A&E

Phosphorescent lights up the barn

By Katherine Kiesel ’17

The Acoustic Coffeehouse series is definitely one of the best things that CAB puts on throughout the semester. During FebFest especially, CAB has gotten amazing artists to come and perform, giving students a necessary break from the academic pressures that mid-February brings to our campus. Although many came early for the Opus chai or cookies, the opener, Justin Trawnick, was able to draw the entire audience into his performance with his wit and song choice, which included original works mostly about his ex-girlfriends, as well as covers of popular songs, which surprised and engaged the audience. While his music was enjoyable, the best part of his performance was his interaction with the audience. From the beginning, Trawnick began to make jokes about anything ranging from the weather and the ridiculous number of Bean Boots on campus to sharing anecdotes of the relationships that were the basis for his lyrics. Though he was only on for an hour, Trawnick was able to perform several of his songs and although the lyrics and melodies began to get slightly repetitive by the end of his performance, his stage presence and the interesting tone of his voice kept the audience engaged in his music.

Phosphorescent definitely lived up to the hype around campus. Although his music didn’t necessarily make anyone get up and dance, as has been the case at several other Acoustic Coffeehouse concerts this year, the calming nature of the lyrics and melody of Phosphorescent’s songs helped to alleviate any stress that people carried into the Barn. Throughout the show, students could be seen with their eyes closed, completely engaged in the performance and in the moment. The end of Phosphorescent’s performance was unconventional to say the least—his closing song included a portion in which he recorded himself singing multiple parts and played it back, leaving the stage while the recording was still playing. This did not give the audience a chance to really applaud his performance, making his music the last thing heard.

The contrast between the two artists was remarkable. Despite both being acoustic, therefore creating a more relaxed environment, Justin Trawnick’s performance was more lively and entertaining, due in large part to the more upbeat nature of his melodies and the lyrics he was singing. In contrast, Phosperescent’s performance allowed the audience to get completely lost in the music. Had Phosphorescent been paired with a different artist whose musical style was calmer, the coffeehouse wouldn’t have been nearly as enjoyable. CAB succeeded in bringing a bigger name for the FebFest concert and getting a contrasting artist.  This drew a wide variety of students to gather in the Barn and enjoy the show. Despite the blizzard on the Hill, or the apocalypse, as Trawnick put it at the beginning of the show, many students took a break from their studies to enjoy great music and free Opus.

All A&E