Attention Upstate Bassheads: this is the show. Legendary DJ Lorin Ashton AKA Bassnectar will again take over Rochester this Friday, October 3, as part of his “NVSB 2014 Tour” performing alongside notable acts Son of Kick, hailing from London and Kill Paris of Los Angeles. Known for his ultra dense sound, aggressive drops and super-technical beats, Bassnectar puts on a show like no other, with tastefully psychedelic projection visuals and a host of lights. Bassnectar’s most recent album, Noise VS Beauty, was released late June and features some of Ashton’s most intelligent compositions yet, staying true to its name by carefully marrying filth with elegance.
Supporting act, Son of Kick, has achieved respect in the dubstep world in his own right, mainly in Europe so far, with a balanced, somewhat hip-hop influenced sound. Kill Paris will also throw down a funk-driven set, sure to feature big bass and atmospheric textures. All three acts bring different styles to the table with two distinct binding factors: dancing, and BASS.
Doors are at 6PM and Son of Kick should open the show around 7PM. Due to Main Street Armory’s curfew, the evening will likely be wrapped up by midnight. And remember: this will be a hot one with lots of energy, moving bodies and flashing lights; be sure to eat a solid meal and hydrate properly throughout the show.
To mark the first day of autumn, Ocupanther released their third album, Data Stretching, showing a conscious evolution from last year’s release, Progressor, while continuing to hammer down a focused sound. Overall the record might fit into generalized categories like “dance”, “progressive” or “fusion”. But really, the excellence of Data Stretching comes in the details – the careful blending of seemingly unrelated influences, and a perfect balance of organic vs electronic – resulting in a danceable, intelligent record from start to finish.
Data Stretching‘s opening track, “Obtuse Snoot”, is perhaps the perfect calling for the album; patently danceable, featuring disco-staccato guitars drifting to washed out wah-funk, hold steady bass and tight-pocket drumming. The changes are inconspicuous but occur frequently, offering good variation without stopping the groove. This notion carries into albums second track, “III E III”, which is more subdued but equally as locomotive. The bass is swampy and warm, with guitar parts piercing through the darkness. For an album with such a big, full sound (arguably the fullest Ocupanther sound to date), Data Stretching does an exceptional job varying between minimalist components. This sentiment is exemplified on “III E III” as well as later on the album with “Yerkrewrun”, a meditative, calming song balanced equally with blues guitars licks. “Treat Me Like A Telescope” is another great example of such a balance, with strong electronic undertones and masterful weaving guitar lines that scream classic rock-n-roll.
All descriptors and classifications aside, what really defines an albums success is listenability and feel – two categories where Data Stretching scores an “A”. This record would be just as good alone in your car as it would at a house party. The variations in mood throughout the record are enough to keep the listener engaged without forcing feel-good vibes or lingering too long in the dark. This balance, along with the balance of genres and styles, appears to be the recipe for success. Fans of the New Deal to LCD Soundsystem to Maserati and everything in between will surely lock into this album, as will anyone who has traveled long highways for music. Ocupanther cut their teeth on the road, after all, and much of the album serves a perfect soundtrack for a roadtrip to and from a show with a carful of friends.
Ocupanther will be supporting Data Stretching in the Upstate area over the next two months, playing alongside notable acts such as Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, The New Mastersounds, and super-group Electron. A complete list of tour dates and additional information can be found at: Ocupanther.com or on Facebook.
Key Tracks: III E III, Treat Me Like A Telescope, The Great Oxygenation
Brooklyn’s Dopapod have announced that their 4th studio effort, Never Odd Or Even will be independently released on November 11th. Culminating from a combination of studio efforts and a gargantuan touring schedule bringing ‘Pod all over the country, fans and band members alike are psyched. East Rochester native and shred-master/vocalist Rob Compa shares his excitement – “The Never Odd or Even sessions cultivated a serious growth in the band’s creativity, each person stepped to the plate and put out great creativity and passionate playing, while inspiring everybody else involved in the project to do the same. We really feel that the material this time around represented a big leap forward, not just in the way we’ve been interacting as a band, but in the way our focus has become sharper in paying attention to things like melody, theme, lyrical imagery, and structure – all the elements that make a great song.”
Organist/keyboardist Eli Winderman added his own thoughts about the recording process with friend and producer Jason “Jocko” Randall – “We lived at his studio for about a month for these sessions and it just clicked right away, with Jocko’s attitude and approach to the recording process, we were able to really dial in the sounds we wanted, get those perfect takes we were aiming for, and have a blast the whole way through.” Fans interested in the new album can visit the bands website to sign up for a mailing list which will get them a FREE digital download on release day as well as a chance to stream the first video released, “Picture in Picture”.
