The music industry is a difficult one to get into, and an even difficult one to find longevity in. There are thousands of artists out there that get very little exposure, even though they are just as talented as those who have achieved “mainstream” status. One of these artists is Canada’s own: Mr. Colter Wall. While we give Canada credit for artists like Drake and Justin Bieber, we don’t really see many country music artists coming from our neighbors to the north.

Wall’s music is classified as folk music, but has some strong influences outside of the folk genre. His first EP Imaginary Appalachia has a dark and folky/Americana feel. “Sleeping on the Blacktop” and “The Devil Wears a Suit and Tie” are two great examples of this folky/Americana feel and a good place to start when listening to Colter.

Wall’s voice is similar to that of some country music stars from days’ past. Wall released a self-titled full album in May and it is a little different from the EP, but still exceeds expectations. He again brings back the darker folk sound, but also more of a classic country aspect to the album. “Snake Mountain Blues” is midway through the album, and could be the song that epitomizes the album.

If this post has caused you to have some strong considerations to listen to Mr. Wall’s music, you need to keep a few things in mind. The reason why this incredibly talented 21-year-old won’t be featured on the radio is because his music is on the darker side and offers a lot of deep lyrics to match. While music on the radio leans more toward the shallow side, it doesn’t always favor the depth that you find in Mr. Wall’s music. His music stands out, and that’s what makes it unique.

All in all, Colter Wall’s music is relatively slept on, and that’s a shame considering his talent. If you’re looking to shuffle up from the same rainy-day music or just looking for something a little different, give Colter a shot.

For our last post concerning local Mexican food on the blog, Logan and Clay give us a glimpse into a place you probably know all too well – Sparky’s Cantina. Read below for their full review!

Nuzzled up in the back of the Reber Thomas dining hall lies the hidden gem of Mexican eateries in Lynchburg. Sparky’s Cantina offers a fiesta of flavors and helping sizes that will leave you content.

When it comes to authenticity and flavor, nothing compares to the slow cooked chicken and perfectly seasoned beef found at Sparky’s Cantina. Sparky’s Cantina is the perfect place to grab a bowl or burrito with heaps of meat, rice, beans, and all the fixings, including FREE GUAC!

Sparky’s Cantina is a staple for on-campus life. As long as you have a valid Flames Pass and a meal plan, the dining hall’s gem is undoubtedly the easiest Mexican joint to visit.

No one can argue that a meal swipe for unlimited food is quite the deal. If you do not have a meal plan, a visit to the dining hall for Sparky’s Cantina will cost you about $10. Keeping in mind that you can eat until the shame from getting back in line becomes unbearable, this is a legitimate deal.

On the hunt for a first date venue? There is no need to look any further. Sparky’s Cantina offers wide open seating in a busy, loud setting filled with mixed scents and probably ten people from your hall. If you’re looking for a quick, easy option that doesn’t scream, “I’m trying to impress you,” Sparky’s Cantina is the spot for you.

Mi Patron has five locations in the Lynchburg area, the closest of which is found in Candler’s Station near Staples. Each location offers a homey spin on traditional Mexican-American restaurants.

Mi Patron delivers healthy portions of good old-fashioned Mexican food. The menu is large and mostly unintimidating, offering familiar options like chicken fajitas and some more innovative recipes like the Mexican Cheese Steak (thinly sliced steak, onions, and nacho cheese on a soft tortilla). While Mi Patron serves some less traditional meals, the flavors should leave you satisfied.

The Mi Patron on Candler’s Mountain is one of the easiest Mexican restaurants to access in Lynchburg. Walking to Candlers Station from Green Hall is comparable to walking from East Campus to the Rot, while the furthest location (Forest) is about an 18-minute drive if you want to show off your car.

The most important part of choosing where to eat, for college students at least, is the price. Mi Patron is one of the more affordable restaurants in town. Their lunch menu boasts 20 meals between $5 to $8. All things considered you’ll probably spend under $10, unless you have taken Dr. Wheeler and tip 87%. Mi Patron proves to be a great bang for your buck.

While Mi Patron is no Mexican Shoemakers, it is a solid choice for a casual date. Its affordable meals and cozy décor create a good environment for a 2nd or 3rd date, when your wallet is a bit skinny from that flashy first date.

If you haven’t heard, Logan and Clay (two of our staff) have been on a Hispanic heritage tour of Lynchburg. Read below for numero dos of our four-part blog series – “Let’s Taco ‘Bout It: Tacos Locos”.
Tacos Locos is located on Fort Avenue right next to Chestnut Hill Bakery. It’s one of Lynchburg’s most noteworthy food trucks and is run by a Hispanic couple who know how to dish out some stellar cuisine.

