Category: UpstateLIVE Archives

FEATURED BAND: AUTUMN FIRE

Formed in August 2006, with founding members Josh Brondou, Nate Keida (both formally of Intrinzik) Ryan Parr, and Josh Crossman all set and writing songs they started to throw around some names. With fall season being their favorite season, and “fall fire” not having that certain ring, they agreed on Autumn Fire. The boys chalk it up to being “country boys”, but in my opinion we all live in the country (unless you live in NYC).

So with the name tackled, and songs being born, they went on their search for a vocalist. So while ads out on Myspace and Craiglist, and Bandmix, they were hoping to snag a fish. Little did they know the fish they would snag would be Tool tribute band, Third Eye’s vocalist, Max Scialdone would answer the call. According to Max at that time he was desperately trying to reach them. When it was all said and done the line-up would be complete. Even with a fifteen thousand dollar loss of equipment a few months earlier due to their practice spot in Sauquoit burning to the ground. They began to get things rolling. Then Crossman broke his arm. With the first record all written, “Endless” this was a little bit of a setback for the boys . When asked how they composed the first album, the boys in the band explained to me that they all contributed to the writing process. With all the material based off of simple jamming out, a basis was created. April of 2009 would be their first show at Rides in Herkimer, NY (which I happened to attend). Playing for a year before being able to afford to have a CD release partying 2010. While all this was happening they were inadvertently writing their second album. Both albums were recorded at Gecko Recording Studios in Clinton, NY, by Lyman Christenson and offered the same level of musicianship with just enough expansion to show growth. The boys were looking for a way to break big into the scene, they saw a outlet in the “Monster Energy Big Break” in December 2010. With a staggering 55 bands from all over the state of NY on the roster it seemed like a big bad “Monster” to overcome. There were 3 rounds of battling for the finals. Each round, to their surprise, they were called back eventually making it to the finals. The boys in Autumn Fire went on to win the battle, winning one thousand dollars in prize money and some recording time. Now that they had a fatter bank roll to deal with for the second album, they really started focusing on what kind of sound they wanted to achieve for album two. in July of 2011 they reentered the studio with Lyman, to start yet another album to be titled “Amends”. These guys spared nothing, they beat Lyman up, for a painstakingly true sound they were looking to acquire. While making their sophomore album, they played at the Oneonta Theatre, and won a opening slot for The Blue Oyster Cult, also within that time opening for Filter there as well. In December of 2011 the “Amends” album was released. They contracted some help from locals friends to help with the album’s artwork and photos Matt Ossowski and Janelle Rodriguez. “Amends” CD release was held at the great Electric Company in Utica. Almost being a house band at that venue, playing the “Animal for Animal “ benefit there starting in 2009, and catching the ear of Anthony “Zee” Donaldson, it was a no brainier for them to have the showcase there. They give credit to Zee himself for making them a household name in the Utica area. As a group they decided it was time to branch out on a tour with local favorites, Shattered Envy and Just A Memory, to start in Virginia Beach and work their way back up the northeast, back home. The tour had some bumps in the road, as some of the shows fell through last minute, and Autumn Fire decided to try and make a name for themselves in Virginia. They decided to turn it into a vacation, and plays some venues beachside. With one show booked, they literally walked around and booked two more shows during the week, which in their eyes turned out to be awesome shows. One of the best shows they played that week was at Calypso’s, with a 4 hour set playing literally on the boardwalk. After the vacation they decided to do a battle at Monirae’s for a opening slot for the Boy Hits Car show being held there. Unbenounced they won the opening slot once again, for another national show under their belts. All of this has been done by a little local band from Utica, NY on their own, with no management, opening for almost a dozen national acts. Sometimes childhood friends and chance encounters can be a once in a lifetime thing, but for these guys it was that and a lot of hard work. For Autumn Fire, there next step is to introduce the world, to there intense power driven hard rock sound. If any of you haven’t seen this band play I would recommend giving them a listen. Look for Autumn Fire at a venue near you.

