Two bands, two stories, one community.
Written by Emma Clancy
Edited by Nicolas Francis
League of Storytellers
It’s loud, hot, and crowded. Everyone is gathered in one area, singing and dancing carelessly. No one can tell who’s standing next to them, and many may not even know who they are. All you see is a community gathered to appreciate the beauty of live music, especially when our own peers are performing. Because of Clambo and Chickasa Boom, live music has been at an all-time high on Geneseo’s campus. These are their stories.
“…There was live music playing, and I thought, ‘why can’t they have this every single night, every single weekend, this is amazing and exactly where I want to be.’ ” – Emma Blanchard, Guitarist for Chickasa Boom
Clambo
Clambo currently consists of four members: Sam Koepele (21, Bass/Vocals), Michael McCarthy (22, Guitar/Vocals), Ethan Moore (21, Guitar/Vocals), and Kevin Shea (21, Drums/Vocals). Moore started the band about a year ago after posting on the anonymous social messaging app Yik Yak to see if anyone wanted to be in a band. He got a response from Koepele, and they first met outside of the student union. From there, they formed the band and played their first set at Geneseo GCAB’s Fall Fest. They said that having a school-sanctioned event as their first gig was big and nerve-wracking. When asked how they felt about their first performance, Moore responded saying “We did as good as we could and we had fun.”
Regarding their dynamic in deciding what music to perform and where, they agreed that their band doesn’t have many issues together. Clambo picked up almost any gig opportunity offered to them and only recently started charging. In the past, they did most of them for free, as they genuinely love volunteering their time to give organizations live music. As for choosing what music to play, Clambo prides itself on its genre diversity. Each member has their own taste, and what makes their dynamic interesting is that they sometimes don’t like another member’s suggestion. Kevin Shea shared that Koepele wanted to play “One Way or Another” by Blondie, and he really didn’t like that song. However, after deciding to play it, it is now one of Shea’s favorite songs to play. Their disagreements over what to play lead to more open-mindedness and constantly finding new appreciation for music one would typically not like. Moore typically has the final call on songs, and he tries to give each member of the band one song they absolutely want to make sure everyone’s input is included and appreciated. Naturally, they play crowd pleasers that many people would know, but they also try to mix in songs that are near and dear to them that others may not know. They find beauty in showcasing an underappreciated song and watching the crowd keep dancing and appreciating the music. They also write their own parts for the songs they cover, creating a unique atmosphere for both the band and the audience. Their fresh sound and energetic playing keep Geneseo’s music scene alive and ever-changing.
“The best cover bands are the bands that make it their own.” – Kevin Shea, Drummer and Vocalist for Clambo.
Looking back both individually and collectively as a band, Clambo had a lot to reflect on. They plan to keep playing as long as it’s fun and low-stress. Though there was some doubt at the beginning, it is an extreme accomplishment to have a vision and not only stick with it, but make it so successful and fun. One of their biggest shows was their third-ever gig in spring of 2026, at the Ice Out of Geneseo event, a show for a cause that mattered to them and the community as a whole. Along with other bands performing, they raised over $1,000. Most members agreed that if they could give their past selves advice, it would be to practice more and worry less. Moore offered an alternative perspective and said he would tell his past self to set the bar higher for what he can do. “They are going to judge, but if I sell it, they are going to judge positively,” Moore states.
Clambo has a great dynamic with one another, and many accomplishments to be proud of, but what makes them special? They aren’t concerned with the perfect song, gig, or performance; all they care about is making memories and having fun with their craft. They appreciate successes, mess-ups, and everything in between, and they truly love being together for the sake of live music. Moore states, “We try to create a memory of each show with something that happened. Usually the memories are when things go wrong, and we sell them.” In a society where young adults constantly worry about every little action and judgment, crowd interaction offers a moment of freedom. Freedom to sing, dance, laugh, and leave everything else behind for just one song. So grab some friends, and follow the wise words of Sam Koepele: “Please dance!”
