NYS Music 20​13

Category: Kingston

  • Conjuring the GOASTT – Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger Live at the BSP Lounge, Kingston

    Photos By Eric Francis/Planet Waves

    The September 28, 2013 performance by the Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger at the BSP Lounge in Kingston, NY emphasized a band developing a new and original musical identity, as well as embarking a journey of discovery and experimentation. The acoustic duo of Charlotte Kemp Muhl and Sean Lennon have expanded their horizons and their acoustic sensibilities with additional band members, as well as an electric jolt. The GOASTT, now in addition to founding members Lennon and Muhl, also feature drummer Tim Kuhl, Jared Samuel on keyboards, and Robbie Mangano on guitars, all hailing from Brooklyn band ‘Invisible Familiars‘. This expanded addition of GOASTT is a conglomerate of influences, containing the same melodic hallmarks and lyrical content of previous acoustic excursions, but now neatly tied up in a thick psychedelic package of soundscapes. When I asked Lennon about the shift in musical direction for the band, his reply was simple and straightforward, ‘We have always wanted to rock’, his smiling partner Muhl agreed.

    After enjoyable sets by Parakeet and Brother JT, the anxious crowd awaited the appearance of GOASTT. The sold out concert was truncated at slightly over an hour but in this case quality outweighed quantity. Lennon explained that the group had only ‘been together two weeks’ and had just been building a set for their recent tour with the Flaming Lips. The songs they played on this evening were the tunes they had practiced for the road. Lennon explained that of the nine songs played during the evening’s performance, five were new and could be expected on the as of yet untitled LP due out within months. The other four tracks included two familiar originals and two expertly chosen cover songs.

    Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger

    The concert opened kinetically with the unfamiliar but still exciting pulse of new music. I must admit that for the first couple of songs I was disoriented and overwhelmed by the sound originating from the stage. I was immediately taken in by the succulent and psychedelic sounds  permeating the venue, and the flavor of a debut, ‘Too Deep’. Lennon on Fender Jaguar guitar bounced dramatically under the cherry stage lights, his prowess sneaky, adding essential stringed elements to the musical tincture being stirred by the group. The extremely talented Muhl plays heroic bass in this line up, also switching to organ for certain tracks. Keyboardist Samuel shined throughout the evening, at some points sounding like a Mellotron, at other times carnival keys. It was obvious to me throughout the first couple of tunes that the band meant business, and like a heavy thick blanket placed their music over the lap of the crowd, enveloping all of us in textured melodies.

    Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger

    The third tune of the night was an obscure and well chosen cover of ‘Golden Earrings’ by the late 1960’s group Gandalf and hailing from their lone LP. This track represented the band’s sound well, spotlighting a developed  prog-like peak. Lennon and Mangano thrashed at their guitar strings, while the amusement park keyboard of  Samuel shifted the ground beneath the song. The bottom end slotted together perfectly in the groove with Kuhl and Muhl holding things together.

    Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger

    Following the detonation of ‘Golden Earrings’, a pair of new originals appeared. The first song flashed deliberately like a rainy night traffic light. Lennon and Mangano meshed gears with dual phased guitar lines that danced over the ethereal instrumental backing. Lennon’s vocals perfect as floating smoke, levitating into the night sky outside of the club. The second of the new originals was in my opinion one of the strongest songs of the night and the greatest recipient of the recent band line up. Peeking at the setlist, this tune is called ‘Gold on Green’. The song churned like a wheel through deep blue water, Lennon and Muhl sharing enlightened vocals over futuristic backing from the band. The combination of Lennon’s obvious gifts for melody with a harder edged sound in this new context are a killer combination.

    The first track to be played off of the 2010 LP Acoustic Sessions,  ‘Jardin du Luxembourg’, was performed for what Lennon called ‘our hardcore fans’. The tun had changed from its previous incarnations into a sludgy and punchy stomp contrasted by cloudy slide guitar. The dual vocals blending into one voice only to diverge on different paths for brief moments in an absolutely thunderous version with punctuated guitar lines and a start stop rhythms. The potent combination of melody and power is what drives the best rock music and this performance contained both in mysterious ways.

    The final song of the set was appropriately the delicate ‘Last Call’, featured in a new incarnation. Shifting from its buoyant gentle introduction into a sensational and wah wah drenched finale, the song contained all of the things that made this concert so wonderful. Vocal melodies of embracing lovers, attentive musicianship and diverse songwriting all combined to make a transcendent reading of the lovely song, prodding it through many changes and concluding in a colorful wash of feedback. Lennon again showed of his underrated guitar abilities with a warm candle wax display of melodic ideas that eventually climaxed into the conclusion of the show.

    Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger

    The band returned after a few minutes for a much welcomed encore that featured the second ace choice of a cover song for the evening. A deadly serious version of Syd Barrett’s ‘Long Gone’ transfigured from its folk beginnings into a darker electric context. Lennon’s drawn out and dry vocals rang out all of the emotion concealed in Barrett’s original version. The GOASTT navigated their way through a heavy orchestrated facsimile of the original, that after the verse descended down the rabbit hole.  A suspenseful concluding jam filled with colliding guitars brought the show to a satisfying and proper conclusion.

    The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger performance exceeded all of my personal expectations and delivered in many unexpected ways. The diversity of the group as well as the chemistry of Charlotte Kemp Muhl and Sean Lennon make the band something greater and different from its parts or musical pedigree. Lennon and Muhl’s need to let their music breath and develop freely it a true testament to their abilities as artists. Their personal non-musical relationship strengthens the bond created in the group, and lends a unique ability to create in a different way. Similar to his father, Lennon has found a special female collaborator to share his artistic ideas with and who equals his talent. Lennon told me that there is no date for the upcoming record as of yet, but Charlotte Kemp Muhl did reveal that the record is being mixed by musical veteran David Fridmann (Mercury Rev, Flaming Lips) with much of the work being done at his Tar Box Road Studios in Fredonia, NY.

    So we will wait in anticipation for this new music to be revealed and if the BSP Lounge concert was any indication, the record is going to be special. The GOASTT provides a pallet in which many varieties can be sampled. Acoustic, electric, psychedelic, harmonies, songwriting, guitar solos, if you are looking for it in rock music, the GOASTT can provide it for you. They are one of the most talented and unique bands  to enjoy in this era of cookie cutter musical displays. Catch them if you can, and keep an ear to the ground for their new sounds.

  • Mountain Jam 2013: A Photographer’s Perspective

    While Thursday at Mountain Jam 2013 was rainy and cold, the music kept things warm.  People braved the weather to enjoy incredible sets from Rubblebucket and Primus.  Along the hillside were even some fire dancers and fire eaters.  The ceremonies started with a smudging to purify the air and good vibes for the weekend.  Mountain Jam was about to begin and Thursday was full of energy and excitement.  How better to end the night than a late night set from the powerful duo known as Big Gigantic.

    When the sun came up on Friday, it was sadly behind thevclouds.  Most campers slept in their cars as tents were blown over and rivers of mud passed through the grounds.  Braving the weather, coffee was my original quest.  After that first cup of Joe, it didn’t matter how much it rained, music was in the air and caffeine was in the blood.  Friday brought  incredible acts such as Nicki Bluhm, Deer Tick, The Avett Brothers and Widespread Panic.  Mud wasn’t going to stop Mountain Jam, it was just going to add character.

    Saturday finally came with a weather report that included No Rain! Yay!  And what a day on Hunter Mountain.  From Swear and Shake, Amy Helm and Gary Clark, Jr. on the side stage to Michael Franti, The Lumineers and Gov’t Mule on the main stage, Saturday was non-stop jams, non-stop dancing and well, still a little slippery in the mud, but at least it wasn’t raining.  The theme of the day was going into the audience, as Franti and the Lumineers got up close and personal with the crowd.

    Sunday fit it’s name perfectly – it was a sunny day and finally the mud started to dry up and spirits were truly soaring.  While some people left early for their Monday lives, the ones that were able to stay saw some great performances.  London Souls bassist passed out backstage Soulive bassist filled in.  ALO, Dispatch, Jackie Greene and of course Phil Lesh and Friends.  I even got a sneak peak of upcoming Spencer on the inside stage.  Remember that name, you will be hearing it often and soon on the radio.

  • Weathered but not Worn: A Recap of Mountain Jam 2013

    “Pri-mus sucks,” was the battle cry of die-hard fans waiting to see Thursday night’s headliner at Mountain Jam 2013.  By this point it was hard to know if the sky was black because darkness was falling or the rain clouds took over or if Primus was channeling the shadow Gods in preparation for their performance. Two giant inflatable astronauts flanked the stage and a large screen in the backdrop, “Pri-mus sucks,” was heard again and again.  Albeit an odd welcoming and kick off to the ninth installment of Mountain Jam, it’s hard to imagine a band like Primus filling a headlining spot at a festival (it’s not the first) given that they are not the stereotyped festival band, but it worked.  It would mark the beginning of a long and very strange trip.

    Primus is a master of the presentation of music, holding the patent on the craft.  The music is to be heard, and that is what we did, listened.  The band members were cloaked in darkness while the screen played reels of various fitting images in sync with the rhythm.  Appealing to a varied crowd, Primus played some widely known songs such as, “ Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver” and encored with “Tommy the Cat.” Appropriately, they included, “My Name is Mud.”   Spirits were soaring high and Primus was no match for the weather.  The dance party was just getting underway on the Healey Brothers Stage with Kung Fu hosting.  The funk-fusion electro-pop quintet was full of energy and simply fun.  The Kung Fu Band handed the baton over to Big Gigantic who kept the party going until the early morning hours.

