NYS Music 20​12

Tag: dopapod

  • Hearing Aide: Dopapod “Redivider”

    Hearing Aide: Dopapod “Redivider”

    Dopapod, the palindrome-inclined quartet from Boston who have risen to quickly become a sought after late-night festival act (their StrangeCreek set in the cabin was a packed funk sauna) and continue to show that their studio work is tandem to their live shows. After Drawn Onward was released in 2011, the next chapter of Dopapod was received with great enthusiasm as they fanned out on tours across the country, unleashing one of the best kept secrets of the Northeast onto the country. Redivider is a powerful follow up that showcases the growth and musical maturity of Dopapod, in addition to a mesh of funk, electronic, jam and progrock genres to appeal to all, especially those who enjoy great music and love to dance their asses off.

    Dopapod RedividerFor starters, there are three short interlude tracks, “Get to the Disc”, “Ooze Weapon” and “Fry the Gorillas” that keep a wonderful flow to the album, something quite welcome that allows for seamless transition between the tracks. Starting off with “Braindead”, the combo of spooky synthesizers and slick guitar licks make for a track reminiscent of Oysterhead. On “Bubble Brain”, Eli Winderman takes the synthesizer through peaks and valleys and even has a hip hop Dr. Dre feel. While there is a progressive nature to the song, building upon each section towards a fantastic ending, I am most curious to see how this structured instrumental will develop live. Crowds will get worked into a frenzy over “Trapper Keeper”; staying organized in grade school was never this rockin’. Rob Compa’s guitar work would make The New Mastersounds proud, Neal ‘Fro’ Evans’ drums drive the song at 75mph, with the mixing in a little electronic twist perfect polish to this funky number. The next two tracks, both instrumentals, “My Elephant vs. Your Elephant” and “Blast”  are intense and soaring, the latter heavy with Rob’s guitar and Chuck Jones’ bass.

    Picture a Nintendo game, the music starting off catchy at first, and then delving into some deep and dirty soul in the first half of the tune. Then, the video-game journey brings you key-led towards an abyss… Once “Vol. 3 #86” lands into a third movement, you have the highlight of the album and an incredible song for dancing. When it comes to late night appearances at festivals, this one will be requested for certain.

    “STADA” has a spooky intro and classic Dopapod sound, while “Give it a Name” is deceptively slow to start, then drops in Soundgarden-heavy spurts amid goofy schizophrenic musical fun. “Weird Charlie” uses playful bass and accordion keys, and things get WEIRD!  An excellent cap to the album, wrapping up great production and great writing by Dopapod.

    If you’ve listened to Dopapod before, you’ll want this album. If you’ve seen them at festival, you’ll be well served buying this album. If you have never listened to Dopapod, what are you waiting for? Come join the party!

    Key Tracks – Bubble Brain, Trapper Keeper, Vol. 3 #86, Give it a Name, Weird Charlie

    Pick up the album at Dopapod.com on December 21st

  • Autumation Festival Night 1 gets off on the Right Foot, November 8th

    It’s not often that, in my home town of Lake George, we are fortunate enough to stay at home and see some of the best bands in the live music scene.  Thankfully, the wonderful people who put together Autumation Festival saw the potential of our town and hosted one of the best weekends of music of the year. Held at the Historic Fort William Henry resort, Autumation featured a full  four days of music and it kicked off Thursday night at Towers Hall: an old, yet charismatic building that was outfitted with an elaborate display of lights, decorations and sound that would do any mainstream touring band justice.

    Formula 5 is a relatively new band with a surprisingly extensive catalog of original music that had the festival’s attention from start to finish.  Their setlist featured four originals, all with highly energetic and mesmerizing jams.  They also debuted one cover “The Music Never Stopped”, appropriate both in consideration that Formula 5’s originals have a heavy funk influence, as well as a fitting salute to the lineup that was to follow their inspiring performance that evening and beyond.

    Next up was a familiar jamband out of Albany, Timbre Coup. Timbre Coup is one that always keeps you guessing. At one moment, Latin influences shine through and make you float; the next, prog rock influences keep the energy high and ensure that you don’t stop moving.  Timbre Coup struck a nice, unique balance between these two genres.  Their performance was as entertaining as it was original.  They captured the attention of everyone in the building, and are well worthy of your focus every chance they get.

    Twiddle, the pride of Castleton VT, followed Timbre Coup and opened their slot with a song off their newest album Somewhere on the Mountain called “BeeHop.”  This song is comprised with jazz influences that transform into a heavy foreboding section which then releases back into its jazzy origins.  After a few movements of this section, “BeeHop” drops into a hip-hop inspired verse and chorus.  To the few who hadn’t yet listened to Twiddle, this tune is a clear statement.  Twiddle is a band of many sounds and as usual, they did not disappoint those on hand.

