Two Bands covered multiple decades as they brought a jam-hungry crowd into 2026 at Columbus’ Bluestone on Friday evening, a mere two nights into the new year. Pink Talking Fish and Steely Dead brought the spirit of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, Phish, Steely Dan, and The Grateful Dead to life for nearly 5 hours at the former church turned concert venue.

For the uninitiated, Pink Talking Fish is less about imitation and more about interpretation. The band weaves the psychedelic expansiveness of Floyd, the dance-worthy funk precision of Talking Heads, and the exploratory abandon of Phish, often within the same song sequence. One moment you’re floating through space, the next you’re dancing into a deep jam that feels entirely of the moment.

A few of the fans I spoke with before the show had never seen the band before, but are die hard fans of those PTF covers. “I can’t wait to see what this is all about,” commented one attendee. “I wasn’t able to make it to MSG to see Phish over New Years,” said another, “so this is the next best thing in my opinion.”

Musically, PTF’s set was fluid and confident with a strong setlist that included Pink Floyd’s “Dogs,” Talking Head’s “Psycho Killer,” and Phish’s “Runaway Jim,” as well as a show-opening “Purple Rain” and encore “Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight.” The band features Eric Gould (bass), Stephen Learson (keyboards), Zack Burwick (drums), and Cal Kehoe (guitar), and thrives on inventive mashups and segues that reveal surprising connections across all three catalogs resulting in a genuinely great night of music for those in attendance.

The Bluestone proved an ideal setting: intimate enough to feel personal, grand enough to let the music stretch. Stained glass and stage lights worked together to create a visual atmosphere that mirrored the band’s sonic blend of reverence and reinvention.

Opening the evening was the equally eclectic, Steely Dead, a genre-bending union that blends the sophisticated grooves of Steely Dan with the exploratory improvisation and spirit of the Grateful Dead into a jazz-rock psychedelic jam-band adventure. Featuring Dave Abear on guitar, Matt Abear on bass, Chris Sheldon on drums, and Dylan Teifer on keys, Steely Dead has gained a dedicated following with their soulful interpretations of a full catalog of both bands.

The double-billed epic comes to a close on January 4 in Buffalo, but both bands continue their extensive travel schedules throughout 2026 so be sure to catch them if you’re due for a classic rock revival. Were you there? What were your favorite moments?

Leave a comment