NYS Music 20​14

Category: Show Reviews

  • Blindsided in Buffalo: Turkuaz and Playonbrother Pack a Heavy One-Two Punch

    Being blindsided usually means you’ve been attacked or hit when you’re vulnerable or uninformed. In the case of sports, it’s used in football when a quarterback is hit from behind when he can’t see the guy coming. Just like the quarterback, sometimes you have a feeling or inclination that said hit is coming, and yet you still can’t avoid it. That was the case this past weekend when Turkuaz and Playonbrother rolled into Buffalo for a show at Nietzsche’s. The combination of the two packed a heavy enough punch Friday night that nobody in the crowd, including myself, was sure what hit them when all was said and done.

    turkuaz playonbrotherIn typical fashion, Nietzsche’s began to get cozy as the start of the show approached and everyone was laughing and having a beer, unaware of what was about to go down. Playonbrother took to the stage around 10:30pm to kick things off. Now the band was just recently in town for a show on Black Friday, but there was still a lot of people who hadn’t seen them judging by the casual conversations throughout the crowd that night. As Alan Evans, Danny Mayer, and Beau Sasser walked up the steps in the front of the stage, it was time, and they planned to get things going right away with the late start.

    The band kicked off their set with “They Call Me Velvet,” blasting into the heavy beat and forcing everyone who wasn’t already near the stage to pack in and pay attention. Back in November, Sasser had an issue with his amp, but that was obviously fixed as the bass from his Hammond was the fattest sound I’ve ever heard coming from him. Adding to the infectious sound coming from the stage was Mayer’s syncopated riffs playing off of Evans’ hard-hitting beats. We wouldn’t know it until after the show, but these three guys somehow managed to make just as much noise as the nine that would succeed them. Throughout the entire night, I had my funk face on, scrunched up from how well these guys played.

    After the first song wrapped up, Alan Evans graciously played host to his hometown and introduced his bandmates before letting everyone know who he was. One of the early highlights was a Frank Zappa cover the guys did in “Easy Meat.” Beau Sasser plays in a Zappa cover band known as The Z3, so it’s obvious where this one came from. What wouldn’t be obvious just seeing this in writing was how dirty and heavy these guys played this song. They might be generally classified as funk, but the commanding beat by Evans mixed with the heavy riffing of Mayer and Sasser took everyone by surprise; this was the first blindsided moment of the night. The song was darker and heavier than just about anything I’ve ever heard from them.

    Evans played at times like he had something against his drums, hitting harder and harder as the song progressed. One of their new songs, “Nothing to Say,” was also an easy favorite from their set. During this one, Sasser took the lead, showcasing his abilities on the Hammond organ. His Leslie speaker was spinning out the hottest licks all night, but on this song in particular, he took us on the funkiest of space odysseys with the throttle broken from being pushed too far forward. The band closed their set with “Cosmic Hazel Dust,” a personal favorite and song that sums up their sound and direction. After ripping into the first parts of the song, the band segued into a trance-like section where Sasser’s droney bass added the perfect texture to the funk-laden beat of Evans.

    n front of it all was Mayer’s searing wah tone coming from his guitar as he used his instrument as a vehicle for expression. With eyes closed, Mayer took one of the more memorable solos of the night and left the crowd begging for more. While it was Evans first time opening in his hometown in quite sometime, the band took the slot and proceeded to hit the crowd early and hard, setting up Turkuaz who would take the stage next.

    Set List: They Call Me Velvet, Charlie Brown, Easy Meat, Ain’t No, Nothing to Say, Only One, Buffalo, Sunshine of Your Love, Cosmic Hazel Dust

    Once Playonbrother’s gear was cleared, there was finally room for Turkuaz to take the stage. The nine-piece band from Brooklyn is usually tight no matter where they play, but with the smaller stage of Nietzsche’s, the only thing more cramped was the dance floor. The horns that set off the opening of their set were a clear indicator of how the night was going to go – intensely fast and tightly synched. The first song, “Chatte Lunatique,” went blasting forward while guitarist Craig Brodhead tried to keep pace on his first solo. The thump of Taylor Shell’s bass was the front car of this race, setting the pace alongside drummer Michael Angelo Carubba. The ladies of Turkuaz, Geneva Williams and Sammi Garett, took to the stage with tambourines in hand to close out the opening song. The look on everyone’s face at the first stop in the action said it all – “what the hell just hit me?”

    To say these guys (and gals) are talented would be selling them short. As you can imagine, a nine-piece band has an enormous sound, but it’s not just nine instruments/voices, as most of the members pull double duty. Craig Brodhead plays guitar and synths, Joshua Schwartz plays saxophone, sings, and adds percussion, Chris Brouwers plays the trumpet and keyboards, and both of the Turkuaz girls add vocals and the tambourine. It doesn’t even stop there as the entire band has coordinated several dance moves, in complete synchronization, during a few of their songs which only adds to their outpouring of energy. The nine add so much that, unless you listen intently on one person, it’s tough to even distinguish where a particular sound is coming from. Drummer Michael Angelo Carubba was visually buried behind everyone, but still managed to stick out with his excellent percussion work, keeping the other eight in line. The self-proclaimed funk army is truly just that!

    Throughout their entire set, the band would simply not let up. If the band was in the driver seat, then they were stomping on the gas and taking everyone in attendance for a mandatory ride; the band was musically relentless. It’s amazing how tight the band remained given the tenacity and tempo of their music. Regardless, you could tell they were doing something right as the crowd was packed from front to back and everyone was getting down.

    One highlight of their set, and proving how closely knit these two bands had become over the course of this tour, was when Beau Sasser hopped the railing and jumped on stage for an impromptu sit in. He took over Craig Brodhead’s keyboard and his synthy slithering mixed well with Turkuaz’s deep funk. I’m not sure how Beau fit with everyone up there, but you could clearly see the camaraderie and friendship that was forged as everyone was having a great time.

