NYS Music 20​13

Category: Special

  • Death to All 2013! “Celebrating the life and Music of Chuck Schuldiner”

    Death to All 2013 poster

    Attention Die Hard Death fans! Death to All tour, which celebrates “the life and music of Chuck Schuldiner” is hitting the big city next April 24th @ Irving Plaza. The tour aims to aid the Sweet Relief Charity for musicians, also in honor of Chuck, which main purpose is to” assists musicians in times of illness, disability and age related problems” .

    This year the tour will again feature members of the “Human” (album) era, and some special guests as well. Max Phelps (Cynic’s session guitarist) will have the honor to perform the vocals this year.

    Despite the issues with the Sick Drummer Magazine during the first run of the tour, Death to all was a success and once again it’s back with 12 major US dates and one Mexican date. This speaks volumes as the last tour only  featured 7 US dates. It was also motioned that this tour will feature a second leg which will include a show in Europe at the Neurotic Death Fest in the Netherlands.

    Last year’s skepticism among some fans on whether this tour will create some profit other than charity work was dismissed by Death’s manager, Eric Greif, with this statement;

    “A little word about DEATH TO ALL, people. This is NOT DEATH. I have read a few comments about money grabbing or trying to replace Chuck. Please show a little respect. DEATH TO ALL is meant to be a touring tribute to the words & music of Chuck Schuldiner, by the guys who played with him on the DEATH albums – and raising awareness of the important American charity Sweet Relief. Together we can all feel the vibe of what Chuck was all about by being together and collectively flowing to the tunes. We keep Chuck alive by keeping the music alive. It isn’t DEATH…it is DEATH TO ALL. “

    Tour dates are as follows: 

    Tickets avaiable here and vip tickets packages here.

    4/13 W. Hollywood, CA @ House Of Blues

    4/15 Denver, CO @ Gothic Theater

    4/18 Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s Hall

    4/19 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues

    4/20 Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s

    4/21 Chicago, IL @ House of Blues

    4/23 Montreal, QC @ Club Soda

    4/24 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza

    4/25 Philadelphia, PA @ Theater For Living Arts

    4/26 Silver Springs, MD @ The Fillmore

    4/27 Worcester, MA @ Palladium

    4/28 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre

    4/29 Mexico City, MX @ Circo Volador

    5/13 Tilburg, NL @ Neurotic DEATHFEST

  • Interview: OTHERWISE

    Otherwise, meaning other than supposed, different if you will. That is the best way to describe this incredible band, Otherwise. “We don’t really look like your typical rock band and we’re trying not to sound like your typical rock band. And there’s something for everybody, you might not get what you expect,” says Adrian Patrick, the band’s front man, to Upstate Metal’s Kate Drexel, on their tour bus. “At least that’s our goal, that’s one of our goals artistically.” It definitely seems like they have reached that goal with their ever-growing fan base.

    Originally from Sin City, Las Vegas, Otherwise, consisting of the Patrick brothers, Adrian and Ryan (lead guitarist/vocals), Corky Gainsford (drummer/vocals), Andrew Pugh (guitarist/vocals), Vassilios Metropoulos (bass/vocals), has made their mark across the country, and touched the fans’ hearts with their sound and powerful lyrics. “It’s an amazing feeling to show at a place you’ve never really heard of, that you didn’t know existed. Then people there are singing back your words, even if it’s one person singing back your song lyrics, it’s still like, wow, that’s really happening.”

    You may recognize one of their songs being played on Octane, one that has played for at least two years now, “Soldiers”. Back in October of 2011, during the 48 Hours Festival, the band met up with Jose Mangin, Sirius Octane’s program director who they had previously met at the Mayhem Festival in 2010, and while they were convening during the Sevendust set, they gave him a demo of the song. Adrian then tells the story about the song, adding, “it’s very spiritual.” “48 Hours Festival was the last show we got to do with our cousin, Ivan Patrick. He was our drum tech, he had a bunk on the bus, he was part of our crew for many, many years. Me and him are the exact same age, he was my twin, and two weeks later, he died on his bike on Halloween night, but before passing away, he came into Corky’s garage and he sang on ‘Soldiers’.”

