NYS Music 20​13

Tag: syracuse

  • Syracuse Will Ring in 2014 With Jimkata and The Manhattan Project At The Westcott Theatre

    Syracuse jamizens are in for a treat this New Years Eve as two of New York’s hottest up and coming acts converge upon the Westcott Theatre for a night of excessive face melting. Kicking things off is Rochester’s electro-versatile duo of The Manhattan Project. Drummer Shawn Drogan and keys master Charles Lindner have had a huge year playing in excess of 60 shows of their electronica inspired mastery. Unlike typical EDM acts, these two strive to mix things up with well ordered combinations of their unique and jammed out originals and done-their-way covers.085-DSC_1489

    Bringing in the New Year in style will be Ithaca’s hottest act, Jimkata. The four-piece shares their own electronica inspired influences, but bring plenty of multiple genre side journeys in their itinerary that have electrified audiences from coast to coast. The band has been touring heavily this fall in support of their fan funded critically acclaimed newest release, Die Digital. Jimkata also just dropped their first live album, 10 More Songs which is available on iTunes.

    Doors open promptly at 8PM for the $20, show which includes the obligatory complimentary champagne toast at midnight. Tickets can be purchased online here. Finish 2014 in style as this one promises to be an experience to remember. The Westcott Theater is located at 524 Westcott St, Syracuse, NY 13210.

  • All That Remains headlines 95X Syracuse’s Nightmare Before Xmas

    All That Remains has been touring nonstop and riding the momentum of commercial success with albums like For We Are Many and last year’s A War You Can Not Win.  Returning to Syracuse for the second time this year for Nightmare Before Xmas, they brought in Chicago’s Soil, who reunited last year with original singer and ex-Drowning Pool singer, Ryan McCombs.  95X brought in local acts Era, from Oswego and Cry To The Blind, from Rochester, to complete the entire act.  The show was at the Wescott Theater, which may be the venue of choice for metal acts in Syracuse.

    Dealing with absolutely shitty weather for a December 14 night, the Metal Fans and 95X listeners proved that shitty weather does not stop anyone from catching a great show.  It was a packed house.

    Era opened the act.  I don’t know a whole lot about them; this was the first show they played with their new lineup.  They opened for Hatebreed back in December of last year.  They were more metal oriented than the other acts.  I would say they were a combo of Slayer and Clutch.  But they were solid and the crowd was very receptive to them.

    Cry To The Blind stormed the stage for their 20 minute set.  They have a more hard rock flavor to them and VERY energetic.  When it’s ball shrinking cold outside, it’s nice to have a band jumping around getting the crowd pumped up and having a great time.

    Soil, who was part of the tour, played a 30 minute set.  Keep in mind, Soil played Syracuse over the summer as well which I was in attendance for.  The first time they played, they actually played a couple of Drowning Pool songs.  This time, they didn’t.  Frontman Ryan McCombs made it clear to the crowd that he wasn’t feeling well. But that didn’t stop him from giving a stellar performance.  Opening with “Loaded Gun,” then the rest of their set consisted songs off their 2001 CD Scars.  And of course, they closed with “Halo”, with McCombs going into the middle of the crowd to get everyone into.  Hopefully Soil sticks around and comes back soon.  The rest of the band actually hung at the merch table after their set which is always nice to see.

    All That Remains made quite the entrance.  With House of Pain’s “Jump Around” playing over the PA before they got on stage and opened with “Down” and “Stand Up.”  I’ve seen All That Remains several times.  The first time I  saw them was back at Ozzfest in 2006; at the time they were relatively unknown.  Talk about progression (in a good way).  All That Remains did a good job of blending their heavier songs with their mellower hits and ballads.  Most of the Ballads were played in the middle of their set while their heavier stuff opened and ended their set.  One thing I was really impressed with in their overall performance is Jeanne Sagan’s backing vocals to harmonize with Phil.  And I personally think Phil is one of the best singers that can go from a death metal growl to singing clearly.  That’s always been the band’s strength.  Also this was the 3rd to last show of the tour and no one seemed worn down at all.  Some of the other songs that were played were “For Now We Tremble”, “Dead Wrong”, of course “What If I Was Nothing”, and their 2 closers were “Hold On” and “2 Weeks”, rounding out about a one hour set. No encore.  The crowd went nuts.  A good-sized mosh pit was in the middle of the entire venue.   Overall fantastic show. I would imagine All That Remains will return next year.