    The second day of the festival was an unfortunate doozy as a result of terrible weather.  Sideways, torrential down pour for hours upon hours dampened spirits, made for a super-saturated ground and prevented many from re-entering the mountain site for more music, at least the majority of the day.  Some folks packed up their camping gear and went home, others stayed in their hotel rooms and streamed the festival and of course there were the purists who ventured out for their must-see-live band of choice.  There were a few positives to the wretched weather.  For one, Mountain Jam is located at a ski lodge which offered a warm place for people to dry off and socialize, complete with a full bar and a cafeteria type food fare.  Albeit, music was sparse except for periodic noodle-ers on a small, corner stage and muffled bass emanating from the attached Healey Brother’s Hall.  Another positive is that Healey Brother’s Hall was jam packed with people getting out of the rain.  Both David Wax Museum and Futurebirds had a large draw, mostly by default.  However, both performances were well received.  Many people started filing back in to the mountainous amphitheater in spite of the continued downpour to catch both Avett Brothers and Widespread Panic.   Mountain Jam organizers accommodated Jammers accordingly by providing towing services for vehicles that became stuck in the mud.  Organizers also laid hay and added stones to more worn pathways.  The stage equipment was protected as well.

    ilent Bujak was even moved into the ski lodge to avoid the mud at the Campgrounds Stage.Scott Avett’s energy on stage was exuberant and contagious, not unlike the catchy folk rock sounds of Avett Brothers songs.  The crowd consumed his rawness like they had been held captive and just given permission to release.  He cried out, “The rain/it fell/and we got down” making the old adage, “learn to dance in the rain” ring true as the brothers jumped around dancing, playing, singing and stomping.  The revival was underway.  The Avett Brothers moved through a set of mostly fast tempo songs.  Highlights are the extraordinary vocal harmonization as exemplified in David Childer’s, “The Prettiest Thing.” After a power paced set, the brothers closed out with two slower songs, “I and Love and You” and “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise.”

    Widespread Panic was highly anticipated as they rarely venture to the northeast.  The sonic sounds emanating from the stage were smooth and mellow and subtly hinting that these fellas were southern rock.  The first set comprised mostly of original songs and the second set consisted of a batch of covers with a few sit-ins.  Both Bill Evans of Soulgrass and Gov’t Mule, and saxaphonist Danny Louis joined Widespread for a rendition of Traffic’s, “Low Spark of High Heeled Boys,” a popular song choice played multiple times throughout the weekend. Evans stuck around for a “Surprise Valley” sandwich that included a drums segment before moving into Talking Heads’ “Papa Legba” before returning to end “Surprise Valley.”

    By the time Saturday rolled around, Jammers were calling upon the sun Goddess, and she answered, finally! Ponchos and boots were traded in for sun-kissed shoulders, pretty little dresses and a jubilant vibration of absolute appreciation.  Saturday meant a full day of music, no exceptions and no excuses.  Swear and Shake, shook the West Stage in a relatively early slot.  Looking dapper in their suits of blue, while the lady of the band, Kari Spieler, sang folk songs in her checkered blue skirt.  It would seem that folks took notice, in a big way, of The Revivalists, a soulful band all the way from New Orleans.  A jam-packed Healey Brother’s Hall for round two was a testament to their music and perhaps gaining a few more fans.

    Mountain Jam has always been a festival that includes the Woodstock, NY family of musicians and it was only fitting that the Amy Helm Band performs.  Miss Helm invited the cream of the crop to join her on stage with Marco Benevento on keys for the entire set.  Mike and Ruthy, and Connor Kennedy sat in for “Long Black Veil.”  Amy Helm dedicated a song to her daddy as well as others that had passed in The Band with a heartfelt, “It Makes No Difference.”

    With Mountain Jam under full swing, the decent weather allowed for all activities to resume.  Vendors were happy people were shopping, food was selling like hot cakes, beer was pouring from the taps and the sky ride was now open.  Riding up the mountain to take in the scenery is always a big hit.  For five dollars, Jammers can relax comfortably on the chair lift, breath in the mountain air and hear their favorite artists’ songs as the sound waves ascend the lush green incline.

    Gary Clark Jr. has been at his craft for a while but he is just now breaking through on scene.  His set was full of fire and brimstone but without judgment and eternal damnation.  He is rock and roll and he made sure we knew it.  The Lumineers have expanded their song catalog to include snippets of Creedence Clearwater Revival and Bob Dylan’s, “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” paying homage to their roots in folk music.

