NYS Music 20​14

Category: UpstateLIVE Archives

  • Jana Kramer comes to Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill

    Jana Kramer

    The singer/songwriter/actress, Jana Kramer will be will be performing at Toby Keith’s at Destiny USA , Saturday December 13th.

    Jana is no stranger to the bright lights with her impressive string of movie and television roles,  but she credits her recent break into the music industry as her most important accomplishment to date. She loves acting but music is where she wants to be. It’s her passion.
    Get out of the cold and come enjoy some a night out as Jana Kramer lights up the stage with her beauty and amazing talent. Tickets can be purchased as the door or online.

  • Best of Upstate 2014: The Shows

    What shows were the hottest you saw all year? Too many to choose from, right? The struggle is real at – the staff had to sort through the hundreds of shows we collectively saw this year and decide which one of them all was the best show of the year. The result – a wide range of the best shows in 2014 that cover every genre and every corner of the state. Here they are, in chronological order.

    best shows 2014Best Upstate Show

    Top vote-getters include:

    moe. at Saranac Brewery, Utica, June 20-21

    Phish at SPAC, Saratoga Springs, July 5

    Breaking Benjamin acoustic at Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park, October 16Honorable Mentions

    Trombone Shorty at The Egg, Albany, January 12
    Neutral Milk Hotel, State Theater, Ithaca, January 13
    Lettuce, The Tralf, Buffalo, February 21
    Deafheaven/Intronaut, Lost Horizon Syracuse, March 2
    Avenged Sevenfold, Syracuse On Center, May 15
    John Legend at Proctors Theater, May 16
    Willie Nelson and Family, CMAC, Canadaigua, June 21
    Paul McCartney, The Times Union Center, Albany, July 5
    Jesus Christ and the Hallucinogenic Allstars, Putnam Den, September residency
    Electron at Catskill Chill, September 7
    Harvest Fest, Bard College, September 27
    Judas Priest, Rochester Main Street Armory, October 2
    Start Making Sense, The Hollow Bar, October 10
    Twiddle with Papadosio, The Haunt, Ithaca, October 14
    Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn, Troy Music Hall, October 24
    Aqueous CD release show, Buffalo Iron Works, October 25
    Ray LaMontagne. The Palace Theatre, Albany, November 9
    String Cheese Incident, The State Theater, Ithaca, November 10
    Dierks Bentley Riser Tour, The Aud in Utica, November 16
    Electron, The Westcott Theater, November 29

    Best Overall Show

    We have a tie!

    UMBowl V at The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, May 3

    Phish, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, October 31

    The Pixies, Fidlar, Orpheum Theater, Boston, January 18
    The Disco Biscuits, City Bisco, Philadelphia, February 20
    Lettuce, The Tralf in Buffalo, February 21
    Southern Soul Assembly Tour, Carnegie Hall, Lewisburg, WV, April 11
    New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, April 18
    Shpongle Live at Red Rocks, May 10
    Avenged Sevenfold, Syracuse On Center, May 15
    Rock On The Range, Columbus, OH, May 16-18
    George Strait’s The Cowboy Rides Away Tour in Arlington Texas, June 7
    Earth Wind & Fire, Xerox Rochester International Jazzfest, June 27
    Paul McCartney, The Times Union Center, Albany, July 5
    Phish, Randall’s Island, July 12
    St. Vincent at Pitchfork Music Festival, July 19
    Jack White, Chicago Theater, July 23
    Rodrigo y Gabriela, Gathering of the Vibes, August 2
    Allman Brothers Band, Peach Music Festival, August 16
    Arcade Fire, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, August 23
    Five Finger Death Punch, Volbeat, Hell Yeah & Nothing More at The Times Union Center, September 27
    Twiddle with Papadosio, The Haunt, Ithaca, October 14
    Breaking Benjamin acoustic at Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park, October 16
    Robin Trower at The Egg, October 21
    Phil Lesh with Eric Krasno and the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, The Capitol Theater, November 8
    Stevie Wonder, Air Canada Centre, Toronto November 25

    Stay tuned tomorrow for the final installment of the Best of Upstate 2014 – Best Collaborations!

