Tag: saratoga

  • Orchard Lounge Goes Late Night at The Putnam Den, October 25th

    A crisp late night in Saratoga began with DJ Leila and Jon Santolla (aka Mentally Ill) throwing down a heavy set to warm up the audience. Even from down the street it was obvious that this dynamic duo had taken the stage at Putnam Den with a vengeance. The set varied from hard drum and bass to more down-tempo trancy beats that layered into each other infiltrating the crowd with intensity. Leila and Santolla were the perfect opener to set the tone before Spencer and Bethany of Orchard Lounge took stage.

    OrchardLounge-14

    Orchard Lounge electrified the crowd into an all night dance party. The bar was pumping out glasses of water for all of the crowd, ragged form the hard dancing. Although the crowd was small, it left nothing to be desired in the way of energy. Bethany repeatedly looked up from her table and pointed out to the crowd mouthing “I love you guys,” clearly feeling the amount of energy the crowd was permeating out into the venue. A few times throughout the show, Bethany even jumped down off stage and let Spencer take charge while she fraternized and danced with her adoring fans. It is not very often that you see artists with as sizable a following that Orchard Lounge has being so down to earth and engaged with their fans. The entire set crossed so many boundaries and genres and took the night to levels of intricacy that are rarely seen from a set of DJs. One thing is for sure, when Spencer and Bethany take stage – there is no laziness and their stamina is impressive.  Orchard Lounge took no breaks and continued the party well into the early hours of the morning, as the crowd lost no steam for the dance party that raged on. There was absolutely nothing lackluster about their entire set, which is why Orchard Lounge holds the following and fan base that they do. It is evident that all parties involved had a great time for O-Lounge’s first Saratoga experience.

  • Orchard Lounge, Mentally Ill and Leila to Tear Up ‘The Den’, Friday October 25th

    Orchard Lounge, DJ Leila and Mentally Ill are all scheduled to perform what will be a fantastic show at The Putnam Den tonight,  October 25th. All three acts played a show earlier in the year at the formerly named Bayou Cafe, now the Hollow, in Albany, NY. With excellent feed back and a large draw, they will once again take stage, this time in Saratoga, NY.
    olounge

    Orchard Lounge is known for bringing their fusion of a wide variety of genres together to create unique sets that keep the masses coming back for more. O lounge is the collective of Bethany Lokken and Spencer Lokken who have set themselves apart from the typical club DJs we have all become accustomed to hearing night after night. The duo has toured festival to festival as a fan favorite, opening for major bands such as Sound Tribe Sector 9, The New Deal, The Disco Biscuits and Future Rock.
    Both Dj Leila (Leila Harrison) and Mentally Ill (Jon Santolla) bring high energy, hard hitting sets compiled primarily of Drum and Bass with gritty beats. Both artists run the Drum and Bass Coalition out of Albany and tour extensively on the East Coast festival circuit.

    This is going to be a show you definitely do not want to miss.
    This show is ages: 18+ and doors are at 8 pm, show starts at 9 pm.

  • Conspirator and Jeff Bujak Electrify Putnam Den

    Jeff Bujak was the perfect opener for a high energy act such as Conspirator at The Putnam Den on October 17th. He busted out new material from his album User Correction which stays upbeat in true Buj fashion, but has deeper and slower samples intertwined within heavy synth and upbeat drum tempos. Jeff Bujak has a way of pounding on his keys like the phantom of the opera with such passion and involvement that it is difficult to stand still during one of his sets. The crowd seemed to be loving it from start to finish keeping the energy at a constant high before Conspirator took stage.

    Conspirator took to the stage with impressive intensity as the crowd rushed back into the Putnam Den. The set started off slower with the down-tempo, heavy synthed “Velvet Red.” Starting slow and permeating the crowd with its groove, when the “Velvet” bass dropped, the entire venue came alive. Conspirator’s new drummer Torch left absolutely nothing to be desired. He brings a new sound and liveliness to the band and highlights aspects of each song that otherwise would go unnoticed. Watching Torch lay it down on the drums during “Liquid Handcuffs” proved that he was more than capable of keeping up with the rest of the guys in the band. Aaron Magner is more or less the Neil Pert of keyboardists and it is only a matter of time before he’s going to need to be airlifted into a full circle of his various keyboards. The intricacies he brings to each song is unparalleled by any other keyboardist in the electronic music scene. Chris Michetti shined throughout the entire set. Both Michetti and Marc Brownstein were completely in sync throughout each song, and where one took a step back the other took a step forward and the spotlight was equally shared by both.

