On Wednesday, March 13, a hungry crowd packed into Empire Live on North Pearl Street for the Disco Biscuits, currently on tour ahead of the release of Revolution in Motion, Part 1, due out on March 29.
The show marked a return to a smaller venue in Albany, instead of the Palace Theatre, where the Philadelphia trance-fusion pioneers have played 7 times, dating back to 2004. The 1,000 capacity Empire Live offered a club feel to the show, an underground vibe where fans of the Biscuits could gather and dance to nearly three and a half hours of live electronic jams. For a night, this was Albany, New York’s hottest club, and even with sightlines what they are, the crowd carried on and enjoyed the mid-week throw down late into the night.
Opening up with “Morph Dusseldorf,” the twists came early with samples of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” dropped into the nascent “Morph” jam, honoring a fan’s birthday request and offering a glimpse of untzgrass, at long last. “Triumph” slipped in next, giving way to 30 glorious minutes of “Save the Robots” leeching into the ending of “Astronaut,” giving way to an inverted version of the fan favorite. A resounding “Suspended in the Air” middle section of “Astronaut” was particularly blissful, while the ending section was peppered by another sample, this time Tone Loc’s “Funky Cold Medina,” with the middle-age crowd nodding at each other upon recognition of the now 35-year old song.
After a standard 30 minute setbreak, the Biscuits returned with “M.E.M.P.H.I.S.,” venturing out into a spacious jam that found its way into the end of “Naeba,” which would be the second inverted song of the night. The slow churn into the song, as well as the stretched out ending were disco bliss, had plenty of room for improv as well as to dance – this was not a coincidance.
A Tractorbeam version (instrumental) of recent debut “Dino Baby” followed and made way to “Another Plan of Attack,” the two songs being the newest songs of the night, following nearly two hours of old school songs. With sampling becoming commonplace this tour, another surprise in the form of “Hella Good” from No Doubt was found in parts of “Another Plan of Attack,” and while this could have been the end of the night, the Biscuits whisked their way into a 36-minute “I-Man” that had twists and turns and the crowd fist pumping along well past midnight.
An encore featuring the recently released “Spaga’s Last Stand” was all that was left in this deep tank of electronica improvisation, where we find the Biscuits at the top of their game.
The Disco Biscuits will be back in New York on March 29 at Webster Hall for the album release show, followed by two nights at Town Ballroom in Buffalo over March 30 and 31.
Setlist via Biscuits Internet Project Disco Biscuits – Empire Live – Albany, NY – March 13, 2024 Soundcheck: Magellan, Wet Set 1: Morph Dusseldorf 1, Triumph > Save The Robots > Astronaut 2 3 > Save The Robots Set 2: M.E.M.P.H.I.S. > Naeba 2 > Dino Baby 4 > Another Plan of Attack 5 > I-Man Encore: Spaga’s Last Stand 1 with ‘Jolene’ (Dolly Parton) samples 2 inverted 3 with ‘Funky Cold Medina’ (Tone Loc) samples 4 Tractorbeam version (instrumental) 5 with ‘Hella Good’ (No Doubt) teases
The human body is made up of 206 bones and on Wednesday, February 28th, the voice of Paul Janeway touched every single one of them during a dynamic, soul-shaking performance at The Egg in Albany. Along with his 7-piece powerhouse jazz ensemble, St. Paul & the Broken Bones cooked up a near perfect mix of colorful showmanship, joyful jams, and fantastic fan interaction as the band not only celebrated their third time playing the beloved venue, but also the ten year anniversary of their breakthrough debut album, Half The City. It was their first time back in the area since wowing the crowd last year at the annual Saratoga Jazz Festival.
Paul Janeway of St. Paul & the Broken Bones performing in Albany on 2/28/24.
A wet and windy Wednesday night outside The Egg, things started cooking inside with an impressive opening set from Bowling Green, Kentucky’s Sugadaisy. Combining a modern grunge vibe with a healthy dose of psychedelic pop, the venue’s excellent acoustics made them sound huge right off the rip. Sparked by a Daniel Johnston Hi, How Are You T-shirt worn by one of the guitarists, there were moments you simply couldn’t help but think of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain. Unsure what to make of Sugadaisy at first, by the time they finished their short, but energetic set, it’s fair to say they’d won the Albany crowd over and earned a slew of new fans. Following a brief set change, it was finally time for St. Paul & the Broken Bones to take over.
