Dead Channels – C.R.E.A.M. (Manic Progression/Shattered Ego Records)
This is 2012. Bands often spend more time coordinating outfits than worrying about silly notions such as their own integrity or what their legacy will look like if they manage to kiss enough ass to seperate themselves from the herd. When the quality of your music is dictated by desperate businessmen or the ability to make drunken women with daddy complexes wet, you’ve produced the equivalent of a walmart quality landscape painting in what should be a wall reserved for Picassos. With that said, it makes the occasions when you do find someone worthy of holding a brush that much more special. Dead Channels gets it.
What Dead Channels has released here is a three song 7″ titled Cash Ruined Everything Around Me. Bassist/Vocalist Angelo Mosca told me it’s ‘somewhat of a concept EP’. The trilogy of songs within cover the topics of being in an honest band in a very dishonest, and I’ll just say it, bad time for music. The first song, Substance Abuse, tackles the topic of bad bands in positions of success. “Won’t sing along to your preacher song, like sirens to deaf ears/You work the stage like an usher the plate”. The second song, PMA vs. 401K, is an ode to the frustration of having to work a day job that you hate. The last song in this trilogy to the thankless joy of being in a band, Dirt Poor, deals with the illusiary quality of material things and the inner struggle to search for what truly matters in a world where you need to eat to survive. “Father don’t label me failed yet, I only want good things same as you. My blood, and my friends, this band is my family./ And I’ll keep working on quote “meaningless things”,like love and respect. And when I’m finished you can cash the checks, but the ground hasn’t covered me yet.” I don’t generally like to do reviews song by song like this at all, but I feel the topic and the flow of this ep call for it. As someone who was in an underground band for a good many years, this speaks to me.
Musically, this is no departure from 2011’s Soul Pollution. The music is hectic and conveys a sense of urgency. Much like on Soul Pollution, the vocals are used as a fourth instrument to round out this three piece. This adds to the raw quality and makes the subject matter feel sincere. This ep shows Dead Channels achieving a stride and comfortablity in their music that should make people eagerly await their next album.
The Wetlands Preserve original owner Larry Bloch, died Sunday. The Wetlands Preserve gained prominence as the center of the burgeoning jamband scene in the early 90’s, hosting bands such as Phish, The Spin Doctors, Blues Traveler, moe., Strangefolk and more early in their careers. It was located at 161 Hudson Street in the TriBeCa neighborhood of NYC. The Wetlands was also a model for environmental responsibility, prominently displaying and circulating hundreds of petitions (club patrons accounted for over 30,000 signatures a year) and lobbied corporate and government leaders for action.
Larry explained his concept of The Wetlands Model in 2001: “We have proven that a for-profit enterprise can efficiently and dynamically create positive change in the world by including in its mission a purpose for being, beyond profit, and adequately funding that good work as an overhead expense. Combining music and fun with activism worked well at Wetlands, and can work wherever people who share a vision come together. With so many magical seeds sown, I am optimistic about what may grow.”
From moe.org : “…we lost a mentor to many. Larry Bloch was a great man who brought a great vision to life. Those who frequented the Wetlands in New York City got a chance to see someone build a scene like no other and understood the significance; they got to witness and be part of the vision. Nobody has been able to duplicate what Larry did. In a way, moe. lost their Bill Graham today.”
From John Popper’s Facebook page : “So sorry to hear about Larry Bloch, founder of Wetlands… He fought his cancer really hard&lived 8months longer than predicted in pretty good health&went peacefully by all accounts… We all love him&wish him well on the next phase of his journey…”
updated Oct 31st:
from the moe facebook: In memory of Larry Bloch and all the amazing memories we made at the Wetlands, we are giving away the MP3 download of the 9/23/95 show, now through Monday 11/5 at noon. Be seeing you, Larry!
