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If you haven’t heard, Logan and Clay (two of our staff) have been on a Hispanic heritage tour of Lynchburg. Read below for numero dos of our four-part blog series – “Let’s Taco ‘Bout It: Tacos Locos”.
Tacos Locos is located on Fort Avenue right next to Chestnut Hill Bakery. It’s one of Lynchburg’s most noteworthy food trucks and is run by a Hispanic couple who know how to dish out some stellar cuisine.

Tacos Locos also utilizes authentic spices in their dishes, the most notable of which are the tacos. They offer chicken, BBQ, shrimp, and tongue tacos, all of which are topped with diced onions and cilantro. By themselves, the tacos are satisfying, but you can take them to the next level by utilizing the free lime wedges and salsas that are offered there as well.

Tacos Locos is closer to campus than El Camino (about a six-minute drive) but still requires a vehicle. Parking is fairly limited here as well, so if there are multiple people going, use the opportunity to be Christ-like and offer to take the squad.

Tacos are ordered al-la-carte (individually) or in a combo with a drink. The combo will run you just over $8 and comes with three hearty tacos. Considering it’s a food truck, tipping is not as much of a necessity as when you visit a sit-down restaurant.

So you’ve scored a “yes” from that gospel fox you’ve been eying all semester and you’re wondering, “Should I take them to Tacos Locos?”

To put it short and sweet, no. It’s a unique local staple no doubt, but considering it’s situated outdoors and roughly 15 feet away from a bustling Fort Avenue, the ambiance is hardly romantic (unless both of your love languages are street tacos). You could, though, consider picking up tacos to bring to a more meaningful location.

In the midst of the solo artist/lead singer of Switchfoot’s busy schedule, Jon Foreman was able to answer a couple of questions for us. Read his answers to our prodding questions below, and don’t forget to purchase tickets to see him live on November 11th here!

1. Who was the first musician that you remember inspired you to start pursuing a career in music?

Led Zeppelin

2. What is your favorite solo song to perform?

Depends on the night – every time is different.

3. Who would you want to open for if you could open for any other artist?

The Beatles

4. What has been one of the best benchmarks you’ve hit in your career?

Our 13th annual BroAm (a surf/music charity event that we throw every year) was a huge benchmark. It’s an event that has raised over 1.5 million dollars for San Diego kids.

5. What has been the coolest venue you’ve ever performed at?

In a castle on a hill in Portugal.

Who says there can’t be authentic Mexican food in central Virginia? Not us, and certainly not Logan and Clay, who just toured the Hispanic heritage that the Lynchburg scene has to offer. Over the next few weeks, these two will answer your deepest questions about tacos, prices, ambience and, most importantly, if you should make one of these restaurants the site of your first date!

Read below for the first review of our “Let’s Taco ‘Bout It” series. We’ll kick it off with one of our local favorites – El Camino.

The original El Camino location on Lakeside Drive is run by a local Mexican family who made their way to the States nearly ten years ago. The venue is unashamedly a whole in the wall, and their menu offers the essence of Mexican cuisine.

The authenticity of the recipes that El Camino is serving up is rivaled by very few Mexican eateries in town. Their dishes rely on meats and vegetables seasoned with cumin, oregano, and coriander – the pillar spices of true Mexican cuisine. The chips and salsa are decent, but the flavors of the entrees will undoubtedly have you coming back for more.

El Camino is about a 10-minute drive from campus, so you’ll need a ride. Parking is limited, so round up your amigos and amigas and carpool together!

Including a tip, be prepared to spend anywhere from $9 to $14 on your meal. There’s a healthy range of portion sizes depending on what dish you want, so your expenditure is really just up to your appetite.

Like we said, El Camino is a local dive, and its appearance is somewhat lackluster. That being said, if you’re scoping out places to take your honey on a first date, we don’t suggest here. If you’ve been friends for a while though, or are looking for a solid fourth or fifth date location where first impressions are a concern of the past, El Camino is the spot.

Pro-tip: swing by Fresh Market to sample some candy for dessert on your way back to campus.

written by Naomi Bower

They’re back! Johnnyswim, the LA-based husband-and-wife singer/songwriter duo, is ready to bring another great show to the Liberty student body.

