Author: Zak Radick

Members of TAB & JRAD Light Up Albany with LaMP Trio

It was a birthday party like no other on Saturday, March 25th, as members of the Trey Anastasio Band and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead joined forces as LaMP to light up Lark Hall in Albany. The memorable evening of stellar improvisation and infectious grooves was extra special for the venue’s owner, Jennifer Miller. That’s because many of her nearest and dearest friends helped pack the place to capacity in celebration of her turning 50 years young.

FUNGKSHUI kicked off the party at Lark Hall on Saturday, March 25, 2023

Kicking off the festivities with a high energy, fun-fueled set was Asbury Park, NJ young bloods FUNGKSHUI. Pronounced “funk-shway,” the exciting upstarts made the most of the opportunity to share the stage with a few of their musical heroes. Comprised of Jack Reed (guitar), Max Vitale (guitar), Jon Scheps (bass), and Kyle Donovan (drums), the psychedelic funk quartet had Lark Hall moving and grooving from the beginning.

FUNGKSHUI performing at Lark Hall in Albany, NY 3/25/23

With two powerhouse guitar players and an incredibly tight rhythm section, the young band showcased a musical maturity well beyond their years. With irresistible hooks, dynamic soloing, and plenty of room left for improvisation, songs like “Orange Cadillac,” “Sinkhole” and “Blue Rat Bastard” highlighted the set. Clearly grateful to be there, afterwards the band members stuck around to chat with new fans and hand out free stickers, while also managing to create quite a buzz about their upcoming appearance at the nearby Rye Bread Music Festival later this summer. With their debut album also on the way, we expect to hear a lot more from this talented group in the very near future.

Ray Paczkowski, Scott Metzger & Russ Lawton performing together as LaMP at Lark Hall on 3/25/23

After a rain-soaked intermission dampened many a spliff, the party reignited inside with a special performance from the recently revived trio known as LaMP. Made up of Soule Monde/TAB members Russ Lawton on drums and organist Ray “The Milkman” Paczkowski, the time-tested duo was joined by Joe Russo’s Almost Dead/WOLF! guitarist Scott Metzger. The band gets takes its name from the first letters of each members’ surname. Originally debuting in 2018 at Nectar’s in Burlington, Vermont, LaMP released their debut album in the summer of 2020 and to date has only played a handful of gigs together, making each appearance a bit of a novelty and a “can’t miss” affair.

Opening their set with a funky rendition of the title track from 2021’s Mimi Digs It, Metzger immediately fits right in with the guys from Soule Monde. Tastefully adding guitar textures and subtle melodies to the otherwise drum and organ instrumentals, The Milkman, as always, pulled double duty by supplying the bass lines on the lower deck of his vintage Hammond organ. All warmed up and full of smiles, LaMP then cooked up something fresh for the curious cats who still weren’t sure what the band was all about. Pro-shot footage of “Out of Curiosity” has been posted on the band’s Facebook page at the link below, courtesy of our friends at Mirth Films.

Ray Paczkowski, Scott Metzger & Russ Lawton performing together as LaMP at Lark Hall on 3/25/23

The avant-groove compositions continued on with “Hit Return,” “Ollie ‘ 88” and “Hey Francis.” Each song undeniably groovy and each with a different feel, every member had ample opportunity to shine and empty their bag of musical tricks. Following “Seven Days” came one of the biggest highlights of the set in the form of “Q Division.” It was here where guitarist Scott Metzger really let things rip, playing off Paczkowski’s funky Clavinet lines and launching into one of the biggest shreds of the evening. Afterwards, an excited Paczkowski would get on the mic and tell everyone how much he loves playing improvisational music with these guys and that it was for moments just like that. Lightning in a bottle.

Scott Metzger performing with LaMP at Lark Hall on 3/25/23

LaMP would continue socking it to the Lark Hall faithful with “Sock Full,” then an extra greasy rendition of “Bernard,” which saw drummer Russ Lawton in complete command behind the kit. Showcasing a wealth of styles and versatility while diving in-and-out of groove pockets with a cool confidence, Lawton would use every inch of his instrument, at one point even banging on the side walls of his kit, cross-sticking it to great effect yielding a huge pop from the crowd.

LaMP’s Russ Lawton got sound from every inch of the drum kit on 3/25/23

The bumping progression of “Elsie’s River” came next, followed by “Allah Uya,” which had the entire room moving and grooving to the world-beat. “Clipse Dog” would then bring the main portion of the show to a close and leave the audience hollering for more. Happy to oblige, the LaMP trio returned to the stage with some very kind words about the venue, its staff, and to wish it’s owner a very happy 50th birthday. “Tinyland” was chosen as the night’s only encore.

LaMP packed the house at Lark Hall on 3/25/23

Truly masters of the craft, the years of experience and chemistry between these three talented musicians is something rarely seen in a live setting. Seamlessly blending together a myriad of styles and creating a sound that simply couldn’t be replicated by anyone else, it was another special night of music at Lark Hall and a birthday party The Millers will never forget. Not only does Brick Tamland love LaMP, it’s safe to say Albany does too.

Up next, the guys will head downstate for a performance at Brooklyn Bowl on March 30th before returning to Burlington for a pair of sold out shows at Nectar’s this weekend. With each member of the group balancing extremely busy touring schedules with their “other” bands, there’s no telling when fans will get another chance to see LaMP light it up again. If you have the opportunity, I would highly suggest going to see this incredible act while you still can. For those unable to make the trip, free livestreams of both Nectar’s gigs will be available via Volume.com.

LaMP | March 25, 2023 | Albany, NY | Lark Hall

Setlist: Mimi Digs It, Out of Curiosity, Hit Return, Ollie ’88, Hey Francis, Seven Days, Q Division, Sock Full, Bernard, Elsie’s River*, Alla Uya**, Clipse Dog
Encore: Tinyland

*Abdullah Ibrahim cover
**Ali Farka Toure cover

FUNGKSHUI:

LaMP (Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger and Ray Paczkowski):

March 30, 2023
Timbre Coup and Squeaky Feet Team Up for ‘Improg” Throw Down in Albany

It was an electrifying night of sonic diversity, high-octane improv and jaw dropping prog-inspired grooves on March 23^rd when homegrown Albany rock-fusion favorites Timbre Coup and buzz-worthy Colorado up-and-comers Squeaky Feet teamed up for a rowdy Thursday night throw down at The Hollow Bar + Kitchen. The show was presented by Guthrie/Bell Productions.

Albany prog-rockers Timbre Coup made their triumphant return home to The Hollow on 3/23/23

Putting their best foot forward, the exciting evening of music kicked off with a stellar set from Squeaky Feet. The talented quintet comprised of Colin Shore (guitar/vocals), Greg King (guitar), Jimmy Finnegan (bass/vocals), Brian Keller (keyboards/sax/flute/vocals), and Kevin D’Angelo (drums) originally formed while attending Berklee College of Music and have seen a steady growth since relocating to Denver, CO in 2018. Holding it together through the pandemic and arguably growing even tighter because of it, the band has been hitting the road hard since the return of live music.

