Category: Reviews

Hearing Aide: The Motet’s Self-Titled Album

Fans have been patiently waiting for the new Motet album since last September when they expressed their excitement for it at The Catskill Chill Music Festival.

The wait is over and it was well worth it. The nine-piece funk band hailing from Boulder, Colorado has released their 7th album, The Motet, combining different layers of funk with disco, jazz and electronica making for an entertaining listen to get any party started. An album by any other name would still be as freaking sweet. Dave Watts, drummer and founder of The Motet said in an interview with The Marquee, “We decided just to call it The Motet. It’s kind of like a new beginning – like our debut CD,” citing lineup stability as the determining factor in the the title. The album is just under an hour long, with 55 glorious minutes of Motet music that showcases their growth as individuals and as an unstoppable funk machine in the span of nine tracks.

“Like We Own It” has electrifying keys from Joey Porter that gets you pumped up and ready to groove hard on that dance floor like it’s the 1980s. “123” has a standout bass rhythm that brings the funk with the horn section of Gabe Mervine on Trumpet and Matt Pitts on Tenor Sax kicking it to high gear and lyrics about the beauty of partying in their home state of CO. “Rynodub” is an all instrumental song with reggae flair and an eerie intergalactic vibe throughout the song with constant brass buildups and echoing percussion from Motet founder and leader, Dave Watts. “Closed Mouth Don’t get Fed” an upbeat melody with a strong and simple message that if you keep your mouth, ears and mind closed, you will not grow. Music is nourishing. Feed yourself right with The Motet.

“Extraordinary High” has a light dash of disco with a swirling groove of the soulful Kim Dawson on vocals. “Rich In People” is a sing along anthem with the in sync harmonies of rebellion lead by Jans Ingber, bizarre key loops and rocking guitar riffs from Ryan Jalbert and Dan Schwindt. “The Fountain” has a dirty bass groove from Garrett Sayers that flows throughout the all instrumental track with the help of a solid rhythm with haunting electronic twists. The feel good jam of “Knock It Down” takes a turn into a dark funk jam with thrilling and fading echoes. The album ends with “Keep On Don’t Stoppin” a back and forth game of tag between every instrument, where each musician has outbursts that take it up a notch with great timing resulting in a groovy climactic combo along with the fun loving vocoder/talkbox.

Key Tracks: Like We Own It, Rynodub, Keep on Don’t Stoppin

The album is available for free stream on Soundcloud and you can download some of their live performances for free on their website. Stay up to date with The Motet on Facebook and Twitter. Don’t miss The Motet when they head to Brooklyn Bowl in NYC on April 4th.

January 28, 2014
Hearing Aide: Hard Working Americans Self-Titled Debut Album
Hard Working Americans, a new collective of musicians out of Nashville, TN, released their self-titled debut this week on Melvin Records/Thirty Tigers. Led by singer-songwriter Todd Snider, the band captures 11 songs written by notable country, blues, and folk-rock musicians and reinvents them as their own. Joining Snider is an all-star group of like-minded individuals representing a spectrum of styles: Dave Schools – bass (Widespread Panic), Neal Casal – guitar (The Chris Robinson Brotherhood), Chad Staehly – keys (Great American Taxi), and Duane Trucks – drums (Col. Bruce Hampton’s School of Music and of the Trucks family lineage).

Hard Working Americans is a smart and well planned selection of songs for an album intended to capture the spirit of what the band’s name suggests. This album is reminiscent of Johnny Winter’s 2011 comeback release Roots where Johnny covers blues standards with an all-star lineup of guest musicians varying between each song.

The performance on six of the tracks retain much of the feel and emotion of the original performances, though the sound is often more robust with added instrumentation. The other five tracks are significantly reworked making Hard Working Americans’ performance of them their own.

“Blackland Farmer” is electrified from an acoustic country tune to one with a straight-ahead blues feel while retaining some of those country elements on slide guitar. A similar rework was done on “The Mountain Song” though retaining less of the original country version. “Stomp and Holler” is slowed down slightly from the rockabilly style of the original with a harmonica solo taking the lead rather than guitar. “Straight To Hell” is performed in a way that gives it much more emotion than the original recording, though both versions are equally appealing in their own ways. “Run A Mile” is much like the original; however a fun twist is added mid song with a brief hard hitting interlude before returning back to its starting pace.

