NYS Music 20​14

Category: Hudson Valley

  • Preview: Tesseract to play The Chance Theater

    Tesseract will make an appearance at The Chance in Poughkeepsie on Sunday, April 27th. This tour, named after their latest album, Altered State, will Ashe O’Hara on vocals, who delivered a critically acclaimed vocal debut for the album.

    tesseract

    Metal veterans Intronaut will open the concert with Cloudkicker, which will be a first time experience for fans, as this is the first time Cloudkicker will make an onstage appearance featuring members of Intronaut to fill out their parts.

    Tickets are available through Bandsintown as well as The Chance Theater.

  • Photo Gallery – Rock n Roll Resort v4: The Dream Machine

    Staff Photographer Bryan Lasky gives us a look at Rock n Roll Resort v4: The Dream Machine in his extensive photo gallery of the weekend. Stay tuned for a full review on Wednesday and Chris DeCotis’ photo gallery on Thursday.

    Friday Saturday Sunday Photos

  • Robert Cray Lays Down The Blues at the Paramount Hudson Valley

    The Paramount Hudson Valley is no stranger to the blues, having hosted one of a handful of NY Blues Hall of Fame induction ceremonies this past fall featuring performances from Commander Cody and Professor Louis and the Crowmatix, among others. The theater itself was even inducted as a great performing arts center in the Blues Hall of Fame. The Paramount lived up to that recognition with an excellent double bill of blues headlined by Robert Cray on March 30th.

    robert cray bluesThe night started off with an opening set by local NY blues artist Nik Rael. Rael, on acoustic guitar, was joined by Joe Plum on electric guitar for an instrumentation that created a well-balanced sound for the blend of blues, soul, rock, and pop that was to follow. As a duo, many of the songs were not too complex but performed with a lot of expression and dynamic, from Rael’s voice to his guitar which carried the set to Plum’s electric riffs and lines that iced the cake. His set included a mix of his original work as well as some covers. One notable cover was of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song,” where Rael put on an accent to emulate Marley’s voice. Just as Charlie Daniels did with two songs at his show the night before at the Paramount, Rael performed three Dylan tunes that he has on his tribute album Highway 61. Most notable was “All Along The Watchtower,” combining elements of both Dylan’s and Hendrix’s arrangements. Rael’s opening set went beyond the expectations for a warm-up act with an impressive and engaging performance.

    After Rael’s opening set, the silhouettes of Robert Cray and his band took to a dimmed stage with much applause. Cray dialed in to the excitement of the crowd to get things going with a solid performance of “Phone Booth.” By the third song, “Right Next Door,” we saw the first of Cray’s rather dynamic, expressive and animated performances of the night, pretending to sing along with his guitar solos and bringing part of his second solo on the song down whisper quiet as fans listened intently.

    Unlike some artists that almost seem to make an effort to install a glass wall between themselves and the audience, there was no such barrier that night giving an almost living room like feel at the Paramount. Yes, the cozy quarters of the Paramount with its chest-high stage helped in that regard, but it was really the connection Cray built with the audience that did it. His quick wit led to jokes between songs about the subject of the song – some he would carry on to the next break – and brief exchanges with the audience.

    robert cray bluesCray gave a sneak peek, or rather gave us a sneak listen, of several new tracks off his latest album, In My Soul, released on April 1, just two days after the show. He debuted “You Move Me,” “Fine Yesterday,” “What Would You Say,” “Hip Tight Onions,” and a Bobby Blue Bland tune, “Deep In My Soul.” An example of Cray’s humor came when he joked about the new material. “You’ll never know we forgot the songs!” he said citing that no one in the audience would know how the songs were supposed to go. A highlight of the new songs was the band’s first instrumental track, “Hip Tight Onions,” written as a nod to the stylings of Booker T and the MG’s with Cray and bassist Richard Cousins dancing in sync and a more dominant keyboard presence over the other songs.

    Throughout the show, it wasn’t hard to miss the chemistry of the band on stage. Whether it was Richard Cousins sharing a moment with drummer Les Falconer (a 2013 addition to the band) as they laid down the groove for a song or Cray connecting ideas with keyboardist Dover Weinberg, the cohesion on stage radiated into the audience.

