By Brian Doran
It was a Saturday afternoon in September, and Laura Carpenter was putting the finishing touches on two chalkboard signs reading, “Redemption Movement Act of Kindness: Free Show & KYLE!” Inside, her husband, Kaler, was setting up the PA system, clearing the floor space, and rigging a drum kit.
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| Frank from Bray performs with Kyle (not pictured) |
Only a few hours prior, the headlining band was forced to cancel the show, but for the couple that
moved all the way from Missouri and renovated a whole venue by hand, this was no huge obstacle.
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| Chelsea reads poetry. |
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The city of Oneonta has a rich history of music venues, from the
Oneonta Theater, open since 1897, to the College’s music output, hosting such acts as F.U.N. and Childish Gambino. However, the town was in serious need of a middle ground, “I saw a need for a venue that was for the community and the students – a place that wasn’t a bar,” said Kaler.
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| Kaler remodeling in 2010 |
The Carpenters did exactly that, they purchased a
vacant storefront and for three years they taught themselves and went to work on constructing their hybrid church, community center, and venue. In 2012, the Redemption Movement was able to have its
first show, which became a
block party for the whole neighborhood, even including a bounce castle for kids.
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| 6th Ward Block Party May 2012 |
Far from the pay-to-play ethos of some other venues, Kaler said that the
shows are entirely non-profit. The storefront runs on donations and the helping hands of volunteers, with every cent going to touring bands or renovations.
What the Carpenters want most of all, is for their church to serve the community, and they don’t just mean religious services. Aside from the shows and services, The Redemption Movement hosts
30 Days of Kindness, wherein volunteers do what they can to help the city, from cleaning up the street to giving
free taxi rides on the weekends.
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| Lou from Deadwood |
Though it may seem like a lot, Kaler certainly doesn’t mind the work, ”I don’t watch football, I don’t watch sports, this is my hobby. It’s exciting because I don’t know exactly what to expect!”
With the help of students and residents alike, Saturday was punctuated with a colorful night of music. From acoustic sing-alongs, to live poetry, to the melting blues-rock of the band Deadwood. The Redemption Movement had another successful show, made all the sweeter by the grassroots that grew it.
Brian Doran is a student at SUNY Oneonta and wrote this article for a Photo Journalism class.