    For all the die-hard In This Moment fans, you may recognize Adrian’s killer vocals in the fiery passionate duet with Maria, “The Promise”, that was eventually followed by a steamy music video filled with spine-chilling primal screams. Definitely an amazing metal duet that’s hard to forget. However, Adrian revealed that he was not their first choice. “Initially, I was just supposed to be laying down guide-tracks for a more well-known singer, you know, they had a long list of people they were contacting and it just so happened that the planets aligned, with all the red-tape and the record labels and management and people’s schedules, and the label liked what I did enough to say, ‘Dude, this sounds great, let’s put him on the album.’” After “The Promise” was heard, those die-hard In This Moment fans became Otherwise fans as well.

    Living in Vegas can have its perks, especially in mind-blowing experiences, ones where they have to be told in song. Some songs have a chilling effect, some have the effect of tugging the fans’ heartstrings (like “Heaven”), all of them have deep and powerful meanings, filled with Ryan’s amazing riffs, according to Adrian where their ideas come from. “Most of our ideas start with a riff that my brother has, he’s a very prolific writer. I mean, he picks up a guitar and a riff comes out and whether we use it or not, he’s always got some new ideas, so usually I’d say about 99% of the stuff is sparked. My brother is a spark, we all just kind of add to the fire…as far as lyric content goes, most of it is experiential, I write from experience. Although some guys are very good at telling a story about something they’ve never experienced or been through, …I try to stay away from that, because to me, it’s not genuine. Maybe it is genuine…to me it’s like I’m not gonna write about something I have no idea about.” The content of the lyrics are about those they have lost along the way to where they are now, about love, hate and anger. One of the songs they performed April 2nd at the Webster, was about an accident they should not have walked away from. These lyrics are the kind that really have the gears turned, that has everybody thinking about a deeper meaning behind these amazing words.

    Otherwise has had the opportunity to tour with the Canadian rock band, My Darkest Days. When asked about the tour, Adrian explained that their booking agent from TKO Booking, Andrew Goodfriend, was the one that set that up. “A lot of times the next step is based on relationships…and that was a good tour for us, it was a lot of fun, a lot of small bars, a lot of cool clubs and a lot of great crowds.” Before their headline tour, Otherwise shared the stage with Papa Roach, and after their headline, they will continue to tour with the band as well as perform at the Rock on the Range in Columbus, Ohio this summer.

    While touring all over the nation, quite a few venues stuck out for them such as Rams Head Live in Baltimore, MD and Rock Junction in West Greenwich, RI. However, there is one that really hits home for them: The Roxy in Los Angeles. “It’s very special to us because that’s where we pretty much got signed out of and they always do a really good job with sound. They’re total pros and it’s always a great vibe.” It seems wherever this band goes, they manage to set an incredible vibe, one that makes you feel like they are truly connecting with their fans.

    Be sure to check out Otherwise on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/otherwiseofficial), and follow them on Twitter and Instagram (@weareotherwise) for tour dates and updates, and check out their debut record in stores now, True Love Never Dies.

  • Record Store Day 2013: A Look at The Upsides and Downsides

    Record Store Day 2013 is upon us!!! On Saturday, April 20th, thousands will flock to their local independent record store in pursuit of exclusive, limited-quantity vinyl releases from their favorite artists. Record Store Day was started in 2007 by a coalition of independent record store owners as a “way to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding over 700 independent record stores in the US and similar stores internationally.” Jack White is this year’s Record Store Day ambassador. He owns his own vinyl shop in Nashville and presses his own records, making him the perfect man for the position.

    “The List”, containing information about each and every Record Store Day exclusive release is up on RecordStoreDay.com. I took a look through and found some unbelievably awesome releases. These are the ones that caught my eye: Trey Anastasio Blue Ash and Other Suburbs” on a 7” Picture Vinyl, Dave Matthews Band Live Trax Vol. 1 4LP Blue Vinyl Box Set, Grateful Dead Rare Cuts & Oddities 1966 on 12” Vinyl, GZA/Genius Liquid Swords 12” Vinyl Chess Box Set, Page McConnell Unsung Cities and Movies Never Made on 12” Vinyl, Phish Lawn Boy Deluxe on 12” Vinyl, The xx Jamie xx edits on 12” Vinyl and The Roots Things Fall Apart on 12” Vinyl (2LP).

    Vinyl Record/LP sales have been on the rise over the last few years. From 2011 to 2012, Vinyl sales went up 17.7 percent, going from 3.9 million to 4.6 million respectively. These sales increases show that consumers are craving vinyl, and what better way to lure them into a record shop than with an exclusive day of vinyl-only releases. Record Store Day draws unbelievable support from artists, labels, record stores and passionate music fans and overall the day is in the good spirit of keeping music alive.

