Students crowded the Hixson Union Building Multipurpose room on Sunday, May 10, at 6:30 p.m. to show their support to the seniors who have been gracing Whitworth with their musical talents throughout their time at Whitworth. The lineup included such styles as oldies, folk, indie and even some acoustic rock. But style did not matter that night. It was all about appreciating the seniors.
Gayda was the first band to perform. The two vocalists each manned a guitar. One electric, one bass and they both yelled into the microphone to the background of an upbeat melody as their friend pounded away on the drums. Much of the voice patterns were synchronized with the guitar notes so it made for an interesting experience. Although the audience did no more than tap their toes, it was evident that all the rocking out was happening on the inside during one of their crazy jamming sessions.
Next to perform was senior Rebecca Snape. Her acoustic act, which felt like a combination of oldies and slow folk, made the room go silent as no one dared to so much as stir around. It was very different in contrast to the previous performance, but the audience gobbled it up all the same.
Senior Nathaniel Orwiler approached the stage next, also clutching an acoustic guitar, but his performance was much different. He had a powerful voice and a distinct style that transported his audience out of the HUB and into a mystical place far away. Early in his performance he broke a string on his guitar. A new guitar was brought up for him to use.
“I break a string every time I play a show at Whitworth because I get excited,” he joked as he tuned the new guitar.
Senior Brent Flyberg was urged to go on stage and fill the silence while Orwiler turned his guitar with some of his own jokes. Flyberg made the crowd laugh until they could barely breathe. As soon as Orwiler finished, he reclaimed his position on the stage, played some more songs, and even invited Dane Ueland to come up on stage and play with him.
The next set of performers was a duo who called themselves Olive Green. The act included an acoustic guitar, a tambourine, high pitched voices that were crystal clear and nose whistling. The audience could not stop laughing as seniors Anna Collins-Wakeman and Sarah Moyer demonstrated what a fun and quirky friendship they had. Sometimes they would burst out laughing, and that was perfectly OK. The audience was laughing with them. The only disappointment they showed was their own neglect to bring bubbles to the show, but other than that they were enjoying themselves. Olive Green mentioned that times like this they would remember forever.
Next, Dane Ueland and the Weiland Well began fast and strong. They sang and yelled and really got the crowd moving. The band sported guitars, drums, a xylophone and even a violin. They rocked out and had probably one of the most intense jamming sessions of the night, with every member of the band swaying, swerving, and jumping up and down all over the place. They even got the audience to sing along and clap with them.
Throughout the show the HUB progressively became more and more crowded, but by the time Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful went on stage, there was so many people there that it was, hands down, the biggest gathering at a show at Whitworth all year. Senior Tyson Motsenbocker said that this would be the performance to remember.
“This is the last show so we’re going to give it our all,” Motsenbocker said.
The band had a great relationship with their fans and with each other, formed over the span of time they had shared at Whitworth. Many of their fans were some of their closest friends, and saw their progression towards the band they eventually became. Eastern Washington University student Connor Gordon could not help but notice the strong bond between the audience and the bands, and the overall sense of community.
“I like the vibe,” he said. “It’s all close here.”
Senior Michael Johansen gave some insight to the band. He had watched them progress from their initial jamming sessions on the back porch of Keola and marveled at what they had become.
“I’m surprised they stayed together so long,” he said.
The band members were all great friends, but even Johansen was amazed at their dedication to stay together.
“I knew they were serious about fun, but not about getting big,” he said. “It’s always been carefree.”
He remains firm in the idea that their personalities and friendship is what made them so successful.
“Their style is fluid and it fits their personalities,” he said. “They are good friends so it worked for them.”
The whole audience sang along and clapped with the catchy and personality filled songs of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. Many of their songs had become second nature to the audience and they could recite without a second thought. It seemed like the whole community was there to support one of Whitworth's more successful bands. When it was time to end the show, the audience declined. “One more song,” they chanted until the band came back on stage and sang two more songs. Finally, the audience met the end, already with a sense of nostalgia and a feeling of sadness.
In a way, it was the best and worst show of the year. It was the best because all the talented musicians came together under once place and gave their fellow students the gift of music. But the worst part about the show was watching these bands perform knowing that it might be the last performance they give at Whitworth, or in the case of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, last performance altogether. Senior Annie Ogdon was one of the many seniors that will be graduating this year, and she was sad to see Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful drawing the curtains after all they had accomplished.
“We’re sad their done,” she said.
The Whitworth community knows that all good things must come to an end. We all realize that there is some major talent lost every time a senior class graduates, but their fame will remain on campus to inspire other students at Whitworth.
Contact Alex Bistrevsky at alex.bistrevsky@whitworthian.com.
REVIEW: Final concert a senior sendoff
Published: Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, May 12, 2009
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