    The combination of Nik Rael and Robert Cray created an unforgettable evening of blues, setting a tone for a theater rebuilding a strong reputation for its musical presence after briefly closing its doors in 2012. It was a truly genuine performance and experience, leaving the crowd eager to hear more from Robert Cray on his next NY appearance, which he will hopefully make on his next tour.

    Setlist: Phone Booth, Poor Johnny, Right Next Door, It Doesn’t Show, You Move Me, Won’t Be Comin’ Home, Don’t You Even Care, Fine Yesterday, Chicken In The Kitchen, Bad Influence, What Would You Say, Hip Tight Onions, Forecast Calls For Rain

    Encore: A Memo (Nothin’ But Love), Deep In My Soul

  • The Devil Went Down To Peekskill: Charlie Daniels Band Live at the Paramount Hudson Valley

    It was a cool and rainy evening on March 29 in Peekskill with the last remnants of snow banks melting away making for a perfect virtual escape from the Northeast with the southern rock and country stylings of The Charlie Daniels Band.

    The night started with an acoustic set from Nashville country singer-songwriter Jacob Powell, who is making a handful of stops with the Charlie Daniels Band during his current tour. While his self-titled debut EP features a full band, he was joined on stage with fellow Nashville guitarist Jason Brooks to create a nice, full live acoustic sound. Singing some songs about summer, good times and koozies, Powell eased the crowd’s minds out of the cold northeast weather and warmed folks up for the Charlie Daniels Band.

    After a brief set change, the Charlie Daniels Band took the stage, wasting no time in setting the energetic tone for the evening. The band’s slightly short but appropriate length set of 75 minutes featured a number of CDB favorites. “Birmingham Blues” radiated vibes akin to an Allman Brothers Band performance both in song style and in the chemistry on stage. A rather interesting display came to us during a longer instrumental jam, “Black Ice.” Featuring some funky beats and riffs, elements of country and rock and roll and a spotlight on each band member, this fused a conglomeration of sounds and ideas and was a treat for every member of the audience. The set also included “The South’s Gonna Do It,” popular fan request “Long Haired Country Boy” – a tune that turns 40 this year – and of course “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.”

    This best-known hit for the Charlie Daniels Band closed the evening with flawless fiddle lines and a few extended segments over the studio version. It’s one thing to get a guitar pick from a band, but one lucky fan in the front row was given by Daniels himself the frayed horse hair fiddle bow in the middle of the song. Another crowd-pleaser came with a raucous cover of “Folsom Prison Blues” with fans having a grand time clapping and cheering along with the Johnny Cash classic.

    Throughout the evening, Daniels presented some songs off his latest album, Off the Grid – Doin’ It Dylan. Prior to performing “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” about mid-show, Daniels paused from the music for a moment to explain his connection with Bob Dylan which goes back to the late 1960’s when he recorded with Dylan on Self Portrait and New Morning. Aside from that song, Daniels also gave his nod to Dylan with “Tangled Up In Blue” early on in the set with a refreshing up-tempo and fuller arrangement of the tune. Off the Grid – Doin’ It Dylan was released this past Tuesday, April 1st.

    One unique element of the show was when Daniels, who holds his band mates in high regard, stepped to the back of the stage to put the limelight on the talent of two of his band members. Lead guitarist Bruce Brown, a 24 year veteran of the band, stepped forward and performed one of his solo works with the rest of the band; guitarist Chris Wormer did the same with his rockin’ version of the “William Tell Overture” on his double neck guitar.

    At age 77, Daniels can still perform a powerful show. His frequent quick wit and humor exchanged with band members and the audience between songs, along with a few anecdotes, kept every party at the Paramount engaged with one another. For those who missed the show in Peekskill, the Charlie Daniels Band will be back in Upstate NY at the Times Union Center in Albany May 31 with the Marshall Tucker Band and Bret Michaels (of Poison) and at the Main Street Armory in Rochester on June 1.

  • Biohazard, Sworn Enemy Lead Hardcore Clash at The Loft in Poughkeepsie

    bio loftThis past Friday night, April 4th, The Loft in Poughkeepsie turned into a hardcore madhouse as NYC area headliners Biohazard and Sworn Enemy lead the night along with other hardcore and metal acts from the 845 and 518 area.  About 170 people packed the place to unleash their aggression and have a good time.

