NYS Music 20​13

Author: NYS Music Staff

  • The Garcia Project brought Good Vibes to the Putnam Den on February 1st

    As soon as The Garcia Project took the stage at the Putnam Den on February 1st, you knew it was going to be a mystical evening.  The crowd was a mix of old hippies and new hipsters, from dreadlocks to backward hats, from women in long skirts twirling as they danced to men in jeans and suspenders, it was an eclectic mix. There were bikers, office workers, students and retirees.  It didn’t matter who was enjoying the groove – they were smiling and taking in the good vibes.  And who could blame them, the music of Jerry Garcia is timeless, and The Garcia Project has taken the time, energy, and their talents to master that sound.

    From the first notes of the night, “Sugaree”, the dance floor was full and people were singing along.  The set went on and songs went off to spectacular jams, only to be pulled back into the pleasing duo of Mik Brody and Kat Walkerson on vocals.  In math, there is a theory that the sum of two parts can not be greater than the whole.  Thankfully in music, that logic is thrown out – because while Mik and Kat are great singers on their own, they are better together.

    When you looked to the stage and you weren’t noticing Mik intently staring down at his guitar, much like Jerry used to do, or Kat’s exaggerated facial expressions as she sang her heart out, you noticed the light show.  The Garcia Project brought along a Macbook, a projector, and a light guy (Dutch Masterson)- a perfect combination to set the mood.  The psychedelic scenery covered the large stage and then some. Intricate designs and other visual effects graced the backdrop as the band played on.

    The Garcia Project is obviously a tribute band to Jerry Garcia Band.  A tribute band is quite different than a cover band because they don’t merely mimic the songs, but rather the whole sound and feel of the band.  That can mean using the same brand of instruments, similar amps and modifiers, and even looking like the original band.  As a fan of the original band, you go and enjoy the show knowing that this is the closest you are going to get to the real thing.  It transports you into the past and into an atmosphere that is reminiscent of an historic vibe.  Luckily that vibe is still alive in those like minded individuals around you at a show like this one at the Putnam Den.  In order for a tribute band to be successful, fans need to look at them as the authority on the artist they are emulating.  The Garcia Project pulls it off effortlessly.  Don’t believe it?  Go see them live and then go check out old YouTube footage of The Jerry Garcia Band.  Listen to how Jerry plays off Gloria Jones and Jackie LaBranch and compare that to Mik Brody and Kat Walkerson.  Listen to the jazz influenced bass of the legendary John Kahn and feel the similarities of The Garcia Project’s own Dan Crea.

    The Garcia Project is the whole package starting with the incredibly talented Scott Guberman on the Hammond B3 organ and Leslie speaker.  Aaron Martin sets the pace on drums.  The masterful guitar work of Mik Brody, himself, fills the role of Jerry on guitars and vocals.    The night was song after song of a delightful mix of Garcia classics and a few covers – some made famous by the Grateful Dead, and some lesser known but carrying that same Garcia vibe.  The dance floor stayed packed all night, especially during the livelier tunes and the long jams that took you to another time.

    The Putnam Den pulled out another great night of music and Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia fans, both young and old, had a great experience that took them into the night.

    Setlist:
    Set 1: Sugaree, Tore Up, They Love Each Other, He Ain’t Give You None, Tough Mama, Evangeline, Strugglin’ Man, Second That Emotion
    Set 2: Lonesome and a Long Way From Home, Mission In the Rain, Breadbox, Positively 4th Street, Don’t Let Go, Midnight Moonlight, Sisters and Brothers, Tangled Up in Blue, Deal
    Encore/Grateful Dead Set: Half Step, Shakedown Street, Eyes of the World, Cumberland Blues

  • Show review: FOR TODAY at UCH Jan 29th

    Going into the concert most people there knew that For Today was a Christian metalcore band.  What came to a shock to most everyone was when they stopped in the midst of an otherwise powerful set to preach.  Unclean vocalist, Mattie Montgomery, stood on the stage, raised his hands in the air, and “Praised Jesus” for the time that they could have played a whole song.  While most of the impressionable youth in the audience seemingly embraced the message, it left quite a few confused.

    Gideon started the show with pounding drums… deafening to those in the front of Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park.  The windows shook as the band rocked the audiences’ faces off.  As the mostly teen crowd fought their way to the stage it was as if the band was trying to ward off the assault with waves of “Alabama hardcore.” When a pit finally opened up and the brave masses decided to mosh their Tuesday blues away.

    ForToday505
    Upon A Burning Body

    When Upon a Burning Body from Texas came on stage it looked like an insurance convention.  The gentlemen donned nice suits, spiffy ties and enough product in their hair for a guest appearance on the Jersey Shore.  However, when they fired up their guitars, I swear they must have been gas powered.  They reminded me of the wood chipper back home, in a good way.  They shredded the air around Upstate NewYork.  If you looked closely the drummer, Jonathon Gonzales, had three feet, because no mere human with two feet could pounce on the bass drums that fast.  He’d compete with Neil Peart, in that element alone.  The energy in the room was building with three more bands yet to come.  With the night still young, and the stars are bright in the heart of Texas.  After a lot of coaxing, the pit spun out of control and the whirlpool sucked the onlookers into the mayhem.

