tattler magazine

(hint: cold beer and live music involved)

Mad is writing from Elon in North Carolina. She tells you why she thinks LDOC is the best holiday ever created.

You know when spring is in the air. The trees turn green, the flowers start blooming, the lawn is nice to lay on with the sweet smell of grass, pollen covers every car with a green sheen and almost everyone starts getting allergies.

In the U.S., partying festivities known as spring break might have taken place almost a month ago, but truth be told the weather has not been our best friend. In fact, I have oftentimes found myself shivering in weather that resembled winter. In Asheville, North Carolina, there was even snowfall reported on a spring day.

That is cranky North Carolinian weather for you.

But for the past few weeks, there has been a change in the air. Days are getting warmer again, people start playing beach volleyball outside, girls lay on the grass in their bathing suits in an attempt to get a tan, and innovative students import sand and water slides for a day of beachy fun on campus. But the real sign that spring has arrived? The awesome shows to look out for at colleges.

The college experience just is not complete without cold beer and great live music going hand in hand. Over at Duke University, every student is pretty much pumped for two things – Blue Devil college basketball matches, especially those against the Tar Heels (UNC at Chapel Hill), and the biggest party of the year, LDOC.

LDOC, or Last Day of College, is perhaps the best holiday ever created. After an entire year of slogging away at work, everyone lets loose and celebrates with an array of legitimately great music acts. Past performers at LDOC include Kanye West, Jason Mraz, and Third Eye Blind. Over at Elon University, or the place where I belong this semester, the annual Spring Show saw record audiences gather in the Koury Gymnasium for controversial and talented mash-up artist Girl Talk and indie hip-hop maestro Lupe Fiasco.

LDOC, or Last Day of College, is perhaps the best holiday ever created.

Gathered in the Main Quad in the midst of Duke’s gothic wonderland, audiences grooved along to Girl Talk, and Gym Class Heroes followed with an energetic set displaying most of their hits like Cookie Jar, Clothes Off!! and Cupid’s Chokehold. But the biggest reception was reserved for the headlining act of the night, North Carolina’s Ben Folds himself. Doling out hits like Rockin’ the Suburbs, Not The Same and You Don’t Know Me, it was a rocking way to end a night of musical madness.

My favourite act so far? After watching Girl Talk twice in two weeks, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Girl Talk both times with his very entertaining and lively set. The talented producer managed to wow audiences with his DJ skills, mashing and sampling countless songs to create works of his own. With the familiar tunes of MGMT’s Kids, Rihanna’s Umbrella, Soulja Boy’s Crank That and even The Bangles’ Walk Like an Egyptian, there was no point during his set where the crowd was not hyped and entertained. The charismatic performer also invited audience members to dance with him on stage, had a balloon man jiving at the sides of the stage, and even had people streaming out toilet paper (yes, you read that correctly) into the crowd.

It is mayhem at its absolute best.