Colorado jammers Squeaky Feet made their Albany debut at The Hollow on 3/23/23

Opening with a tune called “Chance to Grow,” the technical prowess of each member of the band was on display early. Blurring the lines between psychedelic funk jams, intricate jazz rock fusion, and at points just downright metal, the vibe got comfortably spacey on a fully realized rendition of “Outer Ring.”Making a bit of a return to his old stomping grounds, between songs guitarist Colin Shore, formerly of Mister F, a side project of Timbre Coup, would take a moment to say how nice it was to see so many of the old 518 music family in attendance.

Sneaky Feet guitarist Colin Shore got his start in Albany with Mr. F, a side project of Timbre Coup

Now humbly wearing the colors of his new band, presumably because he’s out of clean clothes from being on tour, Shore dug deep on the next tune “Shovelware,” leading the charge through the songs unique arrangements and head-banging peaks.

Squeaky Feet multi-instrumentalist Brian Kelle had his hands full at The Hollow on 3/23/23

With time left for just one more, multi-instrumentalist Brian Keller would impress with his dexterity, busting out both a saxophone and a flute while simultaneously playing the keyboards during the course of the epic 16-minute “Little Bit Further” set closer. You can check out fan shot video of that in the clip below, or listen to the soundboard of the entire set on nugs.net. Immediately following this tour, Squeaky Feet will return to the studio to finish up recording their highly anticipated debut album. If the songs played in Albany are any indication, there is a lot to look forward to from this promising young band.

After a brief break in the action, fans rushed in from the rain the moment local hometown prog rockers Timbre Coup took the stage. That’s because longtime followers of the band know that every time they play together is a rare and special occasion. Originally formed in the small village of Altamont just outside of Albany, the charismatic quartet has gained a reputation for throwing one hell of a live show. Once a band that toured around the country and always on the cusp of breaking out, in recent years the band has been laying low and picking their spots. Consisting of Dan Gerken (guitar, bass, vocals), Andrew Chamberlaine (guitar), and brothers Ben (bass /guitar) and Matt Pickering (drums), on this Thursday night in Albany, Timbre Coup came out of the gates ready to party and have a good time. You could see on it on all of their faces.

Timbre Coup rocked the 518 faithful to their core on 3/23/23

Showcasing their complex and unique sound from the start, crossing somewhere between progressive rock and psychedelic jamtronica, the signature duel-guitar “improg” style has been a calling card of Timbre Coup ever since forming in 2007. A bit of a Gregorian theme started taking shape early as the opening song “January” soon turned the calendar over to “May.” From there we got our first cover of the set with Gerken channeling his inner Josh Homme for a spot on ride through the Queens of the Stone Age smash hit “No One Knows.” Armed with considerable chops and plenty of natural showmanship, Gerken and Ben Pickering then traded off instruments with each other, swapping bass for guitar and going headfirst into a lengthy “Verbal Kint” jam before returning to theme with “July” and then “October.”

Dan Gerken pulled doubly duty on 3/23/23, frequently switching between bass and lead guitar

Pushing the music in a heavier direction was fan favorite “Arnold Schwarzeneggar,” which saw even the oldest fans in the room throwing down through the songs pummeling peak. After “Bunnies,” Timbre Coup would give proper thanks to the fans who came out on a rainy Thursday, the promoter and their former manager Greg Bell, and local artist Shanti Payne who did the beautiful gig poster for the show and was also in attendance doing live sketches.

Timber Coup’s Ben Pickering lays down the low end at The Hollow on 3/23/23

Up next came perhaps the longest jam of the single set show, “Z#” off the bands most recent studio album, 2021’s Sudden Urge. The band would then jam their way back into the monthly theme and appropriately enoughm finally land on “March,” bringing the main portion of the performance to a close. After a little begging from the hometown faithful, the guys came back out to deliver a stellar version of one of their oldest and most beloved compositions, sending the audience home happy and sweaty with fully funked out version of “I Didn’t Know She Had a Mustache.”

Timbre Coup performing at The Hollow on 3/23/23

Just starting to rediscover their stride and clearly having fun jamming on older originals, up next Timbre Coup plans to do some recording for the remainder of March and into April. Their next scheduled gig comes on June 8^th at Nanola in Malta, NY. Later this summer the band will take part in the annual GEM Arts and Music Festival in Glens Falls.

Squeaky Feet | March 23, 2023 | Albany, NY – The Hollow
Setlist: Chance to Grow, Outer Ring, Shovelware, Little Bit Further

Timbre Coup | March 23, 2023 | Albany, NY – The Hollow

Setlist: January, May, No One Knows (QOTSA cover), Verbal Kint>Jam>July, October, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Bunnies, Z#, Jam>March

Encore: I Didn’t Know She Had a Mustache

Squeaky Feet

Timbre Coup

March 28, 2023
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country Lifts Albany’s Spirit to New Heights

Transporting Albany to interstellar dimension, it was another hip shaking, foot stomping, groovy good time at Lark Hall on Thursday, March 9^th as Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country made their other-worldly debut at the recently revitalized venue.

Unleashing an absolute powerhouse performance, the rapidly rising band from Nashville has been on a freight train to stardom since breaking out at the annual Peach Festival last summer. After the performance on Thursday, March 9, it’s easy to see why and fair to say the Albany faithful are ‘all aboard.’

Taking the stage to a packed house with swagger, wearing vintage seventies garb, cowboy hats and each member having hair down past their shoulders, right away you could tell two things about this band: These guys weren’t from around here and that they came to Albany with intent to impress.   Along with Daniel Donato on guitar and vocals, Cosmic Country also features Nathan “Sugar Leg” Aronowitz on keyboards, rhythm guitar and vocals, Will “Mustang” McGee on electric/upright bass, and Noah Winner on drums and percussion. The band was last in town on October 29^th, 2022 opening for the Kitchen Dwellers in Saratoga Springs, but for this three hour, two set performance at Lark Hall, there was no opening act.

Coming out of the gates with a “Fourteen Carat Mind” > “Lose Your Mind,” > “Faded Lovin’” trifecta, it didn’t take the Cosmic Country band long to showcase their incredible songwriting and technically proficient chops. Easing the audience in with beautiful harmonies and tasteful melodies, the band effortlessly blended together genres like outlaw country and modern bluegrass with elements of funk, experimental jazz and rockabilly.

By the time the young guitarist virtuoso Donato and his teal-colored telecaster landed on “Sugar Shack,” the whole room was in the palm of his hands and grooving together as one. Seizing the moment and an opportunity to try something new, the band would then stretch their legs a bit on the unreleased song “Gotta Get Southbound.” A tune about departure, exploration and freedom, Donato described it as “encompassing many emotions, but mainly, is for the soul that needs to adventure to awaken and discover a better world and reality.”

