NYS Music 20​12

Tag: eastboundjesus

  • Eastbound Jesus at Red Square, August 10th

    Local Americana group Eastbound Jesus played last Friday at Albany’s popular venue, Red Square. The band announced early in the day on their Facebook page that there would be no opening band and they were excited to play longer sets that night with plenty of music to spare.

    The crowd quickly rushed the stage once Eastbound Jesus had started tuning their instruments. To some disappointment, it was only the sound check. Even before their set, the band set the bar high with only warming up and the crowd had a to control their anticipation a bit longer. A quick “Sorry guys, we’ll start real soon” reassured the crowd. After a round of drinks, the boys were ready to rock, roll and ramble on.

    With Adam Brockway on acoustic guitar wearing his signature hat, Zack Infante rocking the lap steel in his chair, Dave Wright on bass and mandolin, Dylan Robinson playing electric guitar as well as Carl Anderson on drums and Luke Anderson on banjo, Eastbound Jesus has quickly become one of the Capital District’s most beloved bands. Each member contributed vocals and lyrics that almost break your heart, making it impossible not to enjoy a performance, with music that stirs your blood and makes you stomp your feet. It should come as no surprise the band was voted ‘Best Country Band’ in the Metroland’s “Best of 2012” issue this past July. Eastbound Jesus released their second album, Holy Smokes! last January and with such chemistry between them, there’s nothing but more great music to follow.

    Eastbound Jesus will be appearing at the Bella Terra Festival on August 19th in Stephentown, New York and 3rd annual Upstate Boogie Festival in Lyons, NY August 31st. They will also be making stops at Nectars in Burlington, Vermont on August 23rd and Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs, New York on August 25th. For more tour dates, news and free tunes, head to their website, eastboundjesus.com

  • Americana in Albany: The Avett Brothers and Eastbound Jesus

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

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

    Event poster, edition of 100

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

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