Category: Reviews

Formula 5 and TAUK – On the Rise at The Hollow

Two of the most up and coming improvisational bands combined forces for a funky Friday night throw down at The Hollow in Albany. Despite the threat of a possible snow storm, dedicated fans made the journey downtown to celebrate the end of the work week with drinks and great music. Tauk, the four piece space funk band from Brooklyn, has been heavily touring across the East Coast this year and was happy to return to the Capital District. Formula 5 is no stranger to the area as they supply fresh local jams to the masses on a steady rotation. Tauk and Formula 5 are two bands to watch for in the New Year ahead.

Tauk quickly filled the dance floor as their electronic-infused rock sound moved through the room. Their slow and monstrous buildups leave plenty to the musical imagination. Guitarist Matt Jalbert and Bassist Charlie Dolan hit high altitude chord elevations that keep the audience on the tip of their dancing toes. Isaac Teel is a multi-tasking, beat-making machine as he uses a tambourine with his left hand, drums with his right hand and holds his left drum stick in his mouth. Keyboardist A.C. Carter adds soulful organ notes before dipping into groovy techno melodies. The quartet ended their set with a killer mash-up of Led Zepplin’s “Immigrant Song”, Kool & The Gang’s “Jungle Boogie” and “Bulls on Parade” by Rage against the Machine which they have named, “Immigrant Boogie Parade.” Tauk will hit the road in January with Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe after they throw down at a Phish after-party with Fikus at DROM on Dec 28th. Their newest album, Homunculus is available for free download here.

Formula 5 had something for everyone as they have performed diverse covers and unique original songs. The band started with a solid cover of Elton John’s “Grey Seal” before erupting into their party starter anthem “Excalibur.” Greg Bell of Guthrie Bell Productions took a moment to raffle off free tickets for all his shows in 2014 proving that live music is the best gift for anyone. Formula 5 is growing to be a band where as they grow, you listen for the teases, songs within songs, and “songception” moments. Fans were thrilled as they recognized Was (Not Was)’s “Walk the Dinosaur” and Phish’s “The Moma Dance” during the funky “Pedro.” The boys have been working on a new album which hopefully will drop in the spring, the sooner the better for everyone.

Formula 5 Setlist: Grey Seal*, Excalibur, Catch Me -> The Ride -> Ticket Giveaway@ -> The Ride, Epiphany -> 3 Ring Circus, Rising Tide, Pedro% -> Jungle Love#, Earthbound, Music Never Stopped, Hot Box
E: Goin’ Down^
* Elton John cover
@ Greg Bell raffled off tickets while the band played a background breakdown of “The Ride”
% “Walk the Dinosaur” (Was Not Was) teases, “Moma Dance” (Phish) teases
# Steve Miller Band

December 12, 2013
Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds: These Birds of a Feather are Flocking Filthy to The Hollow

Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds, the eight-piece band from Brooklyn flew upstate on Thursday December 5th to The Hollow in Albany. Fans were grateful to hear the show was still on despite the band having over multiple instruments stolen only two weeks prior. With the help of some borrowed equipment and friends, the band was able to perform to a packed room and sent a message out on Facebook saying, “Thanks for all your support over these trying couple of weeks. Ain’t no better medicine than music to drive that darkness away!”

The Hollow’s stage was a tight nest for the musicians and their delicate leading lady but don’t let Arleigh Kincheloe’s size fool you; the small sparrow herself can belt out some serious tunes, leaving the crowd stunned. Her older brother, Jackson, is a harmonica machine as he blows it to pieces with an endearing heart. The Birds hit brass hard with Phil Rodriguez on trumpet, Ryan Snow on trombone and Brian Graham on baritone sax blowing the roof off the venue and adding in smooth vocals throughout the night.

Their rendition of Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel” was soulful, funky and charged up the crowd early in the night. After a couple powerhouse songs, the band slowed down with “Sugar”, a sweet acoustic jam change up and Jackson took a moment to dedicate the show to his harmonica teacher who recently had passed a week ago and paid tribute with a beautiful solo rendition of “Amazing Grace.” Guitarist Sasha Brown ripped apart chords as Arleigh screamed, “Albany, Shake it for me!” Bassist Josh Myers laid down funky bass notes as the bird brother, Bram Kincheloe, went to town on the cymbals with edge. The band was appreciated of the Upstate New York, being surrounded by family, friends and fans; it was truly a great show to be a part of.

