Imagine it now; the year is 2016 and you’re a freshman in college again. It’s a different time, the world is not what we know it to be today. You and your buddies grab a 30 of Rolling Rock and head out to what has been deemed the party of the semester. As you approach the door, almost hypnotically, you become entranced by the infectious melodies and thunderous grooves that envelop the house.    

You are immediately captivated by this overwhelming ethereal energy and urge to dance like you've never experienced before. These complex, yet memorable arrangements provide the soundscape for an auditory journey of a lifetime.

You turn to the person next to you because you have to know, “who is this band?!”

“No dude … What?”!

What? is a funk fusion sextet hailing out of the Hudson Valley of New York. Although commonly confused with the international sensation known as ‘The Who,’ What? has been pioneering their own path to success despite being put on second base by Russ Abbott in 1938. The band found their roots in 2016 when Ryan Perrone and Dan Steen met while studying music at SUNY New Paltz. They developed and honed their early sound, rehearsing weekly in bassist Jeremiah Mahoney’s lakeside living room. After graduating in 2020, the band solidified their current line-up and all moved in together. 

What? consists of best friends Ryan Perrone on trombone, trumpet, keyboards and lead vocals; Dan Steen on guitar; Jared Nelson on guitar, and keyboards; Jeremiah Joseph Mahoney VI on bass; Alex Endres on drums, and Owen Moore on tenor & baritone saxophone. 

Drawing influence from the serene landscape of the Catskills that inspired the likes of The Band and Donald Fagen, What? bridges the gap between funk, jazz fusion, and improvisational jam. Compared to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, Vulfpeck, Phish and Snarky Puppy, What?’s eclectic taste in music lays the framework for a night that spans multiple genres. With ever-changing setlists, The New Paltz Oracle writes, “the band emphasizes spontaneity and staying boundless.” Rock & roll, jazz, hip-hop, R&B and pop only scratch the surface of what the New York based band might bring at any given show. But what is for certain, is that they will keep the party going all night!

With a growing following in the Hudson Valley, What? is known to bring high-energy, soulful grooves with their power-house horn section each time they grace the stage. With over 250+ shows under their belt since their 2021 Fall Tour, they have performed at notable venues throughout the East Coast including a center field performance at Dutchess Stadium in Wappinger Falls, NY to a crowd of 5000; a sold out show with Dogs in a Pile in Woodstock, NY; Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs, NY; Mercury Lounge in New York City;  Brooklyn Made in Brooklyn, NY; a sold out show at the historic Falcon in Marlboro, NY on New Year’s Eve with The Big Takeover; Nectar’s in Burlington, VT; The Stone Church in Newmarket, NH; The Middle East Club in Cambridge, MA; Stella Blues in New Haven, CT; and Ocean Mist in Rhode Island. They hold the all-time attendance record at their hometown venue Snug Harbor in New Paltz, NY. They also embarked on a four night residency in January of 2024, where the band did not repeat a single song; totalling 85 unique originals and covers across the four nights. Members of What? have shared the stage and collaborated with Goose, members of Vulfpeck, The Wailers, Karl Denson, Toots & The Maytals, Proxima Parada and more. What? also shares a horn section with nationally touring band The Big Takeover.