Music lovers from all walks of life packed Woodstock’s Bearsville Theater on Saturday, October 4 for the inaugural Woodstock Jazz Festival. The evening began with a highly entertaining piano set from GRAMMY nominee Uri Caine, which featured two sets including John Medeski on the organ; and concluded with an inspired cover of Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry” sang by Jack DeJohnette. The music rolled along for more than four hours and the man who dreamed up the festival, drummer Ben Perowsky, dedicated the festival to local legend Sonny Rollins.
Uri Caine
Uri Caine went on stage at 7:30PM and folks rushed to take their seats or claim standing room. Even the separate bar area was overflowing and, despite a chilly night outside, the cavernous, barn-like theater was warm with bodies packed tight. There were multiple drum sets, an organ and various other instruments on stage but the attention was focused on Caine seated behind a black baby grand piano. Caine’s vaunted resume includes a stint as the LA Chamber Orchestra composer in residence, more than two dozen recorded albums, and the aforementioned GRAMMY nomination for “The Othello Syndrome”; His modernization of Verdi’s Otello. While Caine paid homage to the classics Saturday night, a playful side twinkled through during his Bearsville set. Looking cool and tranquil behind the piano, it sounded like his left hand produced a number for a king’s chamber while the right played something more fitting for a Mississippi riverboat. His unique style had the audience tapping along on their legs or nodding emphatically. Caine’s enthusiasm was evident when he spoke between songs. He played until 8:30PM sharp and drew a huge standing ovation from the crowd.
After a short break, RedCred had their chance to show off. Consisting of tenor saxophonist/clarinetist Chris Speed, drummer Ben Perowsky, and organs/keys player John Medeski, the trio only took one brief break in the middle of a continuous hour-long set. At moments, the three played harmoniously with each other. Then, they would unceremoniously diverge down their own paths. Medeski oozed out thick, eerie notes while Perowsky utilized every surface of his kit— clicking on the snare rim, clinking a cymbal’s edge and blasting out rudiments on the high hat—and Speed belted out sensual sax licks. Just before they lost you in a dense jazzy jungle, they made eye contact and pulled it all back together seamlessly.
Perowsky on the drums with Medeski (L) and Speed (R) in background.Chris Speed
Perowsky, a NYC native whose talent and exuberance rivaled each other onstage, deserves all the acclaim he received for being the event organizer. Medeski, whose genius is instantly evident in his thoughtful eyes, wowed everyone with his organ-izing. The set concluded with a Weather Report favorite, “Face On The Barroom Floor” which allowed Speed to showcase his ability and versatility, beginning with a clarinet solo and concluding on the tenor saxophone.
Everyone was eager for the last act. Each seat was claimed and extras were brought in; those standing shuffled on tip-toes for a better look at the stage as Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, and Larry Grenadier joined John Medeski. Inspired by the musicians’ lofty presences, a ubiquitous awe fell over the room before an impromptu shush-off lightened the mood—someone in the crowd “shhh’ed” the audience, then another “shh” followed and another, until it sounded more like a bunch of leaky inflatables filled the theater than jazz aficionados.
After a good laugh, DeJohnette, who has played with the likes of Miles Davis, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock and many others, led the show from behind his drum set as the group covered music made famous by Davis, John Coltrane, and Frank Sinatra. DeJohnette conveys emotion through the drums as well as anyone and does not lack in speed or creativity. He played complex fills and kept obscure time while playing “Inspired By Tony Williams”. He teased the crowd, slowly building up the solo before finally letting loose to everyone’s delight.
Throughout the set, Medeski mouthed each note as he alternated banging on his backless organ and the baby grand while his foot, dancing along frantically, seemed in danger of flying off its leg. Scofield, meanwhile, rocked his guitar into acquiescence, drawing emotional lines from it. During “I Fall In Love Too Easily” he decided it was shredding time. The band followed Scofield’s lead as he kicked in the wah pedal and belted out slick runs, launching them into the heaviest jam of the night.
Bassist Larry Grenadier attacked his upright, plucking its strings fervently and deftly. With DeJohnette backing him on the drums, Grenadier busted out a mind-boggling solo in the middle of “Promise.” The only time his hand strayed from bass strings was to push his glasses back onto his nose, but even that action seemed part of his time-keeping. Medeski and Scofield smiled on admiringly before joining back in to fill the theater with a full, rich sound. The whole set was electric and reached a climax when they concluded with DeJohnette singing “No Woman No Cry”. While the majority of the night was dedicated to instrumentals, the audience was ecstatic to hear the Bob Marley cover and nearly everyone sang along.
The inaugural Woodstock Jazz Festival proved to be a huge success. Woodstock’s Bearsville Theater provided a comfortable and intimate setting and the musicians did the rest, playing late into Saturday night. The event was run smoothly and one can imagine the night’s honoree, Sonny Rollins, would be proud to know so many people enjoyed an evening of jazz together in his honor.
Wicked Cool Productions and Hoplite announced this week a New Year’s Eve gathering of friends, family and eclectic, high energy artists to ring in the New Year at the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa in Kerhonkson, NY, the home of Rock n Roll Resort events. This one-day Winter festival/slumber party, hosted by Turkuaz finds the band and promoters have packing the 27 hours between doors on 12/31/14 and check out time on 1/1/15 with a broad range of music spanning multiple genres and the most user-friendly situation possible. Fans are offered many room, meal, beverage and VIP plan options, all adding up to a very special gala affair of great music, dancing, food, libations, festive attire, costumes, mirth, and likely a bit of mayhem.
