NYS Music 20​14

Category: Regions

  • Leading up to Night Lights: An Interview with Michelangelo Carubba of Turkuaz

    Anyone who lives in the Upstate region knows that summer is not something to be wished away. The short season of nice weather is always packed full of barbecues, weddings, family get-togethers, and weekends enjoying the outdoors. That being said, if there was one reason to look past the shorts and tank tops this year to hoodies and jeans, it would be Night Lights Music Festival. The festival is held in Sherman, NY (directions here) and has continued to get better with each proceeding year. The team who puts it together always does a great job, but this year they have set the bar quite high for western New York festivals with an incredible lineup that had most ready to smell the pumpkin spice back in the spring when the bands were announced.

    Michelangelo Carubba TurkuazSome of whom you will see include such acts as Snarky Puppy, Dopapod, Consider the Source, Turkuaz, The Mike Dillon Band, Jimkata, Big Mean Sound Machine, The Manhattan Project, and Aqueous. If that lineup in and of itself isn’t reason enough to come out, there are also a whole host of great up and coming local acts that you’ll want to see. Speaking of locals, one of the headliners, Turkuaz, has a tie back to the area that most don’t know about.

    Drummer Michelangelo Carubba of Turkuaz is actually a Buffalo native who grew up in the area and still has family who lives there. I was able to catch up with the man who keeps each member of the funk army marching to the same beat. Below, we talk about his hometown roots in Buffalo, his band, and Dave Brandwein’s trip to SkyNet, among other things.

    You’ve lived on both ends of New York State now and have experienced many cities on tour. What are your top three favorite places and why?
    This country is so vast and varied. I’ve toured 49 of 50 states (still waiting on that call to go to Alaska). New Orleans has always been one of my favorites. There’s something in the DNA of that town. It vibes harder than most cities. The food, the music, the people, everything. It’s great. Denver has been really good to us. The fact that you can buy herb with a credit card is pretty mind-blowing. But my favorite place is New York City. There’s nothing like it on earth. There’s everything for everyone and it’s always ready to go. It can be peaceful if you want, or it can rage harder than anywhere else. You can live at an ever-changing pace and it’s always right there with you. And I’m a native New York, East Coaster, and you just can’t get better Italian food than in New York.

    How did you end up in NYC with Turkuaz after growing up in Buffalo?
    I moved to Boston in 2006 when I was 21, after touring for 3 years in various bands. I moved there to attend Berklee College of Music. There, I met a lot of the people I still make music with today. When everyone was graduating, almost my entire crew was making the move to NY, en masse, so it was the logical next step. If you’re going to make a run for it with a band, New York is the place to do it.

    Who are some of your biggest influences and why?
    Muhammad Ali. He was the first hip hop poet. He could knock a man out like no one’s business. And he knew it. Queens of the Stone Age, musically, have been fueling me for the last ten months. I saw them at Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, and I’ve never been rocked so hard. Great songwriting, and an aesthetic that’s dripping with sex and pain. I love them. Snarky Puppy has been inspiring me as well. I won’t try to articulate why. Go and listen.

    Tell your fans something they might not know about you or the band.
    We’re insane.How did Jaguar start and what’s the current state of that band? Will you guys eventually record an album and tour?
    Alan Evans’ PlayonBrother and Turkuaz were on the road together for six weeks. I had known Danny Mayer and Beau Sasser for a long time. Beau had always been a mentor when we lived together in Boston. I think the band was actually born out of a few rounds of whiskey shots. Musicians are always looking for outlets, or ways to say what you want to say. We all thought it would be great to play together. Jaguar hits are all improvised at this point. We all have pretty open ears, and we’re all close friends, and that translates into the music. Everyone is very busy at the moment with main projects, but Jaguar is looking to hit again in the fall in the Northeast. I’m sure an album and touring will happen at some point.

    How did Turkuaz grow to include so many musicians? Was that by design?
    Unintentionally, yes. The bands sound was created by Dave Brandwein and Taylor Shell, our guitarist and bassist. They were making demos together in the Berklee days, and someone passed a demo off to Berklee’s record label, Heavy Rotation Records. The label asked Dave and Taylor to perform at the record release show at the Berklee Performance Center for 1,000 people. The demos were so musically dense, that to recreate the sound live, they needed to call eight or nine people. And it always stayed like that. It works.

