NYS Music 20​14

Category: Features

  • Ed Kowalczyk sells out The Swyer Theater

    If you are a fan of 1990’s grunge, you know the band Live. Though songs like “I Alone” and “Heaven” debuted twenty or so years ago, they still get air time today. Not all fans of 1990s grunge or Live know the name Ed Kowalczyk though. Live’s former lead singer has taken a new direction (sort of) since splitting with the band, Live, in 2009.

    Kowalczyk’s direction is an active one; he is producing new stuff and still tours. Quite a bit. Despite his happy marriage and four kids, he is seemingly always on the road. He sold out The Egg’s Swyer Theater in Albany on March 21 and is heading overseas shortly.

    Ed Kowalczyk followed an opening performance by Anna Rose, originally of Dutchess County and promoting her album Behold a Pale Horse, she is all voice.  While her stage presence is still a bit awkward – she even explained that she’s been accused of laughing too loud –  Anna Rose’s powerful voice over heart-felt lyrics will lead her to greater things in the future.

    Kowalczyk, also known for pairing his powerful voice and lyrics, opened with “All Over You”. It seemed like everyone in the theater knew the words, leading me to believe that the sold out show was filled with Live fans. But as the show proceeded, and Kowalczyk shared his newer, more religious songs, it was clear that there was a strong Christian contingent in attendance as well. Kowalczyk’s three solo albums since 2010 focus on his re-awakening into the Christian faith, but listening even to his oldest material, you can sense the strong religious tide that runs through all his music.

    The Egg is a great venue because the layout allows fans to feel really close to the performer(s). This was my third time seeing Kowalczyk (once with Live ten or so years ago, then solo at Albany’s Alive at Five series in 2011), and this show did feel more intimate. Kowalczyk seemed totally at ease, and the closeness made it a lot easier to see the emotion that was written all over his face. He offered a very good sampling of 20 years worth of music, performing 18 songs including one surprise cover of The Rolling Stones “Gimme Shelter.”

    Last Time Kowalczyk was in Albany he confessed that he has a long history with New York’s Capital City since he once courted a girl who attended Siena College, who later became his wife. Now that he and his family have moved to the East Coast (Connecticut) from California, I suspect that we will see lots more of Kowalczyk.

    Setlist: All Over You, The Distance, The Great Beyond, Bottle of Anything, All That I Wanted, The Dolphin’s Cry, Angels on a Razor, Selling the Drama, Seven, Pain Lies on the Riverside, Face and Ghost, Heaven, I Alone

    Encore: Lakini’s Juice, Gimme Shelter, The Beauty of Gray, Overcome, Lightning Crashes

  • Jesus Christ! and the Hallucinogenic All Stars Bless Putnam Den

    Some of the biggest problems in modern music today include the needless repetition of every theme. Unfortunately, most people have “seen it all before,” and local music is especially notorious for this. For example, go to a metal show, and you’ll probably see the guitarist put his or her foot on the monitor. It’s old and tired. On the other hand, there are certain acts that try their own thing. Imagine that you’re a member of Jesus Christ! and the Hallucinogenic All Stars.

    You’ve smoked so much weed that you can’t see straight and you’ve drunk so much you can’t stand. But more importantly, your musical ideas are quite different than others and you’re unafraid to showcase them.

    Although the part about being ‘too high’ is an exaggeration, Jesus Christ! is very clearly unconcerned with what pop music is, how much money they’ll make, or whether they’ll have a career in music. They’re on stage for the fans and for their enjoyment of music.

    If you love the sounds of Clutch and Mastodon, you’ll probably also like Jesus Christ! They’re technically a three piece band, featuring guitar played by Jon Imbo, bass and vocals from Dustin Alexander, and drums from Ross Kelch, but this is where things get tricky. Anyone who goes to a show will notice a bearded man on the left side. His name is Jacob Pederson. He stands behind a partition, so he looks like he is probably a keyboard player, or a DJ, but his job is not one that you typically see on stage. He is literally a bartender, and the new people in the crowd had no idea how to react when he stepped away from the partition to hand the drummer, Ross, a mixed drink. He shakes, stirs, and produces right on the spot.

    This is just an example of Jesus Christ!’s non-conformities. Other than this, their bartender works on the light show and handles roadie and driving duties for the band, and by the power of his drink making would be arrested if they even attempted driving. The man acts as a hype man, and is not afraid of the possibility of anyone questioning why a non – musician would be on stage.

