George Strait, also known to the music world as the “King of Country”, closes out his 33-year career of touring with his final live show in Arlington, Texas tonight.
The 62-year old musician and actor from Frio County, located just south of San Antonio, is going out in big style with special guests, Jason Aldean, Martina McBride, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Sheryl Crow, and Asleep At The Wheel.
You could call this more than a concert, it’s a celebration of Strait and what he has meant to country music. His neotraditional style is credited by many critics for returning country back to its roots.
As long as I have loved country music, I have loved George Strait. His down home, country-boy good looks, sporting a Stetson and Wranglers with a crooked smile that draws you in immediately as he is the picture of what a cowboy looks like. His dedication to his craft, staying true to the roots of the genre, and his dedication to his fans over his expansive career are a few of the reasons George is loved by all who have known him throughout his career.
With a career that boasts 28 albums, 68 million in record sales, 60 No. 1 singles, and 82 nominations for Country Music Association Awards – 22 of which he had won, it is not surprising to see him inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.
This legend will continue recording and doing music on his own terms. He is, however, done with the road and the touring with no “come back” stories to follow.
For those lucky enough to be at tonight’s show in person, this moment in time should be etched in your minds forever, as his legend as the ‘KING OF COUNTRY” will forever be in ours. Thank you, cowboy, for the memories. Enjoy your ride in to the sunset; you deserve it!
Good times are abound anywhere and anytime the Spectacular Average Boys hit a venue. Members, Ned Brower on vocals, guitar, and banjo, Joel Shue on vocals and bass, Jeff Landry on drums, and Justin Ploutz on guitar, fiddle, and mandolin, bring to the audience a spectacular show of folk, rock, and Americana tunes that are sure to get you up and moving.
Performing April 25th at the Dev in Utica, the Spectacular Average Boys shared their special blend of music with a full night of original tunes, including “The Devil In Winter”, “What You Did”, “Parting Words” and “Fire, Copper, & Gold.” To balance that out, the band employed an eclectic mix of covers, including Uncle Tupelo’s “Acuff Rose” , The Black Keys’ “Stack Shot Billy”, “Jesse James”, Tom Waits’ “Make It Rain” , and the Stone Temple Pilots’ “Plush”.
Currently working on new music, their fans will be happy to hear the heavy flavor of banjo in the new releases. Keep an eye on their website for the completed recordings, and check out their Facebook site to catch them the next time they rock your neighborhood and see why they truly are “Spectacular”
We have confirmed with the Times Union Center’s box office that Bret Michael’s will not perform in tonight’s show in Albany.
Bret Michaels’ appearance at this time is still to be determined for a show scheduled in Albany, tonight at 7pm at the Times Union Center. He is slated to perform along with The Charlie Daniels Band and The Marshall Tucker Band.
In a statement yesterday from the Bret Michaels Team, he was diagnosed as having “complications involving insulin shock & severe low blood sugar, along with other conditions which doctors later determined included exhaustion, dehydration, fever and the noro flu virus”.
On Thursday, in Manchester, NH, after three songs into the first set, Michaels became ill and was was immediately rushed by ambulance to a local hospital. Diagnosed since childhood with Type I Diabetes, Bret was unable to stabilize his sugar levels. Friday’s show in Wilkes-Barre, PA was cancelled as Michaels continued to be observed by doctors.
Michaels, performed locally most recently in Verona, NY at The Turing Stone Casino Showroom on April 30th to a sold out crowd. His performance was action packed with an energy level and charisma that was off the charts. Fans of all walks adore him not only because he’s an amazing performer and musician, but because he also is a community oriented performer, and an advocate for several causes, including Petsmart Charities, Operation Homefront, and the American Diabetes Association.
Ticket holders and fans who are interested can follow his progress on his Facebook account and post their well wishes. Those fans who are currently following his progress are continuing their support in his recovery, and whether their shows go on or not doesn’t matter to them, as their love for his well being is their utmost concern. NYS Music Music Guide concurs. Get well soon, Bret.
Under the cloak of darkness, the band takes the stage and begins to rock the audience on not just one night, but two, packing the house on both occasions. Best known for their seven hit albums and more than 25 hit singles, Staind has remained one of the most popular hard rock bands over the past two decades and sold out two nights at Turning Stone Showroom.