    The band closed with “Shape,” and you could literally feel the ground shaking below your feet. With the entire band jumping in unison, the crowd followed suit for the peak of the performance. The final bass and guitar showdown brought a funky blues solo to close out an incredible night of music. As they filed off the stage, one by one, the crowd beckoned for more. Lucky for us, the band appeased with an unscripted, off-the-cuff encore of “Monkey Fingers” to keep the Friday night party going. As the night officially wrapped up, there was a collective gasp for air as it had literally been knocked out of the crowd. I had never seen Turkuaz up until this point and I can say that they came out of nowhere and blew me away. Thankfully for Western New York, the band is slated to come back this Fall for the Night Lights Fall Music Festival.

    Set List: JB Intro, Chatte Lunatique, Coast to Coast, Bubba Slide, Murder Face, Night Swimming, M’Lady, Tiptoe, Snap Your Fingers, It’s Hard, Honky Tonk Women, I’ve Got a Feeling, Back to Normal, 20 Dollar Bill, The Shape I’m In

    Encore: Monkey Fingers

    Photos by Thomas Sgroi

  • Pink Talking Fish Brings a Fantasy to Reality

    Fans whirled around the Putnam Den in bewilderment on Saturday night asking questions such as: Are there three bands playing tonight? What are they playing? What is this going to sound like? All these questions were asked in a jovial way as very few could fathom the idea of one band playing the music of Pink Floyd, The Talking Heads and Phish. Everyone was excited to see how this could be done, and they would not be disappointed; Pink Talking Fish delivered a spot on fantasy performance.

    The High Peaks Band, a three-piece ensemble out of Saratoga Springs, opened the evening bringing a high energy jammy sound that mixed in lyrics of an alt-country band. The lead vocals of Rick Nelson were complimented wonderfully by Michael Hoffman’s backing harmony. Drummer Jason Vasquez held the band together as they ran through their set. Although there were very few, if any, low points, the highlight of the set was the cover of a moe. classic “She Sends Me,” a rocking tune that not only got the crowd going, but also showed the bands diversity.  It was a great surprise during a great set.

    The stage was now set to answer everyone’s question: What is this Pink Talking Fish all about? Well, from the onset, they were about tearing it up. Opening with a spacey rendition of “2001,” the audience knew what this band was all about and that they meant business. With the funk vibe of Phish and backing sounds that echoed Pink Floyd, the tone was set for the whole evening.  “Life during Wartime” came out of this extended jam as the entire room danced along with the bouncy lyrics. From there, things slowed down a little as the band performed “Have a Cigar.” Keyboardist Rick Umlah took lead vocals on this, hitting all the notes perfectly, resonating Floyd, yet with his own spin to it. Up to this point, the songs were played very well, but it wasn’t until “Possum” that they really shined. Eric Gould, founding member and the only one consistently in the lineup, took over the vocals and guitarist Dave Brunyak, of the Phreaks, showed the crowd his stuff. The lengthy jam was filled with shredding only comparable to Trey Anastasio himself. Brunyak’s sound wasn’t the only thing that was reminiscent of Trey, as he made body movements and gyrations similar to those of the Phish guitarist, but with his own style. He wasn’t copying Trey, he was just simply being Dave, and the crowd ate it up as they fed off his energy and enthusiasm. This continued throughout the set up until the closer “Cross Eyed and Painless.” This was a perfect way to end the first set, a high energy song that left the fans wanting more.

    Some may have thought there was no way the first set could be matched, but those people could not have been more wrong. Opening with a raging “Run like Hell,” Zack Burwick’s drums hit hard and heavy which set the atmosphere for the whole room and the whole set. “Run like an Antelope” was as solid and tight as it has ever been played. It seemed as though there was nothing these guys couldn’t do. They were nailing everything they tried and then some, but just like every great band, they were not done outdoing themselves. “In the Flesh,” went into “Mikes Song,” which in and of itself was a treat. The real treat however is when they went back and forth between seven different songs before playing “Weekapaug Groove,” going into “Eclipse,” and ending the set where they started it with “Run like Hell!” This was simply amazing. For the encore the boys had some fun mashing up “Makisupa Policeman” with “Brain Damage,”  and closing the night out with“Cities” and “Tweezer Reprise.”

    Many bands go out and try to cover other bands, usually falling short. These guys not only successfully covered one band, they covered three! The energy was high from the beginning and it only intensified with each song. The magic of not knowing what was coming next and being pleasantly surprised when it dropped was pure brilliance, brilliance in which this band should continue to do for a long time.

    High Peaks Band Set List 4/19/2014

    Walk to the Bar, Within Reason, Doesn’t Matter, Rice Petunias, Not on TV, Superman Above, She Sends Me*, Fade to an Echo#

    *- moe. cover #- Lively up Yourself teases

    Pink Talking Fish Set List 4/19/2014

    Set 1: 2001*>Life During Wartime, Have a Cigar>Posum, Slippery People>Sand>Slippery People, Another Brick In the Wall>Psycho Killer> Another Brick In the Wall, You Enjoy Myself>On the Run>You Enjoy Myself**>Crosseyed and Painless

    Set 2: Run Like Hell***>Run Like An Antelope, Burning Down The House, In The Flesh>Mike’s Song> Pigs(3 Different Ones)>Houses In Motion>Tweezer>One Of These Days>Lenghtwise>One Of These Days>Once In A Lifetime>Weekapaug Groove>Eclipse>Run Like Hell

    Encore: Makisupa Policeman/Brain Damage >
    Cities>Tweezer Reprise

    *w/ multiple Pink Floyd teases in the intro
    **w/ Mother tease
    ***w/ Careful With That Axe Eugene tease
    ****Back and forth between Makisupa and Brain Damage. Brain Damage was reggae style during the verse and classic style during the chorus. “Woke up on 420. Went to Putnam Den. I get to try out my brand new Vapo Pen.”