    But Jesus Christ! and the Hallucinogenic All Stars aren’t all about getting high. There is a lot more to their show than might be apparent. For instance, their sound, although similar to other bands, has its own groovy nuances. You’ll recognize Clutch and Mastodon, as well as Kyuss, in the mix, but their use of tasteful harmonies and rough vocals sung into one of those old time radio microphones have an awe-inducing effect.

    The band played some of their usuals at their March 19th Putnam Den show like “the Mountain,” and “Shipwrecked,” and covered a song as well, but besides the headlining Mobile Deathcamp, the band was a highlight of the night and did not disappoint. Their sound was a lot different from Dark Matter and Satan Place, who also played the same show. Their presence in the studio easily carries over to a live setting, where the band gets heavy enough to yell, casual enough to sway, and doesn’t mind jamming a bit.

    Anyone who comes to their shows in the future can expect one thing: the ability to relax after a long week at work, have a drink, and sway to the music. You don’t have to be high to have a good time, but you do have to believe in miracles, because in a musical sense, that’s exactly what Jesus Christ! will give you.

  • Artpark Announces First Group of Artists for Summer 2014 Lineup

    With the summer season approaching, the anticipation for nights spent outside listening to live music is rising almost as quickly as the temperatures.  One of Buffalo’s most eagerly awaited is the announcement of Artpark Tuesday and Wednesday concert series for 2014.  As of this week, the wait is finally over as the folks at Artpark made an initial announcement, revealing five shows for the upcoming season.

    The five shows, listed below, are already a great start that will be added to throughout the Spring.  Tickets for these Artpark events will go on sale on Friday, March 28, 2014 at 10am through the Artpark box office and Tickets.com.  Where else can you catch a band like Widespread Panic for next to nothing and with a gorgeous view to boot?

    First Niagara presents Tuesdays in the Park lineup: 
    June 10 (Opening Night) – Daryl Hall & John Oates – tickets are $12
    June 17 – Widespread Panic – tickets are $7
    July 8 – Boston – tickets are $12

    Coors Light Wednesdays lineup (both tickets are $11): 
    June 18 – Arctic Monkeys w/s/g White Denim
    July 9 – Sublime with Rome

  • Upstate March Madness – Round 2

    After an intense voting period (that rocked our servers pretty well) we have 32 bands and artists moving on to Round 2 of Upstate March Madness. Voting will be tight in these battles, so choose wisely – only 1 vote per IP address!

    18 East Region
    8 Eastbound Jesus v 16 Lucid
    10 Stigmata v 15 Formula 5
    6 Conehead Buddha v 14 Digital Dharma
    5 Phantogram v 13 Mister F/Timbre Coup

    315 Central Region
    1 Ronnie James Dio v 9 Gym Class Heroes
    2 Blue Oyster Cult v 10 Sophistafunk
    3 moe. v 11 Floodwood
    4 Joe Bonamassa v 5 Joanne Shenandoah

    607/845 South Region
    1 Pete Seeger v 8 Driftwood
    2 Donna the Buffalo v 7 Jimkata
    6 Big Mean Sound Machine v 14 Spectacular Average Boys
    4 Perfect Thyroid v 5 Sim Redmond Band

    716/585 West Region
    8 Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad v 16 Smackdab
    10 Buddhahood v 15 Funktional Flow
    6 Neal and Alan Evans (Soulive) v 14 The Manhattan Project
    12 Aqueous v 13 Big Leg Emma

    Check back Tuesday for the new matchups in the Sweet 16 of Upstate March Madness!

  • EXIT 97.7 WEXT Announces Fund Drive

    “Leave Regular Radio Behind” is their motto, they focus on local 518 artists, they dig through endless catalogs of forgotten songs, they are supported only by their listeners; they are Exit 97.7 WEXT and they command a unique on air musical experience rivaled by many, with a new Fund Drive coming up.

    Presented from March 21-28, WEXT-FM announces the Songwriter Showcase, an ideal platform respecting various musicians, navigating the sound waves to where songs begin.

    The Songwriter Showcase is a group of songs played on air from years past through current or new artists. The rotation of songwriters presented range from Neil Young to Josh Ritter. There will be songs that are political to songs that tug on the emotional heartstrings and everything in between. The Songwriter Showcase is only one example of programming 97.7 WEXT presents. Other special shows include countdown lists that no other radio tackles such as: the 500 greatest bands and albums of all time, as well as 977 greatest songs of all time. Other equally unique programming includes the 200 women who rock on International Women’s Day and an entire week is devoted to songs of freedom and protest.

