NYS Music 20​13

Category: Reviews

  • Standing on the Super Moon – Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration at Tanglewood, June 22nd

    Symphonies do not typically lend themselves to improvisation, a trademark of Jerry Garcia and his performances with the Grateful Dead. So it was going to be interesting to see how Warren Haynes, one of the hardest working men in rock and roll was going to handle the Garcia catalog within the constraints of the Boston Pops Orchestra. The answer was very well, considering there was no rehearsal with the full orchestra other then what transpired the day of the show and at soundcheck, for which I happened to be picnicking on the lawn.

    Original Art by Nate Duval. Pick up at nateduval.com
    Original Art by Nate Duval. Pick one up at nateduval.com

    I attended the show with my tour buddy of many years, Kim, along with her family. Kim is a classically trained music teacher so I was going to rely on her opinion on how well the musicians did! Or so I thought. Kim’s biggest critique: She wanted more Warren as he was a little low in the mix. I argued that this wasn’t the Warren Haynes show but his interpretation of Jerry Garcia’s vast catalog within the settings of an orchestra. Nor were we listening to a rock band like The Allman Brothers, or Haynes’ own Gov’t Mule where he can let it rip. Shall I say I was looking for a refined performance? I argued that his guitar and his voice were just two instruments within the orchestra. Kim made note that one item not typically found in an orchestra was a trap set and I felt likewise about the four string electric bass. We also had vocals from Warren and two back up singers, Alecia Chekour and Jasmine Muhammad, ala the Jerry Garcia Band. The Joshua Light Show was another atypical appearance with the symphony.

    Keith Lockhart, Conductor of the Pops, took to the stage with wearing a tye-dye shirt while Warren was a little more formal. No tux for him, but he was wearing a suit coat on a very muggy night. He also was playing Wolf, one of Jerry’s own personal guitars designed by former Alembic employee Doug Irwin. Wolf was of the guitars that Garcia allegedly bequeathed to Irwin that wound up being involved in a dispute with the Grateful Dead organization on who actually had the ownership of the guitars. When the lawyers were paid, Irwin got to keep Tiger and Wolf; when both guitars were sold in 2002, Wolf garnered $700,000! Not a bad chunk of change, considering Jerry Garcia paid $1,500 for it. How the guitar wound up back within the control of Garcia’s estate I was not able to track down, but Trixie (Theresa) Garcia authorized the use of Wolf and approved of the symphonic celebrations. Down in the pit, my friend PFossilman Phil noted there was a big burly guy probably there to protect the guitar!!

    We spent the first Set in our seats in the shed where we had a jumbo screen right in front of us so I was able to see the setlist which the cameras captured many times, much to the chagrin of the dude sitting behind me who kept shrieking, “Why did they have to show it!” and “Please don’t show it again!” As I mentioned, the sound was a little subdued in the shed so we stayed on the lawn for Set 2. I was able to lay on our blanket on the lawn under the giant Super Moon, which Warren made reference to during “Standing on the Moon”, close my eyes and take in all the notes and movements. It was magical to hear songs I’ve heard so many times, including the distinctive sound ‘wah wah’ of Wolf echo across the Tanglewood lawn. Some old time deadheads thought it a sacrilege that anyone other then Garcia should be playing Wolf.

    All the songs were from the Grateful Dead repertoire except for “Russian Lullaby”,  a song that was originally written by composer Irving Berlin, which Jerry performed with his Jerry Garcia Band. The “Terrapin Station/Slipnot/Terrapin Reprise” segment lent itself best to the full symphony with its big notes and crescendos. Kim mentioned that the full orchestra was light in the middle of most songs and seemed to be more in the mix on the openers, closers and the band interludes. It would be interesting to know how long it took the Pops to score the music for the various instruments as there are definitely pieces that can be improved upon as far as making bolder use of the horns, percussion, strings etc…

    I encourage you to give a listen and experience the show for yourself as everyone will have their own opinion. Warren and the Boston Pops received many standing ovations throughout the show. I enjoyed a family outing listening to some of my favorite tunes. Although I wouldn’t chase the performances from stop to stop, I would go attend another show to see how another symphony handles the Garcia catalog.

    While a recording of the Tanglewood show has yet to surface, here is Warren’s performance with the National Symphony Orchestra at The Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia on June 26th. We will update this post as recordings surface.

    Set I: Tuning, Dark Star, Bird Song, Crazy Fingers, Russian Lullaby/Band/Interlude, Scarlet Begonias/Band/ Interlude, Shakedown Street, Morning Dew

    Set II: Mission in the Rain*, High Time^, Uncle Johns Band/Band/Interlude, West LA FadeAway, Standing on the Moon, Drums, Lady with a Fan/Terrapin Station/SlipKnot/Terrapin Reprise

    Encore: Ship of Fools

    * only one verse

    ^ not on official set list

  • Click Click Boom – SALIVA Lights up Lost Horizon

    When covering a show, I try to get there early to catch all the local acts. It’s good to see what talent (or lack of talent) is coming up in an area. After going to enough shows and seeing a variety of local acts and some of the same ones over and over, you can get a feel of what is happening in the scene. Since I live in the Albany area, I know the Capital region’s scene. The metal scene is much more of a hard core, heavy, scream-o thing with various bands coming and going and a few staples, like Brick by Brick or bright up-and-comers like Restless Streets.

