NYS Music 20​13

Category: UpstateLIVE Archives

  • Review: Lucid’s Album Release Party for ‘Home Is Where We Wanna Grow’, June 14

    Anybody who has spent quality time in the North Country and enjoys a bit of live music has heard of Lucid. Their vibrant and multi-faceted musical capacity is enough to make anybody stop for a listen. The band of six celebrated lots of hard work and the connections they have made along the way with their Home is Where We Wanna Grow Album Release Party on Friday, June 14th. The event was held at the infamous and well-loved Waterhole Music Lounge in Saranac Lake.

    The members of this band radiate the friendly, family-like vibe that Upstate New York’s live music scene is known for. They are always on the floor among the crowd before a show and during set breaks, greeting guests and interacting with their fans and this night was no different. As soon as I arrived I could spot percussion and harp player Lowell Wurster and had no problems getting his attention. We chatted for a moment and his excitement about the release of the new album shined. He explained that, “This one is for the people that want to get local. In a world full of so much doom and gloom, we want to represent something good, be people who aren’t just talking about it but actually doing something. We are working together to build good things and create change, and we have some good people helping us to do that.” Referring not only to connections made through live music, but also to the local organic food culture that is so prevalent here in the North Country, one that is getting bigger and better thanks to the people of Fledging Crow Vegetable Farm that the members of Lucid are so respectfully connected to. This is clear in the lyrics of the first song on the album “We can build this thing, from the ground on up, with a little bit of help from everyone”, that are chanted with such truth. Their inspiration and motivation is high and where there is a will, there is a way.

    There was excitement in the air as the band kicked off the night with a welcoming “World Full” that filled the room warm island sounds. They hopped from one genre to the next and busted out a few favorites before moving on to play the new album in its entirety. The songs were so diverse, showing how expansive and sophisticated their music abilities truly are. Every person at The Waterhole was dancing to the beats and singing along and I found myself in the middle of it all. During the new song “Highest Vibration”, the dance party turned into a 1950’s get-down. To my right I saw many familiar faces and to my left couples in Harley Davidson attire, the crowd as diverse as the music. There was truly something here for everyone. Keyboardist and singer Andrew Deller surprised the crowd with his accordion playing, while James Armstrong jazzed up the night with his sax. After a quick setbreak the music began again and some old favorites were played, including “Skipping like a Stone”, “Whoa Mamma”, “Psychedelic Circus” and a solid pair of Talking Heads covers, “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)” and “Psycho killer” , both of which you can always count on hearing.

    These guys have an array of instruments as well as character. They have so much fun on stage and are clearly proud to share their music with anybody who wants to join in and become a piece of their colorful mosaic. Their new album reminds us all why we have a love affair with this band and why the North Country would just not be the same without them.

    Be sure to check out Lucid’s 7th annual Backwoods Pondfest, in Peru, NY on August 2nd-3rd!

    Download Home Is Where We Wanna Grow on iTunes for free

    Read Lindsey Jones’ review of Home is Where We Wanna Grow

  • Ten Tips for Camp Bisco That You Will Thank Us For Later

    This will be my fifth year attending Camp Bisco in Mariaville at the Indian Lookout Country Club. As a Camp Bisco veteran, I have a few tips and suggestions that I wish someone would’ve told me before my first Camp. Following these guidelines can only help make your festival experience run smoothly and make fora successful weekend.

    1. Use a marker for your camp site. This is something I’ve always put number one on my list. As the festival has grown, the grounds have become a maze, making it difficult to find your friends and campsite. Use whatever is easiest to transport. In the past I have seen everything from flags to balloons and “rage sticks” to identify where you are in the labyrinth of easy ups and tents; whatever it takes to make sure you don’t end up sleeping in another person’s tent. If you choose to bring a balloon, make sure you bring ample string or rope and tie it tightly. I’ve seen all too many fallen balloon-soldiers to the weak ribbons of festival land.

