Category: Regions

This Grass is Blue – Greensky Bluegrass at the Westcott Theater, April 27th

Greensky Bluegrass’ return to the Westcott Theater on Wednesday April 24 brought fans and newcomers out of their weekday monotony and into the rich and colorful world of modern bluegrass music, one where tradition meets novelty and classic themes meet spontaneous virtuosity. Greensky epitomizes this history-steeped and yet constantly evolving genre. Their performances are deeply rooted in classic Americana, while their sound continues to push the experimental envelope, incorporating psychedelia, jamband and even classic rock themes.

The members of Greensky Bluegrass collaborate beautifully. They fluidly trade off leadership roles, as each musician is a solid soloist in their own right. Whether it was Michael Alren Bont twanging away in chord-driven, texturally tasty banjo or Paul Hoffman ripping through lightning fast licks on the mandolin, Greensky has no slackers in its ranks. Their persistent boot-stomping groove, multi-layered composition and improvisational genius never failed to keep the crowd dancing, whooping with joy or contemplatively ‘tripping out’ on their spacier tunes. Their self-effacing light show often lit the performers sparsely, while directing pattern and color primarily to the stage background and the walls of the theater. This approach demonstrated the band’s submission to the collective sound, rather than focusing viewers’ attention on the artists themselves as individual performers.

The band’s set was long and diverse, complete with tracks from their newest and most critically acclaimed album 2001’s Handguns, cover songs including a “Whole Lotta Love” verse for the Zepp-heads out there and a guest appearance by one of the guitarists from Greensky’s opener, Fruition. Overall, Greensky Bluegrass sustained a driving energy that held crowd attention and enjoyment throughout their performance.

May 3, 2013
Storytime with ‘Grandpa’ Leo Kottke at The Egg, April 26

Grandpa in this case refers to the kind of guitar player Leo Kottke is – playing songs on an acoustic guitar while stopping to tell long, drawn out stories as he gets the tuning just right. He could easily be pictured sitting on the edge of a porch telling folk tales while strumming his guitar. Leo Kottke performed a 90 minute set this past Friday in the smaller and much more intimate Swyer Theater at The Egg, just a floor below the main room many are familiar with.

Grandpa in this case refers to the kind of guitar player Leo Kottke is – playing songs on an acoustic guitar while stopping to tell long, drawn out stories as he gets the tuning just right. He could easily be pictured sitting on the edge of a porch telling folk tales while strumming his guitar, just as he performed his 90 minute set this past Friday in the smaller and much more intimate Swyer Theater at The Egg, just a floor below the main room many are familiar with. I only learned of Leo Kottke in 2003 when he put out Clone with Mike Gordon, the bassist from Phish. The two produced an incredible album that had me hooked on the mysterious guitarist, but it took another 10 years before I would see him in a solo live performance. Amid a mostly older crowd, Kottke’s trance-inducing plucking of his 12 string guitar was a treat for the ears. His playing is that of a soundtrack to a cross country train ride, as the engine chugs along the tracks, scenery flying by and curves on the tracks shift the weight of the song from one side to another. The melody produced by the guitar was unlike any I had heard, rivaling even the greatest pluckers.

Playing 15 or so songs over the course of the night, the setlist that was only found inside the mind of Leo. Comprised of ballads and love songs, instrumentals of both a progressive and orchestral nature, Kottke could have tackled classical numbers in the style of Bela Fleck and given a performance that would be of nearly the same caliber.

But what made the evening complete were the stories that Kottke told as he tuned his guitar in between songs. Speaking in a gravely, baritone voice, he shared anecdotes from the road, the origin of songs, musicians he has listened to and interacted with, plus just some random off-topic ramblings that kept the audience laughing in between focusing intently on Leo performing at centerstage. These moments were Zappa-esque, in terms of the banter that occurred between the beats of the music, paced conversation with a unique soundtrack each time. Of note was when Leo spoke of Robert Bartow, whom he was listening to backstage, a performer of 18th century Baroque German lute music. How this influenced his set is a mystery to everyone, but surely, the master brought in a variety of influences in the magical 100 minutes at The Egg this evening.