    The band has springboarded pretty quickly in terms of popularity. What do you think that is attributed to?
    A relentless touring schedule over the last two and a half years has had a lot to do with our growth. We’re very lucky. People are coming out to shows and having a blast. We are too. When you’re in front of that many people, day in and day out, all over the US, you hope that something sticks in people’s minds. Our music and vibe seem to be sticking. We also just have fun. I think people read that. I think they realize that we’re up there giving our all every night because we want others to be happy.

    How is Dave Brandwein’s hand? Has he made a full recovery from the injury?
    We sent Dave off to SkyNet and he now has a fully bionic set up from the elbow down. It’s indestructible and it’s always set to rock.

    What influences do you bring to the table outside of funk?
    This is a hard question to answer. It would be a waste to say, “well I like rock and jazz and blues, etc.” The influences I bring, to make the music that I’m playing come alive, are things like my love for boxing, stand-up comedy, faith, sex, cinema, and animals. The playing is gonna be there, I can play these tunes with a blindfold on and one arm tied up. What makes it happen, what really gets me and the band and the crowd off, is when we bring real life into the music. How ever I’m feeling, I’m putting that into the music. Life is my influence.

    What are some of your favorite things about the city of Buffalo?
    The people. They’re kind, empathetic, and real. The food. I mean, come on. I just love what Buffalo means to me. I have such a connection to the city. I was born and raised there. My father owns Carubba Collision, and anyone that’s a Bills, Sabres, Bandits, or Bisons fan recognizes that name. “The Carubba Collision of the Game” has been a great part of Buffalo sports for the last 35 years. When I think of Buffalo, I think of the times spent at the Aud, at First Niagara Center, or at the baseball field, (whatever it’s called now). Buffalo will always hold a very special place in my heart.

    Alan Evans is another big drummer from Buffalo and it seems, on social media, that he has become a friend. What experiences has he shared with you as an up and coming drummer?
    Al has become a close friend. Al is a great musician. Not just a drummer, but a guitarist, bassist, singer, and producer. We share a similar sense of humor, and a similar understanding of things. Al is a true Buffalonian, and I think I am too. I feel like we subconsciously relate to each other along that plane. He’s taught me about humility, hard work, and ambition. Al’s kind, generous, loyal, and most of all, real. There’s a lot of people on his level that are fake. Al is not fake. Al is the shit.

    Who are some of the bands you still haven’t played with, but would like to?
    Well, Snarky Puppy for sure. I’m going to kick that off the bucket list on September 13th, at Night Lights Music Festival. That’s going to be incredible. I get to play a show, walk off stage, and watch one of my favorite bands in the world play right after. You can’t ask for much more than that.

    What is up next for Turkuaz?
    Finishing up festival season now, with the exception of a few late in the year (Bear Creek Festival in November in FL). For September, we’re locking ourselves away for the month and recording our next album. We have a few shows during the month that we’re thrilled about. On the 19th we’re direct support for Bootsy Collins in Baltimore. That is a dream come true. He wrote the book on a lot of what we’re trying to do, so to get to share it with him and a huge audience, is amazing. Aside from that, we’re touring. We’re always touring. It never ends. And we love it.

    Are you a Bills and Sabres fan? What do you think about the state of both teams?
    I love all Buffalo sports, like I said earlier, but the Sabres are the closest to my heart. Growing up, a lot of the old Buffalo Sabres were around my house and at family parties. John Tucker and Paul Cyr (throwback) used to come and cut their Christmas trees down on my families land. John Tucker gave me my first Labatt Blue when I was five years old. Rob Ray taught me how to swear when I was seven. I remember watching Dominic Hasek play horrible golf, yell in his native tongue, and throw golf clubs. The Sabres organization will always be very close to me. As for the state of the team, I think the entire city, and everything and everyone involved, is on the rise. Companies are investing in Buffalo. Neighborhoods are being revitalized. Restaurants, shops, homes. Everything is coming back. I think the Sabres and the Bills are headed in the same direction. I think by 2020, Buffalo is going to have a new identity. It’s not going to be “that places where it snows”. Its going to be a Championship city where people go for music, food, and living life. I love Buffalo.