For more information about Autumn Fire-
Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Autumn-Fire/143531240177?ref=ts&fref=ts-Fred Marriott

December 23, 2012
Review: Sunken Ships – Sorry Is Just Five Letters Put Together

Here at Upstate Metal, we pride ourselves in knowing that we recommend great bands with great musicians. Unfortunately, Sunken Ships is not one of those.

Sunken Ships is a four-piece grindcore band from New Hampshire. The earliest record of their creation is June of 2007, and how they haven’t given up completely is beyond me. They have 357 Facebook likes, and that is baffling.

According to their description, “The juxtaposition of the frantic decimating grindcore and the taught and emotional synth pieces fit so well together it shows more than musical talent but beautiful ART ARRANGEMENT.” That’s a pretty audacious statement that these guys simply don’t follow up on. I’ve yet to hear any significant musical talent, and calling it “art” is bold.

They claim on Reverbnation their full-length album “Sorry Is Just Five Letters Put Together” was recorded by themselves in “The Grind Factory,” also known as their home. This could not be more evident. The sound of the guitars and drums are muddy and unclear, and is poorly mixed. The vocals are one of the best parts of the music; however, some of them take me back to a time of bad ‘80s power screams, and the gang chants are distant and hard to hear over the squealing of the guitars. Most of the songs start with excessively long ambient noises or talking, and it seems as if every other song consists of 30 seconds of droning clatter.

The band states they are working on another LP, which is made up of songs that didn’t make it onto their full-length album. If this LP ends up as the same quality as their full length, I don’t look forward to reading or writing that review.

It’s difficult to pick out the positive portions of Sunken Ships. The drums, although poorly recorded, show some semblance of talent; yet the timings and beats fall off tempo almost all the time. The band does have a positive “I don’t give a fuck what you think, we’re just having fun,” attitude, which is fantastic for them. However, I can’t help but think that this attitude is a result of being told on numerous occasions that they aren’t good.

Despite whatever attitude the band may have, bands are judged more on their musical talent than how their personalities are perceived by their fans. A band like Sunken Ships is one that should stay in their garage with the door closed and soundproofed.

https://www.facebook.com/SunkenShips

December 22, 2012
The Lumineers at Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park, December 17

“More people were turned away than showed up for us the entire year prior,” exclaimed Lumineers multi-instrumentalist Stelth Ulvang. That is a big statement loaded with meaning. Clearly, the massive line that swelled out to route 146 left much to talk about. The fans, like the cold rain, poured into the parking lot of a shopping plaza, home to Upstate Concert Hall (formerly known as Northern Lights) in Clifton Park in hopes of achieving free entry into the WEQX radio sponsored show. Sadly, more than a few hundred were turned away as the hall reached capacity within minutes of opening.

The Lumineers – adding more meaning to the above statement – deeply appreciated the show of fans and stepped out to a soggy parking lot instruments in hand. They attempted to play a few acoustic songs, but adding insult to injury towards the fans left in the rain, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department effectively and quickly shut the band down.

photo by Thomas Miller

In the last couple years, the roots revival has given us the likes of Mumford and Sons, Old Crow Medicine Show and The Avett Brothers, so it comes as no surprise that folk-flavored music has hit a chord within the masses. The Lumineers have been thrust into popularity showing off stomp and clap roots rock while creating their own distinct identity.

Neyla Pekarek pulls her bow across the somber strings of her cello creating depth to a captivating intro of “Classy Girls,” an otherwise fun and lyrically playful tune. Lead Wesley Schultz dug his feet into the stage as if anchored in his roots yet raising his guitar into the air as if the momentum of the music pulls him in two different directions. The first handful of songs passed along quickly, including the band’s single, “Ho Hey,” utilizing the support of Ulvang and bass player Ben Wahamaki. The core trio of Schultz, Pekarek and Jeremiah Fraites (drums) played a haunting “Charlie Boy.” Schultz’s edgy vocals gradually intensified during the first few verses of “Stubborn Love.” He peaked at the lyrics, “It’s better to feel pain/than nothing at all/The opposite of love’s indifference,” seizing his own words as if he was feeling the pain of a lost love in that very moment. The crowd was to the hilt. The execution of each song was done with passion, but a new untitled song charmed the crowd in a Pekarek/Schultz duet.