    I will be the first to admit that I’m not too familiar with the Syracuse scene. I will also tell you that after the Saliva show at the Lost Horizon, this NEEDS to change. Saliva was great and I will talk about that later, but the locals were exceptional. East Coast Live Entertainment and 95X put together an awesome lineup that kept moving at a great pace. The breaks between sets were minimal, and welcomed so we could go outside and take in some cool summer evening air. I’ve rarely seen a promoter hustle the day of the show as much as Chuck from East Coast Live. He was working harder than anyone there and I think sound, lighting and musicians can appreciate that effort and put that much more into their own work. Perhaps all of that combined made the night of music so incredible.

    Starting off the show was Hitting on Amber. Designated by 95X deejay, Dixon, as the most improved band on the Syracuse scene. I’m not sure what they sounded like a year ago, but I can tell you that they immediately set the bar high for the locals following them. Simply put, they rocked. Sound was clean and their performance was solid. This is a band that could open for any touring hard rock or heavy metal act coming to the region and will start seeing their own following grow in the meantime. Like most locals, time in front of audiences and growing their footprint are the first steps. Look for Hitting on Amber on more local shows and get there early to support them, you won’t be disappointed.

    Catastrophe Me was next up and while I enjoy female lead singers (I am currently really into Maria Brink’s new stuff), this performance was the one exception to a night of hard rockin’ goodness. I found myself cringing at some parts hoping that the set would hurry along, the shrieking would stop, or the choreographed headbanging would cease to exist from rock ‘n roll entirely. While the performance wasn’t a complete catastrophe, vocal work and stage presence issues need to be addressed before being taken seriously in the rock world. There is a lot of potential in the young lead singer, something maturity and a good manager can work with and I hope they seek out that guidance and continue to grow within the local scene.

    Auburn stoner metal band, Stone Soul Foundation, took the stage and as far as I was concerned, this could have been the start of the touring bands. The quality of performances from this point forward made the cost of admission worth it at twice the price. This dread-lead hard rockin’ gang of misfits had great vocals, guitar licks, and the drummer set an energetic pace.

    As I walked around the Lost Horizon between sets I noticed more Crows Cage t-shirts than all the other bands combined. Their local following came out in droves and I was anxious to see if they could live up to the hype. Being placed between SSF and Devour the Day would have been tough for Saliva to live up to. Yes SSF and DTD were THAT good. Luckily for Crows Cage they were that good, too. They took the challenge and kept the night moving. The venue was hot and sticky, and people were still dancing to real rock ‘n roll. If this show is any indication, the Syracuse scene is strong. A lot of talent and some national touring potential.

    Devour the Day is made up of past members of Memphis, Tennessee band, Egypt Central. No strangers to national tours and big stages, they didn’t miss a beat. Their new material is solid and already getting airtime on Sirius XM’s Octane, along with a lot of attention from local rock station 95X. Within the last month since the show at the Lost Horizon, DTD has shared the stage and is planning to with Sevendust and Otherwise in July 2013 and currently a June run with Hinder. After their set I turned to Joy (my girlfriend who joined me for the show) and we agreed that if the night ended right then, it would have been a great night. How can Saliva top this?

    Well, Saliva couldn’t top it, but they did keep the night going with bright lights, strong vocals from their new lead singer Bobby Amaru and new songs that seemed a lot harder than their old material. Time away did not hurt this band that is known primarily for the huge hit, “Click Click Boom”. A couple of the new songs will get airtime that will hopefully help eliminate the one hit wonder status that they are unfortunately labeled with. Their talent and energy combined with the new songs should generate new fans.

    Other highlights of the evening included the fans and the venue. First off, two young rockers with cerebral palsy were there and apparently get free tickets to all East cost Live Entertainment shows. Why? Because besides busting his ass to make sure everyone is happy and comfortable at the show, Chuck understands that rock ‘n roll is about passion. These young fans love rockin’ out and Chuck loves giving the gift of music. Not only did they get free tickets, they got free shirts and the bands came out and got their photos taken with them. It warmed my heart to see someone giving back. Rock used to be a lot about helping each other out and when I look at Chuck and other promoters like Mike Valente from Black ‘n Blue, who is known to throw benefit shows often, and I hope for their success. Fans often think promoters cash in, it’s simply not true for most. Many shows lose money and the occasion that money is made, they are quick to help out the locals that play for gas money or drinks.

