Ewing might be a long way from Nashville, Tenn., but that did not stop Mockingbird Sun and their opening act, Erik Dylan, on Thursday, March 6, from giving a performance straight from America’s Heartland.
Cub’s Country Music Showcase was a day-long music event that started Thursday afternoon.
Setting up shop in the Brower Student Center, Mockingbird Sun gave students an acoustic performance in the hopes of getting them ready for a night of country music.
That night, Room 202 of the Student Center was transformed into the country music center on campus, complete with a stage and cowboy outfits. Despite the meager turn-out, Mockingbird Sun and their opening act, Dylan, treated students to a more intimate performance.
Getting the mood going with his mid-western style songs, Dylan broke out his guitar. Much of the Kansas-born singer’s songs were inspired by life back home, growing up in a blue-collar family.
“I get inspired by things that have happened in my life,” Dylan said.
With his songs like “There’s a Beer for That” and “Show Me Where the Party’s At,” listeners got an insight into Dylan’s life. Dylan, who estimates that he writes at least 200 songs a year, was happy to have people to perform for.
“What I loved the most was having everyone listening,” Dylan said.
Headlining the night, Mockingbird Sun played a medley of their hit songs, including “Lucky Guy,” which recently debuted on CMT.
“It was a milestone for sure,” said keyboard player Truck Roley when asked how he felt seeing the music video for the first time on television.
The band takes their name from the mockingbird, which is a bird known for mimicking the sounds of other birds around it.
“Music is life — it is an analogy of what is around you,” Roley said.
When performing their song “Hometown,” the Nashville natives left the stage and got up close and personal with students.
“I enjoyed their enthusiasm despite the lack of crowd,” said junior special education and history dual major Diane Iannacone. “I thought they were great and I’m usually not a country fan.”
