RECAP: Busone, Tefft, Reign – Catch You on the Return

Words and Photography by Mike Stampalia.

I went to a great show last night.

That, in and of itself, is not surprising. I enjoy most live music I see, and the shows at the Hangar on the Hudson in particular rarely disappoint. It’s such a great room; it’s very hard not to have a good time.

As I drove back home down 787, digesting what I had just seen, the theme of “returning” kind of popped into my head. As a non-musician, I’m always at least impressed and sometimes in awe of what those on stage do. I’m not sure I could do what they do, even if I had the talent. But night after night, gig after gig, year after year, they do. And we are all the better for it.

Chris Busone

I’ve seen Chris Busone play a lot over the years. I still remember the first time I saw him – maybe around the late ’80s or 1990. Back then it was Chris Busone and the Will to Live, and he was then, as he remains today, a stalwart of the local music scene. (Brief nod to having the best track on the “Live at QE2” compilation with the terrific “Jesus Freaks.” Busone undersells this song regularly … “That’s it. That’s our big hit.” … but any honest appraisal would put that song up with the very best ever written locally.)

So, over the ensuing decades, I kept seeing Chris. In different venues, with different bands, doing different things on different nights. Always returning, always maturing, always getting better. And the payoff? I can honestly say I’m not sure I’ve ever heard him as good as he sounded last night. Celebrating the release of his new CD, “Riverstreet Roe-Sham-Bo,” (somewhere between a nod and a love letter to his hometown Troy), the new songs simply killed. The blues element really shone last night, and if you’ve forgotten how good a guitar player he is, you owe it to yourself to remind yourself. Absolutely loved the trio, fleshed out by “Big Frank” Novko on bass and OP Callaghan on drums.

He’s better than he’s ever been. But when he returns, he’ll be even better.  And that’s the point.

Jennifer Tefft & the Strange

This was only the second time I had seen Jennifer Tefft & the Strange. I saw her last year at the same venue, based solely on the recommendation of a friend whose taste I trust. I was impressed. I also wondered, if I am honest, why she took the gig. Tefft and the band have some serious credibility and following out Boston way, and their album, “Strange Beginnings,” won Album of the Year in the 2024 New England Music Awards. With an uncommonly unselfish frontperson, Tefft and company’s performances are a perfect balance of Jennifer’s powerful vocals, broken by soaring instrumental breaks that very much showcase the talents of the rest of the band. Every band aims for those breaks to “catch,” but many come up short. Theirs do not.

So why take that 2024 gig in Troy? And why return again last night? I realized the answer is, well, me (and people like me). She came out this way and impressed me enough that I’m back again. One of my friends (also at that show) now half-jokingly refers to Tefft as the “act I trot out when I try to pretend I’m not just some old guy listening to classic rock.” That trip converted (at least a few) new folks into fans, which then feeds on itself.

Doing it the old-fashioned way. Keep returning, and pick ’em off one by one, two by two.

Harley Reign and the Aces, with Matty D of Ginger Geezus (far left)

Opening up the night, the young Harley Reign and the Aces played their very first gig as a band/frontwoman last night. Running through a crowd-pleasing set of nine cover songs ranging from Jefferson Airplane to Mazzy Star to Black Sabbath, Harley belted out some of the most iconic (and difficult) vocals in history with apparent natural ease. (You try to do Merry Clayton on “Gimme Shelter.” I dare you.) And the rest of the band had more skill, confidence, and attitude (in all the right ways) than anybody at that age has a right to, as well.

I can’t wait to see them return.

More from the Hangar on the Hudson …