Concert Review - Spirit Family Reunion @ CMJ Festival event - The Big Screen Plaza - New York, NY

Daytime view of the Big Screen Plaza - Photo Dan McGurk

Spirit Family Reunion from Brooklyn NY played two gigs Friday October 21st, in New York, New York.  The first set was at the Big Screen Plaza as part of the CMJ Festival and an event for the Invisible Children.  Although not the best surroundings for such intimate music, the band did a great job despite less than stellar conditions.

The band has been playing as a sextet.  Nick Panken on vocals and Maggie Carlson lead the way, with Peter Pezzimenti on drums, Ken Woodward on upright bass, Mat Davidson on fiddle, and a fella I only heard referred to as "Japhy" as stand in wash board player for Stephen Weinheimer.

Spirit Family Reunion @ the Big Screen Plaza October 21st, 2011 - Photo Dan McGurk

The band mixed in some of the tracks from their self titled album, some songs from their Song Book, and a traditional, the Mat Davidson led 'Green Rocky Road', which the band credits to "King" Cunningham.
 As always, 'Leave Your Troubles At the Gate,  'Alright Prayer', and 'When My Name is Spoken' were crowd favorites.   Most of the songs were quite lively.  One particularly soulful tune was 'On My Mind'.  Before they packed it in and called it a night after 9 songs.  Nick Panken started the band through the crowd on the 10th song 'I'll Find A Way'  encouraging the crowd to sing along.

Ken Woodward & Nick Panken working the crowd

Set List for the Big Screen Plaza 10-21-11
Spirit Family Reunion
1.   'Leave Your Troubles At The Gate'
2.  'The Night Replaced The Day'
3.   'Alright Prayer'                    
4   'No Seperation'
5.   'When My Name Is Spoken'             
6   ''I Want to Be Relieved'

7.   'On My Mind'

8.   'Green Rocky Road'                      
9.   'Give Me Wings'
10.  'I'll Find A Way'                       










2nd venue Drom  had much better sound and better light for pictures, but my phone can't handle two shows in a night and crashed before I could write anything down.

Peter, Maggie, Nick & Mat of Spirit Family Reunion @ DROM , NYC October 21, 2011 - Photo Dan McGuk

2nd track of the night 'The Night Replaced the Day' by Spirit Family Reunion, played a month earlier at Music City Roots on 9.21.2011



If you want another taste of Spirit Family Reunion before sending them your $9 for their cd, Try Paste Magazine Issue 7 for 'When My Name is Spoken' As a free Download. When you are done and love it, then you can send the band your $9 for their cd!




Another great site for Spirit Family Reunion videos is http://liveandbreathing.com/spirit-family-reunion including the fourth song of the night 'No Separation'

Spirit Family Reunion - No Separation from Live & Breathing on Vimeo.