The Lumineers had fun with their music. They alternated instruments, at some moments playing acoustic and at other times, electric. They engaged the crowd, queuing them to clap or sing along making a concerted effort to be just a little bit different from their self-titled debut album. Closing the set with “Flapper Girl”, it would seem the charisma of The Lumineers transformed Upstate Concert Hall into a speak-easy with a modern twist; they encored with the Talking Heads’, “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody).”

December 21, 2012
Floodwood at Kirkland Arts Center, Clinton, December 14th

For the second year in a row, Floodwood played a holiday show at the Kirkland Arts Center (KAC), in Clinton. I regrettably missed the show last year and was determined not to miss it again. The KAC is an intimate venue and ticketing was capped at 150 people, providing a truly unique experience to those lucky to be in attendance.

Floodwood at MVCC

Floodwood has been picking up steam since their founding in September of last year, with appearances both locally and throughout the northeast. Describing themselves as a “progressive string band”, they are a combination of talented musicians specifically from and dedicated to the CNY area.

Tim Herron, a popular local musician famous for his energetic playing and original songs opened the show was the perfect choice to get the crowd ready for Floodwood. Having only ever heard of Tim by word of mouth, I was certainly impressed by the talent and level of musicianship that was brought to the table. As Tim closed his set, he brought up Jason Barady, a tremendous mandolin player, and together burst into an upbeat rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Hey You”. The KAC was full of a diverse mix of folks ready to see Floodwood. Family, friends, old and young, locals and those that made a special trip for the show; it felt much more like a party at someone’s awesome art filled home, than a concert.

Some of Floodwood’s songs were familiar and some new to me. “Long Way to Virginia” is one of my favorites and I was pleased to hear it. They even busted out a Christmas tune!! As a long time moe. fan, I couldn’t help but hear some similarities, specifically with “Magnolia Road”- is this not “Tambourine”? – Ironically Al explained the following night to his audience in Buffalo how the song came about. He noted that it was originally used as an instrumental intro to “Tambourine”, which then morphed into another song called “Green”, and then he collaborated with another musician, forming “Magnolia Road”. Al explains it better, but you get the point.

While the idea of a side project with Al Schnier and Vinnie Amico, both of the aforementioned jam band originally peaked my interest in Floodwood, Nick Piccininni, Zach Fleitz, and Jason Barady keep me coming back time and time again. This is not moe.; Floodwood stands on their own as a high energy and exploratory bluegrass band. Piccininni, with his superb skills on the fiddle, banjo, and on vocals, was my choice for MVP of the night, keeping the crowd young and old alike dancing.

Closing with an explosive “Cumberland Blues”, Fleitz, and Barady had a wonderfully energetic duel. I overheard one of the youngest attendees clearly amazed by the performance, ask his mom, “What are they doing up there?” looking for explanation of the frenetic pace and heated musicianship, definitely a poignant moment.

Coming back on for an encore, Floodwood was joined by Diane Schnier, Al’s wife, (who is also a talented musician in her own right) and Tim Herron, for a sweet and soulful rendition of the Neil Young classic, “Helpless”. This was a wonderful night full of great people and memorable music, and I hope that the KAC can continue the tradition for years to come.

December 20, 2012
Hearing Aide: Dopapod “Redivider”

Dopapod, the palindrome-inclined quartet from Boston who have risen to quickly become a sought after late-night festival act (their StrangeCreek set in the cabin was a packed funk sauna) and continue to show that their studio work is tandem to their live shows. After Drawn Onward was released in 2011, the next chapter of Dopapod was received with great enthusiasm as they fanned out on tours across the country, unleashing one of the best kept secrets of the Northeast onto the country. Redivider is a powerful follow up that showcases the growth and musical maturity of Dopapod, in addition to a mesh of funk, electronic, jam and progrock genres to appeal to all, especially those who enjoy great music and love to dance their asses off.

