By Ryan Broderick
Hofstra Concerts has had a pretty decent track record this year when it comes to their coffee house style performances. It seemed, this year, that the group had worked out a pretty successful formula: Successful middle-to-higher rung bands closing for a couple local bands, getting people to show up, and showcasing local and student talent.
On Tuesday, October 28th, the formula seemed to have hit a few hiccups. Tuesday’s roster ended up being the University’s “The Broosevelts,” “Mike McClain,” “Vaeda” and “The Vice.” The trouble began with last minute additions to the night’s set-up, pushing student band “The Broosevelts'” set time to 15 minutes. The band played anyway, but the four-piece and their fans couldn’t help but express feelings of being slighted.
“Personally, I feel like Hofstra Concerts could have done a little more,” said guitarist Tim Lee. “[The other bands] were given a lot more leniency; I really don’t think the University’s curfew is tight, I just thought it was a bit disingenuous. [We] were given 15 minutes with two a–hole bands that didn’t really care what was going on. I really can’t blame Hofstra Concerts… But I feel like 15 minutes [more] wouldn’t have killed anyone.”
The blame couldn’t be put completely on the shoulders of Hofstra Concerts, but unfortunately for a band used to playing in basements and keggers, ruining a night with an actual PA reeks of genre-discrimination. Playing with trendier styled groups, like “The Vice” and “Vaeda”, it’s obvious to see their point of view.
The 15-minute set wasn’t the only insult of the night for the band. After agreeing to let any of the bands borrow their equipment, “The Broosevelts” popped a string on stage, and didn’t receive any sort of help from the other bands. “I popped a string. Nobody moved. Nobody did anything. Nobody wanted to help, including ‘The Vice’ who was borrowing equipment from every other band,” continued Lee.
While Hofstra Concerts was under ordered-time restraints from The University, it just seemed to bring back old memories of a more fame hungry Hofstra Concerts.
Bassist Nick Psillas summed up the night. “Essentially, we were gonna play and we showed up, did our sound check ‘Concerts told us we had 15 minutes…I don’t wanna put the blame…on Concerts, it was just a really s–tty situation.”
Whatever the story was, it just shows that maybe Hofstra Concerts has a little more work to do on bridging the gap between what’s important. They’re on their way to being able to balance little bands and bigger bands, but they don’t seem to be there just yet.