With a history of politically-tinged acts such as State of Alert, Black Flag and Rollins Band, Henry Rollins’ foray into spoken word performance is a natural segue, removing the music and adding in an uninterrupted stream of consciousness covering a multitude of topics for two and a half straight hours. Appealing to the populist crowd scattered with faithful hardcore punk fans, Rollins delved into broad topics, ranging from national literacy to elections, traveling the world to growing up in Washington D.C. and his life with Black Flag on the road and in Los Angeles.
Henry Rollins
On this night at The Egg, dressed as usual in black shirt, black pants and black shoes, Rollins dripped sweat from his left arm as he held the mic, barely moving from his spot at center stage for the entire performance, deviating perhaps only a few inches at most from beginning to end. After an hour, he seemed like a Rockem Sockem Robot, fixed in position and only moving his arms, just a little more fluidly than the robots and with a deep passion that kept the audience engrossed throughout the performance. Rollins was nothing short of intense in speaking to the crowd, never engaging them directly but keeping them on their proverbial toes with random bursts of pure energy, akin to the refrain in the “Liar” video.
Among the multitude of topics that Rollins segued in and out of over the course of the night:
Lincoln and his recognizing that the greatest threat to America was internal;
Having played many state capitals this tour, most of them, Albany included, seem to shut down shortly after 6pm;
The use of polysyllabic words as a sign of intelligence and more prevalent among one of the two political parties;
Hope that the 21st century is looked upon centuries into the future and taught in schools as THE century where things changed for the better for all;
Megyn Kelly of Fox News and her reaction to news stories (one can never look at Megyn the same way again after hearing his observations);
The greatness of live music as described by seeing a 19 year-old playing with a punk band;
The wisdom of David Lee Roth (yes, wisdom);
Having turned 50 recently, recognizing that he is not at the midpoint of life, but rather within field goal range of death;
The trend of old bands and punk rockers reuniting to scare new generations at summer music festivals (with better sound this time);
Black Flag as an ancient traveling troupe and stories from the road, some happy, some sad and but mostly generally fucked up experiences;
Heroin in Los Angeles during Black Flag’s heyday and the friends lost to overdoses;
Visits to Syria, Iran, North Korea, China, Bhutan, Tibet and Haiti; all out of personal curiosity and general restlessness;
While visiting Haiti, having a sense of urgency to do something to help the Haitians, by getting them soap and soccer balls at their request; and,
Realizing that his Western solution to helping them (buying them things) was not a solution, but possibly adding to the problem.
For 150 minutes, Henry Rollins delivered thought provoking laughs to a crowd fixated on his every word. Without a break for a drink or a spare breath, there was much to take away from the mind of a prolific thinker and musician. A spoken-word show of this nature is one not to miss.
Pink Floyd enthusiasts were treated to a fun night of music and visual displays Saturday night in Albany. The Australian Pink Floyd Show made a stop at the Palace Theater and put on a complete show filled with classic Pink Floyd songs that spanned their entire catalog. Along with a giant circular video monitor, laser light projections and backup singers, it made for a true theatrical experience. Writers Tim O’Shea and Pete Mason attended and each took something different from the show.
Review by Tim O’Shea
The show opened with the dark and brooding “In the Flesh” and instantly captured the audience’s attention. The early portion of the show included several selections from some of the later Pink Floyd albums. “Sorrow” from the album A Momentary Lapse of Reason was also well received. The band then shifted gears and went into one of the group’s earlier numbers with a stirring rendition of “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun”. Another first set highlight was “Pigs” which was performed flawlessly. After this, spotlights and that familiar helicopter sound led into the set closer of “Another Brick in the Wall” which also featured a giant inflatable “teacher” on stage which corresponded to the video being shown on stage.
The second set opened with the Syd Barrett tribute “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”. This was another song complemented beautifully by the video being shown which included some very early images of the band when Barrett was still included. The chiming of clocks that followed could only mean it was time for “Time”, followed by another song from the epic Dark Side of the Moon album with “Great Gig in the Sky”. This gave the three backup singers a chance to shine as each took their own approach to the classic vocal solo that ends the song. “Us and Them” was also played later in the set giving the audience a good sampling from this classic album.
