Plastic Sax published reviews of Steve Cardenas’ hometown performances in 2025, 2024, 2022, 2019 and 2018. Cardenas’ gig at Ted’s Taproom on Friday, August 21, was the first in the series in which the New York based guitarist was occasionally disrupted by the loud conversations of patrons and shouts of bar staff.
Cardenas, bassist Forest Stewart and drummer Brian Steever overcame the imperfect environment with fortitude during the second of three sets. About 25 engaged listeners- half of whom were musicians- and another two dozen disinterested revelers were present. The cover charge was $10.
The hushed nuance of material including Cardenas’ beloved “Reflector” and Stewart’s sublime “Star Star” gradually subdued the most egregious of the bad actors. An uncharacteristic Meters-style funk romp, consequently, was an odd but delightful way for the trio to close its set.