NYS Music 20​14

Category: Features

  • And the Winner of Music March Madness 2014 is…

    Lucid! The North Country’s finest barreled through the competition with strong support from their fans, knocking off the top seeded Ominous Seapods on their way to the championship against Big Leg Emma. It was a true Cinderella story, a #16 seed coming out on top over 6 rounds of tight voting in March Madness 2014. Lucid has plenty of time to relish the victory, as we await the soon to be announced lineup for their own Backwoods Pondfest Music Festival, held in Peru, NY on August 8th and 9th.

    When asked how it felt to win the inaugural March Madness, percussionist Lowell Wurster had this to say:

    It feels like there is a lot of love out there for Lucid. We have been working really hard for 10 years and I think we have good name recognition. As I generally don’t view music as a competition, because I think it’s hard enough to be a musician in the first place, the football player in me is ferociously competitive, so it was interesting to see that side come out of me again.

    I am happy people recognize us and felt they knew us well enough to vote for us, especially during this very exciting transitional period for us. Having Chris English join the band is one of the best things that has happened in a long time, and it got all of us amped up to make some serious moves. We feel that we are finally the band we were always supposed to be, and we all have the same goals now and that is super exciting. We are looking forward to the future with bright eyes and cant wait to see where it takes us.

    Winning the march madness tournament only gives us more validation that we are onto something and people may be taking notice. This whole transition has happened within the month of March, which also marked Lucid’s 10th year. I don’t think this is coincidental, we are excited and can’t wait to keep working as hard as we ever have, to play our music, and spread our message of love, light and community.

    Look for our Local Limelight profile of Lucid later this month, and be sure to check them out at these shows in April:

    April 24, Monopole Bar, Plattsburgh
    April 25, Unitarian Church, Plattsburgh
    April 27, Plattsburgh Half Marathon, City Rec Center

  • Chick Corea in Concert at The Massry Center at The College of Saint Rose

    American composer, 20-time Grammy winner, brilliant  and undisputed keyboard virtuoso, Chick Corea will perform in concert on Friday, April 11th at 7:30 p.m. in the Kathleen McManus Picotte Recital Hall at The Massry Center for the Arts at The College of Saint Rose in Albany.

    chick corea albanyFresh from his 2013 Grammy wins for “Best Jazz Instrumental Solo,” and “Best Jazz Instrumental Album”, Chick Corea will put his five decades of unparalleled creativity and vibrancy on full display in a rare solo piano performance at The College of Saint Rose in Albany.

    From straight ahead to avant-garde, bebop to fusion, children’s songs to chamber music, along with some far-reaching forays into symphonic works, Chick Corea has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring. A tirelessly creative spirit, Corea continues to forge ahead, continually reinventing himself in the process.

    Remaining tickets are $85 and include a pre-concert reception beginning at 5:30 p.m. and priority reserved seating. For concert information and tickets, contact Sal Prizio at 518-337-4871 or email concerts (at) strose.edu.

    Chick Corea last performed at The Massry Center on April 4th, 2012. Watch his “Bud Powell Tribute.”

  • Aqueous Running KickStarter to Fund New Album

    Buffalo’s groove rock champions Aqueous are in the midst of a Kick Starter campaign to fund their new studio album. With the advent of mp3’s and digital music rendering cd sales and labels practically moot, more and more artists are turning directly to their fan base to fund the expensive process of studio creation, mixing and production.

    This has become a win for fans – with most campaigns including a plethora of unique and exclusive opportunities up for grabs, the barricades between artist and audience start to crumble. Aqueous’s campaign is no exception, offering everything from personalized artwork from band members, brand new merchandise, personalized set lists, to having the band play a raging full show in your backyard.

    Even the most basic contribution will net the lucky investor their name in the albums liner notes. is a big supporter of these campaigns and we hope you’ll consider helping out one of our favorite up and coming bands.

    At the least you should check out the page for the really amusing video. Lemonade anyone?

    AQ-PRESS

    Upcoming Upstate Aqueous Dates

    April 24th Putnam Den, Saratoga NY*

    April 25th The Westcott Theatre, Syracuse NY*

    April 26th The Waiting Room, Buffalo NY **

    May 9-10 Carey Lake Spring Revival Festival, Macedon NY

    * w/ Dopapod

    ** w/ Dopapod and Mister F

    Aqueous – King For a Day – Erie Pa 2013-12-31

    http://youtu.be/x7YHjUm7XBI

  • The Oncoming Tour: Unearth to Play Entire Album for its 10th Year Anniversary

    Unearth Oncoming 3Unearth may not be as widely known outside of metal’s circle pits, but their impact on the scene and genre as a whole can be seen throughout.  Originally debuting back in 1998, the band rose to prominence with other New Wave of American Heavy Metal acts such as Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God, and Shadows Fall, re-energizing the genre and grabbing the bar from previous nu-metalites and setting it much higher than it’s been since the early 90’s.