    As soon as you thought this lineup couldn’t get any better, Dopapod stepped out to follow Twiddle.  If you’ve never seen Dopapod, check their website and find out when they’re playing near you next, and GO!  These guys are incredibly talented and always fun.  Their music is a blend of jazz, funk, electronic, prog, and even classic rock.  On this night, we heard them all, both individually and inventively fused together.  Dopapod almost always kept things wildly upbeat and intense.  During their brief cool downs, they typically settled into a trance groove where their jazz influences seemed to really shine.  All in all, these guys are very original and wildly talented and were a perfect way to cap the evening’s festivities.

    All in all, Autumation Night 1 was a great time had by all.  Between the stellar lineup, the awesome facilities and favorable location, it was clear right from the opening notes that this festival was destined to be a huge success.  Looking forward to seeing you all here at the same time next year.

    Read Jenni Wilson’s recap of the rest of Autumation Festival 

  • We Came, We Saw, We Chilled! Catskill Chill Music Festival 2012

    This was my first time attending the 3rd annual Catskill Chill, a 3-day, 3-night music festival packed weekend located at Camp Minglewood in Hancock, NY. By fate, I immediately found my friends out of the other 5,000 people that attended the festival. Each year, the Chill grows and extends the family to include even more outgoing, fun loving people. The concert-goers ranged from all ages, showing that people of any generation can appreciate great music.

    Friday September 7th

    Wasting no time after settling in, I rushed to catch the first band of the weekend, Caravan of Thieves. The four members each played stringed instruments with a unique percussion set behind them, consisting of large buckets and empty paint cans. Caravan of Thieves was a great way to ease into the weekend, helping to loosen up the dancing muscles after being stuck in a car. The band sent out gypsy melodies full of swing and mischief, energizing the crowd by playing Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” as well as Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” and “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees. JGB with Melvin Seals took the Main Stage paying tribute to Jerry Garcia by playing his songs and staying faithful to his style. Intense energy radiated from the organ, especially during “My Sisters and Brothers.” The music of JGB was a breath of fresh air with everyone praising the groove and throwing their hands up to rejoice that the weekend had arrived. We all were here, it was finally ok to breathe and boogie down.

    DrFameus, better known as the drummer from The Disco Biscuits, Allen Aucion, threw down some serious beats on the B Stage. DrFameus played drums and worked off computers at the same time, creating a glorious range of electronic music with plenty of bass. It was his first time at the festival and hopefully not his last. Kung Fu’s late night set elicited positive responses from fans, including “Kung Fu was amazing! A jazzy improv jam band with funky… costumes. Chris Michetti from Conspirator came and joined them and tore his guitar apart.”

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYsCldy6Xu0&w=560&h=315]

    Saturday September 8th

    Consider the Source was the first to take the Main Stage on Saturday and featured multiple guest appearances throughout the show. The sound wave sorcerers brought chills to the crowd with their exotic, funky rock. Frank and Ryan Members of Shwizz, jammed out on one of the songs. John from FiKus joined the band on trumpet. Rob and Tim from Kung Fu came in on the second to last song. Consider the Source gave the audience a choice of two short songs or one long last song, the response was unanimous for a long jam.

    After Consider the Source ended at 1:40pm, announcements came on the loudspeakers that there was a tornado warning for the area. All concert goers had to be inside of the stage areas or a cabin and the music was going to be put on hold. People quickly stashed to bring any items inside to nearby friends cabins and prepared to wait out the storm. The rain fell hard for only a few minutes but continued for about 2 hours and the wind picked up but not to the extreme. The weather finally calmed down and word spread that the music would resume at 4:30pm. The schedule would pick up where it left off, but each set would be shortened to provide each artist a chance to perform.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klnzvEn4Hwg&w=560&h=315]

    A friend had recommended that I make time during the festival to check out the Alan Evans Trio. The trifecta is led by Alan Evans from Soulive on drums, with Beau Sasser from Akashic Record playing the Organ and Danny Mayer from On The Spot Trio on Guitar. Alan Evans Trio was our salvation after the storm. The fans were soaked but smiling after hearing “Baby, take my hand.”  The soulful organ, funky beats and groovy guitar was just what the crowd needed to forget the rain delay and to turn the party back on. With only 10 minutes left in the set, Alan asked if they should play two short songs or one long song,  the crowd again cheered for one long song. A new song by the group, “Cosmic Hazeldust” was inspired by Eddie Hazzo and Jimi Hendrix, was a great set closer and psychedelic music gold. One of my favorite discoveries of the weekend was The Indobox, a great rock dance group who quickly won me and the rest of the crowd over just after their first song, “Colours”. The Indobox played a few songs off their new album, Dig Safe, which was released back in March and quickly flew off their merch table. The band hailing from Boston, MA sounded similar to a band like Passion Pit. The music was full of ranging synth beats, catchy pop lyrics and groovy guitar jams especially during “Please don’t say no!” and “Covering up the sky”. The Indobox has a mechanical sound, each instrument working perfectly in sync with the others and well-constructed.