    2. DON’T bring glass. Just don’t do it. If you look at the Camp Bisco website  you will see this clearly indicated under numerous times in the “What Not To Bring” portion of the site. Your car is going to get searched and there is nothing that holds up a line like a couple glass jars or bottle, whether full of beer, salsa or other things. You’ll end up having to throw out your stuff and you’ll probably make a lot of people mad. This is your warning.

    3. Always buy warm beer. A rookie mistake at a festival is buying a 30 pack of ice cold beer thinking that it won’t become skunk after day one. At a festival, ice is a privilege, not a right, so if you have things you need to keep cold, you have to wake up early to get to the general store and pick up a bag or two. With the thousands of people attending Camp Bisco, there is no way that you can plan on keeping ice forever on site for your crew, especially in the warm July heat when you’re gonna need it. Don’t pack things that you know need to stay constantly iced, because chances are you’ll run into a time where you’re going to have to wait for the festival to restock their ice supply. It isn’t fun having a cooler of food that’s gone bad, that’s for sure.

    4. Stay hydrated. Another rookie mistake I’ve seen year after year is the first year festival goers putting back beers in the 100 degree weather waiting in line to get in. Yeah, it’s nice to have a beer after a long commute but you have a long day and a long weekend ahead of you. The amount of people that collapse from not properly staying hydrated in the heat is outrageous. No matter where you go within the festival grounds, keep water on deck. You certainly don’t want your festival experience to be ruined by waking up in the EMT tent due to dehydration.  Bring TOO MUCH water; it’s better to be safe than sorry. The pump water is completely kosher for a quick rinse down in the morning, but bring your own water to drink. Water is a huge necessity at a festival, don’t make the mistake of not bringing enough. Last year between two people, we went through a case and a half of water. Given, it was peaking 98 degrees during the day, but with all the dancing and sweating you’ll be doing, you’re going to need a ton of H20.

    5. Map out what music you want to see prior to getting to the festival. Chances are there will be a million things going on at once that you want to experience and enjoy, so make sure you have a clear path cut out to ensure that you get the best of your festival experience. Also, do not lose your schedule. By day two everyone and their mother is going to try and borrow your schedule because they lost their own. Make sure you keep your schedule somewhere safe so that you’re not missing out on the awesome acts throughout the weekend. And make sure you see something new! Camp Bisco has introduced me to some of my favorite bands and DJs that I would not have heard otherwise. Venture out, follow the crowds and jump from stage to stage. You will not regret it.

    6. Pack appropriate clothing; It seems like a given, but sometimes you need to be reminded. I’ve seen past Biscos that have rained the entire time and I was definitely happy to have a pair of rain boots, umbrella and rain coat on deck. You can never be sure what the weather will bring when you’re camping outside vulnerable to mother nature’s wrath. In the same breath, bring sunscreen! I have also seen a Bisco where it has been 100 degrees every day with nothing but beaming, hot sun (i.e., last year). I made this mistake my first year and have always made sure I bring ample sunscreen every year since. There is nothing worse than being brutally burned for an entire weekend of sun, dancing and music. Also, don’t bring an expensive pair of shoes that you value. Regardless of the weather, somewhere there will be mud. If there wasn’t, it wouldn’t be a festival. I’ve seen people go barefoot the entire weekend and it just isn’t a good idea. You never know what lies in the depths of a muddy field that you really don’t want in or around your bare feet.

    7. Bring a solar powered charger. You’ll be happy when you’re not standing in line at a charging station or killing the battery on your car. There is little to no cellphone service at Indian Lookout so you’re phone will die almost immediately. Honestly, the best advice I could give you in regards to your expensive smart phone is lock it up. You won’t have service, it’ll constantly be dead and you’ll probably end up breaking, losing or dropping it in a port-o-potty; just lock it up and forget about it. Sounds unbelievable, but I promise you’ll survive.

    8. Get some sleep. As tempting as it is to pull all nighters for an entire weekend, your body will hate you come Sunday morning when it’s time to make that commute back to wherever you live. Even if it’s only a couple hours a night, make sure you sleep. This could be difficult due the constant thumping bass from your neighbors and the mandatory Five a.m. drum circles, so bring ear plugs, maybe a sleep mask and catch some shut eye. I have never been happier at a Camp Bisco than when I am fully rested and ready to keep moving.

