Phish tour looms, but in the meantime, get warmed up with The Lawn Boys, a Phish tribute band out of New York City, on Saturday, June 28th at 9pm at Red Square in Albany. This show marks The Lawn Boys their first ever show in Albany, days before Phish’s summer tour kicks off. With tickets just $10 at the door, you’ll get two sets of Phish from some of their biggest fans.
On the fence? Check out video below and get ready to Phish!
There were Discs and Jams a plenty at this year’s Disc Jam Music Festival in Barre, MA on June 13 -15, 2014. The 3-day event took place at Camp Coldbrook, a “recreation destination” and golf hot spot that offered plenty of space for festival goers to relax and enjoy the weekend. Veteran Disc Jammers agreed that Camp Coldbrook was a great new location from previous years for its spacious, softer camp grounds and were happy with the addition of late night musical sets. Tent city was an organized mess as folks were given somewhat free range of the open field located at the bottom of a hill plus you could hear the music perfectly and catch a glimpse of the light shows. VIP had the perk of wooded camping plus access to two swimming pools with a pool stage that hosted various DJ’s throughout the weekend.
Disc Jam had two main stages, the Innova stage and Rage stage, set up right next to each other providing a nonstop continuous flow of music. Circled around the stages were the various food and craft vendors as well as Disc Jam Artist Collective tent, located in the corner of the entrance. The tent was overwhelmed with visual stimulation, featuring work from 16 main artists plus diverse and consistent live art that spilled onto the walkway. The festival offered “flow classes” for those who know how to surrender to the flow and were seeking to learn hoop tricks, yoga, juggling and much more. But the main focus of the weekend was the music. Over 50 musical acts from all over the Northeast and beyond traveled to Disc Jam to experience the carefree and intimate party loving festival.
Friday
Heavy rain in the morning with dark clouds throughout the day is a harsh start to any festival but Disc Jammers came prepared and ready to party. Albany’s Mister F were lucky to miss the rain with an early slot in the day with a set that had a few songs off their latest album, The F Stands Four. They began with an electronically funky “Eye Level” to a blast of brass from Matty Carl from ShwizZ on saxophone during “Answer the Dog”. Boston’s own, The Jauntee, was up next and had a set of improvisational funk rock with an extra funky “Blownin’ Up the B Line” closer. Twiddle from Vermont provided an easy shifting of genres in their set with a steady flow. One of their highlights was the “Hattie’s Jam > When It Rains It Pours” with soulful key playing from Ryan Dempsey and lyrics reflective of the weather with hopes of sunny skies with a brief “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” tease. Headliners of the night were the mighty Turkuaz and Kung Fu, plenty of funk with different flair. New York City slickers Turkuaz brought their high energy, funk loving family to Disc Jam and left nothing but smiles, especially from their traditional but always powerful encore “Monkey Fingers” featuring solos from all over the rage stage. There was no getting around the hard-hitting funk that Kung Fu throws at you. Todd Stoops scratched his double layered keys apart while Chris DeAngelis warped the crowd with his heavy bass slapping. Straight up in your face funk!
With the main stages closed at 1am, late nighters had the option of checking out the Disc Jam Music Hall that featured music until 4:30am. The music hall featured your typical stage with open dance space and a 2nd level walkway around half of the hall. The talk of the night was Indobox as they performed light, upbeat electronica. The storm of Indobox creates no destruction; it is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The Silent Disco Tent was exclusively for VIP and staff members and was kept low-key despite the fast paced beats being pumped through the headphones.
Saturday
Heavy clouds still lingered into Saturday with brief breaks of sunshine and plenty of wind gusts. Santa Mamba was a great way to ease into the day thanks to their salsa flair from Rhode Island. Their cover of Peter Frampton’s “Oh Baby, I Love Your Way” was refreshingly spicy. Aqueous brought their improvisational rock jams from Buffalo with original compositions and catchy melodies, setting the groove bar high. Goosepimp Orchestra was a collection of crazy characters, donned with various wigs and party hats that created a loud funk party on the Innova stage. Their fun-loving attitude was carried out with their booming brass section and the boogie beats from the bongos. Alan Evan’s Playonbrother, formally known as the Alan Evans Trio, proved they are more than just a jazz band. Their sound is gigantic with shattering guitar shredding from Danny Mayer and Beau Sasser must have extra arms to work the keys the way he does. Alan Evans is a thunderstorm on the drums as his vocals come out clear as day.
