By Julia Meehan
Photo Editor
Season two of CUB Alt’s Coffeehouse series is back by popular demand. The series kicked off on Friday, Jan. 31 in the Traditions lounge.
“It’s good to be able to perform in front of an audience every now and again,” said Ben Spizuco, a junior interactive multimedia major. “I’m more of a writer, so it’s cool to get out and actually play.”
The first performer, Christian Simpson, a junior mechanical engineering major, kicked off the night by sharing two of his original songs alongside acoustic covers. The personal lyrics of his songs and his smooth guitar playing made for a great opener that got the crowd swaying along.
Next to take the stage was Luis Vera, a junior music major. He won the crowd over with acoustic renditions of songs from his band, Paper Native. The powerful lyrics and guitar behind his opening song set the tone for the rest of his set that won the audience’s attention.
The next performers, Jodi Maloney, a sophomore communication studies major, was accompanied by guitarist Nancy Bowne, a freshman speech therapy and Spanish double major, creating an ear-catching duet set. Bowne’s beautiful alto voice stunned and their duo of covers drew applause from not just people in the coffeehouse audience, but also in Traditions itself.
The last performer to take the stage was Ben Spizuco, who played a mix of covers and originals fueled by his passion for music, which was evident as he powered through his setlist. Several of the songs were newly written and this was Spizuco’s first time playing them for an audience.
Besides the musical acts, the event also provided coffee and sweets for the audience members and performers. The laid-back vibe of the event made for a comfortable experience for all involved.
“I liked that it was chill and casual,” said Krupa Tishbi, a sophomore electrical engineering major and first-time Coffeehouse attendee. “I just went for the free coffee but I wound up really enjoying it. I didn’t know that so many students here were musicians, but everyone performed really well and you could tell people were really passionate about everything they sang, even the covers.”
