NYS Music 20​13

Category: Rome

  • Acoustic Magic: Ed McCain’s Trio

    Mohawk Valley Community College’s Rome campus was the perfect venue to showcase the Ed McCain Acoustic Trio and the sold out crowd was treated to an amazing performance.  Ed McCain, best known for his songs, “I’ll Be” and “I Could Not Ask For More”, played these crowd favorites along with many more that spanned his 20+ year career.  Joined on stage by Craig Shields on saxophone and wind instruments and Larry Chaney on lead guitar, the three performed seamlessly together.

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    Many times you see acts that sound awesome from the studio and their live show doesn’t live up to the hype. Not in this case with Ed McCain.  The live show sounded as good if not better than the recorded versions.  Ed’s strong voice and personal presence wins over the crowd immediately, and his personal narration of songs and their road to the studio makes the song more meaningful as though it was now a personal story for the listener.  When Ed shared stories of how the songs came about, the subjects they covered, or the people he introduced to you through the songs there was no way you could hear the song again and not reflect back on the story.

    Never again will I be able to hear Marvin Gay’s “What’s Going On” without thinking of RJ’s Barbecue and the story Ed told of this amazing man and his friendship.  Nor will I ever not think sax players have it going on since hearing the story behind the song “One Thing Left” and how no matter how charismatic Ed was that evening, it was Craig that had the pretty girls attention.  Then there was the song “Sign on the Door” that came about after Ed lent an ear to someone sitting next to him one night at the bar.  Songs are written by artists for a variety of reasons.  Sometimes they are to celebrate, sometimes to heal, but no matter how they came to be, we tend to apply to our personal lives.  It’s this gift of story telling that makes Ed McCain an amazing writer, performer, and entertainer.

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    It was a pleasure sitting down and talking to Ed about music, life in Greenville, and his passions for every day life.  This passion that comes across in his music, as well as his genuine love of family, music, and surroundings are what makes his music so personal and loved by many.

  • Southern Rock legends .38 Special Blows Away The Showroom at Turning Stone

    When .38 Special performed at Turning Stone’s Showroom on November 14, I remembered what made them great when their songs aired on the radio in the 1980’s. Their heartfelt lyrics powered by strong vocals on top of plain-old, good-quality Southern style rock is pretty much the definition of .38 Special. No surprises there – they lived up to expectations.

    What was surprising was the energy that went into their performance. .38 Special was formed the same year I was born. So, when I see performers who were in their peak when I was an infant, I’m pretty impressed when they rock it out. These guys took very few breaks all night, and the music may have stopped two or three times at most during their set. The sound simply rolled, Southern style, from one song to another.

    The other impressive thing was that these guys were happy on stage. More than once I saw a look of ecstasy on Don Barnes’ face during a particularly intense guitar riff. All the members of the band seemed to enjoy themselves; they offered genuine smiles to each other while performing and attempted sincere connections with the crowd. It was clear that the members of .38 Special were at home, at peace, and totally content on stage.

    Although they are currently (and likely permanently) performing without founding member Donnie Van Zant, I still felt that their music was very much together: the band worked well off each other. True to Southern Rock, the lack of competing instruments and vocals makes everything just flow together.

    As usual, the Showroom’s classy atmosphere allowed for great seating with a good view of the stage. This venue can handle a wide variety of performances, and while I love dramatic performances, what was refreshing about .38 Special was that their show was all about the music. I suppose that is what has kept this group together for 40 years.

  • Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo Hit CNY with their Best Shot: A JTG Photo Gallery

    When Turning Stone announced that Pat Benatar was going to be in the Showroom in November, it was a guaranteed sold-out show.  The nearly yearly run through Upstate New York brought out droves of short-haired pixie cut women reliving their rebellious younger years through the musician that gave them the power to tell the world that collectively, “We Belong”.

    Pat Benatar and her husband (and business partner) for nearly 35 years, Neil “Spider” Giraldo, rocked the showroom despite being very sick.  Pat took short breaks to head toward the back of the stage to get a drink or clear her throat.  In the spotlight though you could barely tell that the legend was under the weather.  She gave it her all and the crowd was more than pleased.

    When Neil and Pat invited the crowd to ask questions, it gave Pat an opportunity to rest her voice as Spider answered most of the questions. From there she belted out some of her biggest hits, “We Belong” and the anti-child abuse anthem “Hell is for Children”.  With being sick, the crowd seemed surprised and so pleased that Pat did the whole set and didn’t cut anything short.  Amazing energy and a promise to return next year for a special 35th Anniversary tour – who could ask for anything more?

