NYS Music 20​12

Category: Regions

  • Jeff Bujak at Red Square with Mentally Ill and DJ Leila, October 19th

    Red Square is one of my favorite smaller venues to see live music. The drinks are always strong, the bartenders are always friendly and the music is always amazing. This night was no different. Jon Santolla, aka Mentally Ill, started the night off for Jeff Bujak strong with hard, dirty drum and bass with clean cuts. The bar began to fill up as the night progressed. The back room slowly began to fill up with 20 something’s getting down to Santolla’s beats. If you’re not up by the time Santolla’s set it over, check your pulse.

    The moment Jeff Bujak came on, the vibe in the bar changed completely. The electricity he exudes while he slams on his keys changes the atmosphere the moment he takes stage. He often plays entire sets with his eyes closed, pouring every inch of energy into his love for his music. I have not gotten the chance to actually enjoy a full Bujak set since The Come Up Festival in June so it was nice to be able to get down to his pulsing beats. The thing I enjoy most about Jeff Bujak, besides his amazing light show, is that he does not fall into one specific genre of music. He combines the efforts of rock, electronic, club, funk, and hip hop into a medley of drum loops and keyboard grooves. Bujak’s personality exudes through all of the shows I’ve seen him play, and although this may have been my tenth or eleventh time seeing him live, his act still manages to impress me.

    During Bujak’s setbreak, DJ Leila took the stage bringing more hard hitting beats that vibrated the dance floor. Mentally Ill and DJ Leila are two of my favorite DJs to see live because of their consistent energy. Their shows have a similar personality to Orchard Lounge, with both Leila and Jon trading off on the tables. While one is spinning, the other is close by waiting intently for their cue to step up to the tables. It is refreshing to see a DJ who does not just push play on a Mac computer and genuinely loves the art form of spinning for a crowd- no matter how big.

    As Bujak returned for round two, the crowd was in store for another high energy performance. I watched from the leather couch as silhouettes recognized each other against a back drop of blinding lights. The best thing about Red Square is how personal every set feels, whether you are toe to toe with the stage or sitting comfortably in one of the couches against the back walls. Of course, I finally migrated to the front to replenish my drink and Bujak busts into an electric rendition of “Intergalactic” by the Beastie Boys. I left my drink before it was even made to go to the back and watch the crowd pulse to the music.

    By the end of the set my friends and I were all tired and a little tipsy, as we often are after a night at the Red Square, so we said our goodbyes and made our ways to the closest pizza place before going home. Once again, I am not surprised to say that I was very impressed with Jeff, Jon and Leila’s ability to put on an amazing show.

  • moe. at Saranac Brewery, Friday October 12, 2012

    moe. brought much needed heat to their return to Utica on October 12, 2012. The night was seasonably cold, with a hard frost forecast and temperatures in the thirties, but that did not stop the bundled fans from welcoming moe. back to Saranac Brewery in true Utica form. The weekend featured an auction benefiting Hydro Relief Web, a local Anti-Fracking group. Up for grabs were autographed merch and one of Al Schnier’s guitars, truly reinforcing how invested this band is in the local community.

    The night opened up with a standard “Spaz Medicine”, however moved quickly into a jammed out 15+ minute “Dr.Graffenberg” that got the crowd moving.  Heavy on the xylophone, it shaped up to be an impressive version of an awesome tune, topped off by a tight and high energy “Waiting for the Punchline”. It was a first set full of jams, and excellent flow, evidenced by “The Pit”> “Wormwood”> “OkayAlright” stopping briefly to fire into “Deep this Time”, and closing out with a dark “Downward Facing Dog”. The Saranac was flowing as the traditional brewery toast was bestowed upon the crowd, “To Great Friends, Great Beer and Great Music”, and there was more to come.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18KT1An821Y]

    Second set opened up with “Captain America”  as moe. brought the song far beyond the normal “sing along” that it has potential to be, instead thoughtfully jammed it out and stretched it to the limits and then transitioned seamlessly into a slowly building “Akimbo”. The thoughtfulness continued throughout the set, with a well balanced, and timed “Water”, a relatively mellow “Head”, and funky “George”.