Tacos Locos also utilizes authentic spices in their dishes, the most notable of which are the tacos. They offer chicken, BBQ, shrimp, and tongue tacos, all of which are topped with diced onions and cilantro. By themselves, the tacos are satisfying, but you can take them to the next level by utilizing the free lime wedges and salsas that are offered there as well.

Tacos Locos is closer to campus than El Camino (about a six-minute drive) but still requires a vehicle. Parking is fairly limited here as well, so if there are multiple people going, use the opportunity to be Christ-like and offer to take the squad.

Tacos are ordered al-la-carte (individually) or in a combo with a drink. The combo will run you just over $8 and comes with three hearty tacos. Considering it’s a food truck, tipping is not as much of a necessity as when you visit a sit-down restaurant.

So you’ve scored a “yes” from that gospel fox you’ve been eying all semester and you’re wondering, “Should I take them to Tacos Locos?”

To put it short and sweet, no. It’s a unique local staple no doubt, but considering it’s situated outdoors and roughly 15 feet away from a bustling Fort Avenue, the ambiance is hardly romantic (unless both of your love languages are street tacos). You could, though, consider picking up tacos to bring to a more meaningful location.

Who says there can’t be authentic Mexican food in central Virginia? Not us, and certainly not Logan and Clay, who just toured the Hispanic heritage that the Lynchburg scene has to offer. Over the next few weeks, these two will answer your deepest questions about tacos, prices, ambience and, most importantly, if you should make one of these restaurants the site of your first date!

Read below for the first review of our “Let’s Taco ‘Bout It” series. We’ll kick it off with one of our local favorites – El Camino.

The original El Camino location on Lakeside Drive is run by a local Mexican family who made their way to the States nearly ten years ago. The venue is unashamedly a whole in the wall, and their menu offers the essence of Mexican cuisine.

The authenticity of the recipes that El Camino is serving up is rivaled by very few Mexican eateries in town. Their dishes rely on meats and vegetables seasoned with cumin, oregano, and coriander – the pillar spices of true Mexican cuisine. The chips and salsa are decent, but the flavors of the entrees will undoubtedly have you coming back for more.

El Camino is about a 10-minute drive from campus, so you’ll need a ride. Parking is limited, so round up your amigos and amigas and carpool together!

Including a tip, be prepared to spend anywhere from $9 to $14 on your meal. There’s a healthy range of portion sizes depending on what dish you want, so your expenditure is really just up to your appetite.

Like we said, El Camino is a local dive, and its appearance is somewhat lackluster. That being said, if you’re scoping out places to take your honey on a first date, we don’t suggest here. If you’ve been friends for a while though, or are looking for a solid fourth or fifth date location where first impressions are a concern of the past, El Camino is the spot.

Pro-tip: swing by Fresh Market to sample some candy for dessert on your way back to campus.

written by Drew Snavely

In this current digital age, we essentially have unlimited access to any music we want, whenever we want. This is great news for us, because as you probably do, I love music. I love finding new music. When I find new music that I love, I love it a little too much. About every two weeks I have two or three favorite songs I can’t get enough of and listen to non-stop… and then I’ve had enough of them. I still like the songs, I’m just tired of hearing them, so those songs end up collecting dust in my Spotify library. I tell myself when I find new songs I won’t listen to them as much so I won’t get tired of them, but this hardly ever works. This is why it has been so important to me to constantly seek out new music that I enjoy.

Listening to new music not only keeps the music you’re currently loving from going stale, but it also challenges your brain to process new sounds or lyrics that it isn’t normally accustomed to. Processing this new music has the potential to expand the genres of music that you are interested in. Throughout middle school and high school, the majority of the music I listened to was made by rock and hip-hop artists. Fast forward a handful of years later and a large majority of the music I listen to now comes from singer-songwriters like James Vincent McMorrow. I remember when my brother first showed me the song “Cavalier” by McMorrow off his second album “Post Tropical”. It was so different and weird; I had never tried to seriously listen to an artist quite like McMorrow before and there was this uncomfortable tension while listening to his music so I turned it off. A couple weeks later my brother told me that McMorrow’s album had been the best album of year in his opinion and it sparked my interested enough for me to give “Post Tropical” another try. As “Cavalier” came on it was weird, but not in the same way as before. I was expecting the same tension but it had seemingly vanished. I had heard the song before and the familiarity suppressed the tension enough to give me the freedom to fall in love with the song, album and artist all at once.

