On Saturday, July 10, 2021 Scott Mackenzie and his wife Faye Carlson-Mackenzie of Stone Ridge, NY hosted “Hamstock: All Good in The Woods VI” a very special evening of music. Featured acts included singer-songwriter and comedian Kenny Roby, singer-songwriters Leslie Mendelson and Steve McEwan, guitarist and vocalist of several groups including Ghost Light and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Tom Hamilton Jr.,  and The Karina Rykman Experiment, which includes guitarist Adam November, drummer Chris Corsico, and Rykman on bass. 

Scott and Faye began hosting the “All Good In The Woods” events in September of 2020. Their country home rests just below the picturesque Catskill Mountains of New York, offering a unique setting to enjoy live music, as well as an open environment to safely come together. For each of the musical gatherings the couple has offered their yard to guests who wish to stay the night and sleep beneath the stars. 

Our first visit to ‘The Woods’ took place on November 7, 2020 where we enjoyed an evening of keyboard splendor with Marco Benevento of the Benevento/Russo duo and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. What was perhaps better than the music itself that night, was the gratitude of each guest toward their hosts not only for having been invited, but for the opportunity to support one of their favorite artists during a difficult time. In fact, when I spoke to Scott and Faye this week, they said “Our goal was to provide a safe place to hear and play music and to help support the artists during the pandemic.”

However, live music has taken huge strides toward normalcy during the first half of 2021. The Peach Music Festival, which was predicted to return in 2022 went off without a hitch over Fourth of July weekend and outdoor venues are beginning to operate at full capacity. With that being said, the opportunity for events like “Hamstock” or “All Good in The Woods” may be dwindling.

At 2:30 PM Saturday afternoon, North Carolina-native and 90’s folk singer, Kenny Roby sat before a crowd of roughly 50 people and opened the evening with one of his own tunes titled “New Day.” Kenny is the leading man of 6 String Drag and he has worked extensively with the very loved but lost, Neal Casal. As a special encore and tribute to Casal, Roby performed a song that he wrote and shared with him called “Silver Moon.”

• New Day
• Squirrel Song
• Too Much To Ask 
• All Trains Lead To Cocaine
• I’m Gonna Leave It Behind
• Why Can’t I Be You
• Buddy
• Vampire
• Maybe I’m Doing It Wrong
• Butterfly Man
• Sailor’s Request
• Silver Moon

Next up was folk singer-songwriter Leslie Mendelson who performed an hour-long set with her accompanist and songwriting partner, Steve McEwan. Leslie was done up in the cool threads of Bob Dylan, as she was donned in a black sleeveless cocktail dress and equally stark shades.  Mendelson has recorded with famed musicians such as Jackson Browne and Bob Weir, and her debut album ‘Swan Feathers’ was nominated for a Grammy in 2009. A highly talented songwriter, McEwan has imparted his songs to the contemporary country music scene through artists such as Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, and Keith Urban. 

As a few stray raindrops fell over the crowd, Mendelson and McEwan opened their set with the classic Dylan tune “Shelter From the Storm.” Next, the duo performed a single they wrote together called “The Hardest Part,” followed by a song from Leslie’s new album called “Have a Little Heart,” which features Mendelson on harmonica. Other highlights included the old folk tune, “Seemed Like A Good Idea (At The Time)” a cover of “Romeo And Juliet” by Dire Straits.

The duo closed their set with “All Come Together,” from Mendelson’s album, “If You Can’t Say Anything Nice…” And soon enough, the musicians were off-stage mingling with fans and familiar faces. I caught up with Leslie beneath the food tent and remarked at her incredible vocals while we grazed on goodies. She seemed so happy to be performing at the Mackenzie’s home again, surrounded by those who are likely her biggest fans in the world. 

• Shelter From The Storm
• The Hardest Part
• Have A Little Heart
• If You Can’t Say Anything Nice
• Easy Love
• To Love Somebody
• Seemed Like a Good Idea 
• Romeo and Juliet 
• Flesh and Bone
• All Come Together

Tom Hamilton arrived during Mendelson’s set and mingled with fans before performing an almost all-requests set. Hamilton also signed several items that will be put into an auction to raise money for beloved friend of the music community, Ron Colagreco who suffers with cancer.

