NYS Music 20​14

Author: Jimmy Chambers

  • Super 400 Shreds Putnam Den

    Putnam Den was the site of one of the hottest shows that is going to be seen anywhere, at anytime on Friday, October 3 with Super 400. The bar was packed, first with patrons surrounded around the TVs watching the baseball playoffs but when Suitable Groove took this stage the bar became sparse and the stage area began to fill up to get a better look at opening act of the evening.

    Opening up with the hoppy dance track “Up to the Front”, which grabbed everyone’s attention with an energy matched by few. The solos where abounding as each member added their own uniqueness to the bands sound. The drummer, Ian Henderson, did not just hold the songs together with his rhythmic beats, he also sang lead vocals, a complicated task. Bassist Eric Johnson helped in this as well as he laid down beats in which keyboardist Chadd Portwine, who was filled with energy, danced around getting the crowd even more engaged then they already were. The guitar playing of Wayne Chaet, however, was a very high energy groove, a Suitable Groove if you will. They also had the ability to bring it back down to the songs original composition. This was the perfect opening act for what was to come next with Super 400 ready to take the stage.

    The energetic “Be My Friend” opened up Super 400‘s set and had the crowd eating out of their hands from the onset and there was no turning back. This and many of their songs featured shredding guitar solos from Kenny Hohman, but unlike many bands where guitars solos are the feature of the band, this was not the deal with Super 400. They focused more on the songs, the lyrics and the melodies which complemented the songs to perfection. Lori Friday added a higher pitch and slower vocal that matched Hohman’s more raspy southern rock feel. Friday however was not just a backing vocalist by any stretch of the imaginations, taking leads on many tracks that still wasn’t her highlighted skill. She laid down sick bass solos and had the crowd in awe. She was tearing it up to the point drummer Joe Daly and her were almost dueling, which just brought the energy lever higher. The show was amazing in every aspect.

    Playing covers of the Beatles “Don’t Let me Down,” to Carole King’s “I Feel the Earth Move Under My Feet,” and new renditions of standards that have been heard hundreds of times, but with Super 400 playing them it seemed as if it was the first time they were ever heard. Everyone in attendance was blown away, and although it was a free show, people said they would have had no problem paying to see this spectacle, a statement to just how fantastic the night was.

  • Dopapod Kick Fall Tour off at Putnam Den

    On this unseasonably warm Saturday night Sept. 27, people flooded into Putnam Den to see and hear some of the best live music around with Consider The Source and Dopapod. The vibe was chill, most people waiting for the bands to come on were talking about the music. This was a good sign of what was in store. There was a wide array of ages 18 and up (in some cases way up) but regardless of what age, everyone was there to get down and have fun.

    Consider the Source, a power trio out of New York City opened to a packed room, which became more and more engulfed as the seconds went on. Starting with a slow melodic piece that was reminiscent of Pink Floyd; a treat to many in attendance and a good sign of what the evening had in store. The lead Guitarist, Gabrielle Marin, played a double neck guitar possessing many different effects; one emulating a horn which was out of this world. Fans were looking around to see where the horn layer was, which there wasn’t, it was just on the guitar, this was brilliant as well as impressive. The drums played by John Olsen, laid down a sweet groove to jam over, which usually the drum and bass do together. Which they did do to a point  but the bass player, John Ferrara, had many solos of his own. Showing that this band was, well, a band. There is no real way to describe the sound of Consider The Source but ‘Thrash Jam’ could fit. They did just that, holding the audience’s attention while getting them ready for Dopapod.

    Dopapod opened with “Indian Girls”, a very danceable groove layered by heavy beats provided by two percussionists and the bass. This one kept the energy that CTS left going, and even raising the bar. It was on and the party was just about to get into full swing. Dopapod took their groove to another level with “Brooklyn Bridge”, and by adding in vocals, this made their jams actual songs to sing along too, and many people did. Smiles were abounding as people sang along and a small sense of family was felt throughout the crowd. This showed they were not a one trick pony who could come out and lay down heavy beats and just move on to the next heavy track, which so many bands tend to.