    If the lineup somehow doesn’t convince you, there’s also this little side element that not a lot of people realize, even with it being in the festival name: THE LIGHTS! Night Lights Music Festival is one part music festival and one part light display. This isn’t just stage lighting though as the Night Lights HQ sets up an enormous and truly stunning display throughout the woods. I can leave this description brief as words simply don’t do it justice. Check out the pictures from Arthur Kogutowski below and we hope to see you dancing under the lights next weekend.

    If you’re now looking for tickets to Night Lights Music Festival, you can grab them here. They’re $75 presale and include camping and parking.

  • Steely Dan Closes the SPAC Season with Absolute Mastery

    Steely Dan is known for high-quality composition, intellectual lyrics, and songs that contain multiple layers of meaning. Yet, while on SPAC’s stage on Sunday, Aug. 31 their performance was quite simple. No fancy props, no flashy clothes, no crazy antics. The complexity of their music compared to the simple performance on stage was ironic.

    The irony of Steely Dan seems to be a common theme. Even their name is ironic. Those who don’t know the band might assume it is named for one person whom perhaps either has a “steely voice” or who makes the guitar screech like grinding steel. But Steely Dan is not named for one person – they are named for an adult toy that was the subject of the novel, The Naked Lunch and the band’s name definitely does not describe how they operate on stage.

    Their performance does not focus on one person; in fact, it’s not even really focused on the two men (Donald Fagen and Walter Becker) who founded the band in the 1960s while attending Bard College. All 13 musicians on stage had an opportunity to show off their incredible talent. The keyboardist, guitarists, and backup singers were all given ample time to display their gifts. All four horn players had solos, and even had a chance to step to the front of the stage to highlight their life’s work. The drummer had multiple times to shine, and in fact, lights were arranged behind and underneath him to further emphasize his explosive talent.

    Fagen and Becker, who are of course, the glue that holds Steely Dan together, were the guys who drew thousands of fans to Saratoga Springs. Both are brilliant musicians. Fagen was working with malfunctioning equipment; the G above middle C on his  keyboard was not working, but, as he told the crowd, he worked around it. Becker’s stories, which started out in a conversational tone, but following tangent after tangent, ended up fitting into the music that the band was building up behind him.

    Fans who came to hear their Steely Dan favorites were not disappointed. The 1970s hits, such as “Rikki Don’t Lose that Number,” “My Old School,” and “Reelin’ In the Years” were performed with absolute mastery.

    Steely Dan’s Jamalot 2014 Tour will end with a three-day run Sept. 19-21 at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester,N.Y. with several other scheduled performances in the Northeast.

    Set List:
    Cubano Chant (orchestra) , Black Cow, Aja, Hey Nineteen, Black Friday, Show Biz Kids, Time Out of Mind, Two Against Nature, Dirty Work, Bodhisattva, I Want To (Do Everything for You), Daddy Don’t Live in That New York City No More, Babylon Sisters, Reelin’ In The Years, Josie, Peg, My Old School, Rikki Don’t Lose That Number

    Encore:
    Kid Charlemagne, The Untouchables

  • Tedeschi Trucks Band Rolls Into Rochester on September 25

    Rochester, NY will be the landing spot for the celebratory roots and blues explorations of the Tedeschi Trucks Band on Sept. 25. The eleven piece group combines Derek Trucks world-renowned guitar prowess as well as his wife Susan Tedeschi’s gritty vocals and equally potent guitar talents. Poly rhythmic undercurrents, golden horn exclamations and soulful renditions of classic covers and original compositions are on the docket for the evenings musical proceedings. The band will visit Rochester in support of their recent release, 2013’s Made Up Mind. 

    Tedeschi Trucks Band rochesterThe concert will feature the band’s diverse blend of swampy blues, jazz, funk and raga neatly decorated with the virtuosic slide guitar of bandleader and instrumentalist extraordinaire Derek Trucks. Unable to be categorized by genre, the Tedeschi Trucks band is music for the body and mind, developed by some of the finest musicians in the world, each member a shining star illuminating a detailed musical landscape.

    Tickets for the 7:30 performance are available through Ticketmaster for $39.00-89.00 or by contacting the Rochester Auditorium Theatre.

  • Dark Star Orchestra Played to a Packed Crowd at Rochester’s Party in the Park

    One of the most notable events from the Party in the Park lineup was Dark Star Orchestra’s event, which featured a random set-list, not a specific recreation of an authentic Grateful Dead show as they are famously known for. The set-list featured gems like “Loose Lucy” and “west L.A. Fadeaway” in the first set while the second set had highlights, “Foolish Heart” and encore “Dear Prudence”. Despite they did not choose a set-list from a show, the energy was still there and family was all around.