  • Zach Deputy and The Royal Noise to play The Ardmore Music Hall December 14

    The Ardmore Music Hall located just outside of Philly in Ardmore, PA has steadily been bringing in some of today’s biggest names in the local and national music scene. This coming Sunday, the venue is keeping this trend alive and well with their first ever Soul & Waffles Sunday Brunch featuring musical guest Zach Deputy. The doors open at 1pm with a brunch including mouthwatering waffles as well delicious drinks provided by the good people over at Full and Happy Cooking Studios. The music kicks off around 2pm with Philly based funk powerhouse The Royal Noise, followed by one man band Zach Deputy.

    zach deputy royal noiseWith Zach’s looping ability and outright soul paired with the funky fusion The Royal Noise brings to the table, this promises to be an afternoon long dance party. The event which will run till 6pm offers fans the ability to pair live music with great food and drinks all on a Sunday afternoon. This is a 21+ event and tickets are available through the venue’s website in advance for $12 or can be purchased for $15 the day of the show. This is one show not to miss and will hopefully be the start of a fantastic new tradition at The Ardmore Music Hall. Stay tuned for a full review and photo gallery on early next week.

  • Nonpoint Braves the Cold of Watertown

    It was a long way from home for Nonpoint, but we couldn’t have been happier to welcome them to enjoy a winter night in Watertown. The Florida rockers braved the cold, December 8, at the Exhibition Hall. Joining them was Chasing Sokaris, Cry to the Blind, Glen Street, and Caustic Method.

    Chasing Sokaris started the night. Although these guys are good, something seems to be missing. There wasn’t any wow factor to their performance.

    Cry to the Blind took the stage after Chasing Sokaris. Jon Lamanna, Jesse Maty, Ryan Mcfaul, Jay Telarico, and Kory Maclauchlan are on top of their game as their new single, “Unbroken” sweeps the nation. It is the first single written and released since the original lineup was reunited. It is also my new favorite song. They describe the track as “an anthem to the preservation of the human spirit”. After seeing them perform I could not imagine a song that would fit them better. These guys are a band that has mastered the art of performing. Some bands will come on stage and just play music. Yes the music is good but why am I here? Not Cry to the Blind. They blew me away. Jon Lamanna has a presence that immediately commands your attention. I have never seen a group look so happy to be doing what they love. When these guys make it, because I promise they will, I hope they do not lose the energy that makes them so special.

    I have to admit when Glen Street stepped on stage I was not expecting much. When you think five teenagers in a band your mind wanders to boy bands perfectly choreographed into teen heart throbs. When most teenage bands are playing in garages, lucky to play at a school dance, these guys are selling merchandise, recording their first single “Blue”, and opening for national names like Nonpoint. From the opening note you see what separates Glen Street from the boys in the garage. Incredible talent. Nick Vanderwood belts out a note that sounds like it came straight from an 80’s metal band. As impressed as I was by Nick the best surprise of the night was Alex Verbickas on the guitar. I can think of seasoned professionals that can not play like this kid. He looks like he has been doing this for decades. If these guys are this good now I can only imagine what the future will hold for them. Glen Street is going to do big things.

    Caustic Method has been playing in Watertown since the beginning, and have yet to disappoint an anxious crowd. This has been a great year for Caustic between the release of their album, The Virus, their first music video, and now signing a worldwide marketing deal. As they played a variety of old and new tracks to a room full of friends it is easy to see what all the hype is about. Their music isn’t like anything you will hear in metal, which is quite a feat in this genre It is easy to root for them, not only because they are so talented and dedicated, but they are a group of all around good guys. Matt Caustic interacts with the crowd, remembering he started here, and he really feels like just an old friend. You can take this band out of NY, but I have a feeling this is a band that will never forget where they came from.