The Ball Drop is based on the concept of Rock n Roll Resort, a unique, intimate music experience designed by fans for fans and quickly becoming the ultimate music destination event for the festival lifestyle set. Rock n Roll Resort’s rising popularity is in many ways tied to the ideal setting of the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa, an expansive, inviting and intriguing grand resort nestled in Shawangunk Mountains of New York. Just 90 miles from New York City, the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa is sited on 400 wooded acres adjacent to Minnewaska State Park and surrounded by gorgeous Catskill views. Guests can enjoy the fitness room, arcade centers, jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms, heated indoor pool, on-site shopping and more.
The lineup for The Ball Drop was put together with Hoplite and Wicked Cool Productions, featuring Brooklyn-based funksters Turkuaz; The Primate Fiasco, who will kick off the event; Mister F, who bring live electronic beats with force; the roots-reggae-punk sounds of Western Mass’s Danny Pease & The Regulators; Spiritual Rez, who bring an incredible reggae/ska/roots sound that is full of energy; Manhattan-based “Middle Eastern Sci-Fi-Fusion” band, Consider The Source, and finally Tauk, with heavy instrumental rock fusion to usher in the first morning of 2015.
Room packages, VIP Rockstar passes, and NYE tickets go on sale October 15th at rocknrollresort.com
This past Saturday, September 27, Bard College held an exciting music event Harvest Fest. This autumn-welcoming festival appropriately took place in the campus barn, situated somewhat in the middle of Bard’s open fields and expansive gardens. Pizza with veggie toppings provided by the gardens themselves, was sold along with a Bard Harvest Ale. Mixed in with a lineup of great bands, it’s pretty clear that Bard can throw a music festival.
Plouse, a three-piece from New Jersey, kicked things off slamming into tunes from their newest EP seltzer, etc. Their easy-going sound and carefree attitudes created a fun, catchy and immediately likeable atmosphere that had even the earliest crowd dancing amidst a setting sun. With songs like “Moving & Storage” and “David Blaine” Plouse gives you a comforting feeling similar to riding your bicycle through a neighborhood in the lost city of Atlantis. Though the guys are situated at different colleges, they’re still able to find time to get together, play shows and rattle off new recordings.
As the night went on, another three membered band called Throw Baby hit the stage and lit things up with some mesmerizing synth-featured rock songs. Playing along to prerecorded synth, the makeup of the band consisted of drums, bass and electric guitar. The sound, which falls somewhere within the realm of a more technical and danceable STRFKR, is as if someone left a game of Mario Kart on during band practice. One thing you don’t always hear is an artist telling you what their song is about before they play it. The lead singer of Throw Baby was quick to inform the audience of each track’s subject matter, adding a unique aspect to the performance. By the time Jose Oyola & The Astronauts got on, the barn was filled to the brim with college students. The lead singer, who sang through a vintage microphone, offered an inviting stage presence and effectively brought his lyrics to life with a genuinely positive attitude. One of their more notable songs was a cover of La Mamba, which had the entire crowd in full sing-along spirit.
Before the main act of the night, Kitty, performed, who showcased an energetic set popular among the Bard College crowd, a band from Boston, Mass called Vundabar cranked up the volume, tearing into the upbeat instrumental opener “Troubadour”and let everybody know they’re a band worth hearing. Take one slice of crisply reverbed guitar, another slice of wild drums that are rhythmically all over the place, add a smooth bass in between and finally sprinkle some catchy and lyrically meaningful singing on top and you’ve got a good recipe for Vundabar. They’re definitely a band to check out and see live if ever given the chance.
With more strong performances from bands like Morus Alba, Battle Ave. and Furniture Girls, Harvest Fest was certainly an all around good time. If ever in the area this time next year be sure to greet fall by catching this event.
The unmistakable notes from Marco Benevento’s piano rang out in the streets of historic Uptown Kingston – New York’s first capital – on Friday, September 26th. Benevento, who teamed up with bassist Dave Dreiwitz and drummer Andy Borger, played early into Sunday morning to a hyped-up Hudson Valley crowd. With family and friends aplenty to witness the release show for Benevento’s new album, Swift, no one left BSP without an ear-to-ear grin.
The front doors of the large bar/venue were wide open and folks could cool off on the plaza while still enjoying the feel-good tunes wafting outside. Inside, the music was as hot as the air; the trio rocked while joyous admirers filled the hall with dancing bodies. The shaggy piano man led long jams and, in between, held the audience’s attention with captivating asides.
BSP, located in the heart of New York’s first capital, provided an intimate setting for the Ulster County resident to play for a hometown crowd before hitting the road on tour. A few hundred people filled the spacious room, and everyone had a chance to get as close as desired to the semi-raised stage. In the middle of one 20-minute long improv session, Marco eased up on his piano to clap along and start an “AN-DY” chant, ensuring everyone in the building knew exactly who was banging the drums. Andy Borger fed off the cue, turning in a solid drum solo as Marco and Dreiwitz admired in support.
Later in the set, Benevento’s metaphorical nose grew and grew as he covered Money Mark’s “I Don’t Play Piano,” belting out: “I don’t know how to play piano; I don’t know how to sing.” For over a decade, the world has been aware of his mastery of the piano; the new album, Swift, features his voice as an additional weapon for the first time, evincing the complete inaccuracy of the lyrics. “DJ” Dave Dreiwitz’s stoic onstage persona never wavered even as he thumped out heavy solos, while Marco’s smile crescendoed with the music.
