Perfect 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 albumcan be purchased here.
Italian prog-metallers Lacuna Coil return to Syracuse for the first time in five years by playing at the Westcott Theater this coming Tuesday, April 22 at 7PM with Kyng. Lacuna Coil is touring to promote their latest album Broken Crown Halo, which came out April 1 and debuted with 13,000 copies sold its first week of release to land on No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart.
Los Angeles based hard-rockers Kyng are co-headlining to promote their album “Burn The Serum” which came out on April 15,while New York City based alternative outfit Eve To Adam join the tour to promote their latest release Locked And Loaded which came out last November. New comers Cilver from New York City is slated to open the show.
On May 7th the road leads full circle for Ben Mauro, Syracuse native and world-class musician, as he takes the stage at Shifty’s Bar & Grill on 1401 Burnett Avenue to launch his new EP, Take Your Time. The year was 19-something when those at Shifty’s Bar & Grill first saw Ben take the stage for open mic night.
Since that time, he’s gone full steam ahead to have one of the most successful careers a musician could hope for, traveling the world, meeting and playing alongside the most amazing musicians, mentors, and fans along the way. However, after only two seconds I knew he was something special as we chatted about his upcoming event. The success that Ben has achieved has not changed his priorities, and this is apparent as he comes home to share this special release. Giving back to the community that embraced him originally was Ben’s goal, and for this we embrace our home town star and say thank you.
As I reviewed the new EP Take Your Time, I came away with a sense of who Ben is and what he wanted to achieve in his new release. His versatility is amazing to me and after speaking with him, I can see how all of the influences over the years lend to what we hear on Take Your Time. A positive vibe comes across in his sound as the lyrics tell a story of love, happiness, and living life uncomplicated as it should be. With a mix of pop, country, southern rock, jazz, and Latin flavor the audience is treated to many genres, sounds, and instruments along the way. In “She’s Beautiful”, the jazzy tune is upbeat and happy with an interjection of a sax solo that is reminiscent of songs during the Motown era. In “Complicated” Ben’s songwriting skills inherently shine through. While on the track “Down By The River” you have this urge to grab a cooler, bathing suit, and fishing pole to play hooky all day like Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. On the title track “Take Your Time” Ben’s guitar solo rocks this number to the point where that’s the one thing that stands out..WOW…this man can play a guitar. Here’s a small taste of “Take Your Time.”
Lately I’ve been on a kick for ethnic sounds and find myself drawn to songs of this nature so on the final track “Burn It To the Ground” I was immediately drawn in to the sultry song with the Latin flair to it. Not only does it showcase the songwriting talents of Ben, it also showcases the amazing talent of Ben’s backup musicians with the percussion and keyboards, while his guitar solo evoked a feeling of being in a small cantina listening to the mariachi band serenade me. Only thing missing was my cerveza. Over all, once I listened to the Take Your Time EP, I couldn’t help feeling happy, upbeat, with an admiration for Ben. I was curious to see who and what had influenced him over time to bring us to the point where this mix of music originated from within. So as Ben toured the world with Lionel Richie through Australia, Asia, and many countries, he so graciously took the time to answer a few questions for me and the audience to get to know him better.
Kathy Stockbridge: So let’s begin this journey and share with me some insight to how it all began. When did you know that music was your destiny? You share how you began as a young adult jamming in the basement to Led Zeppelin tunes, but did you also participate in music through grade/high school also? Garage bands? Marching Bands? Was a formal education in music helpful to your understanding of the craft?
Ben Mauro: I played French Horn in middle school, and was All-County Band and Orchestra. Then I took a break from music for a while, until my dad brought home an electric guitar he had trash-picked while out running one day. That’s where it started, and I’ve been playing since I was 16. I had a garage band in high school ,and we played in the school talent show and at a couple of parties. That was really it.
My formal education was mostly with Rick Balestra, a private jazz instructor, that still teaches and performs around Syracuse. I studied with Rick for two or three years – he really opened my eyes to a lot of different types of music and it made a huge difference. I was mostly playing Southern Rock up until that point. Plus going to OCC for classical guitar really helped a lot – learning technique and how to read music. My instructor there was Joe Jewel. He left Syracuse to go to Los Angeles and now plays on “Dancing With The Stars.”