Review by Pete Mason
What stood out about Australian Pink Floyd was the the fact that this was not a cover band, it was a true tribute band. The band not only had strong improvisational structure to songs with full jamming capabilities. But the key thing for me was that they featured a great deal of rarities and for once, a band playing Pink Floyd was not a greatest hits parade. Utilizing the full catalog, the band’s songs connected you with the four decades of Floyd, especially the songs that harken back to the emothional aftermath of World War Two that is intertwined throughout a number of their songs.
Opening up with “In the Flesh” is setting the bar high for the night with the ‘thrust you back into your seat’ power of this tune from The Wall. “Set the Controls” was a huge highlight, with the sun projected in various lenses behind the band as the ominous and dark song got into motion; with Halloween around the corner, this is true Haunted House music. “Pigs”, appropriately, showed political leaders with snouts and pig ears super imposed on their visages on the screen as the full song was played well enough that you could picture Battersea Power Station behind the band. But instead, we got the incredibly creepy/acid-visual of a giant teacher inflated on stage left behind the backup singers, perfect to bring in “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2“
The second set gave a nice tribute to the memory of Syd Barrett with a medley of photos and his musical compositions from the 1960s, followed by the apropos “Shine on you Crazy Diamond”. After a pair of tuned from Dark Side of the Moon, we were treated to two rarer songs, “What do you want from me” off 1994s’ The Division Bell and “The Fletcher Memorial Home” off 1983’s The Final Cut, each of which allowed the various singers in the band to showcase their chops and dipped back into the well of creepy for the visuals broadcast on the screen during “Fletcher”, a truly troubling tune, albiet one of Waters more introspective songs. With some more Dark Side songs, the highlight of the night was the off-setlist Interstellar Overdrive that featured a giant pink kangaroo that arose from nowhere, keeping the psychedelic aspect of Pink Floyd lasting beyond their years. Aussie Pink Floyd no doubt redefined tribute band for me this night, as well as gave a nice sampling of the four decades of Floyd.
Australian Pink Floyd Show Setlist:
Set 1: In the Flesh, Take it Back, Sorrow, Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun, High Hopes, Pigs, Another Brick in the Wall Part 2
Set 2: Syd Barrett Medley, Shine on You Crazy Diamond, Time->Great Gig in the Sky, What do you Want From Me, The Fletcher Memorial Home, Us and Them, Wish You Were Here, Interstellar Overdrive, Comfortably Numb
After catching JGB with Melvin Seals at the Catskill Chill festival this year, I was not missing their show at the Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs on Saturday. Melvin Seals, one of the original Jerry Garcia Band members, leads the band JGB and together they play tribute to Jerry Garcia, playing his music around the country. I arrived to the venue to find the outside porch area lined with tables of people selling art pieces, pins and shirts, very similar to a shakedown scene you would find on any Phish lot or Deadhead scene.
A man with long dreads stepped on stage and started strumming a guitar, which at first I assumed he was doing a sound check but it turned out to be Jimmy Tebeau. The soft and familiar guitar melodies beckoned the crowd outside to the dance floor like mice to the Pied Piper and caused a gentle group sing along. Tebeau’s voice had everyone swaying to the music and energizing for the big band noise that was soon to come. Jimmy played some of my favorites like “Sugar Magnolia” into “Scarlet Begonias” into “Sunshine Daydream”.
After a quick set break, the entire JGB took the stage and the venue was packed. The band opened the night with “Cats Under the Stars”, the perfect song to wake up the audience and get grooving. The two female singers were incredible with their angelic harmonies, I couldn’t get enough. Melvin Seals is a true sight to be seen on his organ, I was in awe of his powerful key playing. The music melted over the crowd and everyone rejoiced. The familiar songs played with a rock and roll, gospel flair was guaranteed salvation from whatever the outside world had brought down on you. The entire night was rejuvenating.
