Note: The Other is the media sponsor of this show.
When Louis Armstrong stepped onto the platform at Chicago’s Illinois Central Station around midnight on July 8, 1922, he had spent twenty-five hours riding the rails from Louisiana with his horn case in hand, ready to blow second cornet alongside King Oliver. As he remembered years later, a single glance was all it took for anyone to spot him as a green kid from the southern countryside—which, at barely twenty years old, was precisely what he was.
I spent years misremembering the legendary fish sandwich tale—the classic account where his mom sends him off with fried fish wrapped up for the long haul. Turns out that was a whole other journey, aboard a riverboat bound for St. Louis two summers prior. Heading to the Windy City, he took his lunch from a wicker basket shared by an acquaintance of his mother who chanced to sit beside him. If you ask me, that kind of shared table feels even truer to the spirit of the Crescent City.
The real takeaway is that the city stays inside you forever. Every player who ever blew a horn out of those neighborhoods left a mark on the music that followed, and come Friday, October 2, that very same musical DNA comes rolling up the Hudson to the Dobbs Ferry stop.
Brass Monkeys headlines the next HudCo Presents, the series that is turning into the best-kept live music secret in the Rivertowns. This one is a New Orleans night, starting with the band and running through a closing set of New Orleans funk from DJ Freesoul Johnson, shrimp po’ boys and chicken-and-andouille jambalaya from Chef Eric Korn sourced from The Farm at Cabbage Hill, peach hand pies and praline cookies from a local baker on her way up, and the atrium — by now the house signature — where Via Viaggio brings craft edibles and Sage Cacao brings ceremonial cacao.
Tickets are $35, or $30 with the code THEOTHER. The show is 21 and over, parking is free, and the Dobbs Ferry Metro-North stop is a short walk from the door.
THE SPACE AND THE GUY WHO LOOKED AT IT SIDEWAYS
Launched back in 2019, HudCo operates primarily as a collaborative workspace—housing roughly two hundred regulars, pouring shots via Eyes Closed, and featuring Picture Book right near the entrance, stocked with real print for real readers.
The transition into a performance hall comes courtesy of Doug Schneider, a local drummer, photographer, Via Viaggio co-creator, and early investor. He mentioned back in the spring that the expansive floor plan and proposed architectural lines instantly struck him as a natural stage. Certain spaces simply resonate long before the first chord strikes.
Taking cues from legendary promoter Bill Graham’s autobiography, Doug absorbed the fundamental rule that true presentation lies in the details: circulating through the crowd, setting out snacks, and taking proper care of the performers backstage. He is now applying that exact hands-on philosophy to an intimate setup.
“New Orleans has had a special place in my heart since my first mind blowing trip there in the late ’90s,” Doug told me. “I always knew it’d be cool to transport that vibe home for a night. What I’ve planned for October 2nd will be more of an all-out party than anything I’ve staged before.”
That means stripping away the central seating while leaving perimeter lounges for those who prefer to take it in while sitting down. Clink with Colleen handles the custom drink menu, while local artisans set up shop around the atrium—a bazaar layout Doug likens to the classic Grateful Dead parking lot scene. The lineup for this edition features Via Viaggio alongside Sage Cacao, Widow’s Peak Kitchen (Lily Winder’s baked goods), Hi There Gifts, Popsarap Popcorn, and handmade jewelry from Jessie Lambiase of Jes Elizabeth Jewelry.
BRASS MONKEYS
Taking their moniker straight from a classic Hip-Hop track, this Brooklyn outfit brings an unmistakable edge. They function as a six-piece rooted in the traditional Crescent City horn lineage—stretching from the Dirty Dozen and Rebirth down to contemporary groups—while channeling those heavy grooves into modern soul, rock, R&B, and hip-hop. Popular hits get retooled with raw brass power much like Rebirth refashions classic soul standards.
