REVIEW: The B3nson Recording Company’s 13th Annual B3nson Family Funsgiving

Dec 13

11/22/2024 at The Hangar, Troy
*This interview originally appeared in our December 2024 issue.*

“The instrument cases and other equipment piled up to the left of the stage in front of a vibrant neon green, leather couch where a suited-up skeleton lounged was indication that everyone was in for a rocking night.”

On November 22nd, friends, family and music lovers alike packed swiftly into The Hangar on the Hudson in Troy, for The B3nson Recording Company’s 13th annual B3nson Family Funsgiving.

Beanies, cardigans and flannels sprinkled the tightly packed room, from both guests and band members soon to take the stage. Attendees were buzzing with excitement, mingling amongst comrades. The show felt like a true family affair, in perfect timing for the holidays.

The instrument cases and other equipment piled up to the left of the stage in front of a vibrant neon green, leather couch where a suited-up skeleton lounged was indication that everyone was in for a rocking night. The four local bands set to take the stage were The Hoborchestra, Rover, Geoff Gordon and Dan Carr & the Cure for Asthma.

The Hoborchestra was up first and they quickly set the mood right with their entrancing, mellow indie sound, well-suited by the rustic cabin-core vibes of the intimate venue that is The Hangar. The three-man group charmed the crowd in a way that made everyone feel as if they had been transported to an open field among the stars; the only other thing needed was for the wall behind the stage to fall to reveal such a sight. While this wasn’t the reality, The Hangar’s ambient lighting, featuring hints of blues, purples, pinks, reds and yellows among warm string lights overhead, was a close second.

Following The Hoborchestra was Rover, featuring a second go-around for the drummer, who starred in both bands. Rover started off with a song about sleeping in, but the audience was feeling far from sleepy once the band settled into their groove. The quartet’s mesmerizing harmonies were a real stand-out in their performance. Rover kept up a similar mellow, indie feel, but they also weren’t afraid to get heavier and hit some harder riffs, which got the crowd fired up. At times, they even had a surf music ring to them, further solidified when they ended one of their songs with a vocal whooshing sound, sung in unison to resemble calming ocean waves.

Toward the end of Rover’s set, they welcomed friend Alex Muro on stage, at which point he and his acoustic guitar took the lead to break things down a little. Muro was repping an asymmetrical half mustache and half beard look, perhaps a marking of the change in seasons here in Upstate New York and the start of a new beard to keep warm during the hibernating months of winter.

Next up was Geoff Gordon, who piled all six of their members onto the tiny Hangar stage, amped up and ready to go. Starting off groovy with some vibrant bluesy-type vocals, Geoff Gordon soon ventured further into a more upbeat, playful range, showcasing their comprehensive sound. The two lead singers had a riveting way of balancing out each other’s vocals, one gruff and more on the edgy side, and the other offering a warmer, velvety tone.

The band worked through some technical difficulties with grace, as well. The keyboard wasn’t shining through as it was intended to, the band calling the occurrence a “classic Funsgiving mishap.” Luckily, after just a few minutes, the resolved issue became a “Funsgiving miracle” once things were set right.

The night concluded with Dan Carr & the Cure for Asthma, a young group with layers of country twang, folk, indie and R&B woven throughout their style. The back-up singers played off each other’s voices and had that classic in-sync sway dance to accompany their riffs. Powerful vocals all around in this bunch. Listeners could make out a yodel here and there too in between tambourines, shakers, harmonicas and a pedal steel. Dan Carr & the Cure for Asthma’s performance was a quirky and fun way to end the annual occasion.

The B3nson crew ran a tight ship, with turnover between sets only taking a few minutes. While this was the case, the bands made sure to not take anything too seriously and have fun. After all, that’s what Funsgiving is all about.