Kristen Errett, 1st-place winner of the WoodSongs singer/songwriter contest, performs Thursday night.

WoodSongs features folk, fiery swing

By: John Tyczkowski

Posted: 4/10/09

Last night saw the 1st annual WoodSongs, a singer/songwriter contest hosted by UConn Dining Services at Whitney Dining Hall in East Campus. Ten hopeful musicians, selected from a pool of over 20 applicants, competed for community recognition, as well as a trophy and certificate of achievement. Each had a chance to play two original compositions. Five judges oversaw the event, hailing from diverse backgrounds such as Sing-A-Day Music Centre in Coventry, the Connecticut Songwriter's Association and Dining Services.

Also present was UConn alumna and Connecticut State Troubadour Lara Herscovitch, who performed five songs near the end of the night. She took the time to answer the question of what a state troubadour was: "a poet laureate for music, of sorts." Herscovitch also offered encouraging words to all the fledgling musicians, mentioning that who won didn't matter; the night was all about bringing everyone together with music.

Lastly, she mentioned that it was important for all the contestants to keep writing and performing despite the outcomes that night. Yesha Doshi, a 2nd-semester management major, echoed this sentiment when she mentioned that no matter what, she "had a lot of fun that night, and everyone did really well!"

Kristen Errett captured the first place win for the event. Featured on the piano, her two songs included the energetic, Carole King-like "Take Me Away," followed by the Jim Brickmanesque "Look Me in the Eyes." Errett's performance featured elaborate playing on the keyboard, synced up with powerful, expressive vocals, for two well put together and professional-sounding songs.

The second place award went to Ben Bishop, featured on guitar. Also a member of A Minor, Bishop showed that his guitar skills were just as well developed as his vocal skills. The folksy "Echoes of Static" basked in an enticing major/minor ambivalence and was followed by the well written "Clouds Tonight," including some vocal improvisation near the end.

Third place was captured by Raymond Day, who changed the tone of the evening by breaking out a Gibson Les Paul electric guitar. His two selections included the swinging, upbeat tune "I Saw You," and most popularly, "If They Told You to Like Me," a scathing commentary and attack on today's music industry. For the last song, Day dialled in some distortion on his guitar for a punk feel and got the audience to clap along.

Ben Raab started the night off with his two upbeat and thoughtful originals, "Cupid" and "Muse." He was followed by Christopher Moise, featuring the poetic ballads "The Marksman" and "Between Our Teeth." Christopher Vanek kicked the mood up a few notches with his punky "Fun and Games," about the contemplation of God and religion, followed by the equally deep "You May Be a Yesterday."

Regina Guasino came next, her two songs "You Can't Make Me Stay" and "Mysterious" characterised by open, jazzy chords and some scat singing as well.

Laura Titrud brought a keyboard to the stage with her songs "She Knows" and "The Inventor," the latter song an introspective piece about inventing feelings for someone just to stay in a relationship.

Colin Seeger followed up with a guitar folk sound, featuring "For What it's Worth," a self described breakup song, and "213," a semi-biographical song about Seeger's adjustments to his freshman year at college. Andrew Chaluko finished the performance part of the night with his delicately picked, bouncy and confident ballads, "Walking to Nevada" and "Radiator."

WoodSongs was a smashing success, fun for both musicians and audience members, and assured its place next year at UConn, and after, for many years to come.