What distinguishes this group from traditional street-parade ensembles is their integration of guest singers from around the city. Rather than playing vague instrumental hooks, these contemporary renditions hit like fully formed anthems. The band’s own event preview featured a simple tagline worth repeating: expect sudden urges to move your feet.
“We take the energy of a New Orleans second line and infuse it with songs people know and love,” says trumpeter Thomas Abercrombie. “We prefer to break that 4th wall that separates the stage and the audience so that you become a part of the show.”
Understanding the musical heritage helps explain how the energy translates to the space. Down south, the horn players form the lead row, while the crowd following right behind—strutting, swinging parasols, and waving towels—becomes the secondary wave. That collective participation is precisely why clearing the central space makes all the difference; sitting still transforms a party into a formal performance, whereas an open floor lets the room become an active participant.
THE LAST HOUR: DJ FREESOUL JOHNSON
Brass Monkeys claim the stage from 7:30 to 9:00, but rather than winding down, the room simply shifts gears. DJ Freesoul Johnson takes over for the final hour, digging deep into Crescent City funk rarities—early Meters sides before they broke nationally, rare Eddie Bo 45s, signature Allen Toussaint arrangements, raw Wild Magnolias cuts, and classic Gris-Gris-era Dr. John. Freesoul Johnson is David Unger of Hastings-on-Hudson, and his New Orleans credentials are the real thing: he did his time at Tulane and has spent decades going back for Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest, which is where a record collection like this gets built.
“New Orleans is a magical place that imbues a sense of spiritual decadence,” Unger says. “I find that, especially in the music that comes out of New Orleans, they push things to max, and in that last hour, you walk away with an overdose of joy.”
That handoff is deliberate: the Meters laid down the foundation, brass units brought those rhythms outdoors, and a selector bridges the gap. From what I’ve seen, that closing stretch is precisely when a crowd makes up its mind about whether to keep the party going.
PO’ BOYS BY THE RIVER
You simply cannot honor Crescent City culture without sitting down to a real meal, a reality HudCo fully embraces by bringing Chef Eric Korn into the kitchen. Local food lovers remember him from Wolfert’s Roost, that legendary Irvington joint he launched alongside his brother Will and Chef Jennie Werts on a shoestring budget without basic climate controls. Westchester Magazine crowned it Best New Restaurant back in 2015, and the tables remained filled right until they pulled the plug—shutting down intentionally at their peak rather than watching the concept dilute over time. That kind of artistic integrity earns my deepest admiration.
Korn runs the kitchen at The Farm at Cabbage Hill now, and October 2 is sourced from the farm. The menu: shrimp po’ boys, chicken and andouille jambalaya, muffuletta, and fried green tomatoes, with red beans and rice on the side, sold separately from the ticket. Dessert comes from Lily Winder of Widow’s Peak Kitchen, a Dobbs Ferry native who now bakes out of Katonah and a newcomer in the craft baking world who is already turning heads, vending peach hand pies, butter pecan praline cookies, and double chocolate grasshopper cookies.
MUGGLES, VIPERS, AND MAIN STREET
Every piece we publish touches on the green leaf, and Crescent City culture made that connection effortless—woven into the fabric from the very start, quite literally in Pops’ world.
Armstrong enjoyed his daily gage or muggles across his entire career. Back in late 1928, while recording in the Windy City alongside Earl Hines, he laid down a tune titled “Muggles”—a slick nod to tea—and OKeh Records pressed it without catching on. Fast forward to late 1930, outside the Culver City Cotton Club with drummer Vic Berton, a pair of cops sprang from behind a vehicle to haul him in. That nine-day stint behind bars altered absolutely nothing; he later penned in his personal memoirs that it beat liquor by a mile.
The pioneer jazz scene crafted its own vocabulary—they dubbed themselves “vipers,” inspiring Fats Waller’s “Viper’s Drag” and Cab Calloway’s 1932 classic “Reefer Man”—while Chicago-born clarinet player Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow relocated to Harlem and became such a prominent figure that his moniker entered local slang. These horn players forged the initial American subculture around herb, powered by New Orleans rhythms, which helps explain why Harry Anslinger’s federal agents spent decades tracking them.