    Setlist: All Fired Up, Invincible, So Sincere, If You Think You Know How to Love Me (Smokie cover), River of Love, Promises in the Dark, Q&A, We Belong, Hell Is for Children, You Better Run, Hit Me with Your Best Shot, Love Is a Battlefield, Everybody Lay Down, Let’s Stay Together, Heartbreaker / Ring of Fire

  • Chicago Joins Forces with Utica Symphony Orchestra and Raises The Roof In Utica

    Few bands can maintain the longevity that Chicago has over the last 44 years and can still pack the house as they did November 5th at The Stanley Center for the Performing Arts in Utica along with the Utica Symphony Orchestra.  It’s amazing how this band has stood the test of time and persevered in the beginning through tumultuous times that revolved around war, peace, equal rights, and continued throughout the next few decades evolving as artists and still connecting with audiences through generations to come.  It is their innate ability to transcend us to a specific time and place the moment we hear them.  Few bands have the ability to say they accomplished this throughout several generations.

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    This comes as no surprise though as their background outlines how cutting edge and unique that have always been. In 1969 a group of talented young men had a vision for music to combine rock and roll, swing, and jazz in a way that showcased these genres in a new edgy way.  Radio did not know how to market them as their sound was so unique and different,  It didn’t fit into any one genre; so airtime was limited.  Still this didn’t hinder the group in continuing to write, record, and perform and soon an underground college scene had embraced them as the next best thing on the music scene.  Even more unique was their first album debuted as a double album, due to the abundance of music they had to share. Even the graphics on each album indicate their continuance for quality and uniqueness, featuring their logo in new and different ways.

    For Chicago is was always the music that was the focus. In the years following, Chicago continued to tour and record more than 34 award willing albums.  Their sound as distinct as it is, evolved with the times and their flexibility and ability to remain creative has endured like few other bands have.  Even through difficult times and loss of bandmates, this band continues forward, and to this date records and performs like no other.  It is the individual talent that each member brings to the table, that makes this band work. They are truly great as a “whole” because of the sum of their talented parts.

    James Pankow
    James Pankow

    It is under this umbrella that Munson Williams Proctor qualifies Chicago as “Great Artists”. For over 70 years, Proctor has brought the Central New York region the most talented artists in their Great Artist Series.  Chicago exemplifies this designation. Founding band members Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, James Pankow,, and Ray Hermann still see the vision of what they began, and new members Tris Imboden, Lou Pardini, Keith Howland, and Walfredo Reyes, Jr. continue to follow suit and bring audiences to their feet with favorites such “Saturday In the Park”, “25 or 6 to 4”, “Beginnings”, and/or “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is”.  The magic however is their ability to reach audiences of multi-generations with both favorites and new music.  In the studio recording, even while touring is not out of the norm for these talented musicians.  However, pairing them with the Utica Symphony Orchestra definitely put an already amazing performance over the top and raised the bar for all over venues to follow during their 2013 tour.

    Lee Loughnane, Walt Parazaider, James Pankow
    Lee Loughnane, Walt Parazaider, James Pankow

    Forty Four years is a long time to continue in any field of work.  However, you can tell while experiencing their live show that to them this is not work.  Their energy and love of what they do is apparent and infectious.  Audiences worldwide thank you for sharing this love and your uniqueness for generations past and future.  Central New York thanks you for joining forces with our very own Utica Symphony Orchestra to provide the most memorable performance ever.

  • Alice Cooper Raised the Dead at Turning Stone

    Before Alice Cooper even took the stage at Turning Stone, fans were on their feet. They expected the show to be jam packed with entertainment and wanted to see every second of the performance.

    The sold out show on Monday October 21 drew a diverse group to Verona; tweens to those in their 60s came to see Cooper’s brilliantly choreographed production. The show started with Hello Hooray (1972) and Cooper set against a backdrop of raining fire. The first act featured ten songs including old favorites No More Mr. Nice Guy (1972) and Department of Youth (1975). About half of the songs performed date from the 1970s but that didn’t bother the fans.

