There are nights when a room knows exactly what it’s in for and then there are nights like March 20th at Olive’s, where the unsuspecting crowd got swept into something far bigger than anticipated. Playing Nyack in Rockland County for the first time, Glass Pony arrived with their signature “psychedelic groove circus” sound and delivered a stellar two-set performance that felt less like a debut and more like a statement. For a venue steeped in history, that’s saying something. Established in 1979, Olive’s has long stood as a rite of passage for up-and-coming bands as a proving ground where originality reigns and live music pulses seven nights a week. It’s the kind of place where bands either rise to the occasion or get swallowed whole. On this night, not only did Glass Pony pass the test, they aimed for the sky and kissed it.
Hailing from the Albany area of the Capital Region, Glass Pony has steadily built a reputation as one of the more exciting young acts in the New York jam scene. Blending deep-pocket grooves with elements of classic and post-rock, grunge, psychedelia, and improvisational daring, the band has carved out a distinct identity rooted in tight interplay and a willingness to take risks. Consisting of Eddie Hotailing (guitar/vocals), Chanda Dewey (drums/vocals), Jeff Picarazzi (bass/vocals), and Greg Pittz (lead guitar/vocals), each member brings a unique voice, but it’s their collective chemistry, telepathic at times, that sets them apart. Playful, unpredictable, and constantly evolving.
At Olive’s, the band wasted no time establishing their intent. Jumping into the deep end first, “Bottom of the Ocean” flowed seamlessly into “Bolly Golly,” a welcome surprise given its absence from the rotation since last August. The transitions were fluid, the jams patient but purposeful. “A Song for You” dissolved into “Lights Out,” showcasing the band’s knack for dynamic shifts. “Mortimer,” a heartfelt tune dedicated to the bassist’s father, stood out early with a playful yet intense jam that included a segment of Phish’s “Buried Alive.” From there, the band surrendered fully to the moment. “Daydream” blossomed into perhaps the longest version the band has ever played, an expansive, exploratory piece that ultimately went unfinished, melting organically into “Greenhorn Blues.” The groove deepened with “Coming Down” and “Upside Down,” before the band reignited the room with a high-octane take on Steve Miller Band’s “Jet Airliner,” sending the crowd into set break buzzing.
If the first set hinted at Glass Pony’s potential, the second confirmed it. “Grover’s Mill 1938,” inspired by the War of the Worlds broadcast, was the centerpiece of the night. A sprawling, mind-bending journey through shifting textures and dynamics, you could feel the band was locked in, pushing into uncharted territory, even weaving in a spontaneous “Whipping Post” jam nod to The Allman Brothers Band. It was, once again, the longest version of the song they’ve ever played and it felt like they had tapped into another dimension entirely.
The momentum carried into a funky cover of “2001,” another wink to their Phish influence, before the band delivered a potent sandwich of originals with “Somewhere To Go” and “Doppler.” The interplay remained sharp, the transitions seamless, and the energy unwavering. To close, Glass Pony brought it home with a powerhouse rendition of The Who’s “Eminence Front,” complete with playful “I Used To” quotes from Lekota woven into the jam. A feel-good, high-energy finale that felt like an exclamation point on a performance that never stopped giving.
By the end of the evening, it was clear Glass Pony had passed the Olive’s test. They didn’t just play the room, they transformed it with balanced precision, spontaneity, and pure joy. For those looking to revisit the magic, recordings of nearly all their live shows can be found on Bandcamp, offering a window into the band’s ever-evolving sound. From their roots in Delmar to building momentum in Albany, and expanding through gigs in Cooperstown, Catskill, and The Lemon Squeeze in New Paltz, Glass Pony has been steadily riding a wave of growth downstate. Now, with Nyack firmly in their rearview mirror, the trajectory is clear. With aspirations of one day playing Garcia’s in Port Chester, it’s hard not to see that goal as well within reach. If March 20th at Olive’s proved anything, it’s that Glass Pony isn’t just coming up, they’ve already arrived.
Glass Pony | March 20, 2026 | Olives | Nyack, NY
Set 1: Bottom of the Ocean > Bolly Golly*, A Song for You > Lights Out, Mortimer** > Daydream^ > Greenhorn Blues, Coming Down*, Upside Down > Jet Airliner.
Set 2: Grover’s Mill 1938***, Something Good^ -> 2001, Somewhere To Go -> Doppler^ -> Somewhere To Go, Eminence Front+.
* – LTP 8/2/25
** – Phish “Buried Alive” jam
*** Allman Brother’s “Whipping Post” jam
^ – unfinished
+ – “I Used To” quotes (Lekota).
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