NYS Music 20​14

Category: Features

  • Al Kooper to play 70th Birthday Show at The Egg Saturday May 17th

    Al Kooper will be celebrating his 70th Birthday with a performance at The Egg tomorrow night, Saturday May 17th at 7:30pm.

    The legendary musician will be joined with his group the Funky Faculty, guitar virtuoso Jimmy Vivino and some very special unannounced guests. Tickets are still available for $35 and can be purchased at The Egg Box Office at the Empire State Plaza, by telephone – 518-473-1845 or online. This show will be part of The Egg’s continuous American Roots and Branches concert series, celebrating the classic music that still continues to influence generations today.

    AlKooper 70
    Al Kooper is a legendary musician with a career spanning 50 years whose trademark organ riffs can be heard on classic recording by The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Tom Petty, George Harrison and countless others. He was especially close with Bob Dylan, playing with him for many years live and in the studio, and is well-known for his work on “Like a Rolling Stone.” Kooper played a key role as a member of The Blues Project, Super Session and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Don’t miss your opportunity to catch a part of Rock n Roll history tomorrow night as well as an awesome birthday party.

    al kooperclassic

  • Great Music Festival Moments, Part 1

    Festival season is upon us, and with that comes 5 months of music and memories in some of the best locations for live music in the nation. As we prepare for our coverage of music festivals this summer – more than 40 across the country and Canada – we asked our staff to revisit some of the great music festival moments that they have experienced. Here are some of those moments.

    Jeremiah Shea: My greatest experience came just last year at Night Lights Fall Music Festival in Sherman, NY.  Even though the music was incredible and it was my first time seeing Marco Benevento, the highlight was the setting in which it took place.  The festival is known for it’s light show, not on stage, but throughout the venue and the woods surrounding it.  The team that coordinates the festival does an installation of about a mile or so of LED lights scattered throughout the forest where it takes place.  With multiple stages setup, I was treated to an amazing walk between sets of trees lit up in multiple colors, illuminated walkways, and an obvious show-stealing overall exhibit.  I now plan on attending every year regardless of who is taking the stage as that is always held to just as high of a standard as the entire production.

    great music festival momentsPete Mason: When I attended The Hangout in 2012, Sunday had a great afternoon lineup at the Chevrolet Stage – Mavis Staples, Steve Winwood, then The Flaming Lips, who were set to perform Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. I stayed put at that end of the beach the entire day, and while the full day was awesome, it was the Lips’ set that made it one of the greatest festival experiences ever. During “Us & Them”, I looked on my phone and saw that an eclipse was taking place momentarily on the other side of the world. I saw images coming through as “Brain Damage” started and as they went into “Eclipse”. As if those lyrics weren’t already some of the best ever, hearing “All that is now and all that is gone and all that’s to come and everything under the sun is in tune but the sun is eclipsed by the moon” was one of the most awesome feelings ever. You know those chills you get despite sweating? I had a rush of those for a few minutes afterward, and any time I hear the song in the future. I can never disconnect the memory of that day at Gulf Shores. The song will never be the same again.

    Jimmy Chambers: In 1999, my first non-Phish festival, I was at Gathering of the Vibes. I was enthralled by all the different bands and art and people. It was a truly monumental experience but the one moment that would change my life forever happened early on Saturday as I was walking to my car and to my right was the main stage, where I heard music that was different and better than anything I had ever heard before in my life. It was the Disco Biscuits. 15 years and 65 shows later, I still feel they are the best band out there. That is a festival moment that will live with me forever.

    Lindsay Jones: One of my best festival memories was Umphrey’s McGee, Bonnaroo 2006. It was a late show and I was flying solo that night. The set was high energy from the get-go, but when the band broke out into The Beatles “Baby You’re a Rich Man”, one of my favorites, I knew that night was special. As Umphrey’s transitioned into a funky version of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2”, it seemed that the crowd was grooving and moving as one, all dialed in. We were all singing along as “Brain Damage/Eclipse” grew to its climax, and I was absolutely overcome by emotion, bursting out into happy tears. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Marc Brownstein and Aron Magner of the Disco Biscuits and Joe Russo and Tom Hamilton were all on stage contributing to this musical masterpiece. I was just happy to have been there.

