LIVE: Dan Johnson & the Expert Sidemen @ Valentine’s, 5/23/13

Photographs and video by Timothy Reidy

Dan Johnson & the Expert Sidemen were celebrating the release of their new sophomore album, Bound for Abiquiu, at Valentine’s Music Hall in Albany, and the evening harkened back to the bi-weekly Americana Tuesday Night concert series that the band used to host at Valentine’s.

There was, of course, plenty of good pickin’ and singin’, not only from Johnson & the Sidemen, but also from like-minded bands Driftwood and Grassroots Rebels, who shared the bill for the celebration.

Vocalist-guitarist Dan Johnson – a former Nippertonian who now makes his home in Vermont – has penned an impressive collection of original tunes ring out with rare honesty, and the band – bassist Pete Murphy, pedal steel player Roger Noyes and Brian Elsenbeck on accordion and banjo – kept things at once organic and exciting. And Claire Byrne of Driftwood even joined the Sidemen on stage to lend her vocals to “Baton Rouge.”

SECOND OPINIONS:
Susan Rice’s review at Upstate Live

NOTE: Dan Johnson & the Expert Sidemen return to town on Saturday (June 8) to play at the Rhythm on the Ridge roots music festival at Maple Ski Ridge in Rotterdam. The two-day fest kicks off at 11:30am on Saturday with performances throughout the day by the host band Flood Road, as well as Red Haired Strangers, Ramblin Jug Stompers, Matt Durfee and lots more. Two-day, all-festival tickets are $13 in advance; $15 at the gate. Sunday-only tickets are $5. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by a paid adult admission. BUT WAIT… We’re giving away a pair of FREE tickets to four – count ‘em, 4 – lucky Nippertown readers! To enter the contest, just GO HERE…