 "Photo: Anthony Garito")
The luck of the Irish hit loud and fast at Funk 'N Waffles for a St. Patrick's Day celebration hosted by the Honors Student Association.
While the night was certainly intended to create some St. Patrick's Day excitement, the actual purpose of the event was a selfless endeavor. All proceeds made at the event are to be given to Golisano's Children's Hospital at SUNY Upstate Medical University.
Colin Fanning, a senior interior design major and executive chair of HSA, saw hosting student bands at Funk N' Waffles as the perfect opportunity to gather the right amount of attendees and raise enough money.
"It's a multifaceted event," said Fanning. "This gathering, it's the core of the Honors Student Association camaraderie, while trying to get names of these bands out and supporting the community."
The evening's performances included a cappella groups Orange Appeal and Main Squeeze, the Northbound Traveling Minstrel Jug Band and local band White After Labor Day, whose longest set of the evening consisted of eight songs that ranged from chaotic, squealing electric guitars to subtle yet humorous ballads about being single on Facebook.
Orange Appeal is Syracuse University's only all-male a cappella group, comprised of 15 active members. In the past, the group has performed at several events such as Home to the Dome and early last year, Orange Appeal released their live CD.
Main Squeeze is another a cappella group that has performed all over campus from the Pan Am Remembrance events to opening for Sara Bareilles during last year's Women in Music Concert.
"It was a great time," said Tony Cacace, a junior music industry major and White After Labor Day's lead singer. "St. Patrick's Day and nice weather seems to bring out a lot of kindness in people."
Other bands were grateful for the unprecedented turnout as well.
"We've enjoyed the crowd," said Aaron Gittleman, a freshman Bandier major and member of the Northbound Traveling Minstrel Jug Band.
The Northbound Traveling Minstrel Jug Band, which specializes in folk rock, was excited to perform for the "triple-whammy" of incentives the night provided.
"It's St. Patrick's Day, we're helping kids, and it pushes the band," said Gittleman. "It's the biggest crowd we've ever had."
Gittleman wasn't exaggerating - empty floor space was a rare sight as dozens of people consumed whatever empty chairs or open spots they could find.
"The performance was awesome. It blew away my expectations," said Cole Burns, a junior television, radio and film major. "I came here to funk out."
The large turnout can be credited toward the aggressive marketing the HSA put forth to promote the fundraiser. "We've really been trying to get the word out," Gittleman said.
Countless flyers and chalk-produced reminders of the event created a guerilla-style type of promotion that caught on with the rest of campus. "It was pretty exciting to see our name written all over the quad," Gittleman said.
By the time the final band struck its last chord, the HSA could not have been more pleased with the results of their - and the bands' - hard efforts.
"This is the little student organization that could, I was definitely impressed, and there was lots of talent," said Fanning. "This exceeded my expectations in every way."
ansteinb@syr.edu
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