State In The Real – Penn State Music Scene

Category - Penn State Non-Music News

Exclusive Interview – Betty Who

While on the road, Betty Who took a moment to provide State In The Real with some insight into her sound, career and live performance. Check it out!

Also, connect with Betty Who on YouTubeFacebookInstagram and Twitter. Her official site can be found here.

What inspires you to create? Do you write from personal experience?

My every day environment.  I learn from my relationships and my friends relationships and experiences.

Describe your dynamic with producer Peter Thomas.

He and I are best friends first, before we are creative partners. He understands me musically and emotionally far better than most people do, and we’ve been working together for so long now that our working relationship is usually really seamless and easy.

Heartbreak Dream” has a sense of pop euphoria that makes the complexities of a relationship seem bearable. Is there a story behind the track?

There is definitely a long story behind the track.  There was a man in my life that I couldn’t seem to let go of for a couple years, even though I knew we were so bad for each other.  Every time we would get together, he would make me sad and I would make him angry and it was this never ending cycle of passion and hurt.  I wrote this song right around the point in my life when he and I probably both decided that we needed to make a break.

What elements of the recorded music do you aim to include in a live show?

I want people to recognize the tracks and the recorded songs as they are but with live elements and real instruments so you still have the energy of a live show.

Have you discovered fans enjoying any particular aspect of the live performance?

High Society is definitely a fan favorite.

You make music in a genre often forcing artists to change. How have you managed to be the exception to this trend?

I make music honestly and about what I feel and love.  I think what was helpful is that I spent a few years developing the project on my own before I brought on a bigger team.

Where do you see the current state of pop music heading? Have you thought much about this when recording the full-length album?

I think pop music is alive and well and the internet is only making things more exciting.  Good pop music will continue to stand out as good music and I truly believe in it.

What can you share about the upcoming record?

It’s coming along nicely… I’ll let you know more when I know more!

Okay. Rapid Fire. First thing that comes to mind.

Chardonnay – through the day

Love – hard but worth it

Selfie – always

Sweaters – cuddles!

Thanks! You rock.

Zeno's Pub Fall Line-up

If you’re looking for the place to enjoy a delicious craft beer while listening to exceptional live music, Zeno’s pub on Allen St has got you covered.

Below is their weekly lineup for the fall season:

Mondays

J. Mackey’s Trivia 7:30pm

Tuesdays

Natalie Race 10pm

Wednesdays

Bluegrass Night 8pm

With $2 pulled pork sandwiches

Featuring – Andy Tolins Bluegrass Revue

Thursdays

J. Mackey’s Trivia 7:30pm

Nightcrawlers 10:30pm

Fridays

AAA Blues Band 7pm

Spider Kelly 10:30pm

Saturdays

Harold Taddy or Sylvia 8pm

Pure Cane Sugar 10:30pm

 

For more info on the acts, click here for the Zeno’s pub website.

No Refund Theatre Presents: It's Always Sunny's "The Nightman Cometh" in Forum

The No Refund Theatre presents their adaptation of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s “The Nightman Cometh”! The play was originally put together by Charlie in season 4 episode 13 of It’s Always Sunny. The play is hilarious, very poorly written, and the characters in the show are extremely poor actors.

The show runs Thursday through Saturday, and is at 8pm each night in 111 Forum. There is no troll toll, because the show is free. If you’re looking for something to do this weekend before going out, definitely go see this performance. Check out the event page here.

Willard Preacher Confronted by Anti-Church Group: Hilarity Ensues

The Willard Preacher has become quite the social media icon within the past few months at Penn State, with last year’s statue incident, to several professors losing their cool. On campus today, October 3rd 2013, the Willard preacher faced another opponent, perhaps his most challenging ones yet: men with really big signs!!

One of our writers caught the action as it unfolded:

Former Olympic Gold Medalist Shawn Johnson to Speak on October 2nd

Former Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson will speak on October 2nd in Eisenhower Auditorium at 8pm. The event is free, but is ticketed. Tickets can be picked up at Eisenhower Auditorium or the HUB ticket desk. This event is the first of SPA’s Distinguished Speakers Series kicks for the year.

Shawn Johnson is a retired American artistic gymnast. She is the 2008 Olympic balance beam gold medalist and team, all-around and floor exercise silver medalist. Johnson became a member of the U.S. senior team in 2007. She is the 2007 individual all-around World Champion and 2007 World Champion on floor exercise. As well as being the 2007 U.S. Champion on balance beam and floor exercise, the 2008 U.S. Champion on floor exercise and silver medalist on balance beam, she is a three-time U.S. all-around Champion, winning once as a junior and twice as a senior. In February 2009, Johnson was the winner of Dancing with the Stars – season eight, and in September 2012, came in second place on the all-star edition!

Bo Burnham To Perform at State Theater on October 22nd

If you missed Bo Burnham in the spring when he performed at the HUB, no need to fret! Bo is coming back for another run here in State College!

As he stated in his Facebook event post, this show is going to be basically the same as the one in spring if you saw it. It was great and worth seeing again (or seeing for the first time for those of you who missed out.)

He will be performing at The State Theatre on Tuesday, October 22nd at 8 pm. Doors will open at 7pm. Tickets are on sale for $30 (plus $3 ticketing fee per ticket) and can be bought here: http://thestatetheatre.org/bo-burnham/
You can also buy tickets downtown at the venue itself.
If you missed out of his performances before, we guarantee it is completely worth it! We’ll be there covering the show, so if you do miss the show again, you can check back here for a review!