NYS Music 20​14

Category: Central NY

  • Trace’s Closes Out In Style

    Trace’s Bar and Grill in Rome, New York has been one of the single sources of live entertainment for Romans for the past three years. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Trace’s will be closing their doors. Heathre and Phillip Price, owners, have been supportive of local musicians over the years and in true form decided to celebrate by hosting a “Farewell Party” on April 25th and 26th.

    Dark Passenger - Trace's

    With a full lineup planned for both evenings, patrons packed the pub to say their farewells to the establishment as well as show their support for live music in the area. Friday’s line up included local bands Turn the Tide, Armed with Valor, After the Clearing, Mole and the Level Antz, Enemy Down, and Omnipresent.  The Last Tree - Trace's

    While Saturday’s shows included Wet Bread, Dark Passenger, The Last Tree, Item 6, Fight for Rome, and last but not least, No Complyance.

    No Complyance - Trace's first and last band to grace the stage at the venue
    No Complyance – Trace’s first and last band to grace the stage at the venue

    It was bittersweet for No Complyance to be the final band to play the venue after three years, but fitting as they were also the very first to ever play the venue. We thank Trace’s for always supporting the local music scene, and urge our readers to continue to go out and support your local musicians in these venues to keep them flourishing for years to come.

    FIGHT FOR ROME - Trace's Item 6 - Trace's

  • Neutral Milk Hotel Coming to Ommegang Brewery and Higher Ground

    Neutral Milk Hotel, who have been touring extensively over the past couple of months, have announced a show on September 6th at Ommegang Brewery and two shows at Higher Ground in Burlington, VT on September 9th and 10th.

    Neutral Milk Hotel have not been in Upstate New York since their show in Ithaca, NY last year. Their reunion tour has been an absolute success since front man Jeff Mangum brought the group back together last fall. Tickets for Ommegang will be going on sale on Friday May 9th and 10AM and are expected to sell out quickly, while Higher Ground has not been given an on sale date. This will be one of their last appearances on the east coast for the foreseeable future, so if you haven’t seen them yet, don’t miss out on this.

    Neutral Milk Hotel Ommegang

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  • Is Cry to the Blind on the cusp?

    If you haven’t seen Cry to the Blind by the end of this year, you haven’t been trying.

    “Shows are coming in like crazy!” said band manager, Tommy “The Don” Casserino.  Announcements have been reporting out with a fury over the past few weeks.

    Last week it was announced they will be opening for Framing Hanley for one show in Watertown, NY on May 15th at Exhibition Hall. Wednesday, CTTB was named to 95X‘s XFest for Saturday, June 21st in Syracuse, NY.  Adelita’s Way heads the playbill. And, yesterday, the East End Music Festival listed them among nine different acts to play on Friday, June 13th in the band’s hometown of Rochester, NY.

    After the 95X Fest announcement, Casserino said, “Without the 95x Crew there would be no local support for the bands.”

    Casserino also revealed that Rock Rage Radio approached the band for a possible tour.

    “Cry to the Blind is a band that gives you 110% of what they do,” said Casserino. “My hats off to Radio Contraband for pushing ‘Wrecking Ball,’ and opening doors for the band.”

    Last December, the band released a cover of Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” taking the No. 1 pop single and making into a hard rock track of their own.  The accompanying YouTube video went viral, earning them enough attention to gain play time on Sirius Octane.

    Now, the boys will take to the stage with Framing Hanley as one of the concert’s opening acts in Watertown.  Framing Hanley is a legitimate Top 10 talent that has been out of the circuit for a few years.  This tour is in support of their latest album The Sum of Who We Are, which is their first release since severing ties with Silent Majority and signing with Imagen Records.

    The band had filmed a video for a new release “Unbroken” in partnership with Imagen Records back in March.  Casserino said the video is to be released soon.

    Cry to the Blind is not signed with any record labels as of yet, but the pairing up with Imagen appears to be something worth keeping an eye on for the near future.