    By the time Caustic exited the stage I was so pumped, I couldn’t imagine the night could get any better. Then came Nonpoint.I was concerned with the recent change in line up, BC Kochmit replaced Dave Lizzo in August, that the band would suffer but I think they have only improved.  Elias Soriano, Robb Rivera, Rasheed Thomas, Adam Wosolyn, and BC Kochmit are touring in support of Nonpoint’s 8th studio album, The Return. Nearly two decades of performing has made Nonpoint a force to be reckoned with. This comes as natural as breathing to them. It is one thing to hear a Nonpoint song on the radio, your heart races, maybe you play a little air guitar, but its a whole other level hearing it live. I think it might be physically impossible to sit still at a Nonpoint concert. Hold on to your hats adrenaline junkies, Nonpoint is going to show you a rush.

    For a decade, December 8 has been a reminder of tragedy and loss in the music community. On a night that marked 10 years since the loss of Pantera’s Darrell Abbott, ‘Dimebag Darrell’, Watertown celebrated life in style. A celebration that would make a legend proud.

  • Physical Education class with Animals as Leaders

    On December 2 Animals as Leaders came to The Westcott Theatre. The musicians took the stage stoically, then, without words, began playing. Animals as Leaders, genre is, very, experimental metal. A few tunes they played off of their most recent album The Joy of Motion were, “The Woven Web” and “Physical Education.”

    Physical Education Animals as Leaders“Physical Education” is a really fun song with an incredibly catchy hook and slap-ity guitar. Here and there they would play a tune, such as that, that was danceable, but for the most part the crowd was a bunch of bobbing heads and ears wide open. As it goes, the recipe for the more exploratory songs of Animals as Leaders could be described as constructive composition.

    Members, Javier Reyes on the 8-string guitar, Matt Garstka on the drums and Tosin Abasi on 8-string guitar, play with impressive speed, concentration and fervor. Thankfully, repetition is incorporated in their style. They take their well-constructed riffs and repeat them. Then, each member takes an individual excerpt of time to transgress.

    The music does indeed at times have a meditative quality as the notes cascade over each other, but don’t be fooled because the music rides the tide back to solid dark metal. Another impressive quality of this completely instrumental band was the their tightness. They demonstrated this with wonderfully executed rests. This is a quality of music that is not often used outside of classical and Jazz. Animals as Leaders closed out the show with the classic, CAFO, leaving behind a crowd of pleased fans.

  • Festy News: The Ville Music Festival Announces Initial Lineup For Memorial Day Weekend

    The Ville music festival announced an initial lineup for their Memorial Day 2015 lineup featuring a diverse range of sounds. Continuing a 20+ year tradition of music on Memorial Day weekend, The Ville will be held May 21-24, 2015 at Clay’s Park in North Lawrence, Ohio. The spacious, family-friendly venue is complete with wooded and field camping, a grass covered dance area and a water park suitable for adults and children of all ages.

    The Ville is a truly grassroots event featuring music throughout the weekend on two different stages. A limited amount of Early-Bird tickets are available now at www.thevillefestival.com where a 3-day pass is $80, 4-day pass including Pre-Party Thursday with Papadosio is $100. Children 12 and under are free with parents holding festival tickets.

    The initial lineup includes:

    Joe Russo’s Almost Dead
    Papadosio
    Lettuce
    Chris Robinson Brotherhood
    EOTO
    Trigger Hippy (featuring Joan Osborne, Jackie Greene, Steve Gorman, Tom Bukovac and Nick Gorvrik)
    ekoostik hookah
    Rumpke Mountain Boys
    The McLovins
    Blue Moon Soup
    Broccoli Samurai

  • The Egg Serves up Tasty Hot Tuna with Teresa Williams and Donna the Buffalo

    The Electric Sextet of Hot Tuna returned to The Egg, with Teresa Williams, almost seven years to the date of the last Hot Tuna performance, an acoustic duo, on Dec. 11, 2007. Hundreds of old hippies and couples with more than a touch of grey, excitedly attended the performance; some enthusiastic enough to cheer loudly for Jorma Kaukonen and knew every song and dove head first into every jam alongside the band. Donna the Buffalo opened the night with a very powerful set, garnering chatter in The Egg’s lobby, with a new fan, Susan, remarking ‘Oh they’re so much fun!’ in her first time seeing them.