    The Word Alive
    The Word Alive

    All the way from Phoenix, Arizona, The Word Alive came out in a fury.  Though in the middle of their set the vocals went and “Telle” Smith sang heavily into a dead mic during the majority of one song.  These things happen on even the most organized tours. As Telle left the stage the band didn’t miss a beat and played as their two guitarists (Zack Hansen and Tony Pizzuti) dueled it out on the stage and got the crowd into the instrumental sensation.  Then Smith returned to the stage thinking the sound issues were over, but apparently they weren’t quite fixed.  Luckily, the crowd sang along and life was somewhat normal again.  As normal as it can be at a hardcore show in Upstate NY on a Tuesday in Winter.  The drummer, Luke Holland, played as of he was at a firing range and the under 21 crowd before him was his prey.  Then the lights went out but the music didn’t stop. Just the vocals… still.  So with guitars, bass and drums and no lights, UCH was alive.  The mic finally came back to life, the band kept it in stride and thanked the crowd for singing the songs for them.  The Word Alive ended with the title track off their new album “Life Cycles”, and reminded the crowd that they’d rather die for what they believe.

    Where they there for a metal show or a evangelistic revival?  Upstate Metal was there to rock our faces off and For Today did that, when they played.  Their set was solid, both the clean and unclean vocals were great, guitars shredded, the new drummer, David Puckett, was spot on.  It was the preaching that made this writer pause and say “what happened to the music?”  Christian metal has it’s place, it can be quite good and carry a solid message.  However, preaching doesn’t do it for me.  What’s more is that a couple songs later, Mattie did it again.  I’d much rather he took the 10 minutes telling me how his soul was saved and spent it playing two new tracks of the album Immortal that came out last year.  Either that or give The Word Alive the 10 minutes to play the songs that the mic went dead.

    Memphis May Fire, another Texas band, braved the bitter northeast again to greet many adorning fans.  Just a month and a half ago MMF was at Upstate Concert Hall opening up for As I Lay Dying.  On this night, the young, eager crowd was ready for them.  A lot of repeat concert goers were in the audience and were familiar with the songs and sang, urrr.. screamed along. When the anthem “Legacy” started up halfway through the set, you’d have thought that Memphis May Fire was the headliner.  All eyes were on the stage, except those in the ever growing pit that seemed to consume the majority of the floor in front of the stage.

    The drum solo by Jeremy Grisham after “Legacy” was one of the more impressive ones I’ve witnessed lately and that led to more mania from the crowd.  As with the three bands before them, the sets grew slightly longer and the crowd surfing, jumping up and down and shrieks from the audience was quickly hitting “10” on the dial.  When the band ask if anyone had seen them before, nearly half the crowd cheered.  Finally when MMF performed “The Victor” that had vocalist, Chase Ryan, going back and forth between singing and screaming, a multiple personality madman intriguing the bouncing teens before him.

    For Today
    For Today

    Overall, Upstate Concert Hall was another gracious host to a night of kickass metal.  They provide a great outlet for the Capital region.  In the next week, Sevendust and Trapt will be at UCH.  Shows that this writer does not plan to miss.

  • Review and Interview: The Brew at The Westcott Theater, January 26th

    Over the past year I’ve often heard people voice concern about Rock N’ Roll as a genre, seemingly worried  that it is dying out these days due to all of the EDM and Indie music that is over saturating the mainstream. If you are one of these people, fret not. I assure you that Boston based band The Brew is keeping Rock alive and kickin’.

    Before they completely brought the house down at The Westcott Theater this past Saturday night, lead singer Chris Plante of expressed his love for Upstate New York and the ‘Cuse. “We’re so happy to be back in Syracuse! We love playing The Westcott,” he yelled into the mic from his spot at his double-decker keyboard. The Boston based quartet consists of brothers Chris Plante (lead vocals, keyboards), Joe Plante (Bass, vocals) and friends Dave Drouin (Guitar, vocals) and Aaron Zaroulis (Drums/vocals).Together they are like the Fantastic Four of Rock. There isn’t a single weak link in the group on instrumentals and their song writing skills are something to envy.

    Following Chris’s warm shout out the band opened with one of their new songs titled “Aftermath”. From the sounds of the track we can look forward to enjoying a killer new release. As soon as the powerful instrumentals of this track filled the room I was reminded of why I fell in love with Rock N’ Roll in the first place. Aaron has driving in-your-face drum beats that make it virtually impossible for anyone with a soul to stand still. Chris sings the band’s insightful and relatable lyrics with an honest raspy voice while his piano parts cascade over the tracks. Dave plays epic guitar solo’s on his edgy Gibson explorer with seemingly no effort and Joe coolly holds the entire sound together seamlessly on bass.  Their sheer musical awesomeness evoked multiple and loud shouts of “I love you!” from the audience on multiple occasions throughout the show.

    When they vocally harmonized for the intro of radio hit “When Darkness Comes” off the album  A Garden In The Snow, I doubt if there was a single person in the room that didn’t have the chills. Later in the show they played their hard rocking version of Led Zeppelin’s Going To California which I might actually like even more than the original because of its absolute head banging break down. They also included tracks such as “Into The Remembering Sun”, “Sharks In The Pool” and “Garden In The Snow”. As soon as they left the stage the crowd cheered for an encore and they all came to play “What I Want” (the ladies love this one) and a few others as the crowd begged them not to go.

    After the show, I got a chance to sit down with The Brew and ask them a few questions.

    Mary Morgan Craig: So first of all who are your biggest Musical influences individually?

    Joe Plante: My biggest influences at the moment are Little Feat, Radiohead and Beck has a really big influence on me.

    Aaron Zaroulis: I like Guns and Roses and I like the Allman Brothers .. a lot.

