Category: Special

Eastbound Jesus CD Release party with The Mallett Brothers at Revolution Hall, April 19th

Yes, THAT Revolution Hall! For one night (and apparently one night only) Brown’s decided to open the doors of the shuttered music venue for Eastbound Jesus‘ show where they released their latest album Northern Rock, to a sold out audience, an impressive feat even in Rev Hall’s heydey. With a few tweaks and a bar in the lobby (not a bad idea, it turns out), Revolution Hall was alive and festive with a crowd to complement the music of Eastbound Jesus and opening act, The Mallett Brothers. Rev Hall looked great, but its a damn shame they don’t have shows there on a regular, if not monthly basis.

The Mallett Brothers from Maine took the stage around 9pm, filling the room with a Greensky-esque style of country/bluegrass, speedy and twangy, with great lyrics and engagement with the crowd. “Wrong Kind” was an upbeat number early into the set and lit the dance floor afire, particularly the front row of ladies dancing with great excitement. The slide guitar from Wally Wenzel was a tight and consistent sound throughout the show, as were the namesakes of the band, Luke (guitar) and Will (banjo) Mallett. “Born Cryin” was one of the sicker tunes of the night, with Brian Higgins’ catchy drum jam a highlight. The enthusiastic set was welcomed by the crowd and would definitely be seen again in Upstate New York.

Setlist: Something to Lean on, Wrong Kind, Good with the Better, Farmers Tan, Last Man, Don’t Need You, Born Cryin, Getaway Queen, Muddin, All Kinds of Crazy, Lowdown, Take it Slow, Dynamite Dot

Holy Smokes! may be the title of their last album but it accurately depicts the party Eastbound Jesus threw on April 19th. In a celebration in their latest disc release, Northern Rock, Eastbound Jesus sold out a venue that has been closed for over two years. The bar sold out of Pabst Blue Ribbon before the band even took stage; the staple beverage, as deemed by die-hard fans as a result of a reference in “Doors Open”, played ironically at the end of set two. The crowd was primed. The band had every reason to be over-joyed, full of energy and set to deliver their new material. The first set comprised of shiny brand new songs played in order as they appear on the disc. Set two was a mix of songs from prior discs. The crowd is well versed, and highly intoxicated and, as expected, the second set was a hell of a party. The Mallet Brother’s shared the stage, lady friends would pop on and off the stage, and gents took their shirts off. Eastbound Jesus encouraged the unholy on what surely has become a band bound for glory.

Mind you, this show wasn’t some Mumford and Sons group with catchy riffs then a banjo explosion late in the song, this was true jamgrass through and through every song. The crowd wasn’t there to sing along to the radio hits, they were there to sing along to every song. That was the understated highlight of the night – amid all this folk/bluegrass music that has come out in the past few years, Eastbound Jesus stands head and shoulders above the mainstream acts; the party they threw for the release of Northern Rock is evidence of that.

Setlist:

Set 1: Out Yonder, 54 Miles, Waitin’ on the Sun, Sittin’ by the River, Talkin to John, Katy Belle, North Country Girl, Where the Winter Goes, My Old Pickup, I Wouldn’t Know, Above the Water

Set 2: Hold on me Now, Nothin’ to Say, Goin’ Steady, Corn Whisky, Ghost Town, The Road, Pickin’ It, Take a Ride, Easy Now, Pipe Dreams, Times Wastin’, Holy Smokes!, Turn on your Lovelight, Doors Open

Encore: Ballad of Eastboud Jesus, Eastbound and Down > Hold on me Now

Photos by Tom Miller

April 26, 2013
Fitz and The Tantrums Rocked The Westcott Theater on April 21st

Since releasing their debut album, Pickin’ Up the Pieces in 2010, Fitz and the Tantrums haven’t updated their discography. Instead, Michael Fitzpatrick and the band have been touring all over the world, providing fans with an opportunity to see live performances of what Fitzpatrick has described as their “soul-influenced indie pop.” On Sunday April 22, Fitz and the Tantrums made an appearance at the Westcott Theater for their first ever performance in Syracuse.

photo by Kevin McCallum

For members of the Syracuse community, the show acted as an exciting conclusion to a mid-April weekend; for the students of nearby Syracuse University, however, the concert represented an end-of-the-year last hurrah as finals week approaches and summer awaits right around the corner.

