NYS Music 20​12

Category: News

  • Jimkata releases stellar third album, “Die Digital”

    Jimkata releases stellar third album, “Die Digital”

    Jimkata made their presence known with their debut album Burn my Money and the 2010 follow up Ghosts and Killers, both products of progressive rock and the music of the 80s and 90s on this  quartet of millennials from the heart of New York State. With graduated song writing and more complicated compositions, their new album Die Digital flows seamlessly from beginning to end, well produced and fantastically frenetic.

    “Sweet Glory” begins the album with deep bassy and a sound akin to Disney’s Electrical Parade via chimes played on the sythnethizer, as the band chants Druid-like vocals that set the tone and give you a slight sway from side the side. “Nightshade” accelerates from “Sweet Glory”’s intro, and has an indie/late 80s pop vibe, a remarkably upbeat and dancey track that has high potential when performed live. “Chainstore” pairs neatly with “Nightshade”, however the vocals are ‘less is more’ on this track, letting the music move the song and the lyrics punctuate the rhythm in only the most apt of spots; the synth/drum combo carries you through this menagerie of a song.

    jimkata Die Digital“Electronic Stone” is Smashing Pumpkins-esque while “Low Low” takes the album on a mellower turn; think The Jesus and Mary Chain’s “Snakedriver” with an indie twist. The songs turn into a melodic, full band assemblage in the song’s second half, driving the song to unexpected heights. This track is a huge pleasure to listen to.

    The title track “Die Digital”, another highlight off a purely enjoyable album has deep bass furrows in between the stanzas, where you can hear the keys speak in retort to lines such as “Cause all the best things seem to surface after the worst times. All the worst things seem to come around after the best times”, a musical conversation between musician and instrument. “LegoLand” has a unique Nintendo-style character banter to open the track and then moves into a groovy bass led jam, with chanted lyrics returning for the perfect outro.

    “Girl with the Diamond Tongue”, the darkest track,  carries Freidell’s guitar and makes a larger presence on this track, as layers kick in with samples and hints of trance- style electronica. “American Cars”, a bass-heavy sendoff to the album is an anthem ala “Ghosts and Killers”, with great vocals along with drum/bass dynamic and a driving rhythm as all four combine in perfect synchronization, much like a 90s alternative act hitting the mark; instead of a tune for the disaffected generation, this is a choice album of the next generation.

    Key Tracks: Nightshade, Low Low, Die Digital, American Cars

    Pick up Die Digital here

    Listen to American Cars

    [soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/58746025″ iframe=”true” /]

  • The End Men, Sept 13th at O’Donnels in Utica

    Thursday night of Utica Music and Arts Festival was a wild one from inside the festival camp and as a result, I was fashionably (read: stressfully) late to the start of The End Men’s first show of the 2012 UMAF.  Not a smart move in O’Donnels, as an enthusiastic crowd will indeed surge forward (or back, according to your perspective), boxing the band into the end of the long hallway that is the bar’s layout and causing a truly standing room only vibe.  This crowd was absolutely nothing short of enthusiastic and well they should be.  The End Men, from Brooklyn, haven’t graced a Utica stage since earlier this year at Mardi Gras at The Uptown Theater and we were clamoring hungrily for their gritty, raw, deliciously grungy tunes and gravelly, passionate vocals.

    In keeping with the manifesto of the festival, music and art collided in the unobtrusive, wood paneled room, as a crush of local photographers strained in to get up close and personal shots of Liv and Matthew doing what they do best, hooking a crowd like a fish on a line.  The crowd was star studded by a few fellow musical types too, Randy Niles, and the crew from Ghost and Goblin.  I grabbed a beer and elbowed my way in up close, trapped between Randy, the pool table, and the band.

    This band just draws you in, particularly by their total commitment to what they’re doing.  They live and breathe this music, the rhythm and the lifestyle of creation and sharing and being as rock as possible.  It just is them, inseparable from their beings.  Matthew’s guitar is utterly relentless and there are few things in this life I enjoy more than watching Liv thrash the shit out of a set of drums.  She goes hard, pounding sticks into skins in swinging arcs of movement that catch the eye as much as the sounds catch the ear.  She is equally capable of swinging the eights and finessing around a verse like a jazz drummer as she is to suddenly raise her arms high into the air and pummel with intensity belied by her small frame.  She is one of my very favorite drummers, not only to listen to, but also to watch.

    Matthew himself is no slouch in the intensity department.  His demeanor is amusing, boyish, giving and joyful leaving little doubt that he is living his dream of entertaining people and doing so along side a companion he values and respects.  It’s a tongue in groove type lock down with these two and I think it’s safe to say you’ll not only like the music, but you’ll like the two of them personally an awful lot by the time the set’s done.