    Summer has come and gone and the Autumn time is coming soon, when we look back to those hot summer nights, many in Rochester will surely think back to the superb Party in the Park concert series we enjoyed this year. The location had been brought back to the original spot at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park at Manhattan Square, and Rochestarians couldn’t have been happier about the re-location and the hot line-up.

    Setlist – Dark Star Orchestra Party in the Park

    Set One: Greatest Story Ever Told ; Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn) ; It’s All Over Now ; Loose Lucy ; Lazy Lightning > Supplication ; West L.A. Fadeaway ; Big River > Mystery Train ; On The Road Again ; Let It Rock

    Set Two: Feel Like A Stranger ; Foolish Heart > Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance > Unbroken Chain > drums > space > Fire On The Mountain > Hey Jude > China Doll > Johnny B. Goode

    Encore: The Shape I’m In > Dear Prudence

  • Camp Creek: Where Old Memories Come to Life And New Ones Are Made

    The rain slowly fell, as did expectations of  decent weather for another festival weekend at Camp Creek. The bikers who occupy the Indian Lookout Country Club were efficient in their car searches as well as very polite . They were so cordial in fact that when dropping a bag of Cheetos out of a campers car, they gave it back to them, much to the chagrin of the biker who had Chester the Cheetah tattooed on his arms. This vibe was implanted into the overall feeling once campers got inside as well. The mist and drizzle continued, there weren’t any down pours – just enough rain to be a bother. Everyone was helping everyone else get their gear setup, an overly friendly gesture not always seen at festivals, if ever.

    The Country Club was extraordinary but this was not your grandparent’s country club – there are no golf courses or swimming pools or croquet court. No, this is a retreat for bikers and a beautiful one at that. Over looking a magnificent array of mountains as far as the eye could see with lakes and a water fountain, this place just seemed like home. Although the weather was a slight detriment there was this calming vibe covering the entire venue so there were little if any worries.

    Casey Bloom, a native of Canandaigua, NY, opened the festival up with an acoustic set focusing on many Grateful Dead, Tom Petty and Pink Floyd covers such as “Lady with a Fan,” “Wildflowers” and “Fearless”. This was a fantastic way to kick off the festival as people began to fill up the hill stage and sang along to all their favorites. The table was set for a brilliant weekend of music. As the evening progressed so did the music and positive energy. The staff was delightful as they made the campers comfort their number one priority. Having staff constantly checking on the bathrooms to ensure cleanliness, is a lesson other festivals should learn from. As well as helping disabled festival goers with their wheelchairs or offering to lend a hand if you were carrying too much, their courtesy was above and beyond any call of duty.

    The Marks Brothers, led by Max Creek  keyboardist Marc Mercier, had  fans swarming at the Hill Stage to get a glimpse. Featuring Mark Paradis on guitar, Brian Konopka behind the drum-kit and Dave Stoltz slapping the bass. These four put on a very rocking set putting a different spin on some standards that Marc does while playing with Creek. The once grassy area in front of the stage had now become a muddy disaster but no one was bothered by this, in fact the longer the set went on the more the tent filled and created more mud. The best thing about this band was they played songs that Creek plays but they played them a lot heavier it wasn’t just Marc playing the same songs the same way with different guys, different guys means a different sound and that’s what the Marks Brothers delivered.

    The spirit of  ’70s southern rock lives on through many bands in the music scene today, however very few emulate it as Eastbound Jesus does. EBJ is a band hailing from Greenwich, NY which embodies everything there is about the that era of music. Weird? Maybe. Does it matter? No. This band rocked hard. Adam Brockway, the bands centerpiece controlled the crowd with his movements and twangy vocal styling. Brockway demands the crowd’s attention and he receives it. Although there are many acoustic bands with similar styles, the electric guitar playing of Dylan Robinson separates EBJ from all the rest. The smooth modern sound over the classic rock backing is a sound untouched by very few if any bands out there today. It catches the ear of not only jam band fans, but that of bluegrass and country as to not pigeon-hole their fan base. The sky is the limit for EBJ, and they will reach it very soon.

