By Michelle GIuseffi, Staff Writer
Looking for some entertainment to get you through the end of the week? For the third week in a row the Netherlands Café was the home of the Hofstra Concerts Coffeehouse. An even that has been held inconsistently in the past, has been running strong this Spring.
The Coffeehouse Series has been at Hofstra for a while, though Coffeehouse Manager, Tim Hesselton, points out that last semester only four such events took place.
Brian Shoicket, President of Hofstra Concerts, explains “The Coffeehouse isn’t new. It was off and on for a long time. We want it to be more consistent and give students more opportunity to perform.”
The increase to weekly concerts was an effort by Hofstra Concerts and Student Affairs. “The Dean of Students wanted to increase weekend activities. So now Thursday nights we have this, Friday nights there’s karaoke, and Saturday and Sunday there are movie showings,” stated Shoicket.
The concerts prove to be diverse, this week two Hofstra students opened with a hip hop piece, a vast contrast to the main act, Reality Addiction, a rock band from New Jersey. Only half of Reality Addiction was able to attend on Thursday, but members Ben and Dustin did well on their own. They even played all their songs acoustic, a task they had not previously rehearsed.
Even though Dustin and Ben do not go to Hofstra, they enjoyed playing here. “This isn’t really a place you’d find music. It’s [The atmosphere] more stripped down. It gives you a chance to learn yourself,” Dustin stated.
Reality Addiction often plays at other colleges, and in Manhattan. They also have a show coming up at The Chance in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Hofstra Concerts always welcomes new acts. While, only music was performed at the most recent showcase on Thursday, February 18, the club encourages acts from dancers, poets and comedians as well. If you missed this week’s Coffeehouse, be sure to check out next weeks show at 8pm in the Netherlands Café. If it’s anything like this week’s, its one student show you won’t want to miss.
Jacob Vanags performs at the Netherlands Cafe Coffeehouse (Kristen Mutarelli/The Chronicle)