    The compositions of Dopapod were very complex. All four members of the band, including Adrian Tramontano from Kung Fu as a guest percussionist, were very intricate parts of these songs and everyone stayed tightly together, not losing a beat for a second. It may have seemed as if they were all over the place, but with a careful ear you could tell they were 100% on the same page. This was sheer brilliance. This led into a dark trance like groove keeping their overall sound, their feel, which isn’t very easy to do when shifting so drastically. With Dopapod’s heavy build ups, there was only one place for them to go: the peak. When they reached this peak it was second to very few. The lights went up, the crowd roared, and the payoff was well worth the wait. Eli Winderman’s keys and Rob Compa’s guitar took fans to another world, the world which is known as Dopapod.

  • Camp Creek: Where Old Memories Come to Life And New Ones Are Made

    The rain slowly fell, as did expectations of  decent weather for another festival weekend at Camp Creek. The bikers who occupy the Indian Lookout Country Club were efficient in their car searches as well as very polite . They were so cordial in fact that when dropping a bag of Cheetos out of a campers car, they gave it back to them, much to the chagrin of the biker who had Chester the Cheetah tattooed on his arms. This vibe was implanted into the overall feeling once campers got inside as well. The mist and drizzle continued, there weren’t any down pours – just enough rain to be a bother. Everyone was helping everyone else get their gear setup, an overly friendly gesture not always seen at festivals, if ever.

    The Country Club was extraordinary but this was not your grandparent’s country club – there are no golf courses or swimming pools or croquet court. No, this is a retreat for bikers and a beautiful one at that. Over looking a magnificent array of mountains as far as the eye could see with lakes and a water fountain, this place just seemed like home. Although the weather was a slight detriment there was this calming vibe covering the entire venue so there were little if any worries.

    Casey Bloom, a native of Canandaigua, NY, opened the festival up with an acoustic set focusing on many Grateful Dead, Tom Petty and Pink Floyd covers such as “Lady with a Fan,” “Wildflowers” and “Fearless”. This was a fantastic way to kick off the festival as people began to fill up the hill stage and sang along to all their favorites. The table was set for a brilliant weekend of music. As the evening progressed so did the music and positive energy. The staff was delightful as they made the campers comfort their number one priority. Having staff constantly checking on the bathrooms to ensure cleanliness, is a lesson other festivals should learn from. As well as helping disabled festival goers with their wheelchairs or offering to lend a hand if you were carrying too much, their courtesy was above and beyond any call of duty.

    The Marks Brothers, led by Max Creek  keyboardist Marc Mercier, had  fans swarming at the Hill Stage to get a glimpse. Featuring Mark Paradis on guitar, Brian Konopka behind the drum-kit and Dave Stoltz slapping the bass. These four put on a very rocking set putting a different spin on some standards that Marc does while playing with Creek. The once grassy area in front of the stage had now become a muddy disaster but no one was bothered by this, in fact the longer the set went on the more the tent filled and created more mud. The best thing about this band was they played songs that Creek plays but they played them a lot heavier it wasn’t just Marc playing the same songs the same way with different guys, different guys means a different sound and that’s what the Marks Brothers delivered.

    The spirit of  ’70s southern rock lives on through many bands in the music scene today, however very few emulate it as Eastbound Jesus does. EBJ is a band hailing from Greenwich, NY which embodies everything there is about the that era of music. Weird? Maybe. Does it matter? No. This band rocked hard. Adam Brockway, the bands centerpiece controlled the crowd with his movements and twangy vocal styling. Brockway demands the crowd’s attention and he receives it. Although there are many acoustic bands with similar styles, the electric guitar playing of Dylan Robinson separates EBJ from all the rest. The smooth modern sound over the classic rock backing is a sound untouched by very few if any bands out there today. It catches the ear of not only jam band fans, but that of bluegrass and country as to not pigeon-hole their fan base. The sky is the limit for EBJ, and they will reach it very soon.