    After EBJ the floor was completely muddy but that didn’t stop anyone from coming to see the main act Friday night. Beau Sasser, Ed Mann, Bill Carbone and Scott Murawski packed the tent over capacity and out into the surrounding area. This all-star lineup was nothing less than spectacular. Sasser has a knack for the keys possessed by no one. He owned the crowd from the very start with his nonchalant confidence as he smoked his cigarette and talked to the sound guy, never missing a beat. He transmitted very spacey sounds as the rest of the group severed as a backdrop. Murakswi shared some amazing solos, Sasser was right with him, this was his show, and everyone was very ecstatic about the energy. As the night wound down the bikers kept watch over everything making sure no one got out of hand and that everyone was safe. That was the key to the whole festival, safety.

    Saturday morning showed some promise both as far as the weather went and the music, the day started perfectly. Although the sky was overcast the sun was trying to emerge itself through covering clouds. Hot Acoustics opened the morning up with special guests John Rider and Jamerreal Stanley, for a well awaited sit-in by the remaining members of Max Creek . The set featured four people having a good time all had smiles on their faces and the music was spot on. To start a Saturday off this was the right way, as the afternoon rolled on and the sun broke through Matt Zeieer and crew did their things much to the liking of the crowd, but it wasn’t until Ryan Montebleu took that stage that the crowd really got into the vibe. Playing sing along songs, the most catchy was “Eggs” a fun little song about how he likes his eggs. The crowd was inside and outside of the ten and no on he was having a bad time Playing “Sergent peppers Lonely Hearts Club” band was a great addition to the set everyone knew it and everyone loved it. Ryan Montebleu was defiantly an important act on the schedule.

    When Max Creek took the stage around 7p.m. the place was ready to get down and so was Creek. Camp Creek is like the Superbowl to Creek, they hold it out all year just for this set, and by hearing it you can tell this was true, “Jones” opened the show and from the first note everyone was dancing, smiling hugging, family. The grooves continued and the crowd continued to eat it up. It wasn’t until “drums>space>drums” that things really hit their peak. With avant-garde sounds reminiscent, almost emulating  Pink Floyd, the crowd was entranced, just waiting in awe for what was to come next. There was no telling, even in the 18 plus minute “Who do You love” the aura was still there and it finally dropped into the beautiful “Emerald Eyes”. Everyone was either smiling, crying or screaming. This is what Creek is about no matter what emotion, they are bound to channel at least one every time. And, this time was no exception. “Down with the Jungle” a song wich featured Jammerel Stanley on main vocals was completely off the charts. It showed that after all these years Creek still has the power of diversity. In the middle of the song Jammerall rapped, a rap at Camp creek, with Max Creek, by a Max Creek member.; Awesome.

    Long time Creek collaborator Frank Messina came up and delivered an amazing poem about America, although it was a little hard to follow at the time, he always brought it back to “the Soul of America” –   it was phenomenal. “Twist and Shout” was the next rocking number to get everyone back in the mood before they were getting ready to wrap up their five-plus hour show. This show was as close to perfect that can be achieved.

    There is no cure for the Sunday festival blues like a little early morning smooth jazz. Jammerall, Stanely and the Drummers for Peace and Equality delivered just that. With a nice mellow drum beat under the slow smooth trumpet set the mood right, nothing to fast nothing to crazy, just something to slowly get your groove back after a long weekend. These guys were booked perfectly as a rocking afternoon was soon to take place.

    Spitune, playing on the hill stage to a mediocre crowd, was the key to Sunday as a lot of campers packed it up and left that morning, but that wasn’t going to stop the party from continuing. Opening the set with a cover of the band who is hosting the festival has to take a lot of courage and SpiTune did just that. Starting their set with the creek classic “Something is Forming” and putting their own twist on it was a very nice surprise that left the crowd in bewilderment. When Creek plays the song it changes it up but basically in the same structure, SpiTune changed-up some of the vocal arrangements to make it feel more original.

    Flipper Dave was ready to party when they took the stage. Playing gongs that were not only jammy, but also personal, it was a nice change of pace, Scott Murawski got brought up several times and helped the boys out that was not needed but it was fun to see these friends play together, this family play together, That was the presence of the whole weekend that this was juts one big family, bands included and they were going to play that they wanted to when they want to, much to the delight of the other bands.This is what a true festival should be like. This has been lost in the festival scene when promoters book bands that have no connection to each other. As soon as you can feel the  disconnection from the bands it takes away from the festival as a whole, Camp Creek did it their way, the right way.

