NYS Music 20​14

Category: Central NY

  • 93Q Summer Jam Rocks Papermill Island

    For the sixth year now 93Q has celebrated the beginning of summer with a party.  This year’s party was held June 22, at Papermill Island in Baldwinsville, on the perfect sunny 70 degree evening.  As the gates opened, the stage began to fill in as though a tide was washing the crowd inward.  This evening definitely had the potential to bring the party up a notch or two with a stellar lineup just ready to start the summer bash off right; beginning with Erin Bowman, then followed by the new hit group AJR, My Crazy Girlfriend, and ending with the AMA award-winning Hot Chelle Rae.

    As the shows began, Erin Bowman, a stunning young lady with a powerful voice, won over the crowd immediately with her original tunes such as “King Boy”, “Problem”, and of course her new smash hit, “Hey Summer”.  It was the mash-up medley though that truly showcased her vocal range, style, and influences in music with songs as diverse as “Oops I Did It Again”, “No Diggity”, “If You Want to Be My Lover” and even REM’s “Loosing My Religion”.  This diverse collection was beautifully choreographed and delivered perfectly. Every performer/band has a signature look that makes them unique.  Erin was no exception.  Her look was classic 1960’s retro from her high wasted shorts and donut themed top to her retro camera and felix the cat looking phone cover.  This musician was extremely talented, playing and writing her own songs, and wowing the audience.  She definitely left an impression on the audience who now know her as an up and coming star.

    Next up for the evening was AJR.  Watching these three brothers, Adam, Jack, and Ryan, take the stage I felt a bit reminiscent of how the fans must have behaved with the Beatles all those years ago.  These young fans were pushing and shoving, shouting and crying, just to get a view of them.  As they began to play I could see why.  Their style was uniquely their own.  Raised and influenced by many great artists of the 60’s and 70’s these young men truly shone through in a Beach Boys kind of way.  Their breakout hit “I’m Ready” featuring the voice of cartoon character SpongeBob Squarepants is one example of their creative and fun-loving mannerisms and musical style.

    Next on the bill was the pop/hip hop group My Crazy Girlfriend.  Myah Marie, Cosmo, and twins Justyn and Bennett Armstrong took over the stage and won over the audience with their harmonic, upbeat and individualistic style.  Performing for years individually, their unique style and outstanding stage presence meld together perfectly to bring audiences hit songs such as “Crazy, Stupid Love”.  The one thing that stood out with this group was their love of their audience, as they demonstrated doing everything in their power to reach out and make their day as they were performing.

    The final act of the evening, and Central NY favorite, Hot Chelle Rae took over the stage and owned it the moment they came out. These three young men  never cease to amaze me with their talent.  Taking American Music Awards Best New Artist award in 2011, it is apparent why Ryan and Jamie Follese’ and Nash Overstreet continue to create hit after hit forging new directions with their music each time they put out an album.  Can’t think of a better band to start-up the summer fun with or a better setting to do so.

  • America’s Got Talent Breakout Star Robert Channing Awes & Amazes Central New Yorkers

    What do 45,000 runners, Howard Stern, and Jimmy Fallon all have in common?  They were all blown away by the amazing talent of Robert Channing, spell binding mentalist and artist from New Hartford, NY.  Most recently seen on this season’s America’s Got Talent, Robert Channing wowed the judges and audience collecting four straight “Yeses” to move on into the next round on the NBC summer hit show.

    As Utica prepared for the 2014 Boilermaker Road Race, a worldwide event with runners from all continents, it only seemed fitting to have a worldwide star like Channing take the stage at the beautiful and grand Stanley Theater in Utica the night before to send off positive vibes for all those racing the following day.

    As Channing began his performance, he immediately won the audience over with his charismatic presence and quick wit.  His unique talents, albeit different, demonstrated both Robert’s creative mind and talents splendidly. After being blindfolded by two complete strangers, Robert showed off his inept intuitive ability to identify articles, individuals, and facts, stupefying the audience more and more as the show progressed. This mental capacity to call out things that nobody could possibly know is an amazing gift.

