Town of Orangetown

Piermont, NY – On the night of Saturday, September 23, 2023, music enthusiasts and fans of the 90s grunge era flocked to The Turning Point, the legendary music pub nestled in the picturesque village of Piermont. On the docket for the evening was the renowned band “Live and Unplugged,” a group renowned for their unique acoustic renditions of iconic 90s grunge hits. But this night was going to be a little different from their many previous outings.

The band kicked off the night with an acoustic set featuring assorted grunge classics, followed by a second set in which they electrified the audience with their rendition of the entire Nirvana album, “Nevermind,” from start to finish, in a near-exact performance that invoked the raw energy of Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl.

A few minutes after 8 pm, Live and Unplugged took the stage to already-resounding applause, setting the tone for a night of musical nostalgia and raw, stripped-down energy. The Rockland-county based group members, each known for their incredible musicianship and passionate delivery, wasted no time diving into the heart of the 90s grunge era with their acoustic set.

The chords of songs by Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many more resonated through the venue, recreating an atmosphere that transported the audience back in time. Live and Unplugged skillfully blended acoustic instruments with the raw emotion and energy that grunge music is famous for. The audience swayed in their seats and sang along, notably to classics like Under the Bridge by the Chili Peppers, and Good Riddance by Green Day.

One of the standout moments of the acoustic set came as the band launched into “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” by Nirvana. The stripped-down arrangement allowed the subtleties of Dylan Kelehan’s haunting vocals, captivating the crowd with its emotional depth and recreation of Cobain’s artistry. To top off the performance, he wore a wool sweater, similar to Cobain’s during his seminal MTV performance of the ’90’s.

After the final notes of the acoustic set, there was a brief intermission during which anticipation for the electrifying second set reached its peak. The audience eagerly awaited Live and Unplugged’s take on the seminal Nirvana album, “Nevermind.”

The second set began with the unmistakable riff of “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” This time, Live and Unplugged had swapped their acoustic instruments for electric guitars, delivering a high-energy performance that paid homage to the album’s original electric sound. The audience’s response was electric, as they thrashed and sang along to every iconic track.

Live and Unplugged flawlessly transitioned from “In Bloom” to “Come as You Are,” maintaining the album’s original order and faithfully recreating Nirvana’s iconic sound. Vocalist and guitarist of Live and Unplugged, Dylan Kelehan, channeled Kurt Cobain’s raw intensity, capturing the spirit of the original recordings. Joey Calfa’s virtuoso guitar solos were both flawless and powerful. Bassist Dan Rapatski and drummer Eric Challacombe recreated and were faithful to the original flow and timing of each song, true to the artists who crafted them in the first place.

The electrified rendition of “Nevermind” continued to captivate the crowd, with the band delivering powerful performances of “Lithium,” “Polly,” and “Territorial Pissings.” The energy in the room was palpable as the audience moshed and sang along, reliving the rebellious spirit of the 90s.

As the night drew to a close, the members of Live and Unplugged took their final bows, leaving behind a captivated and grateful audience. The band returned for two more songs, and closed out the evening.

In the intimate setting of The Turning Point, Live and Unplugged’s performance of “Nevermind” and their signature acoustic set served as a reminder that great music knows no boundaries of time or genre. It was a night when the past and present converged, and for a few hours, the audience was transported back to a time when grunge reigned supreme, and Nirvana’s “Nevermind” was the soundtrack to a generation. Live and Unplugged, with their acoustic and electric mastery, did justice to these iconic songs and left their mark on the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to be in attendance on that memorable night in Piermont.

To learn more about Live and Unplugged, and their upcoming performances, visit their website, Facebook or Instagram pages.