The metal and hard rock community received the news on Monday, February 17th, that Devo‘s Bob Casale died of heart failure at the age 61. He is survived by his wife, Lisa, and two daughters, Alex and Samantha.
Casale, who also went by the nickname “Bob 2,” was a founding member of the five-piece band, whose name was short for De-Evolution. Playing along side his brother, Gerald, the iconic group developed a following from songs like “Jocko Homo”, “Girl U Want”, and their 1980 mega-hit, “Whip It.”
Outside of Devo, Casale had many musical side projects. He’s responsible for contributing to the score to Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore, and provided the theme song to the 1990s cartoon, Rugrats. His field of work also included musical contributions to video games and television commercials.
The last Devo album that Casale released was 2010’s Something For Everybody.
Casale was a solid sound man, engineering the sound for each Devo album, in addition to guitar, keyboard and back-up vocals. His stage presence is often described as fun and wacky. Devo was a part of the playbill in Lollapalooza in 2010, performing on the main stage. Devo was so unique and visually entertaining and Casale played an intricate role in that.
Do yourself a favor and check out some of Devo’s discography and celebrate Casale’s work. Also some great metal Devo covers, check out Soundgarden’scover of “Girl U Want” and Love and Death’s cover of “Whip It.”
For more Metal News, Concerts, and more keep visiting Upstate Metal and be sure to follow me on twitter @SaintGOfficial and feel free to share your thoughts with me about Bob Casale.
It has been unbearably cold in Buffalo this winter. Last Wednesday, Aqueous and The Mantras brought setlists that centered around the theme of “Love” and things were more Kate Upton inside of Nietzsche’s than the Roseanne Barr we have been experiencing outside of it. After an excellent first residency, could Aqueous build upon the great foundation they laid down the first week? The Mantras gave them a running start by pumping up a much larger crowd and Aqueous was certainly up to the task.
The Mantras are an excellent six-piece band from Greensboro, North Carolina that had the place rocking from the moment they hit the stage. The Mantras’ set featured excellent originals as well as welcome renditions of Umphreys McGee’s “Hurt Bird Bath” and Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”. With their progressive rock sound that somehow doesn’t deny their southern roots, The Mantras connected with the Buffalo crowd. It is safe to say that when The Mantras finished their set, Nietzsche’s was buzzing with excitement.
The theme of the second Aqueous residency show was the broad theme of “Love.” Aqueous chose a gutsy opener of Haddaway’s “What is Love” that quickly segued in and out of the hard-hitting Aqueous original, “Eon Don”. The “Eon Don” segments of this back and forth sandwich provided some new territory for the usual straightforward rocker. After it finished, the crowd was primed for the fan favorite “Origami.”
“Origami” would show the crowd that it was business time during “love night.” From the dream-like intro, this “Origami” was one for the books. Taking their time and exploring new paths in the intro allowed the drop into the composed section of “Origami” to take flight. When it hit, the place exploded and many heads were sent banging. The jam would come firing out with high energy before almost grinding to a halt. Changing pace and varying the intensity of sound are two weapons that Aqueous has solidified into their jamming arsenal. Following the halt, Nick Sonricker (drums) would provide an upbeat rhythm that the band slowly built on. Not rushing into a peak allowed the band to find a gorgeous soaring groove. The second jam would center around a minimalist playing of the “Origami” theme before it became Godzilla eating every piece of origami ever created.
The second nod to the night’s theme would be The Beach Boys’ “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” that brought the lightheartedness back after the hard-hitting “Origami”.
After the short cover, Aqueous would be right back on the heavy improv, crafting a 24-minute version of “All-In”, which has done the exact of opposite of what I have done after hitting 5’9”… grow. “All-In” has come from humble beginnings to become a jam monster. The last couple of performances seem to have set the bar higher and higher each time out. When Aqueous dove into another minimalist jam, they began infusing hints of reggae and funk. Had Darth Vader been in attendance, he would have said, “The groove is strong with this one.” The patience that the band displayed set up the final annihilation. The slow groove transformed into a Mike Gantzer (guitar, vocals) and David Loss (guitar, vocals, keyboards) shred fest, that reached peaking heights that few jams fail to find. After a short return to the “All-In” theme, Evan McPhaden (bass) lead the band back down into the groove. Loss moved to the keyboards and the dance party continued. This “All-In” was the clear highlight through the halfway mark of the Aqueous Nietzsche’s residency.
