Zagnutt; photo credit: David Young
I found my first time attending Hanstock worthy of its all day setting in beautiful Hancock, New Hampshire. Arriving just before the third band began playing, I gazed around the Moose Brook Park Recreation Center to see a pleasant view of trees, grass, a wide open area that allowed plenty of room for vendors, food trucks, a stage, and everything else needed for an outdoor music event. Hosted by Hancock Depot Cabaret, last Saturday’s event rocked.
Zagnutt came on last and rocked the remaining crowd with their catchy, grooving original songs. Singer Dave O has a strong stage presence and an even stronger voice, delivering his lyrics with a feisty energy. Guitarist Erik White, of Hancock, played lead phrases that rippled with nice melodies and a cool confidence. The rhythm section kept things fun as well as steady, never missing a chance to insert a fill or thump to keep their songs in hip motion.
Their tune “Are You Receiving Me” found the band belting out this plucky number with a larger than life lead vocal, a racing lead guitar phrase, and a blisteringly hot organ line. It rocked with rollicking energy that is unique to this Boston based band that has a touch of 1970s pureness in their rock and roll. Another of their original tunes, “Desert Knights,” featured nice harmony vocals that hearken back to an earlier time in rock music while their snappy instrumentation kept the audience glued to the hip motions in this song.
Sage And The Tumbleweeds; photo credit: David Young
Sage And The Tumbleweeds, earlier in the day, played a funky kind of jam band music. That is not a completely adequate description as the group of nimble players could stretch way beyond that. There was plenty of grit in their lead and rhythm guitar work and plenty of controlled rumble in the bass guitar.
It was uncanny how this band could maintain a mellow approach while also maintaining their ability play a whole lot of notes, as they possess a large musical vocabulary that allows them to really stretch out with their particular sound. One of their close out numbers was a breezy interpretation of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick In The Wall Part II.” Here, the band hearkened back to the timeless melodies and grooves of that so familiar song while delivering it with their own laid back feel.
Rusty Bearings & The Salty Undercarriage played in a similar jam band influenced style as Sage And The Tumbleweeds, stretching themselves into long, mellow instrumental portions as their set progressed.
Dancing Goats; photo credit: David Young
The New Jersey based-band Dancing Goats played a lively set of rocking music, soulful vocals matching the smoky smolder of their instrumentation. It is the way Dancing Goats play with a lot of range and a lot of flow that make their songs jump out at and pull the listener in while making them feel it.
Just when you think they’re playing and singing something well, they get even better, stretching a lead guitar line or a vocal sustain or a keyboard progression. A simmering lead guitar phrase erupted with emotive expression on many numbers as a lead singer rode the melody line with a girlish chirp that brought more joy. This band was a positive find for Hanstock VII because they combined good songwriting with a flair for true vocal and instrumental performances.
Eyes Of Age; photo credit: Craig Rice
The local band Eyes Of Age provided a lot of nice Americana rock songs. Combing acoustic and electric instrumentation with a folksy vocal delivery made this combo an earthy treat. One could feel the history in their songs as well as in how well they were playing them. This group combined the sweet grit of mandolin with some seriously solid upright bass playing and the might strum of an acoustic six string.
It was easy to feel transported to other, earlier times in American music as Eyes Of Age played and sang a multitude of natural acoustic notes. Just as the mandolin notes came pouring out of the amplifiers like rivulets of sweet candy, the bass maintained the backbone of a song with its solid as wood low end notes as the acoustic guitar nimbly released an intricate melody line. What a treat for the ears and soul as they gave the audience several tastes of something pure and real.
The first two acts that I missed, IvyChum and, Bottom Dollar must have played particularly strong sets because people were still talking about then when I had arrived. This year’s Hanstock VII maintained a dedicated attendance, and not just for the live music. Arts and crafts vendors and other merchants featured interesting goods at their kiosks and each food truck was drawing good lines of customers.
It would probably be safe to bet that all in attendance look forward to next year’s Hanstock.
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