The Bots Albany debut at The Hollow on Sept. 10 and made sure to leave a mark on the venue. Hailing from California, brothers Anaiah and Mikaiah Lei brought all of their energy to the stage for their one hour performance. Mikaiah’s guitar playing can only be described as watching a man who is possessed by his instrument. Dancing all over the stage and completely letting go of himself throughout most songs, Mikaiah tore up the fret boards on both of the guitars he used during the show. With all of the moving he does on stage, one would think that his play would be sloppy, but it was anything but. Every song was played beautifully with ripping solos that his body and guitar produced – making The Bots Albany debut one to remember.
Over on the drums all night, Anaiah sat there moving his arms like lightning all over his kit. Putting his full body into the music as well, Anaiah set the pace for the evening and it was fast and furious. The amount of music that these two produce together is astounding. “Dinosaurs” was a great song and closer “5:17” was powerful. Both of these songs mixed a lot of punk and hard rock into them, making an interesting blend to listen to. A great cover of The Ramones “I Wanna Be Well” was played straight forward and let The Bots honor one of their major influences. The small crowd loved every second of the show wanting the band to continue, but it was not meant to be on this night. For all of you who were not at this show, do not sleep on this band the next time they are near you. The Lei brothers have a lot of talent and are just starting on their journey to bigger and better things. Seeing talented bands in smaller rooms doesn’t last forever, and The Bots should be moving on up in no time. Their debut album Pink Palms is out Oct. 14 and you should look into getting yourself a copy to hear what you missed.
With a wonderful start to The Great New York State Fair, we dug the rock and roll to bring more of what is to come. Already covering Days 1, 2, and 3, we couldn’t wait to get back out to bring you more of the outstanding line up scheduled for Fair attendees.
Bowzer’s Rock & Roll Party – Great NY State Fair Chevy Court
DAY FIVE – Rap, Rock , and Country Collide to an Explosive Show
Some basic musical math here – What do you get when you add Rap + Country + Rock & Roll? You get Kid Rock and Big Smo of course. Rocking the Grandstands on Day 5, this unlikely pairing of the Detroit rocker and Tennesee country star seemed a bit out of place, but this trend of marrying those artists from Motown and those from the country music capital of Nashville just seem to work these days. Big Smo came out and rocked the crowd getting them ready for the main event, Kid Rock. This guy has a presence and attitude I just wouldn’t mess with, adding to the reasons I think these two were the perfect pairing. Both are no nonsense, this is who I am, without apologies types. Delivering country in a hip hop rap style, Big Smo certainly has found a way to deliver his music his way, to an audience that eats it up.
As Kid Rock came out, he rocked the stage belting out hit after hit in his hip hop, rap, country southern rock style and he didn’t disappoint. Ever evolving, Kid Rock has made his mark on the music industry his own way with no excuses. With a career, including multiple hits, multiple awards, and such a diverse catalog of music for followers, he continues to grow in the music field, and also in his merchandising field with his hands into his latest venture of brewing up some “Badass Beer”. Kid Rock is about his fans. Taking a stand on increasing pricing for live show tickets during his 2013 tour, Kid Rock went against the current of increasing prices and all tickets were $20 with each beer was $4, and without fees associated if purchased through area Walmarts. This proved to be a huge success in increasing attendance and sales at shows, and putting the kibosh to out pricing tickets for regular joes who want to enjoy live concerts.
These two unlikely performers give the impression of being rebels, and going against the current upstream; however what you don’t see behind the scenes is they are two of the best business men in the business with talents of not only musical skills…but producing, acting, merchandising, writing, and so many other talents. This translates to the stage and the energy felt from this show once again solidifies that although genres may be completely different, entertainers unconventional, the music comes from the soul and no matter where it originated, and by whom, music is a unifying language.
