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I’ve wanted to see Psychedelic Breakfast for quite some time now, but it
seemed like every time they came around, something else came up. So I made
a special effort to clear my calendar last Friday, March 29, when they
played at Beardslee Castle in Little Falls, New York, (my favorite local
venue).
The show was scheduled for the third floor dining room, which is bigger and
less crowded with tables than the second floor, where most of the shows are
held. We got there late, but even from the parking lot, we could see people
dancing in front of each of the floor’s large windows. It looked like fun,
and I couldn’t wait to get inside! We got up to the third floor in time for
the last song of the first set and, although it wasn’t very crowded,
everybody was having a good time.
Psychedelic Breakfast ended the first set, promising a second set full of
funk, and took a fifteen minute break. By the time they took up their
instruments again, the third floor was packed with people that had already
been dancing, people that had just arrived, and a few that had spent the
first set down in the “dungeon” at the bar. The band had promised and they
delivered, laying down a couple of tunes that nearly laid out half the
audience. The only time PB allowed a break in the funky flow was for a
version of “Terrapin Station,” half beautiful and half frantic in the way
that every “Terrapin” should be. After that “Terrapin” the band deserved
another break, but they played a few more songs, teasing a Zeppelin and then
a Phish tune, and soon everyone but drummer Adrian had stepped away to get a
beer and talk with Randall Brown (one of Beardslee’s owners) and some of the
audience. They had plenty of time to talk as Adrian launched into what the
band later referred to as “‘Fear Factor’ on drums”, a solo that lasted
probably fifteen minutes and engaged every part of Adrian’s drum set
(including the large cymbal hanging beside him), every one of his limbs, and
nearly everyone on the third floor of Beardslee Castle. Those who
weren’t dancing were gawking wide-eyed and open-mouthed at the talent in
front of us. It’s no surprise that Adrian was recently--and rightly--voted
“Best Drummer” in the first ever reader’s poll in the “Revolving Door”
magazine, with Psychedelic Breakfast taking the “Best New Band.”
The final word on Psychedelic Breakfast is who can manage to not like (or
at least appreciate) a band that jumps from funk to “Terrapin” to
record-breaking drum solos, and then accompanies itself into an encore with
"Eye of the Tiger". Psychedelic Breakfast provided a fun and dance-crazed
evening at the Castle, as I’m sure they would do at any venue. I know it’s
been said before, but Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So
eat it up, baby. Check out their website PsychedelicBreakfast.com and
catch them at a venue of festival near you!
Janis Lawrence
JamBase | New York
Go See Live Music!
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