NYS Music 20​12

Category: Central NY

  • Quick Glance: Promising Coraline

    Quick Glance: Promising Coraline Genre: Metal/Post-Hardcore

    I enjoy hearing bands in the early stages, before egos, creative differences, and obsession with studio perfection get in the way. It’s a rare thing to see a band in the conception period, and that’s how I got my first look at Promising Coraline. The songs they have up on their page are pretty poorly produced, but they make up for it by showing variety. They have an acoustic cover, a very down-tempo metal intro song, and a pop-punk/metal mix song. For having such poor production, they sure do get across what they have to offer. Their guitar work is very good, and the drums are pretty spot-on for the most part. The vocals have some room for improvement, but the low screams are pretty brutal. This is one of those bands that could definitely utilize glossy production for their pop-punk sound, so it’s interesting to hear them stripped down and raw. They are fairly new and have some work to do, but I see a lot of promise with this band. Most of the hardcore bands around here are trying so hard to be the heaviest one, outscreaming each other and going from breakdown to breakdown. It’s interesting to see a band go the other way for a change. Granted, they do get very low and pretty brutal at points, but there’s something very earnest about the sound they are aiming for. I liked hearing them do an acoustic song too because it shows a vulnerability that not a lot of bands are willing to show. In my opinion, you have to be willing to branch out and do some different things in order to stand out in such a great local music scene, and I think Promising Coraline are trying to do just that. They may not be for everybody just yet, but in time, I have a feeling that they are going to be a very well-known band in the area with a respectable following. From there, it’s up to them and their determination.

    You can check out Promising Coraline here:

    https://www.facebook.com/promisingcoraline

    Rock on 315!

    -Steve Sbiroli, 315 Music Reviews (Upstate Metal), BTLYAP

    https://www.facebook.com/315MusicReviews

  • EP Review: “From This Day Forth” by FROM THIS DAY FORTH

    EP Review: “From This Day Forth” by From This Day Forth Genre: Prog-Metalcor

    I’m not just saying this because they’re breaking up: From This Day Forth’s self-titled EP is literally perfect. This EP has been hyped up to be an incredible one for the past few months, so I went into it very skeptical. Of course, I had reviewed their debut EP “Ascension”, and thought it was great, so I knew of their potential. I can honestly say that this EP surpasses the first in every way. The songs are excellently crafted, well-performed, and beautifully produced, even more so than “Ascension”. The EP starts off with “End”, a super-creepy instrumental intro that gets heavier as it progresses, and every song that follows is well-constructed and imaginative. They truly delve into the world of prog-metal with their shifting sounds, spatial sound effects, and dark atmosphere. I am a bit of a stickler when it comes to production, so I always look for it when I review serious albums and EPs. So I must say, Justin Spaulding (“Ascension”, “The Sky Tells a Story” by Skyviews) is a phenomenal producer, and possibly one of the best I’ve ever heard. His work on this EP to create the dark, fantastical, and spotless atmosphere is tremendous, and matches the FTDF’s music absolutely perfectly. But, let’s not forget about the music itself. Every song on this EP is creative, and it never gets too predictable. There is a lot experimentation in sound and style, and has great transitions between them. The guitar and bass parts are spot-on, and the rhythms they play are so heavily complicated that you can’t help but just get up and dance. Also, one of the shining musical moments of the whole EP has to be the guitar solo in “Two Four”. It’s eerie, catchy, and atmospheric, and it opens up the record to a whole new spectrum of sound, making it a sort of climax in the EP. The drums are excellent as well, providing blistering beats and fills that drive home the brutality of the music. The vocals, I must say, have improved since “Ascension”. They used to be a little weak, but show absolutely no weakness whatsoever this time around. The lows are as guttural as ever, and the highs are shrieking and terrific. Overall, From This Day Forth have gone from great to greater on their second EP. The songwriting, musicianship, vocals, production, and everything else are even more phenomenal than before. It’s hard to see a band as good as this break up, but at least they’re going out with a bang, and this is one big bang.

    I’m going to miss these guys, and I know I’m not alone. I hope they are successful in whatever they choose to pursue now, and that they never lose the dream. Rock on From This Day Forth, rock on to all their fans, and rock on 315!

    -Steve Sbiroli
    315 Music Reviews
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/315MusicReviews

  • Album Review: “Columbian Mustache” by Columbian Mustache

    I definitely should have reviewed this album earlier, but it fell by the wayside with all the stuff I’ve been doing lately. I’m not sure if this album is actually self-titled, because I can’t find the name of it anywhere. Regardless, Columbian Mustache’s full-length album is catchy, humorous, interesting, and fun.