    Fungus Amungus was the last hill stage act. They tore it down. With a horn section like no other and yet another appearance by, Scott Murasaki. Muraswki sat in for two songs then the best part of the set occurred when the band play homage to some of the greatest groups of the seventies, Pink Floyd and Zeppelin playing Zeppelin “The Ocean” and “Moby Dick” followed Floyd’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”.

    The final act of the festival, which should’ve been dubbed Max Creek and friends was up on the main stage next. This was a special treat. This is what the festival was all about: Family. Having most of the guys who were playing sit in with them was something special, from  festival opener CaseyBloom, To Keyboardist, Beaus Sasser to Murawski’s grandson, this was a very special set. It was more fun than anything and that’s what it’s all about. When Max Creek decided to put this festival on this year they said they wanted to have a party like it used to be. They succeeded, they succeeded with flying colors and this set proved it.

  • Clutch Returns to Upstate New York

    Photo provided
    Photo provided

    It’s that time of year again. Heavy Earth Rockers, Clutch, are returning to Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park, New York on Saturday, Sept. 6. The band will likely hold court to a packed house, as they seem to bring out fans from all corners of the state and beyond every time they grace the stage at UCH.

    Joining them on this tour will be Lionize, a tight, riff heavy outfit from Maryland. Their new album, Jetpack Soundtrack, is full of their usual sci-fi metaphors coupled with intense hard rock. But this album is a little different, as the band and their sound have matured over the last ten years. It was also co-produced by Jean-Paul Gaster, the drummer of Clutch, adding to the explosive percussive energy this album emits. 

    Also opening up is American Sharks, a driving heavy rock band, reminiscent of the glory days of Motorhead. Both American Sharks and Lionize round out a night of guitar-heavy, full on rock that is sure to be a show not to miss. Upstate Concert Hall brings quality entertainment to the area, and a Clutch show is one that many faithful patrons frequent every single year.

    Clutch continues to return because of the overwhelming response they have gotten from this area. Blues driven, heavy rock riffs coupled with a stunning vocal assault are what make these shows so much fun.  If you are a fan of heavy music, or music that moves you, this is the show for you. If you are already a fan of Clutch, both openers promise to deliver in a big way, and might make you fans of them as well. Thanks to Step Up Presents for bringing this band back again and again.

    clutch 

    Tickets can be bought through Ticketmaster or through the Upstate Concert Hall box office.

  • Hot with Sweater Weather at the NY State Fair

    It was ironic to say the least, but perfect blue skies and sunshine were the backdrop for a band best known for their song “Sweater Weather”. This past Friday afternoon, the California indie rock band known as The Neighbourhood killed it on the stage of Chevy Court at the Great NY State Fair.

    Sweater WeatherEven though they formed in 2011 and are relative newcomers to the music scene, the band was welcomed by fans as they took the stage to screams and applause. For just under an hour, this group of musicians gave a performance with their unique sound. The band has strong characteristics that come through in every song. They flawlessly combine an upbeat, pop rock style with catchy lyrics and sexy groove. Then, they top it off with just enough dark/mysterious edge that singer Jesse Rutherford’s vocals capture perfectly. The sensual tone in his voice is something so many strive to achieve, yet he does without any effort.

    Chevy Court is in the heart of the Fair, surrounded by the buildings, people could enjoy the music as they walked between exhibits, activities, wine/moonshine slushy stands, beer gardens, and about the best fried food on the planet (Fried Specialties had the most incredible creation called the Twinx (Twix, stuffed inside a Twinkie, wrapped in bacon, and then deep-fried – Jim Hasbrouck you are genius).

    These guys drew fans of all ages. However, these young men definitely had a strong fan base of females. The teenaged and 20-ish girls were heart-felt and passionately screaming at the band “I love you!”.

    The attendees showed their appreciation for this free show by their pure energetic reaction to the melodies being shared with them. The excitement was due largely to the frontmans’ ability to get the audience engaged and participating – from raising their hands in the air to singing along with him.

    Lead singer, Jesse Rutherford, smirked and absorbed his fans adoring yells with ease and a sense of cool aloofness that seem to make the girls want him more. As the first song “Female Robbery” started, the singer covered his face with his tattooed-covered arm, protecting his eyes. He later stated they had not seen the sun recently since they had been in Europe, chuckling, followed by saying, “This is awesome”.

