NYS Music 20​12

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  • Suckers “Candy Salad” out today!

    Ohh Brooklyn… Your ability to churn out Indie bands is astonishing. Undoubtedly attempting to cater to the Bedford/Lorimer L stop crowd, Suckers have come up with 10 synthy, bouncy tracks certain to come as fast as they go, but with a smile. Don’t like my rationale? Write your own review. Hey, this is what happens when you give a metal-head an album of hipster music to review.

    But in all seriousness, Suckers’ “Candy Salad,” out on Frenchkiss Records,  is a solid record, chock full of catchy melodies and warm feelings. The singer’s voice fits perfectly within the context of the tunes and what they are trying to do, and the tracks all blend together nicely. After a weekend’s worth of listens, I am now a fan of the album and band.

    Between the heavy reverb and spacey, atmospheric flow throughout, “Candy Salad” will certainly captivate the intent listener… Lots of friendly jams! I particularly enjoyed the Beach Boys-esque vocal harmony in “Figure It Out,” the happy-go-lucky whistle-a-long of “Chinese Braille.” There is a bit of guitar noodling that clutters up the sound at times, but I won’t hold that against the group… After all, it’s Indie Rock.

    The musicianship and weaving grooves will have every American Apparel wearing scenester swaying and whistling along, Pabst in hand. Bonus points for “Lydia,” a guaranteed bet to get the crowd singing along during the chorus… Excellent song!

    A word of advice… Listen to this album while doing something else. Drinking, dancing, cleaning, writing term papers… Anything other than just listening to the record on its own. “Candy Salad” is an excellent catalyst for activity, and sitting alone at a Barnes and Noble sipping an iced coffee is better left for The Beatles.

  • STICK MEN – THE INTERVIEW

    MALCOLM MOORE: Pat, you are quite possibly the most advanced electronic drummer on the planet! Your gargantuan cadre of rhythmic devices is unmatched in the physical world. What is the latest gadget that you have added to your drum set that includes acoustic drums and cymbals, samplers, computers, drum machines, and electronic pads, which one is your favorite?

    PAT MASTELLOTO: Newest used:  – a few days ago someone lent me these wooden bongos and I immediately used them on a Stick Men ‘improv’ track – we are tinkering with making our own walk in (pre post show music). Newest techie thing:  – is Iphone/Ipad apps, like Samplewiz. A favorite?  Well they’re tools, ya know- my favorite hammer is not my favorite screw driver- so I like whatever gets the job done.

    MM: You were a King Crimson fan way before playing with them or Stick Men. What is your personal favorite Crimson song, and is it possible that Stick Men could cover it in the future?

    PM: I have lots of favorite King Crimson songs — For several years I’ve been asking theStick Men dudes to learn The Great Deceiver. I think that song would kick ass live and  play fantastic on interlocking sticks.

    MM: Is it difficult organizing and keeping track of your complex behemoth of a drum set, especially as you trapse across vast foreign landscapes such as Russia, Europe, Japan, and South America?

    PM: Your thinking more of Mr. Mister 80’s when one pad played one sound 🙁   Or the Y2K Crim when Robert wanted all electric drums- –  Vdrums, Ddrums, phrase samplers and all sorts of things that didn’t really interface directly. And then after a few years the kit grew as we added acoustic drumming back into the band, but all that was actually pretty clean and packable. These days, for the international -traveling you’re talking about, I can’t bring ANY drums or hardware- that all comes from local backline rentals and  I seldom get exactly what I ask for so its all drum set dejour. . mystery heads and pedals. . sometimes a seat that wont adjust, maybe the bottom snare head or wires are broken. . I do my best in the short amount of time we have to build the best kit I can.  Due to airline restrictions what I bring with me is usually two suitcases, a wheelie and a back pack – – so the pack is laptop/cables/drives in the backpack,  heavy cables/cymbals up to 14″, and a small audio mixer in the wheelie, one suitcase is my handsonic & spds w/ power supplies and stick bag,  the other is my percussion, motu box and about 10lbs of clothes and I actually keep track of it pretty well.

    MM: What is the most unique and memorable venue that you have played at with Stick Men so far?

    PM: There have been a few like the candy shop in south Italy, that gig was a twist! But I’ll pick Chile. That was a powerful and humbling experience a few years ago, just days after the earthquake.  We worked very hard to get flights- everything was cancelled but Tony said, “No, we have to go!”  fans there had been writing and posting even before the earthquake and we’re really excited..  So we really wanted to keep that commitment, like I said it was crazy, very hard to get flights . We flew from Mexico City into Peru (we slept on the floor of that airport to catch the only 6:00 AM flight).  It was a very appreciative audience and that’s saying something because in South America there is always very strong communication from the audience anyway.

