Right in my own backyard – Friday Night at the River Roadhouse in Hastings on the Hudson

This Friday went over and checked out Ten Ton Mojo at the River Roadhouse in Hastings on the Hudson. What a cool night it was.

I arrived and Broken Guru was on. A three piece with this sixties sound that was just very cool. It just reminded me of a certain sixties pop sound. Do not ask me to name names. . maybe Credence? Whatever it was, it was neat. I guess it was just catchy riffs, straight ahead solid rhythms. And I must confess, one of the cuter bass players I have seen on recent stages. It was simply a good way to start a night.

That was followed by Camaro Suicide, which i guess makes sense – Camaros, as in the muscle car had their hey-day in the 70s, and the 70s do follow the 60s. All that said, these guys did not fool around. They are a serious four piece no-frills guitar rock outfit. Definitely owing a nod to AC/DC, Guns and Roses, and the like. Nice catchy tunes and licks, and some nice tasty leads. A blues tune they did with a Hendrix intro definitely caught  my and others’ attention. So with that they definitely worked nicely with Ten Ton Mojo.

Lastly, Ten Ton Mojo came on and as always put on a good show. The sound was a little challenging but they made it work. That is always the case for smaller venues without the gear and all. Regardless hard rock done in a laid-back 70s style. They did a few from their CD, plus two or three others, including one new one. For me it was simply nice to see them up in Westchester!

I was not sure what I was expecting in regard to the Roadhouse. Hastings on the Hudson just sounds fancy. It really is not – it is more an eclectic mix served up in an small ny village environment. In Westchester, like NYC, you do not know what you are walking into. I guess I was expecting something like the Vintage in White Plains – a place almost too nice for rock’n’roll, as Eric 13 described it back in the day. That was not the case here. The Roadhouse is a simple shot and beer place with a cool music scene.

In addition to the music scene, it just had a local neighborhood feel. It seemed like a neighborhood hangout with a range of folks from rockers to older folks hanging out, checking out the bands and just enjoying a Friday night. As Ernie Papp from Ten Ton Mojo commented it just had a certain feel. It was real.

For myself it just reminded me of Frenchtown NJ and going into the Warford House, what was commonly known as the “Lower” back then to see Spellbinder – a local act doing covers of the ZZTop, Blackfoot and the like. That was a long time ago. Folks were in high school then. Regardless, it was good stuff and likewise so was Friday night at the River Roadhouse.

It looks like the Roadhouse has bands every Friday. They need a website, a facebook page, a mobile app – something. They are located at 533 Warburton Ave Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706 and their number is (914) 478-5227. For now just give them a call or just go on over.