Fitz and the Tantrums proved to be the perfect band for such an occasion, as their celebratory soul pop encouraged all of the Westcott’s occupants to spend their Sunday evenings dancing and singing along to the Tantrums’ set composed of material from Picking’ Up the Pieces, their upcoming More Than Just a Dream LP, and several crowd-favorite covers.

photo by Kevin McCallum

Throughout the show, Michael Fitzpatrick shared lead vocals with Noelle Scaggs. While each singer displayed their massive vocal talent, Scaggs’ dancing skills particularly encouraged the audience to groove to the band’s sixty-minute set. Not only was shoe-shufflin’ a common aspect of the show, but also crowd involvement. Between finishing Fitzpatrick’s lines and clapping to Scaggs’ percussion section, the audience became just as much part of the show as Fitz and the four Tantrums.

Fitzpatrick did manage to demonstrate some moves of his own. At age 43, the singer often found himself jumping on John Wicks’ drum stand and imitating Scaggs’ dance moves beside her. Although not nearly as smooth as the younger Scaggs, Fitzpatrick’s style made up for any lack of lack of dance moves associated with having middle-aged bones.

photo by Kevin McCallum

It was Fitzpatrick’s style and effort that made the show. As he and the Tantrums finished their first encore song, Fitzpatrick took a quick, much needed breather before a rendition of “Steady As She Goes” from Jack White’s 2006 side project, The Raconteurs. “Steady As She Goes” was the second cover of the evening after an earlier version of Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This.” While the two songs weren’t originally performed with a horns section and two leading vocalists, Fitz and the Tantrums played them in a manner that made unaware concertgoers think they were written for their soul pop style.

As Fitz and the Tantrums are set to release their sophomore album on May 7, they’re scheduled to continue touring throughout North America up until September 20. Playing tour dates in support of artists like Dave Matthews Band and Bruno Mars, Fitz and the Tantrums will have an opportunity to gain exposure to new audiences and develop a wider fanbase. Although the upcoming tour dates don’t include another stop in Syracuse, a future appearance in Upstate New York isn’t unlikely, and when they come back, it will be surely be a cause for celebration.

April 25, 2013
Preview: SHINEDOWN, BUSH and AIRBOURNE

Shinedown hits the stage at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA with Bush and Airbourne, May 1^st. This will be the second time Shinedown is in the Massachusetts since their co-headline tour with Three Days Grace in February. This will be the band’s first time touring with Bush and Airbourne.

Shinedown:

Originating from Jacksonville, Florida and Memphis, Tennessee, Shinedown has been through the beautiful and ugly things in life, always coming up with incredible songs, ones that will haunt their fans for a long time. This four-pieced band consists of Brent Smith (vocals), Zach Myers (guitar), Eric Bass (bass/piano), and Barry Kerch (drums). The band has released four albums in the last ten years, successfully selling 6 million of them worldwide with a total of 16 singles. Their latest record, Amaryllis, was released March 23^rd with leading single “Bully.” Shinedown has managed to put on incredible shows in the past; no doubt they will do an amazing job with this upcoming event.

Bush:

Named after Shepherd’s Bush in London, England, where the band originated, Bush is considered one of the most successful rock bands of the 90s, selling over 10 million records globally. Band members consist of Gavin Rossdale (vocals/guitar), Chris Traynor (guitar), Corey Britz (bass) and Robin Goodridge (drums). Bush has released five records over the last 11 years, with a total of 17 singles. Their latest album, The Sea of Memories, was released September 13^th, 2011, the leading single “The Afterlife.” With their performance, there is a strong feeling that Bush will bring back the 90s.

Airbourne:

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Airbourne’s hard rock music has been commonly compared to classic rock band, AC/DC. Members are the O’Keeffe brothers, Joel (vocals) and Ryan (drums), David Roads (guitar), and Justin Street (bass). In the past ten years, two records have been announced with a new one in the works, pending to be released May 21^st of this year, with a total of six singles. Be prepared to be blown away by the band that could be the next AC/DC.