Catch Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds on tour when they stop at The Space in Westbury on December 20th with the Funky Meters, at Club Helsinki for New Year’s Eve and at Brooklyn Bowl in NYC on January 31st. Click here if you wish to donate to Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds in the loss of their music equipment.

December 11, 2013
Los Lobos Throws 40-Year Anniversary Fiesta in Albany

Celebrating their 40-year anniversary, Los Lobos brought their highly recognizable blend of Tex-Mex Rock-n-Roll to Albany at the Hart Theater inside The Egg at the Empire State Plaza. Over 500 fans joined the seemingly ageless Los Lobos in what turned out to be one fine fiesta.

The first set consisted mostly of tunes from the Los Lobos early years. “Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio” from the EP …and a Time to Dance, “Will the Wolf Survive?” from How Will the Wolf Survive? and “Set Me Free (Rosa Lee)” off By the Light of the Moon were all hits for the band in between 1983-1987. Other highlights included “Little Things” and “Burn it Down”, which featured David Hidalgo performing a blistering accordion solo. Set one finished up with a more recent dance tune titled “Tin Can Trust”.

Set two featured songs from the 90’s, including crowd favorite “Kiko & The Lavender Moon”. Other notables were “Don’t Worry Baby” and “Pigfoot Shuffle”. Probably the most memorable tune of the evening was a fantastic version Neil Young’s “Cinnamon Girl” played during the encore. Hidalgo’s crisp and unique voice added a pleasant twist to an already timeless classic.

For those that didn’t get a chance to see Los Lobos this time around or for those who simply didn’t get enough, Hidalgo and vocalist/guitarists Cesar Rosas will both return to Albany to take part in the Experience Hendrix Tour scheduled at the Palace Theater in Albany on March 28. The pair have performed on the tour since 2010.

Set 1: Got to Let You Know, How Much Can I Do?, Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio, Will the Wolf Survive?, Set Me Free (Rosa Lee), Little Things, Burn It Down, Chuco’s Cumbia, Tin Can Trust

Set 2: Dream in Blue, Forty Thousand Headmen>Maricela, Manny’s Bones, That Train Don’t Stop Here, Tears of God, Pigfoot Shuffle, Kiko & The Lavender Moon, Volver, Volver, Don’t Worry Baby, Mas Y Mas

Encore: I Got Loaded, Cinnamon Girl (Neil Young cover)

December 11, 2013
John Medeski Treats The Massry Center to a Stunning Solo Performance

There are musicians that people see clearly pour their heart and soul into a performance. John Medeski did just that on December 7th at The Massry Center at The College of Saint Rose. His just over two hour set was mesmerizing and made you forget you were in a recital hall; it seemed far more like a small jazz club instead. Medeski solo could barely be contained in his playing, frequently standing up and tapping both his feet along with what he was playing. Seeing a musician have that much fun playing for an audience is intoxicating.

The music itself is not your typical, run of the mill jazz either. Instead, his early training in the classics bleeds through as he moves through classically swung eights and transitions cleanly into a haunting straight melody. Ever the modernist, the sweetness of the melodies never lasted long; it usually fell into discordant breaks while he plucked from within the Steinway to add to his, and its, already stunning sound. The evening opened with ‘Where’s Sly?’ blended with ‘Otis’ and had plenty of improvisation for all. With those two songs alone, Medeski played for nearly 45 minutes straight with only a handful of breaks through the entire two hours.

It was an amazing, intimate evening with a skilled musician and performer. Those who were there received a real treat.

Review by Lauren Byrnes

December 11, 2013
Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City Tour

Following two great sets by the talented Rochester band “Aminal” and the New York band, “MS MR”, Vampire Weekend took the Main Street Armory stage by storm. They jumped right in, opening with the hugely popular track, “Diane Young” off of their new album Modern Vampires of the City. The crowd was hooked immediately, going wild at first note of the familiar song with screams and applause.

