Non-academic notes light up campus

Students were greeted with local tunes, snacks, drinks, and lawn blankets at the South Austin Campus for the April 21 ACC Music Showcase.

The event featured eight competing bands, each of which had at least one member that was a current ACC student. The Baker Family band took home the prize, an invitation to perform at a Student Life event next semester. The performers were judged on creativity, originality, audience interaction and overall quality of performance by a panel of three students, and three faculty members.

From Asheville, NC, The Baker Family decided to relocate to Austin after completing a national tour during the summer of 2009. They have received press from various news outlets for their indie folk band.

"You know, I think we did pretty well. We had a lot of fun, like its weird. We only played two songs and after the two songs are done, it was like man, I wish we could keep playing," Band member and ACC student Elizabeth Baker Said.

Baker and fellow band member Darryl Schomberg are both students. 

"We really like it a lot, and just saw that you guys (ACC) were doing a showcase. I mean, I just thought that was awesome. I wish more campuses and colleges would do that, but we were excited," Baker said.

Student and music enthusiast Wendy Ruiz and SAC Student Life Assistant Jessica Burkemper worked since Feb to bring the showcase together.

"I hope to engage different groups of students and have more interaction on campus," Ruiz said. Ruiz also hoped students got to relax and enjoy the shows.

A selection committee made up of two students and a staff member picked the eight bands out of 21 bands that submitted the required demo CDs.

There was a range of music, from the soft and whimsical sounds of student Lady Bell to the enthused screaming and head-banging beats of Barry Whitesnake. Each artist played a two song set.

Lady Bell, ACC pre-nursing student and musician of six years, sang a lullaby of beach-rock blues. Bell said the message of her music is to focus on "peace and love and unity,"... As well as "drinking and having fun,"

Ruiz wants her event to be remembered and hopefully inspire students to follow her footsteps in the future. Ruiz acknowledged the help of Student life and ACC Media Technology; the equipment, two stages, along with the incredible acoustics of the courtyard all helped "set the stage" for the showcase. 

While watching "IaMHer" play, ACC student Ash Blaize commented, "This is a good opportunity to showcase the musicians that go to school here."