  • 4:20 Concert Unites Local Reggae and more at Wescott

    IMG_6779“Its Easter Sunday, let’s take ’em to Church!” These crowd-amping words from Sophistafunk’s Jack Brown resonated through a well-attended Westcott Theater on Sunday’s 4:20 concert, featuring local (Syracuse and Ithaca) favorites Root Shock, Sophistafunk, and John Brown’s Body. For many, Sunday’s 4:20 concert felt like a reunion of old friends as these bands amassed a sizable fan base of dedicated show-goers for a night of nostalgia, good vibes, and reliably awesome music from these time-honored veterans.

    The night began with the soulful sounds of Root Shock, a newer (circa 2012) group with deep ties in the Syracuse roots music scene. Three of its members (Phil Grajko, Fahim Fain “Fa Fa”, Bill Eppel) have been gracing Syracuse’s stages on and off for nearly a decade with Afro-Cuban/roots/reggae/calypso group Akuma Roots. Root Shock brings a sweet, sometimes funky, sing-along soul sound to the droning chords and rhythm of roots rock reggae. The chorus’ were heartfelt and catchy and definitely highlighted the talents of the voice of Root Shock, Jessica Brown. This humble, dready soul child caught many an ear’s attention with her increasingly strong high range on songs like the classic Bill Withers tune, “Use Me.” The performance also featured visiting artist and former member of Root Shock, Phil Grajko (Morning Sun and the Essentials, Joy Telepathy Project) whose crisp and tasty guitar solos helped to round out the band’s sound and keep listeners listening. In short, Root Shock was an opener that everyone forgot was an opener.

    IMG_6687Next, the crowd was swept up by the larger than life force that is Jack Brown and commanded to “Wil’ Out”- to dance, to celebrate, to get hyped and positive, no matter what excuse they needed. In Jack’s words, “Happy Easter, happy holidays, happy Spring Equinox, happy 4:20.” Jack’s rhymes are always thoughtful yet fun, and his positive themes encourage creativity, community and self-actualization. His animated persona, tall stature, and front of the stage presence demands crowd involvement. In breaks in sets, the audience was rallied around a ban on Hydrofracking, nostalgia for the Grassroots Music Festival and Sterling Stage, and love for the Westcott Nation. Jack knows how to work a crowd, but what is the quintessential frontman without a killer rhythm section? Nothing. Think Robert Plant without John Paul Jones and John Bonham, or Roger Daltry without Keith Moon… needless to say, Adam Gold (pianos and synth) and Emmanuel “E-Man” Washington (drums) held down the funk…hard. Gold has an uncanny ability to provide a full-bodied, deep bass line while simultaneously rocking the crowd with a rhythmic melody or sending them into a sophisticated space-haze with chorus-laden organ sound. E-man’s rhythms are tight, loud, and immaculately locked-in, making him and Gold one inseparable funk machine. For an extra kick, a very talented guest trombonist from NYC was brought onstage and delivered virtuosic solos, ecstatic hype-power, and some legit hip hop dance moves. Sophistafunk tends to give the headliners a run for their money and this 4:20 party was no exception.

    IMG_6931John Brown’s Body kept the night grooving with their dubby, rich, sometimes almost hymnal sound. Jungle green and cool blue stage lights and smoke machines poured ambiance over the now moody, mesmerized crowd as JBB showcased their large repertoire of “Future Roots” music. John Brown’s Body has been touring Ithaca and Syracuse (and worldwide) for almost two decades now, have produced ten studio albums, and have gone through numerous band member changes. This band has a sound that has evolved and has some serious staying power and mass appeal. The formula, according to this humble listener: 1) Thuddy, five-string deep bass lines that aren’t afraid to walk about the neck and dig that groove super-deep. 2) Guitar hooks that play closely off of these bass lines, hit lots of rhythmic counter-melodies throughout the song, and utilize cool effects. 3) Soulful, pure-toned vocals with lots of sustained notes that uplift listeners and suggest some sort of spiritual chanting or hymn. 4) A trifecta of harmonious, ecstatic, and yet perfectly balanced horns (sax, trombone, trumpet). Their interplay with Elliot Martin’s vocals provided the perfect injection of complexity and raw roots energy to the overall sound. John Brown’s Body brought listeners through their many phases, with newer, dubbier sounds like the etheric, “Plantation” off of Kings and Queens, to the “rootsier” classic, “Follow in the Shadow,” from the 2005 album, Pressure Points. Listeners from all eras appeared to stay right with JBB throughout their set. After an encore, the audience was left tired, but filled with warm hearts and good vibrations. Happy 4:20 indeed.

  • Lacuna Coil, Kyng, Eve to Adam, and Cilver Rocked the Westcott Theater in Syracuse

    Approximately 300 people swarmed to see Lacuna Coil headline the Westcott Theater in Syracuse on Tuesday night. It marked the first time in five years since Lacuna Coil was in town, and the sound and overall production was fantastic at the Westcott Theater.

    The doors opened at 6PM and alternative rockers Cilver started right at 7PM. The band rocked a 30 minute set that consisted of their upcoming EP, In My Head. Frontwoman Uliana Preotu is a talented singer who could really wail on the mic. Lead guitarist Gerry Soman also stood out as he could really shred through their material, similar to Zakk Wylde. This band has a bright future and I would expect them to be touring with bigger names in the very near future.

    Eve to Adam began their chaotic set at 7:40PM and really set a high tempo. They opened with “Bender” and stormed into the song “Fortune Teller” before playing the title track to their new release, Locked & Loaded. One thing I think that makes the band stand out is their high energy and use of vocal harmonies. In an attempt to really get the crowd active, they played a cover of Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell” before closing their set with “Straight Jacket Supermodel.” Eve to Adam continues to tour relentlessly and is really making a name for themselves.

