It has always been Caleb Hawley's dream to be a professional baseball player. But when that didn't work out, he channeled his blues into playing the guitar.
Hawley said he doesn't have any original songs purely relating to baseball, but he likes to have fun at the game's expense.
"I have a few verses about players being on steroids," Hawley said.
The singer/songwriter will bring his blend of blues and pop-rock to his performance at noon today in the HUB-Robeson Center as part of the Student Programming Association (SPA)'s Noontime Concert Series.
Hawley grew up in the Minneapolis area performing in bars and clubs before attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston for jazz composition. He then moved to New York City to make his living as a musician.
Hawley said he doesn't mind the differences between the Midwest and the East Coast.
"Its definitely more fast-paced, but I've grown to like it," he said. "Minneapolis, man, it's freezing."
Hawley has performed alongside acts like the Dave Matthews Band, Shawn Mullins, and Michael Glabicki from Rusted Root. He is also a top-five finalist in New York Songwriter Circle's annual showcase, which had over 4,000 contestants.
Hawley said he has never played in the Penn State area before. The closest university he has performed at is Bucknell University.
SPA's Noontime Concert Series chairman Zack Krieger said Hawley contacted the group, and the organizer booked him to perform after hearing his music.
"I'm a fan of his music after listening to it," Krieger said. "It's really catchy, so anyone can get in there and listen to it."
Krieger said Hawley's musical style should be enjoyable to a college audience.
Although Hawley's mother works at the University of Minnesota, he said he hopes Penn State students do not associate him with the Nittany Lions' Homecoming opponent this year.
"I should be a big Gophers fan, but you don't have to hold that against me," Hawley said.