    After EBJ the floor was completely muddy but that didn’t stop anyone from coming to see the main act Friday night. Beau Sasser, Ed Mann, Bill Carbone and Scott Murawski packed the tent over capacity and out into the surrounding area. This all-star lineup was nothing less than spectacular. Sasser has a knack for the keys possessed by no one. He owned the crowd from the very start with his nonchalant confidence as he smoked his cigarette and talked to the sound guy, never missing a beat. He transmitted very spacey sounds as the rest of the group severed as a backdrop. Murakswi shared some amazing solos, Sasser was right with him, this was his show, and everyone was very ecstatic about the energy. As the night wound down the bikers kept watch over everything making sure no one got out of hand and that everyone was safe. That was the key to the whole festival, safety.

    Saturday morning showed some promise both as far as the weather went and the music, the day started perfectly. Although the sky was overcast the sun was trying to emerge itself through covering clouds. Hot Acoustics opened the morning up with special guests John Rider and Jamerreal Stanley, for a well awaited sit-in by the remaining members of Max Creek . The set featured four people having a good time all had smiles on their faces and the music was spot on. To start a Saturday off this was the right way, as the afternoon rolled on and the sun broke through Matt Zeieer and crew did their things much to the liking of the crowd, but it wasn’t until Ryan Montebleu took that stage that the crowd really got into the vibe. Playing sing along songs, the most catchy was “Eggs” a fun little song about how he likes his eggs. The crowd was inside and outside of the ten and no on he was having a bad time Playing “Sergent peppers Lonely Hearts Club” band was a great addition to the set everyone knew it and everyone loved it. Ryan Montebleu was defiantly an important act on the schedule.

    When Max Creek took the stage around 7p.m. the place was ready to get down and so was Creek. Camp Creek is like the Superbowl to Creek, they hold it out all year just for this set, and by hearing it you can tell this was true, “Jones” opened the show and from the first note everyone was dancing, smiling hugging, family. The grooves continued and the crowd continued to eat it up. It wasn’t until “drums>space>drums” that things really hit their peak. With avant-garde sounds reminiscent, almost emulating  Pink Floyd, the crowd was entranced, just waiting in awe for what was to come next. There was no telling, even in the 18 plus minute “Who do You love” the aura was still there and it finally dropped into the beautiful “Emerald Eyes”. Everyone was either smiling, crying or screaming. This is what Creek is about no matter what emotion, they are bound to channel at least one every time. And, this time was no exception. “Down with the Jungle” a song wich featured Jammerel Stanley on main vocals was completely off the charts. It showed that after all these years Creek still has the power of diversity. In the middle of the song Jammerall rapped, a rap at Camp creek, with Max Creek, by a Max Creek member.; Awesome.

    Long time Creek collaborator Frank Messina came up and delivered an amazing poem about America, although it was a little hard to follow at the time, he always brought it back to “the Soul of America” –   it was phenomenal. “Twist and Shout” was the next rocking number to get everyone back in the mood before they were getting ready to wrap up their five-plus hour show. This show was as close to perfect that can be achieved.

    There is no cure for the Sunday festival blues like a little early morning smooth jazz. Jammerall, Stanely and the Drummers for Peace and Equality delivered just that. With a nice mellow drum beat under the slow smooth trumpet set the mood right, nothing to fast nothing to crazy, just something to slowly get your groove back after a long weekend. These guys were booked perfectly as a rocking afternoon was soon to take place.

    Spitune, playing on the hill stage to a mediocre crowd, was the key to Sunday as a lot of campers packed it up and left that morning, but that wasn’t going to stop the party from continuing. Opening the set with a cover of the band who is hosting the festival has to take a lot of courage and SpiTune did just that. Starting their set with the creek classic “Something is Forming” and putting their own twist on it was a very nice surprise that left the crowd in bewilderment. When Creek plays the song it changes it up but basically in the same structure, SpiTune changed-up some of the vocal arrangements to make it feel more original.