    “Spine of a Dog” had a rough start, with some apparent lyric issues that were quickly rectified as the crowd was more than happy to fill in the gaps. Spine’s most notable feature was the underlying drum current, with each band member building on the base until again, they seamlessly segued into “Buster”. The night closed with “Threw It All Away”, and the xylophone was busted out again for “Crab Eyes”, a personal favorite.

    This show stands out for its well planned song placement, seamless segues, and overall high energy. Despite the cold weather, it was a scorching show with an amazing setlist to prove it.

    Set 1: Spaz Medicine > Dr. Graffenberg > Waiting For The Punchline, Tubing The River Styx > The Pit > Okayalright, Deep This Time > Downward Facing Dog

    Set 2: Captain America > Akimbo, Water > Head, George, Spine Of A Dog > Buster

    Encore: Threw It All Away > Crab Eyes

    Download the show here

  • Joe Driscoll at Blu

    Occasionally the planets align in a favorable manner and bring some truly incredible show moments to Utica, NY.  Saturday, October 13th was a prime example of this effect.  The band moe. was in town on a two day run at the Saranac Brewery and this town always comes out big for them.  The bars that line Varick Street were bursting with quality pre and post moe. shows to keep the party going.  Among the pre-moe. festivities was a set at Blu by CNY alum Joe Driscoll.  Blu was holding it down for fans by keeping this a free show and also having some pretty solid drink specials.  You cannot let the chilly temperatures keep you inside under conditions like that.  Wrapped up in our winter finest, a few friends and I gathered and made our way.

    Joe was joined for this performance by James ‘Hollywood’ Moore on the saxophone and both of their wonderful attitudes.  Each looked genuinely pleased to be doing exactly what they’d come to do, play some music for some people and get some hips swinging.  No time at all was wasted and the music started before the outside bar was even open.

    The performance spanned Driscoll’s career from “Origin Myth” to tracks of the new album he has penned with Sekou Kouyate (check the history on this, it’s quite an interesting collaboration and the songs I have heard are epic).  Only getting better with time, Driscoll is well seasoned by his constant touring schedule and time overseas and the accompaniment from Moore added a lot of audible interest.  I loved that he often sang along and looked just about as pleased as most of us did.  Joe took a few requests and did plenty of interacting with the audience lending a real hometown feel to this show.  It was something to be grateful for, indeed.

    By including a few special cover selections including a request for Ani DiFranco’s “Untouchable Face” and an unexpected interpretation of “Soul to Squeeze” by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Driscoll again proved his diversity as a performer.  He is willing to please his crowd and seems to take earnest interest in flexing his beat box and string tickling prowess on songs of others that he himself enjoys listening to.  He slowly and deliberately layered textures of sound over each other with effect and looping equipment, building the sound to a crescendo effortlessly.  You feel a bit like you’re hanging out in a garage somewhere with a few of your most talented friends, one of whom can’t put down his guitar and the other weaving beautiful and stirring sounds from his horn.  The likeability factor was off the charts.

    Then, there are the rhythms coming out of these performers, with nary a drummer in sight! Assuming both your legs work, I submit it is impossible not to use them at a show like this.  I was bouncing all over the place and eventually an expert hulahoop-er took over the ‘pit’ area with an impressive display.  When Joe mixes his beatboxing with a staccato beat banged out on his tambourine, it’s bliss for your dancing feet.  It’s more than a one man band effect.  It is something fresh, new and utterly intriguing.

    In case you can’t tell by now, I had an absolute blast and will continue to eagerly seek out opportunities to experience Joe Driscoll at Blu, or elsewhere, live again.  And, probably, again … and again. I’m totally hooked. Here is a brief taste of a new track of the aforementioned album with Sekou Kouyate.  Purely for your enjoyment.

  • Warren Haynes Band at The Egg, October 13th

    There might be literal and figurative reasons why the concert room at The Egg is called the Hart Theater. First and foremost, for anyone unfamiliar with the area across from the Governor’s mansion, The Egg is just that – a very large, concrete building in the shape of an egg. It perhaps provides one of the most unique ways to experience a concert. Inside the building, elevators lift attendees to the fourth floor where they walk into a large semi-circle lobby speckled with lounge seats and a makeshift bar. There are four separate walkways on each side of the theater, at different levels. The arteries of the ‘Hart’ empty into an amphitheater setting where the stage is below. Sight lines and legroom are a bonus, but even more so, the shape lends itself to pristine acoustics.

