Category: Reviews

Review: Krockathon 18

Krockathon 18 was held in the Chevy Court of the N.Y. State fairgrounds. The lineup for this show was just amazing! Sevendust, Skillet, Three Days Grace and Chevelle to name a few.

Krock even tweaked some things to the venue so they could sell 500 more tickets. The show went pretty smoothly for the most part. The main drawbacks from the fans were that there was no tailgating allowed in the parking lot, and there were not enough beer and food vendor’s. They could have used about 30 more port-a-potties also.

First up was Stars In Stereo. They got the crowd going for this one. They did a decent cover of Aerosmith’s Dream On. Singer Bec Hollcraft seemed a little reserved at the beginning, but came into her own by the end. She could be a star someday. If I had to compare them to another band, I would have to say that they are like Paramore kicked up a notch.

All the way from the UK, The Virginmary’s were up next. They were pretty good. I really never heard anything by them, but I really enjoyed their performance. They can definitely rock it live.

This next band was just amazing live. Aranda, to me, is one of the bands on this bill that stole the show. The Aranda brothers, Dameon and Gabe, have some fun with each other using one guitar and holding it in different positions while the other brother plays it!!! Pretty cool $#!^. I highly recommend Aranda’s “Stop The World“cd. It is just hot from top to bottom. I would really like to see this band play a longer set.

The next band on the bill was Red. Red had their Graffiti brick wall set up behind them, which I love as a backdrop. Michael Barnes vocals were just right on point. The Armstrong twins just know how to rock, and they have a ton of energy. I’ve seen Red live of couple of times now, and they just bring it to every show. They are also some of the coolest, most down to earth guys you can meet.

Skillet, who just dropped their “Rise” cd, was next. Here is another band that just stole the show for me. Skillet live is just f’in awesome. Watching Jen Ledger on drums is insane. She just kicks so much @$$ up there. Skillet had their usual co2 pyro in front of the stage. Korey Cooper on guitar and keyboard is just amazing. Watching her rock out is just really fun to watch. The crowd was just nuts for Skillet and John Cooper had them wrapped around his finger. Jen also threw her drumsticks to a fan holding a sign asking her for them, which I though was classy move.

Asking Alexandria were up next and the crowd loved them. I personally am not a huge fan of theirs, but they do put on a good live set.

Flyleaf was set to play next. I am really not feeling Kristen May live. The band itself is OK but she is the $#!^’s. It seemed like every song was butchered by her, and it made me sick. I saw them the night before this show, and again I was not impressed.

Another band I saw the night before was P.O.D. This is when the first of two rain showers started, and it lasted for most of P.O.D’s set. Every time I see this band they kick @$$! I love watching Sonny on stage because you can see how he just feels the lyrics he is singing.

Well up next, according to front man Phillip LaBonte, is the hardest band on the show! All That Remains took the stage next and, like usual, they just killed it. I’ve seen this band a couple of times now, and I love them more and more.

One of my favorite bands ever, Sevendust, is now ready to rock the stage. The topless women are now starting to come out in full force. Lajon is one of the best front men in the business to me. I love him on stage. His emotions bring my emotions out more. The whole band just rocks from start to finish. Lajon said halfway through, “We are not rockstars, we just love to play music.” One classy guy, and a very classy band. You’re all rockstars to me!

I was standing next to a girl at this show who was there for this next band only. Chevelle took the stage and the crowd just loved them. They were really good and sounded awesome.

Last up is Three Days Grace. The second rain fall is now starting. This is where the only snag took place as 3DG took forever to come out and delayed everyone in the rain for about an half hour. After chants of “WTF” and “this is B.S,” the show finally started. This was my second time seeing Matt sing for 3DG and he is really good. I think I liked him better the first time I saw him, though. The crowd was really over for them and even though it was down pouring rain, it was still awesome.

What a great event Krockathon was. A couple of things that I would like to see added to next year’s event—besides more vendors and bathrooms—is a more of a festival experience. I think the bands should have been more hands on for the fans. Don’t get me wrong, some were, but not enough. I think if they set it up like Mayhem/Uproar and they had different tents for the different bands. The facility sure looked like they had enough room for it. One thing I didn’t get was the sticker that they passed out at the gate that was for random meet-n-greets with the bands, but I noticed that the Krock staff was also grabbing people who didn’t have stickers instead of the ones who did, which annoyed a lot of people who got there early to get one of the stickers.

September 20, 2013
Review: Halestorm, Sick Puppies & 10 Years

This show would have been better off as a two hour headline concert of Halestorm only! Halestorm invaded Upstate Concert Hall with Sick Puppies in Clifton Park, N.Y. Friday, August 9, 2013, and that’s all who should have showed up for this show.