    However, Record Store Day isn’t all good. Not every independent record store can participate, and the ones that do aren’t always able to stock all of the releases. For example, Last Vestige is an independent record store in Albany, NY that has been around since 1986. Owner Jim Furlong has issues with getting some of the releases because he can’t compete with bigger stores that have major connections with distributors. Furlong says, “This has become a big deal where every year, a bunch of different labels, in conglomeration with Record Store Day, manufacture these limited edition pieces and the bigger chains that do business with these labels throughout the year or with the bigger distributors, get first crack or get the majority.” In addition, Furlong encounters problems with people complaining that he doesn’t stock enough of the Record Store Day releases. He adds, “It is annoying and if you don’t have enough, people start badmouthing you on Facebook. I’ve seen some other stores get grief because either they didn’t get it when they thought they would and somebody waited in line and they had to jump in their car and run to Newbury Comics and hope they could find it there. And it just seems that it takes away from the whole joy of it all, having this big friendly competition.” Furlong goes on to say, “The topper is, within a couple weeks after they’re sold, you see on eBay all of a sudden, this stuff’s going for crazy money.” Overall, Jim Furlong and Last Vestige have a frustrating time trying to make happy everyone that comes in to shop on Record Store Day. Without strong distributor relationships, small-scale independent shops don’t have the means to stock all the releases that people are looking for. If people can’t get they want, they get angry and take to the Internet, causing frustration and annoyance for owners.

    On the other hand, The Sound Garden in Syracuse, NY, really thrives on Record Store Day. The Sound Garden is an independent record store that has one other location in Baltimore, MD (this location was ranked #2 on Rolling Stone’s list of The Best Record Stores in the USA). When I asked Eric Brush, the General Manager of the Syracuse location, about what releases he stocks for Record Store Day, he said, “We stock at least one of every release on ‘The List.’” He goes on to add, “Since record store day started, we’ve almost doubled the quantity of releases we order.” Brush had mentioned earlier that The Sound Garden was part of the original group of independent record stores that banded together to start Record Store Day. When I asked Eric Brush about how a smaller store can get involved he responded, “They have to have a relationship with some of the vendors that are putting out the merchandise and we have a relationship with every single one. But [if you don’t], there are other avenues that you can get into throughout the industry. There are one-stop distributors that carry every release from every label and manufacturer all in one place, but they charge you a little bit more. They are a part of Record Store Day and they get a very limited quantity to offer to their customers. This works against smaller stores because they just don’t have access to the quantities that we do.” Brush also talked about criteria that you must follow to be a participating record store for Record Store Day. He said that stores must sign an agreement saying that they won’t sell the releases online at all (to prevent price gauging). Brush confirms, “One thing I do know is that if you get caught selling that stuff online, you’re exempt. They just don’t take kindly to that.” Overall, The Sound Garden does well with Record Store Day because they have the relationships to stock every release so that their customers can get exactly what they want.

    Overall, Record Store Day is a great event for some, in that it helps raise awareness about independent record stores and give recorded music sales a little bump. However, it is unfortunate that some independent record stores are too small to compete with larger stores for their desired quantity of titles. Whether it’s Record Store Day or not, these independent record stores will always have competition. This event advocates for people to go out to their local brick and mortar record store, which is a huge step in the right direction. There’s no doubt that Record Store Day is an awesome way to for these independent stores to gain customers and ultimately make record collecting cool again.

  • Mandate Of Heaven releases their 10th CD, “Mark Music”

    Syracuse multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter Greg Pier and his vehicle, “Mandate of Heaven” have released their latest CD, “Mark Music” and are preparing for several shows in May and June.

    Pier could certainly be considered one of the area’s most prolific writers as MofH reaches double-digit numbered releases. MofH is not only a band, but also the moniker for Pier’s solo performances and recordings. “Mark Music” is the tenth release on Pier’s “Neon Witch” label. Jason “Jocko” Randall engineers and mixes at More Sound with additional tracking done at Neon Witch, Randall and Pier co-produce this release which was recorded between 2009 and 2012. All songs were written by Pier except “Scrapper’s Blues”, written with Ethan Jenks.

