Farewell was bid on October 29, 2014 to Mötley Crüe as they made their farewell appearance here locally at the Oncenter Event Center in Syracuse, NY. One of the smallest venues they played across the nation, Syracuse was super psyched and honored to be on the list of cities they were visiting.
As the smallest venue they were playing, they were unable to construct the amazing roller coaster drum kit assembly that allowed Tommy Lee to fly through the air upside down from one side of the arena to the other while playing, but even without that, their light show and pyrotechnics were one of the most amazing spectacles to see and they entertained the packed crowd.
Having signed a contract that this truly was their final tour, I was super pumped to see that they were coming through the area and making a stop locally. One of only three media passes for the evening I was honored they trusted me to capture their night here. I’m certain over the years they have accumulated photo after photo depicting their life on the road, so when granted access to photograph them from the sound board for the first song, I was up to challenge to capture something usable to share with NYS Music readers. After all, they had no idea how many photos this gal could capture in a three minute time frame. I so had this covered. Bring it guys. This would be my first and only attempt to capture a memorable photo of them, and when I arrived at the soundboard and saw that the only thing in between myself and the band was 100 feet distance, and 800 fans with large hair and rocking hands holding cell phones and beers in the air, my challenge increased. Standing precariously on the back of a folding chair that kept moving, I inched my way over the top of the 6 foot 5 inch hard rocking biker dude and his leather clad girlfriend to capture these moments. Unfortunate for me, Vince Neil wouldn’t stand still and Tommy Lee was incased in a haze of fog, but fortunately for me as accident prone as I am, I didn’t fall and break my camera equipment. Always must save the equipment. Thank goodness Nikki Sixx and Mick Mars were stationary. Thank you guys, as you were my targets for the night. It didn’t matter if I had an $8,000 lens or a $100 lens, the shots were not happening for me. I left deflated and discouraged. I had met my match. The Crüe had triumphed over me and my journey to capture them on tour. Well played guys, well played.
As I left the arena, I was disappointed. I felt as though I had let down my readers and let down the venue. Thinking to myself, why wouldn’t they want these moments captured…why wouldn’t they want Syracuse to remember them in the best possible light? Those in the pit could take blurry cell phone images and videos to plaster all over social media, depicting them randomly and in only as good a light as pixelly possible, however those trained in capturing moments and publishing in the best possible way were shut out. I’m sure it’s most likely because,… yeah sorry can’t figure it out. They were not camera shy with reality shows, viral videos, and magazine after magazines covering them over the years. So I pose this question to them, why not let your public relive your final moments time and time again in the best possible light by allowing me to be in the pit getting some mind blowing photos you could flashback to after the tour was over? Whatever the reason was, I could not succeed on this particular challenge. So as a disclaimer, although the shots are usable, I really could have done so much better. Crüe, if you are reading this, give me another chance to put me back in the game. I can do it coach. Put me in the pit, and see what you get!
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The highlights of my evening came from the opening acts. Alice Cooper and The Raskins made my night. You guys truly rock. Shooting the first few songs from the pit, they played to the cameras, and gave us a show to share with the readers. Find below a few moments of the evening capturing their amazing sets, costuming, and rocking moments. Loved every last second in the pit. Crüe I truly can do better. Just try me! Give me a “Crüe” over!
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Imagine you have a singers voice, a deep love for making music, and a desire to share wisdom through lyrics. You know that a voice by itself often needs some accompaniment to truly be heard. So you learn guitar. You then start writing complete songs and playing them for people wherever you can. Fast forward, and in a few years, you are requesting a spot on the highly celebrated and well-attended local festival – Sterling Stage – and you get the spot. As things progress you realize that your dream is not complete without a means for more people to hear your music. So you pull together some talented friends, and voila! In three months, you put out a LP, via the premier Syracuse recording studio- SubCat Studios.
But in order for people to really get excited about the album, you know you will have to give people a live experience first. So you book your first big show (that you happen to be headlining) at a well-known, long-established venue in Syracuse, the Lost Horizon. But that isn’t enough. You know that for others, your vision and message might not convince them to buy a ticket to your show. They want to be entertained all night with different types of music. So you pull together even more friends, including a stage-grabbing young upstart (Riley Mahan), a band of ambitious young composer/performers (Early Bird), and a funky veteran band (Root SHOCK) that you know will make them dance the hours away. And, it all goes down without a hitch.
This is the story of the fiercely driven, big-dreaming Michelle Renee, whose Reflections album debut party November 7 at the Lost Horizon culminated the realization of a vision and brought out over 150 people from the community to enjoy it. And enjoy it they most certainly did.
The lineup for Michelle’s party began with Early Bird, a self-described progressive/folk/indie-pop band that actually held up to the appellation of “progressive.” Their vocal harmonies were adventurous, carefully composed, and stylistically diverse. Although there were moments where intonation wasn’t perfect, Sheralyn Wellman, Katherine O’Leary and Aaron Walters (who also played lead guitar) gained “Hella” respect points for their musical bravery, intellectual creativity and diligence in writing and performing this level of vocal music. Guitarist Aaron Walters mirrored this well-trained yet genre-defying theme with his tasteful and seldom-simple chord progressions. This was best demonstrated on the hauntingly beautiful, finger-picked arpeggiation in the tune “Lullaby,” from the Early Bird EP. In reflecting on this young band, a much-loved, incredibly skilled “progressive” indie band was immediately brought to mind as similar in structure and writing style. The Dirty Projectors, an indie cult favorite, also base their songs on shared vocal harmonies between a soprano, alto, and tenor voice, the last of which (in both bands) happens to be the guitarist. Early Bird also followed suit with the Dirty Projectors in regards to their trans-genre songs, highly composed harmonies, and usage of intentional vocal dissonance. Bravo!