  • David Wax Museum to play Four Shows This Week in Upstate

    David Wax Museum heads to the Upstate and NYC area this week, bringing with him a fusion of traditional Mexican folk with American roots and indie rock to create a Mexo-Americana sound. Reminiscent of Los Lobos and Calexico, David Waz and Suz Slezak combine  Latin rhythms, infectious melodies, and call-and-response hollering that was hailed by TIME Magazine for “virtuosic musical skill and virtuous harmonies”, building a reputation among concertgoers all over the U.S, Canada, Europe and China.

    With the release of Knock Knock Get Up (September 2012), David Wax Museum has reached a level of cross-cultural integration and musical fluency that allows them to speak heartfelt poetry with a tongue that is wholly their own.

    Catch them at The Haunt in Ithaca on April 30th, Babeville in Buffalo May 1st, Kirkland Art Center in Clinton May 2nd and Towne Crier Cafe in Beacon on May 3rd

  • An Evening of Firsts with The Goo Goo Dolls

    As the Goo Goo Dolls began their 2014 Otis Midnight Sessions Tour, they couldn’t have chosen a better venue than the newly renovated Oncenter Carrier Theater in downtown Syracuse, NY as their first stop on the tour.

    The beautiful venue, with top-notch acoustic sound and lighting, could only showcase the ambience they wished to achieve in their “Story Tellers” format.  As the Oncenter announced their first show to be performed in the theater, it took a mere 5 minutes for the Goo Goo Dolls to sell out the theater; this isn’t surprising though as the Goo Goo Dolls have amassed a huge following in this area.  This could be attributed to the fact that they hail from Buffalo, NY, have an amazing new album, Magnetic, out with several hit songs already such as “Come To Me” and “Rebel Beat,” or because they have a fan base that spans generations as they have been together since their inception in 1986.  Whatever the reason, it set the stage for an amazing first night in the theater.

    The Goo Goo Dolls - 2014 The Otis Midnight Sessions Tour
    The Goo Goo Dolls – 2014 The Otis Midnight Sessions Tour

    As the night began, the stage was setup to resemble a jam session with bar stools, intimate lighting, and a hint of fog, all of which gave off a feeling of being an informal and cozy atmosphere. From the L.A. area, Run River North, opened the evening under a dimly lit stage to a first time audience.  To say they blew away the house would be an understatement. The setting of the low light together with their harmonizing and musicality was awe-inspiring and mesmerizing.  To describe their style and sound, one could say that if you crossed the Civil Wars (highlighting their acoustic prowess) with Mumford and Sons (highlighting their upbeat tempos and harmonizing), you would wind up with the unique sound of Run River North.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Cv3bpj2a4]
    Run River North is made up of six of the most talented young musicians; Alex Hwang on vocals and acoustic guitar, Daniel Chae on electric guitar and violin, Jennifer Rim on violin, Joseph Chun on bass, John Chong on drums, and Sally Kang on vocals and keys.  Their unique sound was phenomenal and their stage presence immediately put the crowd at ease as they joked around and demonstrated their personalities.  They definitely won over this crowd awaiting the Goo Goo Dolls, and left the stage with their new fans in the audience wanting more.  Run River North was an excellent opening act and definitely did their job to warm up the crowd to the intimate feeling the Goo Goo Dolls were shooting for.

    Run River North - 2014 Otis Midnight Sessions Tour
    Run River North – 2014 Otis Midnight Sessions Tour

    Soon thereafter, Johnny Rzeznik took his seat on stage, all alone, and immediately began an acoustic rendition of “Sympathy.”  Once finished, he greeted his fans, welcomed them to the show, and began an intimate conversation about his inspirations for songs, his time in the Goo Goo Dolls, his friendships and relationships along the way, and slowly one by one he was joined on stage by Robby Takac, co-founder of the Goo Goo Dolls on vocals and bass, Korel Tunador, longtime touring keyboardist, guitarist, saxophonist, and backup vocalist, Brad Fernquist, longtime touring guitarist, mandolin player, and back up vocalist, and newcomer to the tour, Craig McIntyre, on drums and percussion.

