Written by Job Ang

Three solid performances graced Biola Common Grounds Thursday night for the first Eddy of the year, delivering strong, yet vulnerable tunes to an attentive crowd of students.

Loud guitar stacks, heavy instrumentation and drum kits were all silent for the first two performances in the stripped-down, folk-influenced collection of acoustic songs. The coffee shop vibe was strong early on for these two bands, and it didn’t hurt to have a real coffee shop nearby.

Singer/songwriter Linnea LeBreton, from the band Leda and the Swans, delivered a solid solo set of acoustic pop songs while displaying an impressive vocal range for her captured audience.

LeBreton was followed by Scotty Cantino and Jessica from the band Francisco the Man!, who played their folksy tunes skillfully with the help of a classical guitar and banjo.

But the band that a large portion of the crowd came out to see that night was the veteran pop rock outfit Vespers.

Their set began with a couple of quick acoustic songs from the band’s catalog. Lead singer Brandon Pfaff did a good job of carrying over the earlier atmosphere with these songs, harmonizing the melodies exquisitely. The pace picked up, however, with a smooth transition into a full set of Beatles-esque tunes, folky pop rock and a fair share of head-boppers. One standout song was appropriately the tale of stock market crashes called “Neckties and Evening Dresses.”

At times, they channeled the Beatles, at times, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and at others, they emulated the carefree sounds of the Gin Blossoms, all while tying it in with the emotional earnestness of Augustana.

Despite all these influences, Vespers managed to emanate a unique sound all their own. Jared Garcia, a Biola alumnus, carried his dual role as guitarist and harmonica player with ease. Richard Tran laid down the steady rhythm with his bass guitar while drummer Jeremy Pfaff pounded out the beats with gusto and poise.

The band’s set list spanned selections from almost their entire young careers, ranging from a song Brandon Pfaff wrote when he was 18 years old, to their newest song called “Take Me Home,” a scathing, brutally honest tune.

The end of the evening did eventually come with bittersweet closure. As it was the final show with seven-year band member, Tran, who is off to study social work, the evening became much more meaningful and real.

Though Tran is leaving, one gets the sense this is only the beginning for the talented Vespers. The sky’s the limit for this band.