Bandersnatch showcases talent on the rise

Tai Verdes gets close and personal with the crowd.

By Kyle Henderson / Photos from Maddi Brown

The show welcomed fans back in-person after a year away.

On Friday, October 22, University Union put on their annual Bandersnatch Concert Series, yet another live music event that made its return to its standard in-person format. The show featured performances from BenSpence, a DJ and Syracuse University student; Maude Latour, a Columbia University senior and indie-pop artist; and finally, Tai Verdes, a rising pop singer hailing from southern California.

BenSpence was the first act of the night, opening up the show with a vibrant EDM set intended to get the small, but mighty crowd energized and moving. He included a variety of popular songs in his mix, and frequently interacted with the audience, encouraging them to dance and let loose. He displayed a confidence and calmness behind the DJ booth, transitioning through songs with ease and building the energy up to countless peaks. While his set was a stark contrast to the other two acts of the night, which were more pop-focused, it was a great way to let loose and get ready for the night ahead.

Up next was Maude Latour, who slowed things down from BenSpence's high-octane opening act. Latour attracted a sizable crowd of fans with her set, with people in the audience seemingly knowing every song and singing along happily. Some of the highlights from her set included the moment where she asked the audience to join her in taking a deep breath. It brought the crowd to silence, as they all followed her lead, inhaling and exhaling as one. Gestures like this only helped to enhance Latour’s act, her unique interactions providing something memorable for all audience members. 

As she performed her short but strong catalogue of songs, it became easy to see why Latour had such a dedicated fanbase for a smaller artist. There is a relatability and authenticity that can be found in Maude’s stage presence. It felt honest and real, and her excitement when performing was palpable in the crowd. She responded with the crowd well, sympathizing with them over the woes of heartbreak and jumping around with them through her more upbeat and lively tracks. She even previewed an unreleased song during her set entitled, “Strangers Forever.” When she ended her set with “One More Weekend,” her most popular song to date, she danced along with the crowd, proving herself as an artist to watch. 

Headliner Tai Verdes closed out the night, walking onto a pitch black stage before being illuminated by a spotlight. He started out slow, before picking up speed quickly and running around the stage. Despite being the headliner, Verdes made sure those he shared the stage with got their chance to shine. He rocked out with the crowd to a roaring guitar solo that was a surprisingly fun departure from his standard breezy pop sound.

Verdes has made a name for himself on TikTok, with some of his songs going viral on the popular social media platform. When he sang the first line of “Stuck In The Middle,” it was instantly recognizable by the crowd, who sang along eagerly. “DRUGS” was another standout, a casual, laid-back song that you couldn’t help but groove along to. He closed the night out with“A-O-K,” another TikTok hit that the crowd joyfully received. Despite being a newer artist, Verdes made for an overall fun performer to watch. While he entered the stage confident and mysterious, he broke into smiles and jokes quickly after, and wasn’t too cool to jump around and show how much fun he was having on stage. He reflected the energy of the crowd well, and was a great way to cap off the night.

The show was an overall solid return for the smaller concert series. Each of the three performers brought their own unique energy and styles to the Goldstein stage, and their enthusiasm was infectious. BenSpence didn’t disappoint as an electrifying opener, and Latour and Verdes both successfully showcased the talents that have gotten them this far, making an argument that they’re on the track to bigger. We’re looking forward to seeing where they go next, and feeling lucky that Bandersnatch provided a venue to see these future stars shine.