On Friday, August 15th in Upper Darby, PA, Dopapod, or more lovingly known as Derp-uh-perd, flipped the Tower Theater on its head before Umphrey’s McGee got the chance to touch an instrument.
Dopapod opens the Tower Theater.
Thinking to myself, “they’re really playing down their weirdness for this huge slot tonight,” I overheard a woman behind me: “I think I like them; they’re just really weird. Did he just sing about Trapper Keepers?” Weird is synonymous for Dopapod and vice versa, so pardon the repetitiveness.
Dopapod bassist Chuck Jones.
“This is their attempt at toning it down,” I had to interject. “They just turned knobs, slapped basses, and jammed out for 15 minutes about a Trapper Keeper, or something like that. But, they’re actually playing a relatively straightforward set tonight.” As fans packed in for Umphrey’s McGee’s debut at the Tower Theater, Dopapod cranked the rock out, setting the mood for a long night of hard jamming ahead.
For my friend Chris and I, this was our third night of getting Umphed in a row. This night was special, though: we were back on our home turf, back with our UMPHamily. The previous two nights in Burlington, VT, and Hampton Beach, NH, respectively, were great, but Burlington’s Maritime Festival show drew a relatively subdued crowd and Chris had to drive us home in the middle of the night after the Hampton show— five hours away.
Philadelphia was basically our backyard. As I met up with some of my best friends from all over the Northeast (and a new one from Atlanta), a warm sense of serenity washed over me: this was exactly where I belonged in the universe. Umphrey’s took the stage and showered a foreboding “Bathing Digits” onto us, and my hands involuntarily reached to the heavens, pointer fingers fully extended, crossed, and displayed Umph-horns for the world to see.
Bassist Ryan Stasik: Rage, rest, repeat.
The Tower Theater, a classic movie house built in 1927, had an historic feel to it with trellised boxes upstairs and pillars climbing the height of the stage on both sides. Downstairs was a wide open symmetric room, where the approximately 3,000 fans were confined in a tightly packed sea of people that would sway gently and heave aggressively throughout the show, depending on the band’s climate.
The historic Tower Theater.
From night to night, you never known what you’re going to get at an Umphrey’s show. UM is that friend who is the life of the party, yet inherently a loose cannon. It is only an educated guess whether you’re going to get a melodic old friend in “The Fussy Dutchman,” or a brashly combative “Wizard Burial Ground;” a persistently rebellious “Mulche’s Odyssey,” or a rambunctious yet contemplative “Der Bluten Kat.” At the Tower Theater, we saw all these faces of Umphrey’s.
Jake Cinninger’s game face.
Whenever you get “Glory” and “Hajimashite” in the same night, the universe is aligned in your favor. Throw in an emergency 11-minute dance party known as “The Triple Wide,” and the start of “In The Kitchen” early in the first set and the end late in the second, and an Umphrey’s show is materializing. With an emotional cover of The Police’s “Driven To Tears,” a “Puppet String” sandwich encore, and a few other originals and teases, Joel Cummins and the Cookie Bandits brought their “A” game to rock UMPHilly late into the night.
Umphrey’s at the Tower Theater.
Setlist Umphrey’s McGee Tower Theatre, Upper Darby, PA Set One: Bathing Digits > The Fussy Dutchman, In The Kitchen > Mulche’s Odyssey, The Linear > 2X2, Der Bluten Kat > Amble On > Der Bluten Kat (1) Set Two: The Triple Wide > Cut The Cable, Driven To Tears > Hangover (2), Educated Guess, Hajimemashite (3) > In The Kitchen, Synchopated Strangers, Wizard Burial Ground Encore: Puppet String (4) > Glory > Puppet String
[1] with It’s About That Time (Miles Davis) tease
[2] with Proverbial teases
[3] with White Man’s Moccasins tease and Den jam
[4] with Simple Gifts (trad.) tease
It seems no matter if The Revivalists play a huge music festival or an intimate small club show they seem to really give it their all. Tuesday, August 12 was no different as the New Orleans band played with as much conviction as if they were playing in front of thousands upon thousands of music lovers at The Waiting Room in downtown Buffalo.