    We’ve had a lovely opportunity to watch this band grow over the course of the past couple of years and I’m continually impressed by their progress.  When we first met them as a trio, the music and show-person-ship was totally enjoyable, but what stood out m most was their individual personalities.  This is no longer the case, and I submit anyone passing by on a street or cornered by a friend and made to sit and listen would stop short and stick around, only later to be impressed by how freaking nice they are.  They’ve locked down deep into their niche, a drum and guitar duo unlike most of the rest on the scene.  The first thing setting them apart from the pack is just how talented Liv is on the drums.  So multifaceted and intelligent it’s stunning to watch her work.  Matthew’s vocal is also unique, hovering somewhere between Waits and Springsteen with the perfect amount of rumble and a cavalier attitude of fun and his approach on guitar is, well, it’s fantastic!  A carnival barker over a cacophony of merriment, sound in theory and practice.

    They mugged a little for the photogs, most of which have become personal friends of this duo, with Matt telling a joke or two between songs that amuse and coax the listener to relate.  A straight paparazzi outright flash mob, photographers literally crawled across the floor, over tables, and undulated themselves into spaces you’d not believe just to catch the perfect shot of this magic.  It was a seamless performance and I thought to myself more than once, ‘this is how it’s done.’  I felt gratitude to be able to round out my somewhat frenzied day with a little bit of groundedness.

    You bet I love this band, and I can’t get enough.  Call your local venues and promoters and suggest you cannot live without more of The End Men in your life.  They will recharge your batteries like a jump in a parking lot by the coolest vagabond you ever saw.

    Photos by NVP Photography

  • Hearing Aide: Jeff Bujak “Something Different”

    Hearing Aide: Jeff Bujak “Something Different”

    Jeff Bujak on his latest release Something Different, showcases this electronic pianists creativity with a nice array of rhythms and skillful piano playing throughout. I was drawn in by the initial two studio tracks which served as the perfect warm up to the remainder of the albums extended, live studio tracks.

    Jeff Bujak Something Different

    The table is set with “Raygun” and “Riky,” clean studio efforts layered in samples that are plentiful and well positioned. The transition into the 8 live tracks is seamless as the album works nicely through some shorter live remix tracks, into the more extended live material beginning with the catchy “Nu-Muneh”. I particularly enjoyed the live tandem of “Mutator” and “Sea Monster”, filled with heavy beats and catchy grooves offered generously in each track. Really nice upbeat piano playing make this portion of the release in particular my favorite.

    There are no holes to be heard, but rather a straight forward high energy effort from Jeff Bujak here with track after track that is sure to please.

    Key Tracks: Mutator and Sea Monse=ter

  • An Interview with Keller Williams

    An Interview with Keller Williams

    On the heels of a summer playing shows and festivals throughout the country, both solo and with The Travelin’ McCoury’s, Keller Williams embarks on a cross-country tour that spans much of the rest of the year. We sat down with Keller Williams for an interview to talk about his new album Pick and talk about his style of music and some unique  burning topics that Keller was happy to answer.

    Keller plays September 21st at Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park and September 22 at The Westcott Theater in Syracuse.

    Lauren Lagowski: I gave Pick a good listen a few times through. I’m always impressed with how you marry your humor with your incredible talent on the guitar. Where does the inspiration for much of your lyrics come from?

    Keller Williams: I like to keep things light and fun and not take myself too seriously. I just put myself in the place of the audience, keep things in a positive direction, and the rest is just entertaining myself.

    Lauren: Pick is a unique and awesome bluegrass album that is just a lot of fun to listen to.What was your favorite part of making this album?

    Keller: It’s just beautiful playing with such awesome musicians and the vocals in the group are stellar. It was a fun album to make.

    Lauren: Have you ever considered having a more permanent band or do you like the freedom of switching it up and playing solo when you want?

    Keller: I consider the whole solo looping thing my day job and everything else is just a lot of fun. The freedom and being happy doing both is a beautiful thing. Playing solo is fun and makes me want to play with other musicians and playing in groups makes me want to play solo. It just keeps things interesting for everyone involved.

    Lauren: I feel as though switching it up and dipping your toes in different genres has helped you develop as an artist..would you agree?

    Keller: Definitely. I like playing dabbling in different genres. In fact this winter I’ll be playing with a six-piece R&B group that I assembled. We started messing around with things in the studio and it’s really funky. I’m really excited to explore that more.

    Lauren: That sounds awesome! Where is your favorite place in this wide world to play?

    Keller: I’ve played at a lot of amazing places. I love playing Red Rocks and I love playing at The Egg in Albany, there’s so many great ones.

    Lauren: Pick is a unique and awesome bluegrass album that is just a lot of fun to listen to.What was your favorite part of making this album? It’s just beautiful playing with such awesome musicians and the vocals in the group are stellar. It was a fun album to make.

    Lauren: Why does it seem all your album titles are one word? Is there a purpose or did it just happen like that?

    Keller: Not really. I just like to keep things simple and express in one word, what the album is all about. No guess work for the listener.

    Lauren: We are excited to welcome you back to Upstate New York. Do you have any special memories of this part of country?

    Keller: I’ve played so many great festivals in this part of the country. I have so many great memories of playing out this way. You can’t beat the sunny, warm days and the cool nights with the fans sticking it out and having fun all the while.

    Lauren: You obviously have some bluegrass roots. What are some of your other musical influences and genres that really inspire you?