DAY SIX – Rocking Around the Clock at The Great NY State Fair
Bowzer’s Rock & Roll Party. For those of you who are unfamiliar who Bowzer is, let me introduce you. Bowzer, also know as Jon Bauman, was part of the famous group Sha Na Na. Sha Na Na introduced new generations to the world of the 1950’s and 60’s, poodle skirts, and the emergence of rock and roll. As I looked around the full crowd sitting at Chevy Court, it was apparent that his charm and timeless tunes are still transcending generations and being enjoyed by those young and old. Bowzer & The Stingrays along with Rocky & The Rollers brought a few of their special friends to the Rock & Roll Party. Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon, Johnny Cantardo (formerly of Sha Na Na), and the Duke of Earl Gene Chandler often joined Bowzer on the road over the years and on this day these gentlemen truly entertained the crowd with tunes such as “Lovers Never Say Goodbye” by the Flamingos, “Rocking Robin”, “Only Have Eyes for You”, and of course “Duke of Earl”. These spry young men still got it, and I must add Mr. Gene Chandler was one of the most dapper men I’ve ever seen with the greatest blue suede shoes ever made.
This was my first time seeing Jon ‘Bowzer’ Bauman live, and he didn’t disappoint. Being in the audience when Grease was first released in the theaters, his appearance in the movie was one of my favorite scenes of the whole film. The twist, the jitterbugging, and of course the Hand Jive was electric and timeless. If transcendence was a reality, I would have been right there with them. Those in attendance at Chevy Court received a free lesson and/or refresher course on how to Hand Jive, and as I looked around seeing the entire audience participating was a bit nostalgic.
A little known fact about Jon Bauman: he is a classically trained pianist, studying at the acclaimed Julliard School of Music at the age of 12 in New York City. He treated the audience this day to a taste of Chopin’s etude in A- Flat Major, which was his mother’s favorite tune. Spectacular doesn’t begin to describe this moving performance. He is truly talented. His mother’s dream was to see him perform at Carnegie Hall. She was able to see this dream, as he joked “Even if the music was ‘Shama Lama Ding Dong’.” Despite the humid temps and scorching sun, it was fun to watch these legends and the audience enjoy these timeless classics.
Over to the Grandstands on Day 6 we had The Wallflowers and Train. Opening to a full crowd, Jakob Dylan along with his band, The Wallflowers, came out ready to make their mark and leave an impression. Unlike their name, they certainly didn’t blend in like a wallflower, instead they stood out. Being the first time I’ve ever seen him, I found myself very drawn to Jakob’s unique voice. To me it was the perfect blend of the family tone with a Bruce Springsteen’esq sound to it. It was strong, yet sultry, and addictive; it a pleasant surprise. Taking the last few years to tour solo, Jakob was ready to get back together with the band and tour this summer. Being known as the son of a legendary musician has to be difficult. I admire and respect how he’s carved a sound and presence out for himself that makes him stand alone as the gifted musician he is. The first, but definitely not the last time I’ll catch a show with Jakob, for sure.
Warmed up and ready to hit the stage, Train barreled through onto the stage like the force they are. Emerging in the 1998 with their Top 10 hit “Meet Virginia”, these guys came right back in 2001 with the Grammy award winning song “Drops of Jupiter” solidifying their place in history as a force to be reckoned with. Here we are 16 years later, numerous hits, numerous awards, and miles and miles of touring on the road, Train is now known as one of the most loved groups out there today. With Pat Monahan on lead vocals, percussion, harmonica, acoustic guitar, trumpet, saxophone, vibraphone, megaphone; Jimmy Stafford on lead guitar, mandolin, ukulele, slide guitar, backing vocals; Jerry Becker on rhythm guitar, keyboards, piano, Hammond organ, slide guitar, percussion, backing vocals; Hector Maldonado on bass guitar, rhythm guitar, percussion, backing vocals; and Drew Shoals on drums these guys belted out hit after hit, with audience members singing along and rocking the Grandstands as though a freight train was barreling through.
Set List – Calling All Angels > 50 Ways to Say Goodbye >If It’s Love > Get To Me > Meet Virginia > Bulletproof Picasso > What Is And Should Never Be > Look To The Sky > Bruises > Save Me San Francisco > Free > Angel In Blue Jeans > Marry Me > Wonder What You’re Doing For The Rest of Your Life > Soul Sister > Drive By > Drops of Jupiter > Dream On ( Aerosmith)
Night Ranger – Getting pretty good at the dodging and weaving amongst the crowd, I high tailed it over to Chevy Court just in time to see the end of Night Ranger’s encore performance of “Sister Christian”. Wow! They still got it. With the crowd on their feet cheering and singing along, I managed to grab a few shots for the readers to see these legends in action.
