NYS Music 20​13

Tag: thekollectiv

  • Kollectiv and Groovestick: Funky and Lucky on Friday the 13th

    The last Friday the 13th of 2013 brought together lucky music lovers to The Hollow in Albany for two of Upstate New York’s homegrown talent. With the holidays around the corner, it’s understandable for fans and musicians to want to soak up each other’s cheerful energy with live music. The Kollectiv, a rap rock funk band, was having their first reunion show in months, kicking off their short tour in Albany. The Capital District’s own Groovestick was first to take the stage and were eager to test out their new stage setup.

    Drummer Franz Celestin and keyboard master Chris Carballeira now face each other with bassist Dan Gerken standing strong in the eye of the storm, taking inspiration from one of their favorite bands, The New Deal. Now with more eye contact and exposed body language, the musicians can read each other better and have strengthened their already impressive fluidity. Regardless of the layout, Groovestick still gave out goosebumps with their jazz and funky flow. Carballeira glides over the keys of the Hammond 33 organ, providing an intense blues and psychedelic sound, causing new appreciation for vintage instruments everywhere. Gerken plays slow and ripplely chords until causing a commotion with the tease of the infamous bass line from Phish’s “Stash” while Celestin fires away on the cymbals at every speed level.

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    Originally from Oneonta, musicians from The Kollectiv have been traveling different paths experimenting with various projects around the country but lucky for Upstate New York, they came home for the holidays. What makes The Kollectiv stand out above the other bands is their usage of turntables. They have a soulful and funky vibe from their instruments but with the combination of the turntables, it adds attitude and flavor. Their groove is undeniable especially with the steady bass of Chris Duffy and firm beats of Frantz Celestin, who is still a powerhouse after rocking with Groovestick beforehand. Lars Viola yells out, “We haven’t been in the same room together for months. It feels so good to be home” as long awaiting fans couldn’t agree more. Their sound is almost similar to a softer version of Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP 2 –  no offensive language, but creative word spitting with a fantastic blend of rap and rock music. Each song is so different in that one is a “no worries street smarts” and the next moment Taylor Frederick is shredding on guitar before the music slowly grooves into a reggae dance party. It’s a shame that The Kollectiv shows are rare but they are always worth the experience and we can only hope for more in the new year ahead.

  • Get Lucky this Friday the 13th with The Kollectiv and Groovestick

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    This Friday at 9pm don’t miss two of Upstate New York’s fresh and funky bands, The Kollectiv and GrooveStick, appearing at The Hollow in Albany. Groovestick has become a growing Capital District sensation with their heavy organ infused, progressive funk. The trio is a collaboration with Dan Gerken on guitar (Timbre Coup/Mirk), Chris Carballeira on organ/keys (Dirty Paris, Funk Evolution) and Frantz Celestin on drum kit (The Kollectiv, Dirty Paris).

    This will be a special reunion show for The Kollectiv, since they have had band members living on the west coast and haven’t played together for months. The original lineup consists of keyboardist Eric Luba, guitarist Jaden Carlson, Frantz Celestin on drums (GrooveStick), Chris Duffy on bass (Dirty Paris), Lars Viola on turntables (M.A.E.), and guitarist Taylor Frederick (Technicolor Tone Factory). Deep into December, they are staying true to the old holiday saying, “There’s no place like home for the holidays” and eager to see long awaited fans and friends in Albany and at the Black Oak Tavern in Oneonta on Saturday.

    Before their big weekend, was lucky to catch some free time with Taylor Frederick about their time apart, practice and the year ahead.

    Susan Rice: It’s been quite some time since the Kollectiv performed in Upstate New York. What have you guys been working on since your time off?

    Taylor Frederick: Well Duffy is finishing up college in Albany as of right now, Lars is down in NYC producing and working with his hip-hop projects at True Statement., Frantz has been hard at work with his new funk trio Groovestick, and Eric and myself moved out to Boulder, CO at the end of May, and dove into the music scene out here pretty quickly. He is now in The Jaden Carlson Band, and I am now playing with Technicolor Tone Factory. As for Eric and myself, I know JCB is planning on a two month national tour starting at the end of February or beginning of March, and TTF will also be on tour at that time heading west toward California, and also heading south into Texas around the same time. Tour dates are going to be released in early 2014.

    SR: Do you find it difficult to keep in touch with band members living across the country? Do you log in practice time with each other?

    TF: It’s a little difficult at times. You tend to get caught up in life, and sometimes that makes time fly by a bit faster than one would like. But we do keep in touch quite a bit. Since Eric and I are out here we have been running the old stuff and some new surprises for the run and the rest of the boys have been doing their own individual runs on the material.

    SR: Do you guys feel like you will need like you need a lot of practice before the show? I would be nervous if I had to play with a band that I haven’t seen in month’s haha.

    TF: Well the funny story is the band was founded on straight improv, even the songs. We just kind of get lucky that we all know them well enough that when we hear a tease of something, we all pick up on it and can go right in. It’s a pretty amazing bond to have with a group of musicians. It doesn’t happen often but when it does its magic. For the run however we have been learning a bunch of new material on our own, and whatever we decide on, the setlists will kind of determine what we can fit in between point A and point B.

    SR: What is the band most excited for on your Holiday/reunion run in Upstate NY?

    TF: We’re just pumped to be playing music together again. It’s always a good time when we get together. Our friends from all over the place always come out as well and we seem to make new ones at ever show. It’s slowly turning into just a giant family reunion.

    SR: Does the Kollectiv have any plans for 2014 that fans can look forward to? New music? More East Coast shows?

    TF: As far as 2014 you never know. There have been some old studio recordings that just may resurface, and maybe a couple festival appearances? We’ll have to wait and see. Right now just keep an eye out for JCB, TTF, Groovestick, M.A.E, Dirty Paris and our other respected projects!

  • The Kollectiv and The Heavy Pets Threw Down on April 23rd at The Hollow in Albany

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

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

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

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

    Encore: No More Time, Jackie Bones, STYM