On February 22nd, Chicago rock-trio Future Rock will return to Red Square, bringing high energy eletronic-rock in a must-see performance.
Future Rock has made an art out of blending the techniques of new age electronic music with standard rock and roll. The use of synthesizers alongside guitar, drums and keys brings a new sound and energy to progressive-rock and electronic dance music. The band has made their presence very known throughout the country and within the festival circuit, releasing five albums and touring extensively. This will be a show you certainly will not want to miss.
Special guests are yet to be announced. For your chance to open for Future Rock at Red Square contact Zen Rose Productions.
Mister F with special guest Tweed had Red Square in Albany all warmed up during one of the coldest weeks of the year on Saturday January 25th. Tweed is a self proclaimed psychedelic blend of funk, rock and electronic – and they were just that. For an opening band there was such an immense amount of energy from the stage and within the crowd that it is certainly evident that these guys could have easily been the headliner. Their keyboard set up was extremely impressive, and Jon Tomczak eased the synth into each song organically, creating a layering of electronic among the drums, bass and guitar. Each member in the band contributed great skill and talent within every facet of each song. These boys are certainly an up and coming band to keep your eye on for the upcoming festival season, and a must see band within the jam community.
Hometown boys Mister F took the stage once again with a great energy that exuded into the crowd and had everyone moving. Each member of Mister F holds such an immense amount of talent that these boys can literally do no wrong. They showed great versatility as individuals and varied their setlist from funk to harder guitar riffs and a more rock and roll sound, to jammy and electronic pieces that truly showed their capabilities as a band. Matt Pickering and his brother Ben Pickering stay completely in sync within the rhythm on drum and bass, even when Matt takes lead vocals on many of their songs. Andrew Chamberlain tears apart intricate guitar solos as if the guitar is second nature to him and Scott Hannay blends everything together on the keys and synth. At one point during the night Hannay left the keys to pick up the guitar, only further showing the amount of talent and capability these guys have as musicians. Mister F has definitely put their work in as an up and coming band in the past few months and are now easily considered one of the best acts to see locally, or at music festivals this summer.
Setlist: Everything You Say, Vocoder> Answer the Dawg> Vocoder> Oasis> Hedgehod, Get Used To It, Busters Revenge> Eye Level> Busters Revenge, Deal Breaker, The Flu (by Lettuce), Treadmill, Jump The Shark, Oh My Dayum, Unisex Collider
The Hollow was alive with energy in the early hours of Wednesday night for Break Science with special guest Paul Basic on January 22nd. Paul Basic took the stage first with a seemingly packed house full of adoring fans.
The crowd was flooded with fans plastered in “Pretty Lights Fam” pins, hats and shirts and it was certainly evident that these artists have a significant amount of love and respect within the music scene. The moment Basic began to play it was evident why he had attracted so much hype straight out of the gate. His music fused hip hop, dub step, glitch-hop, funk, hard samples and a variety of different techniques and genres to create a unique sound that fits perfectly within the various artists that combine to make up the Pretty Lights music label. Basic played in a band with both Pretty Light’s Derek Vincent Smith and Michael Menert. Eventually the three went on their separate ways and it wasn’t until years later that they synced back up to create the music they play today. Basic played many songs off his LP Transient Horizons and put on an overall excellent performance and showed an astounding amount of talent for an up and coming DJ.
Break Science came on shortly after Paul Basic left the stage and delivered a performance with such a ridiculous amount of energy and intensity. Borahm Lee and Adam Deitch unite to make such a new and different sound with such epic complexities. The samples they utilize encompass the old school, underground Brooklyn music scene layered with a new current sound that seems almost impossible to blend so perfectly. When asked about the influences of the samples they choose and music they play, Deitch spoke about the influences his father, who is also a musician, had on his musical palette. Artists like Aretha Franklin, Earth, Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, etc. were just some of the artists that he wanted to bring into his work to introduce to his fans. He stated, “I grew up on Funk, I got into hip-hop as a teen, and right now it’s about electronic is now.” It is evident that both Lee and Deitch are both extremely passionate about the music they create, and because of that drive they are given the platform to perform with such intensity.
When asked about playing New York, which is both Lee and Deitch’s home state, they both spoke so highly Albany and the devotion all of their fans have for the music they create. Both artists were surprised that even with the freezing cold weather of upstate, the turnout was phenomenal and the energy was at a high. Due to the layout of the Hollow this was also a much more intimate experience for both the fans and the artists. It is obvious that both Break Science and Paul Basic have a lot of love in the Albany music scene and they will be looking forward to their return.