    Their style, along with the others mentioned, mixed the speed and chops of metal with the heaviness of hardcore into a brand new genre known as metalcore.  Their most prominent album, The Oncoming Storm, was released in 2004 and is one of the best of the era with well-written, beautiful melodies giving way to the most brutal breakdowns of the time; you couldn’t help but feed off of their energy.  They are one of the few bands whose onstage presence somehow carries over to the studio.  With the album reaching its 10 year anniversary, the band has decided to put a tour together and play it in its entirety for the first time ever, start to finish.

    Announced yesterday, the band will be hitting the road for over 20 dates including a stop in Rochester on May 31st at Montage Music Hall.  In direct support will be Texas in July, Cruel Hand, and Armed for Apocalypse.  If you’re unfamiliar with Unearth’s body of work, here are two of their official videos from The Oncoming Storm.  Crank it up and enjoy! m/


  • Jim Brickman Celebrates 20th Anniversary With Central New York

    On March 15, 2014, Jim Brickman celebrated a monumental achievement in his career; 20years to the date, he released his first album, No Words.  Twenty years later, Jim Brickman stepped foot on stage for the first time at the Stanley Center for the Arts, bringing along more than 33 best-selling albums, dozens of collaborations with the top artists in the business, numerous awards and achievements, and multiple projects under his belt to share with the audience.   Utica was thankfully chosen for his special occasion and the performance shared by all was truly heartfelt.

    Jim Brickman 20th Anniversary Celebration
    Jim Brickman 20th Anniversary Celebration

    Opening the evening with “The Promise,” a musical piece from his Simple Things album, his beautiful playing drew in the audience and set the mood for the evening with a light and airy feeling.  He shared moments throughout of how the music came to be, joked about things that occurred over the years, and by the end of the evening, it was as though it was a small room filled with friends and family, celebrating a very special anniversary. Below, Jim shares how he came to record his first album, and you see how fate sometimes plays a hand in the avenues taken in life.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shzUoE359Qk]

    Jim was joined throughout the evening by special guests Anne Cochran, a childhood friend from his hometown in Cleveland, Ohio, and George Perris, a young man originally from Greece who has been performing worldwide since the age of 14.  Jim shared childhood stories of how he and Cochran became acquainted.  His memories and admiration for her still hold true today as they have remained friends and co-workers now for several decades.  This was apparent as they bantered back and forth with each other throughout the evening like brother and sister.  Cochran has collaborated on several numbers and shows with Jim, of which they performed one of their most popular of the evening, “After All These Years.”  Perris was then introduced and impressed the audience with not only his knowledge of music and amazing talent, but his ability to speak multiple languages as well; four in total.  Joining Jim onstage for multiple numbers and a “selfie” of the three of them, Perris amused and enchanted the audience.

    Anne Cochran and George Perris at Meet & Greet
    Anne Cochran and George Perris at Meet & Greet

    I have always been a big fan of Jim Brickman over the years as he has written two of my favorite songs of all time: “Valentine” and “The Gift.”  I have listened to him on the weekends on his radio show, and it was nice to hear some personal stories on his road to success.  His influences from Jim Henson and those from Walt Disney effected his love of music and the styles he would perfect over the years.  I have to say that his performances of the Muppets and Disney tunes were my favorites of the evening; perhaps because they were light-hearted and fun, perhaps because I knew the tunes such as “It’s Not Easy Being Green”, “Rainbow Connection”, or “When You Wish Upon a Star”, or perhaps because they were some of my favorite tunes growing up and they brought me back to a time when life was simple.  It was nice to connect with a musician on a level of commonality, even if it’s just a love of the same type of music.