    hot tuna teresa williams

    With Hot Tuna taking the to stage, the audience roared with approval, seeing Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen and a nearly 50 year relationship playing music together. Alongside them stood Larry Campbell on guitar and fiddle, Barry Mitterhoff on mandolin and Justin Guip on drums, an all-star lineup that welcomed Teresa Williams for part of the set. The alt-country of “Mama Let me Lay it on You” featured Campbell’s fiddling, “Ode to Billy Dean” brought out Tuna’s blues origins and “Can’t Get Satisfied” had a hint of Freddie King’s “Going Down” and was far from radio play, as much of the night’s songs would be; Hot Tuna is an overlooked predecessor to the early jambands that developed in the 1970s and ’80s.  Jorma took a moment to respond to the continuous cries of “JORMA!” from an audience member, saying “That’s my name, don’t wear it out.”

    A progressive jam build from “Been so Long” when Campbell took to the mandolin, which led to Teresa Williams coming to the stage for the first song of the night, the enthusiastic traveling country blues of “Children of Zion” and “Wade in the Water” which was full of energy and had Williams dancing all over in a circle.

    Wade in the Water – Hot Tuna at The Egg with Teresa Williams! #albany

    A video posted by (@) on

    Teresa later returned for “White Rabbit” with its foreboding bass line from Casady. Feed your head? Feed your ears with this wonderful voice that was on par with Grace Slick in her heyday. Jack strutted around the stage as “Mourning Interrupted” began and when the band found that one groove in the and stated into the jam, the clear highlight of the night was at hand. There was no ADD here, and not just because they’re too old for that $#!&. A cover of “Deep Ellum Blues” featured Williams and Campbell on vocals, a tune he sang frequently when he toured with Phil Lesh & Friends’ in 2006. “Sugaree” with Teresa featured solos from everyone, resulting in the longest song of the night. To cap the night, the band played the classic “Funky #7” which delved into psychedelic rock before moving into a prog jam, with big jamming to end it, alongside Teresa’s revival-level of energy. Let’s hope it doesn’t take seven years for Hot Tuna to play The Egg or Upstate New York in the future.

    Setlist: True Religion, Mama let me lay it on you, Ode to Billy Dean, Can’t Get Satisfied, Been so Long, Children of Zion, Wade in the Water, Second Chances, White Rabbit, Mourning Interrupted, Deep Elum Blues, Bar Room Crystal Ball, Sugaree

    Encore: Funky #7

  • The Buffalo Metal Scene Unites for Local Family Benefit Show

    This Saturday afternoon at Broadway Joes, in Buffalo. Ten amazing local metal bands will play under one roof to raise money for the Hulin family of Tonawanda, NY. Brian “Butch” Hulin is a longtime supporter of Buffalo’s local music scene and has been going through some severe financial hardships over the last few years, due to ever accumulating hospital bills. His two children, Peighton (5) and Lincoln (2) both suffer from a rare form of Cerebral Palsy called Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia. The family has been in and out of hospitals, combating their illness as best they can. But with the holiday season now upon us, the musicians and promoters Brian has supported since their beginnings, have decided to collectively return the favor.
     
    On Saturday December 13 at 3pm, local promoters, Jeff Wacker and Nick Sallee, along with reputable local artists, Amputecht, Aspired Infliction, The Creator The Architect, Hubris, I’m From the Government and I’m Here to Help, It’s a Dinosaur!, Lily Among Thorns, Mutter (Rammstein cover band from Rochester, NY), Murder City Outlaws and Throne of Wilderness will join forces to raise money for Brian’s children, so that they can be spoiled rotten this Christmas, as they rightfully deserve.
     
    $10 donations will be collected at the door, prior to entry, and in addition to hours of great music, lots of rare underground band merchandise will be available for purchase, as many out-of-town acts have graciously donated shirts, hoodies, CDs, beanies, etc. to help raise money for the Hulins’ cause.
     
    Also, if you plan on attending and you’re unfamiliar with this venue, please park across the street at either the Metro lot or Aldi’s, if you cannot find a spot on a side street nearby. Do not park next to the venue at the donut shop, because you will be towed by the owner.
     
    Come down and support great bands and a great family!
     