    Keller: Victor Wooten, Jaco Pastorius, The Grateful Dead are all major influences in my musical sphere. Michael Hedges is another big one.

    Lauren: Who would you like to work with in the future?

    Keller: I’d love to work with the guys of Soulive and also The Slip. I think they’re all really talented and put out some amazing music.

    Lauren: You get to play with a lot of great musicians. What’s your favorite on-stage collaboration you’ve been apart of?

    Keller: I guess the one the sticks out in my mind right now was recently at NedFest in Nederland, Colorado where I played with my friends Steve Kimock, Kyle Hollingsworth, and Dave Watts.

    For news and tourdates, visit Keller Williams’ website.

  • We Came, We Saw, We Chilled! Catskill Chill Music Festival 2012

    This was my first time attending the 3rd annual Catskill Chill, a 3-day, 3-night music festival packed weekend located at Camp Minglewood in Hancock, NY. By fate, I immediately found my friends out of the other 5,000 people that attended the festival. Each year, the Chill grows and extends the family to include even more outgoing, fun loving people. The concert-goers ranged from all ages, showing that people of any generation can appreciate great music.

    Friday September 7th

    Wasting no time after settling in, I rushed to catch the first band of the weekend, Caravan of Thieves. The four members each played stringed instruments with a unique percussion set behind them, consisting of large buckets and empty paint cans. Caravan of Thieves was a great way to ease into the weekend, helping to loosen up the dancing muscles after being stuck in a car. The band sent out gypsy melodies full of swing and mischief, energizing the crowd by playing Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” as well as Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” and “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees. JGB with Melvin Seals took the Main Stage paying tribute to Jerry Garcia by playing his songs and staying faithful to his style. Intense energy radiated from the organ, especially during “My Sisters and Brothers.” The music of JGB was a breath of fresh air with everyone praising the groove and throwing their hands up to rejoice that the weekend had arrived. We all were here, it was finally ok to breathe and boogie down.

    DrFameus, better known as the drummer from The Disco Biscuits, Allen Aucion, threw down some serious beats on the B Stage. DrFameus played drums and worked off computers at the same time, creating a glorious range of electronic music with plenty of bass. It was his first time at the festival and hopefully not his last. Kung Fu’s late night set elicited positive responses from fans, including “Kung Fu was amazing! A jazzy improv jam band with funky… costumes. Chris Michetti from Conspirator came and joined them and tore his guitar apart.”

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYsCldy6Xu0&w=560&h=315]

    Saturday September 8th

    Consider the Source was the first to take the Main Stage on Saturday and featured multiple guest appearances throughout the show. The sound wave sorcerers brought chills to the crowd with their exotic, funky rock. Frank and Ryan Members of Shwizz, jammed out on one of the songs. John from FiKus joined the band on trumpet. Rob and Tim from Kung Fu came in on the second to last song. Consider the Source gave the audience a choice of two short songs or one long last song, the response was unanimous for a long jam.

    After Consider the Source ended at 1:40pm, announcements came on the loudspeakers that there was a tornado warning for the area. All concert goers had to be inside of the stage areas or a cabin and the music was going to be put on hold. People quickly stashed to bring any items inside to nearby friends cabins and prepared to wait out the storm. The rain fell hard for only a few minutes but continued for about 2 hours and the wind picked up but not to the extreme. The weather finally calmed down and word spread that the music would resume at 4:30pm. The schedule would pick up where it left off, but each set would be shortened to provide each artist a chance to perform.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klnzvEn4Hwg&w=560&h=315]

    A friend had recommended that I make time during the festival to check out the Alan Evans Trio. The trifecta is led by Alan Evans from Soulive on drums, with Beau Sasser from Akashic Record playing the Organ and Danny Mayer from On The Spot Trio on Guitar. Alan Evans Trio was our salvation after the storm. The fans were soaked but smiling after hearing “Baby, take my hand.”  The soulful organ, funky beats and groovy guitar was just what the crowd needed to forget the rain delay and to turn the party back on. With only 10 minutes left in the set, Alan asked if they should play two short songs or one long song,  the crowd again cheered for one long song. A new song by the group, “Cosmic Hazeldust” was inspired by Eddie Hazzo and Jimi Hendrix, was a great set closer and psychedelic music gold. One of my favorite discoveries of the weekend was The Indobox, a great rock dance group who quickly won me and the rest of the crowd over just after their first song, “Colours”. The Indobox played a few songs off their new album, Dig Safe, which was released back in March and quickly flew off their merch table. The band hailing from Boston, MA sounded similar to a band like Passion Pit. The music was full of ranging synth beats, catchy pop lyrics and groovy guitar jams especially during “Please don’t say no!” and “Covering up the sky”. The Indobox has a mechanical sound, each instrument working perfectly in sync with the others and well-constructed.