    The sound is basically a mix of pop rock and pop punk, which is a brilliant blend of sound and style. The style allows for flexibility and experimentation in the music, as well as an avenue to let out the band’s humor, especially when it comes to song titles (“April Showers Bring May Flowers”, “Love, Daisies, and Troubadours”, etc.). The upbeat sound and lack of too much heavy distortion or brutality is a breath of fresh air in this musical day and age. I applaud them for keeping things pretty optimistic, and it makes their music seem all the more enjoyable to listen to (all the pessimists out there are hissing, I can tell). “Themes and Variations on Bill” is a pretty good song to start the album with, giving you a sense of what’s to come for the rest of the record. It’s catchy and fun, and has great lyrical personality (though I have no idea who Bill is…), but it’s somewhat sloppy.

    That would be my only major criticism here; some of the songs don’t seem very rhythmically coherent, and just a little too busy. Yet, you can tell that this band plays very well together. For a trio, they have a tremendous atmosphere that makes them sound like more than just three guys. The musicianship is phenomenal, and their guitar riffs stand out significantly. The vocals are excellent as well, especially during the harmonizing parts. The production, I would say, is pretty good. It’s not spotless, but it certainly does the music justice and makes everything sound clear. I was happy to hear Pat Malowski of Atticus Finch featured on “Tony Montana” and “Durka”, as I think this demonstrates the great camaraderie of the 315 music scene. As I mentioned earlier, I especially love the versatility they are able to show for their genre as a pop punk-rock band. “Digging a Grave” is a bit heavier than, say, “Themes and Variations on Bill”, while “Now Leaving Stars Hollow” is a little more riff-driven than other songs. I would like to see a little more variation in sound on their next record, but this album is definitely a great start to expand upon their potential to be a very unique and very well-known band. So, I would say that Columbian Mustache has a bright future ahead of them, and I can’t believe they only have 110 Facebook fans as of now, because they deserve many (possibly thousands) more.

    Key Tracks: “Love, Daisies, and Troubadours”, “Durka (feat. Pat Malowski)”, “Carnivalum”, “Digging the Grave”

    For more information-
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Columbian-Mustache

    -Steve Sbiroli
    315 Music Reviews
    Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/315MusicReviews

  • Quick Glance: Thoughts In Reverse

    Quick Glance: Thoughts In Reverse

    Quick Glance: Thoughts In Reverse  Genre: Hardcore Metal

    Thoughts In ReverseNearly 10,000 fans and counting, Thoughts In Reverse deserves every single one of them. I had heard of them before, but didn’t know much about them. I couldn’t be happier that I took the time to listen to them, and they have gained yet another fan. Everything about them is done incredibly well, including their musicianship, vocals (screams and clean), songwriting, production, and originality. This is a band that takes everything that’s common in the hardcore scene of today and throws it in your face, as if to say “THAT’S how you do it.” The instrumentals are “tight & brutal”, displaying masterful speed and cohesive structure among the whole band. The drums are flawlessly heart-pounding, the bass lines are moving, the rhythm guitar is impossibly fast, and the lead guitar is complex and has a lot of phenomenal solos. I’m basically out of adjectives now, but I still have to describe the vocals, which are just amazing. Their vocalist has incredible range, and can basically do anything with his voice. The basic screams are as brutal as they come, but he also does different types of screams and growls, and even has an excellent singing voice for the rare occasions he uses it. Everything comes together beautifully, and the production of their EP “Sightings” definitely does the music justice. The music itself has fantastic variety. It alternates often between brutally fast metal, some breakdowns, and some catchy choruses (as many bands do). However, what makes them so original is that you never know what they’re going to do next. The constant shifting between styles and vocal techniques keeps everything refreshing, but it never goes soft for a second. I don’t know how they can keep straight the patterns of their song structures, but they do, and that’s what makes it so impressive. Now that I’ve heard them, I can only imagine how intense they must be live, and I don’t want to have to imagine it much longer. Believe me, once you hear Thoughts In Reverse, the bar of your hardcore musical taste will be raised.

    I can’t believe I’ve never heard these guys before now… Oh well, they have an EP on iTunes, and I highly recommend checking it out. Let me know what you think of the bands I’ve reviewed, and my reviews on them. I always like to hear other people’s input. Rock on 315!

    Here’s the production teaser from earlier in 2012!

