Category: Oneonta

Still in Awe After an Amazingly Intimate Performance by Peter Rowan in Oneonta

Sporting yoga pants and loving it, after having eaten a yummy vegetarian meal, at the table right next to mine, no less! the iconic Peter Rowan casually strolled onto the stage at BSide Ballroom and Supper Club in Oneonta, armed only with a guitar and a story to tell. To have such an essential figure in the bluegrass world performing in this small intimate venue with a seating of approximately 140 maximum, was a true dream come true.

Starting off the show on a melancholy yet hopeful note with “Doc Watson Morning” a song about a “guitar-picking kind of day,” Rowan ended the song with a mini yodel, which was nice to hear so early on in the set. Giving the audience what they truly were hoping to hear, Pete moved into an acoustic solo rendition of “Panama Red” which he brilliantly chose to mash-up with classic folk tune “Freight Train” which proved to be quite the winning combination. Moving on to another one of his better known tunes, Jack Bonus’s “Hobo Song” it became clear at this point in the set that he felt totally at ease with the crowd, and in return, made the audience feel as if they were just chilling with Pete in his living room. The next song up moved the audience from Pete’s living room to a desert with tumbleweeds blowing by, when he sang a version of “Tumbleweed” throughout which he put so much emotion into each and every note.

At this point in the evening, Peter Rowan brought out bassist Paul Knight, who has toured with Pete in the past, performing as part of the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band. It also marked the point in the set during which much storytelling ensued, which is always a treat coming from someone who has played with so many other musicians, and traveled to so many corners of the earth. I have to confess that when Pete was eating dinner next to me, I worked up the nerve to put in a shameless plug for myself that he was helping me kick off my birthday week celebration, and right after he brought Knight out on stage, they were kind enough to sing happy birthday to me! It’s definitely going to be hard to top that on my list of memorable birthdays.

Reminiscently telling one story about his days playing with Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys, during which time, as Pete put it, Monroe would always “call me plural” and refer to him as Peter Rowans, the audience received an intimate and real history of this legend who stood before us. Switching to stories about learning more rootsy rhythms from New Orleans, such as the “stomp” and the “slow drag” Pete performed his own song in slow drag, “Ragged Old Dream” off of his aptly named The Old School album. Segueing into a more bluesy part of his set, Rowan explained how he used to go to record stores in Boston, where one used to be able to sit and listen to blues and folk albums for hours, and proceeded to perform a particularly bluesy version of “In the Pines”. Ending his set with the title track off his new album Dharma Blues was fitting, especially because it ended with a true signature Peter Rowan yodel.

Choosing a somewhat odd time to take a set break, being so close to the 10:00pm time the show was projected to end, Pete ended up coming back on to play at 9:30, but went a bit beyond the original end time, which nobody seemed to mind. Beginning with an instrumental number with amazing use of harmonics up and down the neck of the guitar by Rowan, he then went into a very touching tribute he wrote for Jerry Garcia, his former band mate from his days playing with Old and In the Way, titled “Jerry and the Deep Blue Sea” in honor of the work Jerry used to do to raise money for the protection of dolphins and coral reefs around Hawaii. Playing a few more numbers off his new album Dharma Blues, which was inspired by his recent trips to India and Nepal, we were introduced to a much more spiritual side of Peter Rowan.

His song “Arise” which was heavily influenced by the concept of bodhisattva, was explained to the audience by Rowan as the idea that all beings have been our parents in previous lives. The cyclical nature of the concept of bodhisattva was beautifully mimicked in both the lyrics and the musical notes so masterfully chosen by Rowan. Returning to a spiritual world from a more Western culture, Rowan pulled out a particularly note-intensive version of “Land of the Navajo” incorporating an almost reggae-style bass solo, followed by Rowan playing some more impressive harmonics followed by an extended yodel jam. Ending his set with “Restless Grave” off Dharma Blues, on which he was accompanied by Gillian Welch on the album, the crowd was unhappy to see him go.

Thankfully, Rowan was urged by the audience to come back onstage for an encore, and he was even taking requests. He chose to give us two of his more popular numbers, “Lonesome L.A. Cowboy” and of course, “Moonlight Midnight” which received a big old howl from the audience! Saving up just enough energy to sign CDs and chat with anyone who wanted to be in the presence of such a spiritual being with a lifetime of experiences to share, it was easy to see that everyone in attendance for this performance was truly in awe of the special gift that had been handed to us: having the opportunity to listen to this bluegrass icon in such an intimate setting. Peter Rowan will be touring around the northeast until November 23, so make sure to add one of his shows to your calendars if you can. It will truly be worth the experience.