    MOH-1-web
    photo by Robyn Stockdale

    The current band features FLASHING ASTONISHER veterans Bob Kane on Drums, who plays on all tracks here besides “High Dragonfly” and Chuck Gwynn who contributes bass on “Bedroom In The Sky”. Bob gave me a great quote while we discussed this review, “What bums me out is that my favorite tune has Greg on drums, “High Dragonfly”. I laid down a track, but I was more Wilco than Crazy Horse, just too many grace notes, so he played it himself. Someday I’ll learn!” Jason “Jocko” Randall on second guitar and six string monster John Hanus plays the slide solos on “Bedroom In The Sky” and “Cruel, Cruel Aristocrats”. All other instruments and all vocals are performed by Pier, much the same as previous MofH releases.

    The CD opens with “Baby Electron”, a straight-up power-pop monster, setting the bar high for the rest of the disc. Super melodic, the ringing harmonic guitar parts swirl around the vocal harmonies ‘til the chorus hits with a crunch and bite! Hopelessness and lack of control, such a romantically pretty place to start and an appropriate lead in to “Bedroom In The Sky”. John Hanus’ dripping slide part supports Pier’s melancholic reading. The guitar parts individually read with a R.E.M. feel, the rhythm, the slide. Gwynn’s bass line is solid and flowing, just the right feel to work with Kane completing the section. “Scrapper’s Blues” is like a postcard from the front porch, written by Yorke and sung by a Matt Bellamy/Bono lovechild. The syncopation in the guitar line with Kane’s drive close at hand pushes the pace in an almost twirling dance. The first listen of “High Dragonfly” illustrates Kane’s previous quote, while the vocal line belies the almost woodsy feel of the tune, Pier’s vocal twists from his heart like the removal of a similar knife-blade. There’s a “dEUS” quality to one guitar line that echoes a “Beefheartish” influence and influences the vocal meter. The minimalist feel allows the words to bite and release, hard. “From The Center” releases the heavy side of Pier, while he allows the melodic vocal duality to layer deep. Kane’s strength reminds me of QOTSA Grohl, along with a vocal intonation that is rhythmically British in a Foo kinda way, again, back to Kane’s quote.

    There’s an edgy, crispy quality to the whole recording, maybe it’s in the compression. It’s a bit haunting and a bit halting, kinda like T-Rex at times vocally and that ain’t bad!

    Note: We just clicked on cdbaby to the “if you like this artist try” section. Hahahaha! Perfect!

    “Cruel, Cruel Aristocrats” brings Hanus back in the mix to accentuate the fast pace of Pier’s guitar line. Thematically Pier takes another bite at the expected and entitled, spitting at the standard while embracing the outsider. Check out the video here, it’s very well done.

    “If Twenty” jumps out of the gate heavy, its layered guitar riffs punctuating Greg’s quasi-pastoral, pleading vocals. Kane, once again is so strong, yet thoughtful, right down to the bell ride on his cymbal signaling the crunch along. Pier’s disaffected poetry is wrenching when it reaches its apex, circling and re-examining to the ultimate goal, the ultimately isolated self.

    “Parable” is like a theme that runs in my head everyday. Listen to what the self-proclaimed decide you like and let them pick your enemies while they’re at it. It spits at the standard and what is foisted upon us daily. Almost a updated “Iron Man” hidden in there for familiarity, with the classic percussive break only to bring you back with slowed down big-rock ending.

    “Riverbed” has a cool wilting pedal steel line playing against the semi-San Franciscan guitars, whether they’re para-psychedelic or more semi-symbionic. There’s a root in the Appalachians and a mind in Berkeley, woeful, but trust-fund hopeful. Cue up Yo La Tengo – “Sugarcube” and stress the droning vacuum cleaner sound.

    “Hand The Bottle From The Tree” is classic indie-power pop, it rocks, the vocals soar and the end kills. It times in at 3:08, just like a single that will never get airtime. It’s a pity really. At first listen a few months ago I stated that this release alone was reason for a “Album Of The Year” category in our local SAMMY Awards. Did I mention that this won “Best Modern Rock” album this year? I truly believe this work toasts many Grammy winners, it truly is that good! A taste of The Black Keys, maybe some spice from The Raconteurs, all deftly dialed in by Jocko and Greg.

    The closer, “Song Of The Halfway Point” lays it all on the table for digestion. Influences blended with personal vision, forethought and hindsight mixed with the slightest twang. It’s powerful, it exceeds its environment, it stretches reality beyond the norm if only just in wanting. It’s brilliant. Go buy it right now.

