There’s lots of music Up Nort’ and there’s more than a fiddle and a drum in the band (s) this weekend, the first one in February. Yah Sure You Betcha! And at that point, that two phrase theme for the annual ballooning event his year strikes a chord.
That (Lucky) 13 of the Hudson Hot Air Affair features a bakers dozen different music shows, up quite a bit from most years, that run the gamut as far as styles.
— The Flannel Brothers mix rootsy Americana standards with other popular genres as they deliver foot-stomping passion, true to the Flannel, shown in photos online with a look by the band of old school (older guy) badass, and even a combo of old and new buildings such as seen at any dairy farm in the land, on their home page, full scale. This sets them apart when they play Madison Avenue Wine and Spirits on Saturday all evening long, as part of their Backwoods Bash gala. The fan favorite Flannel have a long set list that has one song by one artist — and steering way away from the rock cliches — with the only exception being Tom Petty, God rest his soul, being the only duplication. Powerful vocals with blended harmonies are key to the Flannels’ performance. Up-tempo songs will keep your toes tapping and dancing the entire show. So these are not your mother’s Nort’ standbys.
Giving the Flannel as fan favorite another fierce force are indoor axe throwing and hammer schlagen (careful, don’t hit one of the distillery vats!), Blue Ox spirits, theme cocktails, and making it Nort’ hotdish and hot beef sandwiches all for free admission and a cash food and bar.
— Roberts-based Boondoggle, with players of various ages, is known for their imposing stage-presence and own take on largely traditional country but also much more, with that kind of riffs, driven by the sheer height of some of the band members, which is even more impressive on a raised stage. Even the bass player is six-and-a-half-feet-tall and has the mojo usually seen in vocalists. “We play music by Elvis, the Beatles, the Stones, Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Dwight Yoakam, and anything and everything around and in-between,” they say, covering an impressive five decades, as drawing from the youth vs. wisdom that is a heyday of the band.
Boondoggle provides the music, and might even tone it down a bit to allow for chit-chat during the gourmet Taste of the Hot Air Affair about Badger-based appetizers, chocolates, cheeses and sweets at the Hudson House Grand Hotel on Saturday starting at 7:30 p.m. Make sure to fly on over.
– Wicked Garden gets more specific with its sound, down and dirty and gritty, at Ziggy’s on Friday night, covering the grunge power groups that filled the top 100 charts in the 1990s, such as Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots (hence the cover band name) and Alice in Chains. They also cover several grunge-influenced bands from today, that started strong almost two decades ago and since has kept a strong following, such as Tool, Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age.
— Good for Gary, which plays the Smilin’ Moose on Friday, does quite well when it lays it out there, as they specialize in current and past dance hits, but in a twist that’s different than most, focus on the newest Top 40 songs. With a seven-piece line-up, (also unusual), there’s no hip-hop, pop or dance song they can’t cover, they say, adding it is likely that you will hear some Lady Gaga, Eminem, Usher and Rihanna at every show.
– Everything goes better with live music, but it doesn’t need to be making-your-ears-bleed volume. So noted by Jazz Savvy, a trio rather than duo, that provides, among other things, classical jazz when they again hit Urban Music and Vine all Friday evening: “Never intrusive or sonically aggressive, Jazz Savvy gives you and your guests a memorable listening experience that will make them smile (and allow conversation),” they say. Its great patio music and that’s largely how they started into the mainstream in Hudson, with a whole summer of jazz at Pudge’s, before it was Ziggy’s music bar.
— Alan Busby makes a return, again, to Hudson, where he’s played quite a bit in recent months, spicing up the mix at Urban Olive and Vine on Saturday evening, part of an acoustic trio.
— Other music is at: Smilin’ Moose on Saturday until close ( DJ that steers to more to a younger hip-hop, dance and country crowd, Dick’s Bar and Grill on Friday and Saturday night until close (variety of danceable songs and a bit more rock); Karaoke both nights at Hudson Bowling Center; and Sunday until close, Jeff Loven’s one-man-band, which is in the process of unfolding his revised set list, for those who haven’t seen the guitar (and yes vocal) virtuoso for a while.
Contact www.hudsonhotairaffair.con for more information.