KS: As a parent I support my children in anything they wish to do, no matter how risky it may be as I feel when you love what you do, it’s not even a job, it’s a lifestyle. Did your family support you like this as well? Do you come from a musical family?
BM: The short answer is no, I don’t come from a musical family. A couple of my cousins were kind of musical – one played guitar and one had long hair. But the rest of my family are all teachers. My dad started the rugby team in Syracuse, so I was surrounded by rugby players growing up. I was always hanging around athletes, not musicians. They still know how to party, though! Really, I’m very lucky because nobody in the family knew much about music. My dad said if I could make it my job and make a living doing it, we support you. And they did – still do.
KS: You share how you took off for NYC to for a “street musical education”. As a starving artist, do share some experiences that defined in which direction you ventured. We know you gravitated towards the music scene in Greenwich Village at Café Wha? Were there other venues you played that held special meaning? Types of music that helped you learn the business more so than had you just hit the tour scene?
BM: What I tell up and coming artists all the time is that they have to work – hard. Before I got the Lionel Richie gig, I was a freelance musician playing around the circuit in NYC for years. I paid my dues and at the time that I got the Lionel audition I was playing in ten different bands. I used to say “Yes” to every call I got. It was a badge of honor in our circle of friends to see who could play the most nights in a row without taking a night off. It would usually be about 35-40 nights straight of playing before I would take one night off and then go back at it. Sometimes that was two gigs a night –three sets in two different bars! We would play one gig then drive into NYC to start our second gig at 1am and then play sometimes until 4am. But that is really what helped me keep my name out there – just keep going and going. And playing in all different kinds of bands. I got the experience in Jazz, Funk, Rock, Latin. Even if I wasn’t sure I could do it when the call came in, I would say yes and then make sure to learn. You can’t just play one style of music, even if it is your favorite. Learn as much as you can and play as much as you can.
KS: We all are inspired by other greats along the way. Share with us some of these influences that shaped your musical style and steered you towards the craft you do today? Teachers, mentors, bands, sounds…who and what has shaped the sound we hear today on “Take Your Time”?
BM: My favorite band growing up was the Allman Brothers Band – that kind of Southern Rock type band. Learning all the different styles helped me figure it out along the way, but my all time favorite is a guitar player named Warren Haynes.
KS: On this timeline, please share with us some of your musical moments beginning at Shifty’s and carrying on through to your world-wide tours with artists such as Lionel Richie, Don Felder, John Fogerty, Kelly Clarkson, and so many other great musicians along the way.
BM: The thing with Shifty’s is, that is where I first met Delmar Breland. He was playing bass and I went up and started talking to him. My first band was with Delmar, Ricky Chisholm, and my good friend Paulie Cerra. And that all happened because of Shifty’s. Ricky loves the Commodores and we played all kinds of those songs. Which really helped out a lot when it came to my current job. Delmar was also a big help to me because he and this other dude named Sugarfoot are the ones who really taught me how to play that kind of funky rhythm guitar. Here I was, this long-haired white kid from the country and these two big guys took me under their wing and taught me how to really play. That is why I am working today – that funky R & B guitar skill has served me well.
It kind of goes with a story about Lionel, too. After I had played a couple of gigs just filling in for his main guitar player he made some changes and he fired everyone in his band except the drummer and sax player. I had to try out again too, and at first the new musical director didn’t want to hire me. He told me later he was thinking who is this surfer looking dude in here, but it was Lionel who said to him, “Naah, give him a chance – he’s funky.” So if I hadn’t hung out with Delmar and Sugarfoot, or learned all those Commodores songs with Ricky…
KS: In between, what are some “a ha” moments that you have had?
BM: Probably watching the first season of American Idol and then getting a call to play in the band for the tour and backing up Kelly Clarkson. She was really great to work with – and then doing TV shows with her. Getting a call from Don Felder from the Eagles asking me to be his guitar player in his solo band and then playing the Hotel California harmony guitar solo on stage with him. That was a WOW moment. Auditioning in John Fogerty’s garage and getting the job as his guitar player and background singer. That was pretty surreal. He asked me if I knew any country! And pretty much every time I get onstage with Lionel and he looks me in the eye while he is singing his ass off!
KS: As I previewed the new songs on Take Your Time EP, one thing definitely jumped out at me, and that is that you are very versatile in your styles. Many times you will listen to an album and get a flavor of similarity in all the songs, however on this album, you get a wonderful variety of genres, musical instruments, and moods.
