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The Liszt Takes Over Gainesville
By: Dylan Crews
Gainesville is known for its music scene, bringing together creatives to share their sound throughout the city. The Liszt is a psychedelic, blues-rock experience that plays covers and originals with a unique sound. They feature songs from The Doors, The Rolling Stones and many other rock and roll fan favorites. They combine theatrical performances with experimental songwriting to craft an unforgettable live experience.
The band consists of four core members. The vocalist and guitar player, Lenny Schonfeld, was a sophomore Music major. Sophomore Material Science major Aaron Edwards was also one of the vocalists and the bassist. Ori Schnaider, the drummer, was studying Mechanical Engineering. Lastly, the pianist Lucas Butler was a junior Industrial Systems Engineering major.
Both Edwards and Schonfeld had a history of performing together since high school. Wanting to continue performing when they entered college, they hosted auditions for a drummer, bringing Schnaider in. Looking for a final member, they sent a message to the “Gainesville Music Scene” GroupMe, searching for a guitarist and keyboardist, leading them to Butler.
Ever since their first show, a small, hometown performance at Jack Rabbits Live in Jacksonville, and their breakout Gainesville show at a house party in November 2025, they have been curating their sound and gathering a loyal audience.
The Liszt’s concerts are high-energy performances where no two shows are alike. Each show is a mixture of crowd response, the vibe of the show and the reaction of the band. Edwards spoke out about what he wants his audience to experience.
“For people going to shows, I definitely want them to feel like Gainesville music is a real thing,” he said. “Above all, it’s about creating a physical space where people can meet and express a shared passion. I’d say that’s what I hope for: that people would enjoy it and the community it creates, regardless of the music”
Schnaider shared his perspective on The Liszt’s shows, especially from a behind-the-scenes perspective.
“These songs we play become songs I add to my Spotify playlists and listen to for fun throughout the day, and my bandmates introduce me to even more new genres and artists I probably would not have discovered,” he said. “I hope that our audiences can take away a similar experience as I do when they hear us play both our originals and our covers.”
Longtime listener Lily Carr went to every performance she could make. Carr, a junior studying environmental science, enjoyed the Gainesville music scene and loved going to local shows to support local artists.
“It’s a great environment,” said Carr. “I think the band is very passionate about music and what they do, and it translates well to their audience.”
Junior Gabe Schoenfield, a newer listener, also shared his perspective on The Liszt’s concerts.
“The Liszt is going places,” he said. “I like the variety in their sets and their crowd work.”
Butler had his own take on audience perception.
“I want people to feel engaged and not like they just saw a collection of songs; I want them to feel like they went through an experience,” said Butler. “We do what feels best to us, and we want to make the best experience for our audience members.”
At the end of the night, each member was a student as well. While managing a consistent show schedule, they were each also balancing full course loads. Schnaider spoke up about what he wanted to get out of performing.
“The thing that I really want to get out of the show is the ability to let loose, have fun, and completely disconnect from my responsibilities and the busy week I probably had,” he said. “Playing a show is good for that because all you are focused on is playing the music, and playing the drums lets you hit things really hard, which is a good stress reliever.”
In their own words, The Liszt as a band means something different to each member. Schonfeld described The Liszt in his own words.
“I would describe The Liszt as an experimental psychedelic rock group; the concept of transcendence is something that we seek out in music regardless of genre,” he said. “We find artists like The Doors, David Bowie, Blur, Pink Floyd and Geese absolutely inspiring when it comes to creating music that feels immersive and larger than the world we experience every day”
The Liszt has plenty of upcoming performances throughout Gainesville. They frequent bars like The Bull and Loosey’s, as well as venues like Heartwood Sound Stage. They also perform locally at frat houses, UF-affiliated club houses for tailgates, concerts or parties.
There is never a dull moment at The Liszt’s shows, so make sure you catch them when you can. They post frequent updates on their social media, namely Instagram (@_theliszt), and they are not a performance you want to miss.
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