    9. Wet wipes are God’s way of saying “You don’t need a shower to smell clean(ish)”. The shower lines at Camp can get pretty long. The best way to ensure a shower is to go at night, but then you’re risking missing an epic set on main stage. Wet wipes are cheap, easy and will keep you relatively clean. At least clean enough to not be that smelly guy in the crowd.

    10. Lastly, have fun! A day at Camp Bisco can feel like a week in real-time. Take things slow, don’t get overwhelmed and enjoy your time at one of the fastest growing, greatest electronic music festivals in the world.

  • Don’t miss Assembly of Dust at Putnam Den, Saturday June 22nd

    Folk-rockers Assembly of Dust make a trip to the Capital Region with a visit to the Putnam Den on Saturday, June 22nd, bringing with them an extensive catalog that pulls upon the sounds of The Band, Traffic and Neil Young to form their unique blend of folk, rock and improvisation.

    assembly of dust putnam The early 1970’s are reflected in their music, tailored to their own stylings and a powerful show is the result. With melodies that hook you in, Reid’s poetic lyrics and a profound depth of musicianship, USA Today has said that Assembly of Dust has what it takes to “dazzle the Alt-Country universe.” Assembly of Dust recently released their new album Sun Shot, which is available for free download at Aodust.com.

    Assembly of Dust features Reid Genauer on guitar and vocals, Adam Terrell on lead guitar, John Leccesse on bass and recent additions to the band Jason Crosby on piano and violin and Dave Diamond on drums.

    This show is 18+ and tickets are $10 advance or $12 at the door. You can pick up tickets to Assembly of Dust through Putnam Den. Doors open at 8 pm and the show gets started at 9:30 with very special guest Capital Zen.

  • Get Ready to Get Funky This Friday with George Porter Jr. at Red Square

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    Legendary bassist, George Porter Jr will be getting down and funky this Friday June 21st at Red Square in Albany with his band, the Runnin’ Pardners, presented by Guthrie Bell Productions . The New Orleans band is admired for their fusion of funk, rock and R&B with the members consisting of Porter on bass, Brint Anderson on guitar, Michael Lemmler playing keyboards, Khris Royal on saxophone and Terrence Houston on drums. George Porter Jr. is best known for being a founding member of The Meters with Art Neville, Leo Nocentelli and Joseph Zigaboo Modeliste.

    The Meters formed in 1965 only to break up in 1977 but reunited in 1989 and recently have been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Meters music has been celebrated as one of the hardest grooving bands in the business, delivering a high energy performance with heart and funky soul. Their music has been covered by such bands as The Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Grateful Dead, plus sampled by hip hop artists like The Beastie Boys and Run-D.M.C. When the Meters are not touring together, George Porter Jr. and Art Neville tour with their side project band known as the Funky Meters. George Porter Jr.’s music career has spanned over four decades and has worked with renowned artists such as Paul McCartney, Jimmy Buffett, David Byrne, Patti LaBelle, Warren Haynes, John Scofield, and Steve Kimock.

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    The McLovins, Connecticut’s top Jam Band, made famous from a YouTube cover of Phish’s “Youn Enjoy Myself”, are set to open the show. Their improvisational rock has led them all over the Northeast, making every concert goer a lifelong fan. Both the McLovins and George Porter Jr. are set to play this year’s Gathering of the Vibes as well as the Catskill Chill, making Red Square an ideal spot for a more intimate performance.

    Doors open at 8 with tickets available online for an early purchase of only $17 but will be $20 day of the show.

