Sudflood
Drew Jackson, CT Features Staff
April 27, 2007
Blacksburg is creeping to the edge of the three month hibernation period known as summer in a college town. The leaves are green, the flowers are bright, and Blacksburg is something students only vaguely remember from move-in in August, warm. The men of Pi Kappa Phi, though, ask for one more Saturday of college as they host their annual Sudflood event at TOTS.
This Saturday marks the 19th time Pi Kappa Phi has held the day long concert. As always Sudflood will feature a mix of several local and nationally recognized bands. This year the lineup will include Always Morning, A Friendly Takeover, Rome in a Day, The Influence and headliners Jimmie's Chicken Shack and Carbon Leaf.
Sudflood has always been designed as a benefit concert, and generally the proceeds go to Push America, Pi Kappa Phi's own service organization, for people with disabilities. After April 16, though, Pi Kappa Phi has made the decision to donate the money to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund.
"In light of everything that has taken place, we thought it was appropriate to donate most of the funds to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund," said Marc Saint Raymond, a fifth year senior double majoring in mechanical engineering and economics and co-coordinator of Sudflood. Saint Raymond said, though, that Pi Kappa Phi will not abandon their commitment to Push, and plan on donating a small portion of the proceeds to the charity.
This year's Sudflood will undoubtedly be like no previous Sudflood. Many events have been forced to cancel in these last few weeks, but Saint Raymond felt it was important for the event to go on as scheduled.
"It's just good to have fun events like Sudflood to do. I'm excited that people will be able to come out and have a good time," said Saint Raymond.
This is Carbon Leaf's second trip to Blacksburg for Sudflood. The popular band came once before five years ago. Saint Raymond said the fraternity works to book bands people are familiar with, while also exposing local talent.
"This year's headliners are Carbon Leaf and Jimmie's Chicken Shack, which are two pretty awesome bands that I think people have heard of before, and they put on a great show," said Saint Raymond. "We also try to go out and find some local bands that people enjoy." One of the bands, Always Morning, includes brothers from Pi Kappa Phi.
With TOTS as the venue for the event and a clear forecast, Sudflood allows those in attendance the opportunity to sample that intoxicating summer flavor of outdoor live music. Bands will play outside for the first half of the festival, and move indoors after Carbon Leaf finishes up at 7 p.m. This is the fifth year TOTS has held the event, and luckily for Pi Kappa Phi, they do it free of charge.
"We have a great relationship (with Pi Kappa Phi). It gives us a chance to do some business and have some great bands come play," said TOTS manager Ryan Ruggero. "It gives us a chance to help out a charity, while doing business for ourselves."
This year's Sudflood kicks off this Saturday at 2 p.m. and plays on into the early morning hour of 2 a.m. Tickets are ten dollars for those 21 and older, twelve for those 18-20, and can be purchased at the door, or online at www.sudflood.com.