Students were treated to an eclectic mix of visiting musicians this weekend during "Winter Jam 2005." The three-day event, co-sponsored by Student Events, WBRS, the Student Union and Hillel, featured the talents of guitarist Keller Williams, the super drummers of Recycled Percussion and Hebrew folk singer Neshama Carlebach. While Williams was perhaps the most well-known performer of the weekend, the lesser-known Recycled Percussion had the crowd in Levin Ballroom dancing and banging their feet in awe of the drummers' incredible talents. Saturday's audience was treated to a particularly spectacular performance by the groups' founder Justin Spencer, holder of the world record for fastest extreme drummer. Keller Williams' Friday night performance did not disappoint. Although he found himself performing to a not-so-crowded Levin Ballroom-at least half of which had squeezed into the roped off corner to enjoy the free beer-Williams lived up to his reputation as one of the most entertaining yet unconventional live acts around.

The audience knew they were in for something different from the moment it entered the Levin Ballroom, which had been fitted with a large stage and full lighting rig. The stage had been set up to meet the needs of Williams' peculiar performance style, in which he often uses multiple instruments at once with the help of an elaborate Gibson Echoplex delay system. Keller's intricate scheme of effect pedals and onstage mixing consoles allows him to loop several of his live instruments while performing with one of his many acoustic or electric guitars and basses.

Williams is a self-taught musician and disciple of the late new-age guitar virtuoso Michael Hedges. Williams displayed some of his diverse musical influences in front of a dancing crowd by transforming himself into a virtual one-man band. Williams also utilized a number of looping tools and effects to transform his vocals. A unique scene from Friday night's performance was the sight of Keller's sound engineer, who was providing backing vocals at various points during the show through a microphone located at the sound board in the back of the room.

Williams performed a wide array of both original tunes and covers ranging from the Beatles' "Drive My Car" to a rendition of Stevie Wonder's classic "Superstition" on electric bass.

Keller's stage setup included two large stands that held an instrument up to his chest, allowing him to play one guitar without having to take another off from around his neck. Williams played almost nonstop, pausing only to take a short break between his two sets. The show was an enormous success, as audience members enjoyed themselves while dancing along to Keller's unique brand of jam-band music.

While Keller's use of effects and looping may have made it difficult at times for the audience to recognize the immense talent before them, the crowd had little choice but to be thoroughly impressed and overwhelmed by the night's end. While some of Keller's music may have blended together during the night, his inconceivable talent more than made up for any monotony.