    Flipper Dave was ready to party when they took the stage. Playing gongs that were not only jammy, but also personal, it was a nice change of pace, Scott Murawski got brought up several times and helped the boys out that was not needed but it was fun to see these friends play together, this family play together, That was the presence of the whole weekend that this was juts one big family, bands included and they were going to play that they wanted to when they want to, much to the delight of the other bands.This is what a true festival should be like. This has been lost in the festival scene when promoters book bands that have no connection to each other. As soon as you can feel the  disconnection from the bands it takes away from the festival as a whole, Camp Creek did it their way, the right way.

    Fungus Amungus was the last hill stage act. They tore it down. With a horn section like no other and yet another appearance by, Scott Murasaki. Muraswki sat in for two songs then the best part of the set occurred when the band play homage to some of the greatest groups of the seventies, Pink Floyd and Zeppelin playing Zeppelin “The Ocean” and “Moby Dick” followed Floyd’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”.

    The final act of the festival, which should’ve been dubbed Max Creek and friends was up on the main stage next. This was a special treat. This is what the festival was all about: Family. Having most of the guys who were playing sit in with them was something special, from  festival opener CaseyBloom, To Keyboardist, Beaus Sasser to Murawski’s grandson, this was a very special set. It was more fun than anything and that’s what it’s all about. When Max Creek decided to put this festival on this year they said they wanted to have a party like it used to be. They succeeded, they succeeded with flying colors and this set proved it.

  • Triumph: More than a Tribute to the Disco Biscuits

    Albany’s newest place to grab a bite to eat and catch a great live show isn’t really that new at all. Parish Public House, formerly Red Square, has completely redone the whole establishment to make it a quaint southern style restaurant serving such Louisiana favorites as Boudin Balls, Alligator Bites, and of course the Po Boy. Don’t let the charming decor fool you though, the Parish still has a stage and some of the best live music around. Saturday night was no exception, as Squid Parade and Triumph: A Tribute to the Disco Biscuits, had the place jumping.

    Squid Parade took the stage first with their eccentric style of the jamtronica sound. Zak Westbrooks guitar playing was spot on, soaring to heights only a special lot of musicians can reach. Straight away the Squids had the place vibing out to their fast paced wall sweating groove and this remained the aura throughout their set.

    Being a tribute band comes with a certain stigma attached to it. Why don’t they just write their own music if they’re so good? Why wouldn’t they want to have their own identity? These questions are fair and reasonable, however in the case of Triumph these stigmas do not ring true. Featuring members of B.A Dario and Resident Frequency, original bands with their own songs, but once in awhile, this actually only being their third show as Triumph, they like to have fun and play tribute to one of the hottest bands around: The Disco Biscuits.

    Not only did they play the music of the band, they were playing tribute to, they composed their jamming around the Biscuits as well. With dark and dirty beats from drummer/vocalist Brad Greene, taking the audience through a journey that seemingly was Bisco. At times having to look up on stage and realize it was Bryce Hughes on guitar, and not Jon Gutwillig. During the “Therapy” jam, many teases were thrown in, mostly by the keys of Aaron Nackoul and bassist John Kelly riffing on “Confrontation”, only to bring the jam into “Orchestra Theme”. This was impressive to say the least and the party was just getting started as the band told everyone they would be back for a second set. This set was indeed a tribute to Biscuits style of set writing. “Astronaut” was the foundation for the whole set, being thrown in with a plethora of other songs only to end the set as it began with “Astronaut.”

    When you hear a tribute band is coming to town, and if you like the band they’re playing homage too, don’t just shrug it off and assume its going to be gaudy or hokey, because in the case of Triumph, you would’ve been disappointed if it was missed.

    Setlist:

    Set 1: Plan B>Helicopters>Spacebirdmatingcall, Therapy>Orchestra Theme>Therapy
    Set 2: Astronaut>Cyclone>I-man, Bombs, Mr Don>Astronaut
    E: M.E.M.P.H.I.S

  • Camp Creek: A Party Like it Used to Be

    Camp Creek makes its long awaited return to its home base in Mariaville, New York, less than 20 miles outside of Albany, at the Indian Lookout Country Club. After taking a few years off the band comes back for a party like it used to be. This means home grown music, bands you will not see from festival to festival, just friends of the band as well as some local acts. This party is taking place Friday, August 22nd through Sunday the 24th .