The two opening acts added nothing to the show but boredom. I was trying not to fall asleep during the first band.

7^th Squeeze is the first band of the night, and nobody really cared that they were there. You could barely understand and hear lead vocalist, Nick. For some reason his mic was really low and, to me, he was trying to act like Lajon from Sevendust but came across more like Milli Vanilli.

Highly Suspect were up next and, although they were better than the first band, the life was sucked out of the venue and everybody just wanted Halestorm to come on. Besides the first band putting everyone to sleep, the venue was overcrowded and really hot inside, and everyone just wanted Halestorm. I do give Highly Suspect credit as they did try hard to get the crowd back into the show and ready for Halestorm.

Finally, Halestorm hit the stage to save the night. The crowd is just nuts now. The whole band seemed really pumped up for this show and had a lot of crazy energy. Joe was just insane on guitar. He was really feeling the mood and the crowd was eating it up. Lzzy was awesome and better than the first time I saw her perform. When she sat at the piano and played the song “Break In“ it was amazing. Halestorm sang all their hits and more. They even sang some of the tracks off their cover album, and Lzzy also paid tribute to Ronnie James Dio. Arejay has one of the best drum solos ever, and it’s a show of its own. He goes from regular drumsticks to bare fist. Then, when you think he’s done, he pulls out drumsticks the size of baseball bats and starts jamming with them to perfection!

Even though Halestorm came on and saved this show with a great two-hour-long performance, this had to be one of the worst concerts I’ve been to this year, besides Bon Jovi.

Even though I saw Sick Puppies exactly a week earlier at 95X Fest in Syracuse, N.Y., I was still pumped to see this show on a more intimate stage at Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park N.Y., Sunday, August 11, 2013.

The opening band for the night were locals Fort Rooster. They were decent, but you can tell that they are very green still. They put on a good performance, though, and are pretty good musicians.

10 Years is the second of three bands of the night and, as usual, they kicked @$$! Lead vocalist Jesse Hasek is f’in sick live. I love the way this guy sings. His style and voice are so unique it just takes you over. One of these days, though, Jesse is going to give himself whiplash with the head whip move he does. Jesse had a white cross painted on his face for this show. Jesse at the end of the set brought out a yellow blow up pool mattress and crowd surfed on it all the way to the merch table.

This was my second time seeing this band live, and I can’t wait until the next time. Don’t miss these guys if they come around your town. Tons of energy from this band, which is what I like to see from a band live on stage.

Sick Puppies closed out the show with another great performance. Yes, they were good a week earlier, but this was a lot better. These intimate venues are awesome for bands, and I think the bands put on better shows in these type of environments. Lead singer Shimon Moore is like a big kid on stage and loves to talk to the crowd a lot. He has so much energy and drive. Speaking of energy, Emma Anzai is just all over the place on stage. Emma is so fun to watch play live, and not just because she’s hot, but because she kicks @$$. She is in her own world up there on stage, and it’s awesome to see. The band played all their hits and a lot of new tracks from their brand new cd “Connect”.

This was a good show. 10 years and Sick Puppies are two bands that everyone should experience live at least once.

September 20, 2013
The Last Conspirators Album Review: A Celebration of Fury

Upstate New York’s bad boys, The Last Conspirators have released their third album A Celebration of Fury, a follow up to their critically acclaimed Warparty and When It All Comes Down releases. The punk rock and rollers are set to perform at this year’s Larkfest in Albany, the state’s largest one day street fair. Songwriter and front man Tim Livingston performed at the very first Larkfest with his pioneering Albany punk band, The Morons, and still continues to keep the edgy grunge scene alive today.

A Celebration of Fury consists of seven songs that get you amped up and angry, encouraging you to embrace the frustration that everyone can relate to in today’s world. It’s a wake up to society, giving the people a voice and relaying the message that “United We Stand”. The album goes through the multiple emotional levels of rebellion and protest, with powerful lyrics that make you question authority and classic punk angst that can start mosh pits in any location. The Last Conspirators have broken their silence and have encourage a musical political revolution, reminding the listener that they have the power for change. Their new album will be available for sale at Larkfest or on Compact Disc and as Digital Downloads from CD Baby, and also digitally on iTunes and Amazon.