    The guts and gore that brought Cooper his fame were very much part of the show, especially during the second act. Things that most people squirm about: snakes wrapped around a neck, an electric chair, a guillotine, a straight jacket, are what the crowd loved best. The elaborate stage sets are reminiscent of a really good Broadway show, only better because Cooper incorporates smoke and pyrotechnics. The costumes were dynamic and fit in perfectly with the whole aura of grotesque nightmare and the abnormal. Cooper had total control of the stage at all times; he and his band were totally in sync.

    One advantage to being on the short side is that with a full house standing in front of me, I couldn’t always see everything. Which meant — I could hear better. What I heard was a surprisingly strong voice — from the first note to the last. Not only was Cooper very much on his game, but every member of his band is super talented. This team of performers was top notch. And the third act heightened that.

    Act 3 began with Alice rising from the dead in the same graveyard where his “dead, drunk friends” are buried. He brought those “friends” to life when he performed Break on Through (Jim Morrison), Revolution (John Lennon), Foxy Lady (Jimi Hendrix), and My Generation (Keith Moon). The stage backdrop, featuring gigantic tombstones for each rock ‘n roll icon, along with Cooper’s amazingly perfect cover was an electrifying tribute.

    Cooper finished the show with three hits, I’m Eighteen (1970), Poison (1989), School’s Out (1972), loads of energy, awesome pyrotechnics, and confetti. At no time did the fans in front of me take their seats, and they were right, every bit of the show was worth seeing.

    Set List
    Part 1: Hello Hooray (1972), House of Fire (1989), No More Mr. Nice Guy (1972), Under My Wheels (1971), I’ll Bite Your Face Off (2011), Billion Dollar Babies (1973), Caffeine, Department of Youth (1975), Hey Stoopid (1991), Dirty Diamonds (2005)
    Part 2: Welcome to my Nightmare (1975), Go to Hell (1976), Man Behind the Mask (1986), **Feed my Frankenstein (1992), Dwight Fry, Killer/ I Love the Dead (2009)
    Part 3: Break on Through (1967), Revolution (1968), Foxy Lady (1967), My Generation (1965), I’m Eighteen (1970), Poison (1989)
    Encore: School’s Out (1972)

  • 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.

  • Jonesin’ for more Counting Crows at Turning Stone on 7/2

    When Jakob Dylan and The Wallflowers came out to the cheering crowd at Turning Stone on July 2nd, the electricity was in the air – people were ready to dance and sway in their seats. The Wallflowers set included favorites like, “One Headlight” and “6th Avenue Heartache”.  They also covered a couple classics, first a Box Tops song, “The Letter”, early on in the set that the crowd really seemed to enjoy.

    Later in the set they performed a Rolling Stones tune, “Loving Cup”.  The sound was crisp and while Jakob seemed to be slightly on autopilot he interacted a few times with the crowd.  Mostly seated the whole set, he encouraged the over-30 concert goers to get up and move a little.  It took a little coaxing but by the time the last song of the set “The Difference” came around, most people were up and dancing.

    Adam Duritz and the Counting Crows on the other hand started off with a bang.  They came onstage and played one of their most famous songs to get things heated up in a hurry, “Mr. Jones”.  This led into one of Adam’s chats with the crowd while the band changed up instruments.  The music was flowing nicely and the crowd seemed to be on their feet for the whole set, except perhaps during the intimate “A Long December”, where Adam played piano under a warm spotlight. The Counting Crows also played a number of covers along with their big hits from the 90’s.  One of the covers during the main set was extra special, “Return of the Grievous Angel” by Gram Parsons, with co-writer Thomas Brown in the audience at Turning Stone.  The set ended with a long and powerful “A Murder of One” as seen in the video below.

    When the set ended, Adam didn’t want to get off the stage and was milking every last minute he could.  He talked about acting locally and the Greybird Foundation (greybirdfoundation.org).  The Greybird Foundation was founded because people feel small as the world expands and they need to feel like they can make a difference. So, the Greybird Foundation helps find the people down the street from you who are trying to do their part to help.  Typically at Counting Crows shows there are booths of local non-profits but the comfortable indoor seating that we were all thankful for wasn’t large enough or able to accommodate that part of the experience.

    The Counting Crows wanted to stay on stage so badly that they did two difference two-song encores.  The first included a cover of the Grateful Dead classic, “Friend of the Devil” and another well-known Crows tune “Hangin’ Around”.  The second encore was Bob Dylan‘s “You Ain’t Going Nowhere” followed by “Holiday in Spain”.