  • Meet Your NYS Music Staff: Writer Jenni Wilson

    Jenni Wilson joined the team in the Fall of 2012, writing about shows in and around the Capital Region, specifically the Albany area. She has spent a significant amount of time around live music, growing up with two parents who both played in bands and introduced her to much of the music she listens to and appreciates today. From a young age she traveled to many shows and festivals with her family, seeing everything from bluegrass, to jazz, to psychedelic jam bands. Later in life she established her own love for music, branching off from the roots that were established at a young age. Some of Jenni’s favorite bands include Phish, Sound Tribe Sector 9 and the Grateful Dead.

    jenni wilsonJenni also runs the Albany local promotion company Zen Rose Productions, booking a wide array of artists that have included Abakus, The Manhattan Project, Organik Time Machine, Business Casual Disco and many more. Jenni recently graduated with her Bachelors degree from the State University of New York at Albany. Now she spends her time painting, traveling, seeing live music and spending a significant amount of time with her two German shepherds, Django and Dharma (pictured above with Jenni). She currently lives in Albany.

    Her Musical Bucketlist includes The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Van Morrison, David Grisman, Talking Heads, Elton John, Daft Punk and Yanni.

  • Album Review: Lucid’s “Home is Where We Wanna Grow”

    I first experienced Lucid about a year ago at a sushi restaurant after one of the Phish shows at SPAC. They had been on my radar for several years, as they regularly toured Upstate NY, but I had never had the pleasure until that night. I was excited to learn that they were working on a third album, Home is Where We Wanna Grow. With two solid studio albums under their belt, 2005’s Miles Deep and 2009’s Dewdmanwah, as well as a live album, extensive tour dates and their own festival, Backwoods Pondfest, the timing of this album is perfect.

    Home is Where We Wanna GrowHome is Where we Wanna Grow is a diverse mix of genres, instruments, vocals as well as intensity. Lyrically, the album is an intricately blended mix of tongue  in cheek humor, observation and inner reflection. Songs range from the bouncy and hard-hitting “Boats” to the soulful and searching “Purple Moon”.

    Lucid brings distinct musical personalities and feels to each song; “Parisian Melancholy” brought thoughts of a Paris street, while “Highest Vibration” felt like a song one would hear at a 1950’s sock hop. Even ska made an appearance in “Green Money”. I was impressed with the thoughtfulness of their lyrics, as well as the care that they took with each song, making it truly a holistic listening experience. Overall this album offers a wonderful overview of all that Lucid offers, and I am excited to see them live again soon.

    Pick up their new album at their release party, Friday June 14th at the Waterhole in Saranac Lake or at their website www.rulucid.com. You can also check out Lucid’s festival, Backwoods Pondfest, August  2-3 in Peru, NY.

    Key Tracks: Ground on Up, Boats, Pterodactyl Lips

  • A Threesome of Trios: Haewa, Legit, and Heady Yetis at Montage

    Rochester’s Montage Music Hall is primarily known for its metal shows but has occasionally branched out into the jam scene with varied success. The venue has made some sound upgrades recently and is again making forays into jamland. Friday, May 17th was one of these adventures, with Buffalo’s Heady Yetis opening for Rochester’s Legit and Haewa. Early on, it was apparent that this would be a successful journey as people crowded the venue at show time, many having traveled all the way from Buffalo to support the Yetis’ early set.

    The Yetis are a young band primarily composed of members of the University of Buffalo’s jam club. They also comprised the surprise of the evening, as the jam force is strong with this young group. Playfully moving between songs with soaring solos from guitarist Philip Dreisen and rock solid rhythms from bassist Paddy Donnelly and drummer Nathan Bakowski, the Yetis showcased talent well beyond their years. Unfortunately, given the impending summer college break the Yetis will be on extended hiatus. Let’s hope this “jam-pire” strikes back as the deafening roar of the crowd end set indicated they all wanted a lot more.

    Following the Yetis was the Rochester mega-group Legit, who played their second performance ever. Legit is composed of drummer-for-everything Matt Ramerman, Roots Collider’s  Wil McKenna on bass and keyboard whiz Charles Lindner of The Manhattan Project. In complete contrast to their jazzy coffee-house-esque debut show at Roam Cafe earlier in the month (which you can read about here), this set was a rager filled with playful improvisation and a very adventurous take on The Beatles “Eleanor Rigby”. It was abundantly clear that this band knows how to play to a room and the frenzied crowd in house definitely brought out their animal instincts.

