NYS Music 20​13

Category: Regions

  • Solid Sound Fest releases A-Z lineup for June 21-23 at MASS MoCA

    With Wilco and a Comedy lineup already announced, Solid Sound Festival announced the rest of their lineup for 2013 in alphabetical order, leading to a lineup of more than 30 bands spread out over June 21-23 in North Adams, Mass

    solid sound fest lineupThe Solid Sound Fest lineup, from A-Z (with a few gaps filled in for good measure)

    A. Sam Amidon & Al Madrigal

    B. “Border Music” (featuring Marc Ribot and David Hidalgo) & The Blisters

    C. Neko Case

    D. The Dream Syndicate

    E. Euclid Records returns to set up shop

    F. Foxygen

    G. Golden Eagle (local restaurant) & Mt. Greylock (the highest peak in MA)

    H. John Hodgman

    I. I is for “I Got You” which we’re pretty sure Wilco will play either Friday or Saturday.

    J. Mikael Jorgensen & Greg O’Keeffe, and Jen Kirkman

    K. Glenn Kotche & Darin Gray (On Fillmore), providing a live soundtrack to WNYC’s Radiolab

    L. Low & Lucius

    M. Medeski, Martin & Wood with Special Guests, and Mark Mulcahy

    N. Nels Cline & Julian Lage

    O. Os Mutantes

    P. The Autumn Defense (Patrick Sansone & John Stirratt)

    Q. Questions? Visit Solid Sound FAQ.

    R. Reggie Watts & The Relatives

    S. Story Pirates

    T. T is for Early Bird Tickets, which will be gone soon. Get yours now.

    U. Urban Birding

    V. V is for Valentine’s Day and “You and I” is the perfect soundtrack, right? V also =  vegetarian & vegan food options.

    W. White Denim (and of course Wilco)

    X. Artist Xu Bing

    Y. Yo La Tengo, playing a full set as well as live-scoring the film The Love Song of R. Buckminster Fuller

    Z. Z is for Ze full lineup. See you in June. Tickets here.

    solid sound fest lineup

  • 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…”!

  • Start Making Sense: A Talking Heads Tribute at The Bayou in Albany, February 7th

    After what felt like eternity, Start Making Sense: A Talking Heads Tribute made their return to the Capital Region on Thursday, February 7th. The Bayou Café in Albany welcomed the musicians with open arms and fully packed the dance floor. Start Making Sense recreates the music of Talking Heads known for their funky and punk New Wave 80’s dance parties.

    The night opened up with “Thank You for Sending Me An Angel”, lots of whoops and hollers as the drums start to rally the crowd. One of the many things I love about the Talking Heads music is the constant roller coaster volume of the lyrics. Start Making Sense is always a loud show, with every word being screamed at the top of everyone’s lungs such as “Pulled Up” and “Slippery People.” At one moment, you are yelling and stomping, giving way to your rebellious urges. The next you are gently grooving to “And She Was” and being swayed by “Air.”

    Start Making Sense performs the vast music styling’s of the Talking Heads with skilled ease and pure appreciation.  Lead man Jon Braun recreating David Byrne is spot on, including his clothes, crazy facial expressions and legendary vocals. Braun and the band have great flow with their dance moves, always a crowd pleaser. Before set break, Braun announced how “Thankful and happy the band was to be back in Upstate New York” and listed a few of their upcoming shows.

    The crowd does its best to keep up with Start Making Sense’s nonstop fireball energy being hurled throughout the second set. It’s a treat to watch the musicians laughing to each other and having just as much fun as we are. I personally enjoyed the second set better because I knew more of the songs. “Nothing but Flowers” followed by “Cities” was the best way to resume the dance party. “Burning Down the House” was electrifying. The show ended with wild keyboard ranges from “Girlfriend Is Better” into a mellow yet enthusiastic “Crosseyed and Painless.” Start Making Sense will lightly tour around the east coast, making stops in Maine, Vermont and Delaware, before returning to their home state of Pennsylvania. As the lights came on and the band started to pack up, my friends and I already were planning our next show to see them.

    Setlist:

    Set 1: Thank You For Sending Me an Angel, Pulled Up, Slippery People, And She Was, Air, Uh Oh Love Comes to Town, Psycho Killer, Drugs, Born Under Punches, Animals, Found A Job, Mind, What A Day That Was, Naïve Melody

    Set 2: Nothing But Flowers, Cities, Life During Wartime, Not In Love, Stay Hungry, Big Business/I Zimbra, Once In A Lifetime, Making Flippy Floppy, Burning Down the House, Girlfriend Is Better, Crosseyed and Painless

  • V for Vanderbuilts: Syracuse based Pop/Rock band release New Single “I Wish I Was A Saber Toothed Tiger”

    Amidst all the mushy releases that make single people want to stick a fork in their eye around Valentine’s Day, it is absurdly appropriate for The Vanderbuilts to release their single, “I Wish I Was A Saber Toothed Tiger” on February 14th. There is something dreamlike about their sound that you can’t quite place your finger upon. Whether it’s the soothing pizzicato of Yamamoto’s violin or the energy of lead singer Kogon’s elusive-yet-lingering vocals,  The Vanderbuilts take you to another world, far, far away from the Hallmark clichés.

    Inspired by Werner Herzog’s 2010 masterpiece, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, the band’s new album, What We Forget puts a fresh spin on ancient sounds and images. Their music video by Sessa Lund, uses a combination of claymation and stop motion to depict a clay figure transforming into various animals but never quite reaching the goal of becoming a saber toothed tiger. “I Wish I Was A Saber Toothed Tiger” wraps us in a strange yet familiar sound, waiting impatiently for what’s to come. Music & Lyrics by Sam Kogon; Engineered, Mixed and Produced by Jay Newland

    The Vanderbuilts are Sam Kogon, Dave Riddell, Max Newland, Aya Yamamoto and Grennan Milliken. “I Wish I Was a Saber Tooth Tiger” features Finnegan Shanahan on Violin; string arrangements by Aya Yamamoto and Finnegan Shanahan. Website Twitter Facebook Youtube

    Vanderbuilts

  • LAESTRYGONIA, BENEATH THE WORDS and more in Geneva on Feb 23rd

    The Headless Sullivan Theater in Geneva, NY Presents: Laestrygonia, Beneath the Words, Divinex, Plague Mask and They Exist on February 23rd for only 5 bucks for 5 bands.  Doors at 5, Show at 6.

    Laestrygonia Make sure to show up early to check out the ambitious triple-axis guitar threat of Laestrygonia. They power out a melodic and rhythmic intricacy that earns them the right to borrow their name from the Homerian epic The Odyssey.  While “Laestrygonia” may not easily roll off your tongue, you’ll perfect it soon enough, as you tell your friends about the up-and-coming band that you caught, and they missed. Or better yet, bring them with you. www.facebook.com/laestrygonia

    Beneath The Words At times smooth, at others raw and primal, but always engaged and unpredictable, Beneath The Words will deliver the full spectrum of auditory experience. Feed off the energy resonating between the dual guitars and the gut-clenching vocals. Let the driving bass and drums bombard your innards. They switch seamlessly from in-your-face assault into meticulous coiling lines. Be prepared for immersion; Beneath The Words is not a spectator sport. www.facebook.com/beneaththewords

    Divinex

    Serving up a full-bodied journey into the moody, ambient realms of metal, Divinex will serve as your capable tour-guide. Divinex spotlights the organic nature of the genre, letting it build and grow before your ears until it surrounds you in all of its lush textures. But don’t let the word “lush” fool you; they will still peel your face off when all of their forces converge. Buckle up and take a loud, heady trip with Divinex. https://www.facebook.com/divinexband

    Plague Mask

    Sinister, suspenseful, and hypnotic, Plague Mask will give you beautiful nightmares. It has been said that E minor is the saddest key; Plague Mask has discovered the eeriest key. Tapping into the most basic of musical emotion, the tension and expectancy of their music triggers your adrenaline release. Their steady, sobering thrum will stalk you relentlessly. Resistance is futile; Plague Mask will infect you.  https://www.facebook.com/PlagueMask315

    They Exist

    Some bands embrace several different styles and genres throughout a show. They Exist does it in the span of a song. Every song. Following in the tradition of other power trios, They Exist makes you forget that the wall of sound filling the room is coming from a band of three. Even for a full blown quintet, though, the dizzying musical gymnastics of They Exist is a display you will not want to miss. https://www.facebook.com/TheyExistTheBand

  • Interview with Burlington, Vermont based singer-songwriter, Justin Levinson, playing The Westcott Theater on February 24th

    The promising Burlington, Vermont-based singer-songwriter Justin Levinson chats with Gauraa and Morgan about his trajectory as a musician–from the good ol’ Berklee days spent playing gigs at the All Asia Cafe to his upcoming tour with Aaron Carter.

    Mary Morgan Craig: Your music is an interesting combination of country, pop, and rock. How would you best describe the influences that led to that?

    Justin Levinson: I think most of my music right now is in the power-pop genre but when I spent some time out in Nashville a couple years ago, I was really inspired by a lot of the music that was out there and one of my friends gave me an Elton John record called Tumbleweed Connection and it just turned out to be a really influential record for me. That’s one of Elton John’s records that had some country influence on it and it was piano driven as well.

    MMC: We can definitely hear that in your music.

    Gauraa Shekhar: Yes, for sure. We read that you went to Berklee College of Music. What did you major in while you were at Berklee?

    Justin Levinson: Well, I started out as Jazz Trumpet and then I changed over and did songwriting. It was more like School of Rock than normal college.

    GS: I’d imagine!

    MMC: Do you think the Boston music scene helped you grow as an artist? I’m from Boston, by the way.

    Justin Levinson: Yeah, definitely. Going to Berklee was great because I was around incredible, awesome peers who were great musicians and I got to learn a lot from them. I also played a lot of the local clubs like The Middle East. I actually started out playing at the All Asia Cafe, which is kind of the place to start when you’re in Boston and you know, all your friends have to buy a drink and everything. It was small and no one actually went there so it was mostly just students playing, ha. I kind of worked my way up from there to playing bigger venues like Great Scott. I feel like I  played every venue in the city until I worked my way up playing at The Paradise.

    MMC: Nice. The Paradise is such a gorgeous venue! I would have been so pumped to have played there.

    Justin Levinson: Yeah, it was a real privilege and now actually, when I’m not on tour with a bigger headliner, I go frequently back to the Lizard Lounge, which is in Cambridge. Ha, you probably know the spots. Where are you from in Boston?

    MMC: I’m from a little town right outside of Boston, actually, called Boxford.  I mean, there’s nothing going on there so we go to Boston all the time.

    Justin Levinson: Ah, nice. Yeah, Boston’s great!

    GS: It’s pretty interesting you say that because you went straight from Boston back to Burlington, Vermont, which you described as the “one horse town”. What inspired that?

    Justin Levinson: Well, originally, I had been interested in moving to Nashville. A lot of my friends were thinking about moving out there and I was pretty certain that I was going to move out there–not just because of music but also because this girl I was chasing was moving out there, and since that didn’t work out, I pulled an audible and said I’m gonna move to Los Angeles. Ha, and I ended up not moving to Los Angeles. Then, my final choice was New York City but New York City just wasn’t for me. I mean, I loved visiting but it moved a little too fast for me and I just really loved the people in Vermont as well as the quality of life and I was able to do enough touring to be able to make my confections in the music industry on the road and be able to not have to kind of live in the chaos in the big, urban music meccas.

    MMC: Ha, good! So you described your latest album, This Side of Me, as feel good heartache. How’d you come up with that?

    JL: Yeah. Basically, I was making a record that was filled with a lot of heartache but at the same time I wanted to keep it a little lighthearted for listeners and I didn’t wanna make kind of a woe-is-me record. Also, I was really aware that making a concept album about heartache is probably the most overdone topic so I realized that it was important for me to put a twist on it. I tried to have a little sense of humor–kind of heart-on-sleeve, using simple metaphors and silly euphemisms…just kind of playful stuff, ha.

    GS: Well you did a good job because we definitely liked it! People say musicians write music most when they’re either falling in love or falling out of love. Would you agree with that statement?

    JL: Yeah, definitely! Love alone is like the number one topic in most songs and I think when an artist is writing from the heart, its definitely one of the pretty intriguing concepts, I think.

    MMC: You have experimented with your sound quite a bit over the past years. How did you end up with The Valcours?

    JL: Well, I spent a lot of time playing with session musicians and there’s a big difference when you’re playing with session musicians as opposed to when you’re playing with a band. Session musicians have higher guns and technically you don’t let them into your world as far as writing and ideas are concerned. It’s kind of like you’re showing up to work for the artist, basically. I work that way a lot because I’ve been in bands in the past and it hadn’t really worked out for me. When I met the guys that are in my band now, we just really got along well and we would have dinner together before we would practice and we would totally talk about our troubles and there was this ‘bromance’ going on and I thought to myself maybe I won’t let the jaded past of the band thing haunt me and give this band a chance and let them in a little bit. It really made a big difference  because it let me listen to other people’s ideas for once instead of my own. If you don’t work with people who trust you enough, you end up writing the same song over and over and over again but if you listen to four people in the band, someone could be like, ‘Hey man, you’ve already done those four chord changes a few times. Why don’t we try this instead?’ It might be hurtful at first to listen to but it definitely makes you grow as a musician. I think anyone that thinks they can do everything on their own, all DIY and all, is at a setback. In the music industry, it’s always good to listen to other people.

    GS: Well said. As musicians, we are consistently trying to find “our sound”. Would you say you’ve find your sound with your new backing band?

    JL: Yeah, I think I’ve found a sound but one thing with me is that I get really bored playing one kind of sound so I don’t know if I can make that a final answer. I mean, look at The Beatles, they never made the same record twice. They had some similarities, yeah, but they went from “She Loves You” to “Let it Be”, you know. I’m hoping that I’ll achieve that kind of growth and maturity if I keep it up.

    MMC: Yeah, we’re excited to hear more.  Your song “City With Two Lights” sat tight on CMJ charts for quite a while, granting you nation-wide exposure. Would you recommend artists like yourself to leverage themselves at conferences like that?

    JL: Yeah, I think college radio is a great thing for independent artists. I learned a lot about the industry by doing that as I had to build relationships with people. One of the best piece of advice that I got was from a friend who worked for WERF, which is the Emerson College radio station, and he was actually a DJ there and he suggested putting in a personal note in with my press kit when I sent them out to colleges because college DJs get so many press kits so it needs to have something that separates you from the pack and makes you go, “alright, Justin Levinson is a human ‘being’.

    GS: We do get a lot of press kits, that’s true! A personal note can make all the difference.

    JL: Yeah, that was really a cool thing and I started writing notes to DJs and build authentic relationships with these people who I’m still in touch with today. I would say for artists coming up, that’s an important thing to do because people you meet as you’re rising are very important. Kids that were DJs at WERF are now working at Columbia Records.

    GS: Yeah, hopefully that’ll be us in a few years.

    JL: Ha, definitely!

    GS: Okay, so, how did you end up as an opening act for Aaron Carter?

    JL: Well, that’s actually a good question. I don’t really know all the details about how that came to be but in November I signed with new management and since then I’ve been working with artists like Aaron Carter. I also toured last fall with Tyler Hilton. He’s actually in the cast of One Tree Hill.

    GS: Oh, wow, that’s amazing. Tyler’s really good, I have his records and everything.

    JL: Yeah, his new record is really good and he’s possibly the nicest guy I’ve ever met, too. He’s totally an authentic dude and the first show I jumped on on tour, he introduced me to all his friends and you know, every time I’d play he’d mention my name three times to the crowd. It was a great experience, really. I think the new management is opening up a lot of doors for me. Hopefully, I’ll be doing a lot more stuff like this in the future!

    GS: Oh, sure.

    MMC: So when you’re writing, do you keep a certain demographic in mind?

    JL: I don’t really think I ever really thought about it but you know, recently, with the Tyler Hilton and Aaron Carter tours, I definitely think about it a little more. During the Tyler Hilton tour, it was like 300-500 screaming young girls every night, which was crazy and something I wasn’t used to but when I write, I want to have every age group and gender have some sort of experience where they can relate to the music. I think I have a pretty good perspective right now. I’m 27 so I’ve still got some sort of teenage angst in me but I’m also kind of an adult now  and been into college for a while so I think I can kind of balance out a lot of age groups. Well, I hope I can at least. I mean I’m wishful that a lot of different age groups would enjoy my music.

    GS: With the growing EDM scene, what do you see happening to the future of the power-pop/ singer-songwriter genre?

    JL: You know, I’m not really sure, I think with the power-pop stuff that I’m doing right now, there always seems to be a market for it, you know, I aspire to be as successful as bands like fun. Nate Reuss is kind of one of my heroes, he’s around my age right now and he’s been doing this power-pop thing for a long time and it seems like it all has worked out for him. I think if artists are able to be as creative as him and really combine a lot of really cool things like hip-hop, power-pop, and  even some of those marching band kind of rhythms that he kind of sampled, it would be a great feature for the indie, power pop market.

    MMC: Do you think that you will incorporate anything like that in your music?

    JL: I would love to keep experimenting, you know. My drummer right now has a sampler and we use a sampler for our drum beats and use real drums over them. I’m always up for doing different things. It would be really cool to try to fuse those things.

    GS: Very cool. Is there a specific songwriting process that is your default? Like, do you write the melody first or the lyrics? Or does it vary from time to time?

    JL: You’re asking really good questions! These are really thoughtful, I appreciate it.

    GS and MMC: Why, thank you!

    JL: Yeah, I mean, I’m kind of the dude that plays on the piano with the melody in his head. The lyrics kind of come after, I guess. Usually it comes after playing the piano and guitar. You got to kind of see what the mood is like if it’s a minor chord progression, then it might be a sadder topic. If it’s major, then it might be a happier topic. If it’s kind of transitioning between major and minor, it is likely that it’s going to be bittersweet. I guess that would be my process for the most part.

    MMC: Cool. So, in the video for “I Was So Wrong”, what inspired the ballerina in the video?

    JL: Well, one of the things I do besides playing music is a lot of social work. I work with people in development of disabilities and one of the things  we do is we volunteer at a lot of different places and I volunteer at the main society at Burlington, Vermont and one of the women that works there had told me that she was a dancer and I said, ‘Well, I kind of have this circusey idea for this song and it would be cool to have a ballerina dancing in the background as my muse.’

    MMC: Well, it looked good!

    JL: Yeah, I’d say it worked out fairly well.

    GS: Do you find yourself using social media at all to stay connected to fans?

    JL: Yeah, definitely. The whole DIY thing is great and I can’t speak for every songwriter but I have not  reached the pinnacle of my career yet but I think being all DIY is an impossible feat in music so it’s important for me to have a lot of help. Even though I’m not with a major label, I have a publicist, a booking agent, a college booking agent, a licensing company, that puts a lot of stuff together for me but I still spend endless time doing the whole social media thing. A lot of publicity these days is doing social media. PR campaigns are all about reaching out to bloggers and podcasts. It’s all about networking, really. It’s a big social networking game and I spend a lot of time doing that. Even though I have this team, I love talking to fans and friends and everything, but sometimes I’m like, “I really want to be writing a song right now” instead of sitting on my Twitter page and what not. It’s really all about balance. If I can do both, it makes me a happy camper.

    MMC: Awesome!

    GS: We loved having you on our show.

    JL: It was a pleasure, really. I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. Hopefully I’ll see you guys at the show!

    GS: Oh definitely, we have our tickets.

    JL: Nice! You should come in and introduce yourselves, it would be fun to chat a little bit.

    GS: We’d love to!

    MMC: Thanks and have a great night!

    JL: You, too!

    Make sure to catch Justin Levinson open for Aaron Carter at the Westcott Theater on the 24th of February!

    To listen to this interview with Justin Levinson, tune into The Laura and Meg Show via iTunes Radio on Wednesday, February 20th at 11pm! Just click on “Radio” on the menu bar at the top of your iTunes Library. From there click College Radio> Syracuse University>WERW. Or simply head over to SoundCloud

  • AVATAR opens for SEVENDUST at Upstate Concert Hall Feb 6th

    When Sevendust comes to upstate it is guaranteed to be a great time.  Combine their powerful sound with the Italian Gothic metal sensation Lacuna Coil and Swedish-based melodic death metal band Avatar doing their first U.S. tour – be prepared to have your face melted.

    When Avatar came onto the stage, the audience didn’t know what to think of this five piece ensemble.  Upstate Metal ran into the founder and drummer, John Alfredsson, an hour or so before the show at Pizza Hut of all places and got the lowdown on the set.  The plan was  for 30-40 minutes of in your face metal, a little theatrics, and hopefully to impress the American crowd.  Well, I think they undersold the “little” theatrics, but they definitely impressed the American crowd.  When John founded the band in 2001 with singer, Christian Rimmi, it took the duo 2 years to get settled in and find the rest of the permanent members.  So, with almost 10 years of touring Europe under their belt it was time for them to break into the states.  Being on a Sevendust & Lacuna Coil tour guaranteed Avatar a lot of metal heads will see their music for the first time.  Were they ready? Absolutely.

    Christian’s theatrics proved to entice and excite the crowd at Upstate Concert Hall.  Guitars shredded and drums pounded but all eyes were on the frontman to see what the hell was he going to do next.  Coming out in a black executioner style mask for the first song, he then headed backstage to change it up a bit.  When Christian reappeared for the second song, a friend of mine and Upstate Metal editing master, Chris Fleischmann accurately described him as the result of Alice Cooper and Freddy Kruger having a love child.  A demented love child that fronted a band of Swedish misfits.  In a good way.  The set played out and Avatar won themselves some fans.  They hung out at the merchandise table for most of the night and was even seen at the bar a time or two.  I’d say run out and buy their new album, Black Waltz, but who am I kidding.  Go over to iTunes and give it a listen.

    Important Links:

  • Danny Avila at The Westcott Theater, February 4th

    After a set chock-full of massive club bangers from the  tattooed Mikael Weermets, 17- year old DJ Danny Avila emerged from backstage at The Westcott Theater last Monday night with an edgy new haircut (literally edgy, it was quite spiky) and a pair of Studio Pro Beats by Dre around his neck. Once the crowd recognized him they went absolutely nuts despite having been pretty wild already. Mikael Weermets had already gotten people to form dance circles and at that point I had already seen two 28 year-old men booty drop, which is two more than anyone should ever see. Weermets suavely transitioned into “Snapbacks & Tattoos” by Driicky Graham while he did the equipment switcheroo with Avila.

    When Danny finally got situated at the table with his three Pioneer players and mixer he faded out of “Snapbacks” and the crowd really got ready to jump. Avila has been playing a residency at Pacha in Ibiza so it came as no surprise that he knew how to put hands in the air, but what sets him apart from other DJs is his energy. Throughout the show you could see how much he truly loves making people dance. It shined right through his Bieberesque smile. He was literally glowing with passion, and it had nothing to do with his Spanish tan or the crazy light show. The light show was pretty impressive though and in addition DJ DBerrie, Krill was in the house along with Mikael Weermets who hung out on the stage to throw stickers and shower the crowd in champagne.

    During the set he dropped a handful of massive tracks by Knife Party, including “Rage Valley”, “Power Glove” and an interesting  trap remix of “Internet Friends” which he got everyone hyped up for by transitioning in with the intro guitar riff of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. A few other songs he used for epic transitions  were Deadmau5’s “What The Fuck”, where he slyly mixed  in the vocals, “They know what is what but they don’t know what is what” during  the track,and the infamous “1, 2, Woop, Woop!” from the track “WARP” by The Bloody Beetroots and Steve Aoki which was a huge crowd-pleaser.  What I appreciated most about his set was its versatility.  In addition to surprising the crowd with classics like “Jump Around” by House of Pain and “Zombie Nation” by Kernkraft 400, he showcased every spectrum of EDM, from Dubstep to Trap to Moombahton and Dance to House. I really feel bad for anyone who missed this show.

    Some tracks he played that I strongly suggest for your listening/download pleasure include: “Say My Name” by Porter Robinson, “Raise Your Weapon” by Deadmau5, “Goin in’” (Skrillex Goin in’ Hard Mix) by Birdy Nam Nam, “Go Deep” by Neoteric & Wax Motif, “Rukus” by Valentino Khan & Will Bailey, “Animal Rights” by Deadmau5 & Wolfgang Gartner, “Atom” by Nari & Milani, “Pursuit of Happiness” (Steve Aoki remix) by Kid Cudi, and “Heads Will Roll” (A-Trak Remix) by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

    Danny Avila Twitter, Website and Soundcloud

    Check out his bangin new single “Breaking Your Fall”

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iftO6DYT1_E&w=420&h=315]

  • CLUTCH Release “Earth Rocker” Lyric Video – Set to play Syracuse in April

    CLUTCH’s first ever lyric video for the song “Earth Rocker” is in and can be viewed here. The video was created by Ramon Boutviseth and his team at Studio RB Films.

    The sold-out and extremely successful European leg of the Earth Rocker world tour is coming to a close. A recent review from Metal Hammer UK from their gig at KOKO can be viewed here.

    CLUTCH’s new album Earth Rocker is available for pre-order exclusively at http://www.clutchmerch.com. Fans can pre-order the record individually or partake in the special fan-friendly bundle packages that are being offered. WEATHERMAKER MUSIC has confirmed a March 19, 2013 North American release date for theCLUTCH Earth Rocker CD and Vinyl.

    CLUTCH will kick off the first leg of the Earth Rocker North American tour March 8th in Cincinnati, OH and it runs through April 20th in Baltimore, MD. CLUTCH will be Upstate New York at the Westcott in Syracuse on April 15th.  Support on the tour will come from Orange Goblin, and Lionize. Unfortunately our friends Kyng will not be able to be with us on this tour. Please visit their website for additional information.

    Fans can keep up on the progress of Earth Rocker by visiting the new website www.earthrocker.com. The website is a hub dedicated to all things Earth Rocker. Fans can expect to see frequent updates including photos, videos from the studio, song title announcements and samples of new songs.

    Earth Rocker North American Tour

    • 3/8: Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s – Tickets
    • 3/9: Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works – Tickets
    • 3/10: Sauget, IL @ Pop’s – Tickets
    • 3/11: Little Rock, AR @ Juanita’s Cantina Ballroom – Tickets
    • 3/12: Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom – Tickets
    • 3/14: Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom – Tickets
    • 3/15: Austin, TX @ SXSW
    • 3/16: Austin, TX @ SXSW
    • 3/18: Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep – Tickets
    • 3/19: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot – Tickets
    • 3/21: Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues – Tickets
    • 3/22: Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee – Tickets
    • 3/23: Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Café Las Vegas Strip – Tickets
    • 3/24: Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues – Tickets
    • 3/26: San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom – Tickets
    • 3/27: Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory – Tickets
    • 3/29: Seattle, WA @ Showbox at the Market – Tickets
    • 3/30: Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater – Tickets
    • 3/31: Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory Concert House – Tickets
    • 4/1: Missoula, MT @ The Wilma Theater – Tickets
    • 4/2: Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory Concert House – Tickets
    • 4/3: Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom – Tickets
    • 4/5: Calgary, AB @ Flames Central – Tickets
    • 4/6: Saskatoon, SK @ Odeon Events Centre – Tickets
    • 4/7: Edmonton, AB @ Union Hall – Tickets
    • 4/9: Winnipeg, MB @ The Garrick Centre – Tickets
    • 4/10: Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue – Tickets
    • 4/11: Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s – Tickets
    • 4/12: Chicago, IL @ House of Blues – Tickets
    • 4/13: Grand Rapids, MI @ The Orbit Room – Tickets
    • 4/15: Syracuse, NY @ Westcott Theater – Tickets 
    • 4/16: New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place – Tickets
    • 4/18: Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy – Tickets
    • 4/19: Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE – Indoor – Tickets
    • 4/20: Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live – Tickets

    Follow CLUTCH on Twitter @ClutchOfficial

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  • An Interview with Jeremy Salken of Big Gigantic

    The first time I saw Big Gigantic, I was floored by the amount of energy exuding from the stage to the crowd. They have all the aspects of any amazing electronic show: the mind blowing light show, the high energy and the improv jams, but also the jazz stylings that you would only find in a classically trained saxophonist. Dominic Lalli (sax and production) and Jeremy Salken (drums) have pioneered their own genre of music fusing together electronic, bass-centered music with smooth jazz and acoustic drums.  Their sound is truly one of a kind and they have made their presence well known in the electronic scene. I had the pleasure of chatting on the phone with Jeremy just days before their show in Clifton Park at Upstate Concert Hall.

    Jenni Wilson: Alright, we’ll start off with a little history behind Big G. When and how did you two meet?

    Jeremy Salken: We met through the Boulder, Colorado music scene. We both were playing in funk and jazz bands, any gig we could get and we kind of met through that and ended up moving in together. Dom found a computer and started making some beats and it all kind of progressed from there.

    JW: Who would you say are some of your biggest influences?

    JS: Everything. Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane, all jazz music. Radiohead, a bunch of new stuff like Skrillex and Bassnectar. We get influences from everywhere. We are always looking to push ourselves. Dom’s always trying to push the way we make music and the angles its coming from.

    JW: You have clearly forged your own path in the electronic music scene, but being that what you play is still so different from other acts, how would you go about defining your music  to someone who has no connection to the electronic music scene?

    JS: It’s really hard to explain, honestly. It’s one of those things were still kind of trying to figure out. Its really not jazz and electronic. We call it electronic dance music or live electronic music. We take so many different styles from drum and bass, hip hop, dubstep, sometimes moombahton.

    JW: What exactly inspired you to blend live sax and live drums with electronic?

    JS: Dom has been playing sax for  a while he has his masters in jazz performance. I’ve been playing drums since I was a little kid, self-taught. Naturally we wanted to bring different instruments together and we wanted to find a way to fuse electronic beats. We wanted to be able to throw a party and keep everyone dancing but still get to play our instruments and improvise and build and drop.

    JW: Your tour schedule looks jam packed. Is this busiest you guys have ever been?

    JS: It’s pretty normal, we’ve stay relatively busy since we started so it feels very natural. We have more time coming up than we ever have. Things are kind of chillin out. We have a nine-week tour in the fall, so this five-week tour is  a short one compared to that.

    JW: The last time I saw you guys was main stage at Camp Bisco and I know you guys ended up playing some of the top U.S. festivals last year. What festivals do you think you’ll be leaning towards this summer?

    JS: We’re on Summercamp and Snowball in March, but we played so many last year this year will be more mellow and we try not to repeat festivals. A lot of festivals don’t like to repeat. We’re working on our new album and doing a big tour in the fall. We’re also working on a Red Rocks gig. There are also a couple of other festivals that I can’t really announce yet.

    JW: What is your favorite part about playing a festival, and how does that compare to playing a headlining tour?

    JS: It’s definitely different. We love playing festivals because Dom and I have been going to festivals before we were in this band. We’re huge fans of the festival vibe. It’s awesome playing in front of so many people with a huge crowd and massive energy. But we also love getting indoors and containing all of that energy and playing with a more intimate crowd.

    JW: You guys have put out an album almost every year since 2009, is there any new material planned for 2013?

    JS: We’re working on an album for the fall now hopefully before our tour. And hopefully we’ll have that and ya know, that’s been kind of the main focus.

    JW: Will your show at the Upstate Concert Hall be your first trip to the Albany area, aside from Camp Bisco? What can we expect from you guys at this show?

    JS: No we’ve been to Albany a bunch, probably our third show. We played The Big Up Festival, and we’ve also played in Rochester. We played a sports bar (Jillian’s) about a year and a half ago in Albany. We try and hit that area (Buffalo, Rochester, Albany)  because we love coming to the Northeast. It’s gonna be a party. I wouldn’t miss it if I were you guys. We have a new light rig that we dropped on New Years and we’re bringing that out. We’re playing a bunch of new music, Dom’s been working on some new stuff so it’s gonna be a non-stop party.

    JW: Alright last question. There have been rumors floating around that you and Jennie Garth recently started dating. Is this true?

    JS: True. I haven’t been asked that on an interview but I’ve been asked it more and more since Jam Cruise. Our story broke in the National Enquirer with a bunch of false information. It said I was 41, which I wouldn’t mind if it was true but it’s not. It was funny being in the National Enquirer because obviously they don’t have reputable news. They called every member of my family and Dom trying to get all of this information and obviously nobody gave them anything so they ended up making everything up.  They said we met at Coachella and have been dating for a really long time. That isn’t true. We didn’t meet at Coachella, we met in October so it’s impossible. It’s pretty nuts what kind of information they’ll print. Even with no information they will print whatever they want.

    You can catch Big Gigantic at Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park on February 12th  and at Water Street Music Hall in Rochester on February 17th.