Shapiro rocks Hillside

On August 31, the day before classes began at EMU, a multitude of students congregated in Hillside Suites to celebrate the last night of summer with some live music. Second floor hosted the solo music of EMU sophomore Mark Risser, followed by well-known local band Shapiro.

After a Shapiro-less summer, I was eager to hear the band again, and to experience the ambiance of a Hillside show. As I walked onto the second floor hallway, I saw people spilling out into the hall. Peering into Suite 207, I surveyed a darkened room packed with people watching Mark as he performed a set of original songs on acoustic guitar. I caught only the end of his set, but what I heard of Mark’s dynamic singing and songwriting was impressive.

Between sets, before Shapiro took the floor, the four residents of Suite 207 (juniors Andrew Intagliata, Greg Lamb, Mike Miller, and Jason Rutt) performed a rousing cover of the popular 90’s song “I Get Knocked Down,” which delighted some attendees and baffled others. As the suitemates played, the featured band brought in some electric fans with their equipment, and a few from the crowd milled about in the hall to cool down.

At last, Shapiro began to play. The audience (at least as many as could fit) piled back into the suite for an energetic set of the band’s distinct, keyboard-driven rock. Shapiro’s foursome, which features junior Jeremy Teter as lead singer, played mainly older material that night, enabling many fans to sing along with Jeremy’s passionate, sometimes haunting vocals.

All in all, the excellent night of music demonstrated not only students’ creative musical talent, but their creativity in using Hillside Suites as a venue to showcase that talent.