Recent W.I.L.D.s have been marked by acoustic rockers or acts that were popular while most students were in high school, if not younger. Guster, Duncan Sheik, Ben Folds, Live, Sister Hazel, Busta Rhymes, and Better than Ezra are all examples of this. The selection of OK Go, Reel Big Fish, and Cut Chemist, if nothing else, marks a much needed departure from the norm for Team 31.
The artists picked to play at this spring’s W.I.L.D. may even be good choices on their own merits. First, the headliner: OK Go. They achieved a moderate level of success in 2002 with the single “Get Over It” from their self-titled debut, but became pop superstars last year when their unconventional videos became Internet sensations. Most notable was the video for “Here It Goes Again,” in which the bands danced on treadmills. As of Feb. 28, the video was the ninth most watched video of all-time on YouTube, and even garnered the band a Grammy. Hopefully, the band’s video theatrics will lend themselves well to the W.I.L.D. stage for an entertaining show. Furthermore, OK Go is known for their nerdy approach to rock music, which lends itself perfectly to a Washington University audience.
The direct support for OK Go will be Reel Big Fish. They fall more into the “high school band” category than OK Go does, but they still do have one foot out of that ring. They released their last album “We’re Not Happy ‘Til You’re Not Happy” in 2005, and it was called “super catchy” by allmusic.com. While super catchy is not the same as a rave review, it is good music for people to dance around and have fun to, whereas previous W.I.L.D. bands were more suited to just sitting down. Playing energetic third wave ska, Reel Big Fish is good at getting people on their feet, which is perfect for a W.I.L.D. band. And lead singer Aaron Barrett has also stated that a new album may be out in June, following a split EP released just last week, so Reel Big Fish may not be washed up just yet.
The opener, Cut Chemist, may seem familiar to Wash. U. students. He has already played W.I.L.D. twice with his previous acts, Ozomatli and Jurassic 5. However, he will provide another style of music for people who are not fans of OK Go or Reel Big Fish. That diversity is also what makes Team 31’s choices so successful, in the terms of both this W.I.L.D. and previous WI.L.D.s. Most of the previous W.I.L.D.s that current students have experienced have followed the same formula. Both of the previous headliners, Ben Folds and Guster, are listed as “adult alternative” by allmusic.com, and acts like Lil Jon and Live have been little more than novelties. This W.I.L.D. is different. Anyone who has listened to both Guster and Reel Big Fish knows that they are nothing alike, and there are no blatant throwbacks to our adolescence this time a la Sister Hazel. The only thing missing may be treadmills – and couches.