My favorite song of the evening was “I Saw Her Standing There” when the band slowed down the tempo and you could really feel every note, it was a great build up. The JGB ended the night with a classic “One More Saturday Night” encore that shook the venue with a funky vibe that couldn’t be stopped.
JGB with Melvin Seals will end their East Coast touring in Fairfield, CT after playing at the Brooklyn Bowl on the 26th and 27th. They are set to play a 4 night run in Denver, CO for New Year’s Eve. For more information about touring, go to their website or like them on Facebook.
Setlist:
Set 1 (Jimmy Solo Acoustic) : Walkin’ Blues, Jack Straw>Box of Rain, Cumberland Blues>Maggie’s Farm>Cumberland reprise, New Speedway Boogie>Other One>New Speedway Boogie>Goin’ Down the Road, Looks Like Rain>Women Are Smarter, Ripple, Sugar Magnolia>Scarlet Begonias>Sunshine Daydream
Set 2 : Cats Under the Stars>And It Stoned Me, Evageline, I’ll Take a Melody, I Saw Her Standing There, Who Was John>After Midnight
Set 3 : Stop That Train>I Want to Tell You, Sitting In Limbo>Don’t Let Go>Waiting for a Miracle, I’ll Be With Thee>Breadbox
Max Creek is hosting a “Haunted Halloween Bash” this coming weekend in beautiful Lake George, New York on Friday October 26th and Saturday October 27th. Connecticut’s legendary American rock jam band will be preforming at the Fort William Henry Hotel with tickets available for single nights or weekend days, ranging from $25 to $40. Max Creek will share the stage with Conehead Buddha on Friday October 26th and Dr. Jah& The Love Prophets on Saturday October 27th.
The fright fest kicks off each night at 7pm and is a 16+ event. There will be a costume contest for each night with categories for Scariest, Most Creative and Sexist, and winning prize tickets for Floodwood, Kung Fu, Marco Benevento plus a 4 pack to Max Creeks New Years Eve Masquerade Ball. Don’t miss this weekend, one that’s sure to be full of spooky fun and a musical adventure!
JEMP Records announced today the latest release from the Phish Archives: Star Lake 98 will hit stores and online this coming December 11th. Phish’s 2 DVD set features a multi-camera screen feed from their August 11,1998 performance at the Star Lake Amphitheatre in Burgettstown, PA.
Star Lake 98 represents the only full-length show available on video from the band’s 1998 summer tour. While the set was created from lawn feeds captured by VHS tapes, the audio was mixed by Jon Atschiller from Paul Languedoc’s multi-track masters. You can pre-order the DVD set now at Phish Dry Goods. A bonus CD available with the pre-order is “So Inclined”, featuring music from the three remaining unreleased Star Lake concerts.
Phish Archivist Kevin Shapiro shared his thoughts on the show’s release:
The Star Lake 98 show was the 20th of summer to showcase the loose, experimental vibe of a tour that began in Europe and jumped to the United States en route to the summer’s ending Lemonwheel festival. The introduction of a never-before-played cover each night earned the tour the nickname “summer of covers” from fans and Star Lake’s contribution was a “Trench Town Rock” opener. Star Lake also saw the return of “Time Loves A Hero” which was played for the first time in a decade and segued out of a sultry “Wolfman’s Brother”. “Julius”, an extended “Fee” outro (during which hip Pittsburghians clapped along on the 2 and 4) and deep renditions of “Maze” and “Reba” set the stage for set II. The second set featured a super-swinging, ethereal “Runaway Jim” that foreshadowed 2011’s “Storage Jam” and an unusual pairing of “Meat > Limb By Limb.” Local flavor of the Commonwealth was provided by “Bittersweet Motel” (the title of the Phish documentary recorded during Europe ’98 dates) and “Wilson”, King of Prussia.