    MM: Have you ever played a show with anyone in Rochester, New York?

    PM: Yes!!   I must have because I know I was in House of Guitars, love that place, loved the basement. I bought two drums there, Radio Kings, a 13” tom and 28” Kick, I use the kick a LOT, it’s fantastic! I think it was a Crimson gig in the 90’s, I and I seem to remember a good dinner in a silver diner.

    MM: Tony, how did you originally progress from your 2007 solo album Stick Man to what is now a live band called Stick Men? Was this your intention all along?

    TONY LEVIN: It wasn’t my intention at all for the CD project to lead to a live situation, let alone a new band that would have a life of it’s own over the years. Somewhere in the middle of recording the Stick Man album, the focus seemed to be leaning more to my playing of the Stick (the Chapman Stick is the real name of the instrument) than of the various basses I also played on it. That’s when I decided on the title of Stick Man for that release. Then, I really became fond of some of the pieces on that cd, and wanted to play them live — but they required two Stick players, because I’d overdubbed important parts that I couldn’t cover myself live. So… keeping Pat Mastelotto, the excellent drummer on the CD as well as being my King Crimson band mate, we simply added a Stick player (Michael Bernier), to make it a very unusual band – only three players, but two of us covering multiple parts, and Pat himself playing electronic percussion, loops and samples, as well as an acoustic drum kit.

    MM: When you travel with Stick Men all over the world, who in which city/country makes the best espresso?

    TL: Funny question and you KNOW the answer, it’s in Italy, all over Italy, that you get the best espresso. In fact the techniques there change from region to region, even the material of the cups it’s poured into (which many Italians think has a lot to do with the taste!) But whatever the region is, the espresso there is always super.

    MM: What do you see in the near future for Stick Men compositionally? Where are you trying to take the music. Are you headed for more polyrhythmic, dissonant, odd meter material like Relentless and Hands, or more melodic, song-based tunes like Soup and Slow Glide?

    TL: We’re mostly done with our new recording, so I do have a good sense of where we’re headed (though that won’t be ready for release until Fall and we have no title yet.) With Markus Reuter, our third member, having himself a unique composition background, we’re introducing some new types of compositions that he instigates. Also, as usual, my leanings are toward hard-edged progressive rock and when there’s a chance to throw in Classical influence, I’m happy to do it. (i.e. our version of 5 movements from Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, which we’ll be playing at the Rochester show.) Coming up on the new album, but not ready to try live yet, is a tone poem I wrote, about the experience of the “Whale Watch” from Boston and Cape Cod, where you go out into the ocean for a day, and locate whales up close and personal!

    MM: With Stick Men, you often cover King Crimson songs such as Elephant Talk and Indiscipline. Would you ever consider covering a Peter Gabriel song?

    TL: We have indeed considered that and one of these days we’ll have time, midst the rehearsing of our new material and of King Crimson pieces we haven’t played on previous tours, to tackle one of Peter’s songs.

    MM: You went to college at The Eastman School of Music. What do you like most about returning to Rochester, New York to play a show?

    TL: I have great memories of my six years living in Rochester, but I’ve also been back a lot in the years since I left. I have good friendships with great people in town, and enduring musical connections with many of them. If there’s a free hour or so after sound check, I always find myself wandering the Eastman halls, getting a coffee next door (though a it is a tad more up-market than when it was called “the Coffee Break” with Fred jabbing you with his finger through a small opening into the kitchen!) A couple of years ago, I visited to see and perform in the newly renovated Eastman Theater and yet again was reminded how special it is, what a great cultural atmosphere Rochester has, and overall what a great music city it’s always been.

    MALCOLM MOORE: Markus, please tell us a little bit about the unique instrument you play in Stick Men, called the Warr Guitar. How did you originally learn about it and did you play guitar, bass, or Chapman stick before that?

    MARKUS REUTER: I started playing Chapman Stick in 1993, then switched over to playing a Warr Guitar in 1997 and developed my own instruments, the Touch Guitars(R) U8 and U10 in 2008, which I play exclusively with Stick Men.

    MM: How does your experience playing in Robert Fripp’s Guitar Craft effect your work with Stick Men?

    MR: It was Robert Fripp who suggested I check out the Chapman Stick. Robert’s guitar instruction became the main building block for my tapping technique. There no proven tradition when it comes to playing a touch style instrument, so I had to make up my own system which took the Guitar Craft principles as a starting point. Having been actively involved with Robert Fripp and King Crimson’s music for 21 years is effecting all my musical work greatly, I think, incl. my work with Tony and Pat in Stick Men.

