On April 20, after performing at homecoming festivities the week prior, the Saul Brooks Band made a return to campus for some midday music in the Cave.

Students enjoyed popular country hits performed by band members Saul Brooks and Dwayne Morris, accompanied with guitars. The three-hour jam session was sponsored by Buctainment and the D.P. Culp Student Center. Culp visitors streamed in and out of the space as some enjoyed their lunch, staying a while to listen to the live music, with others working on homework and listening.

“I feel like I’m at a Chris Stapleton concert,” said Madison Ross, a Buctainment staff programmer in attendance. “It’s so nice to see this local talent and being exposed here. I absolutely love it.”

Saul Brooks Band performance at the Cave. (Photograph by Nyah Bass/East Tennessean)

Their music repertoire included covers of songs by Jason Isbell, Tyler Childers, Morgan Wallen, John Cougar Mellencamp, Luke Combs, Blake Shelton and Joe Nichols. By the request of another Buctainment programmer, they even played “Jolene” by Dolly Parton.

“They do a great job whenever they’re here,” said Morgan Colley, another Buctainment programmer. “They put on a great show as well as they want to interact with us. They’ll take requests, when they take a break they come down and they talk to us.”

Both Brooks and Morris were thrilled with the participation and engagement from the audience. They raved about the acoustics and atmosphere that ETSU brings to their performances.

“I love playing here,” said Brooks. “I’d play here every day to be honest with you. We’re very grateful they keep letting us come back. “

Having live music back on campus is a great opportunity for students to make connections with professionals, according to Colley. She believes that this one of the great things about the sources of entertainment curated for the ETSU community.

“They get to know us and that’s a great thing for college students,” Colley said. “Especially college students that want to go into music, they’ve got two guys that do a great job and they can go and ask questions and get answers and they can know how they’re doing it to pursue their career in music as well.”

They concluded their performance with an original song called “When I Meet You Love,” which they released a music video for back in February.

Although campus events are wrapping up as the semester comes to a close, students and faculty can keep up with future campus music events like this one by visiting etsu.edu/students/sao/organizations/buctainment.