    Chris Plante: I’m doin’ a lot of Bruce Hornsby, a lot of Chick Corea and a lot of classical.

    Dave Drouin: I listen to Iron Maiden a lot and MJ. (MJ’s Dirty Diana plays in the background)

    MMC: I know Chris and Joe are brothers. How did the two of you meet Dave and Aaron?

    AZ: Well the band was around for nine or ten years with another drummer and then I joined about a year ago and I met all these dudes through the power of music.

    CP: Yeah but the real story behind that one is like six or seven years ago we were playing a show with our other drummer Kelly. It was a show in Newburyport, Massachusetts, that we put on ourselves. We didn’t have like a green room or a bathroom for ourselves. During set break Kelly like really had to pee, so he went outside because there was a big line for the bathroom inside. It was  a packed show with a lot of kids. A lot of younger kids, and he got arrested outside for peeing in a public place. So we didn’t have a drummer! We frantically tried to bail him out. We reluctantly went back onstage when we, you know, had to. We basically made an announcement to the crowd. We were like “Does anybody know how to play drums?” “Put your hands in the air because our drummer is arrested”, and a bunch of young girls in the crowd were pointing to Aaron who was like 13.

    AZ: Yeah I was 13.

    CP: And then he got up on stage and already knew a bunch of our tunes.  So we’re like oh good job, cool, thanks for sitting in. Then like eight years later or whatever it was…

    DD: No six years later.

    CP: When it came down to audition for the band when we were moving on from a different drummer he showed up and already knew all of our songs and he was like “Yeah, I’m that kid” and we were like “Sweet!”

    AZ: Yeah I’m that Kid. (all laugh)

    MMC: What was the first CD you ever bought?

    JP: Green Day’s Dookie. I remember that. I really remember that day.

    CP: Didn’t you get it from your 5th grade girlfriend?

    JP: No. Oh Yeah ! I did. I did get it from my 5th grade girlfriend.

    AZ: That was the worst Valentine’s day ever huh?

    (All laugh)

    JP: I love that CD.

    AZ: No. Its not that bad. I don’t remember my first CD. I think it was like Tom Petty or Paul Simon something like that. Something that my parents passed down to me kinda thing.

    CP: I don’t know. I’m in the same boat. Me and Joe started finding music around the same time and I remember doing was it Toadie?

    JP: Yeah Toadie.

    CP: Toadie was awesome. Yeah I remember doing the Toadies.

    JP: The Toadies!

    CP: Yeah The Toadies were awesome.

    DD: I had tapes way before CD’s.

    CP: Ya. Ya no we were all actually into tapes.

    JP: I bought an Oasis tape and a Blues Traveler tape.

    DD: Yeah, I had the Blues Traveler tape with the cat on it. I traded my Aerosmith Pump when it was like the new thing.

    AZ: Bad move.

    DD: Bad move.

    MMC: So are your parents as musically talented as you or are you guys the first in the family?

    JP: My dad happens to be extremely talented musically. He started playing when he was about our age professionally out in California. He met my mom out there and then moved back to Massachusetts and had us children and surrounded us with music our entire lives.

    CP: He was sitting in with us at a show recently.  We were doing like a more acoustic broken down sort of show. We were telling the stories behind certain songs and stuff like that. And he comes up and he plays an original song of his with us and its like the last song of the show cause it kicked so much ass.

    MMC: That must be so cool.

    CP: Yeah, its pretty nice.

    MMC: So is that why you guys chose to do that cover of “Going to California”? Which I love by the way.

    CP: Thanks! That’s an interesting connection but no we just did that cover because we were doing a gig opening for moe. at The House Of Blues and we really wanted to do something special, you know? Dave came to practice and he was like “I just Heard Going to California and was picturing it with a more driving groove under it” and we just started doing it.

    MMC: Well it came out great. I love that one. When did each of you start playing your instruments and what made you gravitate to the specific ones?

    JP: I went to a show when I was 17. I ate some mushrooms and I heard bass for the first time. I was tripping and I was like “I am gonna be doing that for the rest of my life.” That’s pretty much how I decided. And I had a bass so I decided just to start playing it. I picked it up that night and started playing it.

    CP: That was my bass.

    JP: Yeah. I stole his bass.

    CP: I had a black Guild bass.

    JP: It was awful to play. It was terrible, but then i actually started jamming with Dave literally four days after.

    AZ: I started playing drums in the fourth grade. It wasn’t cause I started eating mushrooms though. And I got serious around my freshman year of high school and I just haven’t really stopped since.

    CP: I started playing piano when I was like 3 because of my dad and then took classical lessons when I was like five. So, I did that and then jazz and a lot of stuff so I’ve just been playing my entire life. I remember when I was like 14, I really realized I could play piano. Because I never made the conscious decision to actually do it. So its been a long time. I should be better than I am.

    DD: I started playing guitar at like age 14. It was mainly because I couldn’t have a drumset. I had drumsticks. I really wanted to play drums. But they were like “too loud” or something. So I got a guitar.

    (all laugh)

    MMC: Good thing you did

    DD: Ruined my life

    (All laugh)

    MMC: OK so who is your biggest Rock-Chick crush?

    CP: Rock Chick Crush?

    MMC: Yeah, well it doesn’t have to be rock. Musical artist crush.

    DD: The lead singer of Heart.

    AZ: Aw this is rough man.

    CP: There’s not as many hot rock lead singers as there are like pretty sexy pop stars.