    MM: You played with Pat Mastelloto before joining Stick Men. What projects did you two work on together?

    MR: We have released 4 albums as TUNER (with a 5th in the making) and worked on several productions for other artists, most notably Moonbound’ Peak of Eternal Light and Tovah’s Escapologist.

    MM: What do you miss the most about Germany when you are on tour with Stick Men?

    MR: My wife! But I do miss hearing and speaking my language, too. I frequently have the feeling that I’m loosing my fluency in German.

    MM: What type of looping devices do you use with Stick Men?

    MR: I use my laptop, because it’s not purely looping that I’m using it for. I’ve set up a feedback circuit in the computer that basically works as an improv partner for me rather than a predictable looper.

    Apr 28 Rochester NY Water Street
    http://www.waterstreetmusic.com/
    Apr 29 Woodstock NY Bearsville Theater
    http://bearsvilletheater.com/

  • Americana in Albany: The Avett Brothers and Eastbound Jesus

    Albany’s best kept secret, Eastbound Jesus, started a rainy and windy day playing a free show at Jillians of Albany for a packed house prior to The Avett Brothers taking the stage a few blocks north at The Palace Theater on Sunday April 22nd. The fans that came looking for free music and respite from the rain got both, with the local flavor of EBJ warming the crowd up for two hours with foot tappin’, dancefloor stompin’ and some of the most energetic music that a band can pour onto an audience. Playing Nine Pound Hammer and referring to it as a staple of all bluegrass bands brought a bit of the group’s roots out into the set and reminded some in the audience of the traditional music they continue. A few dancin’ music tunes drew the seated from the audience to the stage and delved into a classic version of Dylan’s Maggie’s Farm. The music and style of EBJ is a little more Greensky Bluegrass and Railroad Earth than more traditional acts, leading to a larger audience in due time. The night was capped off with The Ballad of Eastbound Jesus, a single among many contenders throughout the night. My first Eastbound Jesus reaffirmed all that I had heard, and this band has a great future coming to them.

    After dinner and an early show, we walked up to The Palace for The Avett Brothers show. Two first time bands in one night and already I was sold on one. My experience with the Avetts was limited to their albums which I found enjoyable but without hearing them live the jury was out for the time being. The Avetts wound up giving a stand out amazing performance that showed why they are part of the bluegrass renaissance in America. The audience was predominantly made up of post-college and thirty-something women with their boyfriends in tow when a gaggle of girls wasn’t with them. After a few songs I was taken by the energy of the group and the music – it was summer time poolside happy hour music, tailor made for a good time, like Will You Return, which was touching and upbeat and had a great line ‘Why can’t you see yourself as beautiful as I see you?’

    Event poster, edition of 100

    Scott Avett performs with the intensity of Yonder Mountain String Band’s Jeff Austin and mentioned that they played The Lark (Tavern) on their first tour ten years ago. January Wedding was a sweet soft song off their latest album I and Love and You then the band took a moment to allow Scott a solo, followed by this brother Seth on guitar. Seth spoke about William Kennedy (to loud cheers), as he had been reading Billy Phelan’s Greatest Game and said he had been ‘coming to Albany in my head for quite a while’ and that it was nice to be here. The full band came back to the stage for At the Beach and the crowd sang along with glee to this and many songs. The title track to their latest album I and Love and You was soft but a great start to the album upon another listen after the show. Kick Drum Heart serves to be the band’s signature song, eliciting audience response with clapping and intensity from the musicians. A multi-song encore was capped nicely by Talk on Indolence, another invigorating song with rapid fire lyrics and sing along lyrics.

    As bands like The Avett Brothers and Eastbound Jesus continue to play to broad audiences, folk and bluegrass-based bands will continue to break into mainstream music and bring the roots of American music to new life.

  • Raekwon 4/15/12 The Haunt – Ithaca

    I’ll go out on a limb and say that Sunday Night Hip Hop in Upstate, NY should be mandatory. Whether for purely selfish reasons or not, nothing sets off the beginning of a workweek like a solid dose of skull crushing bass and urban poetry. So when Dan Smalls brought Raekwon and the Victory Mix tape H2O Tour to The Haunt in Ithaca, NY on April 15th, there was no passing it up.

