Thanks in part to the recent bout of nice weather, a decent crowd gathered in Alumni Grove on Thursday to relax and listen to six student acts performing in WTSR’s final installment of its Decaf series this semester.
Amidst the sound of acoustic guitars that has become a staple for the event, WTSR raffled off prizes throughout the
night and encouraged students to sign up for next year’s Decaf performances.
Freshman history major Jake Cafaro accompanied himself on the acoustic guitar while singing all original songs. Cafaro has an EP online titled, “Ghosts and Other Feelings” that he urged the audience to listen to.
“I have 100 Facebook fans. I guess that means I’m almost famous,” he joked.
Dan Gibson, freshman business major, was easily the most laid-back of any of the performers, greeting passing students and giving a friendly “Thanks, bro!” to a Signal photographer when he started taking photos. Despite some technical difficulty with the mics and a mid-set guitar change, Gibson seemed to take everything in stride. He played two original songs, a Journey cover, and, somewhat randomly, a cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.”
Matt Howards, freshman physics major, and Adam Preim, freshman English education major, were the night’s only duo, with Howards providing the vocals as he and Preim both played the
acoustic guitar. The two covered Zac Brown Band’s “Toes” and “Chicken Fried” as well as Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours.”
Decaf veteran and senior English secondary education major Josh Holland started off the night by covering Wilco, Neutral Milk Hotel and Telekinesis while accompanying himself on the acoustic guitar. This is Holland’s fourth time playing at Decaf.
Danielle Steward, junior history secondary education major, performed two original songs on her acoustic guitar titled, “The Bard and the Soldier” and “The Poverty of My Dreams” and covered Selah Sue’s “Fyah Fyah.” Steward, who won WTSR’s Battle of the Soloists earlier this semester, once again proved her vocal prowess with her smooth vocals and insightful lyrics.
Closing out the night was Thomas Ciccone, freshman journalism major and Signal Production Manager. He performed a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” as well as three original songs on the acoustic guitar.