    The EXIT 97.7 began July 7, 2007 making this year their lucky seventh anniversary. The station is not only proud of their commitment to music but also maintains a strong community based ideal sponsoring events such as Tulip Fest, Lark Fest and Art on Lark. Members of the community are also invited to partake in MY EXIT programming where the listener creates their own playlist and becomes the DJ for an hour. WEXT is a huge supporter of local talent, providing 518 artists with an outlet for their creativity with live in-studio performances. Local musicians are showcased throughout the day.

    Defying commercial radio, WEXT has a stronghold on local public broadcasting, setting their own policies and program decisions based on the desire and needs determined by open communication with the community. The community-owned and operated station relies heavily on financial support of its members, as there is no commercial advertising on air. During the Songwriter Showcase, listeners will have an opportunity to make a contribution during WEXT’s spring fund drive. In exchange members will receive a gift. Based on the contribution, each member will be able to choose from CD’s such as the re-mastered Uncle Tupelo’s No Depression, or concert tickets to upcoming shows. The sold out James Taylor show at Tanglewood is one package offer. Other available contribution packages include tickets to Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Breckell at The Palace Theatre or Jake Shimabukuro at The Egg.

    Exit 97.7 WEXT is still in its infancy yet the station has become a staple of the community and did so through grassroots efforts using the co-op paradigm as its model. Turn the dial to 97.7 FM and be the judge. Contributions can be made online at exit977.org or by calling toll free 1-800-272-6492.

  • Groovestick with The Jauntee & The Assortment of Crayons TONIGHT at Red Square

    Tonight in Albany, Red Square and Guthrie Bell Productions will host a trifecta of bands to make one helluva dance party. Albany’s own Groovestick and New Paltz natives The Assortment of Crayons will be joined by The Jauntee from Boston, MA. Each band overflows with an intense energy during their live performances that you will still be buzzing the next day. Do not miss these bands as they are on the rise and your best bet for a good time in Albany. Doors open at 8pm with a $10 cover charge and The Assortment of Crayons set to start at 9:30pm.

    groovestick at red square
    Groovestick at Red Square

    The Assortment of Crayons is a multi-genre band that isn’t afraid to color outside the lines as their unique arrangements are endlessly entertaining and surprising. With an eagerness to experiment, the Crayons pool together their musical influences to create a sound that has a little something for everyone to enjoy. Visitors but not strangers to Upstate New York, The Jauntee return to the Capital District to once again melt faces with their original improvisational jams. The four piece band has been gaining attention across the East Coast for their psychedelic, welcoming music often being compared to Phish, a comparison that should not be thrown around lightly but regardless, The Jauntee has a growing fan base in Albany that is eager to get the show on the road. Groovestick is one of Albany’s newest bands, a trio just under a year old with heavy organ melodies and a new age funk. Their fusion of progressive jazz with a touch of rock is brilliant as their rhythms are contagious and undeniable for all dancing feet.

  • Hearing Aide: The New Mastersounds ‘Therapy’

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    Funk may have spent its infancy here in the U.S., but at some point it must have been stowed away in a Gulf ship destined for the shores of our British neighbors.  The New Mastersounds have been around for a while now, originating in Leeds, England in 1999 and putting out an album just about every year or two since their inception.  Even with the loss of longtime organist Bob Birch in 2007, the band has stayed true to their original sound and continued at their feverish pace.  The New Mastersounds’ latest release, Therapy, is the ninth album from the British funksters and was recorded near Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado this past year.  The album masterfully traverses everything from jazz, funk, and soul, to covering the Bruno Mars song “Treasure.”  The album also features guest performances by Lettuce’s saxophonist Ryan Zoidis and The Motet’s singer Kim Dawson.

    The first track is titled “Old Man Noises” and opens with a snare roll before diving right in to one of the most rhythmically driven songs on the album.  The intensity of this deeply funky song hits you right away and draws you in for the rest of the album.  In the fleeting moments of the three-minute track, drummer Simon Allen goes off on a short-lived solo that gives you one last rush before slowing things down on the second track,  “Morning Fly.”  The back-to-back combo of the two is complimentary, yet polarizing.  In “Morning Fly” the band takes their time and develops the slow-rolling jazzy vamp.  Around the two-minute mark, a blues-inspired piano solo runs the ivory gamut and elegantly holds your attention throughout.  It’s tastefulness and simple beauty add to the song’s well-crafted atmosphere.