    MMC: Well what about Gwen Stefani?

    All: Yeah

    AZ: True. She’s hot

    DD: I don’t know.

    CP: But she’s a little too muscle-y for me.

    JP: I’m a ‘Sineado’ fan. Just, you know, because… (gestures to his bald head).

    DD: Did you just call her ‘Sineado’? Sinead. O’Connor.

    JP: ‘Sineado’. That’s what I call her. She likes it.

    (all laugh)

    AZ: I’d like to take Mila Kunis out to like a nice dinner at like The Ninety Nine or like The Olive Garden.

    CP: Salisbury Steaks?

    AZ: Yeah yeah! I would definitely buy her a nice Salisbury steak.

    CP: I like Rachel McAdams. I think she’s the hottest. I like her.

    AZ: Yeah, shes pretty dreamy.

    DD: I like Taylor Swift.

    MMC: I knew that was going to come up.

    CP: She looks like a deer. Not in like a bad way.

    JP: In the headlights.

    DD: That’s why I like her.

    CP: I think shes beautiful but she resembles a deer slightly.

    MMC: A majestic deer.

    (all laugh)

    CP: A majestic blonde deer.

    MMC: Have you played any festivals recently? Are you planning on playing any this year?

    CP: Yes. A lot. We played Mountain Jam last year.

    JP: Absolutely

    AZ: We played a lot of festivals last year.

    DD: Its mid-winter now so..

    CP: Yeah we’re actually starting to think about next year and any festival, you know. We’re having our agent and our management work with all the promoters of festivals to hopefully get the right situation worked out.

    MMC: How would you describe your own music?

    JP: Um, not butt rock. Rock.

    (all laugh)

    CP: I mean, its really just like rock n’ roll but we try to be versatile with how we deliver our songs. We get into different production techniques the same way The Beatles or anybody else would.

    MMC: What was the thought process behind the Triptych project? Who did your album artwork?

    JP: Well actually we decided to make the Triptych just based on the fact that we had a really large catalog of songs and certain songs fit into different groups. Like for instance, the first album was really driven by acoustic singer-songwriter songs that kinda fit into a certain category. We felt like they all really fit on the album. Then the second album we really stretched out live.  We wanted to take that same energy in the studio and do some improvisational stuff. The third record basically is really more pop oriented the way The Beatles used to like look at all their parts and really kind of like figured out how they wanted everything to fit.

    CP: As far as the album artwork goes, that’s a tapestry that was meant for King Louis the 7th. It was a tapestry that was meant to commemorate like his wedding with somebody. It was back in 1495. Its called The Hunt of The Unicorn. You can see the unicorn on the second record. When you put them all together it makes one large image that kind of gives you the whole scope of the artwork.

    MMC: Very Cool. What has been your best tour experience ever or just one that sticks in your mind?

    CP: We were rolling through from New Mexico to Austin, Texas and we pulled over at this  like really sketchy looking Subway. We were like ‘Fuck we have to get Subway today. This is gonna suck.’ But there was a burger joint right next door that was kind of like home made burgers but you could tell it was like real like southern cooking.

    AZ: They had like Boston stuff in the windows so we were like ‘Fuck it lets go in here.’

    DD: Yeah it was weird. It was all like Red Sox stuff and Patriots stuff.

    CP: Yeah we felt good about going there and so we walked in and just like everywhere we show up, they’re all like are you in a band or something? It was this older guy and his wife. Very old like 85 or 87. With this other lady and we were like yeah we’re in a band and hes like have you ever heard of Roy Orbison and we’re like ‘Yeah of course.’ and then he’s like ‘Have you ever heard of Buddy Holly?’ We’re like ‘Obviously.’ and he’s like ‘I used to sing with them.’ So we met a member of Buddy Holly’s band, the only guys to like background sing. They were called The Roses.

    JP: And then hes like ‘Do you want to go see Buddy Holly’s studio? I’ve got a key. I live there.’ And so all Buddy Holly’s original stuff is set up there, untouched, and we sat in the same chair that Buddy Holly was (once) sitting in.

    AZ: I got to play on the drumset. It was rad. It was awesome. We got it all on video too.

    MMC: That’s crazy!I’m so jealous. So last year when I saw you play at Brewfest Chris was playing with a broken arm at Brewfest in Lincoln, NH, which was so impressive. I actually remember I  Instagrammed about it and I captioned it like ‘my hero’ or something. I read somewhere that you just recovered from broken ribs. What happened there ? Are you always this accident prone?

    (all laugh)

    CP: I wouldn’t say i’m accident prone. I play indoor soccer so I just smashed into a dude that was way bigger than me and it was like this really awkward point in my side where my fist got like  jammed right into my rib. But I didn’t know it was broken for like the first four days. I thought it was just really badly bruised.

    MMC: Glad you’re better now! Do you have any advice for other bands who are just starting out?

    DD: Don’t do it.

    (all laugh)

    MMC: I think that they should just focus on the songs and then really work on the business aspect even though that’s the last thing you want to do as a musician. That’s what it takes to actually succeed. Cause you know its a small business and it sucks to look at it that way but you can’t go on forever running out of money. So just get good content, believe in your music, and then like just be doing your work. What has been your weirdest fan experience?

    CP: Oh man there’s like too many twisted stories to get into that.

    DD: There’s like naked dudes getting tied up. Well we were at a festival and there’s this guy running around naked like going ‘Get off my island! Get off my island!’

