2025. It Was, A Year.
There was a lot that went down, including a total of sixty four scheduled shows.
There was a total of five Bryan Gallo + his Band performances, all happening at different venues spaced throughout the year. (That count includes both the Bryan Gallo w/ Mick Hargreaves set that became a BG + rhythm section show as Nick Balzano was able to join in at the Cabin Fever Music Fest set, and also the short notice “upgraded” solo performance that Nick Balzano & Pete Mancini joined me for on the Acoustic Stage at Bradstock Music Festival).
Of those sixty four performances, there were two very special “In The Round” Song Swap shows I participated in. One was at People’s Pub in which I swapped songs with Parker James and Safrah, and the other was part of the Songbird Series at the Long Island Game Farm, where I swapped songs with Fred Raimondo, Inda Eaton, and Sarah Gross.
In addition, two of this year’s shows were at the Long Island Museum as part of the Sunday Street radio program’s lineup of concerts. For one of those, I joined a plethora of performers as part of a Lou Reed/Paul Simon tribute (an interesting concept that proved to work quite well) and then for the other I was part of the list of performers for a Neil Young 80th Birthday tribute (which I was ecstatic to be a part of, as Neil is possibly my “North Star” when it comes to what I do musically.)
Aside from those notable shows, there were plenty where I was all on my own with an acoustic guitar and some harmonicas performing songs I’d written and many more that I wish I had. These shows saw me criss crossing all over Long Island to set it up and then pack it out, singin’ and strummin’ multiple sets in between. It can get lonely out there sometimes, but the friendly faces I come across and getting to sign for them is what keeps me going.
It was a year of many challenges and changes, both in my musical career and in my personal life.
My wife and I purchased our first home, which of course was new and exciting, but still a challenging change. We also quietly dealt with some other difficulties, which saw me out and about a little less overall. Thankfully, I still found some time here and there to be part of the Long Island music scene taking in other people’s shows, and getting to socialize at the shows I was a part of as well. I also quietly dealt with some personal emotional battles - which left me beyond thankful for the solace that music can provide when dealing with those sort of things.
I watched performance dates get added to my schedule, and then unexpectedly, plenty of them get wiped off the schedule as well. This served to remind me that just about nothing is guaranteed in this line of work until the final note has been sung, the car’s packed up, and payment has been procured. Still, looking back and knowing there were sixty four total shows overall, I know that’s nothing to sneeze at and am beyond grateful for all of those opportunities.
I saw the lineup of “+ his Band” ebb and flow over the course of the year, with not one of the five full band shows I did having the same lineup. While I wish it could remain constant, I consider myself lucky that I’ve so many wonderful, talented friends who can pitch in when I look to play full band shows, and also that my repertoire works well enough in many different musical configurations.
I’m sure there’s plenty more I could say, but 2025 was indeed a year that at times made me question if I had what it took to keep on going - but in turn - provided plenty of proof showing not only that I *could* keep on going, but that if I did it’d lead to more days, weeks, and years of a rewarding, musical, life.
Here’s wishing you and yours a 2026 that is kind, caring, and filled with countless reasons to smile.
Be well, and I’ll see ya in 2026.
-Bryan