NYS Music 20​13

Category: Central NY

  • Electric Lineup: Conspirator, SOLARiS, Mister F at Westcott Theater, October 11th

    As summer fades and fall begins, the festival season comes to a close once again. The endless lineups of favorite bands, the coming together of masses of people and the weekend-long festivities will return in a number of months, but until then, we have shows like the one put on by Conspirator, SOLARiS, and Mister F at the Westcott Theater on October 11th. Located just outside Syracuse University’s campus, the Westcott Theater hosted an audience composed of both students and locals, bridging the gap between the University and its surrounding community.

    MRF

    Before fans could see headlining act Conspirator’s elaborate display of visuals , the crowd’s light-up hula-hoops provided aesthetic entertainment during the evening’s first act, Mister F.  Made up of members from Timbre Coup and Capital Zen, Mister F’s music fuses the progressive, funk, and rock elements found in the group members’ outside projects. Utilizing a five-string bass and a seven-string guitar, Mister F’s uncommon instrumentation set the dance-dominated tone for the rest of the evening..

    Solaris

    Following Mister F’s set, fellow Upstate New Yorkers SOLARiS continued the night’s electro instrumental theme with their 3-piece fusion tunes. Although SOLARiS played an opening set, the extendedness of their jams and the crowd’s participation created an environment reminiscent of any headlining act. Drummer Daniel Scott Lyons’ ability to direct tempo changes with his quick-paced clicks influenced smooth transitions and allowed the band to jam without pause for almost the entire set.

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    As Conspirator took the stage against a backdrop of sun and palm trees, bassist Marc Brownstein introduced the band’s newest member, known simply as Torch. Brownstein explained that while Conspirator has played in Syracuse more than almost any other city, Friday night marked the first time in town for the band’s most recent addition. Inexperience, however, played no role in their set. As Conspirator’s jams evolved from slow grooves to an all-involved dance scene, the togetherness exemplified in the crowd also showed in the band’s ability to flow from jam to jam.

    conspirator2

    Conspirator’s electronic backdrop altered with the band’s music. The sun and palm trees that once occupied the set’s beginnings transformed throughout the show, creating abstract patterns representative of the band’s psychedelic tunes. While the season most closely associated with sun and palm trees has transitioned into the recent past as well, experiencing a show like this is always a fine way to spend Friday night.

    Setlist: Right/Wrong -> Onamewa -> Flash Mob -> Velvet Red -> Up -> Dynasty ->Orch Theme -> Hellsling
    Encore: Caves of the East

    Photos by Lorenzo Cook

  • Recap: Utica Music and Arts Festival 2013

    The Utica Music and Arts Festival delivered without a doubt a one-two punch that the community needed in order to highlight the Mohawk Valley‘s growing music and arts scene.  Founded several years ago by Joe Sweet and Zee, their vision to bring an eclectic mix of music musicians and artists to Central New York has slowly but surely taken seed.  Over the last six years the community has come to embrace this movement to make this a destination for attendees and artists alike with more than a thousand performers submitting their music for review to become part of the 2013 history. With a bright blue sky as the backdrop and a canvas the size of a billboard, the artists created their masterpieces as audiences watched their visions unfold right in front of their eyes.

    This year’s partnership with Mohawk Valley Community College was the perfect setting Saturday for the Greens Fest activities and artists to showcase their work.  Interactive art projects allowed children in attendance to be part of the art themselves while face painting creations by Kitty Glitter made them walking works of art.  Special chalk artist  from upstate New York, Eric Muruscak, known for his amazing 3D murals, created a life size hole that many dared to cross while snapping photos of their fearlessness.  The activities were numerous and wherever one looked there were musicians, magicians, jugglers and dancers who provided non-stop entertainment throughout the day.  The scent of Green’s stone baked pizzas and Polish cuisine wafting through the air made it difficult to choose just where to eat while vendors displayed and sold their handcrafted creations to those strolling through the grounds.  From one side of the city to the next, venues opened their doors welcoming musicians from all over the world to perform.  Attendees traveled all over the state to catch glimpses of their favorite performers and were not disappointed in the least.

    Hotel Utica

    Friday night began at the Hotel Utica, an absolutely perfect gem of a space.  Once hailed as the premier location for the rich and famous that passed through the central New York region, its newly renovated interior became the perfect setting to check in, grab the schedule and head out to the venues featuring your favorite artists.  Performances were non stop throughout the Hotel all weekend and as patrons stood above on the mezzanine watching performances in the lobby, one wondered why this wasn’t utilized more.  The beautiful sounds of Arielle, carried throughout the lobby as patrons sat comfortably tapping their toes and enjoying this bohemian feel.  It is even said that perhaps a ghost was sighted throughout the evening.

    O’Donnell’s Pub & Grill

    O’Donnell’s Pub & Grill, located on Varick Street welcomed artists throughout the weekend.  Artists such as locals The Upstate Outlaws, a rock band featuring Andrew C. Styles on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Brice Dunn on bass/backup vocals,  John Swiech on drums and tin whistle, Mike Frantz on weirdness guitar/backup vocals,  and Matt Pett on lead guitar lead off a weekend of rockers to take the stage in the pub.  Also performing there was Fred Gillen Jr, who came from the Hudson Valley region has a folk style of music and playful banter that amused the audience while his tunes eased them into a comfortable swaying back and forth.  Suns of The Empire, a local band from Rome, NY that has played together for the last 13 years rocked the house with opening number “Stuck in the 80’s” as well as some of their tunes like “Wrong is Right” and “Beating a Dead Horse” while new tunes like “Falling Down” will appear on their upcoming CD scheduled to be released soon.

    One highly anticipated band this year brought back by popular demand all the way from Denmark was Miss Marlow.  Miss Marlow is fronted by Marleen Pfeiffer, and accompanied by Søren Larsen on guitar, Trine Wester on bass, and  drummer Jon Clausen.  This band brought the house down with their unique and sultry vibes of rock and roll reminiscent of the Pink Floyd era.  With each number, the crowd gathered clapped and cheered inciting them to continue to play even when their set was over.  Due to the amazing response to their Friday night performance, the festival was able to talk them into squeezing in “just one more set” Saturday night for those that couldn’t make Friday’s stellar jam session and before they moved on for their national tour of America.  Miss Marlow was a must see show and you have to hope they return next year for those that may have missed their performances this time around.