    The hardest part for Conspirator is trying to shake the concept that they are trying to follow in the Disco Biscuits footsteps. Conspirator is comprised of four very talented musicians that all bring something new and fresh to the table that is new and different from the projects they have been a part of in the past. It is easy to be overly critical as a Biscuits fan of what Conspirator does, but as a true critic one needs to step back and recognize the talent and passion each member of the band brings to such a brilliant collaborative effort of music. Overall, the show was phenomenal and you can definitely tell each member of the band is truly passionate about the music they create.

    After the show Marc Brownstein stepped out from back stage to meet and snap photos with his fans. After a long, hot and tiring set, the last thing most musicians want to do is be swarmed by their adoring fans. It was definitely admirable too see a musician be so humble with his fanbase. At one point during the show, Brownstein mentioned that Saratoga held a special place for him because it was the place he saw his first Grateful Dead concert at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Sharing information like that with a crowd of people who are primarily from the Upstate region is what makes a show like this so personal and awesome. It was definitely an amazing experience to see this many talented musicians on stage together in such a small venue and it is evident that Upstate New York loves Conspirator.

    Setlist: Velvet Red ->Retrograde ->Liquid Handcuffs -> Bella’s Ball -> Up -> So Much More -> Legalize It-> Flash Mob -> Struts -> Fascinate -> Retrograde

    Encore: Oname-wa

  • Kid Rock and ZZ Top Deliver Good Ol’ Rock-n-Roll at SPAC

    With summer in the rear view mirror and autumn quickly approaching, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s concert season was winding down. Apparently, thousands of Kid Rock, ZZ Top, and Uncle Kracker fans didn’t get the memo.

    The mostly Gen- X crowd sported bandanas, faded blue jeans and American flag T-shirts. “Blue collar” was definitely the evening’s required dress code. Many stood in line to have their photo taken on a brand new Harley motorcycle while others waited to try free samples of good ole’ American whiskey. The crowd, though not one the summer’s largest, was certainly the most patriotic!

    Robert James Ritchie, aka Kid Rock, began his career as a hip hop and rap performer. Evidence of this was heard in his performance of the rap-rock single “Bawitdaba” which originally came out in 1998. Rock progressed through the evening, singing more of his gritty, in-your-face tunes including “Devil Without a Cause” and the hit single “American Bad Ass”. Other crowd favorites included “Cocky” and “All Summer Long” and the country ballad “Picture”.

    Southern blues-rock icons ZZ Top opened the show. With their infamous long beards (except for drummer, Frank Beard, ironically) and purple guitars, ZZ Top performed one hit after another. Among them were the classics “Sharp Dressed Men”, “Cheap Sunglasses”, “La Grange”, and “Legs”.

    American rocker Uncle Kracker also provided support performing an early 30-minute set. Highlights included “Follow Me” and “Drift Away”.

  • Flashback: Talking Heads at SPAC, August 5, 1983

    On August 5th, 1983, Talking Heads initiated the arena tour that would eventually take their popularity to new and unknown levels. We flashback to the group’s visit to Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) that particular summer 30 years ago. 1983 was a definitive and peak era for the band and this show documents the time with a crisp pre-FM line recording that exhibits professional release sound quality.

    The group featured founding members David Byrne (vocals, guitar), Chris Franz (Drums), Tina Weymouth (Bass), and Jerry Harrison (Keyboards) in addition to a number of added musicians who come and go when needed to supplement the bands theatrical performance. One of these musicians just happens to be magic keyboard man Bernie Worrell of ‘P-Funk’ fame. For those fans who love the 1984 concert film ‘Stop Making Sense’, this live recording makes a fitting addendum to that document, which also chronicles the 83 tour in support of the LP Speaking In Tongues.