Though the room at BSP was dark, the music was light and uplifting. They played a poppy brand of improvisational, piano-heavy rock that induced the shimmying horde to raise hands to the heavens in delight. The band and crowd instantly engaged in a symbiotic relationship; fans fed off the musicians’ energy and vice versa. Spirits from the bar were lifted for many “cheers” while spirits were lifted by the sprinkling of melodious piano solos, accompanied by raucous cheers.
Around 1 a.m., the band came out for an encore while nearly everyone remained to show support. Benevento, Dreiwitz, and and Borger hit the road next in support of the album, which will conclude at the Brooklyn Bowl on December 18th and 19th.
No family tree has as many strange branches as the ChillFam, and, from Sept. 5-7, approximately 5,000 fanatics gathered at the world’s foremost musical family reunion–the fifth annual Catskill Chill. Old friendships were rekindled and new ones born at Camp Minglewood in Hancock, NY. Among many other acts, Lettuce, Turkuaz, and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe pumped out the funk, Kung Fu, Particle, and Papadosio rocked hard, and Dopapod, Electron, and Yonder Mountain String Band played their unique styles. From staff and vendors to artists and admirers, everyone at The Chill was camped on cloud nine. With round-the-clock live music on five official stages, pristine early September weather, and characters aplenty, The Catskill Chill was once again the perfect way to wind down festival season.
Friday
Anticipation and excitement blew in the pleasant Friday afternoon breeze as tents sprang up from the tennis courts down to the lake. My friend Chris and I headed to our “island”—a grassy triangle between sidewalk paths, large enough for our tents and chairs. Last year, we were known as the parking lot pirates; donning old-school Pittsburgh Pirates caps in homage to Ryan Stasik, our volunteering duty was to direct festival goers where to park. This year, we graduated to press pirates, hooked up by PR director Destiny Beck at the eleventh hour to promote the music we feverishly crave.
After setting up camp on the island, MUN’s early evening set in Club Chill was the first batch of music for me. While Nahko and Medicine for the People played the Main Stage, MUN jammed in the only fully enclosed stage. Led by guitarists Alfred Rylands and Wiley Griffin, they put on a heavy set of improg. The Brooklyn-based quartet will tour the Northeast this fall, providing the desirable kind of MUNdays with their “astrofunktronica.”
After The Eric Krasno Band lit up the B Stage with Alecia Chakour, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe played the first primetime Main Stage set. With a solid mix of covers and originals, the funk-masters ignited a massive dance party in the hangar-like pavilion. Denson showed off his versatility with back-to-back covers of The Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See”, and The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army”, on the flute before switching back to the sax for The Beastie Boys’ “Suco De Tangerina”. Dressed to the nines, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe wrapped up with “Shake It Out” and the mass before them obliged excitedly.
Uplifting piano notes from Marco Benevento began floating down from the B Stage as Karl Denson and company were still raging. Benevento’s was one of my most anticipated sets of the weekend, and he delivered. Banging his head and keys emphatically, melodic runs rained from Benevento’s piano in the steamy three-walled shed. Once in a while, he would take a break from jamming to clap along, beaming. “DJ” Drew Dreiwitz, also of Ween, cranked out a huge bass solo while Benevento sat back, sipped from his Solo cup, and soaked it in. The trio, rounded out by Andy Borger on the drums, covered “Benny & The Jets” and had the whole venue singing in raptures. Benevento will be touring this fall in support of his new album Swift, which releases on September 16th, and his show is not one to miss; he is as energetic and talented onstage as he is gregarious offstage.
From 11:15 p.m. to 1:15 a.m., Lettuce blew everyone away back at the Main Stage. Guitarist Eric Krasno, feeling at home at The Chill, shredded like a madman. The fired-up Kras sparked the rest of the band: Neal Evans crushed on the keys while the funk was rooted in the horns section. The venue was packed with fans swaying in hammocks, chilling in the bleachers, or grooving on the dance floor, which spilled out onto the hill in the rear. Lettuce played hits off each of their studio albums, including “The Dump”, “Sam Huff’s Flying Raging Machine”, and “Madison Square”. Adam Deitch was a rock on the drums and turned it up from “Outta Here” into a slamming solo. Jesus Coomes rattled bones with the bass and Alecia Chakour’s vocals were exalting. By the time they ended with “Blast Off”, the ChillFam was already in a state of bliss.
With Lettuce still keeping it fresh on the Main Stage, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong began flocking in Club Chill. The quartet features two guitarists with very different demeanors. Greg Ormont’s Sideshow Bob-like hair, infectious smile, energetic personality, and emphatic upbeat vocals make him hard to miss. While Ormont danced around grinning and singing, Jeremy Schon stood relatively in place, shaking his blonde mane, fingers deftly sliding around his six-string. Schon ripped through PPPP’s lively funkalogue, showing off big-league guitar skills. Barefoot bassist Ben Carrey scooted around the stage playing tight bass lines and drummer Dan Schwartz made his presence well-known. Twiddle’s Mihali Savoulidis joined for “Poseidon”, a number off Pigeons’ new album, Psychology, and the Baltimoreans hatched new dirty birds by concluding with a red-hot cover of “Suck My Kiss”.
