NYS Music 20​13

Category: High Peaks

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

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

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

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

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

    Key Tracks: Ground on Up, Boats, Pterodactyl Lips

  • Blind Owl Band | Kickstarter Project

    The Blind Owl Band has set out to raise funds with Kickstarter to promote their new album and 2nd recorded effort. The band returned to Granary Studio in Morrisonville, NY in March and April 2013 and recorded 13 unreleased original tracks with Larry Dolan returning as producer.

    blind owl band

    The album features songs that were born within the walls of the Granary recording studio during the recording of “Rabble Rousing” in the fall of 2011 such as “Jazzy Magee”, “Christians Head”, “Cherry Tree” and new songs that have yet to be played live, such as “Rain On”.

    Now as The Blind Owl Band gets ready for summer, they are looking for support to independently release this album. The recording is done, a release date of July 10th has been set.  The band now needs the help of their fans to fund the mastering, printing and advertising of this album.The Kickstarter project has a goal of $5000 and we think these guys deserve the help!

    The band is touring in support of their Kickstarter Project from May 16 to May 26, you can also Follow the release of the album via their Facebook page or at TheBlindOwlBand.com.

    The Blind Owl Band

    Arthur Buezo (Guitar, Vocals)

    Christian Cardiello (Bass)

    James Ford (Banjo, Vocals)

    Eric Munley (Mandolin, Vocals)

    Tour Dates:

    May 16 – Atwoods Tavern, Cambridge, MA
    May 17 – Pizza Stone, Chester, VT
    May 18 – Strawberry Jam, Northville, NY
    May 18 – Olive Ridley’s, Plattsburgh, NY with Lucid
    May 19 – The Wherehouse, Newburgh, NY
    May 20 – The Living Room, NYC, NY
    May 21 – Free Range Busking Day
    May 22 – Underground Arts, Philly, PA with The Brummy Brothers
    May 23 – The River St. Jazz Cafe, Wilkes-Barre, PA
    May 24 – Touch Fest 2013!! South ADK’s
    May 25 – The Dutch Treat, Franconia, NH
    May 26 – Rosa Flamingo’s, Bethlehem, NH
    May 26 – Red Square, Burlington, VT

  • Cabinet Brings Bluegrass to Upstate NY April 19th & 20th

    There just isn’t enough Bluegrass music here in Upstate NY. We do get a semi-acceptable amount of amazing bluegrass bands and small festivals in this area but acceptable amount to me would be relative to living in Nashville, TN.

    Cabinet

    Nestled somewhere in between Bill Monroe and John Hartford you will find Cabinet. A simple little name for a six-piece string band with deep roots in the old timey bluegrass tradition of story telling from our ancestors of the Appalachian Mountains.

    Their lyrics tell stories of family, love, and life; but most of all Cabinet has that gift of putting last night’s shenanigans and the morning afters repercussions into a neat little four minute package of an old timey moral lesson.

    “When we get drunk on wine and shine, we talk about the past and better times, I got drunk on wine and moonshine … Saturday night brings Sunday morn.”

    Tonight all my boot stompin, skirt twirrlin, bluegrass needs will be met and most likely surpassed. Cabinet is playing at Sticky Lips Juke Joint in Rochester, NY. The opening band will be the Ruckus Juice Jug Stompers. Doors are at 9:30pm and show starts at 10:30pm. Tickets: $12 advance, $15 at the door. You can also show your love in advance and RSVP to the FaceBook Event Here.

    The band is also playing at St Lawrence University’s Springfest on the Java Stage in Canton, NY the following night. Cabinet goes on at 4:00 pm and then heads to the Waterhole in Saranac Lake, NY. Admission is $10, ages 21+. Doors are at 9:00pm with opening band The Blind Owl Band. The show starts at 10:00pm.

    With the release of their most recent album Leap, Cabinet has toured most of the United States this past year. Things certainly continue to grow for these hard working musicians, this year will also be their inaugural Old Farmers Ball music festival being held Saturday May 11th featuring, Cabinet, Yarn, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Miz,  And The Moneynotes, Pappy, Kyle Morgan and also the Coal Town Rounders. A limited amount of tickets are still available through Live Nation.

