Our Lady Peace, an established modern band from Canada, will be playing at Missouri Southern following the barrage of local bands that played this week.

The Campus Activity Board (CAB), after months of work and contemplation, finally decided to book Our Lady Peace for the College's major show this semester. Last year, Southern had They Might Be Giants perform, but this year they decided on the pop band from Toronto.

"They're a cross between emo and modern rock," said Desiree Petersen, concert chairman for CAB. "They're very expressive."

Our Lady Peace formed in Toronto in 1992 after vocalist Raine Maida answered a classified advertisement in a local newspaper. They never went the independent route, and were signed by Sony Music Canada after submitting a three-song demo.

Since then, they have released three albums and their second one,[ital] Clumsy[end ital], went platinum in 1997. They've toured with Bush, Van Halen, Page and Plant, and Alanis Morissette. Their new album, [ital]Happiness...Is A Fish That You Can Catch[end ital], has been successful with a substantial amount of airplay of the songs "Superman is Dead" and "One Man Army."

Petersen said she hopes this year's concert will be as successful as the They Might Be Giants show.

"We had a pretty good turnout but, of course, we didn't make any money and we knew we were going to lose on it," Petersen said.

"That's what CAB's all about. We're not supposed to make money. We're here to provide entertainment for our students."

Petersen said deciding what band to book is not an easy task. Money is the main issue with bands who have acquired a certain degree of fame and notoriety. Our Lady Peace cost CAB $15,000 to book.

"A show costs us about $20,000 to put on," Petersen said. "That's why little 'podunk' clubs around here don't get big bands because they can't afford it."

"People like Elton John get $200,000 and the Dave Matthews Band gets $50,000 a show. It's pathetic."

Petersen said CAB only gets about $60,000 a semester for all campus activities and that it's difficult to work such an expensive show into their budget.

She is also a member of a local band, Carbon Star, and cannot believe how much popular entertainers receive for a show.

"Us, as a local band, are used to getting $150 a night and these bands are getting $15,000," Petersen said. "We're lucky to cover food and gas."

Doug Dicharry, an undecided sophomore, was outraged that Our Lady Peace was paid so much by the College.

"I personally wouldn't spend that much on them," Dicharry said. "They have nothing new to offer the music industry."

Dicharry also attacked CAB, feeling they were out of touch with the wants of students.

"The purpose for activities at a school is to bring people to the College so they'll hang out with their fellow college mates, have a good time, and bring unity to the college," Dicharry said.

"CAB doesn't seem to know what's going on in the student body. They need to maybe research that better and find out what people like."

Petersen said she attempted a student vote to help decide which band to get for this year's concert..

"We made a list of 10-20 bands that we could afford, passed it around, and let everybody look at it," Petersen said. "We even called [ital]The Chart[end ital] about getting a voting ballot and it never happened."

Our Lady Peace will be playing on Monday, April 17 at Taylor Auditorium. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for the general public.