“It’s the year 3030, and here at the Corporate Institutional Bank of Time we find ourselves reflecting, finding out that, in fact, we came back. We were always coming back…”
These are the lyrics to “State of the Nation”, the first track off of Deltron 3030‘s self-titled debut album which was released back in May 2000. Nobody knew it back then, but the rapping Nostradamus was making the first prediction of his off-the-grid career through these words. It took fourteen years, but his second album, Event 2, was finally released this past year in September. We should’ve trusted his prediction and known he was coming back. The fourteen year gap didn’t help Deltron 3030’s popularity, but for those who are in the know, Deltron is one of the most interesting rappers out there. In today’s watered-down rap offering, Deltron is a throwback to a time when groups had to have chops to even be noticed. Deltron 3030 is composed of rapper Del the Funky Homosapien, Kid Koala, and producer Dan “The Automator” and the group brings a futuristic and, almost, avant-garde approach to the table. The first album was a concept album about the world in the year 3030, rife with vivid imagery and interesting ideas like “upgrading your grey matter”.
Fast-forward to the new album, which takes place in 3040, and Del is back, announcing such with a second track titled “The Return”. And while a fourteen-year span would normally see various lineup and sound changes to a band, Deltron 3030 returns with the same members and only a slight progression in sound, which is a compliment, not a knock. Everything that made Deltron 3030 interesting, mysterious, and transcending is in place and has only been upgraded since the original release. Who knows? Maybe Del never upgraded past the dial-up modem and it just took that long to upload his latest. Regardless of the reason, Deltron not only has a new album, but he’s touring and coming to Buffalo next week. On Thursday, July 10, Deltron 3030 will be bringing his futuristic spacecraft to The Waiting Room. Since the rapper takes a music industry lightyear to release another album, it’s highly recommended to catch him live while he’s here on this planet. You can grab your tickets here and plan for a peak into the next millennia as Del will surely take everyone on a trip through the wormhole.
Supergroups in music usually consist of members who are individually famous for their prior work with another band. If Soulive were to form today, you could say that they would be a funk supergroup, snatching up members from some of the top bands in the scene. That’s not the case though as this is a band that has been around since the late ’90s and is in the opposite position – they were one of the bands who laid the groundwork for funk’s recent resurgence and the groups leading that push today. The trio consists of Alan Evans on drums, Neal Evans on organ/bass keys, and Eric Krasno on guitar.
At one point the band had been a touring force, even opening for the Rolling Stones and Dave Matthews. Their instrumental combination of funk, jazz, soul, and rock was enlivening and people were taking notice. With each of these guys though, keeping the pedal to the floor and constantly being involved in the scene has led to other projects and ventures. Neal and Eric are touring to a greater capacity with Lettuce, Eric splits that with contributing in the studio and occasionally touring with Tedeschi Trucks Band, while Alan has Playonbrother who have been making a name for themselves as of late. Alan also owns his own studio and regularly produces records for various bands. The net of it is that Soulive performances are now a rarity and shouldn’t be squandered. Given the fact that their shows don’t happen often, with the talent these guys possess, anytime they do get together, it’s usually a magical performance replete with inspiring moments of musical mastery. This Saturday, Rochester is in for a treat as Soulive is set to perform at the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival. If my words aren’t a big enough nudge, the show is free and is the only local tour date for the band besides a late August date in Turin when they appear at moe.down. The show kicks off at 9pm at the East Ave. & Alexander St. Stageand is one Jazz Fest act you don’t want to miss.
This time last year, an ambitious Buffalo native was putting the final touches on the vision he had of throwing his own music festival. Of course, only local bands would be on the bill as this was intended from the get-go to be a celebration of the Buffalo music scene and its surrounding regions. The gamble paid off and the community responded in a big way, coming out in droves to share in the enthusiasm for Western New York music. The person I’m speaking of is Cody Conway and his ambitious goal, that likely seemed far-fetched to a lot of people, came to fruition and Buffalove Music Festival was established as one of the premier festivals in the area, calling Willow Creek Winery in Silver Creek, NY its home.
This year marks the second year of the festival and the underdog status is no more. Throughout the region, music fans were waiting for the announcement of who they would be seeing on this year’s bill. Fast forward to the present and the start of the festival’s second year is upon us. Things kickoff Thursday (tomorrow) with the Intrepid Travelers starting things off at 6pm. The full lineup is pretty deep this year too, with over 20 bands on the bill. If you bought the full weekend pass, you can look forward to seeing acts like Jimkata, Aqueous, Funktional Flow, Mister F, smackdab, Lazlo Hollyfeld, Slip Madigan, Broccoli Samurai, and many more.