“Last Ones Standing” bring the listener back to their youth with lyrics full of wild rebellion and asks you to remember what it was we were rebelling against in the first place. Al Kash has a pounding drum rhythm that gets the heart racing and fired up. “Radio Warfare” has a desperado/outlaw feel from Terry Plunkett’s sliding and strumming steady guitar chords. “Powerful Friends” has echoing cymbals and long lasting guitar riffs with Livingston singing about how change can happen but in the end, it’s all about who you know. “Somewhere Tonight in America” has the classic American defiant rock groove that people of any decade can relate to. “No Time For Egos” has Livingston reminding the listener that we might not like each other, but it’s time to put our differences behind us and do what’s best for our future with lyrics such as, “divide and conquer we shall fall, stand our ground together with our backs against the wall.” “Desperate Skies” is one of the darker punk songs on the album with deep bass playing from Bisanz and for the first time lyrics of loneliness. Throughout the album, there is a theme for the masses to join together for change, but it is in this song that we hear words of personal desperation and fear. The last song, “A Celebration of Fury” has a dramatic ending of harsh whispers and heavy drum beats with the repeating line, “Time to celebrate the fury of our power.”

The Last Conspirators are bassist Nick Bisanz, guitarist Terry Plunkett, drummer Al Kash and lead vocalist Tim Livingston.

Key Tracks: Somewhere Tonight in America, Desperate Skies, A Celebration of Fury

September 19, 2013
Blues Traveler opens up UB football season with a Tailgate Party

I was really excited to see this date drop. Not only do I love live music, football and all things Buffalo, the thought of recording at a football tailgate party presented a unique experience. On a beautiful pre-fall day with the excitement of football in the air, University at Buffalo (UB) called upon the tried and true jam-rock road warriors Blues Traveler to kick off their first concert series.

Nice job done by the University with the party setup, activities and concert site, which was set just to the side of the stadium with a view of the stage including the big blue skies and stadium stands as a backdrop. This was an intriguing experience as many of the college freshman were probably not even born when some of my fellow taper brethren and I attended the Blues Traveler Alumni Arena show just to the left of us back in October of 1995.

Download Blues Traveler’s show from September 14th at UB

An impressive crowd filed in, including both young students, alumni and plain ole Blues Traveler fans to show their support for live music. I’m sure the success and future of this event, hinges upon the response and the response was excellent. The band came out at 1:30 for this early afternoon set and kicked off with an upbeat “Things Are Looking Up” into a “What I Got” to warm up the amp’d football crowd. No time was wasted launching into “But Anyway” which featured a really nice extended bass solo in the middle clocking at over nine minutes and the second longest track of this quick 60 minute set. “You, Me and Everything > Run Around” was a neat combo and flawless segue. Popper paid tribute to his love for New York, even New York state as he got into his tale dubbed “Cara Let The Moon”. His voice was admittedly not in the best shape for the show but the heart and soul he poured into this vocal based track compensated for it. “La Grange > NY Prophesis > Hook” finished the show in style, included some really nice playing and a guest appearance by a harmonica player from Brazil Bruno Carvalho on “La Grange”. Dueling harmonicas were a treat as promised by Popper. The treats continued with the “Devil Went Down To Georgia” encore and not missing a beat with Popper’s never dull and mostly blissful harmonica playing filling the fiddle parts just perfectly.

We are lucky in Buffalo as we almost get an annual BT show every year here, many being free like this one. Regardless of the location, whether in be Downtown, Lockport, on the waterfront or where ever, the band always brings the spirit and soul of their music in the way they know how. And folks always, always come out.

Setlist: Things Are Looking Up> What I Got> But Anyway, You, Me and Everything> Run Around, Cara Let The Moon, La Grange> NY Prophesie> Hook

Encore: The Devil Went Down To Georgia

September 18, 2013
Syracuse Irish Festival 2013 – Review and Photo Gallery

The Syracuse Irish Festival has once again outdone themselves in providing a wonderful experience to all that attended this Friday and Saturday, September 6-7 2013. From social media posts galore, the evenings performances did not disappoint.

Performances Saturday continued to meet and exceed expectations for festival goers. Tom Dooley Choraliers in their dapper kelly green jackets began the day while Attractive Nuisance, a local band who brought their own flair to Syracuse of Celtic Rock made their festival debut this year on the Magner’s Main State. The Moxie Strings joined Syracuse Irish Festival this year all the way from Ann Arbor, Michigan with a new vibe using traditional instruments. The much loved and adored Blarney Rebel Band also did not disappoint in their Celtic mix of ballads, folk songs, jigs and reels. As much as the music they play rocks, their playful banter between band members is just as entertaining to the audience. Rounding out the early hours of the main storage was another local group, The Causeway Giants, who began the windup for the night with their high energy and fun flair and made Syracuse proud. In between sets traditional Irish Dancers performed and wowed the crowd making years of practices and performances look as though it was as easy as can be.

