Hydrogen and Stuck in Place Rock Redgate on Halloween

For the final show of 2023’s epic Halloweekend cycle, Hydrogen and Stuck in Place jammed at Redgate, making October 31st an unforgettable night.

Words by Lauren Duncan / Photos by Hannah Delaray/ Graphic by Michael Loya

After an unseasonably warm Halloweekend, Halloween itself brought in a cold front, but that didn’t stop fans of Redgate from showing out for the holiday. Drinks were flowing, cigarettes were lit, and the scent of rock music was in the air.

Redgate supporters were decked out in a multitude of costumes, unique in every sense. Stuck in Place even opted to dress up as four characters from South Park. The Halloween mood was evident everywhere you looked: webs hung from the ceiling and an eerie purple glow cultivated the spooky atmosphere at the venue.

Syracuse’s own Hydrogen, a Grateful Dead-esque band, opened with a mindblowing Phish cover set, creating a euphoric atmosphere for the night. The four-man band, formerly known as Dogs Playing Poker, played their first show under the new moniker just three nights earlier at the return of the Harrington. In their second gig, Hydrogen were electric as they jammed out for the final night of 2023’s Halloween celebrations. The Phish cover show was opened with “Sample in a Jar,” allowing a crowd to build before they played “First Tube” and closed with “Down with Disease.”

Hydrogen is made up of lead vocalist and guitarist Michael Brodsky, bassist Jacob Cotton, keyboardist Ethan Girtz, and drummer Dom Colucci. Although the group didn’t perform any original songs, the energy they put in gave the songs new life. Brodsky and Colucci’s playing styles bounced off each other effortlessly, completely conveying the easygoing feel of a jam band. Hydrogen is a talented group of musicians that leaves you no choice but to feel the music.

The night’s second and final act, Stuck in Place, brought down the house with a grungy, bass-heavy rock set. Contrasting with Hydrogen’s jam set, the Binghamton band’s performance featured infectious drums and heavy riffs, prompting fans to form a mosh pit the moment the drumsticks were first raised in the air. They played the entirety of their debut EP “Mile High,” which was released earlier this year, and its alternative punk rock energy enlivened the crowds throughout the set.

Both bands gave tremendous performances and contrasted each other perfectly without taking away from the other. With a spooky, costume-filled night of jam and grunge, Halloween at Redgate served as yet another example of the venue’s ability to showcase up-and-coming artists from the campus and CNY area.