    The doors opened at 7 and local area metal newcomers Pug Box opened the night around 7:15 with their six song set to set the tone for what was to come. Soon after, 518 hardcore outfit Life Sentence played their six song set adding a lot of attitude to the stage.  Their style and presence felt very similar to Madball.

    The Standard Assault (better known as TSA) then graced their stage with their unique set.  They really stood out due to their metalcore and groove metal style.  Along with that, their songs were far more lengthy than the other bands on the bill.  They were aggressive and thrashy. Guitarist  John Reilly played blazing solo’s that were clearly influenced by Slayer and frontman Pete Stott’s vocals were unique with a Randy Blythe-like flair to it.  Their songs were clearly about past girl friends and betrayal.  It was a nice change of pace for the night.

    Albany’s Brick By Brick then took The Loft into hostile territory as they brought a bloody knuckle atmosphere with their eight song set that caused the floor to erupt with slam dancers and borderline dangerous moshing.  Despite some sound trouble, they never missed a beat and kept the energy high.  Frontman Mike Valente even called out the crowd hanging at the bar to get themselves closer to the stage.  They ended their set with “Bro Hymn” with lots of crowd participation that just made everyone on the floor go crazy.

    Sworn Enemy stormed the stage around 10PM.  They’re out promoting their upcoming album Living On Borrowed Time.  Their set consisted of their classics as well as two new songs fused into their set.  Opening with “One Way Trip,” the already established pit grew even bigger and caused the floor to go completely chaotic.  Luckily, no one was hurt.  There was one person in the crowd that stood much bigger and taller than anyone that was dancing in the pit.  About mid-way through Sworn Enemy’s set, this guy in the crowd just walked over to frontman Sal LoCoco and picked him up off the stage and swung him around.  Luckily the show was not stopped or interrupted and there was no ill-intent.  Sworn Enemy ended their set on a high note with “We Hate” and let everyone in their crowd release their aggression.

    Biohazard finally took the stage at 11:30 with a setlist that contained hits and album cuts from their first three records.  Opening the set with fan favorites “Chamber Spins Three” and “What Makes Us Tick,” Biohazard proved at even their veteran status, they still bring lots of energy on stage and show absolutely no sign of slowing down.  From that moment on, it almost seemed that everyone in the crowd was from Brooklyn. Midway through their set, Biohazard unleashed the iconic “Tales From The Hardside.”  Things in the pit became hostile, and a huge scuffle broke out in the crowd causing the entire security team to stop it, which ultimately caused the band to stop what they were doing.  Even I ran to the corner and hid when this all went down. After a few minutes Biohazard resumed and played a few tracks off their first record.  Then lead guitarist Bobby Hambel addressed the crowd on the corruption of news and politics which lead to “Black And White And Red All Over.”  Finally, Biohazard wrapped their eighteen song set with their breakout hit “Punishment” and their creed motto “Hold My Own.”

    Everyone at The Loft had a blast, and it’s obvious Biohazard still enjoys what they do. I was lucky enough to chat with the band after the show.  They all confirmed they are hard at work on a new album and will be touring through Upstate New York again.  Biohazard currently finished a brief East coast run and is now doing a month-long European tour but come back to the U.S. in May for the annual “Black N Blue Bowl” at The Well in Brooklyn on May 17th and 18th along with Hatebreed, Agnostic Front, Sworn Enemy, Brick By Brick, and many more.

  • Sunday Sensory Overload with Mike Gordon at Bearsville Theater

    Bassist Mike Gordon of Phish tackled an impressive tour, promoting his latest album Overstep all over the country – plus a show in Canada – all within a month before returning to Upstate New York to the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock. Nestled in the Catskills, the venue holds less than 500 people with multiple viewing areas of the stage in what feels like a luxurious half barn, half log cabin. The cold and damp spring evening didn’t keep fans away who know better than to miss a Sunday night show. As the lights dimmed, Mike Gordon took the stage with guitarist Scott Murawksi, keyboardist Tom Cleary, percussionist Craig Myers and drummer Todd Isler.