    CP: And then they hogtied him and had to like put him in the back of the truck.

    MMC: Well why were you on his island?

    JP: Well we weren’t on mushrooms and he was, so we were on his island.

    AZ: Dude he was on his own island.

    (all laugh)

    CP: He was being aggressive toward everybody.

    JP: The last straw that they wouldn’t put up with at this festival was when he went up to an old woman that was pushing a baby in a carriage and walking a dog at the same time and he like tried grabbing the dog leash from her and then they tackled him and hogtied him.

    DD: I think they like duckttaped him up.

    CP: It was a duct tape hogtie job. They did really well

    AZ: Hogtied!

    (all laugh)

    To listen to this interview with The Brew, tune into The Laura and Meg Show via iTunes Radio next Thursday night (Feb 7th)at 11pm! Just click on “Radio” on the menu bar at the top of your Itunes Library. From there click College Radio> Syracuse University>WERW.

    Check out the stations blog and The Meg and Laura Show

    Check out The Brew’s Website, Facebook, Myspace, Soundcloud, and the official video for When Darkness Comes
    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3lkwFjHvw0]

  • KINGDOM COME to Release ‘Outlier’ May 7th

    Today is a red-letter day for fans, and for the media at large an important date which makes their representatives prick up their ears: Lenny Wolf and KINGDOM COME are set to release their new studio album Outlier May 7thin the USA, picking up with ten powerful rock songs where his long tradition of fascinating studio albums left off. At the same time, mastermind Lenny is starting a new chapter of his diverse creative career, expertly positioning his charismatic voice on Outlier between traditional rock structures and modern sound elements, which add a third dimension to this album.

    “I simply felt the need to delve deep inside of me and run riot in the infinite expanse of the audio cosmos. The result is a friction of mercilessly mechanical, heartless sound collages, combined with my typical melancholy-melodious style,” Wolf explains the album’s artfully interwoven experimental approach to his sound, which never detracts from the familiar atmospheric basic mood of his songs.“A whole number of souls happen to dwell in my breast, which is why experimentation and the development of my musical existence simply belong together.”

    Outlier was recorded at Wolf’s own Hamburg studio, the Two Square Noise Factory. With the exception of the solo guitar parts contributed by Eric Förster, all instruments were recorded by the KINGDOM COME boss himself. In addition, Wolf produced, engineered, mixed and mastered his new album. “Eighteen-months of struggle and madness lie behind me, a period which saw me go through the usual alternating bath of euphoria and doubt. As an artist, you can never be quite sure just what you’ve cooked up, but I happen to be an idealist and simply have to keep embarking on new adventurous journeys. The path of predictability has never satisfied me.”

    Outlier is KINGDOM COME’s first studio album featuring completely new material since the arrival of their 2009 release Magnified and will be released as CD and download worldwide through SPV / Steamhammer.

    www.lennywolf.com

    www.spv.de

  • Woodenspoon + moe. = Floodwood, at the Putnam Den, January 25th

    What do you get when you take the mandolin from Woodenspoon, mix in the drums and guitar from moe., and add the fiddle/banjo and upright bass,?  A knee-slappin’, foot stompin’, head bobbin’, skirts-a-twirlin’ good time.

    Floodwood is Al Schnier & Vinnie Amico of moe., Jason Barady (mandolin) of Woodenspoon, plus Nick Piccininni (fiddle and banjo) and Zachary Fleitz (bass).  This isn’t the first side project for Al and Vinnie.  They have been playing together in Al & The Transamericans for over a decade.

    This quintet came together about a year and a half ago, but on stage they gelled like they’ve been doing it much longer.  The fun interactions between bandmates added to the warm vibe in the room as they pulled out a unique mix of bluegrass, Americana, and progressive string – or as the band would call it “Madgrass”.

    While the snow may have kept some people home on Friday night, the ones who showed up got a pleasant treat.  There was even one person who drove all the way in from Boston to see the show and was heading to Oneonta the next night for a double-dose of Floodwood.

    The band mingled with the crowd during opening act Rebel Darling, a trio featuring two guitars and a harmonica. There were a lot of familiar fans (some of whom were family and friends) there to see the local musicians.  Floodwood seemed to be right at home at The Putnam Den.  In fact, during the second set, Nick Piccininni jumped down off the stage to play fiddle and dance with the many smiling faces on the dance floor.

    It was a great time for those who braved the slippery conditions.  If you are one of those who stayed safely at home Friday night, you will be able to catch Floodwood as they play the Fiddler’s Picnic festival this year with other local favorites like the Rumpke Mountain Boys, The Blind Owl Band, Eastbound Jesus, Jatoba, and many others. But those courageous souls who made it — they got to be a part of Floodwood’s intimate, and successful, Saratoga debut.

  • John Brown’s Body and Barika warmed things up at The Putnam Den on January 24th

    When most people think of Saratoga Springs it’s visions of horse racing in August.  Tiffany and Jonathon Albert, Bob Millis and Jarrett Hartstone and the staff at the Putnam Den are working hard to make Saratoga known as a place to catch great ORIGINAL music, year-round!  Based on the crowd at the Putnam Den on a bitter cold Thursday in January, they may be succeeding. Over 150 people braved the negative temperatures to feel the face melting heat of two talented bands, Barika and John Brown’s Body.