    The venue was great and if you live in central New York and haven’t been to the Lost Horizon for a show, you need to go. Legends passing through the valley have played there over the past 40 years. Names like Guns N Roses, Bon Jovi, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Upcoming shows include The Front Bottoms and Earth Crisis. Add this venue to your rock ‘n roll bucket list. You can thank me later.

  • Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Shine Bright at SPAC Under the Full Moon

    A hot and humid Sunday night did not stop the masses from coming out for a great show at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers put on a non-stop two hour show that saw him mix up the setlist with songs spanning his entire career.  The crowd was standing through the night and was rapid in their applause and participation.  Tom was very thankful throughout the evening and let it be known to everyone that he has loved coming to upstate New York since 1980 and hoped to see everyone again.

    tom petty SPACThe evening started with The Wallflowers playing a great 45 minute set.  Most people may know the band as being the band of Jakob Dylan, son of Bob Dylan, but they proved they can play on their own accord.  They started right out of the gates with a cover of The Band’s song “Don’t Do It.”  They did the song justice with Jakob singing the lyrics wonderfully.  They went right into “Three Marlenas” and transitioned quickly into “The Letter,”  a song originally by The Box Tops, but they played it in more of a Joe Cocker style.  Having the two covers early in the set brought the audience to attention before going into their own material.  Rami Jaffee worked the keyboards beautifully with Stuart Mathis playing great lead guitar throughout the set.  “One Headlight” got the crowd on their feet near the end of the set.  As the band finished up “The Difference”, the pavilion was standing room only with a roar from the crowd thanking the band for a great opening set.

    Setlist: Don’t Do It, Three Marlenas, The Letter, I’ve Been Delivered, 6th Avenue Heartache, Closer to You, Sleepwalker, One Headlight, Misfits and Lovers, The Difference

    Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers recently wrapped up intimate residencies at both The Beacon Theatre and The Henry Fonda Theatre, focusing on deep tracks and rare covers.  These shows seem to have put a new energy into the band as they came out swinging with a cover of The Byrds “So You Wanna Be A Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” and quickly followed it up with “Love is a Long Road.”  Both of these songs saw Mike Campbell wailing away on his guitar and he continued to show how good of a guitarist he is at every opportunity throughout the evening of music.  Tom told the crowd, before starting Paul Revere and The Raiders hit song “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone,” that he and The Heartbreakers are just a “glorified garage band from Florida and we like to rock out just like you do.”  The hits soon followed with “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” that had Scott Thurston playing a mean harmonic, and “Free Fallin,” which got the whole crowd singing along with Tom.

    Tom had the lights turned on so he could see the adoring, standing-room-only crowd before introducing the band to everyone.  What followed was a special song for the current tour.  Having been a member of the super group The Traveling Wilburys, Petty usually plays one song from their catalog during his shows and this tour he chose “Tweeter and the Monkey Man.”  It’s a great song and a deep cut from the band and one The Heartbreakers pulled off flawlessly.  “Melinda” soon followed and it gave a chance for Benmont Tench and Steve Ferrone to show off their skills at piano and drums, respectively.  With the rest of the band dropping out during the song, these two went to work for an extended jam on the song.  The set ended with a “Refugee” and “Runnin Down a Dream” double shot that was stunning.

    With a three song encore of “Don’t Come Around Here No More”, “You Wreck Me” and “American Girl”, there wasn’t a person in the crowd not rocking out to end the show.  Even though the band has been together since the mid-1970s, they continue to put on a show like few acts can today.  Hopefully it won’t be too long before they come back to the Upstate region.

    Setlist: So You Wanna Be A Rock ‘n’ Roll Star, Love Is a Long Road, I Won’t Back Down, (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone, Here Comes My Girl, Mary Jane’s Last Dance, Free Fallin’, A Woman in Love (It’s Not Me), Listen to Her Heart, Tweeter and the Monkey Man, Rebels, Melinda, Learning to Fly, Yer So Bad, I Should Have Known It, Refugee, Runnin’ Down a Dream

    Encore: Don’t Come Around Here No More, You Wreck Me, American Girl

  • Summer Nights in Saratoga: Assembly of Dust at Putnam Den, June 22nd

    Saratoga Springs has so much music in the summer, particularly at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, it can be easy to overlook the local music that is found throughout the town nearly every night of the week. Whether you are looking for music to follow dinner, a free show in the park or a stand alone night of live music, there’s something for everyone in Saratoga. A fine example of Saratoga in the summer took place this past Saturday at Putnam Den with Assembly of Dust and opener Capital Zen.

    After a warmup from Capital Zen, the crowd filtered outside for some fresh air, then back inside once Assembly of Dust made their way to the stage shortly after 11 pm. Opening up with “Sometimes”, the Strangefolk original had a twist with a little jazz fusion added in from Adam Terrell, followed by a lengthy “Tavern Walker”, a nod to the band’s street team. Twenty minutes later, we had only heard two songs, a fantastic glimpse at a band who was relaxed and patient with their songs. “Arc of the Sun”, a track off Some Assembly Required and featuring Mike Gordon on the studio version, gave a mellow contrast to the previous songs, but “Samuel Aging” was where the band jumped right back into the thick of things, diving into the tune and finding plenty of space to stretch the song out.

