Penn State student Philip Swaney said he's never met anyone who doesn't like Pittsburgh native and singer/songwriter Steve Moakler.
Swaney (junior-mechanical engineering) said he feels everyone can relate to Moakler's songs.
"Every single song feels like it's written for you," Swaney said. "The lyrics stick in your head, and I can relate to them a hundred percent."
Moakler, 20, will perform for the first time in State College at noon today in the HUB-Robeson Center, as part of his fall tour. The concert is free of charge.
Moakler said his songs are written directly about his own life.
"They touch on the falling out of a long relationship, about meeting a new girl, frustration of relationships in general or growing up and wishing it didn't happen so fast," Moakler said. " I try to write ear-catching songs."
Moakler moved from Pittsburgh to Nashville two years ago so he could pursue a degree in music business in school.
Moakler said he's influenced by current singer/songwriters "fused with '90s pop music." He compared his sound to that of Jason Mraz or John Mayer.
"I think I have a Mayer meter in my head; what would John Mayer do? I think he's one of the most prolific writers of our time," he said.
The Student Programming Association's (SPA) noontime chairwoman, Lily Sears, said after searching for performers on Myspace.com, Moakler grabbed her attention.
Moakler said he tries to connect with the audience he doesn't want to be just a guy playing music, he wants to get to know the audience and he wants the audience to get to know him.
"He plays a sick show," Christopher Ryan (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said. "He's hilarious. He sounds like he's talking [directly] to you when he's up at the mic," Ryan said.
Moakler said he makes himself vulnerable to the crowd during his performances.
"I make myself the joke during a show," he said. "I'm not too cool or too quick-witted. I try really hard to connect with the audience with a lot of dialogue.
During his tour, Moakler said he finds he has random fan followings in certain cities and hopes to make a good impression on State College.
