On Thursday, October 28th, Mavis Staples gave a stellar performance at the Weis Center. Her unique vocal style of rock and blues captivated audience members and got everyone head-bobbing and clapping along to the beat. There was a sense of joy and excitement in the air as her voice paired with the guitars, drums, and blues medleys echoed through the auditorium. Staples said she guaranteed that spectators would leave happier than they arrived, and based off of the audience’s response, she accomplished that goal. Aside from her upbeat tunes with meaningful lyrics about equality and Civil Rights, Staples has a gift for connecting with the audience with her spunky, authentic personality. She knows how to hype up the crowd and create candid conversation that gives viewers a sense of who she is, both as a person and an artist. I am incredibly grateful to have experienced such a fantastic performance.
~Katherine Leschner, Class of 2023