Students were enjoying music by John Rush in the Stag this past Friday night, with free slushies, soda, pizza, and breakfast sandwiches to snack on as part of Late Night at the Stag, FUSA’s nighttime event for Fairfield Friday.
Prospective Fairfield students roamed around the Stag, taking in the Fairfield Friday experience, enjoying the vibe as their Fairfield friends showed them around for a good time. Both students and their guests enjoyed themselves, along with some of the international students studying at Fairfield for the semester or year.
John Rush was the headline entertainment for the night, a musician known as the “Human iPod” because he can play up to 60 hours of a a wide variety of songs that listeners request, right on the spot. Rush has also covered for various band, and has opened for Fuel, Howie Day, Edwin McCain, Matt Kearney, and Keller Williams. He has even performed on stage with The Dixie Chicks, Rob Thomas from Matchbox 20, and Joe Pisapia from Guster.
As Rob and Iggy’s pizzeria was giving away free pizza, John Rush was playing “Paint It Black” by the Rolling Stone.
Rush said performing at the Stag had an “upbeat kind of feel.” He said he has played original stuff in coffee houses around the area and across the country. When he opened for Fuel and Eve 6 he performed in front of 10,000 people.
“I like a smaller show more than a big show. In big shows you just see security guys in front of you blocking the fans,” said Rush.
Rush combines a much larger sound than most solo musicians with his talent in playing bass, harmonica, piano, and percussion of recorded guitar loops. He is originally from Huntsville, Alabama where at the age of 12 he first learned to play the guitar. Rush was inspired by bands like The Rolling Stones and U2. Hip-hop and country are his least favorite genres, therefore he does not play songs under those genres upon request.
“I’m like a Stevie Ray Vaughn want to be,” said Rush.
Rush entertained students by cracked jokes in between songs, like when an inappropriate song request was made. For example, when a student asked Rush to play Miley Cyrus’ ‘Party in the USA,’ Rush replied with, “I don’t do Miley Cyrus. Mostly because she is not 18.”
Students and workers alike seemed to have fun at the event.
“Everyone is excited, said Justin Ulisse, supervisor for Sodexho. “It beats the nine to five, punching in, punching out. It is something different for them to do,” They started it last November. Once FUSA took this over it really exploded.”
Michael Rubertone ’11 said it was all about publicizing the event and hitting it from all angles.
“We have been really focusing on the programming aspect so people actually stay while there here, making it entertaining,” he said.
“We wanted to associate the stag with Fairfield and school spirit,” said Lauren Johnson ’11.
Camille Poulain, Loredane Bourscheidt, and Hannah Kurvers are international students studying abroad at Fairfield for a year, examining American culture and learning about campus life. For Poulain, Bourscheidt, and Kurvers, this was a fun time to listen to music, eat free food, and hang out with friends.
“It’s a great occasion to discover a new artist,” said Loredane Bourscheidt. “I came here because I want to become involved in campus life.”
Camille, Loredane, and Hannah are from France where campus is more spread out as opposed to academic buildings, dorms, church, and cafeteria all in one setting. Far away from home in France, these three friends saw Late Night at the Stag as an opportunity to get more involved within the social network at Fairfield. John Rush performing was a great way for them to have a fun time and take a break from studying.
“I want to take advantage of this year and all the opportunities,” said Kurvers.
“I came for the free bracelets and I came to take my prospect and hang out with friends,” said Mabel Polanco ’13. The prospective student that was shadowing her came from Springfield; Massachusetts, a student in high school that was getting exposure to the University so that they might have an interest in attending next year.
Daniel Maloney ’13 brought his shadow from Springfield, Massachusetts as well. Maloney was showing his friend, still in high school, around Fairfield in hopes that he might consider applying and attending next year.
“I’m showing him the whole madness,” he said.
These high school students were given the privilege from their faculty to attend Fairfield University for the weekend. A counselor from their school chose these individuals to experience campus life on a Friday night.
“Our counsel handpicked us,” said Naim Mafuz, who will be graduating high school in 2010. “All the people have been pretty friendly. It has a real good vibe about it.”
Sarah Martin ’13, a fan of classic rock, enjoyed the music the most.
“I loved the music,” she said. “It’s going to keep kids out of trouble.”
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