Upstate fans will have several opportunities to catch Dopapod this fall starting with a homecoming show for Mr. Compa this Thursday, October 2nd at Water Street Music Hall in Rochester with instrumental wizard trio Consider the Source. Local up and coming uber-talented guitarist Collin Jone’s one man band Stereo Nest will start the show up in style. Ticket’s are available online and at several local ticket vendors ($12.50 pre/18$ door).
Check out our list below for more area Dopapod show opportunities.
10/23 Niagara Falls, NY – Rapids Theatre w/ Umphrey’s McGee $27.50-$30
10/29 Binghamton, NY – Forum Theatre w/ Umphrey’s McGee $25-$30
11/1 Oneonta, NY – Oneonta Theatre w/ Space Carnival
11/21 New York, NY – The Gramercy Theatre w/ Alan Evans’ Playonbrother & Teddy Midnight $16-$21
Some time has passed and the words are just starting to come to those who collectively took part in what can only described as a lucid nirvana; a tangible bliss experienced by all senses.
Entering its fourth year, Night Lights Music Festival had a buzz, but it wasn’t until after that anyone realized how special this year was. Back in early spring, the announcement of such acts as Turkuaz, The Mike Dillon Band, Consider the Source, and the all-mighty Snarky Puppy generated an unheard of type of hype in Buffalo: one that looked past our short summer months. The music appreciators of the community carried the excitement right onto the grounds as the first day began.
The high musical expectations bonded the group that gathered as tents were pitched and friends were quickly made. Everyone on the grounds were extremely friendly, bringing Buffalo’s moniker of the “The City of Good Neighbors” out to the woods of The Heron in Sherman, NY. The fest could not have been laid out any better. Camping was close, two totally different stage experiences and plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy the fall weather and scenery in New York state. The foliage alone at this time of year provided a view during the day that matched the light spectacle at night. The ground’s fruitful accommodations didn’t stop there either. Bands were happily able to park, unload, and reload their gear right next to the stage and the food was as delicious as it was affordable. There were two places that you could grab a bite to eat and it was hard to pass the offers up. For $15 you could get a cheeseburger, a generous slice of pizza, a grilled cheese sandwich, a bottle of water, a bowl of amazing chili, and still have a little money to tip the staff for their hospitality. The people of Night Lights ate like royalty for the two days spent in the woods.
Everything from top to bottom met or exceeded expectations, leaving only the bands to hold up their end of the bargain, and standing right there waiting was the full lineup, eager to accept the challenge.
Day one started off with Cleveland’s Broccoli Samurai, bringing their flavor of jamtronica to an area that is familiar with the band and showed up in support. As the four-piece danced through melodies, the crowd gathered and began letting go. Drummer Chris Walker’s drum and bass style of playing paired well with the band’s more atmospheric sound. If this was any indication of how the festival would go, it was already traveling in the right direction. As the day wore on, more people began to arrive after getting out of work and rushing to join in the fun. Being later in the season, daylight was quickly fading and the first glimpse of this year’s lights were being eagerly awaited. Between nine and midnight, a great back-to-back combination of Jimkata and Lazlo Hollyfeld took hold of the collective spirit for the first time. It shouldn’t have caught anyone off guard as both bands have local ties with Jimkata spawning from Ithaca and Lazlo calling Buffalo home. In the case of Lazlo, this is even more special as Night Lights was started by these guys, and through their vision, it’s grown quickly in four short years to the best festival in Western New York. Lazlo’s set was packed with energy, and if you’ve caught this act, you’d know that this wasn’t anything different from when they rip up the stage at Nietzsche’s. With the band featuring Matt Felski on vibraphone, their sound is unique and incredibly exploratory at times. The music appreciators showed their love for the band for not only their music, but what they have built this festival into.
The highlight of the night though came during Dopapod‘s already jam-heavy set. As the band proceeded to wow the audience, Buffalo’s own Mike Gantzer came out for a sit-in with the band. The Western New York love was in the air as known-Rochesterian Rob Compa played opposite on ax from Gantzer. The two traded licks before syncing up for a momentum-building tear across fretboards, propelling the Friday night party onward to the Saturday morning. It’s not even fair to say that Mike holds his own up there anymore as he’s now joined the club and making Aqueous fans across Buffalo prouder with each moment under the lights. As the party wound down, campers were sharing their own version of what they heard, completely unaware that Saturday would only raise the bar.
