On October 14th, energy was high through all three acts at the Mudpit. The night saw performances from Saint Luke and Padma, as well as the debut of the new group Glam.

Words by Harrison Spieler / Photos by Jeanisha Mariah and Max Dickman / Graphic by Griffin Turner

On October 14th, a cold evening in Syracuse, an eager crowd gathered at the house venue Mudpit. Despite the chill, it was clear that something special was about to unfold. An hour before showtime, I arrived for my first show at the venue – which has quickly established itself in Syracuse’s musical DNA. Immediately upon entering, it was clear that the venue’s organizers were deeply committed to fostering a community that championed student musicians and local talent. The show’s lineup consisted of a set from DJ duo Crome and shows from three SU student bands: Glam, Saint Luke, and Padma. 

Following a DJ set from two Bandier students known in tandem as Crome, the first band to perform was Glam, a recently formed group who played their first-ever show at Mudpit. Composed of six incredibly talented female musicians – lead vocalist McKenna Fenimore, guitarists Maria Nido and Liv DuFine, bassist Goldie Singer, keyboardist Annie Knobloch, and drummer Giulianna Iapalucci, Glam’s debut show was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Glam radiated an infectious energy that made the humid, cramped condition of Mudpit’s basement simply fade into irrelevance. 

The band's music delivered a compelling fusion of indie, pop, and R&B, captivating the enthusiastic audience with crowd-pleasing covers like “Pink + White” by Frank Ocean and “Japanese Denim” by Daniel Caesar. For the more popular covers like the aforementioned pair, the crowd passionately echoed every lyric back to the band.

Following Glam was Saint Luke, with a genre-blurring ensemble that combined elements of pop, rock, and jazz. Luke, who released his debut EP this May, played a mix of original tracks and covers, serving as both lead vocalist and guitarist. Supported by a keyboardist, saxophonist, bassist, and drummer, Luke’s set maintained the electrifying vibrance of Glam’s act, with fans screaming, dancing, and typing messages to the band on their phones. The band thrived off the crowd’s mayhem, screaming back at the audience after every song to maximize the hype before starting to play again. Every musician was given at least one solo performance, ensuring that crowd members would have intense debates about which instrumentalist put on the best show during their walks back home.  

The evening's headlining act was Padma, a Massachusetts-based sophomore musician who debuted her newest single, “New City, Same Song,” at Mudpit after releasing it on streaming platforms two days earlier. Padma’s band kept the crowd’s momentum surging, even after two hours of sweating and being squished. One particular fan spent the entire set relaying Padma’s every word back to her, possibly earning herself the title of ‘World’s Biggest Padma Fan.’ 

Being my first visit to the Mudpit, the night of October 14th was truly remarkable. Upon entering, I was immediately surrounded by a profound sense of community and love for music. Even in a basement with a surplus of sweat and a scarcity of space, the venue provided students with a place to wholeheartedly express their love for music. Across all three acts, fans and performers alike maintained an immeasurable energy.