    Festival host Warren Haynes and his band, Gov’t Mule took the stage as Saturday’s headliner for two sets.  One of the most enjoyable aspects of a festival is the ability of a band to include collaborations and Gov’t Mule was no exception.  Bill Evans played for moe.’s “Opium.”  Gov’t Mule played Creedence Clearwater Revival’s, “Effigy”, adding a “Folsom Prison Blues” jam.  Including an all-star cast of musicians: Bill Evans, Eric Bloom, Neil Evans, Ryan Zoidis, Hook Herrera and Eric Krasno, Gov’t Mule encored with Tom Waits, “Get Behind the Mule.”

    As Sunday rolled around, sleepy campers emerged from their tents and shuttle buses dropped off hotel guests ready for another full day of music under the blue skies.  A lively and fun set from both Dispatch and Jackie Greene primed the crowd for the much anticipated closer, Phil Lesh and Friends.  The Friends included: John Scofield on guitar, Joe Russo on drums, Jeff Chementi on keys and of course, Warren Haynes on vocals and guitar.  As always, the last day of a festival is bittersweet.  But, to quote The Grateful Dead, “What a long strange trip its been.”

  • Ninth Annual Mountain Jam Kicks Off June 6th

    The Ninth Annual Mountain Jam festival kicks off June 6th and runs through June 9th at Hunter Mountain in Hunter, NY.  Mountain Jam is a four-day, multi-stage festival hosted by Radio Woodstock 100.1 and guitarist, Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule, Allman Brothers, The Warren Haynes Band, The Dead).  In one of the most pristine locations in the Northeast and natural amphitheater, more than 50 bands will perform on three stages.

    mjphoto

    Mountain Jam welcomes legendary bassist, Phil Lesh bringing his all star side project Phil Lesh & Friends for a two-set performance.  Friends for this year’s Mountain Jam are Warren Haynes and John Scofield on guitar, Joe Russo (Furthur) on drums, and Jeff Chimenti (Furthur, RatDog, The Dead, Les Claypool) on keys. Widespread Panic will make 2013 it’s first (and only northeast) appearance at Mountain Jam.  Festival resident Gov’t Mule will also headline a two-set performance. Primus will headline the expanded Thursday night program.  Staple guest artist, Michael Franti will perform on Saturday, June 8th.

    In addition to headlining bands, Mountain Jam continues it’s all-star line-up with many others including: Dispatch, a groove rock outfit of fun; Gary Clark Jr., Austin based artist fuzzing soul, rock and R & B; Jackie Greene, a versatile singer-songwriter armed with a catalogue of Americana and roots songs; Amy Helm whose vocals evoke a nostalgia of an old soul; and ALO, a pop-funk danceable groove band hailing from California.  Mountain Jam also welcomes The Lumineers, The Avett Brothers, Soulive, Deer Tick, Rubblebucket, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers, The Revivalists, David Wax Museum, SIMO, Swear and Shake and many more.

    Jammers will have a variety of activities and attractions while on the mountain. Some attractions include: sky rides, a scenic view of the Catskill Mountains; yoga, offered on Saturday and Sunday; a beer (and wine) garden for exclusive craft brews; psychic readings, Hammock Groove, Frisbee golf tournament, and artist signings.  Mountain Jam is offering a wide selection of cuisines to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters as well as an on-site Farmer’s Market.

    Mountain Jam has always done its part to reduce its carbon footprint.  The festival guide will not be available in paper form – saving over 2000 lbs. of paper ink.  The iPhone and Android supported App includes all the bells and whistles. The app provides a festival map, alerts, user created schedule and more.

    Tickets are still available, however VIP passes are sold out.  For more information, rules and regulations please visit www.mountainjam.com

    ’s must see picks: Nicki Bluhm & The Gamblers, Amy Helm, Gary Clark Jr.

    ’s must do picks: Sky Ride, Rainbow’s B-Rushless Karma Wash, Awareness Village

  • In Focus: Rock n Roll Resort v 3.0: Tiny Rager

    If you haven’t been to Rock n Roll Resort, you’re missing out. As our coverage yesterday shows, this weekend festival in a hotel nestled in the Catskill Mountains is truly a one of a kind experience that brings the festival experience to new heights.

    Check out the scene with this photo gallery by Contributing Photographer Alex Toombs.

  • A not-so Tiny Rager: Rock N Roll Resort v 3.0 Kicks off Festival Season

    The moment I arrived at Rock N Roll Resort, Tiny Rager edition, in Kerhonkson, New York, I immediately felt like I was home. After a long and cold winter in New York, festival season seemed impossibly far away. The hotel lobby looked like a carnival filled with the smell of burnt sage, brightly colored vendor booths and patrons happy to be at the first festival of the year.