    According to ThePrp.com, All That Remains tour bus was in an accident on the NYS Thruway on the way to their next show at Clifton Park.  Luckily, no one was hurt.  It didn’t help the roads were shitty before and after the show.  Also I would imagine we will start seeing more metal shows at the Wescott than the Lost.

  • A Look at One Last Shot

    As the frontman to Syracuse’s One Last Shot, the 23-year-old takes to those notebooks to find the words that will accompany the band’s music.  Together, it’s a matrimony between the ethereal world of his craft, and the driving force of the music.

    As a wordsmith, Jeremy Miller is a slave to every epiphany. At home, he has notebooks, napkins and spare scraps of paper, for each time he has been visited by his muse.

    “I have notebooks stacked with pages, and pages of lyrics and poems and random thoughts I quickly write down,” said Miller.

    “My notebook has turned into my cell phone notepad,” said Miller, “but if I have paper around and don’t think about my cell phone I’ll write down ideas quick.  (Laughs.)  If I don’t do that I could forget the idea as soon as I think of it.”

    One Last Shot carries the label of “local band”, one that calls Syracuse home as the band struggles to branch out farther.  They’ve played Buffalo and Rochester.  As one would expect, they aspire to do more.

    One Last Shot, out of Rochester, NY, includes Rikki Kemz, David Royal, Angelo Zinkovitch, Adam VVlassis and Jeremy Miller. (Photo credit: One Last Shot)
    One Last Shot, out of Syracuse, NY, includes Rikki Kemz, David Royal, Angelo Zinkovitch, Adam Vlassis and Jeremy Miller. (Photo credit: One Last Shot)

    Calling them a local band would be misleading.  They avoid the mistake of relating their sound to Metallica – is that before And Justice for All or after the Black Album when they went grunge?  Nah.

    “Our influence (musically) is based off of a lot of music,” said Miller. “We’re very musically diverse people.”

    This October, the band released Bastards of the Plague.  It’s a 12-song LP that clocks in a little over a half-an-hour.  No bombastic tracks on this one, as the longest track noses around the four-minute range.  The band’s musical diversity is most apparent as their sound transitions from metal to almost punk as one goes chronologically through the CD.

    “I was listening to a lot of Elvis, Smashing Pumpkins, Danzig and Every Time I Die,” said Miller. “[But}the band as a whole really is influenced by the post-hardcore of the early 2000’s. It’s when we really felt the scene was amazing.

    “Usually I close my eyes when listening to the guitars and drums and think of a story going on to the music. If it was a soundtrack to a movie, what would be going on in the scene? Then I see if I already have something I wrote forever ago that works… but usually I write new lyrics to the songs.”

    The soundtrack to Bastards of the Plague includes many action sequences.  “Hell’s Empty” is one of a few battle anthems that pits the protagonist against the forces of Hell itself.

     This is the moment to choose your sides

    Everyone’s got to pick

    If not you’re just born to die

    They’re coming

    We’re running

    But I refuse to feel the fire burn inside the Devil’s eyes

    Hell’s empty

    They walk among us tonight!

    “Bring Out the Dead” is another such anthem, one that showcases some of the precision of Rikki Kemz rapid drum play.  He brings the cadence to a feverish pace that accompanies the theme of the song nicely.

    The metal aspect of this LP ends with “A Lizard in Brenda.”  (Now, hardcore metal fans should not be concerned about this perceived shift in genres.  It’s subtle, if there at all.)  Matt Good of From First to Last contributes an eerily angelic voice to an otherwise graphic song describing vengeance in the most violent of ways.  Good’s addition provides depth and complexity that makes this track standout.  William Control (Aiden) also makes a noteworthy contribution on “Bury A Legend”, not only providing his pipes but his wordsmith talents as well.

    Brenda is followed by “Neon Gods” paying homage to the barroom brawlers of the world, and continues to impress from there.  Each of the remaining songs possess introductions that are reminiscent of The Offspring’s Smash.  The first few seconds of guitars , played by David Royal, Angelo Zinkovitch and Adam Vlassis (bass), play along with Kemz in a similar fashion to the legendary California punk rockers.

