Rocked out pop tunes, creative mashups, and modernized classics will be the vibe at this year’s Tiger Tailgate, set to take place as part of Homecoming, Reunion & Family Weekend, Oct. 8-10.
One of the most anticipated experiences at Wittenberg, the Tiger Tailgate will feature The Weekend Effect on stage in Commencement Hollow as the headliner band on Saturday, Oct. 9, starting at approximately 11:30 a.m.
Led by Kenneth Spicer, Wittenberg class of 2003, The Weekend Effect features a high-energy performance with full sound and a setlist, including songs from six different decades.
“We are very excited about the Witt Homecoming gig. It has a special meaning to me, having been a student years ago,” said Spicer, who is the bassist and managing member. “From the Beatles to Bruno Mars, Prince to the Jonas Brothers, Stevie Wonder to Lady Gaga…we cover a lot of ground musically.”
A five-piece band including Alan Frantz on lead vocals and acoustic guitar; Daniel Brosh on drums, percussion, and backing vocals; Elliot Hetzer on keyboard, percussion, and backing vocals; Jason Smith on electric guitar; and Spicer on bass guitar; The Weekend Effect formed in late 2018 and generally plays three-to-four shows per month across southwest and central Ohio.
“Several of us have volunteered for many years in the worship ministry at Restoration Park Church and we decided to create a gigging rock band,” said Spicer, was a member of Beta Theta Pi during his time at Wittenberg. “We play exclusively covers, but in most cases with our own arrangements. We will take pop songs from the likes of the Adele and Billie Eilish and give them a harder edge, we will mashup/medley songs that generally wouldn't go together from artists like Jonas Brothers and Bon Jovi or the White Stripes and the Eurythmics, and we will put a new spin on classic songs from artists like the Beatles, Aerosmith, and the Police. Our biggest shows have been festivals put on by cities/governments, and our most recent being the City of Fairborn's Independence Day Festival. Our favorite show was sharing a bill with national touring alternative rock band Tantric in Dayton earlier this year.”
Spicer, graduated from Wittenberg with a degree in management and a finance concentration. He completed his MBA at the University of Dayton in 2008. Originally from New Carlisle, he currently lives in Springfield now where he has worked for 19 years as a financial advisor, the last 17 at Fifth Third Securities, the investments division of Fifth Third Bancorp. His wife, Coral, is also a Wittenberg alumna, having graduated in 2005. She completed her M.D. at Wright State University in 2009, her residency at Tri Health in Cincinnati in 2013, and has practiced as an obstetrician-gynecologist in Springfield since 2013.
Alumni and friends are welcome to participate in this year’s Tiger Tailgate event, which will provide a festival-style atmosphere in Commencement Hollow and surrounding areas from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Witt FREE will also perform and take the stage from 10-11 a.m. and various Wittenberg University organizations will have tents set up to be ready to connect with participants. Libations will be offered from Founder’s Outpost and food from local favorite food trucks, Momma’z Boys and Christian Brothers.
Registered Tailgate groups can start setting up at 8:30 a.m. with East Campus Drive closing at 10 a.m. to pedestrian traffic only. Beginning at 2 p.m., the Tigers will take on DePauw at Edwards-Maurer Field, adjacent to the newly renovated and expanded Health, Wellness & Athletics Complex.
For more information on the Tiger Tailgate, click here.
