LISTENING TO MUSIC IN A CAVE >>>

With the holiday season approaching, college kids like me begin to panic. Do we save our money for gift and travel, or do we blow it on nightlife and concerts?

Thankfully, the government provides resources for such situations.

Pacific Lutheran University's Student Government has secured the Seattle band Hey Marseilles for a free concert tonight in The Cave, located in the basement of the Anderson University Center. PLU's Student Government, or ASPLU, is awesome. It produces free shows throughout the year that are open to both PLU students and the rest of the world. Past ASPLU concerts have featured Macklemore, Allen Stone, The Lonely Forest, Eric Hutchinson, among countless other local artists.

Matt Bishop and Nick Ward founded Hey Marseilles in 2006 while studying at the University of Washington. After the band released its debut album in 2008, national success followed in the form festival headlines and radio airtime.

Listening to Hey Marseilles's music is like creating glittery crafts with close friends, although its melodic folk music does incite dance situations.

The band describes their sound as "folkestral" and claims it is like "an indie rocker reminiscing on their grandparent's first kiss." Mandolin, viola, accordion, drumbourine, and other unique instruments give the band it's dynamic sound. Many times instruments outnumber musicians on stage at a Hey Marseilles show.

The band recently returned from a national tour opening for Sea Wolf. It has its sights set on March for the release of its next album.

Opening for Hey Marseilles tonight is the PLU student band House Cats, which leaped into action after founder and PLU sophomore Jakob Maier won the university's Battle of the Bands in 2012. This victory lead to a featured slot at PLU's annual music festival, LollaPLUza. House Cats also has a love affair with multiple instruments, including a brass and string section and multiple vocalists.

THE CAVE, THURSDAY, NOV. 15, 8 PM., NO COVER, ANDERSON UNIVERSITY CENTER, 12180 PARK AVE. S., TACOMA, 253.535.7480

LINK: ASPLU upcoming concert