The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

Non-profit puts locals on stage

Burlington non-profit Friends + Family brought their do-it-yourself styled concerts up a step to the second floor of the Burlington City Arts center Feb. 22. The non-profit hosted a show that included five local acts who varied in style.Friends + Family is an organization that assists musicians to put on local shows.They provide sound systems, promotion and usually a basement or bar for shows, according to their website. Students and locals alike braved the ice covered sidewalks to make it to Church Street for the concert.The concert space consisted of two renovated apartment rooms with brick firesides and windows that overlooked Church Street?s wintertime decorations. Final Frontiers opened the show, a band that consists of guitar, keyboard and usually drums, but the group went as only a two-man band on Saturday night. Sophomore Amanda Meltsner said she liked their set, and described the group as ?happy, nasally white boy punk-rock.?Later, after a performance by electronic music duo Universal Children, came Lifemusik mit Andre.He is a one-man act who sings with guitar and backtracks from his iPhone plugged into the PA system. Between songs he exchanged banter with the audience. ?This song is called Tender and Tinder. Tender like meat, Tinder like the app,? he said. Lifemusik mit Andre engaged his audience by dancing with a machete and taking his shirt off.?I liked him a lot, he was really funny,? first-year Carter Kolasa said. After a set by two-man band SHTKNF, much of the audience migrated to the second room for coffee and merchandise and danced to the music spun by the DJ.The audience moved one last time to the performance room for five-person band Rick Rude. The band filled the arts center with two guitars, a bass, a trombone and drums. They played a variety of rock songs, including a cover of ?Scar Tissue? by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Visit www. friendsandfamilyvt.tumblr.com to learn about future Friends + Family events.

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Non-profit puts locals on stage