LDOC Lineup Analysis

It may have taken two extra days, two dubiously funny videos and widespread campus consternation and outrage, but we finally have our lineup for the LDOC concert. After last year’s disappointment about the relative anonymity of the performers and the low quality of the performances, anyone slated to perform this year would have been a vast improvement. Indeed, 2015 should be better. Spencer Brown, MisterWives, Jeremih and T-Pain are major upgrades and should provide a decent and musically varied concert.

The only returning performer from last year, student DJ Spencer Brown represents this year’s EDM contingency. For an enrolled Pratt-star, Brown has been able to drum up quite the impressive resume thus far, with a cosign from Avicii’s label Le7els and performances at major venues such as Madison Square Garden and Avalon. Last year’s set was marred by technical and timing difficulties, and Brown should have better luck this year with his performance. His music has evolved greatly in the past year, too, with his most recent EP, “Jaboom,” showing pervasive influences of trances and deep house in addition to his more common EDM fundaments. Overall, this could be the chance for Duke students to see an up-and-coming player in the EDM scene, as his much-improved music and his famous backers could propel him to a great deal of fame within the next few years.

MisterWives is this year’s analogue to Youngblood Hawke, another rising American indie band. Based out of Brooklyn, the band has grown prominent since early last year based off of the strength of their debut single “Reflections.” Funky, unique and tailor-made for sing-a-longs, the song itself should be one of the highlights of the LDOC concert and seems assured to be a commercial hit in the near future. However, two things remain a concern. MisterWives, as a new band, is still finding its footing in terms of what kind of artistic statement it wants to make. The byproduct of this quest, at least thus far in their young career, is that they simply don’t have as many memorable songs in their catalogue as the earworm-y “Reflections,” so they may have difficulty keeping the attention of the notoriously fickle Duke audience. The other, and arguably bigger, problem is lead singer Mandy Lee Duffy’s voice. Duffy’s range is stratospherically high, but her tone is yelp-like even on studio recordings, which begs the question of whether or not she will sound good in a live setting. An overly screechy performance is not likely to win many student fans.

Jeremih, who is strangely billed second despite being the biggest current star at the concert, is likely to be a surer bet. While he has been a steady presence in the music industry for years now, Jeremih hit a whole other level of stardom in 2014 thanks to his largely excellent collection of singles and features that blew up the charts. He seems to have found his muse in LA-based producer DJ Mustard, whose sinister and catchy “R&Bass” beats are a good accent to his expressive yet hollow voice. Jeremih also has the benefit of having several hits that Duke students will love to hear, as “Birthday Sex,” “Down on Me,” “Don’t Tell ‘Em” and “Somebody” have had a lot of time to infiltrate pop culture. He may well end up being the highlight of the concert.

Of course, the headliner—which, despite DUU’s sworn secrecy, ended up being the worst kept secret at Duke this year—is the illustrious T-Pain. Yes, that maestro of AutoTune will be taking his talents to Durham this April, and we are here for it. T-Pain has certainly accrued the image of being a one-trick pony since his 2008 peak, and many students have expressed doubt over how good he will be live. They need not worry: T-Pain can sing well, as evidenced by his NPR Tiny Desk Concert from a few months ago, and his cultural footprints are all over a lot of popular music of the last decade. Beyond the obvious hits “Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin)” and “I’m In Luv (Wit A Stripper),” he has featured on smash hits like Flo Rida’s “Low,” Baby Bash’s “Cyclone” and R. Kelly’s “I’m A Flirt,” among others. There is so much potential for a fun, nostalgic concert here, and while his current level of cultural cachet may not be a strong as in years past, this should be the best part of the concert. If you don’t believe me, come back to me the day after LDOC and try to tell me you didn’t have fun singing along to “Buy U A Drank” with 6,000 of your classmates.

All in all, kudos to DUU. After last year’s debacle, they have rebounded nicely with what should be a high-quality slate of performers. While it may not achieve the heights of Kanye West's and Kendrick Lamar’s appearances in recent years, LDOC 2015 should be a return to form for Duke’s biggest concert.