    Keeping true to their “look” of being a clean, monochromatic aesthetic, all members wore black and white with Rutherford somehow wearing a black beanie on the hot sunny day. The pale skin tone along with asking the audience to pretend it was night, leads me to believe these guys do not get to see daylight all that much. That did not inhibit their performance or energy.

    A subtle demeanor from guitarist Jerry Freedman during his solo on the song “Baby Came Home” had a powerful, confident playing that captured the mood. Soft lingering notes seemed to float from the stage into the air, carrying them away in the imaginations of what the song meant to each person.

    Their new song “Dangerous” was laid out in their set. While it kept with the band’s sound, it had a different groove and feel to make you want to find out what else they have in store next. This is a band to keep an eye on and watch bloom and boom into the music scene even more.

    Set List: Female Robbery, Everybody’s Watching Me (Uh-Oh), Let It Go, Jealou$y, W.D.Y.W.F.M.?, Baby Came Home, A Little Death, Wires, How, Lurk, Dangerous, Sweater Weather, Afraid

  • Streaming Now: Sean Rowe’s New Release ‘Madman’ on NPR’s First Listen

    Troy, NY’s own Sean Rowe is releasing his fourth studio album Madman on September 9. NPR’s First Listen is giving a sneak peak of the entire album right now ahead of its official release.

    The 12-track album does not fall short of delivering skillful songwriting and Rowe’s notable baritone voice. By listening to  Madman and his three previous releases, it’s no surprise that Sean Rowe has quickly climbed to the national scene from his start at open mics and acoustic bar shows in New York’s Capital Region.

    The album is available for pre-order, along with several other goodies like handwritten lyric sheets and signed CDs/LPs and posters on Sean Rowe’s Pledge Music page here.

  • Joan Jett and The Black Hearts Rocked The Chevy Court at The Great New York State Fair

    The New York State Fair is always brining fantastic artists to Central New York. This year they struck gold when Rock And Roll Hall of Famers Joan Jett And The Blackhearts performed for free at the Chevy Court stage at the Great New York State Fair on Wednesday, August 27.

    Joan Jett and The Black Hearts – Great New York State Fair Chevy Court

    There was easily about seven thousand fairgoers gathered for their hour and fifteen minute set. No opening act. No nonsense. Just straight up classic punk. Currently, Joan Jett And The Blackhearts are touring in support of their latest album, Unvarnished. There were five songs off that album sprinkled into their set, along with their more notable hits and The Runaways’ classics.

    The band opened with “Bad Reputation” and The Runaways’ classic “Cherry Bomb”. Joan Jett is clearly on her A game and sounded better now than she did seven years ago when she played the state fair the previous time. And very notably, the band was clicking on all cylinders as well. Keyboardist Kenny Laguna, guitarist Dougie Needles, drummer Thommy Price, and bassist Acey Slade all showed great chemistry and great backing vocals to the entire performance.

    Some of the bigger highlights of their set would have to be “Touch Me There”, a new song that she co-wrote with Dave Grohl titled “Any Weather”, and her cover of “Crimson and Clover”, which the crowd went nuts for. Also, the crowd went crazy for “I Love Rock and Roll” as expected.

    The band ended with a three-song encore, featuring “Reality Mentality”, “Real Wild Child”, and a cover of “Everyday People”

    Overall it was a great show, and possibly the best Chevy Court concert in YEARS.

  • Rockstar Uproar Rocks The Great New York State Fair, Despite Poor Weather and Lukewarm Ticket Sales

    It was a rainy and miserable day on August 22 at the Great New York State Fair. However, some great hard rock rolled through the grandstand. There were some problems going into the show. First and foremost, Seether, Buckcherry, and These Raven Skies DID NOT appear at this stop due to outside conflict of interest, which may have hurt the ticket sales. On top of that, there seemed to be a lack of promotion behind this show. I would be worried if Rockstar Uproar will stop in Syracuse next year.

