Albany buzzed with excitement from beyond the solar system as Big Something and Consider the Source brought their signature high-octane and other-worldly grooves to Albany on a brisk Wednesday night, October 2, as part of the Headspace 2024 Tour.
Lark Hall, recently revitalized by the set designers of HBO’s The Gilded Age, provided an intimate yet stunning backdrop for the night of sonic exploration and some seriously heady jams.
NYC’s Consider the Source kicked off the evening, captivating the audience with their intricate fusion of sci-fi inspired progressive rock, jazz, and world music. The dynamic power trio, comprised of virtuoso guitarist Gabriel Marin, bassist John Ferrara, and drummer Jeff Mann, delivered an exhilarating performance that showcased both their next-level musicianship as well as their entire new album, The Stare, which was released in mid-September. The band had previous played Lark in April of 2022 as part of their intimate acoustic hybrid run, but on this night, it was straight balls-to-the-wall electric.
Continuing to push the boundaries of instrumental music with complex time signatures and intricate melodies, songs like “Trial By Stone” and “Mouthbreather” shook the venue to its core with their heaviness, while simultaneously creating a sonic tapestry that was both captivating and challenging to the listener.
From Marin’s expressive and distinctive double-neck guitar playing, to Ferrara’s melodic and thunderous finger-tapping bass solos, to Mann’s exceptionally creative drum fills, Consider the Source was firing on all cylinders at Lark Hall and it showed.
Treating the audience to spellbinding renditions of “Preemptive Vengeance” and “Unfulfilled and Alienated,” the intricate interplay between each member created a cosmic journey that resonated with both the soul and the mind. If you haven’t seen this band play before, you really need to. Helping the audience slip into the perfect headspace for what was still to come, Consider the Source was an excellent choice to kick the party off proper.
Transitioning to Big Something’s headlining set with a glorious circus-like introduction by crew member William, the colorful Burlington, North Carolina six-piece band delivered a masterclass in genre-blending with their unique brand of space-infused funk rock. Supporting the release of their ambitious new album, Headspace, the band is currently riding a wave of creativity and evolution.
Consisting of founding members Nick MacDaniels (guitar, vocals) and Jesse Hensley (guitar, vocals), the mesmerizing multi-instrumentalist Casey Cranford on saxophone and electric wind instrument (EWI), alongside the dynamic rhythm section of Ben Vinograd (drums), Matt Laird (bass), and Josh Kagel on keys and trumpet, Big Something have firmly established themselves as tried and true veterans of the jam band scene and a popular staple at music festivals around the country, including their own, The Big What, hosted annually in Mebane, NC.
Back in the Capital Region for the first time since playing the Putnum Place in May of 2019, the band wasted no time reminding us they still can throw down with the best of them. Showcasing layers of sonic intricacy, catchy hooks and danceable grooves on the opening combo of “Algorithm” and “Love Generator” form 2014’s Truth Serum, Big Something then surprised everyone by slipping into a cover of “Blast Off” by another fan-favorite funk band, Lettuce.
Taking a moment to introduce the band and thank everyone for coming out on a Wednesday, the left-handed MacDaniels, who could be the long-lost brother of actor Michael Cera, hyped up the latest Big Something album, Headspace, before going into its opening track.
Until this point in the show, lead guitarist Jesse Hensley had been relatively reserved, but as “The Mountain” climbed to its peak, so did Jesse, uncorking an absolutely monstrous solo as the band reached its first true stretch of sustained improvisation.
Name dropping longtime friends and tour buddies Andy Frasco and The U.N. prior to “Clouds,” a song the two bands collaborated on, Big Something would get some more help from their friends in Consider the Source, inviting out guitarist Gabriel Marin to sit in on 2013’s “The Curse of Julia Brown.” resulting in one of most unique and memorable highlights of the show.
With the buzz in the hall now reaching a fever pitch, Big Something took the vibe even higher, reaching into their back catalog and pulling out their biggest hit to date next, “A Song For Us,” which all but blew the roof off the place. You can watch fan shot footage of that in the clip below.
Big Something’s performance was a celebration of their growth, with tracks from Headspace seamlessly woven into the fabric of their established hits with songs like “Megalodon” blending beautifully into their cover of David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream.” With the always smiling MacDaniels’ charismatic stage presence igniting the crowd, the synergy between the band members was palpable, as they effortlessly navigated through their setlist, blending styles from jam rock to funk and even hints of reggae and electronic influences.
Stealing the show all night long though was multi-instrumentalist Casey Cranford on saxophone and the electric wind instrument. Running his EWI 4000 through an array of effects pedals, Cranford effortlessly created sounds and textures straight from another dimension.
That should come as no surprise, as the band has long had a fascination with all things extraterrestrial. From their alien-spired logo, to samples referencing U.F.O.’s and crash landings to the stuffed little green man sitting on top of the amps throughout the show, Big Something has crafted a stellar, interstellar sound fit for the future and a galaxy far, far away.
Adding depth to the evening was the poignant backdrop of recent flooding in North Carolina, which has forever changed the landscape of the bands home turf and brought an air of solidarity among the musicians and fans. Seemingly using the music as a means to escape, the band never directly referenced Hurricane Helene, but noticeably shied away from playing water-based favorites like “The Undertow,” “Waves,” “Starts to Rain,” and “The Flood.” Instead Big Something would close out the main portion of their set with a big version of the infectious hand-clapper, “Timebomb.”
After a bit of deliberation backstage, the band would return for a final curtain call encore of “Tumbleweed,” the title track from their 2017 album of the same name. Afterwards, the band made sure to let everyone in Albany know how appreciative they are for the support and could be seen hanging out late into the night taking selfies and signing limited edition posters and tour merch.
As the night drew to a close, the concert proved to be more than just a display of talent, but a celebration of the power of music to unite and uplift. Both Big Something and Consider the Source left the stage with the audience buzzing, showcasing that in a world often overshadowed by challenges, the joy of live music continues to shine brightly.
The Headspace Tour continues on through October, and fans in Albany can only hope for a swift return of both bands, where their cosmic sounds will continue to resonate long after the lights go down.
Big Something | October 2, 2024 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Setlist: Intro by William, Algorithm, Love Generator>Blast Off [1] , The Mountain, Clouds, The Curse of Julia Brown [2] , Song For Us, Megalodon>Moonage Daydream [3] , Timebomb.
Encore: Tumbleweed
Notes:
[1] Lettuce
[2] w/ Gabriel Marin (Consider The Source) on guitar
[3] David Bowie
Consider the Source | October 2, 2024 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Setlist: Trial By Stone, I Can See My Eyes, Mouthbreather, New World Čoček, Preemptive Vengeance. Unfulfilled and Alienated.