Opening the show was Buffalo’s own Funktional Flow. The band bridged funk, reggae and all around jamming together and hitting you in the face with a powerful recipe this foursome is really taking it to the next level. Playing a few new songs in the set was also entertaining and giving Camp Flow, which is what the fan base has started to adopt as their nickname something to long for. A new album is on the doorstep and with the potential this band has, the sky is the limit. Funktional Flow continues with spots at The Purple Pig Festival, Catskill Chill and Night Lights Music Festivals, keeping them fairly busy and they would have it no other way.
Thomas Wynn & The Believers followed Flow’s explosive set with an American Rock infused sound that turned the decibel rating in the small club to overdrive. The band itself was solid and makes sense that they were named Orlando’s top Rock n Roll band four years in a row.
It may have been a Tuesday night but it soon seemed like a weekend night as soon as David Shaw (vocals, guitar) and The Revivalists started to really get going. Shaw asked the crowd to move right up close and the spaced out room became very intimate in no time. One thing you will find in many Revivalists shows is Shaw enjoys to be part of the crowd, often jumping into the crowd and mingling with his fans. Shaw has so much soul in his voice and his actions at times really speaks largely to what this band has become. He is backed by some solid musicians and his band has just as much fun on the stage that Shaw seems to have off stage. The seven piece band played their hearts out and it may have been a smaller show in the grand scheme of things but they sure didn’t give that impression to the Buffalo fans.
Setlist: All in The Family, When I’m Able, Stand Up, Concrete, Keep Going, Catching Fireflies, Two Ton, Not Turn Away, Navigate Below, It Was a Sin, Soulfight, Fade Away, Souls To Loud
It’s 6:30 PM on a warm Friday night in downtown Rochester, NY. A lengthy line stretches down a sidewalk running parallel to the historic Main Street Armory; the venue that is about to house the alternative hard rock sound of California’s own Queens of the Stone Age. As this show was their only stop in Upstate, NY, there was certainly no shortage of eager fans packing the floor and balcony of the large performance room.
Taking the stage first was the freshly signed (Sony Music Entertainment) New York City trio, Unlocking the Truth. Considering their roots come from setting up shop in Times Square, along with the fact this was only their third stage show ever, one would assume that a hint of nervousness would be obvious, especially when not one member of the band has hit their fourteenth birthday yet. Instead what the crowd got was a surprisingly heavy sound from the incredibly talented and comfortable teens on stage. The band was able to get the night started on the right foot, drawing cheers and immense applause from awe-stricken faces in the crowd. They continue their route to fame in the fall as they tour with rock veterans, Living Colour.
Next on stage was Aussie rocker and wife of Josh Homme, Queens of the Stone Age frontman, Brody Dalle. From start to finish in their ten-song set, the band delivered an edgy, up-tempo punk rock sound to the ever-growing audience. Along with a majority of newly written songs, Brody Dalle also threw in the single, “Coral Fang” from her prior musical project The Distillers. The fast paced sound that Brody Dalle delivered kept the anxious crowd energized and moving as they awaited the main act of the night. The band continued touring the United States through the end of July before they traveled across the pond to tour Europe during the month of August.
At 10:00 PM, the light panels at the back of the stage displayed a sixty-second countdown to which the ever-ready crowd counted along as the moment they had all been waiting for, finally became a reality. The large venue was sporting a packed balcony and limited free space on either side of the floor. As the band dove right into the popular hit “No One Knows” there were few heads not banging along to the music as well as fists stuck straight up into the air demonstrating a love for the ones on stage. As the show continued, it was hard not to appreciate the amount of work that went into stage and lighting setup. With elaborate overhead and backing lights, the mood of each song could be captured by different colors and light speeds. After powering through six or seven fast-paced, in-your-face fan favorites, Josh Homme took the piano to slow it down for their song, “Like Clockwork”. The crowd stayed rowdy and slowly more lighters than camera phones began to prevail from the sea of people. They did not keep the mood mellow for long as they revamped the tempo with more crowd favorites like “Sick, Sick, Sick” and “3’s and 7’s”.
