Hazmat Modine
Terra Blues149 Bleecker Street, New York 10012
Hazmat Modine comes to Terra Blues led by Wade Schuman, with a set that ranges widely in genre and instrumentation. The band plays mostly originals, while leaving room for covers associated with Slim Gaillard, Jimmy Rogers, Jaybird Coleman and Irving Berlin. Expect the kind of full-bodied, rhythm-forward performance the venue describes as romping and dynamic, with the aim of sending listeners out humming and stomping.
The New York City band is known for a roots-minded sound shaped by blues, American traditions and influences from further afield, often built around harmonicas, tuba, drums, guitars, banjo and a horn section. Its work has included collaborations with Bombino, Kronos Quartet, Cat Empire, Gangbé Brass Band, Son of Dave, Balla Kouyaté and Natalie Merchant; Tuvan throat singers Alash appeared on two tracks from Extra-Deluxe-Supreme. Pitchfork called the group’s debut “roots music that takes from pretty much any roots it sees fit,” and “true world music, weird and wonderful to the last note.” The Guardian characterized Hazmat Modine as “a maverick New York band” moving from Americana toward global influences “with remarkable results.”
Terra Blues offers a focused setting where the music takes center attention in a compact room that invites you close to the performers. The venue features a bar but no full kitchen, so the emphasis is on drinks and the live experience rather than dining. Shows often run late into the night, with bands playing until 2 AM, creating a space for extended sets and deep musical immersion. The audience is there to listen and engage with the music, making it a place to savor performances without distraction. The venue’s walls and layout bring you near enough to catch every nuance of the sound, and the late hours mean your evening can stretch into the early morning with soulful blues and electric energy. Terra Blues remains a lively part of Manhattan’s music scene, hosting acts that carry on rich musical traditions.