LIVE: Buffalo Stack @ the Falcon, 9/12/15

Review and photographs by Rudy Lu

Andy Stack brought his top-notch band – as well as an impressive collection of guitars – for an EP release party and concert by the expanded version of Buffalo Stack at The Falcon in Marlboro for a recent evening of old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll and R&B in support of the band’s new EP, Hammer & Nails.

Stack & Co. enchanted the audience with an authentic retro-soul, roots-Americana sound. The bristling sound of Stack’s guitars was supported by back-up singers Adrien Reju and Najah Lewis. Trumpeter Kevin Batchelor and saxophonist Tony Orbach punctuated the music with staccato unison bursts and solos reminiscent of the classic Stax sound of the Memphis Horns.

A hefty beat and bottom end was anchored by long-time friend Tony Tio on bass and veteran Dan Hickey, former drummer with They Might Be Giants Joe Jackson, the B-52s and Johnny Winter, among others. Art Labriola provided color and fill on keyboards.

The band steamrolled through a set of originals and covers, highlighted by a red-hot rendition of the Motown classic, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles’ “You Really Got a Hold On Me.”

GO HERE to see more of Rudy Lu’s photographs of the concert…

Adrien Reju doubled up as the opening act with a sparkling set of her original songs, primarily culled from her new album, Strange Love & the Secret Language.

UPCOMING: Buffalo Stack is slated to play Club Helsinki in Hudson at 9pm tonight (Friday, September 25) and the Speed of Sound Festival at Dutchess County Airport in Wappingers Falls at 12:50pm on Saturday (September 26).