    Lacuna Westcott

    Kyng came into their set as the most metal band of the night, and for a three-piece band, they really make it look easy. The band had a few intimate and hilarious moments with the crowd throughout their set. It all started with a few good-natured hecklers screaming out “Slayer!” to bassist Tony Castaneda, who does, in fact, resemble Tom Araya of Slayer. On top of that, guitarist/vocalist Eddie Veliz kept picking on this one bearded gentleman (who was standing right next to me) in an Iced Earth shirt, telling him to lighten up throughout the entire set. The band’s humor was a much-needed element for the night. Two highlights from Kyng’s set was their cover of Van Halen’s “Hot for the Teacher” and their closer “Falling Down.” For anyone who missed Kyng, they will be back in Upstate New York in Rochester on May 8th with Fozzy and Buckcherry and in Poughkeepsie on May 9th with Fozzy and Jamie Jasta.

    Lacuna Coil finally graced the stage at 9:20PM by opening with “Trip The Darkness.” The band still sounds as terrific as they always did, even with Guitarist Cris “Pizza” Migliore and drummer Christiano “Criz” Mozzati no longer in the lineup. Singers Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro pack an awesome one-two punch and have such a great and unique stage presence. Lacuna Coil played classic songs like “Swamped,” “Heaven’s a Lie,” and “Fragments of Faith,” as well as new songs from their latest release, Broken Crown Halo, which they are currently promoting. The main highlight of their set would have to be “My Spirit,” which they dedicated to late and great Peter Steele of Type O Negative before diving into their trademark song “Spellbound.” For the very last song, they closed with (my personal favorite) “Our Truth,” which is a really high tempo, energetic song. Lacuna Coil was well received by their performance, and although they didn’t do an encore, they came and signed merchandise after the show.

    Overall, it was a fantastic night with every band coming through in the clutch.  Lacuna Coil wraps up their U.S. tour in early May before heading out to tour the rest of world. Even though there aren’t any additional Upstate NY stops, I would imagine that after a night like that, it won’t be too long before they make another run this way.

  • Formula 5’s Album and Album Release Party A Major Hit

    It was one of the first beautiful nights of the year for The Formula 5 album release party at Red Square on April 18th. Suitable Groove started the night off as the crowd thickened and the energy levels increased. Although it was still early in the night when Suitable Groove took stage, there were a significant people gathered to get down to their funky beats.

    20140418 - The Hornitz 5

    Shortly after Suitable Groove, The Hornitz took stage with enough energy to put Russel Simmons to shame. The Hornitz mix a wide array of funk, beat boxing, bass trombone, tenor saxophone, keys, and a list of different samplings to make up their unique sound. At one point during the performance they busted out a full rendition of Cypress Hill’s, “Insane in the Brain” with a flooring amount of funk. In case the crowd wasn’t already highly impressed, the duo then broke into a beat-boxing session while singing at the same time. All of you 90’s kids might remember the comparison to the great Rahzel who really brought this technique to the forefront. Overall, an absolutely phenomenal performance by this Boston based duo. If you have yet to see the Hornitz live, I suggest you check your local listings.

    As soon as Formula 5 took to the stage, the harrowing funk of Joe Davis’ guitar riffs echoed through the streets of Albany. The band opened with “The Clear” off of their new album, Edging on Catastrophe, which was an impressive and energy packed song to open their debut off their new album. For a portion of the show, special guest Tucker Callander stepped in for a few songs live on the violin. Callander sat in for “The Clear,” “Catch Me > Timmy’s Slumber > Epiphany > Timmy’s Slumber” and “Nu-Gen.” This part of the show showed their extreme versatility within each segue while adding a new and different flair to each song with the accompaniment of the violin. New bassist James Woods sat in for a set closing “Hot Box > Good Times Bad Times”.

    20140418 - Formula 5 8

    Often times for album debut parties it is hard to tell which direction the band is trying to take with it’s new endeavor, but it is evident that Formula 5’s direction is up. The entire album front to back is like a more polished version of who the band has always been and what they have always been about. Staying true to their roots with Joe Davis’ Phish-esque guitar riffs, while rounding out their funky Bill-bass lines with Mike McDonald on the keys and Greg on the drums. Edging on Catastrophe is a wonderful representation of the band’s versatility as artists, bringing in influences of bluegrass, electronic, folk, rock and of course, funk.

    This was also their farewell show to their longtime bassist Bill Shattuk, so of course there had to be an epic bust out of “Sledgehammer.” This is clearly one of Formula 5’s favorite covers, which is evident through the extreme amount of energy and enthusiasm they show on stage. Another highlight of the show was “Pedro”, for which the guys from The Hornitz jumped on stage with the guys to share in the jam.  They then segued into the Phish/Trey Anastasio Band classic, “Sand.” The show was an all out party from start to finish and the collaboration of all of these talented artists made for a perfect concoction of pure funkafied excellence.  From front to back the album shows the exponential growth each individual has accomplished as a musician and also the immense amount of capability the band has as a whole.

  • The Palace Welcomed the King of the Blues, B.B. King on the 17th

    The Palace in Albany hosted the legendary B.B. King, one of the greatest guitarist of all time, and King of the Blues, on Thursday the 17th of April, to a crowd of all ages and backgrounds who all shared a love for the blues. The venue buzzed with teens in blue jeans and adults in fur, parading in the lobby and the aisles, eager for the magic of B.B. King and his guitar “Lucille.” The band warms up the stage with instrumental jazz, each stretching their musical muscles as guests take their seats. The introduction was made and B.B. King was escorted onto the stage, making for a grand entrance as the crowd greets him with a standing ovation. He takes a seat at center stage and goes through the introductions of the band, poking fun and setting the laid back tone of the evening.

    “Here is something for the lovers tonight,” B.B. cooed as the band opened with “I Need You.” His voice is still strong as his vocals are crisp and echoed beautifully around the Palace. He plays each note on purpose with an incredible ease and care. The long exaggerated plucking is second nature to him and so are the blues. “You Are My Sunshine” started a massive sing-along that was adorable coming from everyone in the audience. As the lights would begin to darken, B.B. would request them to be brighter as he got a kick from looking out at all the fans trying to get his attention; this shifted the focus off of the music and was a bit irritating.

