Kendall Street Company brings eclectic genre-fusion to Syracuse

The Westcott Theater welcomed the rock band Kendall Street Company, accompanied by two Syracuse University student bands, on Dec. 5, for a show that brought together music fans of various genres.

Upon entering the venue, the smell of incense flooded the noses of all fans, ready for the funkadelic bands to take the stage. The sound of Allman Brothers and Steely Dan readied the crowd for the night of jams to come.

Opening for Kendall Street Company were Mimicking Mars and Hydrogen, both student bands from Syracuse University. 

Photo by Jenna Sents

Mimicking Mars, a four-piece band of Syracuse students, jams out at Westcott Theater.

As Mimicking Mars took the stage, fans curiously crowded towards the stage. The band introduced themselves with a 5-minute jam instrumental to their set. The band played songs like “Jessica” and “Janky Jones” that made the Westcott feel like a backyard campfire concert. 

The lead singer had a strong voice with a rougher, growly sound, which coupled well with the complex melody rhythms. The band seamlessly changed tempos throughout the songs, keeping the music fresh and engaging.

Following Mimicking Mars, Hydrogen brought more of a hypnotizing energy to the stage. With five- to 10-minute jams and solos among every band member (even the bassist), Phish and Grateful Dead fans were sure to enjoy this set.

Photo by Jenna Sents

Student band Hydrogen plays a set jam-packed with heady music during their opening performance.

Most, if not all, of Hydrogen’s songs were Phish covers from “Run Like an Antelope” to “Harry Hood.”

The crowd intently watched as the members left their bodies and surrendered to their instruments in rhythmic solos of wah pedals on guitar and keys. The band had good chemistry during the jams, playing on each other in a call-and-response style.

The openers gave the audience just a taste of the sound Kendall Street Company had in store for the night.

The Virginia jam band, who describe themselves as “genre-fluid,” brought a cozy, welcoming atmosphere with them on stage. Each member had their own area rug, and the bassist of the band wore a floor-length fleece cloak.

Just one look at the pedal boards on stage gave fans a good idea of the funkadelic sounds to come. Kendall Street Company performed a danceable set that also had the audience wowed by the complex jams. 

On the night of a snowstorm, the lead singer, Louis Smith, thanked the crowd for braving the weather and started with a fitting song: “Snow Day.”

The band had high-energy, upbeat sounds that turned into funky and mesmerizing jams. From celestial keys to heavy breakdowns, Kendall Street Company maintained the attention of the crowd the whole night. 

Fans went wild over the saxophone player who made his playing sound like a guitar solo with a wah pedal.

Photo by Jenna Sents

Ben Laderberg, lead guitarist for Kendall Street Company, and the rest of the band met during their time at the University of Virginia.

During the band’s galactic space rock jams, though each member was playing their own distinct melodies, they were perfecting in sync.

Kendall Street Company harnessed a peppy, feel-good energy in their unserious lyrics in songs like “Doctor Worm” and “My Mans Was a Funky Cat.”

Kendall Street Company played songs like “Aged White Cheddar”, “Checkin’ Out” and their new release, “Billy Pilgrim.”

By the end of the set, audience members were already making their way to the merch stand to pick up a psychedelic sea creature pin or a color vinyl of the newest album from the eclectic rock band.