Chords were stricken and beats ran live at Abba Java Coffee House Thursday night as the BAD Publicity Fall Showcase went into the evening.
The performers ranged from guitarists to emcees. And according to co-creator Beth Ann Downey, they were all local acts and all but one were current students at PSU, and the other was a graduate.
Before the night began, Downey said she hoped people would come. Camille Mola, intern for Bad Publicity, quickly added, “No, people will come.”
She was correct, and audience members moved into the coffeehouse throughout the performances, which began at 7 p.m. The show — refreshments, sunglasses and tunes included — was completely free.
One audience member, Ryun Karaffa, said he was there to see a roommate, The “U,” for the first time.
“I think it’s gonna be off the hook,” Karaffa (senior-energy, business and finance) said before the show began.
The first performance of the night was by The Had Knots, a band that opened the night with songs that were lively and smooth, like coasting on an alternative rocky wave. Next on the stage was Topher Stephenson, who said the Chris part of Chris-Topher was absent, singing some acoustic songs that drifted into welcoming ears and tapping feet.
The pace changed a bit after that, as an emcee took the stage: Ugochukwu Onyianta, The “U”, rapped and got the students to stand up, get closer to the stage, wave their hands, and even hold up their cell phones alight.
After The “U,” the next performance was by Malik LRB, another emcee with his own style. His first rap brought references familiar to Penn Staters into the lyrics, with names and locations the audience could recognize.
Mola said that the artists were really great.
“I like how we started off with more chill music and now we’re moving into the more hype music,” Mola (junior-public relations) said.
Following them were Tawa and Atomisk , which added to the hype Mola mentioned.
Regis Mellinger said he was at the event simply for the music.
“Definitely enjoying it,” Mellinger (senior-economics) said. “It’s off the heezy fa-sheezy.”
Emily Shiflet said that she thought the show was great and that the musicians were very talented.
“It was a good way to spend a Thursday night,” she said.
Shiflet (sophomore--division of undergraduate studies) said that she only found out about the event on Thursday and hadn’t expected the music to be as good as it was, and would buy the musicians’ music.
Every band and each performer had their own style and different dynamic to bring to the tile-floored coffeehouse, surrounded by tables with candles and the glow of stage lighting.
