NYS Music 20​13

Category: News Desk

  • Halestorm taking the stage at Rock on the Range

    halestorm

    Hailing from Red Lion, Pennsylvania, Grammy winning band Halestorm is always ready to hit the stage with their mind-blowing performance, giving all of their 110%. Started by the Hale siblings, Lzzy (vocals/guitar) and Arejay (drums/vocals) have been actively writing since then, taking music lessons at a very early age. In their teens, they released their first EP, Don’t Mess With the Time Man in 1999. Current members, Joe Hottinger (guitar) and Josh Smith (bass), joined the band between 2003-2004.

    halestorm2

    By 2005, the band signed with Atlantic Records and released their first official live EP, One and Done, featuring an early live version of their hit single, “It’s Not You”. April 28, 2009, the band released their self-titled debut record, the leading single, “I Get Off” and the second single being “It’s Not You”, which was released as a single in November 2009. “Familiar Taste of Poison” and “Love/Hate Heartbreak” were 2010’s singles, both accompanied by music videos. Halestorm released an EP, ReAnimate, featuring covers of “Out Ta Get Me”, “Bad Romance”, and “Slave to the Grind”.

    By January 2012, Halestorm released their second EP, Hello, It’s Mz. Hyde, supporting the release of their second record, The Strange Case Of…, which was released on April 10, 2012. Because of their single, “Love Bites (So Do I)”, Halestorm became the first female fronted band to top the active rock charts. In 2013, the band won their first Grammy in the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Category for their single “Love Bites (So Do I)”.

    halestorm1Halestorm has been known to tour with bands such as Shinedown, Papa Roach, Chevelle, Trapt, and Three Days. In the summer of 2012, they were part of the Carnival of Madness Tour, co-headlined by Chevelle and Evanescence. Lzzy’s powerful pipes can be heard in songs such as Shinedown’s “Breaking Inside”, and their unreleased version of “Shed Some Light”, Adrenaline Mob’s cover of “Come Undone”, and recently, a duet with David Draiman, “Close My Eyes Forever.”

    Halestorm will be making their mark at Rock on the Range this year for the fourth time. This is a definite must-see performance.

  • Albany’s Alive at Five schedule released, featuring George Clinton and P-Funk, The Original Wailers, The Refrigerators and more

    Albany’s Alive at Five, featuring free music shows at the Corning Preserve overlooking the Hudson River, has announced their 2013 schedule and it looks to be the best one in recent memory. Featuring funk, blues, reggae, country, classic rock and a great deal of local bands, Albany is in for a treat starting June 6th!

    alive at five refrigerators2013 Alive at Five Schedule

    June 6th: The Fabulous Thunderbirds with Super 400

    June 13th: JT Taylor with The Ill Funk Ensemble

    June 20th: The Refrigerators with Molly Durnin

    June 27th: George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic with Funk Evolution

    July 11th:  Satisfaction: The International Rolling Stones Show with Chris Dukes Band

    July 18th: Starship featuring Mickey Thomas with Wild Adriatic

    July 25th: Local Blues Night: The Tom Healey Band and Blues Sanctuary

    August 1st: The Original Wailers with MIRK

    August 8th: Country Night! Skeeter Creek with Whiskey City

    Remember, no coolers, alcohol or drinks allowed in. They’ll be plenty of vendors there to take care of you.

  • The Slide Brothers, presented by Robert Randolph, slide into The Putnam Den this Friday, May 17th

    The Putnam Den is fortunate to have a quartet of legendary pedal steel musicians coming to town on Friday, as Robert Randolph Presents The Slide Brothers, four of the greatest living musicians who embody the Sacred Steel Tradition – Calvin Cooke, Chuck Campbell, Darick Campbell and Aubrey Ghent. The joyous music these legendary artists create extends far beyond scared steel to encompass blues, rock and soul all celebrated with a sound that is uniquely their own. Opening the show is a great Delta blues guitarist in her own right, Danielle Miraglia from Boston.

    the slide brothersThe pedal steel guitar was introduced to church services by Willie Eason in the 1930’s. His single-string passages, which imitated the African-American singing and shouting voices, remain the signature sound of the Keith Dominion steel guitar style. Robert Randolph rose to fame a decade or more ago playing Sacred Steel with his band at The Wetlands, Bonnaroo and venues throughout the Northeast and has become the most successful artist to emerge from the Sacred Steel tradition.

