NYS Music 20​14

Category: Funk/Soul/R&B

  • Turkuaz and Jimkata Ready with Tricks for a Halloween in Buffalo

    night lights 2014-0350The leaves are changing, the temperatures are just starting to fall, and if the color of the foliage is any indicator, Halloween is upon us. As any music fan will tell you, the holiday seems to bring out the weird in bands as antics around the industry are aplenty.  This year, Halloween in Buffalo is shaping up nicely with no snow (always a plus here) and two incredible bands coming to town to share a bill at Waiting Room downtown, Turkuaz and Jimkata.

    Kicking the night off is none other than Turkuaz, the funk army who call New York City home. The nine-piece band was last in the area for Night Lights Music Festival back in September and they tore the place up with their catchy melodies and powerful sound. The band has a Buffalo tie-in as their drummer Michelangelo Carubba is a fellow graduate of St. Joe’s High School and grew up in the area. Turkuaz also just wrapped up recording a new album that is due out sometime next year which has fans excited for new material. I got a chance to catch up with the band at Night Lights for an interview and they hinted at what types of shenanigans they might be pulling for the show this week. Check out the video by our friends at Buffalo.fm

    Co-headlining the night will be Ithaca’s Jimkata who bring an indie spin to electronic rock. The band is a favorite all over Upstate New York and should draw a solid crowd on Friday. The band was also at Night Lights and their headlining set there was one of the favorites from the weekend. Their latest album, Feel in Light, came out earlier this year and the band is currently touring throughout the fall season in support of it. Upon reaching out to Evan Friedell, the lead singer of the band, in regards to what to expect, the frontman didn’t tip his hand, but he did mention that they always plan surprises and try to make the Halloween show something special.

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    Between these two heavy hitters and all of the antics we’re sure to see, there’s only one thing you have to make sure you grab for an incredible Halloween night and it’s right here.

  • RAGEchester: Lettuce Brings the Funk to Water Street Thursday

    Fall Tour 2014
    Fall Tour 2014

    If you have yet to hear the collective talent from the funkiest group in the world, you’re sadly missing out. Although they’ve been around now for damn near twenty years, Lettuce is that elusive band that once you hear, you don’t know how you’ve lived without.  Everything from their extremely tight and infectious rhythms thrown down by drummer Adam Deitch and bassist Jesus Coomes, to the offset melodies that just reek of funky hooks is what makes this band so dope. No matter where you look, there’s a diverse mix of talent who all bring their own flavor to their otherwise flavorless name. Maybe that’s part of the thing that gets people.  With a somewhat unsuspecting name, you’re instantly gripped by the music that just feels so right.

    This Thursday, Lettuce is making their way to the area as they make a stop at Water Street Music Hall in Rochester.  The band played Buffalo earlier this year in February, and for the sold out crowd that was present, there wasn’t a still body in the place. From wall to wall, the band seduced the audience through nothing but sound and their feel-good energy.

    The band began their fall tour at the beginning of October and over the course of the last couple of weeks has excited their devoted fans as they’re feeding off of the energy and excitement of playing some new music. Their last record, Fly, was released back in 2012, and to say people are eager to hear something new from this group would be an understatement.  Already, the band has played at least three new songs on this tour, so fans should expect something they’ve yet to hear. The band is locking in and the new material has provided fuel to this funky fire. If you’ve been following their live journal, you know the guys are feeling it with segments like the following:

    Schmeeans (guitar): We came, we saw, we raged. And we had a great show, we played a brand new song for the very first time tonight, never ever done before, can’t ever be the first time again. Only one first time baby.

    Neal (keyboard/organ): The coolest thing about tonight is if you’re in Baton Rouge tonight and you witness this show with Lettuce and Gramatik at The Varsity, we are dropping brand new music that’s never been heard, and I think people are gonna bug out cause we’re bugging out. We’re having such a great time and this is only day three. This is gonna be an incredible tour.