    Friday, April 12

    Check in was quick and easy compared to past years so we immediately dropped our bags off in our hotel room and went off to check out the venue. The hotel lobby was like a maze navigating the rows of vendor booths in attempts to find where each stage existed. Although I was given a map, I assumed it wouldn’t have been that difficult to figure out what was what. The entire venue had a strong sense of culture and art, setting each stage with a live painter to paint along side which ever artist was playing. To the back of the hotel in what they called “Overlook Gallery” was a small room covered in beautiful paintings from local and non local artists. I got a moment to meet and talk to Greg Dunn a local Albany artist who created most of the art at the Albany venue the Fuze Box and also has many pieces hanging in Prism Glassworks in Troy, New York.

    tiny ragerThe first stage we visited was “Blingin’ Beads stage” which had a large community canvas for anyone to add their piece of art to. The stage was beautifully decorated and has a phenomenal projection and light show. This stage was the home to many DJs for the weekend who played different arrays of music, as well as Capital Zen, who played a heated set, giving off a Primus vibe to their sound.  It seemed like the resort was relatively liberal with their rules as I walked outside and saw a large group of individuals spinning fire directly in front of the main doors. It was definitely an interesting thing to walk outside to.

    We popped in and out of each stage until it was time for Nigel Hall band. The entire room in main stage permeated soul music as Nigel Hall pounded on the keys. At one point during a song Hall stood up and stepped away from his keyboard, “I’m gonna go ahead and step away from the band and trust what they do. Make it FUNKY!”, he exclaimed receiving a loud response from the audience. Hall used many call and responses that kept the crowd cheering throughout the entire set. With the theme night of “Rager’s ball”, Nigel set the tone for the evening and gauges were set to rage.

    Then we went back to the lobby to check out the acoustic stage to the raging funk party that is Hornitz. Hornitz is a duo consisting of a trumpet, sax and a human beat box making for hip hop, jazz, funk hybrid. I was surprised to see them playing at the acoustic stage and blown away by the amount of energy they brought to the lobby in between shows.

    A highlight to Friday night came in the form of Nephrok! Allstars, a large, funky band fronted by Nephrok himself, giving a dose of James Brown, Prince and Bootsy all in one. The band kept the pace and wowed the crowd as the songs got progressively funkier and his onstage persona loosened up the crowd. A call and response to ‘What’s the name of this town?’ and a clean segue into “Standing on the Verge of Getting it on” got the name of the town (Kerhonksen) embedded into the mind of the room that had filled up by the end of the set.

    With music pushed back slightly off the main schedule, we hung out in the lobby and listened to the music from acoustic stage until it was time for Soulive. The crowd filtered in rapidly, as the two main rooms, The Empire Lounge and Manhattan Theater were back to back, making it easy to have a seamless music experience while at the festival. Soulive had an impressive light array and gave a soulful, jazzy performance. Joining the trio were Ryan Zoidis and Eric Bloom of the Shady Horns, but this was far from a typical sit-in. Zoidis and Bloom had played MSG only hours earlier at the Crossroads Music Festival at MadisonSquareGarden with guitar greats from around the country. The duo finished their gig and hightailed it to the Catskills for an otherwise unannounced sit in with Soulive. If there is an Ironman award at Rock N Roll Resort, these two are deserving. Two of the highlights of the night were an extended “Eleanor Rigby” off RubberSoulive  and a “Third Stone From the Sun” riff that worked its way into an incredible jam.

    Every once in a while throughout the weekend, Primate Fiasco would pop up in the lobby with their tuba, saxophone, drums and guitar and prance up and down the rows of vendors with a throng of people dancing along behind them. This was an awesome aspect to the festival – the spontaneous music that would surprise passersby at a moment’s notice, practically a flash mob but less organized, because it’s more fun that way.

    After 3am at a festival, only awesome music can be found, and after checking out the end of Dub Apocalypse’s set, Viral Sound took the main stage with some band-made electronic music, countering to DJs that were dropping the bass in the Blingin’ Beads Stage. The night was young, for some, but when it gets closer to 4am, rest is needed, if not required, so as to make it through the next day.

    Saturday, April 13

    It seemed Saturday morning that the lobby was twice as full as the night before. All of the check-in tables were once again swarmed by winding lines of excited patrons. Rather than succumb to the temptation to hang out in the hotel room before the music got kicking – the very spacious rooms mean that you can be inclined to spend more time in your room, but aside from some needed downtime and rest, most seemed to filter up, then back down again throughout the course of the weekend – we took in a round of mini golf on the outdoor course at the Hudson Valley Hotel and Spa. Rustic, but quaint, it was hard to top starting the day with a lively and competitive round of mini golf, won by Jeff Bujak, who had a monster hole in one on 18. His prize? A spiffy Magic Hat bike AND he got to throw it down twice that evening in the Empire Lounge.