    Nail Creek Pub & Brewery

    The Nail Creek Pub & Brewery also located on Varick Street once again opened their doors this year to a multitude of artists over the weekend.  Seth Adam, a Connecticut native returned to the festival this year after Central New York and Utica made a lasting impression on him at last years event.  Joined onstage by John Jackson on Mandolin, Violin, Guitars and Vocals and Gerry Giaimo on Guitars and Vocals, this trio’s unique blend of rock, alternative country, and folk sound moved the audiences they played for both at the Nail Creek and at the Greens Fest Stage.  If you missed either of these sets, make sure you don’t miss their new release of their latest single “Push and Pull”, off of the new record, “Steel Tempered Pride,” coming out Oct. 1st.

    Also performing at the Nail Creek was Los Angeles based Poeina Suddarth.  An energy radiated from her as she prepared to take the stage. Her warm welcoming smile and playful attire put the audience at ease immediately.  When she began to sing, her sultry, strong voice mesmerized and captivated those listening.  Preparing for an upcoming European tour, you can check out Poeina’s music on iTunes and find out more about the tour on her Kickstarter campaign.

    Saturday afternoon brought one of the most talented guitar players currently touring to the Nail Creek.  Based currently in Williamsburg VA, Mark Kroos’s unique style of playing two guitars simultaneously amazes audiences.  This type of performance is unique and his one of kind musicality and vivacious personality won over the crowd immediately.  It is no wonder UMAF quickly booked Kroos to join them this year and his performance surpassed the anticipation of those who snuck a peek at his videography online in advance.   Audience members became more engrossed after each number and yelled encouragements and love after each song.  His playful banter and interesting stories outlined each number and amused those in attendance.  This insight to Mark’s writing and performing only made audience members more engrossed with each number.  The only downfall to his visit to UMAF was the fact that his set was so short and he couldn’t stay longer to play longer as he had another gig in Pennsylvania early the next day.  Check out Mark’s video performing “Dueling Banjos”, solo.

    The Green Onion Pub

    Friday night ended at The Green Onion Pub on Genesee Street with UMAF returning favorite Randy Niles.  Randy has participated in UMAF now for four years and has become family.  Randy is based out of New York City and his eclectic sound is reminiscent of a mix of soul, rock, pop, folk, and blends to into an Indie sound that is unmistakably remarkable. When I first saw Randy play last year, I was amazed at his musical genius and mesmerized by his one man band sound that is known as looping technology.  With a few beats, strums, and clicks he lays down a background accompaniment that compliments and grooves along with his lyrics.  This sound is unmistakably unique and wows audiences wherever he plays.  When asked his thoughts on UMAF and his experiences with the event he stated “UMAF is not just a festival, its an idea that has opened up not just opportunity for the arts but for a community and I’m glad to call myself a part of that community.”

    MVCC – Greens Fest

    Saturday kicked off the Greens Fest at the perfect venue, MVCC.  The collaboration this year with MVCC was genius and was the perfect setting to showcase the artists as they painted, the vendors showcasing their handmade wares, the food vendors specializing in everything from pizza, to fries, to pierogis and of course greens.  This family filled event had magicians, jugglers, Kitty Glitter, and interactive activities that amused the children while parents enjoyed the stages with more UMAF selected artists.  From the moment it began, the crowds were constant and the energy was felt by all in attendance.

    Saturday Afternoon shows on the main stage featured Jenna McDaniel, Ray Mazza and The Gutter Bandits, Seth Adams, The Rick Short Band, and My Pet Dragon.  My Pet Dragon is always a crowd pleaser with their unique sound that is a mix of rock, pop, and indie elements.  Their music is the type that gets the crowd moving and dancing each and every time.  My Pet Dragon is led by singer/guitarist/producer Todd Michaelsen and actress/dancer Reena Shah.  Together they give audiences a high energy, feel good performance each and every time.  Check out their latest hit “Moonshine” and see for yourself how toe-tappingly pleasing they are.

    Hanna Park

    Throughout the city, venues continued to showcase talent with artists of every genre of music imaginable over the weekend.  However as a special treat this year, KROCK and GPO Federal Credit Union brought to Central New York nationally known artist Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts.  Hanna Park buzzed  from the moment the first opening band, Red Hush, took the stage.  The band’s performance set the bar high for an evening of rocking energy.  Hometown favorite Nineball followed with a performance that incited the crowd even more, preparing the them for the main event and special guests Scott Weiland and The Wildabouts.  After many years of performing with Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, the crowd was anxious to welcome him back with open arms.  Never skipping a beat, his transition to performing with his new band The Wildabouts was seamless and the performance outstanding. His sound was spot on and his performance of the utmost showmanship.  He was truly a superstar singing to a Central New York crowd as though it was a sold out Central Park event.

    Hotel Utica

    Finishing out the night at the Hotel Utica,  crowds joined in the explosive performance of the band, Moon Zombies upon returning.  With a name such as Moon Zombies you were assume they are dark and ominous, yet they are nothing like their name.  They were a wallop of high energy rocking tunes that hit you in the face like a wave crashing on a rock.  When asked what genre of music they consider themselves, they stated “FunSkaPunkFunkPowerPopiliciousness”. Hailing from Rochester, NY,  Moon Zombies have participated for two years now with the UMAF and what a diamond of a group.  The energy level was brought to you by Majic Wand on Vocals, Guitar and whatever happens to be laying on the stage; The Letter J on Guitars, vocals, foot work; DJ Late Payment on Bass/Funk Harvester; Danny O’Wallop on Drums, percussion, vocals, bottle returns; AdRoc on Keys, Buttons, Knobs, Glockenspiel; and last but not least Hard Work on Saxophone.

    With an anticipation of the crowd nearing the final hours, everyone made their way upstairs to the ballroom to see local band Floodwood perform. Introduced to everyone as a “progressive string band” the introduction truly downplayed what the audience was in for over the next two hours. High energy banjo, fiddle, and mandolin pumped up the audience with each number as bass and drums lay down the back line beat. As each number the band played, the audience danced, stomped, clapped, yelled, and became part of the music. The crowd cheered and begged to continue as the night wore on, especially when members of the band joined the crowd and played the floor.

