Braden Bodensteiner Closes Out a Serene Night at Abilene Bar and Lounge

Braden Bodensteiner performs with an ensemble of musicians at Abilene Bar and Lounge in Downtown Rochester, NY.

Spectators at tonight’s show at Abilene Bar and Lounge, one of Rochester’s premier music venues, which features Americana, Folk, Indie, Rock, Jazz, and a variety of local, regional, and international touring acts, were enchanted by Braden Bodensteiner’s newest album release, Worry and Wonder.

The temperature of the evening’s show was an idyllic lower 70s. A pleasant temp for a serene night out in the backyard at Abilene with a direct view of their intimate stage, all fitted with decorative string lights, wooden fencing with ample murals, an aged brick backdrop, and their iconic and mesmeric tree.

Braden’s accompaniment throughout the night included a keyboardist, drummer, bassist, and a lap steel guitarist who joined the group at various times to perform through a couple of well-rehearsed jams. The flow of the sound was coordinated, intimate, at times worried, but full of wonder.

An image featuring blue lighting from the altering stage lights on set.

Bodensteiner’s music is underrated and yet highly prolific. On Spotify, you’ll find three full albums, Lived in Sound, Thanks for Everything, and Frankensteiner, and two singles, Expensive Perfection and Rest of the World. Inspect Band Camp, and you’ll find a whole lot more.

The singer’s sound, vocals, and performance style are reminiscent of Wilco’s lead singer, Jeff Tweedy, and a tinge of Neil Young’s and Ben Gibbard’s expressive vocals. Not a replica, but there is something to say about the depth of lyrics, vocal timbre, and soulful sound. It’s a musical style that persists, and that we can all appreciate.

As for the music, the band softly reverberated with a driving alt-rock sound paired with indie and honky-tonk influences. A style that seemed fitting for the vibe of artists who traditionally tour through Abilene’s deep-seated juke joint.

A snapshot of the packed crowd at Abilene for Bodensteiner’s newest album drop.

After a quick encore request from the audience, the group closed out the set with a new song that they considered a work in progress. Boldly, Bodensteiner altered the tuning on his guitar strings for a final song that featured demanding chords with a syncopated rhythm between the guitar, bass, and drummer. For an unpolished song, it flowed smoothly. In the end, it was another great night in the books for Abilene and likely a rising performer in the local scene.