NYS Music 20​12

Tag: albany

  • Michael Menert & Break Science, Twilight Frequency Tour at Valentine’s, December 8th

    Having seen the Brooklynites all over the east and south, I was excited to be able to witness my favorite EDM duo Break Science in a local setting at Valentine’s in Albany. I have caught their act at festivals such as Bear Creek in Live Oak, Florida, Rock n Roll Resort in Kerhonkson, Royal Family Affair in Stratton, Vermont and The Festival of Gnarnia in Beech Mountain, North Carolina and thus, was familiar with how powerful and energetic their performances can be. This would be a night full of juggling and dancing for me; I needed a night to release my stress into the void; I was ready.

    Never having seen Paul Basic before, I didn’t know what to expect and I was very pleasantly surprised. His moody soundscapes had the crowd bobbing and jumping in delight. His being a member of PLM, or Pretty Lights Music  for the uninitiated, is no surprise to me. Created by none other than producer/DJ Derek Vincent Smith, PLM consistently brings some of the freshest production to the music scene today. Paul Basics set was a taste of what was to come, bringing us on a journey of peaks and ebbs. He dropped the bass in our face with the precision of a seasoned vet. For a taste of his music free downloads are here PrettyLightsMusic.com.

    Michael Menert joined Paul Basic for a track to finish his set, then we were given a short interlude. Claiming the stage, Michael started slow and began to amp the crowd more and more. The ever-morphing mass of fans grew during his set and the energy in the room grew with it. Palpable waves of vibration spilled off of the dance floor from speakers and revelers alike. It’s no wonder he was an original member of Pretty Lights. His skills in amping up the crowd were unquestionable. Alas, his set came to a close and another short break was awarded.

    The anticipation washed away as Break Science took the stage. A powerful presence, Borham Lee is a keyboardist, programmer, producer and DJ all rolled into one. He has worked with such stars as Wyclef Jean, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Matisyahu, Lauryn Hill, and even Wu Tang Clan. He uses a Nord Stage Keyboard coupled with samples and smooth innovative computer programming to produce a textured ambiance that cannot be reproduced with instruments alone.  Adam Deitch has to be one of the busiest drummer/producers in the music scene today. He is the current drummer for the bands Lettuce and Dr. Klaw as well as Break Science. He also has worked with the likes of Ledisi, Talib Kwali, John Scofield, 50 Cent and more.

    This night would be the second to last night of their tour and Borham would make it a memorable one, blending Dubstep, Hip-hop, Jazz, Funk, Soul and even Reggae into a swirling forefront for Deitch to lay his consistent and thunderously tight barrage of beats behind. Adam and Borham have a sort of telekinetic bond on stage. With little more than an unemotional nod or glance in either’s direction, they operate almost as if they are separate entities, having just wandered into the same room to create a masterful noise that moves the mind and soul. This set was one that displayed their incredible talents. As  the crowd worked its way into a writhing frenzy, I found myself pondering what they could be trying to convey, what message they might be sending into the universe…and I concluded that it was to accentuate the positive: to focus on the here and now and find peace with whatever was found there.

    As an encore of sorts, the duo became a trio with Michael Menert joining them onstage to perform some tracks off of their new EP Twilight Frequency. Free Download at breaksciencemusic.com.  This was a perfect way to bring the show full circle and to a close. An amazing night, I left exhilarated and satisfied. My juggling and dancing craving satiated, I was ready to take on the world.

  • Light and Sound: An Interview with Phil Salvaggio and Greg Ellis of Pretty Lights

    Light and Sound: An Interview with Phil Salvaggio and Greg Ellis of Pretty Lights

    Yesterday, Sue Rice recapped the Pretty Lights show at the Times Union Center. Today features an interview with Pretty Lights Lightining Director Greg Ellis and Production Manager/Audio Engineer Phil Salvaggio. After the show was over, Chris McMullen sat down with the Oneonta natives to get a look at the behind the scenes of producing a Pretty Lights show.

    Phil Salvaggio Greg EllisChris McMullen: When did the lighting rig really reach its peak?

    Greg Ellis: Well the funny thing is we debuted the pillar style video rig last year at Bonnaroo but we used the festival light rig and it was very sub-par. After that was when it all kind of came together. We followed that with a string of festivals and then during our fall tour was the first time it was a complete package. Its been a couple years in the making. We’ve been taking care to make sure the equipment does what we want it to do. The visuals are particularly a challange because I can improvise with lights but Video is so delicate.

    Chris: Who does the visuals?

    Greg: Its a company called Radio Edit AV out of Chicago. Led by this kid that we know Dave Najarian.

    Chris: Have you had a memorable show on this tour?

    Greg: The last two nights have been my favorite shows I’ve ever done. We grew up in Oneonta and our whole crew was here tonight. And last night my friends from Connecticut, from when I lived there attended., so its been one huge family reunion the last two days. THere was a moment last night when Something just kind of happened. From then on out its been full steam ahead.

