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Why I Love Brightview (a personal essay)

This is where my true love affair with this band started—the electric excitement in the air, the tangible anticipation in the audience as they awaited the main act to take the stage. That was a night that will never be forgotten, one that will always be clear in my mind like a work of art created by the masterful brushwork of Andrew Gagne and the melodic genius of Henning Reinholdt.

I knew I would be in for something spectacular as soon as the first chords started to resonate through the Rose Theatre at Endicott College and the lights went down. Various instruments were arranged on the stage, ready for these two musical masters to bring them to life. And I was enthralled right away when the opening chords of their mix of songs by Mac Miller flooded the room.

The mutually beneficial connection between Gagne and Reinholdt stood out to me. Every beat and note of their song demonstrated their unbreakable bond and their chemistry was clear. Reinholdt's unwaveringly precise drumming gave the performance's heartbeat, while Gagne's vocals reached previously unthinkable heights and took us on a voyage of unadulterated emotion and musical genius.

Gagne's voice had depth and agility that could move mountains, making it a force to be reckoned with. With every word and every twist, he captured the attention of listeners with his captivating falsettos and deep croons. His captivating personality and mysterious presence had us enthralled till the very last note faded into the night, not only his amazing vocal ability. Then there was Reinholdt, who had astounding drumming. He created a tapestry of sound that engulfed us musically and sent us on an emotional rollercoaster with every beat, from the delicate nuances to the explosive strength.

Gagne and Reinholdt took us on a journey through a rainbow of emotions, from the ecstatic peaks of memorable choruses to the reflective valleys of poignant ballads. Each song served as a demonstration of their talent and capacity to move listeners to tears through music. More than just their skill, their genuineness and love for what they did, which came through in every part of their performance, made an unforgettable impression on me. They were more than simply performers; they were also living, breathing, and giving their all to each chord and beat.

I knew that this was more than simply a concert as the last chords reverberated across the space and the audience erupted in loud ovation. It was an event, a split second where music became something genuinely remarkable and transcended the commonplace. Ultimately, Gagne and Reinholdt demonstrated that they were more than simply musical masters; they were true artists who had the power to change the lives of those who were lucky enough to experience their magic. I think that's the reason I adore this band so much: every time I hear one of their songs, it takes me back to that special evening when music became my soul's soundtrack.

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Q+A

Andrew Gagne and Henning Reinholdt are two key members of the local band, Bright View. Gagne is the lead vocalist and Reinholdt maintains the beat on the drums. As well as an additional two members, Declan Rider dually plays the guitar and piano, and Rob Ricz as the bass. Four band members from all different backgrounds, and corners of New England such as Maine, and New Hampshire came together during their freshman year at Endicott College and formed a unique cover band. This band sprouted during their sophomore year at Endicott College when they were eager to transform their friendship into a cohesive band. Gagne started his love for singing when he was in Middle School and looked up to his vocally talented sister, and wanted to be just as great as her. Reinhold formed his love for drumming throughout high school and knew it was a talent that would bleed into his collegiate career. While Gagne is planning on becoming instrumentally fluent just like his bandmates, he is still enjoying mastering his vocal craft and elevating the band with it. The band is also working towards twisting existing music to gain more chemistry and ease into original content. For example, they turned a traditional piano ballad into a rock song through their creativity. This is how Gagne and Reinoldt believe they set themselves apart from existing local bands, as their friendship and passion show through their music. Andrew, Henning, Rob, and Declan have a bright future ahead of them, which is articulated very well in the interview. Looking into the future, Gagne and Reinholdt have plans to study abroad in Ireland for four months in the fall, they both are confident that the band will stay intact and even perform better once they are together again. 

Tell me, how did the band start?

Andrew: Me and Declan last year would come and do like little two-man stuff with just an acoustic guitar and a voice but we always watched other bands and we talked about it a little bit last year… I mean we were friends with Henning and we didn’t really know Rob but we liked the band so we talked about filling in and we just got started this year right away, it’s been fun. 

What are your individual roles for the band? How did you start?

