By: Carol Simpson

Contributing Writer

On Thursday, Feb. 6, The University of New Haven’s Music Industry Club held a benefit show for alumni Dan Sroka, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and has lost his job since. All of the proceeds from the show’s ticket sales and raffle earnings will be donated to help Sroka pay his medical bills.

With Blue and Gold, Have Mercy, Koji, and Vinnie Caruana set to perform as openers, the show was sure to be a hit. To top it all off Major League were set to headline the benefit show. Doors were ready to open at 7 p.m. sharp.

The first band on stage was Blue and Gold; a funky four piece rock band hailing from Brooklyn, N.Y. They brought their own style to the stage with their polished vocals and epic guitar skills. The balancing act of female and male vocals warmed up the crowd for the next acts set to perform.

Koji was up next. His deep and soulful acoustic performance gave everyone in the crowd something to reflect on. He encouraged crowd participation on a couple of songs and filled the room with a cozy vibe even while singing sad love songs.

Similar to Koji, Vinnie Caruana performed acoustically. Although he is also part of a band known as I Am The Avalanche, he puts on a great show as a solo act. Vinnie brought humor to the stage with his commentary that engaged the crowd in between songs.

Once Have Mercy hit the stage, their energy had captivated many and even people who had never heard of them before the show were tapping their feet along to the music.

It was finally time for the headliner, Major League, to perform. This show was the first stop on their headlining tour and their first as a four piece band after recently parting ways with their vocalist, Nick Trask. They brought energy and good old pop-punk music to the stage. They were on fire…literally. Well only steam, but they really did produce a great set that would make anyone want to see them perform live again and again.

Although Major League cut their set short by a few songs the show was still a success. Everyone in the room came together for a great cause supported by great music.