Katelyn Clooney
Staff Writer
As flashcards were being memorized and sandwiches were being eaten, music was also played this past Tuesday, in the Richard B. Flynn Campus Union.
Singer and songwriter, Jeff LeBlanc, performed at Springfield College on Tuesday, Feb. 11, as part of the Office of Student Affairs and Campus Union’s “Live at Lunch” series.
LeBlanc began his noon-time set by strumming on his guitar and singing a couple of his own songs, including “Stop my Heart,” which he said was on Keeping up with the Kardarshians this past week. “Stop my Heart” is also LeBlanc’s first single off of his new album, My Own Way There.
However, LeBlanc didn’t always envision becoming a musician. An Education and History major at Sacred Heart, he says it was there that he began considering a career in music.
LeBlanc started writing songs in his dorm, performed at an on-campus coffee shop one day, and then, as he said, “One thing lead to another. I played at a friend’s college, then I played at another friend’s college and then I branched out from there.”
“I was an education and history major and this is what I do with my degree. My parents are very proud,” LeBlanc joked with the crowd, after singing his catchy tune, “Come a Little Closer.”
LeBlanc displayed a wide vocal range, as he also covered current hits such as Drake’s “Hold On, We’re Going Home,” along with Christina Aguilera’s “Say Something.”
Having opened for many other artists, LeBlanc stated that the artist he most wants to work with is Sara Bareilles, known for her current hit “Brave.” He has also performed at Springfield College for the past three years and said, mid-set, that his favorite part of performing in the Union is “watching people’s reactions as they walk down the stairs. Some people are like, ‘Cool, music!’ and some are like, ‘Ugh, this guy!’”
Most people seemed to be thinking the former, as the reaction from the packed Union was highly favorable, while LeBlanc continued to sing, strum and often, joke. Toward the end of the set, LeBlanc played what he referred to as his “biggest hit,” the upbeat “Until We Get it Right.”
He then played Augustana’s 2005 hit “Boston.” LeBlanc will be performing at Connecticut’s Fairfield Theatre next week before later performing in Boston, Mass., and then heading west to perform in Los Angeles, Calif.
Though he is touring across the country, LeBlanc, 28, stated that he still loves the atmosphere of colleges, where he first got started. He also referred to his career as “a blessing.”
“It was a hobby that became a job,” said LeBlanc.