Watch Dizgo’s Paste Session from the Northlands Festival

On a sunny Friday morning in Swanzey, New Hampshire, Dizgo stepped into the Maple Barn at Northlands, riding their own momentum from the previous night’s unconventional and intriguing set. Once used for maple syrup production, the barn was transformed into an eclectic, ornate session space for Paste’s “On the Road” series. Despite the early hour and the absence of a crowd, the room carried an exciting energy. It was just the crew, the gear, and the band, still buzzing from their late-night “Silent Dizgo” performance the night before, where the entire audience was given wireless headphones to quietly experience the set in detail.

We experienced Dizgo in their essence during the Maple Barn set. No massive crowd, no high-tech sound system, no light shows. It was just the band, their essential gear, and some great tunes. The Indiana-based quartet leaned into their strengths, with a groovy, original set full of improvisation and a playful mix of electronic, funky jams. The songs had defined peaks and valleys that kept my ear locked into the sound at all times. Guitarist/vocalist Andrew Pickel and keyboardist/vocalist Jake Evatt harmonized and traded solos as well as you could hope two professionals would, making it look easy, while bassist Kevin Hinnefeld and drummer Justin Clark provided a steady, tight bed of rhythm for the band to rely on.

The band opened their session with a newer song called “Undertow,” a clav-keyboard-driven, funky tune that also contained a soaring solo section which highlighted the chops of the band. They followed this with a tune called “It’s Alright,” a fan-favorite song that stood out for its deep, groovy bassline and atmospheric feel. Solos were traded wonderfully throughout the session, and it’s clear that the band excels at functioning as a cohesive unit.

Though Dizgo usually thrives on a larger, jam-centric stage, seeing them perform in a simple no-frills manner felt like a special kind of experience. Their diverse weekend at Northlands, including a stage set, the “Silent Dizgo” night set, and our intimate session, served as a preview for their headlining role at their own Harmony Valley Music Festival in Nashville, Indiana. They’ll play multiple sets, contributing meaningfully to the Midwestern jam scene. After witnessing multiple Dizgo sets during the Northlands weekend, I can safely say they’ll be ready.

Huge thanks to Jen, Mike, Seth, Greg, and the rest of the Northlands team for helping to make this great opportunity happen!