The energy inside the Armory in Rochester was as high off the stage as it was on. Fans sang, snapped iPhone photos and danced along with each tune the band turned out. Boyishly handsome front man Ezra Koenig delivered a smooth and passionate performance during the nearly 90-minute set.

Vampire Weekend has a sound like no other; one that has become easily recognizable and points to a bright future for the talented band. The bouncy “A-Punk,” one of their biggest hits, had the crowd hopping in rhythm while singing along with the band “Hey, hey, hey!” Playing other favorites such as, “Holiday”, which became popular thanks in part to a Honda commercial, “Horchata” and “Unbelievers” kept the audience happily cheering from beginning to end. They ended the night with a 3-song encore and bid the final farewell with the tune, “Walcott”. A song close to their hearts and one they end every show with.

Setlist: Diane Young, White Sky, Cape Cod Kwasssa Kwassa, Unbelievers, Holiday, Step, Finger Back, Horchata, Everlasting Arms, Cousins, California English, A-Punk, Boston (Ladies of Cambridge), Ya Hey, Campus, Oxford Comma, Giving Up the Gun

Encore: Hannah Hunt, One (Blake’s Got a New Face), Walcott

December 10, 2013
Hearing Aide: Tim Herron Corporation ‘It’s All In Your Head’

Upstate New York and Syracuse natives Tim Herron Corporation will release their fifth full length album, It’s All In Your Head at a December 14th record release show at the Syracuse Dinosaur BBQ and the following December 19th at the Rochester, NY location. Tim Herron Corporation’s multifarious approach to genre blending, good time music, and inspiring live performances can be delectably sampled on this anticipated new release. The band refers to their rock, bluegrass, folk and dance conglomerate as “Ameribeat’, a funky down home mixture of back porch sensibilities, and forward thinking instrumentation. The band has been entertaining the Upstate masses for fourteen years, and this upcoming release displays their road tested and practiced abilities.

Herron’s glistening chrome guitar lines adorn the numerous vintage musical foundations of the group that are on display. A highlight of the recording are the clean water guitar licks that pour over the majority of the songs on the collection. The opening ‘Big Brown Boot’ contains an slippery and addictive bottleneck slide guitar melody that boxes the listeners ears immediately. The rhythm section of Eric McElveen on bass and Christopher English on drums collaborate to formulate the juke joint cadences that lend the music its unique and timeless sway, in addition to the well timed flourishes of second guitarist Ed Nolan. The band as a whole succeeds in their music by staying with the times, as well as keeping one foot firmly settled on the dusty dirt roads of the past.

A standout performance, ‘Recession Blues’ is a song that effectively encapsulates the talents and abilities of the group on this collection. The song contains humorous and tasteful lyrics, rubbery clean tone guitar statements, and a country lilt that encourages ass shaking and closed eye swaying. The collaborative vocals channel smoky campfire singalongs and elicit an old time party vive. In contrast, another song ‘Voices’ contains overlapping gospel vocals in its chorus, eliciting images of Delaney and Bonnie’s early revival performances, before embarking on a funky and contemporary musical breakdown that allows a quick glimpse into the breadth of the bands influences. In an age where music’s slickness often outweighs its creative balance, the Tim Herron Corporation leans on rustic, yet well produced tunes that reflect their professionalism while staying rooted in the fertile earth of Americana.

The new release by Tim Herron Corporation is a refreshing and original collection of music that stays true to its roots and to the intentions of its creators. This new release covers the spectrum of the groups talents and captures the excitement of their live performances. Fans of well crafted roots music will uncover numerous moments of surprise and interest in this compact collection of songs. Find more information about the band including news on future appearances and releases here.

Key Tracks: Big Brown Boot, Recession Blues, Voices

December 10, 2013
DJs, Digital Dharma and Cosmic Dust Bunnies! Oh My! An electronic twister at The Hollow

The Hollow in Albany took a turn to the dark side as the venue was filled with heavy bass bombs and electronic techno jams on Saturday, November 23rd, hosted by Full Circle Music Productions. DJs Mentally Ill and Leila spun while Digital Dharma and Cosmic Dust Bunnies took turns setting up and dismantling but the audience didn’t need much distraction. Mentally Ill got the night started with bizarre beats and eerie mixes, feeding anyone’s craving for light dubstep. DJ Leila was no joke as she is a furious spin master of hip hop and dark beats, great entertainment with attitude.

