Indie-rock singer-songwriter (Sandy) Alex G will perform in the Cabaret on Thursday, March 15 for a free concert. Only Emerson students will have access to the event, which is hosted by WECB Live.
Pennsylvanian multi-instrumentalist (Sandy) Alex G, real name Alexander Giannascoli, built a following by releasing a series of self-published albums on Bandcamp. He has received critical acclaim for his sixth album DSU, which appeared on several publications’ Best Albums of 2014 lists, including Vogue’s Top 10. Rocket, his most recent project, released last year, was listed by Pitchfork as one of the 50 Best Albums of 2017. He also arranged and played guitar on Frank Ocean’s 2016 album Blonde, on the songs “Self Control” and “White Ferrari”.
Senior Sam Baler, WECB’s General Manager reached out to (Sandy) Alex G’s booking team to secure a concert date.
“We did the Frankie Cosmos show last semester, which went really well,” Baler said. “And we wanted to do another show like that … [I] thought [Alex G] would be a good fit for the Emerson student crowd.”
Singer-songwriter Frankie Cosmos performed at the Cabaret last semester on Nov. 17, the first WECB Live free concert for Emerson students. Ultra Chapelle, a band comprised of Emerson students, opened for Cosmos.
The tradition of student opening acts will continue at this semester’s concert with junior performing arts major Annie Krivit and her band.
“I’m looking forward to [the show],” Baler said. “If anybody was at the Frankie Cosmos show, it’s going to be a similar environment. [Alex G is] a great performer. It’s going to be a great concert.”
Freshman Mia Manning helms the WECB Live Team with sophomore Nick Arcari. Manning and Arcari said it made sense to host (Sandy) Alex G at the next WECB Live concert because of his popularity on campus.
“A lot of people I’ve met here are really into [Alex G’s] music. Same with Frankie Cosmos—same kind of deal,” Arcari said.
Manning said WECB Live is committed to supporting and giving opportunities to Emerson student musicians, and to creating more spaces for the community to come together and enjoy music.
Arcari said WECB hopes to organize and host more on-campus concerts and live-music events like this one.
“[Concerts are] a really interesting and different way that Emerson College can engage more of the community,” Manning said.
Manning and Arcari encourage Emerson students to attend the show and interact with like-minded students.
“[The concert is] an awesome opportunity to meet people who like this kind of music, or who like going to live shows,” Arcari said.
Manning said there are also opportunities for networking—a lot of people that came to the Frankie Cosmos show last semester ended up interviewing to be part of the WECB Live team this semester.
“The fact that we got Frankie Cosmos last semester was huge,” Arcari said. “And the fact that we’re now getting Alex G … I just see a momentum. We want to keep doing it. We want it bigger and better.”