    Floodwood is the perfect mix of talent to bring the perfect mix of music to the audience. For upcoming tour dates and their latest cd please visit www.floodwoodmusic.com. Floodwood closed UMAF like no other possibly could.  Their performance celebrated what Utica Music and Arts Festival was all about, the love of music, culture, art, and community.

  • Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Brings Westcott to New Plane

    Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe brought its brand of classic and masterfully innovative improvisational jazz funk to the Westcott Theater on September 17th. Comprised of an ensemble of veteran-status, time-tested talent, Tiny Universe was able to maintain a captivating energy that after a very long set, left listeners wanting even more. And they delivered.

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    How was this possible you ask? Karl Denson is a machine. Plain and simple. Don’t let the gray hairs on his beard mislead you. His presence and music are loud, energetic, fast, strong, and beautifully complex. This guy tears through airwaves like they were toilet paper. Based on his insanely muscular build, it looks like he could tear through a phone book or two also. But as Karl wowed us with his wild funky jazz lines, he reassured us that he was not just one mean-blowin’, jacked badass, but more of that wise, cool uncle-type that pushes you to be your best. About two thirds of the way through the set, he took the audience aside and gave us guys a pep talk on how to effectively get your groove back. It included a lesson on “Washing your a**.” It was funny, endearing and a great segue into a groovy jam.

    It wasn’t all about Karl though. Given, Lenny Kravitz’s band and Slightly Stoopid are pretty big credentials, but Denson’s counterparts were nothing to be scoffed at. Chris Littlefield held down the a somber, poetic and often avant garde vibe on the trumpet and flugelhorn, while a young-looking DJ Williams kept an explosive energy in his solos and a tight-funky sound to his rhythm guitar. Although these two players served as the pillars in support of Denson’s mastery, all of the band’s music was worthy of praise. Of special note to this humble listener was a long improv set based on a classic by David “Fathead” Newman (saxophonist for Ray Charles and Herbie Mann) called “Front Money.” It was hot. And as an encore they played their take on “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes.  This song also featured a sick solo from the brassy-sassy female trombonist from the Mike Dillon Band. It was a great way to end a night of great music.

  • Doomsday Device Studio Update

    Doomsday Device, while producing their own music, has decided to step into the studio so they can record a full length album. I contacted Mike (guitarist) about seeing what maybe in store and what they’ll be looking forward to on the way in and what to bring out.

    doomsday deviceUM: So you’re going into the studio, I know you guys generally are self-produced but what kind of feelings are going through your head going into this?

    DD: So far we have done self at home recordings. Whenever we record or write we try to go someplace we have not gone before. This meaning a feeling or and idea. we usually start with a brief direction we wanna go in. example being super heavy or thashy, monodic, or evil sounding and go from there. Curtis “on guitar I try to portray my riffs as if they were emotions and what my emotions would sound like in this setting” Jim “I try to accent the ideas put in front of me by playing what I feel is the right part to go with the riffs or lyrics.” We all are trying to keep an open mind going into the studio being it will be our first time. We wanna be able to walk in and learn as a band from the producers but also from ourselves. We wanna be able to walk out being a stronger band as a whole but stringer musicians individually!

    UM: What caused you to stray away from the DIY route?

    DD: We are staying away from the “diy” because we wanna have a better product in the end! We love recording and having the time to do it but it never comes out as most of the studio stuff these days and we wanna have the high quality sound. We are not looking at having a super produced product being we wanna still have the raw sound of the music. WE WILL NOT be using digital drums! EVER! JIMI LEE will be laying down his own tracks with his own drums. As good as digital production drums sound they are not real and we wanna be able to look back and remember playing each note that is recorded!

    UM: Where will you be recording at?

    DD: We are recording at WAAV studios in Syracuse, they have worked with many bands like Ghostxship, Jonestown, Circle the Suffering, Ripped Apart, How to Disappear Completely and more and look forward to working with these talented guys!

    UM: Anyone special who you’re looking forward to working with?

    DD: The guys at WaaV studios Jay, Devon and Ian! We can’t wait to work with these guys! They really are some of the coolest dudes in the area and we are honored to have them in our corner here. We also have a couple secret guest that wanna have come in and be part of our process. We are also going to have some guest vocals on the album but cant tell that info either!

    UM: Is there anything new you’ll be trying with this album that you haven’t done before?

    DD: As far as new stuff, we are always trying to progress forward. We are going into the recording studio for the first time to record a full length. So there will be recordings of songs that we have played live before plus more new ones that have never been heard. We do have some things up our sleeves that we are working on that if anyone has known us as musicians for the past 4 years might hear some things that have been done by us before but like it was said a progression forward so a little twist. we have a few things that we wont disclose yet cause you’ll have to wait but there are few things that we are putting on this album that you wouldn’t expect from us or maybe you would but hoping to have people like every song beginning to end and not get sick of it in days. That’s why we wanna do a full length. So you dont listen through it within 15 min and then thats the CD! we wanna be able to have an hour of music for everyone to listen and jam to.

    UM: Will the infamous decapitated yeti be on the album cover?

    DD: Yes! We have a couple artist in mind to do our art for the CD but have not decided on the one yet but we are thinking a very special person with a great eye and good ideas will be our pick.

    UM: Is there any pre-recording rituals you guys do?

    DD: Just the usual rockstar stuff but on a serious note we try to make sure that things are what we want. Each song that we record has been thought out and gone through a usual 2-3 tweaking processes. Being this will be our first time working we people that have a bias opinion so we are keeping an open mind to ideas and change.

    UM: Any last words?

    DD: What a rush! Can’t wait for everyone to see and hear what we have been doing on our break from shows!

    I’m looking forward to the end product! And so should you. Keep track on updates on facebook since even though they’re secretive about what they show but they can’t hold it all in.

    Facebook:

    https://www.facebook.com/DD315

    Youtube:

    http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC21iRqLW-DIqJWad_ybWyLQ

    Reverbnation:

    http://www.reverbnation.com/doomsdaydevice315

  • Candlebox event opens the new Oswego County Event Center (Part 1 of 2)

    The Syracuse area has a new home for live rock ‘n’ roll and it couldn’t be more beautiful.  A short drive north of the city brings you to Pennelville (only 5 minutes from Great Northern Mall).  Behind the community’s fire station is a brand new stage that is strong enough to handle two important things that a lot of other local outdoor venues can’t handle: the weather and bands with a lot of gear.  The stage also has two back entrances that make it easy for events requiring fast transitions to keep the show moving and the crowds entertained. The venue is going by the name Oswego County Event Center and it has already hosted its first two shows this year.