November 18, 2014
Bluegrass Legend Peter Rowan Brings Some First Class Music to Oneonta

A dream come true for bluegrass aficionados, Peter Rowan will be bringing some good old-fashioned bluegrass music to Oneonta at the classy BSide Ballroom and Supper Club on Friday, Nov. 14. Bringing old-time music to our ears for over five decades, Peter Rowan always impresses audiences with the unique touches he adds to an otherwise traditional style. Having played with fellow well-respected musicians spanning across several styles of music, including Bill Monroe during his time playing with the Bluegrass Boys and Jerry Garcia while performing with Old and In the Way, Peter Rowan also delights fans with solo performances all over the world, and can sometimes be found rock(abilly)ing out with The Free Mexican Air Force. For those looking for some real tradition this Friday night, head on over to BSide Ballroom and be treated to an intimate performance by Grammy-winning recording legend Peter Rowan.

The show will be starting at 7:00PM, but come early if you can and indulge in a scrumptious meal consisting of fresh, quality seasonal cuisine served up in the restaurant right inside the club! Tickets for this event cost $32 in advance/$38 at the door. Reservations for this event are strongly suggested, as seats are filling up quickly for this one!

After the Oneonta show, Peter Rowan will be making an additional stop in Upstate New York on Saturday night, Nov. 15, when he will be performing at The Egg in Albany. He will also be making an appearance in Bay Shore, NY on Nov. 20. Make sure to give yourself the chance to see him perform when he’s in your town, as Rowan is a bluegrass legend in the truest sense of the word.

November 12, 2014
Slaid Cleaves, A Folk Singer With an Endearing Voice and Stories to Tell

On Thursday Sept. 11, Oneonta received a hefty dose of folk with Slaid Cleaves’ performance at the B Side Ballroom and Supper Club, the city’s classiest joint. With one of the most extensive bars in town, along with a delectable menu consisting of fresh seasonal foods and exotic nightly specials, those lucky enough to have made reservations or arrived early to B Side were greeted with pleasant aromas and tasty meals coming from the kitchen. By the time show time rolled around, the place had filled up quite nicely with lots of fans, as well as newcomers to the classic folk sounds and storytelling they were about to be treated to over the course of the evening. Slaid Cleaves surely did not disappoint in that department.

Getting off to an abrupt start, Slaid was joined on stage by Chojo Jacques on alternating fiddle and mandolin. While Slaid is traditionally a solo performer, Chojo truly rounded out the sound, adding nice touches of sometimes Appalachian-style sometimes haunting-sounding fiddle and mandolin accompaniments. Opening with one of his more popular tunes, “Horseshoe Lounge” Slaid effectively warmed up the crowd with this mellow tune. One element that you must make note of when listening to Slaid is that it is extremely important to pay attention to his lyrics, as each song has a story to tell. Following his next tune “Drinkin’ Days” with a chorus of “My drinking days are over, but I’m still troublebound,” Slaid took the opportunity to compliment Oneonta for the hotel he is staying at that he can walk to from the venue, having a liquor store that he can also walk to that stays open until 10:00PM, the music store across the parking lot where he was able to procure a new capo for this evening’s performance, and its residents being so friendly and welcoming.

After spouting all these positive accounts, Slaid explained that he was going to move on to some sad tunes that will still make the audience feel good and threw in a Woody Guthrie quote to further emphasize his point: “A folk musician’s job is to comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.” That sentiment definitely seemed to resonate throughout the rest of his set. Intermixing stories in between his tunes had the effect of making the audience feel like they were sitting around the campfire devotedly listening to the wonderful stories Slaid had to tell and the songs he wanted to share. Touring in support of his new album Still Fighting the War, Slaid jokingly warned everyone not to listen to the album more than once a week since it will be at least another year until he puts out his next album. Yet of course he shared some material off that new album with the audience including “Whim of Iron” about his Aunt Prudence who had married his 92-year-old uncle, a strong lady ahead of her time living in New York City in the 1960’s; and “Texas Love Song” about how much pride Texans have in their own state. He also threw in some classics, including “Broke Down” which he wrote along with his buddy with whom he used to play in a garage band (the band was called The Magic Rats) and “Wishbones” which was actually a request from a group who had traveled three hours to see this show, so in an effort to not send the group back home feeling disappointed, Slaid obliged. Ending with his signature yodel, Slaid took a break before settling in to the second set.

Again starting kind of nonchalantly without any announcement or fanfare, the audience quickly stopped their conversations when he started with “No Angel Knows”. Segueing from one relatively melancholy tune to another, the next song entitled “Cry” really hit a nerve. With a chorus of “Cry for your mama, Cry for your dad, Cry for everything you know they never had,” tears actually came to my eyes, as I used to see Slaid Cleaves with my mom every time he came into town, as my mom absolutely adored him. She has since passed away, so I took a hiatus from seeing Slaid for a bit myself, not wanting to deal with getting all choked up and emotional at his shows, but this song made me realize it’s OK to listen to his music and feel these emotions.

Honoring an audience request he got for “Everette” during the break, Slaid asked for complete silence before he began, and prayed that he would remember all the words, as this song is extremely lyric-intensive, written by his friend Steve Brooks, about “what poets do”. At one point during this song, someone must have ordered a mixed drink that required shaking, which might have otherwise been distracting to a musician, but thankfully the bartender/owner of B Side, Wayne Carrington, happens to be a drummer, so he just started shaking along to the rhythm of the song. Soliciting any last-minute requests before he began the final portion of his show one fan asked him to play “Sinner’s Prayer” for which he said he might need help with the lyrics, so the fan ended up shouting out the lines that Slaid couldn’t remember.