    During setbreak I find myself outside pow-wowing with Ocupanther‘s Jason Gilly, Roots Collider’s (and LEGIT’s) Wil McKenna, Thunderbody‘s Sam Snyder and Dopapod‘s Rob Compa. This is a typical situation in Rochester’s booming music scene, with musicians happy to support each other, sit in, and do whatever it takes to help each other succeed. Which is exactly how it should be.

    DSC_0315Haewa was up next. Fronted by Berkelee educated ax wizard Collin Jones, with a rock solid rhythm section of Ben Chilbert (Bass) and Riley Dichairo (Drums); the band has been blanketing the local area with shows and have been rewarded justly with a noticeable degree of improved tightness in their complex compositions. The trio has no fear of experimentation and while this can sometimes cause a train wreck, more often then not, it works beautifully. The group powered through their itinerary of originals with reckless improvisational abandon, much to the glee of the packed house. Mid-set, the already salivating audience was rewarded with a sit-in from the aforementioned Rob Compa, and watching these two guitar wizards play off each other was an excellent ending to a jamtastic experience. Although next time Rob, please turn it up to 11.

    Catch Haewa back at Montage after the Moe. party in the park show June 20th with Ocupanther. ($3 presale, $5 doors)

  • Roster McCabe Release Live 2013, Volume Cranked Up!

    Since 2006, Minneapolis-based electrorock four-piece Roster McCabe has been making music fit for jammin’ and dancin’. In their seven-year existence, McCabe has released several full-length studio albums, including The Rhythm The Elements and Through Space and Time. The band’s coalescence of sounds embodying reggae, jazz, and rock is best represented, however, by their high-energy live performances, which have led to several live albums, the most recent of which is Live 2013, Volume Cranked Up!

    Touring throughout the U.S. since early April, Roster McCabe has appeared at Summer Camp Music Festival and is scheduled to play the 80/35 Music Festival in July before finishing their tour with a stop at Hyperion Music and Arts Festival in Spencer, Indiana. After spending such a significant portion of their year on the road, another live album seems like a perfectly appropriate move for providing fans with an opportunity to experience the musicianship and energy exhibited by their live concerts.

    Live 2013, Volume Cranked Up! does just that. Between tracks like the upbeat, synth-driven “Take a Breath” and “The Only Truth,” whose steady introduction builds to a shredding guitar solo, the album offers classic Roster McCabe material in a form only fans fortunate enough to make it out for a tour stop have heard until now. The album includes a cover track as well, a version of Daft Punk’s recently released “Get Lucky.” For those who have already dubbed Daft Punk’s rendition ‘Song of the Summer,’ a listen to Roster McCabe’s version is highly recommended, along with the rest of Live 2013, Volume Cranked Up!

    Roster McCabe on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, RosterMcCabe.com

    Key Tracks: : Get Lucky, Take a Breath, The Only Truth

  • Album Review: Robert Randolph Presents The Slide Brothers

    The pedal steel guitar is an instrument not used enough in music today.  Thankfully for everyone’s ears, Robert Randolph brought together four masters of this instrument to make an album together, The Slide Brothers.  Calvin Cooke, Chuck Campbell, Darick Campbell, and Aubrey Ghent make up the group that keeps the sacred tradition of the pedal steel alive and well.  Throughout the album there is an expertise of the instrument on display, whether the band is tackling blues, funk, rock or gospel.

    The album opener is a cover of The Allman Brothers song “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’.”  Right off the bat you can hear that these four musicians know how to make the pedal steel sing.  Fans of The Allmans should have no problem loving this great cover.  Since Duane Allman used a slide on his guitar for many of the songs he played, the pedal steel is a great guitar to use for any cover of one of his songs.  There is a non-stop fury of wailing guitars as each member takes turns showcasing their talent.  A cover of George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” follows and the band makes the tune into a gospel song instead of the rocker we know from George.  The Slide Brothers make it work with help from Jimmy Carter, from The Blind Boys of Alabama, on vocals.  They truly do the song justice and this new take is a wonderful party for your ears.

