Stumblebunny at Otto's Shrunken Head

In the 1970s, Chris Robison played guitar and keyboards in several bands that were the brainchildren of other musicians -- Steam (“Na Na Hey Hey”), Elephant's Memory and the New York Dolls. Breaking out with a new band in 1977, he formed the power pop Stumblebunny and played the New York club circuit until the group vaporized in 1979. Robison went on to record solo albums and children's music. Playing live was still in his blood, however, and he recreated Stumblebunny in 2010.

Frank Wood booked Stumblebunny as the house band for his “Wind Down Sundays” at Otto's Shrunken Head at the end of each weekend in February. The band once again played pop songs, but this time around the band gravitated to the jam band style, unlocking a looser musical structure that the earlier incarnation of the band. For Robison and company, the goal on these Sunday nights was not about creating a hit song, it was about enjoying what could happen when friends played simple songs and a basic 4/4 beat. This was enjoyable for the audience as much as for the musicians.