Here’s To Ya! NYE 2021 (almost) @Dogtown
-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on January 7, 2021.
It was dubbed as a New Year’s Eve Pre-Party. Following Covid state restrictions, the live music New Year show at Dogtown went from 6 to 10 and was live-streamed for those staying home. Seating was limited and tables were spread out. Masks were required when not seated while eating and drinking. Attendees made the best of the pandemic limitations, enjoying menu offerings and cheering enthusiastically for the bands.
Three acts played with a variety of guest musicians being called on stage. Isaac Hadden, a sixteen-year-old guitar virtuoso from Blacksburg, opened the show, and at one point called up other local young musicians, Eli Wildman (bass) and Victor Furtado (banjo) to play with him.
Hadden was followed by Appalachian Space Train, a Rockadelic Funkabilly band with two of the four members hailing from Floyd County. Lead guitarist singer/songwriter Noah Broe said the band have only been official for four months. Playing mostly original songs, the set was very danceable and a few in the restaurant danced by their chairs with their masks on.
A paired down Music Road Company (MRCO) – Luke Thomas, Jake Thomas and Janiah Allen – performed a rocking set and invited Hadden, Broe, young Nyo Allen on drums and Henry Houston, a young local bass guitarist, on stage to jam. “We are coming very close to closing out the year together, as close as we can get, which I think is 10 pm. Thank you for wearing your masks,” Allen said as complimentary champagne was served.
Jake Thomas ad-libbed the adapted countdown, “4 – 3 – 2 hours away!” Allen led the toast, “Happy New Year. We love you all. Let us bring in a much more happy, prosperous and excellent New Year in 2021. It’s going to be amazing. I can feel it!” As Allen toasted, Hadden played Auld Lang Syne, Jimi Hendrix style.