BM: I think this goes back to my days in NYC where I had to play all those different styles of music. Now that I’m an artist and write my own stuff, that is all coming out. It just feels comfortable and comes naturally to go from one style to the next. I don’t set out to write in a specific style – it just comes out.
KS: And I must add they go together extremely well. They have a common theme to them and a positivity.
BM: I’m happy to make music that makes people feel good instead of all down and dark.
KS: Talk with me about the making of this album and the songs on it. What do you want the listener to take away from this album?
BM: Uplifting. I want people to feel good and positive.
KS: What was the creative process, the inspiration, and share some of the moments in the making of the album cuts. Do you come up with lyrics and immediately reach for the closest paper? Were there melodies in your mind you came up with and then put the lyrics to them?
BM: The music usually comes first and then I write the lyrics as I play the tune. I don’t write it down very often – just start playing. Sometimes I will record things on my phone so I don’t forget an idea. Some of the new songs were written in the area. “Down By The River” was inspired by something my dad said when we were all on a family vacation. He just said one thing and it clicked – the song came from that. And I wrote “Take Your Time” sitting at my parents kitchen table.
KS: Do you collaborate on any of the songs? Share with us the band and how you chose the instruments to accompany the music.
BM: I do most of the writing and then my producing partner Gary Davenport comes in to collaborate on some of them. He does some arranging and polishes the songs up. Makes them more focused – just better. The band is the 13 Curves Band, Oscar Seaton and Gary Davenport. 13 Curves was my rock band from a few years ago. We played together for a while and then it kind of morphed into me as a solo with them playing for me when I recorded. Gary is also from Syracuse and I played with him way back before I left for New York. I first met Oscar touring with Lionel – he has been Lionel’s drummer for 15 years. He also plays with jazz guitarist George Benson and a bunch of other great artists.
It’s also cool because Paulie Cerra, my old bandmate is still one of my best friends. He plays saxophone with me on “She’s Beautiful.” That’s another Syracuse connection.
KS: Do you play multiple instruments in the recordings?
BM: I play guitar, dobro and banjo on this one.
KS: As I mentioned above I have noticed that you are a very upbeat and positive individual and that shines through your music and your show Let’s Go! With Ben Mauro. How did you come up with the idea for Let’s Go! and share with us how long you have been documenting your adventures?
BM:Let’s Go! came from my dad telling me I had to go out and see things while I was on tour. I kept telling him I was too tired after having been on a 12 hour flight, but he would say things like, “The Tower of London is only 20 minutes from your hotel.” I finally went and took some pictures and posted a blog. I started to do it for my family – so they could know what I was doing while I was on tour and stuff. But people really liked it so it expanded. I got an HD camera and started to do the videos. The very first one I did officially was the Great Wall of China and it’s been almost 4 years.
KS: What are some of your most favorite places and you’ve been able to share with viewers along the way? I also want to commend you for featuring band mates and other musicians along the way as well. It’s great to not only see these amazing countries and places, but also to see behind the scenes of the rock and roll way of life with sound checks and traveling and all of the things that accompany this lifestyle.
BM: Some of my favorite places are Morocco, Brazil and the Great Wall of China. It is very important for me to show the life of working musicians. I say that in every episode. What we do is really so different from what most people think. It’s a great job and I’m very lucky to get to do a lot of really cool stuff, like seeing places I might never see. But it is not all rock and roll glamour. We are on planes. A lot. We are in hotels. A lot. It’s a job and we work hard.
KS: As a fun way of getting to know the musicians and give the readers an insight into their personalities…would love if you would play along in a “Social Speed Round” of questions, some very random questions for you to answer. And…”Let’s Go! With Ben Mauro!”
1. You’re flipping through the channels on TV and come across this movie or show that you always stop on!!! No matter how many times you’ve seen it!!! – Million Dollar Baby or Anchorman.
2. You come across a restaurant out-of-state that claims to have the best original NY food…you think THIS has to be on the menu to even be considered a NY restaurant? –
3. I meet a lot of great individuals in my line of work, some that have left me at a loss of words. This is the person that leaves you speechless and at a loss of words when you finally meet them? – Greg Allman.