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    “I Want You to Stay” is the first track on the album that features a guest in The Motet’s Kim Dawson. Her voice is rich in feeling and emotion and her soulful tone pairs well with the band’s delivery.  The song is yet another example of how the band can take an easygoing melody and really push it to something that truly grabs your attention. Similarly, Dawson holds her voice back just enough to make you lean in and listen. There is nothing fancy on this track, yet you’ll find yourself closing your eyes and getting lost in the hypnotic chant of the title every time.

    The hidden theme through each of the twelve tracks is how expressive the band can be while still staying off of the radar. The group rarely tips their hand and always leaves you wanting more throughout the album’s entirety.  The song “Stop This Game” is another that you could glance over on your first pass through.  Its laid back style is undermined from the get-go by a propelling beat that never lets up.  The drums don’t command attention though, just calmly push along like a duck whose feet never stop under the water.  The musicianship extends in all directions on this one as well.  Following the first and second chorus, the band pulls back to support a solo from pianist Joe Tatton and guitarist Eddie Roberts respectively.  These two add just the right amount of flavor before dropping back out and showcase their overall control by not overindulging. Two-thirds of the way through the song, the band switches gears into a reggae-inspired groove that is somehow blended flawlessly.  Starting this song, you’d never expect it to go that way, but at this point it shouldn’t be surprising what these guys are capable of.

    The album as a whole covers a lot of ground, but never fails to deliver.  As their popularity grows, we can only hope that their stateside touring grows with it.  The band was gracious enough to share with  some shots from the studio in the gallery below.  The shots were taken by drummer Simon Allen and do an excellent job of making you feel as if you were right there with them.  After glancing through some of the pictures, you’ll notice the notes will begin to resonate deeper knowing what it was like to be there as this beautiful piece of work was captured.

    Key Tracks: I Want You To Stay, Stop This Game, WWIII (And How to Avoid It)

  • Alan Evans Trio Changes Name to Alan Evans’ Playonbrother

    AE3 to AEP.  While hard to understand at first take, it begins to make sense when you hear it straight from Alan Evans himself.  Announced the other day, the Alan Evans Trio has changed their name to Alan Evans’ Playonbrother, effective immediately.  Evans explained the why behind the change, saying, “Honestly, I just got tired of people assuming that we were a jazz trio.”

    alan evans trioOther than the name Alan Evans Trio, everything else remains intact and on schedule.  Beau Sasser and Danny Mayer still make up the other two-thirds of the band and all of the tour dates they scheduled are still on.  From a recording standpoint, the guys are heading into the studio as we speak to record the follow-up to Merkaba, an album honored in the Best of 2013.  In addition to that, they will also be releasing the transcendental Woodstock Sessions album next week on March 25th. As for touring, the band is getting ready to hit the road with Turkuaz and will be visiting Upstate New York on several occasions (Saratoga Springs on 3/27, Syracuse on 3/28, Rochester on 4/17, and Buffalo on 4/18).  With nothing musically changing, there’s nothing more to say but play on!

  • ‘Let it Go’ with The Infamous Stringdusters, The Conservation Alliance and Upstate NY

    “If you think you can make a difference and the fire is in your soul, go ahead and take your stand and if you can’t, let it go.” – The Infamous Stringdusters

    Words of wisdom and truth sung in five-part, heartfelt harmony isn’t preached, but instead, practiced. The Infamous Stringdusters make good on their own philosophy as proceeds from each album sold and every ticket for the Let it Go Album Release Tour is donated, in part, to The Conservation Alliance. According to their website, the mission of The Conservation Alliance “is to engage businesses to fund and partner with organizations to protect wild places for their habitat and recreation values.” The Stringdusters know they can make a difference and creatively found a way to help their fans recognize and contribute to environmental issues brought into awareness by The Conservation Alliance. New Yorkers have two opportunities to see a performance as well as purchase an advanced copy of Let it Go at The Wescott in Syracuse and Club Helsinki in Hudson on March 22 and 23 respectively.

    Official album release is slated for April 1 on High Country Recordings. The title track appears last on the disc perhaps making a larger impact of the lyrical stanzas and driving home the philosophical stand point of being true to oneself – a theme weaved throughout Let it Go. Disc opener, “I’ll Get Away” gently nudges the listener in the direction of soothing folk instrumentation and humming the “ohhhh’s” slightly hints at the cohesive as well as expansive string explosions presented within the eleven-track disc.

    A naturalistic approach to life themes told in tune using the imagery and temperament of Mother Nature present a dynamic dichotomy. “Where the Rivers Run Cold,” symbolically declaring never giving up in the refrain and “Winds of Change,” where moving on is encouraged, are contrasting emotions just as life and death exists in nature. Gentle picking and soft fiddle bowing add to the sweetly sorrowful ballad of “Rainbows” communicating a simple naivety in daydreaming.