Keeping with the positive outlook, bass player ‘Mustang’ McGee would switch out his electric bass for an upright one on “Half Moon Night” which features the lyrics “I’m gonna shine, shine, shine. No matter how dark it may be.” Next, one lucky fan would get their wish as Cosmic Country then played “Fox On The Run” which had verbally been requested several times earlier in the set. Up next was “Darlin’ Cory,” a timeless old murder ballad Danoto first started playing years ago when he was gigging with The Don Kelley Band around Nashville and now appears on his 2021 studio album Cosmic Country & Western Songs Western Songs.

“Arkansas Traveler” and “Rose In a Garden” would follow suit before Donato would lead us into set break with another homage to the Don Kelly Band, this time in the form of “Ghost Riders in the Sky.” Calling it “one of the most heroic songs of the great American Western catalogue of music,” Donato believes “the journey this song takes you on, musically, is a mutually understood and realized feeling that we all possess inside us. The truth of the sincere feelings this song conjures would be the only explanation as to why this vehicle of song has transcended nearly 70 years of cultural and musical change.”

After a brief break in the action, things would get rolling again as “Hi Country” was selected to kick off the second set. Bringing serious early 70’s Dead vibes with it, momentum would continue to build as Cosmic Country then segued their way through a “Luck of the Draw” > “Sugar Leg Rag,” which gave keyboard player and rhythm guitarist Nathan Aronowitz ample time to bask in the spotlight.   Slowing the pace up for a bit was another unreleased new one called “Chore” that started off as a bluesy ballad and featured beautiful full-band harmonies before the improvisational section of the song launched the room into the next stratosphere with Donato’s lightning-fast finger work largely to blame.

Feeling the collective storm of energy, it was only fitting that “Weathervane” make in appearance in the set next, though some fans humorously confused it for a cover of “Peaches” by The Presidents of The United States of America at first.   They did get a cover next, however, as Wille Nelson’s “Blue Skies” brought many smiles to the older folks in attendance. The outlaw train kept rollin’ next with a smokin’ version of “Mystery Train” followed up by Mustang McGee taking over vocal duties for a rollicking rendition of “Ten Feet of Rope.”   Fully vibing off the shared frequencies felt in every corner of the room, “Double Exposure” felt particularly passionate, psychedelic and on point and even featured a dynamic guitar duel exchange between Donato and the multi-talented “Sugar Leg” Aronowitz. “When you find yourself running low on the colors that you need, keep searching through the afterglow for positivity guaranteed!”

Clearly having fun and sharing in the groove, the genre defiance reached a new level as
“Dance in the Desert” crossed multiple boundaries and had everyone in the place cutting a rug before reaching its final soaring peak and bringing the second set to a close. Hungry for one more song, the audience was practically begging for an encore. Happy to oblige with a bit of showmanship, Cosmic Country returned to the stage with huge smiles on their faces.

While many songs on the evening felt reminiscent of early 70’s Grateful Dead, there was no mistaking that certain twang on the song chosen for an encore. Uncorking a red-hot version of “Cumberland Blues,” even the hardest Dead Heads in the room were loving it and clearly giving Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country the coveted ‘Albany Seal of Approval.’ After the song, the band’s photographer would take a group wide shot and the guys would hang around meeting their newest fans and signing merchandise.

Reflecting on the show, Donato would later take post to social media “Albany still to this day has essence of a very original spirit, that spirit we all know and love, and search for when the music plays. It’s not my ability to name this sensation, but I do know when the room is feeling this strange, synchronous, and benevolently fleeting frequency. Albany delivered this to us in such a concentrated and positive way, and for that, we love you.”

Up next Cosmic Country will return to Garcia’s in Port Chester and then head to Lewes, De, followed by a pair of dates in Virginia, before they wrap up this winter run in Charleston, SC. Already booked for a number of major music festivals and high profile gigs throughout the summer, it’s easy to predict big things ahead for this band on the rise. Keeping the honky-tonk spirit alive by honoring their heroes like the Don Kelly Band, The Grateful Dead, Rory Gallagher and The Allman Brothers, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country Band is a special combination of something old and something new married together in a most profound way.

Complete, with great songwriting, a beautiful tone, a never-ending flow of fresh licks and an absolutely badass cast of musicians behind him, we suspect the portal to Danial Donato’s Cosmic Country universe has only just opened and their rocket ship to stardom is right on the cusp of hitting lightspeed.

Cosmic Country | March 9, 2023 | Albany, NY | Lark Hall

Set 1: Fourteen Carat Mind, Lose Your Mind, Faded Lovin’, Sugar Shack, Gotta Get Southbound, Half Moon Night, Fox on the Run, Darlin’ Cory (Don Kelley Band cover), Arkansas Traveler, Rose In a Garden, Ghost Riders in the Sky,

Set 2: Hi-Country, Luck of the Draw > Sugar Leg Rag, Chore, Weathervane > Blue Skies (Willie Nelson cover), Mystery Train, Teen Feet of Rope, Double Exposure, Dance in the Desert

Encore: Cumberland Blues

March 15, 2023
Aqueous Fans Brave Albany Blizzard for Bittersweet Send-Off

Emotions ran high over the weekend as Buffalo jam band Aqueous made their final Albany appearance before setting off on indefinite hiatus. Braving snowy weather and treacherous travel conditions, there was no turning back for the plethora of die-hard AQ fans who made their way to The Hollow on Friday, March 3^rd with Litz opening the night.

Selling out the venue one last time, Guthrie-Bell Productions has been bringing the acclaimed band to town for many years, however it was their first time back to this room since a memorable pre-Halloween show with Mungion back in 2018.

Aqueous performing for the final time in Albany before going on hiatus; 3/3/2023

Opening the show with about at much gear on stage as The Hollow could handle was high-octane funk rockers LITZ from Frederick, Maryland. Consisting of brothers Austin (vocals, keyboards, saxophone) and Logan Litz (bass) as well as guitarist Pat Shine and drummer Nick Thrasher, the hybrid party band has been around for almost a decade now.

Prior to their set, they expressed gratitude to the guys in Aqueous for the years of friendship and for having them out on this last run. Building momentum with long, trancey EDM-type grooves on songs like “Sunrise” and “New God”, the colorfully dressed Austin would spend the set going back and forth between his stack of keyboards, talk box and a large saxophone that remained anchored to the center of the stage. Trading off huge sax solos with guitarist Pat Shrine, it was bass player Logan Litz who would garner the biggest cheers of the set with his dynamic slap style bass playing and general sense of “cool.”