Building on the momentum that had started this awesome entertainment lineup at The Great NY State Fair, I couldn’t wait to keep this going and capturing all the events planned ahead, all the sights there to see, and of course all the foods yet to try. Stay tuned as brings you more coverage of the 2014 Great New York State Fair.
If you’re hip to The Nth Power, you know that they preach the power of love and have become a musical sanctuary for that message. Drummer Nikki Glaspie took some time during their set in Buffalo and told the crowd, “The purpose is to share love with all of you and to share love with the world because there’s not enough.” When the band made their stop last Friday before their Saturday night Chill, the group and city came out to share in the compassion for one another.
With anything love related, you have to be careful not to get in too deep, too fast. So let’s take a step back and start at the beginning, where most love stories start. The Friday night began on the earlier side for typical Buffalonians with Jamestown’s smackdab starting things just before nine. The band has been an area staple for funk for quite some time now and really knows their own strengths, playing to them specifically at shows. The group is fronted by vocalist Jon Marc Johnson whose strength and power has the ability to draw you in. The rhythm this group has is like none other in the area as they’re anchored by thick cuts from bassist Ryan Ecklund and precision stickwork from drummer Daniel Witherspoon. Their music though has so many different facets and that’s largely due to the melodies that are being crafted around everything.
During one particular section, keyboardist Mark Cooper laid down a heavy synth section that propelled a psychedelic drift into a borderline metal tear. The group may be heavy on the funk side, but they dabble and take some exploratory jamming out into other areas right in stride. At times, the band would slide into some more jam-heavy segments that were slow and droney, conjuring up sounds that were akin to Pink Floyd and The Doors having a funky little baby.
It was the perfect pairing for the night as the band’s sound complimented The Nth Power’s well and the crowd enjoyed the smackdab set overall. If we’re back on the topic of love though, this was simply the first date and Buffalo was already tripping over their words in anticipation for more.
For a little taste of smackdab, check out a video of their song “First and Main” from their set. The video is brought to you by our friends at Buffalo.fm.
As The Nth Power took the stage, Buffalo gave a warm welcoming to the group being that it was their first appearance in the Queen City. After a few bars of an intro, the band dove head first into “Spirits”, easily an early favorite with its haunting melody and fat bass line. It might’ve been early on in the relationship, but this band was not shy about bringing it early on. Percussionist Weedie Braimah played off of the rhythm from Nikki Glaspie, adding an incredible range of percussive sounds to the overall color of the song. With no setlists visible, it seemed as though this band was just going to feel its way through the set.
The Nth Power’s Nick Cassarino and Nate Edgar
While the drumming from Weedie and Nikki was a powerful force in and of itself, it seemed the crowd couldn’t take their eyes off of the front of the stage where guitarist Nick Cassarino bobbed and danced as he plucked his strings and felt every note through the expressions on his face. His energy and presence alone had the crowd charged and equally feeling the same emotions that Cassarino was going through. The excitement he brought not only fueled the crowd, but the band seemingly fed off of it as well, engaging each of them deeper into the music. Love usually takes time to develop, but when you’re this passionate, you can quickly fall head over heels for what’s being created, and the crowd in Buffalo that night was all in.
Throughout their set, you could tell that the band was communicating through a romantic language that was in the music vernacular. At one point, Nick Cassarino asked each member how they were feeling to which each responded with a strike of a key or a hit on their drum. They were feeling good and the eye contact and shared smiles were an easy indicator from the beginning. Not wanting to leave the crowd out, Cassarino also asked the crowd, “Does it feel good to you?”, to which the crowd responded with a heartfelt scream.