Hard Working Americans is an enjoyable, well produced album to listen to from start to finish. A notable feature of the album is the sequencing of the songs which works to tell a story of the blue collar American. As a debut cover album, Hard Working Americans has established the band as a capable new collective of musicians with a solid chemistry. Though the band does not have original material recorded yet it is anticipated that, given the talent of the band, it would be well received by music fans. Hard Working Americans is touring in support of their debut album and it will be interesting to see what what they bring to the stage aside from this album.

Track Listing: (Original performer in parenthesis)
1. Blackland Farmer (Elizabeth Cook)
2. Another Train (Will Kimbrough)
3. Down To The Well (Kevin Gordon & Lucinda Williams)
4. The Mountain Song (Kieran Kane, Chad Jeffers, Sean Locke)
5. Stomp and Holler (Hayes Carll)
6. Straight To Hell (Drivin’ N’ Cryin’)
7. Welfare Music (The Bottle Rockets)
8. Mr. President (Have Pity On The Working Man) (Randy Newman)
9. Run A Mile (BR5-49)
10. I Don’t Have A Gun (Will Kimbrough & Tommy Womack)
11. Wrecking Ball (David Rawlings & Gillian Welch)
Key Tracks: Stomp and Holler, Straight To Hell, Run A Mile

Find out more about Hard Working Americans and details on how to get the album on their website and on Facebook.
January 27, 2014
Wild Adriatic Rocks The Hollow for Album Release Show

Wild Adriatic’s new album Big Suspicious was released on Saturday, January 18th in Albany and to celebrate, the band played an all-out rock and roll show to a sold out crowd at The Hollow Bar + Kitchen. The band was feeding off of the energy of the crowd for their hour and a half long set; bringing everything they had in their musical bag of tricks and more to the frenzied audience.

The evening started with The Black Fox River Project and their country-flavored rock tunes filling the venue with slide guitars and harmonies. Their music is better meant for summer time instead of the bitter cold winter that was taking place outside, but it made everyone inside the venue feel that much closer to the warmer weather to come. Their set ended with a great up-tempo rock number that had the crowd dancing for the first time of the evening, in what would become the norm for the remainder of the night.

Buffalo natives Aqueous were up next and came out of the gates swinging with funky laced rock that kept the crowd going for almost an hour straight. Dave Loss switched from his guitar to his keyboard throughout the entire set, showing great skills on both instruments, while Mike Gantzer ripped solos on his guitar continuously bringing many cheers from the crowd. Evan McPhaden and Nick Sonricker, on bass and drums respectively, held down the grooves for the other two to work over. Aqueous showed the crowd during their set why they are on the rise and ready for a huge year.

The jam-packed crowd seemed to get even thicker by the time Wild Adriatic took the stage. Travis Gray’s distinctly soaring vocals were perfect during the entire set, as was Rich Derbyshire’s superb bass playing, and Mateo Vosganian’s drum kit rattled all evening as he pounded endlessly. The band was joined by Pat Daley on keys during the set to celebrate his inclusion on the album. On a couple of songs the band was also joined by a three part horn section that added an extra element to the already amazing music being played.

Covering almost their entire album, as well as a cover of the classic “Shout”, Wild Adriatic played a show to remember to start off a year that will see them go all over the country and play South by Southwest. Their brand of rock and roll reverberates to the 70s bluesy garage era of music that comes out and takes your breath away from all the dancing that goes on. Ending on a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” many members of the audience climbed onto the stage to dance with the band as they tore through the number. The show was being filmed by the band and hopefully we will all get to relive the show again soon.

Setlist: Your Man, Mess Around, The Fool, Holding You, Trouble, Cooperstown, Tight Grip, Lose My Mind, Because of Me, Shout, 40 Days, Heavy Soul, Letter, Lonely, Woe, The Spark, Immigrant Song

January 27, 2014
Break Science Kicks Off “Seven Bridges Tour” On the Right Foot, January 22

The Hollow was alive with energy in the early hours of Wednesday night for Break Science with special guest Paul Basic on January 22nd. Paul Basic took the stage first with a seemingly packed house full of adoring fans.

