By Rachel Rippetoe
What’s a typical UP Saturday night? Walking around residential areas, dodging Public Safety at every corner, eating delicious Cove fries and listening to KDUP DJs.
Yet, last Saturday night was different: Better.
There were students sprawled out on the grass in the Academic Quad around a white tent in which Kris Orlowski would soon perform under as the KDUP Spring Showcase kicks off.
As I sat close to the cement steps leading up to Franz Hall and KDUP’s makeshift stage, I thought about how nice this was. It was a perfect spring night: clear skies, moderately warm, but not hot. Music blasted through the speakers and there was an air of excitement as the Seattle-born band took the stage.
The crowd was as perfect as the weather - not embarrassingly small and not overwhelmingly large. Everyone had ample space to spread out and view the show.
As I waited for the show to begin, I wondered if the peacefully sitting crowd would rush up to the stage the second the band came on. Part of me hoped I could just keep my comfortable sitting spot, enjoy the music without hurting my calves or being self conscious about my awkward swaying motions.
Around 9:15 p.m. Kris Orlowski started playing and nobody got up. The sound was crisp and loud despite the show’s outdoor setting.
I turned my head to the left to find a couple KDUP volunteers standing at the front swaying to the cool beat. Slowly but surely, more people began to join them until there was a small crowd of people standing up and dancing in the front center.
Kris Orlowski, and his band - almost too Seattle to handle with their matching cuffed skinny jean, denim jackets, beanies, and mustaches to match - were one of the most humble and generous acts I had ever seen live.
In between songs, the band answered questions from the audience and mentioned several times that the night was shaping up to be the best college show they had ever played.
Their songs weren’t quite upbeat enough for a dance party, which was fine with me. I loved that I could stand up and dance with my friends if I wanted to but also venture to the back and sit on a blanket and simply take in the music. They were a perfect outdoor act.
The last few songs in particular caught my ear. I even shushed a group sitting next to me for talking through them.
Overall Kris Orlowski put on a great show. Their stage presence was energetic and kind but not overdone. The sound was incendiary and it was perfect for an outdoor venue.
The performance was so good that I think most people came away from it thinking that this needs to happen more often. UP has so many beautiful outdoor areas and we need to take advantage of them. If this year of Portland weather has taught us anything, it’s that rain-free outdoor events CAN happen and SHOULD happen.
ASUP was so impressed with the show that KDUP’s budget was extended by $1,000 for next semester. Conversations are already in the works for making the Fall Semester Showcase the best one yet.
This just goes to show that when we come together as a community to support something, good things happen and they keep happening. UP had never felt so much like a real college campus to me until that night. Lets keep it up!
I give major props to KDUP for continuing to better the campus art and music scene. Also, kudos to Kris Orlowski for being all around nice guys and a total blast to watch live. But most importantly, I want to celebrate the 350-some-odd-people who came out on their Saturday night to see a band they probably hadn’t heard of.
We’re continuing to make this campus better and better. That gives me something to dance about. Rachel Rippetoe is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at rippetoe18@up.edu
