NYS Music 20​13

Tag: Water Street Music Hall

  • Metal Done Right – Baroness at the Club at Water Street

    Savannah, Georgia’s Baroness brought their progressive “stoner” metal grooves to Rochester’s Club at Water Street Wednesday August 7th. Touring behind their newest album, Yellow and Green, the group was joined by label mates Royal Thunder. Royal Thunder is a three-piece progressive rock band from Atlanta. Their sound is a mix of the old and the new; imagine a mix of The Cult and Evanescence with a more hypnotic progressiveness. Featuring the vocals and impressive bass skills of MLny Parsonz, the trio impressed the small crowd that had made it in early during their 40 minute set.

    Baroness, by all accounts, appear to be on the cusp of success. While they still perform their own soundchecks and headline smaller venues, they are able to pull a close to capacity crowd for a decent ticket price  on a Wednesday despite the distance from their far away southern roots. Many attendees were adorned in black Baroness shirts and colorful tattoos and the beer was flowing at full blast as go-time approached.

    The glowing trademark on the band’s Bad Cat amplifier head beckoned the black fashioned masses closer. Blue oyster cult filled the pre-show music as the band took the stage to the muted sounds of “Highway Star”. The set started acoustically unassuming before a barrage of power chords enlightened the onlookers into a sea of metal signs.

    The band’s sound is a mix of unassuming melodic mellowness with brutal reminders gleefully tossed eloquently into the mix. Picture Mastodon meets early Clutch with a twist of classic rock ground in and the potential to surpass the sum of their influences.  The crowd chatted little, transfixed by the sonic spectacle on stage. Many songs had epic qualities, building, subsiding, peaking, running the gambit of emotions in one composition.

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    The show mostly showcased the band’s newest effort, but had enough older tracks to keep things interesting. Unlike most harder shows, the audience seemed content to stand and watch for most of the show, but in true metal fashion a decent mosh pit broke out during the encore. Pull your Sabbath tees out of the basement and go check out some Baroness!

    photos by Jacob Silco

  • Baroness and Royal Thunder coming to Water Street Music Hall August 7th

    Savannah, Georgia’s critically acclaimed stoner/sludge metal outfit Baroness has had a trying year. Sidelined just a month after the release of their latest album Yellow and Green by a bus accident in London that left several members injured, they are just getting back on the road again.

    This Wednesday, joined by label mates Royal Thunder, they will be bringing their fierce musical onslaught to Rochester’s Water Street Music Hall. Ticket’s are $15 and can be purchased here or at the Water Street box office. Doors at 7, showtime at 8. Throw on some black and come rage! 16+ w/ ID.

  • Sunday Night Dead: Dark Star Orchestra at Waterstreet Music Hall

    A show on a Sunday? Ordinarily it’s a no for me but the universe had been aligned in just the right way. Dark Star Orchestra (DSO) had no plans of stopping in Upstate NY on their way to the Jubilee in Ohio until a previous gig at Mighty High Mountain Festival was cancelled and they chose to come shake their bones with us at Waterstreet Music Hall on May 19th.

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    DSO shows are always built upon the extensive Grateful Dead catalog – the band has a knack for hand picking all the right shows and I’ve yet to be disappointed with any of their shows, in 10 years of seeing them play out the masterful sounds of what so many of us hold dear to our hearts, a lifestyle formed around the music of the Dead. It only took a few songs into the show for me to realize they had chosen a show from 1979 – once the notes of “Jack A Roe” hit my ears I knew with certainty that it was 2/7/1979 – the setlist immediately played out in my head and I envisioned the night ahead was going to be a good one.

    Shows like this are far and few between for me these days but this night was one for the scrapbooks for sure. Friends and co-workers were in every corner of the music hall side of the venue and the band was putting down some heavy tunes. The energy was flowing and the band looked like they were enjoying playing for us as much as we loved having them play. By the time
    Peggy-O” came on, it was time to put down the pen and paper and get out on the dance floor with the others.