Overall, a night filled with excitement and a kick-ass line up of three powerful pipes is waiting May 1^st. Be sure to catch the show! It will be an unforgettable night.

April 25, 2013
The Crossroads Guitar Festival Took Over Madison Square Garden on April 12 and 13

The world’s most famous arena got a heavy load of jaw-dropping guitar work for two straight nights as The Crossroads Guitar Festival came to Madison Square Garden on April 12^th and 13^th.

This was the fourth festival that has been put together by Eric Clapton to benefit his Crossroads Centre in Antigua, which helps treat people addicted to alcohol and other drug dependencies. Every three years since 2004, Eric brings together a bunch of his friends and fellow musicians for an all-star concert to raise money for the Centre. A big part of the event has always been guitarists sitting in with each other to play some songs together and this year was no different. This was the first time it has been held indoors and both nights sold out instantly. Prior to both shows, there was a showroom in the arena where some guitars that Eric himself has used in the past, as well as ones played by Stevie Ray Vaughn and Muddy Waters. There was also a Martin & Co. Guitar booth that had reproductions of some of Eric’s guitars for sale. Seeing these guitars in person was amazing and made everyone there dream they could make these guitars “talk” like Eric has for so many years.

The first evening started with Eric, joined by Willie Weeks and Steve Jordan on bass and drums respectively, playing a short acoustic set. Soon Andy Fairweather Low and Vince Gill were on the stage helping Eric finish his short acoustic set. A beautiful “Tears in Heaven” saw the crowds’ first of many roars throughout the evening and this was followed by a great “Lay Down Sally” and “Wonderful Tonight.” The crowd gave a standing ovation as Eric left the stage. Dan Akroyd was the emcee for both nights and continuously gave excellent introductions to the oncoming acts. He is a man who knows and appreciates music and was the perfect person for the job. Next came Booker T. Jones and Steve Cropper to the stage. They went right into “Time is Tight,” made famous by the pair when they were in Booker T. & the M.G.’s. Matt “Guitar” Murphy and Albert Lee then joined the evening for a take on “Hip Hug Her.” Matt, Albert, and Steve were trading licks left and right, each showing that they still can rock after all these years. Keb’ Mo’ joined the group for “Born Under a Bad Sign” and stayed out for the set closing “Green Onions” that finally let Booker T let loose among the guitarists. The crowd went wild at the end of the song and everyone on stage seemed truly touched that they were getting this kind of ovation. It was great to see legends getting the respect that they deserved.

A staple of the festival has been Robert Cray and he put on quite a show. Before inviting guests out for the rest of his set, he was killing the guitar for two blues numbers. What followed next was an absolute highlight of the festival as B.B. King came out for “Let the Good Times Roll” and “Sweet 16.” B.B. King is 87 now and he can still play a mean guitar and have a great time on stage. Robert and B.B. King started a call and response during the songs and the crowd ate up every second of it. To close the set Jimmie Vaughn and Eric came out to play “Everyday I Have the Blues” with Robert and B.B. King. Each guitarist took a solo and wowed the crowd with each new person’s solo getting a bigger reaction than the last. It could clearly be seen that these friends were just having an absolutely amazing time playing together for the crowd. Sonny Landreth then got to play a song on a side stage while the next act was being set up. He is such an impressive guitarist to watch play. The sounds that come out are like nothing you have ever heard before. Doyle Bramhall II was the next main act and he played a great set of funky rock and roll. Citizen Cope and Gary Clark Jr. joined him during the set and although the crowd wasn’t as responsive as they were during other moments for the festival, the guitarists still killed each song that they chose to play.

Next was Phillip Sayce on one of the side stages. He won a contest from Ernie Ball to play at the festival and he made the most of his five minutes and put on a display of pure shredding on the guitar. It was different than everything else on the festival’s bill and it was great. Earl Klugh, a jazz guitarist came out with a bass player on the other side stage next and all of a sudden Madison Square Garden was turned into a jazz lounge for ten minutes. Earl can play his guitar so fast it’s amazing to watch. The contrast of these two guitarists back to back really showed how this instrument can be played in any way that you want to and still sound amazing. Kurt Rosenwinkle followed and got some help from Allan Holdsworth for his second song, but it was Eric’s appearance for the last two songs of the set that got the crowd back into the evenings events. Kurt let Eric take the lead on the songs and Eric made his guitar sing as he is known to do. Eric really got to let loose on the blues with the last song of the set, “Way Down that Lonesome Road.”

