After a week of ingesting stale lectures about administrative policies, the student body at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee kicked back and started off the fall '07 semester with Pantherfest at the Marcus Amphitheater.

I parked in the downtown area figuring that the entrance to Pantherfest would be the main entrance to the Summerfest grounds, but Indian Fest was hot and heavy and a major detour! Which made my walk turn into a hike towards the Amphitheater.

As I strolled in through the swarming crowd, all seemingly coming towards me, and catching a few loud shouts and chants, I realized I had just missed Talib Kweli’s performance. I stumbled past the stereotypical baggy jean, gold chained, hat tilted to the side scene as the tie-dye sporting jocks, heads and rock n’ roll crowd seeped through the gates.

Drunken animals prowled at the gates tossing back beers and screaming for more booze. Pantherfest was just an excuse to start off the year at a supervised party. Although the police were involved in a few incidents with some adolescents that were struggling to remain on their feet.

UWM students, as belligerent as most were, still took advantage of the concert, grabbing the free ticket and taking the ride for all it was worth.

During intermission a raffle for UWM gave away prizes ranging from $200-$300 bookstore credits, (big deal, now I can buy three books this semester, ha!) and the grand prize, a full semesters tuition.

As security weeded out the menacing kids, O.A.R took the stage.

The atmosphere was vibrant and the crowd was loose. Jubilant freshman, stoked to finally be in college, let the black and gold colors fly, proudly branding themselves with the UWM logo. Sophomores and upperclassmen seemed to dress for the occasion as it were some type of upper class nightclub. Everyone was there for one reason: To have fun…

Although the weather for the fest was perfect, the attack and harassment from thousands of mosquitoes added tension to the night. O.A.R fans grew anxious, the chatter and laughter from the under-the-influence scene seemed to multiply as the time passed, and the noise level grew louder and louder.

The spotlight of O.A.R.’s performance was hands down the saxophone playing and solos with an accompaniment from the second percussionist going apeshit on the bongos and keyboards.

O.A.R. tried to connect to students by urging them to “hook up” and “lay it down,” but I feel the outdated musician was just trying to coalesce with the new wave of college kids. O.A.R was basically promoting a night of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.

It was a lengthy evening lasting from 5 p.m. until just past midnight. Cheeks were flushed florescent pink and in the distance, one heard the sounds of vomiting from the pre-party lightweights.

Definitely a great way to kick off the semester that will endow many more party opportunities, though in smelly, cramped basements and with the paranoia of cops every other beer you’ve digested. It will be one giant orgy and Pantherfest was a party in the octopus’s garden, in the shade as night arrived.

Being completely drained…I am in the wee hours of the morning finishing this as the concert/fest has just culminated and this writer is physically and mentally exhausted; it is time to sleep and hangover, zzzzzz…

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