Chickasa Boom
Chickasa Boom is a newer band, currently consisting of seven members: Emma Blanchard (20, Guitar), Madison Fleming (19, Vocals), Brenna Kowalski (19, Vocals), Robbie LaDuca (20, Guitar), Domenic Romach (19, Drums), Emma Wolfe (20, Bass), and Landon Wollschleger (20, Guitar). The band started in spring 2026, when a couple of members were hanging out in a dorm room. They brought out a guitar and sang all night. From that moment, they knew they at least wanted to keep playing music together. “…We were all like okay, wow, this is definitely happening” – Emma Blanchard. The next day, Blanchard, Fleming, Kowalski, LaDuca, and Romach all went to the Nassau dorm building to see what they could do. There were no mics or drumsticks, just two acoustic guitars and a group of people who were looking to incorporate music into their college lives. Wolfe, who didn’t own her instrument at the time, talked up her skills and offered to play the bass. Their first gig was in the spring at the Sigma Nu Chi fraternity.
“Before we even started playing, we had a crowd cheering for us. They probably gave us the power to sound as good as we sounded that day because they made us feel like rockstars” – Robbie LaDuca, Guitarist for Chickasa Boom.
Members of the band admitted it took a little while to find a comfortable, productive dynamic. It takes time to get in sync, but once they got closer, they found it easier to communicate and started to sound like a whole rather than individuals playing together. The band has diverse musical tastes, and they had to find a middle ground to make sure everyone felt represented. LaDuca confidently stated that each show is better than the last because they keep growing together and trying out new music. Although they have no original songs of their own, they have discussed the possibility in the future, especially with Romach being a music recording minor. A big change came in the fall semester of 2026 when the idea of adding another guitarist came up. Romach mentioned that his hometown friend also attends Geneseo. The band decided to try it out and ask Landon Wollschleger to play solos. Wolfe admitted that she was very skeptical of adding another member. She worried it would be too much and said she doesn’t do well with change. However, the band collectively agreed that adding Wollschleger was one of the best decisions. He adds a new energy and playful side, and when things get difficult, he is a constant reminder that it is not supposed to be stressful and just to enjoy every moment.
In a short time, Chickasa Boom has had many experiences to reflect on. In September of 2026, they had the opportunity to open for a Rochester band, Sagewood, at the fraternity Sigma Tau Psi. It was their first performance back, and naturally there were some nerves and pressure. After their set, Blanchard looked at her phone and saw a video taken from the roof. She was in awe of how many people gathered to support them. LaDuca noticed that at every single show, there are both old and new faces. It doesn’t matter who your friends are or what clubs or organizations you’re in; people let go of their norms to come together and listen to live music. Later in the semester, Geneseo’s GCAB asked them to perform at an event. Chickasa Boom was incredibly excited, as it was their first school-sanctioned event, and they hope to do more in the future. When asked what advice they would give themselves, the band collectively agreed to be more confident and not put so much pressure on themselves to be perfect.
Again, despite their many accomplishments and strong bond with one another…what makes them special? Chickasa Boom is a band made up of members from many different clubs and organizations. Romach mentioned that they all knew of each other, but in separate contexts, and it wasn’t until they started bonding over music that they became close friends. Not only are they proud that they let go of their personal norms, but they also feel they did it for the community. Because of Chickasa Boom, so many clubs and organizations have become friends from simply just showing up to their shows to have fun. Chickasa Boom appreciates that live music is so moving that, no matter who you are, where you come from, or what you are in, everyone comes together.
“I think live music on campus is really important for the community aspect. We don’t want to let the live music scene in Geneseo die.” – Emma Wolfe, Bassist for Chickasa Boom
One thing is for certain: with Clambo and Chickasa Boom, the live music scene in Geneseo is certainly more alive than ever, and it will only continue to grow with their inspiring contributions to community and friendship. Being able to put school, work, and stress behind us for a one-hour set and listen to these bands with friends is such an integral part of our experience here on campus. For one hour, we aren’t just students of Geneseo, we are a community.
Clambo at the Sukkot Sustainability Event
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