Reese Fulmer and the Carriage House Band @ The Park Theater, 5/1/2026

The Kind of Show That Sneaks Up on You (In the Best Way)

By Stephanie J Bartik.

On Friday, May 1, 2026, I walked into The Park Theater in Glens Falls expecting a good night of music.

What I got instead was one of those shows that quietly pulls you in … and before you realize it, you’re fully in it.

Reese Fulmer & The Carriage House Band aren’t loud about what they do—but they don’t need to be.

Fronted by Reese Fulmer on guitar and vocals, the band features JP Hubbs on keyboard, James Gascoyne on bass, Chris Bloniarz on octave mandolin, and Connor Dunn on saxophone. Not your “standard issue” lineup—and that’s exactly the point.

Because this band doesn’t sit neatly in a box. They kind of wander around it. Comfortably.

Their sound lives somewhere between indie-folk, Americana, and jazz—but even that feels like it’s trying too hard to define something that clearly doesn’t want to be pinned down. Think Wilco, with a little Prine storytelling and just enough Zappa unpredictability to keep things interesting.

And here’s the thing I noticed right away …

The room felt different.

It was intimate, yes—but more than that, the audience was locked in. Not distracted. Not half-watching. Actually listening. The kind of crowd that makes you lower your camera for a second and just go, “Okay … yeah … this is a moment.”

As someone who spends a lot of time photographing high-energy cover bands and tributes (which are fun in their own right), this felt like a completely different lane. No pressure to match something familiar. No big theatrical expectations.

Just music that lets you breathe.

And honestly? That’s refreshing.

Reese Fulmer’s background adds another layer to the story. Before stepping fully into the spotlight, he managed Caffè Lena—the legendary Saratoga Springs listening room known for shaping serious songwriters. That influence shows. His writing carries that “poet with something to say” energy—smart, observant, and just self-aware enough to keep it real.

It’s no surprise he’s been named Americana Artist of the Year at the Thomas Edison Music Awards in both 2023 and 2024. And tied with Laura Leigh for the 2026 year.

This band is building something—and people are clearly paying attention.

But what really makes them stand out is this:

No two shows feel like they’re trying to be the same show.

With a rotating cast of players and a willingness to let the music go where it wants, there’s a looseness to their performance that feels genuine—not rehearsed into perfection but lived into it.

It’s the kind of show you don’t just watch.
You settle into it.

If you want to catch that feeling for yourself, your next chance is May 17 at Caffè Lena’s Sing in the Streets festival in Saratoga Springs-23 bands, 10 stages, 12–5pm. Reese Fulmer & The Carriage House Band hit at 3pm at The Parting Glass.

Go.

Bring a friend. Or don’t.

Either way, you’ll leave feeling just a little bit better than when you walked in.

And honestly … we could all use more of that.

Photos by Stephanie J Bartik.

More from Reese Fulmer here …