Normal Instruments teamed up with Albany locals Leila Harrison and Jon Santolla for a spectacular show at the Hollow on January 11th. DJ Leila and Mentally Ill started the night off with a ton of energy and before you even entered the venue you could hear and feel the deep drum and bass pumping into the streets of Albany. Mentally Ill (Jon Santolla) played a darker, harder set while Leila kept her set light-hearted with a twist of booty dropping house music. Both of these artists continuously remind us why they are the most prevalent Drum and Bass DJs in the Upstate.
Normal Instruments played two full sets and the collaboration of four musicians with this caliber of talent could only result in amazing things. Each musician holds their own and counterbalances one another while still staying in unity and synchronicity with each other. Every song branches off into new realms, fusing the disconnect of organic and electronic. Although all of the members of the band come from very different backgrounds within the music community, they use their differences to make a completely different and fresh sound.
Jules Jenssen once again did not disappoint and tore it up on the drums, heavily accompanied by Cosmic Dust Bunnies’ Matt Becket on the bass. Jeff Bujak is a source of constant entertainment and dancing no matter what genre of music he is contributing to. Both Bujak and Michael Carter take Normal Instruments to new levels of electronic mastery. The show was packed with energy from beginning to end and it was apparent that each member of the band was genuinely having fun during their performance. By the time Normal Instruments left the stage the Hollow was ten degrees hotter and the crowd was cheering for more. Overall an absolutely amazing show and impressive show of talent by all artists. Albany definitely looks forward to this New England-based power house.
Mister F is set to end their three night run with Wyllys and Tweed at Red Square on Saturday January 25th. Mister F formed in 2013 with the collaboration of Ben Pickering, Matt Pickering and Andrew Chamberlain of Albany’s own Timbre Coup and Scott Hannay of Capital Zen. Since their start in 2013 the band has taken the music scene by storm playing at festivals such as Mountain Jam, moe.down, Camp Bisco and snoe.down. Their following has reached far beyond their Albany roots as they play shows as far as Chicago and Knoxville.
The band will play along side Brooklyn, New York’s Wyllys, who started spinning discs at the very young age of 15 and has never looked back since. Wyllys takes an “anything goes” mentality blending all genres of music to create his “nu-disco-house” form of music. Wyllys has played festivals throughout the circuit such as Bonarroo, Electric Forest, Camp Bisco and Mountain Jam.
Tweed will also join these two artists to truly solidify that this will be a phenomenal night of music. Tweed formed at the University of Delaware and combine a mixture of Funk, Rock and electronic for a truly unique musical experience.
These three acts together ensure that you will not want to miss out on this night of music. The show will start at 8 pm and tickets are $10.
Pretty Lights musical artists Break Science and Paul Basic are set to play the Hollow to kick off their Seven Bridges Winter Tour on January 22nd. DJs can enter to win the chance to open for each show throughout their tour, and all entries will be judged by fans. There is also an opportunity for fans to enter to win two free tickets to a show while voting for DJ submissions.
Break Science will return to Albany kicking off their winter tour with Adam Deitch on drums and Borahm Lee on Keys and DJing. Together they form a powerhouse that has taken the electronic and jam community by storm after forming in 2009. This past summer Break Science toured the festival circuit playing stages at Camp Bisco, BUKU, Summer Camp, Electric Forest, Bounce, Electric Zoo, Hornings Hideout, Summer Meltdown and Kahbang music festival. Their innovative musical styling has redefined the electronic music world and opened the door for many new artists to find their niche within an ever changing musical environment.
One of the artists that has been given said opportunity is Paul Basic. Basic released his debut EP The Mirror on Pretty Lights Music in 2011. The album encompasses exactly what Pretty Lights Music attempts to do: find a new, fresh sound. The EP included a combination of techniques that immediately put Basic on the map. This year Paul’s follow up LP redefined the sound he has become well known for delivering hard drum and bass and heavy beats. His LP Transient Horizon features 11 tracks and includes collaborations with his close friends, Michael Menert, Pretty Lights and Trophy Beats.
Tickets can be purchased here or at the door day of show.
It was announced Tuesday evening that Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) would be parting ways with co-founder and 15 year bassist for the band, David Murphy. The band also decided to postpone the rest of their winter tour dates. The announcement was posted on the bands website as well as David Murphy’s Facebook account sending a shock through the Jam band community. The statement reads,
In life, the only constant is change. We try to embrace this in our music and in our lives and it’s in this spirit that we announce STS9 and bassist David Murphy are parting ways. We are postponing our upcoming winter tour dates through February. We’ll miss David and wish him the best on his journey ahead.