    Shwizz was the first act I caught playing at the Club Chill stage. The Club Chill is on top of the festival hill and is on the one side of the Tunnel of Light, a pathway full of strung up lights. The stage is in an enclosed building with red stadium benches and a big dance pit, a very unexpected and thrilling venue. My friends and I had great timing by walking in just as the band had started to play Frank Zappa’s “City of Tiny Lights.”  Followed later on by a song they said was inspired by their friends, “Slow Down” and stated that they were happy to be a part of the ever growing Catskill Chill Family. Shwizz ended the set with Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar.” During the show, Shwizz had the chance to show off their rockin wild guitar solos and fusion of funky electronic jazz beats. Frankie Coda, the bass player had this to say, “The festival was magical. It has grown into one hell of a family over the past 3 years. The Club Chill set was a ton of fun. The late night cabin jams were off the charts and the vibes at this festival are something special. We are looking forward to the next one.”

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdPN1CS31f4&w=560&h=315]

    Rumor had spread over the weekend that one of Ithaca’s top electronic rock bands, SolAris was going to perform on their cabin porch on Saturday. The 3-piece all instrumental trio grew a crowd once their light show went off and their music started oozing over the camp grounds. During the performance of their original song, “Harkonnen”, drummer Daniel Lyon’s beats were so hot he was literally steaming. Jared Raphel was glued to the keys as he electrified the crowd with his notes and Vinny Naro shredded on his deep bass solos. Besides playing Radar and Cosmo, SolAris used funk and trance house music to make a serious improvisation set.

    Yonder Mountain String Band was this year’s main headliner and my first time seeing this band from Colorado; after Saturday night on the main stage, it will not be my last. YMSB’s music calls to you like the open road, giving you a need for adventure and an aching in your heart. The set started with an intense energetic song called “Casualty” at which time the band stated before how amped they were to be playing in Upstate New York. The acoustic foursome blasted into “Heading back to Colorado” to which I’m surprised their strings didn’t break from the hardcore strumming they were all doing. Yonder took some time to thank everyone at the Catskill Chill for putting on such a great festival and providing everyone with such a diverse lineup. They felt that it was “a force to be reckoned with” and that “you’ll never know what you’re going to get.”  YMSB commended the audience for having such a wide taste in music and for discovering new artists that weekend. Their fast paced blue grass tunes lead us into “Another Day” followed by “On the Run” during which they added a jam singing about the festival. The crowd went wild as they sang, “Tent to tent, RV to RV, it’s all about variety!”

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU75CS-WUrs&w=560&h=315]

    Particle had travelled all the way from California to play at one of their favorite festivals, The Catskill Chill and with knowing this, no one wanted to miss their last night set on the main stage. The floor and stadium benches were packed and rowdy with excitement. As soon as the lights went out, fire dancers ignited the VIP standing area and neon glow sticks were in full force. Particle wasted no time by starting the show with “Triple Threat” and “The Golden Gator” both amping up the already crazed crowd. After their original grooves, Particle took the crowd on a Pink Floyd wonder ride consisting of “Have A Cigar” into “One Of These Days” and directly into “Pigs.” The flow and segway into the jams was spot on and had shown the crowd that is was not the same Particle back in 2005. Ending the set with “Ed+Molly”, an upbeat hard electronic rock groove,  left my mind numb.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl0Gu3ddNJk&w=560&h=315]

    After the serious jams from Particle, I headed back to my tent while my friends checked out Wyllys at the Club Chill late night set. Wyllys was described to me as “it’s like taking a child out of Disney movie, kicking and screaming and throwing them in a deep, dark dungeon and giving them only electronic music equipment to play with.” Anytime Wyllys is on a festival line up, don’t miss out on the dance party throw down that erupts.

    Sunday September 9th

    The weekend was finally coming to an end and there was still more music to be heard. Timbre Coup opened up the B Stage that afternoon to blue skies and a cheerful crowd. One of the first songs, “August” was off their new album Knuckles and Valleys, providing simple, inspiring lyrics and a Zen like sound. There was much excitement for fans as Timbre Coup busted out a rendition of the New Deal’s “Deep Son”. Fans of the New Deal claimed that Timbre Coup provided a great cover and it was one of the best of the weekend. This was followed by “Arnold Schwarzenegger”, a more laid back, dark raging guitar jam.off the album, Check out This!

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKx0t4rFOQo&w=560&h=315]

    There was much hype built up about the band, The McLovins, a young quartet from Connecticut who knew how to make the crowd dance. McLovins opened with “TETOP”, a soft, jazzy jam that instantly showed me that The McLovins did have as much talent as everyone said they had. It was incredible to watch such young musicians create jams with such soul and nature flow.  Fans described “Tokyo Tea” as their most badass song. The McLovins ended their set with the ever popular Grateful Dead’s “Shakedown Street” and Dylan’s “The Mighty Quinn”.