    The Slide Brothers include one man who has been dubbed the “B.B. King of gospel steel guitar”, Calvin Cooke. Calvin was hails from Cleveland and performed the pedal steel at Church of the Living God in Jewell Dominion, known for it’s strong steel guitar tradition. He continues to use the same instrument on stage today as he had in 1955, as well as a ten string pedal steel instrument which he plays in a unique tuning that came to him in a vision.

    Aubrey Ghent, a nephew of Willie Eason, has also become a celebrated steel guitarist, preserving the sacred steel tradition and instrumental in bringing it to a wider audience. Unlike Robert Randolph and the Family Band who have crossed over to doing more secular music, Aubrey Ghent has stayed closer to the gospel roots of tradition, as have many of the steel guitarists of the Jewell Dominion. In recent years, Ghent has performed and recorded with several top recording stars including Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks.

    Chuck Campbell began playing the lap steel guitar at the age of eleven. At fifteen he became one of the first players to utilize the Pedal Steel guitar in the House of God Church, Keith Dominion. Chuck is renowned for his innovative approach to the instrument both technically and musically. His use of effects such as distortion, tone control pedals like the Wah-Wah and his picking techniques enable him to emulate the human voice in an uncanny fashion.

    Darick Campbell first made his mark in music as a drummer. For several years Darick was the premier drummer of the General Assembly, the National Convocation of the House Of God Church in Nashville, Tennessee. His choice of the Lap Steel is a reflection of the influences he has blended to become the most emotional player of The Campbell Brothers musical tour d’ force. His renditions of “End of My Journey” have caused audiences throughout the world to weep in heartfelt response to his playing.

    “My goal is to open the door for people in the same way that musical doors have been opened for me,” explains Randolph. “I want to take this musical history and make it relevant to give people a better idea of who we are and where this tradition came from. I think even though I’m a young guy who was born into the era of hip-hop and contemporary gospel, I can help bridge the cultural gap between people who are seventy-five years old and kids who are fifteen years old by reaching back into this history of music.”

    Find out for yourself how deep this musical history sounds with The Slide Brothers on Friday night at The Putnam Den. Doors are at 8, show is at 9:30. Tickets are $10 at the door and $8 in advance.

  • moe.down 14 Announces Final Lineup for August Festival in Turin

    moe.down 14 has announced their final lineup for their 3 day music festival in Turin, NY for August 9th– 11th, at Snow Ridge Ski Resort, located in Upstate New York’s beautiful north country.  Joining moe this year will be Dr. Dog, Del McCoury Band, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, RAQ, Eastbound Jesus, Wolf! and The Stepkids. Earlier band announcements included Steve Kimock Band, Mike Dillon Band, Conehead Buddha, Pennyshine, Conspirator, Stanley Jordan Trio, Savoy and Floodwood.

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    Early bird tickets are still available for only $110 and for the first time, moe.down will be offering VIP tickets for $310. Guests can also purchase single day tickets for Sunday only. The festival offers camping, RV camping and a separate family-tenting area.

  • Mickey Hart, Approaching 70, Keeping the Spirit Alive with Evolving Group

    When Hurricane Sandy devastated the east coast last year, drummer Mickey Hart sat around watching the news, saddened but inspired by the resiliency shown.

    “It was heart-wrenching,” Hart, one of the four living members of the Grateful Dead, said in a recent phone interview. “I saw Bon Jovi on NBC News and all of a sudden the song just popped into my head.”

    The song he is referring to is titled “JerseyShore,” and is available for free download at mickeyhart.net. Hart said he wanted to give back to the people affected by asking for donations from those who download the song. You can download it for free, but the site encourages you to donate whatever amount you can. Hart is giving 100 percent of the proceeds to the Sandy Relief Fund.

    mickey hartHart said that he and his group, the Mickey Hart Band, collaborated to come up with the song. He gave credit to bassist DaveSchools, also of Widespread Panic, in helping the song develop.

    “It was my idea for the song, but the entire band contributed,” Hart said. “It just popped out, but everyone in the band lent a voice to it. … To me, music is many things, and one of those is that it helps to heal, to sing about what hurts and to illuminate pain. It’s like medicine and it boosts confidence.”

    Hart’s band has been going strong for three years now, with an ever-changing cast of musicians. For a guy who is about to hit his 70th birthday, Hart said he is as inspired as ever to write new music – he disclosed that a new album should be released by the end of the summer – while keeping the Grateful Dead spirit alive by putting a new take on old classics. The album does not have a title yet, but Hart said that he and long-time Dead lyricist Robert Hunter have collaborated on it, and that Hunter is rejuvenated.