Beyond all of the music, there are new features and personal touches added this year for the enjoyment of all of the festival-goers. Things such as fireworks, a 9-hole frisbee golf course, an Open-Mic Stage, kids activities, and a quiet zone for family camping are some of the great additions that are available this year, building upon the foundation of last year’s successes.
Given the pride that the people and the band’s of Buffalo take in the Queen City being their hometown, last year’s festival alone saw some pretty unique moments as band’s pulled out their best material and all the stops for their sets. Last year’s bust out of the Pink Floyd cover “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” by Aqueous was noted as one of our Best Jams from 2013. It’s exciting to think what we’ll be treated to this year with so many returning acts looking to step up their game and really wow the crowd.
There won’t be a better place to spend this weekend than at Buffalove. Here’s the full lineup of band’s you will see, all linked, so that you can keep up on your favorites by checking out their respective websites:
If you’ve been dragging your feet and still need a ticket, click here to order yours now. With over 20 bands, 3 stages, free camping and parking, and all of the other activities and things to do, the $50 price tag really doesn’t seem like much for all that you get. Additionally, if you’d like to see the festival poster or understand the schedule for the weekend, check out the pictures below which should give you an idea of what is on tap for Buffalove’s much-anticipated second year.
Last week, on the eve of my birthday, I decided to stay up late on a weekday, knowing that I’d have to wake up by 6am the next day to go to work. Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band was in town though for their first show ever in Buffalo and I wasn’t going to miss it. Even with the exhaustive circumstances, what transpired that night invigorated me in a way not every concert does. Waking up the following morning, I felt alive, beaming with excitement, and still humming the notes from the night prior. I can only speak for myself, but throughout life, I am constantly chasing that kind of high from music, but was certainly not expecting it to this degree when I walked in to Nietzsche’s the night before.
As I approached the building, I still wasn’t sure what to expect. There is no adjacent parking lot, so you can’t tell if the venue is packed or empty for any show. Crossing the threshold, it was as though the doors had just opened even though I was unfortunately late to arrive. My disappointment in Buffalo for not showing up on a night like tonight – where a band was making their first appearance here – started the night off on the wrong note. Regardless of the crowd situation, on this particular Thursday, Nietzsche’s was the place to be as Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band was ready to share their gritty funk with whoever showed up.
Changing their opening song on the fly, the band kicked things off with a new song in “Wake Yo’self”. This song will be featured on their upcoming album, so the only way to catch this one at the moment is live. The bass line throughout the song had a relentless determination to it that gave the crowd a reason to move right from its opening notes. As it propelled forward through thick and heavy waters, trombonist Derrick Lee Johnson and keyboardist Mary Frances, aka Mama Funk, highlighted his spaces with peaks of cutting tone. There might not have been the greatest turnout for their first show, but the band was determined to have a good time and make sure everyone else did too. Talking with the band after the show, I brought up how bassist Al Al Ingram’s tone is similar to the bass tone on Cake’s “The Distance”, but in a heavier and funky way. The band collectively laughed in agreement and shared how they actually had talked about covering that song on numerous occasions. The show was off to a great start and with a lot of people in attendance unfamiliar with the bands songs, this was the perfect choice as it immediately grabbed everyone’s attention.
Mama Funk Leading the Booty Band
The band continued to light up the crowd with one heavy-hitting song after another. I’ve always felt that a smaller crowd can affect how a band plays in a negative way, but not these guys. On several occasions throughout the show, various members stepped off the stage and came right out into the crowd to dance. Mama Funk, Derrick Lee Johnson, and Al Al Ingram all took turns playing their instruments amongst the dancers in attendance and it really helped elevate the crowd’s overall response. Mama Funk specifically blew me away as her sweet and unassuming look was only a disguise. Throughout the night, she displayed her prowess on the keyboards as she supported the band through her various tones, ripped through solos, and constantly exuded a fun and free spirit that came out through her playful approach. It was all about a good time with her and the band as a whole and there was no shortage of those moments on this particular Thursday night.