Gary Clark Jr. was put on a side stage for night one and he played both the guitar and drums at the same time. Watching him do this was awesome. He is a very skilled musician and I think he is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the music world sooner rather than later. The crowd gave a loud ovation for John Mayer, who came out and played some great blues. Keith Urban came out to close the set with him on a cover of The Beatles’ song “Don’t Let Me Down.” The two stunned the crowd with this great version of the song. This is a must hear song from the weekend. Buddy Guy with Quinn Sullivan and Robert Randolph followed and played a three song set of pure blues. “Someone Else is Slippin” was a barn burner as each guitarist got a moment to shine with Buddy going last and showing why he is a legend. The crowd loved every moment of the set and seeing Buddy Guy, like B.B. King, should always be seen as something special. Keb’ Mo’ and Dan Akroyd then got a moment to pay tribute to Muddy Waters with “I Got My Mojo Working” and did a fantastic job of honoring the man. After the song was over, Akroyd gave an amazing introduction for the evening’s headliner, The Allman Brothers.

The Allman Brothers came out and wasted no time going right into “Don’t Want You No More/Ain’t My Cross to Bear.” Greg was in strong form vocally and Derek and Warren were trading guitar licks left and right. Greg then introduced Taj Mahal, David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas for a hot version of “Statesboro Blues” that saw Taj and Greg trading vocals, with the guitarists having fun deciding who got to solo when. “Black Hearted Woman” followed and then Eric came out to play “Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad” that saw Derek play Duane’s gold Les Paul. The crowd went wild throughout the song and the solos were some of the best of the night. With a wave goodbye Eric left the stage as The Allman’s started “Whipping Post” and what a version it was. Warren and Derek really got time to shine during the song, each taking lengthy solos. The entire crowd was on their feet for the whole set and it was a perfect way to end night one of the festival.

Night two of the Crossroads Festival started with a set by Sonny Landreth. It was a beautiful instrumental set with Derek Trucks joining him for the first of his appearances on this night. They traded slide guitar solos for two songs, with “Cherry Ball Blues” getting the better solos from both of them. The crowd erupted at the end of the set showing their appreciation for the amazing musicianship they had just seen. A quick two song solo acoustic set by Doyle Bramhall II followed and it was beautiful. Doyle is a great player and for his second song he invited John Mayer for a take on the Stevie Ray Vaughn song “Change It.” The crowd was more alive through the first two sets of the evening than they were most of night one.

Some Texas flavored blues followed with Jimmie Vaughn and his band. His set didn’t seem to completely win over the crowd, but it was a good set by a great legend and he received a good hand from the crowd as he stepped off. Blake Mills, a young guitarist, came out for his solo set next and played one song before inviting Derek to join him for an amazing take on “Save the Last Dance for Me.” It was a very interesting version with Derek playing slide like only he can, mixing with Blake’s high vocals. It was a great combo for a great song. Los Lobos took the stage next and destroyed Madison Square Garden. Susan Tedeschi assisted on vocals with their first song “Burn It Down.” It was a great song and soon Robert Cray was out for “Just Got To Know.” Robert and the band were just having fun on stage, playing off of each other and absolutely killing this old blues song. After the song was over Eric Clapton came out for “Tin Can Trust” and took over the venue. The whole crowd erupted as Eric’s solo in the song soared throughout the arena. Los Lobos’ set was one of the better ones of the two nights. It was straight fire from note one.

What followed next was a big surprise. It was unknown if The Allman Brothers were going to play night two, or if they were just the headliner for night one. Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks came out and played a great rendition of “Old Friend”. Warren then told the crowd to welcome in Greg Allman. The crowd was immediately on their feet, showering the musicians with love. They covered Neil Young’s “The Needle and The Damage Done” and it was gorgeous. Greg was in fine form vocally and Warren and Derek took their solos, much to the crowd’s approval. “Midnight Rider” followed and the entire Garden crowd was singing along with Greg. As the song ended, the crowd gave one of, if not the loudest roar of the two nights. Everyone wanted more from the three of them, but it was time for the next act which, once introduced, maintained the energy in the building.

