By Alex Kuttesch

NYPIRG kicked off SUNY-ESF’s Earth Week with a dull toe poke. The annual Sustain-A-‘Cuse concert was relocated to Nifkin lounge this year due to poor weather. In past years the free concert has been held in Syracuse’s own Thorndon park amphitheater. Anyone who has visited the amphitheater understands that it is the perfect place for an Earth Day concert. Surrounded by tall pines the amphitheater holds sound and people very well. In past years this event has been a favorite day—past party-goers are expecting a good time know how to prepare, while those first-timers enjoy the celebration and know how to plan for the great day...the following year. I have had three short years in this town and I have attended Sustain-A-‘Cuse every year. The first two years made for some pretty funky times and the second year I attended was only better than the first, with an even better turn out. 

With the event being moved to Nifkin I noticed an epic fizzle of excitement. I understand that moving the event was an unfortunate judgment call that was probably made days in advance, so don’t get me wrong, Nifkin makes any Stumpie feel right at home. On the contrary, the weather really wasn’t that bad on the Saturday prior to Earth Week. Is it just me or am I the only one that imagines Earth Day events as a chance to experience the outdoors, rain or shine? After all, we are celebrating the Earth and all that it possesses. Music is a main attraction at Sustain-A-‘Cuse which I believe was the basis for the venue change seeing as music equipment is not water proof. Call me crazy buy my deranged mind saw the event going off without a hitch—with musicians under a tent and people under rain coats?

Sustain-A-‘Cuse is normally very well attended by students and locals. It is a chance for people to find out about what issues interest groups are tackling in New York State. New York State has had fiscal difficulties in recent years. It is beneficial for the public to attend events like Sustain-A-‘Cuse so the community can keep up with important issues that directly affect the Syracuse population. I give a lot of credit to those community groups that showed up and stuck it out past the first band, despite sparse turnout.  There was a small array of tables outlining Nifkin, including the up and coming Syracuse University chapter of the Student Environmental Action Coalition and an inspiring table displaying ways that you can “upcycle” your trash!

I have made some negative statements about the way Sustain-A-‘Cuse was conducted this year. However, I should say that the music I heard was quite good and it is a shame that the bands did not have much of an audience. It is the live music that makes this event fun and it is important that musicians don’t lose interest in this event for future years.