The Booty Band played a variety of music from their catalog, but two covers stood out as I had never heard a band cover a hip hop song before in person. The band chose two Dr. Dre songs in “Let Me Ride” and “Nuttin’ Butt a G-Strang” – the latter being an obvious play on the famous “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang”. Both of these songs were instantly recognized by the crowd and hit me about as hard as the originals did when I first heard them. The songs had such a beautiful, funky flow to them, similar to the original, but felt right being instrumentalized. Adding layers of live and spacey keyboard runs made two already fine choices that much better. The funky rides down memory lane were complete with rap battles between Johnson and Ingram and choruses colored by Mama Funk. By sharing the vocal responsibilities on these two and others over the course of the night, the self-proclaimed “Mountain Gangstas from North Carolina” were able to flex to the style they were playing and showcase the voice that made the most sense.
John Paul Miller on guitar with Al Al Ingram and Derrick Johnson in the background
The Booty Band’s spirit was just contagious. As they wrapped up their set, the crowd was simply not ready to let them go. After some clamouring, the band returned with grins all over their faces, ready to keep the night going a little longer for the outpouring of appreciation. One person from the crowd yelled, “hey, we all have to work tomorrow, just play one more song.” It was clear that those in attendance didn’t care that it was already past 1am at this point and I couldn’t have agreed more; we all just wanted a little more before they packed up and left. The band obliged with two songs to close the night that featured some heavy grooves and some deep funky ruts. Drummer Lee Allen was blatantly abusive towards his drum kit during the finale, making sure that his talented band mates wouldn’t completely overshadow his own impressive skills; everyone in the crowd already knew this though as Allen drove the rhythm the entire night. This band is loaded with talent from the front of the stage to the back, and if you haven’t taken the time to listen to them or catch them live, you need to drop what you’re doing now and make some time.
On a final note, I have to take a second to outline the band’s genuine appreciation for their fans and that they get to wake up and play music everyday. I talked to both Derrick Lee Johnson and Mary Frances after the show, separately, and I thought it was interesting how they echoed similar sentiments when I asked them for their thoughts on the turnout. Mary Frances said, “”It doesn’t matter if there’s 20 people or a packed house, everyone deserves a good show”. While Derrick Lee Johnson said, “I get to do my passion every single night. Whether it’s 10 people or 10,000 people, I get to pick up my trombone every night and play.” Hearing this from two different members in an off-the-cuff conversation was a breath of fresh air. There’s so many acts nowadays that play for the money and fame and those are the same bands you hear have broken up because money and fame don’t happen overnight. After hearing this, I thanked both of them for having that love and passion for their craft and that definitely translated as they genuinely had fun on stage and you could tell that they enjoyed the night just as much as everyone that was in attendance. The money and fame will come to them in time, so long as they keep doing what they’re doing, people are bound to catch on. I know that next time they come around, everyone in Buffalo will be bringing a friend as they easily won over those who came to dance on a late Thursday night/early Friday morning. As for work the next day, I got by and I am indebted to these guys for kicking off my birthday in the best way possible – with an incredible, booty shaking display of live music!
Setlist: Wake Yo’self, @$$, Quick E, Funk Life, Let Me Ride*, Cancion de Fuego, Mama Feel Good, Sunday Afternoon, Sanchez, Shadows -n- Sunshine, Nuttin’ Butt a G-Strang (Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang)*, 24/7, Naw Brah, Flea Bite, Trunk, Livin’ the Dream
On June 28th, Island Park in Williamsville, NY will become the center for a new, one-day festival, setting up shop right in the middle of suburbia. Intune Music & Lifestyle Festival will be laying down its inaugural foundation for a day of music, artists, workshops, and other various activities. Upon speaking with one of the organizers, Amanda Gutierrez, she said that the festival is a tribute to a friend, Zack Yambor, and their goal is to turn the pain of his loss into a positive for the community. The vision is truly inspirational and what they plan on encompassing within the gates is a large offering to satisfy anyone who plans on attending.
Throughout the day, those in attendance will be treated to various musical acts such as Skyes, Sumkind, Steel Keys and Brass, Bertioga, Dysrupt, and Kooli. Headlining the festival though is none other than Break Science, featuring Lettuce drummer Adam Deitch. Besides the music, there will be eight free workshops, teaching anything from yoga to live graffiti. Local farmers and food vendors will be there as well to show off their latest with live cooking demos. The fest will take place from noon to 10pm and feature a jam-packed day for a great kickoff! Tickets are $20 presale and you can get them here.
And if you’re a musician who’s interested in playing, there’s still TWO open slots that the organizers are looking to fill via a contest. Hit the link if you think you have what it takes.
With so much to offer, here’s a summary of activities you can expect to see at the festival.