The last several songs of the second set consisted of songs taking us from Slaid’s humble beginnings in Maine to his instant rise to stardom in Texas. Singing about his childhood neighbor Willie in “Horses” letting us know that “If it weren’t for horses and divorces, I’d be a lot better off today,” the audience was treated to a much-needed chuckle, as this song followed the much sadder number “Green Mountains and Me” about a soldier’s wife missing her husband. Paying tribute to the Texas family who had taken him and his wife under their wings when they first moved to Texas, Slaid sang his well-known tune “New Years Day” which he had written about and dedicated to one of the members of his Texas family. Finishing off the set with his popular “One Good Year” Slaid graciously thanked the audience for coming out on a school night, but rather than bothering to leave the stage before the encore, he made the choice to bypass that process and went right into it. This encore was quite special though, as he and Chojo decided to play acoustically and actually walked through the audience while playing a gospel tune off his new album called “Go for the Gold”. Being a small and intimate venue they were able to walk through the entire place and give everyone a good view and opportunity to hear what they were preaching.

It is rare to see a musician and an audience have such an intimate connection, but it was very enjoyable to see that happening. It was almost as if the boundary between the band and the crowd was nonexistent. From the woman in the front of the venue singing along to every lyric, to the man at the next table over who had never before seen Slaid but kept smiling and saying “Sweet!” Slaid more than satisfied his loyal fans, and gained new ones at the same time. Be sure not to miss Slaid Cleaves the next time he comes to your town.

September 18, 2014
Dopapod Fall Tour 2014 Announced

Brooklyn’s Dopapod announced yesterday an extensive 2014 fall national tour that includes several dates in Upstate New York.

Early fall will find them headlining a show in Saratoga Springs on September 27. They play Rochester on October 2 with supporting act Consider the Source opening.

They come back through the state later on in October to support Umphrey’s McGee at Niagara Falls on the 23rd and in Binghamton on the 29th before finishing up with Space Carnival at the Oneonta Theatre in Oneonta on November 1.

Check out the entire tour graphic below and mark your calendars for some Dopapod rage!

August 6, 2014
Moon Boot Lover: The Most Rockin’ Party on Wheels Around

When pulling up to the train depot in quaint Milford, NY, you may be thinking to yourself, “Where am I? Have a stepped back in time?” It is hard to believe that a three-hour rockin’ party with Moon Boot Lover is about to take place on board the Cooperstown Blues Express Train.

Led by a locomotive built in the 1940s, on tracks that were put in place in the 1860s and ran between Cooperstown and Colliersville, the Blues Express Train is truly one of the most unusual concert experiences in our state. Having been dubbed “the area’s only rolling nightclub,” this train has been hosting concerts every Saturday night from mid-May through late September since 1997.

Having been around since the ‘90s, formerly a frequent visitor to old school venues in Oneonta like Diana’s, Peter Prince and Moon Boot Lover (MBL) have garnered a huge local and very loyal following over the years. Whenever they come to town to play on the Train, which they tend to do at least once a season, you definitely want to book ahead for these rides, as they tend to fill up quick. As a matter of fact, one of their biggest fans mentioned that he is in the military, and he actually schedules his leaves around Moon Boot Lover’s calendar.

While Moon Boot Lover’s music is difficult to categorize, there are definitely elements of blues, jazz, rock, and general “spacey-ness” involved. Channeling the energy of Jimi Hendrix and Santana at different points throughout the night, there was a constant out-of-orbit vibe going on all through the band’s set, which included the fitting choice of “I Miss the Train”. Peter Prince’s soulful voice shined on each and every song – at least those that had lyrics; and kept everyone grounded, with all the otherworldly tones coming from the instruments backing him up, including his very own frenzied guitar playing on his trademark Flying V guitar.

At one point, Prince jokingly said that the train was trying to take their drum set apart, and explained that this is part of the reason MBL goes through so many drummers, but current drummer Lee James Falco seemed more than capable of holding the rhythm together, which is quite the feat on a slow-moving train rolling along on rickety old tracks. At only 19-years-old, Falco is already sitting in with many bands, so don’t be surprised if you see him play in your area; he is definitely full of talent and is only going up from here. Bassist Ben Carle provided steady yet creative rhythms and notes, on top of well-balanced back-up vocals, throughout the evening’s experience. Rich Lemire, a friend of the band, joined in for this performance with some added percussions.

Once the sun went down, lighting designer Aaron Hunt provided a veritable psychedelic experience aboard the train, effectively utilizing the extremely limited amount of solid wall or ceiling space to somehow pin up the lights underneath translucent sheets, adding even more of an outer space element to the occasion. The crowd seemed to appreciate the trippy lighting, letting it take their already dancing feet to a whole other level, boogying down to “Natural Kind of Lover” until the last-minute, before pulling in to in the Milford Station.