The crowd was flooded with fans plastered in “Pretty Lights Fam” pins, hats and shirts and it was certainly evident that these artists have a significant amount of love and respect within the music scene. The moment Basic began to play it was evident why he had attracted so much hype straight out of the gate. His music fused hip hop, dub step, glitch-hop, funk, hard samples and a variety of different techniques and genres to create a unique sound that fits perfectly within the various artists that combine to make up the Pretty Lights music label. Basic played in a band with both Pretty Light’s Derek Vincent Smith and Michael Menert. Eventually the three went on their separate ways and it wasn’t until years later that they synced back up to create the music they play today. Basic played many songs off his LP Transient Horizons and put on an overall excellent performance and showed an astounding amount of talent for an up and coming DJ.

Break Science came on shortly after Paul Basic left the stage and delivered a performance with such a ridiculous amount of energy and intensity. Borahm Lee and Adam Deitch unite to make such a new and different sound with such epic complexities. The samples they utilize encompass the old school, underground Brooklyn music scene layered with a new current sound that seems almost impossible to blend so perfectly. When asked about the influences of the samples they choose and music they play, Deitch spoke about the influences his father, who is also a musician, had on his musical palette. Artists like Aretha Franklin, Earth, Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, etc. were just some of the artists that he wanted to bring into his work to introduce to his fans. He stated, “I grew up on Funk, I got into hip-hop as a teen, and right now it’s about electronic is now.” It is evident that both Lee and Deitch are both extremely passionate about the music they create, and because of that drive they are given the platform to perform with such intensity.

When asked about playing New York, which is both Lee and Deitch’s home state, they both spoke so highly Albany and the devotion all of their fans have for the music they create. Both artists were surprised that even with the freezing cold weather of upstate, the turnout was phenomenal and the energy was at a high. Due to the layout of the Hollow this was also a much more intimate experience for both the fans and the artists. It is obvious that both Break Science and Paul Basic have a lot of love in the Albany music scene and they will be looking forward to their return.

January 27, 2014
Hearing Aide: Blue Falcon “First Flight”

John Viviani’s latest incarnation is Blue Falcon, the Rochester guitarist/singer/songwriter teams with drummer/vocalist Devon Trammel and bassist/vocalist Ben Stephanus. First Flight, their debut EP was released last August and continues to garner critical acclaim across the Northeast, and here’s some more!

After reviewing Filthy Funk for this publication I knew I’d keep track of what John was up to musically, I couldn’t have asked for a better direction for him to take as he spun it right into my wheelhouse. A product of the irrepressible Rochester scene, John’s place as a guitarist is already well documented, Devon and Ben are held to the same high expectations and they don’t disappoint for a moment here. Add producer and engineer to John’s credits along with the able hands and ears of Nick Murray on the mix, mastering by Brian Moore at Redbooth Recording.

“Slow Drag” is a great choice as opener with each instrumentalist having space to put an initial signature on the EP, from John’s crunchy rhythm line and outro solo, to Devon and Ben holding tight to, then whipping the reigns, layer on the vocals and “Slow Drag” comes out of the gate fast. They ease in some funk on “Tellin’ Lies” while holding to the theme of pop/rock until they break out into almost a surf-rock break under John’s solo. The recurring vocal layering is thick and biting, quite the contrast from the sweetness most executions like this get. They take a collective swipe at the bane of American life, entitlement, in “Growing Up American”. Machine gun lyrical bites taken from daily existence, forced along by an STP-like aural assault and the hypnotic line, “Growin’ up American, Thinkin’ you are better than, Growin’ up American”. “Internet Celebrity” thematically follows, reaching deep into the pop-rock groove, right down to the low-fi mix, sugary vocals and killer chorus, almost sounds Bram Tchaikovsky-ish. I really think they should have credited Elvis a little on the jacket, but the adulation is obvious and really well-done. The closer, “See Ya Self” wraps it up cleanly and leaves this listener waiting for the next cut.