    Original Grateful Dead Show Setlist:

    2/7/79 (Wed) University of Southern Illinois – SIU Arena – Carbondale, IL
    Set 1: Don’t Ease Me In, Mama Tried > Mexicali Blues, Jack A Roe, Looks Like Rain, They Love Each Other, Minglewood Blues, Stagger Lee, Cassidy, Peggy-O, Music Never Stopped
    Set 2: Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Dancing In The Streets > Drums > Black Peter > I Need A Miracle > Bertha > Good Lovin’
    Encore: U.S. Blues

  • Photo Review: John Brown’s Body at Water Street Music Hall in Rochester

    John Brown’s Body pretty much packed Water Street Music Hall with reggae fans for The Big Upstate Reggae Fest. They shared the stage with Dub Trio, Nevergreen, Among Criminals and Axis Armada. John Brown’s Body just released their new album Kings and Queens, highly recommend for fans of JBB.

    The rest of the acts put on equally impressive shows, with a crowd that was definitely into the music and generated energy on both sides of Water Street Music Hall, making for a magical evening. The upbeat vibes of reggae kept everyone going all night and JBB capped off the night with an encore of “33 Revolutions”. Overall, Big Upstate Reggae Fest and the entire lineup did not disappoint,; here’s looking forward to the next one!

  • The Manhattan Project release Atomic Bomb Party vol. 3

    The Manhattan Project, one of the northeast’s newest powerhouses, came on to the scene in 2010 and is further making a name for itself with the release of Atomic Bomb Party vol. 3.

    The album’s opening track, “Endless Nights,” builds from the start into an all out barrage of sonic output layered with tasteful precision. Deep tonal exploration collides with danceable grooves for a menacing yet satisfying start to the party. Police sirens scream out in the background as Shawn Drogan’s drums continue to build the track for one last explosion of sound. The synth-heavy “Full Bounce” eases its way in with Charlie Lindner at the helm before the beats hit. Enter a layer of dub bass that tactfully wobbles in the background and the track is in full swing with a plethora of hihat chops. The breakdown is soothing and reflects a great contrast and range in the duo’s highs and lows. Beautiful vocals come and go taking the mind with them and returning it to the track just in time for the beat. “Bitcrusher” welcomes powerful vocals, a couple of sizable builds and captivating melodies for a sonic ride that may be the album’s shortest track in length, but also may be its strongest in regards to fan appeal.

    What starts out as light percussion and spacey synth builds oh so slowly with a focus on effects, before the bass enters the picture and the listeners fins themselves in the full swing of “Hiroshima.” The combination of middle eastern and Asian influences is evident and reflects a well-round arsenal. The EP concludes with “Aftermath,” a piece that begins with an almost apocalyptic buzz, chirping birds and the eventual warning of an “emergency.” Heavy bass drops and the composition takes off with soaring highs, clashing with deep lows in the albums’ ultimate build and release. The Manhattan Project’s overall output far exceeds that of a typical duo, though nothing about this duo or their music is typical. They are the past in their utilization of worldly influences. They are the present in their tasteful innovation. Atomic Bomb Party vol. 3 offers listeners a fresh perspective on a constantly developing music.

    J-man’s Conversation With Shawn Drogan(Drums):

    J-man: What are your thoughts on the new album?

    Shawn: We’re really excited about this one for a couple reasons; It’s very different than the previous two EP’s. Not only are the BPM’s of each song slower than the last, we explore different rhythms and feels on this one. There’s still a lot of variety like the last and it still sounds like us, but I think people will hear some evolution in the music. Another reason, is that this was an important one to get right and I think we did it! It’s been two years since we’ve released a studio album and we felt like we had to take it up a level this time around. A lot of the music came together fairly quickly in the weeks going into the studio. We only had a certain amount of time to write songs we felt good about and I feel we ended up producing some of our best stuff to date.

    J-man: What is your thought of the direction of “mainstream” electronic music and where do you see TMP in relation to a lot of the mainstream music?

    Shawn: I think music in general is in a great place! Popular music is popular for a reason. Our music definitely hits on certain levels of mainstream, but also offers something more for people that want something deeper.

    J-man: Can you talk about why it is you gentleman opt out of utilizing laptops in your live performances?