May 3, 2013
Oh Yes It’s Ladies Night and the Feeling’s Right – Amy Lavere and Savannah King at Abilene Bar, Rochester

On a rainy and miserable Wednesday night in Rochester at Abilene Bar and Lounge, ladies night was in full effect. Memphis bred singer/songwriter and sometime actress Amy Lavere and Buffalo’s Savannah King provided duel cannons of estrogen enforced sun-laden excellence much to the glee of the packed house despite the contradictory weather patterns.

Abilene is somewhat new to Rochester, having opened in 2008 and has provided a much needed eclectic alternative to the typical local music scene. Owner/operator Danny Deutsch is far more likely to be serving you a delicious microbrew or unique liquor concoction from behind the bar instead of sitting in an office shuffling papers. They have a knack for picking popular niche artists and marketing themselves appropriately to bring the masses down to boogie.

The night started at the advertised time (another rarity in the local scene) with Savannah King hitting the stage at promptly 8:30 PM. She wasted no time, opening with an unexpected acoustic one-woman version of the Black Sabbath gem “War Pigs” as the crowd “gathered in their masses”. Savannah is bursting with talent at the ripe old age of 19 and shows true dedication to her art through pursuing a degree in the music field at SUNY Fredonia and traveling anywhere a show calls her name. Appearing alone on stage with an acoustic, her vocals are fluid with a jazzy melody which might bring comparisons to well known artists anywhere from Jewel to Carole King. Adding in her skillful six-string talents gave the crowd one excellent opening act. Her set was cover heavy and diverse, including the aforementioned Sabbath Cover, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and songs by The Tragically Hip and fellow Buffalonian Ani DiFranco. Interspersed between the covers were a handful of originals showcasing a burgeoning artist with a nose for melody and whimsical expression.

After a quick break, Amy took the stage. She tours with drummer and former boyfriend Paul Taylor on drums and recently acquired guitarist/keyboardist Tim Regan. Her style is a mix of bluesy folk and jazz with a sprinkle of rockabilly. Beyond singing, Amy plays an upright bass which despite towering over her petite figure she has full command of. Between many songs she entertained the spellbound audience with stories and toasts which gave the set an exquisite flow. Featuring originals from albums such as Stranger Me and Died of Love and a smattering of covers she delivered a top notch experience to the Abilene crowd. Beyond pleasing the peoples aural cavities, they all appeared to desire a pristine ocular view as this reporter was asked to move several times despite maintaining a low profile.

At one point during the evening, Amy politely excused herself from the stage and guitarist Tim Regan offered up a tasty original of his own. Amy soon returned with the crowd favorite “Damn Love Song” which was one of the highlights of the evening. Other highlights included a nice take on David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream” and an end of show moment where both ladies graced the stage for a fun rendition of the Willie Dixon classic “Wang Dang Doodle”. Overall an excellent experience from two artists determined to take it to the top.

This was Amy’s 5th visit to Abilene so watch for her coming back in the future. Catch Savannah’s next show May 10th at the Pausa Art House in Buffalo at 8PM.

May 3, 2013
Meg and Laura Interview Tyler Hilton this Monday!

Oh, what’s that sound? That’s right. That’s the sound of my teenage hopes circa One Tree Hill Season 3 coming back knocking on the door. His raspy voice and seamless songwriting makes you wish every song with the pronouns ‘she’ and ‘her’ was written about you. Ring a bell?

Yes, you’ve guessed it. It’s Tyler Hilton. Not only is he currently on tour with Ryan Cabrera and Teddy Geiger, but Syracuse’s Westcott Theater happens to be one of the venues he’s playing. And here’s the best part: the notorious Meg and Laura will be talking to this contemporary Howie Day this coming Monday about his latest record, “Forget the Storm” and will be broadcasting the interview on their SoundCloud at 3 PM EST, Monday May 6th. Details are available on Facebook.com/themegandlaurashow.

Don’t miss the show! Buy tickets through the Westcott Theater.