I hear a little familiar harmonization from The Zombies latest release, specifically “If There Was Any Other Way”, I’m sure there’s a name for it, but I’m a listener, not a musician. Extremely high praise to Blue Falcon for that, there’s always something comforting about familiarity, it makes the music accessible on another level. Hopefully the band’s name isn’t derived from some of the definitions available, but if it did, it was for the better! Check them out at the link below and see them live when you can, rock isn’t dead quite yet.

You can find Blue Falcon on Bandcamp and Facebook.

Key Tracks: Growing Up American, Internet Celebrity

January 24, 2014
Normal Instruments Play An Anything but Ordinary Show at The Hollow on January 11th

Normal Instruments teamed up with Albany locals Leila Harrison and Jon Santolla for a spectacular show at the Hollow on January 11th. DJ Leila and Mentally Ill started the night off with a ton of energy and before you even entered the venue you could hear and feel the deep drum and bass pumping into the streets of Albany. Mentally Ill (Jon Santolla) played a darker, harder set while Leila kept her set light-hearted with a twist of booty dropping house music. Both of these artists continuously remind us why they are the most prevalent Drum and Bass DJs in the Upstate.

Normal Instruments played two full sets and the collaboration of four musicians with this caliber of talent could only result in amazing things. Each musician holds their own and counterbalances one another while still staying in unity and synchronicity with each other. Every song branches off into new realms, fusing the disconnect of organic and electronic. Although all of the members of the band come from very different backgrounds within the music community, they use their differences to make a completely different and fresh sound.

Jules Jenssen once again did not disappoint and tore it up on the drums, heavily accompanied by Cosmic Dust Bunnies’ Matt Becket on the bass. Jeff Bujak is a source of constant entertainment and dancing no matter what genre of music he is contributing to. Both Bujak and Michael Carter take Normal Instruments to new levels of electronic mastery. The show was packed with energy from beginning to end and it was apparent that each member of the band was genuinely having fun during their performance. By the time Normal Instruments left the stage the Hollow was ten degrees hotter and the crowd was cheering for more. Overall an absolutely amazing show and impressive show of talent by all artists. Albany definitely looks forward to this New England-based power house.

January 23, 2014
The Chronicles run a ‘Trane Through Red Square as their Residency Continues

The softly-lit room that is Red Square was to be host to this evening’s gala – a performance by The Chronicles, paying tribute to John Coltrane’s musical catalog. The soundboard was filled with guys laughing and chatting witty banter before the show, only to find out these fellows were the opening act, Mr. Breakdown. The five piece band toyed with various jams before stunning the crowd with a cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”. Mike Kemmlein , the lead guitarist, played this song masterfully, from his extreme vocal range to his darting guitar, it was performed brilliantly and livened up the set.

This stellar opening performance set the stage for The Chronicles to pay tribute to jazz legend John Coltrane. The room was illuminated with blue lights, giving the ambiance of a Harlem jazz club in the 40’s or 50’s. As the band took the stage, the room was quite open, but as the music progressed the floor filled up. The opening number was “Naima”, a beautiful song highlighting the keyboards of Paul Phillipone with a hum of Jeff Naina’s saxophone and Bryan Brundige’s trombone sending out a melodic spring-like vibe; this was great way to start the set. “A Love Supreme” featured Brundige on talkbox, odd to see at first but as the jam went, it was a perfect selection. “I Love you to Death” was repeated as a back drop while the horns and the keys soared, accompanied with free form guitar by Justin Henricks that fit in superbly with intense passion. “India Locomotion” was a danceable track highlighting the speed Nania and Henricks making a bowlful of sound.

“Annie”, a song by Erykah Badhu, was a fun number grabbing the crowds full attention with the lyrics “Annie don’t wear no panties.” “Interzone” began with a gripping sax solo with a low touch of Daniel Lawson’s bass and Andrae Surgick lightly tapping his high hat as he he sat behind the kit. With each measure the groove of the sax sped up and the rest of the band followed suit. Henricks played very familiar guitar riffs right back into the sax, showing off the all the band members talent of how well they can play individually and as a complete unit. “The Groove for Nala” was very heavy on the drum and bass, a groove that only a jive turkey wouldn’t be able to get down to.