After working through a “Fifth Element”> “Straight to the Moon” sandwich, LITZ would play one of their most popular songs, “Morning Dew” off their 2016 album Illusion of Time before hitting us with a “Japanese Love Affair.” Perhaps pulling our fingers a bit, things would get a little weird before playing their final song of the set, announcing to the crowd that someone had spilled beer on Shine’s pedal board and that it had shorted out. As is the nature of improv music, LITZ rolled with the punches and somehow managed to bypass the problem and launch directly into their hip-shaking party anthem “Funkin’ Problem” to close out the fun filled opening set.

Brothers Austin and Logan of LITZ got the crowd fried up early at the Hollow on 3/3/2023.

Packed in like sardines, Aqueous’ most dedicated fans used the set break as an opportunity to push forward and claim a better spot for the main event. Many of these fans have been following the band since their infancy and have organically formed one of the most positive musical communities in the scene. Affectionately known as “AQuaintances,” the hugs were flowing all night long, as anyone “in the know” knew this could perhaps be one of the final shows they’d get to see of their beloved band from Buffalo. If you were an outsider trying to push closer to the stage, forget it. The territoriality here was fierce and it just wasn’t happening.

All tuned up and ready to rock, the band seemed to be in good spirits from the start. Consisting of Dave Loss and Mike Gantzer on guitars and vocals, Evan McPhaden on bass, and drummer Rob Houk, the guys joked they had each picked a song out and were all going to play it at the same time, hoping to be on the same page. They weren’t, at first, but they quickly settled in nicely on “Dave’s Song.” One of the founding members of the band, Dave Loss had taken much of the previous year off to focus on the birth of his first child. Too integral to simply replace, the band opted to recruit a revolving door of high-profile guests to help round out their sound while fulfilling remaining bookings in the beginning. Dubbing themselves AQ and Friends, it just simply wasn’t the same without Dave. Now back and with just the right touch, the contributions from Loss could be heard immediately.

Dave Loss performing with Aqueous in Albany on 3/3/2023

“Weight of the Word” would be played next before fan favorite and one of the biggest jam vehicles of the night, “Triangle,” landed in the three hole. The 2019 pop/punk singalong “Burn It Down” came next, complete with a heady “Shakedown Street” tease for good measure. Aqueous then segued into one of their most popular songs “Kitty Chaser (Explosions)” to bring the show to it’s halfway point.

As the snow continued falling outside, things were just starting to heat up inside. After a brief intermission, the guys returned to the stage as Chatty Cathy’s. Drummer Rob Houk was doing most of the talking as he lobbied his bandmates to cover the 1990’s smash hit “Hunger Strike” from the legendary grunge supergroup Temple of the Dog (Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder). While Houk even began singing it, the rest of the guys pulled a fast one on him going into a tease of Collective Soul’s “December.”

All joking now aside, things got straight up funky as Aqueous then launched into the fan favorite “Mosquito Valley pt 1” which after about 12 minutes, transitioned into the hard charging “Eon Don” in silky smooth segue. During this standout version of the song, one of the most memorable moments of the night came when the band worked in a well-placed Metallica “Enter Sandman” tease before segueing into another homage to one of their biggest influences in Steely Dan’s “Josi.” The uninterrupted frame of music continued on as the band then landed on “Second Sight” which received a huge pop from the Albany crowd.  You can check out fan shot video of that below:

Fan shot footage of Aqueous performing at The Hollow on 3/3/2023

Cooling down for a bit of tuning and some priceless banter, an impromptu cover of “Sweet Home Alabama” emerged, before Gantzer finally pulled the rip cord. What we got next had some fans calling it an “all time” rendition of “They’re Calling For You,“ which went the full distance and would return us back to an “Eon Don” reprise.

Fan shot footage of Aqueous performing at The Hollow on 3/3/2023

Already approaching 2am and the heavy wet snow now 4 inches deep, the band opted to skip the usual encore theatrics of leaving the stage. Perhaps disagreeing with the song choice, Houk would break the fourth wall a bit, peering out from behind his kit to ask the crowd ‘what’s the most depressing song [they] could play?’ An intriguing question that immediately sparked a dozen different responses, it was here when the ‘beginning of the end’ feeling suddenly became too difficult to ignore.

You see, until this point in the evening, there was never really any acknowledgement by the band that we were closing in on an end of Era, at least not during the show. Instead, they let their music do the talking and chose to send us home with “Realize Your Light,” a song that features some of Dave Loss’ most heartfelt crooning and one of Mike Gantzer’s most emotive and expressive guitar solos.

And we can see where this can go

Around the corner still unknown

And we can see where this will go

In chilling snow, the thrill can still grow

And all the time that slips away

Will come back to you someday

Be anything. Not just anything. Realize your light like a spark in the night
Lyrics from ‘Realize Your Light’

As the pseudo-balled reached its epic conclusion, you could just feel the band digging into it with a different level of purpose. They were making a statement. They were going out on their terms and while still at the top of their game. No one ever called this ‘goodbye,’ but looking around the room, you could feel the emotion and see it in peoples eyes. Aqueous was their band. Real, hardworking, blue-collar nice guys with a propensity for dank, groovy improv music, who at one time seemed poised for major mainstream success.

Why it didn’t happen for them we may never know, but it certainly wasn’t for lack of talent. Maybe the masses just weren’t ready for this type of greatness? After all, the biggest whale in the sea got that way by never getting caught. Leaving behind a treasure trove of spectacular soundboards to tide us over until the 2.0 era door optimistically opens, we can only consider ourselves lucky to have been a small part of this amazing journey with Aqueous, one of New York’s best and most underappreciated bands.

Up next before hiatus officially begins, Aqueous will head to Erie, Pa for a gig at Kings Rook on March 11^th. After a few weeks off, they’ll be in Baltimore on April 7^th and Ardmore, PA on April 8^th. The last scheduled Aqueous appearance is set to take place at the Summer Camp Music Festival in late May 2023.

Aqueous | March 3, 2023 | The Hollow | Albany, NY

Set 1: Dave’s Song¹, Weight of the Word > Triangle¹, Burn It Down² > Kitty Chaser (Explosions)

Set 2: Mosquito Valley pt 1 > Eon Don³⁴ > Josie⁵ > Second Sight, Sweet Home Alabama⁶, They’re Calling For You > Eon Don

Encore: Realize Your Light

1) with ending
2) Shakedown Street tease
3) Enter Sandman full band quote
4) Second Sight tease
5) Steely Dan
6) Lynyrd Skynyrd

LITZ | March 3, 2023 | The Hollow | Albany, NY

Setlist: Sunrise > New God, Fifth Element > Straight to the Moon > Fifth Element > Kali, Eye of the Pyramid, Morning Dew, Japanese Love Affair, Funkin’ Problem

March 8, 2023
Hayley Jane and the Hold On Honeys Share ‘The Weight’ in Albany

Captivating the audience with beautiful harmonies and songs of both heartbreak and hope, Hayley Jane and the Hold On Honeys put on a stellar performance at Lark Hall in Albany on February 2nd. Collaborating with each other for the first time and trading sit-ins, the immediate chemistry between these two respective acts could be felt by everyone in the room.