    We were lucky enough to make it to both incredible shows.  The venue’s first event was headlined by 90’s alternative giant Candlebox, along with national touring acts Open Air Stereo and Syn City Cowboys as well as several local acts.  The second show brought 80’s rockers Skid Row along with the guys from Syn City Cowboys coming back for an encore performance.

    On Sunday, August 18th after a long drive from Saratoga County to Oswego County photo editor and staff writer Jim Gilbert was welcomed at the brand new venue.  The gates opened up early and the show kicked off around noon.  Local bands rocked their asses off throughout the day and Labatts was flowing at the incredible event price of five bottles for $20.  How is that for event pricing?  The food wasn’t expensive either and very tasty.

    Far From Over was the first band of the day and they are an impressive display of young talent, strong vocals and overall good sound.  These kids were on the stage earlier in the summer for 95X-Fest and will be promoted in the line-up from opener into a more prominent spot over the next year.  Lead singer, Zac Birdslow, got his foot in the door by being a roadie for other local bands, and started singing himself at 16.  Based out of Hannibal, Far From Over has been together for two years and are looking to release an EP in November of this year.  Their influences range from Papa Roach and A Day to Remember to Taking Back Sunday.

    Next up on the main stage for the Candlebox show was Kilter, another Syracuse band with a great hard rock sound.  Kilter put on a solid performance as concert goers continued to stream through the gates.  If you are looking for a melodic rock band that still has the balls to kick your ass, you really should check these guys out.

    If a band could change in a short few months Catastrophe Me succeeded.  The lead guitar shredded and vocals were a lot more solid than a couple months ago.  As the set progressed the band really seemed to come together with the highlights coming from their self-titled song “Catastrophe Me” and a decent exchange of clean and unclean vocals. The final song, “Winter”, combined quality harmonies, great lyrics and left the crowd with a positive memory of Catastrophe Me.

    What do you get when you know how to blend guitars, bass and drums in the right way?  Storm Cell.  Good sound from obviously quality musicians.  Avenged Sevenfold just released a new album highlighting sounds from classic heavy metal and hard rock days; Storm Cell brings that old sound back in a refreshing way.  Smooth transitions from vocals to lead guitar and back to vocals.  At times the band seemed a little green, but nothing that time in the practice studio and more performances won’t correct.

    The next local band name, Agrestic, brought up memories of Mary-Louise Parker and her hit series Weeds.  By definition, agrestic means rural or unpolished.  Agrestic, the band, took the stage with a lot of good energy and they sounded much more refined than their name suggests.  As the line-up of the afternoon show moved on the professionalism of the musicians seemed to grow.  That’s a testament to the hard work that the promoter and organizers do to make sure things move along and the audience stays engaged.  Agrestic’s band members were crisper, cleaner sounding and it was evident that there were years of playing on the stage.

    When Enemy Down took the stage, there was a bit of a swagger, a little bit of cockiness in the band.  When they started playing I began to understand why.  They pumped out a tight sound, reminiscent of 90’s alternative with strong vocals and powerful lyrics.  The 315 rock scene is alive and well and the fans in the Syracuse area couldn’t be luckier to have such a wide variety of talent readily available.  The cockiness I sensed went along with that alternative, not quite punk, feel that the band personified.  They were doing their thing and if you liked it, that’s okay and if you didn’t, that’s okay too.  Highlights were an incredible bass and duo vocals that played really well off each other.  If you want to see musicians that have taken time to fine-tune their craft as well as their style, without seeming like they tried too hard, Enemy Down is a local must-see.

    It was slightly confusing why The Hellfish was on this bill, but they were and the crowd seemed to really love them.  They brought a large following of thirty-and-forty-somethings and maybe even a few fifty-somethings.  This is your classic feel good bar band.  The songs were about beer, last calls and partying.  There was even an Irish ditty.  In a different setting this band might have worked out great, but my eyes were burning a hole into my watch waiting for the time that some more kick ass, throw out, balls out rock and roll hit the stage.

    Luckily it wasn’t too long before Bound for the Floor took the stage and even more people crowded, huddled together in the shade at the front of the stage as the sun began to set in the backdrop.  Deep raspy vocals and an old grunge sound with a little harder twist, Bound for the Floor started out as a 90’s cover band and turned their efforts into producing some original rock.  The bass carried the songs through their paces and even though the band was only a few months old, the promise of a bright future was definitely there.  Good vibes emanated from the stage and the crowd soaked them up.  Oswego County was digging the new venue and the nationals hadn’t even hit the stage yet.

    Check the site tomorrow for Part 2 of this incredible show.  More photos and more updates on Syn City Cowboys from Kansas City, Open Air Stereo from Southern California, local Crows Cages and of course, Candlebox.

  • Hearing Aide: Floodwood “This is Life”

    From their endless touring with nationally-acclaimed jam favorite moe. to recording and playing together as the Americana based Al and the Transamericans, for Upstate music fans, Al Schnier and Vinnie Amico are two names that ring a familiar tune.  But their new collaborative side project, Floodwood, is an act on the bill that may not but the name is buzzing.  Less than two years ago, the two joined forces with New York natives Nick Piccininni, Jason Barady, and Zachary Fleitz to create a new, progressive string outfit who, in the short time since their inception, have swept through the live scene, playing countless festivals and shows in the region.  And with the release of a new album this fall, Floodwood isn’t just a group merely drifting along the stream.  They’ve jumped into the scene feet first, plucking strings and packing energy to rise them out of the tide.

    floodwood this is lifeThe band’s newest release, This is Life, is an album simple in theme, yet complex in form.  Showcasing the diverse talent of the Northern-bred quintet, it draws on elements of jam, jazz, bluegrass, and roots to capture the signature sound associated with the Floodwood name.  Birthed out of the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, the album features Al Schnier  (moe.) on guitar, Nick Piccininni (The Abrams Brothers, The Atkinsons, The Delaney Brothers) on banjo and fiddle, Jason Barady  (Wooden Spoon) on mandolin, Zachary Fleitz  (Wooden Spoon) on bass, and Vinnie Amico (moe.) adds a unique percussive dimension otherwise unseen in music of this kind.  Al, Nick, and Jason all take lead on vocals, and the musical variation of the band makes each track on This is Life take on a form of its own.

