By Teresa Cheong
Many students come to afterHOURS for a taste of rock and emo. A few weeks ago, the venue featured its first heavy metal act. But Friday night, it switched gears and provided a folk performance for a crowd of about 130 students.
The voices of Northeastern student Baird Caner and Canadian singer-songwriter Justin Nozuka gave the audience a musical coffee break and an early taste of spring.
The event was sponsored by the Council for University Programs (CUP). Both artists played acoustic tunes, and the theme of love enriched the night’s performance through the artists’ experiences.
Caner played a number of his own folk songs that infused the venue with sweetness and relaxation.
“This song is from a girl who broke my heart. She played me like a fool,” Caner said at the start of his set. “But that’s how I am.”
Caner said he had just recovered from a bad case of the flu, but the audience reacted well to his performance nonetheless. His closed eyes, high-pitched vocals, jokes and soft guitar drew applause and appreciative yells.
“I love all of Baird’s songs,” said Ashley Magsanide, a sophomore biology major. “Tonight’s show is great and I’m having a lot of fun.”
In addition to Caner, afterHOURS hosted headliner Justin Nozuka who surprised the audience with his mellow voice and energetic guitar solo.
Nozuka is a 19-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter who often tours in Europe and Canada, even though he was born in New York City. He was recently nominated for a Juno, the Canadian equivalent of the American Grammy.
Friday night was his first time performing at Northeastern and in the United States, and he said he would like to return if possible.
“It’s funny and nice and the people are intimate,” he said. “This place is a lot smaller but the people are the same.”
Nozuka’s songs about the sweetness and bitterness of love accompanied his powerful acoustic guitar.
The audience remained silent to enjoy his melancholy, neo-folk style performance. At the end, they showed their support through applause.
“Nozuka is unbelievable. He has the sexiest voice I’ve ever heard. I would give up my mouth to have his voice,” Caner said earlier when introducing Nozuka to the audience.
Most students did not know Nozuka before the show but said they wanted to buy a copy of his CD afterward. However, while Nozuka’s debut album, Holly – named after his mother, Holly Sedgwick – is available on iTunes, it will not be released in the United States until April 15.
“He has an amazing voice and put on a great show,” said Mike Splain, a freshman music industry major. “He had a voice like Gavin Degraw, a voice which is not a modern pop player’s.”
Magsanide agreed, saying Nozuka’s fresh “mellow” vocals won her over.
After several songs about romantic relationships, Nozuka dedicated his last song to his mother, who he said gave unconditional support to him and his music.
“She is an incredible person,” Nozuka said.
Students seemed to enjoy his personal tribute, a stripped-down piece with no amplifiers and no microphone.
“I loved his last song, ‘To Mama,'” said Erin Farrell, a sophomore business major. “It’s touching.”
