The Daily Collegian ‘Ladies’ By David Strader COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Ladies took the West Halls Study Lounge by storm Wednesday night when the Penn State Songwriters Club hosted a “Ladies' Night” open mic. The event proposed by Maura Westerlund, vice president of the Songwriters Club gave women of Penn State the chance to showcase their musical talent. “We were looking to showcase female talent for those who don’t normally feel comfortable playing with guys,” Westerlund (sopho more-business) said. And Westerlund said she was very impressed with the talent drawn out by the Ladies' Night. "I feel intimidated," she said. "These girls are amazing, and I'm in awe, even." Attendee Sudong Jang, from Seoul, Korea who was in town visiting a friend read about the open mic that morning and said it would be a great way to spend his evening. Soloist brings ‘original’ style By Josh Bollinger COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Who needs a backup band any- Martin Sexton played the State Theatre on Wednesday night as part of his solo tour in support of his new album "Sugarcoating'' bringing his "original'' style of acoustic rock to State College. "I like how quirky it is." Cara Salimando said, who opened last night for Sexton. Salimando. who's performance featured her on piano and ukulele, said she's a big fan of Sexton's music. She said his live performances and his ability to replicate guitar and trumpet solos with his mouth are what she loves most about him. "He doesn't need anyone else." Salimando said, who added that he's both innovative and inspiring as a musician. Wednesday night Sexton who's known for his ability to improvise live, replicated sound from everything from the trum pet. to the saxophone, to a drum kit featured all three sounds win his second song "Diggin Me." "I'm getting there folks. I'm get ting in that zone here." Sexton said after "Diggin Me." Local documentaiy to focus on suicide, raise awareness By Lauren Ingeno Com GIAN STAFF WRITER Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults, and if Penn State students aren't aware of this issue, then they should be, said Barbara Bird, an associate professor in the department of film-video and media studies. Bird, along with Penn State film and video alumni and students, created the film 'Toward Daylight" -- an 18-minute docu mentaiy that focuses on suicide, survivorship and prevention in the Centre County region. The film was created for the Centre County Chapter of the perform singles “I’ve been waiting for this all day” he said, “and I really love this.” Jang said he’s a big music enthusiast. Girls who signed up took turns on stage performing an assort ment of both original songs and covers. Tina Letter (freshman-biology), who went first for the evening, opened with an original song fol lowed by a number of covers by artists like Damien Rice and Tegan and Sara. Letter said females have a lot to offer through their music. "Girls are more willing to com pletely pour their souls out, and that emotional side really comes out in their songs,’ 1 Letter said. After her performance, Letter said she enjoyed playing to such a sociable and understanding audi ence. "If I make a mistake, it's no big deal,” she said. “The people here are just so nice.” And Letter was right attendees like Jang were fully supportive of her. Martin Sexton plays in the State Theater on Wednesday night. Sexton is known for his ability to replicate sounds with his mouth. John Fegyveresi (graduate geoscience) said Sexton’s studio albums are great, but the liveper formances is where he truly thrives. Fegyveresi has recently gotten interested in Sexton's music and said he was happy he could finally get a chance to see him live. “It's refreshing to see people who can still sing and sound this good live." Fegyveresi said. "Plus it was 20 bucks and it was right down the street." American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The film will premiere at 7 tonight at Bellefonte High School. 830 E. Bishop St. in Bellefonte, and at the State Theatre, 130 W. College Ave., on Nov. 14. Susan Kennedy who helped create the chapter and serves as co-chairwoman for Penn State's Out of Darkness walk is a survivor herself and appears in the docu mentary She said the people who speak out in the film have either lost someone to suicide or have con sidered or survived it. “I think that you'll find that the film is different from a lot of other films that people might see on this THURSDAYS Urol BEST in Town! ARTS & ENTERTAI “Even though she forgot the lyrics a couple of times, her voice was beautiful,” Jang said. The open mic drew an audience of 20-some people, and Westerlund looked at the turnout positively. “I like that we have longer sets,” Westerlund said. “When there’s tons of people, you don’t get to experience a full view of someone’s music, but that’s not the case tonight.” Westerlund said the venue was also ideal for open mics. "It’s the perfect space,” she said. "There are so many comfy chairs, it’s very easy to set up and the acoustics are great too.” Ashley Tarriff (freshman-mar keting), the second performer of the evening, said she was ulti mately pleased with the set-up of the show. "I love the idea of showcasing the feminine side of music,” she said. To e-mail reporter: dass46l@psu.edu He described the State Theatre as a place big enough for you to see a major music act, but small enough to make the audience feel that they're at a big coffee house. “You can really hear them with out having to hear them through a big PA system," Fegyveresi said. “You get to really hone in on his talent." He said that the State Theatre was the perfect place for Sexton to play, considering his intimate, solo-acoustic