    Throughout the evening, Johnny and Robby shared their personal history of the Goo Goo Dolls, had conversations with the audience, and drew the audience in as they played such favorites as “Name,” “Slide,” and “Black Balloon.”  One story Johnny shared really struck a chord; he told of how he had come upon a block party one day in NYC in which everyone was having a great time, sharing the day with friends and neighbors.  He spoke of missing that camaraderie that was once normal to him growing up in Buffalo as he still to this day has yet to meet his neighbors in his current neighborhood.  He found inspiration in this experience which lead to “Rebel Beat” being born.  As one watches the video, you share what it must have been like to see that block party through Johnny’s eyes and it instills a wish to become more cohesive as a community.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUi8gQPsMdw]
    This insight to life as seen through the eyes of the Goo Goo Dolls is what makes their songwriting special.  This insight to life and times as they change is what has given the Goo Goo Dolls the longevity within their career as a group. Throughout the evening they made it a point to thank the audience and give credit to them as they are who have made it possible to do what they love all these years.  They spoke of the bands that began with them at the same time and those bands are no longer around.  It’s the mutual respect between the audience and band that has made this group endure the changes in music over the course of their career.  Their music spans not only genres, but also generations of fans.  Since the beginning, their music has reflected whatever is going on in their personal lives at that particular moment in time, just as it has with their audience.  It’s this very personalization in their songwriting that appeals to the fans; it’s this insight into who they are that allows them to relate one on one with them as individuals and celebrate life’s ups and downs.  One example, “Come To Me,” is the perfect model of art imitating life as Johnny writes this as his promise to his new bride.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8VMYLniuDk]
    Longevity in the music business is unique and not often experienced as some bands and performers simply cannot evolve.  Forming in 1986, they set out on a 28 year journey that’s produced 28 top ten singles.  One of the most memorable of those singles was “Iris,” a song written for the City of Angels soundtrack.  In 1998, the single was nominated for a Grammy for “Song of the Year.”  Fast forward to 2011 and we see the same song re-enter the charts in the United Kingdom and hit number 3.  Amazing!  Johnny shared how he literally developed a writer’s block as the song’s deadline approached, but in the 9th hour he pulled the perfect song together to submit.  Great things come from those under pressure and this shows how well adapted the Goo Goo Dolls have been over the course of their career as very few songs have accomplished this feat.

    All in all, this was the perfect show to showcase the brand new Oncenter Carrier Theater, the perfect show to introduce Run River North to their newest fans here in New York, and the perfect show to kickoff the Goo Goo Dolls 2014 Otis Midnight Sessions Tour.

  • 4:20 Concert Unites Local Reggae and more at Wescott

    IMG_6779“Its Easter Sunday, let’s take ’em to Church!” These crowd-amping words from Sophistafunk’s Jack Brown resonated through a well-attended Westcott Theater on Sunday’s 4:20 concert, featuring local (Syracuse and Ithaca) favorites Root Shock, Sophistafunk, and John Brown’s Body. For many, Sunday’s 4:20 concert felt like a reunion of old friends as these bands amassed a sizable fan base of dedicated show-goers for a night of nostalgia, good vibes, and reliably awesome music from these time-honored veterans.

    The night began with the soulful sounds of Root Shock, a newer (circa 2012) group with deep ties in the Syracuse roots music scene. Three of its members (Phil Grajko, Fahim Fain “Fa Fa”, Bill Eppel) have been gracing Syracuse’s stages on and off for nearly a decade with Afro-Cuban/roots/reggae/calypso group Akuma Roots. Root Shock brings a sweet, sometimes funky, sing-along soul sound to the droning chords and rhythm of roots rock reggae. The chorus’ were heartfelt and catchy and definitely highlighted the talents of the voice of Root Shock, Jessica Brown. This humble, dready soul child caught many an ear’s attention with her increasingly strong high range on songs like the classic Bill Withers tune, “Use Me.” The performance also featured visiting artist and former member of Root Shock, Phil Grajko (Morning Sun and the Essentials, Joy Telepathy Project) whose crisp and tasty guitar solos helped to round out the band’s sound and keep listeners listening. In short, Root Shock was an opener that everyone forgot was an opener.