    Warren Haynes, who has crafted his skill to perfection, graced the sold out Hart Theater at The Egg with an abundance of heart for his adoring fans and love of his guitar. Playing the title track off the 2011 disc release, Warren Haynes opened the show with “Man in Motion.” He immediately engaged the crowd in the front, greeting them with hellos and smiles. His demeanor was friendly, inviting and kind. Three deep into the set, Haynes’ guitar and Ron Holloway’s saxophone playfully conversed back and forth, speaking through notes as if to say, “more, more.” More is what we get as the band moved through their set. Haynes greeted keyboardist Nigel Hall for another playful round of back and forth during “On a Real Lonely Night.” Haynes carried the conversation to Holloway, until the music reached a climax and the three played together. The first set was a display of musical talent that crossed genres and pushed boundaries, while maintaining the sound of soul and blues.

    After set break, the band gave the spotlight to drummer Terence Higgins, his red kit sitting above the band mid stage. He pounded his beats with enthusiasm until he broke away and gave it to the band, indicating the second set would be filled with a heavier rock essence. “Spanish Castle” was a weighty song driven by the backdrop of keys. Both Haynes and Holloway swap solos while Alicia Chakour interjected her soulful vocals at key moments. Towards the end of the set, Warren Haynes introduced each member by singing their names as they jammed on their respective instruments. The encore took a turn into the Gospel realm – yet another indication of their collective talents transitioning into multiple genres. The Warren Haynes Band put the soul in “Soulshine” and heart into the theater of the same name.

  • Interview/Review: Ott and the All Seeing I go LIVE in Syracuse

    Interview/Review: Ott and the All Seeing I go LIVE in Syracuse

    There has been a recent trend of electronic DJs and producers recreating their music on stage with a live band. Thankfully, Ott, a UK based Master Engineer/Producer/DJ, is one of them. Ott & the All Seeing I are the result as he is joined by Naked Nick (Vocals, Guitar, Synths, and Percussion), Chris Barker (Bass), and Matt White (Drums).  I was privileged to catch two of their sets recently, in particular one on Sunday, October 7th at The Westcott Theater in Syracuse, NY.

    OTTUnimpressed by the “rave” music found in London clubs, Ott discovered a commonality with artists who shared his love of organic dub and pristine electronics such as The Orb and Dub Syndicate. These artists were not afraid to concoct music with one part heavy bass rhythms, one part spacey soundscape and one part gorgeous melody; shaken not stirred. Ott spent time honing his engineer skills working with such artists as The Orb, Sinead O’Connor, Brian Eno, Steve Hillage, and more recently Simon Posford of Hallucinogen/Shpongle fame. His first release on Simon Posford’s Twisted Records was Hallucinogen-In Dub (2002), where he remixed classic Hallucinogen songs. Since then he has released three of his own, Blumenkraft (2002), Skylon (2008) and Mir (2011)

    Having seen Ott a half dozen times or so in the last few years, I have felt a connection to his music ever stirring within me. His music can have an intoxicating effect on me and OH what a beautiful buzz! It is like his music breaks and enters my soul and commands my body to move in ways previously unimaginable. Heading to the Syracuse show I was eager to be a part of the energy he shares with his audience.

    Playing to a smaller crowd, the Westcott was less than half full of guests but Ott & the All Seeing I were not to be daunted. Playing through giant speaker stacks that easily withstood Ott’s powerful sound, the band got down to work. Having as much space as I needed, I danced away the set, oblivious to any perceived problems in my life. The show highlights for me included “Splitting An Atom”, “Owl Stretching Time” and of course always a crowd favorite, “The Queen of all Everything”. The live performance gives Ott’s music a raw and powerful energy, full of life.

    Traveling with me to this show was Kelly, a precious gems and mineral merchant of Kali’ka Crystals and Creations. Kelly had “gridded” Ott’s stages with crystals at two previous shows, a process in where she places crystals in an array that is meant to help harness energies. Her grid this night included Smoky Quartz for meditation, Amethyst and Selenite for intuition and divinity, Lepidolite for stability and communication, Lemurians (and Pink Lemurians) for love and spiritual awareness,  and Herkimer Diamonds for attunement and connection. Post show the band joked about how she should jump on the tour bus with them as they enjoyed her crystal work and company so much.