Staind
With Aaron Lewis on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Johnny April on bass and backing vocals, Mike Mushok on lead guitar, and Sal Giancarelli on drums and percussion, how can you not love the electricity felt in the air and vibrations throughout the room with the amps blasting some of their best known hits from over the years.
What many don’t know about these rock stars is their dedication to giving back to communities throughout New England through a charity called It Takes A Community Foundation. The foundation was founded in 2010 by Aaron Lewis and his wife, Vanessa, when the small rural school in their hometown was closed due to budgetary constraints. Instead of seeing their children and the others in the town bused to schools outside their community, they came together to establish the foundation to combat this problem. Through a benefit concert that year, they were able to raise enough money to reopen the school as a private local school available to all the children in the community. Now in their 4th year of raising money through benefit concerts and an annual golf tournament, the foundation focuses on reviving rural communities throughout all of New England by working together with the leaders in the communities to identify and address their individual needs and crises at hand. For more information on the charity and the concert and golf tournament for 2014, please visit It Takes A Community Foundation at http://itacf.org/index.php/about.html .
For more information on Staind and their upcoming shows please visit their page at http://www.staind.com .
Braving the cold and possibly rainy outcome the day of the Mountain Goat Run, Benny Mardones and The Hurricanes took the stage on May 3rd and turned up the heat to bring a warmth to Syracuse for all the participants. In true Benny fashion, he came out full throttle and didn’t stop until everyone was singing along and dancing to new releases from his upcoming album, Timeless, and all the classic favorites. Didn’t have a chance to catch him this time? Don’t fret, he will be returning this summer to Onondaga Community College on August 2nd. For more information on the upcoming show that’s set to feature a ton of special guests, please visit Benny’s webpage at www.bennymardones.com.
Just back from an overseas tour with Lionel Richie, Ben Mauro returned home to the Central New York area to not only relax and catch up with family and friends, but also to launch his new EP, Take Your Time. In an interview with Ben last month, I not only had the opportunity to talk to him about this upcoming release party, but I was also able to review the new album and touch on what inspired the tracks.
Ahead of the show, I joined Ben as he came to speak with the local television station here in Utica, WUTR TV, to give viewers an insight into the release party as well as a sample of music to be played. What better setting for the interview than at Utica Classic Guitars, a shop owned and operated by Robert Acquiviva, a music business icon in the Utica area. Surrounded by guitars, Ben sat down to talk about his experiences, the upcoming EP release party, his show “Let’s Go with Ben Mauro”, and life as a guitarist and musician on the road.
As the day had finally come for the release party at Shifty’s Bar & Grill, best known for their Open Mic Night’s on Wednesdays, the place was completely sold out and packed to capacity to a much-anticipated crowd. Joining Ben on stage that evening was his SAMMY Award winning backup band, Phoenix Eleven, featuring Greg “Goose” LaPoint on drums, Joe Grosvent on bass, and Max McKee on guitar and vocals, as well as special guests Deyquan and Yajha Bowens on keyboards and vocals, and Al Cutri on saxophone. Also joining Ben on stage were good friends and musicians Ricky Chisolm, who Ben once played with in a band, and his musical instructor Rick Balestra who joined in with his electric guitar.
The night was an amazing mix of new releases, old favorites, and some amazing covers of Johnny Cash, The Eagles, and of course Lionel Richie and the Commodores. All in all, it was a great time! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YCE4f-DTw4]
The crowd loved his new music and was blown away by his amazing guitar playing. Life came full circle for Ben as he returned to celebrate at the very spot he first got up on stage and played in front of a live crowd, except this time it was sold out just for him.
On May 2nd, The Kirkland Art Center hosted the much-anticipated David Wax Museum with opening act Rusty Belle. As I entered the venue to prepare for the evenings photos, I knew I was in for a treat the minute I took note of the stage. Foreshadowing for what was to come, I found a myriad of musical instruments, some common, some not so much. Makeshift instruments, including coffee cans, baby shoes, canteens, washboards, and donkey bones, scattered across the stage as a hint of cultural sounds in store for us that evening.