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45lNwn3RioY?feature=player_embedded&w=640&h=360]

    For more information on Thoughts in Reverse –
    http://www.facebook.com/thoughtsinrevers…
    http://fuckyeahthoughtsinreverse.tumblr….
    http://www.youtube.com/user/ThoughtsInRe…
    http://www.purevolume.com/ThoughtsInReverse
    http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/in-a-de…
    http://thoughtsinreverse.bigcartel.com/
    http://www.amazon.com/In-A-Dead-World/dp…
    http://thoughtsinreverse.bandcamp.com/
    http://www.last.fm/music/Thoughts+in+Rev…
    http://www.twitter.com/TiR315

    Steve Sbiroli
    315 Music Reviews
    Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/315MusicReviews

  • Quick Glance: Suspended In Dusk

    Quick Glance: Suspended In Dusk

    Quick Glance: Suspended In Dusk  Genre: Hardcore Metal

    553350_395344390511952_1008393721_nSince they only have two songs up as of now, this is review of Suspended in Dusk a very “quick glance”. However, these two songs are all I need to get the idea of who this band is, and I’m definitely impressed. From the very beginning of “Forbidden Walls”, I was hooked immediately by their guitar hooks. I don’t think I can say enough about their guitars, because they’re complicated, beautiful sounding, and carry the entire song. The guitar tracks seem to have slightly better production than the rest of the parts, so it gives the impression that they know how good their guitar work is, too. The vocals and drums came in and seemed, only slightly, less well-produced than the guitars. The drums sounded just a little fuzzy and off-timing, and the vocals were a little strained. Yet, it’s remarkable how they overcome these minor flaws and make them almost completely unnoticeable. The screams are still very passionate and brutal, and the drums are definitely fast enough. The finished product comes together very nicely, yet the guitars just seem to stand out. The most important thing about this band, however, is not their guitars, but their melodies. The chorus of “Smoke & Mirrors” is phenomenal, combining melodic riffing, brutal screams, and metal rhythm into one great musical moment. “Forbidden Walls” has a tremendous breakdown in the middle-end of the song, which leads into a shredding guitar solo. The post-chorus of that song also has a shining moment with its blend of beatdown rhythm and an almost bluesy feel. These are things that a lot of bands won’t experiment with, and I am impressed by SID for being willing to try new things with melody and style. I think that this is a band that anyone who’s into the genre can enjoy, because they incorporate everything you would expect into their music, and some things that you wouldn’t. Their riffs are head-bangingly, hand-crampingly, melodically-furiously metal, and have plenty of brutal breakdowns and fun moshing rhythms. The only advice I would give them is to tighten up the screws a bit, because Suspended In Dusk is bursting with potential and has just gained a hopeful new fan.

    Go check these guys out! I’d love to go see them live, if I ever get the chance… I am, however, planning to go to the Meanstreet Hardcore Festival at the Fusion Room in Syracuse on December 28th and 29th. If you miss this show, then you’re missing almost every good hardcore band in the area, and undoubtedly the biggest show of the year. Hope to see you there, and rock on 315!

    For more information on Suspended in Dusk –
    http://www.youtube.com/suspendedindusk315
    https://twitter.com/SIDband315
    http://www.youtube.com/suspendedindusk315
    http://www.facebook.com/SuspendedInDusk315

    -Steve Sbiroli
    315 Music Reviews
    Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/315MusicReviews

  • Floodwood at Kirkland Arts Center, Clinton, December 14th

    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 kirklnd arts center
    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.

  • 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

    manhattanproject

    The Bayou Cafe: Conehead Buddha

    GBPEndoftheWorldParty

    Lake George

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

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    North Country

    Monopole: Flabberghaster

    575758_10151520365895321_823716860_n

    Syracuse

    The Westcott Theater: Project Weather Machine/Timbre Coup

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    Rochester

    Sticky Lips BBQ Juke Joint: Moho Collective

    MHC1

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

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    Buffalo

    Nietzsche’s: Family Funktion and the Sitar Jams

    l

  • Oneonta Theatre is closing, but there’s hope for shows in the future

    Oneonta Theatre is closing, but there’s hope for shows in the future

    There’s Still Hope For The Oneonta Theatre – although the venue held its last official show this past weekend and is all but closing, there was hopeful news via Facebook this morning.