    But the show went on to “Rock Me Baby,” a sophisticated, sexy song with a slow tempo, consistent buildups from the band, and rebellious guitar riffs from B.B. The show came to an end all too soon as B.B. said his good nights with a very slow exit. B.B. King still performs with a smile, booming vocals and mighty hands, but it was a disappointment to have the show end so early with such a short setlist. Despite his distracted stage presence, the 88-year-old musician is still a must see act as he continues to spread the blues to Upstate NY and beyond.

  • Tycho entrances The Sinclair, Boston 4/17

    The Sinclair was in for an epic night on April 17th when Tycho took to the stage as a part of the “Awake” tour for his newly released LP. Tycho, otherwise known as Scott Hansen (the main man behind the curtain), utilizes synths, guitar, bass guitar and his own visuals and programming to hype up his act. He’s been in the works since 2002 but recently has been touring with a live backing band including Zac Brown on guitar and Rory O’Connor on drums. His unique pairing of psychedelic synths with hypnotic guitar patterns has formed a distinctive ambient sound that fans have been craving for years.

    the sinclair
    Tycho_13

    With the anticipation at its highest peak and the beginning bass notes slamming through the speakers, everyone in the crowd at The Sinclair inched forward expecting a big entrance, only to see Tycho and his band humbly walk to their positions on stage. They shyly waved to the audience as people screamed and entered into the first number from their newest album, “Awake”. Just like their entrance, the synths, keyboard and guitar riffs flowed sweetly together to send every audience member into an immediate trance. Tycho refused the exaggerated energy of the high beam flashing lights that their opener, Gardens & Villa rocked so well with a new-age disco vibe. Instead they stuck with an honest low-lit environment that complimented the screen behind them. They amped up the beat with some intricate drumming patterns that barely allowed your head to bob as you watched the second star of the show: the artwork. One cannot speak about Tycho without speaking about his artist/photographer counterpart, otherwise known as ISO50. The music changed completely with his silhouetted figure swallowed up in the projected dreamlike sequences. Eyes were overcome with images anywhere from a mixture of space and sky, to slow motion splashes of feet running through the ocean, to a girl wrapped in the wind, slowly being drowned by the white light. All of these were intermittently overlaid with his design work – beautiful pink and orange and red stripes taking different forms, reminiscent of his most recent LP cover. As the psychedelic ambience washed over you, so did the slow sunsets and splashes of his video art.

    the sinclair
    Tycho_5

    Tycho mixed up the evening with schizophrenic switches from new to old to even newer. After breezing through a few songs in “Awake”, the band dipped back to the classics, throwing in tracks from the album “Dive” including “Hours”, “Ascension”, “Daydream”, “Dive”, and any Tycho-lover’s favorite, “A Walk” for his encore. He livened up the set with some new numbers called “Pip” and “E:”, both vibrant with his signature repetitive synth chords and heavy with drums. Of course the newest tracks caught the most attention with their beat-driven base and unique guitar parts. Tracks like “Apogee”, “See” and “Montana” really got the crowd moving, if they were able to break out of their psychedelic abstraction.

    In the end, Tycho was gone just as quickly as he hobbled on stage – the night breezed by. Maybe it was the daydream we all entered so unknowingly; maybe it was the trippy flashes of people spinning in saucers, musicians in large hats and water droplets spilling through the screen and into the crowd. Whatever it was, being “Awake” hit us hard – if you’re ever in a live Tycho trance, you’ll never want it to end.

    Setlist: Intro>Awake, Dye, Hours, Ascension, L, Daydream, Spectre, Apogee, Dive, Pip, See

    Encore: E:, A Walk, Montana

  • Cher Lloyd and David Correy Turn Up The Heat at the Spring Meltdown

    Central New Yorkers have ushered out the cold winter weather for the past three years with the help of Mohawk Valley Community College and Kiss FM 97.9/105.5 as they host their annual Spring Meltdown each April.  This April’s event was even hotter than the previous years with the headlining British sensation, Cher Lloyd, and her special guest, David Correy.

    cher lloyd
    Cher Lloyd

    David Correy is more than just an amazing performer, he’s an inspiration to all of his fans world wide.  Looking back on his life to date, David ‘s course of history appears to be predestined.  Born in Brazil to a family in extreme poverty, his mother made the difficult decision to give David up for adoption to afford him more opportunities in life.  This selfless act gave a couple in Annapolis, MD the opportunity to be a part of David’s life and love him as their own.  Throughout his childhood David was always drawn to music and performing whether it was in school productions or singing and writing music where ever he could.  David’s love for music was recognized and awarded with a full scholarship to the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA.  Off to refine his craft in Boston, David was dealt a horrendous blow in his sophomore year when he became ill and completely lost his voice.  Having to give up school, David returned home to recuperate.

    This, however, didn’t deter David though as he pushed through the roadblock to only bounce back with more determination to succeed. But shortly after that, fate once again had alternative plans for David when he was in a near fatal car accident.  Once again David proved what he was made of and how much of a fighter he was, as he recovered and pushed back once again with even more perseverance.  In 2012 David was a contender on the second season of the US version of the reality show, X-Factor, being a member of LA Reid’s team.  Even thought he was eliminated, the appearance on the show lent a hand to fate once again and brought David and his birth mother back together as she recognized his baby photos on the show.  Chronicling the reunion with all of his Facebook and Twitter fans as it unfolded, we all became part of his heart warming reunion with his mother and family in Brazil.  Since the reunion, David’s talents have extended past the shores of America to incorporate fans world wide.  He has had opportunities to work with greats such as Ne-Yo, Bow Wow, Omarion, and the likes over the last few years. This world wide acclaim has widened to now incorporate sports fans as David joins forces with Aloe Blacc on David’s new song “The World Is Ours”, the Coca- Cola 2014 FIFA World Cup Anthem.