It is strongly recommended, for those of you who have never been on the Cooperstown Blues Express Train, to hop aboard one of these Saturday nights before the summer is through. Where else can you ride on a historic railroad through beautiful countryside – and baseball fields – listening to funky music on an open air car, getting to wave at and taunt the people who have to wait at the railroad crossings sitting in their cars, while you are kicking back, enjoying a beverage and a snack, and cruising along listening to some great tunes.

July 30, 2014
Hop Aboard the Blues Express Train and Enjoy Music Under the Stars With Moon Boot Lover

The Cooperstown area has proven to be quite the stomping grounds for fun musical entertainment so far this year, so why not visit again for the unique experience of a blues cruise on land? Every Saturday night during the summer, the Cooperstown Blues Express Train provides a three-hour rocking blues party onboard a train that rolls you through the gorgeous countryside between Milford and Cooperstown. The bands perform on the rear car of the train, which is “open air” on nice evenings, allowing you to fully take in the scenery and the stars, but can be covered in the event of rain. Food and drinks are available as well throughout the ride in the bar car. There is a nice space set up in front of the stage to dance around, but if you do find yourself needing to sit down and grab a bite inside the train, the music can still be heard via speakers. Continuing its tradition of hosting both local and well-known national blues bands, the Cooperstown Blues Express Train is proud to be presenting Peter Prince and Moon Boot Lover on July 26!

Described by Peter Prince himself as “Rock-ET Soul” music, Moon Boot Lover can be thought of as rock ‘n’ roll at its finest, truly embodying the spirit and showmanship of the genre, influenced by such diverse musical acts as Al Green, Jimi Hendrix, Grand Funk Railroad, and Led Zeppelin. From their beginnings sometime in 1993 in New York City, Moon Boot Lover’s lineup is constantly rotating, but their sound is always awe-inspiring and invigorating, giving the audience a taste of music alternating between blues and rock with a good amount of jam mixed in for good measure. Seeing Moon Boot Lover live is a whole lot like going to the moon and back! The band will be bringing with them their lighting designer, Aaron Hunt, who is working on getting additional lights for this ride, making for an even more spacey and psychedelic experience. The band will be touring later this summer in support of Conehead Buddha, another great band who got their start in the ‘90s.

For those of you who have had their interests peaked, make sure to arrive at the Milford Train Depot at 6:30PM, as the train leaves the station at 7:00PM sharp, which gives riders the opportunity to see the countryside in the daylight for the first part of the ride. This event is open to those 21 and older, and be sure to have cash on hand, as this is a cash-only affair. Tickets cost $18, which is more than fair for the three-hour experience you are sure to enjoy on this blues cruise. Later on this summer, the Blues Express Train will be hosting Rhett Tyler and Early Warning on August 23, Blue Hand Luke on September 13, and the Hop City Hellcats on September 20, but be sure to check out schedule for a more complete lineup. Hope to see lots of you on the train!

July 16, 2014
The Dream of the ‘90s Was Alive in Oneonta With Rusted Root

There was definitely something magical in the air in Oneonta on Friday night, with summer being officially in full swing, and the help of the Oneonta Theatre, where not just one but two foot-stomping bands opened up for ‘90s icons Rusted Root.

Starting right on time, prepared for a long night of diverse music, Soco Mojo with special guest and local legend, John Scarpulla took the stage. According to a fan/friend of Scarpulla’s, tonight’s gig was their first public appearance together. But boy, that was not apparent from their tight sound. Scarpulla has, in the past, played mainly solo or duo acts, which always allow you a glimpse into this singer/songwriter/guitarist’s musical mind. However his talent was demonstrated just as much when playing alongside Sojo Mojo, another local act based out of Oneonta.

The band is comprised of a Hammond organ, electric guitar, bass, drum kit, and two percussion sets, with one of the percussionists (John Banks) doubling as a flutist. The one issue with having so many players on stage was that if you were sitting on the left side of the theater, vocalist and Hammond player Conor Murphy was so far over to the left that you could not see him. This was especially odd when he started singing, and you couldn’t see where the voice was coming from, but the sound came through just fine, so that somewhat made up for not being able to see him.

Bassist Bill Youngs really drove the band with his steady rolling rhythms, while young drummer Sebastian Green and percussionist Andrew Yerdon provided great creative back beats. Scarpulla’s voice kept getting more and more powerful as the night wore on, which blended quite nicely with Soco Mojo. Scarpulla mentioned that the group had CDs for sale, and for those who couldn’t afford to pay, he offered to throw them a CD for free! After doing a bit of scatting, Scarpulla introduced the band, then walked off stage while the rest of the band was still playing, allowing them to strut their own stuff for a bit before finishing off the set. Being that this was their first public appearance together, this band’s energy can only go up from here.