Early Bird’s performance provided a seamless transition to Michelle Renee’s act, as every member of Early Bird (besides singer Katherine O’Leary) assisted in backing up Michelle for the full band experience of her debut album, Reflections. Michelle’s music was written in a folk/soul/singer-songwriter style, but as she worked with a full band to release her album, the sound evolved to incorporate undeniable rock/pop elements. This ensured that Michelle’s unique, soulful, rich, almost choral vocal parts were held up by a solid rhythm section, vocal harmonies and a rock ‘n’ soul energy that got folks dancing. Michelle’s songs were catchy, solidly performed, and included moments of sorrowful sweetness that shut the crowd up to the degree that you could hear a pin drop.
Michelle came prepared with some secret weapons too, including “shredding” violin solos by guest musician Brandon Gosson, vocal harmonies by the angelic voice of Sheralyn Wellman, and cover collaborations with a petite young lady that made you ask, “did that just come out of her?”, Riley Mahan. Michelle teamed up with Sheralyn for a bluesy rendition of “Give Me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman and a high energy cover of “Long Train Running” by the Doobie Brothers. She then passed the mic to Riley as she took the lead on covers of “Mercy” (Duffy), “Dock of the Bay” (Otis Redding) and “I Want You Back” (Jackson 5). Riley’s voice never fails to stun listeners, as her grasp of R&B/soul improvisation and runs (think young Aretha meets Winehouse), and her raw energy evoke the image of a singer far beyond the tender age of 19. At the apex of Michelle’s act, she re-took the lead with Sheralyn, and brought down the house with the classic CCR (and later Tina Turner) tune, “Proud Mary.” Michelle let out her sassy side for this tune by announcing to the crowd, “First we’re going to do it nice. Then, we’re going to do it nice and rough.” Michelle started with an innovative, almost eerie, ambient introduction. She then came in full-force with her sexy, soul-woman alto sound backed up by some rockin’ instrumentals. Tina would have done a double-take for sure.
The third act was the Syracuse-born, party-proven, soul/roots-rock Reggae band, Root SHOCK. Root SHOCK was the perfect conclusion for a night of of female-led groups. Jessica Brown “came correct,” as she always does, with a mature, soul-shaking vocal strength, and a band that never fails to hit that funky groove right away. Although many folks that came to support Early Bird and Michelle Renee chose to leave after Michelle finished, everyone that has heard Root SHOCK knew better. Those that stayed were in store for a few hours of danceable, sing-a-long, soulful good music. And Root SHOCK delivered. Root SHOCK also knew that an audience relishes fun covers, so they made sure to include some greats, such as a reggae/ska version of Mike Snow’s “Animal,” the funky classic “Use Me” by Bill Withers, and for us local Reggae nerds, “Rough Cuddle” by Syracuse/NYC’s own Morning Sun and the Essentials.
Besides playing some lovely music, Michelle Renee’s album debut party demonstrated the grace, drive, maturity and confidence characteristic of a veteran performer and musician. Besides orchestrating and organizing the whole thing herself, Michelle comfortably and humbly acknowledged the crowd and members of her band throughout the show, thanking them for their undying support and love. It was a heartwarming experience to witness her project and vision truly coming to fruition in all regards. Where there is a vision, there’s a way. Congrats Michelle!
Jazz Fest founder and producer, Frank Malfitano, has announced the Syracuse Jazz Fest has added a fifth concert to its series. Mark Doyle’s Guitar Noir Project has been added to the sixth Annual Legends of Jazz Series at O.C.C. on Saturday, November 22 at 7:30 pm in the college’s new Recital Hall.
After a sold-out performance in May at The Auburn Public Theater, then sharing the Syracuse Jazz Fest 32 stage with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue in July, this will be the final appearance of Guitar Noir until April 2015. Unlike the previous shows, the string quintet will be featured for two full sets as the 10-piece ensemble presents the full In Dreams album in set one, then reprise some of the funkier R&B numbers they brought down the Jazz Fest house with in set two. As always, Doyle never rests on his laurels and he has several surprises up his musical sleeve for the audience at O.C.C.
Doyle says, “We wanted to do an intimate show in Syracuse, I’m grateful to Frank for suggesting O.C.C.’s new recital hall – I really didn’t want to wait until next April to perform again with this project. And as the nights get longer and we head toward winter, the Noir concept really starts to take on an added dimension.” Malfitano went on to say that the project was simply too stellar to lay dormant over the winter months. “Mark, as everyone knows, is a Legend, and a seven-time SAMMY winner and SAMMYS hall-of-famer who is equally adept at Blues, Rock, Pop and Jazz, but this dectet chamber/jazz/rock ensemble is a very special and unique project that really deserves to be seen in its entirety. Because of time limitations at Jazz Fest we were only able to scratch the surface of this amazing presentation this past summer, so presenting it in its entirety in late November was simply too irresistible an opportunity to pass up.”
The November 22 concert at O.C.C. will feature guitarist Mark Doyle’s critically acclaimed Guitar Noir Project, which features a core quintet composed of Doyle and Terry Quill on guitars, Bill DiCosimo on keyboards, Edgar Pagan on bass, and Joshua Dekaney on drums, along with a five-piece Guitar Noir String Ensemble comprised of Ally Brown, Shelby Dems, and Leila Dean on violins, Claire Marie Wilcox on viola and Kate LaVerne on cello.