    “Hunter is writing at the top of his game,” Mickey Hart said. “He’s still chock-full of ideas for great songs, and we’re gonna play those songs on this tour.”

    Hart joined the Grateful Dead in 1967, right around the time Hunter moved into the famed house at 710 Ashbury St. in San Francisco. Hart said his relationship with Hunter is just as strong as it was 46 years ago.

    “There’s no one like him,” Hart said. “He has an egoless style.”

    The band recently wrapped up the first leg of the Worlds Within Tour and announced a second leg, which focuses mainly on the northeast. The tour starts May 8 in Charlotte, N.C., and concludes May 24 at the Dark Star Jubilee in Ohio. In between are stops in Virginia, New York City, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Boston and Burlington, Vt.

    On May 22, Hart brings his band, which comprises vocalist Crystal Monee Hall, keyboardist Joe Bagale, guitarist Gawain Matthews, percussionist Sikiru Adepoju, with whom Hart won a Grammy in their Planet Drum project in the 1990s, drummer Greg Schutte and multi-instrumentalist Jonah Sharp to the Westcott Theater in Syracuse. The following night, the band will perform at the WaterStreetMusic Hall in Rochester.

    Schools will not be involved with this tour, as he has previous commitments. Schools said he is prepping for Widespread Panic’s upcoming summer tour. Schools joined the band in late 2011, and has toured with band ever since.

    “He’s got a day job, man,” Mickey Hart said. “But I can say that ‘BassMountain’ is still a big part of the band. He and I have a great dynamic in working together.”

    Filling in for Schools on the Worlds Within Tour is Adam Theis, who will also play trombone, according to Hart.

    On Jan. 6, 2012, the band performed at the Westcott, throwing down some amazingly brilliant and completely different takes on the Dead’s repertoire. Hall’s voice adds a layer of depth the Dead didn’t have vocally. Prior to joining Hart’s team, Hall was a part of the Tony Award-winning musical RENT.

    Before that show, Hart talked about his plans for taking light waves captured from outer space by scientists from Lawrence Berkeley Labs in California and turning them into sound bytes. From there, Hart used those sounds as either inspiration, or built a song or rhythm around them.

    To Dead fans, this may bring up the “Drums>Space” segment that happened at almost every show, but Hart cautioned otherwise, saying: “This is not space like (the Dead) used to do; we’re not interpreting what space is. This is us using the source material, the sounds of space, to play with our sound. This band can do that.”

    The conversation then turned toward the obvious: Will the living members of the Dead ever tour again? Was 2009’s tour the last?

    “I can’t answer that,” Hart said. “I look forward to any reunion of any kind, but it has to feel good.”

    Hart concluded the conversation by connecting the fans and the band.

    “These shows are gonna throb,” he said. “Fans will experience it with us. We need the audience, and they need us. Each night will be three hours of powerful music, and I consider it a privilege that I continue to do this. I might not be able to do some of the things I was capable of in my 20s, but I can say I am focused. I’m almost 70 and I don’t see myself retiring.”

    For more information on the tour, please visit mickeyhart.net for shows and ticketing information.

  • Phish ‘Ventura’ Box Set on Sale June 18

    Another tasty morsel for all you phunky people, Phish Ventura Box Set in stores and online June 18, 2013. The 6-CD set includes complete concerts, including soundcheck samplings, of Phish’s performances at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura, CA on both 7/30/97 & 7/20/98.

    phish venturaThe Ventura box set captures the feel of two magical nights of Phish – recorded by Paul Languedoc to multitrack tape, mixed by Jon Altschiller and mastered by Fred Kevorkian. Jams from the soundchecks were included at the end of both shows for a glimpse behind the scenes. This collection is a summer soundtrack that just gets better with every listen.

    Phish Archivist, Kevin Shapiro gives us a look into what it was like for the band –

    7/30/97 – “The site of the Ventura County Fairgrounds shows was a general admission dirt racetrack between the Pacific Coast Highway and Surfers Point Park; with palm trees and mountains behind the stage and a view of the Pacific Ocean from the bleachers. July 30, 1997 was Phish’s first Ventura stop since Trey learned to surf nearby in 1993… Ventura ‘97 featured a number of must-hear performances including a bass-driven, syncopated Wolfman’s Brother > Chalk Dust Torture, a deep and spacey Stash and a gnarly Character Zero in set I. Peak improvisation of the highest order defined set II with a Free > David Bowie > Cities > David Bowie combination that dominated the show’s second half with some of the summer’s biggest jams.”