    Shawn: We both come from a very instrumental background and wanted to utilize that element mainly when we started, but take it somewhere new. We never really planned it out that way, but as we started to develop our sound, we didn’t feel a need for laptops to perform. Now I guess it kind of sets us apart in a way.

    J-man: What does TMP have coming up this spring/summer that you guys are most exited about?

    Shawn: We’ll be hitting a lot of new cities in the next few months which is always fun, and we’ll be announcing some more festivals very soon.

    The Manhattan Project’s website: www.themanhattanprojectlive.com

  • Dark Star Orchestra adds Buffalo and Rochester to Spring Tour East 2013

    If you were one of many Upstate New Yorkers’ who were bummed to learn that Dark Star Orchestra was not coming closer to Rochester or Buffalo on their way to Thornville, Ohio for the Jubilee on their Spring Tour East 2013 then cry no more my friends! With the cancellation of Mighty High Mountain Festival, the band has added shows and they’re commin’ to town.

    Dark Star Orchestra has added May 18th at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo, NY. Admission is $25, All Ages (Under 16 admitted with parent or guardian). Show starts at 9pm and you can purchase your tickets online Here via DSOtix.

    May 19th at Rochester’s Water Street Music Hall the show starts at 8pm, All Ages! Admission is $24 and you can pick up your advance purchase tickets via DSOtix Here or through the venue website Here.

    For more information on DSO’s Spring Tour East 2013 check out DSO Online.

  • NYS Music’s 4/20 Show Roundup

    April 20th has evolved into a counterculture holiday, with ties to Deadheads and hippies and just about every person you probably know or will know. Music venues all over Upstate New York are using this as another reason to see live music! Here is our compiled list of 4/20 shows around the state.

    Lower Hudson

    Bethel Woods -Felice Brothers with Driftwood

    4/20 showsBinghamton

    Fitzie’s – Mantraverse, Inner Mission, The Benjamin Raubinsons, Hung Like Horses, The Quantum, Amber Martin

    Buffalo

    Nietzsche’s – Family FUNKtion and the Sitar Jams, The Heavy Pets

    Town Ballroom– Hellzapoppin

    The Tralf – The Maniacs

    U of B – Aqueous, Haewa, The Assortment of Crayons

    Canandaigua

    V Pub – 34 Feet Deep, In The Box, Fire Wheel

    Oneida

    The Madison House – Project Weather Machine

    Rochester

    Water Street Music Hall -The Manhattan Project

    Montage Music Hall – Groove Fest

    Lovin’Cup – 4/20 Bash

    Featuring: Hollands, Extended Family, The Filthy McNastys and The Buddhahood

    Syracuse

    Tipperary Square – Hot Day at the Zoo, Tim Herron Corp, and more

    Saranac Lake

    Waterhole – Cabinet w/ The Blind Owl Band

    Utica

    The Uptown Theatre– Childhoods’ End

    Downstate

    Port Chester – The Capitol Theatre– Furthur

    Burlington, VT

    Higher Ground Ballroom – Kung Fu, Twiddle

    Nectars – Touch Pants, Jon Fishman

  • John Brown’s Body Spring Tour 2013

    John Brown’s Body kicks off their Spring Tour this Thursday in support of Kings And Queens, which is set to be released on April 16, 2013. This tour will bring them to the the Upstate region twice with appearances in Rochester and Buffalo, N.Y. The band is excited to be headlining the Sugarloaf Mountain’s 25th Annual Reggae Festival in Maine this Saturday, April 13th with special guest Mighty Mystic.

    JBB

    The band will play Water Street Music Hall on April 26th for the JBB Presents: Big Upstate Reggae Festival also featuring, Dub Trio, Nevergreen, Among Criminals, and Axis Armada. Admission is $14 advance/$20 dos, Ages 21+. Doors open at 8:00pm and the shows starts at 9:00pm. You can get your tickets online here or at the venue box office.