4. Time to get away for the touring for a while. Where is your “Happy Place”? – Zuma Beach, Malibu, California.
5. You’re at Disneyland/World…you only have time for one ride because you have to do a sound check and perform immediately after…you choose Roller Coaster/Bumper Cars/Sky Ride or Ferris Wheel? – Roller Coaster.
6. You get an offer to be a featured star on a cable television show but you can only do one..you choose Dancing with the Stars/ Man vs. Food/ Off Limits? – Man vs. Food
7. Dream collaboration – Greg Allman again.
8. Favorite board game? – Yahtzee.
9. If you weren’t a musician what was your plan B? – When I was a kid I wanted to be a professional athlete – soccer player, but never really had a plan B. Since I was 16, I always wanted to be a musician and I loved it so much that I never thought about doing anything else. Even when I was dirt poor in New York, I never thought I would do this for a few years and then get out.
10. Your guilty pleasure? – Spy and adventure novels. Like Lee Child or the James Bond books.
As you can see, Ben Mauro is a fun, positive, upbeat type of person. He works extremely hard to be the best he can be, and he is appreciative of his beginnings and those along the way. Syracuse is honored to have Ben Mauro return home to launch his new EP Take Your Time and we urge everyone to take the time to stop down to Shifty’s Bar & Grill on May 7th to welcome Ben home. Ben will be joined by SAMMY award-winning performers Phoenix Eleven and special guest Ricky Chisholm. Tickets are being sold ahead of time and can be purchased at http://bpt.me/622514 There are limited tickets available so I urge you to not wait, but buy in advance to guarantee to be part of this event.
The boys from Yonder Mountain String Band will be bringing that thumpin noise back through Upstate NY in 2014 with their brothers in bluegrass arms, Railroad Earth, with their respective signature bluegrass sounds. Their summer tour will have stops throughout the East and West Coasts, with a much-needed stop in Syracuse, NY on July 11th at the F Shed.
This is an all ages show, doors open at 7PM and the show starts at 8PM. Tickets are $29.50-$60 and can be purchased online here, tickets go on sale this Friday at 10AM.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong have been growing their “Flock,” the name given to their fan base, at an exponential rate over the past couple of years. The high-energy, psychedelic funk the band produces has been garnering them high-profile festival gigs and opening slots for some nationally touring acts.
The Baltimore-based four piece is in the midst of a Spring tour that will bring the band to Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse on May 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, respectively.
The last time the group played Buffalo was after a snow storm hit the area for Aqueous’ residency at Nietzsche’s. The band played covers of Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride” and Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough”, along with their tasteful originals, to add to the “Decades Night” theme that night.
Check out their full list of tour dates below, but otherwise we’ll see you Flockers at one of their three Upstate shows!
Prog-Rock superstars, dopapod recently announced their Spring 2014 Tour Dates. The band will be playing some Upstate, NY dates – 4/24 at Saratoga’s Putnam Den with Aqueous, 4/25 at The Westcott Theater in Syracuse, NY with Aqueous and then 4/26 at The Waiting Room in Buffalo, NY with a third night with Buffalo’s own Aqueous and favorites and Albany natives, Mister F. For tickets and info please visit www.dopapod.com.
“If you think you can make a difference and the fire is in your soul, go ahead and take your stand and if you can’t, let it go.” – The Infamous Stringdusters
Words of wisdom and truth sung in five-part, heartfelt harmony isn’t preached, but instead, practiced. The Infamous Stringdusters make good on their own philosophy as proceeds from each album sold and every ticket for the Let it Go Album Release Tour is donated, in part, to The Conservation Alliance. According to their website, the mission of The Conservation Alliance “is to engage businesses to fund and partner with organizations to protect wild places for their habitat and recreation values.” The Stringdusters know they can make a difference and creatively found a way to help their fans recognize and contribute to environmental issues brought into awareness by The Conservation Alliance. New Yorkers have two opportunities to see a performance as well as purchase an advanced copy of Let it Go at The Wescott in Syracuse and Club Helsinki in Hudson on March 22 and 23 respectively.
Official album release is slated for April 1 on High Country Recordings. The title track appears last on the disc perhaps making a larger impact of the lyrical stanzas and driving home the philosophical stand point of being true to oneself – a theme weaved throughout Let it Go. Disc opener, “I’ll Get Away” gently nudges the listener in the direction of soothing folk instrumentation and humming the “ohhhh’s” slightly hints at the cohesive as well as expansive string explosions presented within the eleven-track disc.