    Robert Channing - Mentalist/Speed Painter
    Robert Channing – Mentalist/Speed Painter

    As Channing wrapped up his show, the last two minutes were the most impressive.  To paint a painting is a talent not many of us can achieve, and if a time limit was added to that task, the result would most likely resemble a round of drawing during a game of Pictionary for most of us.  This was not the case for Channing as he painted and danced in a performance, captivating the audience and leaving them on the edge of their seat to see who the subject of this artwork would become. Literally within two minutes, Robert completed his painting, and in cloud of glittery dust, a still life of the iconic Marilyn Monroe came to life on the stage.

    Channing’s works of art have become highly collectable pieces, being sought after with prices upwards of $100,000.  As the artist performed for Heidi Klum, Mel B., Howie Mandel, and Howard Stern on AGT, the artwork came to life, and Howard, who is never at a loss for words, was stunned by this amazing creation,while the other judges were left in jealous awe of what they had just witnessed.

    Robert Channing - Mentalist/Speed Painter
    Robert Channing – Mentalist/Speed Painter

    I had the opportunity to interview Robert and found him to be the most interesting individual.

    Kathy Stockbridge (KS) – How long have you been sharing your mental abilities with audiences? When did you discover this gift?

    Robert Channing (RC) – Since I was five years old, I have been messing with not only my mind skills, but other people’s thoughts.  It’s 35% Extra Sensory Perception, 35% Showmanship, and the rest is dumb luck.

    KS:  What is your most memorable mental performance?

    RC:  Performing in Monaco for Billionaire Alex and Carrie Vik and their lovely family for a private event at his home on the ocean. My family and I were flown first class and performed two private shows for the Vik’s and their clients. Amazing Place!

    KS:  Have you found this gift to be one that you can use in everyday life to help others?

    RC: The gift that was given to me and helps me put smiles on people’s faces and provides me the ability to help people in need. So far, over the last five years, I have helped raise over $150 million for a charity called “Hunger to Hope” with YUM Brands! as a sponsor alongside President Bill Clinton, Maria Carey, and Christina Aguilera. Yum Brands! It is the largest food organization in the world.

    KS: What are some drawbacks being able to read others thoughts?

    RC:  My reading of minds is just that..a show. A show of what you can do if you just tap into your own mind’s ability. Scientists believe we only use a fraction of our minds in a lifetime.

    KS: How did you begin painting?

    RC:  In 1988-1989 I performed with a gentleman named Denny Dent who did a speed painting show called “Two Fisted Art Attack”, and his performance and energy along with his ability to inspire people motivated me to study him and this performance art form. I’ve had this doormat for a few years and decided after some trials and tribulations in my life to express myself with painting, creating extraordinary pieces of art for clients, celebrities, family, and friends.

    KS: How did this speed painting using glitter come to be? And how did you know it should be part of your performance?

    RC:  It was something that I created with my daughter as an art project, and one that I was inspired to perform on stage by the reactions of my test audiences who first fell in love with my glitter paintings.

    KS:  As a contestant on AGT, how did it feel to completely surprise the unsurprisable Howard Stern?

    RC:  Being on America’s Got Talent, it was an exhilarating experience that will never be forgotten.  To have Howard, Heidi Klum, Mel B., Howie Mandel, and Nick Cannon give me over a 2 1/2 minute standing ovation along with the packed audience of over 5,000 people at Madison Square Gardens in NYC, and to have Howard Stern join me on stage to sign and ask to own my painting, was like a beautiful dream that I could only imagine.  That it came true is amazing to me!

    For those of you who have yet to see Robert live, your chance is right around the corner.  He will be returning to The Stanley Center for the Arts once again, November 15, 2014.  Tickets will go on sale this Friday, July 18 at noon.  Patrons can get them online at www.mvcc.edu/tickets and www.thestanley.org, by phone at (315) 724.4000, or by visiting the Stanley Box Office. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the BELIEVE 271 FUND, which provides awareness, educational programming, and financial assistance to volunteer firefighters, EMTs, and Ladies Auxiliary members in Oneida and Herkimer Counties who suffer from a life threatening illnesses.  Don’t miss your chance to see the phenomenal Robert Channing and his amazing works of art come to life this fall at The Stanley Center for the Arts.