    The first act Casey Bloom, a natural born guitarist, who as a child said he wanted to grow up to be Eric Clapton, will start at 3:00. Midnight Chrome Muffins, a musical fusion of funk reggae and soul will hit the hill stage right after at 5:00,leaving the door open for the Marks Brothers, a band comprised of Max Creek‘s Marc Mercier on keyboards and vocals, Mark Paradis from his namesakes band on guitar and vocals, Scott Guberman from Rev Tor Band on Hammond B3, along with Dave Stoltz, formerly of Dickey Betts and Great has Southern on bass and Brian “Duke” Konopka, formerly from S.L.A.P. and The Mark Paradis Band on drums. This all-star line up sets the table nicely for Eastbound Jesus, who take the stage at 7:00. This is going to be a party in itself, bringing Jam-grass and Americana together for an amazing sound and even better time.

    When combining a keyboard extraordinaire such as Beau Sasser, percussionist and long time Frank Zappa collaborator, Ed Mann, along with Max Creek’s drummer Bill Carbone and Guitarist Scott Muraskwi, the possibilities are endless; a foursome not to be missed. These acts will all be on the more intimate hill stage to get the closer personal feel tot the acts.

    Saturday morning at 11, the festivities kick off with Max Creek Percussionist Jamemurrell Stanley and Creek Bassist John Rider for their take on some hot acoustic styling early in the day. Also performing is Matt Ziener, an exceptional keyboardist, known for his time with Dickey Betts. After four years of touring with Betts, Matt was ready to go back on his own and start making his own music. This will be brought to light as the first main stage gig at 12:30 Saturday afternoon.

    Jamband scene mainstay Ryan Montbleau will be performing his playful sound to the Hill Stage at 2pm, keeping everyone in good spirits. The Midnight Suns, who will be performing on the main stage at 3:30, live by the motto “Have fun, play good music and meet great people”. That motif is what every band should live up to and the perfect entity to have at this year’s Camp Creek. The ten piece Funky Dawgz Brass Band is the type of band that if someone in the audience isn’t having a good time, they don’t know what a good time is. The funksters bring it from every direction and bring it all over the Northeast. Blowing the crowd away at the recent Gathering of the Vibes Festival is just one of the many attributes these guys have on their resume.

    Saturday evening, it will be time for the men of the hour, and the weekend, Max Creek. The guys who have been playing for over forty years under the same name will be playing a set that will go over five hours. This is their set of the year, and they pride themselves on it. If there is a Creek number you want to hear, chances  are you will be hearing it on the main stage starting at 7:00 pm. Just in case that wasn’t enough, the late night action continues on the hill stage with Kind Buds. Bud and Budd Johnson, inspired by Jerry Garcia, play a mix of classic covers to enlightening originals, being which is the perfect way to end Day 2 of Camp Creek.

    Day 3 is going to musically start out in a serendipitous way as Jamemurrell Stanley & Drummers of Peace & Equality take the early risers on a musical trip of the African Culture. This group features drummers Bill Carbone and Kabisco Kafscba, men of many talents. Combined with other drummers TBD, will be an experiment with different fusions of sound and making a spectacle not to be missed.

    Spi Tune takes the hill stage next, and describe themselves as over aged children playing rock ‘n’ roll music. Being that its is 11 am on a Sunday morning, and Spi Tune seems to be like a band that would best be seen at 11 pm. Not to say the fans won’t have a good time, because Spi Tunes always delivers a good dose of fun, no matter what time the clock says.

    At 12:30 the main stage opens with Flipper Dave, a great delight for Connecticut natives. Flipper Dave’s last release Something Simple, was released back in 2002. Since then, band members have been focusing on other aspects their lives. It is a real treat to see them get back together for this one of a kind performance. There could not be a better stage for this reunion to happen then at Camp Creek.

