Tag: coffeehouse

Categories
Campus News

New Horizons for Coffeehouse

By Kelsey Curtis ('27)

This fall brings changes to Coffeehouse as Evelyn Simanowski (‘25) takes on coordinating the Campus Activity Board (CAB) sponsored event. Coffeehouse is a time when people gather in Java 101 to hear their peers perform—typically a set of music—and partake in “Open Mic Nights” where anyone can sign up and share their musical and non-musical talents. In past years, audiences could gather around the stage every Thursday at 8 p.m. This year, however, Simanowski changed the event to bi-weekly at the same time. 

There are still plenty of opportunities to share talent through the event even though it will happen less. Simanowski shared that they are introducing the Coffeehouse Collective, a “collection of [art] pieces by several student artists” and a rotating showcase throughout the year. She expressed her excitement for this expansion of Coffeehouse’s scope. 

Simanowski believes “Coffeehouse has the potential to be a collection of all artists, not just musicians, that want to create space and opportunities for artistic expression.” 

Seven pieces, each by a different Houghton student, currently hang in Java and display various art styles. 

Student and avid Coffeehouse-goer, Sarah Brunone (‘27) expressed her excitement about the Collective’s unveiling. 

“There’s new art on the wall, which is super cool,” she shared.

Brunone also appreciated that the new art helped give more variety to the artists Coffeehouse celebrates and added to the “cozy vibe” of Java. Simanowski’s goal to support all artists’ expression is already appreciated by adding the Collective to the “lineup of acts” for Coffeehouse.

Previous performers feel the same support and joy in Coffeehouse as Brunone experiences and that Simanowski aims to create this year. Melanie Cogan (‘27), who performed numerous times, witnessed this phenomenon last fall when she headlined for the first time. 

“I ran through my set list in 30 minutes and resorted to a ukulele rendition of ‘Me Want Bite’, which was pretty special and if you know you know,” she recalled. 

Cogan specifically expressed how grateful she was for a “receptive audience” that she could “try something new with” and still have the same excitement and support behind her. 

Chiara Iantorno (‘28) had a similar positive experience when she performed for the first time in September. 

“The ambiance and coziness of Java helped me feel very relaxed, even as I was about to perform,” Iantorno shared. “During the set, everyone watching was so supportive and seemed to be having a good time.” 

Even for first-time performers, Coffeehouse fosters love and encouragement in an extraordinary way. Sophia Vernon (‘26) works at Java and can attest to the unique atmosphere the event creates. 

“When people start filling up Java for Coffeehouse it is the most wonderful hum of college students in community with one another,” she observed. 

Vernon goes as far as to deem it her favorite shift because she gets to interact with  “so many people in a nice, chill, ambient environment.” 

The most recent Coffeehouse was on Oct. 17. Matthias Willistein (‘28) performed his set of acoustic and vocal music. Simanowski was excited to introduce a new performer and encourages anyone who wants to perform for Coffeehouse or display their art in Java to email her (evelyn.simanowski25@houghton.edu). ★

Categories
News

Comedyhouse: A Night Full of Laughs

By Timothy Rasmusson Jr.

One of the Campus Activities Board’s (CAB’s) newer events on campus is “Comedyhouse”, an alternative to the traditional Coffeehouse that, instead of singing, is filled with stand-up comedy.

Senior Joey Schunemann, the director of CAB, informed the STAR that his job is fun to have, but there are significant responsibilities he has, such as being “the voice of critique” and meeting Houghton’s expectations, because Comedyhouse involves a lot of creativity and students want to have a good time. 

Schunemann stated that he wanted to hold the Comedyhouse event specifically due to his “love of comedy.”          

Sophomore Hannah Sturdivant described Comedyhouse as a more comedic version of Coffeehouse that involves “stand-up” rather than just “playing music.” Sturdivant stated that one of the things she likes most about Comedyhouse is the “laughing,” as well as listening to students telling their stories. She also mentions what Comedyhouse was like last year, how successful it was at the time, and that it led to Junior, and CAB Coffeehouse Coordinator, Demetri Court recommending they do Comedyhouse again. 

With the event only being in its second year, Court stated that Comedyhouse is “a special occasion.” 

To sign up for a spot, students have to present an idea to him, and all of the students involved in planning Comedyhouse have to screen the comedy because, as Court said, “you never know who’s going to want to go up and say things.” 