With so many great festivals right in our backyard, we are lucky in the Upstate region to be able to pick and choose what we attend every summer. One gem that calls the North Country home and always has a solid lineup is Backwoods Pondfest. Now in its 8th year, this years fest will be headlined by Jurassic 5’s Chali 2na with his project Chali 2na and the House of Vibe. Other acts include bands like Twiddle, Spiritual Rez, Turkuaz, Alan Evans’ Playonbrother, Conehead Buddha, and of course, the gracious hosts, Lucid. With it still being two months away though, there’s still a lot of great music to catch in the near future before even thinking about that.
Welcome to ‘s “Road to Backwoods Pondfest” series. Through this, we plan on highlighting some of the shows in the region that we are sponsoring that feature Pondfest bands before its August kick off. Being that it’s our first installation, it made sense to tell you about the guys who host Pondfest every year, Lucid. The band hails from the Plattsburgh region and have been a gracious host over the years to the many bands that make the trip in August. As the winner of ‘s March Madness tournament, Lucid is gaining popularity throughout the region as one of the premier up and coming bands to catch.
On Friday, June 6th Lucid will be taking the stage at Olive Ridley’s in Plattsburgh. Joining them that night are two bands from the area that are local favorites in Doomf*ck and Trinity Park Radio. The following night, Lucid is making the short trip south to Saranac Lake to play Waterhole. Opening the night will be The Royal Noise whose powerful funk sound is a great fit for the show.
Lucid (Photo by Laura Carbone)
For both shows, doors open at 9pm with music beginning at 10, so head out and get a taste for what’s to come this August when Backwoods Pondfest kicks off its 8th year. And if you still haven’t picked up your Pondfest ticket quite yet, hit the link and grab yours now! There’s a reason why this is one of our favorites in New York.
Despite the conflict-laden name, Rebelution has a way of coloring everything with positivity. The band has always led with that feel, both lyrically and musically. Now in their tenth year, Rebelution is releasing their fourth studio album in Count Me In with many of their fans eager to hear what the Cali-based foursome have been working on as of late. While I’ll say that they certainly delivered, there were still a few surprises in there along the way and a few that were close to instant classics for me.
The album opens on the title track, featuring a rolling bass line that almost has a swing to it and full of upbeat the band is known for. When I asked drummer Wesley Finley about how they decided to open with this one, he said, “I do have to admit that we struggled with the track order quite a bit this time, all the way until we were going to print! Since we titled the album after the track, it eventually made sense to put “Count Me In” first. Besides that, the track really embodies the general sound the band represents so we figured it would be a good introduction.” These guys haven’t made it to their tenth year missing the mark and the opener is no different.
With all that said, the first song is merely a setup for the album standout “De-Stress.” That might’ve been by design though as Finley says, “We followed that up with “De-Stress” because it’s up-tempo and keeps the momentum building.” The opening one-two punch is a great start to the album and a possible set opener we might see this summer. The driving intro of “De-Stress” in and of itself makes the song, but singer Eric Rachmany hops around the rhythm with his delivery and adds another dimension to this track. The chorus of “And I might stress/Yes I might stress/ Too blessed to be stressed” are some nuggets we could all live by. In the world we live in today, a little de-stressing could do everyone some good.
As the album progresses through the tracks, two stand out in back-to-back fashion once again: “Lost in Dreams” and “Fade Away” showed some growth and experimentation from the band. In some cases it felt and sounded great, like the soothing close of “Fade Away”, but something held these two back. That being said, young bands could learn from these guys as Rebelution knows exactly where to push the boundaries; these two tracks weren’t far off. When asked about the creative deviation, Finley said, “We produced “Lost in Dreams” with a friend of ours named AmpLive, who is half of the hip-hop group Zion I and a beat maker for other hip-hop artists. We tour with them every once in a while and are mutual fans of each other’s music, so it was inevitable that collaboration would happen.”
On that collaboration note, the album features two guest appearances in the form of “Hate to Be the One” (Collie Buddz) and “Roots Reggae Music” (Don Carlos). Both guests are great fits for their respective tracks. When asked about how they chose the two, Finley said, “Collie Buddz we knew from touring together. He had come up on a song or two of ours live onstage over the years and the band is a fan of his voice, which is distinct from him being Bermudan. We sent “Hate to Be the One” to him and he came back with a whopping verse that we were very impressed with and knew we had to use. Eric’s main vocal inspiration has always been the reggae veteran Don Carlos so we instantly thought of him for “Roots Reggae Music”. He too has come onstage to sing with us for years, mostly to his own song we covered called “Johnny Big Mouth”, so we thought it would be great for him to sing something new for us. Our sound engineer is the infamous Errol Brown, who worked closely with the Marley family for many years, so when we mentioned we were thinking of asking Don to be on the track he said, “Call him up and pass me the phone. I’ll get him to do it!” We all listened as they caught up over the phone in a thick Jamaican patois. It was a classic moment.”