    Let it Go Infamous StringdustersAndy Hall (Dobro), Andy Falco (guitar), Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle) and Travis Book (upright bass) are no strangers to raising awareness and making a difference. In 2013, the band invited fans, affectionately known as Jamily, on a six-day float trip through the wilderness. The excursion brought water sustainability issues to the forefront in partnership with Patagonia, Klean Kanteen, and Osprey Packs. “Middlefork” was created paying homage to the location of the trip in an instrumental dominated by a fiddle and dobro composition matching music with nature’s soundscapes.  Likely brushing off the dust the great outdoors can kick up, surely these boys were left yearning a bit for the Colorado country flare proclaiming “I wanna get mile high/touch the sky/get lost in mountain time.”

    The album was recorded at White Star Sound boasting a rustic farm off a dirt road in Virginia. The seclusion and natural surroundings offered an opportunity for The Stringdusters to be present in the music making process; enabling a more focused song crafting and musical stylings seemingly contradictory to their live performances and periodic improvisation, though airy nuances throughout whisper like Father Time plays tricks on the mind.

    The Stringdusters have evolved personally and musically. They continue to host  The Festy Experience.  The fan favorite festival is in its fifth year and will be held October 10-12, 2014. The annual event is held at The Devil’s Backbone Brewery in Nelson County, Virginia. Tickets for the event go on sale coinciding with the album release on April 1 and various package deals will be available.

    The self-explanatory, “Light & Love” hits a high note of positive thinking on the metaphorical Universal energy that runs through nature and human emotion. Tales are told in these Infamous Stringdusters tunes of evolving sounds of folk, bluegrass and country jam. Most certainly, the first step in being true to oneself is to Let it Go.

  • MVCC Jams with Floodwood and The Birdseed Bandits

    What do you get when you cross the Birdseed Bandits with Floodwood?  You get one electric foot stomping, feel good, jam session.  How could this get even better?  Hold it at one of the best venues in town, the Mohawk Valley Community College’s (MVCC) IT Auditorium.  The space is designed with top notch acoustics, state of the art sound and lighting, and not a bad seat in the house.

    Floodwood at MVCC
    Floodwood at MVCC

    The show began with Adam Ludemann, Seth Becker, and Nash Robb, the trio that makes up the Birdseed Bandits, setting the bar high with their unique acoustic sounds with a strong banjo, guitar, percussion, and bass tempo.  This sound reverberates into your soul and the unique composition can’t help but make you tap your feet to the beat.  They’ve been hailed as Punk/Americana or “Punkicana,” Folk/Rock, Adirondack Folk, “Foot stomping” Folk/Punk-Rock, or Alternative Americana.  No matter what genre they are categorized within, they are definitely talented and a feel good band.

    Floodwood took the stage immediately after  and from the minute they walked out on stage you could feel the love and energy from their fans.  While the audience during the opening performance remained in their seats clapping their hands and tapping their toes to the songs, the minute Floodwood took the stage these same fans rushed to the edge of the stage to be right there in front to dance and stomp along.  This tale tell sign is a foreshadowing of what is to come for those who have never been part of a band’s shows. I must add how absolutely wonderful this venue is set up to accommodate not only those who wish to be part of the performance by dancing and singing along up front, but those who wish to remain seated during the performance without obstructions. Kudos to the venue as the design truly accommodates their audiences and bands alike.

    Floodwood didn’t disappoint as usual.  Their full set list of amazing creative sounds entranced the audience and whether fast paced or melancholy, the audience was mesmerized throughout the whole show.  But it’s the engagement with the crowd that makes them stand out as top performers.  It’s the peek into their personalities that engages the audiences.  You can see this clearly.  It’s the amazing talent and experience of true greats such as Al and Vinnie that set the bar.  It’s the interactions experienced with Nick playing the banjo or fiddle and Jason with his mandolin among the crowd that makes them part of the show.  And it’s Zach strumming the base one minute and then the next thing you know he’s down on the carpet doing pushups (which I must add were very impressive).  It is this peek into their personalities that only makes their audiences love them more and engages them as their Floodwood family.  This is true entertainment.  This is what makes them stand out.

    As a newly developed fan of Floodwood, I look forward to their upcoming shows this festival season, and want to spread the word to those who may not have seen them previously.  Floodwood is a “MUST SEE” show.  Check them out their tour schedule;  you can thank me later for introducing you to them.