A naturalistic approach to life themes told in tune using the imagery and temperament of Mother Nature present a dynamic dichotomy. “Where the Rivers Run Cold,” symbolically declaring never giving up in the refrain and “Winds of Change,” where moving on is encouraged, are contrasting emotions just as life and death exists in nature. Gentle picking and soft fiddle bowing add to the sweetly sorrowful ballad of “Rainbows” communicating a simple naivety in daydreaming.
Andy Hall (Dobro), Andy Falco (guitar), Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle) and Travis Book (upright bass) are no strangers to raising awareness and making a difference. In 2013, the band invited fans, affectionately known as Jamily, on a six-day float trip through the wilderness. The excursion brought water sustainability issues to the forefront in partnership with Patagonia, Klean Kanteen, and Osprey Packs. “Middlefork” was created paying homage to the location of the trip in an instrumental dominated by a fiddle and dobro composition matching music with nature’s soundscapes. Likely brushing off the dust the great outdoors can kick up, surely these boys were left yearning a bit for the Colorado country flare proclaiming “I wanna get mile high/touch the sky/get lost in mountain time.”
The album was recorded at White Star Sound boasting a rustic farm off a dirt road in Virginia. The seclusion and natural surroundings offered an opportunity for The Stringdusters to be present in the music making process; enabling a more focused song crafting and musical stylings seemingly contradictory to their live performances and periodic improvisation, though airy nuances throughout whisper like Father Time plays tricks on the mind.
The Stringdusters have evolved personally and musically. They continue to host The Festy Experience. The fan favorite festival is in its fifth year and will be held October 10-12, 2014. The annual event is held at The Devil’s Backbone Brewery in Nelson County, Virginia. Tickets for the event go on sale coinciding with the album release on April 1 and various package deals will be available.
The self-explanatory, “Light & Love” hits a high note of positive thinking on the metaphorical Universal energy that runs through nature and human emotion. Tales are told in these Infamous Stringdusters tunes of evolving sounds of folk, bluegrass and country jam. Most certainly, the first step in being true to oneself is to Let it Go.
Named after the iconic bounty hunter from the original Star Wars arch, Bobaflex and the music it plays is just as keenly adept to bad-assery.
Bobaflex to play Bogies in Albany on Thursday, along with Tantric. The boys travel to Syracuse the following night. (Photo Credit: New Ocean Media)
Those familiar with George Lucas’ mythology are also aware of the lack of respect bestowed upon the anti-hero, Boba Fett.That lack of respect, is an unfortunate fate also familiar to the band. The introduction to their latest release, Charlatan’s Way, is a dramatization of an actual voice message the band received several years ago from an agent.
“You know out West, they have a name for your kind: Working Class Trash. You don’t come from shit.You ain’t never gonna be shit…You think because cause you pissed in Gatorade bottles, lived off the Dollar Menu and played the dirt circuit, that it’s your time?Heh. It’s over. It never began. An intelligent person would just give up!”
Bassist Jerod Mankin said, the monologue is taken “pretty much at verbatim.”
Mankin was not asked to reveal a name, as he said, it’s not worth dwelling on the negative. Today, married and still touring, he considers himself successful. “If you can say you are happy and personally satisfied, I consider that a success.”.
On Thursday, March 20th, this five-piece nu-metal band out of West Virginia travels well north of the Mason-Dixon line to share a playbill with Tantric at Bogie’s in Albany, and venture off to Syracuse to play Monirae’s the following night.
The band has a reputation for relentlessly touring throughout a career that has spanned for the better part of two decades.Hitting the road gets the needed face time with fans.And, while on stage, they are one of the liveliest performers in music.
They are currently on a promotional tour that has included more than 100 stops.Charlatan’s Way, their sixth studio album, was released last September. The first single, “Bad Man,” charted at No. 33 on the Active Rock Radio charts in the United States and has since been followed by “I’m Glad Your Dead.”