    7/20/98 – “Ventura ’98 was characterized by some new songs, some bustouts and some wicked jams played with a democratic group-mind that conjured a stellar Bathtub Gin opener, a new arrangement of Water In The Sky, the swinging funk of The Moma Dance and a hairy Split Open And Melt set I closer. Set II exploded with a crucial bass-and-drums-fueled Drowned > Makisupa Policeman pairing that utilized Page’s synth stylings to seamlessly blend rock and reggae.”

    For your listening enjoyment and for sharing via download, stream or broadcast, a sample track from the release can be downloaded HERE  –  “BATHTUB GIN 7/29/98″

    Ventura Box Set Setlist:

    1. NICU
    2. Wolfman’s Brother
    3. Chalk Dust Torture
    4. Water In The Sky
    5. Stash
    6. Weigh
    7. Piper
    8. Cars Trucks Buses
    9. Character Zero
    Disc 2
    1. Punch You In The Eye
    2. Free
    3. David Bowie
    4. Cities
    5. David Bowie
    Disc 3
    1. Bouncing Around The Room
    2. Uncle Pen
    3. Prince Caspian
    4. Fire
    5. My Soul
    6. Ventura ’97 Soundcheck Jam
    Disc 4
    1. Bathtub Gin
    2. Dirt
    3. Poor Heart
    4. Lawn Boy
    5. My Sweet One
    6. Birds Of A Feather
    7. Theme From The Bottom
    8. Water In The Sky
    9. The Moma Dance
    10. Split Open And Melt
    Disc 5
    1. Drowned
    2. Makisupa Policeman
    3. Maze
    4. Sea And Sand
    5. Prince Caspian
    6. Harry HoodDisc 6
    1. Sexual Healing
    2. Hold Your Head Up
    3. Halley’s Comet
    4. Ventura ’98 Soundcheck Jam

    Phans who pre-order the release from Phish Dry Goods will also receive a bonus disc complied from the band’s only other concert in Ventura in 1993 (3/21/93 Ventura Theatre).
    BuenaVentura Bonus CD Setlist:
    From Set I:
    1. Maze
    2. Sparkle
    3. Divided Sky
    4. Split Open and Melt
    5. Lawn Boy
    From Set II:
    6. Tweezer
    7. Llama
    8. My sweet one >
    9. Big ball jam
    10. Cavern

  • Rochester International Jazz Festival iPhone and Android App Now Available

    Jazzfest app photoSummer music festival season is right around the corner and festivals are looking for new ways to enhance our experience while at an event. One thing almost all the festivals are doing is creating an interactive app for both iPhone and Android, to assist in making your own schedule to full bio information on all the artists performing.

    One App I will be using this year is the newly released Rochester International Jazz Festival app. The app makes it easy for festival fans to get the latest news, schedule, artist information, photos, maps, venues, travel information and buy tickets. The Android app is new this year for the festival while the iPhone app has been revamped to include several new options for app users. Both apps are free, available now for download, and include a new photo booth feature where you can take photos at the festival and share.

    There are also options to: Select favorite artists, share information on Facebook and Twitter or email, create a personal festival agenda, use the search tool for easy browsing through concert files and artist profiles and festival goers can get a concert reminder alert for to shows about to start. How did we ever survive life before apps like this? I remember lots of maps and bulky event programs to sift through in my satchel, I say thank goodness for apps like this.

    How to Download

    For iPhone: download now free from iTunes.com.

    For Android  download now free from googleplay.com.

    About XRIJF
    The Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival will be held June 21-29 and features jazz musicians from all over the world. For more information and a full schedule of events please visit www.rochesterjazz.com or even better you can download the app.

  • Ashleigh Flynn Celebrates Her Latest CD | A Million Stars

    AFlynn2013Portland, Oregon-based Ashleigh Flynn is the unique female voice that Americana music has been longing for, strong and full of soul. Set for national release on May 14, 2013; to celebrate the release of her fourth studio effort, Flynn is offering a FREE download from A Million Stars: Prohibition Rose.

    “This song is about Portland’s own most infamous bootlegger during prohibition, who happened to be a woman… known also for opium distribution, and shanghaiing unsuspecting patrons.” –Ashleigh Flynn

    Ashleigh Flynn awakens your soul like the new spring breeze rising from the dead of winter. Flynn is joined on this release with friends like, Todd Snider and many of Portland’s most talented musicians including, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee-Drizos, Nate Query, John Moen, Annalisa Tornfelt, and the Stolen Sweets singers, among others.