    Shwizz was the first act I caught playing at the Club Chill stage. The Club Chill is on top of the festival hill and is on the one side of the Tunnel of Light, a pathway full of strung up lights. The stage is in an enclosed building with red stadium benches and a big dance pit, a very unexpected and thrilling venue. My friends and I had great timing by walking in just as the band had started to play Frank Zappa’s “City of Tiny Lights.”  Followed later on by a song they said was inspired by their friends, “Slow Down” and stated that they were happy to be a part of the ever growing Catskill Chill Family. Shwizz ended the set with Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar.” During the show, Shwizz had the chance to show off their rockin wild guitar solos and fusion of funky electronic jazz beats. Frankie Coda, the bass player had this to say, “The festival was magical. It has grown into one hell of a family over the past 3 years. The Club Chill set was a ton of fun. The late night cabin jams were off the charts and the vibes at this festival are something special. We are looking forward to the next one.”

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdPN1CS31f4&w=560&h=315]

    Rumor had spread over the weekend that one of Ithaca’s top electronic rock bands, SolAris was going to perform on their cabin porch on Saturday. The 3-piece all instrumental trio grew a crowd once their light show went off and their music started oozing over the camp grounds. During the performance of their original song, “Harkonnen”, drummer Daniel Lyon’s beats were so hot he was literally steaming. Jared Raphel was glued to the keys as he electrified the crowd with his notes and Vinny Naro shredded on his deep bass solos. Besides playing Radar and Cosmo, SolAris used funk and trance house music to make a serious improvisation set.

    Yonder Mountain String Band was this year’s main headliner and my first time seeing this band from Colorado; after Saturday night on the main stage, it will not be my last. YMSB’s music calls to you like the open road, giving you a need for adventure and an aching in your heart. The set started with an intense energetic song called “Casualty” at which time the band stated before how amped they were to be playing in Upstate New York. The acoustic foursome blasted into “Heading back to Colorado” to which I’m surprised their strings didn’t break from the hardcore strumming they were all doing. Yonder took some time to thank everyone at the Catskill Chill for putting on such a great festival and providing everyone with such a diverse lineup. They felt that it was “a force to be reckoned with” and that “you’ll never know what you’re going to get.”  YMSB commended the audience for having such a wide taste in music and for discovering new artists that weekend. Their fast paced blue grass tunes lead us into “Another Day” followed by “On the Run” during which they added a jam singing about the festival. The crowd went wild as they sang, “Tent to tent, RV to RV, it’s all about variety!”

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU75CS-WUrs&w=560&h=315]

    Particle had travelled all the way from California to play at one of their favorite festivals, The Catskill Chill and with knowing this, no one wanted to miss their last night set on the main stage. The floor and stadium benches were packed and rowdy with excitement. As soon as the lights went out, fire dancers ignited the VIP standing area and neon glow sticks were in full force. Particle wasted no time by starting the show with “Triple Threat” and “The Golden Gator” both amping up the already crazed crowd. After their original grooves, Particle took the crowd on a Pink Floyd wonder ride consisting of “Have A Cigar” into “One Of These Days” and directly into “Pigs.” The flow and segway into the jams was spot on and had shown the crowd that is was not the same Particle back in 2005. Ending the set with “Ed+Molly”, an upbeat hard electronic rock groove,  left my mind numb.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl0Gu3ddNJk&w=560&h=315]

    After the serious jams from Particle, I headed back to my tent while my friends checked out Wyllys at the Club Chill late night set. Wyllys was described to me as “it’s like taking a child out of Disney movie, kicking and screaming and throwing them in a deep, dark dungeon and giving them only electronic music equipment to play with.” Anytime Wyllys is on a festival line up, don’t miss out on the dance party throw down that erupts.

