A relaxed crowd of about 60 people gathered Friday night in the Schine Underground to watch the eight musicians taking part in the second Syracuse University Singer Songwriter Showcase.

The showcase, organized in two sets, featured four performers in each set. The performers played three songs each in a round-robin style. This generated variety in the music throughout the acts in the Schine Underground.

Brad Koed, a junior acting major, has played at past open-mic nights and hasn’t appreciated the attitude of the audience. He said this show was different and he was excited to perform.

‘It’s a chance to play my music and sing my words to people who might actually be interested in what I do,’ Koed said.

The first set was mellow but rich with powerful lyrics and even stronger voices.

Keith Smith, a sophomore in the Bandier Program for Music and the Entertainment Industries, opened the show.

The set continued with the smooth guitar of John Buice, who also said he was excited for the showcase.

‘It’s the biggest crowd I will have ever played in front of and I have a lot of family and friends coming as well,’ Buice, a senior biology major, said. Buice said he thinks SU has allowed him to find time to pursue music as a hobby.

Next, Jasmijn White, a junior biology and policy studies major and a newcomer to live performances, dedicated a song to her friend Amanda Charles, a junior public relations major, to thank her for her support.

‘It was a total surprise,’ Charles said. ‘She had given me a recording of the song, but I didn’t know she’d play it for me tonight.’
 
After a short break, the second set began. Anthony Cacace, a senior piano performance major, played a comically heart-wrenching ballad called ‘Single on my Facebook’ on the piano.

Cameron Baker, a sophomore broadcast journalism major, performed next with his friend Mike Barnes, a sophomore in the L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science. Baker was the only performer of the eight to rap, while Barnes sang adding a fresh new dynamic to the showcase.
The showcase provided the aspiring artists an opportunity to prove their musical talents to the public.

‘I’ve been an athlete my whole life, but playing D-I football was not an option for me so I decided to try something new, which happened to be rapping,’ Baker said. ‘It started as a joke, but my friends at SU all thought I had talent from the start and encouraged me to continue making music.’

Andy Gruhin, an undeclared freshman in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, was the next performer. ‘Right now, my inspiration is gratitude,’ he said. He encouraged the crowd to clap their hands and sing along with his performance.

Koed, the last performer, showed off his skills on the guitar and thanked the audience for being so attentive.

For the eight performers at Friday’s show, it can be a challenge to find a place where people are going to hear, and really listen, to all they have to offer. Organizers plan on holding the showcase each semester to help get the word out about the aspiring artists.
       
‘If I’m not doing music,’ Smith said, ‘I’m not living. I’m not myself.’

dmodiama@syr.edu

   
 

Published on April 25, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Contact Danielle: dmodiama@syr.edu | @daniemarieodie