After 24 minutes of “All-In” fire, Aqueous smartly decided to take things down a notch, and revert back to the Love theme. With Keith Allen (guitar) and Julian Sizemore (keyboards) from The Mantras joining Aqueous on stage, Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” would be the centerpiece of this love affair. Loss would have the task of the legendary Gaye vocals. While he sounded nothing like Marvin Gaye, Loss sang with everything he had and owned the stage, making it a fun rendition. The real star was Allen, playing a gorgeous-sounding slide guitar that perfectly rang out through the bass groove.
Aqueous chose to place its newest song “20/20” after “Let’s Get It On”. Reaching the 12-minute mark in only its second performance, “20/20” continues the trend of Aqueous songs that have big open-ended sections for jamming.
The set would conclude with “Marty”, an instrumental take on “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston, and “The Median”. The band had placed a net full of red balloons on the ceiling prior to the beginning of the show. During the line in “Marty”, “red balloons are falling from the sky” they were released and served as party favors during the closing trifecta.
After a set that thrilled the crowd, the encore would not disappoint. James Taylor’s “How Sweet It Is” would be the last Love cover before seguing into “Pictures” and a reprise of “What is Love”, which segued back and forth multiple times. It felt as if the two had became one song and finished the night on yet another highlight.
Mixing smart and unpredictable covers, Aqueous engaged the roughly 200 people in attendance for two and a half hours. This Aqueous set gave everyone a chance to sing along and have some fun, yet provided some serious improvisational music. Missing either of the next two Nietzsches show would be a big mistake.
Of note, the band was dressed in shirts and ties, except for Evan who was shirtless except for a bowtie. That is all I have to say about that but I am told that the ladies loved it.
Setlist: What is Love>Eon Don>What is Love>Eon Don>Origami>Wouldn’t it be Nice>All In>Let’s Get it On>20/20>Marty>I Will Always Love You>The Median>Marty
Encore: How Sweet it Is>Pictures>What is Love
Remaining Aqueous at Nietzsche’s Show Dates:
2/19 with The Broccoli Samurai (Willy Wonka Theme)
2/26 with Big Something (Mystery Guest Theme)
Hartford based jam/rock group The McLovins will be shining some beautiful lights on Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre February 20th as they host a CD release party for their latest album Beautiful Lights.
Their fourth full-length studio album, Beautiful Lights, is also the first release written by the band’s current lineup. Produced by Ant Krizan (Spin Doctors), the album marks a turn in the band’s sound and approach to writing. Jake Huffman (drums/vocals) tells that the band, whose members are still in college, has taken a more structured and mature approach to crafting the album. That, however, does not take away from the live performances for which they are recognized and promises for a strong live performance of tracks from their new album after coming off an 11-stop tour in the Southeast last month.
The McLovins have evolved immensely since they gained notoriety from a 2008 basement cover of Phish’s “You Enjoy Myself” posted on YouTube. They draw on eclectic influences to create incredible live performances with intricate improvisation and harmonies. This stage presence has rewarded the band with several festival appearances including Gathering of the Vibes, Mountain Jam and Bella Terra, among others.
Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 day of and available here. Doors: 6pm; Show: 9pm.
Check out the official video for the song “Birthday” off of Beautiful Lights here:
Belgian death metal veterans ABORTED are hitting the bricks in support of their upcoming release, The Necrotic Manifesto, launching an international tour on February 22.
ABORTED named Rochester and Albany among the cities they will pass through during their upcoming international tour. (Photo Credit: Aborted/Century Media Records)
The tour takes them through upstate New York, with stops in Rochester on March 30th, at the Montage Music Hall, and a stop in Albany the following day at Bogie’s.
The Necrotic Manifesto will released on April 29th by Century Media Records, and will be the band’s eighth full-length studio album. It will feature Jacob Hansen as producer, who is also known for his work with Volbeat, HeavenShallBurn and Mercenary.
“I can’t believe we did it to be honest.”, stated front-man Sven de Caluwé, through his label’s press release. “We had a little over three months from start to master on this record– everyone really gave 300% on this record, and it was an absolute pleasure to work with Jacob once again, who really pulled the best out of all our asses.