With the clouds finally clearing, the night sky was filled with stars and a full honey moon, unleashing the wild side in party goers just in time for the evening sets. Disc Jammers got a double dose of Consider the Source for a two-hour set on the main stage and a late night acoustic set. Their bizarre and Middle Eastern psychedelic tunes are powerful, warping experiences, acoustic or not. If you’re lucky enough to get close to the stage, you can marvel at the focused finger picking skills of Gabriel Marin and John Gerrara with Jeff Mann controlling the rhythmic speed. The main act of the night was Dopapod, who were happy to return to Disc Jam for another year of experimental funky rock. The quartet from Boston blasted off with “Like a Ball” with screaming vocals and a steady climbing melody. After a 17 minute space odyssey from “STADA” with “Smoke on the Water” teases, Dopapod brought out one of their biggest fans, Kristen DeTroia, to celebrate her 100th show. The set went on after a brief set break with a pretty decent glow stick war ensuing as they soon as “Trapper Keeper” began. Dopapod makes you feel like a kid again with their playful, adventurous funky bass and relentless dance rhythms.
Sunday
Sunday brought out blue skies with limited clouds, plenty of sunshine and with a full music schedule, the day was looking bright. Hope Road: A Tribute to Bob Marley and The Wailers woke up the crowd with their laid back, chill tunes that the reggae legend and lifestyle is known for. There was no sleeping through The Party Band, a marching band that paraded around the campsites with a full brass section and drum line playing classic tunes and today’s radio hits. Otis Groove, a trio from Boston, delivered a set of high voltage rock with some funky Hammond organ playing by Sam Gilman. Disc Jam got spun some Hip Hop Funk when Upstate NY band, Sophistifunk took the main stage with Jack Brown spitting the ever true words of “Sex, Drugs, Rock n Roll”. The unstoppable duo known as The Hornitz got bumped up to an earlier slot and got put on the main stage with no argument from anyone. Their fresh beat boxing and brass horn looping is original and fun as they remix Phish’s “Lengthwise” and “Day Man” from the popular TV cult show, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. One of the most up and coming cover bands took over the main stage with tributes to Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish to form Pink Talking Fish. Their setlists are incredible as they easily transition from one smash hit to another twist of a surprise like “2001>Life During Wartime>Run Like Hell.”
The Nth Power do more than play music on stage, they are spreading love. They have a smooth R&B soulful with enticing vocal harmonies that ease the crowd into the groove. But when Nikki Glaspie starts to wail on those drums, the contagiousness had Nigel Hall playing his keys so hard that he literally sent them flying. He had to ask if anyone had crazy glue to piece it back together while Weedie Braimah stretched his worldly bongo skills for listening pleasure. The last two acts of the night were double hitter super jams with a special Disc Jam Funk All-Star set and Particle and Friends Super Jam to close down the main stage. The All Star set consisted of Alan Evan’s PlayonBrother guitarist Danny Mayer, Nikki Glaspie on drums, Aaron Bellamy on Bass, Club D’Elf keyboardist Amy Bellamy with Brian Thomas and Jared Sims on horns. Jen Durkin from Deep Banana Blackout joined in on vocals and tambourine as she cheered “Let’s Funk It Up!” Before Nigel Hall could join in on the fun, the power cut out resulting in an urgent rush of staff who luckily had it up and running for the final act of the night, Particle.
The West coast quartet of Particle brought up some special guests to help end the weekend at Disc Jam. The Hornitz joined them for the set starter of “The Battle Without Honor or Humility” also known as the theme to Kill Bill. Shred master Danny Mayer once again hopped onstage for his turn for “W”. Eric Gould’s friends of Pink Talking Fish Richard James and Dave Brunyak sat in for “Metropolis”. Particle jammed out their space rock until a little before midnight with half the attendees still left with the option of camping until Monday morning.
