NoViCE hosts small shows

Sam Bloch Arts Editor

An eclectic lineup of comedians, performance artists, rock bands, folk acts, and out-there world musicians will play at Vassar this semester. NoViCE, a self-described “small shows” wing of Vassar College Entertainment (ViCE), co-chaired by Jake Friedman ’07 and Zach Rottman ’07, will curate what Friedman called “frequent shows of a really diverse character.”

“We wanted to create an organization where people would be inspired to come out to shows where they haven’t necessarily heard all of the artists,” said Friedman. “By encouraging a variety and an abundance of smaller shows on campus, we hope to create a new attitude about seeing live performances.”

According to Friedman, the group was created to fill a void left by ViCE and WVKR, the largest groups on campus responsible for booking shows.

“ViCE has to organize big shows, and WVKR has to broadcast,” said Friedman. “So there really was a need for this organization to create opportunities for students.”

Also of paramount importance to Friedman was the opportunity for students to get involved. Because NoViCE will host six shows this semester, and are looking to book two more, student bands will have many chances to open for established musicians.

“Lots of people on campus are musicians and have friends who are musicians,” said Friedman.

Friedman stressed that students should not hesitate to discuss booking acts with NoViCE. “We wanted to create an organization where musicians, as well as students, could approach us about shows, and we’d find a way to make it work,” Friedman said.

Students interested in booking artists can contact Friedman and Rottman at no-vice@iamconfident.com and listen to upcoming artists on the NoViCE podcast (no-vice.blogspot.com). But Friedman said that students can make their voices heard best by attending upcoming shows and supporting the group.

“We’re still in a trial run, and we’re really trying to prove the importance of this organization,” said Friedman. “We need people to come to the first few shows and see what we’re up to in order to ensure a year of success.”

Friedman hopes that by year’s end students will associate NoViCE shows with party-like atmospheres. “I want to host a pool party on the quad and get a fun outdoor band to play,” he said. “We want a positive attitude surrounding people trying new things and experimenting—you don’t have to be named Wyclef to put on a good show.”

Japanther and Shell Shag will play NoViCE’s first show in the College Center MPR at 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9.