The line up at Legends for the fall semester is packed with acts both old and new, local and regional. The shows are brought to Legends by Appalachian Popular Programming Society, a university funded organization that exists to plan and provide diverse educational, enriching and entertaining events for the community and student body of App State.
The APPS executive board said that they made sure to bring back some university favorites like Cherub and Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Caitlin Goff, a senior communication and advertising major, manager of Legends and concerts council member of APPS, said students really love returning acts.
“We’re really trying to expand the types of shows that we bring to Legends,” junior communication and public relations major and APPS concerts chairperson Michael Ream said.
Legends, whose website boasts “a place where students can go to safely socialize and be entertained without driving mountains roads at night,” has hosted bands like Moon Taxi, Arson Daily and Mipso.
Maggie Sherwood, a senior graphic design major and APPS club shows chairperson, said that Legends is special to the university and to students for a couple of reasons.
“It’s the only venue of this capacity that’s bring your own beer and lets in unders [18+] in all of the United States, and is still more comfortable and less cramped than a club,” Sherwood said.
Sherwood said that sometimes it takes years to get the acts shows committee really wants.
“Each council of APPS brainstorms with our advisor, Randy Kelly, to narrow down 10 acts that we think would do best here at App,” junior communication and public relations major and APPS stage shows chair Sierra Forchheimer said.
Starting on the very first day of September, Legends will host Matt Phillips and The Back Pocket, whose website describes them as “a funkadelic bunch of Carrboro musicians making a soulful pop sound with a jazzy edge.” They combine elements of classical, folk, gospel and world music, according to their Facebook page.
Kate Rhudy will be opening for Matt Phillips and the Back Pocket. Rhudy is a “sad river folk” musician from Raleigh and now based in Boone. Rhudy has played Legends multiple times since she began performing in Bo.
Kiely Blevins, a junior communication science and disorders major, saw Rhudy play Legends last year and said, “I loved it! It was really fun and she’s a great musician. I went with my dad and he loved it too.”
On Sept. 15, Legends will host Bad Catholics, a duo consisting of Tyler Buck and Luke Crouch, for their second show in Boone.
Another favorite band among students are avant-garde, electro-pop duo Cherub, who are set to take the Legends stage on Sept. 21, along with Frenship and Boo Seeka. Cherub has played Legends several times.
“Last year Cherub sold out in six days with no promotion,” senior communications electronic media broadcasting major and APPS vice president of publicity Ross Joyner said.
Faiza Ali, a sophomore criminal justice major, said she has seen them twice and she bought the tickets the day she heard about them performing.
“I checked two weeks before the show and tickets that were originally $20 were going for $60,” Ali said.
ZoSo: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin experience will play Legends on Sept. 29. On ZoSo’s Facebook page, they promise to deliver “the most accurate and captivating Led Zeppelin experience since the real thing.”
“I’m excited for the Led Zeppelin cover band. Zeppelin is a classic and it’ll be cool to hear their music live, even if it’s not really them,” Goff said.
As part of his West Bound and Down tour, progressive country artist Corey Smith will play Legends on Oct. 20. This is not Smith’s first show in Boone, and Goff said that she expects this act to sell out.
“Corey Smith always sells out, but it’s a different crowd than when Cherub sells out,” Goff said.
Closing out Legends’ fall semester is Rumours, a Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band. They will play on Nov. 10 and each APPs chairperson agrees that although not many people know of tribute bands by name, they are just as fun as the real thing.
Forchheimer said that people should, “listen to [Rumours] and see how truly worth it they are.”
Tickets for this event go on sale on Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. More information can be found on both the Legends and APPS websites.