The Lincoln Eagle XXII May 2010 Page
Music Soared at the SkyTop Steakhouse
By Michael J. Marnell
At one of Kingston’s preeminent restaurants and live music venues, a refreshingly different band performed on a recent Friday night. The venue was the Skytop Restaurant and the band was the Dangling Success.
The Dangling Success is the area’s most celebrated R&B Smooth Groove band. And they had something for everyone, whether you wanted to sit back and tap your foot while you enjoyed a drink or get up and dance, you could do it! It was the perfect way to end a great meal.
Their musical repertoire spans the smooth groove sounds of Grover Washington, Jr. to the downright funk of the 70’s superstar band, Kool and the Gang and the Rolling Stones. But make no mistake, you’ll be shaking a leg to their originals too. Last year the band broke the top 40 of the Smooth Indie Charts with their single “City Life.”
SmoothJazz.com wrote that their live shows “are events to behold!” And that is an understatement. Saxophone player and front man Mark “Dr. Sax” Niekcrewicz stood on chairs in the audience as guitarist Gioron Wilkens dropped to his knees to the delight of the crowd. The two of them also got the crowd screaming and yelling as they traded solos back and forth.
Marianne Bruck, a local patron, said, “This was a real pleasant surprise. I had no idea there were bands like this around. They are much different than most other bands. Every song is a surprise. I don’t want to leave.”
Although the band can be heard on radio stations coast to coast, they are natives to the Hudson Valley. Kingston is even home to one of the musicians, bassist Mike McDonough. Drummer Steve Marnell sitting in for Paul Rossman, Dr. Sax and Keyboard player Dan Odescalchi live in Duthess County. Guitarist Gioron Wilkins lives in Orange County. Despite their local roots, they have performed at the Hartford International Jazz Festival, the Unicity Festival in Salisbury, MD and in many NYC haunts like the Shine and the Sugar Bar. The video for their single “City Life” was shot in Harlem after a gig at the Shrine and can be seen on their website, www.danglingsuccess.com.
The hometown crowd is always the best however. Mike McDonough swears by that. “There is always something special about playing to local fans and friends. And when you play at a place like the Skytop Steakhouse, there is a sense of home. You just can’t beat it,” he says.
We have a sneaking suspicion this band will be back at the Skytop Steakhouse soon. Publisher’s note: Skytop has Great Entertainment every weekend. Give them a call, (845) 340-4277, make a reservation to have dinner and prepare to have some Fun! Joey (owner) will take good care of you… Tell him that The Lincoln Eagle sent you!