    Carly Knaszak: My greatest festival was Uproar Festival 2011 at Darien Lake, NY. My friends and I got there early just to see what merch they had out and what bands would be playing early. The headliners were Avenged Sevenfold and Three Days Grace. My friends and I walked into the venue and we saw a stand that was selling Three Days Grace CDs and we approached and saw if you bought their Life Starts Now album, you would be able to have the band sign it for 5 bucks. We bought the CDs and had the experience of a life time meeting Three Days Grace with their former singer, Adam Gontier. Avenged Sevenfold stole the show when they came on with opening with ‘Nightmare’ and ending with the oh so famous, “A Little Piece Of Heaven’. I came out of that concert with a few bruises, a sore throat, ears ringing and the greatest concert experience, ever.

    Garrett Woodward: Watching The Dead play the sunset set on the 4th of July. It was a surreal moment to stand on that grassy knoll‚ amid tens of thousands‚ and realize everyone (everything) here is a result of the magic created by a band formed some 44 years ago. The angst and beauty associated with traveling to catch that perfect show‚ the effort to drive dozens of hours in hopes of a correctly guessed opening melody‚ the lifestyle and reality‚ the entire goddamn reason I‚ and all in attendance‚ conduct our lives grew out of our unrelenting love for the Grateful Dead. Before I knew it‚ a handful of teardrops rolled down my cheeks during “US Blues‚” as fireworks exploded over the stage‚ celebrating not only the independence of this great land‚ but the independence and progressive nature of those surrounding me. “Wave that flag‚ wave it wide and high‚ summertime done‚ come and gone…”

    great music festival momentsAmy Lieberman:  My favorite festival moment had to have been back in 2010, at the Gathering of the Vibes, a lovely gathering on the beach at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut. This festival always seems to have an all-around positive vibe hanging over it the entire four days, probably due to the fact that this festival was created to provide a forum for music lovers and appreciators to channel the spirit of Jerry Garcia, which is really what attracted me to want to attend the event in the first place. On top of the obviously amazing shows put on by Furthur, Primus, Jimmy Cliff, and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, my absolute favorite moment of the festival was when Jackie Greene made a surprise guest appearance at the “Teen Scene” stage, where he joined the group of talented young musicians who happened to be playing on the stage after Jackie’s main stage act! I have to admit (and I’m sure I’m not the only one out there), I am a huge admirer of Jackie Greene, but I tend to get extremely starstruck. Well, I managed to work up the courage to tell him what I’ve always wanted to tell him, which was “Your voice makes my heart melt,” and got my photo snapped with him! That was definitely a major highlight of my festival-going years, not to mention my entire life!

  • Summer Camp 2014 Will Warm Up Festivalgoers for a Hot Season

    This year marks the 14th year of the ever-growing Summer Camp Music Festival set to take place at the Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, Illinois during Memorial Day weekend, May 23-25, 2014. The over 15,000 festival goers expected to attend will nearly triple the population of the small town, as it is infiltrated with music lovers from far and wide. Since Summer Camp’s start in 2001, it has grown from 1,000 people, 20 bands, and 2 stages to 15,000 people, 100+ bands, and 7 stages.

    summer c 5

    Over the years, Summer Camp has been the home of numerous world-renowned acts and artists including moe., Umphrey’s McGee, The Flaming Lips, Willie Nelson, Bassnectar, Widespread Panic, Les Claypool, Keller Williams, Pretty Lights, Skrillex, The Roots, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Medeski Martin & Wood, and many more. Not only can one find a combination of bands that can rival any big festival around, but it also has a considerable number of local NY acts in the lineup as well. Bands like Dopapod, Floodwood, Turkuaz, Auto Body, Jimkata, The Manhattan Project, Aqueous, Big Leg Emma, and moe. will be highlighting New York and the enormous amount of talented musicians that our state is home to.