    Steve Sopchak, who has produced and mixed for larger acts like, The Venetia Fair, Ice Nine Kills, The Ataris, and Such Gold, adds a professional touch that does not allow the vocals or any one instrument overpower the rest.  Should you have the opportunity to see One Last Shot, take that opportunity.  A CD purchase would also not be regrettable. Bastards of the Plague is a well-polished showcase of a local band that is deserving of more attention.

    CDs can be purchased by visiting http://onelastshot.storenvy.com/.

  • Hearing Aide: Tim Herron Corporation ‘It’s All In Your Head’

    Upstate New York and Syracuse natives Tim Herron Corporation will release their fifth full length album, It’s All In Your Head  at a December 14th record release show at the Syracuse Dinosaur BBQ and the following December 19th at the Rochester, NY location. Tim Herron Corporation’s multifarious approach to genre blending, good time music, and inspiring live performances can be delectably sampled on this anticipated new release. The band refers to their rock, bluegrass, folk and dance conglomerate as “Ameribeat’, a funky down home mixture of back porch sensibilities, and forward thinking instrumentation. The band has been entertaining the Upstate masses for fourteen years, and this upcoming release displays their road tested and practiced abilities.

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    Herron’s glistening chrome guitar lines adorn the numerous vintage musical foundations of the group that are on display. A highlight of the recording are the clean water guitar licks that pour over the majority of the songs on the collection. The opening ‘Big Brown Boot’ contains an slippery and addictive bottleneck slide guitar melody that boxes the listeners ears immediately. The rhythm section of Eric McElveen on bass and Christopher English on drums collaborate to formulate the juke joint cadences that lend the music its unique and timeless sway, in addition to the well timed flourishes of second guitarist Ed Nolan. The band as a whole succeeds in their music by staying with the times, as well as keeping one foot firmly settled on the dusty dirt roads of the past.

    A standout performance, ‘Recession Blues’ is a song that effectively encapsulates the talents and abilities of the group on this collection. The song contains humorous and tasteful lyrics, rubbery clean tone guitar statements, and a country lilt that encourages ass shaking and closed eye swaying. The collaborative vocals channel smoky campfire singalongs and elicit an old time party vive. In contrast, another song ‘Voices’ contains overlapping gospel vocals in its chorus, eliciting images of Delaney and Bonnie’s early revival performances, before embarking on a funky and contemporary musical breakdown that allows a quick glimpse into the breadth of the bands influences. In an age where music’s slickness often outweighs its creative balance, the Tim Herron Corporation leans on rustic, yet well produced tunes that reflect their professionalism while staying rooted in the fertile earth of Americana.

    The new release by Tim Herron Corporation is a refreshing and original collection of music that stays true to its roots and to the intentions of its creators. This new release covers the spectrum of the groups talents and captures the excitement of their live performances. Fans of well crafted roots music will uncover numerous moments of surprise and interest in this compact collection of songs. Find more information about the band including news on future appearances and releases here.

    Key Tracks: Big Brown Boot, Recession Blues, Voices

  • Luck Of The Punk: An Upstate sit-down with Lucky33

    Listening to Lucky33 is like a day at the California beach. Sun shining, the salty sea breeze hitting you in the face, bombing down the concrete half-pipe and your hair whipping behind you.  Lucky33 is a four-piece punk band that hails from central New York, calling both Syracuse and Oswego home. They advertise a blend of old-school punk with an indie feel to create “our distinct sound.”  Upstate Metal’s own Steve Strader recently had the honor of chatting with the band’s bassist, Jared “Red”.

    So how long have you cats been around?

    “After a few line up changes, L33 as it is today has been together since April of 2011.”

    Any side projects or past projects?