    “Elixir” featured Jason Crosby on the keys; Crosby, who has played with both Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, gave a jazzier taste to normally rocked out songs, yet still played the fiddle on “Corpus Christi” , a very multi-talented member of Assembly of Dust. “Filter”  capped off the set with the ‘Funky Chicken’ dancing crowd and now-sweating band singing in unison the “Doo-doo-do-do-do” refrain, literally melting in the moment. The set kept getting more rocking as each song unfolded and progressed. With a great flow to the songs, the jams were built from within each individual song, a true jamband set.

    Among all this great music, it should be noted that the band and well lit audience were a great accent to the evening. Wes Rizzo’s lights had a 1960s Flower Power vibe that shone down on the band and crowd equally, using the walls to illuminate all. Speaking with Reid Genauer during setbreak, he spoke of the Putnam Den as “Great, it’s an awesome energy. We were in a small little theater and it was pristine and sort of quiet, and very resident, last night. Tonight it’s back into the bar brawl scene, not brawl literally, but you know, the gritty bar – as much as I love the serenity and acoustics of a nice theater, I’m just at home in the context of a bar, I’m a happy camper. And the vibe is awesome out there.”. Clearly enjoying the night and digging the vibe the crowd was putting off, the band was relaxed and took a well earned break between sets.

    Second set opened with “Truck Farm” and “Bus Driver”, leading up to a resounding version of “Roads”, a classic tune that any live music fan can identify with. The line “I don’t know where I’m going but I’ll get there, yeah! Sometimes I’m wondering where will it be?” has broad appeal and led to the crowd singing/shouting along with the refrain. A special treat, thanks in part to bassist John Leccesse, was Crosby, Stills & Nash’s “Woodstock”, a perfect tune for AOD and leading to another sing-a-long amid sustained dancing in the crowd.

    “Mud Spring Draw” featured Crosby’s fiddle once again, while “Poland” included a “down down diggy diggy” vocal jam, and whether it was organic or rehearsed did not matter – the crowd was into it, the band was meshing and drummer Andy Herrick held down the beat to keep the jam progressing – this was the highlight of the night, among many other worthy candidates. The encore began with “Things That Fly” with just Reid and Adam on guitar, gentle and stretched out perfectly. “Fountain” and “Harrower” followed, both jammed out just as nearly the entire night was, closing in a three-song encore at nearly 25 minutes. The crowd cheered for more while catching their breath – the night was a non-stop rocker from start to finish, a great way to kick off the summer in Saratoga.

    Assembly of Dust is also playing at Gathering of the Vibes in Seaside Park, CT, in late July. Before then, you can catch them at  The Friendly Gathering in Windham, Vermont, this coming weekend, June 28-29. Reid mentioned, regarding Assembly of Dust playing, “Our good friend and longtime manager Bob Kennedy is involved with that in some way shape or form. And I think its BYOB which is nice.” AOD and BYOB at a festival – a great combo.

    Set 1: Sometimes, Tavern Walker, Arc of the Sun, Samuel Aging, Elixir, Vaulted Sky, Corpus Christi, Second Song, Filter

    Set 2: Truck Farm, Bus Driver, Roads, Mama, Woodstock, Poland, Mud Spring Draw, Honeycreeper

    Encore: Things That Fly*, Fountain, Harrower

    *just Reid and Adam

    Assembly of Dust on Facebook, Twitter and on the web

  • Kicking Cancer’s Ass, Hardcore Style!

    May 24th: A Benefit for Justin King featuring Stigmata, Wisdom in Chains, Born Low, King Nine and Cheech at Bogies. I’ve never been prouder to be a part of the Albany Hardcore Scene.

    On the evening in question, Bogies was host to a packed house and a stacked line-up .This event, organized by Buddy Armstrong and Upstate Black ‘N’ Blue Productions, was held as a fundraiser for the King family. Justin King, who lent his six-string talent to a number of area bands (including Bulldog Courage), has been living with late-stage cancer for some time now. In an effort to alleviate some of the financial burden associated with medical expenses, a percentage of the door proceeds were donated to King. Additionally, special-edition event shirts bearing the names of the bands on the back, the front emblazoned in bold-block letters, “We Take Care of our Own!”, were printed and sold at the show.

    When I arrived at 7:30 that evening, the club was PACKED! It was a veritable “who’s who” of the Albany scene. So many familiar faces – old and new – greeted me with warm smiles, hugs and handshakes. It felt like the Old Days – they even had the courtesy water-jug out! I haven’t seen such a high turnout this early in the evening since I was a teenager, and as openers Cheech weren’t scheduled to play until eight. This can only be seen as a testament of how far the 518 will go to help a brother in need.