After a weekend full of unlimited music, art and disc golf, Disc Jam continues to be a festival that is spinning towards a bright future. Disc Jam is a great festival for families, people new to the scene and those who keep coming back for more. Here’s hoping that Disc Jam has found at home at Camp Coldbrook and will return next year bigger and better than ever.
The Washington Avenue Armory announced this morning legendary heavy metal group Slayer, will headline a show on November 25th that will include Suicidal Tendencies and Exodus.
“We are way f—ing excited about hitting the road again with Suicidal and Exodus,” said Slayer frontman Tom Araya. “F—ing intense. See you in the fall.”
Each of the three bands has had a hand in establishing the popularity of heavy metal music from the start of the 1980s. Slayer went as far as winning two Grammy Awards for Best Metal Performance in 2007 (“Eyes of the Insane”) and 2008 (“Final Six”). This tour comes a year after the loss of original member, guitarist Jeff Hanneman.
In 2010, Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis and his only performance after that was two songs during an encore at one of Slayer’s Big 4 performances in April 2011.
A few weeks ago Rob Dukes parted ways with Exodus, former vocalist Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza plans to return to fill the role.
The US tour launches November 12th from Oakland, CA.
Tickets for Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies and Exodus can be purchased through all Ticketmaster locations, through the Armory’s box office, or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.
The Park Playhouse recently announced 2013 Tony Award nominee, Hands on a Hardbody will be featured at the Lakehouse in Albany’s Washington Park this July.
The news is of particular interest to Phish fans, as the musical score was written by none other than Trey Anastasio. Anastaio’s score received the 2013 Dramatist Guild Frederick Loewe award for Dramatic Composition, as well as a Tony Award nomination that same year.
Anastasio is a guitarist, composer, and vocalist for the famous Vermont-based jamband, Phish; but he is no stranger to the classical arts, having his orchestral “Evenings with Trey Anastasio” performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony, the Pittsburgh Symphony, and the Colorado Symphony.
Hands on a Hardbody, based on the book written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Doug Wright, focuses on the events and drama that ensues after ten people prepare to win an automobile by being the last one to keep his hand on the car.
Shows run Tuesday through Sunday, From July 1st to July 26th, starting at 8 p.m. Seating is free in the amphitheater section, and blankets and low-backed chairs are permitted. Reserved Seats and Premium Bleacher Seats can be purchased on the Playhouse website, or by calling the box office phone at 518-434-0776.
The rain fell while a cool wind chilled the air, but this didn’t stop the masses from coming out to Putnam Den to support live music. The line was out the door while fans got wet, but the excitement of seeing Max Creek surely made the rain only a slight inconvenience. Inside the fans dried off and the mingling between all the Creek Freaks began. There was talk of the StrangeCreek Campout, hope of what songs they would play, how many times they have seen them and when they started seeing ‘The Creek’. It was a real family atmosphere, one that has transcended time, and will continue for years to come.
Opening the evening were local favorites High Peaks Band, who on Thursday were playing as The High Peaks Trio. These guys have been playing Saratoga bars for a while and opening for many larger bands, so it is only a matter of time before these guys will be taking the main stage and having bigger name acts open for them. They mix it up every time they play and always have fun while doing so. Closing the set with the Phishy number “Within Reason,” got the Creek Freaks ready for a night of timeless entertainment.
The Creek barrage wouldn’t start quite yet, however, as Black Mountain Symphony from Albany, brought their unique sound to The Putnam Den. People who were pacing around waiting for the headliners were drawn to the stage as this bombardment of sound thrown at them. Led by the fast-paced violin playing of Annie Campo, the other sounds complemented not only the violin, but the other instruments, making the sound as one. It was truly amazing and left a positive feeling on stage as Creek was getting ready to take the stage.