8/11/98 – Burgettstown, PA Tracklist
Disc One
Set I:
1. Trench Town Rock
2. Julius
3. Wolfman’s Brother
4. Time Loves A Hero
5. Bittersweet Motel
6. Reba
7. The Sloth
8. Ginseng Sullivan
9. Fee
10. Maze
11. Sample In A Jar
Disc Two Set II:
1. Runaway Jim
2. Meat
3. Limb by Limb
4. When The Circus Comes
5. Down With Disease
Encore:
1. Wilson
2. Golgi Apparatus
Attention music fans! This is not a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is the real deal coming at you. Saturday, November 3rd at 8:00 p.m., a rolling wave of powerhouse party rock is scheduled to hit the Kirkland Art Center Roadhouse with Rawson and The Rick Short Band. You do not want to be left out of this one!
The story goes, a wild eyed Rick Short, blissed out on his first UMAF experience several years ago, walked in on a Rawson set at The Electric Company. Rick took in part of a number and looked around him noting the lack of other bodies for him to excitedly exclaim to. He was overcome. He ran outside and literally grabbed hold of the first person he saw. I’ll closely paraphrase: “You gotta get in there! This band! It’s like Prince on Acid!”
If you know Rick, you know you can picture this actually happening. Cue your dream sequence moment. As luck would have it, the hapless victim of this guerrilla promotion was none other than Bernie Freytag of the KAC (among other projects and community contributions). Bernie was intrigued and followed Rick inside. The rest, as they say, was history.
It was love at first listen for Rick and he and the clan from Rawson became fast friends; a friendship that has stood the test of time over the last several years. And over that period of time, as many of you CNY-ers know well, Rick has put together quite a band himself! The Rick Short Band debuted UMAF weekend at The Tramontane Café two years ago and then again this year at The Boilermaker Road Race with a change in the line up making things fresh again. With thoughtfully crafted songs, catchy hooks and melodies, familiar tones, expert musicianship and varied and pertinent lyrical subject matter, The Rick Short Band has done nothing but gain fans and support since this summer. Their run of UMAF shows this year impressed the fans and promoters and all the hard work is coming to an exciting and endearing fruition with this coming show.
And so it goes that under a Utica Greens Festival sunny sky, Rick, Jimi Short from Rawson, and Bernie Freytag struck up a discussion. Playfully remembering the connection between them all from years ago, a plan took shape. Now the Mohawk Valley gets to reap the benefits of this mega-networking when The Rick Short Band and Rawson rock and roll the Kirkland Art Center.
That’s the backstory, but what can you expect to hear November 3rd? Both of these bands understand and appreciate the roots of soul, R&B and Rock and Roll and how much music can ignite the masses.
Rawson is indeed a powerhouse of an ensemble and their goal is to make you shake your thang. Their original selections fuse R&B and good old fashioned Rock and Roll creating what they like to call the “Rawson Roll.” Everyone is as slick as slick gets and they look every bit the part of members in one of downstate’s most epic party bands. Jimi Sharp is infamous for coaxing his lead guitar to scream, moan, and wail while Sean Rawson works the microphone like the great frontmen of years gone by. You certainly will think of Prince and you’ll also have some liberal Rolling Stones moments, particularly from their later years. Sean and Jimi play off of each other well on stage, each giving, taking, and pushing the other and the fans and lifting things to the pinnacle of the next level. G steadily gives up what everyone at a Rawson show wants- that rhythm! Shuffling, rolling, splashing and crashing, he holds down the foundation together with Edwin Alvarado thumping on the bass. They drive that Rawson Roll straight home. This band does not let their talent and showmanship isolate them from their fans, either. They are extremely down to earth and genuinely want to make you smile and get to know you. This is a big reason why Rawson has built a strong following of quality fans in the Utica area. It’s a rare Rawson show that doesn’t end with a stage full of gyrating audience members.