    Barika (pronounced body-kah) started off the night with a unique blend of psychedelic charm and West African-inspired beats thrown in, crossing gracefully into the realm of dub.  When Craig Myers stood center stage with a large gourd that had a long neck and bright yellow strings, heads turned.  The opening act of most shows is noticed for a moment and then conversations continue throughout the room.  However, when Craig started to play his Kamel N’goni – a wave of silence washed over the crowd.  The Kamel N’goni sounded like two dueling banjos fighting it out to see who could please the eardrums more.  Both hands plucked and strummed away at the neon strings, setting off a magnetic vibe through the Den.  As Barika played, the crowd started to creep toward the stage to find out what foreign magic these strangers from Burlington, Vermont brought to Upstate New York.  Craig wasn’t alone in playing the funky groove. Barika has six other talented musicians: Caleb Bronze (Drums), Rob Morse (Bass), Andric Severence (Keyboards) and on horns are Dave Purcell (Trumpet), Gordon Clark (Trombone) and Deva Racusin (Tenor Sax).  Deva didn’t make it out to the Putnam Den, but you can hear everyone on Barika’s new CD, Remember, available on iTunes and other outlets.

    Download Barika’s show here

    Just as things were getting warmed up nice and toasty, John Brown’s Body came on stage and turned the heat way up. John Brown’s Body has Upstate roots in Ithaca and have been playing their future roots take on reggae for nearly 10 years.  With tours around the world, it is always nice to catch them back in the area with new songs and a new EP, JBB IN DUB.   JBB started the show with a song off their new release, “The General’s Ambush.”  A nice steady beat and smooth horns come into play in this melodic instrumental number.  Bandleader Elliott Martin got to flex his chops with the second song, “Invitation” that had more of a ska sound with the brass section sharing the spotlight with Elliott’s smooth yet strong vocal stylings.  The crowd took the “Invitation”, and those fortunate enough to be at the Putnam Den had a hard time not approaching the dance floor.  More dub, more funk, more dancing ensued as JBB played another track off the new album, “The Grass.”  “The Grass” was reminiscent of the reggae of Marley in that it carried a strong message. The band ended up playing three songs off the new EP.

    John Brown’s Body is also planning a new full length album in the next few months and played “Plantation” off  that upcoming release. They also played old favorites like “The Gold”, “Resonate”, and “Push Some Air”.  Look for them around the festival circuit this summer and keep an eye out for the new album.  John Brown’s Body is a treasure that Upstate New Yorkers can call their own and it was a nice surprise to see them at the Putnam Den.  Be sure to check out the Den’s upcoming shows and give them the support they need to keep bringing these great line-ups to the region.

    Setlist: General’s Ambush*, Invitation, The Grass*, Plantation, Wellington*, Shine Bright, The Gold, Follow Into Shadow, Peace in the Valley, The Cup Dub, Empty Hands, Make It Easy, Zion Triad

    Encore: Resonate, Push Some Air

    * Off the new EP release JBB IN DUB

  • DYING FETUS Expose “Second Skin” Video via Bloody Disgusting

    (screenshot from the video)
    (screenshot from the video)

    Death Metal powerhouse DYING FETUS have completed work on a new video for the song “Second Skin”. “Second Skin” comes off of last year’s critically acclaimed release Reign Supreme. Bloody Disgusting the online home for all things horror has teamed up with DYING FETUS for an exclusive premiere of the video. The video was directed by Jakob Arevarn. Check out the exclusive premiere HERE.

    DYING FETUS will be hitting the road in January and February of 2013 alongside Hatebreed, Shadows Fall and The Contortionist as part of “The Divinity of Purpose Tour”. The tour will land in Upstate NY on February 16th at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse, NY.

    DYING FETUS released their latest album Reign Supreme in 2011 on Relapse Records. The album is streaming in its entirety on their Bandcamp Page.

    Reign Supreme is available for purchase from the Relapse store HERE and digitally on iTunes.

    For updates on DYING FETUS visit their Facebook page.

    DYING FETUS with Hatebreed and Shadows Fall
    1/30/13: Grand Junction, CO @ Mesa Theater
    1/31/13: Flagstaff, AZ @ Orpheum Theater
    2/1/13: West Hollywood, CA @ The Roxy
    2/2/13: Chico, CA @ Senator Theater
    2/3/13: Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory
    2/5/13: Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep
    2/6/13: Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion
    2/7/13: Sauget, IL @ Pop’s
    2/8/13: Lexington, KY @ Buster’s
    2/9/13: Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
    2/11/13: Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution Live
    2/12/13: Jacksonville Beach, FL @ Freebird Live
    2/13/13: Jacksonville, NC @ Hooligan’s
    2/14/13: West Springfield, VA @ Empire
    2/15/13: Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
    2/16/13: Syracuse, NY @ Westcott Theater
    2/17/13: Amityville, NY @ Revolution

  • Camp Bisco 12 announced for July 11-13

    Questions were looming whether Camp Bisco was going to happen in Upstate New York this year.  There were rumors of it being completely done; moving south or even changing it’s name.  Well, Bisco fans don’t need to worry anymore.  Camp Bisco announced that the show will go on for # 12 of its run. Camp Bisco will be returning to the beautiful Indian Lookout Country Club, in rural Mariaville, NY.

    Camp Bisco is a unique festival for many reasons.  Where else can you find such a unique blend of electonic house, hip hop, jam bands and whatever else they might throw at you every year.  the only thing you can count on is that the disco biscuits will be gracing the stage and that you will have a great time.  Oh yeah, there is also a good chance of rain.