Music has played an obvious role in the lives of both Amanda Sudano and Abner Ramirez, as their website explains: “The pair met in Nashville in 2005, instituting a songwriting partnership not long afterward. They clicked together musically and personally, beginning a romantic relationship along with their creative connection.”

Johnnyswim’s style reflects an eclectic range of influences while maintaining distinct Nashville roots. Their most recent album, Georgica Pond, was honest and raw as they opened up about the loss and heartache they were experiencing in this season. This authenticity struck a chord with many of their listeners, putting their album at #34 on the Billboard charts. Johnnyswim’s most recent tour kicked off in August and their fans seem to be as in love with their music as they are with each other.

One of my personal favorite songs from this album was their song “Drunks”. “Drunks” was inspired by the experiences that the duo shared in pubs among strangers in attempts to recreate that same unity among the audience. This song aims to diminish any segregation between the people even if just for a moment. Regardless of our differences, this song seems to exude the message that we all serve someone far greater than these issues.

Last semester, Johnnyswim stunned the student body when they made a pit stop for Convocation during their Let It Matter tour. We’re excited to welcome them back to campus for a show on October 30^th – find tickets here!

Resources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-74BFMxNz8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2HEBZ2Zwpg
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/johnnyswim-mn0003014528/biography
http://www.billboard.com/music/johnnyswim

Ever since 1996, Jon Foreman has been rocking the music scene. Foreman has performed as the lead singer of the Christian rock band Switchfoot, alongside his brother Tim and friend Chad Butler, since 1997. The band’s rise began in 2003 with their double platinum album The Beautiful Letdown which included the hit songs “Dare You to Move” and “Meant to Live”. Because of the band’s many successes throughout the past twenty years, Jon Foreman’s influence has spread widely and even beyond Switchfoot.

Jon Foreman is a talented musician with a love for creating different kinds of music with moving messages. In 2006, as a side project Jon and a member of Nickel Creek, Sean Watkins, formed the acoustic duo Fiction Family which has two albums Fiction Family and Fiction Family Reunion.

Foreman also decided to write his own music in 2006 as a solo artist, mainly because he didn’t feel like his solo music fit within the parameters of rock music that Switchfoot performed at the time. The singer/songwriter’s solo music has an acoustic sound that differs from the upbeat rock that defines Switchfoot. Foreman’s solo career started off with the four EPs titled Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. The first two EPs were combined in the album Fall and Winter in 2009. In 2015, Jon released the album The Wonderlands that consisted of the four EPs Sunlight, Shadows, Darkness, and Dawn. The album has 24 songs, and Jon says that there is a song for each hour of the day.

We are so excited to bring Jon Foreman back to Liberty as a solo act. Purchase tickets here to see him in the Grand Concert Hall on November 11^th!
Resources

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5D3h9ZoobhetjXw3dKhcaq/about

https://www.facebook.com/pg/switchfoot/about/?ref=page_internal

https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/switchfoot

The world is filled with questions, controversy, and issues that are misunderstood by the Christian community every single day. Christians have two choices: to run and hide from the issues of today or to face the problems with accurate knowledge. It seems as though the Christian church is either quick to turn away from the controversies of the world or voice opinions that end up placing a bigger wedge between people. Q Ideas is a resource that bridges the gap between people that do not agree on social issues, economic solutions, Christian doctrine and various other topics.

Q is an organization that encourages honest conversation and promotes open-minded thoughts. The purpose of Q is to push people, specifically Christians, outside of the church walls and into the secular world. Q brings top leaders, CEOs, musicians, doctors and other professionals to discuss issues that are avoided in the church. Racism, abortion, and the legalization of marijuana are just a few of the topics that Q covers in their conferences. Q seeks to promote knowledge in the Christian community on uncomfortable issues in order to speak with an honest opinion to those with opposing views.

Liberty University, as the world’s largest Christian university, has the responsibility to be the leading force in the Christian community on the issues of today. America is evidently divided, and instead of looking at the division with the mindset of entitlement or ignorance, “they don’t have it nearly as bad as their ancestors” or “these issues weren’t a problem a decade ago” our goal is to take a gracious approach. Education is a vital piece to healing the hearts of a nation that is divided by social tension.

