Around Town with Amy Modesti – ‘The Fleshtones’ with ‘Chris Busone Band’ @ The Hangar

Just when the “13^th Annual Troy Chowderfest” was ending, the unofficial after-party for the annual event begun at The Hangar on The Hudson.

“The Fleshtones & Chris Busone Band” signage at The Hangar On The Hudson in Troy, NY Sunday, October 13, 2019. Picture taken by Amy L. Modesti.

Sunday, October 13, 2019 marked the day when NYC punk rock legends, “The Fleshtones”, came into the “Collar City” to shake things up with some good ol’ rock and roll and punk for their dedicated fans, with local power trio, “Chris Busone Band”. Music fans who left Chowderfest came down the street and were wowed by these two great acts who entertained their crowd and came out to party and celebrate their day. This event was put on by local radio station, “RadioRadioX”.

“Chris Busone Band”, featuring Joe, Chris, and Mark performing at The Hangar On The Hudson in Troy, NY Sunday, October 13, 2019. Picture taken by Amy L. Modesti

“Chris Busone Band” opened for “The Fleshtones” and the trio brought their passion and soul on stage through their take on originals and covers. The trio, featuring Chris Busone (guitar/vocals), Mark LaRose (bass/vocals), and Joe Daley, who was guest drumming for main drummer, OP Callaghan, for this performance set. Many local music fans may have seen Daley perform in local acts as “Super 400” and “Soul Serenade”, a local Allman Brothers tribute act throughout the Capital Region.

Performing rockin’ covers as “Don’t Bring Me Down” (The Beatles), “Like A Rolling Stone” (Bob Dylan), “Ziggy Stardust” (David Bowie), and a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” that they had learned less than three days before their gig and mixing it with originals as “Jesus Freaks” and “A Mean Love”, Busone and company were rocking out and drove their fans out to groove and move along to their tunes. It is easy to see why the trio can rock out and stand out as a group through their dedication to their craft and Busone’s gritty, powerful lead vocals and his guitar drive. Along with LaRose and Daley, the trio brought their fans out on a fun rocking journey in their short set.

If you have never watched “The Fleshtones” perform in person, prepare to be amazed by these old school punk rockers who can dance & perform off stage within a crowd of fans, play their guitars on large speakers or seating chairs, and form themselves into a giant human pyramid on stage while performing a guitar solo standing on top of their band mates, all in one performance set.

“The Fleshtones” performing at The Hangar On The Hudson in Troy, NY Sunday, October 13, 2019. Picture taken by Amy L. Modesti

“The Fleshtones”, featuring Ken Fox (bass/vocals), Kieth Streng (guitar/vocals), Peter Zaremba (organ/vocals/harmonica), and Troy, NY native, Bill Milhizer (drums/vocals), are entertaining, fun, and you never know what they are going to bring into their set. For the third time that I have seen this act perform at this venue, I am left in awe at how much drive and energy these guys have while they perform their set. The energy and the drive that they bring to each song is fantastic and it’s something to watch.

Zaremba stepped out to the stage dressed in his long, red cape with his band following in tow. Streng and Fox clung on to each other like glue as they swayed along to the organ sounds from Zaremba and Milhizer’s continuous drum pattern.  Their choreographed dance moves they included into their set have included circular twirling on stage, encouraging their audience to follow their slide dance moves, almost as though they were dancing along to “The Electric Slide”, watching Zaremba and Streng get up to sing and solo out on giant speakers, and even fold up their arms in unison after standing on top of each other in a giant band pyramid while performing their solos.

“The Fleshtones”, featuring Peter Zaremba on organ/vocals, posing for me at The Hangar On The Hudson in Troy, NY Sunday, October 13, 2019. Photo Credit: Amy L. Modesti

The Fleshtones love to include their fans into their music and they love to show their love and support to them both on and off stage. There were moments when Fox, Streng, and Zaremba would wander off stage to perform their solos in front of fans  during certain songs they would play, Zaremba gave fans high fives and hugs while he sang along to his tune, and before they began to perform, all members came out of their dressing room to chat with their friends and fans. With Milhizer being from the “Collar City”, friends of the famous drummer came out to chat and pose for selfies with him and his band mates before and after their gig. They have been local fixtures to the Capital Region music scene and the punk scene for many, many years and each gig they have in this area is always entertaining and always has their audience wanting more of their music.

Awesome job to “RadioRadioX”, “Chris Busone Band”, and “The Fleshtones” for the success of the post-Chowderfest after party show at the Hangar on the Hudson!! The show was a success and a blast to be a part of in the City of Troy, NY. Be sure to go out and about in the community to support the local 518 scene and go on out to “Enjoy Troy”!