The Vivid Scene: Behind The Sound
Photo courtesy of Vishnu R Nair/Pexels
Local sound, big dreams: The Vivid Scene takes the stage, playing concerts throughout Geneseo.
In today’s day and age, we live in a world of digital music. Whether you listen to Spotify or Apple Music, your favorite artists are always available to you at the click of a button. But where did this music originate from? Most big artists started small, growing their fanbase in real time at gigs or in garages. The Vivid Scene, a local band based in Geneseo, is beginning its journey just like every other musical group.
I had the opportunity to interview bassist Ben Carlson, guitarist Justin Maxwell, drummer Kevin Shea, and vocalist/rhythm guitarist Trevor Donlon before their gig on Friday, September 5, 2025, at Sigma Alpha Mu. Even before asking about themselves, I could tell that the four work incredibly hard and cohesively.
If you took a photo of the band at any given time, you could zoom in and see how deeply immersed each member is in the music. Despite this incredible focus, their stage presence is immaculate, and they never fail to engage the audience. “If you’re not doing anything and there's a Vivid Scene show going on, go – because it's fun. We love playing for people; that's why we do this,” said Trevor Donlon.
After the interview, I returned at 8:00 pm for the gig. To say the least, their name is spot-on. The music is loud, and both the crowd and the band are energetic. It’s a great place to dance with friends, sing along, or wave your phone flashlights around during a banger cover of “Wonderwall.”
Although the weather that night was ideal for live music, the band informed me that that is not always the case. One of their “craziest” gigs was on a 35-degree night. “That was just rough,” said Trevor. I asked what possessed them to play outside in the wintertime, and the resounding response was “money.” A band has to do what a band has to do. Depending on the venue, they will sometimes receive pizza coupons in exchange for their music. “Lots of coupons,” joked the members. “We're great! Thank you; I can eat!”
In addition to covering a variety of alternative rock, the band has been working on some original songs. Their near-future goal is to write enough to record and see where it takes them. All members of the band are currently enrolled at SUNY Geneseo, and both Ben and Trevor belong to the acapella group, South Side Boys.
If you are interested in seeing the band for yourself, you can find information on their gigs on Instagram: @TheVividSceneOfficial. Personally, stumbling across their band one night whilst searching for an AWOL Alex Dougherty on Orchard Street was the best accident I’ve had since starting college.
Although they are only playing music, it adds up to so much more. Feeling the bass in your heart, being able to sing with friends, and watching the band turn cover songs into a performance of their very own are all excellent reasons to go support the Vivid Scene. It’s important to support local musicians overall.
When someone discovers their passion, it is vital that their community supports them and gets involved in helping them succeed. And who knows, maybe one day you’ll be able to say, “I saw the Vivid Scene back in college when they were first getting their start.”