    From our hotel room three stories up my friend said “Someone’s playing some Disco Biscuits.” “No” I Said, “I think that’s Digital Dharma.” We headed downstairs to start the night. Digital Dharma was in the Blingin’ Beads stage which was the home to pretty epic light projection and deco which only added to Digital Dharma’s set. The thing about Digital Dharma is that even when they’re off, they’re on. They seem to all be interconnected so that the moment that they get off track during a jam, they immediately snap back into their mind bending jams. Aaron stayed on point on the drums setting the fast tempo for the spacey synth, shattering guitar and booming bass. Before we stepped out they busted into a very deep sun, New Deal sounding jam. Overall a very impressive set from these Albany locals. I left before the set was over to make sure I didn’t miss Goosepimp Orchestra.

    Somehow this was my first time catching these guys, and I was absolutely blown away by the amount of energy they pervaded through the crowd and the amount of energy the crowd gave right back. The band was donned in the most ridiculously amazing attire ever, fully equipped with Viking helmets, furry pimp hats, and leopard hoods. I had seen the trumpet and saxophone player the night before at the acoustic stage in Hornitz so I was aware at how much energy they poured into each song. The rest of the band did not disappoint either. The stage pumped out heavy get downs of funk and soul as each member of the band moved ecstatically bopping from side to side in a pit of color, funk and viking helmets. It seemed like not a single person in the audience stood still throughout the entire set with waves of cheers and claps in response to every instrumental solo they introduced. Although the best part of these guys was clearly their talent and energy, it was still a huge added bonus to be able to just watch them have that much fun on a stage together.

    After Goosepimp I checked out Kung Fu, a serious fan favorite. Their extensive amount of touring in 2012 and 2013 has given me the pleasure of seeing them more than a handful of times, and I almost always seek them out at every festival I attend. These boys always take over when they step on stage. Their energy is incomparable and their fans love absolutely everything they do. Tim Palmieri brought a borderline metal guitar ensemble through many of the songs making their often light and funky jams into a much more hard hitting and heavier direction than usual. Todd Stoops (as always) blew everyone’s minds away with his unrealistic talent on the keys. At one point my friend turned to me and said, “He almost looks like he is kneading a pizza dough by the way he pounds on the keys,” and he really does. To the naked eye he looks as though he his sloppily pounding on his keyboard, but I think that is the brilliant nature of Stoops, is that he is creating such an unapologetic layer of funk amidst the chaos that is, Kung Fu. The connection on stage is unreal. Each individual slides into the next jam with intricacy that could only exist within a band that is mentally intertwined during their sets. The grooves they layout are organic and not over thought and they each allow the next to take the lead and never dwell in the spotlight, even though they are all such talented musicians. Later in the set they broke into a Blackbird cover set to an upbeat drum tempo with jammy guitar riffs. The entire band exudes so much talent and energy, but they are also having fun. At one point they began tossing their hat from person to person during a jam, laughing all the while. As a surprise guest Ryan Montbleau came out with his bongos to join in on the fun with the boys of Kung Fu. Overall it was a great set. I don’t think I have ever seen a set from Kung Fu that I was displeased with, but they continue to keep things funky and fresh.

    Saturday’s theme of Intergalactic Space Carnival led to some interesting costumes and a full on freak show at times. Ryan Montbleau’s set found the singer/songwriter/guitarist standing up and sans hat, a rare find that kept the attention of the crowd squarely on the crooner at stage right. Montbleau brought up Primate Fiasco for what proved to be the best sit-in of the weekend, combining the sound of two bands for a throwdown, as evidenced in the video below.

    After Ryan Montbleau I headed over to check out Normal Instruments. After our interview with Jules I was pumped to see what they guys would do. Normal Instruments is made up of pretty much a crazy concoction of unbelievably talented musicians. Mike Carter of Indobox on guitar, Jules Jenssen of Higher Organix on the drums, Matt Beckett from Cosmic Dust Bunnies on bass and Jeff Bujak on keys. It would seriously be a difficult feat to go wrong with this lineup of guys. Jules exclaimed mid set “I don’t think this resort has been rocked, but we’re gonna rock it tonight.” Each member individually poured everything they had into making this one of the most energetic shows of the weekend. Being that everything they do is 100% improvisational, it is a very organic and genuine jam every song. The entire room turned into a giant dance party and the air seemed to get hotter and thicker with every jam these guys ripped through. The guitar solos went from heavy to light and the drums stayed consistently mind blowing. It is clear that each member not only puts every ounce of energy into every jam, but also has fun doing it. They was absolutely nothing about this set that was “low key” and if you weren’t dancing, you weren’t paying attention.