    Any chance I am afforded to see Ott & the All Seeing I again will be taken with utmost seriousness. It is truly a spiritually enlightening experience.

    I had the privilege of asking Ott & the All Seeing I a few questions as they broke down post show:

    Chris McMullen: Do you have a favorite venue in upstate NY?

    Ott: Oh thats hard. It depends who turns up,…it depends who’s there.

    Chris: How much time had Ott & the All Seeing I gotten to practice live?

    Ott: Not much actually, we were fairly unprepared when we got here.

    Naked Nick: It’s just life’s logistics. We did everything we could and we were all practicing individually. Some of us are in the east of England and some of us the west, so the amount of times we can actually come together in one place is quite limited.

    Ott: The first time we were able to come together and all play in the same space was our first gig in Baltimore.

    Nick: We never all played in the same room together!

    Chris: Oh wow, I was at the NYC show at Club 39 and thought you guys sounded pretty good.

    Ott: Yeah our sound guy had to totally rewire everything there. Our crew really pulled it out of the bag. I quite enjoyed it in the end.

    Chris: It was a tight space.

    Ott: I love the hot sweaty basements….that doesn’t sound quite right, does it?

    Nick: I think there is going to come a time when I can use that piece of information against you. Not sure yet when it will be.

    Chris: Have you found yourselves engaging in any pre or post show rituals?

    Ott: I can see patterns forming. Kelly and her crystal garden are the closest thing to a ritual we have. But she’s abandoning us! She has driven miles to see us. We will miss you Kelly.

    Nick: It’s really nice to see some familiar faces coming to more than one gig, it’s meant a lot.

    Chris: Are there any musicians you’ve been listening to lately?

    Ott: I generally don’t listen to anything made after 1982 really, actually no, to be honest, 1978 at the moment.

    Nick: Bird Of Prey, Sun Monks

    Ott: Nick’s your man. If you want to hear somebody reel of loads of really contemporary artists that no one’s ever heard of. He’s your man. I actually don’t like music very much. I try and avoid it.

  • Blues Traveler Rocks the Den

    Blues Traveler Rocks the Den

    Saratoga Springs was in for a treat this past Monday night as Blues Traveler played their smallest, and most northern date of a tour in support of their new release Suzie Cracks the Whip. The Putnam Den was packed tightly, more than ever before, with an eager crowd of all ages rapt with attention to John Popper as guitarist Chan Kinchla took control of the stage and drove the band through a fast paced two hours.

    blues traveler putnam

    Opening up with “All Things Are Possible” and “Nobody Fall in Love with Me”, two tracks off Suzie, the audience adjusted the to new music and kept their ears peeled for the hits that were forthcoming. Surprisingly, for a few at least, the band broke into Sublime’s “What I Got”, which has found new life in an appropriate band, Popper mastering the vocals on this 90s number. Bassist Tad Kinchla broke down the ending of the song while Popper took a water break on this extended jam and refreshed his whistle. “Love and Greed” off their third album and the classic “But Anyway” followed with songs from the new album mixed in. “Savings Grace” -> “Run Around” provided the longest jam and segue of the night (see video below), highlighting the keys work of Ben Wilson.

    “The Devil Went Down to (Saratoga)” stirred the crowd wildly, eliciting screams of joy and fist pumps in step with the drum beat, cheering on yet another apropos cover that allowed Popper’s harmonica skills to shine.  A crowd favorite, “Mountains Win Again”, the ballad off the ever-popular Four was the highlight of the night to this point, Popper not having lost anything from his voice over the years. He responded with toasts to the crowd, again and again – five all during the night, showing appreciation for the adoring crowd. To cap the set, “Hook” was the last hit on the list, providing a crowd sing along with the lyrics that somehow, everyone has been able to master over the years:

    “Suck it in suck it in suck it in if you’re Rin Tin Tin or Anne Boleyn make a desperate move or else you’ll win and then begin to see what you’re doing to me this MTV is not for free it’s so PC it’s killing me so desperately I sing to thee of love sure but also rage and hate and pain and fear of self and I can’t keep these feelings on the shelf I’ve tried well no in fact I lied could be financial suicide but I’ve got too much pride inside to hide or slide I’ll do as I’ll decide and let it ride until I’ve died and only then shall I abide this tide of catchy little tunes of hip three minute ditties I wanna bust all your balloons I wanna burn all of your cities to the ground I’ve found I will not mess around unless I play then hey I will go on all day hear what I say I have a prayer to pray that’s really all this was and when I’m feeling stuck and need a buck I don’t rely on luck because the hook brings you back”

    Popper, cool on stage with his fans and the crowd sweaty and happy caught their breath on a break for the encore, which started out with drumming and another toast “We love you Saratoga! We never come up here enough and we will come up here more!” Popper then dedicated the next song, “Carolina” in honor of the Yankees, after asking for a score on an off night. Wailing guitar and lyrics capped off a perfect night of music from Blues Traveler, bridging the 90s to the present with songs from a bygone era and present day.

    Blues Traveler Setlist: All Things are Possible, Nobody Fall in Love with Me, What I Got, Love and Greed, Can’t Win->But Anyway, Recognize my Friend, Save His Soul->Run Around, Cara Let the Moon, Things are Looking Up, The Devil Went Down to Georgia, Mountains Win Again, You Don’t Have to Love Me, Drums->Hook

    Encore: Carolina

  • Barefoot Truth at the Colonial Theater

    Barefoot Truth at the Colonial Theater

    Barefoot Truth played at The majestic Colonial Theater in Pittsfield, Massachusetts for the final time on Friday, October 12th, part of their farewell tour. This band combines great songwriting, multi-instrumentalism and proud stage presence and made for a bittersweet show in that I was just discovering a band that I would have loved to have seen continue to play. A crowd of 20 year olds and younger middle aged would agree, hanging on every note and lyrics, not wanting it to end.

    Barefoot Truth Colonial TheaterA group looking like a band of misfit Mormon’s, Barefoot Truth has the 20-something, good looking band motif down pat. Their sound came off as immediately enjoyable, incorporating a little bit of Dave Matthews, Dispatch, O.A.R. and Jack Johnson into their songwriting, replete with harmonica and acoustic guitar mixed in, a staple of the alt-rockers. The song “Rope” featured Garrett Duffy on vocals, notably “You lift me up, you shake me down, you knock me over, you spin me around”. Dan ‘Hombre’ Holmes came in to sit-in on drums for a couple of songs, only to be surprisingly replaced by the lead singer/guitarist Will Evans, showcasing the band’s inclusive versatility

    One of the incredible song of the evening that Jeff Howard sat in for was “Life is a Photograph” With popping vocals and solid music, it recalled The Avett Brothers sound, with a soothing electric guitar blended in. After the beat dropped, the crowd responded with a head bobbing zombifying effect. The Andy Wrba-Jeff Howard interplay made the sit-in more awesome, with tunes as catchy as String Cheese Incident’s “Land’s End”, the crowd was fully engaged as the band dipped into what could best be described as delving into early Phish jams.

    “Changes in the Weather” had more radio-friendly lyrics. “Until you you realize you’re not there”. Later, on a funk number where Howard played guitar again, Jay Driscoll thanked Jeff for showing him what his guitar could sound like. Jeff looked comfortable on stage with Barefoot Truth, always watching for cues. Collaborator Noah Weiss came in to play sax on “Eagle Front”, a straight up white boy reggae tune and evoking Jars of Clay from the mid-90s. This was really upbeat music, with the crowd rising early and clapping to the beat; overall, a very kinetic show.

    An encore that began with the hands of Andy and Jay on Jay’s guitar was a short interlude before “Reelin’” The extrapolated jam was a true treat to end the night, with great harmonica from Garrett Duffy.

    A band with enough skill and talent to switch instruments seamlessly, alternate vocals and share the stage was refreshing to see. Songs are well written and groovy, beckoning fans to request and repeat refrains. It’s a shame to see them go, but there are still three chances left: November 9th at Higher Ground in Burlington, November 10th at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, Mass and November 11th at The Sinclair in Boston. For more info, check out barefoottruth.com

    Eagle Front from 10/12/12

  • Barons in the Attic, Wild Adriatic and Deer Tick at The Putnam Den

    It was my first time at the Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs this past Saturday where I saw Barons in the Attic, Wild Adriatic and Deer Tick perform. The venue has a large tented area in front, complete with concession stand and picnic tables. Inside is a huge, wide open room with a long bar on the left, equally as long merch table to your left when you walk in and big stage in the back. I loved all the free space to move around in, with very little view obstruction you can see the stage from anywhere in the room.

