Newman Coffeehouse performers serve up a musical feast
Audience dines on smorgasbord of hard rock, soft pop, and country classics
By Paul Sinkewicz
“For what we are about to receive may we be truly thankful.”
Those words adorn the wall in the cafeteria of St. Thomas More College, and while they most often pertain to food, on a recent Friday evening they referred to a different kind of nourishment.
They referred to the kind of offering that feeds the soul – comradeship, music and joy.
Those are the staples that are always on the menu when the Newman Centre mounts a Coffeehouse, and there were heaping helpings of all three available on Oct. 24 when eight gifted entertainers took the stage in front of a roomful of friends.
The audience included current students of STM, staff, alumni and friends and all were treated to a wide variety of musical gifts, including an original song by student Vincent Mellesmoen titled While You Sleep.
Included in the set list was as wide a variety of music as you could want, from Metallica to John Denver, and traditional folk music to glam rockers Kiss.
The event was put on by the executive members of the Newman Centre (Jarrod Daunheimer, Shylle Yocte, Anuli Nwume, Carly Serke, Mary Kirkpatrick, and Sam Medernach) and included beverages and sweet treats to go along with the entertainment, all for the low, low price of whatever you could afford to give.
The joy was especially infectious when Mellesmoen invited the crowd to sing along to the 70s pop hit Country Roads, Richard Medernach encouraged participation in the whimsical Dead Skunk by Loudon Wainwright III and Michael MacLean got us clapping along to Keb’ Mo’s God Trying to Get Your Attention.
If you have a gift to share at the next Newman Coffeehouse – be it a story, poem or song – look for your next chance to sign up to spread some joy. Or just make sure to come and cheer on the generous performers.
You will leave with a smile!
