Photo credit: Peter Lyons Hall L to R: Dave DePinto, Dave Hisrschberg, and Dave Gellis
By Peter Lyons Hall
Tucked along the shoreline of Greenwood Lake, The Cove has quietly built a reputation as one of the region’s most compelling live music venues—not just for the talent on stage, but for the discerning ears in the room.
On any given night, the venue draws crowds eager for high-quality live performances from some of the Northeast’s top regional acts. But what sets The Cove apart is something less obvious to the casual visitor: the audience itself. Unlike the typical bar or lakeside hangout, The Cove regularly hosts a crowd that reads like a who’s who of the music industry’s working class—former touring sound engineers, active session musicians, backup vocalists, and performers who spend much of their lives on the road.
For visiting music lovers, it can be a surprising revelation. Conversations at the bar might shift from casual appreciation to technical discussions about sound mixing, guitar tones, or set arrangements. Applause carries a different weight here—less about spectacle, more about genuine respect for craftsmanship.
That dynamic was on full display Friday night, May 1, when Dave Gellis took the stage as part of the aptly named trio Dave’s Not Here. Gellis, one of the three musicians who make up the group—all coincidentally named Dave—treated the audience not only to a performance but to a glimpse into the band’s organic origins.
Between songs, Gellis shared the story of how the trio came together, a tale that felt perfectly suited to The Cove’s intimate and knowledgeable setting. “One night I was in the audience,” Gellis explained, “listening to two of my close musician friends playing covers of some of my favorite tunes.” At the time, the pair performed as a duo, delivering solid renditions but leaving Gellis with an idea. “I told them that they should add a bass component to give it more of a grounding sound,” he said. “I mentioned that I had a bass pedal that could be configured with a variety of percussive elements.”
What began as an offhand suggestion quickly turned into something more. Gellis joined the duo, initially augmenting their sound with the pedal-driven bass effect, and eventually stepping in as both a third guitarist and, at times, a traditional bass player. “And the rest is history,” he added with a smile.
Part of the trio’s appeal lies in the breadth of its repertoire—an ambitious range that delimiters audiences. A typical set might move seamlessly from the harmonies of Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, and Jim Croce to the timeless catalog of The Beatles. From there, the trio stretches expectations further, delivering acoustic interpretations of artists like Phil Collins, Prince, and Billy Joel. But the range doesn’t stop there. Fans may also hear selections from Neil Young and The Eagles, along with more progressive and classic rock influences such as Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP) and Kansas, rounded out with the soulful, blues-infused sound of the Allman Brothers. It’s a setlist that both surprises and satisfies—familiar yet freshly interpreted through the trio’s layered acoustic style.
The story and the sound resonated with the audience, many of whom understood exactly the kind of musical chemistry Gellis described. At The Cove, such origin stories aren’t just entertaining—they’re relatable. That sense of shared experience helps explain why the venue continues to thrive. Performers aren’t just playing to an audience; they’re playing among peers. The result is a feedback loop of energy and expertise that elevates each show.
In an era when live music venues often compete with digital distractions and shifting entertainment habits, The Cove has carved out a niche by staying authentic—offering not just performances, but a community grounded in a deep appreciation for the art of music. Bob Pereira, who runs The Cove [https://covecastleny.com] and is co-owner, has owned and operated small-and-large scale restaurants, night clubs and private event venues in Manhattan, Brooklyn N.Y., Atlantic City and as far aways as Brasil. His vision to renovate the historic location formerly known as Castle Tavern (circa 1937) has turned into a passion in creating the ultimate waterfront dining experience that’s more than a performance venue. It’s a gathering place where talent meets understanding, and where every note lands with an audience that truly hears it.