    Talking Heads SPAC

    The evening’s concert begins quietly with the differently arranged sparse acoustic chunk of ‘Psycho Killer’. Containing a pulsating drum machine beat and acoustic guitar, the tune meanders from its original incarnation with a drifting and patient groove. One hallmark of this concert is the way it expands, gaining energy, along with increasing instrumentation along the way. Each song climbs another step, reaching another level of intensity, adding another piece to the creation of the setlist story. Following the refurbished ‘Psycho Killer’ begins an emotionally dry but poignant version of ‘Heaven’ that contains only acoustic guitar and Weymouth’s tempo setting bass. A beautiful flower of a melody gently handled and preserved. Byrne plays master of emotion by following ‘Heaven’ with a galloping ‘Thank You for Sending Me An Angel’ that skips along on a Tennessee Three tempo. This early segment of the performance drifts coasting weightlessly through thoughtful melodies and intelligent, but always far out lyrics.

    The concert now becomes invigorated as electric guitar drops into the mix and the core band plays an emphatic version of their debut 1977 single ‘Love Goes to Building on Fire’ in which the crowd responds in positive fashion. Reaching cruising altitude the show now settles into a danceable summer evening groove. As ‘The Book I Read’ begins, the blend of summer evening segueing into dusk permeates the feel of the recording, eliciting the aroma of fresh cut grass, mossy earth, and the bouquet of live music in late summer New York State.

    ‘Book I Read’ opens on a very nervous Paul Simon like guitar riff, eventually settling into tempo setting vocals by Byrne that work in a tug of war against the shifting drums. Working in conjunction with breezy synth whistles and Weymouth’s hypnotic bass this one really swings, setting the stage for the first dynamic peak of the performance with a funky ‘Slippery People’. Based around a Morse code keyboard riff and some thick James Brown dance guitar licks, ‘Slippery People’ becomes a celebratory revival with joyous backing vocals that reach with arms raised to the deep navy sky.  ‘Slippery People’ hits a delicious groove with Byrne taking a tribal climb up a greased pole by free forming diverse mouth jams that rebound around the dynamic tune, increasing the intensity.

    Talking Heads SPAC

    Following ‘Slippery People’, the concert begins a segment of quick hitting, danceable and dizzying tunes. ‘Cities’ off of the 1979 LP Fear of Music, begins this middle segment of the concert that also encompasses ‘Eyes Wide Open’, the current and well known hit ‘Burning Down the House’, and the hot to the touch ‘Life During Wartime’. There is no let up here as Byrne steps on the gas harder than a truck driver on the Route 90 with ‘White Line Fever’. ‘Eyes Wide Open’ ricochets around the venue on jumpy percussion punctuated by Byrne’s falsetto interjections, eventually culminating in a stimulating journey brought on through celebratory vocals and airy instrumentation.

    ‘Burning Down the House’ receives a big response from the assembled crowd, quickly moving into the jumpy ‘Life During Wartime’ which is drizzled with ice cream keyboards that color between the lines with their colorful melt. The humid dancing bodies filling SPAC this evening translate to the recording due to the energy that emanates from my speakers as ‘Life During Wartime’ cooks like bacon in an iron skillet. What a performance and a perfect close to the end of the first set which Byrne announces at the songs conclusion.

    The second set begins in earnest and does let up as far as tempo and all out funkiness goes. ‘Making Flippy Floppy’ starts the second half of music, and regardless of its ‘light’ title, reaches deep with its intuitive commentary on living and this artists view of reality. This song is a fine example of Byrne’s musical and lyrical ability to comment on bigger issues in a clandestine fashion.  ‘Swamp’ follows quickly and falls into a quasi-Reggae groove which never strays to far from a straight rock beat interestingly enough.  Dancing on sponges, the squishy vibe of ‘Swamp’ contrasts its dark lyrical content. The collaborative ‘Hi Hi Hi Hi’ vocals elicit the image of a line of cheerful people being led to slaughter, singing their way to their eventual demise.

    Talking Heads SPAC

    A breathless sprint through ‘What a Day It Was’, leads to the pixilated ‘Naive Melody’ that rattles like change in a jar, soothed by the sweet harmonized vocals that spread across the jumpy instrumentation like butter on warm bread.  ‘Naïve Melody’ brings the vibe down slightly, hitting a hypnotizing, eyes closed tight groove, initiating dreamy sways. ‘Once In a Lifetime’ blows in on a wash of cymbals and spectral keyboard manipulation reaching its destination of a unique ethnic groove to which its instrumentation balances. Another one of the bands most well-known and popular songs; ‘Once in a Lifetime’ is also special due to its combination of Fela Kuti influence, Brian Eno production, and Byrne’s eclectic literary talents.