    summer c 2

    moe. is a band that really speaks for itself. Since 2001, moe. has been making a name for themselves around the country and the world, playing  festivals all over and even having their very own moe.down Music Festival. Dopapod, Jimkata, and Aqueous are becoming veterans of the music festival scene. They have made appearances at shows like Burning Man, Bonnaroo, moe.down, and Gathering of the Vibes, ever increasing their reputation as seasoned festival musicians. Big Leg Emma and Turkuaz and just now making their way to the bigger venues, such as Summercamp, as they continue to make a name for themselves as soulful funk and folk musicians that can be appreciated by all.

    summer c 1

    Besides Summer Camp Music Festival’s stellar lineup and prime location at the beautiful Three Sisters Park, there are countless activities for music lovers to partake in during their down time, if they choose to have any. There are five main stages and at least three smaller tent and indoor sights to see music as well. One of the big attractions for when your not out enjoying the wide selection of music, is the Soulshine Tent. This tent is an education and entertainment mecca for festivalgoers. The tent has everything everything, including a live art gallery, hands on permaculture display, yoga, hoola-hooping classes, and last but not least, live glass blowing.

    summer c 3

    Besides being one of the country’s top stops for music and fun this summer, Summer Camp Music Festival is always looking at the bigger picture through their sustainable initiatives and non-profit involvement. Known as “The Summer Camp Green Team,” hundreds of volunteers will be on sight to assist campers in disposing properly of their waste and to sort recyclables. The campgrounds are filled with clearly marked color-coded waste bins, many biodiesel generators, composting areas, and environmental education centers. There is also a special “Make a Difference” area at Three Sisters Park, where the many non-profit groups are set up for campers to donate and learn about local and global causes. It is obvious that the organizers of Summer Camp have more on their mind than music and profit and that the environment and local communities are deeply seeded in what is important to them.

    summer c 6

    Again this year, Summer Camp Music Festival is sure to prove itself as one of, if not the top music festival in the country. From the countless artists and performers both internationally and locally known, the numerous other spots for entertainment and education, and the general happy-go-lucky vibe that will make sure any person in attendance can feel the love, Summer Camp is undoubtedly the place to be this summer. It is a place people of all backgrounds and musical interests can go and enjoy themselves, have new experiences that will stay with them for a life time, and feel good about doing it, knowing your impact on the earth is as minuscule, yet as positive as it can be.

    summer c 8

    Tickets are available at Summer Camp’s Ticket Central or ETIX at  1-800-514-ETIX. General 3-Day General Admission tickets are on sale now for $214.50.  

  • Fozzy Rocks in First Appearance in Poughkeepsie at the Chance Theater

    A very diverse crowd of roughly 200 people came to the Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie on Friday May 9. Some people there were huge WWE fans there to support their idol Chris Jericho. Some people were hardcore Hatebreed fans there to support Jaime Jasta’s side project. Others were there for a killer rock show. Whatever the case was, doesn’t change the fact that Fozzy, Jasta, and Kyng blew the roof of the Chance Theater.

    This was actually my first time at the venue. The place may be a little run down, however, the sound is great, the staff is personable, and there is not one bad view of the stage from anywhere in the building.

    After a set from local Anti-Mortem, Kyng played a loud 40 minute set around 8:40. With their new release Burn The Serum out, Kyng is continues to play songs off the album very hard and loud, and of course never afraid to give the crowd a good laugh between songs. Couple of highlights of their set was their latest radio hit “Electric Halo” and their cover of Van Halen’s “Hot for the Teacher.” And of course it’s not a Kyng show without someone being picked on that’s standing there with their arms crossed.