    When asked to provide a quote for the readers, Robert left me with this thought that absolutely encompasses his performance and the man behind the spotlight:

    “Do not go where the path may lead…instead go where there is no path….and leave a trail”  Unknown author

  • 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!

    blues express trainDescribed 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!

  • Annual Tradition, Enter The Haggis Rocks Saranac Thursday, You In?

    One of the most anticipated shows of the Saranac Thursday line up  in Utica, NY is definitely the crowd favorites from Toronto, Canada –  Enter The Haggis.  This indie, roots rock, folk, celtic group blazes new trails for themselves each time they set out to create their music. This Thursday, July 17 at the Saranac Brewery in Utica, fans are hoping they may share a taste of what is to be material from the new album.  Join us at 6pm, whether they share or not, their catalog of music is riveting enough and you definitely won’t be sorry you came.

    With Brian Buchanan (vocals, fiddle, keyboards, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar), Craig Downie (vocals, highland bagpipes, trumpet, harmonica, whistle, acoustic guitar, and bells), Trevor Lewington (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, octave mandolin, and keyboards), Mark Abraham (bass guitar and vocals) and Bruce McCarthy (drums and percussion ) – you know the music will be top notch. How could it not? with the most impressive collection of talent on stage.  Although their rousing sound never fails to get the toes tapping, the hands clapping, and the crowd screaming,  it’s their songwriting that takes them over the top and sets them apart from all the others.

    Enter The Haggis
    Enter The Haggis

    It’s a gift, their creativity.  Each album forges new trails for them and their audience, adoringly referred to as Haggis Heads.  The last album, The Modest Revolution came about based on one day’s news publication.  As they read through this news periodical, they found all the inspiration necessary to come up with a full album of music addressing topics from that day’s current events.

    Enter The Haggis
    Enter The Haggis

    As creative as that was, their new project, The Penny Black Project, is even more so.  Over the years touring, they have heard some of the most interesting stories and tales from Haggis Heads all over the world.  Putting out a request to all their fans to share their unique stories, there was only one catch.  It had to be submitted the old fashioned way, with pen and paper and sent via the postal service.  The anticipation to hear these stories and their interpretation of them is keeping their fans on the edge of their seats.  As mixing has commenced, it’s only a matter of time for the final release date to be announced.

    Enter The Haggis
    Enter The Haggis
    Enter The Haggis
    Enter The Haggis
    Enter The Haggis
    Enter The Haggis

  • Boy Hits Car In CNY Over Fourth of July Weekend

    Article and Photos by Rebecca Clark – Twin Images Photography – Family time is an absolute must while celebrating the Fourth of July. When Boy Hits Car came into town to perform in Verona, NY on July 4th, it was as though they were returning back home for the holiday to visit their family.

    As fireworks went off outside, Boy Hits Car was lighting it up inside playing a killer set as though there were thousands of people in the audience. Boy Hits Car’s love for performing in Upstate NY is truly evident, and the feeling is mutual as the crowd was rocking out to all of their songs, jumping up and down, head banging, and dancing by all who ventured out to the show.

    Touring with their new album, All That Led Us Here, it was very exciting to finally see them perform their new song “The Extremist”, as well as fan favorites.  On the final song of the night, “Benkei”, lead singer Cregg Rondell amped up the performance,  literally, as he climbed up the amplifiers and began crowd surfing.

    boy hits car
    Veer Union

    As the night came to a close, Boy Hits Car turned over the wheel to allow The Veer Union to close out the show,  leaving the crowd satisfied yet wanting more.

  • Lake Street Dive Welcomed Warmly to the Westcott Theater

    Lake Street Dive is a band on the upswing, and their Westcott Theater performance shows it. After more than ten years of playing music together, this little Boston four-piece has made a big splash and are progressively building a solid fan base. After a YouTube performance of the Jackson 5’s, “I Want You Back” that went viral (two million views) and their appearances on the Colbert Report, The Late Show with David Letterman, the Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Town Hall (NYC), they are definitely carving a niche for themselves.