For a band who has been around for over 40 years, one may think that a group may not be able to put on a show as they have in the past. Max Creek does not fall into that category. Having always been a band that mixed original with covers, they continued this pattern on Thursday night. Opening with the scratchy, distinguished vocals of Scott Murawski, singing the Creek standard “In Harmony”, a mayhem of movement started throughout the packed house and smiles for all. This was the Creek from old and the hundreds in attendance knew this. Bassist John Rider took lead vocals on “Gypsy Blue,” another original out of the Creek catalog, leaving long times fans of the band in great spirits! Marc Mercier, longtime keyboardist, on the Dylan classic “Tangled up in Blue” was a great treat for fans who were not familiar with many of the originals and helped them feel the groove and sing along.
The band continuously switched vocals during songs, mixing it up, showing there was no single leader of the group; this has helped their longevity and their continued growth. Murawski’s solos though were the pinpoint of most songs and were what the crowd was waiting for, as his slow build up to a tremendous peak simply blew minds as fans jumped up when he hit the note. As Mercier and Rider left the stage, Murawski stayed on and played cowbell with drummer Bill Carbone and percussionist Jamemurrell Stanley. Not long after did Murawski leave the stage and let the percussion section do their thing. These two really rocked it playing beats from all different genres of percussion. This was a special treat as these two are the newest members of the group, but now one would know the way they so smoothly added their vibe to Max Creek. With playing like this in front of a packed house and being happy to do so, Max Creek will be around for as long as they choose to be.
This summer, Max Creek will return to the area with Camp Creek at Indian Lookout Country Club, most recently the site of Camp Bisco. After a few year hiatus, Camp Creek comes home and will surely make waves throughout the music scene. Although no bands but the headliner has been announced yet, it is sure to be a great time. A limited number of pre-sale tickets are on sale for $80 dollars for the festival taking place from August 21-23. For more info click here.
Goo Goo Dolls were joined by Daughtry and Plain White T’s at SPAC this weekend. The Plain White T’s came out to a very unassuming stage, a few blue and pink lights, no flashy LEDs or props. The were there to make music and delight the ears with their essentially acoustic set. The Chicago-based band got to Saratoga early and Tom Higgenson (vocalist) decided to walk around the wonderful SPAC grounds. He took some video and photos of the springs and geyser. He asked the crowd if the geyser was real, and while it isn’t, the crowd led him to believe it is – so that’s the story he’s going to tell. SPAC’s legacy continues to live on and another musicians top place to play. On stage, it was just the five guys playing, singing beautiful tunes to the incoming crowd. Gates opened only 45 minutes before the set, so most people were stuck outside. It is sad that people decide for whatever reason to miss the openers, or for venues to open gates up too late. Whether it is SPAC or a local venue, your favorite band started as an opener for someone. How cool would it be to be the one that discovered them that far back and you build that loyalty from the start. Those fan relationships are truly special and unique. The Plain White T’s did appreciate those that got inside early to hear them. They dedicated their hit “Delilah” to the audience and changed the last verse to “Hey Saratoga, here’s to you.” After that a nice singalong of the chorus, followed by their other hit “Rhythm of Love.”
Daughtry took the stage and the screams of the 30-something girls filled the air. A battle of Chris’s powerful vocals and the squeals of fan girls reveling in his American Idol glory. The sound was dead on and the energy wasn’t lacking at all. Even a bad joke, Chris pointing out that he was wearing a plain white t and said he supporting the band that just opened the show. Not too many laughs, so he followed up with a much funnier quip “Well, that went over like a fart in church.” Outside on the lawn, the $10 upgrades that LiveNation occasionally offers helped fill the lower seats of the amphitheater and the lawn, as usual, was packed, even for a Sunday night. Daughtry played his favorite tune “Wild Hearts”, off the new album and the band’s fourth, Baptized, which had a distinctive modern-country flare. There is a fine line and compromise playing the bands favorites intermixed with fans’ favorites from the past eight years. When the blasting drums of “Battleships”, the latest single, blew out from the stage, the imagery of a Battleships wasn’t hard to comprehend. The added touch of the mandolin countering the heavy drum was well composed. The set had few more songs, including “Home” dedicated to those who’ve served and who are serving. Daughtry knowing his audience, Volvo driving soccer moms, the set was comprised of mostly ballads and very little rock. Overall it was a fine performance, but you can’t help to hope that Chris Daughtry finds his inner rock star once again and blows the roof of things.