At every festival, there is a breakout group that wows the audience with something new. This year was no different. !!!ToTs!!! and The Pale Green Stars were this years WOW factor. Michael John Heagerty, self proclaimed rapper of all things spuds, totally took the crowd by storm rapping “Twice Baked” and a few other tunes all about potatoes, while Jeff Jones, Brian Coyne and Jeff Tripoli accompanied on bass, drums, and guitar. If you weren’t a potato lover in the beginning, you definitely were by the end.

As Gaelic Storm began to get closer to their performance, the sky began to set the stage for an upcoming show of its own. In the meantime though our favorite Canadians, Searson, took the stage and began to whip the crowd once again into a frenzy as they had the night before. Erin and Colleen Searson, sisters and musical and step dancing partners since childhood, along with Danno O’Shea on drums and newcomer Oriana Barbato Guerrero on bass won the crowd over time and again with their performances. Playing tunes such as “Footstomp”, that lived up to its name, and “Highway of Heroes”, which pays tribute and tradition to those that have served their country proud. Syracuse favorites and regular performers at the local Kitty Hoynes Pub, Searson exclaimed that “Once again the Syracuse Irish Festival 2013 was an amazing festival to perform for! Energetic crowds, welcoming fans and fantastic production. We absolutely love Syracuse and it always feels like coming home.” Searson, Syracuse and Central NY love you too and this will always be a home away from home for you.

Rounding out the night and gearing up for the final act was return Syracuse Irish Festival performers from Annapolis Maryland, Dublin 5, formerly known as The Rovers. The festival could not have chosen a better band to go up against mother nature, because the moment they took the stage, the skies opened up and down came the rain. But the crowds, they loved them and no where did they go. And why would they when the Dublin 5 were playing up a storm? Fronted by Ray Murphy on lead guitar and vocals, Jenn Garman on fiddle and vocals, Eddie McGown on bass, bagpipes and vocals, Jim Martin percussion and Kevin Shook on drums, they played crowd favorites like “Galway Girl” and “Devil Went Down to Georgia”, but it was numbers such as “Raggle Taggle Gypsy” and “Nancy Whiskey”, and finishing off the set with “Tell Me Ma” that brought the crowds to their feet stomping and dancing in puddles. By the end of the performance the crowd had been won over by the Dublin 5; they had them at hello. The most memorable number was “Back Home in Derry” that sealed the fate of those yet unconvinced. The reminiscent tune from Gordon Lightfoot, “The Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald” the story behind the tune written by Bobby Sands while imprisoned was a beautiful ballad and sealed any uncertainty that may remain. Well played Dublin 5, well played.

As the Dublin 5 ended their set and the clouds took a break, the stages were set for the final act of the night. And how fitting that in these storms, Gaelic Storm would be finishing out the 2013 Syracuse Irish Festival. From the moment he began his banter, Patrick Murphy charmed the crowd. So witty and expressive, his ability to engage was apparent. Steve Twigger was the hell raiser on stage. Living up to this title with vocals and guitar jamming, he convinced you if there was no one out in the audience, he would still be doing the same thing because he is a true rocker. Walking around back stage with hands taped up, anyone noticing Ryan Lacey would wonder if he had injured himself. Within the next hour though he proved that this was the farthest thing from the truth. His amazing ability to tap out a beat on anything would amaze and incite the audience into a roar. Pete Purvis, introduced to everyone as “The Canadian” brings to the table so much more than beer and hockey, as he plays a multitude of instruments such as the Highland pipes, Uilleann pipes, Irish whistle, bass and the occasional tambourine. This piper is not just a bunch of hot air. He totally rocked the crowd with each instrument he played. Finally rounding out Gaelic Storm was the beautiful and talented Kiana June Weber. The newest member of the group, Kiana balances out these gentlemen with amazing strings and steps that win over the audiences hearts and souls the moment she takes the stage.

From the moment they began, Syracuse crowded the stage and screamed and hollered as though they were teenage girls watching The Beatles at Shea Stadium in 1965. Their choices for their setlist were a perfect flow to keep this crowd engaged. And engaged is even too calm a word for the reaction they displayed. True performers, they included the crowd as part of their show with two young ladies dueling a dance to “Darcy’s Donkey”, and when the crowd insisted on one more song, they began pulling a multitude of concert goers on stage for the final number. There were two numbers that stood out though, “Me & the Moon” and “Blind Monkey”. As they began to play “Me & The Moon”, the crowd was divided down the center to chant along as they sang and held up lighters/cell phones as though the moon was right there. “Blind Monkey” was the most entertaining Celtic jam session ever witnessed. Each performer showcased their ultimate talents together and individually. It was here that Ryan Lacey became an ultimate hero as he played a wooden box, while Patrick and Kiana waged a Celtic step session battle of sorts. Gaelic Storm proved once again, as the storm blows through, they were the fiercest of all storms and played through to the end with full crowds despite the conditions.