Haley Jane performs with Troy, NY’s Hold On Honeys at Lark Hall on 2/2/2023

Kicking off the show were Troy natives The Hold On Honeys, an indie folk minimalist vocal trio comprised of Emily Curro, Raya Malcolm and Shannon Rafferty. Trading leads and singing to their strengths, each member of the Honeys’ was given an equal chance to shine, but the true beauty came when this pitch-perfect trio sang together as one. After serenading the highly receptive audience with songs like “Case of You,” “Lullaby,” and “Maple Lane,” tender ballads about finding love and losing it, the gals then showed their more optimistic and fun-loving side with “Get High,” before sending us to intermission with “Down Home Girl.” A very enjoyable set, but it wouldn’t be the last time we’d see this promising up-and-coming act.

The Hold On Honeys opened the show at Lark Hall on 2/2/2023

After a quick break in the action, it was officially time for Hayley Jane to grace the Lark Hall stage. A familiar face to the Albany crowd, Jane has been playing the area for years, mostly with The Primates behind her, or as part of Yes Darling with Ryan Montbleau. For this run however, Hayley enlisted an equally talented group of Burlington, VT based players that featured Josh Dobbs on keyboards and the former Swimmer rhythm section of Jack Vignone handling bass and Cotter Ellis on drums.

Opening her set with “Look to the Moon,” the pace quickly picked up when Hayley went into a bit of medley of mashup cover songs. Touching on a Cowboy Junkies-esq rendition of “Blue Moon Revisited” that took a ‘tasty’ left turn into the Italian classic “That’s Amore,” before eventually paying homage to the Grateful Dead with a beautiful version of “Ramble on Rose.”

Haley Jane gives up her secrets at Lark Hall on 2/2/2023

Inviting you in with her undeniable charisma and vulnerability, Jayne’s storytelling between numbers left you feeling like you actually knew her. Looking around the room, you literally could see an entire audience falling in love. Working her way through a few songs from her most recent solo album, “Road Map” and “Soul Shaken,” from 2021’s Late Bloom, one of the most powerful and emotional highlights of the night came next when Hayley Jane performed “For Someone Who Needs It,” a song about depression, loneliness and reaching out for help. Fan shot footage of that can be seen below.

Taking her listeners on a humble journey, Hayley would tell the audience she was raised as a Baptist, and despite some groans, would give credit to her church choir for teaching her to sing. After belting out stellar versions of “Ignite” and “Madeline,” another of Jane’s favorite covers, Gregory Alan Isakov’s “Big Black Car” was next. Revealing a little more about herself, Jane would say the best thing she ever did was stop caring what other people think about her.

Essentially freeing her to be who she really is while also allowing a natural relationship to develop with the audience, Hayley confessed that “nerds rock” and are also “better in bed.” “Loose Screws” and “Madam Humphrey” would take a little walk on the wild side before Haley would play a new one called “Assembly of Words,” a song that was written while living in California and simultaneously going through the pandemic and a tough break-up. Some of her most vulnerable lyrics yet, afterwards she would admit to “feeling nervous” and “naked” during that one.

Hayley Jane and the Hold On Honeys captivate an intimate Lark Hall crowd on 2/2/2023

Picking the pace back up with another rocker from The Primates 2014 album Gasoline was “Hey Mister,” followed by an unreleased new song that was recently recorded with members of The Main Squeeze called “Girl.” Instead of leaving the stage and returning ala your typical encore however, Hayley would invite the members of the opening act, Hold On Honeys, to join her on stage for the remainder of the night. What then transpired was pure magic. Playing in Levon country and rambling together for the first time, Hayley and the Honeys’ uncorked an absolutely beautiful version of The Bands’ classic song “The Weight,” a rite of passage in this part of New York.

Feeling the combined energy of the women on stage, Hayley beamed with pleasantries for her new gal pals, even claiming she’d love to take them out on the road with her. As the curfew came and went, Jane would quickly check with Lark Hall staff if it was “Alright” to play one more. Once given the green light, Haley would quickly teach the Honey’s the chorus to the final song of the evening, “Make It Alright,” which was then jammed out to perfection, fusing multiple genres and stretching its legs all the way to the 15-minute mark and included “Wild Thing” teases for good measure.

Haley and the Honeys made a cold February night more than alright at Lark Hall 2/23/

After thanking everyone for coming out and wishing them well on their way home, the girls would convene near the center of the stage for a group hug and shared smiles. An exceptional performance all around and yet another reason to never miss a Thursday show at Lark Hall. An evening filled with genre bending, thought provoking, and at times heartbreaking music. Honest storytelling and songwriting, surprise collaborations, dancing, and beautiful down- home harmonies. Great medicine for these modern times indeed. While it remains to be seen how serious Jane is about taking her new friends out on the road, what we do know is that ‘Hayley and the Hold On Honeys’ sure has a nice ring to it.

Haley Jane | Albany, NY | 2/2/2023 | Lark Hall
Setlist: Look to the Moon, Ramble on Rose, Roadmap, For Someone Who Needs It, Ignite, Madeline, Big Black Car, Loose Screws, Soul Shaken, Madam Humphrey, Assembly of Words, Hey Mister, Girl

Encore: The Weight, Make It Alright
*Grateful Dead cover
**Gregory Alan Isakov cover
***The Band cover featuring The Hold On Honeys
**** Featuring The Hold On Honeys

Hold On Honeys | Albany, NY | 2/2/2023 | Lark Hall
Setlist: Wisely, Calling All My Children, TN River, Chicago, Getting Home, Case of You, Lullaby, I’m On Fire, Maple Lane, Knowing, Get High, Down Home Girl

February 9, 2023
Jon Spencer & the Hitmakers Get It Lit at Lark Hall

Iconic underground punk-blues rocker Jon Spencer is back and with him is a whole new band of misfits, The HITmakers. Making a stop at Lark Hall in Albany on January 31st, the highly entertaining and outspoken group unleashed an explosive performance that was raucous and loud and hit the Capital Region crowd over the head like a 12-ounce hammer.

Jon Spencer and the HITmakers made their Lark Hall debut on 1/31/23

First bursting on the scene in the mid-‘80s with bands like Pussy Galore and Boss Hog, Spencer found his biggest commercial success in the 1990’s as front man for The Blues Explosion. A forefather to the bass-free, fuzz-heavy garage rock revival that would spawn acts like White Stipes and The Black Keys, after 2015’s Freedom Tower album, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion would quietly disband when guitarist Judah Bauer became too sick to go on tour.

