Writer: Robert Gonzales
Photos: Doug Quimby

It’s the last weekend of January, and a special treat has come this Saturday to my local neighborhood bar. It’s Neon Avenue’s first gig of the year at the Rustic Barn in Troy, NY! Neon Avenue is quickly becoming one the capital region’s premiere Grateful Dead cover bands. They already have a big following of fans that come to all their shows. No one has to get the dance floor started when Neon Avenue is playing because from the start of the first song, there will be 10 people in front of the band ready to shake it down. There’s certain people that when you see them out at a show, you know you’re in the right place. Every Neon Avenue show is filled with the multitudes of this universal family.

This is an obvious and natural extension of the quality of people that are in the band: Doug Klein is on drums; yet, somehow feels like a frontman from the back. He is a major driving force and heartbeat of the band. Mike Urbon and Joe Davis are on guitars and vocals, Mike Cassels plays bass and Mike McDonald is on keys. Everyone in the band contributes vocals, harmonies, and crowd work while being mic’d up for every show. It’s really like every member is a frontman. My very first time seeing Neon Avenue, as everyone was gathering about before the show, I saw the members of the band going through the crowd shaking hands with audience members thanking them for coming out. I figured it was just people they knew, until Doug Klein came up to me and shook my hand, spending a few minutes with me asking my name and how I was doing, introducing himself, and thanking me for coming as well. Hmmmmm. I’ve never had that happen before. Then 20 minutes later he’s up on stage playing the show! Well, isn’t that endearing! I’ve been a fan of theirs ever since.

Neon Avenue also films their shows and will upload their shows to Youtube. You can check out full shows and even see yourself in the audience dancing when the cameras go to the full audience shots. Tonight they were playing at the Rustic Barn. The Rustic Barn is a hallmark of good friends and family. They’re the kind of neighborhood bar where everyone knows each other. They have an awesome menu and serve homemade food throughout the day and into the night. Jody and Jason Brenenstuhl have made a point of creating a good vibe, and they support the local community and the local music scene. Their staff are all really good people, and everyone there is like one big family. Well, tonight the place was packed! Neon Avenue had a sold out show with standing room only. And boy, did they deliver!

Neon Avenue started the show with the “Greatest Story Ever Told”. The crowd was in it from the beginning, enjoying the nostalgia and moving to their groove. The band went through their 1st set playing “Bertha”, Good Lovin’”, “Mission in the Rain”, “Shape I’m In”, “My Brother Esau”, “Althea”, “Rhapsody in Red”, and ended the first set with “Deal”. One of the more remarkable aspects of watching Neon Avenue are the solos and extending jamming they are able to do. Watching Mike catch his fire while ripping it up on keys is so fun to dance to. He really makes you get out of your seat and want to dance.

For their 2nd set, Neon Avenue comes in with “Music Never Stopped”. In fact, because the Rustic Barn live streams some of their shows, you can watch the 2nd set by going to their Facebook Post. They continue through their set with “Playin’ in the Band”, “Cumberland Blues”, “Truckin’”, “Other One”, “Spanish Jam”, “Crazy Fingers”, “Harder They Come”, “He’s Gone”, and end with “Stella Blue”. Sometimes you may see the crowd thin out as the night nears to the end. Not with Neon Avenue! The Barn stayed packed to the very end with the audience savoring every moment of it.

Neon Avenue produces a great time filled with awesome music and wonderful people. Their fans are beautiful souls that appreciate the band as well as each other. If you go to a Neon Avenue show, you will not only get great music, but you’ll get some great hugs too. There is such an excellent sense of comradery and togetherness when you go to a Neon Avenue show. It’s like we’re all sitting down having dinner saying what we’re all thankful for. As for me, I’m thankful that Neon Avenue is blessing us with their positive energy and incredible music.