CCLA has experienced several difficulties this year in trying to bring large bands to Pomona College.

CCLA Large Events Coordinator Mike Sung ’00 cited various reasons for these difficulties, including Claremont’s proximity to Los Angeles and the small size of the school. Sung also pointed out that there is no area on Pomona’s campus designed to accommodate large concerts.

"Pomona is not a first class concert venue," Sung said. "You have to get [bands] at the right time."

In the past, large concert events such as the Indigo Girls and Dave Matthews have been held in Bridges Auditorium. However, CCLA Campus Events Commissioner Tamara Chellam ’00 agrees with Sung that Bridges Auditorium is not an ideal concert band setting. Chellam points out the lack of room in Bridges Auditorium and the immobility of the chairs as disadvantages.

"We’re running into problems of a venue being feasible," Chellam said. "If you did want to stand up and dance in Bridges, you would have to stand up in front of your chair."

Chellam said CCLA considered holding large concert events at the Wash. However, the difficulty of fencing off a large area, bringing out acoustical equipment and a light tower, and monitoring the event made them decide against the idea. Nevertheless, Sung hopes to bring two large and two small events to Pomona this semester.

"[The lack of venue] isn’t something that’s going to be fixed soon," Sung said. "But if we can somehow bring the same bands to Pomona for less money, I don’t think anyone would be opposed to it."

Originally, Sung had hoped to book the Smashing Pumpkins or George Clinton. However, conflicting schedules and high prices caused initial plans to fall through. Currently, Sung is researching Outkast, a hip hop group from Atlanta, and hopes to book them for a show in early April.

Sung is also planning a concert by The Motley for the Alumni House’s 55th Anniversary Week in April. Other events Sung is tentatively looking into include a hip-hop benefit concert for the Pomona Outreach to the World week and another large concert near the end of the year.

"The last few months have shown that there’s no sure shot," Sung said. "But the ideal thing would be to have a four show semester."

Both Sung and Chellam are optimistic that concert events will be well received by the student population.

"The market is there," Sung said. "People pay $40 plus transportation to go to LA. An on-campus event would cost around $30."

"We’re going to start looking for more ‘heard of’ indie bands," Chellam said. "Something to put Pomona on the map a little for the music scene."