    Hope ya’all come out for this band this weekend, you will not be disappointed, in fact you will probably end sore the next day from all the dancing you will do at the show.

  • Lucid at Saranac Lake’s Winter Carnival, February 9th at The Waterhole – Full Show Video

    Back at the Waterhole for the final edition of Winter Carnival 2013, the North Country’s biggest act, Lucid, closed out the night of music accompanied by Flabbergaster with their mix of party rock. The music of Lucid is a mix of jamming, blues, rock, and funk that brings an awesome party sound rarely found elsewhere, especially in Upstate. Kevin Sabourin on guitar, Lowell Wurster on percussion, Jamie Armstrong on saxophone, Chris Shacklett on bass, Andy Deller on keys and Kyle Murray on drums make up this sprawling act that meshes together with ease. One of the notable parts of the night was when the band brought out proud dad George Wurster to belt out some tunes and wail on the mouth harp, just like his son Lowell. All of the tunes were fantastic, especially the cover of War’s “Why can’t we be Friends”, as well as Chris Shacklett playing earlier in the day with The Blind Owl Band and covering “Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads.

    Video footage by Ryan Woodard

    For more on Lucid, visit their website, MySpace, Sonicbids and Youtube sites.

    Thanks for watching listing and stay tuned for more coverage of more great Upstate NY bands!

  • Flabberghaster at The Waterhole, Saranac Lake Winter Carnival 2013, February 9th

    Back at The Waterhole in Saranac Lake for Winter Carnival 2013, Flabberghaster opened up for Lucid on February 9th. What a show! A completely packed house of fans came for their mix of rock n roll, funk and jazz that comes straight from the hills of the Green Mountains, that’s right folks, Vermont. Flabberghaster is Evan Lincoln on guitars, keys and vocals, Tucker Correy on vocals and guitars, Marcel Leclaire on drums, Jimmy Caltrider on percussion and vocals, and Elliott New-Bassy on vocals. The influences that sparks this band’s creativity are The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, to name a few. Some of the songs that are featured on their current album include “Belly dancer from Mars”, “Green Mountains, “no.2 Funk Tunnel”. Get their album Live Like Lightning, check out cdbaby. The band plays mostly originals with a few covers mixed in, such as “Cisco Kid” by War.

    Flabberghaster on Myspace and Reverbnation

    Words and Video by Ryan Woodard

  • Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band at Winter Carnival, The Waterhole, Saranac Lake, February 8

    Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band played The Waterhole’s upstairs music lounge on February 8th as part of Winter Carnival 2013.  The Waterhole, normally a crowded venue, wasn’t entirely full for this show but enough people were there to enjoy the band’s soulful 70’s and early/mid 90’s ska-like sound. Kat Wright’s most memorable song was a cover of Jackie Wilson’s “Higher and Higher”.

    Soul singers who may have had an influence on the band include Jackie Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles and even Jackson Browne. I mention early 90’s ska due to the enormous horn sound that they bring, reminiscent of Less than Jake. Kat Wright is formed from various projects across Vermont and New York State. The band consists of Shane Hardiman on keys, Josh Weinstein on bass, Dan Ryan on drums, Jake Whitesell on sax, Max Bronstein-Paritz on guitar, Dave Purcell on trumpet and Kat Wright on vocal. You can check out Kat Wright on the web and on Facebook 

  • Blind Owl Band at Winter Carnival, The Waterhole, Saranac Lake on February 9th

    Blind Owl Band played The Waterhole in Saranac Lake on February 9th as part of Winter Carnival 2013. This was one of the free shows, a post-parade party in the upstairs music lounge, and it was packed shoulder to shoulder.