    “North Country Winds”, the album’s opening track, pays homage to the Floodwood’s northern roots. Schnier’s nostalgic lyrics paint the picture of an isolated Adirondack winter, and Barady opens up the number with a teasing of the mandolin –  soon after the rest of the band follows suit;  Piccininni’s fiddle stands at the forefront, and Fleitz and Amico’s rhythms drive the track. The album’s theme is reflected in the track, “Holy Sacred”, a playful tune with a simple message.  The track showcases Piccininni on banjo and “This is Life,” are three words that repeat themselves throughout the tune.

    Tracks like “Gravel Yard” and “Caught” are reflective of Schnier and Amico’s musical history of experimental jam.  Weaving together improvisational, spacey elements with traditional bluegrass form, the tracks hit at the core of what classifies Floodwood as a progressive touring act.  “Magnolia Road” is a tune with that signature moe. sound fan have grown to love, but the addition of Picinni’s vocals accompanied by strings give it a flavor of its own.  “Stomp It”, “Spoon Kicks” and “Whiskey after Breakfast” are instrumental tunes whose energies are reflective of what one might find when catching Floodwood live. Naturally, these songs set themselves apart from the other tracks on This is Life.

    While the album gives listeners a taste of the progressive powerhouse that is Floodwood, it merely skims the surface. They are a band not simply to be heard, but one to be seen.  To appreciate Floodwood, one must dive deep, but not too deep.  The spin they put on traditional form isn’t the only thing that characterizes Floodwood as progressive.  These days, they’re moving along at a rapid pace, playing countless shows throughout the Northeast.  And while touring and playing together may be fairly new for this Adirondack-born quintet, their music makes the message clear: for Floodwood, This is Life.

    Currently, This is Life is available for digital download.  To purchase the album, visit iTunes.

    Key tracks: North Country Winds, Stomp It, Caught

  • One Last Shot Interview with Jeremy Miller

    One Last Shot is a Punk band hailing from Syracuse is anything less than heavy hitting. With heavy hitting vocals and powerful instrumentals to go along with it these guys will leave you pumped and angst wanted more. I had a chance to talk with Jeremy (vocals) about the band and their hush hush Halloween album release.

    Me: First off how did you guys meet? Were you high school buds? Random meet up somewhere and happened to hook up?

    Jeremy: The line up changed over the years, but the current member’s were all connected by friends of friends in the music community.

    Me: How did you guys come up with your name?

    Jeremy: The original members took the old name “One More Shot, One Last Chance” and consolidated it to “One Last Shot”

    Me: Is it a reference to hockey or does it have anything to do with being the underdog coming up and giving it one last shot at your dreams?

    Jeremy: It’s about anyone giving it one last shot at dreams, or anything at life that they are trying to do which seems impossible.

    Me: Who are some of your influence in music and or in your personal lives that make you do what you do?

    Jeremy: We all musically have different influences. But what I’ve noticed is we all have a love for music in our scene made in the early 2000’s.

    Me: How does the writing process go for you guys?

    Jeremy: It can happen in many ways, whoever has a musical idea, they bring it to the table and we go off of it. Currently we’ve been locked in a room surrounded by extreme horror movies every other day writing.

    Me: Speaking of writing process, I heard there was an album coming out soon! Would you care to shed some light one that?

    Jeremy: We’ve put so much time into this. Almost over a year and a half of ideas and writing. All songs are written and in a week we go in to record it. Oh and its 12 all new songs.

    Me: Date, people your working with?

    Jeremy: The album will be out on Halloween (Naturally). We’re working with a lot of people, but I will not be able to drop that bomb yet. The one I will tell you we’re working with is Steve Sopchak at Square Studios again. I wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s the best at what he does.

    Me: Album art?

    Jeremy: Not yet.

    Me: I know your a horror movie fan Jeremy, can you tell us…..Whats your favorite scary movie haha

    Jeremy: I have too many favorites. They are a huge influence on me and my art. The other members are really into horror movies too, so it works well.

    Me: The music video for “Guilt Like a Guillotine” did you direct and produce that yourself or did you bring outside influence?

    Jeremy: We had the nice folkes at Night Force Video help with it for fun before there was a such thing as Night Force Video. They will be doing our next one as well.

    Me: What were the trials and tribulations that went into making the video?

    Jeremy: Ummm… It was a quick thing, nothing too hard or serious. We will be taking way more time and putting a lot into the next one. It’s going to be awesome.

    Me: Lets take a step away from the music and talk about the Straight Edge lifestyle?

    Jeremy: Sure. It’s a clean lifestyle away from drugs, alcohol and promiscuous sex.

    Me: Ive been hearing about a diffusion in the community, would you like to talk about that a bit?

    Jeremy: I honestly don’t do it for the community or care what goes on in it. I know that may sound disrespectful, but I mean no disrespect. I don’t do it for the community or care about a few assholes in it. No matter what you do, there will always be jerks messing with it and giving it a bad name. I just do it for me and for my health, and if I’m happy with myself that’s all that matters.

    Me: Any last words or stuff you’d like to throw out there that hasn’t been said or upcoming projects?

    Jeremy: Just expect this new album to be a flash from the past but in present time.

    Look out for them in a venue near you and check them out on any one of these links below!

    Website:

    http://www.onelastshotband.com/#store

    Facebook:

    https://www.facebook.com/onelastshot

    PureVolume:

    http://www.purevolume.com/onelastshot315

    Myspace:

    https://myspace.com/onelastshot

    Reverbnation:

    Throw my page a like on Facebook:

    https://www.facebook.com/315StreetTeam

  • Review: 95 X Fest

    Twenty Two bands for $20! What!!! With a lineup that consists of Sick Puppies, Adam Gontier, Nonpoint, Trapt, Otherwise and more, how can you go wrong for $20!!! Add eleven of some of the area’s best local talent and you have this year’s 95 X fest.

