Elaina Eakle
ehe001@marietta.edu
Throughout the cold, dreary days characteristic of the first half of spring semester, most any distraction is welcome, especially if it includes music and coffee.
The first performance of the Pioneer Activities Council’s (PAC) The Vibe coffee shop music series on Jan. 28 promised both of those things, so I was looking forward to attending. To my surprise, the evening far exceeded my expectations.
Due to a spring music fest that fell short of expectations last year, PAC members decided to create an alternative music event for the spring. According to PAC Music Director Whitley Trusler, The Vibe was created not only for student entertainment, but to offer them a venue for performance as well.
“As a performer myself, I also thought the campus lacked opportunities for musicians to showcase their talents,” she said. “There is Bruno’s Choice, of course, but it is a competition. The Vibe is a place to share music, socialize, and relax.”
This was the aspect of The Vibe that I found most enjoyable. I was impressed by the level of talent the student performers possessed, including song writing and composition as well as singing and playing the guitar. With the smaller stage in the basement of Andrew’s Hall and coffee and baked goods, the environment was very relaxed. Rather than setting it up as a competition, The Vibe encouraged the audience to simply enjoy the music that students were willing to share.
The headline performer, Jesse Thomas, who performed at PAC’s first Music Fest in 2014, was excellent as well. She performed a variety of original, indie-folk style songs, some of which were new, and most of which included a personal story revealing her inspiration for the song. Thomas also furthered the light-hearted mood of the evening with witty humor dispersed in between her performances, as well as a spot-on Justin Bieber impression.
Three additional performances are scheduled for the remainder of the semester as a part of the series, including poet Lady Caress on Feb. 19,* the New Ancestors duo on March 17, and singer/songwriter Justin Young on April 21. Before each performance, an open-mic session will allow four student performers each five minutes to share their talents. If the first performances of the series are any indication of the quality of future performances, they will be well worth your time.
*The performance that was originally scheduled for Feb 18 has been moved to Feb. 19 due to Founders Day activities.