To our fans, we can’t thank you enough for your understanding and continuous support. We are thrilled for the future of STS9 and can’t wait to share it with you.
From the bottom of our hearts we thank you!
Hunter, Jeffree, Phillips, Zach
Since forming in Atlanta over a decade ago, David Murphy has been known as the front man and driving force for the band. Speculation has circulated as to why the band decided to part ways with their highly loved bassist but no official announcement has been released. For many fans it seems like Sound Tribe may never be the same again. Online music forums also speculate which bassist from the community could possibly fill Murph’s shoes. It is certainly with a very heavy heart that the fans of Sound Tribe Sector 9 see such a loved and respected musician leave such an amazing band.
The Disco Biscuits rang in another New Year in an amazing way at the Theater at Madison Square Garden with a rare performance of their Chemical Warfare Brigade rock opera. The MSG crowd was full of anticipation for what the Biscuits would bring for their final show of their five night run in New York City. New York City native Horizon Wireless warmed the crowd up with a short DJ set that kept the crowd moving before the Disco Biscuits took the stage.
Photo by Jeremy Gordon
With a half hour until midnight the Disco Biscuits opened the night with a high energy Plan B into Little Lai. In true Disco Biscuits fashion, the countdown was a few minutes after midnight as the balloons and confetti came pouring out of the ceiling onto the crowd. Jon Gutwillig (Barber) and Marc Brownstein (Brownie) unleashed full bottles of champagne onto their adoring fans leaving the front row of the general admission standing room covered in multi-colored confetti and bubbly. After the countdown they broke into their New Years tradition of “Helicopters”, singing “Happy New Years, look out below.” It was a phenomenal start to 2014. They segued into “And The Ladies Were The Rest of The Night” and then into “Confrontation” before taking a short break before their last two sets.
The crowd lost no enthusiasm by second set as the Biscuits opened with fire: “House Dog Party Favor > Hot Air Balloon > House Dog Party Favor”. Barber was on the top of his game and you could tell by the faces of all members of the band that they knew they were slaying each jam. The highlights of second set included the fan favorite “Shelby Rose” as well as House Dog/HAB sandwich.
By the last set the boys had lost no steam and pulled out all of the stops for their last moments on stage before the end of their long New Years run. Highlights of the third set included an amazing “Strobelights and Martinis > Helicopters” and of course, “M.E.M.P.H.I.S.”, closing their set with an encore of “Hope.”
All three New Years Eve sets left nothing to be desired and proved why we all travel so far to see these guys take stage on one of the biggest nights of the year. I’m sure all Biscuits fans are looking forward to their Philadelphia run coming up in February.
Set 1: Plan B, Little Lai, Killing In The Name (countdown), Helicopters > And The Ladies Were The Rest Of The Night > Confrontation
Set 2: House Dog Party Favor > Hot Air Balloon > House Dog > HAB > Dublights, Shelby Rose > The City > Shelby
Set 3: Chemical Warfare Brigade > Shem-Rah Boo , Strobelights & Martinis > Spraypaint, Three Wishes, Confrontation > Helicopters , M.E.M.P.H.I.S. > Hot Air Balloon > Chemical Warfare Brigade
Normal Instruments will play Albany’s The Hollow on January 11th, performing two sets and will be accompanied by Albany’s own DJ Leila and Mentally Ill.
Normal Instruments, created in 2011, is a powerhouse collaboration of Jules Jenssen of Higher Organix, Michael Carter of the Indobox, Matt Beckett of the Cosmic Dust Bunnies and Jeff Bujak. Anyone who has seen these guys live knows this is a show you will not want to miss. Normal Instruments has been seen at many of the east coast summer festivals and will be doing an east coast tour kicking off in Providence, Rhode Island the day before the Albany show. As a relatively new band, Normal Instruments has taken the live music scene by storm and will clearly continue doing so, all while having a ton of fun on stage. Definitely don’t miss this amazing show.
On February 22nd, Chicago rock-trio Future Rock will return to Red Square, bringing high energy eletronic-rock in a must-see performance.
By the last set the boys had lost no steam and pulled out all of the stops for their last moments on stage before the end of their long New Years run. Highlights of the third set included an amazing “Strobelights and Martinis > Helicopters” and of course, “M.E.M.P.H.I.S.”, closing their set with an encore of “Hope.”