As Rusty Belle took the stage, this trio of musicians jumped right into the mix, treating audience members to a back home, feel-good, foot stomping, “what music is about” performance. Comprised of brother and sister, Matt and Kate Lorenz along with friend, Zak Trojano, these three bring a distinct twist to their bluegrass sound. Their unique approach using commonplace items brings you back to what it was like generations ago when music was a celebration of friends and family gathering to just enjoy the sound and each other’s company. With our fast paced lives, Rusty Belle brought us back to those times and totally entranced the audience with their music.
As David Wax, Suz Slezak, and the band members took the stage, the audience was primed with anticipation for their set to begin. Clearly I was amongst a huge following and was excited to see what was in store as a newcomer. They certainly didn’t disappoint either. Their amazing mix of Americana and Mexican variety melted together with a distinctive sound all their own. With the use of a donkey jaw bone as one of the instruments of the evening, the sound added a cultural percussion that amplified the effect even more so. Numbers such as “Knock Knock Get Up”, “Harder Before Its Easier”, and “Yes Maria Yes” are only a few of the songs that sealed the fate noting them now as one of my favorite live shows to see. Joined on stage by Rusty Belle on a few numbers only exaggerated an already outstanding performance by this group. As they all unplugged and came out into the audience, it was apparent why this band is held in such high esteem by followers. Their connection to their music, each other, and their audience captivates and casts a spell over those in proximity.
Even though the performance was held in an art museum, there was no still life in any proximity of this group. Audience members were dancing, clapping, stomping, and singing along as though they were part of the performance. As the show ended, one could only feel as though they had truly experienced what American music is all about. The blend of bluegrass, mexican, rock, country, jazz, and funk gave these two bands their unique sound, but also brought those in the room back to the roots of what music was all about: a celebration of family , friends, and the sounds around us in the art of music and culture.
The Bret Michaels Life Rocks Tour rocked Central NY to a sold out crowd April 30th at the Turning Stone Casino Showroom. Currently touring across America, Bret Michaels Band took the stage with an energy level of high-octane and continued as the crowd fed the momentum.
Bret Michaels – Turning Stone
Bret Michaels Life Rocks Tour, formerly of the band Poison and well-known musician and reality star, is touring the country raising awareness while rocking audiences. A community-oriented performer, Bret Michaels is well-known for his support in causes such as American Diabetes Association, Operation Homefront, and PetSmart Charities. His appreciation of his fans was apparent as he reached out to touch, smile, and point to the audience as he performed. I was pleasantly surprised at this rock stars behavior as I learned about how he dedicates so much time to helping others. Although it wasn’t necessary, it definitely upped his sexy level which was already pretty high. Check out Bret’s new single “A Beautiful Soul” which sums up this rock star’s heart when it comes to his audiences and his dedication to helping others.
Trace’s Bar and Grill in Rome, New York has been one of the single sources of live entertainment for Romans for the past three years. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Trace’s will be closing their doors. Heathre and Phillip Price, owners, have been supportive of local musicians over the years and in true form decided to celebrate by hosting a “Farewell Party” on April 25th and 26th.
No Complyance – Trace’s first and last band to grace the stage at the venue
It was bittersweet for No Complyance to be the final band to play the venue after three years, but fitting as they were also the very first to ever play the venue. We thank Trace’s for always supporting the local music scene, and urge our readers to continue to go out and support your local musicians in these venues to keep them flourishing for years to come.
How could the crowd at University at Buffalo’s Center for the Arts not go wild with this line up? With Rozzi Crane, Parachute, and Gavin DeGraw, the audience was bound to see them shoot and score on each of these acts.