“I can say in all honesty that ‘The Necrotic Manifesto’ is without a doubt the strongest record ABORTED has done thus far and could not be more proud of everyone involved in the project, stated de Caluwé. He continued to describe the CD as the band’s “most brutal,” and “technical” record from the band, in their nearly 20 years of recording.
Phlegethon, of Wormed, and Vincent Bennett, of TheAcaciaStrain, provide cameoi appearances on the CD with their vocals.
The album artwork was done by Par Olofsson (Pathology, Immolation, Immortal).”
Below is a track listing for the upcoming CD, along with announced tour dates.
The Necrotic Manifesto track-listing:
1. Six Feet Of Foreplay
2. The Extirpation Agenda
3. Necrotic Manifesto
4. An Enumeration Of Cadavers
5. Your Entitlement Means Nothing
6. The Davidian Deceit
7. Coffin Upon Coffin
8. Chronicles Of Detruncation
9. Sade & Libertine Lunacy
10. Die Verzweiflung
11. Excremental Veracity
12. Purity Of Perversion
13. Of Dead Skin & Decay
14. Cenobites
In support of The Necrotic Manifesto, ABORTED will tour North America together with Kataklysm in March/April 2014. The band will then return to Europe in May for a handful of release shows before heading into the festival season. See below for all upcoming tour dates.
ABORTED tour dates:
Feb. 22 – BlastFest – Bergen (Norway)
Mar. 27 – Empire – Springfield, VA (United States)
Mar. 28 – Sounds Asylum – Middletown, NY (United States)
Mar. 29 – The Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA (United States)
Mar. 30 – Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY (United States)
Mar. 31 – Bogie’s – Albany, NY (United States)
Apr. 1 – Middle-East – Cambridge, MA (United States)
This Thursday the 20th, The Hollow in Albany will host two up and coming bands that are sure to get those dancing feet moving. Both bands were big hits at last year’s Catskill Chill Festival and Backwoods Pondfest, making the Capital District eager to welcome Twiddle and Fikus. The doors open at 8pm with a cover charge of $15 and Fikus set to kick off around 9pm. The Hollow in Albany offers happy hour specials plus a full, diverse menu to those seeking fuel before the show.
Fikus, the five-piece electro funk rock band from New Jersey has contagious melodies and rhythm, setting up an easy groove to get the night flowing. Fikus will be hitting Albany as their last stop in NY in the middle of their tour before heading onto the rest of the Northeast. Twiddle, a quartet from Vermont, covers a wide range of genres with heavy improvisation to keep each show fresh and fun. The band will be heading out to Colorado, with multiple stops on their return trip home to end the tour in April at Ithaca. They will be performing at this year’s Summer Camp, Domefest and Wakarusa. Get tickets to Twiddle and Fikus now.
The Gathering at Chaffee’s has announced the 2014 lineup for their annual festival held in Girard, PA. The two-day event will take place July 25th-26th and feature some major regional acts.
With “Last Call” tickets only being $50, there really aren’t that many other festivals offering this caliber of talent for such a low-cost. Take our advice and check out this hidden gem of a festival that sits just outside of New York’s borders.
Rusted Root will be visiting the Buffalo area Tuesday night at the newly opened Iron Works in downtown Buffalo. Rusted Root has been touring for over 20 years and they know how to put on a great show, combining acoustic rock, world styled music and heavy international influenced percussion section.
The band hails from Pittsburgh and is led by Michael Glabicki (vocals, guitar), I was fortunate enough to catch up with Michael before he started the seven-stop tour which includes three shows in New York, You can purchase tickets through Iron Works. Tickets are $22.50 in advance and $25 day of show. Doors open at 7 pm.
Thomas Sgroi: Michael, I wanted to touch base with you regarding your upcoming tour, looks like their will be seven stops, starting tomorrow, I was wondering how the band is doing, any current projects or anything in the pipeline for Rusted Root?
Michael Glabicki: Well were getting ready to start a new record, it’s just in the writing stage right now and pretty much have 20 songs put aside and we’re going to start breaking them out in sound check, and get some arrangements going and you know that’s how we start our record. We will try to get them in live into the show as quick as possible and see how fans react to them and see their reaction to the arrangement.
TS: Now you guys come up to Buffalo quite a bit. Is there something that keeps you coming back? Do we show support hopefully (laughs)?
MG: Yeah, it feels sorta like home to us you know. The fans are fantastic for us, in how they let loose and we have a lot of fun their.
