The band Scarecrow Show, including members communication major senior Vincent Lema (pictured left) and Ben Juchniewicz ‘18 (pictured right), performed at the Battle of the Bands on Thursday April 11 with guest musicians like physics major senior Praveen Wakwella (pictured center). Scarecrow Show performed alongside Shades of Nance, Airline Food, Crustacean Weekend and solo singers junior history major Toby Youngman and first-year Maya Cottone (Annie Renaud/ staff photographer).
Music enthusiasts poured into the Union Ballroom to watch students sing, strum and strut their stuff in the 2019 Battle of the Bands on Thursday April 11.
Geneseo Campus Activities Board and Geneseo Late Knight host the Battle of the Bands competition in order to promote musical expression at Geneseo. The bands got a chance to perform, the audience voted for their favorite group at the end of the night and the winning band was awarded a prize.
The bands included Shades of Nance, Airline Food, Scarecrow Show, Crustacean Weekend, as well as solo singers junior history major Toby Youngman and first-year Maya Cottone. Airline Food won the most votes of the night, composed of members physics major junior Charles Bozer, geography major senior Bradley Heller, pre-accounting major junior Michael O’Grady, biochemistry major junior Ethan Woeller, pre-business administration junior Liam Stahl and communication major senior Hana Smith.
“I really enjoy singing, even though I don’t have a band,” Cottone said. “I wanted the chance to sing on campus because I haven’t yet, and I sang in high school all the time.”
Each song performed was greeted by enthusiastic applause from the audience. Community members, students and staff were excited to witness the event.
English major junior and GLK member Rachel Balfoort was proud to take part in hosting the show.
“I think it’s a great way for students to be represented, to express themselves and for the community to band together [to] have a good time,” Balfoort said. “I love the whole community aspect, everyone is so involved and they want to be a part of this, to come and support their friends. I love working events, especially the ones that are community based.”
The bands played covers and original songs, as they battled it out to win the audience’s vote. The event gave the bands an opportunity to display their talents and abilities to their friends and community. Some musicians were excited for the rush of adrenaline that performing live can provide.
“I love performing, I think it’s a feeling you don’t get doing anything else,” Cottone said. “You don’t get to perform very often, so when you do you have to cherish it.”
Musicians and the students were grateful for the chance to enjoy music and get a break from academics.
“I think this event means spring, cutting loose [and] having a good time,” Balfoort said. “We are all stressed, we are at college and it’s a stressful time. I think this is a good opportunity to relax and have fun.”
Thanks to GCAB and GLK, the Geneseo community was touched by the music of students during The Battle of the Bands. Musicians were able to express themselves and the things they care about through music to a large audience, which is always the dream of the impassioned artist.