Melodies and harmonies filled the Student Center when UCA’s Student Activities Board presented singer/songwriter Preston Pugmire’s performance Feb. 25.
Freshman Nathan Baumer said he enjoyed the show.
“[Pugmire] gave me goosebumps and I was immediately hypnotized into watching him perform,” he said. “In fact, I was a little embarrassed when I realized I was making the same face as every girl in the room.”
Pugmire, an Idaho native, said he has been playing for 15 years.
“About four years ago I found a way to make a career out of it,” he said. “Every school has an activities committee that brings artists in and that allows me to play all over the country.”
Pugmire said in the last three years he’s played at over 400 schools and been to 46 states.
SAB President Brian Thompson, senior, said the board had brought Pugmire to perform at UCA in the past.
“He’s always a crowd pleaser,” Thompson said. “He has a unique charisma about him. His use of unconventional musical techniques makes people stop and listen.”
Artists such as Bruno Mars, One Republic and Ed Sheeran influence Pugmire’s music. Though he shares the same style as these artists, he makes it his own.
Pugmire brings his acoustic guitar and pedal board and loops different rhythmic sections, bass lines and even beat boxing. He layers all of these, making a song out of scratch right in front of the audience.
Applause after every song indicated he was a favorite from students.
Sophomore Victoria Hittle said audience members enjoyed his crowd interaction.
“Preston was also really nice and friendly and interacted with the crowd, which I thought was a nice touch,” she said.
Hittle said SAB bringing Pugmire was a great idea.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it,” she said. “It was something fresh and new. He took a different spin off of other songs, which made it entertaining.”
While sophomore Matt Scheuter said Pugmire was talented, he said he didn’t want to listen to him during lunch.
“I really just wanted to hang out and talk to my friends, but the music was too loud,” he said. “The Student Center isn’t a place for a concert.”
Thompson said SAB tries to bring events that are appealing to a wide range of students.
“Past experiences have shown us that this is one of those events,” he said.
Pugmire’s self-titled album is available for purchase on iTunes.
Pugmir’s website, prestonpugmire.com, contains his contact information and a link to his Bandcamp account, where his music is available to the public.
Pugmire lives in Rexburg, Idaho, with his wife Corine.
SAB will present another singer/songwriter, Chris Cauley, at 12:30 p.m. March 18 at the amphitheater.
Cauley sings soul music with a modern pop feel.
For information on other SAB events, visit ucasab.com.