    The festival plans to expand and enhance the experience for attendees by adding “surround sound and greater concert production to all stages. From large-scale art installations and artist workshops to performance art demonstrations, carnival rides and more, Camp Bisco is also increasing the interactive elements in 2013 to create an even better festival experience for patrons. Long distance shuttles will also return, offering service from Albany, Baltimore, Boston, New York City and Philadelphia.”

    Early Bird tickets go on sale Saturday, February 2 at 10 a.m. EST for a very limited allotment at $170. General on sale tickets will start at $185, before raising to the last minute price $199. All-inclusive pre-sale VIP packages are available again this year, starting at $450 for VIP and $1300 for a pair of Platinum VIP tickets, before increasing to $500 and $1400 respectively. Camp Bisco will also be introducing a new layaway plan, where fans can divide payments on General Admission tickets equally between the on sale date and July 1st. Tickets will be available online at campbisco.net. Camp Bisco is an 18 and over event.

  • EP Review: “The Sound of Forgiveness” by Sleep Circadia

    EP Review: “The Sound of Forgiveness” by Sleep Circadia

    Sleep Circadia

    Genre: Metalcore/Prog

    Rating: ****1/2

    Full of surprises, dark energy, and musical mastery, Sleep Circadia’s debut EP is certainly the right way to kick off 2013 in the 315 music scene. After reviewing the lead single, “Gloom”, I have been anxiously awaiting the release of the whole EP, and am in no way disappointed with the whole product. Like the single, the rest of “The Sound of Forgiveness” is ridiculously heavy, full of melodic riffing and super slow breakdowns, deep lyrics, great grooves, and dark atmosphere. The greatest thing about this EP, however, is not what is in “Gloom”, but what isn’t in it that the rest of the songs have. This EP keeps you guessing, with different melodic patterns, song structures, and sound effects. The title track/intro song is climactic, building up the suspense as it opens up into “Set It Off”, and the whole record keeps that sense of curiosity at what will come next. It is beautifully produced, giving a creepy, confined tone that seems to open up and close you inside it at the same time. This sound matches the incredibly low tuning of the instruments and key of the vocals, making the whole thing seem so mysteriously dark. The musicianship on this EP is fantastic. The guitar tracks consist of choppy rhythms, shredding riffs, slow breakdowns, and catchy melodies, all in a creepy tone, and most of which are in every single song. The drums are phenomenal, keeping the time perfectly and alternating flawlessly between very fast and very slow rhythms of different styles. The bass has one of the coolest tones I’ve ever heard, which is really saying something because you can almost never hear the bass in a song. The vocals are incredibly low and well delivered, with great execution of both the guttural screams and the beautiful clean vocals. I must mention, however, that I have seen Sleep Circadia many times before, and their screams are better live than on the studio recordings. This sounds like a bad thing, but it really isn’t for two reasons; the vocals do sound good on the EP as well, and it gives you another reason to go see them play live. If, of course, the fact that their music is awesome wasn’t reason enough to want to see them live. Their live show is every bit as entertaining and heavy as the EP sounds, but seeing them live adds a whole new depth to the character of the band. In conclusion, I recommend “The Sound of Forgiveness” very highly to all fans of metal and hardcore for its creativity, atmosphere, quality, and diversity. I predict that the future is as bright for Sleep Circadia as their music is dark.

    Go “like” Sleep Circadia and download “The Sound of Forgiveness” here FOR FREE:

    https://www.facebook.com/sleepcircadia

    Rock on 315!

    -Steve, 315MR (Upstate Metal) BTLYAP

    https://www.facebook.com/315MusicReviews

  • Sitting down with The Wailers’ Aston Barrett, Jr and Drummie Zeb

    The Wailers started their current tour just two days after Christmas and January brought them through Upstate NY.  Lewis Tezak, Jr. offered a great review of the Seneca Niagara Casino on January 12th and NYS Music was at the Bearsville Theater show in Woodstock less than a week later to sit down with The Wailer’s drummer Drummie Zeb and keyboardist/bassist Aston “Famz Jr.” Barrett, Jr.

    NYSMusic:  So, Aston it was nice to see you on stage with your dad.  I noticed that this is only your second show back on this tour, what were you doing before that?

    Aston Barrett Jr. (AB):  I was in India playing with Julian Marley.

    NYSMusic: What’s it like to play reggae in India?

    AB: It’s nice, man. They love reggae.  Everytime I go on the streets it was like, “Family Man, Family Man, Wailers.”

    NYSMusic: So it was nice to be recognized?

    AB: Oh yes.

    NYSMusic: So Drummie, you have been on the tour since it started?

    Drummie Zeb (DZ):  We started this tour on January 27th and played right through 2012 and into 2013.  We played New Years Eve in Telluride, Colorado. Way up there, beautiful country.

    NYSMusic: I know how Aston got into the Wailers, how did you get in (the Wailers)?

    DZ: Oh my my you have to go back a few years now.  I met Famz in the early 80’s and I saw Carlton right after Bob Marley. They were on a tour it was either 83 or 84, Carleton was playing and the tour came through DC.  Junior Marvin, Al Anderson, Alvin Patterson, “Wire” Lindo, Tyrone Downie – the whole band. And Carleton, the Mighty Carleton. I saw him rattle that snare.  I can still hear it now. *makes the sound* Because he was sitting way up there, because of how the stage was in this building. It was unreal.  It was such a pleasure to see him work.  Good god, man, I was just always seeking out those drums. So, we drove from Virginia for two hours to that show that night to meet Famz.  And ever since that night, they would be on tour and I would be on another support band called the Awareness Art Ensemble. It was a big band in the 80s and we would support the Wailers every year.  We’d see Famz and hail up each other through the 80s and then through the 90s… all the way to 99. And Famz and I were on a show together, he sees me and says “hey Drummie” and I’m so honored, always to be amongst him and he asked if I would be interested in reviving the set. I said “yes, truly!” And time would go on but we met them in the 80s and I think that’s where it started. Cause I was on the set.  I think with any young musician you need to stay on the set.