Vince Gill, Albert Lee and Keith Urban came out and did a set of covers. Vince took the lead on Waylon Jennings’ “I Ain’t Living Long Like This” followed by Albert taking Ray Charles’ “Leave My Woman Alone.” Both of these songs were excellent and saw great playing throughout. Keith took the lead next on “Tumbling Dice” by The Rolling Stones and truly shined. All three of them took turns on Dire Straits’ “Setting Me Up” and each did such an amazing job. Their solos were all scorching and kept the crowd going wild after the partial Allmans set. Keb’ Mo’ and Taj Mahal came out for an acoustic set next. They both played resonator guitars in honor of doing a full delta blues set. They started with Robert Johnson’s “Walkin’ Blues” and they were obviously ready to have fun. Taj Mahal always has a good time on stage and really got the crowd going throughout the mini set as well as making Keb’ laugh while he was playing the lead guitar.

Following the blues, we got back to back sets of nothing but loud electric guitar from Gary Clark Jr. and Jeff Beck. Gary came out ready to rock and destroyed the stage during his three song set. He is one of the best young guitarists around right now and showed why he was given a spot on stage with all of these legends. Jeff Beck followed with his own mastery on the instrument. His music is very abstract and goes from blues to rock in mere moments. With the help of a drummer, bassist, violinist, and guest vocalist Jeff was able to construct a great set that was greeted with roars from the crowd. Buddy Guy followed with a two song acoustic set. He had wowed people the first night with his electric set, so it was very nice to see a stripped down version of this blues legend. During his first song “74 Years Young” he joked with the crowd, as he always does, stating “Actually everyone, I’m 76 Years Young”. Buddy is always a pleasure to see and it was a great calm before the storm of the finale.

The stage was dark as the figures emerged and the front of the orchestra began going crazy. Everyone knew it was time for Eric Clapton’s headlining set, but when the lights came on there was a special surprise guest with him. The one and only Keith Richards had come out with Eric to play a couple of tunes. They started with “Key to the Highway” and traded licks throughout. They continuously shared smiles with each other and to see these two legends on stage together was worth the price of admission alone. Keith stated how happy he was to be around and it was time to rock and roll as they went into “Sweet Little Rock & Roller.” With a bow, Keith left and out came Robbie Robertson who also got to play two songs with Eric. Before the second song Robbie stated “This is in remembrance of friends who are no longer here” as they went into “I Shall Be Released.” At the conclusion of the song the crowd gave a stunning ovation for the once member of The Band. Eric continued the onslaught with “Got to Get Better in a Little While” and the namesake of the festival, “Crossroads.” Eric has been playing “Crossroads” slower in recent years, but this was the closest to the rocking Cream version than anything he has done lately. Eric’s hands were flying all over the fret board as he took the song to great heights.

“Little Queen of Spades” followed and gave Chris Stainton the chance to shine on the keys for the first time all night. He is one of the best keyboardists in rock and roll and he pushed Eric to take a great solo on this blues number. With a little jam intro, the band went into psychedelic mode with “Sunshine of Your Love.” Doyle and Eric traded licks and vocals on the great Cream song. When anyone else plays the guitar next to Eric, it seems like they are trying so much harder than he is. The ease of Eric playing and the smoothness of his movements remain unmatched. With a thank you and a promise to see everyone in three years, Eric brought out many of the guitarists from the two evenings of music for “High Time We Went.” Each guitarist got a solo with Eric getting the last one bringing the festival to a close. This was an amazing festival for a great cause and the amount of guitar work that was seen would be hard to ever repeat.