The Queens of the Stone Age were admired as kings of rock n roll for the night, from beginning to end, keeping the audience jumping and cheering with no signs of stopping. The sweat-soaked band members finished their set, leaving the audience begging for more. As they walked off the stage, the overwhelming cheers begging for an encore began growing louder and louder. Gone for no more than two minutes, the band took the stage, beers in hand, welcomed back by the adoring fans whose cheers now reached a new peak. The three-song encore satisfied the crowd above and beyond what they could have hoped for, and shortly after the band left the stage for good, the lights came on and the venue was clear of the majority of people. Queens of the Stone Age put on not only a terrific musical show, but created an experience for their fans that left ears ringing and heads pounding for the ride home. The band continues its tour throughout August as they head to Norway to appease even more insatiable fans
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
“They’re a poor man’s Galactic”, the banker in the dark charcoal suit standing next to me tells me. Though I have no idea what Galactic is, or what a suit is doing watching a self-proclaimed funky-reggae-rock-soul band playing at Fontana‘s (I later learn that it’s an obscure jam-band, and they’re friends of the band from University of Miami), I nod my head in agreement anyway. The suit is soon joined by more men wearing brown herringbone skinny ties and I arrive at the conclusion that it’s corporate night at the music bar.
As hard as it is to take these men in floral shirts with highjacked Jamaican accents from Washington seriously, it gets harder to maintain my level of cynicism a few minutes into their set. The crowd begis to sway with abandon to the jazz harmonies in “What A Time”, and not even the staff is immune to the hard hitting horn lines of “The Motions”. Feel Free even spews a lyric or two about having a thing for a girl with sleeve tattoos in “Popcorn and Alcohol”, a song built around a chord progression reminiscent of Young the Giant’s “West Virginia”, granting them major star power from the crowd.
Feel Free is by no means a band that’s going to ritually treat their hair the way it’s described in Chapter Six of the Book of Numbers, but there is no doubt that they will create genre-bending music that brings all sorts of people together. By the end of the night, everyone left Chinatown feeling free, thoroughly impressed by the band’s musicianship.
The All Things Dead Tour kicked off in Clifton Park, NY on Wednesday, Aug. 13. Promising to be one of the heaviest tours this fall, it is a month-long assault on the United States and Canada. Fresh off of the Summer Slaughter tour, Origin headlines an impressive lineup, and this first show at Trickshots Billiards started with a bang.
Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert
The first band on the stage was the only local support, Declension, playing practically right in their own backyard. Having shared the stage with bands like Dying Fetus already in their short career, they showed no nerves warming up the already sixty plus crowd. Starting with an epic intro, it foreshadowed the five-piece band’s talented dual guitar harmonies in later songs. Crushing riffs and old school metal guitar solos, reminiscent of King Crimson, made for a good start on the night.
Next up was Texas band Abolishment of Flesh, who wasted no time diving into their brand of southern extreme metal. The bass and guitar launched into tapping riffs and the singer showed an impressive range from guttural low screams to almost black metal highs. They employed interesting musical breaks in a few of their songs, which was a little surprising, but worked very well with their overall sound.
Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert
Trickshots has been putting on consistently good shows, along with Joelggernaut Productions, and this night was no different. A big, heavy sound and a great light show highlighted the talent on stage, and the bar was slinging drinks and food at a rapid pace. Beyond Creation, hailing from Montreal, Canada, was the first band of the night to draw a big crowd right to the front of the stage. The attendance was steady from the time the doors opened at 6pm, and they were all happy to be there. Lots of familiar faces from the Upstate metal scene, and also many new fans as well, giving the bar and the merchandise booths a lot of business.
The first two bands on the night were showered with impressive strobe lights, to accent their brutal music. Beyond Creation projected talent and precision, commanding the stage in a hard red light, allowing their music to speak volumes. Two eight string guitars lent to the deliberate sonic destruction they were dealing to the audience, and the crowd response was just as huge. Parallels could be made between the tight, honed presence of Cryptopsy and the intensity of Lamb of God.
All of the great moments of the night so far could barely prepare the crowd for the incredible energy of King Parrot. All the way from the other side of the world, Australia, they joked at one point that they thought they might be in Billiards, New York. But, this was actually their second time in the states, and definitely feel at home being on stage in America, or more likely, anywhere. Toddy, the singer, strutted on the stage shirtless and began to whip the crowd into a frenzy, running to the back and the front of the club with his wireless microphone. It was a sight to behold, and it felt much like catching a crazy punk or metal band at CBGB’s in late ’70s. They instigated the first ever Wall of Death at Trickshots, and the audience happily obliged. A cross between Rob Halford and Iggy Pop, the singer brought everything he had and more, at one point jumping on the bar in the middle of a song. Their unique brand of heavy thrash metal and punk impressed the entire club and set the stage for the headliner.
Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert
Origin just released their new album, Omnipresent, to great reviews from fans and critics. Fitting nicely into their own headlining tour, they were poised to bring their special brand of shredding death metal to Clifton Park. Exploding onto the stage with a relentless onslaught of metal, they drew the biggest screams of the night. The also had the best mix from the soundboard, allowing the audience to really hone in on the intricate music they produce. John Longstreth, revered by many as one of the top drummers in the metal genre, kept the entire set in perfect time with crushing percussive energy. Both John, and the singer, Jason Keyser, call Upstate New York their home, and it was a treat for the crowd to see this band in this area. Jason led a three-part vocal assault that mesmerized the crowd as well as riled them up. They had incredible energy and an amazing stage presence that even allowed for Jason to crowd surf at one point. Being a weekday show, it abruptly ended at 11PM, with Origin possibly cutting their set short. But no one in attendance was unhappy with all of the incredible talent presented before them, getting what they played for and more.
Origin is a very hardworking band, and headlining a tour like this shows all the fruits of their intense labour. For the rare time they, and the rest of the bands, graced the stage in Upstate New York, it was definitely a show that the people who were in attendance will wear that like a badge of honor. For anyone reading this in cities where this tour might be making a stop, it is a heavy metal experience that is not to be missed.
NYC based Snarky Puppy played their last hometown show of the year at the Watermark Bar and Lounge located at Pier 15 in Manhattan Saturday night. After Kung Fu got the pier rocking harder than the adjacent barges in the East River, Snarky Puppy wrapped the night up led by bassist/music director Michael League with eight other pups displaying their wide range of jazzy jams.
A cool wind blew in from the direction of the setting sun as Kung Fu opened the night with a wholesome set of funk. “We’re Kung Fu, and we’re here for you!” guitarist Tim Palmieri quipped early in the set to a huge applause.
Kung Fu
Clearly enjoying themselves on stage, the Connecticut quintet exuded an air of total confidence jamming for the Lower East Side crowd. Drummer Adrian Tramontano abused his set in the best way and bassist Chris DeAngelis was the heart of the funk. With bright orangey-pink rays of sun bouncing off the city skyscrapers, Kung Fu’s set concluded with grooving dual saxes.
Horny puppies.
As darkness set in, Snarky Puppy took the reins in spectacular fashion. Justin Stanton and Mike “Maz” Maher were in sync blaring out trumpet duets and sounded equally sharp taking turns soloing. Chris Bullock anchored the brass section for the night, playing a highly emotive saxophone into the unseasonably brisk city air.
The Brooklyn-based band, which formed in Texas in 2004, won its first Grammy earlier this year. “Something”, the fifth track off their 2013 album Family Dinner- Volume 1earned the award. The tune—an all-around hit— features velvety trumpeting, quaking bass, and a stirring performance by Lalah Hathaway on vocals. The recent success has helped launch the band to an all-time level with widespread critical acclaim, playing to audiences worldwide.
With the bright lights of the big city shining, Snarky Puppy transitioned seamlessly between blues, jazz, and soul. I strolled around the pier, soaking in the view of the Brooklyn Bridge in the foreground and the Manhattan Bridge behind it, connecting the boroughs. Thudding bass vibrations floated my way, and I couldn’t help but to snap and bop while walking.
The Brooklyn Bridge in background, stage left.
Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Werth kept the beat on drums and percussion all night, changing tempo between slow R&B jams that would escalate into soulful clap-along funk. Cory Henry and Bill Lawrence split duties on the keys while Bob Lanzetti rounded out the Puppy-pack on the guitar. As a whole, the group showcased creative and well-rounded composition skills. Their ability to improvise equally adroitly places them at the top of their music game. Despite the chilly temperatures, Snarky Puppy followed Kung Fu’s lead and rocked NYC’s Watermark late into the night.
When Jonny Hawkins was cut from his San Antonio elementary school chorus, he adopted the belief that he couldn’t sing. But he loved music, and he isn’t a quitter, so he turned to drums. By the time he was in middle school, he had joined with Daniel Oliver and Mark Vollelunga to form the band Nothing More. As the group developed and began to seriously consider a career as a rock band, Hawkins began to question the life-long belief that he couldn’t sing. Questioning that belief allowed Hawkins to uncover a surprising and strong talent. Today he is lead singer of Nothing More, and the band is working its way to the top of the charts.