Bobaflex advertises as a Nu Metal band, akin to Korn and Limp Bizkit.But, this release comes across as good ‘ol fashion rock, complete with an edgy bass, a generous supply of drums, and racy lyrics that Mankin nearly sounds apologetic. “It’s a little bit racy for what people care,” he said. “It didn’t come out purposely, it just came out that way.”What immediately comes to mind is the track “School for Young Ladies,” providing the description of a young woman in traditional schoolgirl outfit, and the events that surround her.
In its entirety, Charlatan’s Way is the kind of CD you throw in and don’t take out until the last few notes of “Rogue” are done playing. From beginning to end, Bobaflex announces what it is, and is unashamed about it. Machismo lyrics always have a place in Rock – it’s what I grew up on, listening to Van Halen, Motley Crue, and Warrant, and there will always be a place for it.If that’s wrong than I don’t want to be right.
As award season is upon us, it is our pleasure to share with you the very talented recipients of the 2014 SAMMY Awards that were handed out March 7th at the Palace Theatre in Syracuse, NY. The SAMMYs were founded in 1993 by Frank Malfitano. Groups and artists are invited to submit their work for consideration and recognition. Categories span multiple genres of music, and area musicians and artists are recognized and celebrated in the number one musical event in the Syracuse area.
SAMMY Awards 2014 Photo by Luaps Lens
As award shows go, this one is no different boosting a red carpet event, live acts, and festivities celebrating the creative arts in the Syracuse area. This year’s performers included the likes of Mike McKay Band, Brownskin Band, Pale Green Stars, The Goonies, and the Flashcubes to name a few.
Pale Green Stars Perform at the SAMMY Awards – Photo by Luaps Lens
would like to extend our congratulations to all the nominees and recipients of this years awards.
Founder’s Award: The Madisons
Best Pop: Sir Magnus
Best Country: Mick Fury & Midnight Moonshine
Best Jazz: Jesse Collins Quartet
Best Hip-Hop: Tall Bucks
Best Blues: Mark Doyle (“Pushin’”)
Best R&B: Erika Lovette
Best Metal: Era
Best Americana (tie): Ruddy Well Band; Loren Barrigar and Mark Mazengarb
Best Alternative: 4 Point 0
Best Rock: Elephant Mountain
Best Recording Other Styles: Duo L’Adour
People’s Choice for Best Artist: Ruddy Well Band
People’s Choice for Best Venue: Shifty’s
Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist: Rabbit in the Rye
While we wait for Phish tour dates to be announced, the most pleasant of distractions, Mike Gordon, is making stops around the country over the next 5 weeks, an extensive tour to support Mike’s latest solo album Overstep. Starting in Syracuse on February 28th and ending in Burlington in early April, Mike Gordon Band has more than enough time to test out his recent studio tracks before live audiences and delve into his deep solo catalog. Featuring Scott Murawski on guitar, Tom Cleary on keys, Craig Myers on percussion and Todd Isler on drums, the first show of the tour was a solid one, giving a taste of what’s to come over the next 20 or so shows.
A tightly packed crowd in the darkened confines of the Westcott Theater was shifting about and settling in throughout the first set, with fans craning their necks for a better view of the band, who many were seeing for the first time. Mike Gordon Band does not tour as extensively as Trey Anastasio Band, the more popular and familiar of the Phish side-projects, and as such the chances of seeing Mike Gordon’s band is limited to tours in support of new albums, or the occasional short run, as he played in December 2011. Thus, the show was sold out earlier in the week and those in attendance were lively in spirit and properly clad in Orange.
“Face”, one of the half dozen songs from new album Overstep, opened the night, followed by the more familiar “Say Something”, which has been played by Phish twice in 2013 and beckons the crowd to screech the title “sAAAAy Something!” The ambiance in the jam that developed from “Traveled Too Far” is a hallmark of Mike’s band – they aren’t there to play standard versions or the same old jam each time – they have an affluence of patience when it comes to the unscripted portion of the songs, making nearly any song a jam-vehicle, even if just for one night. “Dig Further Down” wowed the audience when Mike’s bass and Scott’s guitar lit up in LED fashion; when placed against the silhouette of the backdrops, the visual took on an Anglerfish-vibe, where your attention is drawn to the light, while unable to see the full behemoth lurking in the darkness. The first set ended with “Jumping”, a solid calypso-infused number that was ripe for jamming and jumping. Ninety minutes of music to start the tour? This could bode well for the next month or more.