I’m so thankful to have a library full of awesome music from artists like Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens and Noah Gundersen since becoming a fan of McMorrow’s work. Listening to new music can be difficult at times, but you can often discover fantastic music if you have the patience to break through the initial tension of a different and new sounding song or artist. At Student Activities we love bringing in big artists that you love like NEEDTOBREATHE, Johnnyswim and Lecrae, but we also have a lot of joy bringing in artists you might not know. Young Oceans is one of those bands that some may be unfamiliar with, and we are so pumped to bring them in! They are playing a concert for us this Friday, September 29^th in the LaHaye Event Space.

Nomad Coffee Company

The Great Pumpkin – pumpkin pie macchiato 

Naomi: Maybe you love pumpkin, but you can’t get on the PSL train. If that’s the case, this might just be the drink for you! Nomad offers a fun spin on the classic pumpkin spice latte that showcases the espresso with the perfect pumpkin undertone. The best part? Nomad is available to you with just the swipe of a flames pass at every football game! Does it get any better than that?!

Pumpkin Chai-aLeBouf – espresso / pumpkin chai latte

Trae: If you are a fan of fall and all of the pumpkin-flavored food and drink options that come with it, then this tea is definitely worth the try. The Pumpkin Chai-aLeBouf tastes like pumpkin pie with a foamy cool whip. I was speechless after trying this drink – I’d prefer this over a pumpkin spice latte any day!

Third Wave

Pumpkin Spice Latte –  pumpkin latte with cinnamon, nutmeg,
and allspice 

N: Quick shout out to Third Wave for always being there for me and never letting me down. This PSL is as genuine as your grandma’s homemade pumpkin pie. As usual, Third Wave creates a one of a kind drink using house-made ingredients paired with the perfect spices. Make sure to stop by Third Wave next time you’re in Forest to experience the quintessence of fall.

Cardamom Chai Latte – chai with house-made cardamom syrup

T: This drink is a great alternative that is perfect for those who aren’t the biggest fans of chai tea. Third Wave makes the cardamom chai latte with subtle ginger undertones. It is a classic latte with light flavoring, making every sip taste remind you that fall shouldn’t ever have to end!

Bean Tree Cafe

Spirit of the Mountain – mocha, hazelnut, and maple latte 

N: Every LU student knows that Bean Tree is the place to study when you need to get off campus. After a few pumpkin spice lattes, I’m ready to change things up. Who’s with me? Grab a Spirit of the Mountain latte and you won’t be disappointed. This drink is as smooth as a drive through the Blue Ridge parkway and as light as fresh mountain air.

Harvest Chai – chai latte with pumpkin

T: Looking for a fall drink that you can buy with your flames cash? If yes, then Bean Tree has the perfect drink for you. The Harvest Chai has the perfect mixture of cinnamon and pumpkin, making it a great alternative to the pumpkin spice latte. This is a drink that I’ll be getting again.

The White Hart

Little Bear Cappuccino – cinnamon and honey latte 

N: Less is more. The Little Bear Cappuccino is another fun yet simple substitute for the never-ending wave of pumpkin that is fall. I’m a huge cappuccino advocate as they have less milk than lattes, which allows the espresso to shine. This drink is sweet and simple with just the slightest accent of cinnamon and honey.

Caramel Spiced Chai – caramel chai latte

T: If you’re in the small crowd that doesn’t like pumpkin spice, then this is a great fall drink for you. The caramel spiced chai has bold flavors of chai paired with warm caramel. To top it off, this drink has just the right amount of cinnamon to give it that warm fall feeling.

The Muse

Harvest Latte – pumpkin spice and vanilla latte 

N: You can never go wrong at The Muse. This not-so-spicy latte includes pumpkin and vanilla – possibly the greatest dynamic duo of all time. This blend of flavors creates the perfect combination of creamy and cozy. It’s perfect for any fall day!

Pumpkin Chai – pumpkin chai latte

T: If you want to give Christmas in a Cup a short break, then you should try a Pumpkin Chai. Unlike other pumpkin chai teas, this one has a smoother taste because it doesn’t have as much cinnamon in it. This drink is perfect for you if you want to try a pumpkin drink that’s different from the classic pumpkin spice latte.

When you think of Student Activities, you may associate a few different words with our name. One could be “fun”, which is fitting; with 80+ events each school year (including concerts, movie nights, game nights and more), we strive to consistently provide good times for every student. You could also associate “diverse”, simply because of how many different events we put on each year. We hope that you associate “recognizable”, as we want all our events to be uniform in their standards of excellence. Amidst all the words one may think of, one important word that we always want to be associated with is “growth”.

Looking back on the past 25 years of Student Activities, growth is very apparent for us. Take Coffeehouse, for example – the show began in the old Schilling Center (which most of you probably don’t remember). It then moved to the Vines Center, but it was sideways so that only one side of the seats could see the stage. Today, the entire Vines Center tunes in to Coffeehouse each semester – 8,000+ students, to be precise. Coffeehouse is one of many examples of the growth in our department over the years. With the growth we’ve had and are so proud of, we strive to go further each year.