    For those who may not realize this, Jim has offered his musical talents to numerous shows, commercials, and events. One event he spoke of was the 2014 Sochi Olympics.  As he played the numbers he wrote for the Olympics, he joked that some music is often used as background to narrations and sometimes for sad stories even.  As humble as he is, he still gets excited though to hear his music when it plays out in public places.  One such moment was as he was on hold with a credit card company.  Upon calling in to fix a credit card issue, he waited patiently, listening to his music, until the customer service operator came on the line.  As impressed as he was with himself, unfortunately the person on the other end didn’t share the same excitement as he joked about listening to himself on hold.  A more recent occurrence happened as he was traveling through an airport and heard his music playing while he took a pit stop.  Wanting to share his excitement with others, he thought better of it as perhaps that wasn’t the time or place to share that information.  It was stories such as these that bring such huge performers and stars into a perspective that is relatable with their audiences.  Again, the stories, jokes, and insights are what make Jim Brickman the star he is today and continue to build the relationship he fosters with his followers.  His talent and generosity provide opportunity to give back to his audiences worldwide, while his appreciation and gratitude are genuine.

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

    As mentioned above, Jim’s career has garnered multiple albums with multiple hits over the years.  His musical compositions and songwriting skills have elevated him to a level of expertise as one of the greats of our era.  At the same time, it was nice to see such an approachable, easy-going, and humorous individual on stage and in person.  He goes out of his way to remain approachable to his fans by sponsoring cruises and parties.  This years event, Brickman’s Bash, will be held in Cleveland, Ohio on July 17th-20th.

    Although this was the first time Jim Brickman visited The Stanley Center for the Arts, I have a feeling it will become a permanent stop on each tour.

  • The Devil Went Down To Peekskill: Charlie Daniels Band Live at the Paramount Hudson Valley

    It was a cool and rainy evening on March 29 in Peekskill with the last remnants of snow banks melting away making for a perfect virtual escape from the Northeast with the southern rock and country stylings of The Charlie Daniels Band.

    The night started with an acoustic set from Nashville country singer-songwriter Jacob Powell, who is making a handful of stops with the Charlie Daniels Band during his current tour. While his self-titled debut EP features a full band, he was joined on stage with fellow Nashville guitarist Jason Brooks to create a nice, full live acoustic sound. Singing some songs about summer, good times and koozies, Powell eased the crowd’s minds out of the cold northeast weather and warmed folks up for the Charlie Daniels Band.

    After a brief set change, the Charlie Daniels Band took the stage, wasting no time in setting the energetic tone for the evening. The band’s slightly short but appropriate length set of 75 minutes featured a number of CDB favorites. “Birmingham Blues” radiated vibes akin to an Allman Brothers Band performance both in song style and in the chemistry on stage. A rather interesting display came to us during a longer instrumental jam, “Black Ice.” Featuring some funky beats and riffs, elements of country and rock and roll and a spotlight on each band member, this fused a conglomeration of sounds and ideas and was a treat for every member of the audience. The set also included “The South’s Gonna Do It,” popular fan request “Long Haired Country Boy” – a tune that turns 40 this year – and of course “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.”

    This best-known hit for the Charlie Daniels Band closed the evening with flawless fiddle lines and a few extended segments over the studio version. It’s one thing to get a guitar pick from a band, but one lucky fan in the front row was given by Daniels himself the frayed horse hair fiddle bow in the middle of the song. Another crowd-pleaser came with a raucous cover of “Folsom Prison Blues” with fans having a grand time clapping and cheering along with the Johnny Cash classic.

    Throughout the evening, Daniels presented some songs off his latest album, Off the Grid – Doin’ It Dylan. Prior to performing “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” about mid-show, Daniels paused from the music for a moment to explain his connection with Bob Dylan which goes back to the late 1960’s when he recorded with Dylan on Self Portrait and New Morning. Aside from that song, Daniels also gave his nod to Dylan with “Tangled Up In Blue” early on in the set with a refreshing up-tempo and fuller arrangement of the tune. Off the Grid – Doin’ It Dylan was released this past Tuesday, April 1st.

    One unique element of the show was when Daniels, who holds his band mates in high regard, stepped to the back of the stage to put the limelight on the talent of two of his band members. Lead guitarist Bruce Brown, a 24 year veteran of the band, stepped forward and performed one of his solo works with the rest of the band; guitarist Chris Wormer did the same with his rockin’ version of the “William Tell Overture” on his double neck guitar.

    At age 77, Daniels can still perform a powerful show. His frequent quick wit and humor exchanged with band members and the audience between songs, along with a few anecdotes, kept every party at the Paramount engaged with one another. For those who missed the show in Peekskill, the Charlie Daniels Band will be back in Upstate NY at the Times Union Center in Albany May 31 with the Marshall Tucker Band and Bret Michaels (of Poison) and at the Main Street Armory in Rochester on June 1.

