By Sumayah Medlin
Correspondent
Students at the College have the chance to eat delicious food while listening to live music on a regular basis thanks to the CUB Alt shows held in Traditions. On Friday, Oct. 21, CUB Alt hosted its second Student Soloist Night.
There are three of these shows as well as seven student concerts per semester, according to Dana Gorab, CUB Alt co-chair and a junior communication studies major.
The College Union Board (CUB) consistently hosts noteworthy bands, but the organization especially loves to showcase student performers.
“(It’s) a nice way for students to get exposure,” Gorab said. It also gives the students a chance to “see people that you know.”
Jade Tungel, a sophomore communication studies major, was the first performer to take the stage. She sang six songs with her acoustic guitar, with one original, “Empty Space.” Tungel said her songs are mostly written at 2 or 3 a.m. because that’s when she feels most inspired.
Tungel taught herself to play the guitar, which she finds funny considering she had six years of piano and violin lessons.
“Acoustic renditions are something I’ve always done,” Tungel said. She sang stripped down versions of traditionally pop songs, such as “Burnin’ Up” by the Jonas Brothers, “Closer” by the Chainsmokers and a mashup of “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry with “Cheerleader” by Omi.
Next to grace the stage was Hannah Beal, a senior communication studies major. She, too, sang while strumming the guitar she taught herself how to play. Beal wasn’t a Student Soloist Night novice, since she has attended at least one every semester since she her freshman year. Beal was comfortable onstage, but said she was a bit nervous she might forget the words to some of her songs.
She sang several somber songs by some of her favorite artists, such as “I Heard Love Is Blind” by Amy Winehouse, “Good Morning Heartache” by Billy Joel and “I’ll Try Anything Once” by The Strokes.
“Most of my songs are downers,” she said between performances.
She also sang two originals born out of sadness: “Cold” and “Late Night Memo,” one of which was written while Beal was recovering from a breakup.
“I’m usually not writing songs when I’m happy,” she said. “They’re all dark.”
Friday’s last performer was Garrett Verdone, a senior marketing major. Verdone was also no stranger to the stage, as he regularly performs stand up comedy. However, Friday was his first time singing, so he was nervous.
Like the previous performers, Verdone played guitar to accompany his vocals. He inherited the guitar that he played from his grandfather, and his rendition of “The Auld Triangle” was a tribute to him. All of the songs he played were Irish folk songs.
“The first CD I ever heard my dad listen to was the Dubliners,” he said.
He dedicated “Molly Malone,” the official song of Dublin, to a neighbor he once had. He described his neighbor as the epitome of Ireland. The man gave him advice that he still remembered years later: “The tree that is easiest to climb is the tree that has already fallen.”
CUB Alt’s next event will feature headliner Alex G in the Decker Social Space on Friday, Oct. 28.