    Deitch (drums): Tonight in Tuscaloosa was off the chain. We added a new song that we’re calling for now “The Big Anthem,” and it felt really big and powerful for the first time, we’re really excited to have added that. And then we played another song that Shmeeans and I wrote in Harlem entitled “Chief,” played that again and it was even better tonight. The new songs are infusing a lot of energy into our sets, and when we’re excited you know the crowd’s gonna be excited, so we feel like they got it tonight.

    Want to know how fresh this material is? Check out Krasno’s log in the diary about a new song he heard a day prior to playing:

    Krasno (guitar): It’s always fun to play new stuff super fresh, its way fresh for me because I didn’t play it till today pretty much.

    Casual fan or dedicated one, there’s no reason why this tour specifically isn’t one of the most exciting the band has ever been on and luckily Rochester’s in their sights. Their Emo’s show in Austin, TX last week was streamed, and while it was choppy, the new music was somehow crisp and full of that typical Lettuce RAGE. If you don’t have your ticket yet, you’re going to want to grab one quickly here.

  • Kung Fu Set To Funk Upstate

    Kung Fu-Fall 2014 TourEvery rocker/ninja’s favorite band, Kung Fu, kicks off its fall tour this weekend and Upstate New York gets two of the first three shows.

    The Fu will provide musical therapy to Baltimore, whose Orioles just fell a step short of the World Series, on Thursday night. Friday, Kung Fu brings their high-octane funk fusion to Syracuse’s Westcott Theater before wrapping up the weekend at The Hollow in Albany on Saturday.

    Like every great funk outfit, the band has a bassist, Chris DeAngelis, who will send vibrations through your bones and shake up your soul. Each show gets more than slightly Stoop-ed as Todd Stoops handles the keys and Robert Somerville will be center stage crushing the tenor sax. Adrian Tramontano is absurdly relentless on the drums and Tim Palmieri, who just added a newborn ninja to his family last week, rounds out the band on guitar.

    If you’re not following Kung Fu on Facebook yet, you’re missing out. Earlier this week, the band offered free tickets and 10% commission to volunteers for manning its merch booth all weekend. Wednesday, Stoops took to the social media site to give away free tickets to anyone who asked — no contest or duties involved.

    Kung Fu Nietzsches 4-12-13 (8)

    For more information or to check out Kung Fu’s new album, Tsar Bomba, visit the band’s website.

    Tickets to Syracuse’s show can be purchased here. Click here to purchase Albany tickets.

    And in case you can’t catch them this weekend in Syracuse or Albany, the band is heading to Western New York later in the tour for a stop in Buffalo on Nov. 13. Click here for tickets to their show at The Waiting Room.

  • Have some Funk with your Waffles: An Interview with Greg Ormont of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

    If you attend college at SU, every now and then you need an excuse to go to Funk N’ Waffles. Maybe it’s the sweet aroma, abstract art, or the dynamic acts they book. No matter what your reasoning is, October 9th is the day to be at the Funk, because the one the only Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will astound all of us with a funky fresh energy that will make the best (waffle) dinner and a show of all time. Based out of Baltimore, this quirky combo has sailed to the top in the past five years, from the University of Maryland dorms to prestigious stages across the nation. I got to talk with the lead singer Greg Ormont about their past summer festival season, greatest moments, and upcoming releases.

    Julia Wolfe: If you were describing your music to someone who doesn’t know your band, what three adjectives would you use?

    Greg Ormont: High energy, psychedelic, and funk. I would need to put fun in there somewhere, so I would probably do that for extra credit?

    pigeons

    JW: Sure! I’m cool with bonus points. I also noticed you guys recently played at the Catskill Chill Music Festival, alongside Lettuce, Papadosio, and Dopapod. What was that like?

    GO: It was an honor to play Catskill Chill. It was our second time playing there, and the lineup is just so impressive from top to bottom. It was an incredibly deep and fanastic, funky lineup, so playing alongside those musicians is just a dream come true. We were able to invite some of our friends up on stage, so we had Mihali Savoulidis from Twiddle play guitar with us, along with others. There’s so much great cool stuff to see and great music.