Sugadaisy opened the show for St. Paul & the Broken Bones on 2/28/24.
Rising to prominence with over a decade of near constant touring, the Birmingham, Alabama-based rock n’ soul band boasts more than a million monthly listeners on Spotify, have released 5 studio albums and shared stages with a veritable who’s-who of music royalty that includes the likes of Sir Elton John and The Rolling Stones. Known for the signature falsetto voice of their flamboyant frontman Paul Janeway (aka St. Paul), The Broken Bones also consist of bassist Jesse Phillips, guitarist Browan Lollar, drummer Kevin Leon, keyboard player Al Gamble, trumpeter Allen Branstetter, trombonist Chad Fisher and Amari Ansari on saxophone.Â
St. Paul & the Broken Bones performing at The Egg on 2/28/24.
Kicking off their headlining set in style, each member of The Broken Bones came out one-by-one to the darkened stage, seamlessly picking up their instruments to join in on the opening “Marvin Jam” before the always dapper-looking Janeway sauntered out of the shadows to a massive applause. Instantly turning up the funk with “Flow With It (You Got Me Feeling Like), St. Paul & the Broken Bones wasted no time getting right to their biggest chart topping hit, “Call Me,” which the crowd immediately recognized and sang along to. All warmed up and feeling good, Janeway would take a brief moment to acknowledge the audience and make note that their debut album, Half the City, had been released ten years ago this week. Thanking the crowd for helping give them a career, the band would then play the album’s title track followed by an emphatic, soul-wrenching rendition of “I’m Torn Up,” the album’s opening song.
“I can’t let it down, this hope I feel
Oh this city has made me cry but I still can’t leave her
The streets paved with pain of all my past loves
Please don’t let it die cause I have had enough”
Lyrics from “Half the City”
From something old to something new, St. Paul & the Broken Bones would change things up a bit with a pair of songs, “Wolf in Rabbit Clothes” and “Sea Star” from their most recent album, 2023’s Angels in Science Fiction. Growing up on a steady diet of gospel and soul music like The Stylistics, Sam Cooke and old school Marvin Gaye, it’s easy to see where St. Paul & the Broken Bones draw their influences from, but it’s not often you hear a white man that sings falsetto with the power and control of Janeway. What really sets him apart, however, is the way he’s able to command the entire stage. Working both sides while simultaneously showcasing some fancy footwork (and fancy shoes), Janeway’s presence was mesmerizing.
St. Paul & the Broken Bones performing in Albany on 2/28/24.
Singing falsetto from the depths of his soul, so hard in fact, that at times it had him dropping to his knees reaching for the notes, like he did on “Grass is Greener.” After receiving a huge ovation for his efforts, Janeway quietly disappeared back into the shadows. Far from a one-man-show, The Broken Bones took over from there with an extended “Roach Clip” jam that saw each member taking turns soloing in the spotlight and the energetic Amari Ansari running from one side of the room to the other wailing away on his saxophone to the delight of the ultra-attentive Albany crowd.
The powerful horn section was heavily featured once again during “LivWithoutU,” before the dirty, slowed-down groove of “Minotaur” put the audience in a near euphoric trance. Building the energy back up with a pair of tunes from 2018’s Young Sick Camellia, “GotItBad” > “Apollo” would bring the main portion of the show to a close and leave fans hollering for more.
Baby
Is there a right when all is wrong?
Is there a partner when we’re left all alone?
Oh, but I wanna feel something real
Lyrics from “Sanctify”
St. Paul & the Broken Bones performing in Albany on 2/28/24.
Returning to the stage now wearing a sparkling sequin cape, Janeway would take his theatrics to the next level. First falling to floor and rolling around like a guitar-less Marty McFly as he crooned the lyrics to “Like a Mighty River,” the crowd who had largely remained seated to this point, finally got up on their feet when Janeway suddenly jumped off the stage to join them.
St. Paul & the Broken Bones performing in Albany on 2/28/24.
