Juice Jam to open with Ra Ra Riot

By: Stephanie Musat

Posted: 9/4/08

Wesley Miles stopped by Juice Jam last year just to see what it was all about because he happened to be in the area playing a small gig with his band, Ra Ra Riot at Funk 'n Waffles.

He was impressed with what he saw - a lot of people, good music. It was certainly different than the coffee joint where he and his band played.

Back at Syracuse again, Miles has the chance to perform at the place that impressed him a year before.

"Funk 'n Waffles is great place to play, very intimate," he said. "But Juice Jam should be fun with a lot more people."

Ra Ra Riot is one of three scheduled acts for this year's Juice Jam, sponsored by the University Union at the Skytop Field on South Campus. The other two acts are Bloc Party, an English indie rock band, and Talib Kweli, a rap artist.

Juice Jam is scheduled for Sunday at noon. Tickets are $10 and are available in the Schine Box Office.

Even though their names are headlining the event, the frontmen are still a bit star-struck. "I used to listen to Talib (Kweli) in high school so I'm looking forward to see him live."

As for Bloc Party, Miles is excited even though he doesn't know too much about them, but "I hear good things," he said.

Miles isn't the only one doesn't know much about Bloc Party. Daphne Moser, a freshman photography major, said she might not be able to name the group's songs but has heard of it and likes its sound.

Moser plans to attend Juice Jam even though she has never heard the other acts, including Ra Ra Riot.

"They seem pretty cool," she said. "It might be something I would listen to."

This is also an opportunity for Ra Ra Riot to introduce its music to younger people at SU, like Moser. Coming back to Syracuse is always exciting for Miles, but this time, playing for such a large percentage of the school gives them the chance to introduce themselves.

"There will be people that will know us, but in a school there is always a turnover of people so the number of people who will actually remember you changes," he said. "But we always have a good time."

Kelly Bertog, director of concerts for UU, said Juice Jam is the perfect time to have Ra Ra Riot perform because it introduces them to the freshmen, especially because it's a local sound.

The six members of Syracuse's own Ra Ra Riot have been playing concerts around the university area but this concert will put the band on a larger scale to a mixed audience, Bertog said.

He expects there to be a record number of attendants, with more than 4,000 tickets sold already.

Juice Jam will be taking place at Skytop because of last year's successful concert. Last year the concert was on South for the first time. In addition to the concert area, there will be tables sponsored by clubs and student organizations.

There will also be caricatures, free giveaways and plenty of food, Bertog said.

New to this year's concert is a field area where there will be volleyball tournaments and Frisbee games.

"It's going to be place to chill and be active while still being able to hear the music," he said.

Ava Sacco, a junior computer engineering major, has never been to Juice Jam before, mostly because the music doesn't interest her. But with the addition of new activities, she might stop by this year.

"I'm not that big into concerts, and I don't really have an interest in this type of music but the other activities like the skydiving tank sound cool so I would go to those," she said.

Like Sacco, Miles isn't only there for the music. Although he is playing, he said he still wants to participate in other Juice Jam activities.

"Last year, a lot of people were outside, and I remember the skydiving thing which looked pretty awesome," he said. "I probably won't do it, unless it's free,"

sdmusat@syr.edu