What makes the Syracuse Irish Festival so outstanding? The volunteers, the collaborative efforts with the City of Syracuse, the local businesses that sponsor the event and the attendees. It is one local festival that doesn’t charge for admission because all they want to do is share the music, the food, the fun and make you part of their Irish family. Irish fans are a different breed; there’s something about those that gather to celebrate Irish music, for the events bind them together as though they’ve known each other forever. They’re a family of sorts and through thick and thin, they push through the adversity to celebrate life, love, and traditions each year at all the festivals they attend, and Saturday’s crowd outdid themselves. They endured the pouring rain to cheer on and partake in a party celebration of traditions of centuries from some of the best entertainment around. What makes Central New Yorkers special? Well since the 1960’s at Woodstock, we have proven that no matter how much rain…for good music they’ll stay for the duration.

September 16, 2013
TURN THE TIDE Stir Quite a Storm With New EP

After months of delays, Turn the Tide‘s breakthrough EP, Black & White, is finally here. This Rome/Syracuse area band has been pounding away with shows and recording over the last year, and are finally able to bring their sound to life on this impressive debut. Released on September 13th, the EP has already seen tremendous feedback and support from the local scene, and even a few nods from the nationals. But, does it live up to the hype that earned them the Upstate Music Award for “EP of the Year” before the record was even released? In short, yes.

Teaming up with renowned local producer Justin Spaulding at Octopus Studios, TTT have gone into the recording process with no holds barred. Everything they’ve come to be known for, from the complex rhythms, to the shredding guitars, to the alternating gorgeous and brutal vocals, they’ve brought it all to be highlighted on this EP, and have so much more in store. From the first few piano notes of the intro track, “The Armada”, you can immediately tell that this EP is about to get serious. Adding synths, pianos, bass drops, and other fun little additives, their sound is opened up like never before, and expands greatly into new creative territories, where their first single, 2012’s “Whirlpools”, seemed to fall a bit short.

The first single from the EP is “Blackjack”, a song the band has been teasing us with for months before the EP’s release to demonstrate just a hint of the musical ventures to come. Unafraid to experiment with sound effects and emotional lyrics, “Blackjack” is as catchy as it is heavy, providing something for everyone. These trends continue into the other songs, but they hardly sound reminiscent of each other. In fact, TTT have used this EP as a chance to display a few different stylistic choices, opening up their wheelhouse to hone in on one true sound in a later release.

Every song stands out in its own way, and the record is filled with highlights. Such highlights include the breakdowns of “Karmageddon”, the brutal ending of “NMO”, the chorus of “White Widow”, and the sad, atmospheric synth breakdowns of “Hour 51” displaying that there is no shortage of memorable moments. The best part is that these highlights lie within consistently good songs that are finely-crafted and take no shortcuts. Every single sound on the record is meticulously groomed, displaying the band’s talents as well as the dark atmosphere it is meant to create.

Ignore the fact that I know this band personally and have done many pieces on/interviews with them before. Ignore the fact that there is a lot of hype and buzz about them right now. Ignore everything about who they are and just listen to the music, and you will see for yourself just how powerful and beautiful this EP is. This is everything a band should want from a debut, and what every band should strive to achieve in their songwriting and production. The most exciting thing about Turn the Tide is that they’re just getting started. They have their eyes set on the long-term, and still can grow in their sound. If they already sound this good, I can’t even imagine what’s in store for us in the future.

You can “like” Turn the Tide and find out how to get a copy of Black & White here:

https://www.facebook.com/TurntheTideband

September 16, 2013
Fireworks Fly at Formula 5 Show, Shepard’s Cove, August 29th

When summer arrives and the town of Lake George bustles with scores of vacationers and locals alike, Shepard’s Cove, a bar and restaurant nestled on the Western Shoreline, hosts a series bands on Thursday nights to coincide with the town sponsored fireworks shows that run throughout the summer. However, Thursday August 29th, the real fireworks were on display inside this lakeside establishment as Formula 5 played what may be one of their best show to date.

photo by Adam Pensel

As the fireworks display outside drew to a close, Formula 5 kicked off their three-set show with ‘Catch Me’, an original bluegrass tune that sticks to a high tempo guitar riff coupled with quick stops and starts, and features improvised sections by Mike McDonald on keys and Joe Davis on guitar before looping back around into its original form and closing out with an impressive composed ending that is high in energy and difficulty that this band appears to have mastered.

