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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 2000)
The Buzz coffeehouse has become a place where lesser-known artists can showcase their skills By Sara Jarrett Oregon Daily Emerald After its makeover in the fall of 1998, The Buzz coffeehouse, on the EMU’s first floor, has settled into its new face and has also found time to cultivate a fresh function. “This year we’re getting known as a music club where local artists can perform,” says Melanie Jones, a senior sociol ogy major and the campus cof feehouse’s programming coor dinator. Before she took over the du ties last term, the Cultural Fo rum managed The Buzz enter tainment schedule. Though that organization is no longer coordinating shows at the ven ue on a regular basis, it has not stopped partnership with the coffeehouse completely, says Linda Dievendorf, the Cultural Forum’s program coordinator. “It’s just that it’s not very well-attended,” she explains, “and [we] are interested in other things. There will, how ever, be a new song contest af filiated with the [Willamette Valley] Folk Fest and spon sored by the Cultural Forum, held at The Buzz in the near future.” The current situation is fine with Jones, who now has al most hill control of the estab lishment’s entertainment. She says her mission is to make The Buzz known as a venue that supports lesser-known but very talented artists. Her idea is to give opportu nities to bands and artists who are denied shows elsewhere because they have yet to dis tinguigh a name for them selves. “I book new artists so they can use The Buzz as publici ty,” she says. Admission is always free at the venue, but all of the artists get paid from a small budget. Musicians are encouraged to use tip jars, however, and the performers can sell CDs, T shirts and other band-related paraphernalia to make more money, Jones says. Audience turnout is almost always directly related to how well-known the artists are, similar to any other place. For example, 16 Second Hum last fall drew one of the biggest crowds in the history of The Buzz, Jones says. The band was developed in the dorms and gained a well established following while playing for friends and neigh bors. In the same vein, Poetry Night was scheduled for Mon day nights after Jones ob served that so many people wanted to read poetry at Open Mic Night on Fridays. Because open mic means anything goes, poets were often sand wiched between hard rock bands. Monday nights offer a more comfortable atmosphere for everybody, Jones says. Other nights hardly draw an audience at all, though. Thursdays and Saturdays feature specific artists and usually draw a smaller, more intimate crowd. This is advan tageous for some, but others feel somewhat out of place. Peter Wilde, for instance, a local folk-singer/songwriter, prefers playing at “smoky, drunken’ bars,” he says. “The Buzz is just another gig” to him, that doesn’t espe cially appeal to his musical style. Other artists make sure an audience shows up to support their livelihood. Acoustic gui tarist Steven Pile invited many of his friends to hear his act at the coffeehouse last Sat urday. The establishment was packed in response to the re quest. The Buzz is also especially appealing to underage stu dents, Jones says, since there are very few venues in Eugene that cater to that crowd. Those in need of a study break can take a quick jaunt to get a caffeine boost and enjoy some entertainment, as well. The Buzz is open until 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, and until midnight every oth er day of the week. 1 008202 707 Willamette 683-5160 XhC Place to Party Tdes: $2 Night Wed: College Night No Cover, all your favorite music & more! Show your ID and large pizzas $5.00 off. Thurs: Ladies Night - Need we say more? Fri & Sat: Improv Comedy 8:30-10 Top 40 Dancing 10-Close H 7 book new artists so they can use the Buzz as publicity. Melanie Jones The Buzz program coordinator # F.merald The Buzz can be a place for music and entertainment as shown in the top photo; acoustic guitarist Nicole Barrett plays for the coffeehouse crowd this past Monday night. Other mu sicians who frequent the venue, which offers live music most nights of the week, are Peter Wilde and Steven Hie, among others. If music Isn’t your gig, then grab a cup of ja& and settle in for some reading or writing. Studying is optional. CAFe NAVARRO LariH^H b Latin £ui*iM£ 454 Will4W«-f4e Cu<jen« 0ft. 97401 544-0945 Make reservations now for our special Valentine^ Pinner, Feb 14 Emerald UT Box Office: 346-4191 EMU Ticket Office: 346-4363 Hult Center: 682-5000
