Java Barn Opens “Garage Door” to Full Capacity

The Java Barn, one of the only fully student-run college music venues in the United States, recently opened to full capacity after a long semester of COVID-19-restricted shows. While masks are still required for the audience, The High and Mighty Brass Band’s recent performance has students buzzing about Java again.   

With up to two shows and four bands performing at the venue every week, members of the Java house work hard to provide consistent live music on campus. According to house member, Liv Erwich ‘22, the team gathers every Sunday to assign new jobs for the week. “That way, everyone in our house is trained, and everyone can understand how much work everybody puts into their jobs,” Erwich said. Java roles include “Boss,” “Food,” “Guest,” “Clean-Up,” “Promo,” “Tips” and fixed jobs like Sound Tech and Booking Agent, Erwich said.    

The Java team prioritizes both the audience and the talent’s experiences during shows, often leaving artists eager to come back and perform in future semesters. “A lot of the time we do have repeat bands and that’s what makes a lot of the booking process a lot easier because they already know the venue, what they’re doing, what they’re getting into. Then, you get to see them enjoy Java over and over again,” Erwich said.  

According to house member, Noah Astruc ‘22, bands were still able to enjoy the locked-down shows thanks to St. Lawrence students’ energy. “They were still able to have a good time because of the crowd that this school brings and how a room of twelve people can feel pretty sick during a show.” However, after working with the COVID-19 Board about safety protocols and opening back up to full capacity, Astruc said “it felt so much better.” Maddie Olaynack ‘23, another house member, echoed this idea and is relieved to no longer “limit the java love.”  

Director of SLU Funk Ensemble Larry Boyette has played shows at Java for close to 25 years and has experienced all three Java venues as they changed over time. “I remember working up some tunes for a young woman who was sort of an aspiring jazz vocalist and playing at an open mic. This was the first Java, the Java when it was still the barn behind the house. The fun of playing at Java is that it’s always been small, so it doesn’t take many people in the room for it to feel packed. With very few exceptions, every time I’ve played at Java it’s been with students, so the crowd of students are there to see students and that just has a special energy,” Boyet  

This “special energy” transcends the weekly shows for Java members, too. For Astruc, the connection shared within the house is “palpable.” “Totally separate from shows, which is such a big part of what we do, the intimacy in this house is downright scary sometimes. It feels so much like a home, even more so sometimes than my own house,” Astruc said.   

This connection became even more apparent as housemates gathered in their welcoming, highly decorated and colorful common room and volunteered to share their favorite parts about Java.  

“The house just allows you to be completely your own individual self,” house member Zach Effman ’22 said. “You are just able to explore what that means and who that is while knowing that you will be fully supported on that because everyone is doing the same thing.”  

According to Java resident Anissa Atischand, “I think the level of trust in this house is remarkable and it shines through in both our meetings and our shows. I think you can see how much we respect and trust each other. Also just seeing the smiles on people’s faces. It’s one of my favorite things about the shows.”  

Another Java member, Drew Racioppa ’23 commented on Java’s authentic mission. “It’s not a brand and it’s not a company, it’s not an established order, it’s not about making money. It’s mainly about doing whatever you think is right in the time being,” he said.  

House member, Rosie Johns ‘23, is able to carry out this mission while also gaining experience in her professional interests. “My favorite part about living in the house is getting to meet and work with all of the amazing bands that we have. I have always really wanted to work in the music business with such talented musicians and I’m so lucky to be able to do that here. I also think that it’s helped build my confidence and just learn to anticipate need a lot better than ever before. So Java has really helped me grow in a sense,” Johns said.   

Java books performances semesters in advance so many more full-capacity shows are scheduled to return at the beginning of the spring semester.