    One of my personal favorite segments of the performance comes next with the version of ‘Big Business/I Zimbra’. Brimming with synth manipulation that causes a disorientating storm of sound the song rides on Chris Franz’s popping kick drum and hi hat strikes. The middle segment of the track becomes a percussion workout, swirling, folding into itself, encasing the spacey guitar/synth interjections that segue into the earthy shouts of “I Zimbra”.  The song becomes a whirling dervish of fevered musical energy that culminates in a Shamanistic and blissful conclusion.

    The second half of the concert becomes decidedly more sensual, both rhythmically and in its melodic sensibilities.  ‘Houses in Motion’ slithers in slowly, eventually becoming all angles, shifting and extending through lush bass carpeted rooms decorated with drippy guitar chorused wall hangings.  Another top notch reading by the group as this one takes on numerous moods during the journey through its changes.

    A quick interlude is taken prior to a performance of ‘Genius of Love’ by ‘Tom Tom Club’, another name for the band shared by the husband and wife team of Tina Weymouth and Chris Franz. A fun and freaky performance and an opportunity for Byrne to step off stage and prepare for the closing blow out. Keen-eared music fans will recognize many of the songs components as being sampled by many hip hop and rock musicians through the years.  Byrne then returns to the stage for the final songs that make up the conclusion of the performance. ‘Girlfriend Is Better’, ‘Take Me To the River’, and ‘Crosseyed and Painless’ all contain fiery and concentrated readings.

    ‘Girlfriend Is Better’ is cutting edge, and compelling, the bass line a blend of shadings that pillow the after images of flashing keyboard squeaks and screams.  Byrne, a wellspring of unique diction and vocal expressions, soaks the crowd in his lyrical gospel. Beautiful. The crowd’s excitement bleeds loudly into the soundboard recording as the group stops briefly before slinking into a bubbly ‘Take Me to the River’. Involvement from the crowd in the form of hand claps and shouts can be picked up intermittently throughout the recording; a matrix of the show if available would be an amazing experience. ‘Take Me to the River’ extends long enough for Byrne to introduce the band and then builds to a party conclusion, bringing the performance to an end.

    The band returns for a schizophrenic encore of ‘Crosseyed and Painless’ that looks from the stage with shifty, busy eyes. The band moves quickly, wound tight, hallmark call and response vocals reverberate between the singers on stage, keyboards and guitars intertwine in a soulful embrace. The song is a break neck race toward the finish line that finally crashes through the ribbon and raises its hand in glory. A quick ‘Thank you’ and the show and recording conclude.

    This crisp board recording of the Talking Heads in our very own Upstate New York venue, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, finds the group peaking artistically, yet precariously close to their demise as a touring group.  The performance featured, never lets up, yet exhibits a musical control that balances the needs of the crowd with the wants of the band. For fans of Stop Making Sense, this recording offers a full and uncut performance from that very era. My recording exhibits very few recording flaws, but I do know that versions of this document circulate with some digital issues, so look out. Throw this one on, and remember a summer day dance party from thirty years ago that echoes through the famous venue to this very day, and is preserved for all to enjoy.

    Set 1: Psycho Killer, Heaven – Thank You for Sending Me an Angel, Love -> Buildings on Fire, The Book I Read, Slippery People, Cities, Eyes Wide Open, Burning Down the House, Life During Wartime

    Set 2: Making Flippy Floppy, Swamp, What a Day That Was, Naive Melody (This Must Be the Place), Once in a Lifetime, Big Business -> I Zimbra, Houses in Motion, Genius of Love (The Tom Tom Club), Girlfriend is Better, Take Me to the River

    Encore: Crosseyed & Painless

  • Review: Rockstar Mayhem Festival

    Saratoga Springs may be known for its natural springs or its historic racetrack, but it’s time to talk about the annual Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival that invaded the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) July 20, 2013. What a perfect day for an outdoor music festival.

    With 15 bands, autograph stations, all the free Rockstar drinks you can handle and the other free stuff they give away, it’s definitely worth the price of admission to this one-time-a-year event.