A fair opener of “Paint” and an ethereal “Ether” led into more spacious jamming between Mike and Scott, with the rest of the band following suit as a well-oiled machine. “Jones” had repeating vocals that were akin to Bowie’s “Fame” refrain, while “Fire From a Stick” had Mike and Scott bouncing back and forth on stage. “Peel”, not my favorite track on Overstep by any measure is miles better live, complete with Mike performing yoga sun salutes before the song began.
The slow build into “Peel” featured Mike on an acoustic guitar, plucking away while percussionist Craig Myers broke out a Kamel N’goni during “Angatta”, drawing the attention of the chatty crowd. Mike spoke to the crowd briefly during the night, but unless you were close the acoustics were muffling his words like Charlie Brown’s teacher’s voice. He commented that he was so busy getting ready for tour, but he felt so much more relaxed just being there, and commented on his espresso vegan milkshake from earlier in the day. “Hap-Nappy”, a familiar tune from the GRAB/Mike & The Italians days of 2006, found its way back into “Peel” to close the set. The encore of “Andelman’s Yard” had a mossy lightscape with more stellar percussion from Myers and added another dose of familiarity to the setlist.
Altogether, it was a great start to the tour and warmed up a cold winter chill that can only be fully thawed with Summer Tour plans in place. Mike still has a couple shows in the area, including dates in Woodstock, Tarrytown, Mass MoCA and Burlington in late March/Early April. Get your tickets early – these shows are already selling out.
Set One: Face, Say Something, Cruel World, Sugar Shack, Mississippi, Traveled Too Far, Crumblin’ Bones, Dig Further Down, Jumping Set Two: Paint, Ether, Jones, Fire From a Stick, Peel > Mrs. Peel > Angatta, Hap Nappy > Peel Encore: Andelman’s Yard
Perfect 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.
A naturalistic approach to life themes told in tune using the imagery and temperament of Mother Nature present a dynamic dichotomy. “Where the Rivers Run Cold,” symbolically declaring never giving up in the refrain and “Winds of Change,” where moving on is encouraged, are contrasting emotions just as life and death exists in nature. Gentle picking and soft fiddle bowing add to the sweetly sorrowful ballad of “Rainbows” communicating a simple naivety in daydreaming.
Andy Hall (Dobro), Andy Falco (guitar), Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle) and Travis Book (upright bass) are no strangers to raising awareness and making a difference. In 2013, the band invited fans, affectionately known as Jamily, on a six-day float trip through the wilderness. The excursion brought water sustainability issues to the forefront in partnership with Patagonia, Klean Kanteen, and Osprey Packs. “Middlefork” was created paying homage to the location of the trip in an instrumental dominated by a fiddle and dobro composition matching music with nature’s soundscapes. Likely brushing off the dust the great outdoors can kick up, surely these boys were left yearning a bit for the Colorado country flare proclaiming “I wanna get mile high/touch the sky/get lost in mountain time.”
A tightly packed crowd in the darkened confines of the Westcott Theater was shifting about and settling in throughout the first set, with fans craning their necks for a better view of the band, who many were seeing for the first time. Mike Gordon Band does not tour as extensively as Trey Anastasio Band, the more popular and familiar of the Phish side-projects, and as such the chances of seeing Mike Gordon’s band is limited to tours in support of new albums, or the occasional short run, as he played in December 2011. Thus, the show was sold out earlier in the week and those in attendance were lively in spirit and properly clad in Orange.
“Face”, one of the half dozen songs from new album Overstep, opened the night, followed by the more familiar “Say Something”, which has been played by Phish twice in 2013 and beckons the crowd to screech the title “sAAAAy Something!” The ambiance in the jam that developed from “Traveled Too Far” is a hallmark of Mike’s band – they aren’t there to play standard versions or the same old jam each time – they have an affluence of patience when it comes to the unscripted portion of the songs, making nearly any song a jam-vehicle, even if just for one night. “Dig Further Down” wowed the audience when Mike’s bass and Scott’s guitar lit up in LED fashion; when placed against the silhouette of the backdrops, the visual took on an Anglerfish-vibe, where your attention is drawn to the light, while unable to see the full behemoth lurking in the darkness. The first set ended with “Jumping”, a solid calypso-infused number that was ripe for jamming and jumping. Ninety minutes of music to start the tour? This could bode well for the next month or more.