Brainstory brought the California soul, Kendra McKinley delivered a spectacular “Turandot,” and Benevento brought the pajama pants.
Whatever Marco Benevento is putting in the Lambrusco, Bearsville should keep serving it. His October 21 celebration of Glera at Bearsville Theater had an almost unfair amount going for it: Brainstory opening the evening; a band featuring Eric Hagstrom on drums, Nick Movshon on bass, Sam Cohen on guitar, Jay Collins on saxophone, and Chris Payson on trumpet; and Kendra McKinley delivering a “Turandot” that could justify the trip on its own. Benevento wore pajama pants, apparently prepared to turn Bearsville into his own funky bedroom dance party. Considering the music he brought with him, it seemed like a reasonable proposition.
Marco Benevento Brings Glera to Life
I appreciated Benevento’s choice to kick things off with instrumental numbers, letting the music set the tone for what would become a wild musical voyage. Marco had me at that Farfisa organ sound on the opening number, dripping with Mediterranean spirit. It was an excellent introduction to the world of Glera, where Italian film-score influences mingle with jazz, soul, reggae, and psychedelic pop. The record could just as easily soundtrack the small hours outside a Naples nightclub, an espresso topped with golden crema on the table and absolutely no intention of going home. Wednesday night, Woodstock would do just fine.
Benevento has the technique to make an evening very complicated and the taste to keep it entertaining. He gives you a melody to hang onto while leaving himself room to mess around. There’s curiosity and humor in his music, along with an affection for sounds that might seem questionable until he puts them to work. At Bearsville, that personality was a huge part of the appeal. You could follow his keyboard playing closely or surrender to the songs. Either way, there was plenty to enjoy.
Brainstory Opens the Night at Bearsville Theater
Brainstory made an excellent introduction. The California trio features Kevin Martin on guitar and vocals, Tony Martin on bass and vocals, and Eric Hagstrom on drums. From Rialto in Southern California’s Inland Empire, the band brings soul, jazz, and psychedelia into a sound developed through years of playing together. Kevin and Tony are brothers, with longtime friend Hagstrom completing the trio. Their opening set was smooth, fun, and immediately appealing, with enough going on underneath to keep your attention. Brainstory has an easy feel without sounding casual about the music. They were an inspired choice for this show and a band worth catching on their own.
Both artists record for Big Crown Records, which released Glera in July as Benevento’s debut for the label. The connection made sense onstage. Brainstory and Benevento share an affection for soul and an interest in what else they can do with it, while arriving at distinctly different results. Brainstory gave the evening a warm welcome before Benevento invited everybody further into his particular musical imagination.
Glera Highlights, Fan Favorites, and Kendra McKinley’s Turandot
“Frizzante” and “Miss Neptune” were highlights, giving the new material a strong place in the set. There’s a particular pleasure in hearing an artist’s latest songs alongside the ones that brought you through the door, and the Glera material sounded right at home. A release celebration should leave you wanting to put the record on when you get back. This one did its job, although Benevento made a pretty convincing argument for staying out.
“Let It Slide” was a welcome part of the evening, too. The fan favorite provided that familiar connection amid the newer work, giving longtime listeners something they were hoping to hear. Benevento has enough range in his catalog to make those combinations interesting. He can indulge his musical curiosity and still remember that people have favorite songs for a reason.
Kendra McKinley’s performance of “Turandot” was spectacular, and we had been looking forward to hearing her sing it again. On September 4, we recorded McKinley performing the song with Benevento and Dave Dreiwitz at Maverick Concerts. That version had already given us good reason to pay attention to this pairing. At Bearsville, she delivered another performance that deserves to be heard well beyond the room. The album version features Italian vocalist Marianne Mirage; McKinley has made a compelling case for her own interpretation. Hearing her return to it was a particular pleasure, and having both performances recorded gives us two excellent reasons to keep following where she and Benevento take the song.
McKinley was a major part of what made this celebration special. In an evening with considerable competition for your attention, “Turandot” stayed with me afterward. Her performance was memorable and beautifully suited to the occasion, giving us the kind of recording that makes sitting down to review the footage feel considerably less like work.
Jay Collins and Lee Falco Bring Hudson Valley Musical History
Benevento’s collaborators gave him plenty to work with. Eric Hagstrom on drums and Nick Movshon on bass formed the rhythm section, with Sam Cohen on guitar, Jay Collins on saxophone, and Chris Payson on trumpet completing a lineup with room for all the different directions this music takes. Organ, guitar, horns, and rhythm: plenty of ingredients for Marco to play with, and plenty of personalities to invite into his musical orbit.
His compositions have an unmistakable personality, but they also give other musicians something to get into. That was part of the pleasure of this lineup. The players surrounding Benevento were a substantial part of the show’s appeal, bringing their own identities to a celebration built around his new work. Hearing musicians of this caliber enjoy one another is a pretty good reason to leave the house.
Bearsville Theater, WKZE, and the KZE Kamper
Bearsville Theater provided an excellent home for it. Conceived by Albert Grossman, completed by Sally Grossman, and opened in 1989, the theater has a significant place in Woodstock’s musical history. Wednesday gave that history some very good current company. A room earns its reputation through the shows people experience inside it, and this bill did Bearsville proud: an opening band worth arriving early for, an artist with an adventurous new record, and musicians who made the occasion their own.
For WKZE, being there meant we could bring the performance beyond the people holding tickets. The show was broadcast live through #981KZE and SignalRiot.FM, with the KZE Kamper onsite recording live video. From Maverick in September to Bearsville in October, we’re capturing the living, evolving Empire Sound of the Hudson Valley—the music coming out of its clubs, concert halls, and unexpected collaborations. These recordings preserve a piece of what’s happening here, while giving the artists a chance to be heard well beyond the room.
Watch and Listen to the Bearsville Performance
The first live video premieres Sunday, October 25, on WKZE’s YouTube channel. Visit SignalRiot.FM for more live music from the KZE Kamper, and hear the Bearsville performance on 98.1 FM on Halloween night, Saturday, October 31, at 10 p.m. Brainstory made a strong case for another visit, McKinley gave us another exceptional “Turandot,” and Benevento gave Glera the celebration it deserved. Tune in, pour the Lambrusco, and wear whatever you like. Marco has already established the dress code.
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