    Held at the F Shed in Syracuse N.Y., I was kind of skeptical of this venue until I got there. The F Shed is like a big warehouse or, like its name, a shed. A huge shed, in fact, but really nice inside. So, like me, don’t judge the place until you actually see it, because it’s actually a really good venue for a concert.

    There were eleven local area bands, and they all sounded pretty good. So all you concert promoters out there looking for some good opening acts for future shows, check out the list of local bands that kicked @$$ on this show. You really can’t go wrong with any of them.

    First on the main stage was Another Lost Year. This is a really good up-and-coming band. Their singles are getting a lot of airplay on XM Octane. Their sound check went a little longer than they wanted, so they had to cut their set a little short, but this band still rocked the place. They connected and played to the crowd really well.

    Next up was a band I knew nothing about, but now I know very well. Allele took the main stage second. Front man Wally Wood has endless energy. I think he stood on the rail and sang with the crowd for half his performance.

    Girl On Fire is now the third band to play on the main stage. Their current single, “The Takedown,” is really hot. These guys put on a great live performance. During one song, singer Austin Held’s mic went dead, which prompted him to slam it on the ground in frustration. He then grabbed another mic and hit the next note right on cue.

    Mindset Evolution was the fourth band to play the main stage. Their current single, “Burn It Down,” is also played a lot on XM Octane. These guys won Battle Of The Bands in 2012, and they have really grown since a year ago when they were on the Uproar Festival. ME put in a really good live performance.

    Devour The Day was the fifth band to grace the main stage. Former Egypt Central members Joey Chicago and Blake Allison make up half the band. Their current single, “Good Man,” is in heavy rotation on the radio. I forgot how much energy these guys have. Insane! They will be touring with Hinder later this year so make sure you go and check them out.

    One of my favorite up and coming bands that were a late addition to this show’s lineup were slated in the sixth spot on the main stage. Otherwise took the stage next and brought the house down. Otherwise is one of the best live bands you could see. I love watching Adrian and the boys rock it. If you have never seen Otherwise, all I can say is what the hell are you waiting for? Adrian just connects with the crowd and pulls you in. Bassist Vassilios and Guitarist Andrew were so energized, I think they drank a whole case of Red Bull or something before the show. Vassilios even jumped in the crowd and played bass around all the fans for an entire song, which prompted Adrian to say “please don’t kill our bassist”.

    Disturbed members Mike and Dan, along with Evans Blue Member and singer Dan, make up the next band that were in the seventh spot on the main stage. Fight Or Flight were up next and they were better than I thought. I wasn’t feeling their cd that much yet, and their single, “First Of The Last,” is OK, but their live performance is really good. In fact, they were so good live you would think that they were a band for many years performing together.

    Trapt gets the eighth spot on the show. Trapt played a good mix of old and new tracks. They always put in a great live performance, but I prefer them on a more intimate stage setting. Singer Chris Taylor Brown makes you feel his emotions as he sings and is a great performer. Their current single, “Eye Of The Storm,” is starting to get a lot of airplay on the radio.

    This next band is another must-see band if you have never seen them. In the ninth spot on the main stage was Nonpoint. Elias and the boys are so much fun to watch live. They just come out and Kick @$$ form start to finish. I had the chance to hang out with the boys for a little bit on their tour bus, and we had a really random discussion about mushrooms. We also had a debate on who has better pizza, New York or Chicago?

    Former front man for Three Days Grace, Adam Gontier, was slated in the tenth spot for this show. I haven’t ever seen 3DG with Adam. Matt is a great fill in, but when I heard Adam sing those songs I was blown away. Adam said to the crowd, “Isn’t it nice to hear the guy who wrote the songs, sing the songs?” Adam is just amazing live, and at one point near the end of his set he climbed the scaffolding all the way up to the lights and just hung there for a bit. I thought he was going to jump into the crowd, but after hanging for a couple of minutes he came back down.

    Sick Puppies is slated as the headliners for this event. Shimon and the gang always put on a great show. I was watching them pump each other up backstage before their performance. Shimon really likes talking to the crowd before every song, which can be a little overkill. When you have been at a festival all day and you’re the last act please keep the talking to a minimum. A large stage means more room for Emma to jump and spin around on stage. This girl is just amazing live, and I don’t think I would ever get tired of watching her play. Anzai is of the best bassists you could ever see live.

    This was a really good event and one of my favorite concerts of the year. This event was very fan-friendly with all of the bands signing autographs at different times under the autograph tent. That, to me, is what a music festival should have. It’s really nice to shoot the $#!t with your favorite artist for a couple of minutes and get something signed or take a picture with them.

    Photographer JT Gilbert took a lot of really nice pictures of this event, and his one of Nonpoint is f’in awesome. If Nonpoint ever makes a live dvd, that pic should be the cover.

    I also got to exchange a few words with Dan from Disturbed/Fight or Flight. He was drinking some really good red wine in a plastic solo cup. After I asked him what he was drinking, he told me, “Hey I have to switch it up from beer every now and then.” Funny.

    I also got to hold Adam Gontier’s Terminator-inspired mic stand which had to weigh about fifty pounds.

    Congrats to 95 X for putting on a really great event, despite the fact that a rival radio station that had their own event a week earlier pulled a classless move and held a free concert the same time and day of this event. I didn’t matter though, because on this day this was the place to be.

  • Chill as it Ever Was: Catskill Chill Music Festival Review

    The Catskill Chill celebrated its 4th annual music festival weekend on September 6th-8th at the scenic review of Camp Minglewood of Hancock, NY, located in the heart of the Catskills. The festival brought together another year of great music with a talented lineup and loving community known as the Chill Fam. What was once a summer sleep away camp gave festival goers the ultimate end to the summer party with the rustic and wooden stages, laid back staff and fun seeking friends that brought back memories of childhood and past Chill weekends. Guests had the option of renting cabins, complete with bunk beds, bathrooms and showers as well as plenty of tent camping for those seeking a view of the clear star filled skies at night while vendors were set up near the stages offering a variety of foods, clothes and odd ends at all hours of the weekend, complete with an Ice Cream Silent Disco Truck.