Doyle’s incredibly varied career began as a child prodigy jazz pianist before seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. His first band ‘Jukin’ Bone’ was signed to RCA when he was in his late teens and produced two albums that were labeled by Creem magazine as “seminal classics of early ’70s hard rock.” He served as lead guitarist/arranger/right-hand man for David Werner, Andy Pratt and Cindy Bullens performing band-leader duties on many tours with them besides numerous sessions with the likes of Hall and Oates, Judy Collins, Leo Sayer and many others. The ’80s found him doing several world tours and television appearances as lead guitarist for Meatloaf and adding a shiny disc to his studio wall by arranging and singing background vocals on “Straight From The Heart’ with Bryan Adams. A move to Boston brought Mark another direction as String Arranger for most of Maurice Starr’s acts including New Kids On The Block, Tiffany and The Stylistics also contributing his production skills and immeasurable musical prowess to each. After a stint in Japan playing keys and acoustic guitar for the Epic/SONY and Pioneer labels, Mark returned to Syracuse and concentrated on his internationally critically acclaimed solo career while producing and performing regionally. His Guitar Noir and Out Of The Past CDs, along with his double CD/DVD release Solstice At The Cathedral bridge his multifaceted influences and talents, leading to more current work with his blues/rock band Mark Doyle and The Maniacs which is his ongoing guitar project. Doyle is also performing select Opera House concerts as guitarist/pianist and band leader with Mary Fahl (former lead singer of October Project) who recently released, Live at The Mauch Chunk Opera House, reviewed on these pages and previously issued ‘From The Dark Side Of The Moon’ a reinterpretation of Pink Floyd’s classic album in 2011. A long-awaited follow-up to Guitar Noir in In Dreams: Guitar Noir II, plus three studio Maniacs issues, one live CD, a live DVD and a behind-the-scenes DVD have kept Doyle at the top of his game, but if you know the man at all, he doesn’t really know any other way.
Tickets for this first-ever full Syracuse performance by Guitar Noir are priced at $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the show, and are on sale now (cash only!) at Sound Garden in Armory Square, located at 312 West Jefferson Street, Syracuse. Only 150 tickets will be sold for this event, so get your tickets early and don’t get left out as many did at The Auburn Public Theater show.
As a journalist you do your best to maintain a level of objectivity when dealing with anyone you cover for a story. You want to bring a story that is not only factual, but without a spin in one direction so that the reader can come to their own conclusions. However sometimes you just can’t help yourself when you meet them in person. This is what happened with me after speaking with Eric Paslay, and seeing him perform at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill in Syracuse, September 20, 2014. I was totally impressed by this young man.
This would be the second time covering the musician for an event (Taste of Country Music Festival) and I was looking forward to both the performance and our scheduled phone interview. Many times these interviews happen to be right before a show, or in between sound checks. With such a busy schedule, when I received the call around 10am, it was a nice surprise.
Eric Paslay – Toby Keith’s Syracuse
Kathy Stockbridge: Hi, is this Eric? How are you? Thank you so much for agreeing to do this interview with NYS Music.com.
Eric Paslay: Good Morning.
KS: Well Good Morning to you as well! You’re up early!! I didn’t expect you to be up so early.
EP: Oh yeah, we get up early. I would rather be awake for life.
KS: Welcome to NYS Music and again thank you for agreeing to do this interview for our readers. You’ve been on quite a whirlwind of a tour this year…talk to me a little about the highlights of the tour and some of your favorite moments.
EP: I think this has been the busiest touring year of my life, and it’s been cool. We go from town to town and see the same hearts and souls in each town but with a little bit of different backdrop which is kinda cool. I like getting off the bus and trying to wander around town if there is one. A lot the fairs and festivals that we play though there is not a lot around it other than the fair. Still, I try to walk around there if I can. I think the coolest thing though is this year is the first year I’ve had a hit as an artist, which I’ve been working towards my whole career, and I’m glad people are singing along to songs that I have written and now to songs that I’ve recorded myself.
KS: That’s awesome…I often wondered if you have the opportunity to get off the bus and get out there to meet the people and take advantage of places you are visiting. It’s nice to know you are able to take advantage of that and getting to know the areas you are touring as well. I actually covered your show at The Taste of Country Festival which was a scream…it was my first country festival I’ve been too…was totally off the wall, with more than 40,000 people.
EP: Yeah..that was a cool show!
KS: ..and was a lot of fun. Was that the first time you had been up this way to Central NY?
EP: No I’ve been up there before…That was my first time at The Taste of Country, but I have been touring around the country for about four years now, but I’m getting to play the big shows now.
KS: Well you did a great job..I really enjoyed your set.
EP: Thanks.
KS: And I’m looking forward to seeing you this Saturday at Toby Keith’s, and I do believe I’ll get to see you again in November when you visit my local area at the Utica Aud with Dierks Bentley and his Riser Tour.
EP: That will be a good tour!
KS: You have a huge country music fan base here in this area….do you see similarities with people in the different communities you come to, or differences as you travel around?
EP: You know, what I’ve learned is around the US people are taught to listen to you differently. Some people are there for the party, and they still love you being there…it doesn’t matter if your George Straight on the stage.. they’re not really watching you or listening to much..they are, but they aren’t. Then there’s other parts of the country where they’re just as quiet as can be with their arms crossed staring at you. You not quite sure what they are thinking, but they are soaking it up and loving it. I think that’s the coolest thing..sometimes a lot of new artists on the road think “wow, that crowd hated us”, then they go to the meet and greet line and see what they really thought. As the fans tell you that was the best show ever, they don’t even know how to react. It’s also really cool to go out there and start understanding your listeners. Not everyone listens the same way…that’s what makes us as unique which is a pretty cool thing. And it’s not a bummer when people go all nuts also!
KS: Do you feed off the audience when that happens?
EP: Oh absolutely, I don’t think a football player isn’t going to run as fast as he can and hit as hard as he can with an empty stadium.
KS: Absolutely!
EP: It’s nice when the crowd is cheering for you.
KS: I personally love your writing style. You mentioned once in another interview that you try to leave some hope in all songs even the sad ones. Is writing cathartic to you? Do you write to tell a message, or get feelings out, or what is your writing process?
EP: You know, a lot of times I try to have messages like you will get through this, and it’s okay to feel this way, and also let’s just rock it tonight. I tend not to write selfishly. Music is a very influential thing, and I hope I get to stick around and influence people for good for a while.
KS: I predict you will. You have written a lot of songs that have been recorded by others. Talk to me a little about your inspirations, and do they play a part in your writing style and your performance?