The music would go on past 5 a.m. with Alan Evans’ Playonbrother jamming in Club Chill, but DJ Shpongle’s 2:30 a.m. set was my last bit of music on Friday. Shpongle, aka Simon Posford, had no trouble adding to his loyal following. He has mastered the art of playing to the mood. Those not melted into the hillside danced vigorously to the ambient DJ set. His beats are all-inclusive and joy ballooned in the pavilion as DJ Shpongle closed the Main Stage in style.
Saturday
Vermont quartet Twiddle was the first to play the Main Stage at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday. They opened with a rendition of “When It Rains It Poors” featuring beautiful vocals and warm harmonies. With each member dressed as a different Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, Twiddle segued into “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”. The master of turning knobs, Dopapod’s Eli Winderman, joined a few songs later and they almost got “Stooooped” off the stage when Kung Fu’s Todd Stoops sat in on the keys. Twiddle is finding their stride with well-composed songs, a positive message, and rapidly growing following.
Last year, as Chris and I directed cars in the hot, dirty parking lot, new-found enemies mocked us from their all-access/VIP pedestals: the teachers. When I heard a “Hey, pirate!” call while grabbing lunch between Twiddle and Cabinet, I knew instantly who it must be and my hand reached instinctively for a non-existent sword. As anticipated, it was one of the teachers.
Instead of spending our energies plotting each others’ demise, however, we formed the teacher-pirate alliance against wooks at this year’s Catskill Chill. On good terms, we wandered around pretending to duel and enjoying each other’s company at killer sets of music. From 4:30-6:25, ChillFam favorite Dopapod jumbled up an enthusiastic Main Stage crowd with jams like “Black and White”, “Freight Train”, and “Vol. 3 #86″. While they oozed out mostly originals, Adrian Tramontano joined on the hand drums for a Herbie Hancock cover before we headed to see a band people were talking about all weekend.
Long Islanders TAUK poured out chunky progressive rock in Club Chill after having slammed Lockn’ Festival the afternoon before. The quartet, whose members have been friends for longer than many Chillfam members have been alive, proved that they are not up-and-coming: they are here. They looked at ease on stage delivering heavy instrumental jams. They played “Mokuba”, “Friction”, and, personal favorite, “Collateral”, off new album Collisions. Bassist Charlie Dolan anchors the group while Matt Jalbert’s tight guitar riffs and well-placed solos add a healthy dose of inflection. Alric “A.C” Carter manipulates his keyboard dexterously while the “new guy” Isaac Teel does not miss a beat on drums. As Dolan pointed out, the group has the flexibility of continuing down the instrumental route or adding vocals one day, and their firepower gives them plenty of time to decide.
Despite the warmth of Club Chill and the delicious eeriness of TAUK, I moved over to the Acoustic Junction to catch the most talented trio in show business, Consider the Source. A loyal following wiggled in the rain as the Sourcerors rewarded with a cover of The Beatles “Blackbird”. They followed up with “Wayfaring Stranger” during which drummer Jeff Mann stepped up to the mandolin; he was so smooth that I barely noticed he was playing an atypical instrument. As the rain fell and the sun went down,the music was just getting turned up.
Yonder Mountain String Band played the headlining set on Saturday evening as the rain let up. Allie Kral sat in on the fiddle and, having caught her final set with former band Cornmeal at Summer Camp in 2013, I was eager to see her add to the Colorado bluegrass quartet. Their version of “Only A Northern Song” was awe-inspiring and they plucked out a unique rendition of The Talking Heads’ “Girlfriend Is Better”. Having also headlined in 2012, Yonder Mountain String Band may be an outlier to the funk-rock heavy lineup, but they bring a great following to the party and put on a captivating show. The strings-only group closed out their set by playing “40 Miles From Denver” and “Southern Flavor” to a delirious crowd.
After the first half of Cabinet’s Dead set in Club Chill, I learned that, after disbanding in 2011 (following 12 years of bumping), Canadian-based techno trio The New Deal is back. Consisting of keys player Jamie Shields, bassist Dan Kurtz, and drummer Joel Stouffer, they played a late night technotronica set to a packed Main Stage. Reunited, the band is scheduled to play a handful of shows across the country this fall as well as Dominican Holidaze.
I hopped over to the B Stage for The Nth Power after some more wook-watching. I need to be tested, but I may have been impregnated by their music. The quintet with one outlier (Nikki, Nigel, Nick, Nate, and… Weedie) played baby-making music to a dazzled crowd. Most of the songs they played will be featured on their 2015 debut full-length album, Abundance, but they threw in a euphoric cover of Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You”. Featuring powerful vocals and deep bass lines, the Nth Power creates a rich flavor of funk and produces a mesmerizing show.
Papadosio’s late night Main Stage set on Saturday proved that a music festival is like a box of chocolates. Anticipating an ambient, trancey end to the night, Papadosio put on a slamming set of rock. Festival goers like myself, who expected to be gently lulled toward sleep, were rocked back to life starting with a 20-minute “Find Your Cloud”. Eli Winderman joined for a tasty “Unparalyzer” as the Brouse brothers, who handle the band’s keys and synths, gave Dopapod’s keyboardist the reins. Anthony Thogmartin’s songwriting ability was evident as always and ‘Dosio is rounded out by bassist Rob McConnell and drummer Mike Healy. The Ohio natives jammed deftly until 4 a.m. while Pink Floyd/Talking Heads/Phish fusion Pink Talking Fish wound down the night in Club Chill.