    In March of 2014, David once again was dealt with one of life’s unfairnesses with the passing of his adoptive mother.  As he grieved, he picked himself up and pushed through the pain yet again.  Joining us at MVCC for the 2014 Spring Meltdown only a few short weeks after his loss, he dedicated the show to his late mother and his Central NY family, the family that first embraced him at his first big show in 2012 at MVCC’s first Spring Meltdown, and the crowd welcomed him home with open arms.

    cher lloyd
    Cher Lloyd

    With the amazing talents of David Correy opening, Cher Lloyd could feel the love within the Jorgenson Complex as the crowd chanted and went wild in anticipation of the superstar to emerge. Cher Lloyd, at a young age of 20, hails from the UK and is best known for her appearance in the seventh series of the X Factor in the UK.  Finishing fourth however didn’t deter her as she was signed immediately to Syco Music, Simon Cowell’s label.  Releasing her first single “Swagger Jagger” the single went immediately to number one on the UK charts and five on the charts in Ireland. With a second release of her collaboration with Mike Posner on “With Ur Love”, her success was apparent as the single went top ten again.  In October of 2011 Cher signed with Logan Entertainment and we saw the release of her premier album, Sticks & Stones here in the US shortly thereafter.  The single “Want You Back” immediately went top ten and she was a household name in no time.  In addition to her amazing musical talents, she’s a beauty.  Signed as a model with the prestigious Select Agency, she began to appear on magazine covers as well.

    Cher Lloyd
    Cher Lloyd

    As Cher took the stage at MVCC, it was an amazing site to see how this petit firecracker took control of the stage and wrapped her audience around her little finger.  Her stage presence spewed of passion, strength, and life on her own terms.  As she sang many fan favorites from her first album Sticks & Stones interspersed with songs from the upcoming new album, Sorry I’m Late, (to be released by end of May 2014) it was apparent that her musical talents were unique and genuine to her vision.  As she performed acoustic numbers such as “Goodnight” a ballad writen about her father, and “Sirens” you gathered an insight into this multi-talented artist as she is much more than a pop, rap, hip hop, contemporary R&B.  She is a truly gifted songwriter and an amazing performer.  When categorizing Cher Lloyd to any one genre, one would be pressed to select.  She credits artists such as Nicki Minaj in trailblazing the unique sound she has created as well as legendary country artist Dolly Parton.  With such a diverse inspirational background, it’s only inevitable that Cher would create an unique sound of her own.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvRV7zY75Ss&w=560&h=315]

    Touring since 2011 with the XFactor tour, and then accompanying Hot Chelle Rae in 2012 and Taylor Switft in 2013 on her Red Tour validates her upward climb to success in the US.  For those interested in catching her on tour this year, she will be out on the road with Demi Lovato on her 2014 Neon Lights Tour.

    Cher Lloyd
    Cher Lloyd

    Although Cher is only 20, her amazing talent and drive to the top signifies what a superstar this young lady is and will be in the future.  Many artists rise to the top with a few hits, but it’s her diversity in music and the ability to stay true to her craft that will maintain Cher on the top for many years to come.  It is the uniqueness of what she creates that makes her stand out above others.  It is her honestly in her songwriting and performing.  She’s definitely one that marches to the beat of her own drum, wearing her heart on her sleeve literally, proudly displaying her ink featuring her love of her father.  Cher develops an aura at her show.  By sharing details of her personal life with her audience she draws them in as friends and not just fans in an audience.  If we were to make predictions on future stars to watch for that will stay true to their music, true to their personal beliefs, and true to their creativity,  I would definitely place Cher on that list.  If I were to choose one word to describe Cher, it would be honest.  Cher is honest to herself and her fans, and that is why they love her.

  • Jimkata Comes Home to Play The Haunt in Ithaca with Turkuaz

    Ithaca’s The Haunt was the place to be on Friday April 11th as Jimkata and Turkuaz broke it down for the locals. Ithaca locals Jimkata has just returned from a countrywide tour that included 18 states and over 35 shows, with a few more still to go as they prepare for festival season. The band has been exponentially growing in popularity in the past few years, as they have made appearances at some of the nation’s largest festivals and venues. From the Rockies to the East Coast, Jimkata has been featured at Gathering of the Vibes, Summercamp, Catskill Chill, and most recently, opening Colorado’s SnowBall.

    Since Jimkata’s formation in 2006, the band’s style and overall sound has changed immensely. The band started as a jam/rock group with meaty guitar solos and psychedelic undertones, but since then has morphed into more of an electro/indie rock band. Jimkata’s influences can easily be detected in their music, with hints of MGMT, Talking Heads, and LCD Sound System. The unique electro-rock music that the band makes has somewhat forged a new frontier for this ever-expanding genre and is constantly evolving all the time.

    2

    Opening for Jimkata was the notoriously funky band Turkuaz. For those who have never seen or heard of the group before, your ears will be pleasantly surprised. The Haunt seemed almost too small for the energy and huge sound that Turkuaz produced. The band consists of nine members, including two saxophonists, both tenor and baritone, two guitarists, bass, trumpet/keys, two vocalists, and of course a rock solid drummer to keep all that funk together.

    Starting off the set was an unreleased track titled “Typa-Lika,” exemplifying the power that the group has harnessed. The distorted guitar, groovy bass line, and driving rhythm are comparable only to funk music masters such as Lettuce. Their set continued with all original songs from their three studio albums and even a few more unreleased tracks. Besides giving the crowd outstanding dancing music, Turkuaz also had a soulful side that allowed the audience to feel the music on a whole new level. Lead guitarist and vocalist Dave Brandwein, in combination with the two female vocalist/dancers sang the blues like no other, ending their set with all instrumental jam, “20 Dollar Bill.”