EP: I tended to just listen to music that I dug, and if it sounded good,I turned it up. Somehow God blessed me with the ability to write songs. To be able to walk in a room with nothing and not even an idea, as I write so much, you walk in and start playing a melody and you know within a few hours a songs written. The cool thing about a song is you never know where it’s going to end up. I’ve learned through a lot of my other songs being recorded, that some times it’s not up to us how a song gets heard, and especially how a song gets famous. It can be frustrating if you try to make sense of it all. Other than you swing the bat and sometimes people see the home run go over the fence, and sometimes you’re in the stadium alone. And that’s alright. You just keep swinging the bat, and maybe people will be around when you hit the home run.
KS: Well you are originally from Texas, the Austin area, which is hugely known as a musical mecca. Have you had an opportunity to perform in and around Austin?
EP: Yeah, its wild. I wrote a song for the Eli Young Band called “Even If It Breaks Your Heart”, and the second verse is “downtown is where I used wander, old enough to get there, but too young to get inside”. That was kinda me and Austin, Texas. I was 20 years old walking up and down 6th Street trying to get gigs for me and my band. But, I couldn’t even get in to see the club owner because I wasn’t old enough to get in. But we did play some shows around there. I moved up to Nashville when I was 20 years old though, so I wasn’t a big part of the scene at all. I was still trying to figure out who I was musically at that time as well.
KS: Now you had the opportunity to play at the Opry..talk to me a little about that, what was that like?
EP: It’s amazing! I kinda lucked out the very first time I got to play the Opry was actually when it was at the Ryman Auditorium. There’s actually two or three months where they have the Grand Ole Opry back at the Ryman Auditorium every year-round the holidays. I got to play then, and maybe 5 or 6 times now since then. I’m actually playing again Tuesday night. They are having a St. Jude show for raising money and awareness. A my distant cousin, Brad Paisley, is going to be there. I’ll actually get to talk to him on Tuesday.
KS: That is so awesome!
EP: I remember I was standing next to Ricky Skaggs the first time I played the Opry, and I was about to walk on and he said, “Are you nervous?” I was like “Yeah man! I’m about to walk onto the Opry stage,and you’re Ricky Skaggs”. It was a cool thing. Darryl Worley was also playing that night, and I told him “Ricky kept asking if I was nervous, yeah I’m nervous”. The cool thing is, I still get nervous…but in a good way, kinda. When you’re out on the stage a lot, that kinda wears away and that’s a good thing. So you’re having fun and not too shaky in front of people. I think when you play so many stages and then you come back to the Opry, you think about everyone I’ve ever looked up to has played here including rock artists and pop artists. On the Ryman stage, especially where the Grand Ole Opry started. Darryl said, “Man, if you’re not nervous on the Opry stage, your heart’s not in the right place.” So I try to make sure I’m a little nervous when I walk out on the Opry stage.
KS: I’m going to switch gears here for a second. I learned a long time ago as I was doing some research for my first article on you that you are a graduate from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). I actually grew up until 5th grade in Murfreesboro, TN where MTSU is. One day I’ll get back down there. I remember it being a very community oriented school.
EP: Its built up a lot.
KS: Has it really? I’m sure it has!! Talk to me a little about your choice of schooling and MTSU and what brought you to choose MTSU, being from Texas.
EP: I wanted to be up near Nashville and they had a Recording Music Program and Record Industry Program. I ended up doing a Music Business degree just so I could know what the business is about. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to work on the creative side of it. I was hoping that would work out, and I’m glad it has. So I chose MTSU because they had the Business Music Degree…
KS: Do you think getting your degree in music has helped to pave your path to where you are today, giving you more of an understanding of the ins and outs of the music business?
EP: When you know the basis of a business, and show up and talk to a professional you’ll actually learn something. As opposed to just going “You’re a music publisher? How many books do you all sell?” No..they don’t sell songs, they license songs and they don’t deal with books at all. Which happens a lot. You have an intern come in or someone wanting an internship to get to hang around it,and they are asking how many songs you sell. That’s the first thing you don’t say to a publisher. They don’t sell songs…they always own them. And it’s just learning little inside things like that about the business on the label side or the management side or any side of it. When someone’s wanting to go into (the business)when you show up you know the very simple parts of their business. That way you can talk about deeper things,and they might open up to teach you things that not everybody knows to help you in your career and just the understanding of how crazy the business can be.
KS: I give you a lot of credit learning the business from the bottom up, worked hard, and as I talk to you I know you will have a long career. Any future goals or projects we can look forward to? And future collaborations?
EP: I’ve had some pretty cool collaborations this past year from Dionne Warwick, Kenny Rogers, Amy Grant, and Sheryl Crow. I don’t know where I’ll go from there, but I’m always willing to collaborate and write and even sing with someone. We’re not done with this album, but we are looking towards the making of the next sophomore album. I am just kinda going through and rediscovering songs I wrote a long time ago. So, I’m doing that, and writing a lot still. Just looking forward to making the next album, and having at least a couple more singles come off this album.
KS: We’re looking forward to that too! I do something I call a social speed round to let my readers know a little bit about the performers outside of the regular questions. Are you willing to play along? It’s painless..I promise!!
EP: Sure.
KS: Okay..you’re on the road..you see this and make your tour bus pull off every time.
EP: Antique store. Well, not every time…there’s a lot of them.
KS: Fill in the blank…On the tour, my band mates think I’m a _________.
EP: Um…I don’t know what they think of me….haha…Good Guy!! They think I’m a good guy!
KS: Sport of choice?
EP: Baseball
KS: Team?
EP: Texas Rangers.
KS: What’s on your iPod right now?
EP: Actually I have the new U2 album. I’ve just been kinda playing that seeing it’s about.
KS: You’re on your time off, you can’t wait to do this.
EP: Projects. I like handy man projects.
KS: You just got home…you can’t wait to see or do this.
EP: See my girlfriend.
KS: Thank you so much Eric, I can’t wait to see you this Saturday and again in November when you come here to the Utica area.
EP: Thank you for doing what you do.
