Music for the masses

Tomorrow, seven hours of peace, love and free music will take place in Stamp Student Union's Colony Ballroom for SEE's second annual Terpstock.

Unlike the similarly named music festival of 1969, Terpstock's scene won't be dominated by tie-dye-wearing hippies and jam bands. Instead, the diverse lineup brings up-and-coming indie rappers, a ska band, a former punk artist gone reggae and a high-profile electro-pop duo to the campus for a day of alternative music that might please those uninterested in this year's Art Attack.

"[Terpstock] targets students who don't listen to mainstream music," Student Entertainment Events President Laura Brant said. "All the artists playing Terpstock are people who are up-and-coming."

Last year's Terpstock, which took place in the Nyumburu Amphitheater, attracted 400 people, but this year's is expected to be bigger. However, due to the threat of inclement weather, tomorrow's festival, which is sponsored by BookHolders, The Varsity and The Enclave, will be moved inside.

"Because it was a new event, the turnout for Terpstock last year was kind of small," Brant said. "This year, we're expecting 800 people."

Headlining the event are The Cataracs, a duo best known for writing, producing and singing on Far East Movement's hit "Like a G6." While "Like a G6" isn't their only hit — their single "Top of the World" is gaining popularity — it's likely the song the crowd will be most excited for.

Freshman economics major Alejandro Perez-Segura is expecting a "dance party" from The Cataracs.

"The stereos better be bumping if they want to have a good concert, otherwise it's going to fall flat," he said.

For those less interested in dance pop and more into rappers who have made their name on the blogosphere, SEE has booked the laid-back, humorous Das Racist and the upbeat, indie rock-sampling Hoodie Allen.

Das Racist blew up in 2009 largely due to the viral spread of its silly ode to combination Pizza Hut-Taco Bell restaurants, called, of course, "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell." The group capitalized on that success with two free mixtapes in 2010: Shut Up, Dude and Sit Down, Man.

While Hoodie Allen has never topped the Billboard Hot 100 like The Cataracs have, he topped music blog aggregator Hype Machine's charts with his single "You Are Not a Robot" and has gained popularity by sampling artists such as Death Cab for Cutie, Cold War Kids and The Black Keys.

Hoodie labeled himself as a "huge fan" of both The Cataracs and Das Racist.

"It's awesome to be playing alongside people whose music I routinely kick back to," Allen wrote in an email.

For those who don't care about rap or hip-hop, ska band The Pietasters will be performing, as will H.R., the former lead singer of punk band Bad Brains.

According to Brant, there was no rhyme or reason to the variety of acts selected. She said SEE simply chose artists it knew had a following among students.

SEE research director Lonny Zaretsky said the organization was listening to student requests when picking the artists. In the surveys SEE sent out through its Facebook page and listservs, Zaretsky said many people requested Hoodie Allen and The Cataracs.

Some students, while unfamiliar with the performers, are still planning on going.

"I don't really care about the artists," freshman letters and sciences major John Vernon said, "but I feel like Terpstock might be fun."

Others are thrilled about the event's lineup, even preferring it to Nelly, the headliner at the higher-profile Art Attack.

"I couldn't even believe when I got the Facebook invite to Terpstock that Das Racist and Hoodie Allen were both playing," freshman government and politics major Olivia Zug said. "I'm just so pumped that we have two really good artists coming for a free concert."

Comments on the Facebook event are almost entirely positive, a major difference from the negative reactions on Art Attack's page.

Students who are excited are not alone. Allen, 22, is also looking forward to playing his first concert at this university.

"College performances are always great because it's spontaneous and people really just want to enjoy live music and have a good time," Allen wrote. "And I'm the same way."

However, not all students are enthusiastic.

"It hasn't been publicized very much," said Morgan Parker, a senior computer science and mathematics major. "I haven't seen any chalking about this, I haven't seen any posters about this, and I know none of the performers. ... But I'm a math and computer science major, so I live under a rock."

diversions@umdbk.com