    Soulive night two drew another packed crowd onto the floor for dancing until the wee hours of the morning. The Shady Horns once again joined Alan, Neal and Eric, breaking out some earlier cuts from the repertoire, a smoking “Come Together” with a must-be-heard extended jam that resurrected the improve as the song disappated. The huge grins on the faces of the band were evidence that they were loving the response from the fans and playing at such a unique resort.

    Next door, Jeff Bujak and laid down Elton John and Talking Heads remixes, personalizing each track while the crowd sang along, grinded on the dance floor and caught the performance of Jen Dulong as she spun glowing hoops in sync with the music, making the visual part of Bujak’s already impressive stage show that much better.

    Having spoken to UV Hippo earlier in the night, the intrigue level was high, as the band commented on their system of shared setlist writing as a way to keep things fresh, as well as their 3 am show being the end of their extensive two month tour that night. They picked a great place and excellent audience to play their brand of Zappa/Phish/NOFX/King Crimson influenced jam rock. Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, the band has a Midwest base but has been stretching out into the Northeast and greater New England area more frequently and will likely be seen at one of their 15 music festival appearances this year, leading up to the release of their new album in the fall. The set was easy to dance to and great lyrics on “Square Pegs, Round Holes” gave a Phishy, funky, popping sound with broad appeal. UV Hippo combined the jams and each song nicely, not departing from one to neglect the other. Dedicated to ‘fake moustaches everywhere’, the anthem “North Coast” was a true hit for the 4:20 am crowd that was far from calling it a night.

    For those that needed a late night pick me up, the wompy/dubby JiggaWompz set in the DJ lounge created a plethora of electronic earthquakes and vibrations, rattling the room but not the late night revelers. The sun came up and it was time to get some sleep before the arduous trip home on Sunday.

    Sunday, April 14

    Although there was a great deal of music on Sunday – Newton Crosby, Leroy Justice, FiKus, Orange TV, Chali 2na and multiple Superjams, the crew had to get back home for jobs and school the next day, meaning that this two day rager was tiny, but only in terms of time, not the rage factor.

    Having been on Jamcruise, the only thing that is missing is the sway of the boat, and although the lineup is scaled down by comparison, Rock N Roll Resort is worth the price of admission and then some. This year’s installment felt much more accessible to the average fan. Picking up from past experience, the festival streamlined and brought food into the mix, a welcome addition, yet despite some bumps here and there, the creases are nearly ironed out. You had the freedom to go to and from your room as you wanted, but after 2am, security kept the wookery out of the hotel upstairs. There were plenty of new music experiences, good people and great staff all around. As the festival continues to get bigger names and fanbases to attract to the festival, Rock N Roll Resort is sure to become a premier destination on the map of Northeast music events.

    Update 4/27: Get your downloads of shows from Rock N Roll Resort here – we’ll update as more show up

    Nigel Hall Band, Kung Fu, Akahasic Record, The Nephrok! Allstars, Ryan Montbleau Band, Dub Apocalypse, Soulive, Turbine, Pimps of a Joytime, Alan Evans Trio, Primate Fiasco

  • Photo Gallery Part 1: Rock n Roll Resort v 3.0: Tiny Rager

    Rock n Roll Resort was a fantastic weekend once again and stands to be the kickoff for the summer festival season in the Northeast for many years to come. Check out the scene with this photo gallery by Staff Photographer Chelsea Valente.

    Stay tuned for full coverage of Rock n Roll Resort tomorrow from Pete Mason and Jenni Wilson!

  • Marco Benevento at the BSP Lounge in Kingston, March 30th

    To close out March, the BSP Lounge had a fantastic night of music filled with creativity and improvisation and Marco Benevento.

    The night started with Home Body, the wonderful music of Eric Hnatow and Haley Morgan. Their sound was just as unique as their look.  Eric has a way of looping his keys around Haley’s soaring vocals that fuse the two together into one beautiful wall of sound.  With dance moves that go along with the beat of their songs, Home Body is very entertaining.  Another interesting part of their show is that they have lights arranged around them that meld perfectly with their music.  It is one of the best do-it-yourself lightshows I have ever seen.  Home Body is not to be missed when they come to your area if you are looking for interesting, creative, and experimental music to dance to.

    Marco Benevento came to the stage next and slayed the crowd from the get-go with “Fireworks” that got the room moving immediately.  There is a freedom to how Marco moves up and down the keys that forces the audience to guess what is coming next.  He has become very comfortable leading the band into anything from his repertoire.  The recent addition of vocals has added another layer to his music adding a beautiful new instrument to the mix for him to play with.  The vocals are often manipulated by one of Marco’s toys on top of his piano and this makes it seem as if there is a hidden robot on stage that knows how to sing.  This is just the beginning of a new way for Marco to experiment on stage in broadening his sound.

