On Friday morning, WRPI played host to alumni and students by holding a tour of the studios located in the DCC 100 level. Guests were able to witness how the radio station itself worked firsthand. Later in the day, an open house and round table were held, where various alumni came together to discuss the present issues in broadcasting media.

The WRPI staff also held a celebration dinner and a farewell breakfast during the weekend, which added to the surplus of free food—if you had reservations, of course.

Music filled the McNeil Room during UPAC Concerts’ event on Saturday night. Three different bands performed to entertain students and fellow alumni in order to celebrate WRPI’s 50th anniversary.

Playing first was SIRSY, a duo consisting of drummer, flutist, and vocalist Melanie Krahmer and guitarist and bassist Rich Libutti. The duo itself has won acclaim around the nation, gaining sponsorships with Budweiser and Molson, winning titles including “Best Band of 2007” by the Times Union, as well as winning the Battle of the Bands in Manhattan during 2002. SIRSY has toured and played with famous bands such as Maroon 5, Cheap Trick, Vertical Horizon, Led Zeppelin, and Lifehouse.

SIRSY performed a number of songs from its new CD, “Revolution,” as well as old favorites and medleys. The crowd clapped or sang along to “Waiting for Rain,” “Crazy,” “Revolution,” “Leftover Girl,” and “Oh! Billy.” The band also performed a medley of classics such as Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” Michael Jackson’s “Beat It,” MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This,” Rick James’ “Super Freak,” and even the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe.” If there are parties interested in seeing the band again, SIRSY is holding a concert at Northern Lights on November 18.

The next act was the Sarah Pedinotti Band, a group with national acclaim for its jazz and blues pieces. Vocalist Sarah Pedinotti has recorded two albums—with a third one coming this June—and has been described by Billboard Magazine as “one of the best young jazz/blues vocalists in the country today.” The band includes Dave Payette on keyboard, Chris Carey on drums, Tony Markellis on bass, and Chris Kyle on electric guitar. Some of the songs the band performed included “Romeo Sadface,”—a song with a catchy beat—“Train Song,” and “Wanderer.”

Local band Deep Blue Storm closed the performances with its upbeat blues performance. The group consists of six members: drummer James Brown III, guitarist and keyboard players Ernest Gunaratnam and George Seror III, harmonica and trumpet player Jim Konis ’08 , guitarist and vocalist Scott Heller, and bassist and vocalist Ed Coiro. The band performed a number of blues pieces, including “Flip, Flop, and Fly.” Deep Blue Storm definitely gave out an upbeat performance following the jazzy songs that the Sarah Pedinotti Band had dished out earlier. Deep Blue Storm’s next gig is at Night Sky Care in Schenectady on November 16.