    Jasta stormed the stage around 9:50. This was my first time seeing Jasta’s solo project. Let me be the first to point out that it’s NOTHING like Hatebreed and it’s NOT hardcore. It’s a different side of Jasta. It’s more of the melodic metal side of him. I actually found it pretty amazing that outside his hardcore grunts, screams, and brutal vocals that we are used to hearing, he’s actually a damn good singer. In this band he really showcased that. He even joked to the crowd saying “oh my god, the Hatebreed guy can actually sing a note or two!” He also stated to the crowd that this was only his twelfth time EVER, that he played live with this solo project. His set consisted of his solo CD Jasta, (which was released summer 2011.) with songs like “Something You Should Know,” “Scream From The Sanctuary,” and “Enslaved, Dead, Or Depraved.” Also, props to his solo band. Jasta confirmed that they got together just this one show and really didn’t rehearse much. No one ever would have known that if it wasn’t pointed out. The band was so on key and so clutch that it felt like they were together for years. Towards the end of the set, Jasta played Kingdom of Sorrow’s “Enlightened to Extinction” which I thought was the best part of the show. Closing the show, Jasta aimed to please the wrestling crowd by playing the Hatebreed song “Last Breath” which they dedicated to The Ultimate Warrior, who just passed away recently. Overall an awesome set from Jasta. Hopefully Jasta will get the chance to do a full tour with this outing soon.

    Fozzy finally graced the stage around 11:15PM. Frontman and WWE Superstar Chris Jericho had his famous jacket on with all the lights on it. Fozzy opened up with 2 new songs “Do You Wanna Start a War?” and “Lights Go Out” which is off their upcoming album Do You Wanna Start a War?, due out in July. At first it almost seemed the vocals were overpowered by the loudness of the band but the sound crew adjusted accordingly. Jericho is a very charismatic frontman, and Rich “The Duke” Ward and the rest of band looked like they were having a blast on stage. Throughout the entire set, the crowd kept chanting “Fozzy!” over and over so the band was feeding off of that. Most of their set consisted of songs from “Sin and Bones” which the band toured heavily for the last couple of years. Highlights from their set include “To Kill a Stranger” and my personal favorite, “Martyr No More.” Another fun moment during the set, Jericho demanded crowd participation for “God Pounds His Nails.” The band wrapped up their set with their anthem “Enemy” and “Sin and Bones.” But came back for a two song encore of their radio hit “Sandpaper” and a cover of Krokus’s “Eat The Rich.” A very stellar 13 song set from Fozzy. They’re rapidly growing as a band and seem to breaking the mainstream rock and metal scene with the more material they are releasing. I also believe that Chris Jericho is slowly becoming known for the frontman for Fozzy than the WWE Superstar.

    Overall, a great show. Kind of an odd combination of bands, but that’s what made the experience much more unique and exciting.

  • Show Number One: Bruce Springsteen in Albany

    I’m not sure how it took me this long to see him, but it did and it was fully worth the wait. Bruce Springsteen puts on an amazing show, has incredible showmanship and presence on stage, and even played some wildcard audience requests look like they were part of the plan for the night. This was far from a greatest hits show and I found a few new favorite songs throughout the night. Here’s my take away from my first Bruce Springsteen show, at The Times Union Center in Albany on May 13th.

    bruce springsteen albany

    • The crowd was comprised of everyone from little kids to grandparents, and everyone in between. Bruce spans all generations.
    • “Don’t Change” and “My Love will not Let You Down” were a good 1-2 punch of to open the show. Never heard either before, let alone expected an INXS cover to start a Bruce show.
    • Tom Morello on guitar was a treat. Didn’t know he would be playing with Bruce, let alone that Little Steven wasn’t playing. Fair trade for me.

    • “Death to my Hometown” was tribal as hell.
    • I couldn’t tell if it was a standard show, or if there were bustouts. It didn’t matter either way. This show wasn’t defined by the setlist.
    • The audience interaction could have gotten old fast, and usually it does. Bruce is WAY more patient with the audience and the audience doesn’t seem to be pushy when it comes to getting him things to read or signs for songs they want to hear. Good band-audience relationship.
    • Reading a Mother’s Day card, then dancing with the mom in question was pretty cool. Your Mother’s Day gift is weak by comparison.
    • “Better Days” – new favorite tune. “Seaside Bar Song” and “Meet me at Mary’s Place” as well.
    • When an audience member requests “Stayin’ Alive”, it seemed like it wouldn’t happen. Then Bruce throws on the acoustic and this happens. “Stayin’ Alive” is one helluva a song when Bruce plays it. Stripped of Disco!