Student Activities is very proud to partner with Q Ideas on October 26th for the first ever Q Commons on Liberty University’s campus. The conference will have three local leaders and three national leaders that will speak on how to approach a divided nation with a hopeful attitude. Join us in our mission to advance the common good and promote open-minded thinking to Liberty and the Lynchburg community.

Learn more about the Q Union event on October 26th here!

How did you get your start in music?

After college I moved to Chicago, got a job waiting tables, and began playing out at any bar, coffee shop, restaurant, and open mic I could find. I spent the next two years writing songs and learning how to perform live all over the city. Eventually I moved to Nashville, met a few friends who helped me record my first album The Ladder and was asked to join the national touring group Ten out of Tenn. It was at that point that I began having success with placing my music on television and was able to begin building my career.

What has been your favorite venue to perform at so far?

In 2015 I was able to perform at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville with Ten out of Tenn. I had heard so much about that venue but never had the chance to perform on its stage. Practically any legendary musician or band you can think of have performed there at some point, so I was thrilled to be a part of that history. And the show we put on that night was incredibly memorable – it was probably the most fun I’ve had on a stage since I began doing this ten years ago.

What picture do you want to paint through “Dive Deep”? (What theme is the album trying to portray as a whole?)

A bunch of the songs on this album are about entering into a new season of your life and the choices that come along with those transitions. As I get older, decisions become harder and harder to make because there’s more at stake now. I remember when my wife and I decided to have our first child – we were excited but also terrified at the notion of our entire life changing as we knew it. It’s easy to get caught up in indecision or to be so afraid to make the wrong choice that you don’t end up making any choice at all. I decided to call this album Dive Deep because what I seem to be saying in a lot of these songs is, no matter what stage of life you’re in or what decisions lie in front of you – don’t be afraid to move forward, to be all-in on a choice you make. If it’s the wrong one – it’s ok, that’s how we grow. Some of the best things in my life have come from not knowing if something was going to work or not – but taking a leap anyway.

If you could open for any musician/band, who would you choose?

I would love to open for Radiohead more than any other band.

What is your favorite song to perform?

My favorite song to perform live lately is a new one called Black Clouds. There is just something about the vibe and the energy of it – and it’s not too hard to sing!

You can check out ticket information and prices to the Andrew Belle concert here!

We’re so close to having Keith and Kristyn Getty perform for us in the Grand Concert Hall! This show is sure to be one that you won’t want to miss.

If you’re wondering more about who the Gettys are and what “Facing A Task Unfinished” is all about, check out this article!

We can’t wait to see you at the show!

written by Drew Snavely

In this current digital age, we essentially have unlimited access to any music we want, whenever we want. This is great news for us, because as you probably do, I love music. I love finding new music. When I find new music that I love, I love it a little too much. About every two weeks I have two or three favorite songs I can’t get enough of and listen to non-stop… and then I’ve had enough of them. I still like the songs, I’m just tired of hearing them, so those songs end up collecting dust in my Spotify library. I tell myself when I find new songs I won’t listen to them as much so I won’t get tired of them, but this hardly ever works. This is why it has been so important to me to constantly seek out new music that I enjoy.

Listening to new music not only keeps the music you’re currently loving from going stale, but it also challenges your brain to process new sounds or lyrics that it isn’t normally accustomed to. Processing this new music has the potential to expand the genres of music that you are interested in. Throughout middle school and high school, the majority of the music I listened to was made by rock and hip-hop artists. Fast forward a handful of years later and a large majority of the music I listen to now comes from singer-songwriters like James Vincent McMorrow. I remember when my brother first showed me the song “Cavalier” by McMorrow off his second album “Post Tropical”. It was so different and weird; I had never tried to seriously listen to an artist quite like McMorrow before and there was this uncomfortable tension while listening to his music so I turned it off. A couple weeks later my brother told me that McMorrow’s album had been the best album of year in his opinion and it sparked my interested enough for me to give “Post Tropical” another try. As “Cavalier” came on it was weird, but not in the same way as before. I was expecting the same tension but it had seemingly vanished. I had heard the song before and the familiarity suppressed the tension enough to give me the freedom to fall in love with the song, album and artist all at once.

