Though formed way back in 2006, the bluegrass troupe, Cabinet, used the inaugural Peach Music Festival to launch into the mainstream festival circuits and springboard from the local favorites of the taverns of Northeast Pennsylvania to larger venues and new areas. After a few years of limited touring, Cabinet announced an extensive tour spanning from late spring and into the early days of summer. The experienced pickers showcased their scorching diddles at Brooklyn Bowl on Sunday night for raucous revelry.
John Morgan Kimock, drummer, producer, and son of guitarist, Steve Kimock, joined the bill as the opening act with some of the lineup of Cabinet. The venue began to fill up for the headlining act consisting of members: Pappy Biondo (banjo, vocals), J.P. Biondo (mandolin, vocals), Mickey Coviello (acoustic guitar, vocals), Dylan Skursky (electric bass, double bass), Todd Kopec (fiddle, vocals), and Jami Novak (drums, percussion). Cabinet leaned heavily upon the material from its latest album, 2022’s The Sugarhouse Sessions, though sprinkling in some of the band’s well-known fan favorites as well.
Related: Hear John Medeski, Karina Rykman, & John Kimock Play An All-Improv Concert [Audio/Videos]
Cabinet kicked the night off with “Ms. Molly” before moving into their new material. “Silver Sun”, “Cards”, “Molotov Cocktail Blues”, “Universe”, “Wheels”, and “Deep River Blues” were performed (though not in that order) before moving on to classics like “Pine Billy”, “Susquehanna Breakdown”, “Cut Down Tree”, “Celebration”, and “Hit It On the Head.”
Cabinet wrapped up the night with a funky rendition of Merle Travis’s “Nine Pound Hammer” and ended the set with the originals “Old Farmer’s Mil” and “Po’s Reel”. It was an epic night full of blazing licks accompanied by boot-stomping and a flurry of footwork.
Check out photos from Cabinet’s Brooklyn Bowl performance with John Morgan Kimock on April 10th courtesy of Otis Sinclair and Ken Spielman and listen to full audio of both bands’ sets below courtesy of taper cabinetmusic. Click here to check out the band’s upcoming tour dates.