    The lighting effects were ideal in an otherwise intimately dark setting. The lighting changed throughout the night, either synchronized with the music or completely off to focus a dramatic spotlight on Gordon and Murawksi. Everything on stage was used as an instrument, whether it was the actual instrument itself or the microphone stands, they all played a key role in a unique sound for the show. A mind game of shadows questioning your sight and perception, a recurring theme with Phish shows, of which Gordon is a master. Cleary led the way with vocals and strong keys for “Pretty Boy Floyd” that built up rockin’ harmonies along with a stand out, strung out, hi-bred Sitar solo from Myers.

    Mike took a moment to encourage the crowd to start a mosh-pit; a “friendly, Ska one [and] not the one resulting in blood everywhere,” he joked.

    After a brief intermission, the band was back on to start with a newer Phish song “555” with a recognizable melody that charged the crowd. One of the highlights of the second set was the jammed out versions of “Ether” and “Yarmouth Road” that had Gordon jogging and bouncing in place with a deep bass rhythm and alternating tempo. One of the coolest backgrounds was the scrolling city scape during the encore of “Cities”, clearly a big fan favorite. The entire show felt like a music video for an episode of the Twilight Zone with experimental jams that were unpredictable and forced the crowd’s attention to every detail. There was an eclectic blend of genres covered for everyone’s entertainment, with a variety of bluegrass, cosmic poetry and sci-fi jazz.  Mike Gordon’s shows aren’t dance-crazed parties; they are a chance to appreciate the bizarre twist he and his band create on old and new songs alike. Gordon’s tour will end this week with stops at Tarrytown, Mass MoCa and finally, the sold out show at Higher Ground in VT. Try very hard to get tickets to any of these shows.

    Mike Gordon, Bearsville Theater, Woodstock, NY – March 30, 2014

    Set One: Couch Lady, Face, Peel, Mrs. Peel, Dig Further Down, Pretty Boy Floyd, Spock’s Brain, I’m Deranged > Take Me to The River Jam> Tiny Little World

    Set Two: 555, Jones, Sailin’ Shoes> Ether, Yarmouth Road, Barton Hollow, Long Black Line

    Encore: I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate, Cities

    Download a recording of this show from Etree

  • The Hudson Project Announces Inaugural Lineup

    The Hudson Project has come to the festival scene with a bang with its initial lineup announcement this week. With an eye towards diversity, the festival has something for everyone that could see a great mix of people traveling to Saugerties, NY come the weekend of July 11th-13th. The headliners for the festival are Kendrick Lamar, Bassnectar, Modest Mouse, and The Flaming Lips. Some of the other big names include, Sound Tribe Sector Nine, Big Gigantic, Moby (DJ set), Matt & Kim, The New Deal, Dr. Dog, Flying Lotus, Lettuce, Infected Mushroom, ZZ Ward, Marco Benevento, Twiddle, and TAUK.

    There will be more than 85 acts at the festival on four stages, as well as a fifth performance space, interactive art installations, carnival rides and a game center. All of this with the beautiful Catskill Mountains serving as the backdrop for the festival could wind up being one of the best New York has seen in a while. Taking place where Woodstock ’94 happened gives the festival a little sense of history as well.

    The Hudson Project is offering regular, VIP, and luxury camping depending on how you would like to spend the weekend. There are also going to be shuttles and buses running all weekend from various locations in New York. Tickets are on sale now at the festival’s website. Come mid-July, Upstate New York is going to be rocking like it hasn’t in a while.

    hudson project 2014

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  • Back-to-Back Evenings with the Charlie Daniels Band and Robert Cray March 29 and 30 at the Paramount Hudson Valley

    Two great back-to-back evenings of music are set this weekend at the historic Paramount Hudson Valley in Peekskill, NY as the Charlie Daniels Band takes the stage on March 29 at 8pm and Robert Cray on March 30 at 7pm.

    charlie daniels robert crayAt 77 years old, Charlie Daniels is a true road warrior. He is presently touring with over 60 scheduled stops throughout the United States until the end of the year, including two more stops in NY on May 31 and June 1 in Albany and Rochester. Daniel’s genre defining Southern rock anthems and his award winning country hits have left an in indelible mark on America’s musical landscape and is sure to make a mark on the Paramount this Saturday. The Charlie Daniels Band is set to release Off The Grid – Doin’ It Dylan, a studio album featuring covers of 10 Bob Dylan songs, shortly after this show on April 1.

    charlie daniels robert crayFive-time Grammy Award winner Robert Cray will be joined by his band for an evening of blues. Cray is set to release his 21st studio album, In My Soul, on April 1, just two days after his appearance at the Paramount. With his performance near the release date, one could speculate that he may debut a few songs from In My Soul. There’s no April Fool’s about this weekend’s shows at the Paramount Hudson Valley.