    “Wade in the Water” is a great track on this album; the song has been around for ages and is a spiritual classic, but The Slide Brothers make it an instrumental and dig into the song with fury.  The five minute track allows each member to stretch their abilities out and provides them a moment to shine before turning it over to the next person.  “Praise You”, a Fatboy Slim cover, follows and with help from Shemekia Copeland and Robert Randolph and the Family Band,  the song is turned into a guitar wailing gospel song and fast becomes one of the best tracks on the album. The Slide Brothers make this song sound like an original and they did it with such ease.

    “Motherless Children” by Eric Clapton is tackled a little later in the album and they stay more true to the original than they have done with other covers.  The track is excellent and having four people cover one of the best guitar players around makes the song easier on everyone.  “The Sky is Crying” was another standout track done perfectly.  Most know it as a Stevie Ray Vaughn song but The Slide Brothers stayed with the more traditional Elmore James version of the song, keeping it heavily rooted in the blues.

    Robert Randolph has wanted to make this album for a long time in order to show everyone why he plays pedal steel.  These were some of his guitar gods growing up and he did a great job of giving The Slide Brothers material to tear into.  Get this album as soon as you can and be prepared to get rocked by one of the most unique musical  instruments, the pedal steel guitar.

    Key Tracks: Don’t Keep Me Wonderin, Wade in the Water, Praise You

    Pick up the album from their website – The Slide Brothers

  • Mind was D’Melted thanks to Club D’Elf and Marco Benevento at Red Square

    One of the best ways to cool down after a disgustingly humid Saturday is with cold drinks at Albany’s Red Square, and on June 1st, it was even cooler with Boston’s Club D’Elf and the infamous Marco Benevento. Club D’Elf is notorious for having a jazz –infused, progressive rock, Moroccan sound which was enough to sell me on seeing their show for the first time while Marco Benevento is no stranger to me or Red Square.

    The evening got off with a mellow and slow start with “Bass Beatbox”, gentle bells, easy beats from Dean Johnston and echoing riffs with each musician getting a feel for the crowd and space.  I lingered in the back of the crowd to take in the sound of the music clashing beautifully together. I could hear Marco pounding on his keys while Club D’Elf sent out waves of creepy Middle Eastern flair. I was pulled closer to the stage by the hypnotizing electric guitar riffs in “13/Gijro” and strong rhythm of the drum set plus ever growing bongos in “Hegue”.

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    Being closer to the action gave me a deeper appreciation for the artists who kept a constant exchange of smiles between themselves and the audience, plus a better look at instruments, some of which I have never seen before. Danny Blume takes credit for playing the biggest guitar I have ever seen and shredded the life out of it. While Mike Rivard handled the skinniest stand-up bass, switching back and forth to an electric blue guitar, giving the music a heavy dub/reggae sound. Benevento played what must have been every note on his piano and keyboard, all with great fire and recklessness throughout the night. “I Wish I Was in Heaven” and “Sidi Rabi” as the encore, brought out intense vocals from Brahim Fribgane and exotic sounds from his stringed Lutar.

    The sound of the evening could be summed up as a “Bob Marley meets crooked Arabian Nights meets downtown Jazz club” mixture. With everyone playing together, it was true Frankenstein of a band, complete with bizarre instruments and monstrous songs that left me with confused, delighted terror and amazement.

    The show is available for a free listen and/or free download, thanks to Ed Guidry. Remember to tip your tapers folks and to catch Club D’Elf at the Disc Jam music festival and The Lizard Lounge in MA on July 12th and 26th. Marco Benevento can be seen at Equifunk festival on August 17th Upstate New York.

    Setlist: Bass Beatbox, 13/Gojiro, Hegue, As Above, Mogador, Zeed Al Maal, I Wish I Was in Heaven Sitting Down, Instar,

    Encore: Sidi Rabi