    Barons in the Attic started the night off to an eager to party crowd. The four-man band from Albany sends out a reckless abandon attitude as they slammed on their instruments during “Julia”. Showing their somewhat softer side was their song “Purple Underwear”, strong guitar notes and a great build up at the end. The crowd charged up and all starting to thrash about as The Barons egged us on and delivered a rebellious energy of punk rock during “In a Nutshell.” The lyrics are bitter as the boys scream and caused a ruckus during “My Old Soul.” Barons in the Attic can always start a party but they don’t guarantee ending it, to which their fans aren’t complaining. For more information on upcoming shows, merch and free music, go to wearebarons.com.

    Wild Adriatic is an untamed force that flows with such soul, it quickly catches you off guard and sucks you in. The rock and roll group infuses their music with plenty of funky guitar solos and groovy melodies. Shane Gilman on lead guitar has serious range for vocals and can really hit those high notes.  Rich Derbyshire shows no problem of dropping heavy bass notes while Travis Gray shreds on his guitar and keyboard. Mateo Vosganian provides steady beats all night, setting the ultimate dancing rhythm. From the band’s latest album, Lock & Key, they played “Spark” which is just that, a spark that explodes and grows all over the room with sharp guitar riffs and symbols. “Make like a Ghost” sends out a groovy melody that rises and picks you up with soulful harmonies. Wild Adriatic ended the night with their friends from Barons in the Attic, who all participated in their rendition of The Beatles “With a Little Help From my Friends.” Putnam Den was in perfect unison as bands and fans sang for the celebration of the weekend. Wild Adriatic announced their Halloween Show will be with Barons in the Attic at the Bayou in Albany, NY on October 25th.

    Wild Adriatic had this to say about the show, “when we close our set, we like to invite other bands, friends, promoters or anyone on stage to sing with us. It’s just a good time for us, and the crowd seems to enjoy it. We never really plan it.  We just ask people up last minute. Everyone knows the song and we don’t care if its good or not. It’s about fun and fun is why we all got into playing music in the first place!” For more shows and information, go to their website wildadriatic.com

    After way too long of a soundcheck, the crowd exploded once headlining band Deer Tick took the stage and announced, “This is show one of the Deer Tick tour. We’re gonna vandalize all your schools and churches and then pass out on your lawn. But we’re gonna play some songs for you first.” They have a raw sound covered in grunge-ness which surprised me given their “country” music reputation. The music came at me and I couldn’t label it then and I still don’t think I could. Rob Crowell would pound on the keys, sending out organ notes that brought in the “folk” style I was seeking. Ian O’Neil could not be stopped on guitar; fast paced chord progressive gave us the punk fighting spirit. Deer Tick has a fierce stage presence, the artists constantly bouncing on the stage and a mosh pit forms in the crowd. Dennis Ryan kept the drums loud and steady with Chris Ryan on bass.

    During the performance, lead guitarist John McCauley had a solo session with his guitar and the audience. “I’m not a poet, I’m not a clown. I just think these things and write them down.” His heartfelt vocals echoed through the room as the guitar notes gracefully followed. After playing a few new songs such as “Old Lady”, Deer Tick played requests from the fans resulting in massive sing-a-longs. It’s no wonder that Deer Tick has a dedicated fan base, given their broad genre playing skills. Deer Tick gained a lot of fans 2 years ago from their performance at Rest Fest in Albany and gained even more Saturday night. For more information and touring, go to their website, deertickmusic.com

    photos by David Mark Photography

  • Saturday in Syracuse: Soul Risin’ Album release show at The Westcott (Ticket give away too)

    Saturday in Syracuse: Soul Risin’ Album release show at The Westcott (Ticket give away too)