    I grossly underestimated how spectacular Cornmeal was going to be.  The Bluegrass rock/Jamgrass group ignited Sunday night with a fitting farewell festival performance. Cornmeal brought fierce country energy to the crowd, with plenty of foot stomping and non-stop cheering. One of the most memorable songs was “I’m Coming Home” containing an all-consuming, strong jam that I never saw coming or thought possible from a bluegrass band. Followed by that was, “When the Worlds Got you Down” an enchanting melody that has you singing along instantly, even the first timers. The encore was “Long Hard Road” once again, displaying their amazing finger picking skills, their goddess of a fiddle player, Allie Kral, showcasing her speedy rhythms; Cornmeal is definitely a band worth following. The perfect Cornmeal follow up was at Acoustic Junction in the middle of the camp grounds. The Brummy Brothers quickly drew a crowd with their upbeat original bluegrass tunes as well as modern pop hits such as “Fuck You” by Cee Lo Green. My favorite song of their’s that I can’t get out of my head is “Weed, Whiskey, Women” due to the beautiful harmonies and the repeating chorus line, “Nothing like being home, drunk, stoned and laughing.” The B Brothers are sure to have a bright future ahead of them with their attention grabbing talent.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpysQri2AFs&w=560&h=315]

    Possibly the biggest excitement built up for the day was for Lotus.The set started with the ever popular, beeps and boops of “Suitcases.” A mellow start that quickly picked up speed from the heavy dance beats pumping out the speakers. “Livingston Storm” picked up the crowd with the funky guitar notes and rolled them over into “Dowrn”, the groovy electronic tune that had everyone dancing. One of the highlights for fans was “Tip of the Tounge” taking to the next level with exotic drumming and spacdy guitar riffs. The popular set closer was “128”, which shredded faces with fast rhythm and serious synths.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIlpPuEgJPo&w=560&h=315]

    At the end of the weekend, it made total sense to name the festival Catskill Chill. The laidback attitudes and friendly nature of everyone, made the festival that much more relaxed and enjoyable. This was another successful year that proved the Catskill Chill family are true party professionals. The Catskill Chill dished out everything you could want in a festival and much more. I know that I am already counting down the days until next year’s Chill.

  • Master Thieves talk about their latest release ‘Nature of Gravity’

    A chance to sit down with three of the members of Master Thieves – though a wonderful time – felt far too brief. Chuck Dorgan (guitar/vocals), was joined by vocalist Denise Shuart, as well as bassist and vocalist Jacob Alaniz. Sitting across from the three you can feel the closeness, care and admiration they have for one other. That same feeling is also palpable on stage with all five members, which they all agree lends to the joy of creating and performing music together.

    Dorgan is the first to admit that putting a band together is no easy task, one that takes patience and perseverance. Lately, from what this writer has seen, that patience is finally paying off. Jokingly, he states, “I think the band is on version 4.2.,” noting that he first formed the group in 2006 with an entirely different set of members. There never seemed to be a “meeting of the minds,” however, when it came to the musical aspect.

    Dorgan met Shuart at the Syracuse-based Shenanigan’s during an open mic hosted by a mutual friend in 2007. From there they decided to perform an open mic at Shifty’s, and shortly after the guitarist decided to bring her into the fold, after getting on stage for a tune or two. Shuart herself is a classically trained vocalist (opera) and also studied viola and violin, always a treat to see brought out for a song or two during a gig. With musical influences such as Pat Benetar and K.D. Tundstall, Shuart taken the time to learn the background of the singers she emulates and was surprised to find out they are classically trained – or the product of classically trained parents – as she was.  Shuart also laughingly points out that singing in a band like Master Thieves is extremely enjoyable. It’s a credit to her talent and dedication as the only woman in a group of musically talented men and the ensemble, as a whole, has a great amount of respect for one other.

    Drummer Eric Tozer, first asked to join a bluegrass band due to Dorgan’s reluctance with the way things were going with the Thieves, subsequently joined the band. It was an easy transition for the drummer – who joined in the fall of 2009 – bringing along some straight-up funk, with influences including greats such as Galactic, James Brown, Karl Denson, the Meters and the Greyboy Allstars, just to name a few. Songs he would like the band to tackle, said Tozer Deep Banana Blackout’s “God Made You Funky”. And while the summer of 2012 has been a bit dry for the band (as far as gigs go), Tozer did get to marry the love of his life, wife Renee. Now that the dust has settled, however, the band is ready to knock some socks off.

    Guitarist Brian Golden, of Norwich, NY, Tozer’s best friend, best man and long-time fellow musician, was brought into the fold shortly after the group’s then-lead guitarist exited to pursue other avenues. Golden, said Dorgan,  brings “a very bluesy feel to his music,” much of which is influenced by the artistry of  Hendrix, Clapton, Derek Trucks and Stevie Ray Vaughan, to name a few. As for a tune Golden would like to cover with the group … Hendrix’s “Bold As Love.” The band, added Dorgan, would love to see its lead guitarist relocate to the Syracuse area (where the various other members are based), a sentiment shared by Golden himself.