    Check out a sneak preview of Robert Cray’s new album here:

  • dopapod Announces 2014 Spring Tour

    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.
    dopapod_tour2014

  • Preview: Rock and Roll Resort: v4, The Dream Machine

    The Hudson Valley Resort & Spa in Kerhonkson, NY will greet festival goers once again to host Rock n Roll Resort: v4 The Dream Machine on April 4th-6th. A unique and intimate music experience produced by Wicked Cool Productions offers a weekend full of music, art installations, fun activities and workshops plus much more. Perfectly located between Albany and New York City in the heart of the Catskills, The Hudson Valley Resort is the ideal festival retreat offering plenty of space to unwind, recharge and enjoy the beauty of Upstate NY.

    Besides the nonstop music, Rock n Roll Resort offers multiple activities that include a mini-golf tournament, the first annual Disc Golf tournament, daily yoga as well as various instructional classes in the Holistic Village. Plus each night will have different theme night with costumes encouraged. The themes are Friday: Decades of Decadence, Saturday: Superheroes vs. Villain’s and Sunday: Pajama Party. The most creative characters for each night will be gifted a Rock n Roll Resort T-shirt and Event Poster.

    The 2014 lineup features a variety of musicals performances offering something different for everyone throughout the weekend. Big acts include Dumpstaphunk, The Motet, and The Everyone Orchestra featuring Steve Kimock, John Morgan Kimock, Reed Mathis, Jennifer Hartswick and Natalie Cressman. The music will start on Friday around 4pm and go until 4am Sunday night for the dedicated ragers with more than enough music in between.

    has dissected the lineup and has come up with the Top 5 acts to catch at Rock n Roll Resort v4, The Dream Machine: Solaris, Bobby Paltauf, Tauk, Mister F and The Motet.

    Mister F combines members of Upstate’s own Timbre Coup and Capital Zen for a quartet of high energetic, dark rock that thrills and urges you to keep dancing.
    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arlC0BUwcH0]

    Bobby Paltauf is a artist on the rise in that he has played with a long list of notable musicians and is only 14 years old. Do not miss him on Friday as he is one of the starting acts and is sure to set the bar high for the weekend.
    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dchgTntthfA]

    Solaris is an all instrumental trio from Ithaca that creates original compositions fusing electronica with jazz and funk with plenty of improvisation making each show unique for new and old fans alike.

    Tauk is a four piece experimental rock band that breathes music into their shows with an intensity of all instrumental jamming. They have performed at a number of festivals and recently worked with Grammy-winning producer Robert Carranza on their newest album.
    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTrdwUNtU6c]

    The Motet is THE improvisational funk band of today. The seven piece band from Colorado is always a special treat when they travel out to the East Coast with their reputation for throwing the funkiest dance parties.
    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUHOTiPPQC4?list=UUB40I1T1eQDV7YpOGcJrW7w]

    There are multiple ticket packagesavailable from single day passes to Rock star VIP status. For $125, you get a 3 day pass, not including meals or lodging plus you can only stay as late as 2 am. Single day Friday or Saturday go for $68 and single day Sunday goes for $37. But your best bet is to get a standard room package and split it up with your festy friends. The standard room package includes a 2 night stay, 2 event tickets, plus first class food. The more people you have in a room, the cheaper the package but with a 5 person maximum brings it to only $230 a person. Guests are encouraged to carpool, those with groups of 3 or more will have free parking, any less and it’s a $5 parking fee. There will be food vendors available 24 hours a day and reasonably priced alcohol for the adults. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this growing festival that continues to combine all the fun of a summer music spectacle within a historic and luxurious resort.