     
     
    Broadway Joes- 3051 Main St. Buffalo NY 14214

  • Best of Upstate 2014: Bands on the Rise

    So far this week, we’ve brought you the Best of Upstate 2014, featuring the best albums, festivals and venues. Today we focus on the up-and-coming acts in Upstate New York. Last year, Aqueous took top honors as the best Band on the Rise coming out of Upstate New York. Since last year, they have released a new album Cycles, off a successful Kickstarter campaign, played numerous festivals from Summercamp to Peach Fest and many in between, and should be announcing Spring tour dates very soon. Band on the Rise is a  title bestowed only one-time to bands from Upstate New York and Aqueous was clearly a solid choice in 2013.

    bands on the rise 2014The 2014 Band on the Rise is Mister F. Based out of Albany and featuring Andrew Chamberlaine (guitar) Scott Hannay (keys) Ben Pickering (bass) and Matt Pickering (drums) the progressive/electronic band have been touring throughout the Northeast, down the East coast, as far as Kansas, opening up for such acts as Twiddle, Snarky Puppy, Dopapod, Turkuaz, The Mantras and Tauk.  With their debut album, The F Stands Four, the band is set for a great 2015, which they will ring in with two separate NYE performances – one at Rock n Roll Resort in Kerhonksen, and then later that night at Parish Public House in Albany following moe.’s New Years show at The Palace Theatre. Check Mister F’s set at Disc Jam this summer and see what makes them ‘s 2014 Band on the Rise.

    Honorable Mentions

    Caustic Method

    Eastbound Jesus

  • Aqueous Announce Winter Tour 2014-15

    Aqueous Winter Tour 2015Buffalo’s Aqueous have played 100+ shows for two straight years now up and down the east coast and throughout the mid west. That trend will continue this winter as the band continues to reinforce their fan base throughout the mid and eastern US. Upstate denizens will get several chances to see the fast rising groove rock band. Besides the previously announced Dec 18 show at The Hollow in Albany and NYE at Buffalo Iron Work’s – AQ will hit Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs Feb 7 (w/ legendary jam band Max Creek)and Jamestown on Valentines day. More NY dates are rumored to be in the works.

    More info on all shows can be found on the band’s website. Check out the full list of 2014-15 tour dates below. Ticket’s for Aqueous’s NYE show are available here for 10$ pre-sale.

    Aqueous Winter Tour
    Dec 18 – The Hollow // Albany, NY
    Dec 19 – The Wheelhouse // Narragansett, NH#
    Dec 20 – Strange Brew Pub // Norwich, CT#
    Dec 31 – Iron Works // Buffalo, NY*
    Jan 22 – Cosmic Charlies // Lexington, KY
    Jan 23 – Cosmo’s // Covington, KY
    Jan 24 – Scarlet & Grey Cafe // Columbus, OH
    Jan 29 – The 8×10 // Baltimore, MD
    Jan 30 – Martins // Roanoke, VA
    Jan 31 – The Broadberry // Richmond, VA&
    Feb 3 – New Mountain Theatre // Asheville, NC
    Feb 4 – Blind Tiger // Greensboro, NC
    Feb 5 – Hot Spot // Waynesboro, VA
    Feb 6 – Ardmore Music Hall // Philadelphia, PA+
    Feb 7 –  Putnam Den – Saratoga Springs, NY%
    Feb 11 – Casa Nueva // Athens, OH
    Feb 12 – Grog Shop // Cleveland, OH
    Feb 13 – Jimmies Ladder 11 // Dayton, OH
    Feb 14 – Shawbucks // Jamestown, NY
    Feb 19 – TBD
    Feb 21 – 123 Pleasant Street // Morgantown, WV^
    Feb 25 – TBD
    Feb 26 – Spot Underground // Providence, RI^
    Feb 27 – The Stone Church // Newmarket, NH^
    Feb 28 – TBD
    Mar 6 – Tonic Room // Chicago, IL
    %w/ Max Creek  ^w/ Pigeons Playing Ping Pong +w/ Pink Talking Fish  #w/ Mister F &w/ People’s Blues of Richmond *w/ Funktional Flow