For starters, there are three short interlude tracks, “Get to the Disc”, “Ooze Weapon” and “Fry the Gorillas” that keep a wonderful flow to the album, something quite welcome that allows for seamless transition between the tracks. Starting off with “Braindead”, the combo of spooky synthesizers and slick guitar licks make for a track reminiscent of Oysterhead. On “Bubble Brain”, Eli Winderman takes the synthesizer through peaks and valleys and even has a hip hop Dr. Dre feel. While there is a progressive nature to the song, building upon each section towards a fantastic ending, I am most curious to see how this structured instrumental will develop live. Crowds will get worked into a frenzy over “Trapper Keeper”; staying organized in grade school was never this rockin’. Rob Compa’s guitar work would make The New Mastersounds proud, Neal ‘Fro’ Evans’ drums drive the song at 75mph, with the mixing in a little electronic twist perfect polish to this funky number. The next two tracks, both instrumentals, “My Elephant vs. Your Elephant” and “Blast” are intense and soaring, the latter heavy with Rob’s guitar and Chuck Jones’ bass.

Picture a Nintendo game, the music starting off catchy at first, and then delving into some deep and dirty soul in the first half of the tune. Then, the video-game journey brings you key-led towards an abyss… Once “Vol. 3 #86” lands into a third movement, you have the highlight of the album and an incredible song for dancing. When it comes to late night appearances at festivals, this one will be requested for certain.

“STADA” has a spooky intro and classic Dopapod sound, while “Give it a Name” is deceptively slow to start, then drops in Soundgarden-heavy spurts amid goofy schizophrenic musical fun. “Weird Charlie” uses playful bass and accordion keys, and things get WEIRD! An excellent cap to the album, wrapping up great production and great writing by Dopapod.

If you’ve listened to Dopapod before, you’ll want this album. If you’ve seen them at festival, you’ll be well served buying this album. If you have never listened to Dopapod, what are you waiting for? Come join the party!

Key Tracks – Bubble Brain, Trapper Keeper, Vol. 3 #86, Give it a Name, Weird Charlie

Pick up the album at Dopapod.com on December 21st

December 18, 2012
Devon Allman at DBGB’s, Buffalo, December 1st

On December first, Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar (DBGB’s) in Buffalo was proud to welcome back the next generation of the World Famous Allman Brothers Dynasty, Devon Allman. Having just recently finished recording sessions for his first solo album Turquoise, Duke’s was proud to be included in this breakthrough album’s release tour. His album features Myles Weeks on bass and Yonrico Scott on drums, with contributions from North Mississippi Allstars’ Luther Dickinson, Ron Holloway and many others. It’s well worth a listen to hear the next generation of Allmans in true form.

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause when Allman and his band arrived on stage and proceeded to tune their equipment and launched into “When I Left Home”. After the song Devon thanked the crowd for coming out to see him and the band. Allman, who just returned from a European tour with Royal Southern Brotherhood, commented that the band literally just came together the Monday prior to the show, with some of these members having just met that day for the first time.

Surprisingly, for having known each other for such a brief period and with limited time to practice, this band sounded incredible. Allman showed his ability from the start on the guitar with incredible pinpoint fretwork and powerful soulful vocals that took his songs elsewhere altogether. Finding inspiration in a wealth of influences from Memphis soul and the guitar-driven blues-rock of the 1970s to jazz and R&B, Allman infuses his songs with a high-octane performance. After a brief set break, the band returned to the stage to deliver several more songs to the excited audience at DBGB’s. The band, sitting on bar stools for this portion of the show, appeared very relaxed and moved into “Melissa” which brought a thunderous roar from the crowd. The band finished off the night with an encore of “One Way Out”. With a love of music that is obvious, Devon Allman and his band delivered an evening of virtuoso instrumentation and a show that was packed with one great song after another.