    Fungus Amungus out of Providence, Rhode Island, focus on a jazz core with smooth saxophone , bouncy keys and a shredding guitar. These guys will bring the Hill Stage to a close for the weekend. Max Creek return to the Main Stage at 3:30 to play another nearly four hour set.

    The music stops at approximately 7:00 with the camp ground to be cleared out by 8.This is going to be fun. More like a family reunion than like a rock festival, may seem kind of weird. But if you stop and think about it for a minute, isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?

    Gates open at 9am on Friday and the music ends around 7pm on Sunday, with the campgrounds cleared at 8pm. See you all at Camp Creek!

  • Triumph to Invoke The Disco Biscuits at The Parish Public House

    This coming Friday, August 15, will be a pretty heady evening at the newly revamped Parish Public House in downtown Albany. People will come from all over to see what has changed at the historic venue once know as Red Square. Last weekend in Washington, DC and at the Gathering of the Vibes, the Disco Biscuits put on some of their most historic shows, playing with Grateful Dead drummers, Billy Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart. This was a rare appearance for all involved, as the rhythm devils, Hart and Kreutzmann have not played together since 2009, and the Disco Biscuits have played sporadically over the last few years, leaving songs that fans love to fall into a “Great Abyss”. This is where Triumph: a Tribute to the Disco Biscuits comes in.

    Forming out of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, members of B.A Dario and Resident Frequency have come together to bring these adored songs out of obscurity. They will be bringing their take on these songs to Parish Public House 8 pm on Friday, August 15th, with special guests, the very experimental and abstract Squid Parade. This is a night any fan of transfusion should not miss. Take a listen for yourself below to these great live versions of both bands.

    Tickets for the show are $10 the door.

    Triumph on Archive.org

    Squid Parade

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4IyHg2IT5M

  • Seth Yacovone Brings his Southern Style from the North to Putnam Den

    The Putnam Den has been a staple in the Upstate music community for quite some time and is known for bringing acts spanning many genres. This has not changed, in fact, it’s about the only thing that has stayed familiar. The walls have all been painted a dark red, sending a warming vibe throughout the club. The bras that once hung from above the bar are gone. Tables are placed methodically around the soundboard, leaving plenty of room for people to shake their stuff in front of the stage, which is now graced with a red velvet curtain. These changes, along with many made to the outdoor patio (such as ping-pong and baggo), have made The Putnam Den an even more desirable place to have a great time and see live music. Saturday night exemplified this tremendously. With a packed patio and even more patrons inside to see The Seth Yacovone Band, all of the ingredients for a fantastic night were in order.

    The Seth Yacovone Band, who hails from Burlington, Vermont with a sound coming from below the Mason-Dixon line, had the crowd hooked right away. “Tonight the Night”, a Neil Young song, was pure blue-blooded American rocking magic, with wailing guitar solos that set the mood for the entire night. Stellar musicianship was shown by the whole band. Steve Hadeka was on the kit while adding some vocals and Alex Budney slapped the bass, making a sound that was untouchable by many three-piece acts. “Botulism” was a high point of the set. Musically it held its own with the rest, but listening to the lyrics, which addressed nasty mayonnaise and other things that spurred the title, was very funny. If you didn’t listen close enough, the song was just another groovy danceable number. Closing the set out with Bob Dylan’s “Isis” was a treat. The band took the slow Dylan tune and sped it up a bit, yet didn’t stray too far from the feel of the original, a talent many bands do not possess.

    The second half of music opened with the bass-heavy, fast-paced “Storage Space”, a fantastic way to start the set, attracting people walking the streets of Saratoga to The Putnam Den. This vibe continued as the club became more and more packed of people who were digging the sound coming from the Vermont trio. “Gnashing Golgotha Footstomp Shindig Blues” was intense. Channeling the late Frank Zappa on this tune was completely unexpected as the rest of the night offered nothing similar. The slow start with a funky bass groove and drum beat kept the cool vibe going while Seth sang over it in a different tone than the crowd had grown accustomed to. As the solo emerged, the crowd was in awe. Shredding does not even begin to describe how hard and fast Seth was playing. It was as if he was on another sphere.  Slowly bringing it down enough to not lose the groove was just pure brilliance and, without a doubt, the high point of the show. Closing with “What Have I Done Wrong”, a song where the title pretty much sums it up, is about a man wondering what he did wrong and asking his lady with little or no response. Showing the more bluesy side of the band as well as some pure emotion was a great way to end the show. Not a single person was not screaming for an encore; the band gracefully obliged by playing “Little Richard Will Rise Again”, a song that sounds exactly how you’d picture it with a title like that. The band picked a fantastic way to end the show and was tops from the first note to the last.

