I was ready to give up on Dillo Day. Sure, Lupe Fiasco had me excited, but the other acts for the day-long “lets get students out of the dorms and away from the handles for a little bit” concerts other acts seemed more or less disastorous. Cake? This isn’t 1998. Motion City Soundtrack? Sorry, I like my power-pop without the whiny ADDness. The guy from Dispatch? What???

I was ready to lock myself in my dorm room listening to Joanna Newsome records while sadly sipping away on a Mike’s Hard Lemonade when a blessing shined down on Dillo Day. The lead singer of Motion City Soundtrack got sick, so the band had to pull out of their performance Saturday, forcing Mayfest to find someone else. And, beyond all odds, they got an act most festivals would kill to have – Philladelphia based hip-hop rockers The Roots. Now, instead of sulking, I’m ready to rock out.

The Roots create rap tracks boosted up by some rock elements, with clever lyrics to boot. Last year’s Game Theory shined as one of the best rap albums of the year, a combination of ferocious rap beats and politically-conscious lyrics. Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned their best song ever, the uber-danceable “The Seed (2.0).” Check the video here.

In one of the biggest comeback performances since Michigan State humiliated us back in the fall, Dillo Day went from pure crap to positively cool in the span of a day. Please NU, put down the shotglasses for a little bit, and at least check out The Roots and Lupe. You won’t be dissapointed.

But please, just blackout during Cake. I urge you.