    Find Mandate Of Heaven online at Bandcamp and Facebook.

  • Interview: Blood of the Martyrs

    botmimagesBlood of the Martyrs is a ministry band hailing from Virginia that started back in 2007. They travel the states as a DIY band, getting up close and personal with their craft and with the fans, bridging out with anyone who comes to the shows. This is the second time they’ve been at The Dungeon bringing along the New Jersey-based band, Alive In The Dark, with them for a few stops and sharing the stage that night with locals such as Jonestown, This Above All and Collisions In Grey And Red. I’d like to thank Larry Moore of The Division Sequence/Wrapped In Noir/M.D.I.G (Mom Dad I’m Gaelic).  I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did and hit them up with likes and check out their music since they put a lot of effort into what they do and put on one hell of a show! Also hit up Larry for shows in your area and/or flyer work, the man has talent and does a lot in the scene.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35p0LZ0QPVc&w=560&h=315

    Here’s my first nation band interview with Blood of the Martyrs for 315 Street Team and Upstate Metal. Thanks To Larry Moore of the Division Sequence for setting this up.

    BOTM pages:
    http://www.facebook.com/Bloodofthemartyrs?fref=ts
    http://www.myspace.com/bloodofthemartyrs
    http://bloodofthemartyrs.bandcamp.com/al…
    http://www.youtube.com/user/BLOODOFTHEMA…
    http://twitter.com/BOTM_BAND

    315 Street Team:
    http://www.facebook.com/315StreetTeam?ref=ts&fref=ts

    http://www.youtube.com/user/rundownmaggot666

    The Division Sequence:
    http://www.facebook.com/TheDivisionSequence?ref=ts&fref=ts

  • Johnny Mathis serenades fans at The Palace Theater in Albany on April 4th

    Legendary singer Johnny Mathis performed last Thursday April 4th at the Palace Theater in Albany, NY. I was originally told about this show by my parents, who grew up listening to his classic hits and were eager to see the crooner in action.

    The Palace Theater was the ideal setting for a Johnny Mathis concert, given its rich history and architecture. The crowd slowly shuffled in with most of the fans being no younger than 55. It was an unfamiliar feeling for me to be one of the youngest concert goers at a show. I was both thrilled and surprised to see a full orchestra set up on stage.  Knowing that The Palace Theater has plenty of space for the music to travel around in, I suddenly couldn’t wait for the show to start. Luckily for me and everyone else, Johnny Mathis started the show at 8pm on the dot and was greeted with a slow-rising standing ovation. Johnny_Mathis

    The opener was “When I Fall in Love”, to which I had never heard such utter silence from a crowd. Every set of eyes and ears were locked on Mr. Mathis, giving him his much deserved attention and respect. He stated how he was “thrilled to be at The Palace” and was going to play some songs that we’ve all heard before but he loved to sing them. After a few notes, it was easy to understand why Johnny Mathis has broken the Guinness World Record for selling over 350 million of his various gold and platinum albums worldwide. Despite being 78 years old, Johnny Mathis can still sing every word as crisp and clear as on his albums, and still with great gusto. Mathis sang his classic hits such as “It’s Not For Me to Say” and my favorite, “Chances Are.” The songs were filled with charming doo-wops and sincere, long sustained notes.

    Throughout the entire show, at the start of every song, the whole audience would sigh and swoon. Johnny Mathis would sing a few notes, the crowd would sigh in admiration and I could hear the folks around me gently singing the lyrics to each other.  As humorous as it was, it was still heartwarming to be included in a nostalgic evening for concert-goers. Mathis ended the first set with an emotional cover “Yesterday” by The Beatles. There was a brief intermission where comedian Brad Upton kept guests entertained with clean cut jokes about today’s youth and their obsession with technology, the humor of getting older plus plenty of marriage/relationship advice. Mr. Upton delivered each punch line with charm that it was no surprise that he won the crowd over in just a few laughs. Brad Upton recently was the winner of the Las Vegas Comedy Festival and has appeared at Caesar’s Palace as part of the HBO Comedy Festival. bradupton2

    Johnny Mathis began the second set with the recognizable song “Pure Imagination” from the film Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. One of Mathis’ signature songs, “Misty”, received plenty of cheers due to the soaring string section and tender lyrics. The second set was mellow and easy going until Johnny Mathis brought up his fellow band mate and “Dear friend of 48 years”, Gil Reigers to center stage. The crowd got antsy as this was a sure sign that the two would play “12th of Never”, a warm ballad with gentle guitar strumming from Reigers. Johnny Mathis ended the evening by serenading the crowd with the classic song “You’ll Never Know” and thanking the talented orchestra, loyal band mates, his dedicated fans and of course, the beautiful venue, The Palace Theater.