Albany’s Digital Dharma killed it on stage to their local fan base of dedicated electronic rock lovers. One of the highlights was Steve Mink playing solid bass lines for a deeper disco feel especially during their new song “Shag.” A great combination of funk and techno, Digital Dharma capture ears with fresh improvisation on their original pieces. The boys will return to The Hollow in two weeks with Brothers Past on Saturday, December 21st.

The Cosmic Dust Bunnies ended the night with a hair raising set of high peaked techno melodies with more energy than the crowd could handle. Eric Hyland wailed on both acoustic and electric drums, adding stellar percussion beats and rhythm as Matt Dempsey rocked steady guitar riffs. Chris Sellas fused together robotic sounds and keyboard notes for an attention grabbing factor throughout the night. CDB are often a late night staple at major music festivals so it was refreshing to catch them before 3 am, for once. The four piece band plans to ring in the New Year in Worcester, MA at Disc Jam Presents! A-Dopa-New-Years-Eve with Dopapod, Consider the Source, Viral Sound and more, with tickets still available here. Here’s hoping Full Circle will bring back the uncontrollable storm of The Cosmic Dust Bunnies to the Upstate NY area more often.

December 10, 2013
Alan Evans Trio Provides Black Friday Funk in Buffalo

Walking into Nietzsche’s Saturday, November 29th, you could instantly feel something in the air that was different. One by one, people made their way passed the handlebar-mustached doorman and grabbed a beer with apparent anticipation. Drummer Alan Evans was born and raised in Buffalo, and one thing the city does well is welcome home one of their own. There were several family members and close friends present and that was in addition to the growing fan base that the Alan Evans Trio has quickly established here.

Starting the night, Kid Splendor & the Royal Fortune took to the stage and, ironically, had the fortune of a Royal Family instrument upgrade. Earlier in the day, Kid Splendor drummer Jacob Leckey got a text saying he could use Alan Evans drum kit. Hesitating with disbelief, he almost brought his drums just in case. Lucky for Leckey though, the text was no hoax and he got to take full advantage of the incredible opportunity. As the band opened with their song “A Go Go”, Leckey channeled Evans and commanded the opening groove. Describing the experience, Jacob said, “I wasn’t as concerned that it was Al’s as I was with the fact that it was setup directly in the front of the stage. I have never played a show as a drummer like that and being the main thing people would focus on was new. Adding to it, the guy who normally gives me most of my cues was behind me and made it a bit daunting.” The hurdles went unnoticed by the crowd though as the band’s sound was tight. Once they were a few songs in, the band pulled out a cover of the Neville Brother’s “Fire on the Bayou,” satisfying the longtime funk appreciators of the crowd. Throughout the set, guitarist Mike Hogan and keyboardist Mike Kausner traded solos with a solid foundation laid down by the rest of the band. The addition of the Harbor Horns, a three piece horn section that played with Kid Splendor during their set, added brass accents and a rousing rotating solo on “Smaller the Club (Better the Party).” Kid Splendor closed their set with “Floyd” which was led by the rapid pace of Leckey, still feeding off of the high. The energy of the song capped off a great opening to the night and propelled the crowd right into AE3’s set that shortly followed.

Set List: A Go Go, Chicken Strut, Fire on the Bayou, Mah Na Ma, Hey Pocky Way, Sissy Strut, Smaller the Club (Better the Party), Laminak, Floyd

As Alan, Beau, and Danny made their way through the crowd and up the stairs in the front of the stage, people began filling in and really packing the small club. With the upper levels filled, it really felt like the band was only going to make it out if they satisfied the surrounding group. They took the challenge in stride and easily surpassed all expectations. The set started off blazing right from the get-go, leading with the fast-paced “They Call Me Velvet.” Beau Sasser’s solo on the song stomped on the gas, but Danny Mayer’s answer sent the crowd into orbit. Alan Evans was equally adding to the sound, beating his drums harder than I have ever seen him play. The fact that his kit held up for the entire set was honestly surprising as he was relentless from the beginning. Even with the focus they put forth, you could see the fun these guys were having as it was written all over their faces. After every solo or lead, you could always spot one of them giving a nod to the other as if they were just as excited to hear that as we were.