Upstate’s own Goo Goo Dolls absolutely rocked the stage with tunes spread over their past 20 years of success. A perennial favorite at SPAC, this was one of their strongest performances in years. Hits like “Iris”, “Slide”, and “Name” intermixed with some new songs and others sung by Robby Takac (bass). Robby’s tunes tend to be a little edgier and reminiscent of early days of pop-punk. The Goo Goo Dolls are now from California, but these Buffalo-bred rockers joked about New York still smoking pot at concerts. Commenting that in California people eat it, bake it, put it in pills, and shove it wherever they can, they don’t really smoke it nowadays because it’s so strong that you’d be high for five days. During “Come to Me”, a song John Rzeznik wrote for his wife was a good opportunity for a man in the front row to propose to his future bride (she said “yes”). This led to a humorous exchange with another woman up front, Kara, who was looking for love herself, Rzeznik described her as a voodoo hippie, the conversation continued sporadically throughout the rest of the evening. The proposal was followed by “Black Balloon” with the typical black balloons being tossed into the air. They were batted frantically toward the stage, where Rzeznik hit, or tried to at least, them away. When he missed one, it actually interrupted his singing so he could laugh at himself. The band played a new song “Caught I the Storm” that is worth giving a listen to if you remember the glory days of the band. It really is one of the best songs I’ve heard from the band in years and deserves a listen. “Name” will be turning 20 next year and is further proof of the legacy the band had established for itself. From there the set finished itself out ending with fan favorite “Iris” and then a two song encore of “Sympathy” and “Let Love In.”
Setlist: Lazy Eye, Dizzy, Slide, Big Machine, Rebel Beat, When the World Breaks Your Heart, Already There, Bringing on the Light, Come to Me, Black Balloon, Stay With You, Here Is Gone, Caught in the Storm, Feel the Silence, Name, January Friend, Another Second Time Around, Better Days, Slow It Down, Broadway, Iris
Encore: Sympathy, Let Love In
It’s not every day that a member of one of the most influential music groups in history visits Upstate New York. The Capital District got a dose of Beatlemania on Tuesday the 10th when Beatles drummer, Ringo Starr and his Allstar Band came to town. The historic Palace Theater was flooded with fans in various Beatles and Ringo apparel of all ages, eager to experience the 73 year old living legend.
The stage was a-glitter and as the lights dimmed, the crowd screamed just like they would have back in the ’60s when Ringo Starr came running onto the stage. The night opened up with two easy going songs “Don’t Come Easy” and “Wings” with Ringo singing front and center, donning his classic sunglasses and waving peace signs to the audience.
After the first few songs, Ringo took his spot on the elevated ruby drum set and his Allstar Band took the reins. Organist Gregg Rolie, one of the founding members for Santana, paid tribute to those classic soul charging songs like “Evil Ways”, “Oye Como Va” and “Black Magic Woman”, with his familiar, dark and striking Hammond key chords. Todd Rundgren, original guitarist for Utopia and singer songwriter couldn’t be slowed down as he ran about the stage with blazing riffs and a became a true maniac on the drum pads for “Bang The Drum All Day”. Bassist Richard Page, had deep vocals just as thunderous as his bass notes for Mr. Mister’s “Broken Wings” and a new song “You are Mine” which was a country twang change up with beautiful harmonies. Guitarist Steve Lukather, is best known for his work with Toto and treated the audience to “Africa” and “Roseanna” with a strong saxophone solo from Warren Ham. Gregg Bissonette rocked out next to Ringo on drums, providing a more intense rhythm for the show.