    “Duff (lead guitarist) does all kinds of acoustic covers and posts them on YouTube and Facebook. One of his most popular ones is a Drake song. (Laughs). I’ve played in a bunch of bands. I’m much older than the other guys in the band. I started out in the ska/punk band Ill Nature, then the funkcore band Lost Soul Division in the ’90s and early 2000s. After that, I played in the metal band Adiel and most recently – before L33 – Damaged In Transit. While I was in DIT, I met Dustin while playing a show together at the Lost Horizon. He was in The Black Lockets. I eventually joined TBL while still in DIT, while they looked for a full time bass player. Shortly after that, Dustin left the Lockets and I left DIT. Dustin, Duff and Kyle all went to school together. They had started Lucky33 and I joined shortly after that.

    So what band is your favorite?

    “By far mine is L33, and I know the other guys agree! I’ve never been in a band with guys like this! We have great chemistry and energy. We get along great and we’re best buds outside of the band. The song writing is very easy and comes quick. Usually Duff writes something on the acoustic and brings it to us and we go from there. That kid can write a catchy song! After playing for over 15 years, I’m enjoying playing more than I ever have.”

    How’s the pro-bono new logo coming along?

    “(Laughs.) We got a few people making some. I was only half serious, [I did it} more to get people conversing with us.”

    How’s the Guitar Center “Get Out of the Garage” contest coming along?

    “It ended a while back, did it to get more exposure basically.”

    If L33 were to be sponsored by a guitar company who would it be?

    “Gibson, hands down.”

    Anything coming out of the L33 compound we should be looking forward to?

    “We’re going to start recording a full length [album] this winter, so keep a look out for that!  Hopefully some merch, once the logo is done. We’re gonna hit up the guys in SRT to do the shirts. Tons of shows for the New Year, I’d like to do a split EP with our bro’s in High Dive Horse.”

    Any last words?

    “You rock Stevo! Thanks for the interview and the support. See you in January for the Entropy show.”

    For more information on the band, go visit their Facebook account.

  • Rubblebucket at the Westcott Theatre, November 20th

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    The lights gracefully brighten the stage and the audience finds themselves looking at colorful scarves draped across the microphone. It was only last fall that this Brooklyn based band played a sold-out show here in Syracuse and tonight, the Westcott Theatre is packed with a returning jubilant crowd gathered to see one of their favorite jam bands play. To the right is a middle-aged woman in a wheelchair, circling around in anticipation as singer Kalmia Traver aligns her saxophone carefully next to the mic. To the left are a red plastic cup holding college students chanting, “Rubblebucket” repeatedly. It is evident this band appeals to more than just one social scene. Armed with their wide pallet of instruments, the eight-member band takes on the stage like a stirring of galloping ponies, ready to show the town how to have a good time.

    The band opens with “Bikes”, which brings back the tootsie-rolling, toe tinkling feeling of the early Free Design records. Traver showers the crowd with glitter and pulls out crowd pleaser after crowd pleaser from her setlist. In the middle of the band’s performance of “L’homme”, she casually pulls off the bright yellow scarf from around her painted face, to reveal a clean-shaven head, with a heart shaped buzz cut in the center that she dyed red. One can leave it up to Traver to even turn her recovery from ovarian cancer into a fashion statement. Traver, who had to cancel her summer shows because of her sickness, seems to have emerged even better than before. Her humming-to-the-flowers melody in “Silly Fathers” makes that apparent.

    By the end of the night, everyone left the show a little worn out from all the “silly” dancing encouraged by the band, but the huge smiles plastered on their faces said that the experience was worthwhile, even if that meant showing up to work a little hung-over the next morning.

  • Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Brings Westcott to New Plane

    Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe brought its brand of classic and masterfully innovative improvisational jazz funk to the Westcott Theater on September 17th. Comprised of an ensemble of veteran-status, time-tested talent, Tiny Universe was able to maintain a captivating energy that after a very long set, left listeners wanting even more. And they delivered.

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    How was this possible you ask? Karl Denson is a machine. Plain and simple. Don’t let the gray hairs on his beard mislead you. His presence and music are loud, energetic, fast, strong, and beautifully complex. This guy tears through airwaves like they were toilet paper. Based on his insanely muscular build, it looks like he could tear through a phone book or two also. But as Karl wowed us with his wild funky jazz lines, he reassured us that he was not just one mean-blowin’, jacked badass, but more of that wise, cool uncle-type that pushes you to be your best. About two thirds of the way through the set, he took the audience aside and gave us guys a pep talk on how to effectively get your groove back. It included a lesson on “Washing your a**.” It was funny, endearing and a great segue into a groovy jam.

