Magazine Article for "As You Like It" - Marist Clubs and ...

Open Open Mic Mic ShOwcaSeS ShOwcaSeS TalenT TalenT, TalenT
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Environmental
sustainability is a hot topic
these days, especially here at
Marist. Everyone knows
about the great things this
school does to reduce its
carbon footprint; like using
efficient washers and dryers,
compositing cafeteria leftovers,
and providing a sporadic
lack of hot water to most
on-campus residences.
However, the drive to support
environmental
sustainability exists within
the hearts and souls of
Marist students as well.
February 5 saw a wonderful
turn out to an environmental
sustainability openmic,
where students bore all
of their inner-most feelings
or witticisms about this precious
Earth... or just one or
two, but who’s counting?
The evening started off
with one particularly dashing fellow whose
name, due to my inability to be on time for just
about anything, I did not catch, but his performance
really fit the mold. His original poetic
composition about the environment was topical
and touching, and he had the distinct honor
of being the only individual to actually approach
the theme of the night’s open-mic.
After his very conscientious words, Mike
Vizzi took the stage and crooned an original
piece to the audience with the aid of a black
acoustic, which was evidently the instrument
of choice for the evening.
The following duo, Melissa and Dan
I’mincapableofcatchinglastnames, shared three
songs with Dan on a blue acoustic and Melissa
on a stool singing away. The songs were
covers of what I’m sure are well-known pieces
to those who have any idea what’s going on in
the current music scene, but I’m stuck in the
90’s, so I unfortunately couldn’t put names to
the jingles. They were rumored to include Jason
Mraz’s “I’m Yours” and, more than likely,
other hit tunes.
The fourth fellow to take the stage who I’d
like to introduce by apologizing for potentially
butchering what I thought was his last name,
Vinnie Briano, brought a special kind of spice
By Sarah Dubrule
to the mic. His four devastatingly
sweet songs floored the rest of the audience
as they did myself; who wouldn’t be wowed
by deliciously vulgar word-play (“This isn’t
just a song it’s a lyrical orgy”) and witty ballads
about stalkers and one-night stands? I
can’t think of a sane individual.
Special attention should be paid to the
straight-faced Vinnie kept throughout his performance,
considering the rest of the audience,
or maybe just myself, was in stitches the entire
time. This kid should really take his talents beyond
Marist’s PAR, I’m thinking a world tour
sponsored by Comedy Central.
Freddy Garcia, despite there being a distinct
lack of the rest of his performing group,
still shared a few original raps with the environmentally
conscious crowd. His last bit was
my personal favorite, being that it incorporated
some real feeling, and it if wasn’t going to be
about the environment then at least it could be
genuine. Freddy was fresh and up-beat, both
of which are good things to experience in the
middle of winter.
Next up was Cynthia, again sporting an
acoustic guitar and a cute song, followed by
Cara Domings, who recently recorded songs
in Boston, or something. Another acoustic
guitar was utilized to lend some support to a
few Cara-brand creations
that reminded me of hot coffee
and a comfortable couch
in the corner of a cafe.
Ryan Rivard and Jon
O’Sullivan and their weapon
of choice, an acoustic guitar,
moved their performance
from Sheahan hall to the student
center PAR, which was
a good career move if you ask
me. Ryan strummed and Jon
played the human vocal
cords, sharing with the audience
a few choice covers, with
the last one reportedly being
“about sustainability,” but
whose title has since been
lost in the details. Regardless,
I’m sure it was thematic in
some sense, just maybe not
conventionally.
Richard Frias didn’t need
an acoustic to draw in the audience,
instead utilizing
strong poetic emphasis in reciting
“Hypotheticals,” an original cut I didn’t
see coming, but was thoroughly impressed by.
I’d really like a copy, actually.
April Baton brought the black acoustic
back to the forefront and shared a few, you
guessed it, original pieces. They were outward
and strong, and I give props to anyone who is
willing to share what I’m sure is something
inspired by their own lives with other people.
Anthony M brought an end to this open
mic, finishing with a black acoustic just as the
show began with one, and offering a mixture
of personal songs and a cover. His exterior did
not allude to the genre of songs he decided to
play, but I’m always a big fan of mixing things
up a bit, so bravo.
The night as a whole was a success of a
different sort. The poems, songs and jokes
brought about by the brave individuals who
shared the stage were entertaining, touching
and amusing, but had surprisingly little to do
with environmental stability. Which is all fine
and dandy I suppose, seeing as our college is
doing it’s part in recycling and supporting carpooling
every weekend, but then maybe the
open-mic should have just been called an openmic.
Maybe next time.
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