    This was my first time attending the Mayhem Festival and also my first time seeing some of these bands live, so I was kind of excited.

    Kicking things off on the Musician’s Institute (MI) stage was Thrown Into Exile. They opened the show with great energy and front man, Evan, was really good on the mic, and set the tone for the rest of the show. After their set make sure to drop by the MI tent and meet the band. Some really cool dudes there.

    Next up kicking things off on the Jagermeister stage was Huntress. Jill Janus is just awesome. Her facial expressions are just priceless. She’s a metal throwback for those of you who don’t like the current direction of this genre.

    Back on the MI stage was Attika 7. Not part of the original Mayhem lineup replacing Behemoth, Attika 7 still kicked some @$$. Former front man of Biohazard, Evan Seinfeld, was pretty funny when he asked the crowed if they have ever seen them before. He said “bull$#!^, we have never been here,” when the crowd responded with cheers of yes. Believe me, it was funny.

    Battlecross was up next on the Jager Stage. This was my second time seeing them perform, and they just keep getting better. Tons of energy and a great bunch of guys, so make sure you go and check them out at their merch tent after their set.

    Motionless In White were performing next on the MI stage and had the younger crowd eating out of their hands. A fan dressed like MIW was holding a sign wanting to be brought on stage because it was his birthday, and Chris not only had him come up on stage for the second to last song, but he even gave him a mic and they sang the song together. After the song, Chris said “ask and you shall receive.” I thought that was some pretty cool $#!^!

    Next up on the Jager stage was the Butcher Babies. Nothing like some hot @$$ rocking out! Tons of energy! Heidi and Carla had the crowd going nuts. This was my first time seeing BB, and I was not disappointed at all.

    Born Of Osiris was next on the MI stage. I personally am not familiar with this band, but the crowd liked them and I thought they were good.

    Job For A Cowboy is now up on the Jager stage.  They brought a whole different attitude to this show. They did nothing but kick @$$. I thought Jonny Davy was going to jump of the stage and into the pit he was so hyped.

    It’s time now for Emmure on the MI stage. Tons of energy and drive in their set. I don’t usually listen to them, but I enjoyed them live.

    Closing things on the Jagermeister stage is Machine Head. Machine Head was really over with the crowd. I only like a few of their songs, but they put on a great live set.

    Closing things on the Musician’s Institute stage was Children Of Bodem. They were over with the crowd as well. CoB is another band I don’t listen to that much, but I enjoyed their live set.

    First up on the main stage is Amon Amarth. I just love their Viking ship stage prop that they had on stage. Amon was pretty damn good and should have had another 15 minutes added to their set time. Here’s a question I have, though: how the hell does Johan not spill one drop of liquid out of his Roordahuizum drinking horn?

    Mastodon was next on the main stage. Now, I don’t know if the heat was finally getting to me or if I was having an energy drink crash but I wanted to fall asleep during their set. Don’t get me wrong, they are great musicians, I just didn’t feel their set at all. The black wig Brent Hinds was wearing was pretty funny though.

    Five Finger Death Punch now takes the main stage, and they just bring it like no one else can. This was my third time seeing 5FDP, and the only thing I did not like was that their set was not long enough. Ivan and the boys are just so good live. The crowd was nuts for them. Ivan wasn’t as energetic as I’ve seen him before, but he still kicked @$$.

    It’s now time for Rob Zombie to close the show out. This was my first time seeing Zombie live, and I must tell you that I cannot wait until I get to see him again. What a show Rob puts on. With all of the different props and costumes it’s a show within a show. John 5 has two of the most bad@$$ guitar’s I’ve ever seen. One was totally transparent with an anti-freeze looking liquid inside it and the other one was made up of a couple hundred white L.E.D lights. Rob even left the stage and ran a lap around the inside of amphitheater. This was a really good show all in all. F’in awesome job, Rockstar, I’ll see you next year.

  • Phish After Party: Dead Sessions at Putnam Den, July 5th

    On July 5th, as the first night of Phish at Saratoga Performing Arts Center came to a close, the town streets came alive as those attending the three-night run fanned out to find after-parties to keep the vibe grooving. At the legendary Putnam Den in downtown Saratoga, those looking to keep their booties shaking found a pleasant surprise in the tucked away venue as Dead Sessions started off the night with a boisterous “Franklin’s Tower”.