    Bands like theirs generally get a good turnout in hip and trend-savvy metropolitan areas like Brooklyn or Cambridge, but generally not as much in smaller cities like Syracuse. But, thanks to a soulful subculture of Syracuse show-goers, and a breathtaking performance at last year’s Blue Heron Music Festival in Sherman, NY, Lake Street Dive was about 70 tickets away from selling out the Westcott Theater – a 700 person capacity venue. This is quite a feat, and came as a lovely surprise to the band, “You are very nice,” lead singer Rachael Price said to the audience with a very appreciative and genuine tone, “we like you very much.” The show-stopping soul-queen also stated that they would definitely be back again, much to the chagrin of fans.

    The scene was hot, sweaty, sultry and sweet that Thursday, June 26. The Westcott Theater was packed wall-to-wall with fans and newcomers of all ages, eager to be near the now big-stage dive bar band. Rachael Price wasted no time in filling the air with impressive vocal pushes on “You Go Down Smooth” and soulful sing-along lines on the title track of Lake Street Dive’s 2014 album release, Bad Self Portraits. The evening felt a bit like it was taken from a page of Rachael’s diary; as her songs reflected on her bitter-sweet, sometimes tragic, sometimes triumphant love life. She proceeded to dive into the complexities of love, musing on the dichotomy of sad break-ups and the happy resignation of reuniting with the one you truly love in the fun and soulful rock/pop tune “Stop Your Crying”.  She went on to flex her vocal muscles and impress the crowd further as she held insane sustain on the sultry and sexy “Just Ask”. Lake Street Dive demonstrated that it is much more than a front-woman band on songs like the funky soul tune “Rabid Animal”, wherein bassist Bridget Kearney and drummer Mike Calabrese sang immaculate and perfectly balanced harmonies and inspired the crowd to clap along. Lake Street Dive maintained audience attention and interest throughout a full set, and encore finished by a cover the classic rock/soul hit by Hall and Oates, “Rich Girl”. This nostalgic, feel-good hit was a perfect choice. Everyone loves “Rich Girl” and everyone left loving Rachael Price and Lake Street Dive.

  • Country Music Icon Loretta Lynn Sells Out Turning Stone Showroom

    Country music has evolved since it’s inception in the early 1920’s.  A mix of folk music, blues, western music, and so many other styles, it has become America’s music.  Like the melting pot of cultures it originated from over the years, one thing holds true, country music tells a story, and those who have shared their stories over the years are held in high regards by those who know country music. One individual that comes to mind as one of country’s greats is Loretta Lynn.

    Loretta Lynn – Turning Stone Showroom

    Loretta Lynn is known as the First Lady of Country Music, the Coal Miner’s Daughter, and the Queen of Country Music – and rightly so.  Her career has spanned more than 50 years in the business, with 54 albums, 15 compilation albums, 88 singles, of which 16 were number one hits, and three of her songs were recently selected  as those listed as “100 Greatest Country Songs of All Times“, in Rolling Stone Magazine.

    Originally scheduled to appear in 2013 at the Turning Stone, a medical emergency caused Loretta’s tour to have to be rescheduled, and those who originally bought tickets to the 2013 show were happy to see her June 21, 2014.  As the crowd gathered, it was a delight to see the mix of generations who recognize this amazing woman’s talents.  As the show opened with her son, Ernest, and twin daughters Peggy and Patsy, warming up the crowd for Loretta, you could see how Loretta’s love of music and talent continue through her children.  As her daughter helped her to her seat front and center on stage, that country melody sang through loud and clear as this icon performed hit after hit.

    Loretta Lynn – Turning Stone Showroom

    Was truly an honor to be able to cover this show and see firsthand one of country music’s legends.  We all have seen her story on film, heard her story through her songs, but to see her first hand as one of this country’s first women in the country music business was special, because Loretta Lynn is special. Surviving in a music business at the time dominated by men, her perseverance and persistence to get her songs heard are only one aspect of what makes this woman great.  Continuing through life, a life that wasn’t all sunshine and roses, she came out on the other side stronger and a role model to all who know her story.  She is truly an example for all women to follow, and our adoration and respect as a trailblazer is immense.  We sincerely thank Loretta for all she has done for country music, and for gracing our stage here in Central NY at The Turning Stone Showroom.

