Home > Student Life > Minnesota band ‘This World Fair’ a hit with students
Minnesota band ‘This World Fair’ a hit with students
BY KENDRA RICHARDS
STATESMAN STAFF WRITERr
ISSUE: 78/24
KENDRA RICHARDS / STATESMAN
From left to right, bassist George Hadfield,
drummer Alexander Young, lead singer Chris
Kalgren and lead guitarist Zack Carroll of the
Minneapolis-based band This World Fair pose
for a picture after their on-campus concert
at UMD.
A little-known band, This World Fair, performed in the Rafters last Wednesday night, March 5, and received favorable reviews from students. “I like them a lot,” said sound board operator Alex Rugowski. “They are one of the few bands that we’ve had where I’m actually going to buy their CD.”
Several students had similar reactions. “They were pretty awesome,” said freshman Zac Rooda. “They’re really dynamic—all of their songs have such a range of style.” Although their sound differs between songs, the band as a whole seems to have a rock/pop/alternative sound. “They sound like a mix between Cold Play and Jack’s Mannequin,” said freshman Andrew Prusha. “I had never heard them before, but they were really good.”
The band was compared by several students to a variety of well-known bands, including the Goo Goo Dolls, the Frey and Radiohead. “They sound similar to other alternative-style bands, but they have their own sound,” said freshman Emily Fournier. Lead singer Chris Kalgren said he thinks the band’s sound is closest to alternative pop. “It’s pop because it’s radiofriendly and easy to get into,” said Kalgren. “And it’s alternative because we draw most of our inspiration from alternative bands like Cold Play, Smashing Pumpkins, Snow Patrol and Radiohead.”
This World Fair, based out of Minneapolis, was signed by Rethink just three years ago in 2005. “The band started as a solo project under the name ‘Kalgren’ in 2003,” said Kalgren. “When we were signed in 2005, we wanted to be known more as a band than a solo project, so we picked ‘This World Fair’ from a list of over 200 names we brainstormed one day with our manager.”
According to Kalgren, the name on the list was originally “The World Fair,” but the band changed it to “This” because it was more specific, bringing it into a different light and making it open for interpretation. “Fair can be taken many different ways,” said Kalgren. “It could mean ‘is this world fair?’ Or it could be fair as in ‘light,’ and that could reflect the light and dark aspects of song writing. There is also ‘fair’ as in ‘carnival,’ and a carnival’s purpose is to make you smile and to be entertained.”
The band has a new selftitled album, “This World Fair,” that was supposed to be released last year. Although it still isn’t available, Kalgren said he is confident it will be ready for release this year.