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion took off in the 90’s with over-the-top performances like the one seen here

Now back on the road supporting his latest record, 2022’s Spencer Gets It Lit, his new band, The HITmakers, consists of Sam Coomes (Quasi, Heatmiser) on keyboards and Bob Bert (Pussy Galore, Sonic Youth) on percussion with Andy Zammit on drums. Fans hoping for a “best of the Blues Explosion” type set on this cold Tuesday night in January were shit out of luck. Taking the Lark Hall stage and promptly turning his back to the audience until the opening number “Junk Man” fully kicked in, Spencer and the HITmakers played the intimate venue as if it were an arena. Socking it to them with his signature reverbed-out grunts and growls and blistering blues guitar licks, you couldn’t help but snicker at some of the onstage antics. Even at Spencer’s age (he turns 58 on February 5th), he comes off as more believable than men half his age.

Jon Spencer rips into it at Lark Hall on 1/31/23

Working their way through songs like “Push Comes to Shove,” “Primary Baby,” and “Beatle Boots,” it was impossible not to take notice of the clanging and banging coming from percussionist Bob Bert. That’s because his unique kit was made entirely of scrap metal, trash cans and an old gas tank. Trading in drumsticks for a screwdriver and some 12-ounce hammers, “the noise, the noise, the noise” from Bert was particularly felt on “The Wilderness.”

Tools of the Trade: Bob Bert takes out the trash in Albany 1/31/23

Blasting out scuzzy rock anthems like “My Hit Parade,” “Strike 3,” and “Bruise,” keyboard player Sam Coones got way out there, shouting along and adding all kinds of otherworldly synth textures to songs like “Ghost” and “The Worst Facts,” going so far as to tell the crowd that the problem with Albany is that everyone here is too optimistic. “You think you can really do anything you want.”

Sam Coomes lights it up at Lark Hall 1/31/23

Tearing through the 75 minute set, “Love Handle” from 2018’s Spencer Sings the Hits got the crowd moving and grooving before one of the most raucous songs of the night, “Get It Right Now,” where in his charismatic preacher’s-like howl, Spencer proclaimed “Mick Jagger ain’t got nothing on me. Daryl Hall, John Oats, Billy Joel, no! Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Zuckerberg…NOTHING ON ME.” A darker theme then emerged with “Death Ray” followed up by “Just Wanna Die” before “Worm Town,” a song which ponders being in “a dirt nap, six feet under,” would bring the set to a close with Spencer simply putting down his guitar and walking off stage. It took a little convincing from the appreciative Lark Hall crowd, but eventually The HITmakers would return for an appropriate encore of “Trash Can.”

Time ain’t got nothing on Jon Spencer

One-man band and surf rock guitar playing virtuoso Bloodshot Bill opened the show and dazzled with his unique vocal delivery, catchy hooks and hilarious banter. At one point saying he “felt so good he could do about a million pushups,” but since he still had songs to play, he invited anyone from the audience to come up and do them for him. There was only one taker and he maxed out doing less than 10. For a crowd of less than a hundred on a cold Tuesday in Albany, it was yet another memorable night at Lark Hall. Artsy, offbeat and 100% rock n roll.

Bloodshot Bill opening up for The HITmakers on 1/31/23

Jon Spencer & the Hitmakers – January 31, 2023 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Setlist: Junk Man, Push Comes to Shove, Primary Baby, Beetle Boots, My Hit Parade, Strike 3, Wilderness, Ghost, Bruise, The Worst Facts, Love Handle, Get It Right Now, Death Ray, Just Wanna Die, Worm Town
Encore: Trash Can

February 3, 2023
Spafford Brings “Dream” Jams to Fairfield at The Warehouse FTC

Recharged and reborn, the “new look” Spafford have been on fire as of late. Have you been paying attention to their FREE live-streams? We have, and that’s why when the band rolled though Fairfield, Connecticut on January 26^th and the FOMO became real, we knew we just had to send it across state lines.

Rewarded for the effort, Spafford offered up an absolute whopper of a show at The Warehouse FTC. With jams that went long and strong and deep into the night, the band simultaneously put to bed any lingering fears that fans may have had after saying ‘goodbye’ to one their founding members.

Spafford heats up the FTC Warehouse on a cold Winter night in Connecticut 1/26/23

Opening the performance with the slow buildup of “Gold Glittered Hat,” each member of the band would slowly join in on the groove until forming one rock-solid beast that breathed together as one. Collectively known as Spafford, the band is comprised of guitarist Brian Moss, bassist Jordan Fairless, drummer Nick Thachyk and making his madden tour with the band this winter is keyboardist Corey Schechtman, who was handpicked to take over after Andrew “Red” Johnson left the group at the end of 2022.

Keyboardist Corey Schechtman is playing his first tour with Spafford since joining at the the beginning of the year

Taking the opening tune for a ride, it wasn’t long before Spafford showcased their immense improvisational prowess. As the song dipped deep into the funky end of the waters, the band would patiently and organically morph into even deeper spaces and come out swimming on the sublime side. Going the distance on the opening jam and even teasing a bit of Pink Floyd’s “Young Lust,” the 28 minute ‘Hat’ would seamlessly segue into the much sought after “Dream Jam,” which hadn’t been played since November of last year.

Spafford performs “Dream Jam” on 1/26/23

Another treat came next for the hot Fairfield crowd as Jordan Fairless led the group through an up-tempo cover of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ song “Soul to Squeeze,” you know, the one from the Coneheads soundtrack. Fairless would continue handling vocals and dropping major bass bombs all through parts I and II of “Doghouse,” which bought us to the shows half-way point.

Brian Moss and Jordan Fairless lock in during “All My Friends” 1/26/23

Long-time Spafford fans knew they were in for something special when the band came out with “All My Friends” to start the second set. That’s because you can almost always count on a coveted “Bee Jam” following suite and this night was no exception. A near 17 minute Bee got the “A+” treatment and would eventually lead the band directly into “Fake the Fate” next. After a brief pause in the action to allow the audience to catch their breath, one excited fan screamed out “You guys rip!” which got a nice little chuckle from the four guys on stage.

Broken wing, learn to fly.

Just for a moment,

Please take a ride.

When all that’s left is the desire,

How much higher can we go?
Lyrics from Broken Wing

Up next was “Broken Wing,” a song that originally made it’s live debut on April 20, 2018, but was only recently released on the bands latest studio recording Simple Mysteries that came out late last year. Quickly establishing itself as a major jam vehicle for the band, this rendition was the longest song of the second set, clocking in at just over 22 minutes and allowed to band to show off a bit of their ‘jam-tronica’ influences. The new guy, Schechtman, was right at home here, adding his unique touch with some other-worldly textures and soundscapes before things would end up going in the direction of a full-fledged “untz” dance party that had fans loving it.

spafford fans we’re loving the second set on 1/26/23

Taking a bit of a left turn, the band would surprise everyone next with their upbeat version of the Gary Jules/Tears for Fears classic “Mad World,” before bringing the second set to a close by uncorking a monster version of “Plans” that featured an extra stanky bass solo from Fairless, then a funked-out, shred-heavy peak to match up perfectly with Jason Goers mesmerizing light show.