    All of the bands on the bill had a sound firmly rooted in the hardcore tradition, though none of them sounded alike. Boston’s Cheech was perhaps the most traditional, reminding me at times of NYC acts Killing Time and Sick of it All. Blending four on the floor punk-styled drum beats with metallic guitar riffing, straight-ahead passages and – of course – danceable breakdowns. Cheech began their set with some newer material, and later on broke out the oldies. Those in the know sang along or set it off in the pit. Incidentally, Cheech provided one of the highlights of the evening, at least on a personal level: as part of a double encore, they played their rendition of Sheer Terror’s “Here to Stay”. At this point, I had no choice but to participate in the ensuing sing-along.

    Long Island’s King Nine and Reaper Records recording artists Born Low had a similar take on the hardcore sound. That is not to say that they sounded the same, however, but both drew on more metallic influences than the other bands. With King Nine, I heard a great deal of Sworn Enemy (the vocals) and Madball, but with a brutal stomp beat akin to Xibalba and the Acacia Strain. Born Low was a bit more traditional, but still heavier than Youth of Today, Judge and Gorilla Biscuits. Though they frequently play Bogies, tonight was my first opportunity to see Born Low, and I have to say that they impressed the hell out of me. Where much of the newer Albany bands have gone the way of metal or “metalcore”, it’s good to see an Albany band like Born Low flying the HC flag.

    Next on the bill was Pennsylvania’s own Wisdom in Chains. Having never seen them live, their set was particularly enjoyable to me. Originating as a cross-Atlantic collaboration between members of the Dutch band Daredevil and PA bands Krutch and Mushmouth, Wisdom In Chains recorded one album with this line-up, only to reform years later. Perhaps one of the most unique bands on the bill, WIC’s sound took the best from the old and the new school: melodic Oi!/punk with infectious sing-along parts, Terror-style hardcore breakdowns, and careful attention to musicianship. Like so many of their peers around the globe, every member of Wisdom in Chains worked in collusion with each other with little show boating – save the occasional, appropriately placed guitar lead – to produce a rock-solid wall of sound. Fans of Terror, Sheer Terror, Blood For Blood and The Bruisers would love these guys.

    As if the supporting line-up wasn’t enough to satiate the tastes of the average hardcore fanatic, tonight’s main event was nothing short of a milestone: the return to the stage of local legends Stigmata after four years of inactivity. Featuring the classic line-up of Bob Riley (Murderer’s Row), Mike Maney (Ill Remembered, Dead Rabbits), Jay Sunkes (Burning Human, Dead Rabbits), Buddy Armstrong and Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall, Burning Human, and now Anthrax), Stigmata began releasing demos under the names Displaced Aggression and Cranial Abuse in the mid-eighties. Adopting their present moniker with the release of 1991’s The Call of the Just, Stigmata is universally recognized as one of the founders of “Troy-Core”, a style that blended Slayer-esque guitar riffing with the traditional hardcore sound. The band went on to release five full length albums, the last of which – Do Unto Others – was picked up for distribution by Victory Records.

    As the room went dim, the haunting, synthesized strains of Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange theme poured from the sound system. Smiling ear to ear, Riley shot us all the bird and gave a brief dedication – as all of the acts had – to King before the band broke into their classic set, kicking the madness off with “Life for a Life”. From the stage to the bar, Bogies was as densely packed as it could be: the typically wide-open dance floor was full of spectators, who closed in to form a narrow “horseshoe of death”. The pit had been in full-swing since King Nine, but now the floor was no longer a safe place for the non-confrontational. Yours truly even caught a forearm to the head!

    With the exception of a few songs from Do Unto Others, the majority of Stigmata’s set list consisted of material from their third full-length, Hymns for an Unknown God, the album considered by many to be their finest work, as well as Bittner’s debut as their drummer. Though they hadn’t played together in years, the band didn’t miss a beat – it was like stepping through a wormhole into 1996! The intense double-bass attacks of songs like “Nothing But Enemies” and “Ignorant and Wired” were just as crushing as they were when I was a kid, and the sheer heaviness of “Murder of Life” and closer “Burning Human” solidified once and for all their timelessness. Unfortunately, if you didn’t make it out tonight, the likelihood of catching Stigmata on stage any time soon is slim to none – not for lack of desire, just conflicting schedules. If you did, consider yourself lucky to witness such a milestone.

  • A Hot Saturday at Red Square with Timbre Coup and The Assortment of Crayons

    The Assortment of Crayons, based out of New Paltz, NY, is a relatively new band in the Upstate scene and one very much worth a listen. They have garnered quite an audience on Tuesday nights in New Paltz at Oasis Cafe and Snug Harbor, because SUNY doesn’t have classes on Wednesday (weird, I know). Albany was treated to an opening set from The Assortment, showcasing a wide range of music stylings and versatility in the live setting. “Courier” bled out of “Happenstance” and became a Phishy jam with excellent guitar work from Sean and Erik Hill, delving into a bluesy noodle-fest.