    JW: What would you say is your dream gig? What bands do you idolize?

    GO: My dream gigs would be Jam Cruise, Madison Square Garden, and Vegas on Halloween somewhere. I would play with Phish, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. If I had to answer with one dream gig, though, it would be the Superbowl Halftime Show with special guest Stevie Wonder.

    JW: I looked into your discography, and it shows your first record was released in 2010, so you guys are still pretty new. How have you handled taking off so quickly in the past 5 years?

    GO: We just love to play music. Back when we started this band, it was for fun. To this day, it’s still about the fun. As we play bigger venues and have more prestigious lineups, we continue to focus on having a good time on stage and have the crowd have an even better time. We’ve always been drawn to the energy that we share with an audience, and that’s what we focus on. It’s nice that we get to play later and longer at shows, but it all boils down to having a great time.

    JW: It looks like you’ve hit up a ton of venues across the US. What has been your favorite so far?

    GO: Opening for the Disco Biscuits at the Best Buy Theatre on New Year’s Eve. The 930 Club in DC and the 8 by 10 in Baltimore were also some of our favorites.

    JW: Where can we expect to see you in the future? Any cool shows or releases coming up?

    GO: We just recently announced New Year’s Eve in Richmond, Virginia. Just yesterday, we announced more shows in Upstate New York. We’re also playing Aura Music Festival in Florida, which is one of my favorite places to play by far. It’s one of the most beautiful grounds I’ve ever stepped on with the most visionary lineups of the year. It’s going to be a great show.

    JW: If people want to follow your updates, where can they find you?

    GO: Definitely on our facebook page as well as our website, but I also would recommend to follow our Instagram. Facebook has most of our band information, but our Instagram has all of our wacky, spur of the moment photos from our tour, so both are worth checking out.

    Pigeons Playing Ping Pong released their second album, Psychology in July of 2014, and have undergone an extensive season of touring since. Despite their multiple stops in upstate New York, you won’t get as much of an inclusive experience unless you go to Funk N’ Waffles on South Crouse Ave. They stop here October 9th at 8:30pm, and food and beverages will be available for sale, as always. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door, but I’d recommend getting there early to secure a seat. See ya there!

  • Hearing Aide: Mingo Fishtrap ‘On Time’

    on-timeAs with any new album that’s headed for another spin, it’s usually for one of two reasons: the band either had some potential on that first go-around, peaking your general curiosity, or the rarer option where you can’t help but race to start it over. Mingo Fishtrap definitely falls into the latter with their latest album On Time.

    For longtime fans, their talent might be old news, but there are many who have never heard the name, and that needs to change quickly! The band has been around almost 20 years now and they’ve been riding a wave lately that has lead to them finding new fans. As with any listener nowadays, there is simply a fire hose-stream of music with only so much you can drink. Occasionally, and unfortunately in my case, bands nowadays can elude the most exploratory of listeners. The album was released this past June, and even if you missed their appearance at Jazz Fest in Rochester, the band is headed back to The Egg in Albany on Oct. 4 and The Club at Water Street in Rochester on Oct. 5. If you’re anywhere in the region, you’re not going to want to miss these shows.

    The opener “End of the World” is a feel-good kick-off to the album, despite the tracks name. The dark and sexy side shown throughout the verses strikes the perfect contrast for the upbeat chorus that has an intoxicatingly good melody to it. If this is the entrance, Mingo provides a warm welcome and a full tour of their sound.

    For those seeking solid lyrics and a soul-soothing voice, Roger Blevins, Jr. delivers an all-encompassing approach that is as rich in history as it is deep in emotion. The complimentary instrumentation that strikes a balance between providing a solid backbone and touching various genres rounds out the rest of what you’ll hear; you’re going to dig this album. Mingo Fishtrap does a phenomenal job at mixing blues, jazz, soul, and funk into a beautiful array of color and sound. To be blunt, as long as you have some ears and a pulse, this is going to get your foot tapping and put a smile on your face.