I’m so thankful to have a library full of awesome music from artists like Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens and Noah Gundersen since becoming a fan of McMorrow’s work. Listening to new music can be difficult at times, but you can often discover fantastic music if you have the patience to break through the initial tension of a different and new sounding song or artist. At Student Activities we love bringing in big artists that you love like NEEDTOBREATHE, Johnnyswim and Lecrae, but we also have a lot of joy bringing in artists you might not know. Young Oceans is one of those bands that some may be unfamiliar with, and we are so pumped to bring them in! They are playing a concert for us this Friday, September 29^th in the LaHaye Event Space.

Nomad Coffee Company

The Great Pumpkin – pumpkin pie macchiato 

Naomi: Maybe you love pumpkin, but you can’t get on the PSL train. If that’s the case, this might just be the drink for you! Nomad offers a fun spin on the classic pumpkin spice latte that showcases the espresso with the perfect pumpkin undertone. The best part? Nomad is available to you with just the swipe of a flames pass at every football game! Does it get any better than that?!

Pumpkin Chai-aLeBouf – espresso / pumpkin chai latte

Trae: If you are a fan of fall and all of the pumpkin-flavored food and drink options that come with it, then this tea is definitely worth the try. The Pumpkin Chai-aLeBouf tastes like pumpkin pie with a foamy cool whip. I was speechless after trying this drink – I’d prefer this over a pumpkin spice latte any day!

Third Wave

Pumpkin Spice Latte –  pumpkin latte with cinnamon, nutmeg,
and allspice 

N: Quick shout out to Third Wave for always being there for me and never letting me down. This PSL is as genuine as your grandma’s homemade pumpkin pie. As usual, Third Wave creates a one of a kind drink using house-made ingredients paired with the perfect spices. Make sure to stop by Third Wave next time you’re in Forest to experience the quintessence of fall.

Cardamom Chai Latte – chai with house-made cardamom syrup

T: This drink is a great alternative that is perfect for those who aren’t the biggest fans of chai tea. Third Wave makes the cardamom chai latte with subtle ginger undertones. It is a classic latte with light flavoring, making every sip taste remind you that fall shouldn’t ever have to end!

Bean Tree Cafe

Spirit of the Mountain – mocha, hazelnut, and maple latte 

N: Every LU student knows that Bean Tree is the place to study when you need to get off campus. After a few pumpkin spice lattes, I’m ready to change things up. Who’s with me? Grab a Spirit of the Mountain latte and you won’t be disappointed. This drink is as smooth as a drive through the Blue Ridge parkway and as light as fresh mountain air.

Harvest Chai – chai latte with pumpkin

T: Looking for a fall drink that you can buy with your flames cash? If yes, then Bean Tree has the perfect drink for you. The Harvest Chai has the perfect mixture of cinnamon and pumpkin, making it a great alternative to the pumpkin spice latte. This is a drink that I’ll be getting again.

The White Hart

Little Bear Cappuccino – cinnamon and honey latte 

N: Less is more. The Little Bear Cappuccino is another fun yet simple substitute for the never-ending wave of pumpkin that is fall. I’m a huge cappuccino advocate as they have less milk than lattes, which allows the espresso to shine. This drink is sweet and simple with just the slightest accent of cinnamon and honey.

Caramel Spiced Chai – caramel chai latte

T: If you’re in the small crowd that doesn’t like pumpkin spice, then this is a great fall drink for you. The caramel spiced chai has bold flavors of chai paired with warm caramel. To top it off, this drink has just the right amount of cinnamon to give it that warm fall feeling.

The Muse

Harvest Latte – pumpkin spice and vanilla latte 

N: You can never go wrong at The Muse. This not-so-spicy latte includes pumpkin and vanilla – possibly the greatest dynamic duo of all time. This blend of flavors creates the perfect combination of creamy and cozy. It’s perfect for any fall day!

Pumpkin Chai – pumpkin chai latte

T: If you want to give Christmas in a Cup a short break, then you should try a Pumpkin Chai. Unlike other pumpkin chai teas, this one has a smoother taste because it doesn’t have as much cinnamon in it. This drink is perfect for you if you want to try a pumpkin drink that’s different from the classic pumpkin spice latte.