    IMG_6687Next, the crowd was swept up by the larger than life force that is Jack Brown and commanded to “Wil’ Out”- to dance, to celebrate, to get hyped and positive, no matter what excuse they needed. In Jack’s words, “Happy Easter, happy holidays, happy Spring Equinox, happy 4:20.” Jack’s rhymes are always thoughtful yet fun, and his positive themes encourage creativity, community and self-actualization. His animated persona, tall stature, and front of the stage presence demands crowd involvement. In breaks in sets, the audience was rallied around a ban on Hydrofracking, nostalgia for the Grassroots Music Festival and Sterling Stage, and love for the Westcott Nation. Jack knows how to work a crowd, but what is the quintessential frontman without a killer rhythm section? Nothing. Think Robert Plant without John Paul Jones and John Bonham, or Roger Daltry without Keith Moon… needless to say, Adam Gold (pianos and synth) and Emmanuel “E-Man” Washington (drums) held down the funk…hard. Gold has an uncanny ability to provide a full-bodied, deep bass line while simultaneously rocking the crowd with a rhythmic melody or sending them into a sophisticated space-haze with chorus-laden organ sound. E-man’s rhythms are tight, loud, and immaculately locked-in, making him and Gold one inseparable funk machine. For an extra kick, a very talented guest trombonist from NYC was brought onstage and delivered virtuosic solos, ecstatic hype-power, and some legit hip hop dance moves. Sophistafunk tends to give the headliners a run for their money and this 4:20 party was no exception.

    IMG_6931John Brown’s Body kept the night grooving with their dubby, rich, sometimes almost hymnal sound. Jungle green and cool blue stage lights and smoke machines poured ambiance over the now moody, mesmerized crowd as JBB showcased their large repertoire of “Future Roots” music. John Brown’s Body has been touring Ithaca and Syracuse (and worldwide) for almost two decades now, have produced ten studio albums, and have gone through numerous band member changes. This band has a sound that has evolved and has some serious staying power and mass appeal. The formula, according to this humble listener: 1) Thuddy, five-string deep bass lines that aren’t afraid to walk about the neck and dig that groove super-deep. 2) Guitar hooks that play closely off of these bass lines, hit lots of rhythmic counter-melodies throughout the song, and utilize cool effects. 3) Soulful, pure-toned vocals with lots of sustained notes that uplift listeners and suggest some sort of spiritual chanting or hymn. 4) A trifecta of harmonious, ecstatic, and yet perfectly balanced horns (sax, trombone, trumpet). Their interplay with Elliot Martin’s vocals provided the perfect injection of complexity and raw roots energy to the overall sound. John Brown’s Body brought listeners through their many phases, with newer, dubbier sounds like the etheric, “Plantation” off of Kings and Queens, to the “rootsier” classic, “Follow in the Shadow,” from the 2005 album, Pressure Points. Listeners from all eras appeared to stay right with JBB throughout their set. After an encore, the audience was left tired, but filled with warm hearts and good vibrations. Happy 4:20 indeed.

  • Lacuna Coil, Kyng, Eve to Adam, and Cilver Rocked the Westcott Theater in Syracuse

    Approximately 300 people swarmed to see Lacuna Coil headline the Westcott Theater in Syracuse on Tuesday night. It marked the first time in five years since Lacuna Coil was in town, and the sound and overall production was fantastic at the Westcott Theater.

    The doors opened at 6PM and alternative rockers Cilver started right at 7PM. The band rocked a 30 minute set that consisted of their upcoming EP, In My Head. Frontwoman Uliana Preotu is a talented singer who could really wail on the mic. Lead guitarist Gerry Soman also stood out as he could really shred through their material, similar to Zakk Wylde. This band has a bright future and I would expect them to be touring with bigger names in the very near future.

    Eve to Adam began their chaotic set at 7:40PM and really set a high tempo. They opened with “Bender” and stormed into the song “Fortune Teller” before playing the title track to their new release, Locked & Loaded. One thing I think that makes the band stand out is their high energy and use of vocal harmonies. In an attempt to really get the crowd active, they played a cover of Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell” before closing their set with “Straight Jacket Supermodel.” Eve to Adam continues to tour relentlessly and is really making a name for themselves.