    Loretta Lynn – Turning Stone Showroom

  • One Last Shot To Play Vans Warped Tour

    Syracuse punk band, One Last Shot will play the Kevin Says stage at this year’s Vans Warped Tour at Darien Lake, NY on July 8.

    One Last Shot  has been touring all over New York and gained fans in the process. They were nominated for a Sammy, the highly coveted music award in the Syracuse music scene, for the area’s Best Metal Band. The band is featured in the February and August  2014 issues of Alternative Press Magazine.

    Last Halloween, the band released their full length album, Bastards of the Plague. The album has songs featuring William Control of Aiden and, and Matt Good of From First To Last.

    Keep up to date with One Last Shot on their  Pure Volume page and buy Bastards of the Plague HERE.

  • LIVE: Rising Again with New Lead Singer, Chris Schinn

    Being the new guy is never easy. Try filling big, famous shoes. LIVE was one of the most popular grunge bands in the 1990s; I wasn’t the only one who was seriously bummed when the band split under some vague and ugly circumstances in 2009. Those of us paying attention were pleased to hear that the band was going to march on, but eyed the new lead, Chris Schinn with a decent amount of skepticism. And really, who wouldn’t? Anytime the new guy gets up on stage with an iconic group of performers, the fans’ critical eye gets super sharp. Most of us stubbornly refuse to accept lead replacements of super awesome bands, even if they are a great fit.

    Schinn told us, when we sat down with him in Verona, that he’s been guilty of the same thing. But then he saw Alice in Chains perform with William DuVall (replacing the original lead, Layne Staley). When he left that show, not only was he sold on the “new” Alice in Chains, but he also thought to himself, “I could see myself doing that.” A short time later, he was. Before I saw him perform with LIVE during the Summerland Tour in 2013, I was seriously doubtful that the band could live up to my expectations without Ed K. I’m a fan of Ed too, so I went in with the same skepticism of a kid meeting their new step mom. But, WOW. I was not disappointed. I’m not the only one; Schinn told us about a fan who approached him after a show to tell him that she drove hours to that show fully prepared to hate him. But in the end, the opposite happened: she fell in love.

    Schinn said that unlike the challenge of selling his acceptance to old LIVE fans, fitting in with the Chads and Pat was easy. Naturally, he was a LIVE fan in the 1990s (his favorites then were Operation Spirit, Pain Lies on the Riverside, and Lakini’s Juice). He also knew the guys personally; his former band, Unified Theory, actually opened up for LIVE during the Distance to Hear tour. Schinn and the rest of LIVE share responsibility for song-writing, many laughs, a good amount of patience — patience that I’ve been lacking actually as a fan. I’ve been eager to hear what they are up to, but they have taken things REALLY slow. It’s already been a couple of years since Schinn joined the group, and their first album together, The Turn, isn’t due out until October 2014. They wanted to make it good; get it right. They are using a lot of the same folks who have worked with LIVE in the past, including Jerry Harrison and Tom Lord-Alge, so we can expect the same quality of material found on Throwing Copper.

    On stage Schinn adds his own style to the show while bringing the audience close enough to LIVE-as-we-knew-them. Admittedly, there is a different energy that flows from the songs of old. LIVE’s established fan base expects to hear the old, popular stuff, and that’s Schinn’s key to their hearts. But when LIVE played their new music the vibration kicked up a notch. Schinn promised us four new songs during the performance at Verona, and noted that whereas a lot of LIVE’s previous work included references to water and rebirth, the newer material is harder, with many references to fire. Schinn’s favorite current LIVE song is “Siren’s Call”, the lead track on their new album, and it is awesome, and I’m not the only one who thought so. Schinn says, and I agree, to “give it a listen.” The Turn will be released in October and LIVE will promote it on tour. Dates will be announced on the bands website and related social media sites.

    Setlist: The Way Around, Iris, Top, All Over You, Siren’s Call, Pain Lies on the Riverside, Operation Spirit, Beauty of Grey, Dolphin’s Cry, Rattlenake, Freaks, Don’t Run, Selling the Drama, Lightning Crashes, I Alone, 6310 Rogerton Encore: Lakini’s Juice, White, Discussion

  • 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.

    rusted root oneontaStarting 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.

    rusted root oneonta theaterBassist 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.

    Soco Mojo 2

    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]