    Oneonta theater

    Tonight I met with “Friends Of The Oneonta Theatre”. It was a great meeting and I am very pleased to announce that they have unanimously voted to re-engage their efforts with the theatre to transform the operation into a community “not for profit” operation of the Oneonta Theatre. There is allot (sic) of work ahead of us but this is fantastic, very positive development for the future of this historic theatre. I believe that this will help ensure this theatre will continue to be the living room of this community for another 115 years+… and continue to bring in great acts and entertainment for all to enjoy. Stay tuned for more news as details and plans are worked out. More details and plans will be released December 31st at the First Night celebration at the one and only “Historic Oneonta Theatre”. Watch our website and face book pages for links on how to volunteer, donate and be a part of this initiative. Everyone that expressed concern and hope, we need your help so lets make it happen and keep this great venue alive!!

    Let’s hope the community gets behind the preservation of this neighborhood jewel. Every time I visited the theatre I was greeted by a kind, caring staff that truly bent over backward to make my visit better. Whether I was attending a concert or working in a managerial status with one of my bands, they were outstanding and consummate professionals. Something few venues can boast these days.

    todd rundgren
    todd rundgren

     

  • Eli-Fest at The Bayou in Albany, November 30th

    Eli-Fest, a benefit concert was held at The Bayou in Albany on Friday November 30th was held for Eli Ramos, who was injured in an accident on July 1st. To celebrate Eli’s strength and courage, bandmates, friends and fans gathered for a night full of groovy jams. With first walking into the front of Bayou, you wouldn’t even know that there was a huge show going on. Heading through the various sections of the venue, the smoky atmosphere hits you and so does the music.

    There was constant music being pumped out of the speakers all night. When the bands were not on stage, there was a mixing table set up to the right with DJs, responsible for keeping the party mode at a constant level. Insidious started the night off to a small, eager crowd, ready for the night to begin. His beats were enough to catch everyone’s attention and head to the dance floor. Inverspace was up second with a set that was light and upbeat. It was an easy groove to get into after Solaris. The last DJ for the night was General Korn whose big hit of the evening was a remixed Talking Head’s song, “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody).”

    Solaris, the three man instrumental band from Ithaca took the stage and quickly warped the crowd. With a slow easy start, they hit hard into jams such as with great fluidity from song to song. The boys debuted a new song, “Deacon”, which had a fast tempo, enthusiastic start and a high build up jam. The trio has been logging in more practice time and it certainly shows on stage where they each have such control of their instruments. They are clean- cut and fresher than ever with their electro-fusion melodies and beats. Their authenticity brings the music to the next level and it’s been a thrill to watch them grow as a band.  Their set is available for free download.

    Solaris Setlist: Complete, Chapman, Deacon, Infrared, Cosmo

    It was my first time seeing digiMUN, which is a collaboration between members of jamtronica bands Digital Dharma, Wiley of MUN and Dan Gerken of Timbre Coup. With the huge crowd and high energy, it was a delicious recipe for a chaotic dance floor. Their entire set was improv, showcasing the vast talent that had come to pay tribute to Eli. Each jam had a funky rhythm, plenty of electronic beats and surprises around every trance infused melody. The encore was a Digital Dharma original entitled “Cloud 9” which featured Eli himself on the iPad. Their set is also available for a free download.

    One of Albany’s finest, Timbre Coup, was last to take the stage that night to the packed out venue with the snow falling outside. Early in the set, the progressive rock band dedicated the song “December” to their dedicated fans in November, an upbeat groove with hypnotizing melody. They covered Rick James’ “Give it to me Baby” as well as The New Deal’s “Deep Sun” both instant crowd pleasers and fed more energy to the band. Timbre Coup looks like they are having as much fun as the crowd and it’s a treat to watch them dance on stage and even switch instruments.

    Timbre Coup Setlist:  June, Jam->December. Give it to me Baby, 55->Jam&->Don’t Fly a Key on a Kitestring, September, July, Something About Radio->Jam->Mother Nature’s Baby Daddy, Verbal Kint->Jam&->55 end, Deep Sun, I Didn’t Know She Had a Moustache

    Throughout the night, all anyone had to say was how lucky we all were to share in the great music and help out a more than worthy cause. The event raised over $1200 and if people would like to still donate they can contact Steve Mink or Aaron Zarabi.

  • moe.down 14 announced for August 9-11 in Turin

    Mark your calendars for moe.down 14! Snow Ridge once again hosts the 14th annual moe.down music festival, in Turin, NY. The festival, traditionally on Labor Day weekend, has again been scheduled for August 9, 10 and 11, artists yet to be announced.

    New this year, VIP tickets! Early bird tickets go on sale December 10th at noon here.