However, the real masterpiece of the night came in the second set. As the band reconvened, Greg sat down at his kit and played an impressive drum solo that launched the band into ‘Pedro’, a point at which the dance floor seemingly flooded and the give and take between band and audience was ignited. ‘Pedro’, a song with multiple jam structures shifts from its origins of heavy rock to spacey ambience before slowly swinging full circle back to heavy rock, tension and release style. Just when the smoke began to clear from the hoosker doo (Joe Dirt’s preferred fireworks) that the band had set off, they lit a stick of dynamite and launched into ‘2001’; fueled by the energy coming off of ‘Pedro’, this was one for the books. Often times, a band can attempt to pull off a cover and when it isn’t better than the original or at least equally as good, it can really turn off an audience. This was not the case here, and yours truly is hoping and praying for the band to release this sequence of songs on archive.org so that you can listen for yourself.

The verdict: Formula 5 is growing fast. Their prowess as a jam band continues to expand and find new roads. They are extremely talented, extremely fun, and at this time, extremely affordable. Get out to see them as much as you can while the latter of these three things lasts. You will not be disappointed.

For a great version of “Pedro”, check out their set from The Big Up on archive.org

Setlist

Set 1: Catch Me, The Clear, Happy Hour Hero^, Excalibur, This Place -> 3 Ring Circus -> Paella, Rising Tide

Set 2: Drums -> Pedro -> 2001, Mister Elixir, Grey Seal*

Set 3: Epiphany -> Earthbound, Perch Above the Earth@ -> Uh Oh Love Comes to Town% -> Hot Box, The Fall, Goin’ Down

^moe.
*Elton John
@ “Walk the Dinosaur” (Was Not Was) Teases
% Talking Heads

September 13, 2013
The Felice County Fair at Opus 40 in Saugerties

The storied history of the Woodstock community is as rich as the lush green mountains that cradle the artistry of the region. Radio Woodstock, a staple of the community, is just such an example of the past greeting the present. The radio station was once the video studio of Todd Rudgren on the property that was the brainchild of Albert Grossman – manager to many of the great folk stars of the late 60’s and early 70’s. The creative flow has been carried through, nurtured and passed on to the next generations. On the weekend of August 31, however, a new tradition was born – The Felice County Fair.

Opus 40

The Catskill region encourages artistic endeavors through a grow-your-own mindset. The organic atmosphere culminates in a booming fervor in a world of the arts. Radio Woodstock hosts a number of events around the area, most notably Mountain Jam. The Felice Brothers had a vision and with the help of Radio Woodstock, a fair of the arts came to fruition. True to form of the local natives, they don’t host the usual agricultural event; their idea of a fair is music and art and culinary divinity. “Location, location, location” is generally the mantra when purchasing a home, but in this case, prime realty for just such an event came in the form of a sculpture park.

Festival Fun

The grandeur of Opus 40 is nothing short of a miraculous feat of sweat, tears, and sadly, blood. Its massive display of stonewalls, secret passages, and deep pools provided an ideal location for an unadulterated marriage of music and art. The daylong event began with Paul Green’s Rock Academy. The students performed various cover songs of their favorite rock stars, adding a touch of their own improvisations. The Academy is located in Woodstock and serves as a shining example of the mindset: the idea of developing artistic abilities to foster the creation of beautiful music. Academy staff member and guitar player Conor Kennedy took the stage shortly after. Aside from his on stage performance, his youth and exuberance are impressive. Conor Kennedy played a set well versed in various genres showcasing his musical agility. Kennedy is Woodstock’s next generation cream-of-the-crop ripe for the picking.

Connor Kennedy

The Felice County Fair also encouraged the family feeling. The event hosted bouncy bounces, make your own tee shirts and a play area for the kids. It was only fitting that Marco Benevento’s two young daughters helped warm up the piano keys during their load in – future musicians perhaps. Shortly after 3 pm, Marco, Dave Dreiwitz (bass) and Andy Borger (drums) took stage. The crowd counted: one, two, three, four and the threesome started on cue. Marco Benevento promoted his latest disc, playing the set with songs from TigerFace. Almost entirely wordless music, the trio waned back and forth between heavy rock and psychedelic. A tiger head prop was used for the last song, “Limbs of Pine.” Each of the threesome took turns wearing the head while dancing and playing to an electro-pop dance beat.

