Spin Doctors Deliver the Medicine for Therapeutic Horses

SARATOGA SPRINGS — One should never fail to appreciate a well-organized event.

At Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga’s charity benefit concert last Saturday night, everything from the food vendors to the venue layout to the sound quality was exceptional, especially considering it was all temporarily plopped onto a horse farm. As the evening wore on, tiki torches dotted across the property emitted a warm glow that both provided practical light and set the mood for what was to come.

Culinary offerings included Taquero tacos, Fierro’s pizza, Druthers beer, and Old Tavern Farm wine and spirits. The entertainment launched with Rich Ortiz, an acoustic singer-songwriter who has previously opened for Chicago, REO Speedwagon, KC and the Sunshine Band, and many other well-known acts. He was followed by the Wallies featuring Gianna Robustiano, who belted out women-written anthems by Alanis Morissette and Miley Cyrus, among others.

The main event was the Spin Doctors, a Gen X alt rock group best known for hits like “Two Princes,” “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” and “Jimmy Olsen’s Blues.” The band has an interesting history stretching back to their earliest days playing with John Popper, who would later become known as the frontman for Blues Traveler, the group that headlined Belmont on Broadway in downtown Saratoga in 2024. Both bands emerged from New York City’s late 80s/early 90s jam band scene, which was documented in Mike Ayers’ recent oral history book “Sharing in the Groove.” (Saratoga TODAY interviewed Ayers about his tome and Saratoga’s place in music history for our Aug. 1 issue.)

At the Therapeutic Horses farm, the Doctors delivered a dose of medicine that got many spectators up and grooving (perhaps after they’d enjoyed a few offerings from Druthers and Old Tavern). A highlight of the performance, especially for those invested in the local music scene, came when bass player Jack Daley’s brother Joe (a resident of Troy, New York) came out to play drums on a couple tracks. Joe is a longtime member of Super 400, a band that blends 60s-70s heavy rock with contemporary melodic pop and has played at many Capital Region venues.

In a video message shared prior to the event, Spin Doctors lead singer Chris Barron (who impressed the crowd with his acrobatic kicks) called Therapeutic Horses’ mission to utilize retired racehorses in support of mental wellness “incredible.” It was an apt description of the event as well.