    The talented Dave Dreiwitz on bass and Andy Borger on drums backed him throughout the evening and made it feel like a nonstop jam.  Since the release of Tigerface, these three have been touring hard and the way they play off one another shows how confident this band is right now.  All three are masters of their instruments and any song is possible for them, as was highlighted by the teases of The Bangles’ “Walk Like an Egyptian” and LCD Soundsystem’s “Someone Great,” both of which occurred as tangents in the middle of original music. The night also saw the debut of new music that the three of them have been collaborating on and the direction that Marco’s music is going is great.

    Though the crowd was not large, they were more than ready to show as much love as they could for what was happening on stage.  They helped count off the beginning to “The Real Morning Party” and danced and shouted throughout the songs as though nothing else in the world mattered.  The great “Limbs of a Pine” followed soon after and the jamming went wild as the tiger head Marco has on his piano was passed around for each musician to wear as they got their individual moment to shine.  This is a trio not to miss as they are the top of their game and constantly looking to improve by trying out new ideas.  They push one another to new musical heights that seem to have no limit.  Marco Benevento can be seen at the Brooklyn Bowl on April 20th.

  • Marco Benevento coming to the BSP Lounge in Kingston, March 30th

    Marco BSP

    The BSP Lounge in Kingston has been stepping up their talent booking as of late and on March 30th they bring a New York favorite to its stage, Marco Benevento. For those that have seen him before you know what to expect, but if you haven’t seen him before be prepared to be amazed.  Known for his exploratory jamming and expertise on the piano, Marco is sure to leave you in awe.  His latest album, Tigerface, has been getting rave reviews by many critics as has this tour in support.  He has continuously grown as an artist over the years, adding in new elements to his shows and this tour is no different.  This time, it isn’t new gadgets on top of his piano, but words to his songs.  He has decided to open up his voice to expand his sound farther than he ever has before.  This is one of his last scheduled dates in the area, happening after the snoe.down kick off on March 21st and before his April 20th show at the Brooklyn Bowl.  Catch him while you can in these intimate settings and be prepared to get down and dance.  Get tickets now at Eventbee or at The BSP Lounge box office.

  • Lucius and more at BSP Lounge in Kingston, February 21st

    While it was cold outside, bodies were being kept warm inside to the music being played by Lucius, Ava Luna and Shana Falana at the BSP Lounge in Kingston on February 21st.  The BSP is a great place to see a show and it reminded me of Red Square in Albany.  The staff was friendly and it was nice to be able to be close to the band and also have some dance space if you wanted it.

    To begin the night, local band Shana Falana, the two-person guitar and drum act, took advantage of a projector, along with help from a Macbook every now and then, looped chants and chords to an array of visuals that were as spacey as the music.  Shana Falana used her pedals to harmonize with herself a few times and Mike Amari kept a steady beat for her to work over.  It was a good way to start the evening and was followed by Ava Luna.  They are another Brooklyn band that has been gaining steam.  Their mixture of straight rock to some heavier music was a good change of pace getting us ready for the finale.  I believe they have been influenced by The Talking Heads, especially Becca Kauffman, as I could see and hear David Byrne’s influence in her stage presence as well as in the rhythms of the songs.  The harmonies in this band between Becca, Felicia, and Carlos were beautiful.  I enjoyed their short time on stage and highly recommend them for fans wanting to let loose and rock out for an evening.

    Lucius, winding down a tour, came in high spirits to an excited crowd.  They are a five-piece band from Brooklyn and they have been generating some buzz as of late, leading to a show that did not disappoint.  Coming out, the first thing I noticed was how the two female leads in the band, Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, came out dressed alike, while the men in the group, Dan Molad, Peter Lalish, and Andrew Burri, did the same.  It showed a sense of unity within the band.  Jess and Holly harmonized together beautifully throughout the performance.  Their vocals were fantastic during the whole night.  The band started out the night with the only cover of evening, The Rolling Stones “Sing This All Together”, again showing how well they all would work together the rest of the evening.

    They played for a little over an hour of rocking tunes, keeping the energy in the room at a high the whole time.  Everyone on stage had an unrelenting vibe about them that made the crowd work hard to keep up.  Toward the end of their performance, they said how happy they were to be back and that the last time they came, the band they played with ended their performance in the middle of the room with the crowd surrounding them.  They asked if they could do the same as they really enjoyed the crowd tonight and they came into the middle of the room to do an acoustic number.  The crowd was as silent as could be until the song was over and then let Lucius know how much they were enjoyed with a very loud ovation to close the evening.  I think they won over some new fans with their non-stop high energy show.