TS: Yeah, I got turned onto you guys when you came to Blue Heron Music Festival, and more recently at The Peach Music Festival and really had a great time.
MG: Oh yeah, that was fun, that was a good one.
TS: I guess personally, what do you do when not touring?
MG: Just hanging out with family really, and my dog, that’s really a great time for me (laughs).
TS: What kind of dog do you have?
MG: We have a black lab mix.
TS: Cool, we just got a dog in June, I know how that is (laughs). So we are new to the whole thing, always an adventure.
TS: You’ve band a band for 20 plus years now, how has the music changed since you started?
MG: I think its gotten a little more matured, it’s gotten in a lot of ways more dynamic and a bit more emotional across the spectrum, we just find new avenues as we go and picked basically new doorways into other dimensions and emotions and connect them up in different ways and make them more and more legit. For us, that’s the goal, keep withstanding and growing in the universe.
TS: Is there anything you wanted to share with the fans or anything else on your mind?
MG: Well, we’re still supporting the last record
TS:The Movement?
MG: Yeah, and you know it’s picking up, the fans are really enjoying it and the critics love the record, which is always nice, that never happened before (laughs).
TS: That does make it easier (laughs)
MG: Yeah and the fans showing up and knowing all the words is great.
TS: That’s basically it, I look forward to catching up with you all on Tuesday night.
MG: Great, Looking forward to it.
So, there you have it. Try and make it out to the show to catch Michael and the rest of the band, they may even slip some new tunes in and see what kind of reaction they get. It should be a stellar show.
As a Valentine’s Day surprise, Pitchfork Music Festival has announced the first round of artists for its 2014 lineup. Taking place July 18-20th in Chicago’s Union Park. The festival will feature headlining performances from Beck, Kendrick Lamar, and Neutral Milk Hotel.
Tickets are currently on sale; three-day passes are available for $130 and single day passes are $60. Find the day-by-day breakdown of artists below, and read ‘s coverage of Pitchfork Music Festival 2013 here.
Friday: Beck, Giorgio Moroder, Sun Kil Moon, Factory Floor, Death Grips, The Haxan Cloak, Sharon Van Etten
Saturday: Neutral Milk Hotel, tUnE-yArDs, Mas Ysa, Pusha T, The Range, DIIV, Ka, Circulatory System, The Julie Ruin
Morrissey announced today that he will be touring the United States this summer and will be stopping in New York for two shows near the end of the tour. On June 16th, he will be bringing his great body of work to the Artpark Main Stage Theater in Lewiston, NY. Five days later on the 21st, he will be closing the tour out at The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY with special guest Sir Cliff Richard, Kristeen Young will be opening at both shows.
This tour is in support of an as of now yet unreleased new album that should be out by the time the tour starts. Morrissey has had trouble recently with tours being cancelled part way through, so here is hoping that this tour goes off without any problems. Ticketing information will be released soon.
Black Lillies front man Cruz Contreras is no stranger to the music business and the Black Lillies are not his first musical endeavor. Having lent his name to two previous bands that held notable success – Contreras continues that success and more with this electrifying bluegrass outfit. The Black Lillies have grown from a group of friends sitting around a campfire to one of the hardest working independent bands in the industry.
If you missed their barn burner this past Summer at the Rochester Jazz Festival, this is your chance to see what you missed – if you were one of the foot-stomping attendees to that dance party, you know what to do! Come and enjoy the Appalachian sounds of Knoxville, Tennessee at Abilene in Rochester, NY on March 3rd. Show starts at 8:30PM and tickets are $12 and this is an all ages show.
Eschewing record labels, they’ve still managed to conquer the Billboard Top 200 charts (Runaway Freeway Blues debuted at #43), put three tracks in Country Music Television’s top 12 requested videos, and film a nationally broadcast commercial for Twizzlers. They’ve been featured on numerous television specials and played festivals as widespread as Bonnaroo, Rochester Jazz Festival, MerleFest, and CMA Fan Fair. Despite trafficking in a richer, more authentic brand of country and Americana than what gets played on mainstream country radio, they’ve still been invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry more than twenty times – a record for an independent act.
The Band: front-man Cruz Contreras, harmony vocalist Trisha Gene Brady, multi-instrumentalist Tom Pryor, bass player Robert Richards and drummer Bowman Townsend.