Rawson’s stage show is going to go so well next to The Rick Short Band’s nostalgic and high energy performance. Joining Rick in the act of creation are Kassandra Freetage on vocals, Rick DeJohn on the bass, Eddie Reilly on drums, and Joe Rizzuto on lead guitar. Kassandra’s vocals are smokey and confident and she illustrates her range, sometimes singing in the lead role and frequently supporting Rick’s vocal, weaving in and out reminiscent of both bluesy bands you know and love and the more psychedelic fare of yore. Rick DeJohn understands the importance of an active and present low end and dances inside the song structures expertly. His work stands out and I enjoy it immensely. Eddie is a supportive, spirited rhythm master, intuitively understanding when to push out to the forefront of a song and when to hang back and add texture and depth; such a valuable quality in the percussion section. Joe is an incredible lead guitarist and I expect he will blow your socks off. He plays with and off of Rick’s strong rhythm structures and intriguing progressions. Prepare to stand slack-jawed.
The bands are psyched, too. In Rick’s own words, “This showcase is a pairing of two bands that, first, are great friends. Second, that met at The Utica Music Fest. And, third, who are going to ROCK the KAC like it’s never been rocked before. THAT is a promise! The tremendous setting and professional sound system will allow the guests to truly enjoy the musicianship and artistry.” It’s true that the KAC is a very bright spot on the CNY music venue landscape. Rick continued, “Both bands feed off of each other’s energy and passion. Friends for years, [we] encourage each other, support each other, respect each other, and truly enjoy each other. The audience will feel this respect and will be drawn into the family.” Rick summed up the experience he is expecting nicely for me. “The combination of being featured with Rawson and performing for the discerning audience of the KAC Roadhouse is truly a highlight in The Rick Short Band’s calendar. We’re taking this VERY seriously and bringing our “A” game.”
I also spoke with Sean about his thoughts. “It’s our first time playing together outside of UMAF.” He continued that he and Jimi, “have [our] musical wheels spinning in preparation for this show. Don’t be surprised to see bubbles, heels and Hershey kisses during the Rawson set! I’m just saying you are not gonna want to miss this show. We can’t wait to share the stage with our friends. We are honored and anxious for this fun filled night of music which is sure to be an incredible time for people of all ages.”
How’s that sound to ya? Nice, right?? I think these are two of the best party bands I’ve had the pleasure of dancing around to and I hope you will too. Tickets for this event are $10.00 for KAC members and $12.00 for non-members, pre sale. Tickets at the door will be $12.00/members and $15.00 nonmembers. They can be purchased by calling 853-8871 in advance.
SOLARiS is announcing the first leg of their Fall/Winter tour dates. The dance parties start when the band returns to their old stomping grounds in Binghamton to headline a Halloween bash with shake shake shake, The Quantum, & Happy Thieves in Paradise at The Beagle Pub.
The band returns home to Ithaca to play a FREE show at Lot 10, and then its onto New Paltz for a pre-Thanksgiving rager at Snug Harbor. The tour rounds out with a big weekend of collaboration – SOLARiS heads to Albany for Eli Fest, a benefit concert with Timbre Coup and DigiMUN, at The Bayou Café, to be followed by a debut performance at The Haunt in Ithaca, opening for Dopapod and The Manhattan Project (contact SOLARiS to purchase pre-sale tickets).
October 26 @ The Beagle Pub, Johnson City, NY. (w/ shake shake shake, The Quantum, & Happy Thieves in Paradise)
November 2 @ Lot 10, Ithaca, NY. (Guest TBA) November 21 @ Snug Harbor, New Paltz, NY. (w/ DJ Rodan)
November 30 @ Bayou Café, Albany, NY. (Eli Fest w/ Timbre Coup & DigiMUN)
December 1 @ The Haunt, Ithaca, NY. (w/ Dopapod & The Manhattan Project) More dates to be announced.