Saturday started with rather ominous weather, but that could not surpass the energy for the second day of music. Afternoon sets by Rochester’s Ocupanther and Buffalo’s Funktional Flow showed off what the area is capable of in terms of young talent. Both bands have been cutting their teeth in the local scene and beginning to stretch out into other markets. Even with different styles, both bands had a solid draw and brought their best to the stage.
The brass sounds of the 12/8 Path Band carried the party both physically and emotionally into the woods as the lights began to take effect and illuminate the path to the Café Stage, which was buried in the woods. The Mike Dillon Band was up next and it would be their dynamic set that started the domino effect. For the next seven straight hours, the festival would peak, hitting a stretch and a high rarely seen in these parts. The music would transcend the woods that surrounded the grounds, igniting a powerful music experience. Mike Dillon himself stepped up onto the Café Stage with his wild hair and larger-than-life personality. As he took his helm behind the xylophone, Mike announced that his bassist was probably soaring overhead as his flight was delayed. If it was any indicator of the amount of talent though that was present at this fest, the show went on with John Ferrara from Consider the Source sitting in and providing a new perspective on the low-end for Mike to dabble with. It wouldn’t be the only sit in of the day either with Mike Dillon returning the favor later in the night.
As the show began, there were few knowing what to expect. Mike Dillon’s prowess was quickly realized though as there are few that have, both, the energy and imagination that Mr. Dillon embodies. His melodic choice in the instrument helps take the crowd musically to another world, while the rhythmic aspect of it allows him to channel the passion that is coursing through his veins. The band channeled the Consider the Source-style experimental heaviness with John putting out a vibe that the drummer hopped on and accentuated. As you’d expect with a last-minute substitution, there were some things just called on the fly, but what you wouldn’t expect was how well the band pulled it off. The execution must have energized Mike to step out into the unknown as he called out to his two stagemates saying, “Here’s one you two have never played before. It’s in the key of C.”
There was hardly a stutter in their phrasing.
Mike’s actual bassist eventually arrived and finished out the set, thanking John for his help in the process. Mike’s work with the sticks was fascinating to watch from both an artist and crowd perspective. He sent people spinning with enthusiasm while the stars made their entrance and the night set in. As the rawness of the set came to a close, the residual sound permeated the deciduous surroundings, filling in with sound what the lights could not.
The night wouldn’t let up.
As Mike Dillon finished his set, there was a funk army setting up camp under the Main Stage tent, preparing to unleash on the unsuspecting crowd. From the distance, you could hear the rolling bass line of Taylor Shell and the heavy stomp of Buffalo-native Michelangelo Carubba behind his kit. As the crowd drew closer, the sound filled out with a varied vocal attack, a loaded brass section, and guitars that cut through the crisp, autumn air. There was simply no slowing the roll of this unit as their forward progression was almost uncontrollable. The band’s strongest asset in Carubba stomped out a heavy beat, keeping this arsenal of weapons on track and coming right at you.
Over the course of this year alone, Turkuaz has covered bands like the The Talking Heads, and most recently, Sly and the Family Stone at this year’s Catskill Chill. Giving the Night Lights crowd a taste, the band pulled out a well-timed cover of the Talking Heads “Slippery People”, shedding light on a clear influence to their sound. Another highlight from their set was the song “Electric Habitat”. The tightly executed song pushed the crowd as the melodic line was woven through the rhythm of the song. Guitarist Craig Brodhead really dug in on this one and clawed his way up the tonal food chain to stand out amongst his peers. If music is technically using the same set of notes that are available to every other musician that’s come before them, then where did these guys find all of this energy? The momentum they set in motion from the very first note is like no other band out there today.
The unique blend of sound is not even a result of their instruments alone as the crowd was treated to an acapella segment during their set. The entire band layered vocal tones while bassist Taylor Shell gave a scruffy “Yeah, yeah, yeah” lyrical contribution. The overall assault from the Brooklyn-based group was felt by the crowd who were sent reeling from their set. On the way back to the Café Stage, there were plenty of “did you know they were that good” type comments between the path travelers. With some of that militant funk mentality rubbing off on the crowd, the collection of people pushed forward into the night preparing to endure even more at the hands of Consider the Source.
