First PoBev of the year

By: Trevor Coats

trevor.coats@aggiemail.usu.edu

Dozens of students showed up to support performers and partake in goodies Saturday night at the first Poetry and a Beverage of the school year. PoBev is an open mic evening where Utah State University students can go to take in poetry, music and a beverage. It is a collective of those forms of art and is free for everyone.

The night started out with an R. Kelly remix, setting the free form tone for the evening. With every performer, the term “open mic” was reiterated again and again. Everyone had a different take on what constitutes “poetry”.

“It sounded fun,” said Cydney Hall, a freshman at USU. “Poetry is cool, I guess, and I was thirsty.”

In addition to a beverage, some rice krispie treats were provided, attracting more people to the event.

Taylor Fullmer, another freshman, responded to the size of the crowd.

“It was really nerve-wracking at first, but everyone in the crowd was really nice,” Fullmer said. “Everyone encourages you if you mess up; you just get back up and pull through it.”

Nearly two dozen performers took the stage by the end of the night, each offering their art to the crowd. Music was the predominant form of art for the evening, comprising more than 50 percent of the performances.

“I love that,” Fullmer said. “I think that it’s such a good idea, because music can be a form of poetry. I think lyrics are poetry.”

Hall was impressed by the talent, but wished for more poetry.

“I feel like there should have been more poetry than music, and music should’ve broken up the poetry,” she said. “But instead the poetry broke up the music.”

Aggie Radio recorded all of the artists of the evening which will be available on www.usu.edu/radio.

On top of all the other festivities, a competition was thrown for the attendees to post to either Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #myfirstpobev and show or tell about their first PoBev experience. One of the winners said they had their first date at a PoBev and now, coincidentally, they’re married.

“It was awesome,” said Rory Forbush, a non-student who showed up to participate in the event. “There were a lot of very positive people, very kind and very energetic.”

There will be another PoBev in September.