Brothers Past and Digital Dharma took stage for a packed house at the Hollow on December 21st. Digital Dharma were on first, starting the night on a great foot, opening with “Mission Control -> Moonstruck”. Eliot Kershner never ceases to amaze on the keys and synth as he brings complex layers that intertwine with each of the musician’s key facets of the band to create a new and fresh sound within electronic music. Each member in the band plays off one another in such a way that each members unique sound is heard even in the most intense jams. This was Digital Dharma’s guitarist Jesse Radosti’s last show, and while it was bittersweet it was certainly a high energy set for him to close the curtain to.
Brothers Past took the stage, bringing their signature upbeat dance jams to The Hollow’s crowd. The bad is known for its dance tunes, surrounded by heavy jams and compiled by some of the most talented musicians on the scene. Unlike most jam and electronic bands, Brothers Past integrates vocals into almost all of their songs. Often times within jam bands, it is easy to lose the vocals amid the competing instruments and heavy jams, but Brothers Past has always done a phenomenal job keeping that scale at an even keel. Bands like BP have the capability of melding the organic and electronic aspects of both worlds and creating a new facet in the jam community. Brothers Past has followed in the footsteps of their Philly brethren the Disco Biscuits, and while their exposure is still on the up and up, it is clear that they are destined for great things within the music community. The band played two sets, both of which were packed with intensity and kept the crowd moving from start to finish. Clay Parnell laid down venue shaking bass lines matched by Tom Hamilton’s guitar to create a crushing set of multifaceted musical talent. It was certainly a good night for music in Albany; hopefully Brothers Past will make Albany a regular stop on their touring circuit.
You can catch Brother’s Past 12/26 at the Best Buy Theater alongside The Disco Biscuits, or their late night set at B.B. King’s the same night.
The Machine was top notch and recreated the Pink Floyd sound and nearly the stage show, with copious amounts of smoke filling the air, creating silhouettes of the band members, particularly guitarist Ryan Ball and his mane of hair. The lights and lasers had hints of the Dark Side of the Moon prism in the colors, a visual treat, particularly on this night. A dark ‘Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun’ formed out of a jam from ‘Signs of Life’, ‘Money’ elicited attention from the audience for one of the most played songs in the Floyd catalog, as well as a psychedelic ‘Astronomy Domine’. The encore was a dose of rare and popular ‘Julia Dream’, from the 1960s era of Pink Floyd that kept everyone focused while they explored the early catalog (which is highly undervalued, by the way). The drum beats to signal ‘Run Like Hell’ recalled The Wall and had fist pumps from a handful in the crowd and ended the night, although the audience wanted more on a night that was still young, even if the crowd wasn’t.
The Machine, Upstate Concert Hall
Timbre Coup, Bayou Cafe, Albany 4/20/13 