Nikki Glaspie of The Nth Power
It was easy to get swept away in the compassionate delivery of The Nth Power’s music. Each member added so much to the music itself, but also to the overall performance. Bassist Nate Edgar was another who you could physically see was feeling the music. As he swayed along to the beat, he would not only keep up rhythmically with Nikki Glaspie’s superb drumming, but also dance around the melody and support Nick and Nigel in where they were headed throughout a song. It’s a daunting task that Nate not only handled, but challenged the other band members at times with some colorful bass runs of his own.
When falling in love, there’s usually several factors that add up to the infatuation, and the same can be said about the band. It’s not just one member that does it, it’s their collective efforts that builds them up that high. At one point during their set, percussionist Weedie Braimah took a solo that really showcased his prowess and what he adds. The man was literally combing out a rhythm with his fingers on his djembe, pulling every possible note, yes I said note, that is possible through pure precision. A thrusting beat came barreling out of the solo with which drummer Nikki Glaspie and the rest of the band jumped on, bringing the remaining sitters to their feet. The band’s control over the mood and feel in the room was apparent as they could lift the crowd before gently laying them down. In the same way Cassarino’s axe could cut, his voice could simultaneously cull the deepest of woes with grace and pure empathy. Every part of this band fits together like a puzzle, filling in the proper gaps, while leave the right amount of space.
The Nth Power keyboardist Nigel Hall
The band wrapped up the lovefest with “Soul Survivor” as an encore, unleashing blinding rhythmic speeds and a guitar solo that was dropped like a bomb on the crowd. Since they initially walked off to a chant of “ten more songs”, I guess the band wanted to pack the power of ten into one. The power of love is strong and if you don’t know that, you need to check this band out and feel it for yourself. Leaving the venue, you could tell everyone still had butterflies in their stomach as they went through a rollercoaster of emotions and were walking on clouds being simply uplifted. There’s something special about this band and it’s amazing and exciting at the same time that this is only the beginning.
As mentioned earlier, “Spirits” was an early favorite from The Nth Power. Watch the video of the song here from that night:
smackdab:
The Nth Power:
After the show, The Nth Power was gracious enough to sit down with us for an interview. Here are some shots from after their set and the interview itself. We want to thank our friends at Buffalo.fm for all of the video from the night and to The Nth Power for taking the time. Buffalo and NYS Music love you right back!
Fitz And The Tantrums brought loads of emotion and punch to Rochester’s Water Street Music Hall on Sept. 2. Opening with “Get Away” the fans knew immediately that they were in for a high-energy show. Together, the voices of lead vocalist Michael Fitzpatrick and backup vocalist Noelle Scaggs created an undeniable heat that fired through the crowd.
Fan favorites “Out of My League” and “Don’t Gotta Work It Out” had the audience singing every word across the floor and balcony. Fitzpatrick and Scaggs have an electric connection that buzzed through the air at Water Street. They kept the poppy pace going and the fans bumping from start to the encore finish. The catchy hits, “Moneygrabber” and “The Walker” closed out an enthusiastic performance.
Setlist: Get Away, Don’t Gotta Work It Out, Break The Walls, Breakin’ the Chains of Love, Keeping Our Eyes Out, Spark, Sweet Dreams, Out of My League, Fools Gold, 6am, Tell Me What Ya Here For, L.O.V
One band from Leeds, England and the other from Los Angeles.
Meeting in Buffalo last Wednesday, Orgone and The New Mastersounds packed The Tralf for a soulful throwback with a good helping of funk thrown in for good measure. With one making the far trip east across the U.S. and the other coming west across the pond, Buffalo was treated to a perfect pairing of solid musicianship all on one stage.
Frontwoman Adryon De Leon
Orgone kicked things off, and while they may have opened the show, this is FAR from your typical opening act. The band came onstage Wednesday night and laid it right out for the Queen City, jumping into a tight melody that rode along the rhythm and combined to pull at people’s feet and sway their hips. The band blends funk and soul in a very classic, yet powerful way, emitting a surplus of energy that immediately powered the crowd. The Wednesday night audience was sparse at the release of the first note, but had the floor covered by the time the song wrapped up.
Singer Adryon De Leon joined the band onstage after the start, gracefully stepping up to deliver her powerful voice. She didn’t let the crowd have it right out of the gate, opting to ease in with a soulful, yet jazzy hook. Her full capabilities were quickly realized by the city’s funky fans. The diva commanded the stage with her presence and elevated the already incredible musicians who backed her.