Rozzi Crane opened the evening in total darkness as she belted out the notes to her first song. The strong and emotive voice made the audience sit up and take notice immediately. As the spotlight came on and her silhouette was outlined, each member of the audience sat there agape. This huge voice and soulful sustenance of a jazz great was in the body of this petit young lady. One would expect to see the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, or Etta James up there; instead, the voice that resonated this sound came from Miss Rozzi Crane. As I sat shooting photos, I could hear those around me saying , “Who is that?!” A star was born that evening to the audience in Buffalo. She continued with an ease as though she had been in front of an audience her whole life. Her level of comfort on the stage and with the crowd demonstrated that the stage was her home away from home. As her set ended, she invited everyone out to her merchandise area to do a meet and greet. Either getting there too early or too late, I didn’t get the chance to speak to her directly, but I did talk to one of her crew members. As she mentioned during her show a connection with Adam Levine, I asked about the details of how she was discovered. He shared how Adam Levine of Maroon 5 heard her through a Youtube video that had been shared with him through a mutual friend and immediately signed her to his new label. Touring with Maroon 5 and Kelly Clarkson in 2013 was only the beginning to this amazing young lady’s journey. She definitely has a “Voice” to listen for big things in the future. One word to describe Rozzi, soulful.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTauDOWKD-s]
Next up was Parachute. The band is a group of five musicians who have known each other and played together since high school and college. To me, they are one of the most talented, versatile, and best kept secrets around today. Members, Will Anderson (vocals, guitar, piano), Johnny Stubblefield (drums), Alex Hargrave (bass), Kit French (saxophones, keyboards, vocals), and Nate McFarland (guitar, vocals) have a knack of creating the most relevant songs.
This five-piece truly are a group of amazing musicians, however, I believe it’s their songwriting skills that sets them apart from everyone else. They have the ability to connect with their listeners on a different level. They have the ability to take real life events, add a score of music that is amazingly perfect for the feel of the song, and share it in a way only they can. When I tell you their crowd loves them, they literally rushed the stage the minute they came on. And what makes this even more special was the way the group embraced them, by slapping hands along the stage, going out into the audience to sing, and brining the audience up on stage to dance with them during their cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing In The Dark” number.
Parachute – “Dancing In The Dark”
These guys love what they do and it’s apparent to those that love what they do. One word to describe Parachute, consummate.
Setting the bar for the evening so high with his two amazing opening acts, only Gavin DeGraw could come out and rock the audience into even more of a frenzy than they already were. There’s just something about Gavin DeGraw that I can’t put my finger on that makes this man legendary. Is it his humility at being able to share his passion with the audience? Is it his remarkable sexy voice that draws one in? Or could it be his bewitching smile and sense of humor that mesmerizes you? It’s probably the combination of all of these traits, along with his amazing talent and will to share his passion in music, that makes him a super star. Gavin has the ability to come out and perform for an audience like he’s singing just to you. Covering many shows over the years, this was my second opportunity to see Gavin perform. The audience of fans consisted of a smorgasbord of individuals from all walks of life and age groups. This demonstration of variety clearly shows how legendary he has become being able to entice so many.
Gavin DeGraw @ University at Buffalo Center for the Arts
Touring this year for his fifth album Make A Move, Gavin performed numbers from the album like “Leading Man,” “Best I Ever Had,” and the album’s cover song “Make A Move.” In addition to that, he played some older favorites and new music recently written together with his band, Billy Norris (Musical Director, guitar, and background vocals), Ian O’Neill (drums and background vocals), James Cruz (bass), and David Maemone (keyboards).
The crowd’s new favorite though was clearly his song “Finest Hour,” co-written with Ryan Tedder. He also performed a killer cover of Adele’s “Rumor”, but it was his cover of his musical inspiration, Billy Joel’s “She’s Always A Woman/Where You Are,” that brought the crowd to their feet. Performing alongside Billy Joel recently at Madison Square Garden, Gavin described how the pivotal moment was a dream come true as Billy Joel was the catalyst for his decision to become a performer after seeing him at a show during the 90’s. His journey was not an easy one without bumps in the road, however Gavin overcame many obstacles to achieve his dream and is truly an inspiration to all that have followed his career. As he performed “More Than Anyone” a ballad from his first album Chariot, it only took one verse for the crowd to take over and sing the song for Gavin.
Gavin DeGraw @ University at Buffalo Center for the Arts
I can’t image how that makes a performer feel when the audience loves your music so much, they will serenade you. One word to describe Gavin DeGraw, sincere.
It was truly a pleasure covering this show as a reporter and photographer as one feeds off of the energy in the crowd. The energy of this crowd was off-the-charts-crazy with love and admiration for all of these artists. This definitely was a hat trick for the University at Buffalo’s Center for the Arts and the fans that attended. One word for the show, outstanding.