Here’s an exclusive new track Tyler Hilton sent our way and we hope you enjoy it.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/90331428″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

May 3, 2013
Summer Camp Music Festival – One of the Best Lineups This Summer Features 8 Upstate NY Bands

For the past decade, Summer Camp Music Festival has been on the radar of live music aficonados, as it unofficially kicks off the summer festival season, and this year features 8 bands from Upstate NY. Living in the Northeast, we have our own kickoff for summer festival season, StrangeCreek in Greenfield, MA. But finally, the stars have aligned and in 3 short weeks, will be headed to Chillicothe, Illinois to cover Summer Camp Music Festival!

And we couldn’t have picked a better year to be there! Upstate New York has not just founder of Summer Camp, moe., but EIGHT Upstate New York bands are on the extensive lineup, bringing the best of Upstate to the Midwest. Among the rest of the bands on the lineup, which includes Umphrey’s McGee, Thievery Corporation, Trey Anastasio Band, Lotus , Cornmeal, Dopapod, Keller Williams, Conspirator, Lettuce, Big Gigantic, Tauk and dozens more, Upstate New York is represented by Floodwood, Jimkata, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Timbre Coup, Project Weather Machine, Aqueous, John Brown’s Body and of course, moe. There is rarely a festival outside the Northeast to feature so many bands from the Upstate New York region, showing that these acts are making names for themselves beyond their region and branching out to newer and broader fan bases around the country.

This installment of Summer Camp isn’t just the best yet, it is also one of the best lineups anyone could ask for. For four days and nights, central Illinois will be rocking from noon till nearly dawn with some of the best jambands, electronic acts, bluegrass groups, reggae troupes and ensembles of every genre imaginable. The folks at Canopy Club have outdone themselves, and that’s saying a lot when you look back at previous lineups.

Mike Armintrout, one of the promoters for Summer Camp, had this to say about the bands hailing from Upstate New York and the Northeast: “Being that moe. is such a major part of Summer Camp, and has been since the first year (2001), bands from their home area clearly hold a special place with them and therefore with the festival. Over the years we’ve had a number of acts from the Northeast and Upstate NY on the festival. This year we’re excited about the return of a number of Northeast-based acts like Medeski Martin & Wood, The Wood Brothers, The Pimps of Joytime and Jimkata. As well as a first-time appearance by some other great acts from the region like Lettuce, Dopapod, Project Weather Machine and Aqueous. The Northeast continues to have a foothold at the Summer Camp Music Festival.”

This, the 13^th installment of Summer Camp will be nothing short of magical, but with so much music to see, the task of knowing what to see is daunting. For your consideration, may we interest you in the acts from Upstate New York, all worthy of an hour of your time, and quite possibly, many hours of listening in the future…

moe.

Summer Camp was founded by moe. in 2001, on the heels of their incredibly successful moe.down, now in it’s 14th year. Playing six sets during the weekend, odds are you’ll be seeing plenty of moe., and that you don’t need us to tell you of their involvement of putting this festival together. moe. plays the mainstage each night on the main stage.

“It’s interesting, when we all get togeher, it doesn’t matter if its moe. or Floodwood, there’s definitely a thing about being from the Northeast and being from Upstate NY. You don’t really know it until you leave and get out of the Northeast and leave Upstate New York and run into people from Upstate in another geographical part of the country … we were on the road with Floodwood recently and ran into someone in Asheville, NC. This guy spent a lot of time in Upstate and said ‘I miss Upstate New York, the sarcasm, the food, the everything … when I hang with you guys for a couple days, it takes a bit to readjust (attitude-wise) with my wife.” – Al Schnier, Guitar/Mandolin/Vocals, moe. and Floodwood

Jimkata

Hailing from Ithaca, Jimkata has begun to draw sizeable crowds throughout the country, combined electronic music with rock and progressive jams. Their recent album Die Digital has been a huge hit and led to incredible sets as they stretch into the south and Midwest. Read an interview with Evan Friedell of Jimkata with ’s Johnny Goff. Few acts from the Northeast have risen as fast as Jimkata has. To see them live is a pure treat for the ears and eyes. If you like electronic rock, you’d be hard pressed to find better. Check them out from 6-7pm on Sunday in the Vibe Tent

“I think there are a lot of hard working bands that have come out of upstate or the northeast that earn or have earned every fan or credit they get. To see many of them on the same bill makes it feel like our area is indeed a productive one when it comes to live music and building a live music community. Hopefully as more people from back home see their favorite hometown bands on bills like this they’ll feel more inspired to continue supporting the live music scene we have going.” –Evan Friedell, Guitar/Vocals, Jimkata

Timbre Coup

Progressive rock is alive and well thanks to larger acts like Umphrey’s McGee, and Timbre Coup from Albany have put their signature sound on prog-rock, standing out among their peers and producing excellent albums, most recently Knuckles and Valleys, a spectacular release in 2012 that covers all 12 months of the year in 12 tracks, highlighted by the interplay of the band as they seamlessly switch instruments for various songs and intertwine their sound while our ears scream in joy. Timbre Coup is a treat every time we see them, and you’ll thank us when you check them out Sunday from noon-1pm.

“I feel like Upstate NY is a hotbed of creativity right now from the most progressive of music all the way to rustic and traditional sounds of blue grass and jam rock. Bands like Jimkata, Aqueous, Timbre Coup, Project Weather Machine and all the others that will be representing this region in the Midwest at Summer Camp show how eclectic the creativity is and how this scene really has something for everyone.” – Dan Gerken, Guitar/Vocals, Timbre Coup

Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad

Hailing from Buffalo, Giant Panda is one of two reggae-infused bands to come out of Upstate for Summer Camp. If you like your reggae diverse and beyond run of the mill, Giant Panda is perfect for you and makes a great mid-day aural snack on Saturday from 330-430pm.

“It is some of the more honest, foot stomping fun that you will see this summer. We’re all funked up from the cold and the Kodak chemie sunsets. Oh and the fracked water…” James Searl, Bass/Vocals, Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad

Floodwood

Two parts moe. and three parts Zachary, Jason and Nick equals one helluva pickin’ party with string band Floodwood. Playing bluegrass standards, David Grisman tunes and a variety of foot-stompers, Floodwood has been a huge hit out east and the Midwest is lucky to have them playing five sets throughout the weekend. There’s lots of bluegrass and jamgrass at Summer Camp, so get your dose of Floodwood, as they’re only playing three festivals the rest of the summer – Fiddler’s Picnic June 14-16 in Lyons, NY, Clearwater Music Festival on June 15-16 in Croton-on-Hudson, NY and moe.down 14, August 9-11 in Turin, NY.

“With moe. and getting to the west coast, there’s something about being from Upstate New York and the Northeast – you have this different outlook and certain kind of humor, an appreciation for sarcasm. The interesting thing I love about Upstate New York is that everyone is down to earth and it goes a long way and really stands out when you are out of your element” – Al Schnier, Guitar/Mandolin/Vocals, moe. and Floodwood

Project Weather Machine

A band comprised of four individuals with eclectic backgrounds, Project Weather Machine hails from Syracuse and melds the genres of rock, dance, folk and blues, as well as jamming throughout each of these styles of music. Just over a year old, this group has caught the ears of a great deal throughout New York State and will playing from 130-230pm on Sunday afternoon.

“I feel that the Upstate bands in the Summer Camp lineup stand out mostly in the fact that it is so diverse. There are six markets across Upstate New York that are being represented and each one has it’s own individual sound: Indie, electro, rock, jam, progressive, folk and dub/reggae are all being represented. It really shows what a wonderful cross section of music we have here in Upstate New York.” Daniel Wafer, Bass/Vocals, Project Weather Machine

Aqueous

A true jamband with progressive routes and a wide-range of influences, Aqueous is full of deep improvisation, songwriting that is years beyond bands of similar caliber and a live performance that is a hallmark of Upstate New York. They kick off the music on Sunday from 11am-12pm, so start the day off right with an early dose of true improv.

“The bands selected to represent the Northeast at this year’s Summer Camp Music Festival are among the finest Upstate New York has to offer and we’re excited and grateful to bring our sound to the incredible mix of bands on the lineup!” – Mike Gantzer, Guitar, Aqueous

John Brown’s Body

Playing from 5-6pm early Sunday evening, John Brown’s Body has the recent distinction of having the #1 album on Billboard’s Reggae Chart. Hailing from Boston via Ithaca, this ensemble of musicians uses reggae as the base for their sound, bringing in drums and bass, dub and electronica into the mix to bring their music to another level. Horns and a tight core develop immense rhythms. Don’t miss out on JBB.

“I think it is the people themselves that our making music from the Upstate NY region unique and interesting. There is wisdom and inspiration that has been passed on from older generations of musicians from the area and from our peers who lead their own groups. We are originally from Ithaca NY, so for JBB, it is individuals like Kevin Kinsella and our own Elliot Martin, and bands like Giant Panda and Thunder Body from Rochester that represent a sound and approach unique to this place.” -Drew Sayers , Saxaphone, John Brown’s Body

See you at Summer Camp!

May 2, 2013
‘One More Time’ Provides Needed Daft Punk Fix for Fans at Upstate Concert Hall
I have been waiting for Daft Punk’s new album Random Access Memories since their last album, the soundtrack to Tron: Legacy. Although Daft Punk purists have been waiting for the next great album to drop from the reclusive French duo, we can satisfy the need for their incredible blend of disco, house and electronic music by going through their discography, replaying “Get Lucky” over and over and over, or we can go see One More Time, a Daft Punk Tribute Band that puts on a live show that can satiate fans, to an extent.

Playing Upstate Concert Hall with its low ceilings, the band set up their pyramid, a replica of the 2006/7 Alive Tour stage setup, but lighting director Cullen Noon noted that they were missing two 17′ poles that form an apex behind the pyramid at 15′ high. It wasn’t a downside to the show, but would have been cool to see. Speaking of lights – throughout the night, the lighting was batting nearly 1.000, varying with the set as it progressed, timing it just right on certain lyrics, highlighted by a disco ball used at the perfect moments of the 80 minute set.

Musically, the show felt short. I had high hopes for this show and by the time the crowd was warmed up, it felt as though we were already on the latter half of the set. Time flies when you’re having fun, and remixes and mashups of songs added to it, but something was missing – perhaps a large, sweaty crowd massed towards the stage, thumping to the beat of every track without a skip – but we were in Clifton Park and the crowd was around 100 at best, so that was part of it. But still, Daft Punk music is never a reason to not dance.

The music was everything you would expect it to be – the hits, the rare tracks, a bit of everything, including the new track that debuted only a week prior. The set started out as the Alive Tour opener – “Robot Rock”, “Oh Yeah”, “Touch It”, “Technologic”, then departed for a mix of tracks, a bit of everything for the crowd. “Derezzed” from the Tron: Legacy soundtrack was a welcome surprise and made the pyramid light up something spectacular in varying sweeps of color. A deep remix of “Harder Better Faster Stronger” was evidence the duo, R & B, were not just pressing play but spinning a unique set for us. “Overture” > “Crescendolls” was a sweet combo, as was the spirited version of “Human After All”. The disco ball was timed perfectly on the robot-speak lyrics on “Human”. “Get Lucky” was gives a standard mix and provided a spark to the crowd at the right moment. An encore of “One More Time” was expected but still welcomed by all, as the tune is likely the most popular of all the band’s songs over the years.

For those who still won’t be content with Random Access Memories after it comes out later this month, fear not! The duo will perform at Website Hall in NYC in August, with a new live show to reflect the new album. Since Daft Punk isn’t planning to go out on tour anytime soon, the closest we’ll get is One More Time.
May 2, 2013
Maria Brink Comes Home: In This Moment at Upstate Concert Hall

The crew at Upstate Concert Hall began to set up the stage for Maria Brink and the chatter amongst the crowd blended together. Some excited squeals and cheers emerged from their mouths as the crew placed two stands with stacked skulls, which were then moved to a box positioned in the center of the stage. Two more stands were positioned on opposite ends of the stage. A wool carpet was put on top of the box and two old-fashioned twin metal headboards that had sheer shredded pale pink fabric draped over them, on each side of the box.

Two fans placed on either side, next came banners reading IN THIS MOMENT with an image of a hand holding an apple, dripping blood that represented the theme of their new record, Blood. The crew team then placed two white shiny mannequins with red markings, one on each side. Finally, a white sculpture with melted faces and swords sticking out was arranged in front of the box; a piece of a catacomb wall, if you will. Smoke glided elegantly across the stage…overall, a very eerie setting that raised a question that everyone was thinking: What do they have in store for us?

Finally, the lights dimmed and a familiar drumbeat filled the ears of fellow concertgoers, Queen’s “We Will Rock You”, that quickly faded into mixed creepy whispers, belonging to “It is Written”, off of Blood. The whispers ended and the song changed to the very first track from the record, “Rise With Me”, cuing Albany’s angel of metal, Maria Brink, to make herself known. She stepped upon the stage wearing a white hooded cloak that covered her one-piece latex outfit with nude stocks and two white straps wrapped around her knees. She made her way to the stage, the fans blowing up her long blonde wavy hair, the blue hue revealed her dark, smeared eye-shadow. Through her mic headset, she sang the lyrics to “Rise With Me”, and with that, the rest of the band members emerged through the thick mist. The song then changed to their current single, “Adrenalize”, the fast paced drumbeat energized. Maria gripped the skull stands as she whipped her hair wildly to the rhythm of the song and danced provocatively.

After performing “Blazin’,” Maria Brink went to the back of the stage to change her outfit (a button down oxford shirt, a very short plaid skirt, and a cone hat that had the word: WHORE written in red) for their second next song, “Whore.” With her moves, she made metal seem very sexy. The next outfit was her white latex one-piece; this time she had two flowy white sheets attached to her arm. Maria encouraged her ever-adoring fans to put their lighters up and to “burn” her, hinting the next song to play was “Burn”. Her powerful scream in the chorus of that song certainly gave the crowds the chills, especially the way the fan was hitting her “wings” and the smoke outlined the sheets…such an eerie scene. The setlist then relaxed into a slower song, “Into the Light”, when the setting changed a bit.

White LED lights wrapped around the headboards, Maria sat in a chair that had a tube of LED lights wrapped around the legs and seat with a sheer cloth over it. Then Maria stood up and walked over to drummer Tom Hane’s perch and introduced him to the crowd as she went to the back to change her outfit for the next song. Hane proceeded with his killer drum solo; it was very fast paced, and it was clearly evident that he was really getting into it, as he whipped his long hair in a circular motion. Chris Howorth (guitar), Randy Weitzel (guitar), and Travis Johnson (bass) joined in during the solo, letting their crazy riffs rip through the venue.

Once the solo ended, Maria came back on stage wearing her white Oxford shirt, the latex one-piece and a white navy hat with the smoke gun. She then screamed out the band’s well-known single, “The Gun Show”. Her piercing scream rang the fellow music lovers’ ears and bounced off the Upstate Concert Hall’s walls. The smoke shot from the gun whenever she screamed “WELCOME TO THE GUN SHOW”. Fans mouthed along to the words, fists pumped the air, and some moshed to the song. Eventually the mood changed from sexy heavy metal to just plain sexy as crewmembers held up a white sheet and Maria wore shredded white wings on her arms. There was a white backlight that revealed her silhouette, as she waved her arms and danced to the rhythm of the drums. After the performance of “Aries”, a man wearing a bunny-mask and a tuxedo stepped up onto Maria’s box, and stood behind her as the band began to perform the second to last song, “Beast Within”.

Throughout the song, she encouraged the fans to wave their arms in the air as well as danced with the Bunny-Man sexually. At the end of the song, Maria and the band left the crowd chanting, “More! More! More!” while some chanted, “Blood! Blood! Blood!” From behind the stage, Maria asked the crowd through the speakers if they wanted more, in response the crowd cheered wildly. She came back out with the band in a sparkly dress with shredded sleeves that dripped from her arms, with a hat that is quite difficult to describe. She then began to perform the epic finale, “Blood”, the band’s leading single off their latest record. Towards the end of the song, Maria encouraged the fans to sing the chorus with her and she brought her young niece up to the stage as well as introduced her family, who were off to the side. The song ended in a spine-chilling manner, leaving the fans in such a crazed buzz.

All in all, the setlist was amazing, the set itself was very creepy and probably will continue to haunt the fellow concertgoers’ dreams, and Maria Brink with her beautifully bone-chilling scream will ring in their minds, as they remember the night In This Moment rocked the Upstate Concert Hall.

May 2, 2013
The Kollectiv and The Heavy Pets Threw Down on April 23rd at The Hollow in Albany

A little known secret is that sometimes the best shows happen during the beginning of the week. The Kollectiv and The Heavy Pets drew in quite a crowd on April 23^rd, a Tuesday night for The Hollow Bar and Kitchen (formerly The Bayou Cafe) in Albany. I was urged by multiple friends to check out these two jam bands and at the end of the night, it was way beyond worth going out for.

The Kollectiv hails from Oneonta, NY, so making it to Albany was an easy trip for dedicated fans from all over the Upstate region to catch them in action. The five-piece up and coming band wasted no time laying out a funky fresh jam with edge and attitude. Their music ranged from reggae, rock, hip hop and funk, with each song being groovy and original. The highlight of their set was the Grateful Dead’s “Fire on the Mountain”, quite possibly the best reggae remix I’ve ever heard. One of the most unique aspects about The Kollectiv is member Lars Viola on the turntables. The rhythmic record scratching surprisingly brought the jams to a new level, making them deliciously contemporary and cool. The Kollectiv’s fusion of musical styling is a game changer and a band to be on the lookout for.

The Heavy Pets took the stage and sent out their own reggae jam vibe that light up the room. I was lucky to find myself right in front of Jeff Lloyd and Mike Garulli, guitarists with spark flying strumming. Bassist Tony D’Amato looked laid back throughout the night, despite his delivery of continuous heavy bass notes. Jamie Newitt hit symbols and slammed out serious beats while he and Jim Wuest on keys went back in forth sending a steady rhythm through the room all night. The entire night was filled with nonstop energy from each member, displaying tremendous talent and experience. It was a great pleasure to watch as each musician would get lost in the music, only causing more of a reaction from the crowd and elevation of jams. The band currently resides in Florida but they are always more than happy to come home to Upstate New York.

Setlist: 3AM, Spin Round, Travel, Bibbles, Babies, Slow Down, Chevrolet, TDTSFTR, Pass it Down,

Encore: No More Time, Jackie Bones, STYM

May 1, 2013
Review: EXODUS, Armor Column and more at UCH 4/22

On Monday, April 22nd, Upstate Concert Hall welcomed a piece of thrash-metal history to the Capital District when Exodus and Armor Column took the stage. Supported by five, count ’em, five local acts, Exodus showed everyone in attendance why they are held in such high regard and continue to leave a wake of euphoric devastation where ever they play, even three decades after their formation.

Anchored by guitarists Gary Holt and Rick Hunolt, along with drummer Tom Hunting, (each of whom have been, for the most part, playing under the Exodus flag since the early ’80s), singer Rob Dukes prowled the stage like a prize fighter daring someone to enter the ring, HIS ring. Bassist Jack Gibson, earning the misleading honor of being the most subdued band member, provided a firm, gut-bruising foundation, and together, Exodus whipped the faithful crowd into a maelstrom of pumping fists, spasmodic thrashing, and a sea of heavy-metal-devil-horns.

While the relentless double-bass assault from Hunting’s kit and the infallible bassline from Gibson couldn’t be ignored, and were crucial to laying the groundwork, the main feature was the trio of Holt, Hunolt, and Dukes. With Duke’s menacing vocals and glowering stares into the entranced crowd, he worked like a sorcerer, controlling the masses. Every time he pointed to the crowd, as if on cue, they either broke into a frenzied mosh, screamed his words back to him, or simply flashed their horns. In spilt beer, sweat, and occasional droplets of blood, they shared a communion of sorts with Dukes.

Whereas Dukes led the crowd in a way a paranoid person might categorize as brainwashing, Holt and Hunolt captivated the audience by obliterating those brains with blistering solos and blitzkrieg metal riffs. Their double-axed offensive was as tireless as it was astounding. The speed and precision of their runs in solo was impressive enough, but when done in tandem, it resulted in a room full of wordless, appreciative screams and bellows from the testosterone charged throngs. Well before the first break in the music, Exodus left no doubt that no matter the miles and years they’ve accumulated, they are still a mighty force to be reckoned with.

A quick roundup of the supporting bands:

Protocol 7 served as a worthy opener, setting the stage with their fast and furious style, complete with gas masks. Only a broken E string on their bass guitar made an early end to their caustic set.
https://www.facebook.com/protocol.seven.7?fref=ts

Hollow is Thy Name kept the testosterone pumping, delivering an unflinching set that was short on chit chat, big on cajones. It was like a Clark Kent-to-Bizarro transformation when A.J. Justiniano took off his glasses.
https://www.facebook.com/HollowIsThyHeartMusic?fref=ts

Dolabra took the stage next and showed off their seasoned chops, with solid contributions from every member. While the front of the stage was nowhere near empty prior to their set, empty space was hard to come by without a fight once they launched into their opener.
https://www.facebook.com/Dolabra?fref=ts

Armor Column flew their flag onstage next, led by amazing Rob Halford-esque vocals. But they are no knock-off act, as top-to-bottom, they did their thing and owned the stage during their short time on it.
https://www.facebook.com/ArmorColumn?fref=ts

April 30, 2013
Childhood’s End, The Uptown Theatre in Utica on 4/20

The Uptown Theatre, in the midst of a large remodel, hosted Central New York’s own Childhood’s End for a celebration of 4/20. For most, it’s just like any other day, but for some it’s a holiday, one seemingly dedicated to smoking weed and if you’re lucky, listening to music. The crowd at the Uptown appeared to be down for both.

Photo by Sandra Jackson for Sublunar Studios/Visual Design

I arrived early and immediately noticed that many people were sitting down and the open section in the front was fairly empty. People did not seem to be there to dance but to get elevated a bit and expand their minds. A departure from ‘normal’ concerts for sure, but I completely understood and took a seat with the rest of the crowd.

Childhood’s End, in a nod to the day, started their show with a clip from many stoner’s favorite show, The Family Guy, in which Brian the family dog and Stewie the talking baby, tout the wonders of pot, specifically a “Bag of Weed” in a catchy Broadway style number. After which, they went on to dedicate the show to Storm Thorgerson, the artist behind several of Pink Floyd‘s iconic album covers including Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here, who died earlier that week.

After opening with a few well-known tunes, including their namesake, the band broke out a David Gilmour solo tune that I wasn’t familiar with, “Murder”. Written about the death of John Lennon, I found it to be both well placed, and well-played.

The addition of Jerry More on saxophone was a crucial one and punched up the band’s overall offering, allowing for a full sound in crowd favorites like “Money”, “Us and Them” and others. The band of course hit on many songs that elicited cheers and fist pumps from the not-so young crowd, who conveniently brought their Air Guitars.

Childhoods’ End show feels thoughtful and carefully planned, with attention to the lights as well as visuals. Semi-relevant movie clips (in the very best way possible) were played in time with their music and created an extra dimension for those looking to really expand their horizons. A truly multidimensional experience, and one that reflects dedication the original artist’s work, while still showing off the creativity and excellent musicianship of the band.

Setlist:

Set 1: One Slip, Learning To Fly, Take It Back, Childhood’s End, Murder, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Wish You Were Here, Speak To Me, Breathe, Time, Money, Us And Them, Any Colour You Like, Brain Damage, Eclipse

Set 2: Dogs, In The Flesh?, The Thin Ice, Another Brick In The Wall (Part 1), The Happiest Days Of Our Lives, Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2), Mother, Goodbye Blue Sky, Empty Spaces, Young Lust, One Of My Turns, Another Brick In The Wall (Part 3), Goodbye Cruel World, Hey You

Encore: Comfortably Numb, Run Like Hell

April 30, 2013