Marco Benevento

There are many adaptations of Amy Helm whether she is the Amy Helm Band, The Dirt Farmer Band, or the Midnight Ramble Band. However, her vocals are unmistakable and distinctly her own in each of her performances. She often travels with Daniel Littleton on guitar, Byron Isaacs on bass and Justin Guip on drums. However, they did not need to travel far as Opus 40 is practically their backyard. As veterans of the Woodstock music scene, the Amy Helm Band invited many to the stage encouraging collaborative creative flow and maintaining that family like tradition.

Amy Helm Band

An ironic and historic fact regarding Opus 40 is that its sole creator, Harvey Fite, was killed after he fell into his own massive stonework sculpture. He is now buried in the hillside of his own property, just behind the stage location. Hauntingly beautiful and chilling, Amy Helm gave new meaning to “she walks these hills over my bones” in “Long Black Veil” with husband and wife duo, Mike + Ruthy joining in on the old time favorite. Another classic, “It Makes No Difference”, would be enough to bring anyone to their knees or at least tears to their eyes. Amy’s soft and sultry vocals harmonized with Elizabeth Mitchell, Daniel Littleton, and Mike + Ruthy seemingly channeled her late father giving his soul life making his presence strong. The Amy Helm Band ended on a positive note with Sam Cooke’s “Good News.” Conor Kennedy joined the already packed stage and a folk-rock revival exploded on the hillside.

The Felice Brothers

Ending their set in this manor served as a perfect primer for the closing band, The Felice Brothers. The high energy Felice Brothers got right down to business as the rain started to fall with a melodic rock violin intro. In an instant the fellas jumped around, stood on chairs and engaged the crowd. The soggy but jubilant crowd belted out “I put some whiskey in my whiskey”, as the brothers led the sing-a-long ballad. However, the band resigned to the weather, as there was lightning in the area. After a short postponement, the band resumed as if they bottled up the electricity from the storm and shot bolts from their fingers. The onstage shenanigans were a site to behold and the music was to be experienced. In its inaugural year, The Felice County Fair successfully captured the essence of Woodstock. From veteran players to newcomers, the stage performances shined. The musicians continue to harvest the artistic mentality as their songs fell upon welcoming and equally nurturing ears.

September 13, 2013
Album Review: Natalie Cressman jazzes it up on “Turn The Sea”

Natalie Cressman on her new album Turn The Sea opens boldly with the title track and an intro featuring a riff championed by the bass and keyboards. Horns enter with gumption, playing an arrangement that perfectly fits the song. Cressman’s sultry jazz vocals seem to rhythmically play with the band’s accents and swells. Natalie’s harmonies provide an airy dissonance that one comes to expect in a jazz/fusion track.

The album transitions into “Fortune’s Fool”, a more R&B inspired track with heavy kick drum beat emphasis. The backing band offers many distinct instrumental layers that complement Cressman’s vocals. The track comes to a close with an inspiring ascending vocal line that is matched by the band.

“Do Not As I Do” offers a departure from the rest of the album. The bass introduction creates a surprising tension. The track segues into a wondrous electric guitar solo. The bass clarinet additions during the solo really set this track apart. The vocal chorus hits hard and strong. It’s amazing how Natalie’s vocals can take the words “Do Not As I Do” and make them sound sweet and positive.

“Checkout Time” is a true testament to Natalie’s vocal prowess. She holds down the whole track without any percussion or substantial backing instrumentals. The keyboards, bass and guitar serve to add subtle licks and lines that elevate Natalie’s precision vocals. I also really appreciate the orchestration and production on this track. The different vocal parts and harmonies seemed to be pieced together strategically to evoke emotions in the listener. The atmosphere that Natalie creates in this song is truly incredible.

Finally, “Stolen Away” sends the listener off on a solid upbeat note. This track is an amalgamation of the different styles presented throughout the album. The track goes through many different sections and ends with an in-your-face funk jam. This track gives the listener the best overall sense of what Natalie Cressman and her band are all about.

As a whole, Turn the Sea demonstrates an awesome blend of jazz, fusion, funk, and R&B. Natalie and her band are an unbelievably talented group of musicians that crafted a jazz album that entertains from start to finish.

Key Tracks: Turn the Sea, Fortune’s Fool, Checkout Time, Stolen Away

September 11, 2013
Bella Terra Brings Beauty and the Beats to Upstate New York

Driving through the winding back roads of Upstate New York, it was apparent that it would be a beautiful weekend for a festival. This would be Bella Terra’s fifth year, and fourth year at it’s current location on Gardner’s Farm in Stephentown, New York. The venue is home to people, plants and animals, and the name Bella Terra (beautiful earth) could not possibly embody a more perfect location for an upstate New York festival, and it definitely adds to the charm and allure of this late summer gathering.