As the middle of the set approached, the group dove into another highlight of the night on the Hendrix cover of “Ain’t No Tellin,” which really captivated the crowd. Beau Sasser showcased his ability on this one and proved that he should have his own “Beau Knows” marketing campaign for his B-3 prowess. What he did on that solo caused most people to stop dead in their tracks and pay attention to his rapid-fire delivery. As the energy reached a high point, the band thankfully slowed things down with “The Laydown.” Danny Mayer led this song as it began with a slow-rolling Strat solo that was beautifully colored with a muffled wah tone. The slow pace allowed Mayer to float some powerful notes into the night air, leaving room for Evans to accent in between. While they’re only a three-piece, they understand how to strike a perfect balance between each other. The balance of improvisation and structure was explored throughout the night with an almost undetected form of communication between the guys. Wrapping up an incredible night of funk, the guys came out for an encore of the Buddy Miles song “Them Changes.” The song was fitting for the evening and left the crowd with one last high. Mayer’s solo on this one had his Strat screaming with every note being further punctuated by Evans’ play.

At any given point during their set, you really felt as though these guys were somehow able to talk to each other while they played. They pull off of a completely synchronized feel without coming off as rehearsed. It’s pretty obvious why they continue to draw more and more at every show and will continue to with the drive they have. Thankfully for us, Alan is a hometown guy who always sets aside time for a trip home.

Set List: They Call Me Velvet, If You Want My Love > If You Want Me To Stay > If You Want My Love, Thor, I’m Coming Home, Ain’t No Tellin, The Laydown, Nothing to Say, Who Dare Knock, Cosmic Hazel Dust

Encore: Them Changes

Photography by Kyle Hess

December 9, 2013
Strange Blues Rock The Capitol Theatre

A Thanksgiving tradition has been born at The Capitol Theatre with Strangefolk’s return to the classic venue. This time the group played for two nights alongside Blues Traveler, leading to collaboration between the two each night, not to mention memorable sets of their own. Friday proved to have a good turnout, keeping the adjacent Garcia’s filled before and after the show, and found Jon Trafton sitting in with Blues Traveler to rock the Capitol Theatre.

A two hour set of crowd favorites including an upbeat “Rachel”, an always beautiful and welcome “Speculator”, and a lengthy “Faces” and “Alaska” made for an excellent start to the weekend. Strangefolk played patiently and effortlessly, focused on taking these songs casually out into improvisation. The incredibly vibrant projections pleasantly distracted the audience from the view on the stage. Peter Shapiro, owner of The Cap, initially wanted Strangefolk to play the re-opening weekend back in November 2011, as reported by Jambands.com, but the band would ultimately reunite five months later at Brooklyn Bowl, also owned by Shapiro. It looks like Strangefolk fans can make plans for 2014 and enjoy an early holiday treat.

Setlist: Poland, Sometimes, Rachel, Rather Go Fishin, Sinner, Chasing Away, Speculator, Faces, Blue&Grey, Stout Hearted Man, Furnace, Alaska, Roads

Blues Traveler came out and the audience crowded the front row, packing in nicely to see John Popper look skyward with eyes closed as he belted out song after song. And if he wasn’t singing, he was digging through his various harmonicas for the right tone for the song or regular solo. That or drinking a variation from four separate solo cups on his harmonica table. Inside – a variety of drinks that he selected from methodically. A performance at the Cap allows a better and closer view for nearly all on the floor, bringing the band seemingly closer to the audience. During “Mountains Win Again”, Popper danced around lightly while the Tad Kinchla’s bass and Chan Kinchla’s guitar stretched the tune out. While Popper played harmonica, a casual observer might thought he spent this song taking small bites from his microphone at breakneck speed; Popper is a site to see tear into a harmonica.