Sunday
Every day at a music festival should start with a set from Turkuaz. After helping one of my best friends (whom I met at last year’s Catskill Chill) move out, Dopapod showed their innovation is not limited to the stage by serving up pancakes with a side of jam. Then, Turkuaz supplied the fuel needed for the rest of the weekend at the Main Stage. One cannot not dance while watching the Brooklyn-based funkernaut. Michelangelo Carubba looked and sounded fly as usual while leading the 9-pack on drums. Celebrating her birthday by gracing loyal fans with rich vocals, Sammi Garrett was on point all day and guitarist Dave Brandwein laid down the hammer on his axe. Bubbles and sunshine filled the early afternoon air while Turkuaz put the “fun” into funk with the title track off their recent album Future 86. As the horns rang out, knowing looks spread through the crowd: “These guys are getting it!”The band is on fire right now and their merch sports my new go-to alibi: “Turkuaz made me do it!”
After packing my gear up and reluctantly moving off the island, the rest of the day was dedicated to music. Particle carried on the bash that Turkuaz started as drummer Darren Pujalet led a one-way race to funkville. Turuaz’s horns section came out to brighten the set for a jam, then The Hornitz and original bassist Eric Gould joined and shook up the house. Guitarist Ben Combe is a force on stage, and Particle’s progressive synthy style is catalyzed by Steve Molitz on the keys, who also spit a rendition of Slick Rick’s “Children’s Story”. Particle played plenty of new songs and left many people slack-jawed with one of the harder sets all weekend.
I followed Particle’s bassist Clay Parnell up to the B Stage, where he also played with American Babies. They played a more traditional rock set highlighting Tom Hamilton’s songwriting and singing abilities. Electron’s Aron Magner sat in for a cover of The Dead’s “New Speedway Boogie” and the crowd loved Dylan’s “Tangled Up In Blue”.
Back at the Main Stage, Kung Fu impressed with hard funk. Tim Palmieri challenged Eric Krasno for “master shredder” title of the weekend and Todd Stoops played some glorious piano solos. Robert Somerville got real saxy and Chris DeAngelis was crisp on the bass. These ninjas’ chemistry glows like a beacon on the stage. Drummer Adrian Tramontano’s kit, like Tramontano himself, is compact, but the Zack Galifianakis look-alike is an inspiration for us vertically challenged denizens everywhere. As onlookers gawked, he crushed one of the best drum solos of the weekend, moving with remarkable speed. The horns and ladies of Turkuaz reappeared to form Kungkuaz and play Stevie Wonder’s “Haven’t Done Nothing”, a highlight of the entire weekend. The Connecticut quintet, who will tour the East Coast in October and November, never fail to deliver.
Before I could see Consider the Source‘s plugged-in set, I heard them and thought, “That can’t be them; that’s at least 6 or 7 people.” It was, however, CTS. There is videographic proof that I am not being hyperbolic describing the Sourcerors as a crew filmed the set. Drummer Jeff Mann must have eaten his Wheaties; he played with a maniacal reckless abandon. Guitarist Gabriel Marin, whose fingers glide like butter on glass across his fretless guitar, played an upbeat trumpet solo on his custom double-necked instrument. “Tihai For The Straight Guy” was a classic example of Beach Boys meet Middle Eastern pop-rock and, during “Keep Your Pimp Hand Strong”, bassist John Ferrara ripped the dirtiest bass solo of the weekend. With the first part of their new album World War Trio releasing this Halloween, expect heavy ripples from Consider the Source this fall.
The final evening at Camp Minglewood was chilly, but Electron cranked the heat at the Main Stage. Comprised of The Disco Biscuits’ Marc Brownstein and Aron Magner on bass and keys respectively, Lotus’s Mike Greenfield on the drums, and American Babies’ guitarist Tommy Hamilton, they broke through with the most expansive jams of the weekend. Not only was their music out of this world, their light show was spectacular. Despite being Sunday night, the dance floor was as packed and busy as any point during the weekend. Electron played richly textured space jams with intricately laid layers and explored the psychedelic. Magner pounded emotionally on the piano and gave equal attention to the synths, and Greenfield put the pedal to the metal a bit more than he would with Lotus. With glow sticks flying, rage sticks raging, and bodies bumping, Electron put an exclamation point on a great weekend of music.
My ship had sailed at Catskill Chill by the time the plug was pulled on Electron. Having bonded with old friends, acquired a host of new friends, danced to hours of incredible music, and explored every corner of Camp Minglewood, I was ready to put another successful Chill in the books. The marathon was over and the memories were made; now, I attempt to wait patiently as anticipation is already bubbling for Catskill Chill 6.
Check out a video of Yonder Mountain String Band from the festival:
Saxophonist Richie Cannata, formerly of the Billy Joel Band, played musical director on stage to an ensemble that included a singer, trumpet player, keys player, bassist, two guitarists, and two drummers. With love pouring from the crowd, Williams sounded at home on stage in Peekskill, alternating between acoustic and electric guitars.
Williams at The Paramount.
Local musician Nick Rael kicked the night off, playing a drummer-backed acoustic set for 40 minutes. After two originals, Rael caught the crowd’s attention with Bob Marley’s “Is This Love.” He showed strong vocals during a cover of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes,” and original “81 Ford Grenada” induced empathetic chuckles and a choral sing-along from the crowd. Rael closed his set with a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” which drew plenty of cheers.