As I hung up the phone from the interview I couldn’t believe what a down to earth, intelligent, normal guy he was. This young man was wise beyond his years. It’s one thing to have talent, a dream, and ambition. But Eric had something else that is critical in the success of any and every career. He had the understanding that you must know your business and market to succeed. By going to school to learn this business, by being willing to listen, and by being willing to work hard, he’s made a name in the business in a positive way that will give him opportunities beyond many others.
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After speaking to Eric, and learning so much more about him, I was super pumped to see him perform live. Arriving early to the show, I was given a meet and greet pass to meet Eric in person, and now the anticipation began to boil over. That was such a treat as I was not expecting that.
First to the stage was local band, Hoot’n Anges, who rocked the crowd and warmed them up with a list of original music and covers of some of todays biggest hits. The three-piece band certainly had the sound of a full band with vocals being covered by husband and wife team of Angela and Lucas Marino and fiddle player Gregory Mach.
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They were really good, and I was enjoying shooting photos of the opening act. A little too much though. I unfortunately was so wrapped up in taking photos, that by the time I realized it, I had missed the meet and greet. Seriously!! Who does that? I must be the only person in the world to get so caught up in taking photos, that I miss a meet and greet with an a one of today’s country music stars! Sorry Eric, wasn’t intentional. For my readers that don’t know me, yes, I am a blonde and I’m easily distracted. Hopefully I’ll have another opportunity one day, and I promise to not miss that one.
Eric took the stage immediately after the opening act completed, and what a performance he gave the packed house. Singing songs he’s written over the years, and covering covers as though they were his own, he owned the crowd the minute he took the stage. His current hit and ballad “She Don’t Love You”, co written with Jennifer Wayne, granddaughter to John Wayne, has to be one of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard in a long time. Originally meant for George Straight, I am glad he kept it as his own as I feel that it was meant for him to sing. He delivers it with such emotion that you don’t hear the song, you feel the song. The crowd concurred. As he sang his song’s “Song About A Girl”, “Barefoot Blue Jean Night”, “Angel Eyes”, and “Even If It Breaks Your Heart”, the crowd joined in and sang along word for word. I absolutely loved his covers too. His choices of “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers, and “Free Fallin” by Tom Petty were spot on and showcased his musical skills. If there’s one thing I can categorize about Eric’s singing, he sings with his soul. He’s not just on stage delivering words, he’s delivering an emotion alongside the words. This ultimately translates to a connection with the audience that not every artist can achieve. There’s nothing fake about this young man. He truly loves what he does, and he truly loves sharing it with us, his fans.
As I left the show and reflected back on my conversation with him and watching him perform for the audience, I felt that he’s a so much more than just a performer. He’s got the know how to work within this industry his entire life, he has the talent to achieve whatever he sets his mind to, and he’s got the heart to appreciate those nerves each time he goes out on the Opry stage. My favorite thing about Eric though, besides the fact that he graduated from MTSU in Murfreesboro, TN where I grew up, or the analogies to sports throughout his interview, was that he “wanted to be awake for life”!!!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QJW4JB5IeI] Setlist: Like A Song> Here Comes Love > Never Really Wanted > Barefoot Blue Jean Night> All or Nothing> She Don’t Love You> Angel Eyes> Fish Don’t Bite> Ain’t No Sunshine> Good With Wine> Free Fallin> Even If It Breaks Your Heart> Less Than Whole> Keep On Fallin’> Friday Night
Syracuse local folk/rock/soul singer-songwriter Michelle Renee is excited to announce the live, full-band debut of her forthcoming album, Reflections, on Friday, November 7 at The Lost Horizon. This event will be the only opportunity to experience Reflections with all of the musicians who appear on the album, serving as a special sneak-peak in Michelle Renee’s farewell performance before moving to the West Coast. The event will also feature a host of local folk, rock, soul, and reggae acts, all led by female vocalists. Heartstrings beware: you may be tugged at.
Early Bird will kick things off at 8PM with their magical two-and-three-part harmonies, followed by a one-time only, full-band debut of Reflections. Joining Michelle for her performance will be Aaron Walters on guitar and piano, Sam Roux on bass, Gavin George on drums, Brendan Gosson on violin, and Riley Mahan on back-up vocals. Riley will also be taking center stage to show off her incredible pipes before Root SHOCK’s soulful vocals, good vibes, and Reggae beats have us all dancing the night away.
Best known for her tremendously unique voice, Michelle Renee’s expressive lyrics are intensified by her distinct vibrato, colored by a low, rich timbre and transcendent soprano overtones. With the production support of Aaron Walters; dynamic piano, bass, electric guitar, violin and drum arrangements now augment Michelle’s originally acoustic renditions, purposefully echoing a mixture of genres to tie into the overarching theme of the album, ‘We Reverberate.’
Michelle Renee
According to Michelle, “I am most interested in music that juxtaposes a danceable beat with thought-provoking lyrics to draw attention to larger societal questions of morality and personal power. Behind every song is a story. Rather than adhere to a specific genre, musical accompaniments were composed to enhance each story and bring listeners into that world.”
In addition to Michelle’s refreshingly authentic vocals, listeners will be greeted with abstract drum grooves, heart-wrenching piano ballads, and driving rhythms; threaded together to create a mosaic of sound unified in its call for a higher consciousness.
Born and raised in Baldwinsville/Syracuse, Michelle’s love for music has brought her to venues including Sterling Stage Music Festival, and to various bars and restaurants around CNY, where she often performs solo on acoustic guitar.
Early Bird
Early Bird is a progressive/folk/indiepop trio that finds inspiration from a wide variety of musical styles such as jazz, rock, funk, American traditional, Irish traditional and classical music. The band features robust, emotionally powerful lyrics written by lead vocalist Katherine O’Leary and vocalist/pianist Sheralyn Wellman, along with a strong harmonic and rhythmic backbone from guitarist/vocalist/percussionist Aaron Walters. The incorporation of intricate musical elements within an accessible sound is ever-present in Early Bird’s music.