Throughout the night, Ringo would step in with a few personal songs of his, adding quiet jokes that got big laughs. The band performed the first song Ringo ever wrote “Don’t Pass Me By”, a charming, upbeat song that back in the day, gave Ringo the confidence to shine as he said, “Wow, this is good. I thought watch out Mr. McCartney… I was young when I thought that.” The crowd chanted Ringo’s name and almost lost it when they struck up “Yellow Submarine” for an overwhelming sing-along as Ringo credited Albany for being the best singers. “Boys”, a personal favorite of Ringo’s, had lyrics belted out with a crisp and youthful sound. The night ended with “With a Little Help from My Friends”, as fans danced and hugged one another, it was clear that Ringo had succeeded in spreading peace and love throughout the theater. Despite their age, Ringo Starr and the Allstar Band showed no signs of slowing down with their impressive jams and stage presence. The two-hour show was a blast from the past, proving that the “Summer of Love” never ended, not as long as there is music, peace and love to fill the air.
When Tower of Power took the stage, the amphitheater was still empty. The tailgating crowd outside didn’t quite understand what they were missing. While Tower of Power isn’t a household name like Steve Miller or Journey, their talents are definitely on par. The smart music fans were already in their seat when the show started and were blessed by waves of talent and soul a mile deep, drowning in goodness. Hits like “Soul Vaccination” and “What is Hip?” got even the band’s newest fans on their feet to feel the soul power overtaking Saratoga Saturday night. Equipped with a new lead singer, Ray Greene, and the traditional line-up of saxes, trumpets, trombones, along with a solid backline of drums, guitar and bass, Tower of Power brings the energy and great music every night.
After a short break, the Steve Miller Band came out to a setting sun and a growing audience. Steve Miller sang all the classics, “Take the Money and Run”, “Abracadabra”, “The Joker” and more. Fans of all ages sang along with the master of his craft. Four generations were equally represented as it was GE’s Kids Night and youngsters under 12 got in free with an adult ticket. Even after nearly 50 years on stage, Miller brought lots of energy and even had a run-in with a bunch of released balloons. He tried (and failed) to pop a couple, but did manage to kick a few out of the way. It was all in good fun and the smile on his face and the crowd was a good indicator of the success of the evening. Originally a blues man, evident by his tremendous skills on the harmonica and soulful voice, Miller delighted the crowd. With songs dating back nearly 50 years (“Space Cowboy”, 1968) and majority of success in the ’70s, Miller continues to make great music. It was a rare summer in the ’80s or ’90s when the Steve Miller Band didn’t grace the SPAC stage. By the turn out, many loyal fans were glad to see him back.
Journey’s lead singer since 2008, Arnel Pineda, with a haircut and a shave since the last time at SPAC, came out with so much energy it was intoxicating. Last time Journey played SPAC, Pineda looked more like an Elvis impersonator than the lead singer of the legendary band. If served as a distraction to many, but this time around, it was all about rock ‘n roll and delighting the fans. Thousands packed the full amphitheater and even more fans were located out on the famous SPAC lawn. The sound was spot on and while standing by the soundboard will typically give you chills at most venues, at SPAC it is truly magical. SPAC is the prize of Upstate New York concert goers and it is no wonder why so many musicians list it as one of their favorites to play.
Jon Cain (piano) talked about writing the song “Faithfully” on a bus ride to Saratoga Springs in the early 80s. He worked on the song into the night and finished it on a napkin in the morning over a cup of coffee. He played it for the first time every on one of the pianos backstage at SPAC. When “Don’t Stop Believin’” started, no one was still sitting at this point. Confetti cannons exploded and the place erupted into song. Everyone was singing in unison swaying left to right; people were even singing with new friends they had just met that night. To the left, right and all around. It was a truly electrifying moment. There was a very short break and then the “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’” encore and barely anyone headed for the doors until it was over.