Williams led his band on stage to a standing ovation at 8:45 p.m. The Westchester resident opened the night with the title track from his album Moving Forward. The album features 14 tracks and was nominated for “Best Instrumental Album” Latin Grammy award in 2009. During the live track, Williams grooved on his electric guitar. Richie Cannata, who kept a tenor and soprano saxophone nearby all night while also directing the show, pointed for a trumpet solo while Williams picked out smooth jazz scales on the guitar. “It’s great being here near home tonight,” Williams said between songs. “Back in Puero Rico, my mom was an educator for 40 years. She gave [me and my siblings] a well rounded-education and wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer. Well, here I am though.”
Williams told anecdotes and interacted with the crowd throughout the set. He dedicated a slow, catharctic cover of Sting’s “Fragile” to Don Zimmer and thanked Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens for providing the inspiration for “Desvelado” (Spanish for sleepless). “I didn’t have to interact with an audience in my previous career,” Williams joked, “so I’d say this is a lot harder.” “Ritmo de Otoño,” the rhythm of the fall, exhibited Williams’ composition skills at their finest. The tune began with a soprano saxophone solo from Richie Cannata reminiscent of the silky hook in “Baker Street.”
The band kicked into gear for a Latin-jazz fusion that conjured images of its autumnal title. The drummers both played crisp solos and each note from Williams’ guitar was poignant. Richie Cannata dropped to both knees, wagging his saxophone over his head from side to side dramatically. The jam crescendoed, reaching to 97% before dropping back into the original solo from Cannata on the soprano sax. With a final bang, the full band joined back in, earning another standing ovation.
Many pairs of fathers and sons donning Yankees caps and shirts filled the Paramount’s seats while a talented father-son pair shared the stage. After waiting patiently during the first half of the set, Richie’s son Eren Cannata proved he had inherited his father’s musical ability while singing an acoustic-backed cover of “Imagine.” The crowd expelled an audible “ahhhh” of delight when the John Lennon classic was recognized, and many swayed along in their seats. When the band played a cover of Steve Miller’s “Fly Like An Eagle,” Eren showed that he also has his father’s flair for dramatics, dancing across the stage, one moment reaching to the sky, the next pointing to the crowd and igniting a clap-along. He scatted smoothly during “Alphabet Blues” and flashed his wide vocal range during an exuberant cover of Van Morrison’s “Domino.”
As the show progressed, the crowd grew more and more engrossed. Eren Cannata’s energy was contagious and, when guest saxophonist Jay Beckenstein joined the party during “Fly Like An Eagle,” the crowd really “wow’ed.” Beckenstein decided playing one sax at a time was not enough. With an alto sax in his left hand and a soprano in his right, he played the chorus as the band sang along. Another highlight came during the last song of the set when Richie Cannata pointed out everyone for a solo, including a funky slap-down from bassist Gene Perez.
The band left the stage to roaring applause which, after a minute, turned into a “Ber-nie Will-iams” chant. He reciprocated the love with a final acoustic solo with the spotlight on him. While Williams may be better known for the four World Series rings he earned with the New York Yankees, his performance at the Paramount showed he can also enthrall a crowd with a pick and guitar.
Setlist: Moving Forward, Go For It, Desvelado, Ritmo de Otoño, ?, Imagine, Fly Like An Eagle, Fragile, Alphabet Blues, ?
That time of year is slowly but steadily approaching where the leaves begin to change, the air becomes crisp and Summer festival season becomes just a memory. And so begins the countdown for the Catskill Chill. Each year Catskill Chill Festival brings a phenomenal lineup and a perfect end to the Summer festival season. Nestled quaintly in the quiet town of Hancock, New York, Camp Minglewood creates the perfect backdrop for a weekend in the great Northeast. Catskill Chill 2014 contains the intimate feel of a smaller hometown festival while bringing huge names and large crowds for a weekend to remember. Past acts have included The Meter Men with Page McConnell of Phish, Lotus, Dopapod, Papadosio, Lettuce, Yonder Mountain String Band, Soulive, JGB, Umphrey’s McGee and many, many more. In true Chill fashion, the line up covers a broad spectrum of some of the best acts, big and small. It is no wonder that Catskill Chill has quickly become a staple to every veteran festival goers Summer tour season. Buy your tickets now!
Alongside a weekend of phenomenal music, The Chill offers a variety of different activities that creates an environment that is much more than just a festival ground. Festival attendees are offered daily yoga classes, open mics, a wide array of vendors to browse through and a full farmer’s market where one can purchase fresh produce. While camping is offered, there are also cabins on premise that are rented out for a small group of people and offer running water, beds and a roof over your head for a long weekend of music and good vibes. Each day at the Chill offers a different experience and a variety of different musical acts to expand even the most musically diverse pallet. Below are the day-to-day schedules along with some must see performances that make up this truly spectacular festival.
Friday:
The Primate Fiasco (6:30pm-7:45pm): The versatility and energy behind the Primate Fiasco is one to be reckoned with. The band is compiled of a broad spectrum of instruments (i.e. sousaphone, banjo, brass, woodwinds, drums), and they’ve been known to burst into a full blown dance party in the middle of the street when they feel necessary. The band clearly has a great time on stage together and you can’t help but move your feet while these guys do what they do best.