    “Trust a Stranger” was dedicated to semantics and had a jazzy vibe throughout. “Leroy’s Adventure” was intricate and composed progressive rock, rising and falling throughout the song. “Like a River” was introduced as we were advised to ‘Dance like a hoedown’, a perfect upbeat tune to cap off the opening set on. Taking with guitarist Sean Hill afterwards, he professed his love for the guitar work of none other than Jimmy Herring, who’s steadfast focus could be heard in “When You’re Gone”.

    the assortment of crayonsThe Assortment of Crayons is Sean Hill (guitar/vocals), Matthew Richards (keyboards/vocals) Jack Singer (bass/vocals), Erik Hill (guitar/vocals) and Eric Segerstrom (drums). You can check out more from The Assortment of Crayons on their website and on Facebook. Stay tuned for more coverage of this great band from .

    Setlist: Happenstance>Courier, To Trust a Stranger, Molly Gagging Lolly, Leroy’s Adventure, When You’re Gone, Like a River.

    As many times as I have seen Albany’s Timbre Coup, Saturday was one of their best shows. They kept the energy at a high point all night, barely letting up with their electronic jams and great flow. Timbre Coup does have a dark side to their jams but I was happy that they didn’t venture too deep into it this time. A great surprise was the debut of hearing “All Night Long”, originally by Lionel Richie, catching the crowd off guard and resulting in massive cheers. “Mother Nature’s Baby Daddy” brought an intense heavy rock mode to the venue with slamming guitar riffs.  I was stoked to hear “September”, a groovy rock techno melody from their latest album, Knuckles & Valleys. As a bonus, the night’s performance was recorded for an upcoming live album release. Fans can catch Timbre Coup performing this summer at Bellstock and The Big Up Festival.

    Set 1: Takes Awhile, Running Always, All Night Long*, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Verbal Kint> Jam> CTS, Mother Nature’s Baby Daddy

    Set 2: Gurfin> Jam>55, Z#, Roland Opus, Snoop Tiger, Chupacabra, September

    Encore: I Didn’t Know She had a Moustache

    *debut

  • Mountain Jam 2013: A Photographer’s Perspective

    While Thursday at Mountain Jam 2013 was rainy and cold, the music kept things warm.  People braved the weather to enjoy incredible sets from Rubblebucket and Primus.  Along the hillside were even some fire dancers and fire eaters.  The ceremonies started with a smudging to purify the air and good vibes for the weekend.  Mountain Jam was about to begin and Thursday was full of energy and excitement.  How better to end the night than a late night set from the powerful duo known as Big Gigantic.

    When the sun came up on Friday, it was sadly behind thevclouds.  Most campers slept in their cars as tents were blown over and rivers of mud passed through the grounds.  Braving the weather, coffee was my original quest.  After that first cup of Joe, it didn’t matter how much it rained, music was in the air and caffeine was in the blood.  Friday brought  incredible acts such as Nicki Bluhm, Deer Tick, The Avett Brothers and Widespread Panic.  Mud wasn’t going to stop Mountain Jam, it was just going to add character.

    Saturday finally came with a weather report that included No Rain! Yay!  And what a day on Hunter Mountain.  From Swear and Shake, Amy Helm and Gary Clark, Jr. on the side stage to Michael Franti, The Lumineers and Gov’t Mule on the main stage, Saturday was non-stop jams, non-stop dancing and well, still a little slippery in the mud, but at least it wasn’t raining.  The theme of the day was going into the audience, as Franti and the Lumineers got up close and personal with the crowd.

    Sunday fit it’s name perfectly – it was a sunny day and finally the mud started to dry up and spirits were truly soaring.  While some people left early for their Monday lives, the ones that were able to stay saw some great performances.  London Souls bassist passed out backstage Soulive bassist filled in.  ALO, Dispatch, Jackie Greene and of course Phil Lesh and Friends.  I even got a sneak peak of upcoming Spencer on the inside stage.  Remember that name, you will be hearing it often and soon on the radio.

  • Sunday Night Dead: Dark Star Orchestra at Waterstreet Music Hall

    A show on a Sunday? Ordinarily it’s a no for me but the universe had been aligned in just the right way. Dark Star Orchestra (DSO) had no plans of stopping in Upstate NY on their way to the Jubilee in Ohio until a previous gig at Mighty High Mountain Festival was cancelled and they chose to come shake their bones with us at Waterstreet Music Hall on May 19th.

    26-DSC_0173

    DSO shows are always built upon the extensive Grateful Dead catalog – the band has a knack for hand picking all the right shows and I’ve yet to be disappointed with any of their shows, in 10 years of seeing them play out the masterful sounds of what so many of us hold dear to our hearts, a lifestyle formed around the music of the Dead. It only took a few songs into the show for me to realize they had chosen a show from 1979 – once the notes of “Jack A Roe” hit my ears I knew with certainty that it was 2/7/1979 – the setlist immediately played out in my head and I envisioned the night ahead was going to be a good one.