Setlist: The Journey (Revelation), Be Good to Yourself, Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), Any Way You Want It, Only the Young, The Star-Spangled Banner (John Stafford Smith cover), Stone in Love, “Mother, Father”, She’s a Mystery, Lights, Piano Solo, Open Arms, Ritual, La Do Da / Anytime, Guitar Solo (Jonathan Cain on back up keyboards), Wheel in the Sky, Faithfully, Don’t Stop Believin’
Encore: Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’
The mighty Skrillex crash-landed his Mothership Tour at The Washington Armory in Albany last night with the help of DJ friends, Milo & Otis, What So Not, and DJ Snake. The Mothership Tour almost needs a dozen tracker trailers to carry all the lights and sound equipment, plus a massive generator to power up the unforgettable show. The vibrations you will hear and feel from the speakers on the Mothership Tour are similar to a pleasurable earthquake. Skrillex and the EDM genre as a whole attracts a special kind of crowd, mostly in their late teens and 20s, clothed with eye-catching neon, lots of glitter and brightly colored beads. The Capital District hasn’t been too fond of the raves hosted at The Armory for the past few months, but luckily this show went off stress-free.
The Milo & Otis duo was a great start to the night with fast paced dance beats and techno tunes that helped the ravers loosen up for the long night ahead of them. What So Not mixed heavy bass notes with soaring vocals that released an animal-like dark side into the crowd who ate it up. As the night progressed, the audience grew, and DJ Snake took the stage for a set of blaring techno and extreme lasers. DJ Snake got the biggest response out of the crowd when we started up his latest collaboration with Lil Jon, “Turn Down for What”. The rebellious chant got the masses screaming with their hands up in delightful angst.
After much cheering and being egged on by DJ Snake, Skrillex leapt on stage to do what he does best, melt faces and blow minds with his hard hitting electronic music. It was hard to tell who was having the better time, the ravers or Skrillex. His hands were all over his mixing tables, even standing atop of them as he amped up the crowd and leapt off just as the music would drop. The consistent climaxes kept everyone moving and the smoke machine blasts were also a crowd pleaser. The massive back drop was a rainbow of lights or showcased images of iconic pop culture; either way it went was a thrill to watch, especially to watch a slow motion of Family Matter’s Urkel and Full House’s Uncle Jesse break it down. Skrillex mixed fresh beats with popular songs that sent the crowd into a frenzy such as Damien Marley’s “Welcome to JamRock” and even the opening theme from The Lion King with a rising sun backdrop. He slams his entire body on that stage, supplies everyone with a powerful energy of music and compliments Albany on being the “hottest” stop on his tour, as it’s apparent that everyone is soaked in sweat. A Skrillex show has everything that young American’s are all about: loud music, robots, lasers and a carefree party attitude.
Whether you love or hate the EDM scene, Skrillex is a must see act. It’s empowering to watch any artist do what they love, but with Skrillex, you can appreciate his audience control and interaction. His stage presence is almost as big as the bass bombs he drops. Here’s hoping the Capital District will continue to host these EDM events for respectable ravers seeking a bizarrely fun journey into the livetronica world.
Less than 24 hours before their scheduled concert at Monirae’s in Pennellville, NY – while en route to Upstate New York – Saving Abel announced that they won’t be there.
Members of the band reportedly broke away from their recording sessions and were in the midst of traveling to Upstate New York once plans unraveled.
Saturday’s show in Albany, The Take Back Tour, is advertised as an educational movement to inform concert goers on building a sustainable community. It also included information on recent federal legislation that tour promoters say allows the military to detain citizens without due process.
A Washington Armory representative said the show is scheduled to proceed without Saving Abel.
Saving Abel was reportedly dropped by the show promoter, Robert Rodrigo. Attempts to contact the promoters for comment were unanswered.
The band posted an announcement late last night on Facebook, but when approached The Washington Armory about the news this afternoon, the staff was initially unaware of the details.
The venue representative explained they are not responsible for planning the event. As managers of the facility, they only rent out the building to show organizers. Shows like Tuesday’s Skrillex show that was a huge success.
Saving Abel still plans to play the Monirae’s show, but in September.
Dedicated Central New York fans, like Tim S. were upset. The father responded to the band’s Facebook post to say he bought VIP tickets specifically for his daughter’s birthday.
The band responded to clarify they would honor tickets from the show that was supposed to happen tonight.
The band is dedicated to all their fans but they said a trip to New York didn’t make fiscal sense if they were only playing one show.