    One of my personal favorite aspects of Putnam Den is when they put on a show, they never overcrowd the venue, so as the sound echoed into the street and more ticket holders entered the premises, we all had the perfect amount of room to get down.

    dead sessions putnamFor those who have never seen Dead Sessions, this band is the embodiment of  the timelessness of The Grateful Dead’s music. Although the band calls Vermont home, the band is composed of rotating members who are from various locations around the country. While they performed a plethora of old favorites including “Bertha”, “Peggy-O” and “He’s Gone”, they also added their own improvisational jams and gave each song a piece of their own musical personalities.

    During “Scarlet Begonias”, their first set closer, they went into an impressive improv streak that combined new age jam with old age style and an intertwining of spacey jams that tied it all together. Keyboardist Adam King’s playful melody danced around the crowd as guitar players Seth Yacavone and Adam Terrell (Assembly of Dusct / Ghosts of Jupiter/ Percy Hill), who was filling in for Tobe Kniffin dueled harmoniously with one another and the full sounded band, which included drummers Kevin Shapiro and Steve Hadeka (Seth Yacovone Band), supporting their beat every step of the way.

    Dead Sessions was a great way to end the night for any Phish-Dead lover. Before we knew any better, it was 4am and with our hip joints thoroughly greased up from a full night of music, the crowd dissipated with a buzz of anticipation for two more amazing nights of music.

    Also worth noting is that the show also doubled as a WaterWheel benefit and raised over $1,100 for the WaterWheel Foundation – which in turn donated it to the Saratoga Hospital Foundation which is working to build a community health center in Saratoga.

    Setlist

    Set 1: Feel Like a Stranger>Franklin’s Tower, Jack Straw, West L.A. Fadeaway, Bertha, Brown Eyed Women, Peggy-0, Alligator> He’s Gone> Scarlet Begonias

    Set 2: Playin’ in the Band> Visions of Johanna> Playin’ in the Band, Blow Away, China Cat Sunflower> At a Siding> I Know You Rider, Easy Wind

  • ‘Toga Thursdays – The Heavy Pets at Putnam Den

    It has been almost 200 days since my last Phish show, which thankfully will be cured soon with their summer tour starting this week. However, to fill this void throughout the year, I go see The Heavy Pets as often as I can so on June 27, I got a double dose of jam music when both bands performed at the Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs.

    One of the best feelings, and the start to a great night, is walking into the venue just as the first band takes the stage, in this case, it was the sound of Formula 5. Their first song had teases from Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower” quickly grabbing the audience’s attention. They hit the crowd with a new single that had no name but didn’t need one, and ended up being called “No Name”, featuring a strong guitar presence thanks to Joe Davis, with lots of cymbals ringing from Greg Marek, creating a very spacey melody.

    One of the best parts about watching Formula 5 perform is bassist Bill Shattuck. His feet barely touch the ground as he dances and tiptoes ever so carefully around the thick bass notes he leaves everywhere. The boys were on point that night with no slow build ups and blasting from one song to the next. Mike McDonald plays just about every note on his keyboard with great speed and simplicity. A great surprise was when Jeff Lloyd from the Heavy Pets joined the band for the song “Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town” by The Talking Heads, terrific energy and guitar shredding.  Formula 5 will be hosting a Phish SPAC After Party on July 5th at The MINE nightclub on Broadway. The guys will also be making stops at this year’s Backwoods Pondfest and The Big UP music festivals.

    The Heavy Pets hail from Florida but are no strangers to playing to a dedicated fan base in Upstate New York, particularly due to their early roots in Syracuse, where Jeff Lloyd calls himself an alumnus. Their sound is like a space station on a tropical vacation – you get the electronic mixes with a heavy dose of reggae that always catches you by surprise. “Spin Round”, a pop/electronic tune featured charming vocals and upbeat piano chords from Jim Wuest. “Chevrolet” was a harder rock song with reggae vibes radiating with sharp string playing from a combined Jeff Lloyd, Mike Garulli and Tony D’Amato.

