On Saturday, August 2, Escaper transformed Park Theater Hudson into a launchpad for a genre-defying journey for a few hours. The historic uptown venue, known for its warm acoustics and intimate charm, proved an ideal setting for the band’s kaleidoscopic blend of psych‑rock, funk, jazz, R&B, and electronica.
From the opening downbeat, guitarist/vocalist Will Hanza and keyboardist/vocalist Phil Kadet locked into a dazzling conversation—cosmic and precise, raw yet refined. Their interplay steered the night’s voyage, pulling the room through hypnotic grooves, explosive peaks, and soulful detours.
Anchored by drummer Sam Crespo and bassist Luke Bemand, the rhythm section delivered a pocket so deep you could get lost in it, seamlessly shifting from tight funk to free‑flowing jazz burners.
Escaper thrives on improvisation, but never for its own sake. Instead of spotlighting individual solos, they built waves of collective intensity, each player feeding into a larger, unified sound. As Hanza has said, their aim is “one collective voice”—and on this night, that voice was alive, urgent, and unstoppable.
The Park Theater’s acoustics amplified every shimmer of guitar, every cascading keyboard run, every chest‑thumping kick drum. Between songs, Hanza’s easy rapport with the crowd turned the evening into more than a concert—it felt like a gathering of fellow travelers, invited to share in the band’s ongoing evolution.
The atmosphere may have been low‑key, but that only sharpened the intimacy; the music had room to stretch, breathe and hit with full emotional weight.
Hints of their upcoming album, Still Time surfaced throughout the set, with tracks “Chance” and “Sleepin.” In songs where there are vocals, the lyrics carry a reflective edge and the refrains coil tightly inside sprawling jams.
The balance between craft and chaos felt dialed in, with Escaper sounding not just adventurous, but purposeful.
One of the night’s standout moments came mid‑set, when a slow‑burning funk groove dissolved into a swirl of synth textures before erupting in Hanza’s searing guitar lines. It was less a song than a journey—grounded, then unmoored, then back to earth again, leaving the room in awed silence before applause thundered in.
By the time the final notes faded, Escaper had proven once again why they’re one of the most exciting acts in the state of New York: fearless, fluid and impossible to pin down. At Park Theater Hudson, they didn’t just play a show—they built a world and let us all live in it for a night.
Bottom line: Escaper delivered a transcendent, groove‑driven trip that doubled as a preview of even greater things to come.
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