The band was able to walk around the venue before the show started without many noticing, but that is sure to change after the performance they put on. The sitters were soon standers and standers quickly became dancers. Their sound was the catalyst to a shift in energy in the room. Other music websites must not have caught an Orgone show yet, because this band is without a doubt worthy of a mention when talking about the Top 10 Current Funk Acts if you’ve seen them live.
The enthusiastic crowd that filled the place on Wednesday let the band know how they were feeling during any lull in the action, screaming and encouraging the band to keep it up. Orgone’s throwback sound was refreshing and deeply intoxicating. The way the instruments played off of De Leon’s voice left many with eyes closed, fully embracing the sound. In retrospect, the West Coasters damn near stole the show.
De Leon sat out for a few songs, allowing the rest of the talented group to share in some of the spotlight. All around, this is a special mix of people, from guitarist Sergio Rios to percussionist Chuck Prada who ripped a solo all his own earlier in the night. As De Leon stepped back out though, her quickly developed fan group cheered her back on. Her multifaceted approach was showcased through her ability to groove through low-end melodies and belt out highs that sent the crowd reeling.
Keyboardist Dan Hastie
Before finishing their set, guitarist Sergio Rios said, “That’s what it feels like to love.” Surely it was a setup though as the blistering solo he saved for the final song completely blindsided the crowd. He just let us have it, throwing everything he had through the six strings of his guitar. With how powerful of a set overall, and especially in closing, this band put on, it wouldn’t surprise me if Orgone packed the same room on their own next time they come back.
The New Mastersounds were up next and did not have an easy act to follow. Guitarist Eddie Roberts’ suave and dapper attitude was quickly exuded though as he setup, letting everyone know that they were up for the challenge.
Kicking the night off, the band immediately showed the crowd their stripped down and organic approach, while simultaneously filling the room and proving the old adage of “less is more” to be true. With little to no introduction, the band went from the first song into “Dusty Groove”, leaving only a rhythmic reset in-between. This may have been the first date of their U.S. tour, and also the first time they had played together in over two months, but the crowd would have been oblivious if the band hadn’t told them. The four-piece from across the pond settled in rather quickly with no visible rust.
Drummer Simon Allen and bassist Pete Shand were tightly synced from the start, becoming even more intertwined as the show wore on. Their direction provided a moving treadmill that the other two members had to jump on with their melodies. While the lengthy break might be a detriment to some bands, The New Mastersounds seemed to be actually using the reunion to their advantage with an excitement you could feel through their music.
In true testament to how rhythmically tight this band is, Eddie Roberts played a tambourine with his foot as he started the opening line of “Morning Fly” through his ’65 Gibson hollow body guitar. As Eddie ripped through jazz scales, Simon built the beat while the remaining members would join for support. The undeniable swell captivated the whole room and pushed everyone to dance harder into the night. It was as though the band just picked up their musical conversation right where they left off. And just like a renewed friendship has those exciting moments, so too did this night with the entire band sharing smiles with the crowd when they would particularly nail a segment.
As individuals and collectively as a band, their simplistic approach utilized spacing as tension that fought an incessant rhythm. By laying back, the band drew your ear in and allowed the music to breath before taking off again. As they launched into the opening track “Old Man Noises” from their latest album Therapy, the band brought an unmatched ferocity to whatever song they damn well chose. Organist Joe Tatton threw his heavy Hammond overtones out into space while Eddie took that same foot he used for the tambourine and turned it loose on his wah pedal, creating a tremelo effect on an incredible rendition of that song’s solo.
Many people were caught deeply entrenched in the music throughout the night. The positive and soul-quenching material was absorbed by everyone who happened to venture out and written across their faces even after it came to a close. It may have been a trip for both bands, but the crowd was thankful for the night of music and everything the bands put forth on stage. As for the battle of who had the better set, well, it would be a tie in this writer’s eyes, but you can decide for yourself…
Thanks to our friends at WNYmedia Network, we have audio of both band’s full sets:
Steely Dan is known for high-quality composition, intellectual lyrics, and songs that contain multiple layers of meaning. Yet, while on SPAC’s stage on Sunday, Aug. 31 their performance was quite simple. No fancy props, no flashy clothes, no crazy antics. The complexity of their music compared to the simple performance on stage was ironic.