The Chronicles were able to put a spin on classic Coltrane making it relevant to the vibe of today, a very difficult task. They will continue there residency at Red Square this Thursday, highlighting the music of Earth, Wind and Fire, with opening act Cedric Burnside, a classic night and one that should not be missed.

Mr. Breakdown Setlist: Funk Train, It’s Your Thing, Hot Pants Breakdown*, Do What You Can, Top, Hard at Work, Zoomin, Nothing Compares To You, Take Your Shirt Off, Shining Star, Sista
*Greyboy Allstars version

The Chronicles Setlist: Naima, A Love Supreme, Syeeda’s Song Flute, India, Locomotion, Annie, Interzone, Sly, Groove for Nola, Butterfly, Just Knew

January 22, 2014
Sophistafunk Hosts Landmark Theater’s New Year’s Eve Bash

The Landmark Theater in Syracuse was the place to be to ring in 2014. Sophistafunk hosted 40 Below’s B(e)LOW-OUT New Year’s Eve Bash and tickets were sold out almost as soon as the show was announced. Everyone in attendance was dressed to the nines for the classiest party in the city that included an open bar, VIP lounge with private DJ, hors d’oeuvres, photo booth, and a silent auction with items from local vendors. Sophistafunk’s keyboarder Adam Gold started the party as DJ, playing tunes ranging from new hip-hop to some old funk and soul standards.

photo by Wesley Feuz

Shortly after 10pm, Jack Brown and crew took the stage to start off the show. The first set was a mix of new songs and old, including crowd favorites, “Gimme Some Space” and “Gotta Walk” featuring keyboard solos by Adam Gold. For the majority of the first set, the third story stage and dance floor stayed mostly empty. The party’s guests were enjoying gourmet food and deserts and bidding on local goods downstairs until just before midnight, when everyone amassed upstairs for complimentary champagne to bring in the New Year with the band and dance the night away.

photo by Wesley Feuz

After a short break, Sophistafunk turned it up to a new level, bringing the funk they’ve become notorious for. Jack Brown’s progressive lyrics backed by a solid rhythm section, keys, and effects were the perfect vessel for the band’s positive message. “Hard Enough,” from their new album Freedom Is, also seemed to be a fan favorite. Sophistafunk also included some older hip-hop classics from Notorious B.I.G. and “So Fresh and So Clean” by Outkast. The Landmark Theater was home to what proved to be the best party in upstate New York and had the best hip-hop funk trio in existence to make it truly epic.

photo by Wesley Feuz

January 20, 2014
Neutral Milk Hotel Return to Upstate New York for First Time in 15 Years

Following the 1998 release of the sophomore album from Neutral Milk Hotel, frontman Jeff Mangum played an opening set for fellow Elephant 6 Recording Company members, Elf Power, in an Athens, Georgia basement; the performance became Mangum’s last before his band’s fifteen-year hiatus. On Monday night, the same Neutral Milk Hotel lineup that recorded In an Aeroplane Over the Sea, a release that has since become considered one of recent history’s most influential albums, made their return to the stage after an opening appearance from longtime friends, Elf Power.

While Elf Power continued to make new music and consistently tour behind their various releases during NMH’s fifteen-year period of absence, the members of NMH went their separate ways. Collaborating with other members of Elephant 6, multi-instrumentalist Julian Koster formed The Music Tapes, while horn specialist Scott Spillane fronted The Gerbils. Drummer Jeremy Barnes also joined The Gerbils, which became one of his several side projects, including the Eastern European instrumental group, A Hawk and a Hacksaw, and the experimental jazz band, Bablicon. Mangum, whose apprehension with the attention gained from In an Aeroplane’s success spurred the initial disbandment of NMH, appeared sporadically throughout the hiatus, performing infrequently at charity concerts and eventually touring the west coast prior to a slot on Coachella’s 2012 lineup.

Just as “King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1” opens In an Aeroplane with Mangum’s imagery-driven lyricism atop acoustic guitar chords, Monday’s show began with the frontman alone on stage, playing the opening track with eyes shadowed by a baseball cap and the lower portion of his face engulfed by the bulk of his microphone. As the song progressed and the remaining Neutral Milk Hotel members joined Mangum for the introduction of full instrumentation in the subsequent “King of Carrot Flowers Pts. 2 & 3,” Mangum stepped away from the microphone, visibly becoming more comfortable as the spotlight broadened to recognize the entirety of the band.

