Photos/Writer: Penny “Piper” Hutchins
Imagine seeing one of your lyrical heroes perform in your favorite town, at your favorite venue, produced by none other than the legendary Greg Bell. That was the scene on Thursday night, July 24th, at Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs, where The Dude of Life and his current band, Space Armadillo, kicked off my birthday weekend in a way I’ll never forget. This show had been on my bucket list for years—and let me tell you, it delivered. Wild times ahead, too, with Phish playing three nights at SPAC that started on Friday. The backwards down the Tweezer line gag was absolutely epic! But now, The Dude.
For those not in the know, The Dude of Life—also known as Steve Pollak—is Phish family royalty. He and Trey Anastasio go way back to their high school days, where they first formed a band called Space Antelope. Many of the songs we sing along to at Phish shows were co-written by Steve, including classics like “Fluffhead,” “Run Like an Antelope,” “Suzy Greenberg,” “Sanity,” and “Dinner and a Movie.” I’ve been lucky enough to see him take the stage with Phish, tossing signed rubber animals into the crowd like a psychedelic Santa. The man is an icon, and he abides. A fun fact I learned in conversation is that Steve actually met Suzy Greenberg at SUNY Purchase, his alma mater.
Space Armadillo is his current project, and the lineup is tight. Andy Greenberg on guitar and vocals brings the fire—more on him in a second. David “D Kat” Katilius handles bass and vocals with groove and finesse. Jennifer Reiser delivers killer energy on keys, and on drums that night we had Chuck Black filling in for Stuart White, who was out sick. This band is no joke. They were talented, electric, and downright fun.
Let’s talk about the set. I hadn’t expected a full-blown dive into the Phish songs Steve co-wrote, but that’s exactly what we got. When they busted out “Fluffhead,” a song inspired by Steve’s late brother, I was on my feet, wooing and grinning like a maniac. It was that good. The whole show had this joyous, uninhibited energy that just doesn’t come around every day.
And Andy Greenberg? Plays the guitar like he means it. He’s not just technically sharp—he’s soulful, expressive, and clearly having a blast. Bonus points for doing it all in a bathrobe. He brings both skill and stage presence in a way that elevates the whole experience. I had the chance to chat with him and Steve at the Phish show Friday, and they were as warm and welcoming as their music suggests. That connection between artist and fan—when it’s real, you feel it.
Jennifer Reiser’s performance deserves its own shoutout. She lit up the keys like they were on fire—pure, radiant energy. The whole band was dialed in, tight, and visibly having a great time. You could feel the love and the freedom in the music, and that vibe spilled out into the crowd.
Of course, it wouldn’t be right not to acknowledge the man behind the curtain—Greg Bell of Guthrie Bell Productions. Greg continues to bring world-class music to Saratoga, and this show was another home run. The E-Block was there to warm up the crowd. If you haven’t heard me scream about them; they consist of Luke Pascarella on lead guitar and lead vocals, Aaron Shields on drums, Devon Tetlak on keys, and Dan Folds on bass. These guys play all original songs and they are tight. I have a ton of their songs in my playlist, they are that good. Bucket list: checked. Energy: unmatched. Spirits: lifted. This was one for the books.
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