The irony of Steely Dan seems to be a common theme. Even their name is ironic. Those who don’t know the band might assume it is named for one person whom perhaps either has a “steely voice” or who makes the guitar screech like grinding steel. But Steely Dan is not named for one person – they are named for an adult toy that was the subject of the novel, The Naked Lunch and the band’s name definitely does not describe how they operate on stage.
Their performance does not focus on one person; in fact, it’s not even really focused on the two men (Donald Fagen and Walter Becker) who founded the band in the 1960s while attending Bard College. All 13 musicians on stage had an opportunity to show off their incredible talent. The keyboardist, guitarists, and backup singers were all given ample time to display their gifts. All four horn players had solos, and even had a chance to step to the front of the stage to highlight their life’s work. The drummer had multiple times to shine, and in fact, lights were arranged behind and underneath him to further emphasize his explosive talent.
Fagen and Becker, who are of course, the glue that holds Steely Dan together, were the guys who drew thousands of fans to Saratoga Springs. Both are brilliant musicians. Fagen was working with malfunctioning equipment; the G above middle C on his keyboard was not working, but, as he told the crowd, he worked around it. Becker’s stories, which started out in a conversational tone, but following tangent after tangent, ended up fitting into the music that the band was building up behind him.
Fans who came to hear their Steely Dan favorites were not disappointed. The 1970s hits, such as “Rikki Don’t Lose that Number,” “My Old School,” and “Reelin’ In the Years” were performed with absolute mastery.
Set List:
Cubano Chant (orchestra) , Black Cow, Aja, Hey Nineteen, Black Friday, Show Biz Kids, Time Out of Mind, Two Against Nature, Dirty Work, Bodhisattva, I Want To (Do Everything for You), Daddy Don’t Live in That New York City No More, Babylon Sisters, Reelin’ In The Years, Josie, Peg, My Old School, Rikki Don’t Lose That Number
One of the most notable events from the Party in the Park lineup was Dark Star Orchestra’s event, which featured a random set-list, not a specific recreation of an authentic Grateful Dead show as they are famously known for. The set-list featured gems like “Loose Lucy” and “west L.A. Fadeaway” in the first set while the second set had highlights, “Foolish Heart” and encore “Dear Prudence”. Despite they did not choose a set-list from a show, the energy was still there and family was all around.
Summer has come and gone and the Autumn time is coming soon, when we look back to those hot summer nights, many in Rochester will surely think back to the superb Party in the Park concert series we enjoyed this year. The location had been brought back to the original spot at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park at Manhattan Square, and Rochestarians couldn’t have been happier about the re-location and the hot line-up.
Setlist – Dark Star Orchestra Party in the Park
Set One: Greatest Story Ever Told ; Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn) ; It’s All Over Now ; Loose Lucy ; Lazy Lightning > Supplication ; West L.A. Fadeaway ; Big River > Mystery Train ; On The Road Again ; Let It Rock
Set Two: Feel Like A Stranger ; Foolish Heart > Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance > Unbroken Chain > drums > space > Fire On The Mountain > Hey Jude > China Doll > Johnny B. Goode
It was ironic to say the least, but perfect blue skies and sunshine were the backdrop for a band best known for their song “Sweater Weather”. This past Friday afternoon, the California indie rock band known as The Neighbourhood killed it on the stage of Chevy Court at the Great NY State Fair.
Even though they formed in 2011 and are relative newcomers to the music scene, the band was welcomed by fans as they took the stage to screams and applause. For just under an hour, this group of musicians gave a performance with their unique sound. The band has strong characteristics that come through in every song. They flawlessly combine an upbeat, pop rock style with catchy lyrics and sexy groove. Then, they top it off with just enough dark/mysterious edge that singer Jesse Rutherford’s vocals capture perfectly. The sensual tone in his voice is something so many strive to achieve, yet he does without any effort.