The idea of questioning beliefs is the theme of Nothing More’s 2014 self-titled album. The band performed to a small but enthusiastic crowd at Upstate Concert Hall on Aug. 15, 2014. Using their own experiences as inspiration, songs like “This is the Time (Ballast)” encourages listeners to open their eyes and not be blind to reality. “Mr. MTV” is about greed and gluttony, pointing out a very real problem in America today, which is an insatiable need (want) for material things that don’t truly satisfy.
Nothing More’s music and message were received well by fans. Almost everyone crowded towards the stage once the band came out, leaving many open bar stools (which is extremely rare at this venue). The band brought on Paul O’Brien for drums, allowing Hawkins to move to the front of the stage as lead vocalist. It’s great fun to watch him bang on his small auxiliary drum-set, but even when he isn’t drumming, he clearly wants to bang on something.
Hawkins wasn’t the only one with energy though. All the guys were into the performance. Of note was the inclusion of an interesting prop used to mount the bass guitar and allowed Hawkins, Oliver and Vollelunga to play the instrument together. The choreographed performance of “Salem” was also high energy, giving all four musicians the chance to drum together.
The opening acts, too, had a lot of energy. Into Shadow, an Oneonta-based band, opened the night with a distinctly ’90s sound. Sleepwave, a new group led by Spencer Chamberlain, former lead singer of the immensely popular Christian metal band, Underoath, is a very interesting blend of influences and styles. They mix ’80s headbanging with sounds reminiscent of Nine Inch Nails, Green Day, and Jane’s Addiction. Chamberlain’s dramatic performance makes it appear as if he was in severe emotional pain, but that passion does keep eyes on the stage.
All three bands have upcoming tour dates; Nothing More is continuing on a very ambitious schedule well into October.
Hot August Sundays at SPAC has meant country music and last Sunday was no exception. A sold out crowd at Saratoga Performing Arts Center welcomed the nation’s hottest star, Luke Bryan, along with Lee Brice and Cole Swindell. Twenty-six thousand fans filled the pavilion and the lawn enjoying the perfect weather and high-energy performances.
First up was Cole Swindell. Cole had a short set but the crowd had an extended time getting in and the amphitheater and lawn were pretty much full by the 7PM start time. While folks knew his biggest hit “Chillin’ It” that hit number one on the country charts in 2013 and his newest single “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight” – Cole’s biggest hits of the night were sung by Luke Bryan. Swindell is a very accomplished songwriter and his friend Luke Bryan has benefited with numerous hits: “Just a Sip”, “Beer in the Headlights”, “Roller Coaster” and many more.
Lee Brice served as direct support for the tour and sang his heart out to the capacity crowd. From songs about being crazy to being in love with beer. The redneck factor was sky-high and the good times were definitely rolling. Even a toast with the famous red solo cup was enough to have SPAC erupt with whoops and hollers. Brice’s “A Woman Like You” may have been his only number one but it was the rendition of “Love Like Crazy” that stole the show. The big man, who went to Clemson on a football scholarship, held the note on Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-zy for what seemed an eternity. The screams from the women in attendance, the vast majority, were only matched later in the evening when the headliner shook what his mama gave him.
And shake, he did. Luke Bryan may have a great voice and great songs, but his good looks and on-stage presence wins the reward for making grown women swoon. Upbeat songs and a lot of dancing carried over from the stage through the seats, all the way back to the far reaches of the lawn. The winner of numerous Country Music Awards, including the Top New Artist in 2010 and Artist of the Year in 2012, along with Billboard’s Top Country Artist in 2013. Bryan sang all his number one hits, such as: “Rain Is a Good Thing“, “Someone Else Calling You Baby“, “I Don’t Want This Night to End“, “Drunk on You“, “Crash My Party“, “That’s My Kind of Night“, “Drink a Beer” and his most recent number one, “Play It Again“” In total Luke Bryan has 11 number ones and his last two albums also topped the charts, going double platinum.
Bryan’s stage performance included the expected shaking and gyrating, but also included him bringing out a cooler full of beer and tossing cans into the audience. The beer-loving crowd that was chugging down over $10 cans all night long did not miss a beat. While the artist attempted to toss most of the beers to the attractive women near the stage, the men were less than gentlemanly snatching them out of the air. Those antics didn’t ruin the mood and seemed more par for the course. In fact, a sentimental toast recalling old friends that the crowd has shared a beer with that are no longer with us on this earth was cause for 26,000 to raise their cans of beer, or bottles of water in the air. It was the perfect way to wind down the evening only to have the party crashed and a duo encore that seemingly everyone stayed for to hear. “Play It Again” and “Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” finished the show. The country girls did shake it for Luke and he gladly returned the favor.