Early Bird’s magic lies within the strength of the carefully constructed two and three-part harmonies each member creates, while still maintaining their own unique vocal presence. Its member’s commitment to sharing their sound has brought Early Bird to Ithaca, Syracuse and Binghamton, among other locations throughout New York.
Root SHOCK
Central New York’s finest roots rock-reggae/soul party starters, Root SHOCK, formed in winter of 2012 with veteran musicians whose love of reggae music flows deep. This group seamlessly blends roots Reggae, dancehall, heavy drum and bass, and soulful vocals into positive dance music that makes you want to move. Root SHOCK’s groovy sound has become a staple of the Syracuse downtown bar and coffee-house scene (Al’s Wine and Whiskey Lounge, Funk ‘n Waffles) and cultural events throughout the city (Westcott Theater, Westcott Cultural Fair). Lister be advised: powerhouse frontwoman Jessica Brown is a wolf (or fox?) in sheep’s clothing her sweet and humble stage presence is contrasted sharply by her raw, riveting, fiery sound that is sure to get you out of your seat.
With so many talented female vocalists under one roof, this will surely be a night to remember!
Michelle Renee’s Reflections Debut Party,
with Special Guests Riley Mahan, Early Bird, and Root Shock
Friday, November 7th, 2014
Doors: 7:00PM / Show 8:00PM
The Lost Horizon
Syracuse, NY
Tickets: $10
This event is all ages.
Toby Keith’s I love this Bar and Grill, Syracuse hosted one hell of a party Saturday, October 25. Long before music was to begin, the place was jam-packed with country fans of all ages waiting for Nashville’s very own married duo country sensation, Thompson Square to take the stage.
Local favorites TJ Sacco and the Urban Cowboys took the stage to get the party started. Performing songs from artists such as Brantley Gilbert, Eric Church and Gary Allan, they captivated the fans and rocked their set. Just back from a visit to Nashville, Briana Jessie joined Sacco and the guys on stage and owned it. Belting out songs by Miranda Lambert, Pistol Annies, and Carrie Underwood, their high energy show had the crowd roaring and begging for more.
The room went dark and you could feel the anticipation in the air. It was time for Thompson Square to take the stage. With the crowd chanting their name and the cheers for the music to continue, the band members of Thompson Square took their spots and played their instruments to the light show and the crowds’ cheers. The energy and anticipation grew until Shawna and Keifer joined their band on the stage. Floor shaking and music thumping, the crowd greeted Thompson Square with a warm Syracuse welcome!
This award-winning duo shares their life with the world and gives the fans a peek into their personal lives with the music they write and perform. While other artists try to keep as much private as possible, this humble duo invites us to experience their life right along side them. Performing their hit songs “I Got You,” “Glass” and “I Can’t Outrun You” they displayed their passion for music and each other through the undeniable chemistry we all witnessed.
Prior to the show, I had the opportunity to meet this amazing duo on their tour bus and do an interview for NYS Music. Nervous and excited all at the same time, I couldn’t believe I was going to meet one of my favorite country performers. Oh and did I mention this was my very 1st interview ever! Talk about nerves, but of course, Shawna and Keifer were so welcoming and down to earth.
Kim Richer – NYS Music: Thank you so much for agreeing to speak with NYS Music. We appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me. This is my very first interview and I’m a huge fan so please excuse my jitters.
Shawna – Thompson Square: How exciting for you. So nice to meet you, but you shouldn’t have told Keifer this was your first interview, he’ll make ya pay. Hahahaha
Keifer – Thompson Square: Yup, you probably shouldn’t have shared that with me.
KR: Do you find that as a married couple performing as a duo you have hit different obstacles than you would have as a solo artist?
Keifer: I don’t think we’ve faced many obstacles, but we are finding that maybe people think that our shows won’t be as much fun or exciting since we are a married couple that we don’t like to party, but we do. I think that’s really the only misconception.
Shawna: The only other weird thing is that when we are off the road and home just the two of us it’s strange. We are constantly out here with our crew and our band, it’s almost like we are living two separate lives. It’s just a little strange.
KR: So, is it true that you met eachother at a singing competition?
Keifer: Yes, we met at a competition in Nashville back in 1996. We met the first day of the competition and we’ve been together ever since.
KR: Did you know right away that you were each the one?
Shawna: Yes, I know it sounds really cheesey but that’s the way it was. It was crazy.
KR: How did all of this start for each of you? Did you have an influence growing up?
Shawna: I’ve known since I was like 5 that this is what I wanted to do. At 5 I went to an Alabama concert and the way they entertained and they were so massive. I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to be on stage. My dad also played music and sang so I was around it growing up and it just felt so natural.
Keifer: I always wanted to do this. I was really shy as a young kid. It took me a while to come out of my shell. I was always playing a guitar and dancing around as a kid but when I was 14 I started writing music and at 15 I snuck into a place and performed. It’s such an intimate thing to perform songs you have written. Once I had that first show, you couldn’t shut me up after that.
KR: So you are dropping a new album next year.
Keifer: Yes, Spring time maybe.
Shawna: Or at least a single. We just started recording.
KR: If you could perform with anyone on stage, dead or alive, who would it be?
Keifer: Bruce Springsteen for sure.
Shawna: Etta James or Elvis would be awesome too.
KR: If you could give someone wanting to follow in your footsteps to become a star what advice would you tell them?
Keifer: I would say make damn sure you want to do this because you have to give everything but your soul to get there. You literally choose to be poor, choose to be frustrated, choose to be heartbroken. The payoff from a satisfaction standpoint is so worth it.
Shawna: All the heartbreak and hard times we have had to endure is worth it. But it’s true, it is very hard work.
Keifer: I don’t feel like we’ve made it yet. I feel like we are still paying our dues and I’m fine with that. We have a long way to go, I hope.
Shawna: What’s really weird too is you speak to some of these huge artists like Jason Aldean and he’ll still say to this day, it can all be gone like that and go away tomorrow, so everyday is a battle to stay on top.
KR: Well you guys are doing a kick ass job so keep it up!
Shawna and Keifer: Thank you so much.