Pairing a horn ensemble with a cannabis-focused publication isn’t a leap—it’s simply honoring the original blueprint.
Inside the venue, the botanicals occupy the atrium, leaning into subtle vibes. Doug’s venture, Via Viaggio, is a craft edibles company, and it sets up a table for the night. Meanwhile, Sage Cacao serves pure ceremonial cacao crafted in ancient South American tradition—available in liquid or solid form—offering a gentle heart warmth rather than a mind-bending high, perfect for letting the horn section handle the heavy lifting.
To explore further, visit The Highline at 45 Main Street in nearby Hastings-on-Hudson—the sole licensed shop serving the Rivertowns and a key event supporter. Present your show stub from September 24 through October 10 for a 25% discount. My personal affinity for The Highline comes down to customer care: they offer extra attention to novices and returning consumers alike, exactly what folks catching live horn music need. Louis would appreciate the gesture—and suggest picking up top-tier stock.
WHY I’M GOING
Consider the lineup: an authentic horn section usually requiring a trip to the Crescent City or a subway trek to Brooklyn, followed by a selector who actually understands the nuanced progression from traditional brass to Meters-style funk. Add locally sourced farm fare crafted by a culinary talent who stepped away from a celebrated venture while on top; hand pies and praline cookies from a hometown baker; elevated botanical pairings inside the lounge; and the region’s premier dispensary just down the road for a quick stop beforehand. Place that in a venue with customizable ambiance, effortless parking, and train-station convenience for thirty dollars using our promo—all without enduring cramped city stairwells or grimy venues.
These HudCo gatherings remain rare occurrences by design, prioritizing careful curation over constant booking. Spring’s Armo performance felt like transporting an elite Brooklyn loft directly to our neighborhood, and this upcoming evening carries that same deliberate magic well before the initial notes ring out.
Invite anyone who claims to stay seated. Authentic brass rhythms have a way of changing minds every single time.
THE DETAILS
HudCo Presents: Brass Monkeys + DJ Freesoul Johnson — A New Orleans Night
Friday, October 2, 2026 | 6:00–10:00 PM | Ages 21+
6:00 Doors and bar open | 7:30–9:00 Brass Monkeys NYC | 9:00–10:00 DJ Freesoul Johnson
HudCo | 145 Palisade Street, Suite 200, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
Tickets: $35 | Food and drink sold separately | Refunds up to 7 days before the show
GET TICKETS : ($5 off with coupon code THEOTHER at checkout.)
Free parking. Walk from the Dobbs Ferry Metro-North stop.
Food by Chef Eric Korn, sourced from The Farm at Cabbage Hill: shrimp po’ boys, chicken and andouille jambalaya, muffuletta, fried green tomatoes, red beans and rice. Baked goods by Lily Winder, Widow’s Peak Kitchen. Clink with Colleen will create a New Orleans special cocktail – NOLA Cola – and a special mocktail – Bourbon Street Bassline. Atrium pop-ups: Via Viaggio (craft edibles), Sage Cacao, Widow’s Peak Kitchen, Hi There Gifts, Popsarap Popcorn, Jes Elizabeth Jewelry.
Lead sponsor: Robison Oil.
Supporting sponsors: Architectural Minerals & Stone, Investry, The Goodwin Team at Corcoran Legends Realty, Fly Honey Farms, The Highline.
The Highline, 45 Main Street, Hastings-on-Hudson: 25% off for anyone who shows an October 2 ticket, September 24 through October 10.
Consume responsibly (and legally!)
Photos: Luis Ruiz / @larufoto (HudCo, May 2025) [credit to confirm for third image]
Brass Monkeys photos are Courtesy of Brass Monkeys.
Panoramic Armo photo is by Gene Derose
This attached alternative Armo pic is by Elisa Zuckerberg/Hear It There
Via Viaggio pic is Courtesy of Hepworth Farms