Hamilton performed at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on July 12 & 13 with one of Bill Kreutzman’s current touring projects, Billy & The Kids. Despite his hectic schedule, Tom stuck to his commitment to play Hamstock and truly delighted those who are without a doubt his greatest fans.

To begin his set, he played a few introductory notes and stopped. He suddenly turned toward the crowd and asked, “Who’s got a joint?” After a brief scramble the crowd delivered, and the musician lit up. He opened with “Winter War Games” from the 2011 American Babies album, “Flawed Logic”. Hamilton played several American Babies songs, including another from “Flawed Logic” called “Dance All Night,” as well as “Joeline” and “Old Fashioned.”

Hamilton interacted with the audience throughout his entire set, sharing interesting facts about his life and musical journey. In fact, he admits to having an “unhealthy obsession with Bruce Springsteen,” and he often likes hearing requests for non-Dead tunes. With that being said, Hamilton performed “Atlantic City” in the style of Springsteen along with “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” and “Tangled Up in Blue”. 

A few additional highlights from Hamilton’s 110-minute set were Ghost Light’s “Best Kept Secret” and American Babies’ “Streets of Brooklyn”. Everyone in attendance was overjoyed to have spent such an intimate moment with one of their favorite artists. Several folks mingled with Hamilton after the show, joking with the down-to-earth artist and asking him questions; a few he may never answer. (Especially if you ask about the tape). Tom Hamilton thanked the lingering fans and waved a goodbye to the party before driving off to his flight to Colorado.

• Winter War Games
• Old Fashioned
• Dance All Night
• Joeline
• Atlantic City
• Best Kept Secret
• The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down 
• Invite All Your Friends 
• Melissa 
• The Sin
• Tangled Up In Blue
• Blackbird
• Promised Land
• The Streets Of Brooklyn
• They Love Each Other

Last but certainly not least, The Karina Rykman Experiment performed a 110-minute psychedelic jam set to close out the evening. After a soundcheck with master sound man Fred Moore, the band got right into it with two of their songs, “Plants” and “Lagos”. The set remained largely instrumental with the exception of a few covers like “Sand,” “First Tube,” “Psycho Killer,” and “Pepper”.

As the trio continued to bring the funk, the crowd mingled and danced among a brilliant lightshow, occasionally looking up to look at the clear, starry sky. A few additional highlights from the band’s set included a high energy jam called “Atom Dance,” and a performance of their song, “Elevator”. Karina and the band certainly won the hearts of the audience, and it felt as though band and crowd were simply partying together.

At the conclusion of musical performances and with the assistance of Scott, Karina was given an opportunity to light a massive bonfire with a blowtorch and she gladly took it! The bassist was all smiles as she set flame to the wood, which measured 14-feet tall before its demise. Once the bonfire was officially lit, Rykman and the band took off and left the rest of the partying up to us.

• Plants
• Lagos 
• Dirty South
• Sand
• Skylark -> Slowlark
• City Kids
• Atom Dance
• First Tube
• No Occasion -> 
• Psycho Killer ->
• Daft Punk Is Playing At My House 
• Elevator
• Pepper

The evening was one we will never forget, and our hearts hold eternal gratitude to Scott and Faye and all of the people who made Hamstock 2021 such a great success. When I asked Faye what she thought about hosting All Good in The Woods, now on six different occasions. She said, “All Good in The Woods started from a desire to support artists and hear live music again. Marco Benevento graciously agreed to play at our place and it turned into something really special. Socially distanced, incredible live music in our backyard was a much needed reprieve from the isolation of the pandemic. We’re so grateful for all the people who came together to make these shows so magical. Like Marco says, music is medicine.”

Special thanks to Fred Moore of Moore Sound for working the show’s sound, Eric McRoberts for recording, and Kyle Shellmer for putting video together!