Keene State College students gathered around a stage on Fiske Quad for Pumpkin Lobotomy on Friday, Oct. 17 to listen to local acts perform their songs as they carved pumpkins.
“The music was awesome and everyone was having a great time,” KSC junior Cassidy Cetti said.
Kaylene Lemme, a KSC junior, was one of the acts. “It was very laid-back and it seemed that the people who were hanging around enjoyed it a lot,” Lemme said.
“I had such a good time performing. I was very lucky and was able to play a forty-five minute set that included my Ed Sheeran Mash-up, covers of All About That Bass, Radioactive, Stay With Me and some originals,” Lemme continued.
Tim Smith / Equinox Staff
KSC student Erin Sweeney said of the performances, “I thought it was cool that it was live. They were songs that everybody knew. I liked the fact that it was live; that actual people were playing.”
Jamie Monahan, who also attended Pumpkin Lobotomy, said, “He [Jack Anderson] played a lot of mellow songs like John Mayer, Ed Sheeran. It definitely added to the experience. It made it more homey.”
“Everyone loves Ed Sheeran and those kinds of artists … It kind of made us all a little happier. Better atmosphere,” Monahan said.
“That’s my favorite kind of music so I was loving it,” Monahan added.
Natalie Barnett said that the performances were fantastic.
“I absolutely loved the fact that there was live music at the event. It was actually my first Pumpkin Lobotomy I’ve ever been to. I thought he [Jack Anderson] was exceptionally great — I thought he was absolutely amazing.”
“It really did add to the experience we had,” she concluded.
As much as kids loved the live music event on Fiske Quad, many students were left upset by the riots that occurred on Saturday, Oct. 18.
Junior and Keene native Emmi Silegy said, “Pumpkin Fest is intended to unite students in celebration. Although there might have been chaos this year, by going to the live music event on Fiske Quad I was able to see that school pride still exists,” Silegy said.
“I wish that reporters could have been reporting on events like the live music in Fiske Quad. I hate the fact that our school is being represented like this; it’s supposed to be a fun festival but kids just got out of hand and were being dumb. And I know that a lot of kids don’t realize what they actually did and they still think it’s awesome, even though it has put a negative outlook on our school,” Kayla Tavenner, a Keene State College junior said.
“… Coming to see the live music and seeing kids that just wanted to have a good time and not destroy our town and school was enlightening. It showed me what Pumpkin Fest is all about — uniting our campus,” Silegy said.
“It’s horrible to think how our school is being represented in the media because I don’t want to be known for rioting and partying, you know? But, playing at the stage gave me hope and let me see all of the great kids that go to this school,” Lemme concluded.
Caroline Alm can be contacted at calm@keene-equinox.com
Rodger Weeks can be contacted at rweeks@keene-equinox.com