    As a founding member of Wu-Tang Clan, Raekwon’s reputation precedes him wherever he goes. The Wu entered the game with zero competition… None. This isn’t to say that there weren’t MC’s who threw it down and made their money in a difficult hustle, but Wu-Tang was unstoppable. They came onto the Rap scene as a mob, literally. And even after all these years, the group’s legacy and influence remains as strong as ever. And Raekwon is, to this day, one of the most prolific performers in Hip Hop. His shows are always tight, typically offering a dense mix of group and solo output.

    His Ithaca performance was no exception…The set included several tracks from Raekwon’s personal arsenal, including “Ice Cream” and gems off arguably the best follow up LP to share a name, “Only Built For Cuban Linx II.” But the classics were the highlight of the performance, and cuts like “Protect Ya Neck,” “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthin’ Ta Fuck Wit,” and other 36 Chamber hits kept the crowd rowdy!

    Shockingly on time (if you’ve seen Wu-Tang or affiliates before, you know they’re notorious for tardiness), Rae opened with “C.R.E.A.M.”, a surefire guarantee to get ANY crowd ready to party. While one can always expect Wu members to rock the group’s back catalogue, it really doesn’t matter… We are all glad to hear the hits. Many times, it’s why we still attend. The rhymes were right and the energy stayed live, peeking during a rambunctious rendition of “Shimmy Shimmy Ya,” honoring the late, great Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

    A businessman through and through, Raekwon also shared his stage and debuted some new talent at The Haunt. He brought up Toronto based MC JD Era for his Ithaca debut. Rocking “Payday,” his new joint, Hip Hop appears alive and well in Toronto! Dropping the music out of the mix, he also graced us with one of the best live freestyles I’ve seen in a long time… Just sick! He stayed onstage for a jam after that. His “No Handouts” mix tape is out right now, and is definitely worth picking up.

    26-year-old R&B singer Kofi Black, another Staten Island artist, also made an appearance onstage. Obviously schooled in Gospel chops, he offered a wide range and some good vocal runs during his brief time at the mic.

    The fun mix of artists onstage kept it diverse and exciting… Ice H2O seems to be turning into a business, for sure. Ending his set with “Triumph,” Raekwon shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. “It ain’t where you from, it’s where you at.” Damn right.

    Brooklyn’s own Maino provided direct support, and he hit the stage like a bomb, quickly filling the floor right up. Solid beats and nonstop rhyme spitting whipped the crowd into a small frenzy, and he and his hype man kept it going strong throughout his set.

    Currently pumping his new album, “Day After Tomorrow,” Maino proved he can drop some dope rhymes and is doing whatever he can to stay current in the perplexing world of Rap. Though I could not his most popular song, “Hi Hater,” when it dropped, it translates very well in the live forum. The guy can spit. Egocentric as you’d expect, tracks like “Bigger than Niño Brown,” as hype-fluff as they are, will definitely get the attention of suburban teenagers trying to act hard.

    Recent Ice H2O records signees Reason and Caezar brought a harder sound to the stage. Wasting no time on the mic, the duo had great presence on their opening track and excellent interplay between them. Street styled NYC Hip Hop will never go out of style, and the Brooklyn and Staten Island boys repped downstate well. Caezar, just about to release a new mix tape, produced by DJ Whoo Kid, kept the “Real Hip Hop” message a running theme throughout their solid 5-song set. Make it a point to check Datpiff.com to see when the mix drops.

    Second opener Sammus threw down some good stage energy and a positive vibe during her short set. Though a little bit tame on stage during her opening tracks, the girl clearly has skills and a passion for Hip Hop, keeping true to her art form. Sammus offered a positive, forward thinking set of jams.

    Highlight of her set was the closer, “Mayhem.” Changing up the style and flow of her performance, albeit a bit late, the track’s thumping bass line was an excellent backdrop as Sammus cut loose a bit. The crowd dug it!

    And while her banter between songs needs some work, Sammus and her DJ had solid back and forth going on, and it kept the set interesting. It’s always cool to see an solid partnership between performers.

    Local Hip Hop upstart The Rapper H opened up the show. His flow is alright, not what you may expect from a small white guy in Ithaca. His beat selection and rhymes were solid, but the lack of choruses and inability to get the early crowd amped took away from the set. But hey, it was his 3rd show… Dynamics will come with time if he keeps it up. Word of advice, though… Find a new Hype Man, and don’t bring preppy friends onstage with you, bro.

  • RIP Levon Helm (1940-2012)

    Levon Helm, drummer and singer for The Band and one of rock’s best known personalities passed away today at age 71. Having a recent resurgence of throat cancer in recent months, Levon had rebounded from cancer and losing his voice to record Dirt Farmer and won a Grammy for the effort in 2007. In recent years, Levon would hold his famed “Midnight Rambles” at his barn in Woodstock, NY. These events attracted his fans and newcomers, as well as musicians from across the genres who played with him each night. His legacy, music and spirit will live on through the artists he has inspired and fans he has gained over his storied career. Rest in Peace Levon.

