “covers” (there is only a remix of 3OH!3’s “Don’t Trust Me” and a rework of Soulja Boy’s “Kiss Me Thru the Phone”). He mixes his unique voice with his own production to create yet another promising mixtape. On songs like “I Don’t Trust Myself” and “Red Button,” Posner shows that he can hold his own on more pop- or R&B-inspired songs, while on “Bring Me Down” (featuring Big Sean and Freddie Gibbs) and “Mirror’s Edge” (featuring Bun B, GLC and XV) he also demonstrates his ability to produce radio-friendly hip-hop. Although this was also true on his first mixtape, it is reinforced on his second. Also made evident on this second mixtape is that Posner has the musical ability to take on any of the other pop or R&B singers out there. He can sing, write and produce well, while also standing out among the crowd.

Mike Posner has already demonstrated that he can produce an engaging and entertaining album, but the real test will be to see if he can break into mainstream consumers’ consciousness. He has the skill and the equipment; he just needs to break out. Whether his debut album (to be released in 2010) will be able to catch the ears of the average listener has yet to be seen or tested. That said, with an appearance on “Last Call with Carson Daly” and a Tweet from Perez Hilton under his belt, he already has one foot out the door and into the fickle world of the mainstream.