    Lacuna Westcott

    Kyng came into their set as the most metal band of the night, and for a three-piece band, they really make it look easy. The band had a few intimate and hilarious moments with the crowd throughout their set. It all started with a few good-natured hecklers screaming out “Slayer!” to bassist Tony Castaneda, who does, in fact, resemble Tom Araya of Slayer. On top of that, guitarist/vocalist Eddie Veliz kept picking on this one bearded gentleman (who was standing right next to me) in an Iced Earth shirt, telling him to lighten up throughout the entire set. The band’s humor was a much-needed element for the night. Two highlights from Kyng’s set was their cover of Van Halen’s “Hot for the Teacher” and their closer “Falling Down.” For anyone who missed Kyng, they will be back in Upstate New York in Rochester on May 8th with Fozzy and Buckcherry and in Poughkeepsie on May 9th with Fozzy and Jamie Jasta.

    Lacuna Coil finally graced the stage at 9:20PM by opening with “Trip The Darkness.” The band still sounds as terrific as they always did, even with Guitarist Cris “Pizza” Migliore and drummer Christiano “Criz” Mozzati no longer in the lineup. Singers Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro pack an awesome one-two punch and have such a great and unique stage presence. Lacuna Coil played classic songs like “Swamped,” “Heaven’s a Lie,” and “Fragments of Faith,” as well as new songs from their latest release, Broken Crown Halo, which they are currently promoting. The main highlight of their set would have to be “My Spirit,” which they dedicated to late and great Peter Steele of Type O Negative before diving into their trademark song “Spellbound.” For the very last song, they closed with (my personal favorite) “Our Truth,” which is a really high tempo, energetic song. Lacuna Coil was well received by their performance, and although they didn’t do an encore, they came and signed merchandise after the show.

    Overall, it was a fantastic night with every band coming through in the clutch.  Lacuna Coil wraps up their U.S. tour in early May before heading out to tour the rest of world. Even though there aren’t any additional Upstate NY stops, I would imagine that after a night like that, it won’t be too long before they make another run this way.

  • Hearing Aide: Perfect Pussy Debut ‘Say Yes to Love’

    FolderPerfect Pussy’s full length debut Say Yes to Love is the core definition of hardcore punk.  An album that is very loud, fast, noisy, and with a much-needed raw attitude that most punk bands are lacking nowadays.

    My initial reaction when I start playing the album was “WTF?” because I didn’t see it coming.  Once the opening track “Driver” started, I knew I was in for a punch in the nose.  My favorite track is easily “Work” because of the eerie opening guitar riff from Ray McAndrew mixed with the quick trippy bass line from Greg Ambler.  Vocalist Meredith Graves spits out punk-like poetry throughout the entire album over muffled noise that adds a very unorthodox flavor to their sound.

    Another fun track is “Advance Upon the Real,” which is very muffled and very fast.  The drums from Garrett Koloski really stand out on this one.   Keyboardist Shaun Sutkus’ talent is on full display with the closing track “VII” which seems to be slightly subliminal.

    Overall, Say Yes to Love is a very fast-paced and trippy punk record that can be played from front to back in less than a half hour.  It’s definitely a fun listen and a breath of fresh air, but, most important, the element that stands out the most is the attitude.  Perfect Pussy has a bright future and Say Yes to Love is a must own for any hardcore punk fan.  The album can be purchased here.

  • Cher Lloyd and David Correy Turn Up The Heat at the Spring Meltdown

    Central New Yorkers have ushered out the cold winter weather for the past three years with the help of Mohawk Valley Community College and Kiss FM 97.9/105.5 as they host their annual Spring Meltdown each April.  This April’s event was even hotter than the previous years with the headlining British sensation, Cher Lloyd, and her special guest, David Correy.

    cher lloyd
    Cher Lloyd

    David Correy is more than just an amazing performer, he’s an inspiration to all of his fans world wide.  Looking back on his life to date, David ‘s course of history appears to be predestined.  Born in Brazil to a family in extreme poverty, his mother made the difficult decision to give David up for adoption to afford him more opportunities in life.  This selfless act gave a couple in Annapolis, MD the opportunity to be a part of David’s life and love him as their own.  Throughout his childhood David was always drawn to music and performing whether it was in school productions or singing and writing music where ever he could.  David’s love for music was recognized and awarded with a full scholarship to the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA.  Off to refine his craft in Boston, David was dealt a horrendous blow in his sophomore year when he became ill and completely lost his voice.  Having to give up school, David returned home to recuperate.