As fans quickly grabbed their phones to snap obligatory selfies, the connection between the artist and the audience here felt completely authentic. Singing “Sanctify” while climbing all the way up to the soundboard area of The Egg’s backrow, the man who once thought he wanted to be a preacher found his Albany congregation in the palm of his hand. High-fiving as many of them as he could on the way down, the entire room seemed to be smiling ear to ear. Back on stage for the disco-vibed “Last Dance,” the energy in the Egg had reached its boiling point. Already three songs into the encore, fans were given one last treat and one final song from Half The City as “Broken Bones and Pocket Change” would bring the stellar performance to a close. After a well-deserved standing ovation, even the seasoned ushers were left commenting on just how good of a show this was.
St. Paul & the Broken Bones performing in Albany on 2/28/24.
After playing in Buffalo the next night, St. Paul & the Broken Bones officially wrapped up their year-long Angels In Science Fiction tour in Charlottesville, VA on March 3rd. After taking a couple weeks off, the band will return to their stomping grounds of Birmingham, Alabama for a hometown throwdown on March 23 before setting off on a lengthy European tour later this summer.
St. Paul & the Broken Bones | February 28,2024 | The Egg | Albany, NY
Setlist: Opening Marvin Jam, Flow With It (You Got Me Feeling Like), Call Me, Half the City, I’m Torn Up, Wolf in Rabbits Clothes > Sea Star, Grass Is Greener, Roach Clip, Livwithoutu, Minotaur, GotItBad > Apollo.
Encore: Like a Mighty River, Sanctify, The Last Dance, Broken Bones & Pocket Change.
They say sometimes you need to go away to come back and for fans of Long Island’s most promising powerhouse fusion trio Baked Shrimp, you can only hope that’s true.
After tirelessly traveling the roads, sailing the seas and playing music together for the last seven years, 2024 finds the band in uncharted waters. Murky and unclear. Fresh off the release of their 5th, yes 5th, studio album, fans of the band (known as the Crustnation), were both surprised and saddened to hear that Baked Shrimps’ current tour would also be their last. But before you can stick a fork in them, the tasty band with the tasty jams served up one final course on Friday, February 9th, giving longtime Albany supporters one final chance to dance at the packed-out Hollow Bar + Restaurant, a venue that’s played an important part in the bands storied history.
Baked Shrimp performed their final Albany show on 2/9/24 at The Hollow.
The double dose of entertainment started off proper with an opening set from Albany’s Glass Pony. Supporting the release of their latest album Washed Away, the self-described ‘psychedelic groove circus’ had fans both new and old mesmerized by their infectiously danceable tunes from the very start. Comprised of Eddie Hotailing (guitar/vocals), Chanda Dewey (drums), Jeff Picarazzi (bass) and Greg Pittz (lead guitar), the band has seen a noticeable growth in both their popularity and in their song writing over the last year. Showcasing their dynamic range and versatility with a set of mostly original songs like “Greenhorn Blues,” “Hypnos” -> “Somewhere to Go” and “Doppler,” it was Glass Pony’s searing rendition of the H.G. Wells/War of the Worlds-inspired jam “Grover’s Mill 1938” that was perhaps most memorable.
Glassy Pony’s Eddie Hotailing connects with the Albany audience on 2/9/24.
Humble and quiet off stage, when frontman Eddie Hotailing is in the grips of performing, he becomes like a rabid animal unleashed. Whether jumping off the stage and jamming out in the crowd, climbing up the walls or on top of Chanda Dewey’s drum kit, feeding off the energy and connecting with the audience is what he does best. Perched high atop The Hollow stage with his guitar in the air, Hotaling has never been more magnetic. Paying tribute to one of the groups biggest influences, Glass Pony would finish out their set with a cover of God Street Wine’s “Nightingale.” A great start to a great night of rock ‘n roll music indeed.
Glass Pony kicked things off proper at The Hollow on 2/9/24.
After a brief set break, promoter Greg Bell of Guthrie Bell Productions took the stage to say a few words about Baked Shrimp. An early believer in the band, Bell is largely responsible for bringing them to the Capital Region so many times over the years, but sadly, this night would be his last. Introducing the band by saying he loves these guys and calling them “the most polite fucking band he’s ever met in his life,” Baked Shrimp jumped right into the deep end with a near 12 minute confessional-like rendition of “More Or Less.” It was clear the guys weren’t just going through the motions. Every note had added meaning and things felt sentimental from the start.