style, the size will help him connect better with the audience. Right from the beginning Sexton got the audience involved in his act, incorporating a call and response section with them in his first song. Concerned about the audi ence's experience, Sexton asked the crowd more than once if his guitar was at a good volume, and he would tune at opportune moments during songs as to not disrupt them, though at one point he flat out stopped a song to alter it. "Would you give me some of that groovy Johnny Cash reverb," Sexton said to the soundman in the back of the theatre. "Got to get it just right." topic, because the people are so real and so honest in their conver sations about depression and sui cide," Kennedy said. “It's very powerful." Kennedy first asked Bird to pro duce the film for the foundation in 2007, because she knew Bird had done public scholarship activities in the past, in which she worked with community partners to raise awareness about issues. She said Bird "graciously agreed" to direct the film. "I was very interested in mak ing suicide prevention out in the open," Bird said. “A death from suicide and the grieving that goes along with it is very different than if you lose a HUNGRY HOUR $4 Select Appetizers Excludes JD Sampler & Pick 3 For All 814.861.5540 1215 N. Atherton St It's a nice gesture. To e-mail reporter: tjbs267@psu.edu I M It Writer Kent Haruf talks about his book and his journey in becoming a writer at the Foster Auditorium in the Paterno Library. Author offers students advice, shares journey By Hannah Rishel COLLEGIAN STAF F WRITER Kent Haruf believes that fic tion's purpose shouldn't be a "sermon." but rather it should "say something about the human condition." Haruf participated in the Mary E. Rolling Reading Series on Wednesday night in the Foster Auditorium of the Paterno Library. During the event he read a chapter from his book "Plain Song," which was a finalist for the National Book Award, and talked to the audience about how he came to be a fiction writer. Earlier in the day he met with graduate English classes for in depth question and answer ses sions. Haruf said he didn't publish any of his work until his 40s because he felt like eveiything up until that point wasn't good enough to be published and he was trying to learn what he want ed to write about He finally settled on using the area of his hometown of Colorado, in the eastern part of the state that "people drive across as fast as they can" to get to Aspen and Denver "Most people don't think it's pretty," Haruf said. "1 don't think it's pretty either, but 1 do think it's beautiful." He also talked about his time as an English prolessor before he made enough money on his books to retire. He said that his goal is lor see. tences to sound "simple and direct and clear." Students often think that when thev trv to write loved one through natural cans es." Recent suicide tragedies in which over a one-month span in September, six gay students under the age of 20 ended their lives have gained a lot ot media atten tion, sparking discussion about an issue that is otten considered taboo, Kennedy said. But eventu ally. Kennedy said she thinks the media will go away, the talking will stop and there will be silence around the issue once again. “And we need to keep talking about it." Kennedy said. That conversation can help people get the resources they need and pre vent future suicides." Bird said she thinks society MONDAY-FRIDAY 9PM-1 BAR ONLY $2 "YOU $2 Drafts $2 House Wines $2 Bottled Beers $2 Liquors - Margaritas, Captain & Cokes, LITs, House Martinis and more! Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010 I 7 abstractly it sounds better, but Haruf said it doesn't. Haruf believes every sentence needs to be calculated and necessary. "There's a lot of pressure on every' word because it has to be the right word,” he said. Haruf also told the audience that while he's writing a new book, like he is now, he focuses on reading nonfiction books and doesn't read any contemporary fiction because he doesn't w ant to make himself feel "stupid." He added that when he wants to get into the mindset to write in the morning he'll read William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway, two authors that influenced him to pursue writing, in college. "I think his mindset and out look on the wilting process is interesting, " Carl Hayman (sen ior-English) said. ‘A lot of writers just give advice but not what they think.” Jessica Seisman said that while her attendance was a requirement, she would have come anyway because she tries to go to all the events where authors are speaking. She added that her favorite part of the speech was Herat's comment on how his daily task i to write a capable sentence because a lot of writers try to do so much at once. "I like that it took him so long to learn how to write." said Erika Pratt (senior-Englishi. who attended for her English class, i also like that he doesn’t conside" himself a writer, but that he's still learning." T o e-mail reporter' hmrso27@psu.edu needs to stop stigmatizing people with depression, and hopes that after students see the film they will get help if they need it. or help friends if they need it "There is a sense of isolation and loneliness that feeds the guilt and shame and depression." she spud. Kennedy said she hopes peo ple will see the film and edueah themselves on an issue that is so often in the dark. "I hope that people will eome to learn more and not stay awa> because it's a topic that makes them uncomfortable." she said "In the end there's a lot of hope that's portrayed in the film." To email reporter: ImisolB@psu.edu IT" CALL Kelsey Morris'CoNegian IPM
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