    Sunday September 9th

    The weekend was finally coming to an end and there was still more music to be heard. Timbre Coup opened up the B Stage that afternoon to blue skies and a cheerful crowd. One of the first songs, “August” was off their new album Knuckles and Valleys, providing simple, inspiring lyrics and a Zen like sound. There was much excitement for fans as Timbre Coup busted out a rendition of the New Deal’s “Deep Son”. Fans of the New Deal claimed that Timbre Coup provided a great cover and it was one of the best of the weekend. This was followed by “Arnold Schwarzenegger”, a more laid back, dark raging guitar jam.off the album, Check out This!

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKx0t4rFOQo&w=560&h=315]

    There was much hype built up about the band, The McLovins, a young quartet from Connecticut who knew how to make the crowd dance. McLovins opened with “TETOP”, a soft, jazzy jam that instantly showed me that The McLovins did have as much talent as everyone said they had. It was incredible to watch such young musicians create jams with such soul and nature flow.  Fans described “Tokyo Tea” as their most badass song. The McLovins ended their set with the ever popular Grateful Dead’s “Shakedown Street” and Dylan’s “The Mighty Quinn”.

    I grossly underestimated how spectacular Cornmeal was going to be.  The Bluegrass rock/Jamgrass group ignited Sunday night with a fitting farewell festival performance. Cornmeal brought fierce country energy to the crowd, with plenty of foot stomping and non-stop cheering. One of the most memorable songs was “I’m Coming Home” containing an all-consuming, strong jam that I never saw coming or thought possible from a bluegrass band. Followed by that was, “When the Worlds Got you Down” an enchanting melody that has you singing along instantly, even the first timers. The encore was “Long Hard Road” once again, displaying their amazing finger picking skills, their goddess of a fiddle player, Allie Kral, showcasing her speedy rhythms; Cornmeal is definitely a band worth following. The perfect Cornmeal follow up was at Acoustic Junction in the middle of the camp grounds. The Brummy Brothers quickly drew a crowd with their upbeat original bluegrass tunes as well as modern pop hits such as “Fuck You” by Cee Lo Green. My favorite song of their’s that I can’t get out of my head is “Weed, Whiskey, Women” due to the beautiful harmonies and the repeating chorus line, “Nothing like being home, drunk, stoned and laughing.” The B Brothers are sure to have a bright future ahead of them with their attention grabbing talent.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpysQri2AFs&w=560&h=315]

    Possibly the biggest excitement built up for the day was for Lotus.The set started with the ever popular, beeps and boops of “Suitcases.” A mellow start that quickly picked up speed from the heavy dance beats pumping out the speakers. “Livingston Storm” picked up the crowd with the funky guitar notes and rolled them over into “Dowrn”, the groovy electronic tune that had everyone dancing. One of the highlights for fans was “Tip of the Tounge” taking to the next level with exotic drumming and spacdy guitar riffs. The popular set closer was “128”, which shredded faces with fast rhythm and serious synths.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIlpPuEgJPo&w=560&h=315]

    At the end of the weekend, it made total sense to name the festival Catskill Chill. The laidback attitudes and friendly nature of everyone, made the festival that much more relaxed and enjoyable. This was another successful year that proved the Catskill Chill family are true party professionals. The Catskill Chill dished out everything you could want in a festival and much more. I know that I am already counting down the days until next year’s Chill.

  • Dopapod set to fire up Catskill Chill

    The third annual Catskill Chill Festival takes place this weekend, September 7th-9th in Hancock, New York and one of the bands that are not to be missed by festivalgoers this year is the ever growing Dopapod. This experimental funk rock group has collected a huge fan base since starting in 2007 and shows no sign of slowing down. Dopapod will play late Friday night at The Catskill Chill, promising to be a great start to the festival weekend. With their hectic summer shows finally over but on the brink of a full fall tour, Dopapod’s guitarist, Rob Compra was able to find time to answer a few questions.

    Susan Rice: You’ve spent much of 2012 playing festivals and shows all over the eastern half of the country, you played dozens of shows including StrangeCreek, Camp Bisco, Gathering of the Vibes, and even reached 10,000 fans of Facebook. How does it feel?

    Rob Compra: It feels great! This summer has felt like a bit of a breakthrough for us. I think right now is a very exciting time for us.

    SR: Your summer tour and this upcoming fall tour are all over the east coast.  Does networking with other bands helpful to promoting yourself?

    RC: I feel like every band in our scene supports one another very heavily. At this point, all the other bands that are in the same boat as us (i.e. touring and playing clubs/festivals) are our best friends, and we all look out for each other. I don’t think any of the bands in this scene would be very successful if we didn’t have that give and take attitude for one another. For groups like us who don’t have support from a record label, it really is essential to help one another.