    NYSMusic: Truly, thank you.  Aston, do you remember your uncle Carleton?

    AB: Nah, I was too young.

    NYSMusic: I understand, what’s it like to play with your dad?

    AB: It feels nice.

    NYSMusic: Is he a tough critic?

    AB: He’s a good father. You know it’s an honor all the time. Everytime I look at him.  Sometimes I am playing and I’m like “oh shit that’s Family Man” and then I’m like, oh, he’s my dad. You forget you know? I look at him so highly and so proud to be his son. It’s like, “wow!” So anytime I am playing music, I try to reach the higher, higher, high. The highest standard and keep my father’s music inside me and my uncle’s music there. This music will never die, it will go on forever and get bigger and bigger and bigger until it finds its right people.

    NYSMusic: I am glad to hear that and that leads to my next question. You guys have been touring now since 69 to now.  Where do you guys see the Wailers going? Studio? Another album?

    AB: Plenty of more albums to come. The only thing is that the singers now in these days are very different. As we listen to the message of Bob’s days. Almost every singer that comes out has a message. I don’t think they can sing the same message these days because it’s different times. So what we are dealing with now is more positive and positive vibes. It’s more peaceful and mind, body and understanding.

    NYSMusic: So, Drummie, if we go back to the positive vibes, why do you think Family Man chose Survival for this tour?

    DZ: I know last year it was talked about with Roger (Steffens). It was talked about to get a little intention to it.  And God bless because last year we did the Uprising record. We did all the Uprising songs last year and tonight was Survival.

    NYSMusic: Is there a Confrontation tour coming up?

    DZ: That would be great. It’s one of my favorites and I tell his (Aston’s) father that all the time. Because we used to play “Buffalo Soldier” from Confrontation. But all the rest of them are such anthems. You know “Trench Town” and “Jump Nyabinghi”. I mean, wow!

    AB: “Mix Up, Mix Up”

    DZ: Ah, “Mix Up, Mix Up” oh man that record right there. We’d be dancing off the stage ourselves there because I wait to play that one.

    NYSMusic: I just love the trilogy and you can see the Wailers evolve with those three albums.

    DZ: That’s a good idea.

    NYSMusic: Kaya was before those and sort of ganja loving and laid back.

    AB: 1978! Ah right.

    NYSMusic: So you are touring for the next two months and then what? Are you doing any festivals?

    AB: I don’t know yet, but in June and July it’s festival season and if there is a Reggae Festival we should be here.

    NYSMusic: My first Wailers show was a festival in the early 90’s.

    AB: Ah that probably was with “Wire” (Earl Lindo), “Carrot” (Irvin Jarrett) , Junior Marvin was the lead singer at that time and Carrot’s Third World Band. First time to see them, respect, respect.

    NYSMusic: With the chaos in the world today, I don’t know how much has really changed.  What is your message to the world?

    AB: Peace, Love and Unity. That’s all we can bring.

    DZ: Jah guide that One Love. Keep moving forward ever, backward never.

    NYSMusic: I like that.

    DZ: Yes, sir.  I think we just need to say it more. Send more vibrations out there. Because we are coming closer and we are feeling more love. More vibrations. More. So we will put the sonic sound of survival out for all of 2013 and really push this message. That is a powerful delivery of music, man.

    NYSMusic: I really appreciate your time. I know you have a long day and playing again tomorrow in Pennsylvania.

    DZ: It’s great. The audience hear felt great here. Everyone was warm, very accepting, we’d still be up there playing, man. It felt like that.

    NYSMusic: It was a great show and our goal at is to get people out to the music. There is nothing like seeing it live.  Aston, do you see the role as bandleader getting passed from father to son soon?

    AB: Whatever Jah says. Whatever my destiny is we don’t know, but we are all good people. We will follow the right way, we do good so good will follow us, right?

    NYSMusic: I was happy to see you slide over from keys to bass.

    DZ: And to the first question you said, “Where’s the Wailers going?” Se this new generation right here (points to Aston Jr and Avery). To the future that. It’s done already. It’s going on.

    NYSMusic: And it sounds good.

    DZ: Alright! Rastafari long live. Jah Bless.

    NYSMusic: Thank you for your time.

    DZ: Thank you for your time. Love.

    AB: Give thanks for your time and stay safe. God Bless.

    If you haven’t caught the Wailers yet on this trip through Upstate there is one more chance.  They will be performing at Turning Stone Casino on January 23rd in the showroom. Tickets are only $10/$15/$20.

    Also, Upstate Reggae Woodstock presented its first award last Thursday at Bearsville Theater to Aston “Family Man” Barrett, one of the founding members of The Wailers.  A Rennie Cantine original crafted wooden bass guitar signifying Famz’ lifetime of innovation and musical excellence on bass guitar and his steadfast commitment to world touring and producing music for the next generation of reggae talent.  “May Family Man and The Wailers always return to perform in Woodstock, the home base for music,” said Lea Boss of Upstate Reggae Woodstock.