Posted: 09/05/07

Turtle picks up pace
Performance venue starts off year, and might be on the move

Cameron Dexter | staff editor
cdexter@smcvt.edu

Turtle Underground, the North Campus performance venue held in Purtill Hall's basement, has kicked off the year with live music, tasty wings and hopes for a new home.

What's happening?

Turtle Underground held its first event of the year Friday, Aug.31, between the North Campus residence halls of Hamel and Purtill, featuring a barbeque and live music.

The band, Boxcar Charlie, is comprised of St. Michael’s students Tom Cadrin, Sebastian Contratti, and the University of Vermont’s student Russell Myerson. The band performed while junior Brendan Clark provided dinner: his own recipe of chicken wings.

Brendan Clark digs deep as he serves up some of his home cooking. (Photo courtesy of Emelina Spinelli).

"They were so delicious," says junior Kerry Kirkwood. "They're finger-lickin' good."

Turtle Underground continued its events on Saturday night, hosting the movie "Blades of Glory" in the basement of Purtill.

Out of its shell

An exciting new option for Turtle Underground is to change its current location from Purtill to the abandoned chapel past Linnehan Hall on North Campus.

"There was the question of selling the chapel in the spring,"says Spinelli.

Instead, Student Association President Alex Monahan and Spinelli met with Director of facilities, Dave Cutler and dean of student's Mike Samara to propose renovating the abandoned chapel into a student space.

"It took a lot to plan and pull together a proposal," Spinelli says.

Spinelli and Monahan put together a short video for the proposal in hopes of securing the chapel as Turtle Underground's new home. The video clip briefly explains the venue and can be found on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkdTiQ7-JPE.

Underground beginnings

Turtle Underground was founded by Spinelli last year, and she continues to run the venue today.

In addition to planning events, Spinelli also designs the flyers posted around campus, the stickers for Turtle Underground and the venue's T-shirts.

Prior to Turtle Underground, there was no regular programming on North Campus.

Spinelli says that last year she saw basement space in Purtill that wasn’t being used to its fullest ability and also realized a need for stronger North Campus community.

"It's a really good thing for students to have something else to do, they come hear music, have some food, and talk with other students,” says Heidi Griswold, a student and resident director on North Campus, who lived in Purtill last year.

Griswold says she thinks the move to a larger venue will help the programming.

"It can’t accommodate larger groups," she says, "The basement is limited because larger bands can’t set up down there with larger sound systems."

Griswold would like to see Turtle Underground find a new home so that it can continue to expand, she says. She and Spinelli were always trying to find another venue for the Underground, knowing that Purtill basement wasn’t perfect, she says.

“And it was always clear that these events were substance free,” Griswold says.

Spinelli says that the Turtle Underground name originated from chats between her and friend, junior Maggie Rowland.

“Maggie and I didn’t like the name Purtill and Turtle rhymes with it," Spinelli says, "We also knew it was going to be in the basement, which is underground."

Junior Emily Neff says she loves the community feel of the Turtle Underground.

"It's easygoing, and there's no pressure to stay the whole time, people come and go," she says.
 
Spinelli says it was typical last year to have open mic until about 10 p.m., when a scheduled band would come play until around 1 a.m. or so. She says she expects it to be the same format this year. She encourages anyone interested in performing to contact her at espinelli@smcvt.edu.

Turtle Underground also gives faculty and staff of St. Michael's a chance to share their talents.

Clark, who does more then cook chicken for Turtle Underground, says he heard a piece custodian Tom Kingston performed on the piano.

 “He is phenomenal," Clark says.

"Later this year, a few professors involved with Turtle Underground are going to pull together and perform," Spinelli says.

Music venue in a residence hall?

Spinelli says that there are advantages to holding the venue in a residential area.

“The plus of being in a dorm is you’ve already got your audience. You just go upstairs and get them,” she says.

However, because it is a residential area, there are time restrictions, and the music can only go so late, she says.

“Any time there are noise complaints, we have no choice but to stop," Spinelli says.

Regardless of the time constraints, students remain satisfied.

 “It wouldn’t be what it is if it wasn’t up North,” Clark says.

Underground planning

Before Turtle Underground had a budget from the SA, Spinelli went to other groups and organizations for donations. Previos benefactors have included the Fly Fishing Club, the Women’s Center and Campus Ministry.

According to Spinelli, even on days that bands weren't scheduled to perform and nothing was going on, Turtle Underground drew an audience.

Boxcar Charlie gets gnarly. (Photo courtesy of Emelina Spinelli)

"People would just show up, come with their instruments, jam out, and bring a crowd with them,” says Spinelli.

Tom Cadrin says that even during the cold winter months participation is good.

“We lugged our instruments through the snow," he says. "We do it for the love of it."

Improvements to Purtill

While Turtle Underground waits to hear about a potential move to the chapel, there are still improvements in the works for the Purtill basement.

One thing the group is working on is storage for the musician's instruments, says Spinelli.

Susan Summerfield, chair of the Fine Arts Department is working with the Turtle Underground to help install some storage lockers for students to house the PA system and instruments.

"There's no word yet about the move, so as of now you know where to find it," Spinelli says, " and make sure to look out for flyers".