Chevy Court is in the heart of the Fair, surrounded by the buildings, people could enjoy the music as they walked between exhibits, activities, wine/moonshine slushy stands, beer gardens, and about the best fried food on the planet (Fried Specialties had the most incredible creation called the Twinx (Twix, stuffed inside a Twinkie, wrapped in bacon, and then deep-fried – Jim Hasbrouck you are genius).
These guys drew fans of all ages. However, these young men definitely had a strong fan base of females. The teenaged and 20-ish girls were heart-felt and passionately screaming at the band “I love you!”.
The attendees showed their appreciation for this free show by their pure energetic reaction to the melodies being shared with them. The excitement was due largely to the frontmans’ ability to get the audience engaged and participating – from raising their hands in the air to singing along with him.
Lead singer, Jesse Rutherford, smirked and absorbed his fans adoring yells with ease and a sense of cool aloofness that seem to make the girls want him more. As the first song “Female Robbery” started, the singer covered his face with his tattooed-covered arm, protecting his eyes. He later stated they had not seen the sun recently since they had been in Europe, chuckling, followed by saying, “This is awesome”.
Keeping true to their “look” of being a clean, monochromatic aesthetic, all members wore black and white with Rutherford somehow wearing a black beanie on the hot sunny day. The pale skin tone along with asking the audience to pretend it was night, leads me to believe these guys do not get to see daylight all that much. That did not inhibit their performance or energy.
A subtle demeanor from guitarist Jerry Freedman during his solo on the song “Baby Came Home” had a powerful, confident playing that captured the mood. Soft lingering notes seemed to float from the stage into the air, carrying them away in the imaginations of what the song meant to each person.
Their new song “Dangerous” was laid out in their set. While it kept with the band’s sound, it had a different groove and feel to make you want to find out what else they have in store next. This is a band to keep an eye on and watch bloom and boom into the music scene even more.
Set List: Female Robbery, Everybody’s Watching Me (Uh-Oh), Let It Go, Jealou$y, W.D.Y.W.F.M.?, Baby Came Home, A Little Death, Wires, How, Lurk, Dangerous, Sweater Weather, Afraid
The New York State Fair is always brining fantastic artists to Central New York. This year they struck gold when Rock And Roll Hall of Famers Joan Jett And The Blackhearts performed for free at the Chevy Court stage at the Great New York State Fair on Wednesday, August 27.
Joan Jett and The Black Hearts – Great New York State Fair Chevy Court
There was easily about seven thousand fairgoers gathered for their hour and fifteen minute set. No opening act. No nonsense. Just straight up classic punk. Currently, Joan Jett And The Blackhearts are touring in support of their latest album, Unvarnished. There were five songs off that album sprinkled into their set, along with their more notable hits and The Runaways’ classics.
The band opened with “Bad Reputation” and The Runaways’ classic “Cherry Bomb”. Joan Jett is clearly on her A game and sounded better now than she did seven years ago when she played the state fair the previous time. And very notably, the band was clicking on all cylinders as well. Keyboardist Kenny Laguna, guitarist Dougie Needles, drummer Thommy Price, and bassist Acey Slade all showed great chemistry and great backing vocals to the entire performance.
Some of the bigger highlights of their set would have to be “Touch Me There”, a new song that she co-wrote with Dave Grohl titled “Any Weather”, and her cover of “Crimson and Clover”, which the crowd went nuts for. Also, the crowd went crazy for “I Love Rock and Roll” as expected.
The band ended with a three-song encore, featuring “Reality Mentality”, “Real Wild Child”, and a cover of “Everyday People”
Overall it was a great show, and possibly the best Chevy Court concert in YEARS.
A European tour can do a lot for an artist or group. It can bring a performer to a new level of recognition and exposure. It can allow for a performer to invite a partner in crime to open for them and effectively “bring/put them up.” It can allow a performer to meet artists from all over the globe and form new collaborations and projects. It can also crystallize the love of one’s hometown where it all started, and bring an artist back for a nostalgic homecoming. For Sekou Kouyate and Joe Driscoll, Syracuse native and one-man “band” hero, touring Europe did just that.