    • Seriously 17 band members? Glenn Miller Orchestra I saw last week had 19. But the sound for Bruce was worth it, just surprised to see 17 on stage.
    • “Shackled and Drawn” – HUGE song. Love this song, the Celtic-ness to it, although a bass line here would have been perfect. Good choreography as well.
    • “The Ghost of Tom Joad” – I imagine Pete Seeger looks down from heaven and smiles whenever Bruce plays this one. Major highlight for me.
    • I joked before the show with a few friends that I hope he plays “Born in the U.S.A.”, which was likely my first Bruce song growing up in the early 80s. I was pretty shocked to hear it, thinking it was a song he shelved for a long time.
    • “Born to Run”! Born->Born.

    • The crowd hung on every song and knew them all. Energetic and focused and not there just for the party – they wanted to hang on every note. Reminds me of Pearl Jam and Phish crowds.
    • Bruce’s intro for the E Street Band – never heard that before and damn it’s a good one.
    • Jake Clemons, Clarence Clemons nephew, has filled some very big shoes, and the tribute on the screen during intros was very touching.
    • The whole ‘not leaving the stage for an encore’ is confusing when most bands I see do that. Explains why the lights came on around 1030, if not earlier.
    • Russ Lawton looks like a young max Weinberg.

    Sure, there were some songs I wish I heard – “Growing Up”, “Because the Night”, “Atlantic City” and “Rosalita” – but I’m not disappointed I didn’t see them. It just means I need to go and see him more, chasing those tunes. What an amazing first show!

    Check out Bruce’s Notes from the Road

  • The Man, The Myth, John Legend comes to Proctors Friday May 16th

    John_Legend-0934_V2John Legend, the nine-time Grammy Award winning recording artist, is coming to the historic Proctors Theater in Schenectady tomorrow Friday 16th.

    His All of Me Tour has been selling out shows across the Upstate region and beyond, making tomorrow night a special show for those lucky enough to snag tickets. The show is set to start at 8 pm with no intermission during the 2 hour performance. One of the reasons this tour so special is that Legend is performing acoustically with just his piano, making for a more raw and intimate show each night.

    Legend’s tour is part of the promotion for his fourth studio album release, Love in the Future, produced by Kanye West and David Tozer, giving the classic soulful feel with a twist of modern sound. After a decade on the Billboard charts and with his new album, John Legend recently landed his first Hot 100 No. 1 spot with “All of Me.”

    The singer songwriter has been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people and is celebrated for more than just his music. Legend is honored for his social activism with launching the Show Me Campaign, a nonprofit organization fighting poverty around the world. He is also a part of The Education Equality Project, Teach for America and the Harlem Village Academies.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsYrpNHQ6hg]

  • Turning Stone Showroom Rocks Out with Bret Michaels Life Rocks Tour

    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 – 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.

  • Black Label Society, Down, Devil You Know, and Butcher Babies rock sold out Upstate Concert Hall

    It’s clear that metal is not dead in Upstate New York as Black Label Society lead the Revolver Golden Gods Tour along with Down, Devil You Know, and Butcher Babies leveled Upstate Concert Hall to a sold out crowd this past Monday night. This would mark the first time in roughly a decade that Black Label Society played at Upstate Concert Hall. The overall production was fantastic. The sound was incredible. The insanity was nonstop. And the concert security brought their A game as the old school metal fans unleashed their energy right back to the bands.

    20140505-BLS1-04

    Doors opened a little late which may have hurt the opening set from Butcher Babies. Butcher Babies started their set at 7:23 as there still was a long line out the door. They played a 30 minute set with an overall positive crowd response and did a meet and greet at their merch table after their set.

    20140505-ButcherBabies-05

    Devil You Know graced the stage a little after 8. Devil You Know features former Killswitch Engage frontman Howard Jones, who made his return to the stage after retiring from music a few years back. Jones has never sounded better with his brutal vocals and charismatic stage presence. On top of that, Jones has rediscovered his passion for metal music and he made that clear to the crowd. Three songs into their set the mosh pit opened up the floor. The rest of the band was tight, brutal, and clearly having a good time on stage together. Their 30 minute set contained songs off their newly released debut album The Beauty of Destruction. No Killswitch material at all. I don’t think the crowd had a problem with that which proved how great the band was. Devil You Know is out to prove they are a force to reckon with.

