Potential music festival threatens thriving local businesses during Gov. Ball

Music festivals have been rising in popularity all over the country. With events like Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo, they’re becoming a large source of profit for both artists and the companies running the festivals. Coachella—one of the most well known festivals—is run by the Anschutz Entertainment Group—specifically, their division AEG Live. Rumors have recently circulated that the management group is considering bringing a new massive event to New York City, with “Panorama” as the tentative name. It would take place in Flushing Meadows Corona Park—the site of the 1964 World’s Fair—and it would also take place two weeks after the local Governors Ball Music Festival, held the first weekend in June.

It’s unfortunate that a huge corporation would want to run a small, local company out of business for the sake of raking in more money. Holding a proposed event around the same time as the Governors Ball will likely bring popular acts away from it, drawing crowds away from the festival.

Every year, the Governors Ball employs city residents and brings in local food caterers—a great way to contribute to the economy. It would be a shame for all of that wonderful effort to be erased by corporate-backed greed that—besides getting permission to use city-owned property—likely wouldn’t care nearly as much about giving back to the community.

I vividly remember standing in the Governors Ball crowd last June and watching The Black Keys perform their headlining set. Being able to sing along to my favorite songs—as well as listen to some that I hadn’t heard yet—was only one of the many factors that made the day as great as it was. Along with eating from the food trucks, admiring the artwork and meeting fellow Geneseo freshmen, the festival was definitely one of the most incredible experiences of my life. As I was leaving Randall’s Island to return home, I couldn’t wait to return the next year. The mere idea of having that opportunity taken away is very upsetting and I’m sure that many other Governors Ball fans would agree.

The Governors Ball has fought back against the notion of Panorama, starting a petition to ask New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to reject the event, with a possible solution of holding Panorama at a different time in the year. That way, neither event would cause a conflict with the other.

Hopefully, Governors Ball gets the signatures and support that they deserve and a larger corporation doesn’t overshadow this thrilling music festival.

Cultural Harmony week highlights non-western traditions through steel drums

As part of Geneseo’s Cultural Harmony week, two drum workshops were held at the Knight Spot on Oct. 21 and Friday Oct. 23. Cultural Harmony Week is an annual occurrence that takes place during the week of United Nations Day, which is on Oct. 24. Cultural Harmony Week addresses a variety of community and diversity issues and emphasizes the importance of non-Western traditions. Steel drum player Ted Canning offered a hands-on experience for the students who wanted to learn how to play his instrument. Canning began by teaching simple notes and chords, with each element he taught coming together at the end for one full song. While he aided every student in order to make sure they were playing correctly, many students were seen helping one another learn the instrument.

Canning placed a particular focus on making sure each student was enjoying themselves, as well as encouraging a positive collective dynamic. He had an entertaining sense of humor—it’s clear that he enjoys working with students.

Canning has been directing the Steel Alchemy Community Steel Band since 2001. Anyone who is at least 13 years old can join. The band has played at various concerts, including Geneseo festivals and concert series.

Canning and his wife Karen are also members of a smaller steel drum band called Panloco, which formed in 1995. The band features both the steel drums with vocals and percussion. Besides playing at private parties, they have also offered workshops for colleges in New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Karen Canning also spoke of how her husband made steel drums with kids—which taught them both about music and about mat because of the acoustics in the instrument.  “[The steel drums] are easier for kids to play because they are [physically] not difficult to play,” she said.

Ted Canning seems to have gotten the best experience in learning and playing the steel drum because, according to his wife, he learned and played them several times in Trinidad—where the instrument originated.

“We both studied African, Ghana[ian] and Caribbean history and culture,” she added.

Ted Canning seemed very enthusiastic and successfully got all of the students involved in his teaching of the steel drums. Although it might have been difficult for some students to get the hang of playing at first, the songs they all performed came together almost perfectly in the end.

This musical workshop was a great representation of Cultural Harmony Week at Geneseo. Each student involved got to work with an instrument from a different part of the world, all while collaborating with their peers and a great teacher.

Indie folk duo blends musicality, romance

Geneseo Late Knight brought the indie folk pop duo So Long Solo to the Knight Spot on Saturday Oct. 17. The couple performed a mix of covers and original songs as their 1-year-old son Rockwell walked around the stage. Mark Miller and Heather Miller make up the personable pair. The two performed an array of covers including Ingrid Michaelson’s “Take Me the Way I Am.” The Millers claimed that Michaelson is one of their biggest musical influences. Other covers ranged from Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s “See You Again” to Amos Lee’s “Sweet Pea” and Imagine Dragon’s “On Top of the World.”

So Long Solo’s inspiration also stems from the richness of classical music and musicals. Mark Miller is classically trained; he explained how both he and Heather Miller enjoy music that tells stories.

It was clear that the duo was very musically inclined; they both played a variety of instruments including the ukulele, melodica, shakers and the cello. Mark Miller’s method for playing the cello appeared very unusual—it was strapped onto his body rather than played in the classic sitting position.

Besides covers, So Long Solo performed some of their original songs such as “Under the Bridge,” “End of the Rainbow,” “Little Rabbit,” “Middle of Love” and “What If?”

Each song they composed had a special backstory. For example, “Under the Bridge” was a song about women in Uganda who were left as single mothers when abandoned by their lovers. Other songs such as “End of the Rainbow” and “What If?” had more sentimental and personal meaning to them.

The Millers studied music separately and worked in distant places such as Tokyo and Uganda. Mark Miller was a solo artist when the two met. On their honeymoon, Heather Miller decided to quit her job and join her husband in the music business. Since then, the two have been touring coast to coast, primarily on college campuses.

The So Long Solo duo have been married for five years. They share a common love for music and for each other—it was refreshing to see such chemistry between a couple. They are not only doing what they love, but they are doing it with whom they love.

“End of the Rainbow” conveyed that love, and it was the first song that the Millers wrote together. This song is about meeting that special person you want to spend the rest of your life with. It was lighthearted—like many of their songs—as Heather Miller skillfully played the xylophone with their harmonies.

“What If” was the last song of their set, speaking of the possibility of the duo never meeting each other and never having their wonderful family. The song was cheerful and carefree as the two bounced around as they sang.

Despite their obvious connection, the Millers commented on how unalike they are in certain regards. Heather Miller was Mark Miller’s first girlfriend while she was previously engaged twice. They dedicated the Michaelson cover to their relationship, with Heather Miller explaining how she can be herself around her husband and he “takes her the way she is,” unlike her previous significant others.

The two of them promote themselves as a “family business” as they bring their son on every tour they embark on. “It’s amazing to travel as a family,” Mark Miller said. “[It’s amazing to] make people’s lives better.”

Heather Miller also discussed her favorite part of touring. “[The best part] is the interaction with the listeners and seeing them affected by our music in some way,” she said.

The Millers are a caring duo and enjoy getting to know new people. The duo spoke and personally introduced themselves to nearly every audience member at the event.

So Long Solo provided a kindhearted and relaxed presence to the Geneseo campus. Their sound was lively and original, and it was rewarding to see such personable people who live a crazy lifestyle of travelling around the country and performing.