    SR: You play an array of cover songs, what process do you use when you choose a new cover song to play? Which song that you cover is your favorite to perform live?

    RC: Whenever we’ve got a really big show coming up, everybody kind of splits off and thinks of some ideas, and then we decide which one we like best. There’s some covers that we’ve done that have deliberately been one time things. We want the crowd to be able to say that they were lucky enough to be there for something special that not everyone else was able to see. I think that really makes people rabid to come out to more shows. But as far as favorites go, we play an instrumental cover of “Microcuts” by Muse, which is pretty much in regular rotation. We never get tired of it. It’s funny; Muse is debatedly the biggest band in the world right now, yet when we play that song, it seems as if hardly anybody knows what it is or who wrote it.

    SR: This was your first time at Camp Bisco this year. Can you sum up in the experience in 11 words? Do you feel like this was good preparation for Vibes?

    RC: Well, to be honest, it was our second time at Bisco haha. We were there two years ago as well. Due to a lack of the math and grammar skills to construct a proper sentence in 11 words, Here’s my 11 adjectives to describe the experience: fun, exciting, challenging, inspiring, stressful, sweaty, loud, exhausting, fulfilling, smelly, & friendly. I think Bisco was indeed good preparation for Vibes but, I don’t think we were really conscious of that while it was happening.

    SR: What was the experience like at Gathering of the Vibes? Was that your biggest festival? I heard your performance brought people to their knees! You played a killer show and Eli sat in with Papadosio. Any musical highlights for you from the show and the festival?

    RC: Gathering of the Vibes was absolutely amazing. We couldn’t have had a better time. We’re pretty sure that was the biggest crowd we’ve played for to date, and it was an amazing feeling to see all those people in front of us in broad daylight. It meant so so much to us to have everybody there having a great time and showing their support. I had plenty of highlights. One was Kung Fu’s set. As a guitarist, anytime I get to see Tim Palmieri play is just unbelievable. I also really enjoyed Chris Michetti’s playing in Conspirator. Papadosio’s sunrise set was terrific. Twiddle’s set was great too. They played early in the day in the pouring rain and totally brought their A game. And aside from musical highlights, the night of Papadosio’s set we all stayed up until sunrise and went to a clambake on the water with all the Dosio guys, Stoops from Kung Fu, and a ton of other great friends. That was too much fun to put into words.

    SR: What do you want first time listeners to experience at your shows? Any big surprises for fans going to your fall tour shows?

    RC: We obviously want first timers to enjoy the music, but I think we also want to challenge the listener a little bit. We don’t want to play it safe and give them something they know they already like. As far as fall tour, our surprises are so good that we don’t even know what they’re gonna be yet. Expect cameos from washed up child stars from obscure 80’s sitcoms, effigies of unpopular politicians, door prizes, and expired fun size candy bars.

    SR: You got your start playing the major markets in the Northeast, and spent some time in Upstate New York. What appeals to you about playing in Upstate New York that you can’t find elsewhere?

    RC: I personally love Upstate New York because I grew up there, in Rochester. It’s great to see old friends whenever we’re up there, and my Mom and Dad usually make the drive to shows around there, and it’s always great to see them. Also, markets like Rochester, Albany, Ithaca, Buffalo and Oneonta are great because there isn’t much to do around there (at least that’s how I felt growing up there). So when a band comes to town, everybody gets really psyched to come out. People are super eager to have something exciting to do on any given night.

    SR: Can we expect any artist sit-ins at Catskill Chill? Who are you most excited to see perform?

    RC: I think that’s a fair assumption. There’s plenty of friends there, so sit-ins are extremely likely. I’m personally really excited for Rubblebucket, Kung Fu, Lotus, Heavy Pets, Zoogma, and Consider the Source. There’s really no weak point at that festival, in my opinion. Every single act is going to be a grand slam.

    For tour dates and music from Dopapod, visit their website at dopapod.com and for more information about The Catskill Chill, go to catskillchill.com.

  • Rock n’ Roll Resort 2 : A Psybient Review

    What do you get when you take a classic full service hotel nestled in the Catskill Mountains of New York and fill it with three days worth of electronic music and psychedelic madness?  What you have is Rock n’ Roll Resort 2: A Psybient Soiree, a true three day festival that features music from start to finish. Heads of all shapes and sizes filled Kutsher’s Resort in scenic Monticello, NY during the last weekend of March 2012 and had a great time doing so.