While watching Shawna and Keifer perform it resonated with me that they are just as raw and honest on stage as they are sitting across from you at a table.
I still maintain Syracuse is a weird city, but they got one hell of a show at the Westcott on Saturday October 18. For fans of live-tronic music, this was the show to catch. The bill featured three bands (all instrumental) leading up to Electron, making for an impressive five hours of music. The night opened with Ocupanther, who got fans moving with their intricate but danceable compositions, featuring smooth rhythm sections and weaving guitar/synth parts on top. Ocupanther is always a treat because they are unique—not just progressive scales, not just untz beats—but truly original sounds put together in an organic, funky way. Up next was Horizon Wireless, who laid down smooth beats that were subtle but sexy and often trance inducing. Horizon has a warm sound that just makes you feel good, relying more on the groove than huge peaks or changes. This was almost a direct contrast with Solaris, who took the stage next and threw down heavy beats that really brought the energy back up a notch as the room began to fill in. Ithaca’s Solaris is a one-two punch, first they get you in the zone with beats that are predominantly electronic and then they mix in moments of sheer rock and roll dirtiness. By the end of the set everyone was moving and ready to go.
Photo by: Andy Hill at Catskill Chill 2014 – Electron
Electron, to put it bluntly, is essentially a Disco Biscuits cover band that plays Biscuits’ songs better than the Biscuits. This is not at all a bad thing, or meant to discredit the original incarnation(s) of Bisco—they are the ones who did it first after all, and they have a chemistry that cannot be replicated—but rather to highlight the similarities and areas of improvement. This crossover is no secret; the night’s set list featured mainly Bisco songs, all of which were tight and on-point. Throughout the tour Electron also covered a different band each night, including The Beatles, The Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd. Friday’s two-set show added Radiohead to that list, with solid covers of “Karma Police” and “National Anthem,” before ending the night with Pink Floyd’s Brain Damage into Eclipse for an encore.
The set opened with the classic, “Floodlights” and moved into another time-tested favorite, “M.E.M.P.H.I.S.” which had fans new and old singing along. Brownie held it down on the bass [as he does] showing a revitalized energy I had not seen since years previous. There is no doubt that Brownie drives the band, both with his relentless bobble-head and groove-heavy lines with sneaky bombs – his excitement was contagious. Lotus drummer, Mike Greenfield, was also a true joy to watch and blends perfectly with Brownie and the Electron formula. The argument of Sammy Vs. Allen actually kind of finds resolution in the middle with Mike Greenfield; he has the intensity and (almost) technical precision of Allen, with the feel and taste of Sammy. Personally, I never took a side on the drummer comparisons because I liked both for different reasons. That said, Greenfield is the ipso facto peace-maker that would ultimately satisfy both sides of the debate. On the keys, Magner seemed a little more subdued than his role with Bisco, but still served as the essential binding factor. All of Magner’s parts were, though not extravagant, especially important. He really only let it rip a couple of times, mainly towards the end of the second set with “Shelby Rose” but quite frankly, I think I prefer it that way. The real standout of the night for me, however, was Tom Hamilton on guitar. I had heard Hamilton play in recordings of Brothers Past, American Babies and with Marco, but had never seen him live. Simply put, he won me over. I came into the show not knowing much about Hamilton and left a Hamilton fan. Each guitar line was clean and tasteful, but when he decided to rip it, his chops really shone through. Even in songs where his parts were simpler, Hamilton has a calm sort of confidence that is super entertaining to watch and appears to inspire the band to consistently play to the top of their ability. All in all, this show was spot-on musically; a real treat for Biscuits fans, and the band’s chemistry was a pleasure to watch.
Syracuse’s show marked the end of Electron’s mini-tour, but Brownstein and Magner will be back with Conspirator, another side project which is more heavily improvisation and jam based, on November 20.
Set 1: Floodlights, MEMPHIS, Kamaole, Humu ending, Grass is Green end, Plan B, Karma Police*, Plan B Set 2: National Anthem*, Little Lai, Humuhumu, Kamaole ending, Shelby Rose, the City, Shelby Rose Encore: Brain Damage, Eclipse
What has become an annual Syracuse holiday music tradition, the Salt City Waltz has added the moniker A Sound Check 35th Anniversary Celebration to commemorate Dave Frisina’s ongoing contributions to the regional music scene. For the first time with Salt City Waltz, The Levon Helm Studio Horns will be featured, the LHS Horns are: Jay Collins, Steve Bernstein, Erik Lawrence and the legendary Howard “Hojo” Johnson (Charles Mingus, Taj Mahal, Levon Helm, The Band for the original Last Waltz). Local stand-outs Joe Altier, Miss E (Missy Ragonese), Sean Patrick Taylor, Karen Savoca, and Pete Heitzman will be featured (among many others), also, fresh off his amazing performances on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Syracuse native Jonah Smith completes the ensemble.
Through his long-running radio show Sound Check, countless time and boundless energy, Frisina is the definition of what is good in the regional scene. The CNY reading of The Band’s classic performance movie, The Last Waltz, has been announced for Saturday, November 29 at The Palace Theater in Eastwood. This remarkable work will highlight Syracuse’s music scene at one of the area’s most acclaimed venues, creating an event that is singular in its scope. This once a year event has sold-out in each of its prior performances and this year anticipates the same. With the intimacy of the venue and vibe created through musical and audience energy, SCW has come to be known as one of the hottest tickets of the year. SCW is scheduled on Thanksgiving weekend to echo the date of the original recording of the movie on Thanksgiving day 1976, which was billed as the farewell performance of the The Band.
Stacey Waterman, owner of DMR Booking Agency and Organizer of this event is thrilled to announce the event date and the incredible line-up of artists contributing. With Gary Frenay as Music Director, Syracuse’s own Los Blancos performs as The Band, accompanied by Joshua Collins on piano in a special homecoming performance from Louisville, plus a stellar compliment of local, national and native ‘cuse musicians.