The Middle Eastern ‘sourcery’ commenced immediately as their sound was encompassed by that culture among many others. The overall drive behind their set though was pushed with a heavy dose of metal, which was clearly an influence on their approach. Gabe, Jeff, and John are the only three who make up the band, but you wouldn’t be able to guess that with your eyes closed. Their sonic assault is a clear indicator of what World War Trio will sound like, and a great follow-up to the barrage of funk from Turkuaz.
Gabriel Marin is the guitarist in the group by instrument, but equipped with a MIDI pickup, he is able to pull out just about any tone he chooses on a given night. As the crowd approached the stage, a heavy dose of xylophone had people wondering if Mike Dillon was making an appearance with the band, only to find out that it was coming from Gabe. His aggressive approach was balanced by his smoothness as his hand glided around the fretboard, providing much color and flavor to their songs. Pulling from his inner Tom Morello, Gabe culled noises and wrangled them into a driving melody that was full of rage. The whole group embodied this angstful spirit that came out through both their music and stage presence as they thrashed around and felt the music deeply. The encircling crowd felt it too, as many closed their eyes and got lost in the progressive jams. The deep synchronicity the band fell into carved out a deep and wide aural path that the crowd willingly followed them down. While their set wound down to the end, the energy certainly wasn’t. The woods danced with colors and people followed suit as they made their way back to the main stage where the pinnacle of the night was about to take place. The peaking energy was felt through the trees and up from the ground with every step.
As the excitement came to a head, the crowd gathered under the big tent at the Main Stage for an experience few had heard or seen before. The members of Snarky Puppy took to the packed stage, fitting in like a puzzle piece with how many instruments were laid out. It has to be noted as well that this was not the exact same band that played the night before, and even that band wasn’t the same as the night before that. Snarky Puppy’s rotating cast provides an interesting twist to jamming and the cohesive sound that is developed from it. Not only do members rotate in and out throughout the tour, but each and every musician is a multi-instrumentalist with the ability to pick up something different on any given night. It doesn’t matter who anyone holds atop their musical pedestal, there is no band better than these guys right now. The band is a true musicians band and it showed with every Night Lights act collecting backstage, trying to catch a glimpse of these guys. Saying that on it’s own though would be selling the band short, suggesting that they’re unable to relate to the common and casual music listener. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The band is capable of taking an odd time signature and creating a groove and feel that’s deep enough to get a crowd dancing. Each and every person latched on to every swell and lingered on every ebb and flow.
As the band progressed through their set, it was a true spectacle to see how easily they translated their music. Buffalo is a music-loving community and showed its true appreciation for the band over and over again throughout the band’s set. At one point during the show, bassist/conductor Michael League took the time to clap out a beat, asking the crowd to join in with its relative ease. Once everyone caught on, he remarked, “there, now you can all count in 7,” simplifying something complex down to the non-musically inclined.
Taking nothing away from the whole, the percussion work within the group was driven, yet subtle; calculated, yet raw. Louis Cato specifically on the drums, who happened to play bass the night before because he simply can, put on a clinic. With their music education outreach, maybe he was just confused on where he was because he was there to teach that night. As I sat surrounded by some of the best drummers backstage, their eyes couldn’t get any bigger than mine as they watched this man completely decimate the kit without losing one person in the crowd. Even with all of this power, the band could still finesse a note and added a gentle touch to the color, painting just enough at times for the brush to touch.
Coming back for an encore, the band searched out Mike Dillon to join them. His unusual approach fit in well and a musical battle ensued to close out the set. Dillon’s words the next day on social media summed up his experience saying, “They [Snarky Puppy] are one of the few Denton bands that came out of the school of music that have continued a trajectory. Every time I see them, they get better.” While it’s hard to understand how a band that did what they did at Night Lights can continue to get better, the hundreds of fans who were there will surely check back next time to see if that holds true. It was a treat to have one of the best in the world out in Sherman, NY for one night, pushing that high point higher than it has ever been. These guys are more than just a band; It’s a musical prophecy coming to fruition and everyone there bore witness to the truth.
