Bronco works wonders for SCU

By Nate Seltenrich

The recently installed campus watering hole, billiards room, study spot, and most importantly concert venue, has filled a gaping void in Santa Clara student life.

I'm not 21, I have the skills of a chimpanzee at pool and foosball, and I lack the concentration to do homework in any place other than a silent and still room. So what is it that I find so appealing about The Bronco? The music!

Yes, even as an under-aged, easily distracted, dexterity-impaired student, I too can find my niche in The Bronco. Showcasing musicians ranging from DJs to solo acoustic guitarists to six-member jam bands, over the past five months The Bronco has regularly offered performances to whet any musical appetite.

This was not always a luxury afforded to Santa Clara students. On-campus venues consisted of The Brass Rail (which still holds its share of events), CalFresh (which was located where The Bronco is now, and occasionally featured line-ups of student rock groups) and Kennedy Mall (where I should have seen all of you on April 19 for the Battle of the Bands!).

These locations didn't offer much in the way of versatility or reliability. The Bronco has picked up the slack nicely in those departments, usually offering at least one musical performance each week, reflecting varied genres, styles, and experience levels.

As an added benefit, The Bronco has drawn a number of highly talented student musicians out of the masses of the Santa Clara student body. Lower-profile musicians and bands whose only previous options were open-mics can now perform for larger audiences in a more formal concert setting. The Bronco has even featured off-campus musicians such as New York guitarist Jay Nash, who made a stop at Santa Clara as part of the West Coast leg of his tour.

All of this has assured students like myself who live, breathe and eat music that Santa Clara does in fact have a music scene. And for those of you who aren't quite so � obsessed � you can gain comfort from the fact that people like me are happy.

Now go forth, fellow students, and visit the Bronco. Performances usually take place on Friday and Saturday evenings, so adjust your schedules accordingly. And if you're not into music, you can always watch The Osbournes, sing karaoke, or play darts! Enjoy!