Check out footage of SOLARiS at the Delancey in New York City
SOLARIS was formed in 2010 as a 3 piece all-instrumental band that hails from upstate New York. In the short time they’ve been together as a band, the members of SOLARiS have created a bevy of original compositions that range from electronica to dubstep, jazz fusion to funk, breakbeatss to drum’n’bass. Each of these compositions vary in speed, length, genre and style, but all of them are used as blank slates to showcase the Trio’s explosive improv, electronic experimentation, and constantly evolving new sounds.
As we all know, time flies. Sometimes it is months before you and your favorite band cross paths again. For me that’s been the case as I’ve been going through withdrawal lately singin’ the mantra, “Gimme some moe.” Having only seen moe. once this past year, my body and mind have been begging for some “Lazarus”, “Buster”, “Rebubula”… anything by the music-master-minds. One thing moe. is known for their annual shows at the Saranac Brewery in Utica, including one on Saturday, October 13. Their love for east coast fans, central New York venues and good beer makes the Saranac Brewery an essential stop on their seasonal tours.
Saturday night’s show had the atmosphere of an autumn backyard party, complete with a decked out Jack-O-Lantern dressed as a viking, front and center on stage. There was a chill in the air and a forecast promising rain but the crowds came flooding in anyways. Everyone was bundled up and feelin’ fine; the weather quickly became a minor detail of the evening. The band opened with “Haze”, belting out the lyrics “I wanna do this with you… Hey! Let’s go! I don’t care as long as you are there!”. The crowd melted together at a rapid pace and the energy was high with the anticipation of yet another electrifying set. Anyone who has been to a moe. show knows that the crowd is made up of highly devoted fans and you can hear people’s debates from every direction about what song the band will bust out next.
The first set had unique progression, as it certainly was not one of their jammier shows but flowed nicely. ”St. Augustine” was the highlight with it’s long gorgeous jam that is always so full of light. The first set had short renditions of a few favorites, “Wind It Up”->”Lost Along the Way” ->”Tambourine” and of course “Happy Hour Hero”, for tonight, a Saranac would do just fine! Some people around me seemed to be a little disappointed with the “Happy Hour Hero”, practically the brewery’s anthem. Overall, it seemed as though the first set came and went, leaving us all thirsty for some heavier jams during the second part of the show.
Sure enough they came back from break with a whole new attitude. The boys jammed “Billy Goat” into “Tailspin” and then pleased the crowd with an all-time favorite, “Kyle’s Song”. Everyone was singing along with the lyrics and smiles were all around. The energy was taken to a whole new level, with even the light show changing into something spectacular and matching the more intense vibe of the second set jams.
There was a lot of love and light in this show; Cass, an eleven-year member of the crew took the stage and played heavy on the drums. He wanted to go out with a bang so drummer Vinnie Amico swapped seats with his beloved crew member and let him rock out. THIS is what sets moe. apart; a moe. show is never just about the music. The music is our common ground, and is what connects us and gives us collective roots.
But moe. offers a whole other element to our shared reality. It is a wholesome, rich experience which earns them one of the most dedicated fan-bases around, not to mention the band’s political activism and the way in which they use their voice to spread messages. Towards the end of the show there were speeches given on hydro-fracking and information was offered in hopes of educating people on it’s negative impacts. Bass player Rob Derhak took his usual cracks at guitarist Al Schnier as Chuck Garvey laughed on and the band’s freeing chemistry overflowed out into the audience. It felt just like home.
Needless to say, the Saranac Show had a little bit of everything. As I made my way through the crowd bouncing around from “Chuck-side” to “Al-side” there was a common theme throughout. We’re all like old friends, supporting a band that supports us. So what could be a better encore then “Raise a Glass->Plane Crash”?! Might as well make a toast and say cheers to band that got us all tied up together inside this musical maze.
Setlist:
Set 1: Haze, St. Augustine, Wind It Up, Lost Along The Way, Tambourine, Happy Hour Hero > Seat Of My Pants
Set 2: Billy Goat > Tailspin > Kyle’s Song > Kids > Down Boy > Skrunk > Brent Black