    Chris: How did you get involved with PL?

    Greg: When I moved to Connecticut, he moved to Colorado and bounced around and started to find his groove. He started working with PL and convinced me to come out there.

    Phil: I had to work with all these dudes, and all had this gear and they all sucked…and I was like, I know this kid…give him the right tools and he’ll slay these kids. And thats what happened. haha

    (As Chris and Phil were talking, they were interrupted by alcohol and women, a few follow up questions ensued)

    Chris: What is your favorite NY venue?

    Phil: Now, I’m partial to the Times Union Center, it’s a large scale big arena. I saw my first Phish show there in 1998. I was pretty stoked to get in there and do a show.  As far as places to see a show, Radio City Music Hall is pretty awesome.
    Chris: Any pre show rituals?
    Phil: I usually take a nap between sound check and showtime, its the most time I have off during the day.
    Chris: What are you listening to lately?
    Phil: Muse: 2nd Law, totally sick, new modern record, bands just don’t do this kind of stuff anymore, this band can actually play live, they are sick, they are the real deal. There music is very rock opera-ish. Brings me back to my youth. Its like Queen meets Radiohead meets a Broadway show or something. You should watch their making of 2nd Law. You’ll understand what I’m saying.
    Chris: Craziest tour moment?
    Phil: The Crazy tour moments are less and less these days as we have advanced into such large venues. These days its way more low key backstage. Just playing the Boston Garden was pretty crazy to me. I saw Phish 20th anniversary there, so that was crazy. That or this past summer doing the Gorge, then Sunset Festival in Tampa, then Summercamp, with the help of charter jets. Literally opposite parts of the country.   EDC Vegas… 100,000 people.. I am returning to this, Full Flex Express Tour, It was the 2012 version of Festival Express. Use your imagination…
    Chris: Favorite tour moment?
    Phil: Favorite Tour moment for this tour… Kickin it with my friends backstage at the Times Union Center in Albany. Everyone seemed to have a blast, and it was great to bring my old band mates and friends into that element, in a venue where we had seen so many epic shows.
    Chris: Any word on a Pretty Lights festival?
    Phil: This is something we have been talking about forever. We do so many festivals where we are limited from a production standpoint. Our touring rig is bigger than most festivals we play, and its OUR thing. We did EDC Vegas and Electric Zoo, both were great and had HUGE productions. But we’d rather walk into doing our OWN thing with artists we want to play with.   We did just did a co-bill festival with Skrillex in Nashville, the weekend before Halloween, it was called “With Your Friends.” We used our rig, it was Awesome, we can show what we are really about when its our stuff.  I would love to do what Phish did, or rather something similar, with artists we like or are on the label etc…. Create a really cool brand, something that people can remember. So, in terms of any word on a festival, NO, but its been in our minds for a minute.
    Chris: How did you meet Derek?
    Phil: I was living in Fort Collins CO. Playing in bands and booking a club. I started doing Audio for a company down there. I was in some bands that were just struggling. He was in a band, I was in a band, we had mutual friends. I did his first real show in Fort Collins, I brought in lights and extra subs for his show. About 4 months later he needed a sound guy, for his first ever multi date run in the south. I hopped on a plane and the rest is history.
    Chris: When did you realize that Pretty Lights had gotten big?
    Phil: Well, I remember our first tour bus, then our second. Then we had a semi, now we have 2 busses, and 3 semi trucks. And we headline all the big crunchy festivals… Wakarusa, Summercamp, All Good… etc..  I think it was All Good last year (2011) there were 30,000 people there rocking the fuck out. And we were playing after bands I used to go see all the time… moe… Primus… And we put on a pretty mind blowing production.
    Chris: Advice for up and coming acts(djs bands producers)?

    Phil: Follow your dreams and don’t be a rockstar until you are ready, no one has time for that jazz.

    Chris: Any thoughts on Pretty Lights live? (ALA shpongle, Bonobo etc)?

    Phil: The new record was recorded with a live band. Basically there were a bunch of players, locked in a studio for about 2 weeks in New York. We had various different instrumentation per session. I was super stoked to play with some of my favorite musicians, Adam Deitch, Eric Krasno Nigel Hall….   The sessions went from me and Derek making noises on guitars and basses, to full on 12 piece band locking into grooves.  The sessions were all “live,” and recorded to 2 inch tape. Then all the tapes were dubbed to vinyl plates. Then Derek took the records, and chopped them up in his usual style. He basically created a library or samples that were his own. The grooves and breaks that we locked into were absolutely amazing, and the engineer, Joel Hamilton of Studio G in Brooklyn,  is a genius. They have so many old pre amps, compressors and processors from the 60s and 70s. Which is what Derek wanted for his record, to really have the sound of that age. He ended up going back and doing it again in New York and New Orleans with singers and more musicians.  It was really an awesome process, we literally took the tapes, hopped in a cab, and dropped them off at Salt Mastering. I got to see the whole process go down. It was pretty amazing. The record should be out sometime early this year.