    3

    With the crowd sufficiently sweaty and riled up, Jimkata wasted no time making their way to the stage. In contrast to the big-bad-funk of Turkuaz, Jimkata started off with a more laid back tune, “American Cars,” combining psychedelic bass and synthesizer. Their popular songs “Lighter” and “Nightshade” followed, featuring big choruses and breakdowns, as what seemed like the entire audience bellow the lyrics “You can let it go!” The band maintained the high energy set with more songs from their two most recent studio albums, Die Digital and Feel In Light. Winding down the show, Jimkata pulled out some of its older fan favorites, going back to their roots with a couple tracks off their self-titled debut album. These songs allowed one to see the transformation the group has made from the harder rock and heavy guitar solos that Jimkata started off their career with. As to be expected, the Ithaca natives drew a huge crowd, filling The Haunt nearly to capacity with a party that will not soon be forgotten.

    4

    Turkuaz Setlist: Typa-Like, Bubba > Coast, Chatte > Lookin Tough, Rules > M’Lady > Tiptoe Thru Crypto, Murder Face > Pickin Up, 20 Dollar Bill

    Jimkata Setlist: American Cars, Lighter, Nightshade > Beat the Curse, Die Digital > Legoland, Electronic Stone, Feel in Light, Feed > Daytime Fiction, Low Low, Chainstore

    Encore: Intro, Release > Mind Crossing

  • Rock N Roll Resort v4: Dream Party Machine

    Rock N Roll Resort v4 was a dream come true for those looking to start the festival season of 2014 on the right note. Wicked Cool Productions and Magic Hat presented the fourth annual music and arts festival hosted at the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa in the heart of the Catskills in Kerhonkson, NY on April 4th-6th. Given the history of the resort, it was the ideal location to host such a grand weekend party after the long winter and cabin fever that Upstate had endured. With over 60 musical acts, 4 stages, an indoor shakedown scene, the Overlook Art Gallery, themed costume nights, plus all the extra activities, dreams came true for guests at Rock N Roll Resort v4: The Dream Machine.

    Friday night’s festivities began with a set from Scooter Dude in one of the more ornate and lavish rooms that Hudson Valley Hotel and Spa offered, the Grand Ballroom. Located right off the main lobby and in the heart of all the action, so to speak, this carpeted dance room saw luxurious couches lining the outside of it for comfort and an incredible chandelier that aided everyone’s visual enjoyment. Every band and/or lighting director took turns all weekend using this crystal centerpiece to their benefit by bouncing and reflecting lights off of it, much to the delight of all in attendance. This was definitely one of the more aesthetically pleasing constants of the weekend which never failed to disappoint. Space Carnival took over the Grand Ballroom for a set filled with their spacey disco jams that included a killer Talking Heads’ “Cities” that sent the crowd shooting through the room almost as fast as the laser beams. The Oneonta quartet took their performance with serious precision as they lopped melodies and held a fast consistent dance tempo that was hard to orbit out of.

    Guitar phenom Bobby Paltauf was joined by Jen Durkin on the Acoustic Stage which was located literally right in the center of the lobby, so it was by far the most accessible of all the stages. Their hour long set gave the young guitarist a chance to make his name known and featured a fun take on the Keller Williams classic hit “Best Feeling”. This was a pleasant intro for one of the more pure rock n roll acts of the weekend, The Broadcast. The played in one of the two larger rooms of the weekend, the Empire Lounge, which had all the look and feel of a swank cocktail lounge from the 70s. While the room may have been a little sparse due to late arriving festival goers, the Asheville, North Carolina rock outfit delighted those who had checked in already with their energetic set of primal rock. The icing on the cake was a phenomenal version of Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” which could have easily served as the motto for what this group delivered all weekend. With a lot of electronica and funk outfits on the bill, their brand of pure rock, with an impressive female lead singer named Caitlin Krisko, was quite the breath of fresh air.

    It was a short walk from the Empire Lounge to the adjacent Manhattan Theater that housed many of the larger acts of the weekend. The first of these was Upstate New York’s own Conehead Buddha. The resurgent rock, funk, reggae and ska act delivered a little bit of all of this and then some to the patrons that were in attendance early. With a nice mix of uptempo originals and cover songs, Conehead Buddha did a fantastic job of turning a fairly empty and lifeless room into one full of energy and anticipation for the rest of the weekend. The Alchemystics turned the Empire Lounge into a tropical storm of smooth reggae and hip hop that preached fierce words of spreading love and hope. The soulful groove was contagious as the simple and exotic percussion kept bodies moving with lyrics that inspired a revolution on the dance floor. The vocal harmonies were uplifting with echoes of a timeless message but with a modern day aura.

    BRYAC Funk Allstars is a collaboration of all things funk from Connecticut with members from Kung Fu and Deep Banana Blackout. A classic big band sound like an Earth, Wind and Fire funk, but with way more edgy rock. The band’s everlasting notes and chords kept the peaks high as the brass section kept in triumphant unison. One of the highlights of the set was the head banging, thrash about jam of “Red Hot Mama” with Jen Durkin wailing on vocals and tambourine. Peter Prince & the Trama Unit was a five-piece, pure rock show mixed with funk and a great female sit in from Shannon Lynch of Conehead Buddha on Saxophone for “Friends” for an added jazzy blast. Peter Prince wailed bluesy vocals as Johnny Trama joined him for continuous guitar shredded. DJ Honeycomb sweetened the night in the Grand Ballroom with sit-ins by Friendship from The Hornitz and fellow beat boxer, Frido Lays, putting a fresh spin on the night with their fast spitting beats.

    Dumpstaphunk then took over the reigns of the Manhattan Theater which was now much more full of revelers. This act has become a staple on the festival circuit and their vibrant, energetic blend of rock and funk always seems to draw a crowd. Friday night was no different as the energy and mood of the venue continued to soar with each new number played by this supergroup of sorts. Drummer Nikki Glaspie really stood out in this performance (a feat unto itself) which was punctuated with a spellbinding “Drum solo -> Scat solo -> Immigrant Song” cover. Tauk was the set of the night with their face melting rock jams that took everyone by surprise in the Empire Lounge. The quartet from Brooklyn has a consistent rhythm in their live performances as they fuse progressive rock with experimental improvisation creating a unique genre of their own. Tauk’s instrumental rendition of The Beatle’s “I Want You (She’s so Heavy)” is one for the ages as they break it down to hypnotize audiences with pauses and driving climaxes.