Weird Times: Bassist Maz Perrotti filled in for Baked Shrimp’s Scott Reill on 2/9/24.
Briefly pausing to acknowledge the elephant in the room, the band took a moment to welcome bass player Max Perrotti to the “Crustnation” family. Filling in for original Shrimp bassist Scott Reill on this night, the amount of material and notes Perrotti was able to learn is a bit mindboggling. While the band has kindly requested privacy regarding the specifics of the situation, it was certainly weird seeing someone other than Scott holding down the low end. Perhaps intentionally building on that theme, the infectious opening licks of “Weird Times” and the deep improvisational jam that came from it further laid the blueprints of the unpredictability yet to come. After showing off a bit of country-style pickin’ and counting their “Lucky Stars,” Baked Shrimp would go all the way back to their earliest years with “Touché” from their 2018 debut album Feast of Delight.
Baked Shrimp’s Jared Cowen threw everything but The Wrench (his custom axe) at The Hollow on 2/9/24.
Seamlessly segueing from the psychedelic vibes into their first call-back cover of the night, the band jammed on the “Peter Gunn Theme” in a nod to their Blues Brothers-inspired Halloween set that took place at this same venue in 2023. Fans were eating it up and dancing their tushies off as the band brought it back to the final verse of “Touché,” which I could have sworn also contained teases of “The End” by The Doors.
Suddenly stopping the show and announcing he simply can’t go on any longer without Bones, lead guitarist and frontman Jared Cowen then introduced the Albany audience to the band’s latest amusing muse, a replica skeleton torso made of, you guessed it, bones. Placed atop the bass drum, it didn’t end there as this will forever be remembered as the night local artist Kosmic Kris introduced Bones to Legs, a rather creepy looking mannequin base covered in various inks. Paired together, somehow Bones and Legs just worked, like love at first sight, almost as if it were meant to be.
Bones got a Leg up during Baked Shrimp’s final Albany performance on 2/9/24.
The two props would remain on stage for the remainder of the show as charismatic drummer Jager Soss took over on vocal duties for the down and dirty rocker “Molly Ann.” Baked Shrimp would bring the tremendous first set to a close with the lead single “Chop Suey” from 2024’s final self-titled album. Catchy as hell and even better live. Working in more call-backs to previous Halloween shows, “Chop Suey” also contained “Scooby Doo Theme” teases (Scooby Doo 2018), and a “Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead” jam (Wizard of Oz 2019).
Drummer Jager Soss performing in Albany on 2/9/24.
Following a quick 10-minute set break, Baked Shrimp returned for Set II with purpose and vigor. After launching into an extended “Pork Etiquette” -> “Dragostea din tei” -> “Pork Etiquette” dance sandwich, the band called back to their 2021 NRBQ themed Halloween show with the rarely played “Howard Johnson’s Got his HoJo Workin.” From fun to introspective, there was a noticeable shift in The Hollow’s vibe when the band mellowed out on “The Victim” before lifting the mood back up with John Fogerty’s ‘can’t miss’ singalong “Centerfield,” which the band first played at their baseball themed Halloween show back in 2020. You can watch fan shot video of that in the video clip below.
Put Me in Coach: Baked Shrimp had the whole crowd singing along to their cover of “Centerfield” on 2/9/24.
After leading the crowd through another song from the new album called “Can’t Cut the Mustard,” the bittersweet feeling that the end was near suddenly felt very palpable. Expressing a genuine and heartfelt “thank you” to the audience for all the years of good memories and support, Cowen would mention how special this night felt to him and his hopes people will keep up with the guys down the line as they will still be out there making music in one form or another. After getting the ‘OK’ from both Greg Bell and Bones, Baked Shrimp would encore for the final time in Albany with a funked out nod to their 2022 Spinal Tap show with “All the Way Home,” before closing with a nostalgic speech about the importance of friends and loved ones, forgetting about those ‘weird’ times and to be present in the moment, to smile, to dance with strangers and the importance of supporting your local music scene. Pouring everything left in the tank into the powerful and soaring anthem “Rock Bottom,” which included subtle Umphrey’s McGee “All In Time” and Led Zeppelin “Immigrant Song” song teases, Baked Shrimp stood tall at the end, proud and powerful and completely exhausted as the marathon performance came to a close just after 2am.
Baked Shrimp serving it up in Albany on 2/9/24.