    Doors originally were supposed to open at 2pm that day, but due to the amount of bands that pulled, the show started at 3pm. The first set of bands performed on the smaller “Festival Stage” which was set on the dirt track right next to the grandstand stage. I did like how the vender tents and autograph tents were positioned on the far side of the track. The stage itself looked and sounded great. There was only one problem. Dirt track and rain is a messy situation. But bloody hell, it’s rock and roll. The first band Blame Anchor did a fine job opening the set. There must have been only 400 people when they started. Blame Anchor was the band that won the battle of the bands competition to be part of Rockstar Uproar. I think their fifteen minutes of fame pending the rest of the tour will pan out for them. Blame Anchor played a very short set, but made it count. They had a Godsmack vibe to them.

    Bad Seed Rising played their half hour set. They’re just kids, but they impressed. It’s really hard for bands in their teens to really take off with rock and metal, but I believe Bad Seed Rising can make it in this harsh industry if they stick to their guns. They’ve got some real heart and talent.

    Canada’s Sons Of Reverly are definitely the odd band out of this line up, which is not a bad thing. It just shows they got something to prove as they’re an unsigned indie band. They were the winners of last year’s Rockstar Uproar battle of the bands. This year they made it on to a permanent slot. The fascinating thing about watching them is how they eventually won the crowd completely over by the end of their set. They seem to have a little flavor of Rush, but they have some heavy songs and songs that people can relate too. I would imagine this band will be signed within the next year. I had the privilege of interviewing them after their set.

    Tattered and Three Years Hollow played good and heavy sets, but it was festival stage headliners Escape The Fate that really made that stage explode and laid the foundation. They played a fast and heavy set and egged on the crowed, too, to get them going. Clearly, a hungry band that continues to grow and make an impact on the radio and on the road. It was surprising they were not on the main stage because they clearly belonged there on this tour. By the time Escape The Fate finished, there must have been about three thousand people in attendance. Not exactly staggering numbers for a grandstand show at the fair, but the people who were there were lucky to see Escape The Fate perform.

    After Escape The Fate graced the stage and the festival stage closed down, Pop Evil opened the main stage. There was only one problem. It was almost an hour before Pop Evil started. I understand setting up the stage and production is hard work, but there was no reason for it be that long. Especially the fact that this show had two stages. But despite the long wait, Pop Evil clicked on all cylinders and was definitely a highlight of the entire show. Their set consisted of songs from all three of their albums. Songs like “100 In A 55”, “Dance With The Devil”, and “Last Man Standing” were great and had awesome performances. Pop Evil is certainly making big splashes and really solidifying themselves as a premiere headlining act.

    Because of the shortage of bands that were originally billed, it was yet another long ridiculous wait for Skillet. It may have been worth it though as Skillet was easily the best band on the bill. They’re production was bigger than it ever was. They had violinists on stage with them too; it was such a spectacle. There was a lot of energy put into their performance, and it was a nice change of pace to hear music with a positive message too. Skillet played most of their hits, but the song that stood out the most was definitely “Awake and Alive”, which had a slightly different take on it than we are used to hearing. I did find it a little odd that Skillet, who are strong Christian believers, were on the same bill with Godsmack because Sully Erna is a member of the Church of Satan. But it’s about the music, not the beliefs.

    Godsmack, of course, headlined the show. Now don’t get it twisted, Godsmack ALWAYS puts on a great show. Even if they’re off a little on a night, you’re always going to get a great show from them. Now, I have seen Godsmack multiple times. For the past decade, the band has been no stranger to Syracuse and the rest of Upstate New York, so I’m sure there are a lot of people who have seen them multiple times. That being said, they seem to have lost a little fire in their performance that night. It was still a great show, but the energy that I am used to seeing from Godsmack over the years, I did not see at Uproar. Most notably in lead guitarist Tony Rombola. He’s very talented and was a nice guy when I met him a few years back, but it just seemed he lacked the passion he used to have on stage. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt though as maybe it was an off night or that the band is a little rusty from taking the last couple of years off. As far as their set, it was a good mixture of their classic hits and some songs off of their latest release 1000 HP. Of course, the one thing that stood out during the show was the dual percussion solo between Sully Erna and Shannon Larkin. Always enjoyable to see. And during “Whatever”, Erna threw beers at the crowd and invited some fans on stage – most notably the guy with the HUGE afro that fascinated Erna. It was pretty amusing.

    Overall, it was a good lineup, but could have been so much more if Seether and Buckcherry were able to make the bill. I think fans would have gotten a much better bang for their buck and the show would have had MUCH better attendance.