Henning: I play the drums so I hold the beat down for the song and I set the cadence- so if it’s a slower rap song ill probably be playing more tighter, quite sounding drums- or if it’s like a rock song ill be playing more symbols- it’s just about volume and keeping everyone in the same kind of rhythm.

Andrew:  Im just a vocalist- I’m not an instrumentalist right now, its definitely something I want to work towards, but it takes time. It definitely takes time. When I was growing up, my sister was big into the theater, chorus scene.  So me trying to one -up her all the time, I got into it, too, and tried to just be better than her. So it's definitely a huge stylistic change, too, from what I was doing in high school and middle school to what I'm doing now.  when I came when I came into college I'd like swore off music just because I'd been doing it for so long that I was like I was done but I guess it's just the people I start hanging around with drag me back in and I'm still like I'm still off of like where I was in high school was all chorus and theater so I'm off that but it's been fun with the band 

Where do you primarily perform? Do you enjoy performing?

Andrew: So we basically just book all our own gigs, whenever we want to around campus. I mean, we’re definitely interested in expanding it outside of campus, but so far the opportunity just hasn't come for us to. 

Henning: I think it’s like easier when it’s just us playing because we get to put together like a five-song performance rather than wait to play… this band is a lot more fun just because we’re close friends all of us and there's good banter… it makes the music experience a lot cooler. 

What is your musical process? What are the challenges?

Andrew: So far we need to improve our process I think definitely that's one of our areas where we’re all needing to improve because we're all such go-with-the-flow people that will text and say we’ll practice tomorrow but then we just don't feel like it or something comes up. 

Henning: We hold the phone up to the amp and we listen to all of our parts and then everyone kind of gets a feel for it and then we just see how far we can make it playing the song together and then we just play it over and over. 

Andrew: You always start with the skeleton of a song, just the chords and the basic melodies. And then you just try to add like little accents and layers where to make it sound like a little bit more full. 

Have you begun playing original music? 

Andrew: We’re in the process of that right now, I mean as a new band we just kind of tried to do covers to get ourselves started and kind of gain some chemistry. There have been a couple of songs that we changed up the styles. There’s a song called Lou by Richy Mitch and The Coal Miners that was generally like a slower piano ballad type of song, but we tried to rock it out a little more so that it could fit our band style. 

Henning: I think the next step is to write all together, get in a room together, and just all decide what we want it to sound like then we can write lyrics together and stuff- but that's further down the line right now. 

Do you come across any conflicts within the group?

Andrew: Definitely, since were all friends, were not afraid to call each other out. If we weren’t friends then it would be way more awkward. 

Henning: There’d be moments of a little grimace on my face, it’d be these moments of onset tension…it would make shit really hard to finish. Like we would not get through stuff very quickly. 

Are there any lasting details about being in a band youd like to add? 

Henning: Well, I think it's cool because Andrew and Declan have never really been in a band before and for like relatively like new band members, they're very easy to work with and like very talented people so I think it just goes to show that anyone should try music, like you know, it doesn't matter what level you are or if you think you can't sing or whatever.  Andrew:  I was definitely hesitant to jump into it here in front of like everyone that I go to school with every day, but like, I think people just need to understand that it's not that serious. Like, it's purely for fun, so like, just do what makes you happy and get it done.

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Show Review

The audience was waiting impatiently for the main act of the evening to arrive on the dimly lit stage in the Rose Theatre at Endicott College, with excitement in the air like electricity. The stage was prepared, decked out with a variety of instruments such as gorgeous drum sets, a guitar, and a stool with a mic, waiting for Andrew Gagne and Henning Reinholdt's musical skills to bring it to life. The small yet glowing crowd of about 40 viewers cheered as the lights went down even lower, indicating the start of an incredible performance. The first set, my favorite, is a mashup of Mac-Miller songs which the band can articulate so well. Normally, a mashup of rap songs the band has put an acoustic twist on to indulge in the hip-hop lyrical style with an acoustic touch. Gagne commanded attention with his mysterious demeanor and voice that could move mountains. Gagne and Reinholdt showed off their unquestionable talent right away, launching into their set with the explosive energy of a sonic tidal wave.