    Promoted and produced seamlessly by Wicked Cool Productions, this event not only featured incredible live music, it provided a relaxed and comfortable setting in which to appreciate all types of visual art. Alex Grey paintings served as backdrops for some acts and other stages implemented amazing visual graphics in the background.  Thanks to this and other features the timeless hotel had to offer, the sights were almost as amazing as the sounds.

    The hotel itself is something out of a time warp from the 1940s. The floors are lined with carpeting that hasn’t been seen in decades.  Entire hallways (doors included) are made of glass and classic style lounge chairs fill every corner.  The bedrooms themselves featured moldings on the walls and a style that was truly ahead of its time… when Eisenhower was president.  Yet somehow, all this did was add to the charm of the hotel that surrounds a gorgeous, small lake seemingly ripped out of a Rockwell painting.  The old school resort setting was a throwback that seemed to evoke the spirit of a range of different movies.  From ‘Dirty Dancing’ to ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’, the hotel was different things to different people. Rick Lowenberg of Brothers Past remarked the hotel had a feel of “something post-apocalyptic with 1200 zombies running around like something out of 28 Days Later.”

    Each night of the festival featured a different theme to dictate costumes or appearances.  Some chose to follow this, but it definitely seemed like the minority of attendees and was not mandatory by any means. Friday night’s theme was “Video Game Characters”.  Predictably, many Super Mario Brothers and mushroom-based costumes made appearances.  The day’s slate of music kicked off with Horizon Wireless playing in the Soiree Lounge, located just next to the main lobby. A true benefit of a festival of this nature was not having to move far to hear great music.

    After the Nadis Warriors opened up the Launch Pad, one of the two main music rooms that had the look and feel of a Vegas lounge, it was Jeff Bujak’s turn to keep the music going.  The first of his three sets of the weekend was billed as ‘Silent Bujak’ and it featured about 100 headphones for people to use and control the volume as they saw fit. This is a type of performance that is becoming more and more popular in the festival setting, especially for late night sets when sound ordinances may come into play.  Bujak had a great time playing for everyone and seemed to enjoy the small festival setting this weekend presented and the close-knit feel that was present. “As an artist I love that and I’m able to play my best set”, Bujak commented, “and I’m able to give a little more and do a little more.”

    Friday night’s headliner was the one and only Simon Posford whose Hallucinogen and Shpongle sets took the night to a whole new level.  A master of psychedelic trance music, Posford kept dancers in the Stardust room bobbing and weaving all night long.  This was the other large lounge-type room main acts used for the weekend.  It not only featured an accessible dance floor, but sitting booths and stadium seating in the back as well.  Space was never an issue all weekend – a must for the avid dancer.  There was plenty of room to be had and people could sit, stand or even lay down if they chose.

    While Posford was working his magic that night, so too were Alex and Allyson Grey. This husband and wife duo collaborated on paintings done to the side of the stage that just jumped right off the canvas.  They also performed during Ott’s set the following night.  So if amazing psytrance beats and infectious grooves weren’t sufficient enough, all you had to do was look around for other artistic masterpieces being formed.

    Music continued all through the night as Lespecial performed the first of their two late night sets of the weekend.  This trio did a fantastic job of keeping the late night energy flowing while laying down some pretty unique grooves.  They were followed by Psylab, a real solid act that seems to be an electronica festival staple, before Digital Storm welcomed the Saturday morning sunrise.

    After a short night’s sleep and some much needed coffee, Saturday kicked into high gear with Dirty Paris’ afternoon set. This Albany based group meshes intense jam rock with a type of acid jazz that’s rich and full of texture.  It was surprising to see this group in an early setting like this but they were well received all the same.

    Saturday brought with it “The Masquerade” theme. Those who didn’t take advantage of the afternoon’s mask painting or jewelry workshops went back to the Stardust lounge where Viral Sound threw down.  This four-piece band kept the energy high and the room dancing and was truly one of the surprise highlights of the weekend.

    After a quick detour to check out the Cosmic Dust Bunnies, a great band name whose music is no joke, it was finally time for Brothers Past. It was a true joy to see this band again and they seem to be better than ever.  Soulful vocal harmonies combined with a tight electronic sound created in front of video screens showing incredible imagery made for two of the better sets all weekend. The band, which also played at the previous Rock n’ Roll Resort in November, seemed to enjoy the surroundings just as much as everyone else.  When asked if they would return next year if invited, guitarist Tom Hamilton said they would but, “only if they have it here again.”

