Last night 100% Blues, a Los Angeles-based band, filled HUB-Robeson Center's Heritage Hall with the sounds of contemporary blues. The music, however, met the ears of an audience that never grew to more than 30, a turnout that disappointed the event's organizers.
Bernard Bell, professor of English and African American Studies, got up before the audience to thank those who came and to express his frustration with the undergraduate black community.
Bell explained that February was named Black History Month not only for cultural reasons, but also for academic purposes. By providing a blues concert during this month, he aimed to provide an example of the oral and literary traditions of African-American culture for students.
Lead singer Chris Bell referred to himself and other blues artists as "storytellers" throughout the show, providing an example of the vernacular traditions of African-American culture.
The band formed in the mid-1990s in Los Angeles, but did not receive national press recognition until the past few years. They claim their influences range from the traditional "Old Delta sound," to B.B. King, to Jaco Pastorious. While their own sound may be more contemporary blues, they are known to touch on traditional sounds during their shows.
The band played light-hearted songs with lyrics, "I'm a deli man, bet your lunch meat sure tastes good," to more somber tunes with lyrics like, "It feels like rain."
The English department organized the concert partly to encourage undergraduate black students to take part in an African-American Literature Emphasis along with an English major, a program that Bernard Bell coordinates.
The concert was also intended to motivate students to start an African-American Voices club for undergraduates, as well as to start an undergraduate hip-hop project.
Bernard Bell said the "disgraceful" representation of the black undergraduate community displayed a lack of commitment to cultural enrichment. Only half of the audience was composed of blacks, while there was a large number of graduate students and English department faculty.
100% Blues is currently on an East Coast tour and will be performing in State College again on Feb. 27 at Café 210 West, 210 W. College Ave. The band and organizers hope for a better turnout on that date.
