With Halloween fast approaching, one may want to exercise greater prudence with academics in order to ensure that the debauchery of everyone’s favorite holiday does not destroy them on all counts. Those thinking in line with this maxim were doubly rewarded on Friday night, with the rare opportunity to see talented musicians play during a study break at Willard Straight Hall. They were even granted the dusky orange glow of the clock tower, which graced us with a rare change in color. Johnny Lingo was the occasion, and his speedy rhythm proved it to be one worth attending.

Lingo banged the piano so rapidly that it looked as though someone had hit the fast forward button. Keeping up with his pace, the drummer, Chase, riddled away beats before abruptly grabbing his symbols to end each song. The tandem started from mellow, ska and reggaesque beats, slowly ascending to mind-boggling speed until the inevitable halt. Lingo’s voice was good, but it was a little hard to discern in the echoic hall — the cacophonous beats volleyed so violently off the walls that it was hard to focus on what the man was singing.

Generally, Lingo and his counterpart remind one of Billy Joel or Elton John. Their swanky rock mixes upbeat piano with ambient pipes and drums as filler, giving it a happy-go-lucky sound. Lingo casually played the piano with one hand between songs as he sipped water and talked to the crowd, demonstrating his second-nature playing ability.

Lingo and Chase are based out of Rhode Island, but often make the trip to colleges and other small venues. For being minimalistic in their performance, they deliver quite a show. Lingo won a local radio station’s Rock Hunt competition in 2004, his first step into the music scene. This year, they were featured at the NACA Mid-Atlantic Festival in Pennsylvania. They have played with the likes of the Violent Femmes, Dispatch and the Spin Doctors, among others, making them an indie duo worthy of your attention. If Billy Joel isn’t your thing, Lingo did have some tunes that called Sublime to memory. Songs like “Drive” sound a lot like “Badfish,” giving one a sunny-day feeling that seems to resonate in their other songs as well.

The major disappointment of the night was that the performance fell onto such few ears. Sure, free food will entice anyone to come to a show, but not when it’s at Willard Straight Hall on a Friday night. Cornell students often criticize each other for letting work stand in the way of fun, but if such shows are given such an uninspiring venue, you can guarantee that no one will come: Memorial Hall fills one with a sense of importance; its high ceiling well-suited for student assembly meetings and jazz recitals. Johnny Lingo would have found a better time at a frat party or bar, where his talent would please more than those simply taking a study break.