  • Trampled By Turtles “Stars and Satellites” Album Review.

    I am really beginning to dive into bluegrass music these days. Something about its sound and flow is so pure and honest. Even the saddest of tracks can take you to a far away place where things are going to wind up ok in the end. Trampled By Turtles, a 5 piece from Minnesota, formed in 2003, and have been making some excellent headway for themselves in the music game. In addition to a stellar performance in Austin during SXSW that drew rave reviews, the group has played a host of huge festivals in the past. This year, they are slated to perform at Bonnaroo, All Good, and Sasquatch, in addition to their headlining dates coming our way in a few weeks.

    It’s no wonder… After listening to their new album, “Starts and Satellites,” I literally had to stop myself from applauding in public at the end of my first listen. The band’s sixth album since 2004, “Stars and Satellites” offers 11 super solid tracks, all recorded in a log home in Duluth. Some of the tracks are very rhythmic and pulsing, others are quite easygoing and subtle. All are fantastic!

    Opening with “Midnight on the Interstate” and closing with “The Calm and the Crying Wind,” both mellower tracks, Tracks like “Sorry” and “Walt Whitman” are quick and bouncy. “Risk” has a fun, almost comical delivery, with a dark edge to it. The album is laid out very well, and will captivate any listener who pays attention.

    The banjo player picks like a wild man during many of the tracks, and the mandolin and fiddle provide excellent rhythmic and melodic contrast. The bass lines flow easily throughout the songs, and the vocal harmonies are right on, complimenting Dave Simonett’s leads and acoustic strumming beautifully.

    If you are looking for a great album of Bluegrassy Folk tunes, look no further than Trampled By Turtles. And if you can’t get enough of the record, make sure to catch them in Syracuse when they play The Westcott Theatre on April 19th. I’ll be there!

    The entire album is currently available for streaming at their website. Check it out!!!

    http://trampledbyturtles.com/

  • Trampled By Turtles Interview

    Still wildly hot after their highly praised SXSW performances, Trampled By Turtles is making their way to our city in just over a week! With a (spectacular) new album fresh off the presses, I have a feeling this band is going to exponentially increase their fan base this year … Bluegrass lovers take heed.

    Trampled By Turtles are a fantastic band. If any of you are looking to check out some honest, high caliber bluegrass talent, the group will be performing at Westcott Theater on April 19th, and I implore you to go see this show. After hearing their latest album, “Stars and Satellites,” I envision a very lengthy career for the 5-piece from Duluth, Minnesota.

    I recently spoke with guitar player and vocalist Dave Simonett over the telephone to discuss the group’s new release, creative vision, and travel plans for 2012. It looks like it’s going to be a busy year for these guys!

    Interview:

    Greg- Hi Dave and thank you for taking the time to speak with Upstate LIVE! If you would, please introduce the members in the group… Who is everyone and what do they play?

    Dave- Well, I’m Dave (Simonett) and I play guitar, sing and am a songwriter for Trampled By Turtles. Ryan Young plays the fiddle, Dave Caroll plays the banjo, Eric Berry plays the mandolin and Tim Saxhaug plays the bass.

    Greg- Trampled By Turtles has been a band since 2003. How did everyone meet and when did you all decide to start the group?

    Dave- Well Eric Barry, Dave Caroll and I started the group as kind of a side project. We were all playing in rock bands at the time in the town of Duluth, Mn. We wanted to do something acoustic because none of us had ever been in an acoustic project before, so it started as a very informal thing. We kind of learned some old string music… It wasn’t random, but there wasn’t much though behind it. We just had these bluegrass instruments and we wanted to play some acoustic shows.

    Eventually, our bass player joined up and, pretty much around the time he joined, the other bands that we were in broke up, all within a few months of each other. So we were left with this band and, instead of keeping it a side project… We were having a good time, so we just decided to roll with it.

    Greg- So, tell me a bit about Duluth, Minnesota… How is the Bluegrass scene in your hometown? When did you first start listening to Bluegrass music and who are some of your favorites?

    Dave- As far as the bluegrass scene in Duluth goes, there really isn’t much of one. There are a couple of groups, but it’s not like… As great as the music scene is in Dultuh, it’s fairly small, because it’s a smaller city, but I think there is pretty much one of everybody there. There are several rock bands, but none sound like the other. There isn’t really much of a focused bluegrass scene there.