    Shows like this are far and few between for me these days but this night was one for the scrapbooks for sure. Friends and co-workers were in every corner of the music hall side of the venue and the band was putting down some heavy tunes. The energy was flowing and the band looked like they were enjoying playing for us as much as we loved having them play. By the time
    Peggy-O” came on, it was time to put down the pen and paper and get out on the dance floor with the others.

    Original Grateful Dead Show Setlist:

    2/7/79 (Wed) University of Southern Illinois – SIU Arena – Carbondale, IL
    Set 1: Don’t Ease Me In, Mama Tried > Mexicali Blues, Jack A Roe, Looks Like Rain, They Love Each Other, Minglewood Blues, Stagger Lee, Cassidy, Peggy-O, Music Never Stopped
    Set 2: Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Dancing In The Streets > Drums > Black Peter > I Need A Miracle > Bertha > Good Lovin’
    Encore: U.S. Blues

  • Weathered but not Worn: A Recap of Mountain Jam 2013

    “Pri-mus sucks,” was the battle cry of die-hard fans waiting to see Thursday night’s headliner at Mountain Jam 2013.  By this point it was hard to know if the sky was black because darkness was falling or the rain clouds took over or if Primus was channeling the shadow Gods in preparation for their performance. Two giant inflatable astronauts flanked the stage and a large screen in the backdrop, “Pri-mus sucks,” was heard again and again.  Albeit an odd welcoming and kick off to the ninth installment of Mountain Jam, it’s hard to imagine a band like Primus filling a headlining spot at a festival (it’s not the first) given that they are not the stereotyped festival band, but it worked.  It would mark the beginning of a long and very strange trip.

    Primus is a master of the presentation of music, holding the patent on the craft.  The music is to be heard, and that is what we did, listened.  The band members were cloaked in darkness while the screen played reels of various fitting images in sync with the rhythm.  Appealing to a varied crowd, Primus played some widely known songs such as, “ Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver” and encored with “Tommy the Cat.” Appropriately, they included, “My Name is Mud.”   Spirits were soaring high and Primus was no match for the weather.  The dance party was just getting underway on the Healey Brothers Stage with Kung Fu hosting.  The funk-fusion electro-pop quintet was full of energy and simply fun.  The Kung Fu Band handed the baton over to Big Gigantic who kept the party going until the early morning hours.

    The second day of the festival was an unfortunate doozy as a result of terrible weather.  Sideways, torrential down pour for hours upon hours dampened spirits, made for a super-saturated ground and prevented many from re-entering the mountain site for more music, at least the majority of the day.  Some folks packed up their camping gear and went home, others stayed in their hotel rooms and streamed the festival and of course there were the purists who ventured out for their must-see-live band of choice.  There were a few positives to the wretched weather.  For one, Mountain Jam is located at a ski lodge which offered a warm place for people to dry off and socialize, complete with a full bar and a cafeteria type food fare.  Albeit, music was sparse except for periodic noodle-ers on a small, corner stage and muffled bass emanating from the attached Healey Brother’s Hall.  Another positive is that Healey Brother’s Hall was jam packed with people getting out of the rain.  Both David Wax Museum and Futurebirds had a large draw, mostly by default.  However, both performances were well received.  Many people started filing back in to the mountainous amphitheater in spite of the continued downpour to catch both Avett Brothers and Widespread Panic.   Mountain Jam organizers accommodated Jammers accordingly by providing towing services for vehicles that became stuck in the mud.  Organizers also laid hay and added stones to more worn pathways.  The stage equipment was protected as well.

    ilent Bujak was even moved into the ski lodge to avoid the mud at the Campgrounds Stage.Scott Avett’s energy on stage was exuberant and contagious, not unlike the catchy folk rock sounds of Avett Brothers songs.  The crowd consumed his rawness like they had been held captive and just given permission to release.  He cried out, “The rain/it fell/and we got down” making the old adage, “learn to dance in the rain” ring true as the brothers jumped around dancing, playing, singing and stomping.  The revival was underway.  The Avett Brothers moved through a set of mostly fast tempo songs.  Highlights are the extraordinary vocal harmonization as exemplified in David Childer’s, “The Prettiest Thing.” After a power paced set, the brothers closed out with two slower songs, “I and Love and You” and “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise.”

    Widespread Panic was highly anticipated as they rarely venture to the northeast.  The sonic sounds emanating from the stage were smooth and mellow and subtly hinting that these fellas were southern rock.  The first set comprised mostly of original songs and the second set consisted of a batch of covers with a few sit-ins.  Both Bill Evans of Soulgrass and Gov’t Mule, and saxaphonist Danny Louis joined Widespread for a rendition of Traffic’s, “Low Spark of High Heeled Boys,” a popular song choice played multiple times throughout the weekend. Evans stuck around for a “Surprise Valley” sandwich that included a drums segment before moving into Talking Heads’ “Papa Legba” before returning to end “Surprise Valley.”