Besides providing a fresh fan-base, touring Europe allowed Joe Driscoll to bring along fellow Syracuse-based hip-hop heads, and inexorable party-starters, Sophistafunk. This “Euro-tripping” also facilitated Joe’s acquaintance and partnership with an absurdly gifted musician by the name of Sekou Kouyate. Joe and Sekou met at the Nuit Metis (Mixed Night) Festival in Marseille, France and developed a unique, multi-cultural sound that gave birth to the album Faya. This album, like all albums, required promotion and therefore a tour schedule. This tour brought the family back together where the roots of these musical branches started: Syracuse, including and especially the Westcott Theater. On Friday, August 22, the Westcott packed itself while Sophistafunk, Joe Driscoll and Sekou Kouyate, and a host of other supporting local musicians played their hearts out for the hometown fans.
Sophistafunk, led by the dual hype-man and frontman in one, Jack Brown, played time-honored songs from both full length studio albums, Freedom Is and Twentyeleven. As always, Brown laid down the intellect and positivity on songs like “Gotta Walk”. As expected, Emanuel Washington, known as E-Man, rocked the house with that heavy and tight drum sound, especially on songs like the dance-inspiring “Wil’ Out”. As presumed, Adam Gold churned out those chunky-funky lines on the keys/organ on songs like “Freedom Is”. And as a super-special, highly unexpected, and highly enjoyed surprise, Sophistafunk covered the soulful and sexy “SpottieOttieDopaliscious” by Outkast. “’Nuff said.”
After saying goodbye to Sophistafunk (temporarily), Joe Driscoll and Sekou wasted no time getting the audience back up and dancing. Joe’s funky, reggae-infused, hip-hop melodic style of guitar provided a solid grounding and space for Sekou to add his signature hummingbird-fast arpeggios and angelic riffs in between beats. Sekou, to understate it completely, plays the kora. The kora is an instrument made partly from a humongous gourd, called a calabash, covered with cow hide, and is “formally” classified as a “double-bridge-harp-lute.” When played masterfully, this “double-bridge-harp-lute” makes music that is silky, swift, exotic, and truly exquisite. This sound, along with Sekou’s vocals, sung in Soussou (with spot-on accompaniment by Joe), symbiotically fuse with Joe’s increasingly impressive guitar work to create music that is worldly and graceful, yet familiar and catchy.
Joe told stories, both between songs and lyrically, throughout the set. Joe commented on everything from loving and appreciating your roots; to the inevitably deepening experience of traveling the world and meeting special people with whom you connect; to the visualization of lighting a fire in your heart and then lighting someone else’s (the meaning behind the title song “Faya”). Joe’s reflective and socially conscious verses painted pictures of the many “vampires” in ghettos around the world in “Ghetto Many”, and warned of the “deepest threat”: the figurative Babylon in the song “Wonamati”; which means, “It’s got to stop.”
Joe also made sure to play a whole new (Sekou infused) take on classic Joe Driscoll favorites, like the sweetly melodic “Mixtape Champs” and the smooth, autobiographic “Origin Myth”. This song brought onstage Sophistafunk, DJ Afar, a Syracuse saxophone player named “Hollywood”, and a very talented female trombonist whose name was unfortunately missed by this writer…for an all out Syracuse hip-hop/funk/world-beat jam session. This multi-song jam served as a fitting conclusion to a night all about roots, collaboration, and love for one’s neighbor and neighborhood.
Even though they formed in 2011 and are relative newcomers to the music scene, the band was welcomed by fans as they took the stage to screams and applause. For just under an hour, this group of musicians gave a performance with their unique sound. The band has strong characteristics that come through in every song. They flawlessly combine an upbeat, pop rock style with catchy lyrics and sexy groove. Then, they top it off with just enough dark/mysterious edge that singer Jesse Rutherford’s vocals capture perfectly. The sensual tone in his voice is something so many strive to achieve, yet he does without any effort.
Besides providing a fresh fan-base, touring Europe allowed Joe Driscoll to bring along fellow Syracuse-based hip-hop heads, and inexorable party-starters, 