    When we started, we knew of one other bluegrass, old time music band, and it was like a weekly jam in a small restaurant. So, we started doing it because we’d never really listened to it before, and found a whole world of stuff that we loved and I still listen to today.

    If I had to pick a favorite blue grass musician, Bill Monroe is my guy. I kinda stayed with the old generation… I usually tend to go back to that era. They were forging such new territory in kind of a conservative, country music scene.

    Greg- Can you tell me about how you came up with the name for the group?

    Dave- Our mandolin player Eric made it up. When we were starting out, we had a couple of shows booked locally and we didn’t have a name. Eric threw the name out there and it was the one that we all didn’t hate (laughter). It was something that wasn’t taken very seriously.

    Greg- Your new album, “Stars and Satellites” is incredible! Who is releasing the album and where did you record and produce the record?

    Dave- Banjodad (Records) is our own little label and we have released all of our albums on our own. This time around, we went through a little bit of time where we were looking at record labels, but it’s better in the end to just put it out ourselves. It’s a liberating and free kind of way to work, you know?

    We recorded it in a log home just north of Duluth last September.  Eric and his wife had had their second child, and it was the only time we had to work on the record, so we needed to find a space to record that was close to them in that area. So we found this place that was a vacation home that anybody can rent out, and blocked it off for a few days. We moved the studio in and stayed there for a week and recorded it like that. It was an amazing time!

    Greg- Can you tell us a bit about the creative process and who writes the tunes? Is it a joint effort, or do individual members bring ideas to the table to flesh out while jamming?

    Dave- All of the songs that have lyrics were written by me. A couple of instrumentals that are on the record were either written by Eric or Dave on the banjo. As far as the ones I write, I come up with the chords, melodies, and lyrics and bring it to the guys. As far as the band’s arrangement of the song, we work at it as a group and everybody comes up with their own parts for the songs.

    With this record, most of the songs… I think there were two or three that we had played before… The great bulk I had been working on on my own, and we kind of fleshed them out in the studio. There were a couple of times where the first take of the song was the first time the band had played it all the way through, so it was really a fresh kind of feeling. I think what you lose in arrangement, we kind of gain in vibe when we record like that.

    Greg- Nice! How long do you usually take to write a new song/album and was this experience different from your previous records?

    Dave- It’s pretty much the same. We’ve always recorded records pretty fast, and the bulk of this one was recorded in about 5 days in the cabin. We did a couple of overdubs in Minneapolis, but it took us about a week for the record.

    Our last record was a little bit different. We recorded it on weekends, throughout a wider span of time and we did it in a few different studios. But for this one, it was kind of straight through. I don’t think we’ve spent a total of 2 weeks on a record, whether that’s good or not! (laughter) For this band, we’ve always got our best material in the beginning.

    Greg- Whatever you guys did, it worked out really well, so I implore you to keep with that style! You recently astounded your audiences at SXSW and have a very busy tour schedule coming up. Where will you be playing?

    Dave- Well, we start pretty much at our release show here in Minneapolis. Then, we do an East Coast and  South East coast run this month. We come home for a week and a half, and then we go out to the West coast and the mountains next month, and Summertime is filled with festivals that we are really excited about! Come Fall, we’re probably just gonna keep on the road. We do have a lot of busy times coming up, but we are really looking forward to it!

    Greg- Any particular shows you are most excited about or bands that you hope to share a bill with in the future?

    Dave- Well, it’s a hard question to answer. When we go on tour, we don’t go out for a long period of time. I have a 1-year old daughter, Eric has 2 kids… We try to keep it within a couple of weeks so we can come home. So when we pick a tour, everywhere we pick is very much on purpose because we really want to go there, you know? We’re really looking forward to every show. Syracuse is new, so that makes it exciting! It’s just a blessing to be excited about every night.

    Greg- Well, hopefully you get a nice response up here in Syracuse… I’m gonna be there! Lastly, what advice can you give some of the young, up and coming bands out here in Syracuse, in NYS, and everywhere that listens to Trampled By Turtles who want to make it in music, on the road, and as a professional musician?