April 25, 2013
4/20 in Albany: Late For the Early Show, Early For the Late Show

When you are in college, 4/20 is a day reserved for indulging in the delights of some Giggle Smoke, whether you be a rare smoker or a daily puffer. Moving past college and you get to take a break from the real world, but the real world is still there when you take this break. Even farther beyond college, it gets to the point of shrugging shoulders and looking back at the old days when the date was looked forward to with rapt anticipation. But whatever your age, 4/20 isn’t just about what you smoke, it’s what music (in this case in Albany) that you see to elevate you higher than any Sticky Icky ever could.

In the Albany area, there were a couple of notable shows that I headed to, but in perfect accordance with the day, I was late for the first show and showed up early for the later one. The Machine were set to play Upstate Concert Hall, and admittedly, I didn’t check to see what time they would go on, I simply presumed between 9-10 pm, like other shows at the venue. Nope, it was 8 pm and I was able to catch most of the second set. The crowd was packed in for the show, especially older fans who gladly sang in unison on ‘Wish You Were Here’ and ‘Comfortably Numb’, but also explains the earlier start time, as the evening’s music was over by 10:45 pm.

The Machine was top notch and recreated the Pink Floyd sound and nearly the stage show, with copious amounts of smoke filling the air, creating silhouettes of the band members, particularly guitarist Ryan Ball and his mane of hair. The lights and lasers had hints of the Dark Side of the Moon prism in the colors, a visual treat, particularly on this night. A dark ‘Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun’ formed out of a jam from ‘Signs of Life’, ‘Money’ elicited attention from the audience for one of the most played songs in the Floyd catalog, as well as a psychedelic ‘Astronomy Domine’. The encore was a dose of rare and popular ‘Julia Dream’, from the 1960s era of Pink Floyd that kept everyone focused while they explored the early catalog (which is highly undervalued, by the way). The drum beats to signal ‘Run Like Hell’ recalled The Wall and had fist pumps from a handful in the crowd and ended the night, although the audience wanted more on a night that was still young, even if the crowd wasn’t.

The Machine, Upstate Concert Hall

Set 1: Welcome to the Machine, Bringing the Boys Back Home, Sorrow, Shine on You Crazy Diamond, Another Brick in the Wall, Cymabline, Not Now John

Set 2: Pigs on the Wing, Dogs, Signs of Life > Set the controls for the heart of the sun> Money, Astronomy Domine, Wish You Were Here, Comfortably Numb

Encore: Julia Dream, Run Like Hell

Photos by Tom Miller

With time to make it to The Bayou Cafe (soon to be The Hollow Bar and Grill), I arrived just before Timbre Coup began their set, but just after opener Solaris, had packed up and loaded their van. I’ve seen Solaris before and it’s been a while, so missing the opening set was a downer, but to hang with the band and find out what’s in store this summer (a lot, thankfully), it made up for it. The instrumental techno makers from Ithaca never fail to make a night of music memorable, doing with guitar, bass and drums the hard way what DJ’s pressing play on a computer do with simplicity. If you are in Ithaca on this Friday, April 26th, check them out at The Haunt with Dopapod – you won’t be disappointed.

Timbre Coup took the stage for what proved to be the highlight of 4/20 – four talented musicians playing a wide range of originals, tailoring the setlist that would get the most ‘relaxed’ fan up and dancing throughout the evening. Some solid jamming bridged ‘August’ and ’55’, but ‘June’, with Matt Pickering’s vocals amid an 80’s synth vibe populated the dance floor. An apropos cover of Sublime’s ‘Garden Grove’ was spot on, bleeding nicely into ‘I Didn’t Know She Had a Moustache.’

The crowd was then prompted to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Brian Hartmann, celebrating 4/20 for a different reason this evening among friends. Dan Gerken then performed a solo version of Peter Tosh’s “Steppin Razor” for Hartmann before taking setbreak with the rest of the band.

