Student musicians rock the Hart at Guitars Unplugged
- posted: 26 June 2007
- scrollarts@byui.edu
The crowd for Guitars Unplugged began screaming even before the performances started, and the audience only got louder as the first band, Falkor, came on stage with its performance of “It’s the End of the World (As We Know It).” Audience members sang along with the band.
Genre for the night ranged from punk rock, with “Cupid’s Chokehold,” to oldies, like “California Dreamin.” It also included jazz, with “Hard Times,” and original songs ,such as, “Keep On Holding.”
“This was the most unique Guitars Unplugged I have ever been to. There were so many different types of songs with all kinds of various–sounding talent. I really enjoyed it,” said Michelle Wood, a sophomore from Rexburg.
The audience got involved by clapping during the songs, “Jinx it” and “You Can’t Get Enough of This BYU-Idaho Spirit,” by Chopped Onions. The members of Chopped Onions came onto the stage in green library vests and two out the three in the group wore BYU-I workout shirts. They related to BYU-I students though their song lyrics, such as, “You love this freezing place,” and “I lost my girl after just one week. She rejected my proposals and my wedding ring.”
“[Chopped Onions] had a creative, fun song with phrases like ‘BYU-I spirit’ and phrases about how a 24–year–old dates a 19–year–old. It really got the audience laughing,” said Judson May, a junior from Silverdale, Wash.
The night not only carried the musical talent of bands, it also had a few soloists singing songs like “Time After Time” and “Jinx It.” Audience members were impressed with how performers got into their music throughout the show.
“I like it when people get into their performance, and with certain groups and bands that happened. I really like the girl that played the Michael Jackson song, ‘I Want You Back.’ She not only played the guitar, but she had tiny cymbals on her shoes. She seemed to enjoy her time up on stage,” said Steve Cannon a sophomore from Rexburg.
This show brought more talent than that of playing the guitar; there was also African drum players, cello players, trumpet players, keyboard players and drum players.
“ I though it was fascinating because there was a large variety of music,” May said. Performers had to go through an audition before they were let into the show.
Jessica Smith, a junior from West Jordan, Utah, said that the audition was not bad, and that the interviewees were friendly and they talked to the auditioners.
“Guitars Unplugged was a great experience to just get out into the crowd, share your talents and have a good time,” Smith said.
Kyle Grant, a junior from Portland, Ore. also performed in Guitars Unplugged and had a good time.
“I enjoyed it. It was the second time I’ve done it. There was a little more energy [at this Gutiart Unplugged] than at winter’s [Guitars Unplugged],” Grant said.
The performance started at 8:00 p.m. and went until almost 10:00 p.m. It was followed by a dance. 