    Dave- I think the most important thing is to just stay true to yourself. It might sound like a cliché, but it is very applicable in this business. There are a lot of people that are going to try to change what you do in the interest of commercial success, should you get tothat point. But I think what is most important is making the music you want to make, how you want to make it, and when you want to make it. Everything else is a bit out of your control… It’s “Right place, Right time.” But no matter what, you can look back and say ‘Hey at least I did it the way I wanted to do it!’

    http://trampledbyturtles.com/

  • JONESTOWN discusses influences, religion

    JONESTOWN discusses influences, religion

    Jonestown is a metalcore band out of Syracuse, New York with a strong message and ruthless sound.  Their aggressive style is infused with hardcore undertones and edgy vocals.  Their message rails against corruption, fear and ignorance in society.  The name Jonestown refers to the infamous Jonestown Massacre in Guyana, South America in 1978.  I sat down with Tyler Frisbie, Bobby Backes and Ryan Thurston and spoke with them about their music, message, and style.  The following is taken from that conversation.
    Rob:  What bands have influenced you and inspired you to play music?
    Bobby:  I grew up on metal.  When I was a kid my dad was always jamming and there were always guitars and drums in my house.  The bands that made me want to get on stage would be the old hardcore bands that would play at The Wescott Theatre and Planet 505.  Bands like Norma Jean, Poison The Well, Nora, and Throwdown.  When I went to my first Hellfest that really set it off for me too.
    Ryan:  Well, the first bands that made me want to play music were Guns N Roses and Pantera.  I grew up on that stuff.  But then as I got older and started to play music it was more of the metalcore and hardcore bands.  If it was on Trustkill Records or Ferret Records I probably listened to it.
    Rob: Have there been any changes in style or members in the band?
    Bobby:  If you play our songs from the first to the newest you can hear the progression. At first, we shied away from breakdowns.  We would play the slow, stand out breakdowns like most metalcore bands have.  We found how to use the breakdowns in our own way without throwing them in every song, which I feel is boring.  I still think that we don’t know our sound one-hundred percent yet but we are still young as a band.
    Rob:  How would you categorize Jonestown Hardcore, Metalcore, or a mixture?  I am not a genre expert!  I just know what I like!
    Ryan:  We are the same man.  We like everything and draw influences from it all.
    Bobby:  Genres are so shotty you can say anyone is anything!  But if metalcore is a mix of hardcore and metal than we are true metalcore.  Metal and hardcore fans love it.
    Rob:  Can you tell me more about the song Burn The Page?  What influenced you to create that song?  Does it draw from Turn The Page?
    Bobby:  Ha ha….no, no influence from Turn The Page even though it is an awesome song, it just happens to rhyme.  The song is about the misuse of religion.  Not anti-religion if going to church and reading the Bible is your choice and it makes your life better good for you.  But when religion is used as a tool of fear to make children obey and follow without letting them make their own mind.  I just think its crazy there is nine year old kids that will kill themselves and you because “God” said so…….I just think that is CRAZY!
    Rob:  I agree!  People do crazy things in the name of religion!
    Ryan:  They really do.  I have no problem with what you choose yourself to believe or not believe, but people should make up their own mind.
    Bobby:  Like drinking Kool-Aid with poison, hence the name Jonestown.
    Rob:  Jonestown has a message.  It’s one that goes against extremists and societies obsession with fear in religion and government.  Does this sound right?
    Ryan:  I would say that is pretty spot on.  In my eyes people need to take a hard look at the things they believe and not just take in everything they are told as the absolute truth.  If I told you some crazy facts that seemed almost completely unbelievable,
    would you choose to take that as fact with no research or thoughts of your own?
    Bobby:  But then again we aren’t all about that all the time.  We have fun and our song 909 is just about going out to a party and getting wasted.
    Rob:  What upcoming shows will are you playing?
    Ryan:  We are playing with The Empire Shall Fall on May 24th and the Exposed Music Fest on February 4th at the California Brew House in Rochester.  If people would like tickets they can contact us on Facebook.
    Rob:  What bands and groups have you been playing with lately that you would like the readers to know about?
    Bobby:  We have to let people know about Embrace The Massacre, Suspended In Dusk, Broken Tooth Productions, and of course you can hear our song, Burn The Page, on the new Anarchy Hour Podcast!

    http://www.facebook.com/Jonestown909?sk=app_2405167945

    http://www.reverbnation.com/jonestownreal

    http://www.facebook.com/Anarchy.Hour.Podcast?sk=app_182222305144028

    Vocals: BOB BACKES
    Guitar: ROB PIERCE
    Guitar: TY FRISBIE
    Bass: RYAN THURSTON
    Drums: ALEX FRISBIE