Second Set had a crowd that dissipated but filled up again quickly once the jam in ‘Spider Doom’ came to fruition, with Ben Pickering on guitar and Dan Gerken on keys. The jazzy prog-rock of ‘Snoop Tiger’ took the crowd throughout the extensive range of the band. Two tracks off the recent album Knuckles and Valleys, ‘September’ and ‘January’ sandwiched further improvisation, but a highlight at the end of the set was a cover of sadly defunct Canadian trio The New Deal’s ‘Back to the Middle’, the first track off their 2001 self-titled release. There is only one way to play The New Deal – loud and well, and with the speed and control of the original song. Seeing how this band has grown in the past four years has been remarkable, but to play such a prime and tight show, with a well-tailored setlist on a great night of celebration made for a show few will soon forget. I can’t wait to see them at Summercamp in May

Timbre Coup, Bayou Cafe, Albany 4/20/13

Set 1: August > Improv > 55, Takes Awhile, June, Garden Grove >Improv > I Didn’t Know She Had a Moustache, Happy Birthday, Steppin Razor (Dan solo, for Brian Hartmann’s birthday)

Set 2: Spider Doom > Improv > Ronald Opus, Snoop Tiger, September, Verbal Kent > Improv >January, Back to the Middle*

Encore: Something About the Radio

* The New Deal

April 25, 2013
Mike Gordon’s ‘The Egg’ Live From Albany. Now Available

After becoming a phan-favorite in a short amount of time, the intimate show with Mike Gordon and his band at The Egg in Albany will be released as a 3-CD set and a free MP3 download; Simply titled The Egg. The December 2011 show produced remarkable acoustics in which the entire band drew energy that night so it’s no surprise this show was picked by Gordon for release.

For a full review of the show please check out Pete Mason’s article here.

You can get the free MP3 download at LivePhish.com. The 3-CD set is available as a very limited physical run, with deluxe packaging that includes a custom round tin with three discs tucked away inside a custom Egg cotton stash bag. It is available for pre-order now exclusively at Phish Dry Goods and Mike’s online store and available for shipping by April 30th 2013. It will not be available in stores.

The show features originals from Mike’s catalog, including “Horizon Line”, “Only A Dream”, “Voices”, and “Hap Nappy”. Phish fans will recognize “Sugar Shack” and “Suzy Greenberg”, which included The Dude Of Life on vocals. To round out “The Egg”, three tracks were selected from Mike’s March 26, 2011 show at Higher Ground in Burlington, VT, including an extended version of “Mound”.

The Egg track listing:

Disc 1
1. Horizon Line
2. Only A Dream
3. I’m Deranged >
4. The Way It Goes
5. Just A Rose >
6. Voices

Disc 2
1. River Niger
2. Don’t Do It
3. Horizon Line
4. Funky Bitch
5. Sugar Shack
6. Hand In My Pocket
7. Dig Further Down
8. Crumblin’ Bones

Disc 3
1. Skin It Back >
2. Hap Nappy
3. Won’t Get Fooled Again
4. Suzy Greenberg
5. Filler: Mound (3/26/2011 Burlington, VT)
6. Filler: Got Away (3/26/2011 Burlington, VT)
7. Filler: Black Tambourine (3/26/2011 Burlington, VT)

The Dude of Life on vocals for “Suzy Greenberg”
Recorded by Rachel Bischoff
Mixed by Jon Altschiller
Assisted by Danielle Warman
Mastered by Jonathan Russell
Technical Assistance by Kevin Shapiro
Package/Design by Julia Mordaunt

April 24, 2013
In Focus: Rock n Roll Resort v 3.0: Tiny Rager

If you haven’t been to Rock n Roll Resort, you’re missing out. As our coverage yesterday shows, this weekend festival in a hotel nestled in the Catskill Mountains is truly a one of a kind experience that brings the festival experience to new heights.

Check out the scene with this photo gallery by Contributing Photographer Alex Toombs.

April 24, 2013
The Westcott Theater: Syracuse’s Local Music Venue

For nearly 100 years, students of Syracuse University and members of the Syracuse community have flocked to The Westcott Theater for countless evenings of entertainment. Located just outside of SU’s campus, the Westcott can be found in a neighborhood primarily occupied by upperclass students looking to catch a concert after spending time at Taps Bar & Restaurant, situated just across the street.

The Westcott hasn’t always hosted live music, however, and it was only in 2008 that the venue opened its doors as a location for musicians traveling through Upstate New York. Before its transformation, the building acted as an independent movie theater known as The Westcott Cinema.

