I had been planning on catching the great Bruce Katz Band at Colony Woodstock that night, after a late lunch with Allan and my friend, Michele, but when we got there, the band part of the show was starting a bit late, after Bruce opened for himself on solo piano. Since we were thirsty and in the mood to Rock, we decided to go over to The Station, have a drink, and come back for the full band part of Bruce’s show, which always features some of the top A-list musicians in the Hudson Valley, and, of course, Bruce, himself, is one of the greatest keyboard artists anyone’s ever heard, anywhere!

T’was not to be! When we got to The Station, I was surprised to find The Mead Mountain Resonators holding court. They’re a band I’ve been meaning to check out live, and boy, am I glad we did! Mead Mountain Resonators have got it, and if they keep at it, they’re gonna get it! They’re a Bluegrass band, and they embody the spirit of the Carter Family, the Stanley Brothers, the Louvins, and all the Bluegrass and old school Country greats who, mostly died before they were born! I’d be surprised if anyone in this band is even 30! Where’d they get it? They’re too young to be this authentic, you’d think! But, like Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, they effectively channel their influences, without being derivative, into something their own. MMR has a way to go before they’re at T Shorty’s level, but if they keep doin’ it, they’re gonna get there, and they already display the seeds of inventiveness, originality, and musicianship that warrant keeping a watchful eye on this young band.

The Resonators are made up of 3 multi-instrumentalists – Conor Wenk (guitar, mandolin, banjo, and resonator guitar), Dan McCabe (guitar, drums), and Alex Turqman (bass, banjo, guitar, and harp aka harmonica). When I first met Danny McCabe, in 2006, he was one of the most talented young music students at my store, Reservoir Music. Since then, I’m pleased and proud to say, he’s blossomed into a mature musician who still has a lot of potential for continued growth. All three sing, and they are amazing singers, harmonizing beautifully and authentically, in the Bluegrass style. If they’re playing in your neighborhood, and you dig Bluegrass and old school Country, be there! You’ll be happy you did.

We never did make it back to Colony for Bruce’s show. My friend’s a lightweight (LOL), and after a while of diggin’ the Resonators, she’d had enough, and we called it a night. Not too shabby of one, neither!!!

Fred Perry is a founding member of Alt-Country supergroup, The Brooklyn Cowboys, is from a 3rd generation musical family and lives in the Hudson Valley, where he does what he can to promote live music.