The onstage addition of Koster, Spillane, and Barnes brought about a newfound energy to the State Theater; as the distorted, quick-paced opening chords of “Holland, 1945” rang throughout the venue, Koster’s spastic grooving and Spillane’s sing-along enthusiasm inspired the realization that Neutral Milk Hotel has, in fact, made their return.

While pursuing various projects in Neutral Milk Hotel’s decade and a half of disbandment, its members sharpened their skillsets and integrated these improvements into the band’s reunion. Koster’s work on the singing saw and the bowed banjo showed incredible musicianship, and the collective sound created by the band, along with appearances from Elf Power’s Laura Carter and Mangum’s wife Astra Taylor, swept over the audience throughout the entire set.

As the future of Neutral Milk Hotel never seems quite certain, Upstate fans can only hope it won’t take another fifteen years to see them perform again.

Setlist: The King of Carrot Flowers, Part 1, The King of Carrot Flowers, Pts. 2 & 3, Holland, 1945, A Baby for Pree, Gardenhead / Leave Me Alone, Everything Is, Two-Headed Boy, The Fool, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Naomi, Ferris Wheel on Fire, Oh Comely, Song Against Sex, Ruby Bulbs, Snow Song, Part One

Encore: Ghost, [untitled], Two-Headed Boy Pt. 2, Engine

January 20, 2014
The New Daze Rock The Montage

The Montage Music Hall was rockin’ Saturday January 11, with a performance kicked off at 10pm by an up-and-coming band from Syracuse, The New Daze.

The band’s set was started with a medley, beginning with “Uncle Stremnf,” merging into a new version of one of their older songs, “Sloth Fingers”, a tease of The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Sir Psycho Sexy”, and ending with a reprise of “Uncle Stremnf.” For only three guys, The New Daze brought a huge sound that couldn’t be tamed. The few people who were in attendance seemed mesmerized by psychedelic sound effects and guitar solos. The New Daze was accompanied by Steve Graf on percussion for their entire set and had keyboardist Mike McDonald of Formula 5 sit in for “Mike’s Song.” Their set closed with the track, “Off Brand,” from the band’s first album.

Despite the lack of a crowd, the Montage was roaring as The New Daze exited and the bandtook the spotlight. The intense jam started with their song “Perch Above the Earth,” followed by “The Fall” which included a sampling of Herbie Hancock’s classic, “Chameleon.” Mike McDonald’s piano and lead vocals were key in providing the band with its soulful sound.

The set continued with more long jams featuring guitar and bass solos that kept the crowd moving. “3 Ring Circus,” from their self-titled debut album featured Collin Jones of Hawea and Ocupanther on guitar as he displayed his mastery of guitar and manipulation his effects pedal. Don Nix’s song “Goin’ Down” was followed by an original, “Earthbound Tim”, with samples from Phish’s “Guyute.” The set wound down with another medley of “Pedro” and “Hottentot” by Medeski, Scofield, Martin, and Wood, finishing with two new originals titled “Rising Tide” and “Nu-Gen.” The small crowd sounded like well over 100 as they showed some love for the awesome performance.

The New Daze Setlist

Uncle Stremnf > Sloth Fingers % > Uncle Stremnf, Until September > Silly Me > When Prigs Fly, Sunroof Cop*, Pumpkins, Mike’s Song#, Don’t Touch My Tractor, Off Brand

*The New Daze debut
#with Mike McDonald of Formula 5 on keys
% “Sir Psycho Sexy” tease
entire set with Steve Graf on percussion

Formula 5 Setlist

Perch Above the Earth, The Fall#, Catch Me, The Ride -> 3 Ring Circus* -> Goin Down@ -> Earthbound Tim$, Pedro -> Hottentot^ -> Pedro, Rising Tide, Nu-Gen

# “Chameleon” (Herbie Hancock) tease
* with Collin Jones on guitar ( Haewa / OCUPANTHER)
@ Don Nix Cover (Jeff Beck arrangement)
$ “Guyute” (Phish) teases
^ Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood cover (partial)

January 17, 2014