Next to perform was none other than ’s March Madness contest runners-up Big Leg Emma! For the band’s first number, acoustic guitarist/vocalist Steve Johnson sounded particularly Rusted Root-esque, with his tremolo-like style of picking. Johnson’s voice was reminiscent of Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, John McCrea of Cake, and former Yonder Mountain String Band frontman, Jeff Austin. The wah-wah pedal and swirly effects used by mandolinist/vocalist/percussionist Charity Nuse were quite unusual (and awesome!) in terms of their usage on the mandolin, and her voice was lovely and subtle. The whole band was super tight, especially on their third number, during which the acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and bass were totally locked into each other in the best possible way. Each of their songs had a definite beginning, middle, and end, yet they also seemed to be able to simultaneously segue from one song to the next seamlessly.

The band covered a couple of tunes that initially seemed like unlikely choices for a bluegrassy band to cover, but, believe it or not, they both seemed to lend themselves nicely to the genre – namely the Beatles’ “Dear Prudence” and Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall”. Towards the end of their set, drummer Corey Kertzie played a super crisp drum solo, and then invited the percussionists from Soco Mojo to join him, along with bassist Miguel Morales. In this case, a little collaboration amongst bands went a long way, they sounded great together. For their last number, the true appeal of Big Leg Emma shined through with their ability to inspire a dance party! Charity reached down into the crowd and hoisted up some ladies to join her on the front of the stage to dance, and then slyly slipped back to her position as mandolinist/vocalist and continued to rock out with the band, leaving the dance party still happening in the front part of the stage. This band was the perfect choice of bands to open for Rusted Root, as they were able to get the audience energized enough to be able to keep up with Rusted Root for the remainder of the evening!

The headliner of the night was Rusted Root, a Pittsburgh-based band whom defy genres. There was a nostalgic energy pulsing throughout the Oneonta Theatre, with fans psyched and ready to hear some of their old favorites, as well as see what the band has been up to recently. Having been playing together since the ‘90s, and touring relentlessly whenever they are not in the studio, the band is currently working on a new album due to come out next year. The band hopes to be able to record and produce independently with no record label. In order to accomplish this task, Rusted Root has started an indiegogo.com fundraising effort, in the hopes of raising $25,000 from fans to help fund their album. Their last album The Movement (2012) was also funded through a fan-funding campaign called “Fortunate Freaks Unite! We Are Rusted Root”.

While the band obviously played songs off their latest and upcoming albums, they also threw in a bunch of their classics. At the very beginning of the set, before the lights even came up, percussionist Preach Freedom started playing drums that sounded so flawless that it was impossible to tell whether it was being played live, or if it was a recording! Opening with “Martyr”, a particularly energizing song to get people moving early on in the set, the band then moved into another classic, “Lost in a Crowd”, which was played with more of an electric sound than usual. Next, the band went into a couple of their new tunes, which had a different style and feel than their older material, including heavier bass and an overall increase in the level of “rock” within the music. Sensing that the audience was craving some more familiar tunes, Rusted Root pulled out an old school “Heaven”, then jammed out with a super long intro into “Laugh as the Sun”. The build-up leading into “Laugh as the Sun” created a nice effect, because it was tough to tell just from what they were playing what song they were going to go into – that kind of suspense seemed to get the crowd revved up. Next up was probably one of the more unique mash-ups I’ve heard in a while: “Cat Turned Blue”, Stevie Wonder’s “Superstitious”, and Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower”!

Effectively interspersing their newer material with their classics throughout the rest of their one-set show, featuring a twangy version of “Rain” (heavy on the washboard) and a Middle Eastern-sounding “In Our Sun” featuring a simple three-note flute. Lead vocalist/guitarist Michael Glabicki did a Matthew McConaughey impression by quoting “All right, all right, all right,” they then played “Send Me On My Way”, one of their more popular numbers. For this one, electric guitarist Dirk Miller switched over to the recorder and Preach Freedom switched from his drum kit to hand drums. Ending their set on this soaring note, they encored with a familiar but possibly new tune, and then finished off with a particularly high-energy version of “Ecstasy”, which began with a very Santana-esque intro involving just the electric guitar and bass played masterfully by Patrick Norman.

The Oneonta Theatre was definitely on fire with this show, including three amazingly talented yet diverse bands. Starting off the night with the funky blues rock of Soco Mojo joined by John Scarpulla, moving on to the Americana bluegrass stylings of Big Leg Emma, to the world rock jamming of Rusted Root. It was definitely the place to be to enjoy a wide range of music in a single night. Concert goers enjoyed running into a ton of familiar faces who came out from the woodwork to enjoy some nostalgic music from the ‘90s, and get your dance on! Be sure to check out all of these bands, and visit Rusted Root’s indiegogo site if you are interested in and able to contribute to the production of their next album.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-BSr_1sSdw]

July 2, 2014
Kick Off Your Summer With Rusted Root, Big Leg Emma, and Soco Mojo in Oneonta

Summer is officially here, so why not get it started on the right foot with the rootsy world rock music of Rusted Root, who are making a trip out to Oneonta on Friday night, June 27! They will be performing at the historic Oneonta Theatre, which is the perfect venue for a band of Rusted Root’s caliber, as it will be sure to attract both the college crowd (for those students who are sticking around this summer) and fans who went to see the band when they first hit the scene back in the ‘90s. This show starts at 8PM, with doors opening at 7. Be sure to visit the bar in the lobby of the Oneonta Theatre before the show and between bands; a nice selection of local beers are always on tap.