    This, however, didn’t deter David though as he pushed through the roadblock to only bounce back with more determination to succeed. But shortly after that, fate once again had alternative plans for David when he was in a near fatal car accident.  Once again David proved what he was made of and how much of a fighter he was, as he recovered and pushed back once again with even more perseverance.  In 2012 David was a contender on the second season of the US version of the reality show, X-Factor, being a member of LA Reid’s team.  Even thought he was eliminated, the appearance on the show lent a hand to fate once again and brought David and his birth mother back together as she recognized his baby photos on the show.  Chronicling the reunion with all of his Facebook and Twitter fans as it unfolded, we all became part of his heart warming reunion with his mother and family in Brazil.  Since the reunion, David’s talents have extended past the shores of America to incorporate fans world wide.  He has had opportunities to work with greats such as Ne-Yo, Bow Wow, Omarion, and the likes over the last few years. This world wide acclaim has widened to now incorporate sports fans as David joins forces with Aloe Blacc on David’s new song “The World Is Ours”, the Coca- Cola 2014 FIFA World Cup Anthem.

    In March of 2014, David once again was dealt with one of life’s unfairnesses with the passing of his adoptive mother.  As he grieved, he picked himself up and pushed through the pain yet again.  Joining us at MVCC for the 2014 Spring Meltdown only a few short weeks after his loss, he dedicated the show to his late mother and his Central NY family, the family that first embraced him at his first big show in 2012 at MVCC’s first Spring Meltdown, and the crowd welcomed him home with open arms.

    cher lloyd
    Cher Lloyd

    With the amazing talents of David Correy opening, Cher Lloyd could feel the love within the Jorgenson Complex as the crowd chanted and went wild in anticipation of the superstar to emerge. Cher Lloyd, at a young age of 20, hails from the UK and is best known for her appearance in the seventh series of the X Factor in the UK.  Finishing fourth however didn’t deter her as she was signed immediately to Syco Music, Simon Cowell’s label.  Releasing her first single “Swagger Jagger” the single went immediately to number one on the UK charts and five on the charts in Ireland. With a second release of her collaboration with Mike Posner on “With Ur Love”, her success was apparent as the single went top ten again.  In October of 2011 Cher signed with Logan Entertainment and we saw the release of her premier album, Sticks & Stones here in the US shortly thereafter.  The single “Want You Back” immediately went top ten and she was a household name in no time.  In addition to her amazing musical talents, she’s a beauty.  Signed as a model with the prestigious Select Agency, she began to appear on magazine covers as well.

    Cher Lloyd
    Cher Lloyd

    As Cher took the stage at MVCC, it was an amazing site to see how this petit firecracker took control of the stage and wrapped her audience around her little finger.  Her stage presence spewed of passion, strength, and life on her own terms.  As she sang many fan favorites from her first album Sticks & Stones interspersed with songs from the upcoming new album, Sorry I’m Late, (to be released by end of May 2014) it was apparent that her musical talents were unique and genuine to her vision.  As she performed acoustic numbers such as “Goodnight” a ballad writen about her father, and “Sirens” you gathered an insight into this multi-talented artist as she is much more than a pop, rap, hip hop, contemporary R&B.  She is a truly gifted songwriter and an amazing performer.  When categorizing Cher Lloyd to any one genre, one would be pressed to select.  She credits artists such as Nicki Minaj in trailblazing the unique sound she has created as well as legendary country artist Dolly Parton.  With such a diverse inspirational background, it’s only inevitable that Cher would create an unique sound of her own.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvRV7zY75Ss&w=560&h=315]

    Touring since 2011 with the XFactor tour, and then accompanying Hot Chelle Rae in 2012 and Taylor Switft in 2013 on her Red Tour validates her upward climb to success in the US.  For those interested in catching her on tour this year, she will be out on the road with Demi Lovato on her 2014 Neon Lights Tour.