Marco Benevento (10pm-11:25 pm): Amazing music, amazing guy and a ton of whiskey. Benevento is known to keep a bottle of Maker’s Mark as well as a giant tiger head on stage with him for when things get really wild. Aside from the fact that he is a brilliant musician, he also contains quite the stage presence. This performance will without a doubt be fun and entertaining, but also be packed with musical talent.
Twiddle (Dead Set) (10:30pm-12:15am): Over the past couple years Twiddle has gained exponential recognition within the music scene for their talents. There is certainly a reason their music draws such large crowds, and the fact that they’re doing an entire Grateful Dead set? You definitely do not want to miss this!
Lettuce (11:15pm-1:15am)- Hands down one of the funkiest bands to see live. Each member in the band brings a fantastic amount of talent to make up this power house of funk.
Shpongle (Simon Posford DJ set) (2:30-4:00 am)- While the Simon Posford DJ set isn’t the full Shpongle experience, if you’re into DMT fueled, spacey, electronic dance parties you certainly want to catch this performance. Posford is not just a musical genius but also a performer. He knows how to entertain a crowd and he does it well.
Saturday:
Tauk (6:30pm-8:30pm): Tauk gained rapid popularity with their entirely instrumental 2013 album, Homonculous. It says a lot about a musician when you can experience an array of emotions through an album without words. This foursome from NYC is packed with so much energy and talent they definitely make the “do not miss” list.
Consider the Source (7pm-8pm): Consider the Source brings a taste of Middle-Eastern fusion to the jamband scene. The trio’s stage presence blends multiple genres and sounds to create something unlike anything you’ve ever heard. If that doesn’t do it for you, go for the fretless double necked guitar that Gabriel Marin plays with great ease. If you’ve never seen Consider the Source life, make sure to get down to their acoustic set on Saturday evening.
Yonder Mountain String Band (8pm-10pm): Yonder Mountain String Band brings a perfect blend of jam and bluegrass while bringing a musical diversity to a genre that has set them apart from many artists in the live music community. While Yonder brings more of a low key vibe to start off your evening, there is certainly not a lack of pickin’ and mind blowing jams.
Cosby Sweater (8:30pm-10pm): Cosby Sweater is a live electronic trio bringing live mash-ups and high energy dance remixes. While these days there seems to be an abundance of “EDM” acts at every festival coast to coast, Cosby Sweater sets themselves apart with their kitchy name, unabashed musical talent and obvious ability to set the crowd into a full blown dance frenzy.
The New Deal (11:15pm-1:15am): The announcement of The New Deal’s reunion flipped the music world upside down. The trio includes original bassist Dan Kurtz, original keyboardist Jamie Shields and new to the band, Joel Stouffer on the drums. The New Deal always puts on a fantastic performance and is the perfect set to start your evening off right. The amount of excitement that has surrounded their Summer tour is incredible, so make sure you check these guys out before they retire, again.
Sunday:
Turkuaz (12:30pm-1:55pm): A diverse arrangement of music, instruments and excessive funk. Turkuaz has quickly become one of the funkiest bands on the East Coast. Visually their performances are stunning and the amount of energy pouring out from the stage makes it damn near impossible to not get caught up in all that is Turkuaz.
Particle (3:15pm-4:40pm): Particle is known for its progressive rock-jam roots and has acquired a wildly enthusiastic following referred to as “Particle People.” A perfect blend of electronic and organic, Particle is a phenomenal act to add to the already outstanding line up of the Chill.
The Manhattan Project (5:30pm-6:30pm): The Manhattan Project has quickly acquired one of the fastest growing followings of any electronic duo in the Northeast. The duo has made their mark on the music scene with their high energy performances, fantastic covers and live remixes that will keep any crowd moving from beginning to end. If you have yet to see these guys do their thing, don’t miss them at the Chill.
Kung Fu (6pm-7:25pm): Kung Fu is easily summed up by a ball of energetic, funk explosion. Every member of the band plays with so much enthusiasm it is evident that these guys have a ton of fun doing what they do. Often taking the stage fully clad in their Kung Fu attire, the band in its entirety loves what they do, and what they do is done well.
Electron (9pm-11pm): Electron is the original Disco Biscuits side project made up of Marc Brownstein, Aron Magner, Tommy Hamilton of Brothers Past and Mike Greenfield of Lotus. This is one insane mash up of some of the biggest names on the scene and their performance will be nothing short of excellent.
The Paramount Hudson Valley has continued its remarkable comeback since reopening in 2013 by hosting a rather big name from the ’60s, The Zombies, who put on a remarkable show on Aug. 15. The Zombies haven’t been together under that name for a number of years since their first run in the ’60s, but “It’s The Time Of The Season” and after a few regroupings in the ’90s they have been actively touring since 2001. Original members Rod Argent (organ/vocals) and Colin Blunstone (vocals) have been joined by bassist Jim Rodford who played with The Kinks from 1978-1996 and with Argent in his band of the same name.
The evening eased in with a set by singer-songwriter Bruce Sudano, known for his writing and arranging for some of the most famous performers in the world along with his late wife, Donna Summer. The songwriter in Sudano was apparent throughout his performance. With some longer songs to fill out his 40 minutes on stage, Sudano and his two band members carried a Brian Eno type ambiance throughout the set mixed with elements of rock, blues, and reggae. The layering of sounds and interweaving of guitar, sax, and keyboard lines help bring the words to life – more poetic than lyrical.