 Reinholdt's drumming provided The performance's pulse, which advanced the rhythm with unwavering accuracy. His booming rhythms echoed throughout the arena, creating the ideal atmosphere for Gagne's breathtaking vocals to soar. Gagne and Reinholdt had an obvious chemistry; they fed off each other's vitality to produce a musical masterpiece that was symbiotic. The performance reached new heights as a result of their flawless synchronization and intuitive grasp of each other's craft; it went beyond just playing music to become pure magic. 

Gagne's dynamic vocal range came to the forefront as the evening went on. With an agility that astounded the audience, he transitioned from soulful croons to electrifying falsettos. Every lyric was brimming with emotion, expressing a profundity of feelings that touched every listener deeply. But their unquestionable stage presence was just as captivating to the audience as Gagne's vocals. Gagne demanded attention from the audience with his magnetic charisma with every move, keeping them spellbound until the very last note faded into the night. Reinholdt's drumming, meanwhile, never ceased to amaze, exhibiting a versatility that spanned from nuanced subtlety to explosive power. His complex rhythms gave each song layers of depth and created a soundscape that embraced the listener sonically. 

Gagne and Reinholdt transported the audience through a rainbow of feelings, from the euphoric peaks of catchy choruses to the reflective valleys of heartfelt ballads. Every song was an expression of their skill and their capacity to write music that touched people deeply. The audience erupted in thunderous applause as the evening's final notes reverberated throughout the venue, a testament to the performance's profound impact on them. For those fortunate enough to be present, it was a night they would never forget, a night when music became something truly extraordinary rather than just the norm. 

Let me sum up by saying that Gagne and Reinholdt gave a professional performance. With their unmatched talent and captivating stage presence, they established themselves as genuine musical virtuosos, capable of touching audiences in ways they never imagined possible. Do not pass up the opportunity to see them perform live; it will be an experience of a lifetime.

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Andrew Gagne and Henning Reinholdt are truly scientists who conduct experiments almost daily in a lab of their own. They use scientific equipment such as a state-of-the-art drum set, a fully equipped studio, amplifiers, keyboards, microphones, and many other instruments. The musicians use these many pieces almost every day to craft a finished product of their experiments, ultimately leading to their musical success. While there are many different pieces of equipment, Gagne and Reihnholdt have mastered their own.

The local band which is derived from students that were brought together by Endicott each has a unique story of their own. Andrew Gagne, a Maine native, fostered his love for vocalists back in middle school when he was inclined to ‘one-up’ his older sister in the singing world. Ever since he gained this competitive nature with his sister in the industry, he has shaped himself into an outstanding vocalist. Henning Reinholdt, also a Maine native, picked up the drums early on in his high school career. Throughout the past six years, he has become familiar with every curve and bolt of a drum set.

experiments. Gagne experiments with the microphone every day to test several variables- such as how loud he needs to be at certain times in a song, or how he can manipulate his vocals to work with the microphone to produce something pleasant to listen to. Additionally, he has the choice of how he wants to perform with his tool- if he feels it is appropriate to walk around with the microphone, or his hand placements on the mic stand. With this, he has to adjust his vocals to the preferred mic positioning, and it is a sheer demonstration of talent as all of these tiny details come naturally to him as he crafts and experiments in the lab every day.

He has become the band's core by widening his range of knowledge in his dedication to the band field. Finding ways to cooperate with the three other members to successfully set the tone, pace, and intensity of every song through his experimental work has shown his capabilities in the practice room (lab) and during performances. Even adding personal twists to songs by adding one small sound at the beginning or end has given the band a more authentic and unique atmosphere when performing- this sets them apart from other bands nearby. 

  These two members have intricately worked through their attributions to the band through experimentation. However, after closely observing the band's habits during practice it is obvious that their environment as a whole (as pictured) is also a very important factor in their success. The room is warm and has big windows which allow a lot of natural light. Also, the room is quite big with lots of space for movement and organization as well as comfortable seating and lots of privacy. Considering these characteristics of the rehearsal space, the musicians can comfortably and safely express their musicality free of judgment and in a relaxing manner. These photos reveal the lab; while it may look simple on the surface, it holds much potential.