In a joint celebration of music, community, and the thriving spirit of New York’s Capital Region, two of the area’s premiere homegrown acts, Annie in the Water and Hilltop, made their highly anticipated Woodstock debut at The Colony on Thursday, October 9th. Though a late announcement revealed that Annie in the Water’s lead singer Brad Hester would be absent due to unforeseen circumstances, the band didn’t miss a beat. Instead, they turned the challenge into an opportunity to highlight their depth, versatility, and camaraderie. An ethos that has long defined both bands and the Capital Region jam scene at large.
Hailing from Albany, Hilltop took the stage first setting the tone with a tight, upbeat set brimming with energy and groove. Featuring brothers Stephen and Reid Perry on drums and percussion, Aris Nieuwkerk on guitar, David Klang on bass, and the newly added Nieuwkerk brother on keys, the band opened with a playful nod to the past with “That Thing You Do,” immediately winning over the growing crowd.
From there, the quartet blasted off with “Liftoff” before delivering two brand-new tracks, “3D” and “Karma.” Both debuted to strong applause, but it was “3D” that really hinted at Hilltop’s continued evolution. A catchy, funky tune that seems destined for heavy rotation. The band closed their high-octane set with a smooth one-two punch of “Drive Your Car” and “Sunshine,” sending fans into the break with lifted spirits and tapping feet.
After a brief intermission, Annie in the Water took the stage as a four-piece. With Hester absent, the remaining members Michael Lashomb (guitar), Chris Meier (bass), Matt Richards (keys), and Joshua West (drums) stepped up admirably for their missing brother. Sharing vocal duties and leaning heavily into their improvisational roots, if there were nerves they never showed. What emerged was a set that felt less like a fill-in and more like a rare, communal experiment, executed with heart and precision. Longtime fans know Annie shows are never quite the same twice, but this performance highlighted the group’s interconnectedness more than ever as their energy flowed from the stage to the crowd.
The show began with a trio of tunes from their recent Migration EP, “Angelfish,” “Birds,” and “Wings of the Birds,” setting a meditative, melodic tone. But it wasn’t long before the band dove into deeper waters. A particularly moving “Frozen Lake” melted seamlessly into Lashomb’s “Balloons,” and just like that, The Colony turned into a swirling dancefloor. Tables were spontaneously cleared as the crowd got down and dirty in a true Woodstock moment.
Highlights came fast and frequent. There was the playful singalong of “Get On the Bus,” the seductive bounce of “Come Along -> Feel That Pulse,” and the always-uplifting “Seaside Highway” from 2024’s Things To Do that featured a standout bass solo by Meier and a soaring guitar climax from Lashomb.
Just when it felt like the band had played all their cards, they shifted gears into a full-on pop-punk party with a fiery cover of Blink 182’s “All the Small Things,” complete with crowd-wide choruses. And in what might’ve been the night’s most memorable moment, Hilltop’s David Klang returned to the stage to cover bass while Meier took over vocals for a hilarious, high-energy rendition of Smash Mouth’s “All Star.” Think Shrek meets Shakedown Street, but somehow it just worked. To close it all out, the band offered up a soulful, reverent take on Al Green’s “Take Me to the River”, sending fans into the crisp Woodstock night full of gratitude and good vibrations.
In many ways, this evening was bigger than the sum of its parts. It wasn’t just two bands playing their first show in Woodstock, or the technical talent on display, though there was plenty of that. It was the spirit of community, friends lifting each other up, taking risks, and turning a potential setback (Hester’s absence) into a new expression of their shared musical language. A night filled with new songs, surprise covers and collaborations, and the kind of unfiltered joy that only live music can bring. That two of Albany’s finest could unite under one roof, fill it with joy, and leave it echoing with the sounds of unity and groove, speaks volumes to the health and vitality of the local scene.
For Annie in the Water, next stops include West Hartford, CT (Oct. 16) and Manchester, NH (Oct. 17), before Brad and Michael team up with Gubbulidis (Mihali & Gubb of Twiddle) for a special Halloween show at Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs. Meanwhile, Hilltop returns to Albany to host a Halloween throwdown of their own at Lark Hall with Laura Leigh and Red Meat Conspiracy, a can’t-miss event for Capital Region heads. Until then, this Woodstock night will be remembered as one where the music flowed freely, the fans danced like family, and the river kept rolling on.
Annie in the Water | October 9, 2025 | The Colony | Woodstock, NY
Setlist: Angelfish, Birds, Wings of the Birds, Frozen Lake ~ Balloons, Get On the Bus, Water, Come Along ~ Feel That Pulse, Seaside Highway, All the Small Things [1], All Star[2], Take Me to the River [3].
*This show was performed as a four piece (Michael, Chris, Josh and Matt).
[1] Blink 182 cover.
[2] Smash Mouth cover (With David Klang of Hilltop on Bass).
[3] Al Green cover.
Hilltop | October 9, 2025 | The Colony | Woodstock, NY
Setlist: That Thing You Do, Liftoff, 3D*, Karma*, Drive Your Car, Sunshine.
*Debut.
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