Photo by Juan Junco
This is Waterman’s personal expression and cornerstone annually, she takes special pride in this event and if you’re aware of her skills, that says a lot. She is the driving organizational force behind a majority of the larger musical events in this area. She states, “The music of The Band has historic musical significance world-wide and the same reverence is given by many musicians and music fans right here in Central New York.”
Being held on Thanksgiving weekend allows the community to participate in a charitable sense too as St. Lucy’s Food Pantry will be on hand for Salt City Waltz’s Food Drive, collecting much-needed items to re-stock their shelves right after the holiday. Corporate sponsor, the Syracuse Crowne Plaza Hotel, is also collecting food donations through their many departments. Please join in on the collection as this is a big part of the community spirit of the event, yet another aspect of the whole production.
The Crowne Plaza is offering a “room and show” package for those traveling into town for the show as well as their sponsorship, along with media partner 105.9 The REBEL, Red Shoes Marketing, Meyda Tiffany and Saranac Brewery.
Waterman and her crew encourage concert-goers to purchase their tickets early, as another sell-out is anticipated. There will be no second show or change of venue to accommodate a larger crowd, the ambiance and intimacy of The Palace is essential to the overall vibe of the event. That, combined with the All-Star level of musicians participating make the Salt City Waltz a stand-out and stand-alone event annually.
Doors open at 7pm for the 8pm show, tickets are priced at $30 in advance and are on sale now at Sound Garden in Armory Square, The Palace Theater and online at upstate-shows.com. Salt City Waltz “Room and Show” packages include either a king or a double room at the beautiful Crowne Plaza Syracuse and two (2) tickets to the show. The package includes overnight parking, wireless internet and access to their fitness and business centers. That’s a $199 value for $159 + tax, for reservations call (315) 479-7000.
In typical jam band fashion, hundreds of deadheads and hula hoopers gathered outside the Westcott Theater doors Wednesday night with great excitement to witness Twiddle and Papadosio (or Papadiddle, as I like to call it).
With a strong opening, Twiddle brought a variety of tunes from their album Somewhere On the Mountain , as well as a cover of “Big Country” by Bela Fleck and The Flecktones. In order, their setlist consisted of continuous jams with songs like “Polluted Beauty,” “Gatsby the Great,” “When It Rains It Pours” and “Frankenfoote”. I’m also pretty sure they threw in a Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” somewhere in there, too.
With a well blended sound system and impressive light show, nobody could stand still, let alone sit on the Westcott’s new keg benches and tables. Along with their signature quirky hats and long flowing hair, band members Brook Jordan, Zdenek Gubb, Ryan Dempsey, and Mihali Savoulidis celebrated their Upstate stop on their Chilled Monkey Brains Fall Tour, dating from October 10 when they commenced in Charlottesville and plan to conclude the tour on November 26th in Fairfield, CT. If you’re in the Buffalo, Albany, or Connecticut area in the upcoming months, make sure you check out their fall tour dates and make sure you experience the greatness that is Twiddle.
The blackout right before Papadosio’s entrance was one of the most chilling feelings I’ve gotten in Syracuse, not including the arctic tundra we get every winter. As the crowd cheered, a LCD screen abruptly lit up with a collection of nature, art, and historical images in a sequence to accompany the band’s startup jam. Along with their collection of songs from Day & Night(Live) commencing a dance party throughout the audience, the vibrant visual effects took us on an uplifting adventure. My highlight had to be when they performed “Cloud Found”, with their silhouettes faded to black while images of mountains and clouds filled the background of their set.
With the release of their 2009 album Observations, their 2012 album T.E.T.I.O.S., and their 2014 release of Day & Night (Live), Papadosio certainly had some repertoire to choose from. With only a few years under their belt, this dynamic group has sailed through multiple prestigious festivals and venues, and have undergone their Imaginal Cells Tour, which only hits Upstate New York one final time on October 22 if you’re in the Buffalo area. If you’re prepared to experience the transcendental music of Ohio’s premier experimental band, make sure you see them live. Otherwise, keep up with their upcoming events at news at their Facebook and Twitter page.
Every rocker/ninja’s favorite band, Kung Fu, kicks off its fall tour this weekend and Upstate New York gets two of the first three shows.
The Fu will provide musical therapy to Baltimore, whose Orioles just fell a step short of the World Series, on Thursday night. Friday, Kung Fu brings their high-octane funk fusion to Syracuse’s Westcott Theater before wrapping up the weekend at The Hollow in Albany on Saturday.
Like every great funk outfit, the band has a bassist, Chris DeAngelis, who will send vibrations through your bones and shake up your soul. Each show gets more than slightly Stoop-ed as Todd Stoops handles the keys and Robert Somerville will be center stage crushing the tenor sax. Adrian Tramontano is absurdly relentless on the drums and Tim Palmieri, who just added a newborn ninja to his family last week, rounds out the band on guitar.
If you’re not following Kung Fu on Facebook yet, you’re missing out. Earlier this week, the band offered free tickets and 10% commission to volunteers for manning its merch booth all weekend. Wednesday, Stoops took to the social media site to give away free tickets to anyone who asked — no contest or duties involved.
For more information or to check out Kung Fu’s new album, Tsar Bomba, visit the band’s website.
Tickets to Syracuse’s show can be purchased here. Click here to purchase Albany tickets.
And in case you can’t catch them this weekend in Syracuse or Albany, the band is heading to Western New York later in the tour for a stop in Buffalo on Nov. 13. Click here for tickets to their show at The Waiting Room.
After a sold-out performance in May at The Auburn Public Theater, then sharing the Syracuse Jazz Fest 32 stage with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue in July, this will be the final appearance of Guitar Noir until April 2015. Unlike the previous shows, the string quintet will be featured for two full sets as the 10-piece ensemble presents the full In Dreams album in set one, then reprise some of the funkier R&B numbers they brought down the Jazz Fest house with in set two. As always, Doyle never rests on his laurels and he has several surprises up his musical sleeve for the audience at O.C.C.