    As for a live band, There have been talks of this as well. However I think there would have to be some serious time off and a lot of planning and rehearsing for something like this. Derek is a perfectionist…. It is not something that would happen over night.  I am pretty sure it is a dream of his.  He drew a picture of himself when he was a kid, standing at Red Rocks with his bass guitar. I think this dream is still alive in him. I could see it happening. But are there plans now… im not really sure to be honest. But again, we’ve been talking about it for years.

  • Van Ghost and The Revivalists head to The Bayou in Albany on November 17th

    Van Ghost and The Revivalists head to The Bayou in Albany on November 17th

    New Orleans’ The Revivalists and all star six-piece band Van Ghost, featuring Jennifer Hartswick from The Trey Anastasio Band, will co-headline The Bayou Cafe in Albany this Saturday, November 17. Tickets can be purchased for $10-$12 by visiting Ticket Fly. Doors are at 8, show starts at 930pm.

    Van Ghost and The RevivalistsSince forming in 2007, The Revivalists have rightfully earned their reputation as the next breakout band from the music capital of New Orleans. The groups blend of soulful, syncopated rock and earnest songwriting comes to life through a meticulously crafted and ever-evolving live performance. For more information, visit The Revivalists official website 

    Van Ghost, founded by singer-songwriter and guitarist Michael Harris Berg  features the talents of decade-plus Trey Anastasio Band vocalist Jennifer Hartswick, who has shared the stage with Herbie Hancock, the Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, among others. The sympathetic interplay between her silk and sandpaper vocals intertwining with Berg’s folksy emotive lead vocals has become a staple of Van Ghosts sound, garnering favorable comparisons to CSNY.  The band also features the telepathic interplay of guitarist Grant Tye, drummer Greg Marsh, and Klem Hayes. For more information, visit the Van Ghost official website.

  • Albany ranks #9 in Top Metro Areas based on Musical Acts per 10,000

    Albany ranks #9 in Top Metro Areas based on Musical Acts per 10,000

    We wrote back in August about the rank of Rochester as #9 in the nation in regards to concentration of musicians and music-related businesses, with even Kingston and Albany ranked in the top 15 of small metro areas. What this says about Upstate New York is that we have a vibrant music scene, one notable enough for inclusion in this study three times, covering the western and Hudson regions. This of course led to some vibrant discussion in the group on Facebook.

    albany top metroNow, Zara Matheson at the Martin Prosperity Institute has created a new map of the Top 20 Metro Areas, based on the number of Musical Acts per 10,000 people.  While larger metro areas like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Miami are on the list, towns like Honolulu, Orlando and Las Vegas are tourist areas and attract crowds to their downtown and outlying areas that lead to increased crowds for bands, leading to fans in the long run.

    the low beat albany top metroHowever, Albany ranked at number 9 seems to stand out as an outlier in this list of 20 (which also has Dutchess County at #19), because we are neither a large metro area compared to other cities on the list, nor are we a popular tourist destination. But where did all these bands come from? If Albany has roughly 100,000 people living in the city, then conservatively, we have 1,540 bands in the Albany area alone. If you take all the bands in Albany of varying size, and even skew down by a third, we still have 1,000 bands. That’s a lot of talent, especially when compared to cities of larger size that are the home of huge signed acts. Albany has had a few in their day (Blotto, moe., Ominous Seapods, to name a few) and there are many more waiting in the wings (Timbre Coup, Consider the Source, among many others) that are making a name for themselves among the relatively small population of Albany and high number of acts, per 10,000 people.

    While we don’t have a tourist presence in the Albany area, one that would help give musicians a greater audience for their music, we are at a crossroads of Interstates 87 and 90, central to small suburban areas in 4 states that, with a greater push for tourism, could lead to the scene becoming even larger than it currently is. We have the bands, we just need more fans seeing more music! It’s a fan’s market out there in the greater Albany area, you just need to get out there and find some music you like and GO SEE LIVE LOCAL MUSIC!

