by Amanda Crouse
As a fledgling first-year at The College of Wooster, my experience with The Underground had been limited before this past weekend. I had gone to a trivia night and a grocery-themed bingo night (at which one of my friends won a coveted box of Chicken in a Biskit), but found myself spending most of my “Woo Wednesdays” and weekend evenings in the Andrews library or the C-store instead of the tempting but scary activities held at the school’s own seedy pool lounge. I was, however, determined to temporarily cast aside my social woes if only for one event: Covers. This month’s theme, returning for its second year, was Women Who Rock.
The Goliard Literary Magazine and Woo 91’s version of an open mic night invited attendees to consider the integral role of gender in music with student-performed covers of songs originally written or played by female artists. While I wasn’t known for being a hard-core punk rocker or rave frequenter in my hometown, I did miss going to live music events. The intimacy of being one in a small crowd at a local cover band concert or even community talent show was something that I hadn’t yet found at the College. I was nothing short of thrilled when the first group of the night took the stage.
The Suits, as this dynamic band is known, set the tone for the evening with a jazzed-up pastiche of “Valerie,” originally performed by The Zutons and later covered by Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson. I appreciated the inclusion of a trumpet and some saxophones in the lineup of instruments, which seemed to summon idling listeners to the unofficial dance floor at the center of the room. The second performer of the night, Emma Anderson ’26, sang “Georgia,” a slow and sweetly melancholy acoustic tune that had me and my tray of free popcorn swaying in our seat. By the time the third act took the stage, the room was abuzz with energy. The crowd’s excitement was invigorating, and I ostensibly found myself standing with the swarm in the middle of the floor to watch Texan Slugs’ cover of the classic anti-war ballad “Zombie.” Despite the grim nature of the song’s lyrics, the mood in The Underground was high. This energy persisted through the fourth and final performance, a passionate rendition of “Misery Business” by Last Minute Practice.
I was bummed upon realizing that only four groups would be performing. The only downfall of this event was that it was too fun for me to be satisfied with it lasting little more than an hour. Even after the final band finished their song, my friends and I lingered for a while just to enjoy the endearing basement ambiance. There was something communal about the suffocating warmth that filled the room. That special kind of stuffiness reserved for sketchy warehouse concerts and midwestern house parties hosted by a friend of a friend. Emerging from the depths of The Underground that night, the brisk September breeze chilled the red warmth from my cheeks, and I felt grateful to have attended such a cool event. Suddenly, I wanted to see more live music — and listen to more Amy Winehouse.