What. A. Show. Incredible musicians and even better people. While this chapter of Baked Shrimp may be coming to a close, it’s clear there’s still lots of music and lots of talent left inside these guys. It’s been a privilege watching them grow and getting to know them a bit over the years. From their earliest gigs at hole-in-the-wall clubs, to gracing the stage at major festivals like Peach, Northlands, Adirondack Independence, and the Great South Bay, to teaching us how to “Love Like Lon” at their own inaugural LonCon Festival, we here at NYS Music wish nothing but this best for all the members of this band. If hard work truly pays off, one day Baked Shrimp will surely be swimming in riches as bountiful as the heart of the ocean itself. Don’t take it from me though, listen for yourself! You can stream the entire show from The Hollow now on Bandcamp or at the link below. Baked Shrimp is scheduled to play their final show on Saturday, February 17, 2024 in Bridgeport Connecticut in what will surly be an emotional evening.
Baked Shrimp | February 9, 2024 | The Hollow | Albany, NY
Set One: More or Less, Weird Times, Lucky Stars, Touché -> Peter Gunn Theme -> Touché, Molly Ann, Chop Suey. Set Two: Pork Etiquette -> Dragostea din tei -> Pork Etiquette, Howard Johnson’s Got his HoJo Workin’, The Victim, Centerfield, Can’t Cut the Mustard. Encore: All the Way Home, Rock Bottom. Notes: Entire show featured Max Perrotti on bass, filling in for Scott Reill. This show paid a tribute to Baked Shrimp’s 6 Halloween performances which all took place in New York, 2 of the most recent being at The Hollow. “Peter Gunn Theme” from Blues Brothers 2023, “Chop Suey” contained “Scooby Doo Theme” teases (Scooby Doo 2018), and a “Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead” jam (Wizard of Oz 2019), “Howard Johnson’s Got his HoJo Workin’” from NRBQ 2021, “Centerfield” from Baseball 2020, and “All the Way Home” from Spinal Tap 2022. “Bones” and his new partner “Legs” were introduced and brought on stage prior to “Molly Ann.”
Glass Pony | February 9, 2024 | The Hollow | Albany, NY
Sooner or later, they say everything old is eventually new again. This seems particularly true when it comes to the surging revival of Americana/Bluegrass music and on Wednesday, January 24, concert fans in Albany found that out firsthand. Sharing the stage at The Hollow for a co-headlining night of frantic finger pickin’ and foot stompin’ brilliance, Ashville, NC’s Fireside Collective and Nashville’s Airshow demonstrated beyond the shadow of a doubt why they are two of the hottest emerging forces in ‘Newgrass” music today.
Fireside Collective brought the heat to The Hollow on 1/24/24.
First on the docket put together by Guthrie Bell Productions was Airshow. Originally formed in Reading, PA, it wasn’t until childhood best friends Steve Gallagher (guitar/vocal) and Cody Chelius (mandolin/vocals) met up with Bill Baker (bass/vocals) and John Rodrigue (drums/vocals) in Nashville that their high energy jams really started to soar. Two studio albums and a boatload of live recordings later, Airshow finally landed in Albany for the first time.
Nashville’s Airshow made their Albany debut at The Hollow on 1/24/24.
After filling up their bellies at The Hollow’s adjoing restaurant, the guys quickly started burning off the calories by opening with “Burning the Hardwood Floor.” As tardy fans slowly filled in the room while the band worked their way through numbers like “Up Dog,” “On’ry and Mean” and “Up in the Clouds,” it wasn’t long before you could see what all the fuss was about. More jammy and electric sounding than traditional Bluegrass, the Oysterhead shirt worn by Chelius gave the band instant street credit and signified they were students of improvisation by some of the best to ever do it.
Through a bevy of effects pedals, guitarist Steve Gallagher effortlessly made his acoustic sound like a raunchy electric axe, which paid huge dividends on songs like the funky “Skydiver” and “Up on the Ridge.” After showcasing their chops and technicality on the high-octane barn burner called “Spider Bite,” Airshow would ignite the crowd even further by their hilarious synchronized dance moves on their final number, “Up On The Hill.” An excellent set that surpassed my expectations, this certainly was not your father’s bluegrass I was expecting. It was better.
