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