    Bassist Jake Alaniz, who stepped in at a crucial time in the band’s development (the recording of its first album, Robbing the Blind) said it was tough to step in and re-record someone else’s bass lines, yet it was necessary for consistency in the album. Once completed, Dorgan said it was like trying to give up a cute puppy; it was just too hard to do. Alaniz’s bandmates all agreed it only made sense to add the inspirational bassist to the group. Alaniz – who also performs with the popular CNY, Grateful Dread tribute band Dark Hollow – has been more than willing to share his musical talents. With a strong background in music – much thanks to his father the late David ‘Ese’ Alaniz – Alaniz said he finds inspiration in all different types of music, encompassing a wide range of artists. When asked, he couldn’t name just one song he would love to cover, because it changes so often. He did say, however, that he walked into rehearsal one day and proclaimed the band needed a reggae song, a genre that’s a clear focus on the group’s latest release, Nature of Gravity.

    A true sign of a natural leader, Dorgan spent most of the interview highlighting his fellow bandmates’ talents. To be fair, Master Thieves is a labor of love for the guitarist, singer and songwriter. His inspiration, he added, was The Band, and he modeled much of his hopes on what the band could accomplish on that group’s success. Other inspirations? The Grateful Dead, Phish, and every other band that takes the stage knowing that soul – more than anything – makes for good music.

    On Nature of Gravity, the band also has two other members who step-in for much of the album. Young saxophonist and guitarist Mikey Dufresne (I was very impressed considering he is in his mid to late teens) and keyboardist Mark Nanni (known best for his work with Los Blancos) both added their talent to the new release; something that truly creates an amazing, dynamic sound. And while Master Thieves’ debut recording, the aforementioned Robbing the Blind, was a good start, Nature of Gravity is much more of a collaborative effort, said Dorgan. From blues to rock, reggae to Americana, the songs have the ability to make you laugh, cry or inspire one to dance (or hula hoop!)

    Camaraderie, said Shuart, is the most important element of the band.

    “We can be playing … and we know each other well enough to know that each member is given the ability to have some freedom to freestyle, but when necessary there are moments to hold back,” she added. “Yet there is never a feeling that we are stepping on each others’ toes. When there is a disagreement, the issue is dealt with and [we] move on. The band works very hard to make sure they know the sound we are going for … we thoroughly practice, and are fully prepared, before stepping into the studio.”

    Dorgan said he feels that Subcat Studios really enjoys having the band record there because its members arrive “fully prepared to knock out each tune. The Nature of Gravity CD release party, kindly hosted at the Redhouse, was a wonderful experience, said the band’s members (during the show, the band teased fans by telling them about a seventeen minute jam near the end of the album, what I consider the icing on the already rich red velvet cake).

    Most of all there is a palpable sense of love, joy and kinship shared among this group that makes it feel more like a tight-knit – and functional – family unit. Such feelings are translated beautifully to their music and their performances.

    The band has a few gigs lined up this month:
    September 7th, 9:30pm @ Limp Lizard in Liverpool NY
    September 15th , pm @ 58 Main in Brockport NY (Dorgan’s hometown)
    September 22nd @Tipp Hill Music Fest time TBA

    The band has a few favorite places they like to play in the CNY area by the way, including The Westcott Theater, Bull and Bear, Thunderbird Lanes and Coleman’s. The band is hoping to make it to more locations around CNY, such as Al’s Wine and Whiskey Lounge and Dinosaur BBQ, among many others. The Thieves most recent CD is on sale at the Soundgarden (and at every gig they play), and don’t forget to pick up your very own t-shirt (and other merchandise) that the group has for sale. Be sure to look up Master Thieves on Facebook and Reverb Nation to catch a taste of the group’s unique sound and stay up to date with what’s going on by visiting masterthieves.net

    by Ashleigh Dunseath

  • David Gans at DBGB’s, August 19, 2012

    David Gans at DBGB’s, August 19, 2012

    After a busy summer concert schedule, the dog days of summer upon us and winding things down, David Gans snuck in a nice little Sunday date on short notice at DBGB’s in Buffalo only six weeks after playing his first ever gig in town; quite a feat for this musician who hails from Oakland, CA and generally plays the east coast festival circuit. Not only are Sundays in Buffalo generally mellow (even Downtown), an intimate solo acoustic gig in Buffalo’s historic Allentown District provided the perfect setting for this singer/songwriter and Grateful Dead historian to sing and strum his tales.

    david gans DBGB'sWhat was most surprising about this gig for me was it being scheduled on the heels of David’s mid-summer July 8th show at Papa Bear’s Campground just outside of Buffalo, a gig I couldn’t make due to conflicts with Phish’s 3-night stand at SPAC that weekend, which left me most disappointed. You see, growing up a young Deadhead in Buffalo, David was a big inspiration. Every Sunday night I would head off to bed during my high school years in the early 90’s to David’s nationally syndicated Grateful Dead hour. Once a week I fell asleep to Gans soothing voice as he treated us to his choice selections of not only vintage, but hot off the tour new Grateful Dead recordings, and closed with his unforgettable “I’ll meet you back here next week” after each program.

    Amongst the changes and adjustments many of us went through when Jerry Garcia passed away in 1995, David Gans went through a life changing phase as well, and that was a new found focus on making music again, something he did long before being a music journalist. My respect for his passionate and tireless work as a radio host, journalist and author rolled over seamlessly for me to his music. Like an old friend you’d trusted and respected for so long., you just knew it’d be right. Having been waiting a decade or more to see Gans perform live, I was stoked to say the least.