    It wasn’t all about Karl though. Given, Lenny Kravitz’s band and Slightly Stoopid are pretty big credentials, but Denson’s counterparts were nothing to be scoffed at. Chris Littlefield held down the a somber, poetic and often avant garde vibe on the trumpet and flugelhorn, while a young-looking DJ Williams kept an explosive energy in his solos and a tight-funky sound to his rhythm guitar. Although these two players served as the pillars in support of Denson’s mastery, all of the band’s music was worthy of praise. Of special note to this humble listener was a long improv set based on a classic by David “Fathead” Newman (saxophonist for Ray Charles and Herbie Mann) called “Front Money.” It was hot. And as an encore they played their take on “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes.  This song also featured a sick solo from the brassy-sassy female trombonist from the Mike Dillon Band. It was a great way to end a night of great music.

  • Review: 95 X Fest

    Twenty Two bands for $20! What!!! With a lineup that consists of Sick Puppies, Adam Gontier, Nonpoint, Trapt, Otherwise and more, how can you go wrong for $20!!! Add eleven of some of the area’s best local talent and you have this year’s 95 X fest.

    Held at the F Shed in Syracuse N.Y., I was kind of skeptical of this venue until I got there. The F Shed is like a big warehouse or, like its name, a shed. A huge shed, in fact, but really nice inside. So, like me, don’t judge the place until you actually see it, because it’s actually a really good venue for a concert.

    There were eleven local area bands, and they all sounded pretty good. So all you concert promoters out there looking for some good opening acts for future shows, check out the list of local bands that kicked @$$ on this show. You really can’t go wrong with any of them.

    First on the main stage was Another Lost Year. This is a really good up-and-coming band. Their singles are getting a lot of airplay on XM Octane. Their sound check went a little longer than they wanted, so they had to cut their set a little short, but this band still rocked the place. They connected and played to the crowd really well.

    Next up was a band I knew nothing about, but now I know very well. Allele took the main stage second. Front man Wally Wood has endless energy. I think he stood on the rail and sang with the crowd for half his performance.

    Girl On Fire is now the third band to play on the main stage. Their current single, “The Takedown,” is really hot. These guys put on a great live performance. During one song, singer Austin Held’s mic went dead, which prompted him to slam it on the ground in frustration. He then grabbed another mic and hit the next note right on cue.

    Mindset Evolution was the fourth band to play the main stage. Their current single, “Burn It Down,” is also played a lot on XM Octane. These guys won Battle Of The Bands in 2012, and they have really grown since a year ago when they were on the Uproar Festival. ME put in a really good live performance.

    Devour The Day was the fifth band to grace the main stage. Former Egypt Central members Joey Chicago and Blake Allison make up half the band. Their current single, “Good Man,” is in heavy rotation on the radio. I forgot how much energy these guys have. Insane! They will be touring with Hinder later this year so make sure you go and check them out.

    One of my favorite up and coming bands that were a late addition to this show’s lineup were slated in the sixth spot on the main stage. Otherwise took the stage next and brought the house down. Otherwise is one of the best live bands you could see. I love watching Adrian and the boys rock it. If you have never seen Otherwise, all I can say is what the hell are you waiting for? Adrian just connects with the crowd and pulls you in. Bassist Vassilios and Guitarist Andrew were so energized, I think they drank a whole case of Red Bull or something before the show. Vassilios even jumped in the crowd and played bass around all the fans for an entire song, which prompted Adrian to say “please don’t kill our bassist”.

    Disturbed members Mike and Dan, along with Evans Blue Member and singer Dan, make up the next band that were in the seventh spot on the main stage. Fight Or Flight were up next and they were better than I thought. I wasn’t feeling their cd that much yet, and their single, “First Of The Last,” is OK, but their live performance is really good. In fact, they were so good live you would think that they were a band for many years performing together.

    Trapt gets the eighth spot on the show. Trapt played a good mix of old and new tracks. They always put in a great live performance, but I prefer them on a more intimate stage setting. Singer Chris Taylor Brown makes you feel his emotions as he sings and is a great performer. Their current single, “Eye Of The Storm,” is starting to get a lot of airplay on the radio.