    Everybody was jamming to the music, whether it was for the first or 100th time. The Blind Owl Band are local to Saranac Lake and play all over the state, as well as Vermont and several other locations. The band consists of Eric (mandolin), James (banjo), Arthur (guitar) and Christian (bass), and although they do not consider themselves a bluegrass band, they do play an eclectic mix of all music from all the sounds in their heads. While jamming, they brought out several guests to play with them,  such as members of Lucid, local fiddler Addison Bigford and many others. The most notable song of the night was a cover of Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer”

  • Donna The Buffalo Drinks From The Waterhole at Winter Carnival 2013

    After a vibrant opening act with Driftwood to kick off Winter Carnival 2013, the well known and well loved band Donna the Buffalo took stage. They united everyone in the audience at the Waterhole Music Lounge in Saranac Lake Thursday evening, solidifying the energy left over from Driftwood. When you see them live exploring the realm of what it is they offer, you can’t help but feel at home. The folk-infused Americana band offered a common ground for everyone to dance on at a sold out show. Fans from all over the northeast traveled in disregard to warnings of record breaking snowfall to spend the evening with the band.

    Donna-the-Buffalo-NEW-Promo-e1330451730229

    Once the band was grooving, everyone was moving. They inspire rhythm within the soul and demand movement from the body. The most prevalent thing at a Donna the Buffalo show is the range of ages within the fanbase. With a country and bluegrass feel, they are able to give people what they know and love while still offering unique music that is fresh and new. When Tara Nevins, the lead vocalist, busts out the washboard or accordion, she kicks things up a notch by adding some Cajun zydeco spice to the mix. She is one of the band’s original singers and songwriters, staying true to the band for the past 21 years. The other lead musician in the band, Jeb Puryear, adds a vibrant poetic element to a Donna the Buffalo show. He is always sharing personal ideas and emotions with the audience, expressing ideas from within and subtly explaining the band’s extensive timeline. Having recently put out a new album Silverlined many new songs were played and a refreshed sense of the band was shared by all. The new songs stopped people in their two stepping and made them listen. They are masters at creating a powerful sense of love and positive energy at every show. Anybody who loves good music, genuine song writing, and an energizing rhythm loves this band.

    Donna the Buffalo represents a revitalization of an aging sentiment of the love generation. Their music offers a hash of multiple styles, perfect for satisfying the many demands of a mountain town. The sounds of the fiddle, accordion  washboard, tambourine, electric guitar and keyboard all combine to bring the audience satisfying sounds and a combination of truly loved genres. The event demanded the kicking off of boots, swirling of skirts and swilling of suds. Smiles were all around and the warm feeling of a family created was everywhere. To end the show the band finished with one of their well know ditties and what it is they stand for was chanted, “My, my, my, everybody gets high! On love, love, love, everybody gets high! My, my, my, everybody gets by Everybody gets high on love…”!

  • Listen to the new Formula 5 album

    Formula 5, one of the fastest up and coming acts in the Capital District are about to release their debut, self-titled album, and has your first listen to these tracks. If you don’t know about Formula 5, here’s a primer from an interview with the band last fall.

    formula 5 albumAs for the tracks, take a listen below. We’ll have a full review later this month, so take a listen to a solid debut album from Formula 5, and catch them for their CD Release show on March 2nd at Red Square in Albany with Funktional Flow from Buffalo supporting. They are also playing on February 15th with Vasudo at Acoustic Cafe in Bridgeport, CT; March 1st with Funktional Flow at The Monopole in Plattsburgh; March 12th with Assortment of Crayons at Oasis Cafe in New Paltz; March 22nd at The Waterhole in Saranac Lake with Project Weather Machine; and May 11th at Upstate NY’s first BIG outdoor event of the year – The Upstate Spring Revival in Lyons, NY

  • The 2013 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, February 1st-10th

    The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival will take place February 1st-10th, 2013. Back in 1897, The first “Mid-Winter Carnival” began as a way to enjoy outdoor recreational activities such as skiing, sledding, and skating in the coldest days of winter. That inaugural  2 day event featured skating races, a parade and an ice tower. The following year, the first Ice Palace was constructed from blocks of ice from Lake Flower’s Pontiac Bay. Today, the The Ice Palace stands as both the centerpiece and symbol for the Winter Carnival.

    SLWC-pic

    Another long standing tradition at Winter Carnival is the Waterhole‘s live music series. Each night of Carnival, Waterhole features the region’s top bands and/or local favorites. This year’s lineup is top notch, check out the flier below and hopefully we’ll see you there!

    waterhole-wc