    Top 20 Metros Based on Musical Acts per 10,000 People
    Rank Metro Musical Acts per 10,000
    1 Los Angeles 184
    2 Napa, California 183
    3 Las Vegas 176
    4 Jersey City 175
    5 Honolulu 174
    6 Orlando 170
    7 San Diego 164
    8 Stockton, California 161
    9 Albany, New York 154
    10 Seattle 154
    11 Santa Cruz 153
    12 San Francisco 150
    13 Miami 149
    14 Ventura, California 142
    15 San Jose 138
    16 Tacoma, Washington 137
    17 Santa Barbara, California 132
    18 Newark, New Jersey 130
    19 Dutchess County, New York 130
    20 Bergen-Passaic, New Jersey 129

  • Timbre Coup and Formula 5 at Red Square October 27

    It was the weekend before Halloween and Red Square was decked with decorations galore.  The bar was hosting two of Albany’s favorite young up and coming bands for the Halloween celebration – Timbre Coup and Formula 5. Formula 5 got the party started with their signature Phish style jams. All dressed in white lab coats, it was obvious throughout the show they were having fun on stage playing off each other in and out of every song. The talent is certainly beyond their years. Their 20 year old guitarist, Joe Davis, tore it apart all night with tight guitar riffs and tons of enthusiasm. It is refreshing to see some young new talent on the jam scene in Albany and Formula 5 always brings out a pretty vibrant crowd. The last song I heard before stepping outside was an interesting rendition of the “Ghost Busters” theme song. Certainly not the tightest song they played all night, but still a humorous choice to play for their costumed crowd.

    After a short break Timbre Coup took stage dressed as elderly men. It was seriously entertaining to see four men taking their music so seriously while dressed in such ridiculous costumes. Timbre Coup is always a pleasure to see live and their crowd never leaves disappointed. Their band is made up of Andrew Chamberlain on the guitar, Matt Pickering on the drums, and Dan Gerken and Ben Pickering trading off duties on the guitar and bass. While their music is often referred to as improvisational progressive rock, each song individualizes itself into its own category. While their dance-worthy bass lines keep the crowd moving, some songs stray away into heavy head banging guitar riffs that bring the energy in the room up another caliber. It seems every Timbre Coup show I see each band member grows individually as a musician and together as a band. One thing is for sure, they never disappoint. Their crowd always stays moving, and always leaves happy.

    Midway through their set a drummer took stage to pull up members of the crowd for an impromptu costume contest. Seeing 12 people squeezed onto the small stage all dressed in their Halloween finest was certainly a sight to see. The winner was a man dressed head to toe in gold spandex donning a Beauty and the Beast Lumiere candle-stick hat and light up candle hands. Truly the most creative Halloween costume I’ve seen in years. Overall the show was great, the Halloween Vibe was spot on and the energy was non-stop. As always, these bands did not disappoint.

  • Biodiesel with DigiMUN at Red Square, October 20th

    While JGB was rocking the Den and Australian Pink Floyd played the Palace, Red Square hosted three electronic-based acts: Biodiesel, Digimun and Albany’s own Digital Dharma. I had no expectations going into the show, other than the knowledge that both Johnny Rabb and Clay Parnell of Biodiesel are both monumentally talented individuals. Clay Parnell has been an important and well known electronic bassist on the scene for years working with bands such as Brothers Past, The Join and Philabuster. Then there is Johnny Rabb, pioneer of the free-hand technique and a drumming legend. These two joined up to walk the line of Band & DJ and create an electronic super-duo that explores the new genre of “Livetronica.”

    I was lucky enough to catch the very end of the opening act DigiMUN, which is a mash up of Digital Dharma and Mun from NYC, playing what they describe as “astrofunktronica”. DigiMUN was created after an accident involving bassist Steve Mink  and keys/synth player Eli Ramos, which left both injured and Eli in critical condition. Eli insisted that band push forward after the accident, and DigiMUN was born.

    DigiMUN is 100% improvised on the spot. Much of their influence is derived from bands including The Disco Biscuits, STS9 and The New Deal. You can tell that there is a connection between the band members, even after working together for such a short period of time. It was certainly a pleasure to be able to catch an up and coming collaboration group.

    When Biodiesel hit the stage, drum and bass began emanating outside to the parking lot. The one thing I love more than seeing a show at Red Square is seeing a show where the back room is filled to capacity with a dancing crowd. You don’t expect much when going to see a two-man band but I found myself pleasantly surprised. The hard beats and bass lines had everybody in the crowd moving. One thing that stood out to me in particular were the samples they used to break apart the heavy beats. It was a perfect mix of man and machine and created a totally different atmosphere than I had expected. You could certainly tell that both Rabb and Carnell were pouring everything they had into their work and keeping the crowd hyped.

    Biodiesel ended around 1am, relatively early but came back on for a hard hitting encore that left the entire crowd wanting more. Although I have seen Biodiesel a handful of times, it was refreshing to see such a high-powered show with a crowd to match.

  • The Australian Pink Floyd Show at The Palace Theater, October 20th

    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

    E: Run like hell

    The Australian Pink Floyd Show and on Twitter 

  • 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.

  • SOLARiS Announces Fall/Winter Tour Dates

    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

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

    SOLARiS’ EP Beyond 3-D can be downloaded for free along with other SOLARiS music

    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.

    Facebook
    Twitter @solaristrio
    Reverb Nation

  • 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.