Feb. 15, 2007

Singers to warm up MC in February
Thanks to members of CUB, Marietta College students have had many opportunities to see many entertainers and performers throughout the year. This semester is no different. Five Times August and Meg Allison will perform for students free of charge.

Jessie Schmac
schmacj@marietta.edu
Students may be in a hurry to leave the winter weather behind to find fun and sun this Spring Break. But before students embark on warmer vacations, the members of CUB have prepared for a musical event that they are sure MC students will enjoy.

On Saturday, February 24 at 8 p.m. singers Meg Allison and Five Times August will perform for students at the Gathering Place free of charge. This CUB sponsored event will be the second musical event of the semester.

Five Times August may sound like the name of a band full of guitarists and a drummer, but in actuality it is just the title of one guy, Brad Skistimas. “I didn’t want to promote my music as ‘Brad Skistimas’ because nobody will remember that when they go home,” says Skistimas, “so since my birthday is August 5, I decided to come up with a band named based on that.”

Skistimas has been writing songs and singing since 2001, when he was an 18-year-old high school graduate. Artists such as Paul McCartney, Sting, David Gray and Ben Folds Five have influenced Skistimas’s music. Though these singers influence him, his musical style is much different. “It’s acoustic singer/songwriter pop music,” laughs Skistimas.

As for his lyrics, he focuses on personal experiences of love and relationships. “We’ve all been in a great relationship, a big breakup, or had a huge crush, so it’s really cool to write songs people can relate to,” says Skistimas.

For Skistimas, the hardest part about being a performer in today’s music world is getting people to buy the music. “A lot of listeners don’t understand writing and performing is my job,” says Skistimas “just like whatever job they have, it pays the bills.”

Though the job may have its downfalls, Skistimas finds satisfaction through traveling and the fans. “It’s awesome being a thousand miles from home and seeing people singing along to songs I wrote,” says Skistimas “It’s pretty special.”

Skistimas is looking forward to continuing his college run at Marietta and is thankful that MC asked him to perform.

Five Times August will not be the only performer that night. Emerging artist Meg Allison will also be performing at the Gathering Place. Students may have seen Allison on USA Network’s Nashville Star, where she is a finalist competing for a music career and contract.

Allison’s music was inspired by Martin Sexton, Patty Griffin and Ryan Adams and carries with it “the honesty of country and the catchiness of pop.” Allison has a “gift for storytelling will heartfelt emotion.” Aside from just singing her own songs, Allison also plays the guitar and the piano.

Allison attended Miami University in Ohio and majored in Mass Communications. Now Allison is communicating to the Mass through “songs you can’t get out of your head, with the lyrics you’ve lived.”
Allison has found the time between Nashville Star and other performances across the country to sing for the students of Marietta College.

For more information about the performance, contact CUB president Jessica Diaz at diazj@marietta.edu