    Soon after, it was time for Conspirator to take the stage.  This Disco Biscuits side project brings almost as much energy and high-voltage as the real deal.  They too were supplemented by intense visuals being projected on screens throughout the room that truly added to the experience. Bassist Marc Brownstein and keyboardist Aron Magner are well known entities in the scene, but the true heat emanated from the drum kit and KJ Sawka who seemed to toy with the beats and tempo changes.  He displayed a ferocious aggression on the drums that was also technically sound and just fun to watch. Conspirator’s set also saw random teases of the Yes classic, “Owner of a Lonely Heart” thrown in for good measure.

    Ott was responsible for Saturday night’s big psytrance DJ set and he delivered as always.  Afterwards, it was the first of two sets during the weekend for another up and coming band, Dopapod. This quartet thrives on creating a style of music that’s fun to listen to while not limiting itself to one genre or style. They kept things up-tempo for the most part and had a fun time doing so.  Towards the end of their set, keyboardist Eli Winderman remarked, “This place makes me want to eat some matza ball soup” and everyone knew exactly what he was talking about.

    Sunday’s theme was “Pajama Party”, giving everyone an excuse to walk around in pajamas or sleep wear if they chose.  Many took advantage of this, but there also seemed to be fewer people around this day.  This was likely due to people either leaving early to get back for Monday (a non-holiday) or just being flat out exhausted from an intense 48 hours of non-stop music.  Between less people being present and many festival-goers walking around in pajamas, Sunday really did have a more relaxed vibe to it.

    Dopapod was able to leave their stage set up from the previous night and delivered another raging set in the afternoon. They kept the fun going later that day too, as their scheduled meet and greet somehow turned into a group sing-a-long of the R. Kelly classic “I Believe I Can Fly”.  This band had a lot of fun all weekend and seems poised to become a major factor in the jam/electronica music scene.

    Sunday was highlighted by another stellar Brothers Past set followed by a Conspirator set that seemed to tie a bow around a weekend of truly phenomenal music.  Conspirator’s set featured more impressive drumming from Sawka and intricate guitar licks laid down by guitarist Chris Michetti.  A highlight was a truly riveting version of ‘Orchestra Theme’ that had elements of funk, dubstep and everything in between.  Afterwards, a beaming Shannon Plaquet of Wicked Cool Productions took to the mic to thank them and everyone else that attended this weekend.  He also reminded folks that even after this, the festival was not over yet.

    BangBang performed a set that kept people moving even at 1 a.m. on a Monday morning.  The last song featured a sit-in with Eli from Dopapod as well, further putting this band’s stamp on the weekend. Afterwards, Lespecial delivered another engaging late night set and the music literally went all night well into Monday.  As stated, this is a true three-day festival that delivered on its promise of non-stop music and fun.

    Between the retro-scenery, incredible live music and relaxed communal atmosphere, Rock n’ Roll Resort 2 was a special weekend indeed.  It’s highly recommended for anyone who enjoys this type of music to grab a bunch of friends, fill a hotel room and take part in this unique experience.  The groundwork has been laid and this festival could very well reach another level after a successful weekend like this.  Don’t miss out!

  • The Pink Floyd Experience, Palace Theater

    The Pink Floyd Experience, Palace Theater

    Good cover bands are hard to come by, as seen by the local acts that fill bars and clubs around the country each weekend, singing the songs of the past. The bigger names – Dark Star Orchestra and The Fab Faux are notable because they accurately recreate the music of the Grateful Dead and The Beatles, respectively, without donning costumes or trying to make the music their own. They have simply learned the music and play it as close to the original as possible and in doing so, fill a void left by the absence of the bands they cover. Some would call them tribute bands, but that distinction is reserved for the groups that take on the style and exact lineup of the original band (i.e. The Fab Faux has five members) and leaves little room for error or interpretation.

    pink floyd experienceFor a band as complicated as Pink Floyd, both in terms of music and history, the number of cover bands is akin to The Beatles; there’s The Machine, Australian Pink Floyd, Brit Floyd and the band I was fortunate to see, The Pink Floyd Experience from San Diego, California. Opening up on February 16, 2012 with the entire album ‘Wish You Were Here‘ and nailing all five epic songs (Shine on Your Crazy Diamond I-V, Welcome to the Machine, Have a Cigar, Wish You Were Here, Shine on You Crazy Diamond VI-IX) without skipping a beat. For my favorite album of them all by Floyd, I was impressed.