Rusted Root, a band with its roots firmly set in their hometown of Pittsburgh, is a collaboration of members who have always been drawn to and experimented with every form of music, covering regions as far-reaching as India, the Middle East, and Africa. Going to one of their concerts is truly like going on a journey through all these exotic places, as they take you there with their music. Rusted Root’s most recent album The Movement (2012), as described by the band’s vocalist and percussionist Liz Berlin, is a real testament to their community of fans, as the album was created as a result of a funds contributed by fans. In addition to Berlin, the band’s current line-up includes Michael Glabicki on lead guitar/vocals, Patrick Norman on vocals/bass/guitar/percussion, Dirk Miller on guitar, and Preach Freedom on percussion. It will be interesting to hear tunes off their new album, but it is likely that they will also be performing some of their classics, such as “Send Me On My Way” and “Ecstasy”, which are always a blast to hear and experience live.

Rusted Root will be joined by two very special guests to open up their June 27 performance. First off, Soco Mojo, a true hometown band based out of right here in Oneonta, will be joined by another local legend, the spectacularly talented vocalist and guitarist John Scarpulla. A funky blues rock band, featuring the swirly reverberations of a Hammond and sharp jazzy sounds of a flute, Soco Mojo is sure to get everyone moving and psyched up for the rest of the evening.

The second band of the night will be none other than the runners up in ’s 2014 March Madness contest, Big Leg Emma! Based out of Jamestown in Western NY, Big Leg Emma have really come onto the jamband scene strong in the last couple of years, and if they keep up the good work, they are sure to continue growing and moving in the right direction. With a heavy base of real Americana music, throwing in some bluegrass, folk, and country for good measure, the jam component definitely comes out during their live performances, when their more dancy psychedelic side truly emerges.

If you live closer to the Albany area and can’t make it to Rusted Root’s show in Oneonta, they will be performing the following night, on June 28, at the Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park. Be sure to visit www.rustedroot.com for additional tour dates.

June 24, 2014
Venue Profile: Oneonta Theatre, A Historic Vaudeville Theater Revitalized

The Oneonta Theatre, located at 47 Chestnut Street, just 100 yards away from Oneonta’s vibrant Main Street, is a true gem of a venue. Being situated in a college town, the theatre is just a hop, skip, and jump away from a wide array of dining options, as well as a plethora of bars. Consisting of two separate concert spaces, the larger of which can accommodate 900 people, and the smaller 200, the Oneonta Theatre is a unique and charming place to check out a show. The larger downstairs theater has a deep, tall stage, one that can accommodate a large band or the cast of a play, and the sloped floor typically has seats up to about two-thirds of the way down towards the stage, leaving the front of the floor open for boogieing down. The smaller upstairs theater features a stage that is not very much higher than the dance floor area, with seats sloping upwards towards the back of this space, and is slightly rounder than the space downstairs. An amazing sound engineer works with the theatre, making sure the sound is stellar in both of the differently configured theaters.

Designated as a historically significant building on the National Register of Historic Places, the Oneonta Theatre was originally built as a vaudeville theater in 1897, during a particularly happening time in Oneonta’s history, when the railroad ran through town. From its lavish first production of The Sporting Duchess (at a production cost of $50,000!) on February 28, 1898, to silent and talking films throughout the 19-teens and Roaring ‘20s, to the site of countless Oneonta High School graduations, this theater was a definite draw for both area residents and travelers from afar. Then, in the mid-1960s, the theater was slated to be wiped out as part of an urban renewal program planned for Oneonta, but fortunately a gentleman by the name of Harold DeGraw bought it and saved it from being destroyed, and invested his own private funds to rehabilitate the theater and storefronts. In 1979-80, the upper balconies were separated from the main theater, turning it into a two-theater “multiplex.” Live plays continued to be performed here, as the Orpheus Theatre group used the downstairs performance space for their plays and musicals. That is how the Oneonta Theatre operated until about 1992, at which point the stage was actually abandoned, and the theater started to deteriorate, becoming more and more dilapidated with each passing year.

In 2009, the current owner, Tom Cormier, took ownership of the Oneonta Theatre. Interestingly, the theater was actually not what motivated him to buy the building. He became interested in the property for the front part of the building, which consists of three storefronts and six apartments, but when he looked more closely into purchasing the property, he discovered that it actually contained two buildings, one of which was the dilapidated theater. Initially, Cormier said the theater was in such bad shape that it was impossible to stand inside it for more than a half hour without having respiratory issues from all the mold and pigeon poop that had built up over the years, but thankfully, the non-profit group Friends of the Oneonta Theatre, to whom Cormier rents the theater for $50/month, were able to convince him to fall in love with the theater and put in the time, money, and effort to rehabilitate it. During the renovations, Cormier came across numerous hidden treasures, including a collection of signatures on the walls backstage from actors who had performed there over the years, and a complete newspaper found between the first and second stories from the day after a World Series game that took place sometime in the 1950s during which a perfect game was pitched! (He even mentioned that he and several of the employees have encountered ghosts, but he assured me they were all friendly.)

