Though he doesn’t have the same brand recognition as homegrown heroes Bruce Springsteen or Trey Anastasio, singer/songwriter/guitarist/bandleader Chris Harford has been a creative force in New Jersey for decades. A longtime collaborator of Dean Ween, Harford has for years shared stages with Joe Russo, Scott Metzger, and Dave Dreiwitz (long before they formed Joe Russo’s Almost Dead), and on Saturday, he summoned them for a Chris Harford & Band of Changes show at the Hopewell Theater in Hopewell, NJ.
Likened to Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys, Chris Harford’s Band of Changes fluctuates its lineup and has included guest spots by Deaner (a.k.a. Mickey Melchiondo), Kevin Salem (Dumptruck, Yo La Tengo), Eric Slick (Dr. Dog), Richard Thomspon (Fairport Convention), Michael Hampton (Parliament-Funkadelic), and more. Natives of the New York/New Jersey area, Russo, Metzger, and Dreiwitz are longtime veterans of the Band of Changes and all appeared on Harford’s previous live releases Petey’s Picks Vol. 1 (recorded at New Hope, PA’s famed John & Peter’s in 2012) and Horn of Plenty (2016).
Harford and his Band of Changes put their familiarity to good use on Saturday, diving into Chris’ vast and varied catalog of originals. “Word for Word” exemplified the folk-rock foundation of Harford’s catalog, while the breezy and blissful “Teach Me” provided a sweeping canvas for Metzger’s guitar brush strokes, and “Looking for Light” combined acid-drenched ’60s psychedelic rock with driving punk mentality. The band also included a take on Neil Young‘s “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere” that employed Chris, Scott, and Dave’s three-part harmonies and a stripped-back, hauntingly vulnerable cover of Talking Heads classic “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)”.
Chris Harford & Band Of Changes — “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)” — 6/7/25
[Video: monihampton]
Check out some photos from Chris Harford and Band of Changes featuring Joe Russo, Scott Metzger, and Dave Dreiwitz at the Hopewell Theatre by Ken Speilman and videos from monihampton. JRAD will reconvene for headlining shows in Hampton, NH (6/12) and Hyannis, MA (6/13) plus festival dates at All Good Now in Columbia, MD (6/14) and Mountain Jam in Highmount, NY (6/15). Find tickets and tour dates here.
Chris Harford & Band Of Changes — “Looking For Light” — 6/7/25