    Then a brief intermission where the lights revealed family night at The Palace Theater. Many fans are older now and brought their kids, mostly teenagers but a few tweens as well. Families were milling about, grabbing concessions and ignoring merchandise with mellow aplomb; surely this is the exact opposite of Floyd when they played Wish You Were Here at venues like this back in the 1970s. But a mixed crowd leads to a new generation or two with the ability to enjoy some of the greatest music ever written. Ranging from the psychedelia of the 60s to the rock anthems of the 70s to the rock opera of The Wall in the 80s and the scraps left over in the 90s when David Gilmour toured and Roger Waters didn’t, Pink Floyd spans 6 decades of music and returns to stadiums this summer (and The Times Union Center June 28th) with The Wall once again. The light show isn’t the same with The Pink Floyd Experience, but they make a great effort to recreate the entire experience, nailing the music and sound but lacking with the lighting.

    Set 2 started out with On the Run->Time from Dark Side of the Moon before mellowing out into the spooky vibrations of Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun. An extended sax solo front stage recreated the ‘Careless Whisper’ feeling from 1984, forgetting that the extended sax solo should remain in the 80s. Learning to Fly, the lone 1990s Floyd offering was anthemic and ensured that all eras were covered tonight. The group announced that they would play a song for Syd Barrett but sadly, no Bike but Interstellar Overdrive instead. Money and a short version of Echoes (minus the spaciness) followed, along with another sax solo before a random guy in a jacket adorned with light bulb took the stage for the stormy intro to Hey You. The surround sound effects were at their best here, getting fans to turn their heads as the sound traversed throughout the audience and segued into Comfortably Numb. A packed sandwich of Run Like Hell -> Another Brick in the Wall Part Two -> Run Like Hell got the audience singing along with the band while the giant pig took to the space between the audience and the stage, drifting up and down until fans had left the show shortly before 10pm.

    The members of The Pink Floyd Experience lauded Albany for providing a great turnout once again. This was a show that is very worth seeing, although I would have liked another 45-60 minutes of some more obscure songs. But I can’t complain, good cover bands are hard to come by.

    Dopapod with special guest Timbre Coup
    Jillians

    Following The Pink Floyd Experience, I headed over the Jillians, where Timbre Coup continued their residency for February, opening up for funk/electronica group Dopapod, another regular in the Capital District. Coup’s electric set for a packed house continues to be one of the highlights of music in the area, cornering the electro/prog-rock market and garnering new fans throughout the month of February. Dopapod followed with strong set of songs from their new album ‘Drawn Onward’ and random and funky dance numbers. Dopapod will be back in a couple short months, potentially opening up for a bigger name in the electronica genre. It’s a big week next week for Timbre Coup, with their CD release party of ‘Knuckles and Valleys’ on 2/23 at Jillians with Higher Organix opening. Don’t miss the final night of their Jillian’s residency!

  • Dopapod releases new album ‘Drawn Onward’

    Dopapod releases new album ‘Drawn Onward’

    Dopapod’s second album Drawn Onward was released on Christmas Day for free on their website as a present to their fans who wanted a little something funky while they opened up their presents. The album is a gift to the fans and represents a shift in their sound from electronic to slightly funkier sound with a strong dance groove carrying throughout the album. The quartet is touring the Northeast in February, then down to Florida and working their way up the coast before returning for more shows up north as well as the upcoming festival season.

    Produced by Eli Walker, Dave Brandwein (Galaxy Smith), and Dopapod and recorded at The Bunker Studio Brooklyn, NY, Drawn Onward retains the live Dopapod sound but presents a more danceable album than their last release I saw live Dopapod evil was I. Throughout the album you may find yourself grooving to the music, moving to the beat in your car or during your workout, all while absorbing a fluid collection of their latest road-tested recording.

    drawn onwardThe album starts off with Turnin Knobs, a dancey, 70s style funk number straight out of Boogie Nights followed by Black and White with its climactic keys and drums. Nuggy Jawson has a sense of Umphrey’s McGee and Billy Joel grandeur as the song builds into an early 80s prog rock crescendo. French Bowling is woven with an underlying classical composition, akin to a Beethoven theme throughout with a fierce bass line punctuating the track. Onionhead is a highlight, centering on house music in the vein of Bisco with strong keys, drums and bass accentuated by a ripping guitar leading the melody. Roid Rage bring a few horns into the mix, a welcome addition to the band’s sound and results in a very involving and layered number which requires a second listen to catch all that they put into this track. Bats in the Cave has a jazzy, 70s style funkability, providing a full album of dance tracks that will assuredly be played with great improvisation in the coming tour.

    You can download the album for free at dopapod.com and pick up a hard copy of the CD for $10.

    Catch them at Jillians in Albany on Thursday, February 16th.

    Key tracks: Turnin knobs, French Bowling, Onionhead

    Watch the video for French Bowling.
    [vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/34205718 w=400&h=225]

    Dopapod – French Bowling from curtis peel. on Vimeo.