Long jams on newer and older tunes ensued, with few breaks in between. A Ben Wilson keyboard jam led into “Run Around”, followed by Popper inviting Strangefolk’s Trafton to play guitar on “Mulling it Over”, where Trafton and Chan dueled and mutually shredded. His brother, Tad, tore through “What I Got”, before a segue into a drums segment and finally, “Hook”. A short “La Grange” encore, sung by Wilson, capped the night at the Cap.

December 6, 2013
Railroad Earth, Peter Rowan Recreate ‘Old and in the Way’

“Panama Red, he’ll steal your woman then he’ll rob your head,” which is just what Peter Rowan did November 30^th at The Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, PA. Peter Rowan stole the hearts of all the boys and girls as he fronted Railroad Earth in a recreation of Old and in the Way, the timeless bluegrass album from 1975. There were tears of joy and hands on hearts as the collaboration channeled the late, great Jerome “Spud Boy” Garcia.

A Thanksgiving weekend tradition has emerged with Railroad Earth’s Horn-O-Plenty Getaway. The much-anticipated second night began with a solo set from Peter Rowan. His guest performer, Tibetan singer Yungchen Lhamo (meaning “Goddess of melody and song”) captivated the spirit within. Her high-pitched vocals pierced the ego and reached the soul as her dark eyes and doll face breached the ugly in her song about forgiveness. It was in that moment the audience was able to purge their own darkness and their own sins. She made the whole room beautiful, giving permission to live, to feel, and to love from the soul. Heads were robbed, but hearts were broken open, ready to receive. The transformative chanting prepared the crowd for what happened next.

Peter Rowan and the Railroad Earth fellas emerged to the darkened stage. The backdrop was a lighted bear paw that alternated colors throughout the set. Start to finish, they played Old and in the Way in the order the songs appear on the album. As “Pig in a Pen” unfolded, it was clear that the level of musicianship was astounding in their arrangement and interpretation. Todd Sheaffer humbly stood farther back on stage, giving what could only be one of his legendary idols full access to his own band’s talents. The visibly happy Sheaffer was enough to break a heart into a million pieces of joy and then passed around to each member of the audience. At one point Sheaffer raised his fist into the air as if he too was an onlooker rather than a participant.

The ever-charismatic Rowan flirted with music and his swagger fancied the crowd. As he approached Timothy Carbone in “Midnight Moonlight,” his advances were returned with an over-the-top fiddle that Vassar Clements would delight over. “Wild horses couldn’t drag [anyone] away” at this point, and the bluegrass rendition of The Rolling Stone’s cover was enough to melt a packed house into a giant blob of waterworks – joyous tears of course. Yungchen Lhamo was invited back to the stage for “Land of the Navajo” where the depth of spirituality was captured via an ethereal arrangement of vocals and instrumentation. The collaboration had cultivated a most sensual and spiritual purging that was most transformative.

Rowan handed the reigns back to Sheaffer for set two, which was equally as special as two new songs off the upcoming album, Last of the Outlaws (January 2014) was introduced for the first time. “Chasin’ a Rainbow”, an upbeat, happy dancing feet kind of tune that followed the omnipotent “Seven Story Mountain.” The closing song, “One More Night on the Road” introduced John Skehan on keys, a new addition to the ever-growing family of instrumentation who presented elements of rock and jazz and sounded a bit like something The Band would have done. However, the set took the crowd full circle when Peter Rowan came back for more. A carefully crafted set list merged the Garcia-Rowan-Monroe connection when a haunting “Cold Rain and Snow” and “Walls of Time” were played back to back, during which Lhamo’s chanting bellowed throughout.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end but hearts were settled with a nurturing encore of “Railroad Earth.” A special night of song and dance opened the gates of freedom of the soul. “Oh mama, ain’t it good to be alive.” Indeed, it is.

Railroad Earth will be at The Space at Westbury in Westbury, NY Saturday, December 7th.

Special thanks to media contributors: Timme Newman, Anita Riley, Susan Skidmore and Pati Bobeck.

December 6, 2013