Chris Harford & Band of Changes - Live at Grand Central Station

Chris Harford brought his Band of Changes to Grand Central Station in midtown New York on Wednesday, warming up for the following evening's gig at CB's Gallery on the Lower East Side. Harford fronts a band made up of guitarist Scott Metzger, Ween's Dave Driewitz, and School of Rock product Eric Slick. They performed outdoors for an eclectic crowd of suits, tourists, and spinning children. You can view the highlights here:

The next day saw Metzger doing double duty on the lower east side, doing an opening set for Fishbone with the Rodney Speed Experience and then at midnight rejoining the Band of Changes next door.

The Rodney Speed Experience was a lighthearted set of covers aimed at paying tribute to the soon-to-be-closed CBGB's, with songs from The Clash to the Rolling Stones. Rodney, a current staffer at CB's (and former Wetlands employee) made for a delightful front-man, and was backed by some pretty serious downtown talent with Metzger on guitar and Joe Russo on drums. Highlights include a "Should I Stay or Should I Go", where Joe and Scott chimed in on the backups "Rodney, Rodney, Rodney, Rodney!" Metzger and Russo later traded gear for a stab at "Wild Thing", and while Russo didn't conjure up a guitar face to rival Metzger's, there were plenty of smiles onstage to bid farewell to the club.

You can catch Metzger and Russo on tour together this month, as Joe picks up drumming duties in the Band of Changes while they open for the Benevento/Russo duo throughout the midwest and the south. With all four "Bustle In Your Hedgerow" members on that trip, be sure to stay for the entire show.

Chris Harford's Band of Changes Tourdates:

10/05/06, Indianapolis, The Vogue

10/06/06, Madison, The Annex

10/07/06, Chicago, The Park West

10/08/06, Columbia, Mojo's @ The Blue Note

10/10/06, Lawrence, Grenada Theatre

10/12/06, 10/12/06, Omaha, Sokol Underground

10/13/06, Boulder, Fox Theatre & Cafe

10/14/06, Denver, Bluebird Theatre

10/16/06, Little Rock, Sticky Fingerz - Rock N Roll Chicken Shack

10/18/06, Louisville, Headliner's

10/19/06, Knoxville, Bluecats

10/20/06, Atlanta, The Loft

10/21/06, Asheville, Orange Peel