    Down started their heavy and hostile set that caused the floor to erupt. Mosh pits and body surfers galore. Phil Anselmo at his veteran status is clearly STILL the best frontman in metal. Still has the intimidating stage presence and brutal vocals that are always imitated but NEVER duplicated. New guitarist Pat Bruders replaced longtime guitarist Kirk Windstein, however, his guitar style and backing vocals were so clutch. If you were blind, you never would have known Down had a different lineup. The crowd erupted before Down got to their first song “Eyes of the South.” Most of their set consisted of songs from NOLA, with a very little newer material sprinkled into their set. They didn’t play anything from their upcoming EP Down IV Part Two. I would say “Lifer,” which the band dedicated to the late and great Dimebag Darrell was the highlight of the set. Down closed their set with the melodic “Stone the Crows” and the heavy trademark anthem “Bury Me in Smoke.” It was a damn shame that Down only played for 45 minutes. If you were present at this show, some may argue that Down could have headlined.

    20140505-Down-06

    Zakk Wylde and the newly revamped line up of Black Label Society swarmed the stage around 10:30 opening with their latest single “My Dying Time.” Wylde, one of the best guitarist in music and the king of pinch harmonics used many different guitars throughout the set including his trademark Bullseye Les Paul, the Randy Rhoads Flying V, Hybrid Flying V/Les Paul, and Gibson EDS 1275 double neck guitar. The production of their set was amazing with use of laser lights and smoke machines to really make the experience a huge spectacle which captured everyone’s attention because there were no more mosh pits. Half way through the set, Wylde unleashed a powerful seven minute long guitar solo that really showcased his fast shredding ability. A couple of songs later, they went into the mellower songs starting with “Angel of Mercy” with new guitarist (who Wylde jokingly claimed to the crowd that they traded 3 first round draft picks to Lizzy Borden to get him) Dario Lorina hopped on the piano that really showcased the entire bands talent. Soon after, Lorina switched to lead guitar and Wylde sat behind the piano for a really powerful rendition of Black Label Society’s most iconic ballad “In This River.” It was really moving to hear both of those ballads back to back.   Then Wylde unleashed the Gibson EDS 1275 double neck guitar to play the fan favorite “The Blessed Hellride.” Black Label Society unleashed a swarm of Black Label beach balls into the crowd during the super-heavy “Suicide Messiah” and “Concrete Jungle” before closing the entire set with “Stillborn.” Overall, one of the best shows from Black Label Society. There was no encore or a Pantera jam with Phil Anselmo.

    This concert was by far one of the best metal tours of the year. Hopefully the capital region won’t have to wait another decade for Black Label Society to slay the Upstate Concert Hall again.

    SDMF!

  • Phish Announces New Album ‘Fuego’

    Fuego, the first studio album from Phish in nearly five years, will be released by JEMP Records on June 24. Later that day, they will perform on ‘Late Show with David Letterman.” Phish recorded Fuego with legendary producer Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel) last fall, as the band’s 30th anniversary approached. They memorably performed brand new songs for their Halloween ‘musical costume’ on October 31st at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

    phish Fuego albumToday NPR Music’s “All Songs Considered” premieres “Waiting All Night,” one of the album’s 10 original tracks. Fuego is available for pre-order now in digital, CD and vinyl formats at Phish.com. The iTunes album pre-order will launch tomorrow, May 15. Fans who pre-order Fuego at phish.com or on the iTunes Store will instantly receive a download of “Waiting All Night.”

    The songs for Fuego took shape during a series of visits to Phish’s longtime creative hub, The Barn, a rustic, reconstructed barn-turned-rehearsal/recording studio located outside Burlington, Vermont. There they explored dozens of ideas, which led to a notable shift in the band’s songwriting approach. While Fuego includes tracks that individual members brought to the table in usual Phish fashion, the bulk of the material was written by all four, working together at The Barn.