  • The Jam Journey Home: Aqueous and Turkuaz weekend in Vermont, March 30th and 31st

    Road trip. Two words that will instill excitement, desire, and even a wee bit of anxiety in any music lover. This particular trip would involve three people’s weekend journey into the beautiful mountains of Vermont, culminating in an excursion to see two of the Northeast’s finest bands, Buffalo’s Aqueous and NYC’s Turkuaz, playing together at the revered historical jewel of a venue: Nectar’s in Burlington.

    Our Friday stop was in the sleepy little town of Manchester, Vermont which is snuggled comfortably in the southeast corner of the state just across the New York border for a two set Aqueous show at The Perfect Wife Restaurant and Tavern.

    The Perfect Wife resides on a windy country road and had a packed dinner crowd up until show time, which made for some interesting logistics prepping sound and equipment around families enjoying their dinners. The venue was immaculately clean and featured a friendly accommodating staff, a diverse menu featuring many local products and an excellent selection of draft micro-brews.

    Aqueous took the stage a bit after 10pm to a decent crowd with a well executed, if somewhat standard version of “What’s the Connection”. This would be the last of the standard renditions for the night as the rest of this set was pure fire. Top notch versions of “Skyway” and “They’re Calling For Ya” came next, both featuring some especially adventurous improvisation between the composed parts and the start of a “Cissy Strut” tease that would permeate almost every song for the rest of the night. The highlight of the first set was an intense 17 minute version of “Complex” which, despite being a relatively new song, has joined the upper echelons of the band’s most jammed out tunes. The set closed out with a 23 minute combo of Hendrix’s “Bold As Love” into the original “All In”.

    The second set started off with an on-the-spot improv jam based on Chic’s “Good Times” which segued into the often paired original duo of “Eon Don” and “Timmy’s Blades”. Manchester got a special treat in this set as it marked the debut of a first time played original “The Village Dog and Pony Show”. The new song was an excellent example of Aqueous’s brilliance at genre-knitting sequences that seem to have no business being in the same song into one seamless composition. Imagine if Rush and Muse had a hot threesome with Umphrey’s McGee’s “Booth Love” and you’ll be somewhere in the ballpark of this songs sound. had a chance to talk with guitarist Mike Gantzer about the story behind this song, and while we can’t reveal the gritty details, the song is written about a person who was too consumed with his own self interests to be courteous to others. Other second set highlights included a very experimental version of the original “Origami” featuring a keys sit-in by Scott Hannay (Mister F, Capital Zen) who was also helping out with sound that night.

    The next morning, after a quick breakfast, it was time to head to Burlington. After a fun day enjoying the shops of Burlington  and a chili cook off at Nectar’s — with guest judge Jon Fishman of Phish — we were able to witness an absolutely breathtaking sunset as we arrived at the venue a few minutes before Aqueous’s opening set.

    Nectar’s is everything a jam fan might imagine: filled with artwork in line with the venue’s rich musical history, well kept and staffed, excellent sound and heady selection of brews with a large local focus.

    Like the night before, Aqueous wasted no time getting right into it and delivered another set filled with excellence for the Vermont denizens whom showed up early. Highlights included the opening original “Pictures”, a fun mash-up of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and Aqueous original “Warren in the Window” and yet another monster “Complex”.

    Next up was the mighty Turkuaz, with the ten members lined up on the stage, which made even the ample sized Nectar’s stage look minimal. The entire band came decked out in one piece coveralls, maintaining their fashion statement from the Rochester show the previous night. Despite the ten people on stage, their sound is unbelievably tight and comes across as one unified funk force. Like Sly on steroids, the band flowed effortlessly from song to song with ample improvisation and a large portfolio of well chosen covers including top notch versions of Led Zeppelin’s “Trampled Under Foot” and The Band’s “The Shape I’m In”. Beyond the music, the bands three vocalists all have top quality pipes that add an extra layer of soul to the funk souffle. At this point the venue was packed to the gills. All eyes were on Turkuaz and all feet were moving in unison with the thundering waves of funk. They played late into the night and left the Nectar’s crowd fully satiated. Even if you are not a fan of this genre, Turkuaz is an absolute must see band.