With an almost insurmountable hill to climb following Snarky, Buffalo’s beloved sons in Aqueous didn’t try to fight the current. Instead, they did what they’ve been come to be known for and settled in to their healing role after everyone’s mind was just collectively blown. In this area, it’s typically been at the hands of these guys, but being always up for the challenge is built-in being from Buffalo. As the set got going, it was clear that their new drummer Ryan Nogle provided a spark to the band as it had been a while since they played this inspired and driven. What was assumed to be a reliever role, was soon flipped, as the band continued the pace that Mike Dillon and Turkuaz started and Consider the Source and Snarky Puppy pushed forth. Nogle and the rest of the guys were channeling all of the greats that came before them on this given night and their bright choruses and slow rolling groove kept bodies in motion well into the night. It’s hard to place a finger on it, but Mike Gantzer is one of the most engaging and compelling guitarists out there today. With his efforts, the band built swelling jams, reaching an ominous high point before letting it all fall down. Their ability to change gears and send you soaring is a gift that they share with some of the bigger acts of the night. The crowd might’ve been still reeling from what proceeded, but they were willing to let Aqueous take them higher.
Despite the urge to keep the trajectory, eventually all good things must come to an end. In the case of Night Lights Fall Music Festival 2014, all great things came to an end as well. There was unfortunately no exception to the rule, regardless of the crowd’s willingness to keep dancing. The threshold and boundary to which music can be pushed was just tested this year and it opened up a lot of people’s minds to how high they can personally set that bar. For those in attendance, it will be tough for a while to hear something that can even hold a light to Night Lights. We all drank from the fountain of musical youth and rejuvenation was aplenty.
All video is courtesy of our friends at Buffalo.fm
If Twenty One Pilots is not flying onto your bucket list of a “must see” in concert, add it. Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014 the Quiet is Violent Tour came to Main Street Armory in Rochester, N.Y. and showed all who came what a concert is all about. Vinyl Theatre and Misterwives opened, making all the buzz from everyone saying “That was one of the best concerts I have been to.”
Twenty One Pilots, Photo by Cathy Bechle
Two words for Twenty One Pilots – respect and inspiring – they are the result of hard work and determination showing that you can make it into this industry without being discovered. Mike Gibson, tour manager for Twenty One Pilots, shared with NYS Music prior to doors opening, why they have such a strong cult like following and operate differently from most. Growing up with the dynamic musical duo, he understands these two musicians like no other possibly could. A professional clean-cut guy, he has his head on straight with an easy going vibe about him. In fact, Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph have surrounded themselves with people who have very specific traits that are important to their success from what I can tell, intelligence, focus, determination, they need to be goal oriented and must have values or they need not apply. All of this so they can successfully perform their music, have a blast while doing it and give fans an amazing show.
Mike explained more about the incredibly driven people to help make it all happen. Starting with asking how many bands out there today consider that achieving “success” or “fame” is when that money from the first few shows come in and then goes directly into a band’s pocket. Perhaps it goes to support a glamorous lifestyle or even comfort from a van to a tour bus. Well, this band should be a model example on how to handle finances. As he continued, he thought that the strong values they were taught as they were growing up, close family ties, an awesome Manager (Chris Woltman) and of course the band’s financial adviser (Mike’s Dad) make doing what these guys love continue to happen. The rule they follow to always make the next show better than the last and to always invest back into the show.
Fans enjoying the performances. Photo by Cathy Bechle
As Mike was reminiscing about the best times on the road it was not on the big tour bus that was parked in front of us, although truth be told he did say it was much more comfortable. It was on the road in the van in the very beginning a couple of years ago. They did not cash in early on well-paying gigs for personal comfort, instead they opted to reinvest in themselves and stay in the van. They outlook, give a better performance, more lightning, better equipment and experience for the people who come to show and to make sure they are still having fun while performing what they love.
Clearly remembering about good times these guys have had by the look in his eyes as spoke about the cold winter nights were invigorating going from one city to the next and saying how those were some of the best times together. Their alarm clock was parking lot security wherever they parked; being woke up as they were kicked out the next morning “Time to move on guys”. With a slight chuckle as we continued to talk I was brought into feeling that those were the times where it was an a whole new exciting adventure. Young guys, in a band, on the road, in different cities, I am a smart women and know there are stories there, but listen, some things are just meant for a band to keep under “band code rules” and a writer to know better than to ask and to just to respect.
Now that they have grown they have a Manager that is best described as looking like Jesus (insert laughter from Mike and saying “he really does”) who is great at making calculated and driven decisions with their goals in mind. His name, Chris Woltman. Mike elaborated about the path they have paved for themselves and feels that their faith early on as Christians while growing up helped them avoid some potholes along the way. One pothole avoided, almost missing the opportunity to work with Chris. During the time where they were talking with potential managers Chris’s scheduled flight in to see a live performance did not take off. The show was of epic and historic proportion for them and their hometown of Columbus at the Newport Music Hall. A sold out show, three in history that have ever been able to accomplish this before at this venue, so when they stood outside and looked up at the marquee it was a moment to take in. The band and the whole town pitched in selling tickets to this show, again grassroots efforts on how they became to be. The guys didn’t know what to think about Chris not being able to make this important show, but quickly focused on what they just did and the people who helped make it happen. It turned out that Chris, was the one. They met with a few others but similar to finding a spouse no else came close to the feeling that got from Chris. They just knew he was the right fit.
