REVIEW: Family Tree Wakes Up the Troy Riverfront

Jun 16

6/11 @ Ryan’s Wake, Troy

“Bowie?–check. Allman Brothers?–check. Stevie Wonder?–check. Beloved songs joyfully delivered in the great outdoors with cold beverages readily available–who could say no?”

The rains finally stopped, the levee didn't break and Family Tree was able to soak up the sun and spread some sonic sunshine down by the river behind Ryan's Wake in Troy as part of the Wake Up Wednesdays series of free outdoor concerts. The venerable public house had their decks packed, the ale flowing and the party crowd filling the summertime riverside on one of the first dry evenings in recent memory. Boats pulled up to the dock and were supplied with a festive soundtrack for their on deck activities.

The roots of Family Tree perform every other Monday at Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs at 8PM. Admission is free. There is a two drink minimum, a small price to pay to hear some of the area's finest musicians tear into some classic rock, soul, R&B and funk. Dual drummers Steve Candlen and Chad Ploss sync up with Chris Carey, crazy on keys while Lori Friday holds down the low-end on bass and Kenny Hohman takes flight on guitar. Impromptu jams regularly erupt and the mood is loose and open to improvisation. The Tree branches out as they are regularly joined by various guests from the regional music scene for an enjoyable communal groove that consistently proves that the Capital District contains enough talent and rock power to easily exist off the musical grid if need be.

Family Tree rocked the first set, took a short break and returned to be joined by guest after guest as the sun slowly set: Chris Beam, Eric Busta, Joe Daley, Erin Harkes, Nick Horace, Leo Kachadurian, Tommy Love, Mike McMann, Bert Pagano, Mario Sevayega, Jeremy Walz and Kevin Warren all stepped up, plugged in and added their own bit of multi-generational musical magic to the mix. Bowie?–check. Allman Brothers?–check. Stevie Wonder?–check. Beloved songs joyfully delivered in the great outdoors with cold beverages readily available–who could say no?

The news broke of the death of Brian Wilson earlier that day, barely 48 hours after Sly Stone passed, two musical geniuses from an era that the Family Tree set list frequently visits. God only knows it's a family affair. Lori Friday shared her thoughts before playing, "Every time we step on stage we know it could be the last time; we treat every show that way. Today we will hold Sly Stone and Brian Wilson in our hearts, because what else can we do? We have this gift of music and it's our whole life and it's a gift for us to be able to share it with people. We'll do that as long as our hands and our bodies allow us to."

Wake Up Wednesdays concludes on Wednesday, June 18 with a U2 tribute show by Unforgettable Fire, free starting at 5PM on the riverside stage behind Ryan's Wake Public House 403 River Street, Troy.