Left to Right: Marley D. Williams (bass), Wesley Finley (drums), Eric Rachmany (vocals/guitar), Rory Carey (keyboards) Photo Credit: Kurt Hudson
The album wraps up on two songs that take a darker twist. “Against the Grain” starts off with a mesmerizing horn phrase that transitions to a vocal rally cry to whoever might be listening. The empowering words come with a hint of attitude and grit. The title is the perfect fit as it stands on its own compared to the rest of the album’s sunny positivity. It has almost a “Bad Boys,” fist in the air, fighting-for-your-beliefs feel with Marley Williams running a darker line to color the song. “Invasion” closes the album and keeps the rebel feel going. The last two songs are my favorite combo on the album and feature a darker, more serious tone for the band.
It’s funny to think, now, that they struggled with the order of the tracks as they couldn’t have decided upon a better layout in my opinion. In flawless fashion, the band has woven together a cohesive, yet varied album that features what they’ve built their careers on while still progressing forward.
The album drops Tuesday, June 10th, with preorders being taken here. If you’ve been a fan of the band, or even looking to hear some new reggae, you’re going to want to check this one out.
Key Tracks: Against the Grain, De-Stress, Invasion
Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band is a little lengthy of a band name in my opinion, but lucky for everyone, they’re also known, simply, as “Booty Band.” As much a mouthful the name is, their sound is a lot for your ears to take in as well. Their self-proclaimed raucous live show is a humble statement and their mix of deep funk with rock, soul, and rap makes for an interesting combination. Make no mistake, you might not take them seriously at first, but after hearing their spin on funk, you will begin to understand why they can put the fun in funky and showcase some serious chops at the same time. So, hearing all of this, are you ready for a last-minute Booty call?
Just announced today, the band is slated to hit the stage at Nietzsche’s next Thursday. The first-ever show for them in Buffalo is a great way to kick off the weekend a little early, and with a $7 ticket price, how can you argue? With the release of the latest album this past October and a heavy tour schedule, they are making their name known, regardless of length or variation. The show was put together by ECE Presents who have been doing a outstanding job in the Western New York area as of late, bringing quality talent and growing the scene organically, one show at a time. Joining Booty Band and opening the night will be The Wakos who were hand-chosen for the show as they are the perfect fit for Booty’s Band’s bodacious sound.
Check out a sample of Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty here and get a taste of what’s in store for next week:
Metalcore as a genre has seen better days; the peak has come and gone, leaving cornerstones in evolution’s wake. From one of the foundational areas for the genre in Massachusetts, Unearth came up during the New Wave of American Heavy Metal alongside other genre-definers like Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, All That Remains, and The Acacia Strain. It wasn’t until the mid-2000’s where those bands really started to hone in on the sound that would come to define metalcore. Of those founding fathers, Unearth was one of the most clearly definable with a sound and heaviness that was uniquely their own.
In 2004, the band released The Oncoming Storm. I still remember hearing it for the first time and thinking how truly ahead of its time it felt. The only thing that went deeper than the melodic hook was the tenacity at which the band played. Despite having a sound that was as large and powerful as an orchestra of metal, the band at the time was just a five-piece, consisting of Trevor Phipps (vocals), Buz McGrath (guitar), Ken Susi (guitar and backing vocals), John Maggard (bass), and Mike Justian (drums). The melodies captured on that record were some of the most beautifully written, exploiting harmonies for every tonal drop they were worth. Every one of the forty-plus minutes on that album served a purpose and it helped to elevate not only them, but this style of music as a whole to a certain level of visibility.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of8Ob0xjSGU
This Saturday (May 31st), in celebration of the album’s ten year anniversary, Unearth will be playing it for the first time, from start to finish at the Montage Music Hall in Rochester. Opening the night will be Texas in July, Cruel Hand, and Armed for Apocalypse. If it wasn’t hinted enough above, these guys defined heaviness for a generation of metal fans and set the bar for their peers. The Oncoming Storm is the band’s legacy and they’re giving fans a chance to witness its significance and weight as a whole.