    Halfway through their set, the band announced the winner of the raffle contest with the prize being Phish SPAC pit tickets that were given to each attendee at the door. I don’t think I’ve ever seen people with so many raffle tickets before. Focusing back on The Heavy Pets, Jamie Newitt got the crowd amped up with a quick tempo start of “STYM” and laid down the rhythm strong all night. Putnam Den was filled with the echo of their simple yet powerful lyrics, “We are one. So thank you music.” The set ended with “Jackie Bones”, a steady beat with raising harmonies that made you wish the show wasn’t over yet.

    The Heavy Pets will be performing at this year’s Equifunk and The Night Lights Fall music festivals.

  • Bassist Tony Markellis is Playing a Few Local Shows This Summer in Saratoga Springs

    If you live in Saratoga Springs, you live in the hometown of Tony Markellis, bassist for Trey Anastasio Band, a master of bass guitar and a regular at many local venues in Saratoga Springs on a regular basis. This summer, Tony has a number of shows planned with various local and regional musicians, at venues in Saratoga Springs, Lake George, Troy and Wells.

    bassist tony markellis
    Photo by Andy Hill

    Catch Tony at a couple of these shows this summer and soak in the bassist who Trey Anastasio calls “The Heart and Soul of our band,” of which Tony is a member of the original trio with Trey and Russ Lawton. Read our interview with Tony from 2011.

    You can catch bassist Tony Markellis this summer performing with the following bands in Saratoga Springs, or otherwise as noted.

    June

    Thursday 6/27 Markellis, Haskell and Maul at Druthers, 7-10 pm (an Eclectic acoustic power trio)

    Saturday 6/29 Billy Eli & Spook Lights at The Ale House, Troy, 9 pm

    July

    Thursday 7/4 Juke Joint Jokers at Gaffney’s, 8 pm -12 am (Electric blues)

    Friday 7/5 Markellis, Haskell and Maul, Mouzon House, 7 pm

    Saturday 7/6 Street Corner Holler at Gaffney’s, 9 pm – 1 am (Slide guitar blues trio)

    Thursday 7/11 Street Corner Holler at Druthers, 7 pm – 10 pm

    Friday 7/12 Bob Warren Trio at Mouzon House,  7 pm (Great original songs)

    Saturday 7/13 Bob Warren Trio at Oliva Vineyards, Fort Edward, 2 – 6 PM

    Saturday 7/13 Street Corner Holler at LakeHouse Grille, Wells, 8 pm

    Tuesday through Sunday 7/16 – 7/21 Markellis, Haskell, Maul at Saratoga County Fair, Noon to 5, daily

    Thursday 7/18 Markellis, Haskell, Maul at Druthers, 7 – 10 pm

    Friday 7/19 Bob Warren Trio at Mouzon House, 7 pm

    Saturday 7/20 Street Corner Holler at Mouzon House,  7 – 11 pm

    Friday 7/26 Markellis, Haskell, Maul at Mouzon House, 7 pm

    Wednesday 7/31 Markellis, Haskell, Maul at The Track, Noon – 4 pm,  with special guest Ted Hennessy

    August

    Thursday 8/1 Larry Clyman Duo at One Caroline, 8 pm

    Friday 8/2 Markellis, Haskell, Maul at Tang Museum, 7 pm

    Thursday 8/8 Larry Clyman Duo at One Caroline, 8 pm

    Friday 8/9 Jeanne O’Connor & the New Standard at Tang Museum,  7 pm (Favorites from the ‘60s and ‘70s)

    Saturday 8/10 Bob Warren Band at LakeHouse Grille, Wells, 8 pm

    Friday 8/16 Burns Sisters at Spencer Picnic Festival, Spencer, 8 pm (Americana)

    Saturday 8/17 Burns Sisters at Taughannock Park, Ithaca 6 – 9 pm

    Thursday 8/22 Markellis, Haskell, Maul at Druthers, 7 pm

    Friday 8/23 Bob Warren Trio at Mouzon House,  7 pm

    Sunday 8/25 Doornails at Lyons Lake 4 – 7 pm (Bluegrass & roots rock)

    Wednesday 8/28 Street Corner Holler at Gaffney’s, 9 pm – 1 am (Slide guitar blues trio)

    Thursday 8/29 Larry Clyman Duo at One Caroline, 8 pm

    Friday 8/30 Bob Warren Trio at Mouzon House,  7 pm

    Sat-Sun 8/31-9/1 Bob Warren, Final Stretch Festival, 7 – 11 pm