    The festivities at Turning Stone didn’t stop when the show ended either.  As with most shows at the casino, there is a drawing that every ticket holder is eligible for to win a signed guitar.  This time it was autographed by the members of both bands, and the lucky winner was Cassie from Oneida (just down the road from Verona). It was a great night of music helping to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the casino.  Many more great shows are coming up, be sure to keep an eye out for them.

    Set: Mr. Jones, Untitled (Love Song) (The Romany Rye cover), St. Robinson in His Cadillac Dream, Hanging Tree, Hospital (Coby Brown cover), Colorblind, Start Again (Teenage Fanclub cover), Anna Begins, Hard Candy, Meet on the Ledge, A Long December, Return of the Grievous Angel (Gram Parsons cover), A Murder of One

    Encore: Friend of the Devil (Grateful Dead cover), Hanginaround

    Encore 2: You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (Bob Dylan cover), Holiday in Spain

  • 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.

  • The Dickey Betts were on at Turning Stone Casino, January 9

    When Dickey Betts and Great Southern took the Turning Stone Casino Showroom stage Wednesday night, the sold out crowd roared.  When he played his first solo seconds into the show, the crowd roared.  For two solid hours the crowd roared.

    Dickey Betts is a living legend who has a reputation for being  a little mean, a whole lot of tough, and in a love-hate relationship with the bottle.  The gloom of the Allman Brothers breakup lingers around his name.  Last year when the Allman Brothers received the Grammy for Lifetime Achievement, Dickey Betts didn’t show.  He said he wanted to be there but couldn’t.  But after departing ways with the Allman Brothers in 2000 under an unsavory situation, it is often Dickey’s name that got tossed around as the problem.  While Greg Allman and ABB continued the way of being a jam band; Dickey went back to his roots and approached his music from a Southern Rock perspective.

    The majority of Dickey Betts and Great Southern’s show is without vocals.   In fact, the only break from mind-blowing guitar was when James Varnado & Frank Lombardi took turns offering up funky drum solos.  On keyboards and  offering vocals was Mike Kach.  Mike has played with numerous acts including touring with Molly Hatchet.  Pedro Arevalo was on electric bass and offered the deep, pulsating rhythm that Dickey set his numerous solos to.  On the other side of the stage was Andy Aledort.  Andy played second lead guitar and worked in the slide often in a style reflective of Duane Allman.  Andy is recognized as one of the top guitarists around and is a Senior Editor at Guitar World.

    Then there was the prodigal son, Duane Betts, on lead guitar.  Imagine living up to having your father be Dickey Betts, and knowing that you were named after Duane Allman.  Duane Betts seems to be handling it just fine, and filling those big shoes given to him at birth.  In fact, while Dickey was notorious for playing the Les Paul Goldtop, that legendary guitar seems to have passed from father to son.  Dickey was playing his Gibson SG and sharing lead with his son.  Most solos were definitely Dickey’s, but when Duane got a lick or two in, they stuck.

    The setlist was a good mix of popular Allman Brother songs: “Blue Sky”, “Jessica”, “Liz Reed”; and well-known guitar covers such as “Statesboro Blues” and “Hoochie Coochie Man”.   The pace throughout the concert was good and you can tell the band has been holding strong with this grouping since 2006 when Andy and James joined Frankie (2000), Mike (2003) and Pedro (2004).  The transitions were smooth and all eyes were on Dickey as he was the obvious band leader and in complete control of the stage.

    When the night ended and Dickey Betts and Great Southern played the encore of the Allman Brothers’ most famous song, penned by Betts, “Ramblin’ Man” the crowd roared it’s loudest.

    Look for Dickey Betts and Great Southern throughout the year.   Instead of their typical single four-show run each month, the band is hoping for two four-show runs a month.  That’s twice as much DB & GS for the Dick Heads in 2013.

    Also look for more legends performing at Turning Stone in the upcoming months.  The Wailers will be at the casino on January 23rd, George Thorogood in March, and BB King in April.

    SETLIST: High Falls, Nothin You Can Do, Statesboro Blues, Change My Way of Living, Blue Sky, One Way Out, You Don’t Love Me, Southbound, Jessica, Back Where It All Begins, 7-Turns, Hoochie Coochie Man, Having a Hard Time, My Get Away, Long Time Gone, Nobody Knows, Liz Reed, No One Left to Run With

    ENCORE: Ramblin’ Man