Booking out the basement of The Globe, Jerico Alcaras held the last of the Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) entertainments candidates to host an event, undoubtedly putting him at a disadvantage, as campaigners and students alike tire of the election period. This was reflected in the number in attendance which was fairly low throughout, and with Daire Hennessy and Donal MacNamee the only election candidates to show up. Nevertheless, while at times haphazard and lacking the coherency and organization of the other two candidates’ events, it had a communal charm to it that ents events often lack.
The night opened with an acoustic set from Sean Kelleghan which was followed by some impromptu karaoke from a member of the audience. After this vocalist for Nobody’s Heroes, Neo Morake, took to the stage. Describing their music as “alternative funk based indie rock” the set went down well, lasting for nearly two hours, a testament to the energy Morake brought to the stage.
After this DJ Uzi, a Trinity student, took over the music, playing primarily hip hop classics such as Gold Digger, Crank That (Soulja Boy) and Drop It Like It’s Hot. Alcaras has placed an emphasis on music throughout his campaign and the eclectic mix of artists and genres did not disappoint.
The event was not without its flaws. It appeared to lack a coherent theme, unlike his two competitors’ events. The venue was not wheelchair accessible, a common issue raised during the hustings and something his two opponent’s catered for in their events.
The venue itself, apart from its lack of accessibility, was pleasant, with plenty of space for people to dance but also a large area for people to chat comfortably, giving the event a more intimate feel to it than most ents events. Speaking to The University Times, Alcaras summed up the event succinctly: “I wanted it to be a chill night and a chill night it was.” The smoking area was small and intimate, with an industrial feel to it.
Despite a paucity of people on the dancefloor, the event felt organic and endearing. Its charm lay in its total lack of pretension. Furthermore the lack of a theme in some ways aided the night, with an intense focus on aesthetic and quirky ideas often blinding entertainments officers to a successful night out’s most basic feature, fun. There was no sense of judgement in the room and Alcaras was a great host, constantly buzzing around the room in his usual amicable manner.