    After only collecting CD releases and live shows I could find on etree and the Live Music Archive, I arrived early for the matinee performance, to find David at the venue remote broadcasting live on his weekly satellite radio program on Sirius/XM Grateful Dead Channel’s ‘Tales From the Golden Road’, which he co-hosts with Dead historian Gary Lambert. The program centers around all things in the extended Grateful Dead community and did offer a small opportunity for David to plug the show and his newly discovered enjoyment for the Buffalo area.

    DBGB’s was the perfect venue for this this gig. Owned by a longtime Buffalo restaurateur family with a passion for live music and delivering a classy experience, this newly opened bar, restaurant and live music venue with a nice sounding room offered a nice intimate setting. Within 30 minutes of signing off the air waves, David was tuned up and ready to get going. Being an under promoted gig on short notice, the room was not over crowded, but those there were very energetic and anxiously anticipating the performance. This setting also allowed for me to setup shop just 10 feet from the stage dead front center, to record the audio of the show.

    “Reuben and Cerise” kicked things off perfectly by request with Gans singing the beautiful Garcia/Hunter extended verse number to an excited audience. This segued nicely into a soulful rendition of “Me and Bobby McGee”. In addition to having excellent command over his guitar and precise vocals I walked away from the gig most impressed by Gans guitar looping, which was first showcased this night on the instrumental “Afterbird” and led to a perfectly executed segue into “Loser”, one of the more powerful tracks of the night. In a more traditional early format of the tune, it was delivered with great soul and energy, much to the audiences delight. A number that sounded so good, the urge to sing a long was curbed by the desire to listen, with everyone seemingly focused. “Down to Eugene” showcased Gans skilled fingerpicking, and has always been one of his signature songs to me, one I associate his playing and singing to. This has been a regular in Gans rotation from early on, and his arrangement of the Jim Page lyrics to this song is quite skillful.

    The next transition of the night with some perfectly structured looping included the Gans/Hunter original “Like A Dog”, which found it’s way to “Terrapin Station”, one of the longer tracks of the night. Gans delivered with passion and precision, crafting his way through the epic tune and concluding with a nice one-man jam. “Terrapin” segued into a well executed run through of “Cassidy’s Cat”, with it’s signature unmistakable groove. The rest of the set is comprised of originals and some Grateful Dead covers, and included a well placed rendition of the 60’s anthem “Eve of Destruction”. The show wound down with a punchy rearranged version of “New Speedway Boogie”, into “Brokedown Palace” and finished with David’s “Life is a Jam”, written for his passion of Grateful Dead music and included a nice spacey jam teasing its way into a fine “Norwegian Wood” to close the show.

    One thing I come to expect with live music after so many years, performers and shows, is a benchmark of a performer executing their time on stage with passion. Without passion for the music and performance, whether the musician has it for their music or not, the show will always come off half hearted to me. One thing for certain when seeing David Gans perform is his passion for the music emanates through to the audience. Not only has Gans mastered his original love of making music over the past 15 years, but he has done so while maintaining a fresh energy and level of passion that any audience member would want from a musician live in concert.

    Gans performed later in the evening at DBGB’s with Buffalo’s own Garcia Grass Band.

    Download Lenny Stubbe’s recording

    Setlist: Reuben and Cerise > Me and Bobby McGee, Afterbird > Loser, Down to Eugene, Stagger Lee , Like A Dog> Terrapin Station > Cassidy’s Cat, Therapy Blues, Eve of Destruction > It’s Gonna Get Better, Lazy River Road, New Speedway Boogie > Brokedown Palace, Life Is A Jam > Norwegian Wood

    Review by: Lenny Stubbe, Buffalo, NY of dead-phish.com Follow on Twitter at @lastubbe

  • The Utica Music and Arts Festival explores new ways to bring the region together

    A little something extra at this year’s Utica Music and Arts Festival!  The 1st Annual Industry Meet and Greet will be held at The Radisson Hotel, Friday, September 14th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

    Every year, the organizing committee of the Utica Music and Arts Festival strives to create an experience not only enjoyable, but valuable to the artists we call family and the environment that makes or breaks them.  This year we take the time, in our 5th turn around the sun, to remember a commitment we hold dear: networking.

    More than a festival experience, the UMAF has been structured from its inception to provide a plethora of opportunities for artists to meet and mingle with each other, make lasting connections with other artists they can continue to work with, form touring caravans, gig share, and join forces in a variety of ways.  We desire strongly that everyone cooperate and collaborate in an effort to become increasingly more self sustainable in a changing industry. The committee enthusiastically explores all options available to assist our family of artists in rebooking locally and attempts to place them in performance spaces most suited to that end.  Venturing further beyond that threshold, this year the team has conceptualized a pilot Industry Meet and Greet which will occur on Friday, September 14, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at festival headquarters, The Radisson.

    All performers are invited to attend and gain access to professionals who may be able to advance your presence in Central New York.  We are happy to provide them for perusal should you have them in a compatible format.  This includes demos, business cards, download cards and other materials linking to online content, press kits both digital and physical, and mailing list information.