    Syracuse’s music scene has always been vibrant and featured some incredible acts in the past and local favorites Soul Risin’ continue to make their mark as one of the best in the region. This Saturday at The Westcott Theater, Soul Risin’ releases their  third album Rise & Fall. Recorded in recorded in April at More Sound Recording Studio and engineered by Jason (Jocko) Randle and Andrew Greacen, the album is a fantastic effort (review here). You can pick download or stream the album at www.soulrisin.bandcamp.com or pick up a copy of the physical album and download MP3s at cdbaby.com

    soul risin'On Saturday at The Westcott Theater, Doors open at 7pm with Boots N’ Shorts on shortly after 8pm, then Brother Joscephus and The Love Revival Revolution Orchestra followed by Soul Risin’ taking the stage shortly after 10pm

    Adding to the release of the album is the cause behind the show. From ticket and album sales, Soul Risin’ is raising money to help a local  Syracuse woman who was recently diagnosed with cancer, has no health insurance, so as to help her family out with basic needs. Bryan Weinsztok, lead singer of the group lost his father a year ago on October 16th, hence the album release date this week. In order to help the family meet their needs with bills and groceries, Weinsztok is looking to raise $1000 or more to benefit the family. Keeping charity close to the cause is noble, especially on such an eventful night already.

    Take a listen to the free stream on Bandcamp and enjoy the music. Soul Risin’ is known for putting on a solid live performance with something for everyone, making for a great regional jam show.

    TICKET and ALBUM GIVEAWAY!

    is giving away a signed double LP Vinyl of Rise and Fall AND Two tickets to Saturday night’s CD release party at The Westcott Theater.

    To enter, follow @ on Twitter or Like us on Facebook – doing both increases the chances to win! Winners will be announced Saturday afternoon at 12pm.

  • Soul Risin’ produces a powerful third album in ‘Rise & Fall’

    Soul Risin’ produces a powerful third album in ‘Rise & Fall’

    I was introduced to Soul Risin’ in 2009 by my friend Greg who noted that Jon Fishman himself called himself a fan of the group. When Phish played the War Memorial in the fall of 2009, an indoor lot scene was created with vendors of food, beer and clothing, as well as a few bands, most notably, Soul Risin’. Their first two albums were in regular rotation on road trips and the third album will find a home in the mix very shortly.

    Soul Risin'The album kicks off with “Don Negativo (Fool Like You)”, a country/rock foot-tapper, including a Blues Traveler vibe in the vocals that push right to the edge of each peak, building up again to the refrain. Title track “Rise & Fall” has a “You Can Call Me Al” rhythm, very calypso in composition with evenly balanced horns in the back. This is a definite crowd pleaser of a tune. “Heavens Done” has funk and blaring horns from the start, scat style singing and large builds with the horns, giving the band it’s first rock anthem of the album. “Tidal Waves” has a rockabilly, hip shaker beat to it while “Leaving Train” is the first softer track on the album, growing to nearly a full band ballad.

    The next few tracks (“Worcester”->”Baby”) carry the theme of the passing of lead singer Bryan Weinsztok’s father last year through the birth of his child this spring. 

    The island jamming music of “Worcester” is a little Strangefolk-sounding mixed into the progressive jams and guitar work. This track opens up nicely with keywork from Mike D’Ambrosio before returning to the composition and Weinsztok’s impassioned lyrics. “The Door” gets started on a slow and steady path, but halfway through diverges and gets abruptly louder, with notable accents from Adam Fisher’s bass.  Another album highlight, “Part Two/Open the Door” showcases John Capozzolo’s drum work and Jim Dunham’s Percussion, providing the framework for the band to create a song with even greater depth; one cannot help but recall Dave Matthews efforts from a decade ago when hearing “Open the Door”, a compliment to this grand track.

    “The Greatest Advice” moves by at a breakneck pace but the lyrics chillingly stick out, notably the repeated “Love means more than madness, when we’re tossed off to life’s great abyss. Ours is the flame that burns in this insane world over.” A lullaby sung from father to child, “Baby” is the softest moment on the album. “Punk” takes the album out on a high note, with Weinsztok’s guitar tearing through the song.

    Key Tracks – Rise and Fall, Worcester, Part Two/Open the Door, The Greatest Advice

    Soul Risin’ plays Saturday at The Westcott Theater for the official album release party. You can win tickets via at the bottom of this page.

    Soul Risin’ on Facebook