Cody Chelius of Airshow performing at The Hollow on 1/24/24.
As the pouring rain outside The Hollow continued, things inside were just starting to heat up. Making their return to the Capital Region after wowing fans at last year’s Eastbound Throwdown and again at Cohoes Music Hall opening for Kitchen Dwellers, Fireside Collective have quickly earned a reputation for their ferocious and infectious live shows. Consisting of Joe Cicero (guitar); Jesse Iaquinto (mandolin); Tommy Maher (resonator guitar) and Carson White (bass), this tour also marks the latest addition to Collective by way of drummer Mike Tillis.
Fireside Collective performing in Albany on 1/24/24.
Kicking things into high gear with a “Devil’s On the Hillside” > “Choctaw Hayride” combo, the band was firing on all cylinders from the very start. Seamlessly trading vocal harmonies and instrumental leads at the drop of a hat, the band jelled together like a well-oiled machine. A tender, more, country styled vibe emerged on “Done Deal” from the bands 2020 album Elements, before a stellar re-imaged cover of “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue” endeared itself upon unsuspecting ears resulting in big time smiles both on stage and off.
Fireside Collective performing at The Hollow on 1/24/24.
Shifting focus to songs from the latest Fireside Collective album Across the Divide, “Let it Ride” threw caution to the wind, while extended jams on “Your Song Goes On” and “When You Fall” showcased some of the hottest licks and best interplay of the night between Tommy Maher and Jesse Iaquinto. After “Don’t Stop Lovin’ Me” came a special treat for those in attendance at The Hollow. Announcing a brand-new song saved for this specific night, the band would debut “Down in the Hollow” in the most appropriate and satisfying way possible. Check out fan shot footage of that exciting moment in the clip below.
Throwing it back to an oldie but a goodie from Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers on “These Old Blues,” Fireside Collective kept it classy while paying proper respect to the forefathers of the Americana/folk genre. From the past to the present, the extended jam out of “And the Rain Came Down” felt like hearing a bit of the future. This was Newgrass and the fun-loving crowd at The Hollow couldn’t get enough. So much so that local promoter Greg Bell of Guthrie Bell Productions approached the stage and asked the boys to play one more. Happy to oblige and perhaps pander to the obvious Deadheads in the audience, Fireside Collective spontaneously uncorked a 12-minute rendition of the Grateful Dead classic “Scarlet Begonias” to bring the already hot show to a scorching close. Watch fan shot footage of that in the clip below.
Guthrie Bell Productions does it again, I mean what a show! Two great young bands with musical chops and maturity far beyond their years. I suppose I walked in expecting some sort of hump day hoedown, but what I got felt more akin to a Saturday night rock ‘n roll rager. With choice cover songs, original debuts and a gorgeous commemorative poster designed Chelsea Housand, Fireside Collective and Airshow at The Hollow was an absolute barn burner.
Fireside Collective | January 24, 2024 | The Hollow | Albany, NY
Setlist: Devils On the Hillside > Choctaw Hayride, Done Deal, It’s All Over Now Baby Blue, Let It Ride, Your Song Goes On, When You Fail > Jam, Don’t Stop Lovin’ Me, Down in the Hollow*, These Old Blues, And the Rain Came Down > Jam
Encore: Scarlet Begonias
*Original debut
Airshow | January 24, 2024 | The Hollow | Albany, NY
Setlist: Burning the Hardwood Floor, Up Dog, Lonesome On’ry and Mean, Up in the Clouds, Skydiver, Up on the Ridge, Greenway, Spider Bite, Up on the Hill.
Shooting for the moon with infinite potential, Asbury Parks’ next big thing is Fungkshui. Not stopping there, they may also be the next big thing in the Capital Region too. With frequent visits to the area, including recent high octane rock performances at Putnam Place and the Rye Bread Music Festival (RFB), the fun-loving psychedelic prog-funk quintet is quickly and consistently earning high praise from high people in high places.
Fungkshui performing at Lark Hall in Albany 1/25/2024.
Whether Fungkshui (pronounced funk shway) are playing to packed clubs along the boardwalks of New Jersey, or randomly stopping in for an unannounced happy hour improv set at The Eleven, it seems the band has found their ‘home away from home’ at Albany’s Lark Hall. As friendly with their staff as they are with their fans, Fungkshui originally made a good first impression at the hall last March while opening for acclaimed avant-garde jazz trio LaMP. Later returning for “Funk Night” with the E-Block in September, NYS Music was there for the for their most recent throwdown on Thursday, January 25th.
