God Street Wine Bust Out Madonna Cover, Welcome Jason Crosby on Fright Night

God Street Wine marked a significant moment in their ongoing career with a Halloween-themed performance at New York City’s Gramercy Theatre. This event not only celebrated their recent studio efforts but also underscored their enduring connection to their hometown, delivering a set that balanced fresh compositions with nostalgic tributes.

The band’s latest album, The Method, represents a milestone for the group. Recorded at Utopia Studio in Woodstock, New York, the project captures a return to collaborative songwriting and live tracking, a first since their 1999 hiatus. Guitarist and vocalist Lo Faber spearheaded a distinctive multi-point songwriting approach, fostering a shared creative process within the band. This strategy translated into a studio record featuring a live audience, blending spontaneity with polished musicianship.

Friday night’s concert was the first live occasion where several songs from The Method were performed outside the studio environment. Tracks like “Rabbit Ears,” which debuted live following its March recording session, alongside “Another Wonderful Secret,” “Dreaming of Bob,” “Michigan,” “Nightbird,” and “This Is Fine, Fido,” demonstrated the band’s commitment to evolving their sound while engaging longtime fans.

Adding to the evening’s distinctiveness was the return of keyboardist and fiddler Jason Crosby. Crosby, who had a brief tenure as an official band member in 1999 and thereafter became a frequent collaborator, joined the ensemble midway through the first set. His presence enriched the band’s dynamic, particularly during the song “Chop,” and he remained on stage for the duration of the performance.

The show also featured the addition of the Uncorked Horns, a three-piece section comprising trumpet, trombone, and tenor saxophone. Their contribution in the second set enhanced the arrangements and expanded the sonic palette, signaling the band’s willingness to experiment with their live sound.

A highlight of the encore was the participation of vocalist Lizzy Love, a recurring collaborator with God Street Wine. Together, they revived Paul Simon’s “Late in the Evening,” a cover the band had not performed since 2019. This selection underscored the group’s affinity for integrating thoughtful reinterpretations of classic material into their sets.

Further nods to the past came in the form of rare live renditions of Madonna’s “Express Yourself” and Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic.” The former had remained absent from their live shows since 1999, while the latter made a return after a recent hiatus. Such choices demonstrated God Street Wine’s commitment to honoring their influences and the musical era that shaped them.

The setlist also contained songs like “Wendy” and “Home Again,” both evoking the band’s longstanding relationship with the New York music scene. These selections contributed to a narrative thread that connected their historical roots with their current artistic ambitions.

Looking ahead, God Street Wine’s Halloween run continues with a performance at the Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock, New York, where they plan to pay tribute to The Wetlands, a significant venue in their history. This continuing series of shows reflects the band’s deep reverence for their origins and their ongoing exploration of new creative directions.

Overall, the Gramercy Theatre appearance was a multifaceted event that celebrated God Street Wine’s legacy and revitalized their presence in the live music community. Through a blend of new compositions, special guests, and thoughtful covers, the band reaffirmed their role as enduring contributors to the New York rock tradition, while signaling the vitality of their current work as captured on The Method.