    This next band is another must-see band if you have never seen them. In the ninth spot on the main stage was Nonpoint. Elias and the boys are so much fun to watch live. They just come out and Kick @$$ form start to finish. I had the chance to hang out with the boys for a little bit on their tour bus, and we had a really random discussion about mushrooms. We also had a debate on who has better pizza, New York or Chicago?

    Former front man for Three Days Grace, Adam Gontier, was slated in the tenth spot for this show. I haven’t ever seen 3DG with Adam. Matt is a great fill in, but when I heard Adam sing those songs I was blown away. Adam said to the crowd, “Isn’t it nice to hear the guy who wrote the songs, sing the songs?” Adam is just amazing live, and at one point near the end of his set he climbed the scaffolding all the way up to the lights and just hung there for a bit. I thought he was going to jump into the crowd, but after hanging for a couple of minutes he came back down.

    Sick Puppies is slated as the headliners for this event. Shimon and the gang always put on a great show. I was watching them pump each other up backstage before their performance. Shimon really likes talking to the crowd before every song, which can be a little overkill. When you have been at a festival all day and you’re the last act please keep the talking to a minimum. A large stage means more room for Emma to jump and spin around on stage. This girl is just amazing live, and I don’t think I would ever get tired of watching her play. Anzai is of the best bassists you could ever see live.

    This was a really good event and one of my favorite concerts of the year. This event was very fan-friendly with all of the bands signing autographs at different times under the autograph tent. That, to me, is what a music festival should have. It’s really nice to shoot the $#!t with your favorite artist for a couple of minutes and get something signed or take a picture with them.

    Photographer JT Gilbert took a lot of really nice pictures of this event, and his one of Nonpoint is f’in awesome. If Nonpoint ever makes a live dvd, that pic should be the cover.

    I also got to exchange a few words with Dan from Disturbed/Fight or Flight. He was drinking some really good red wine in a plastic solo cup. After I asked him what he was drinking, he told me, “Hey I have to switch it up from beer every now and then.” Funny.

    I also got to hold Adam Gontier’s Terminator-inspired mic stand which had to weigh about fifty pounds.

    Congrats to 95 X for putting on a really great event, despite the fact that a rival radio station that had their own event a week earlier pulled a classless move and held a free concert the same time and day of this event. I didn’t matter though, because on this day this was the place to be.

  • Review: Krockathon 18

    Krockathon 18 was held in the Chevy Court of the N.Y. State fairgrounds. The lineup for this show was just amazing! Sevendust, Skillet, Three Days Grace and Chevelle to name a few.

    Krock even tweaked some things to the venue so they could sell 500 more tickets. The show went pretty smoothly for the most part. The main drawbacks from the fans were that there was no tailgating allowed in the parking lot, and there were not enough beer and food vendor’s. They could have used about 30 more port-a-potties also.

    First up was Stars In Stereo. They got the crowd going for this one. They did a decent cover of Aerosmith’s Dream On. Singer Bec Hollcraft seemed a little reserved at the beginning, but came into her own by the end. She could be a star someday. If I had to compare them to another band, I would have to say that they are like Paramore kicked up a notch.

    All the way from the UK, The Virginmary’s were up next. They were pretty good. I really never heard anything by them, but I really enjoyed their performance. They can definitely rock it live.

    This next band was just amazing live. Aranda, to me, is one of the bands on this bill that stole the show. The Aranda brothers, Dameon and Gabe, have some fun with each other using one guitar and holding it in different positions while the other brother plays it!!! Pretty cool $#!^. I highly recommend Aranda’s “Stop The World“cd. It is just hot from top to bottom. I would really like to see this band play a longer set.

    The next band on the bill was Red. Red had their Graffiti brick wall set up behind them, which I love as a backdrop. Michael Barnes vocals were just right on point. The Armstrong twins just know how to rock, and they have a ton of energy. I’ve seen Red live of couple of times now, and they just bring it to every show. They are also some of the coolest, most down to earth guys you can meet.