Today, the Westcott still holds the occasional film screening, most of which are music-related. In the summer of 2012, the venue screened LCD Soundsystem’s Shut Up And Play The Hits, a film chronicling the band’s final show at Madison Square Garden. Comedians have also appeared at the venue, including the Broken Lizard Comedy Troupe, a group of actors best known for their work in Super Troopers and Beerfest, who performed at the Westcott in 2009.

While special events usually occur at the venue several times throughout each year, live music is scheduled almost every night of the week. From show to show, performers represent an eclectic range of genres; at the Westcott, one night can be a country show and the next night a dance party.

Some of today’s biggest EDM acts have come through the Westcott on their way to becoming internationally known artists whose tours consist of packed stadium after packed stadium. Between 2010’s Bassnectar performance and 2011’s Skrillex and Pretty Lights appearances, the Westcott has developed a history of catching electronic artists just before they break. Big name artists like the Avett Brothers and Grace Potter & the Nocturnals have also played the Westcott before becoming major festival headliners.

New Riders of the Purple Sage, 10/5/12 – photo by Frances Huang

It’s the venue’s cozy environment and well-equipped set-up that encourage such well-known acts to book the Westcott on their way to the east coast. With a spacious standing area and a high ceiling, the venue’s occupants can feel comfortable amongst 700 fellow concertgoers while experiencing an intimate performance.

The venue’s slanted floor is helpful for those that are vertically challenged. Standing farther from the stage not only provides an unobstructed view, but also easy access to the bar. Located in the back of the room, getting a drink can be accomplished without missing a song.

Although the Westcott has only offered live music since 2008, some of Syracuse’s most memorable shows have taken place at the off-campus venue. As emerging artists continue to play quality shows for crowds of Upstate music lovers, students and locals alike will spend their evenings at the Westcott Theater.

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April 24, 2013
Bob Dylan’s ‘AmericanaramA’ Tickets on Sale April 30th for Upstate NY

Bob Dylan recently announced he will be joined by My Morning Jacket, WILCO, Ryan Bingham and more, for the AmericanaramA tour this Summer. Presale tickets went on sale for select shows this morning through Dylan’s website, where the initial announcement was made. Details are few but we do know Upstate NY will host this event at both Darien Lake Performing Arts Center and Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) this July.

AmericanaramA will be at Darien Lake on July 18th. Presale tickets go on sale through Dylan’s website April 30th at 10am and regular on sale is May 4th at 10am. July 21st is the SPAC show. Get your presale tickets May 3rd at 10 am through the website and the regular on sale is also April 30th at 10 am.

For more information on all tour dates please visit www.bobdylan.com.

April 24, 2013
Albany Gets Ready to MOVE This Saturday April 27th

Albany will be overrun with music this Saturday April 27^th as the city hosts 100 bands at 10 venues for the annual MOVE Music Festival. A fairly new event, MOVE aims to highlight the growing music scene in Albany by giving musician’s exposure as well as insight on conducting themselves in today’s independent music industry.

Albany was recently ranked within the top 20 Metro Areas in the Nation in regards to musicians and music related business, making it the ideal location for the MOVE Music Festival. Concert goers can purchase wrist bands for $15 at any of the participating venues, which grants them all access to every show that day. The musical genres vary from Indie, Americana, Alternative, Rock, EDM and Fusion, catering to Albany’s widespread taste in music.

Besides the musical acts, the festival will host a merchandise trade show and interactive round table sessions with music professionals at the Hotel Albany lodging and convention complex in downtown Albany. Artists will be given the opportunity to meet with various companies that will offer guidelines, strategies and vital information about furthering their music careers.

Some of the VIPs for the meet and greet are Lou Plaia, (Co-Founder of ReverbNation), Benji Rogers (the Founder of Pledge Music), Craig Sala (Drummer for Paranoid Social Club), Veronica Grettonfrom (401K Music) and many more.

Hotel Albany will be offering $5 parking all day in their garage and the city has free street parking on the weekends. Albany also had a solid public transportation system with CDTA offering multiple routes that make stops at the various locations.

With the weather scheduled to be sunny and 60s, it’s not a bad idea to even bike or walk, giving folks time to take in the sights and sounds of Albany.

April 24, 2013