  • Hearing Aide: Pixies ‘Indie Cindy’

    Imagine, if you will, Phish took a twenty year plus studio hiatus during which time hundreds of bands tried, for a lack of a better term, to emulate their sound. After this long pause from recording and losing one of its founding members, lets say bassist Mike Gordon, they came out with a record named “Jam Pam”. Skepticism would hardly describe the reception the album may receive. It would almost seem they were trying to prove their relevance; that they were still the kings of the “Jamband” world. This scenario is exactly what occurred with the Pixies and their new album Indie Cindy. The pessimists were out there only to be pleasantly surprised that the Pixies were able to not only keep themselves relevant, but prove they are the kings of indie rock, the sound they pioneered.

    “What Goes Boom”, the opening track, is a perfect example of the Pixies not missing a beat with its hard-edged guitar riffs and the howling of Frank Black, only to slow things down and hear Black’s soothing voice. The chorus kicks in and Black’s voice descends into a howling, sprinkled with anger, only to be bridged with a melodic comforting sound that keeps the listener engaged, hearing all the different sounds the Pixies have made a constant in their song writing. “Greens and Blues” shows the diversity in the band’s arrangements with a more personal, slower song for anyone who feels, or has ever felt, they are fighting an uphill battle trying to win over the affection of another. The chorus goes, “I’m wasting your time, just talking to you. Maybe best you go on home. I’ll leave you alone, fade from your mind, slip into the greens and blues”. Listening to this, you can feel the longing and wanting, knowing that a one-sided love is being perused. Frank Black expresses a deeply personal journey of love and the realization that sometimes having to face the truth that love may not always be from who you want, and letting that person go, is the best for both involved. The harder, more spoken word side emerges in the next few tracks, distancing itself from the mundane indie sound while keeping their roots planted in the genre.

    They bring it back to the what made the Pixies sound the foundation of indie rock with ”Ring The Bell”.  The song begins with a high-pitched vocal over the symphonic guitar playing of Joe Santiago and the David Lovering’s drums. Bass riffs and angelic backing vocals were provided by newcomer, Paz Lenchantin, whose job replacing founding member Kim Deal was not easy. Lenchantin is an established bassist, having had stints in Zwan, Queens of the Stoneage, and the Silver Jews among many others, fitting the new Pixies lineup to a T. “Andro Queen”, lends more of an abstract feel to the record, one which was not needed, but greatly appreciated. Showing diversity at this point in their career only proves that they are back as a band and not just and old act trying to cash in on past successes. “Jaime Bravo” sends the album off on very positive note, hitting on all of the Pixies strong points. The lyrics leave the listener with a farewell goodbye with the chorus, “Goodbye, Goodnight”.

    Although it has been over twenty years since hitting the studio, the Pixies have found themselves at home. They’ve made an album that is not only relevant in the indie world today, but one that lets everyone know that they are back and have not lost a step. They will be bringing their live show to the States in September after a stint in Europe to promote this very important album in indie rock.

    Key Tracks: Greens and Blues, Ring the Bell, Jaime Bravo

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZcI4HFnKYM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Uqzn5x6dkg

  • Max Creek Dries The Rain at Putnam Den

    The rain fell while a cool wind chilled the air, but this didn’t stop the masses from coming out to Putnam Den to support live music. The line was out the door while fans got wet, but the excitement of seeing Max Creek surely made the rain only a slight inconvenience. Inside the fans dried off and the mingling between all the Creek Freaks began. There was talk of the StrangeCreek Campout, hope of what songs they would play, how many times they have seen them and when they started seeing ‘The Creek’. It was a real family atmosphere, one that has transcended time, and will continue for years to come.