    American Babies, kicked off the festival weekend on the Main Stage with a gentle rock vibe with slight southern twang. Keyboardist Adam Flicker kept a very close ear to his organ almost as if he was resting his head on every note. “Blue Skies” brought an enchanting melody of endless sunshine while their rendition of The Grateful Dead’s “New Speedway Boogie” helped the crowd stretch out their singing chops and dancing muscles. Spiritual Rez is a reggae ska band that can dance harder than you and they aren’t afraid to show it. Toft Willingham is a total talented nutcase as he sings and rocks on guitar all over the stage, encouraging the crowd to join in on a massive primal scream. Drummer Ian Miller, having recently broken his right arm, still managed to beat the hell out of the drums left handed and Mohamed Araki took a break from his keyboards to excite the crowd with a stage shaking keytar solo. Making their third appearance at The Chill, the four piece electronic rock band, Particle sent the crowd rocketing with their “Launchpad” opener into Eddy Grant’s “Electric Avenue.” It was an unusual, somewhat early (5pm) set for the group but that didn’t stop the Chill Fam from packing out the Main Stage area for their spacy dance jams. The band congratulated the crowd on making the right choice to attend this year’s Catskill Chill as it is one of their favorite festivals to perform at and went on to cover Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al.”

    Jimkata had the crowd grooving in a beautiful unison with angelic yet robotic synthesizers and hard hitting guitar riffs. Drummer Packy Lunn slams relentlessly on the cymbals throughout “Die Digital” as Evan Friedell’s vocals cascade around the dance floor. Capital Zen, the progressive funk rock band from Upstate New York had music going in every direction. Their lyrics are fast spitting poetry that hits you at warp speed as their electronic tunes mix with hardcore rock and eventually into a cover of Primus’ “My Name is Mud.” Lotus brought the sound of lasers to life as they blasted the Main Stage to pieces with “Uffi” into “Golden Ghost”. Big electronic build ups throughout the set with heavy beats and intense guitar shredding provided a never-ending dance groove for the Chill Fam. The set got kicked up a notch as Particle keyboardist, Steve Molitz, joined the band for “Greet the Mind” for the ultimate get down. “Alright, we are pretty lite up” joked Alan Evans after their set opener, “They Call Me Velvet.” Given only an hour and a few minutes to play on Stage B, the Alan Evans trio didn’t waste a minute of pure funk explosion. Keyboardist Beau Sasser could barely sit down as he shook the keys and Guitarist Danny Mayer’s riffs were so sharp, they could cut right through you.

    Primate Fiasco, newcomers to the Chill this year, scored one set Friday and Saturday night on the Acoustic Junction stage. The modern day ragtime band was a refreshing and fun surprise to folks who found themselves dancing in no time. J Witbeck’s deep sousaphone notes kept the music hot while Dave Russo picked on the banjo with fire. The true highlight of Friday night came from the 10 piece party machine, Lettuce, who threw down the funk on the Main Stage and never picked it up. Their high energy horn section blasted the groove so even folks all away across the lake could get down. It was an old school, disco dance party with plenty of soul to spare. The crowd screamed with excitement as the band played the infamous “Apache’ by Jerry Lordan. Alecia Shakour had smooth sensual vocals as she sat in for “Do Your Thing.” Kung Fu ended the night on the Main Stage with a dirty funky groove full of serious attitude. The hard core electronic beats and ripping saxophone from Robert Somerville are things not to be messed with. John Durkin and Nigel Hall joined in for the far out funk of “Steppin in It.”

    check out Bryan Lasky’s photos below and keep reading for more of Catskill Chill from Saturday and Sunday

    A brief early Saturday morning storm passed through, making way for blue skies with sunshine and a jam packed day of music scheduled. Twiddle had a surprisingly large crowd at the Main Stage for their noon set plus multiple musician sit ins. 13 year-old guitar hero Bobby Paltauf sat in for “Mamunes the Fawn” and Todd Stoops from Kung Fu sat in for “Brown Chicken, Brown Cow” > “Funky Town.” Twiddle’s music mixes with all the best flavors of music such as funk, jazz, and rock causing a delicious start to Saturday. The Z3, a three piece funk band dedicated to music of Frank Zappa consists of Zappa lovers Beau Sasser, Tim Palmieri and Bill Carbone. The trio appealed to more than just Frank Zappa fans on the B Stage with their funky twist tributes of his original experimental rock songs. After last year’s late night cabin set, Solaris, Ithaca’s electronic trio rocked the comfortably crowded Club Chill. The all instrumental group fed off the wild energy in the room and threw it right back with a higher dosage of funk jazz fusion. Jared Raphel couldn’t be stopped as he gyrated back and forth, crushing his keys with atomic awesomeness.

    One of the more diverse bands of the weekend was Shwizz. One moment they are raging 80s German techno then suddenly it’s a light and soft lullaby jam. The band had so much love for the Chill Fam that it rained on the crowd and mixed with the cloud of glitter that was continuously being shot out of a cannon. One of the highlights of the set was the “Theme from Jurassic Park” closer, possibly the best cover of the weekend; Shwizz slowed down the piece and gently brought it up to a mountainous climactic peak. Quite the tear jerker. Aqueous delivered tight jams with improvisational grooves that kept the audience in nonstop motion. The big highlight and surprise of the set was their cover of “The Kids Aren’t Alright” by The Offspring, which brought out the teenage rebel in everyone, leading to a moshing sing along.

    Galactic gave The Chill a taste of New Orleans soul shakin funk music as well as a modern twist with speedy lyrics especially during “Move Fast.” The five piece band brought the Mardi Gras jazz and groove with their horn section and a resilient rhythm from Carter Burgess and Aaron Hagele. Fikus, best described as an electro funk rock, fused together a combo of hip hop attitude with piano solos and classic rock guitar riffs that turned Club Chill upside down. Brothers Past crushed it for over an on the B Stage for an hour set, with the highlight being a smooth and exhilarating “Squeeze” going just over 17 minutes. The dangerously fun headliner, Conspirator, was proud to return to Catskill Chll this year as they dominated the Main Stage. The band has a devoted fan base, due in part to Marc Brownstein and Aron Magner of The Disco Biscuits and for the powerful electronic rock dupstep that fans can’t get enough of. Drew Suto of Dutch Masterson Designs provided an intricate light and visual show that highlighted the unstoppable dark dance party. RAQ ended the evening with the quartet bringing an old school rock groove to the Chill Fam. The set consisted of on point jams with strong harmonies that flowed from “Cheap Sunglasses>Pushin’ Up Daisies> Bootch McGoo.”

