When Phish took their first hiatus in the year 2000 they left behind a vast ocean of fans wondering where to find a suitable replacement. The timing could not have been better for the Niche - a new quartet emerging out of Rochester, NY.

     The Niche's adventurous compositions, fearless improv and quirky sense of humor caught the attention of the most devout Phish heads and others in the alternative music scene. After receiving the Niche’s first studio album, Building Up; Andy Gadiel (CEO/Founder of Jam Base and creator of Andy Gadiel’s Phish Page) said, “it’s been the go-to in my car stereo.”

     As the Niche continued to grow; the band found themselves touring to support such acts as Umphrey’s McGee, Derek Trucks Band and Max Creek. By the time Phish took another hiatus in 2004, the Niche’s sound and list of influences had expanded greatly. Heavy comparisons would be drawn to Frank Zappa and Ween among others. This association led to multiple co-bills with Zappa tribute Project/Object (ft. Mothers of Invention alumni Don Preston, Ike Willis, Napoleon Murphy Brock) and eventually an opening spot for the Gene Ween Band.

      The Niche garnered the respect of several notable musicians who would often sit in on their sets, including Robbie “Seahag” Mangano (Project/Object, Sound of Urchin), Shannon Lynch (Conehead Buddha) and Rob Compa (Dopapod), who briefly substituted for Niche guitarist Erik Ward during his temporary leave from the band in 2006. Compa, who sites the quartet as one his major musical influences, would later call upon Niche keyboardist Willy O’Riley to join his all-star band “Borg Party” alongside members of Dopapod, Turkuaz, Aqueous and Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad.

     The Niche halted active touring at the end of 2006 but continued to reunite for special occasions. Their fanbase remains loyal and many bootleg shows are still in circulation.

     In 2020 the band finished a previously shelved sophomore album, Breaking Down, which sat in the studio archives for fifteen years. A triumphant two night 20th anniversary show was planned for March 2020. The coronavirus pandemic suppressed these plans and the band went back into hiatus.​

2025 and Beyond

​Celebrating 25 years since their first show, the Niche is extremely excited to reunite with Rob Compa of Dopapod. 

A spring run is planned starting in late April 2025. More dates are being added throughout the year in preparation for a 25th anniversary celebration in the fall.

 

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