If an insufficient number of students are signing up, he will reach out to those who enjoy writing comedy. ★

Categories
Stories In Focus

Cold Creek: Popular Local Band

Two Saturdays ago, on August 30st, the Fillmore Hotel was packed with over a hundred people, the audience of the up and coming local band, Cold Creek. This group is comprised of two Houghton seniors, Holden Potter and Evan Castle. The two began playing music together during their sophomore year, when they both lived on the second floor of Shenawana Hall. As they were the only two guitarists in their hall, they started writing jazz and blues songs together. The next year, they went on to perform at the Homecoming Coffeehouse. Since it was their first time playing live, the performance did not go as well as they had hoped, but the two continued developing their musical style over the next year.

Though their Facebook page refers to their music as being in the genre of “Country Rock Awesomeness”, Castle and Potter characterize their sound as “hip-hop, pop, and country”. They model their songwriting after the artist Sam Hunt, the prominent American country singer. They write their songs as “just a chance to tell a story.” Many of their songs are romantic. Their writing reflects the small-town America rural culture in which they both grew up, in the tradition of country, down-home music. Potter states that “the town of Fillmore had a huge influence…lyrically.” Castle plays the six-string banjo – or ganjo – lead guitar, acoustic, and sings harmonies, while Potter sings lead vocals and plays acoustic guitar. Occasionally, they have a percussionist accompany them.

coldcreekThe group considers themselves to be outside the norm of Houghton bands, since they usually play outside the college and are not a worship band. Most of their following is also outside of the college, since there is a large audience for country music in the surrounding area. The band has done very well recently. They claim that this is due to the fact that there are not many local country bands in the area, and so there is a higher demand for their sound. Their Facebook page has over 350 likes and counting, they have played live gigs in Rushford, Olean and many other nearby towns, and they even competed this past summer in the Country Showdown in Olean and won second place.

This past semester, Cold Creek recorded several tracks with the help of fellow senior, Jordan Sloat. These tracks are available on their Facebook and Soundcloud pages, and they expect to put out an EP within the next month. This EP will be a chance for them to showcase their abilities, featuring pop acoustic songs, southern rock styled songs, and piano ballads, maintaining their common acoustic sound. After Potter graduates in December, he is moving down to Nashville to pursue music, where Castle will follow him after walking in May. From there, the group plans on putting out mixtapes to send to record producers. Cold Creek expects that their music will evolve with the Nashville style – more pop and more creative hooks. They hope that this will add more soul to their sound, bringing their many diverse influences together to create songs that are unique, but accessible.

Their next gig is on September 19th, at 9:00pm in Don’s Semi-Friendly Tavern in Olean. They hope to draw a large crowd and add to their supporters as they move on to the professional world of music production.

Categories
Stories In Focus

Coming Up: Bluegrass and Folk CAB Coffeehouse

This upcoming Tuesday in Java 101 the CAB Coffeehouse will feature a bluegrass-focused performance by students Abby Talone, Zach Kitchen, Colleen Winton, and Annie Hassen. These four have been playing music together for some time, including a performance last semester at the alumni coffeehouse that took place during Homecoming weekend. Aside from Coffeehouses, several of the group’s members have also played for Koinonia on Sunday nights.

CoffeehouseThe two hours will feature a variety of instruments. Annie Hassen will be playing the violin, a key element of traditional American folk music. Junior Zach Kitchen will be playing the mandolin, while fellow junior Colleen Winton will be performing on both the acoustic guitar, and also egg shaker. In addition to more traditional folk instruments, Winton will be contributing her whistling skills to the performance. Senior Abby Talone, who is a Koinonia leader, will add her strumming talents, playing on her Martin & Co. acoustic guitar. The four are intending to incorporate a variety of harmonies and vocal styles into their performance to emphasize their “folky feel”, as Talone put it.

The group chose songs that would best showcase their intended sound and create the desired casual and rustic ambiance. The selection of songs they will be covering include songs and artists such as “Flowers in Your Hair” by The Lumineers, “Your Love is Strong” by Jon Foreman, and “Like the Dawn” by the Oh Hellos. Additionally they will cover other artists such as the popular English folk rock band, Mumford and Sons, the Christian acoustic folk band, All Sons and Daughters, and similar folk-based musicians.

This American traditional style of music, or folk music, dates back to the early 1930s, from which it developed into our current genre of “hipster” or “indie” music. However, folk music is an intrinsic part of our history as Americans, as it incorporates elements from both the blues, country, bluegrass, gospel, and old-timey – a picture of how the integration of the American people as a nation began with the integration of music.