Beats, guitar, vocals and audience interaction. One wouldn’t think all of that could be accomplished by one guy on a stage by himself, but looping specialist Preston Pugmire proves that wrong.

Truly a one-man band, Pugmire performed Monday in Rice Auditorium as Baker University’s Student Activities Council kicked off its fall programming.

Electronic floor pedals allow Pugmire to record any sound on stage and then play it over while layering on other recordings to create an entire song from scratch; a technique known as looping.

“Every time I record the song, it’s different because it’s made from scratch that night,” Pugmire said. “That’s what creates the organic feel of a live show.”

Pugmire uses finger snapping, bells, beat boxing and much more to create both original songs and easily recognizable cover songs.

Assistant Student Life Coordinator Randy Flowers said attendance at previous music performances at Baker has been low, but he thought Pugmire would be a hit.

“I had seen Preston previously at a conference and it was an amazing show,” Flowers said. “I immediately knew I wanted to bring him to Baker.”

Flowers said Preston booked 126 shows during the conference, making him the most popular university performer in the nation.

Pugmire said he grew up playing music, but became interested in looping when he saw a looping performance by Howie Day.

“I saw Howie Day perform and thought it was incredible,” Pugmire said. “So I went out and got the equipment and tried to copy him and then started going in my own direction.”

While Pugmire said he personally created the looping equipment he now uses, his goal is to use the equipment as a tool, not as the focus of his performances.

“I am the show. The melody is the show,” Pugmire said.

Pugmire’s audience interaction and high energy received a favorable response from the crowd.

“I thought he was really cool,” freshman Ashley Riniker said. “I would definitely tell my friends to check him out. He did a really good job.”

Pugmire’s performance Monday was the first of a four-month tour around the country, but he said he also reaches many of his fans through his Facebook and Twitter pages.