    By the time Saturday rolled around, Jammers were calling upon the sun Goddess, and she answered, finally! Ponchos and boots were traded in for sun-kissed shoulders, pretty little dresses and a jubilant vibration of absolute appreciation.  Saturday meant a full day of music, no exceptions and no excuses.  Swear and Shake, shook the West Stage in a relatively early slot.  Looking dapper in their suits of blue, while the lady of the band, Kari Spieler, sang folk songs in her checkered blue skirt.  It would seem that folks took notice, in a big way, of The Revivalists, a soulful band all the way from New Orleans.  A jam-packed Healey Brother’s Hall for round two was a testament to their music and perhaps gaining a few more fans.

    Mountain Jam has always been a festival that includes the Woodstock, NY family of musicians and it was only fitting that the Amy Helm Band performs.  Miss Helm invited the cream of the crop to join her on stage with Marco Benevento on keys for the entire set.  Mike and Ruthy, and Connor Kennedy sat in for “Long Black Veil.”  Amy Helm dedicated a song to her daddy as well as others that had passed in The Band with a heartfelt, “It Makes No Difference.”

    With Mountain Jam under full swing, the decent weather allowed for all activities to resume.  Vendors were happy people were shopping, food was selling like hot cakes, beer was pouring from the taps and the sky ride was now open.  Riding up the mountain to take in the scenery is always a big hit.  For five dollars, Jammers can relax comfortably on the chair lift, breath in the mountain air and hear their favorite artists’ songs as the sound waves ascend the lush green incline.

    Gary Clark Jr. has been at his craft for a while but he is just now breaking through on scene.  His set was full of fire and brimstone but without judgment and eternal damnation.  He is rock and roll and he made sure we knew it.  The Lumineers have expanded their song catalog to include snippets of Creedence Clearwater Revival and Bob Dylan’s, “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” paying homage to their roots in folk music.

    Festival host Warren Haynes and his band, Gov’t Mule took the stage as Saturday’s headliner for two sets.  One of the most enjoyable aspects of a festival is the ability of a band to include collaborations and Gov’t Mule was no exception.  Bill Evans played for moe.’s “Opium.”  Gov’t Mule played Creedence Clearwater Revival’s, “Effigy”, adding a “Folsom Prison Blues” jam.  Including an all-star cast of musicians: Bill Evans, Eric Bloom, Neil Evans, Ryan Zoidis, Hook Herrera and Eric Krasno, Gov’t Mule encored with Tom Waits, “Get Behind the Mule.”

    As Sunday rolled around, sleepy campers emerged from their tents and shuttle buses dropped off hotel guests ready for another full day of music under the blue skies.  A lively and fun set from both Dispatch and Jackie Greene primed the crowd for the much anticipated closer, Phil Lesh and Friends.  The Friends included: John Scofield on guitar, Joe Russo on drums, Jeff Chementi on keys and of course, Warren Haynes on vocals and guitar.  As always, the last day of a festival is bittersweet.  But, to quote The Grateful Dead, “What a long strange trip its been.”

  • OTHERWISE at Tammany Hall in NYC

    The crowd began to fill the empty spaces of Tammany Hall in NYC, mixed animated chatter bouncing off the walls. White and green lights reflected off of the red velvet curtains, giving the venue a very intimate setting. Four chairs sat there pleasantly on the stage, as well as a drum kit, waiting for its master to beat on its drums. Then the overhead lights dimmed as the stage lights brightened, and one by one, the members of Otherwise emerged from the shadows, making their way to the empty seats, with acoustic guitars, fans crying out their name, overjoyed to see their favorite Vegas boys. Their faces lit up at the sight of the fans who had gone out of their way just to see them.
    otherwise.tammany46They all sat down and began the set with “Lighthouse”; Adrian Patrick’s voice, as always, made the hairs on the back of everybody’s neck stand up. The ever-adoring Wise Ones cheered excitedly and mouthed the lyrics passionately. Next to play was the band’s unofficial party anthem, “Vegas Girl”, followed by “Silence Reigns” and their current single, “I Don’t Apologize (1000 Pictures)”. The set slowed to the tearjerker track, “Heaven”, and then sped up again with “Shapes of Metal”, “Crimson”, and “Spartacus”. Sadly, the incredible night had to come to a close, as Otherwise ended their set with a Billy Idol cover, “Rebel Yell”, and the well-known beautifully powerful song as the finale, “Soldiers”.

    All in all, these soldiers of music did one hell of a job for a last minutes performance. The songs on the set were chosen very wisely, the energy in the room was magnificent, every sound lit up every fiber of the fans’ beings, and as always the band was very connected with the fans. That night, Otherwise made their mark yet again. This summer, they are to tour with Sevendust and Devour the Day. Be sure to check their Facebook to see when the party hits a town near you.