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Live Local Music

Table Ten Review

Posted by Natalie Plumb on 10/04 at 12:07 PM

Table Ten is edging its way into stardom – via cover songs.

“Cover songs are an avenue to get our original songs out there,” said Table Ten vocalist and guitarist Josh Corcoran. “It’s our way of getting our foot in the door.”

On Thursday at Cafe 210, Table Ten, a local State College band of Penn State seniors, played cover songs by The Killers, Eagle Eye Cherry, Tom Petty and Sublime, and even Asher Roth’s hit single “I Love College.”  A few original tunes were strewn throughout their performance that had the small crowd on W. College Ave. at Café 210 screaming along.

“It’s got a nice reggae feel to it,” said David Hanson, a senior in aerospace engineering.  “And I’m digging the alternative drumset,” he added, referring to Table Ten’s unique use of congos, bongos, and the djambe as drums.

According to Corcoran, who described his band’s sound as having a reggae feel “with roots rock and a Dispatch sort of sound,” Hanson was right on the ball.  Corcoran added that Table Ten enjoys putting on a variety of songs because it pleases the crowd.

“We’re open to anything as long as we can play and all have a good time,” Corcoran said.  “We do whatever it takes.”

Two of three members of the over a year-old Table Ten will graduate this semester, leaving fans questioning where they will go from here.

Just over a year ago, Table Ten was barely making its way through the doors to perform at the Phyrst bar’s open mike Mondays.  Now the band is playing weekly at local venues throughout State College, and will continue to expand their horizons, even after graduation, Corcoran said.

“We knew we had to keep up with our music when our friend told us his mom was walking around the kitchen singing our song,” said Jared Stillman, vocalist and bassist for Table Ten.

Stillman and Corcoran, who have been best friends jamming together since grade school, switched instruments halfway through their first set.

“Basically I learned to play bass just so I could play in this band,” Stillman said.  He added he would continue being on stage in Table Ten “hopefully forever.”

Table Ten’s drummer “with a ‘fro,” Antonio Parisi, a senior graduating this spring, said it feels great to play with Table Ten and that he does not see himself giving up the band’s hopes to continue after graduation anytime soon, but that they will “see what happens.”

Stillman added that even the name Table Ten was spontaneous.

“We sat at table number ten during Table Wars at the Phyrst,” Stillman said.  “And it stuck.”

The band plans on releasing an Extended Play (EP) with five or six original songs soon, Corcoran said.

To hear more of Table Ten, visit their Web site at http://www.friendsoftableten.com.