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    Throughout the album, there are incredible displays of musicianship. The solo on “Things Ain’t What They Was” is the first time I’ve heard a hint of Derek Trucks influence performed flawlessly. That tip of the hat also rears its face on “Born Without a Heart”. The vocal depth and emotion in “Silver Lining” pulls at your soul and is immediately in tune to life’s natural rhythm. Everything simply feels right with these guys. The piano solo on “Silver Lining” is another must-hear on this album. In fact, if you’re going to give this band a small taste-test, fast forward to the 3:30 mark and just let it play. The solo closes the song on a stroll that turns into its own entity, complete with a raging attitude and swagger.

    Austin, Texas has always been a hotbed for music, raising acts like Willie Nelson and Ciara, to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Janis Joplin, and Nelly. Mingo embraces their eclectic heritage and shares in the talent that their hometown is known for. On Time is exceptional from start to finish and I would strongly recommend you put the fire hose down to take a drink from the deep waters of Mingo’s diverse and refreshing sound.

    Buy the album on iTunes or Amazon.

    Mingo Fishtrap is:

    Roger Blevins, Jr.- guitar and vocals
    Chip Vayenas- drums and backup vocals
    Dane Farnsworth- organ and keys
    Mikel Urdy- Percussion and backup vocals
    Roger Blevins, Sr.- bass
    Steve Butts- trumpet and flugelhorn
    Dan Bechdolt- tenor/alto sax and backup vocals
    Zol Waterhouse – Trombone

    Key Tracks: Too Far Gone, Fireproof, Silver Lining

  • An Exciteable Crowd got into Vintage Trouble at The Hollow Bar

    With an energetic 60s rock sound and a crowd that gave as good as they got, Vintage Trouble put an impressive performance September 28 at The Hollow Bar in Albany. Amid The Swing House Sessions Tour, in support of their latest album, Vintage Trouble drew upon influences that spanned genres that developed in the ’60s, including Little Richard, Albert King, The Rolling Stones and Smoky Robinson as they put forth a powerhouse 90 minute show.

    vintage troubleLead singer Ty Taylor channels Marvin Berry (think Back to the Future) and his cousin Chuck, engaging with the crowd, who quickly became the 5th member of the band. Taylor has the stage presence of a 1960s band leader, and alongside Nalle Colt (guitar), Rock Barrio Dill (bass) and Richard Danielson (drums), put forth a sound that could have been made by another five or more musicians on stage – the sound was that big. “Low down Dirty Dog” had a rockabilly blues vibe, while “Pelvis Pusher” appropriately channeled Little Richard.

    Mixing the show up with some acoustic songs, the break served to drive the crowd’s attention to a couple of ballads that reeked of pain and loss. The song titles alone in this middle part of the show – “Never Mine,”  “Another Man’s Words,” “You Save Me” and “Still Always” could have been a part of a relationship exit interview. “You Save Me” was most notable for a Peter Gunn-esque bass line from Dill.  “Run Like the River” had a (likely) Hollow Bar first – Taylor walked through the crowd, found his way up to the small balcony in front of the soundboard and sang to the crowd a most energetic call and response.

    “Nobody Told Me” the ballad of the night, hinted at Smoky Robinson influence while “Strike Your Light” began with a tribal surf rock before moving into swing rock, giving a nod to Chubby Checkers “Twist” in both energy and music, leading to a college professor crowd dancing with abandon. The encore of “Total Strangers” found the band walking off the stage, once again through the crowd, serenaded by “Na na na na na na” capping an evening with a welcome surprise on a Sunday night in Albany.

    Setlist: High Times, Blues Hand me Down, Nancy Lee, Low Down Dirty Dog, Pelvis Pusher, Never Mine*, Another Man’s Words*, You Save Me*, Still and Always*, Lo & Behold, Run Like the River, Nobody Told Me, Tear Drops, Strike Your Light
    Encore: Total Strangers
    *acoustic

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