Concert Review: Reese Fulmer & the Carriage House Band @ the Hangar 12/9/23

By Rudy Lu On Dec 11, 2023

Reese Fulmer & the Carriage House Band

It was acoustic night at Hangar On The Hudson as the venue featured Reese Fulmer & his Carriage House Band with the Hold On Honeys opening.

Reese is a gifted singer songwriter who rotates musicians that form his Carriage House Band. This performance’s band featured mandolin, electric guitar, saxophone and mandolin. His songs tell stories be they personal or philosophical, always existential or searching in nature.

“3AM” appears to be those random thoughts while suffering from chronic insomnia.

“Long Black Car” tells of the final journey. Jimi W electric guitar leads help tell the story along with James Gascoyne’s bass & Chris Bloniarz’s mandolin.

“San Francisco” deals not with the sights and sounds of San Francisco but with the physical and emotional journey of a cross country road trip. “If I Was The Devil” has an old timey feel except with ironic lyrics with the use of saxophone, guitar and emphatic bass making it contemporary.

The tumbling rapid poetry/songs of Tom Waits were paid tribute to in “New Cut Shine.”

“If I Fall” is a description of a futile attempt at trying not to fall in love.

Reese’s songs take you on a journey which may be serious at times, but always uplifting at the end.

Hold On Honeys

Hold On Honeys was quite a contrast in approach. Also uplifting, but the focus was covers that were arranged to focus on harmonies and melodies.

Wasting no time, they opened with the old gospel standard “I’ll Fly Away.” They continued more along the vein of gospel with “Jeremiah.”

Joni Mitchell’s catalog was well represented with the lyrically evocative “Night In The City” and “A Case of You.” The original “Maple Lane” fit right in. The organic 3 part brought deeper meanings into the songs as well as beauty. Definitely worth a deeper listen.

Paul Simon’s “Loves Me Like A Rock” minus percussion with an emphasis on the harmonies, slowed down the drive of the song, again making us focus on the lyrics and the melody.

Ending the set with a singalong; Elizabeth Cotten’s “When I Get Home” brought their set full circle from gospel to folk rock, back to gospel.

The absence of drums/percussion gave this concert a special feel. The absence of a driving beat, invited attendees to look introspectively rather than outwardly. A quiet way to spend a Saturday night for a change.

Reese Fulmer & Carriage House Band
Reese Fulmer-guitar, vocals
Jimi W-Electric guitar, vocals
James Gascoyne-bass, vocals
Chris Bloniarz-Mandolin
Connor Dunn-saxophone

Set List
Last Call Hound
3 AM
Long Black Car
San Francisco
New Cut Shine
Channels
If I Was The Devil
If I Fall
Leaving A Dream

Hold On Honeys
Emily Curro
Raya Malcom
Shannon Rafferty
Michael Gregg-Guitar
Connor Armbuster- Fiddle