    “For years, there’s been a distinct difference between how we did things live and how we did them in studio,” notes Jon Fishman. “But the way we go about things live, the way the musical ball is passed around, is now happening much more in the studio-not because we’re trying to duplicate how we play on stage, just because this is how we operate as a band, period.”

    Fuego was recorded at Ronnie’s Place and Anarchy Studios in Nashville, TN, Fame Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL and at The Barn in Vermont. A variety of background vocalists and horn players contributed to the album. The title track was recorded at Boardwalk Hall on October 30, as Phish prepared for the Halloween show.

    Fuego – Track Listing

    Fuego
    The Line
    Devotion To A Dream
    Halfway To The Moon
    Winterqueen
    Sing Monica
    555
    Waiting All Night
    Wombat
    Wingsuit

    Catch Phish on Tour this summer!

    7/1 Mansfield, MA XFINITY Center
    7/3 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
    7/4 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
    7/5 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
    7/8 Philadelphia, PA The Mann
    7/9 Philadelphia, PA The Mann
    7/11 New York, NY Randall’s Island
    7/12 New York, NY Randall’s Island
    7/13 New York, NY Randall’s Island
    7/15 Canandaigua, NY CMAC
    7/16 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
    7/18 Chicago, IL FirstMerit Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island
    7/19 Chicago, IL FirstMerit Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island
    7/20 Chicago, IL FirstMerit Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island
    7/25 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion
    7/26 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
    7/27 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
    7/29 Portsmouth, VA nTelos Wireless Pavilion
    7/30 Portsmouth, VA nTelos Wireless Pavilion
    8/1 Orange Beach, AL The Amphitheater at the Wharf
    8/2 Birmingham, AL Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
    8/3 Alpharetta, GA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park
    8/29 Commerce City, CO Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
    8/30 Commerce City, CO Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
    8/31 Commerce City, CO Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

  • Preview: Boston Calling Music Festival May 23-25 2014

    For quite some time there were no major music festivals in Boston besides EarthFest—an all-day summer concert, which holds the title as the biggest free radio station concert in the country (hosted by Radio 92.9). And then only last year, an event called Boston Calling sprung up out of nowhere, dipping its toes in the festival waters. Surely enough it did not disappoint and with bands like Of Monsters and Men, Portugal. The Man, The Shins, Matt and Kim, Fun. and The National all performing, the festival even developed its own sound. With the widely acclaimed success of its first event, Boston Calling 2014 geared up soon after for a September 2013 festival, this time featuring acts like Vampire Weekend, Kendrick Lamar, Passion Pit and The Airborne Toxic Event. The festival was even more popular the second time around than the first.

    2013-08-26-BC_CITYHALLPLAZA

    Now, in only two weeks, the third-ever Boston Calling is coming back from May 23-25. This Friday through Sunday weekend event features some of its biggest names yet including Jack Johnson, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and Death Cab For Cutie. The ticket options consist of a 3-Day Pass, a Weekend Pass (just Saturday and Sunday) and then single-day passes for each day.admat-spring

    The festival, which is held at City Hall Plaza, kicks off Friday when the dates open at 6pm. The main entrance is located on Congress Street and the staff highly recommends taking public transportation as the event is easily accessible from multiple MBTA stations, including the Orange, Blue, Red and Green lines. Friday features the mellowest superstar—Hawaiian native Jack Johnson, along with Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, and Cass Mccombs. The music is expected to end that night around 11pm.

    Saturday’s gates open at 12pm and the all-day event will, again, go on until roughly 11pm. With Death Cab For Cutie, The Decemberists, The Head and the Heart, Frank Turner, Jenny Lewis and The Neighborhood it should be an exciting day. Also scheduled to hit the stage is Warpaint, Walk Off the Earth, Maximo Park and Magic Man. Sunday starts and ends the same times as Saturday. Modest Mouse, Tegan & Sara, Phosphorescent, Built to Spill, Brand New, and Bastille will all be playing. Additionally there will be Kurt Vile and the Violators, The Districts, and Tigerman WHOA!.

    Altogether it’s looking like a great weekend for Boston that’s sure to live up to past Boston Calling festivals, if not surpass those.

    Check out Boston Calling – Lineup General Info  Tickets