Skylar Quackenbush ‘29

On Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025 the rock band Geese performed a show in Banker’s Anchor, a public park in Brooklyn. This show was put on to celebrate the release of their third album Getting Killed. What was most notable about this show though, other than the incredible performance and hundreds of dedicated fans crowded in the streets and rooftops, was the show’s cost. Not a single fan had to pay for a ticket.

This accessibility helped to create a unique experience. Friends, family and strangers alike all connected over this show—something that is becoming increasingly rare as ticket prices rise and resellers jack up costs. It’s a rarity for a band of this size to do a free show in this time period, especially with Cameron Winter as front-runner; it all feels like a 90s daydream. Sarah Lawrence fans also got to attend the show. First-years Emma-Wells Marshall and Jade Parrella had only positive remarks. The trip to the show wasn’t too complicated, involving a Metro-North ride from Bronxville to Grand Central in Manhattan and a couple subway trips to make it to the park in Brooklyn. Cost played a pivotal role here for the “frugal college student,” as Parrella stated. For a young adult, opportunities like these can help to shape not only a weekend or a memory, but a college experience. It’s vital to take advantage of moments like these as they increase in rarity, especially as a college student.

Tickets that used to be somewhat affordable can now be found on reselling sites for thousands upon thousands of dollars. This limits what live concerts provide—a community and bonding experience—to a much smaller audience and subset of fans. It’s no longer easy to casually go to the show of an artist you enjoy. There is an expectation reflected in both cost and fan culture that one must be a super fan.

Geese’s free show fought against this narrative, and is actively setting a precedent to reduce the struggle for access to community events. Bonding through live music was made suddenly available to a much wider range of people, even just casual listeners. Providing easy access to the “bonding experience” or community found at live shows is a “lost art,” as Marshall so precisely put it.

Music can unite us in times of uncertainty, and live shows create communal experiences to express emotions, to meet new people and create a sense of belonging. Geese has done something truly notable here. Not only did they put on a great show, but they also provided a bonding experience for fans and newcomers alike. As Marshall said, “Free shows are awesome.”

How Geese is Changing Live Music