For those that are not fans of country music but do enjoy a good Skynyrd or Marshall Tucker tune should give the newer country artists a chance. While cliché country topics of pick-up trucks, drinking beer and swimming holes still resonant through the genre, the pace is a little faster and the guitar solos are a little longer. And if those reasons don’t sell you on trying country music again, well, perhaps a plethora of ‘Daisy Dukes’ might change your mind.
As far as music festivals in New York State go, there’s one that stands just a little more Upstate than all the others. Located in Peru, NY, a mere half hour from the Canadian border, Backwoods Pondfest truly lives up to its name. The festival features a scenic backwoods campground that lies, naturally, next to a large pond in the heart of the North Country. For the eighth year in a row, Twin Ponds Campsite played host to both musicians and campers for a weekend that was filled with beautiful weather and live Upstate music.
The festival seems to pride itself in offering a spacious, relaxing camping environment that’s both easily accessible and close to all the action. Campers in certain areas could easily hear the music emanating from the Main Stage without even leaving their site. Sets that alternated all weekend between the main stage and the Tent Stage, a smaller stage located a little further into the woods, helped make not missing a note of music all weekend a distinct possibility for some. Pondfest is also extremely dog friendly provided they’re kept on leashes, a rule that seemed to be respected by everyone. All these elements just help add to the appeal of a smaller festival like this one.
Even with only two days of music, the 2014 edition of Backwoods Pondfest was still able to produce a weekend full of top notch music that featured several memorable and impressive collaborations. Under the only slightly gray and overcast sky of the weekend, Friday’s action really seemed to elevate after a set from playonbrother featuring Alan Evans of Soulive. His new project features a new organ player, Kris Yunker, who was chosen to replace Beau Sasser who recently left the band to pursue other endeavors. Big shoes to fill indeed, and Yunker did a fine job along with guitarist Danny Mayer in accompanying Evans, who is a verified whirlwind on the drum kit, in crafting a sound full of soul, funk and the occasional hard rock. In addition to their spirited original songs, playonbrother has also been known to feature Cream covers in their sets and this was on full display here in the form a set closing “Sunshine of Your Love”.
Festival hosts Lucid then played an acoustic set over at the Tent Stage in front of a rapt group of fans of the Plattsburgh based band whose members are prominently involved in the setup and production of this festival every year. When they’re not helping out behind the scenes, Lucid traditionally plays one set each day of the festival and this year would prove to be no different. With guitarist Kevin Sabourin brandishing an acoustic model, the North Country rockers treated everyone to a set full of signature original songs and blues covers that helped keep the rising spirits and festival momentum going in the same direction.
Normally, a rap or R& B artist might have a “fish out of water” feel to them in a festival lineup full of jam bands and rock outfits like this one. However, Chali 2na was anything but this as he and his backing band House of Vibe led a now riveted crowd through a set of hip hop classics and originals on the Main Stage. A talented keyboardist on backup vocals and a more than sturdy rhythm section made sure this more than just set of rap songs but, rather, one that also encompassed elements of jazz, blues and even rock. This was also not even the first Pondfest appearance for one of the founding members of rap group Jurassic 5, as Chali 2na was also on the bill in 2010 by himself and in 2011 in a collaboration with Break Science. An act that may have raised some eyebrows at first glance seemed to win over the entire crowd and create nothing but smiles in the end.
With temperatures now beginning to dip in the North Country on a night that felt more like mid-autumn than late summer, the last act on the Main Stage was also no stranger to this Upstate festival. Twiddle, a Vermont based band that seems to be making a slow and steady ascension to national notoriety, played at the original Backwoods Pondfest in 2007. Their Friday night set showcased the group’s lighthearted yet poignant songwriting that compliments a cohesive and infectious bed of music quite nicely.
This set was also where the communal atmosphere between different bands and their members really began to take shape as several notable sit ins highlighted the performance. First, Kevin Sabourin of Lucid returned to the stage to lend his guitar work to a full on “Fire on the Mountain” jam. Next, Scott Hannay of Mister F joined the Pondfest veterans and eagerly supplied his signature keyboard style on a performance of “Apples”. Lowell Wurster, Lucid’s percussionist and one of the driving forces behind the entire festival, also supplied some musical assistance with strong harmonica play on a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues”.
