By REGINA IANNIZZOTTO
Opinion Editor
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 18, 2011
On October 15, 2011, MEISA put on Rocktoberfest, a music event on the campus green. Five bands performed and there were tables set up for different activities.
The tables consisted of tie-dye, sand art, pizzas, face painting and more. MEISA President Mishelle Stapleton said planning began in July, but did not really start until the second MEISA meeting in September. Due to the previous noise concerns and other issues regarding Rose Rock and other outdoor events, Stapleton said, “It was a process,” in reference to working with Student Association and to have the event outside.
All of the members took part in a demo hearing to choose which bands would play at this event. Member Travis Sprague used his helpful connections to get For the Foxes and City Never Sleeps to perform and take part in the event. Stapleton said he books bands locally and knows them personally.
The bands that played were as follows: duckBasket, Daybreaker, State Champs, Timbre Coup, For the Foxes, and City Never Sleeps.
Between the weather and the short notice advertising, the hope of around 250 people turned out to be around 100 throughout the day. However, Stapleton seemed happy with the turnout. She explained that the past two years, since the event’s origination, there has been a lot of bad luck. The first year, 2009, was booked on Columbus Day weekend so most people had gone home for the weekend. The year after was hit with rain and was immediately sent to Jack’s Place, so the turnout was not so great. This year, Stapleton said, “I have all my grounds covered…This is the best Rocktoberfest has ever been.”
For the Foxes lead singer Nick Dungo said he knows Travis [Sprague] through the bassist of Mirk and it was great to come back to Albany. The band has been here only once before and will now lay low while they plan their 2012 tour beginning in January. They recorded their new album in Atlanta and “We are planning the release right now.” So keep a look out for their new record coming soon.
Overall, the event went smoothly. Other than a slight chill and a spurt of rain at the beginning of the For the Foxes performance, people had fun tye-dying shirts, getting their faces painted, and listening to great bands perform for them. Stapleton hopes that with years to come, more people with come and it will be talked about like Rose Rock does.
