Looking at the crowd from onstage, hip-hop duo Timeflies shared some words of wisdom.
‘Don’t let class get in the way of your education,’ said lead singer Cal Shapiro.
During their set at Friday’s third annual MayFest in Walnut Park, Timeflies also craftily wove in aspects of Syracuse University into their songs.
Such lines included: ‘Yeah, girl, you fancy, like Chancy she called Nancy,’ ‘Heading to Faegan’s’ and ‘Giving money to the bums out on Marshall Street.’
In addition to YouTube sensation Timeflies, the concert featured mellow hip-hop group Aer, mash-up artist 5 & A Dime, and rapper and singer Outasight.
All of the acts played some of their most notable songs. Outasight’s Billboard-charting single ‘Tonight is the Night’ and 5&A Dime’s catchy mash-up ‘#BASSMOB’ encouraged the crowd to sing along.
Planning for the event started just before Winter Break, said University Union President Rob Dekker. The talent for the concert was secured in January.
With most of the nearby roads closed off, throngs of people entered the park shortly after 1 p.m. and made their way from the concession stands to the stage area at about 2 p.m. The first act, Aer, took the stage at 1:45 p.m., and with the other three acts, the music lasted past 3 p.m.
Despite the cool weather and intermittent flurries, students in the pit jumped up and down and waved their hands. Some girls sat on their friends’ shoulders to get a better view.
Aer, looking forward to their first Bamboozle Festival debut this summer, also dispensed wisdom to the crowd.
‘Don’t put yourself in any boundaries,’ said Carter Schultz, half of the duo. ‘Do whatever the f*** you want. Someone out there will like it.’
The performers, most in the same age range as the students, continued to give advice. Their takeaway message was to be bold and be unafraid. The energetic performers, like Rob ‘Rez’ Resnick, producer and disc jockey of Timeflies, shared their ideas in between songs.
Said Resnick: ‘Just because something hasn’t been done doesn’t mean you can’t do it.’
ajcaren@syr.edu