The music was spot on all weekend. The moment your campsite was set up you were drawn to the Red Bull MXT stage residing on the edge of the woods. One of the best sets of the weekend was the back to back performance of Mentally Ill and Leila Harrison. The moment they took the stage, drum and bass reverberated throughout the campgrounds, drawing people out of their sites to dance in the cool August evening. Throughout the weekend the Red Bull truck stage pumped out a variety of different music spanning from early morning dub to late night dubstep. It was an excellent addition and created a balance between the campgrounds and the main concert area.

This year there were two main stages, much like most other quickly-growing festivals. It certainly makes it easier for the crew and it also eliminates the wait time in between sets. All of the headliners that played the festival absolutely blew the crowd away. The highlights of the weekend were definitely The Manhattan Project, Ghost Face Killah, and Robokop. The crowd did not seem to mind Ghostface Killah’s hour delay when he took stage and delivered an insanely high energy set. Ghostface Killah spoke in regards to the festival’s overall vibe saying, “It’s insane to be on stage and see the people singing your songs, knowing you, loving you, and you really can’t ask for anything else. I used to read about some of these places in text books and now I’m performing in front of them. It’s really a blessing.” That energy and that vibe permeated throughout the festival as each artist that took stage was met with so much love and admiration from the crowd. The overwhelming amount of appreciation and respect for music and art is very evident at Bella Terra. Robokop was especially an interesting act to bring to the Bella Terra stage; Clay Parnell of Brother’s Past and Allen Aucoin of The Disco Biscuits come together in an explosive collaboration creating something in the electronic music world that has not been seen before. Emancipator was another amazing and different act that stood out among the other talent. The smooth, ambient samples layered with live violin and down tempo beats made the crowd move in rhythmic waves within the hot tent packed with people.

Datsik took the stage drawing a huge crowd, in part because there were no other artists playing during his time slot, but also due to his huge following in the Upstate region. Although it was a great performance, another act was definitely needed because variety is the key to success at a festival. On the other hand, it is apparent why they chose to exclude any other acts during Datsik with the huge turnout for main stage during his performance. His set introduced hard womping beats that pulsated through the crowd and made the main stage area come alive. Turkuaz delivered a mind-blowing funk-filled set at the late night tent that had everyone moving in throngs from their sites to witness this erratic display of sonic-explosions. The stage was packed with a wide array of instruments Turkuaz brings to their signature sounds. The most interesting site within the tent was a festival goer who had casually fallen asleep atop a table ten feet from the stage using a volley ball as his head support. Interesting things can always be seen in late night tents at a festival, but this was surely a first. How one could take a cat nap during such a loud, energetic and funktastic set is a feat unto itself.

Cinder Block Hustle, true to fashion, had a large area near main stage filled with art installations. Scattered about were giant wooden cutouts of legendary figures that needless to say would tempt you to take some embarrassing pictures with that you would most likely find on your cellphone weeks later. Fantastic and vibrant displays of art were at every turn, adding even more beauty to the layout of the land. The installations also offered some shade and a place to rest during the hot afternoons. The festival also stayed true to nature with it’s eight foot Bella Terra Festival art installation created by some of the best graffiti artists in the game. Each year the amount of intricate detail only grows in this mind blowing centerpiece of the festival. Another spectacular aspect of the festival is the degree of effort put into making sure all of the children and families throughout the weekend are occupied. At one point a full troupe of larger than life puppets came strolling through the campsites riding on the tiny shoulders of the festival inhabiting children. It was certainly quite the sight to see.

Throughout the festival you could catch live painting and live graffiti from some of the best artists in the game. Bella Terra does a phenomenal job fusing the two worlds of music and art and bringing them together to be appreciated and respected in a community that promotes a wide array of talents. It was not strange at all to wake up in the morning and pass a group of jugglers, or unicyclists or even puppeteer- and that is the beautiful essence of Bella Terra. Taking a casual and slow stroll through the festival was a giant tortoise who visited camp sites and brought vast amounts of entertainment to the weekend. Only at Bella Terra would it be common place to see a tortoise wander through the camp grounds. If that was not enough diversity for you, there was also a field of grazing cattle all but a stones throw from the camp’s showers. These are the kinds of things you can only see at a festival in Upstate New York. Overall, Bella Terra was another great success and it is evident that with the growth and popularity this festival has already achieved this festival has become a staple for the East Coast Festival and music scene.

September 9, 2013