When The Zombies took the stage, it may have well been a scene out of a club show The Beatles played in England in their earlier days with standing ovations and boisterous cheers. It was the first of many signs throughout the night that the band has, 50 years later, not drifted into the novelty band clique as some with decade-spanning careers have. Like the simple flick of a light switch, the first sight of original members Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone brought the somewhat placid crowd to life.
With a smile on his face that carried through most of the show, singer Colin Blunstone introduced the evening early in the set claiming “We’ve been playing songs for 50 years. We’ll play the hits and lesser known songs. We want to keep it fresh with new songs.” The evening did, yes, include their chart-topping hits “She’s Not There,” “Time of the Season,” and “Tell Her No,” among others. The real attention grabber though was the roster of other songs weaved around these show anchors. How much of an attention grabber? Let’s say there were no dull I’m clapping because I have to moments after each of these other songs. In fact, each song in their set received at least a few standing ovations, though some songs of course received many more than others.
Along with the “classics,” they performed a fairly eclectic mix of other songs to keep things interesting and fresh, a sentiment Blunstone touched upon throughout the show. Early in the set they brought back their 1964 single “You Make Me Feel Good,” and although it’s an old tune, it was their first time playing it live in 50 years. On the recent end, they performed a brand new bluesy rock song, “The Moving On,” which had only been written a few days prior and received quite well. Another recent song, “Any Other Way,” off their 2011 Breathe In, Breathe Out album, featured an acoustic guitar solo from Tom Toomey (a member of the band since 2011) that reverberated with the style of Mark Knopfler.
Part of the musical journey of the night included material from the band members’ other gigs while The Zombies were in their disbanded years. They brought out two songs from Argent (the band), including “Hold Your Head Up” with Argent wailing out two extended keyboard solos that brought the remaining few people in their seats to their feet. Blunstone introduced the other Argent song as “The hit by tall guys with lots of makeup which was a hit in the UK before they got to it.” He was of course talking about Kiss covering “God Gave Rock and Roll To You.” Blunstone also spoke of his time away from The Zombies with a story of how he met Alan Parsons and became involved in recording vocals on the Alan Parsons Project album Eye In The Sky before performing “Old and Wise,” one of the songs he recorded with Parsons.
To cap the evening off, the final song was a nod to the two original members of The Zombies. After a final bow from the whole band, Argent and Blunstone remained on stage to perform a duet on “The Way I Feel Inside,” one of the band’s earliest recordings.
The reactions of some people in the audience screamed nostalgia throughout the evening. Perhaps calling it a robust nostalgia would be a better way to describe it because of the band’s fresh mix of song selections. It was clear from this show that The Zombies have evolved with their latest regrouping to entertain fans old and new with a performance that is far from being a can of vegetables. They’re keeping up with the times pretty good too with different forms of social media to engage their followers. Don’t miss their show next time they pass through your neck of the woods – you may just regret it!
Setlist
I Love You
Can’t Nobody Love You
Breathe Out, Breathe In
I Want You Back Again
You Make Me Feel Good
She’s Coming Home
Miracles
Any Other Way
A Rose For Emily
Care of Cell 44
This Will Be Our Year
Beechwood Park
I Want Her, She Wants Me
Time Of The Season
The Moving On (newly written song)
Tell Her No
You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me
Old And Wise (Alan Parsons Project)
Hold Your Head Up (Argent)
She’s Not There
Encores:
God Gave Rock and Roll To You (Argent)
Just Out Of Reach
The Way I Feel Inside
Classically trained in music from an early age, Bernie Williams kept his passion for music alive throughout his better known career. His first album, The Journey Within, was released in 2003 to critical acclaim – while he was still hitting home runs at Yankee Stadium. His even more acclaimed Latin jazz album Moving Forward, released in 2009 and featured guest appearances by Bruce Springsteen, Jon Secada, and Dave Koz. From center field to center stage, Bernie Williams brings his music to the Paramount Hudson Valley this Friday with his All Star Band.
To quote Bruce Springsteen when Williams joined him on stage for an acoustic version of “Glory Days”: “He may be over it for baseball, but he’s a spring chicken for rock ‘n roll!”
The Paramount is offering premium meet-and-greet tickets for the show. All tickets are available from the Paramount’s website here. Don’t miss this one – his only other currently scheduled performance is September 20th in Connecticut.
Check out this clip of Bernie Williams performing at the House of Blues in 2004:
No, there is no zombie invasion, but ’60s British Invasion band The Zombies will be bringing nostalgic sounds back to the Paramount Hudson Valley Friday evening with Bruce Sudano
The Zombies in their current lineup
Reforming in 2001 after a couple of one-time reunion stints since their active years in the ’60s, The Zombies currently have only two of the original members in the lineup. However, that hasn’t stopped them from actively touring every year in the past decade. Aside from original members Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone, the band has tapped bassist Jim Rodford who played bass with The Kinks from 1978 until they disintegrated in 1996. Also joining the band are Tom Toomey on guitars and Steve Rodford on drums.
The Zombies were the second British band to achieve a chart-topper in the United States following The Beatles with “She’s Not There”. Of course, they’re also known for their other hits “Time of the Season” and “Tell Her No”. Their album Odessey and Oracle was recently ranked at #100 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
Opening the show will be singer-songwriter Bruce Sudano. The Brooklyn native has been performing in a solo career since the ’80s, but he has a rather impressive songwriting resume having written songs for Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, and his wife Donna Summer, who the music world lost too soon in 2012.
The show starts at 8pm on August 15th. Tickets are available from the Paramount here.