    Cher Lloyd
    Cher Lloyd

    Although Cher is only 20, her amazing talent and drive to the top signifies what a superstar this young lady is and will be in the future.  Many artists rise to the top with a few hits, but it’s her diversity in music and the ability to stay true to her craft that will maintain Cher on the top for many years to come.  It is the uniqueness of what she creates that makes her stand out above others.  It is her honestly in her songwriting and performing.  She’s definitely one that marches to the beat of her own drum, wearing her heart on her sleeve literally, proudly displaying her ink featuring her love of her father.  Cher develops an aura at her show.  By sharing details of her personal life with her audience she draws them in as friends and not just fans in an audience.  If we were to make predictions on future stars to watch for that will stay true to their music, true to their personal beliefs, and true to their creativity,  I would definitely place Cher on that list.  If I were to choose one word to describe Cher, it would be honest.  Cher is honest to herself and her fans, and that is why they love her.

  • Jimkata Comes Home to Play The Haunt in Ithaca with Turkuaz

    Ithaca’s The Haunt was the place to be on Friday April 11th as Jimkata and Turkuaz broke it down for the locals. Ithaca locals Jimkata has just returned from a countrywide tour that included 18 states and over 35 shows, with a few more still to go as they prepare for festival season. The band has been exponentially growing in popularity in the past few years, as they have made appearances at some of the nation’s largest festivals and venues. From the Rockies to the East Coast, Jimkata has been featured at Gathering of the Vibes, Summercamp, Catskill Chill, and most recently, opening Colorado’s SnowBall.

    Since Jimkata’s formation in 2006, the band’s style and overall sound has changed immensely. The band started as a jam/rock group with meaty guitar solos and psychedelic undertones, but since then has morphed into more of an electro/indie rock band. Jimkata’s influences can easily be detected in their music, with hints of MGMT, Talking Heads, and LCD Sound System. The unique electro-rock music that the band makes has somewhat forged a new frontier for this ever-expanding genre and is constantly evolving all the time.

    2

    Opening for Jimkata was the notoriously funky band Turkuaz. For those who have never seen or heard of the group before, your ears will be pleasantly surprised. The Haunt seemed almost too small for the energy and huge sound that Turkuaz produced. The band consists of nine members, including two saxophonists, both tenor and baritone, two guitarists, bass, trumpet/keys, two vocalists, and of course a rock solid drummer to keep all that funk together.

    Starting off the set was an unreleased track titled “Typa-Lika,” exemplifying the power that the group has harnessed. The distorted guitar, groovy bass line, and driving rhythm are comparable only to funk music masters such as Lettuce. Their set continued with all original songs from their three studio albums and even a few more unreleased tracks. Besides giving the crowd outstanding dancing music, Turkuaz also had a soulful side that allowed the audience to feel the music on a whole new level. Lead guitarist and vocalist Dave Brandwein, in combination with the two female vocalist/dancers sang the blues like no other, ending their set with all instrumental jam, “20 Dollar Bill.”

    3

    With the crowd sufficiently sweaty and riled up, Jimkata wasted no time making their way to the stage. In contrast to the big-bad-funk of Turkuaz, Jimkata started off with a more laid back tune, “American Cars,” combining psychedelic bass and synthesizer. Their popular songs “Lighter” and “Nightshade” followed, featuring big choruses and breakdowns, as what seemed like the entire audience bellow the lyrics “You can let it go!” The band maintained the high energy set with more songs from their two most recent studio albums, Die Digital and Feel In Light. Winding down the show, Jimkata pulled out some of its older fan favorites, going back to their roots with a couple tracks off their self-titled debut album. These songs allowed one to see the transformation the group has made from the harder rock and heavy guitar solos that Jimkata started off their career with. As to be expected, the Ithaca natives drew a huge crowd, filling The Haunt nearly to capacity with a party that will not soon be forgotten.

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    Turkuaz Setlist: Typa-Like, Bubba > Coast, Chatte > Lookin Tough, Rules > M’Lady > Tiptoe Thru Crypto, Murder Face > Pickin Up, 20 Dollar Bill

    Jimkata Setlist: American Cars, Lighter, Nightshade > Beat the Curse, Die Digital > Legoland, Electronic Stone, Feel in Light, Feed > Daytime Fiction, Low Low, Chainstore

    Encore: Intro, Release > Mind Crossing