Teaming up with sonic astrological improv jammers Quantum Cosmic, a new experimental side project featuring members of Annie in the Water, Raisinhead and The Switch, the dynamic pairing of bands proved to be the perfect combination of good vibes and good times. On a night full of other-worldly jams, technical proficiency, soaring and sublime guitar solos, guest sit-ins, and enough funk to make you want to float around the room and dance with total strangers, both bands turned in peak performances that you ‘outta be kicking yourself for missing.
Blasting off a little later than the advertised 8pm start, Quantum Cosmic quickly made up for lost time by inviting the audience to help telepathically guide them through their all-improvised set. Encouraging listeners to share their positive and creative thoughts as well as birthday wishes to drummer Joshua West, “Just hopefully you’re not a dick about it, ” joked guitarist Michael Lashomb, who also plays with the ever-busy West in Annie in the Water.
Along with Matt Richards on keys, Raisinhead guitarist Ted Grey and bassist James Woods, the band who hasn’t played the same show twice and gambles on “making it up as they go along’ would surprise everyone by also inviting up fellow Annie in the Water/Space Carnival bassist Chris Meier for a memorable trippy dip on the AITW OG staple “The River,” in which the birthday boy West hilariously changed (forgot?) some of the lyrics. After coming back down to earth for a brief intermission, things at the hall were about to get even more Fungky.
Chris Meier sits in with Quantum Cosmic at Lark Hall 1/25/2024.
Barreling their way towards Nectars in Burlington, VT, the road to get there saw Fungkshui work their way through New York by way of gigs at Snug Harbor in New Paltz, an unannounced acoustic set at The Eleven and finally, their fiery headlining set in Albany. Kicking things into gear with a technically proficient and impressive “Meat Salad” >“Ready To Go” > “Power Out” jam sandwich, it was immediately evident what all the fuss over this band is about. Part punk, part prog and overflowing with all kinds of primal groove, there is no denying the twin ax attack and chemistry of guitarists Jack Reed and Max Vitale. Along with the luscious locks of Jon Scheps on the low end, drummer Bobby Reilly and the band’s most recent addition of Dan Hogan on keys, Fungkshui took the Lark Hall stage by sheer force.
Fungkshui performing at Lark Hall in Albany 1/25/2024.
Feeling confident and comfortable in the surroundings, Fungkshui would take the opportunity to debut a new song called “Run It” before getting down and dirty on “Barefoot Blues” and the playful “Dan Dan The Waterman.” One of the true highlights of the night came when the band invited Annie in the Water/Quantum Cosmic keyboardist Matt Richards out for some dueling piano action on Dan Hogan’s well-lit rig. Catharsis through collaboration shining through disco ball lights and huge smiles beaming from the faces of everyone on stage, it was the kind of magic musical moment that makes Lark Hall such a special place to see a show.
Matt Richards sits in with Fungkshui in Albany 1/25/2024.
An unexpected guilty pleasure came next in the form of Alice DeeJay’s “Better Off Alone,” which had the whole room dancing around each other in circles. After successfully showing their hand, Fungkshui would then “Ante Up” and “Fade Away” before going deep into the night with one last party jam, “That’ll Do.”
Matt Richards sits in with Fungkshui in Albany 1/25/2024.
With such a formidable relationship already forming between the band and the venue, you almost can’t help but feel optimistic there will be many more magical Fungkshui moments on Lark for years to come. Fresh off the release of their first full length album “Ready to Go,” it’s clear this band is just that. Buckle up in 2024, Fungkshui is about to blast off, and what can I say, I’m totally here for it.
Watch fan shot footage of Fungkshui performing “That’ll Do” in the video clip below:
Fungkshui | January 25, 2024 | Lark Hall | Albany
Setlist: Meat Salad > Ready To Go > Power Out, Run it•, Barefoot Blues > Dan Dan The Water Man, Didn’t Know Anything, Better Off Alone*, Ante Up, Fades Away, That’ll Do
*= Alice DeeJay Cover •= Original Song Debut
Quantum Cosmic | January 25, 2024 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
