Is it the colorful, vibrant lights, vintage, ink-printing photobooth, unique tables made of doors, writing from customers decorating the walls, Indie atmosphere, wide array of flavored syrups for drinks, books, DVDs, local artwork, bar, or food that make Stardust Video & Coffee one of the coolest cafés in Orlando? Although those qualities certainly add to that title, what makes Stardust Video & Coffee one of the most unique cafés in all of Orlando is the community events they hold, such as live music, poetry slams, community markets, DJ nights, special theme parties, and brunches.
Specifically, the live music, which is performed on the stage that is located at the head of their largest room, is one of the things that stands out amongst the local coffee scene in Orlando in general. It gives new and upcoming artists a place to begin and express their music to a smaller audience. Stardust Video & Coffee hosts a diverse range of music, from alternative to jazz, allowing anyone to perform for the community. Guests can experience a diverse range of live music for an afforadable price. Every second Wednesday of the month the, “Short Attention Span Storytelling Hour” is held. This event is an open mic event that showcases musicians, singer-songwriters, and poets, with 15 minutes to perform.
Stepping into Stardust Video & Coffee on Sunday, September 7:00 P.M., customers would notice that the main room on the right is blocked by a table of people and that is because four local bands, Band Called Stella, Misspell, No Clue, and fawn, were performing that night from 7:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. Upon purchasing a ticket for $10.00, customers would get a crescent moon drawn by a permanent marker on the backs of their hands to indicate that they had purchased a ticket for the show. From there, customers could wait for their food, enjoy a beverage, take pictures in the photo booth, and socialize as the first band sets up for their performance. Noticeably, the band members themselves were on the floor socializing amongst others as they waited for their turn to perform. This gave fans, or the community in general, an opportunity to meet the bands they paid to see perform.
The first band to perform was Misspell, a local Orlando band that formed about a year ago. Misspell, a name that came out of lots of consideration, consists of Ashley Perez, the singer, Jason Nefferdorf, the bass player, Brayden Yarbrough, the guitar player, and Evan Philio, the drummer. Ashley stated that, “We love the crowds of Orlando! [They are] always super hype and supportive,” which proved itself true when the crowd loved the two cover songs they started with: “Just” by Radiohead and “Linger” by The Cranberries. Misspell then performed their own music, which showcased the band’s talents, such as Ashley’s beautiful and strong vocals and Brayden’s funky guitar playing. The band’s favorite song is “Forever You Said” because, “It was the first song we wrote, and it holds a lot of meaning to us,” Ashley explained. Misspell takes a lot of inspiration from artists such as “Wilco, Radiohead, Big Thief, and The Smashing Pumpkins. Inspiration is not restricted to bands alone as band member Jason’s dad, “Has been playing music for years” and has, “Helped us grow and become better musicians.” Misspell’s first single, “Forever You Said,” is available on all streaming platforms, and the band will soon release a full album.
The next band to perform was No Clue, a shoegaze/screamo band from Orlando, who just released their first single, “Silent Room.” Taking a turn from the more alternative/Indie sound that Misspell had, No Clue’s lead singer alternated between scream singing and normal singing, along with heavy drums. Similar to Misspell, No Clue first performed covers and then their own song. No Clue’s lead singer captivated the audience with her Gothic appearance and scream-singing abilities that the crowd could feel in their bones. Performing after No Clue was fawn, and then Band Called Stella, who closed the performances for the night.
It is important for local communities to be able to have opportunities for bands to have a voice and for locals to be able to have cool experiences that do not have to be something extravagant, just a good time. Stardust Video & Coffee has created a space that allows people to take pictures, eat, drink coffee or tea, and listen to live music all at the same time. Does it really get much better than that?
