Tuesday August 28, 2001 |

Once upon a time, in a faraway place, there was a very evil witch that lived in a kingdom named Monsoon. Wanting to memorialize her kingdom, she created a horrifically obnoxious storm. So perfect was this storm that without any forward notice, it could descend upon an unsuspecting crowd with torrential rain, gusty winds and, well, yucky dirt.

"I need to find the perfect way in which to use my newfound powers. Where can I use this monsoon?" the witch asked herself. And so it was that she discovered CatFest, an event put on by the University of Arizona that takes months of planning every year by hard-working people. The witch knew that if she could use her monsoon to destroy CatFest every year, no one could ever forget her beloved kingdom.

The legend is told that many a CatFest fell to this evil curse. Nationally popular bands like Poe, the Refreshments, Blink 182 and Sister Hazel were all forced to cower from the Monsoon. Local talent like Neon Prophet and Hipster Daddy-O also fell victim.

But Friday, Aug. 24, was to be different!

The students of the UA awoke to a blue sky, cloudless and perfect! Perhaps this year, headlining band Eve 6 would triumph over the curse, singing sweet melodies of joy and happiness - or of angst and bitterness, whatever its pleasure. Alas, this was not the case. Enraged that her Monsoon was losing power, the evil witch gathered her servants and slaves to concoct a new malady, that which she named Laryngitis.

Indeed students of the UA live with a curse, a curse that ruins what could be the best night of the school year. But the group that really takes the hit each year is the Collaboration Board. They are the organization, made up of ASUA, the Residence Hall Association, Commuter Student Affairs, and the University Activities Board, that truly puts in the effort each year to put on CatFest.

Each year, no one is more disappointed than they are. However, as much as laryngitis played an evil role in the downfall of this year's concert, perhaps the student body was overcome with the bad news and did not realize that party would still go on.

The lead headline in the Daily Wildcat Friday read "Eve 6 Cancels CatFest Concert." While the other headlining bands were mentioned, the whole night was overshadowed by the late-breaking news. According to J.J. Kruglick, the director of UAB concerts, about 300 people still showed up to celebrate. "The key to a successful concert is the enthusiasm of the audience. In that respect, this year's CatFest was a success."

Here's the thing - UAB is made up of student employees and volunteers that dedicate their UA career to creating entertainment for UA students. You heard it right. They plan and plot in their offices all day long to come up with cool things for you and me to do. They've got regularly scheduled events all year long like Comedy Corner, sneak previews to great flicks, midnight movies and Groovin' on the Grass, formerly known as Eat to the Beat. Believe it or not, Eye on Diversity falls under UAB, and is a great place to add a little culture to the often-mundane student experience.

You can expect UAB to put on great shows during the year. They've proven in the past that they can bring in big acts like Wyclef Jean and Kevin Nealon to campus at a price students can afford. There isn't anything quite like Counting Crows showing up during finals week to spice things up.

Whether it be the great curse Monsoon or a plague of Laryngitis, CatFest has repeatedly been doomed, but the year of entertainment will go on. You don't have to take my word for it. Visit www.union.arizona.edu/uab and plan out your social calendar.

Surely this time next year, we'll all be crying because a monsoon hit and canceled Dave Matthews who then got cold and wet and caught laryngitis, but until that time, enjoy the rest of the year with the good women and men of UAB.