Setlist: When I left Home, Set Me Free, Homesick, Strategy, Memphis, Into the Darkness, Torch, Dangerous (bass Solo), Draggin My Hart Around (brief setbreak) Melissa, Turn Off the World, Time Machine, Mahalo

Encore: One Way Out

December 18, 2012
End of the World Shows across Upstate NY on December 21st

It’s the end of the world as we know it, so let’s use that as an excuse to see some live music shows in Upstate New York! On Friday, December 21st, the Mayans, who couldn’t foresee the Spanish coming, have predicted 12/21/2012 as the end of something; probably autumn.

Terrible movies like 2012 have highlighted this and while mass hysteria is always fun to watch, it’s better to celebrate this event with a memorable night out and about. There are quite a few bands planning ‘End of the World’ shows across New York, so here’s a list and links to venues, compiled by Lindsay Jones.

Capital District

Albany

Red Square: Manhattan Project with Convolved

The Bayou Cafe: Conehead Buddha

Lake George

Towers Hall: Capital Zen, Cosmic Dust Bunnies, High Peaks Band, Indigo Sun

North Country

Monopole: Flabberghaster

Syracuse

The Westcott Theater: Project Weather Machine/Timbre Coup

Rochester

Sticky Lips BBQ Juke Joint: Moho Collective

Water Street Music Hall: Donna the Buffalo/Sim Redmond Band

Buffalo

Nietzsche’s: Family Funktion and the Sitar Jams

December 17, 2012
Railroad Earth Announces Camp Railroad 2013

Nestled in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, Full Moon Resort in Big Indian NY will become the home of the initial Camp Railroad, hosted by members of Railroad Earth. From June 10-14, 2013, the band members, their crew and management will come together for an interactive weekend of workshops, jam sessions, individual performances and panel discussions for those aspiring to be musicians, technicians and passionate music lovers.

Camp Railroad is designed to deliver insight into the inner workings of Railroad Earth while giving folks an opportunity to connect with band members in a comfortable, enjoyable, and relaxing backdrop. There is a 150 person limit.

Full Moon Resort offers rustic and cozy indoor accommodations as well as tenting options. Included in the cost will be three gourmet meals per day. There are hiking trails and a spring-fed, olympic sized swimming pool. There are performance spaces, a library, a billiard room, a full service bar, and more.

For more information and registration visit Camp Railroad

December 15, 2012
Ra Ra Riot at UCH, December 11th

If you walked into Upstate Concert Hall on December 11th, you would have found something special. Love was in the air that night, love from the fans, love from Ra Ra Riot and songs from Beta Love, the band’s new album coming out January 22nd.

Syracuse natives, Ra Ra Riot, were a few hours from home when they visited the Capital region on December 11th and friends were there to greet them. Dedicated followers traveled in from Syracuse, Massachusetts and Vermont to catch the upstate band that is in the early stages of a tour that will take them around the U.S. and Canada in support of their new album. The setlist was comprised of a solid mix of familiar songs from their past releases and band new tracks from Beta Love. The audience sang along to the majority of the songs, even the new releases. While most spent their time singing and dancing with each other in front of the state, one concert goer was playing with a lighted square spinning frantically on a rope. Mixed with the live music, it added a magical mood in his little corner of the world.

The band known for their unique indie rock opened with “Too Too Too Fast” with Wes Miles’ charismatic style gearing up the audience for the rest of the show. “Too Too Too Fast” was full of energy and the audience shook loose any cobwebs they might have gotten standing around after opening band Guards finished their powerful set. The set kept moving as Rebecca Zeller moved over to violin for “St. Peter’s Day Festival”. While dedicated Ra Ra Riot fans miss the irreplaceable cellist Alexandra Lawn, who decided to depart the band earlier this year for a different direction, the band filled in with another cellist that kept pace throughout the set; the only significant difference was the lack of stage presence the cellist had hidden away in the far right corner. Bassist Mat Santos and guitarist Milo Bonacci danced along with Wes and Rebecca around the stage keeping the crowd going through the long set that featured seven titles from the upcoming release.