    Rob Born

  • Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds at The Putnam Den

    Arleigh Kincheloe and her band of eight Dirty Birds returned to The Putnam Den on Friday the 13th after a successful Kickstarter campaign for a new tour bus, which was parked on display outside, new digs for a band that has grown immensely in the past three years. Having seen them for the first time in late 2010, they stole the show, opening for The Radiators and continued to spread their wings and tour coast to coast, garnering a following in the process. With steady stage presence by Arleigh and tighter grooves, the band played songs old and new, including tunes from their new album Pound of Dirt, notably ‘Too Much’ with harmonica from Jackson Kincheloe sounded more Popper than Musselwhite while having a kind similarity to the Stones’ Heartbreaker.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7cCPMnvksY]

    Covers of Fat Bottom Girls and Cripple Creek were incredible (with a pseudo Saratoga reference of bets of win and show) but the highlight was Dirt, the album’s title song. Arleigh sang with the Southern (not-Scott) Joplin-esque funk with early Grace Potter vocals and the grittyness of Aguilera. The encore of Vices is always welcome, bringing with it a beat akin to Blondie’s The Tide is High. The night even attracted a full wedding party who got into the show before their (sigh) local DJ played till 4am.

    After the show, Arleigh commented the growth of the Sister Sparrow crowd upstate over the past couple years. “It seems like the crowd grows significantly each time we play upstate. It’s sweet they came to see us and are singing along in the back, it’s kinda wonderful. It feels like home, coming from Brooklyn, and we like New York.” Their summer is quite busy with trips to New Orleans Jazz Fest, Summercamp, Mountain Jam, Bonnaroo (twice), Teullride Jazz Fest and many more plus a western tour slotted fro July. In their new van, they can see the country in style and fan out across the country, blending funk and soul with amazing vocals.

  • The Return of Conehead Buddha

    Kicking off a weekend of celebration for Albany promoter Greg Bell who commemorates 20 years of bringing the best of live music to Albany, classic jamband and homegrown talent Conehead Buddha took to the stage of Valentine’s for the first time in six years. Featuring Ben Carle of Moon Boot Lover fame on bass, the eight piece band induced the packed upstairs crowd into a sweaty dancing herd, hands in the air in exultation to the music.

    Shannon Lynch, one of the founders of the jamband shared her thoughts on the reuniting after many years off: “The band has put a lot of time into really being prepared to come back and hit hard. I feel good about how the band sounds with our new drummer Tom Goss.” Listening to the show and having just seen Strangefolk perform for the first time (as the original quartet) since 2000, the benefit to practice is evident, and the time spent working on their music paid off throughout the night. Practice makes reunion tighter.

    Their ska/reggae sound wrapped in a jamband that plays for quality, not quantity, was augmented by the horn trio of Shannon Lynch, Terry Lynch and Shaun Bazylewicz, blaring their upbeat and energetic sound through the crowd while the bass/drum interplay at times gave some African vibe to exquisite funk, particularly on Hey Jody and Wear You Down. The second set included Vinnie, SWM, Wear You Down, My Way, Bobby Brooks, Must be You, Shades, Hey Jody, My Side of the Story, Sights->Psycho Killer->Sights with an encore of Johnny and his Fighting Boys with a Get Up Stand Up section. During Sights the band took off and eventually fell into a cover of Talking Heads’ Psycho Killer, setting the fuse of the crowd off in the process.

    Not surprisingly, the crowd was loud and dancing, akin to a Mighty Mighty Bosstones show, thriving, swaying and jumping with more energy as the night progressed. Dave Geoghegan from Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets, when asked what it was like to see Conehead Buddha, a group who, like many bands that came through Albany, opened up for you Dr. Jah in their early years noted “It’s cool because their music has really evolved. Some of their horn songs are so big, I feel like I’m at a stage show and the guys are really kicking it out now.”

    While this was a reunion night, it was also a celebration. Promoter Greg Bell marked 20 years of bringing the best live music to Albany and did so by reuniting one of the bands he helped bring to the big time, along with the likes of moe., Moonboot Lover, Ominous Seapods and numerous others. Greg pumped up crowd before the sets and again before the encore, keeping the crowd’s momentum electric until the last note was played. Shannon Lynch shared her thoughts: “Greg Bell has been very supportive of all the awesome bands whether they draw people or not. He knows who the good musicians are and has supported the scene; any (music) scene that exists in Albany right now is because of him. He’s been great to us and we’re very happy to be here for him.” Likewise, Dave Geoghegan looked back on the twenty years of the Albany music scene that Greg has presided over and remarked “There’s been a resurgence lately, with the Dirty Paris guys and Timbre Coup, it’s a kinda new scene and I think it’s really cool. We get to play with a bunch of them and the old school reggaes mixed with the new. I think it’s still a vibrant music scene.” As long as Greg Bell continues to promote show, Albany will continue to be the epicenter of live music in Upstate New York.