  • Yonder Mountain String Band Announce 2014 Summer Tour Dates

    YMSB Spring 2014

    The boys from Yonder Mountain String Band will be bringing that thumpin noise back through Upstate NY in 2014 with their brothers in bluegrass arms, Railroad Earth, with their respective signature bluegrass sounds. Their summer tour will have stops throughout the East and West Coasts, with a much-needed stop in Syracuse, NY on July 11th at the F Shed.

    This is an all ages show, doors open at 7PM and the show starts at 8PM. Tickets are $29.50-$60 and can be purchased online here, tickets go on sale this Friday at 10AM.

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  • Biohazard, Sworn Enemy Lead Hardcore Clash at The Loft in Poughkeepsie

    bio loftThis past Friday night, April 4th, The Loft in Poughkeepsie turned into a hardcore madhouse as NYC area headliners Biohazard and Sworn Enemy lead the night along with other hardcore and metal acts from the 845 and 518 area.  About 170 people packed the place to unleash their aggression and have a good time.

    The doors opened at 7 and local area metal newcomers Pug Box opened the night around 7:15 with their six song set to set the tone for what was to come. Soon after, 518 hardcore outfit Life Sentence played their six song set adding a lot of attitude to the stage.  Their style and presence felt very similar to Madball.

    The Standard Assault (better known as TSA) then graced their stage with their unique set.  They really stood out due to their metalcore and groove metal style.  Along with that, their songs were far more lengthy than the other bands on the bill.  They were aggressive and thrashy. Guitarist  John Reilly played blazing solo’s that were clearly influenced by Slayer and frontman Pete Stott’s vocals were unique with a Randy Blythe-like flair to it.  Their songs were clearly about past girl friends and betrayal.  It was a nice change of pace for the night.

    Albany’s Brick By Brick then took The Loft into hostile territory as they brought a bloody knuckle atmosphere with their eight song set that caused the floor to erupt with slam dancers and borderline dangerous moshing.  Despite some sound trouble, they never missed a beat and kept the energy high.  Frontman Mike Valente even called out the crowd hanging at the bar to get themselves closer to the stage.  They ended their set with “Bro Hymn” with lots of crowd participation that just made everyone on the floor go crazy.

    Sworn Enemy stormed the stage around 10PM.  They’re out promoting their upcoming album Living On Borrowed Time.  Their set consisted of their classics as well as two new songs fused into their set.  Opening with “One Way Trip,” the already established pit grew even bigger and caused the floor to go completely chaotic.  Luckily, no one was hurt.  There was one person in the crowd that stood much bigger and taller than anyone that was dancing in the pit.  About mid-way through Sworn Enemy’s set, this guy in the crowd just walked over to frontman Sal LoCoco and picked him up off the stage and swung him around.  Luckily the show was not stopped or interrupted and there was no ill-intent.  Sworn Enemy ended their set on a high note with “We Hate” and let everyone in their crowd release their aggression.

    Biohazard finally took the stage at 11:30 with a setlist that contained hits and album cuts from their first three records.  Opening the set with fan favorites “Chamber Spins Three” and “What Makes Us Tick,” Biohazard proved at even their veteran status, they still bring lots of energy on stage and show absolutely no sign of slowing down.  From that moment on, it almost seemed that everyone in the crowd was from Brooklyn. Midway through their set, Biohazard unleashed the iconic “Tales From The Hardside.”  Things in the pit became hostile, and a huge scuffle broke out in the crowd causing the entire security team to stop it, which ultimately caused the band to stop what they were doing.  Even I ran to the corner and hid when this all went down. After a few minutes Biohazard resumed and played a few tracks off their first record.  Then lead guitarist Bobby Hambel addressed the crowd on the corruption of news and politics which lead to “Black And White And Red All Over.”  Finally, Biohazard wrapped their eighteen song set with their breakout hit “Punishment” and their creed motto “Hold My Own.”

    Everyone at The Loft had a blast, and it’s obvious Biohazard still enjoys what they do. I was lucky enough to chat with the band after the show.  They all confirmed they are hard at work on a new album and will be touring through Upstate New York again.  Biohazard currently finished a brief East coast run and is now doing a month-long European tour but come back to the U.S. in May for the annual “Black N Blue Bowl” at The Well in Brooklyn on May 17th and 18th along with Hatebreed, Agnostic Front, Sworn Enemy, Brick By Brick, and many more.

