A symphony of a different kind

L.A. Symphony took over the University Student Union yesterday for the second noontime concert of the school year.

The band's heavy bass hip-hop sound and constant stage movement gave the short performance the feel of a Beastie Boys concert.

The sound was definitely colorful, but the visual performance was not.

"If you mixed them with some N'Sync choreography it would be a lot more entertaining than just a bunch of guys walking around," said Eric Tiede, a Cal State Long Beach student who took in the show.

The band appeared to be attempting to organize their stage movement, but the small stage in the South Plaza does not leave much room for a dance routine.

The band was full of energy, and after every song the band members confidently told the audience to "scoot the hell up," and not to stand back acting insecure.

But despite the repeated requests, they sadly lacked the audience's participation. Audience participation has been a problem at the Program Council's weekly noontime concert in the past, but as the show went on the audience began to wake up and were actually yelling and clapping.

A low-budget water show drew a crowd to the patio overlooking the plaza when the band began to splatter water all over the stage and throw water bottles at one another.

The band was distinctive, not just because of their catchy hip- hop sound, but simply because so many of them were on stage.

Most hip?hop groups are limited to about four members, but L.A. Symphony has eight.   The large group added to the energy that the music already had.

Not necessarily a symphony of instruments, L.A. Symphony is more a symphony of voices and sounds.

Their sound has a catchy quality and their main song, "Celly Situation," has the potential to be a hit single. It might only be a matter of time before they become regulars on Power106.