    Aqueous setlist: 2013-03-29 Manchester VT

    Set 1 What’s the Connection, Skyway, They’re Calling For You[T1], Complex [T1], Triangle[T1], Axis>All In[T2]

    Set 2 Good Times Jam[Chic]->Eon Don->Timmy’s Blades->Warren[N1], The Village Dog and Pony Show [N2], Origami[N1,3][T3], Just[N4][T1]>Strange Times, Pictures

    Teases: 1 Cissy Strut 2. YYZ 3. Amber [311] multiple times
    Notes: 1. “North Face” lyrical modifications 2. Debut 3. With Scott Hannay [Capital Zen/Mister F] on keys 4. Radiohead cover

    Listen here.

    Aqueous setlist: 2013-03-30 Burlington VT

    Set 1: Pictures>All In[T1], Strange Times, They’re Calling For Ya[T2,3],The Village Dog and Pony Show, Skyway, Bohemian Rhapsody->Warren[T4]->Bohemian Rhapsody>Complex

    Teases.1. Pictures 2. Xxplosive [Dr Dre] 3. Next Episode [Dr Dre] 4.Closer to the heart [Rush]

    Listen here.

    Turkuaz setlist: 2013-03-30 Burlington VT

    Set 1: Physical Challenge, Future 86, Bubba Slide, Smarter Than the Speaker, Gremlins, Slippery People, Getting Closer, Trampled Under Foot, Snap Your Fingers, E.Y.E.>XYZ, Desert Island>Coast to Coast, The Shape I’m In, Pickin’ Up, Hold On I’m Comin’, Chatte Lunatique>Club Foot, Beast of Burden, The Harder They Come, Monkey Fingers

  • NYS Music’s 4/20 Show Roundup

    April 20th has evolved into a counterculture holiday, with ties to Deadheads and hippies and just about every person you probably know or will know. Music venues all over Upstate New York are using this as another reason to see live music! Here is our compiled list of 4/20 shows around the state.

    Lower Hudson

    Bethel Woods -Felice Brothers with Driftwood

    4/20 showsBinghamton

    Fitzie’s – Mantraverse, Inner Mission, The Benjamin Raubinsons, Hung Like Horses, The Quantum, Amber Martin

    Buffalo

    Nietzsche’s – Family FUNKtion and the Sitar Jams, The Heavy Pets

    Town Ballroom– Hellzapoppin

    The Tralf – The Maniacs

    U of B – Aqueous, Haewa, The Assortment of Crayons

    Canandaigua

    V Pub – 34 Feet Deep, In The Box, Fire Wheel

    Oneida

    The Madison House – Project Weather Machine

    Rochester

    Water Street Music Hall -The Manhattan Project

    Montage Music Hall – Groove Fest

    Lovin’Cup – 4/20 Bash

    Featuring: Hollands, Extended Family, The Filthy McNastys and The Buddhahood

    Syracuse

    Tipperary Square – Hot Day at the Zoo, Tim Herron Corp, and more

    Saranac Lake

    Waterhole – Cabinet w/ The Blind Owl Band

    Utica

    The Uptown Theatre– Childhoods’ End

    Downstate

    Port Chester – The Capitol Theatre– Furthur

    Burlington, VT

    Higher Ground Ballroom – Kung Fu, Twiddle

    Nectars – Touch Pants, Jon Fishman

  • The Black Crowes at The Capitol Theatre, Port Washington, April 2nd and 3rd

    Playing their first shows in the United States since December 2010, The Black Crowes came to The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester to packed houses for a two night stand of amazing music at the legendary venue, a big change for the band since last playing in the U.S. with the addition of Jackie Greene.

    Jackie has played with numerous people over the years including Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Warren Haynes and many others and was a welcome addition to the band.  A big ovation greeted them as they came out on the 2nd and displayed big smiles, with the band launching into “Twice As Hard” followed quickly by “Sting Me.”  This one-two punch forced the already excited crowd out of control.  The fans were happy to have their band back and the band accepted the love and gave their all through the music.

