2008 Woodie Awards
Students showcase talent at Live @ the Quarry
Kari Langan
Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: Intermission
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Students who perhaps were trying to pass the time between classes were surprised by a Live @ the Quarry Student Showcase Oct. 16, which featured musicians Danielle Mueller and Prakash Shrestha, Matt Machacek and James Wick, who all performed their original melodies.
As the show began, the lights dimmed to a red mist directed on the stage. The first act was about to perform.
The first act, Mueller and Shrestha, performed a duet of peacefully soothing acoustic tunes. With Muellers' strong vocals and Shrestha's guitar, the crowd began to gather with interest. The duo created an atmosphere that allowed students to relax and enjoy easy-listening tunes.
The pair performed numerous songs inspired by everyday experiences. From songs like "Sexy," which is based on a feminine perspective of the word to the song "Confusion," the lyrics created a window for the audience to relate.
Mueller sat cross-legged on a high rise chair, thumping her black heels to melodies while Shrestha relaxingly strummed his acoustic guitar. The act concluded with the song "Just Friends."
As the acts switched, Machacek took the stage with a guitar and his voice. This solo act had energy and spirit. The fast pace of the songs connected with students, who began to stop and listen.
Machacek showed his personality in between songs by asking the audience how they were doing and how Homecoming weekend turned out.
"Party a lot?" he asked. "There you go."
Machacek's upbeat personality also showed in his songs, particularly in a song called "Love." Machacek then handed the stage over to Wick.
Through emotionally powerful lyrics, Wick sang about love, life and suicide. From his song "Don't give Up" to "Suicide," Wick performed his equally inspirational songs to the Quarry.
Much like other musicians, Wick received his inspiration through everyday life experiences. His song "Suicide" is based on a relationship he experienced.
"I based this song on a previous relationship I had with a very sweet girl," Wick said. "She had some tough patches in her life, and this title was a basic concept I shared with her."
With love as a major theme throughout his music, Wick has often been asked about a mystery girl he refers to in his music.
"The mystery girl is any girl I fall for," Wick said. "My love varies so differently with every connection I make, so it inspires me to write about these different types of love."
Wick is not new to the Quarry and has had shows at venues in the Twin Cities. He has played shows at The Enigma, the State Fair, The Depot, The Toybox, Varsity Theater and First Avenue.
Although Wick performed a solo act at the two most recent Student Showcases, he has much more personal experience in the music field.
"I have been playing for about four years, and I'm currently in a band called Valia," he said. "I have been in Valia for five to six months."
Valia music samples can be found on www.myspace.com/valiaband, and Wick's personal music can be heard on www.myspace.com/wickstaband.
Wick received a reminder to turn his phone on silent during a show last week, which helped remind him that little mistakes can happen at any stage in the game.
"During my Homecoming performance in Stewart Hall last week, my phone went off halfway through my song 'Girl,'" Wick said. "I faded out, as the speakers clicked at the tempo of a cell phone beat, asking the crowd why they had to leave their phones on. I felt more like a jerk then I did embarrassed though."
Wick promotes himself through Web sites as well as a music video on Youtube. The link to view the music video is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAV3GP-jh8k.
For more information about Live @ the Quarry events or the University Program Board, call 320-308-2205 or e-mail Chris Christensen at upbquarry@stcloudstate.edu.