Having gone through extensive repair work, it can now once again be said that the Oneonta Theatre has truly lived up to its motto of “Showing Oneonta A Good Time Since 1897.” Some of the bigger acts who have been booked here since Cormier took ownership include Steve Earle, Arlo Guthrie, Chris Robinson, Blue Oyster Cult, Kansas, McGuinn & Sebastian, Little Feat, The Radiators, and the Zombies – quite the assortment! Cormier also likes to feature more local and regional acts, and has in fact helped out some local acts by booking them as openers for bigger names, and as a result of that, a couple of bands (including Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds) have landed national touring gigs! In addition to live music, the occasional cult classic movie can be viewed at the Oneonta Theatre. In the past few years, The Big Lebowski and The Rocky Horror Picture Show have been shown on the big screen, and the audience has come out in full garb. The Theatre has even provided suitable goodies during these movies, such as serving up White Russians (normally, only beer, wine, and a limited selection of bottled cocktail drinks are available at the bar located inside the lobby area of the Theatre) during The Big Lebowski, and handing out prop bags including rice, noisemakers, and toilet paper to encourage audience participation during The Rocky Horror Picture Show! The theatre also rents out its space for the occasional college event, and as such has hosted a few foam parties, the first of which completely trashed the floors of the theater due to the chemical composition of the foam, and which resulted in a scene reminiscent of a slaughterhouse afterwards, as the floors of the theater were red, and the red paint was streaming down the entrance hallway before heading out the door and down the sidewalks! But Cormier just turned what could have been a bad situation into good, and used the opportunity to strip the floors, since the job was already halfway done!

When asked about plans to expand or renovate the theatre, Cormier mentioned that he does have some changes in mind for this summer, but it’s too early to reveal those changes. He is in the process of looking for investors for this project, so if anyone is interested, please get in touch with Tom Cormier through the theatre’s website! Upcoming shows that have been confirmed at the Oneonta Theatre this summer include Rusted Root on June 27, Start Making Sense (a Talking Heads tribute band) on June 28, and Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds on August 22, but continue to check their website, as they are always booking new bands. And now, to quote theatre owner Tom Cormier, “We’re not the shiniest nickel around, but there’s a good vibe in this place! And the sound’s incredible. So, come to Oneonta, come visit us!”

June 4, 2014
Modest Mouse Hits the Stage for Brewery Ommegang’s Opening Show of the Season

This year, the Friday night that traditionally marks the unofficial first day of summer, the Friday night of Memorial Day Weekend, also marked the first show of the season at Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, with Modest Mouse’s first of two sold out shows. The promoter of the event, Dan Smalls, came out on stage just before the opening band to offer up a toast to the crowd for the new season, and took the opportunity to announce several performers who will be making appearances at Ommegang later in the summer, including Conor Oberst with special guests Dawes and The Baseball Project, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Neutral Milk Hotel!

The opening band for the Friday night Modest Mouse show was Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls, a band from England who seemed to have a fair share of fans in the crowd. The band members all walked out on stage to what sounded like an Irish sea shanty that was being played as music over the speakers, which was a cool introduction. The first song had a nice acoustic start, and then went right into a more gruff (in a good way) British punk style. After introducing the band, Frank Turner had the chance to demonstrate his leadership of the band a bit, and it became clear that he would be the storyteller of the bunch. One of the first memorable ones was about a time when they had a bit too much to drink after they were on the Ellen Degeneres Show and woke up the next morning wearing the underwear that had been given to them in their goodie bags from being on the show, inspiring Turner to write a song called “Wet Underwear!” After that story, Turner invited an audience member to join him on stage to help him out during a song. A security guard actually came from the side of the stage to help a fan by the name of Sean up from near the front of the crowd; he was asked to play a harmonica solo during “Dan’s Song.” Turner mentioned that, thankfully, Sean could actually play the harmonica because he’d heard a lot worse at some of his other shows and felt bad for having put those people on the spot!

The next song up was called “Wherefore Art Thou Gene Simmons,” which was inspired by Turner having read Simmons’ autobiography. Despite the kind of out there title, the song really showed off Turner’s amazing talent on the acoustic guitar; he was playing such nice harmonies with himself that it was hard to believe he was the only guitarist on the stage! This song was in stark contrast to some of the band’s other, more hardcore, tunes, but that just demonstrated the versatility of this group, who were able to move seamlessly from pop to folk to punk, and back again. In fact, the last song of the set had an almost “Lawn Boy”-esque quality, featuring Turner, joined only by the piano at first, crooning to the audience. Striving to keep the audience involved throughout the show, the band employed multiple singalongs and clapping sections (Turner actually had the crowd doing jumping jacks along with one of their tunes after complimenting them on their participation earlier on in the show). This band is definitely going places. Featuring Frank Turner on acoustic guitar and vocals, Ben Lloyd on electric guitar, Nigel Powell on drums, Matt Nasir on electric mandolin/ keys, and Tarrant Anderson on bass, Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls are not to be missed.