    Check out Bryan Lasky’s photos below for day two of the Catskill Chill and keep reading for a review of Sunday

    On Sunday, Cabinet brought a beautiful start to Sunday with their all-string bluegrass sound. Their soft harmonies and bow playing was as fresh as the Catskill Mountain air. There were breaks in the clouds with gorgeous rays of sunshine that reflected off the lake while Cabinet’s music echoed off the breeze. It was more of a bluegrass meditation as concert goers eased into the third and final day of the Chill. More bluegrass followed as the four piece band, The Brummy Brothers, strummed on the Acoustic Junction stage. The Brummy’s introduced the song, “Cell Phone Blues”, by saying how one of the best things about the Catskill Chill is the zero cell phone service, a rare treat for today’s generation to enjoy The Chill with no technological distractions. The Brummy’s lyrics revolve around partying, the simple things in life and modern troubles, all with a jamgrass vibe that folks can both relate and “shake their brum” to. Later that day, the crowd was dancing, stomping, and singing along with the eight piece funk and soul band, Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds as their music flew off the Main Stage. The main songbird herself, Arleigh Kincheloe, blew minds with her stunning vocals and stage presence. The Dirty Birds know how to get down and dirty with a booming horn section, shrieking harmonica plus groovy drum and guitar solos.

    The McLovin’s, with less than an hour set, took the stage wearing furry animal costumes and played their second consecutive year at the Catskill Chill. The band did a solid version of Pink Floyd’s “Run like Hell” before bringing up the Horn Section from  Grant’s Tomb, New York’s top jazz jamband for a few songs, adding an extra party element. Legendary musician George Porter Jr. joined the animals on stage for a surprise cover of “Rappers Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang resulting in a massive dance breakout. Traveling all the way from Boulder, Colorado and one of the most anticipated sets for Sunday was The Motet playing a Funk is Dead set, a tribute to The Grateful Dead. The Motet performed the classic Grateful Dead songs such as “Scarlet Begonias”, “Fire on the Mountain”, “New Speedway Boogie” and “Shakedown Street” but with a funky fresh and exotic groove that was contagious. It was almost like hearing the Dead for the first time.

    The Meter Men got the crowd jiving with a steady beat from the “Hand Clapping Song” opener which helped the musicians stretch out their groove muscles. The set was an easy flowing funk session with the Meter Men constantly feeding off each other’s vibes. Page McConnell took a moment to share with the crowd how he was reeling at the fact that he was playing with his musical heroes resulting in a roaring cheer. One of the highlights of the set was when George Porter Jr. invited Bobby Paltauf, the aforementioned 13 year old guitarist, to join them on stage and introduced him as one of the up and coming musicians to watch out for. Paltauf held his own among the music legends as he had Porter Jr. and McConnell laughing as he went note for note with Nocetelli. The crowd couldn’t get enough as they cheered on the musical magic that was happening before their eyes. After The Meter Man capped off their set with “Just Kissed My Baby”, Turkuaz blew up the B Stage with their high energy funk explosion of a performance. Geneva Williams and Sammi Garett bumped in perfect unison with their tambourines, taking turns with their own killer vocal solos. The horn section didn’t miss a chance to blow fans away as the set got wilder by each second. David Brandwein was front and center with his hard hitting vocals and nasty guitar shredding. Turkuaz doesn’t stop from the second they step foot on the stage to the second they get off, be prepared to dance your shoes off.

    For the most dedicated of the music festival fans, there was the climactic late Sunday night trio of Dopapod, Papadosio and a collaboration of the two to form, Dopadosio. As the evening temperatures dropped into the low 40s, the crowd was more than eager for the music to start as the bands took time setting up the gear on stage. New York City experimentalists Dopapod treated fans to an uplifting fusion of rock meets techno meets improvisational jam, something akin to an outer space back yard party. The four piece band isn’t afraid to push their music or fans out of their comfort zone with their genre mixing testing. Papadosio have a more relaxed sound as they started with a spacey “Hippie Babysitter” only to take an electronic turn and add haunting vocals for “Method of Control.” The quintet combined psychedelic rock with a techno jazz composition that kept people hot on the dance floor. The final act of the Catskill Chill weekend came when members of Dopadosio closed down the Main Stage with a three song tribute to RadioHead with “Airbag”, “Paranoid Android” and “Optimistic.” From the first tent set up to the last car leaving the lot, smiles could be seen all weekend. There was a constant feeling of appreciation as friends gathered to celebrate each other, the talented musicians and hardworking staff that helped make the weekend all that it could be and even better. With more than enough music and positive energy, The Catskill Chill lived up to their motto, “All Love, All the Time.”

    The final set of pictures from the Catskill Chill from Bryan Lasky.

  • The Rascals to Bring “Once Upon A Dream” to the Upstate Region This Fall

    Coming to the Upstate Region this fall is a show that is part concert and part Broadway production.  The The Rascals, the legendary group from the 60’s, will be coming to Binghamton, Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Albany during the third week of November.   The show, which is produced by Steven Van Zandt, goes through their tumultuous history with newsreels, old concert footage, and filmed segments playing behind the band both during and between songs.  Van Zandt had been trying to get the group back together for many years, but the members did not want to do it.  Finally, with this show, he convinced them to agree to come together and they have been playing shows since December 2012 when the show premiered at The Capitol Theatre. 1001456_10151628431272052_1554064091_n The group was a major force in the music scene in the 60s, starting out as The Young Rascals.  They were one of the few American Bands that thrived during the British Invasion.  Their brand of rock ranged from blue eyed soul to folk rock to protest songs, even dabbling in civil rights issues.  Some of their bigger hits include “Beautiful Morning”, “Good Lovin’”, and “Groovin”.  In the early 70’s they went their separate ways until they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for a one night only performance until now.  The original members, Felix Cavaliere, Gene Cornish, Eddie Brigati, and Dino Danelli, are all here for these shows and these are can’t-miss events.  The Rascals are back and they are ready to bring a spectacular show to the Upstate Region.  For more information on ticket availability check here.

    Upstate New York dates

    November 19 – Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, Binghamton, NY

    November 20 – Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY

    November 22 – Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Buffalo, NY

    November 23 – Landmark Theatre – Syracuse, NY

    November 24 – Palace Theatre, Albany, NY