Happiness, smiles, magic, emotion, love, and hugs filled the Brooklyn Bowl on a beautiful fall night in New York City. A cascade of mesmerizing jams, dazzling dancing, glittering lights, and impassioned vocals lit up the stage to the hundreds of appreciative spectators. An array of special guests helped make this a special one-of-a-kind cosmic night.

The night started out with the beautiful wedding of Kristen Detroia and Josh Carter, the bass player for Hayley Jane and the Primates, on the Brooklyn Bowl stage. Under a Grateful Dead themed chuppah, Peter Shapiro (the owner of Brooklyn Bowl, famed concert promotor, and a friend of the couple) was the master of ceremonies who led the sweet and unique ceremony to the adoring crowd. The stage was filled with family, friends, bandmates, and musicians. Dopapod’s Rob Compa gave a very sentimental speech about how the happy couple first met. With the crash of the glass under foot and the crowd yelling “Mazel Tov”, the sentimental ceremony concluded with a bang.

Once the stage was cleared, the musical part of the evening kicked off with The Brooklyn Bowl Wedding All-Stars. The lineup of this supergroup was Eli Winderman and Rob Compa (Dopapod), Richard James (Pink Talking Fish), and The Kung Fu Rhythm Section (Adrian Tramontano and Chris DeAngelis). Together as a band for the first time, these players flawlessly wove their way through a ten song set like they’ve been playing together for years. From Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” to The Band‘s “Up on Cripple Creek” to the Talking Heads‘ “Burning Down the House”, the crowd bounced, swayed, and sang along to every song that sounded and looked just as amazing as the next. Hayley Jane and the Primates guitarist, Justin Hancock, joined the All-Star Band mid set and traded guitar licks for a searing “Blue Sky” from the Allman Brothers Band. Closing out the set, Richard James led the crowd in a raucous “Loving Cup” from The Rolling Stones that left crowd wanting more.

The headliner of the night was Hayley Jane and the Primates who were celebrating the release of their new album “We’re Here Now”. Hayley Jane, Justin Hancock, Josh Carter, Greg Smith, and Ryan Clausen played their hearts out from the first chord and drum beat to the last throughout their 2 hour performance.
The 16 song set, compromised of mostly tracks from their new album, sprinkled in with a few oldies and an amazing cover of “Volunteers” from Jefferson Airplane, kept the crowd moving and singing for the entire show. The Interstellar Dancers joined the band on stage on select songs for a visual and passionate treat. The dancers, Catelin McCarriston, Emory Campbell, April Pittman, Lindsay Reamer, with special guest dancers Taraleigh Weathers and Jazmin Buck alongside of the already mesmerizing Hayley Jane, gave the songs additional energy that is rarely seen on a concert stage.

Special guest stars came and went on the stage all night like shooting stars during a meteor shower. The collaborations were unique and each one gave the song additional intensity and a little special something. Hayley Jane and Elise Testone created a soulful singing combination during “Make it Alright”. The steel drums and extra percussion of Earl Brooks and Ben Teters enhanced the Carribbean feel of “Man Acrylic”. Quinn Carson from Spiritual Rez played an incredible trombone solo in the finale, as all the guests fit into the band mix like a perfect white glove.

The stage was filled with 17 musicians and dancers for the final number of the night “I Can Do It (Poo Jam)”. This uplifting and emotional song had the crowd dancing and singing to the very last note and was the perfect end to a magical evening. JRR Tolkien once said, “Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars”. With the moon literally in Hayley Jane’s hands, this evening proved that Hayley Jane and the Primates are fast becoming the brightest stars on the musical scene with their unique combination of musicianship, raw emotion, spiritual lyrics, hypnotizing dancing, and cosmic energy.

Setlist: All-Star Band | Brooklyn Bowl Wedding | 10/18/17
Signed Sealed Delivered (Stevie Wonder) , Up on Cripple Creek (The Band), They Love Each Other (The Grateful Dead), Boogie On Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder), Burning Down the House (Talking Heads), Blue Sky (Allman Brothers) with Justin Hancock, Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel), Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder), Finale: Loving Cup (The Rolling Stones)

Setlist: Hayley Jane & The Primates | Brooklyn Bowl Wedding | 10/18/17
In my Mind, Mama, We Found Out, Madeline, Creatures, You Gotta Move (with Rob Compa on guitar), Lose You, Man Acrylic ( with Earl Brooks on steel drum and Ben Teters on percussion) , Volunteers, Make It Alright (with Elise Testone on vocals and Eli Winderman on keys), Cosmic Katrina, More Interesting, Hey Mister (with Richard James on keys), Hurricane Jane (with Richard James on keys).
Encore: To the Moon, I Can Do it (Poo Jam) with all the special guests joining in

Check out the full gallery below from Bob Schultz.