    Opening the evening were local favorites High Peaks Band, who on Thursday were playing as The High Peaks Trio. These guys have been playing Saratoga bars for a while and opening for many larger bands, so it is only a matter of time before these guys will be taking the main stage and having bigger name acts open for them. They mix it up every time they play and always have fun while doing so. Closing the set with the Phishy number “Within Reason,” got the Creek Freaks ready for a night of timeless entertainment.

    The Creek barrage wouldn’t start quite yet, however, as Black Mountain Symphony from Albany, brought their unique sound to The Putnam Den. People who were pacing around waiting for the headliners were drawn to the stage as this bombardment of sound thrown at them. Led by the fast-paced violin playing of Annie Campo, the other sounds complemented not only the violin, but the other instruments, making the sound as one. It was truly amazing and left a positive feeling on stage as Creek was getting ready to take the stage.

    For a band who has been around for over 40 years, one may think that a group may not be able to put on a show as they have in the past. Max Creek does not fall into that category. Having always been a band that mixed original with covers, they continued this pattern on Thursday night. Opening with the scratchy, distinguished vocals of Scott Murawski, singing the Creek standard “In Harmony”, a mayhem of movement started throughout the packed house and smiles for all. This was the Creek from old and the hundreds in attendance knew this. Bassist John Rider took lead vocals on “Gypsy Blue,” another original out of the Creek catalog, leaving long times fans of the band in great spirits! Marc Mercier, longtime keyboardist, on the Dylan classic “Tangled up in Blue” was a great treat for fans who were not familiar with many of the originals and helped them feel the groove and sing along.

    The band continuously switched vocals during songs, mixing it up, showing there was no single leader of the group; this has helped their longevity and their continued growth. Murawski’s solos though were the pinpoint of most songs and were what the crowd was waiting for, as his slow build up to a tremendous peak simply blew minds as fans jumped up when he hit the note. As Mercier and Rider left the stage, Murawski stayed on and played cowbell with drummer Bill Carbone and percussionist Jamemurrell Stanley. Not long after did Murawski leave the stage and let the percussion section do their thing. These two really rocked it playing beats from all different genres of percussion. This was a special treat as these two are the newest members of the group, but now one would know the way they so smoothly added their vibe to Max Creek. With playing like this in front of a packed house and being happy to do so, Max Creek will be around for as long as they choose to be.

    This summer, Max Creek will return to the area with Camp Creek at Indian Lookout Country Club, most recently the site of Camp Bisco. After a few year hiatus, Camp Creek comes home and will surely make waves throughout the music scene. Although no bands but the headliner has been announced yet, it is sure to be a great time. A limited number of pre-sale tickets are on sale for $80 dollars for the festival taking place from August 21-23. For more info click here.

  • Jack Johnson Owns SPAC

    The crowd at Saratoga Performing Arts Center was treated to a fantastic season opener with Jack Johnson headlining the show while Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros handled the opening duties. This was the perfect pairing for a great summertime kickoff party.  Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros conveyed their abnormal, genre bending sound to the masses which was very well received. Everyone was very into the 10+ piece band and were unable to stop themselves from dancing to the exotic fun sound.

    This set the table perfectly for the man of the hour: Jack Johnson. He too has a sound in which bends genres. Early on in his career Johnson was an acoustic surfer dude from Hawai’i who just played his guitar and recorded albums, while laying in the sun, enjoying a nice warm breeze. This, however was not the man who played SPAC on Saturday night. There was a full band, which is his steady touring band, and they jammed hard. Highlighting the evening was Johnson playing his lively “Bubble Toes” and segueing it into Buddy Holly’s classic “Not Fade Away,” a well-received surprise to any fan of any type of music. Johnson had the crowd in his hands the whole night, even as the rain began to fall.  If this show is any indication of how the rest of the SPAC summer will be, we are all in for some good times.