    Saturday

    Saturday was a fresh start for festival goers to wake up to a catered breakfast, enjoy the spa amenities and partake in the numerous activities being hosted such as the Disc Golf Tournament, The Great American Pin off and the Magnificent Mini-Golf Tournament. The afternoon saw bands like Eggy, a galactic rock band, and The Hornitz, a beatboxing funky dance duo, kicking things off to start the day before 7 Below, an up and coming Phish cover band, did their thing in the first set in the Manhattan Theater of the day. The energy really kicked up with SOLARiS and their set in the Grand Ballroom. Taking full advantage of all the sights and sounds this room had to offer, this rising act that was formed in Binghamton, NY was really one of the jewels of the weekend. Producing way more energy and sound than any normal three piece band, this group has the look and feel of established electronica acts like The New Deal and Conspirator. They had everyone bouncing around the room to their infectious sound, including one guy who was compelled to do multiple back flips on the dance floor. This is truly an Upstate band that should not be missed.

    Their set flowed quite nicely into that of another Upstate New York act, Roots of Creation. These guys have been delivering their brand of ska-infused rock for many years now and it was nice to see them get a respectable time slot for their performance which featured a nice take on the Grateful Dead classic “Row Jimmy” among other songs. Following them in the Empire Lounge was another great New York band that’s fairly new to the scene as a band, but with musicians who have been around the block a little. Mister F is composed of members of the now defunct Timbre Coup and Capital Zen and they recently released their first album entitled The F Stands Four. Rock and Roll Resort was an ideal venue for this band to start having their sound heard by the masses. They play a truly infectious brand of electronic-based rock that had the entire room dancing in unison. With stellar performances of songs like “Vocoder” and “This One Goes to 11”, there is no doubt this performance turned some heads and garnered the group a few new fans.

    One of the other weekend headliners, Everyone Orchestra, then took center stage for the night. Featuring prominent names like Steve Kimock, Reed Mathis, Natalie Cressman and Jennifer Hartswick, this traveling ensemble delighted everyone with a special blend of jams, improv and soaring vocals courtesy of Hartswick and Jen Durkin who resurfaced during their set. EO delivered the soaring jams and quirky improv along with the audience participation for which they’ve become so well known.

    Business Casual Disco kept the party going in the Ballroom with their DJ remixes of classic and today’s hits with danceable beats and breakdowns. The crowd pleasers were The Jackson 5’s “ABC ” and Daft Punk’s “Doin it Right.” But for a completely different direction, Cabinet provided a Bluegrass Americana groove that is a classic staple to the historic Catskills and the rest of Upstate New York. The Empire Lounge was filled with string plucking and picking, as bows glided with rising vocal harmonies. Jordan Simms had quite the rowdy crowd singalong in the Acoustic Stage area as he played a late night set with Nephrok, Bobby Paltauf and Jen Durkin for the Rolling Stones “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and Joe Cocker’s “Feelin Alright.”

    The last major act of the evening was a break from all the other groups that did such an exemplary job of representing both New York and the East Coast. The Motet flew out from Colorado and delivered a true dance party. This most recent incarnation of the band has been touring nationally the last few years and includes elements of funk, afrobeat and disco among others that had the entire Manhattan Theater eating it up. This represented perhaps the peak of the weekend in terms of intensity and crowd population. Seemingly everyone in the hotel was present for both of the band’s sets this evening. The highly anticipated act delivered a rousing performance that surely had some folks hoping they’ll be on other bills later this summer.

    Sunday

    With the Sunday theme being “Pajama Party”, everyone was dressed with bathrobes and slippers, ready to relax and enjoy the last day of Rock n Roll Resort. The Akashic Record, the five-piece funk machine from Boston woke up the crowd with jazzy, free flowing tunes with solid Hammond organ jams thanks to Beau Sasser and soul charging trombone from Brian Thomas. Sasser stayed on to take the reins for the later set of Beau Sasser Trio who had members of Turkuaz join in for a cover of Frank Zappa’s “Stinkfoot.” The Grand Ballroom was filled with sweet salvation pouring from the vintage organ all day long and out into the glorious sunshine for festival goers to enjoy the fresh air. The Kings of Belmont returned to the Empire Lounge in the morning after having their raging first set of the weekend at 4:30am on Saturday. Keeping with the easy flow of Sunday, they covered Pink Floyd’s “Time” and “Breath” for a psychedelic groove.

    One of the great things about festivals, no matter the type, is a band that’s somewhat off the radar beforehand and then blows the house down and makes one of the biggest impressions of the weekend. Turkuaz filled the role of pleasant surprise this weekend and did it in a most impressive manner. This nine-piece band featured a blaring horn section, two guitarists, backup female singers, along with a sterling rhythm section that all worked in perfect harmony with each other from start to finish. It was loud, it was energetic, and it was in your face rock music that blew the roof off of the Hudson Valley Resort and Spa. A first set cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” was played with precision and was very well received by the crowd, which had dissipated a lot from yesterday as many festival goers chose to leave early on Sunday. Although the numbers may have been fewer, the energy of those still remaining and dancing was palpable. This is all thanks to Turkuaz, a must see act that’s surely coming to festival near you in the future.

    To cap off a fun and full weekend of music, the Rock n Roll Resort Superjam featured a constant revolving door of talented artists. From Beau Sasser to Nephrok himself, the Superjam was a fun and spirited way to cap off the festival. The couches in the Grand Ballroom may have gotten a little more use at this part of the weekend due to tired legs and bodies, but there was still a lot of good music to experience before calling it quits. The crowd did eventually thin out even more and as traces of sunlight began to make themselves visible, it was clear to all that this massively successful festival was at its end point and the time to start planning for next year’s bash was now underway.