Set List >> Too Too Too Fast, St. Peter’s Day Festival, Angel Please*, Shadowcasting, Oh La, When I Dream*, Binary Mind*, Can You Tell, Too Dramatic, Dance with Me*, For Once*, Run My Mouth, Beta Love*, Ghost

Encore>> I Shut Off*, Boy

* notes songs off the new release, Beta Love

December 14, 2012
Michael Menert & Break Science, Twilight Frequency Tour at Valentine’s, December 8th

Having seen the Brooklynites all over the east and south, I was excited to be able to witness my favorite EDM duo Break Science in a local setting at Valentine’s in Albany. I have caught their act at festivals such as Bear Creek in Live Oak, Florida, Rock n Roll Resort in Kerhonkson, Royal Family Affair in Stratton, Vermont and The Festival of Gnarnia in Beech Mountain, North Carolina and thus, was familiar with how powerful and energetic their performances can be. This would be a night full of juggling and dancing for me; I needed a night to release my stress into the void; I was ready.

Never having seen Paul Basic before, I didn’t know what to expect and I was very pleasantly surprised. His moody soundscapes had the crowd bobbing and jumping in delight. His being a member of PLM, or Pretty Lights Music for the uninitiated, is no surprise to me. Created by none other than producer/DJ Derek Vincent Smith, PLM consistently brings some of the freshest production to the music scene today. Paul Basics set was a taste of what was to come, bringing us on a journey of peaks and ebbs. He dropped the bass in our face with the precision of a seasoned vet. For a taste of his music free downloads are here PrettyLightsMusic.com.

Michael Menert joined Paul Basic for a track to finish his set, then we were given a short interlude. Claiming the stage, Michael started slow and began to amp the crowd more and more. The ever-morphing mass of fans grew during his set and the energy in the room grew with it. Palpable waves of vibration spilled off of the dance floor from speakers and revelers alike. It’s no wonder he was an original member of Pretty Lights. His skills in amping up the crowd were unquestionable. Alas, his set came to a close and another short break was awarded.

The anticipation washed away as Break Science took the stage. A powerful presence, Borham Lee is a keyboardist, programmer, producer and DJ all rolled into one. He has worked with such stars as Wyclef Jean, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Matisyahu, Lauryn Hill, and even Wu Tang Clan. He uses a Nord Stage Keyboard coupled with samples and smooth innovative computer programming to produce a textured ambiance that cannot be reproduced with instruments alone. Adam Deitch has to be one of the busiest drummer/producers in the music scene today. He is the current drummer for the bands Lettuce and Dr. Klaw as well as Break Science. He also has worked with the likes of Ledisi, Talib Kwali, John Scofield, 50 Cent and more.

This night would be the second to last night of their tour and Borham would make it a memorable one, blending Dubstep, Hip-hop, Jazz, Funk, Soul and even Reggae into a swirling forefront for Deitch to lay his consistent and thunderously tight barrage of beats behind. Adam and Borham have a sort of telekinetic bond on stage. With little more than an unemotional nod or glance in either’s direction, they operate almost as if they are separate entities, having just wandered into the same room to create a masterful noise that moves the mind and soul. This set was one that displayed their incredible talents. As the crowd worked its way into a writhing frenzy, I found myself pondering what they could be trying to convey, what message they might be sending into the universe…and I concluded that it was to accentuate the positive: to focus on the here and now and find peace with whatever was found there.

As an encore of sorts, the duo became a trio with Michael Menert joining them onstage to perform some tracks off of their new EP Twilight Frequency. Free Download at breaksciencemusic.com. This was a perfect way to bring the show full circle and to a close. An amazing night, I left exhilarated and satisfied. My juggling and dancing craving satiated, I was ready to take on the world.

December 14, 2012