The past couple years, we’ve focused more on growing in the area of cultural engagement. It’s actually one of our four values – among loving others, teamwork and professionalism, cultural engagement is one of the most important parts of our mission. Therefore, we’ve been spending time over the past few years thinking through what cultural engagement means and how to put it into action. Among leading workshops so that our staff is informed on how to engage in culture, another way we want to challenge thinking is through discussing what we choose to engage in and why. We want to engage with people, not only through our events and our staff, but also in social media, our blog, our website and our presence in general.

Our Student Activities staff handbook includes this Purpose Statement on the first page:

“[Our] events serve two purposes. First, they provide students numerous opportunities to interact with one another, fostering a stronger sense of community within the student body, and laying the foundation for lasting relationships. Second, students are presented with opportunities to engage a variety of elements that make up the culture surrounding them.”

The second part of the Purpose Statement describes that our goal as a department is to present students with opportunities to engage in culture, and what better way to do that than for SA to engage first? One way we’ve been doing that is by posting about upcoming releases in the entertainment world every Monday so that our blog readers are aware of what’s going on. We’ve also released posts “reviewing” recent shows we’ve watched, music we’ve listened to and movies we’ve seen – all for the sake of discussing what is culturally relevant. At the end of each post, we give a disclaimer saying that we’re not explicitly promoting the content we write about – instead, we’re seeking to engage in culture and discuss our thoughts on what’s happening. In an age where you’re constantly inundated with entertainment that you’re forced to form opinions on, our posts are a way for us to be right there with you, figuring it out as well.

As we go into the school year, we want to continue this growth on a personal level. We’ll continue posting amateur entertainment previews/reviews on our blog and our social media (amateur because we are not critics or professionals), as well as putting on events that propel us to think critically. We also will continue handing out free cups of joe, so come grab one and talk to us about your thoughts on what’s happening around us in culture! We always want to hear from you.

This will be our last week of writing previews for upcoming entertainment releases – we know, it’s gone too soon! Looking back on this summer, it has been exciting to look forward to new releases in the music/movie/tv show realm each week. The school year is upon us, though, causing our SA team to switch gears a bit and pay attention to other aspects of events and the blog. We hope you’ll continue to read our posts this semester as we’ll be posting weekly!

Friday’s music releases can be found here! And of course, you can look at Metacritic’s upcoming releases calendar anytime to see what’s coming up soon. It’s quite the resource!

A wide selection of movies will be showing this weekend in your local theater – if you need more information, check it out here.

Thank you guys for checking out these posts this summer! What are you listening to/watching? Let us know! We’re libertysa on social media and our email address is studentactivities@liberty.edu. We love hearing from you!

Disclaimer: Student Activities does not explicitly promote the albums/television shows/movies we write about. As always, we seek to engage with and review what is happening in our culture in order to interact with it in a godly manner, which is why we do what we do. For more information about movies/music that we do promote, check out our FAQ page!

This week, we had one of our staff members, Clay, write about what he’s been listening to lately. Read below to see some of his thoughts on a new album by Manchester Orchestra!

“Manchester Orchestra delivered its 5th full-length album and it does not disappoint. The album is reminiscent of their older pieces (such as Mean Everything to Nothing) but with a more matured subject material. A Black Mile to the Surface was strongly influenced by lead singer Andy Hull’s gift of fatherhood and its gravity. Hull and guitarist Robert McDowell worked together to create the soundtrack to the incredibly weird “Swiss Army Man” using only vocals. It is apparent that this played a huge role in the development of A Black Mile to the Surface, with the harmonizing backtracks found on nearly every song.

The album feels like a culmination of all Manchester Orchestra’s previous work. The raw vulnerability of “Shake It Out” meets the magnetic poetry of “Simple Math” to create songs like “The Silence”. The album does not only pay tribute to what the band has become, but also what Andy’s life has become. Songs like “The Sunshine” and “The Parts” lend insight into his love for his daughter and wife.

Beginning to end, the album carries out as though it is one continuous thought. Littered with multi-song progressions that help build crescendos and continuation, A Black Mile to the Surface is the perfect album to make sense of life changes.”

What are you listening to/watching? Let us know! Tweet at us (libertysa) or email us at studentactivities@liberty.edu. We love hearing from you!

Disclaimer: Student Activities does not explicitly promote the albums/television shows/movies we write about. As always, we seek to engage with and review what is happening in our culture in order to interact with it in a godly manner, which is why we do what we do. For more information about movies/music that we do promote, check out our FAQ page