LD Jason Goers lit it up on 1/26/23 at the Warehouse

Prior to the encore, front man Brian Moss would say how much fun this winter tour has been so far, while also giving a heartfelt shoutout to the road crew and formally introducing everyone to the newest member of the band, Corey. Storytime would continue as Moss reminisced about the bands earliest days when he was living in a 500 sq-ft studio apartment sitting around with friend, actor, and fellow musician Jaryd Smart when the two wrote the final song of the night together, “Levilan Shores.” Jaryd, who happened to be in the warehouse running the merch table, would take a quick break and hop up on stage to deliver the songs reggae verse and exchange hugs with his brothers to bring the evening to a close.

Jaryd Smart sitting in on “Levilan Shores,” a song he helped write many years ago 1/26/23

With the band currently firing on all cylinders and Schechtman already settling in and showing his worth, look for big things ahead for Spafford in 2023. With one more New York date set for Buffalo’s Iron Works on January 31^st, the band will then head west for the remainder of winter before returning to Ithaca’s Deep Dive in late March. Be sure to check them out when they come to your city, but in the meantime, you can listen the entire Fairfield show (and all of the band’s recent live streams) by following their Youtube channel.

Setlist via Spaffnerds

Spafford | The Warehouse at FTC | Fairfield, CT | 1/26/23

Set 1: Gold Glittered Hat > Dream Jam > Soul To Squeeze [1], Doghouse > Part II
Set 2: All My Friends > Bee Jam > Fake The Fate, Broken Wing > Mad World [2], Plans
Encore: Levilan Shores [3]

[1]: Red Hot Chili Peppers
[2]: Tears for Fears
[3]: w/ Jaryd Smart

January 31, 2023
Welcome to Hell: Death Kings Thrash Garcia’s at UM After-Party

“Welcome to Hell” shouted Ryan Stasik from the stage as fans marched into Garcia’s directly following the Umphrey’s McGee show on Saturday, January 21st in Port Chester. It was a big night for the bass player. Not only was he celebrating UM’s 25th birthday, he was also throwing the official Death Kings after-party under the moniker ‘Bassik Stasik Presents.’

Ripping into original songs as well as classic 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s punk rock staples, the band obliterated the late-night crowd with an old school no-holds barred throwdown. Featuring guest sit-ins from members of the Trey Anastasio Band and Lespecial, the packed-out pub at Garcia’s was given the royal treatment.

Making a rare appearance, the punk/metal anti-hero trio Death Kings formed during the pandemic to pay homage to all things heavy. Comprised of Ryan “Little King” Stasik, Mike “Muerto” Gantzer of Aqueous on guitar/vocals and ex-Turkuaz drummer Mikey “OX” Carubba, the band debuted early last year and have only played a handful of live shows since, making each time out a special “can’t miss” occasion. Notable by his absence, for this show Carubba was replaced on drums by Jonathan Peace. While it remains unclear if the band will have a revolving cast of characters, what we do know is that every Death Kings performance is unique.

Opening the gig with special guest Jennifer Hartswick on vocals, the band launched into one of their signature tracks and the theme of the evening, “Welcome to Hell.” Hartswick, who had also lent her musical talents to Umphrey’s McGee earlier in the evening, was a pure badass in the role, shouting out lyrics like:

I can’t wait for my turn
To ride the rails and send it down below
Welcome to Hell
Oh my God, it’s been a long time running
Ain’t no use when the blood starts coming
Feels so good to burn
Lyrics from “Welcome to Hell” by Death Kings

After reveling in the moment and exchanging hugs, Death Kings would continue with another original song “Fight!” before turning back the clock for our first punk cover of the evening, “Cyco Vision” by the legendary Suicidal Tendencies. Perhaps in a nod to an earlier Stasik/Gantzer collaboration dubbed Dookie, a pair of Green Day songs were chosen next. First was “Longview” which had everyone singing along, then despite the shows “Hell” theme, Death Kings flowed directly into “Welcome to Paradise.”

With the whole room feeling the vibe, it was time for another original banger in “March of the Kings.”
From punk to metal, everyone was getting down to the cover of System of a Down’s smash hit “Aerials,” which more people seemed familiar with than the next cover choice, Harvey Danger’s “Flagpole Sitta” which fit into the “hell” theme nicely.

I’m not sick but I’m not well
And I’m so hot ’cause I’m in Hell
I’m not sick but I’m not well
And it’s a sin to live this well
Flagpole Sitta Lyrics

Death Kings would channel some Cobain angst next with a sped up rendition of Nirvana’s “Breed,” before throwing it back to one of the original punk rock anthems “I Wanna Be Your Dog” by Iggy Pop and The Stooges.

With the party now hitting a new level of rowdiness, the Kings called upon another special guest, Luke Bemand, bass player of Lespecial, to help out on vocals for the Camp Kill Yourself skate anthem “96 Quite Bitter Beings.” Popping off his shirt to throw on the now infamous “Hot Joel” tee, Bemand and the boys had quite the chuckle over the false start of the CKY song. On the second attempt, the Kings got it right and were clearly having a ball sharing the stage together.

While the after party at Garcia’s was scheduled to start at 11:45pm, when the Umphrey’s McGee show in the next room over ran well past midnight, things on the setlist had to be condensed. The band would joke, “25 years of Umphrey’s, 25 minutes of Death Kings.” With the curfew rapidly approaching, the band couldn’t call it a night without paying homage to one of punk’s original misfits, Glen Danzing, opting to cover the 1988 song “Twist of Cain.” With time for just once more, Death Kings let it all hang out on the final song of the night, the DK penned original “Disembodied,”which featured a huge guitar solo from Ganzter and Pony playing the bass behind his head. Check out fan shot footage of that song below.

A loud, sweaty, high-octane performance that was so much fun that even the devil himself would have got in the pit. With no upcoming Death Kings shows to speak of, those who were lucky enough to score a ticket to this sold-out night in Hell walked away from it feeling most grateful. It was still Garcia’s after all.

Setlist: Death Kings | Garcia’s | Port Chester, NY | 1/21/23

Setlist: Welcome to Hell [1], Fight, Cyco Vision (Suicidal Tendencies), Longview (Green Day), Welcome to Paradise (Green Day), March of the Kings, Aerials (System of a Down), Flagpole Sitta (Harvey Danger), Breed (Nirvana), I Wanna Be Your Dog (The Stooges), 96 Quite Bitter Beings (CKY) [2], Twist of Cain (Danzig), Disembodied

[1] w/ Jennifer Hartswick
[2] w/ Luke Bemand of Lespecial

January 27, 2023
Umphrey’s McGee Celebrates 25 Years with Port Chester Birthday Bash

Where does the time go? A lot can happen over the course of 25 years, but for a rock band, sticking together that long isn’t typically one of them. From the beginning, however, Umphrey’s McGee has never been a typical band.

