This past Saturday, within the cozy confines of Mary Low Coffeehouse, Saturday Night Live (SNL) made its triumphant return to the Colby College campus. The night featured various performances by Colby students ranging from an acoustic duet to a four-piece band jam session. The beloved biweekly event was founded by the Colby Music Incubator (CMI) only three years ago, and has been growing in popularity and scale ever since.
Clara Gayed `28, CMI Chief of Operations, explains that “usually someone every year from the CMI board ‘adopts’ the coffeehouse project and makes it theirs.” This year, that someone is Gayed. Her vision for SNL includes expanding the technical capabilities of the space and increasing student participation and audience turnout.
Saturday proved to be a success in all regards. Aided by a few enthusiastic performers, Gayed was able to introduce a full drum kit, keyboard, and upgraded sound mixer into the space, ensuring that it was well-equipped to host musical acts beyond the traditional combination of acoustic guitar and vocals. There were enough performances that the event went overtime, and enough audience members that, despite Mary Low’s abundance of couches and chairs, had no choice but to stand. In Gayed’s words, Saturday was “the most crowded SNL I have seen.”
The event’s fanbase isn’t limited to those involved in Colby’s music scene. According to Sofia Amaya `26, a barista at Mary Low, “[SNL] is the only [shift] that we actually choose to work. We always try to call dibs.” Norah Adler `26, another barista working the SNL shift, attributes SNL’s popularity to its “unique vibe”, adding that “it’s a really organic experience.” Though the night began with just two baristas behind the counter, many more had filed in by the time the event was in full swing.
Music is a remarkably human concept. At its core, its purpose is connection. The relaxed atmosphere of the coffeehouse, low-pressure open-mic style, and enthusiasm of every person in the room make SNL a space in which that connection is cultivated and championed. The informal nature of the event is part of the draw. Gayed describes it as “a very chill vibe. People don’t necessarily practice a lot for this or stress about it.” In her opinion, too many aspects of student life lack this element of flexibility.
In such an authentic environment, community flourishes. From beginning to end, the audience cheered on every performer—mishaps were met with shouts of encouragement, impressive high notes prompted many an admiring whoop, and every song was followed by a round of applause.
Not only did the performers earnestly support one another, but they also took pride in contributing to the behind-the-scenes work that allows events like SNL to exist. According to Gayed, SNL is “a community thing…people feel more ownership over the event compared to larger-scale CMI events.” Performers pitched in with equipment setup, cleanup, and even transportation. This spirit of involvement is a testament to the dedication and passion of the community SNL has created.
CMI is working hard this year to ensure students have plenty of opportunities to make music together. For example, they recently introduced weekly “open jam” sessions every Friday at 5:00 p.m. in the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts. For beginners, SNL is a fantastic first foray into the scene. Gayed emphasizes, “I feel like it is exactly where people should start if they are scared and would like to get more out there”. And if that isn’t a good enough reason to perform at the next SNL, here’s one more—every musician gets a free drink!
~ Anna Izquierdo `29
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