Third Coffee House series event records most attendance so far

SVSU students perform at Program Board's soon-to-be monthly music and open-mic event

April 9, 2007 —

by Christina Dillbeck

Freshmen dormmates Ken Lange and Zach Brisette play a set consisting of acoustic covers and original songs during the third Coffee House Series show.

by Christina Dillbeck

Saginaw-based rock group The Gloaming performs an acoustic set Wednesday evening. The Gloaming has performed at SVSU before on campus, most recently at a concert organized by the Hispanic Student Interest Organization.

by Christina Dillbeck

Jazz group DS and the Flat Five - consisting primarily of members of the music department's own jazz ensemble - perform at Program Board's third Coffee House. Program Board President Crystal Dillard said that the event drew over 120 people, the most so far.

Plagued with cancellations and small crowds in the past, Program Board held their final installment of this semester's Coffee House Series with a standing-room only crowd and a packed list of performers.

Josh Parker, Programming Chair of Program Board, was pleased with the turnout. He estimated the crowd to be more than 125 people, up from 100 attendees for the second Coffee House and 60 for the first. Parker said that the monthly coffee house-themed open mic night will continue next year, with a few changes.

"Next year, we're doing this twice a month. The only question is, what's going to happen to the Cage?," he asked. "We'd have to move, maybe to the Multi-Purpose Room. But I like the setting of the Cage for events like this."

Last month's Coffee House had performance cancellations and only a trickle of open mic participants. This time, Parker said the turnout was greatly improved. "We were packed before the evening started."

Performing in the first half-hour spot of the evening, The Gloaming played light rock hits as well as original songs with tight guitar riffs and harmonies. Orginal songs, "When Nobody Loves You," "Meaning," and "Just Smile" were included in their playlist. ` The band's vocalist and guitarist Adam Arnold thanked the audience for coming out and remarked, "When I was a freshman, we never had anything like this."

Following The Gloaming, the self-titled duo Ken and Zach took the stage to play popular acoustic hits from such bands reminiscent of the acoustic artist John Mayer. Ken Lange of Ken and Zach noted that he and Zach Brissette do not regularly perform. "We've been messing around in the dorm just for fun," he explained. 'We'd come back for sure if Program Board asks us."

The evening then continued with the jazz ensemble DS and the Flat Five. Most of DS's members are also involved with the SVSU Jazz Band. The group played several jazz standards, including "Take the 'A' Train," "The Blue Train," and "The Girl from Ipanema" in addition to modern jazz hits.

The last half of the evening came to a close well past the planned end time as Dr. and Andrew, Jon Cordero, and Evan and Brad brought the evening to a close. But even as one year of the Coffee House Series came to an end, Program Board was already looking to next year.

Crystal Dillard, the newly-elected president of Program Board, expressed excitement in continuing the Coffee House Series in the fall semester, with some changes.

"Next year I am planning on doing it twice a month, [as well as] starting the event at 10 to allow for those students who have Wednesday classes," she said. "I really think this will be a bigger program next year. I am also looking to bring some more food type items that you might find at a coffee house and I will be looking for sponsors around town."

Dillard also expressed a need for performers to take the stage next year. "If anyone is interested in playing next year at a Coffee House night they need to contact me and let me know!" Reach her via e-mail at cmdillar@svsu.edu.