Often considered “too heavy for the hippies,” or “too jammy for the metal heads,” UM has emphatically made a career out of bridging those two musical scenes together; a theme that would unveil itself throughout the final night of their silver anniversary run through New York. Playing their 2,644^th show on January 21, 2023 at the Capitol Theatre, exactly 25 years after their first known performance, appreciative fans from all over the country made their way to “the original rock palace” to commemorate this milestone birthday bash.

Consisting of Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinniger on guitars, Ryan Stasik on bass, percussionist Andy Farag and drummer Kris Myers, improv-heavy prog rockers Umphrey’s McGee have come a long way since forming as students at the University of Notre Dame and the road to this historic night at the Cap hasn’t always been an easy one. Sticking together through untold sacrifice, overcoming tragedy and navigating through an ever-changing musical landscape, Umphrey’s McGee has remained one of the most colorful, innovative, and hardest working live acts in the business for a quarter century now.

After kicking off their birthday weekend with an intimate sold-out show in Williamsburg and then wow’ing The Cap crowd on night one in Port Chester with a plethora of heavy fan favorites like “Front Porch”, “JaJunk” “Higgins,” and an acoustic debut cover of “Helplessly Hoping” in memory of the late David Crosby, when the band members took the stage on Saturday night, you could just feel that something special was about to go down.

Starting the party with a bang, “Bridgeless” had the hyped crowd with their ‘horns up’ and dancing shoes on from the get-go. The band would leave the song unfinished and throw fans their first surprise of the night, shifting gears into “13 Days,” a song which had not been played since before the Covid-19 pandemic. From something old to something new, up next was a song dedicated to UM crew member Rachel who is moving on after sixteen years with band. “Escape Goat,” from the band’s most recent album Asking for a Friend would stretch out for nearly 19 minutes. Revisiting their roots some more, “White Man’s Moccasins” followed suit before Umphrey’s McGee jammed even longer on another new song, the tongue-in-cheek titled “Unevolved.” Played for only the second time since debuting last November, this version clocked in at well over 20 minutes and sent fans to intermission with plenty to smile about and discuss.

Prior to the start of Set Two, Capitol Theatre owner Peter Shapiro would lead the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” while presenting the band with a cake. In return Umphrey’s McGee then launched into an equally ‘sweet’ rendition of “Wappy Sprayberry” to get things going strong. ”Pure Saturation” came next and provided lighting director Ben Factor a prime opportunity to dazzle the audience with his impressive skills and tasteful color palettes. Following it up with another surprise was “Dear Lord.” An emotional nod to the bands earliest days, the rarely played song was first performed back in January of 1998. Another deep cut was next in the form of “The Other Side of Things,” which has only been play five times this century!

Jake Cinniger would join in on percussion with Andy Farag in a duel with drummer Kris Myers before bassist (and best T-Shirt of the night winner) Ryan Stasik would take over with his distinct riffage of the heavy hitting “Puppet String.” Another tip of the cap to the band’s early history was up next with the UM classic “Divisions” which was also played at their very first show.

Umphrey’s would then unplug for some candid banter as Brendan Bayliss took an opportunity to give proper shout-outs to his bandmates, the crew and the fans for making the last 25 years possible. Claiming he didn’t prepare a speech, so if he was speaking from the heart, it would have probably come out sounding offensive. “And if I did offend you,” Bayliss hypothetically joked, “go fuck yourself.” He then invited out special guest and frequent collaborator Jenifer Hartswick for an acoustic anything-but ‘Hartliss’ rendition of the rarely played “Bullhead City.”

Hartswick would stick around and play trumpet on yet another bust-out, “1,000 Places to See Before You Die,” an instrumental which has only been played 11 times ever. As if that wasn’t special enough, the roof would nearly come off the place next when Hartswick lead the entire theatre in a cathartic sing-along of the Queen and David Bowie’s classic “Under Pressure,” fading out of the set with everyone snapping their fingers in unison. A very neat moment to be a part of.

Now past the witching hour, Umphrey’s McGee returned to the stage one last time, soaking in the cheers with huge smiles before keyboardist Joel Cummins would lead fans into the “Den.” Finally the show would come to it’s high-octane conclusion the same way it began, returning to “Bridgeless” to complete one hell of a celebratory jam-sandwich. Genuinely thanking everyone for “letting them do what they do” for the last 25 years, Bayliss would confirm they’ll “keep doing it as long as you keep coming out.” The band then convened in the middle of stage for a group hug and bow, which received a well-deserved standing and sustained ovation.

Tying the bow on an epic birthday run through New York, Umphrey’s McGee honored their past with a carefully mapped out, career spanning setlist while simultaneously showcasing a glimpse of the greatness yet to come. Combined with an unmatched dedication to their fans and their craft, an astonishing improvisational and technical ability, and a mesmerizing light show, the future for this timeless band is looking bigger and brighter than ever. With the UMXXV Tour officially off and rolling and a number of major festival dates already announced for later this summer, the Umphrey’s McGee train shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Setlist: Umphrey’s McGee | 1/20/2023 | The Capitol Theatre | Port Chester, NY

Set One: Small Strides, Conduit > Day Nurse[1], FF-> Mail Package[2], It’s Not Your Fault > JaJunk[3]
Set Two: Front Porch > Resolution > Front Porch, The Linear > 2nd Self, Higgins
Encore: Helplessly Hoping[4], The Weight Around[5] > The Floor:
[1] with Workin’ Day and Night (Michael Jackson) teases
[2] with Miss Tinkle’s Overture tease
[3] with Top Gun Anthem (Harold Faltermeyer) tease
[4] debut, Crosby, Stills, & Nash; just Brendan and Jake on acoustics and vocals, along with Joel on vocals
[5] with Brendan on acoustic

Helplessly Hoping played in remembrance of David Crosby, with “Closing Time” (Semisonic) quote from Brendan just before

Friday photos by Filip Zalewski

Setlist: Umphrey’s McGee | 1/21/2023 | The Capitol Theatre | Port Chester, NY

Set 1: Bridgeless > 13 Days, Escape Goat-> White Man’s Moccasins > Unevolved

Set 2: Wappy Sprayberry > Pure Saturation > Dear Lord > The Other Side of Things > Drums[1], Puppet String, Jam[2] > Divisions, Bullhead City[3], 1000 Places to See Before You Die[4], Under Pressure[5]

Encore: Den > Bridgeless

Footnotes:
[1] with Jake on percussion
[2] just Jake
[3] with Jennifer Hartswick on vocals, and Brendan and Jake on acoustics
[4] with Jennifer Hartswick on trumpet
[5] with Jennifer Hartswick on vocals Show Notes: Before set two, venue owner Pete Shapiro and radio personality Gary Dell’Abate presented the band with a cake and led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” for the band

Photos by Zak Radick

January 26, 2023