    Skillet, who just dropped their “Rise” cd, was next. Here is another band that just stole the show for me. Skillet live is just f’in awesome. Watching Jen Ledger on drums is insane. She just kicks so much @$$ up there. Skillet had their usual co2 pyro in front of the stage. Korey Cooper on guitar and keyboard is just amazing. Watching her rock out is just really fun to watch. The crowd was just nuts for Skillet and John Cooper had them wrapped around his finger. Jen also threw her drumsticks to a fan holding a sign asking her for them, which I though was classy move.

    Asking Alexandria were up next and the crowd loved them. I personally am not a huge fan of theirs, but they do put on a good live set.

    Flyleaf was set to play next. I am really not feeling Kristen May live. The band itself is OK but she is the $#!^’s. It seemed like every song was butchered by her, and it made me sick. I saw them the night before this show, and again I was not impressed.

    Another band I saw the night before was P.O.D. This is when the first of two rain showers started, and it lasted for most of P.O.D’s set. Every time I see this band they kick @$$! I love watching Sonny on stage because you can see how he just feels the lyrics he is singing.

    Well up next, according to front man Phillip LaBonte, is the hardest band on the show! All That Remains took the stage next and, like usual, they just killed it. I’ve seen this band a couple of times now, and I love them more and more.

    One of my favorite bands ever, Sevendust, is now ready to rock the stage. The topless women are now starting to come out in full force. Lajon is one of the best front men in the business to me. I love him on stage. His emotions bring my emotions out more. The whole band just rocks from start to finish. Lajon said halfway through, “We are not rockstars, we just love to play music.” One classy guy, and a very classy band. You’re all rockstars to me!

    I was standing next to a girl at this show who was there for this next band only. Chevelle took the stage and the crowd just loved them. They were really good and sounded awesome.

    Last up is Three Days Grace. The second rain fall is now starting. This is where the only snag took place as 3DG took forever to come out and delayed everyone in the rain for about an half hour. After chants of “WTF” and “this is B.S,” the show finally started. This was my second time seeing Matt sing for 3DG and he is really good. I think I liked him better the first time I saw him, though. The crowd was really over for them and even though it was down pouring rain, it was still awesome.

    What a great event Krockathon was. A couple of things that I would like to see added to next year’s event—besides more vendors and bathrooms—is a more of a festival experience. I think the bands should have been more hands on for the fans. Don’t get me wrong, some were, but not enough. I think if they set it up like Mayhem/Uproar and they had different tents for the different bands. The facility sure looked like they had enough room for it. One thing I didn’t get was the sticker that they passed out at the gate that was for random meet-n-greets with the bands, but I noticed that the Krock staff was also grabbing people who didn’t have stickers instead of the ones who did, which annoyed a lot of people who got there early to get one of the stickers.

  • The Westcott Theater Promoters ‘Upstate Shows’ Take Over Booking for Lost Horizon

    Syracuse’s Lost Horizon has undergone some recent changes and fans can expect to see a lot more music there in coming months. Starting in September Upstate Shows – the promoters for The Westcott Theater, will take the helm at The Lost Horizon. The venue, located just off Erie Blvd. will expand its already popular hard-core metal lineup with new promoters.

    Eric Binion and Dan Mastronardi, are the owners of Upstate Shows and currently book shows exclusively at The Westcott, the F Shed and the occasional show at The Landmark in Syracuse, NY. The duo will be looking to expand the current calendar of metal and punk-rock shows at this smaller venue.

    With their success at the revitalization of The Westcott Theater – now one of Syracuse’s premier music venues, the team hopes to do the same for this historical gem. Lost Horizon has, for some time now, been considered the main venue for heavy metal, rock and punk-rock type shows; the new promoters told Syracuse.com that they look forward to booking their more intimate shows at the Lost.

    Fans of the current style of music coming to the venue need not worry, Upstate Shows plans to add to the calendar by bringing in a wider scope of musical taste. With its history in the city that dates back to the 1970’s – fans can now see local bands like Dark Hollow and local favorites like Driftwood in a more intimate setting than larger venues in Syracuse.

    We are always happy to learn about new places to see good music and our entire Syracuse Staff looks forward to covering more shows at this venue in. Shows are already being announced for the Lost, look for regional acts like Aqueous on October 23rd, the full schedule can be found at www.thelosthorizon.com.