As the weather breaks and nicer temperatures start to become the norm, the residents of Buffalo begin to come out of their winter slumber and explore the city again. This past Friday night, Marco Benevento was in town and, with mother nature’s cooperation, Buffalo’s music community came out in droves and ascended upon Nietzsche’s for a night of great music. As 10pm came and went, the venue began filling up with all walks of life to catch the jazz experimentalist himself. Benevento has played Buffalo pretty consistently as of late and it seems as though the scene here is not only appreciative of his visits, but the crowd continues to grow every time he comes back.
The night started off with local favorites, Lazlo Hollyfeld. With a beer in hand, it was actually difficult to try to maneuver to the front of the venue as it was that densely packed for Lazlo. The group, in my eyes, was a perfect fit to open the night as their instrumental experimentation goes hand in hand with the type of crowd Benevento brings out. With over ten years under their belts, Lazlo knew exactly how to draw a crowd in and keep them entranced with their choice of songs for the set. Without any effort, your ears immediately gravitated towards Matt Felski who has the unique role of Vibraphonist in the band. For those unfamiliar, the instrument is similar to a xylophone and, as you can imagine, stuck out like a sore thumb. That might sound like a slight, but the way Felski utilized staccato and legato couldn’t have been more perfect. I can’t say I’ve ever heard this instrument outside of jazz, let alone in a small band, but these guys made it work and have a truly unique sound because of it. While I would’ve enjoyed seeing some more of them that night, their set was stellar and got the crowd in the perfect mindset for what was to come. Their jamming was dark and exploratory, having almost a heavy metal feel in terms of both tempo and tone. Guitarist Sonny Baker was the visual focal piece for the band as his energy swelled with peaks in the music and forced him to frantically pluck away in certain segments and attack his solos with a fierce tenacity. As they wrapped up their set, the crowd let out an exuberant cheer, letting the band know of their appreciation and enjoyment.
Marco Benevento took the stage around midnight, which was appropriate for Buffalo as the city is known for its late nights and 4am last call. Midnight is when things start to get interesting here and that would hold true on this night as well. Benevento started off the night sprinting out of the gate and showing everyone right away why he’s so talented. On one song, he held the strings inside of his piano, creating a similar effect to a muted guitar and adding a layer of texture to his deep overall tone. As he stated in our interview, he doesn’t go on stage with a setlist in mind; he completely plays to the crowd and feels out what they’re hoping to hear from him. Friday night was no different. Benevento was locked in from the get-go as every change in tempo and every blistering solo only electrified the crowd even more. A few songs in, he turned and looked out across the crowd, grinning, to let both the band and audience know he was having a good time.
As we got deeper into the set, you began to question how much his weathered piano could take. Even though it looked like it could’ve been lying around in the back of Nietzsche’s, the tone that was culled from its depths was beautiful. It was definitely an odd juxtaposition of visual ugliness, yet tonal beauty. The use of effect pedals with his historic rig only make his sound that much more unique. His tone and approach is literally out of this world. If you closed your eyes, it was almost as if you were strolling through Dalí’s “The Persistence of Memory” and he was playing the soundtrack.
While only a year has passed since I last saw these guys, they have grown tighter as an overall entity. Dave Dreiwitz (bass) and Andy Borger (drums) have learned how to compliment what Benevento does and now play much larger roles within the group. When they would collectively stop, it felt as though the pressure had finally let up. The three were so good at keeping an incessant pace that you felt the need to gasp for air on the short break in between songs.
Benevento himself is a madman behind the keys. You could see it in his face at various points throughout the show that he was really trying to push his musical boundaries. In and of itself, you can respect him for that, but he balances that seriousness with a jovial side that enjoys the dynamic between the band and crowd. As a clear example of his playful side, a large wolf mask somehow made its was to the stage and Marco was the first to embrace it, playing through the second half of a song while it was on his head. It was difficult to discern whether the whole thing was planned, but Marco’s eagerness and energized playing said otherwise.
The show went on until about 2am with Marco covering songs off of every album, including some new tunes off of his upcoming Fall release. It was an incredible night of music to say the least. As the crowd filed out, I overheard what I presumed to be a new fan talking about how they couldn’t wait for the next time he’s in town. Not surprised, I now understand why Marco is always smiling.
“It’s the year 3030, and here at the Corporate Institutional Bank of Time we find ourselves reflecting, finding out that, in fact, we came back. We were always coming back…”
Supergroups in music usually consist of members who are individually famous for their prior work with another band. If 