    Their second Upstate appearance is at the Tralf Music Hall in Buffalo, N.Y. with special guests TBA. Admission is $14 advance/$16 dos, Ages:21+. Doors open at 7:00p.m and show starts at 8:00p.m. Get your tickets online at Ticketmaster or by calling the venue at 716-852-2860

    This week, reggae-rock music blog The Pier features John Brown’s Body’s brand-spankin’ new track “Dust Bowl” as their MP3 Leak of the Week! Head over to their website to get your first ever listen of “Dust Bowl”.

    You can pre-order your copy of  Kings And Queens  over at Easy Star Records, with bundling options available. All pre-orders will receive an MP3 download of the album along with your CD or Vinyl on April 16.

  • Turkuaz and Giant Panda, Water Street Music Hall, Rochester, March 29th

    On Friday, March 29th, Turkuaz and Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad jump-started the weekend playing at The Water Street Music Hall in Rochester. While the doors were said to open at 8 with a prompt show starting at 9, we found ourselves still waiting in a long stagnant line at 945. By the time it struck 10 an explosion of sound echoed through the venue as Turkuaz kicked off the night with “Chatte Lunatic”, a song from their new album Zerbert. The crowd danced their way inside and those there for Giant Panda were pleasantly surprised by an upbeat crowd-moving funk band with colorful jumpsuits and a boisterous sound.

    water street music hallI have only been afforded the opportunity to see Turkuaz twice before, once at Strangecreek in a late night cabin and once at Red Square in Albany, so seeing them in a venue this size did them much justice. The crowd exploded as guitarist Craig Brodhead went into an impressive jiving guitar solo during “Lookin’ Good Feelin’ Tough” which was equally matched by Michelangelo Carubba with a loud Bonham-strong drum solo.

    The set included some noteworthy covers such as Joe Crocker’s “Feelin’ Alright” sang by saxophonist Josh Schwartz whose soulful voice and killer moves encouraged many of the audience members to sing along, and “Trampled Underfoot” by Led Zepplin which was lead by vocalist Geneva Williams whose golden locks and bright yellow jumpsuit created a picturesque vision of soulful 70’s and keyboardist Stephen Malinowski wrapped it up and brought it home with an equally epic solo.

    The crowd applauded as Giant Panda took the stage, playing for the last time with keyboardist Aaron Lipp in their hometown. The energy shifted from upright funk to a low smooth reggae with a hard undertone and an untouchable beat. There was an emotional feel to the night as Giant Panda played crowd favorites such as “Missing You More”, “Undermove” and “Seasons Change”. Mixes of trance jam and low tempo groove carried the night away and the audience was dancing alongside of them every step of the way.

    As the band came back from the encore, guitarist James Searl referenced Aaron Lipp’s departure and they touched back to their acoustic routes and played a song from their newest album Country. Switching back, Giant Panda threw down another long set carrying the crowd into a sea of smooth beats and funky bass lines and ended the night of truly dance worthy music.

  • Easter Weekend Funk-Warriors: Turkuaz

    Brooklyn based Turkuaz has a funk-filled weekend coming up and will be on the scene at both shows. The band started in Boston in 2008 as a side project of Dave Brandwein (guitar/vocals) and Taylor Shell (bass). They spent about eight months in the Boston area before migrating as a whole to NYC. Their self-described “funk army” approach is well chosen, as the ten-piece could certainly take over several small countries with their explosive all-encompassing funk spectacle brand of performing.

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    First up is a show Friday, March 29th at The Water Street Music Hall with one of Rochester New York’s finest; Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad. Panda has collected quite the following for their jammed out form of roots reggae and will be in full throw down mode with this show being the last with long time keys-master Aaron Lipp.

    Next the Turkuaz funk battalion moves north to jam mecca Nectar’s in Burlington Vermont to play with Buffalo, New York’s finest genre-shifting musical experience, Aqueous. Aqueous has been touring heavy this year in support of their new album Willy is 40 and gathering their own legion of “AQuaintances”.

    hopes to see lots of smiling faces and dancing feet at these shows, and to let you in on a secret a little bird told us – the entire band will be decked out in their finest colored jumpsuits for the Rochester show so feel free to join the platoon and suit-up for your night of funk boot camp.