    Flynn’s peers and fellow musicians have referred to her as “True blue Americana” and a representation of the next generation of songwriters. I find her to be what Americana music was missing, a mixture of powerful female voices like Ani Difranco  and Tara Nevins.

    For more information on Ashleigh Flynn please visit www.ashleighflynn.com
    [soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/90336208″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

  • Get Strange this Memorial Day at StrangeCreek Campout!

    Memorial Day, a weekend traditionally known as the opening of summer kicks off 2013 Festival season in the Northeast with StrangeCreek Campout Music and Arts Festival in Greenfield, Massachusetts, nestled in the Berkshire Mountains. The festival is named after the bands Max Creek and Strangefolk is held at Camp KeeWanee, a children’s summer camp on a small river in the woods of Northern Massachusetts.

    StrangeCreek CampoutWith a notorious combination of great music and a welcoming family friendly atmosphere, this festival has become a favorite of many, especially . While a small festival overall, StrangeCreek has benefited from positive word of mouth over the years and continues to grow and gain loyal attendees seeking out the best music in New England.  Several Upstate NY bands, including Donna the Buffalo, Jimkata, Conehead Buddha, Marco Benevento, Eastbound Jesus and Lucid will be making an appearance this year, as well as numerous bands that make routine trips through Upstate New York.

    The entire StrangeCreek Campout lineup includes headliners Max Creek, Dumpstaphunk and Donna the Buffalo, plus fan favorites Zach Deputy, Ryan Montbleau, The Alchemystics and Marco Benevento. The rest of the lineup is not too shabby either, with something for everyone: Consider the Source, Jimkata, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Bernie Worrell Orchestra, Alan Evans Trio, Juggling Suns, Shake Down, Turkuaz, A. Dario, Barika, Bay Road, Beau Sasser Project, Big Daddy Love, Big Something, The Big Sway, The Brummy Brothers, Byrne’s Big Suit, Carole Davia, Conehead Buddha, Cosmic Dust Bunnies, Cosmodrome, Daddie Long Legs, Danny Pease & the Regulators, Domino Theory, Eastbound Jesus, Fat Bradley, Fungus Amungus, Gaia Roots, The Garcia Project, Gary Backstrom Band, Goosepimp Orchestra, Jabooda, Juicy Grapes, Kind Buds, The Kings, Les Racquet, Liquid Pocket, Lucid, The Marks Brothers, Matt Carey, The McLovins, Moses & the Electric Company, Orange Television, Otis Grove, Our Own World, Outer Stylie, Paranoid Social Club, People With Instruments, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Primary Others, Primate Fiasco, Raft, Rebelle, Rebel Alliance, Relative Souls, Resin Ed, Rev Tor featuring Charles Neville, Rising Tribe, Romano Project, Secret Sage, Seed, Silent Bujak, Sun Jones, Tawdry, Tony Vacca and World Rhythms Ensemble with Abiodun Oyewole (of The Last Poets), Van Gordon Martin Band, Vernville Family Jam, Viral Sound and William Thompson Funk Experiment.

    StrangeCreek CampoutAside from the music, the festival also offers Yoga, bonfires, late night music, and an overall sense of community, that is missing at many larger events. This year, as in years prior the gates will open on Thursday evening for those looking to get a jump on the weekend. Tickets are now on sale.

    We cannot wait for Memorial Day! See you at StrangeCreek!!

  • Bela Fleck and The Marcus Roberts Trio Play The Westcott May 8th

    Tomorrow, May 8 at 7 p.m., banjo extraordinaire Bela Fleck will bring his masterful sound to the Westcott Theater in Syracuse with the Marcus Roberts Trio for an evening full of musical virtuosity. Except the four men will come together to display their sound together.

    belafleck1L

    Chances are you know of Fleck as the man who revolutionized the banjo through relentless touring with his band the Flecktones, who are currently on hiatus. He has sat in with countless musicians spanning his career, which began when his father gifted him a banjo at age 15. The Marcus Roberts Trio is led by its namesake. The ever-changing cast of musicians currently features founder Roberts, who grew up in Florida with a gospel style background, on piano. Tennessee native Rodney Jordan will be playing the upright bass, while Jason Marsalis, nephew of legendary musician Wynton Marsalis, will be playing drums.
    The show is sure to be a fun, yet intimate, time. The Westcott has a history of hosting some of the most famous musical acts while providing fans with an up-close, and very personal view of the men and women on stage.
    Tickets for the show are on sale now at thewestcotttheater.com for $35 advance, and $40 the day of.