    On both nights, Jackie Greene and Rich Robinson played off of one another perfectly.  Individually, each has the ability to take the lead at any point in any song that is performed.  Although Jackie is new to the band, he stood right there alongside Rich, trading guitar licks as if he’d been there for years.  The back and forth between the two made the show move without giving up for a second.  Steve Gorman and Sven Pipien kept the beat going and matched the intensity of the guitarists on drums and bass respectively.  Adam MacDougall had time to shine on the keys each night.  One of the few songs to be repeated, “Thorn In My Pride,” saw Adam destroy his keys to the pleasure of the fans.  Chris Robinson was in fine vocal form both nights.  His voice echoed throughout the hallowed halls of The Cap both nights showing no signs of wear and tear from the years of being on the road.

    Each night saw a mini acoustic set by the band, starting with beautiful versions of “She Talks To Angels”;  Jackie plays the mandolin for this and it is a wonderful addition to the song.  The first night they went into a standout version of “Whoa Mule” from 2008’s Warpaint, while the second night they brought a new take on “My Morning Song.”  This acoustic version of “Morning Song” was a different take than anything I have heard before from the band.  When electric, this song is usually jammed out to its full spacey extent, but this version saw the jamming in the middle become concise and beautiful.  It is a must hear from the two night run.

    The encores at the end of each night paid respects to bands that have preceded them.  Night one ended on “Hard To Handle”, a tune that nearly everyone know and was by far their first hit, but all of a sudden the band flowed right into Deep Purple’s “Hush” and completed it before going back into “Hard To Handle.”  The Black Crowes have always had a love of covering bands that have come before them and this was no exception.  It was a beautiful nod to the past, while still showing that there is more to come from this band.  The two night stand ended with a take on Delaney and Bonnie’s “Poor Elijah – Tribute To Robert Johnson Medley,” giving the band yet another opportunity to show they have many surprises up their sleeves.

    The Black Crowes have always been a fun band to see in person.  With these shows, they showed that they are in this game for the long haul.  The addition of Jackie Greene has made them even stronger than when they went on hiatus in 2010.  Be on the lookout for them as they tour throughout this year.  These guys are not to be missed with the way they are playing right now, and remember, these were just the first two shows of the tour.  Many more surprises are sure to be heard as they get comfortable being on the road again.

    April 2nd Setlist: Twice As Hard, Sting Me, Think N Thin, Hotel Illness, Medicated Goo, Ballad in Urgency, Wiser Time, She Talks to Angels, Whoa Mule, Hi Head Blues, Soul Singing, Thorn In My Pride, Remedy, Jealous Again, Been A Long Time (waiting On Love) Encore: Feathers, Hard To Handle>Hush>Hard To Handle

    April 3rd Setlist: Jealous Again, Think N Thin, Halfway To Everywhere, Space Captain, Sister Luck, Wiser Time, She Talks To Angels, My Morning Song, She Gave Good Sunflower, By Your Side, Soul Singing, Sometimes Salvation, Remedy, Goodbye Daughters Of The Revolution, Thorn In My Pride Encore: Descending, Poor Elijah – Tribute To Robert Johnson Medley

  • Summer in Saratoga: A Rock Art Exhibition’ poster show to be held during Phish’s three-night run at SPAC

    Summer in Saratoga will take place at The Saratoga Hilton on July 5, 6 & 7 th. Admission is Free and open to all ages. The exhibit will run all three dates from 10am-3pm. The poster show will feature the best Phish inspired art, including limited edition art made specifically for the show.

    The poster show featuring Phish artists from around the country was developed and produced by a group of artists and fans, this poster show will be held in the middle of a weekend of Phish.

    Phish poster shows have been held over the years with great success, as unique posters made for the Phish shows that weekend and stop on the tour feature some of the best concert art being produced today. ‘Summer in Saratoga’ is the second event produced by The Mothership Art Collective, a group within the Phish community, comprised of artists and organizations who promote the art inspired by the band Phish. Their initial poster show, ‘First Tube’, was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey on June 16th, 2012 and was a success for all who participated in the event and raised $2000 to benefit The Mockingbird Foundation. The eclectic artists featured at this poster show displays the broad scope of Phish related art and capture the inspiration of the band in their art. The creative fan base that Phish has makes for amazing art inspired by the band, the locales and the music. The collective works hard to bring an art show to the Phish touring public each year.

    In keeping with the great tradition and success of past poster shows, Summer in Saratoga will offer free entry to all patrons, tubes available for purchase, charitable donations from the event made to The Mockingbird Foundation and a wide array of artists with posters to fit any budget. Artists will be announced in early May, as well as any special edition works that will only be available at the show.

    The Saratoga Hilton is located in downtown Saratoga Springs, only 3 miles from Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC).