Category: Western NY

Pearl Jam Electrifies Buffalo With Career Spanning Performance

Pearl Jam has always been known as an amazing live act going back to when they first started 23 years ago. On Saturday Oct 12, it was clear that nothing has changed, as they brought the same wild energy to the second night of the Pearl Jam 2013 tour to Buffalo, NY behind the great new album Lightning Bolt.

Coming on at 8:20 without an opener, the band started with a great trio of songs. “Pendulum” off the new album, “Low Light” and “Sometimes.” It was the fourth song of the show, “Corduroy”, that really got the building shaking, something that would happen several times throughout the evening. The band had a great light show that dazzled the crowd the entire night and the first time it was really put into use was during the title track to the new album Lightning Bolt. The hard rocking tunes continued with “Mind Your Manners” and “Do The Evolution.” This run of four songs were absolute barn- burners and the crowd ate up every second of it, singing loudly and throwing their hands up in the air. Pearl Jam fans are some of the most vocal during a show and they showed up in Buffalo loud and clear.

The band then got together to discuss the next song and it seemed for once that they were not following a specific setlist, which is very unusual. The next highlight came during “Sirens”, a new ballad off off Lightning Bolt that shone just as bright in person as it does on the album. “Comatose” kept the energy high and it seemed Eddie was pleased with how everything was going and proceeded to tell the crowd a story of how the next song “I Got Id” was thought up with Neil Young during the Mirror Ball sessions. Eddie is a great storyteller and hearing how Neil asked him for a song and all he could muster up was “I got nothing man, I got shit,” to which Neil said “well there you go, song title Ed.” The set ended with two hard rocking numbers, “State of Love and Trust” and “Porch”, two of their oldest songs that were a perfect cap to an amazing set of music. These two songs got the crowd so riled up that there were some crowd surfers being passed over everyone, something I’m sure the band has not seen since its earlier days.

The first encore began with the band sitting down playing semi-acoustically. When the band does this it is a treat for the fans, for they do it so flawlessly. Pearl Jam has really embraced their acoustic side over the years and the three song mini-set was perfect. After they finished “Future Days”, Eddie said “We are going to play to the small city now”, and the whole band went to the back of the stage and played “Elderly Woman Behind the Small Counter in a Small Town.” This was a rarity for the back of the audience as they were able to see the whole band, playing right to them and not seeing the back of their heads, which they had done for most of the night up until that point. The rest of the encore was straight rock and roll with “Rats”, “Got Some”, and an absolutely scorching “Rearviewmirror.” During the song it looked as though Mike McCready was going to blow his guitar up he was playing so fast.

Coming back for the second encore, the band dug into Vs. and Ten tracks “Go” and “Alive”, respectively. Both are tremendous crowd pleasers and a great way to cap an amazing show. The lights came on, but Eddie and the band weren’t ready to leave and they went into “Baba O’Riley.” The Who cover was played with tons of energy and smiles could be seen throughout the building. To end the night they chose the great song “Indifference.” Even the tune is slower than most, it was a beautiful way to end a very high energy show. Pearl Jam may be an older band these days, but their energy has not waned a bit.

Setlist: Pendulum, Low Light, Sometimes, Corduroy, Lightning Bolt, Mind Your Manners, Do the Evolution, Immortality, My Father’s Son, Even Flow, Swallowed Whole, Sirens, Once, Comatose, I Got Id, Infallible, Present Tense, State of Love and Trust, Porch

Encore: Off He Goes, Yellow Moon, Future Days, Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town, Rats, Got Some, Rearviewmirror

Encore 2: Go, Alive, Baba O’Riley, Indifference

October 21, 2013
Set the Gearshift to Upstate NY – Phish Return to Rochester and Glens Falls

With the start of Phish’s fall tour in Hampton this past weekend, few things are more exciting than the anticipation of an Upstate New York show. Rochester and Glens Falls are gearing up for two raging Phish shows that have been 19 and 13 years in the making, respectively. Local businesses and fans are ready, and has your guide to all that is happening in Rochester and Glens Falls before and after the shows this week.

photo by Danny Clinch

On Tuesday October 22, Phish will play the Blue Cross Arena (War Memorial) in Rochester. The documentary Bittersweet Motel, directed by Todd Phillips (Old School, The Hangover) features footage from the band’s December 11th, 1997 performance, including the rehearsal and debut of Ween’s “Roses Are Free”.

The next night, Wednesday October 23, Phish will return to the Glens Falls Civic Center for the first time since October 31st, 1994, when they covered the Beatles’ White Album in its entirety. This epic performance not only started the band’s musical costume tradition, but also launched the band into the general mainstream.

Tickets for the Rochester show are still on sale at Ticketmaster and at the venue box office, while the 6,806-capacity Glens Falls show is sold out! Use CashorTrade.org to find extras!

Below is a list of pre and post show events, as well as maps of the area. Have fun and see you at the shows!!

Upon arrival in Rochester, take the Plymouth and Broad exit off I-490. There is underground parking on Broad Street and an outdoor main lot on the corner of Court Street. and Exchange Street., but parking naturally fills up quickly as you would suspect. On Court Street you will find Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, an Upstate New York favorite for good reason, so get there early and grab a table and a bite to eat. In a rush – grab food at the bar and enjoy a great selection of beers.

Rochester post-shows include The Goods @ Dinosaur BBQ (99 Court Street) and Universe Shark and The Blind Owl Band @ The Montage (50 Chestnut Street), which starts at 10pm and is 18+.

Glens Falls has two big pre-show events planned, both within walking distance to the venue. 42º and Manifest Glassworks present glass blowers collaboration, special deals, a live broadcast with Jeff from WEQX’s “Jam-N-Toast” and refreshments at 42º, located at 23 Park Street, a mere 0.2 miles from Glens Falls Civic Center. The show goes from 12-6pm. There will also be an Art Show @ Aimiee’s Dinner & A Movie, located at 190 Glen Street featuring many Phish artists, including Isadora Bullock, Pin Me Down Designs, Bill Pompeii of Pompeii Prints, PhanArt, StuPINdous Creations and many more from 2-630pm. For food, The Post-Star has some suggestions on dining, but you can find many places to eat just wandering around downtown. It’s a small town, you’ll find good eats around every corner.

Post show, Glens Falls has two great shows, both right in town and a short walk from the Civic Center. Twiddle and Mister F will be at Hot Shots Sports Bar, located at 45 South St. If you can’t get a ticket to Phish, this show starts at 10pm and is 21+. The other post-show is Touchpants at Sandy’s Clam Bar, featuring Jon Fishman! Sandy’s is located at 41 South Street and this show is SOLD OUT!

Enjoy the shows in Upstate New York everyone!

October 21, 2013
Preview: Thriller A Metal Tribute To Michael Jackson
Cleopatra Records is set to release a rather interesting compilation cd on Oct. 22, 2013. Thriller: A Metal Tribute To Michael Jackson, with artists past and present on this project, I am really hoping that this is going to be a really good cover album and not a bust. I guess it all depends on the musical arrangements for each track for success, and I can’t wait to see what these artists come up with.

Although it’s labeled as “Thriller,” it is not a cover of the “Thriller” album itself, but rather many of MJ’s hits are covered instead. In fact, 13 songs are covered on the disc. I wish the Three Days Grace’s cover of “Give In To Me” made it on the cd and rounded it out at 14 tracks.

Nonpoint’s Elias Soriano is on the track “Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground).” Chris Jericho of Fozzy does a version of “Dirty Diana.” Asking Alexandria’s Donny Worsnop and Mr. Big’s Billy Sheehan are one the track “Man In The Mirror,” and the cd would not be complete without the Alien Ant Farm cover of “Smooth Criminal.”

Track Listing for Thriller : A Metal Tribute
1. Thriller – Chuck Billy ( Testament )
2. Man In The Mirror – Danny Worsnop ( Asking Alexandria) Billy Sheehan ( Mr. Big)
3. The Way You Make Me Feel – Angelo Moore (Fishbone) Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake) Rudy Sarzo (Queensryche)
4. Black Or White – Lajon Witherspoon (Sevendust) Bruce Kulick (ex-Kiss) Tony Franklin (The Firm)
5. Beat It – Pirya Panda (Diemonds) Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Guns N’ Roses)
6. Billy Jean – Corey Glover (Living Colour) Phil Campbell (Moterhead)
7. Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground) – Elias Soriano ( Nonpoint)
8. Rock With You – Doug Pinnick (King’s X)
9. Dirty Diana – Chris Jericho (Fozzy)
10. Bad – Paul Dianno (ex-Iron Maiden) Craig Goldy (Dio)
11. They Don’t Care About Us – Icarus Witch
12. Never Can Say Goodbye – Lonnie Jordan (War)
13. Smooth Criminal – Alien Ant Farm
October 18, 2013
Dopapod Turns Buffalo’s Waiting Room into Raging Room 10/10/13

The second time that I saw Dopapod was much different than my first as this was my first trip to the Waiting Room in Buffalo and I was happily impressed.

The venue is spacious, clean and has a huge bar. With great beer on tap, nice clean bathrooms and free parking, the Waiting Room has those nice little touches that help the concert experience along. When Dopapod hit the stage, iconic looking drummer Neal “Fro” Evans was missing. Scotty Zwang has stepped into the role for the rest of their fall tour (via their facebook page). Apparently “Fro” is dealing with some personal matters and Scotty had just two days playing with the band under his belt. I was thoroughly impressed with Scotty as he did not seem to miss a beat. There were times during the show where he was not only holding the rhythm down, but helping to drive some of the jams.

The first set got things moving quite quickly, with “Black and White” and “Onionhead” as first set highlights. Setbreak occurred after the band encountered some keyboard problems. Following a quick intermission, the best music of night greeted the crowd of around 200. The first two songs, “Sonic” and “French Bowling” provided an array of improvisational music that hit on many levels. Dopapod was rocking, funking, and breaking jams all the way down before building back up to a fury. “Trapper Keeper” was perfectly placed and punctuated the risk taking reward of the improvisation before it.

Dopapod is a mixed bag for some. Much of their music can makes one get down like an elevator with Neil Peart’s drum kit in it. Other times, especially during long “jamtronica” sections, you may drift off, perhaps thinking about which flavor of ice cream to eat when I get home. With so many different genres that Dopapod delves into, that is probably to be expected. Regardless, Dopapod really brings it with their excellent musical skills.

Last time I saw Dopapod at Nietzsche’s on September 8th, 2012, I thought Eli Winderman (keyboards) completely dominated the show. This time around, Rob Compa (guitar) and Chuck Jones (bass) were much more of a factor at the Waiting Room. Rob is particularly impressive and tonight being his birthday, which the band seemed to feed on. Compa’s playing is creative and technically strong; every solo, riff or melody seemed to be unique and inspired, leading to moments where Rob is leading the jams on top of a strong bass line from Chuck. Eli was excellent during these Rob-led jams, using his creativity to enhance the sound rather than force the jam in a new direction.

When Dopapod laid down the funk, the crowd danced like they were on Soul Train, if only the bell bottoms and leisure suits had been replaced by flat brim hats and patchy beards. When Dopapod brought the hard stuff, the crowd’s energy was unmistakable. People jumping up and down, sweat becoming as abundant as Buffalo Sabres losses – make no mistake, with every twist and turn during the show the crowd was into it. Live Dopapod proves to be great fun to be around each and every time.

October 16, 2013
Pearl Jam takes Buffalo to church

Buffalo’s First Niagara Center was buzzing on October 12th for what was a rare opportunity to experience the amazing energy that is Pearl Jam.

Fans were eager, despite a line of 20,000 and no opening band, they all filled their seats by the time the lights went down. The stage was artistically constructed to transform the arena venue to a more intimate atmosphere. The band came on stage under low lighting, and prepared their respective places. Eddie Vedder, on the other hand, intentionally looked around to take in the moment. It was as if he wanted to see each of the thousands of faces in the arena. Was he giving the crowd a moment to enjoy the scene before the performance began? Or, was he soaking up the crowd’s love? Either way, it was a pleasure to see a rock star appreciate the experience.

As a Gen-X’er who “struck out on my own” when “Alive” was the rage, I gotta say I was a bit apprehensive about the new stuff. I mean, what could possibly top Ten, Vs. and Vitalogy? Then, the show opened with “Pendulum”, from their newest album, Lightning Bolt (released October 15th).Well, hearing the new stuff live for the first time at this show – I’m humbled to say, I’m sold.

The performance contained thirty songs, including two live debuts from the newest release; “My Father’s Son” and “Swallowed Whole”. The entire performance was a well-balanced compilation of PJ history, ranging from 1992 to 2013. All songs portrayed and was played with the same energy — many offering a painful reminder that bad parenting has an incredible effect. Speaking of parenting, Vedder shared a bittersweet, heartbreak moment when he announced that his youngest daughter had scored her first soccer goal that day. “I hated to miss that,” he said. “But, you all make it worth it.” It was a powerful reminder that the people on stage, in order to entertain us, make heartbreaking sacrifices.

Pearl Jam still infects the audience with the same passion and energy they had in the ‘90s only with a more musically, and emotionally, mature sound. Vedder continues to show unabashed, raw emotion in his voice, which seems to have been the consistent draw and dominates the newest music. Those at First Niagara all seemed to love it, and it reminded me, too, of why I fell in love with them twenty years ago.

Things I loved:

1. The lighting: The light show was designed to show off the crowd regularly. The band WANTED to see all 20,000 of us — often. Their stage lighting was a virtual work of art, while also focusing on one as well. Rising and falling “lamps,” colored to impress a given mood, drew attention alternatively to the musicians and the awesome sculpture hanging over the band.

2. The sound: What Pearl Jam is able to achieve with their music is what people seek from church. When twenty thousand people are — together — singing the same words, with the same conviction, at the same time – it’s an amazingly unifying experience.

3. The set list: Two-thirds of my song wish list was satisfied. I wanted “Rats”, “Rearview Mirror”, and “Breath”. I got the first two (which NEVER happens), and “State of Love & Trust” replaced my need for Breath. But, honestly, with a set list like this (below), who could be dissatisfied? Now that it’s over and done with the song I am most glad I heard was “I Got ID (SHIT)”, which was accompanied by a very short explanation, that involved Neil Young.

My Downsides:

1. Eddie didn’t crowd surf.

Set List:

Pendulum, Low Light, Sometimes, Corduroy, Lightning Bolt, Mind Your Manners, Do the Evolution, Immortality, My Father’s Son (live debut), Even Flow, Swallowed Whole (live debut), Sirens, Once, Comatose, I Got Id, Infallible, Present Tense, State of Love and Trust, Porch

Encore: Off He Goes, Yellow Moon, Future Days, Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town, Rats, Got Some, Rearviewmirror

Encore 2: Go, Alive, Baba O’Riley, (The Who cover), Indifference

October 15, 2013
Keller Williams Plays to an Intimate Crowd in Rochester

NYS Music was lucky enough to capture two Keller Williams shows in Upstate NY, a solo performance at German House in Rochester on September 12th and at Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs, NY on October 10th with special guests, New York’s very own Floodwood sharing the bill.

Keller Williams is truly a Renaissance Man of the music world. With an album repertoire including, to name a few – a Children’s album, a piano infused Grateful Dead covers album (Keys) and a bluegrass treat with the Travelin’ McCourys (Pick) – all in addition to his noteworthy one-man-show events, set Keller far apart from the Jamband pack.

Currently on tour across the East and West Coasts, Keller can be seen on any given night of the week as either his solo performance or accompanied by one of several bands like – Floodwood, The Travelin’ McCourys or More Than A Little.

The German House performance played to an intimate local crowd with energy that filled the air while permeating the dance floor with a flood of dancing shoes.

Arriving onstage barefoot in rolled-up khakis and strapped with a guitar, Keller beat on the strings of his guitar to a wordless jam with increasing intensity of sound. Whilst twirling around the stage in circles with silly faces and comical interactions with the crowd, Keller’s inner presence beamed from his gestures – it was clear the crowd was in for a fantastic evening.

This particular night Keller was consistently impressing fans with sampling several different instruments at once and dancing around while creating music, amazing music! Many were in awe of how seamlessly he was not just making music, but he was the music, it was all-encompassing and a delight to be a part of.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

Keller’s version of Ani DiFranco’s “Freak Show” was an excellent first for me – Keller giving credit to the creators of the song he was making his own, saying – “bass line by the GD words by Ani Difranco”. Freaker by the speaker created a funky psychedelic jam that blew the roof of the house that night.

During a drum beat infused Franklin’s Tower the crowd erupted into a sing along where Keller Williams improvised lyrics to say, “If you get confused listen to the fake trumpet play” – as he created trumpet sounds from an iPad on a stand. It seemed to be a spiritual moment in the German house where, we as a music community in Rochester, NY, once celebrated the life of a fallen brother, Scott Schojan – the words “may the four winds blow you safely home again” sends a warmth thru my body knowing at that moment, Scotty was in the room with us.

October 10, 2013
Preview: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH To Rock The Stage with GEMINI SYNDROME, ESCAPE THE FATE, and MISS MAY I

This fall, Five Finger Death Punch tours with Gemini Syndrome, Escape the Fate, and Miss May I in support of the release of their latest record, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Vol. 1.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH:

From Los Angeles, the five-pieced band consists of Ivan Moody (vocals), Jason Hook (guitar), Zoltan Bathory (guitar), Chris Kael (bass), and Jeremy Spencer (drums). In the last 6 years, they have released four albums including The Way of the Fist (2007), War is the Answer (2009), American Capitalist (2011), and The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Vol. 1 (2013). Part two of the album is scheduled to be released November 19th. By the looks of it, Five Finger Death Punch is ready to show the righteous side of Hell.

ESCAPE THE FATE:

From Las Vegas, NV, Escape the Fate returns to the stage with Mabbitt’s chilling screams ready to haunt the back of fan’s minds as well as the band’s incredibly catchy tunes. Members consist of Craig Mabbitt (vocals), Michael Money (guitar), Thomas “TJ” Bell (bass), and Robert Ortiz (drums). The band currently has four albums out, Dying Is Your Fashion (2006), This War Is Ours (2008), Escape the Fate (2010), and Ungrateful (2013). Escape the Fate has toured with various bands including Papa Roach, Attack! Attack!, and Pop Evil, and they have featured in a few festivals this year, Rocklahoma, Rock on the Range, Lazerfest, and Download Festival. This band is more ready to show the concertgoers what they have up their sleeve.

MISS MAY I:

Hailing from Troy, Ohio, the five-pieced band, featuring Levi Benton (vocals), Justin Aufdemkampe (guitar), B.J. Stead (guitar), Ryan Neff (bass), and Jerod Boyd (drums), hits the stage, ready to show everyone what surprises they have in store for the fellow concert junkies.

All in all, a killer lineup! Be sure to check out each of the bands’ Facebook pages for future tour dates, this is a show you will not want to miss!

October 7, 2013
Review: Purple Pig Festival in Naples

The Purple Pig Festival, a quietly publicized festival hidden away in the Finger Lakes, proved a force to be reckoned with over the last weekend in September. Under the full Harvest Moon, traffic lined the corn fields in Naples, NY, waiting for the opportunity to see what Odd Fellowes Farm had to offer for the second annual Festival. Set up with multiple stages, vending, food, and a fire pit, all within close proximity it gave the Purple Pig an intimate feeling right away. Benches provided perches for the main stage, and the barn stage was decorated aptly with flying pigs.

Western NY ruled the night with Randle and the Late Night Scandals, AudioInflux, Axis Armada, and The Prickers. A truly local band based out of Naples NY, The Prickers brought with them a robust following, their own line of lovingly made screen printed merchandise, and unique mix of sounds. The multi-talented musicians melded bluegrass, rock, and even punk into their set, setting the stage for a weekend full of variety and energy.

Late night favorites Jimkata took to the main stage while fire twirlers worked in time with the tempo of the Jamtronic quartet. While they were a new band to many in attendance, they quickly gained respect as the set wore on, ripping through their ever growing repertoire. Saturday brought rain, and lots of it. The main stage closed and tents set up over the already muddy grounds gave limited respite from the rain. Making the best out of a difficult situation, the schedule of the day went out the window, and bands and volunteers alike pitched in to keep the show going.

The Campbell Brothers, an unlikely crowd favorite, stole the show on Saturday and while it continued to rain, spirits were lifted, and bodies danced to the African-American gospel band. Out of Rush, NY they have offering their version of worship to concertgoers nationwide. Joining them on the keyboard was another Naples native, Aaron Lipp. Known for their high energy and unstoppable grooves, the band brought the crowd to a roaring frenzy as they closed out the set. The diversity of the music was fully realized as Saturday night rolled in, from Gospel to the classic Americana-indie rock bluegrass sounds of The Horse Flies, back to the Jamtronica funk beats of Roots Collider.

What a great weekend in the Finger Lakes at the Purple Pig Music Festival. Saturday’s marathon of music concluded with a smoking Giant Panda set that just about blew the roof off the barn. A slow Sunday morning start was to be expected after the late night rager. Yet once the music started, the energy kicked back into gear, providing an exclamation point on an already incredible weekend, one that brought with it major challenges, from the small size, the cool weather, and the rain and subsequent mud. But this little festival thrived and overcame the worst possible festival troubles, and were determined as the saying goes, to be “Happier than Pigs in Shit.”

October 7, 2013
Sirens & Sailors In The Finals For Best of Rochester 2013 Poll

Photo Credit: Good Knews Photography

City Newspaper, a newspaper local to Rochester N.Y., has nominated local Rochester metal band Sirens & Sailors for best local band and best local show in the Best of Rochester 2013 poll.

“We were at practice, and I had just gotten behind my drum set to start warming up, and Kyle mentioned that we should go check out this survey that Rochester was having,” Doug Court, the band’s drummer, said. “So, we did and, sure enough, we were on there.”

“It was a truly humbling and great experience,” Court said. “We love Rochester so much, and it’s a huge honor that Rochester loves us back.

“If we do win, I think it will give the people who aren’t quite into the heavier music a bit of a reason to check us out, and also to carry on that honor outside of Rochester. And, rep for our city is seriously an amazing experience in itself.”

“I found out that Sirens & Sailors were nominated because a few friends had posted the link to vote and mentioned that we were in the running,” vocalist Kyle Bihrle said. “I shortly after picked up a copy of the latest City Newspaper and saw our name in the running in that as well.”

“I felt and still feel extremely honored. I’ve never seen a band of our genre nominated for the category before, and that truly means so much to us to be considered. A very humbling feeling.

“We take gigantic pride in being from Rochester, N.Y., and we speak so highly of it everywhere we travel. To win would honestly be one of the proudest moments of being in this band. To have the city we love so much back us and support us enough to give us an award would just be mind blowing.

“It would be great recognition for bands such as ourselves in Rochester.”

Voting for the Best of Rochester 2013 will continue until Oct. 15, according to City Newspaper’s website, and the winners will be announced Oct. 30.

To vote, visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8NJ2K7H

September 28, 2013
Night Lights Music Festival Lit up Western New York

The Great Blue Heron, more widely known for their annual festival over the Fourth of July weekend, played host to the third annual Night Lights Music Festival September 13th and 14th. The sprawling acreage nestled in the Amish countryside of Western New York, was transformed into an interactive playground, tucking light displays along the wooded pathways, adding depth and interest to the already full weekend of music.

Over two dozen bands, many hailing from or with roots in Central and Western New York, drew a large local fan base and with that a community atmosphere missing at many larger festivals. The festival grounds and camping areas were full of surprises; drum circles, pop up campfires, jam sessions, and plenty of folks looking for adventures. Nationally touring bands The Heavy Pets, Jimkata and Marco Benevento provided a punch of energy to the already excited crowds, and more regional acts, Aqueous, Space Junk, Lazlo Hollyfeld, The Manhattan Project and Schleigho gave performances not easily forgotten.

The two stages kept music running at a steady pace, a credit to the hard-working volunteers, lighting folks, and sound techs, allowing for little lapse between acts. Set far enough apart, the walk to and from each stage gave the audience the opportunity to wander through the lighting displays. The participation of the observer whether it be playing a drum, or simply watching the bonfire as it flickered and grew, was essential to the overall experience. Night Lights Fall Music Festival with its multifaceted entertainment, peaceful and well-organized camping and clean and friendly atmosphere should be on everyone’s fall festival schedule.

September 26, 2013