    Members of the industry in the niches of booking, talent buying, press, and promotion have been invited to attend this two hour, informal gathering and to mingle with each other and our artist roster, exchange materials and contact information, and discuss strategies for continued success and experience in The Mohawk Valley and outlying points of New York State.  Invitations have are being sent out to specifically identified industry persons and these invitations will entitle their recipients to access any and all of the performances of over 200 artists over 3 days in Utica, NY and our first annual Industry Meet and Greet.  We mean to keep this informally structured, but are here to facilitate needs you may anticipate or encounter.  This even will foster increased cooperation between independent agencies operating in the Central and Upstate New York region so that we may all be successful in the endeavors that move us.

    Please remember to keep on the cutting edge of information regarding the UMAF by checking the official website, joining our Google Plus Circle, and ‘liking’ our Facebook Page.

    This embedded presentation will provide a few more details, as will the article available on the festival’s website.

    Let’s prove you can do business, earn your living, and have a great time all at the same time and let’s explore even more ways we can cooperate together at this year’s UMAF!

  • Black Abbey and Hair of the Dog on The Captain J.P. Cruise Line

    Friday August 24th, two local Irish rock bands set sail down the Hudson River on The Captain J.P. Cruise Line. It was an ideal summer evening, with soft breezes as passengers floated by layers of landscape, adrift on the water. The Captain J.P. is one of the largest cruise ships in the capital area, with the space to accommodate 600 passengers and can make for one heck of a party. Black Abbey occupied the 2nd floor outdoor patio underneath the stars, while Hair of the Dog had the indoor, air conditioned 3rd floor.

    This was Black Abbey’s 3rd year playing aboard The Captain J.P. and said it was the events biggest crowd yet. This Celtic and Contemporary Rock group from Saratoga Springs, NY is made up of Rick Russo on guitar, Mark Lewis playing fiddle, Les Swinton on bass and Robert Daly on drums. They have a desire to bring classic Irish tunes as well as fresh hits to their audience. Black Abbey got the night rolling with “Whiskey in the Jar” and “Shippin’ off to Boston.” The band took advantage in between songs to crack jokes with each other as well as the audience, encouraging laughter and more dancing. Mark Lewis took a break from fiddle playing to sing “Run Around” by Blues Traveler. A pleasant surprise was hearing “Bones of Lazarus” by moe, the harmonization of which would have made moe. proud.

    Hair of the Dog has been playing together for almost 20 years and they show no sign of slowing down. Heavy on the bass, was Rick Bedrosian, Mike DeAngelis playing acoustic guitar, John Haggerty strumming the banjo, Larry Packer blasting the fiddle, Eric Finn rocking the electric guitar and Scott Apicelli playing drums, makes up the Irish harmonizing storm that gets everyone on the dance floor. After a few drinks and songs, everyone is an Irish step dancer. One of the highlights was Eric Clapton’s “Lay Down Sally” which was jammed outside of the box. It wasn’t just strictly textbook Eric Clapton with an Irish twist, the band had made the song their own, not accomplished with every band who covers classic rock. Each band member has their own individual talent that comes shining thru and blends beautifully with the rest of the group. One of the songs that ended the night was the classic Irish tune, “Drunken Sailor” which played into the lyric, “Give ’em a hair of the dog that bit him!” Whether it’s a night full of music or enjoying a drink or two, maybe even both, everyone needs a bit of the Hair of the Dog.

    For details about The Captain J.P. Cruise line, go to their website, captainjp.com. Like Black Abbey on Facebook for more show dates. For more information on Hair of the Dog, visit their website 

  • Oaktoberfest featuring Conehead Buddha, The Deadbeats and Jerkwater Ruckus coming to Speculator on September 15th

    Oaktoberfest featuring Conehead Buddha, The Deadbeats and Jerkwater Ruckus coming to Speculator on September 15th

    Next weekend is a celebration of great music and great beer in the mountains of the Adirondacks, featuring two sets each of The Deadbeats, Jerkwater Ruckus & Conehead Buddha! Three of Albany’s storied bands will take the stage at Oaktoberfest during the day and evening at Oak Mountain in Speculator, NY with beer specials from Saranac, Labatt Blue Light, Becks & Blue Moon.

    OaktoberfestOn Saturday, September 15th, the gates open at 11am with music starting at 12 noon. In between each set, kids will have an opportunity to play and dance to their own music in the kids tent, provided by Matt Yaeger and Music Together. The base lodge and bar will be open for all sorts of food and drinks. A beer truck will be on premises ready to serve $2.50 12oz beers.

    Cost of tickets is $30 in advance or $35 the day of the show, with RV Passes costing $25. You can pick up your pre-sale tickets at oakmountainski.com/oak. Camping is provided with ticket price and is a short walk from the parking lot. The chairlift will be open for rides!

    Merchandise vendors are welcome to Oak Mountain, all for the price of admission (no promoter cut). Oaktoberfest is rain or shine and please, no glass or glass bottles on site.

    See you on the mountain!