Campers on Saturday awoke to a bright, sunny sky that never let up all day. Not only was the climate on this second and final day of music a beautiful one, but the music itself had a true Upstate New York feel to it seemingly from start to finish beginning with Capital Zen opening the festivities on the Main Stage. The Glens Falls based group helped serve as the day’s first wake up call as they rolled through a set of high octane originals that showcased the band’s clear hard rock influences while being mixed with Primus and Red Hot Chili Peppers covers. Scott Hannay, a former Zen member, once again lent his services with a spot on Les Claypool impression on a take of Primus’ “Tommy the Cat”.
Afterwards, the Upstate music train kept rolling along with a fine performance from Formula 5 in the Tent Stage. This is a group whose four members are from various areas in the Capital region who still seem to be getting their feet wet in the live music scene, but are clearly moving in the right direction. With a new album Edging on Catastrophe recently released. Formula 5 treated revelers under the tent to selections from that as well as impressive Jeff Beck and Deodato covers which show a group cohesion and technical proficiency well beyond the band’s years. One of the highlights was a slow and extended “2001” that had everyone within earshot nodding in approval.
Things then got decidedly bluegrassy on the Main Stage as afternoon sets from Hot Day at the Zoo and Cabinet served as a breather of sorts before the closing acts of the weekend. Clearly picking up on today’s musical theme, Hot Day at the Zoo even included a song called “Upstate Girl” in their set as well as a string version of “Cumberland Blues”.
Established Upstate act Conehead Buddha later played on the Tent Stage and while they may be based downstate in Brooklyn, Turkuaz was one of the first heavy hitters of the evening and delivered the type of powerhouse set that’s now expected from this ascending big band. Highlights included a standout version of “Bubba Slide”, an original, as well as crowd pleasing cover choices in an up tempo version of The Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women”, a funked out rendition of The Band’s “The Shape I’m In” and a set closer of The Beatles’ classic, “I’ve Got a Feeling”.
Another veteran Pondfest act then took over the reigns on the Main Stage as Spiritual Rez, playing for the seventh time here, led the crowd through a set of incredible music that had everyone singing and dancing along to this group signature reggae-funk hybrid of sound. Lead guitarist and vocalist Toft Willingham is a verifiable ball of energy and doubles as a legitimate comedic presence on stage. The entire band seemed locked in from start to finish and seemed to not only play but move in unison at parts. A frenetic large scale jam that included members of Turkuaz served as the crest of an impressive wave of music that was truly one of the highlights of the weekend.
The festival would not be complete, however, without one last set from Lucid to help close things out. The North Country natives took to the stage once more, this time the Main Stage, for another set of beloved classics and blues inspired covers. Wurster made sure to also take some time to thank those who helped throw this annual backwoods bash as well as the crowd. He later brought up “the best man he knows”, his father George, to play some harmonica in what has come to be a festival tradition, if not a staple.
With music now completed on the Main Stage, the last act of the weekend belonged to Albany’s Mister F who treated fans to hits from their recent release The F Stands Four in a set that may have been lacking in attendance due to the time slot but one that certainly didn’t lack the energy this band seems to emit in every live performance. Songs like “This One Goes to 11” and “Vocoder” were executed almost perfectly as the Upstate psychedelic rockers offered one last go round on the dance floor before the book on this year’s Backwoods Pondfest was finally closed.
With no music scheduled for Sunday, people were able to leave at their leisure on what turned out to be another day of gorgeous Upstate New York weather. Another chapter of this burgeoning music festival was now complete. Backwoods Pondfest may not be on the largest plot of land or offer the most extensive music lineup as some as other festivals, but with a beautiful, established home and a proven ability to present the very best in regional music, it’ll undoubtedly be a fixture on the summer festival circuit for years to come as it continues to grow in size and splendor.
Taking the stage first was the freshly signed (Sony Music Entertainment) New York City trio, Unlocking the Truth. Considering their roots come from setting up shop in Times Square, along with the fact this was only their third stage show ever, one would assume that a hint of nervousness would be obvious, especially when not one member of the band has hit their fourteenth birthday yet. Instead what the crowd got was a surprisingly heavy sound from the incredibly talented and comfortable teens on stage. The band was able to get the night started on the right foot, drawing cheers and immense applause from awe-stricken faces in the crowd. They continue their route to fame in the fall as they tour with rock veterans, Living Colour.