  • The Revivalists to play The Sinclair in Cambridge, MA, April 22nd

    Listen up Bostonians, and any other Northeasterns that may be in the area –  a show you do not want to miss is coming up on Thursday, April 22nd. The Revivalists, a 7-man band filled with old-school spirit and new-age appreciation, are coming to The Sinclair of Cambridge in Cambridge, MA and bringing a wild mixture of genres to the stage.

    the revivalists sinclairThe Revivalists have been providing their voluptuous sound since 2007 with members Ed Williams on pedal steel guitar, David Shaw on vocals, Zack Feinberg on guitar, Rob Ingraham on sax, Georges Gekas on bass, Andrew Campanelli on drums and Michael Girardot on keys and trumpet. Like their extensive list of instruments, their sound has been plunging from traditional rock to airy acoustics to funky beats reminiscent of their New Orleans hometown – a musical jambalaya, some may call it.

    This is the kind of band that will blow the roof off of a 30,000 person warehouse, let alone an intimate venue like The Sinclair. Their live set has so much sound and energy you’ll walk out of the show needing a slap in the face to wake you from the heavy trance you were just in. Lovers of all genres and a wild time are bound to enjoy this one.

    So don’t be afraid of the musical revival these fervent performers have in store – you know you want to be a part of it. Get your tickets for The Revivalists at The Sinclair, 4/22 here

    …and give them a listen if you’re still unconvinced:

    Studio version of Navigate Below

    Live version of Concrete (Fish out of Water)

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  • Hearing Aide: Hard Soul “Heart of Plaster”

    Hard Soul - press photoThe up-and-coming band, Hard Soul, from Albany NY is about to release their first full-length LP, Heart of Plaster. The band has been diligently gigging and recording since their formation in 2011. Hard Soul’s short history has included many shows in upstate and central NY as well as the release of two singles, “Love Eat the Young” in 2012 and “Seize the Year” in 2013. On April 8th, Hard Soul is releasing their new album and will be celebrating at their release party at The Low Beat in Albany on the 11th, which will also start off their 2014 tour season.

    Hard Soul’s versatile sound can only be attributed to the dedicated musicians that make up this Pop/Punk Rock quartet. Music on their new album ranges from a heavy, up-beat hard rock, celebrating the pure fact of being alive, to quiet acoustic songs recalling life’s mistakes that we can all relate to. The group’s sound is very reminiscent of the punk-skater music that became popular in the late 90’s and mid 2000’s. Hard Soul’s lyrics are those that people of all ages can relate to, but would definitely be more favorable to teenage ears. Similar to bands like Green Day and Blink 182, Hard Soul has a raw, uncut feeling that holds nothing back in expressing the struggles and trying times in life that make us question our very existence.

    Hard Soul’s talented members have written, played, and produced the entire album themselves with the help of Steven Goldman at Four Legs Records in Washingtonville, NY. Front-man Johnny Salka is the beating heart of the band. Not only did Salka produce the album, but he also provides vocals and lead guitar, which is a large part of what gives Hard Soul their appealing sound. Helping out are Nick Kossor on lead and rhythm guitar and Ryan Klaeysen on bass. And last, but certainly not least, is drummer Mark Podbielskim, who ensures that your foot won’t stop moving till the album is finished.

    heart of plaster

    Heart of Plaster starts off with a track titled “Let Go!” and serves as a perfect opener to kick off their debut album. It starts off with a no-holds-barred driving rhythm intro accompanied by a public service announcement calling everyone to attention for “an important announcement.” The songs talks about the urge that everyone has known, where you just feel the need to escape from the real world and take time to figure out who you really are. Its high energy is a perfect vessel for the message to just let it all go and be yourself. The album’s big hit and popular music video, “Just Be Love,” is another fast tempo tune with a positive message. The song recalls the trials and tribulations of being “young and dumb” and reminds the listener that through it all, when you may be most conflicted, to “just be love.” The music video is the full band in a small room, with a crowd of loyal fans in the background dancing their hearts out to a tune they all love. The album’s tenth and last song, exemplifies the band’s stellar musicianship, versatility, and range of emotion that Hard Soul can evoke. “Sincerely” is an enduring eight-minute ballad that evolves from a solemn acoustic opening into a heart-wrenching electric guitar section that sends chills down the spine. This final track begs to know whether the love that singer-songwriter Salka has been feeling is real. He swears he will be fine with whatever answer he is given, but you know by the tone of his voice that heartbreak surely awaits him. All he wants to know is if she is sincere or if this feeling he has is nothing more than a fading memory.

    Hard Soul’s new album can be found on Amazon or itunes. You can also follow the band online via Facebook or their website, thehardsoul.com.

    Key Tracks: Let Go!, Just Be Love, Sincerely

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBZUR1k2eqM