The time between when the opening band left the stage and when Modest Mouse came on was the perfect time to check out the food vendors who were lined up along the back of the concert field. From burgers and sausages, to pizza, to meals from the Cooperstown-based Origins Café food truck, which uses only ingredients grown locally (tonight’s selections included macaroni and cheese, black bean enchiladas, and a spicy green Thai curry), there were plenty of delicious choices. As far as beverages go, Brewery Ommegang’s rich, Belgian-style beer was on tap throughout the night. Judging from the antics of the crowd, it became evident that not everyone was aware that their beers have a higher alcohol content than most; there were definitely some folks out there who were having trouble standing up even before Frank Turner came on to play!

The headliner of the night was Modest Mouse, a Washington State-based indie rock band who got their start in the mid-90s. Having seen them several times in years past when living elsewhere, it was exciting to have such a well-respected band sell out two shows right here in our neck of the woods. There were several die-hard fans out there who seemed to know every lyric to Modest Mouse’s lyrically-complicated songs, as well as people who were there mainly because they knew some of their more popular tunes like “Dashboard,” which they played as the second song in the set.

In similar fashion to Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, Modest Mouse entered the stage as a segue out of the heavy techno-trance beats that were being played between sets over the speakers, which seemed to mellow out the crowd, before switching over to an almost “Rock and Roll High School” sounding melody, getting the crowd revved up all over again just in time for their opening number “Invisible.” Heading straight into “Dashboard,” on which the band was joined by an amazing female fiddle player, Modest Mouse never ceased to amaze the crowd with their versatility. At first glance, one may think of Modest Mouse as sounding kind of poppy, but once you experience them live, it’s a different story. During one song they played, “This Devil’s Workday,” several people in the crowd practically started waltzing! It was the closest Modest Mouse’s music will ever come to the music you hear when you open up one of those jewelry boxes with a ballerina inside, but then they came back to their more echo-y, darker sounding material.

At this point in the set, it was raining pretty heavily and band leader Isaac Brock announced that at some point during the evening, either all his equipment was going to stop working because it was not designed for rain, or he would get electrocuted, which would only be fun for him if he survived the ordeal, and then he proceeded to light up a cigarette. Luckily, no electrical issues ensued, and instead, Brock brought out a banjo and guitarist Jim Fairchild and the fiddler brought out a tuba and trumpet, respectively, for the song “Bukowski,” which sounded a bit like a cross between the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Primus. Later on in the set, the band’s song “Dark Center of the Universe,” evolved into a more head bang-y section and even inspired some crowd-surfing. For their next song “Sugar Boats,” the band chose to use the unique combination of trumpet and electric fiddle, the fiddle sounding almost like a clarinet, giving it an almost klezmer feel.

Putting in a plug for the Hall of Fame Classic baseball game happening in Cooperstown on Saturday, May 24 (leading me to think that they might make an appearance at the game?), Modest Mouse moved on to one of their most popular songs, “Float On,” which definitely got a rouse out of the crowd. Feeling a bit beat up from all the rain, the band closed out their set with three more tunes, all of which were more of their harder sound, and ended quite abruptly with “Sh-t Luck”. After a fairly long break backstage, leaving the audience uncertain as to whether the band was going to be coming back for an encore, they surprised us with another five numbers, which again showed off the band’s versatility. The night ended with an extended version of “The View” to coincide with Brewery Ommegang’s signature fireworks display, which they typically have at the end of each of their shows.

After such a high energy show, it was hard to believe that Modest Mouse was going to be doing it all over again the next night (on Saturday night, the band Brand New opened up for them), but they have such a vast repertoire of music that the crowd was sure to be pleased all over again. And as an added bonus, for those lucky enough to have checked out the Hall of Fame Classic baseball game on Saturday, Modest Mouse made an appearance during the “seventh inning stretch” to lead the crowd in a rousing rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame!” What an treat after having left Friday night’s concert having felt totally satisfied! Be sure to check them out when they come back to our area again in July for The Hudson Project in Saugerties, where they will be joined by none other than The Flaming Lips, Conspirator, Lettuce, Bassnectar, and many others.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5Lb4xjIv1Q]

Setlist: Invisible, Dashboard, Satellite Skin, Black Cadillacs, Be Brave, Dramamine/Life Like Weeds, This Devil’s Workday, Bukowski, Broke, The World At Large, Spitting Venom, Dark Center of the Universe, Sugar Boats, Float On, Tiny Cities Made of Ashes, Sh-t In Your Cut, Sh-t Luck

Encore: Cowboy Dan, Paper Thin Walls, Gravity Rides Everything, Heart Cooks Brain, The View

May 29, 2014