So how does all of this lead to a concert review you ask? The determination for performing, making sure it is doing what they love and showing the audience a performance that they have invested continuously back in, was mind-blowing evident that night. Lightening was amazing from the color changes, directions, types, size, timing it was consistently changing to keep the mood of the performance. Josh and Tyler giving all trust into the literally hands of their fans by having them holding them up as they perform on a platforms was crazy. Fans watched in pure amazement as the energy as they act out their music and interact with them directly. The music was not just heard, by watching reactions Twenty Pilots are also investing emotionally and physically directly into people in unique ways. A concert is entertainment to listen, feel and watch. It is astounding that how only two people on a huge stage kept everyone’s attention the entire performance. The wonder of what was going to happen next look and surprised faces and expressions as confetti was being shot from the stage kept people wanting more and for the night not to end.
With ever concert there are opening bands and performances. The first group to kick it off and get everyone moving and smiling was Vinyl Theatre. They had won battle of the bands in 2013 to open for Twenty One Pilots, newbies to the music scene forming in 2012. Gaining new fans with their sound of indie electronic rock that night they will surely keep them because of the passion. Each member exudes it when they are on stage. A trait of the performance that makes music worth watching. This was starting to transform the night into what has long been lost in definition as a concert by transforming the music experience into a new level. Their record label, Fueled by Ramen, seem to have targeted their artists having deep passion as they perform; making the record label one to watch as the sign artists.
Misterwives added to the build up to the night amping up the crowd. This group’s carefree and fun spirits is contagious in the crowd. Group participation as Mandy Lee, lead singer, led the audience to snap along with them during songs was a communication all of its own between the artists on stage and the people taking it all in. The whole band is amazing. Front women Mandy is a vocal powerhouse. She is the full package when it comes to lead singers. Has the energy to rock the whole performance with their pop style, has a personality that keeps it entertaining to watch and spot on vocals. The ability to reach the back of the room with her voice from such a petite body but then would have people leaning in at the right times for the dynamics and drama. Watching each of her Misterwives look as she performed smiling they all feed off one another with a pure look. The talent they had paid off by the response from everyone.
At the end of the performance, I caught up with Mandy to share how incredible her powerhouse of a voice is. Giving me a huge hug she was bubbly with an amped up energy level. She replied humbly with a huge smile hearing that their performance was so well received by their potential new fan base in Rochester, NY. She was gracious to agree to with Andy DeLuca Photo making sure we caught it all live and putting this together for us to share:
Definition of a concert to me is a mass of people who could sing along to every fast paced lyric, got on the shoulders of their friends when the singer asked, displayed emotion as the music touched them at a personal level and musicians constantly looking directly into the sea of people and in return picking up the bands satisfaction as they performed is a concert that exceeds expectations. This night was packed with pure satisfaction for the music and the people who were there to experience it. Commonalities of each group going up for their set and performance night after night is to share their passion of music as artists.
The last-minute of the show with only my phone video to record captures a glimmer of the definition of the word “concert”. Their hard work to this point in their career has captured more than a definition of a word. It has captured an emotion, feeling and provides and experience to all that get to be entertained by their talent and skills. Thank you Twenty One Pilots, your support systems and management. The Bands that you have on tour with you that share the same passion and drive yet have unique differences your fans to new musical creations.
The Black Keys came to Rochester and the Blue Cross Arena ready to rock their fans. The Turn Blue tour has been bringing some bluesy funk from their Akron, Ohio roots to cities across the U.S. Starting with “Dead and Gone” the Grammy winning duo, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney fired through a dynamic set. The set was dominated by tunes from older albums, though three songs promoting their chart topping new album, Turn Blue, made appearances.
Backed by keyboardist John Clement Wood and bassist Richard Swift, singer-guitarist Auerbach and drummer Carney were the main attraction on stage. Carney wailed on the drums while Auerbach seemed content to get lost in the songs. Without saying much in between tunes, they let the music speak for them. “Howlin For You” and “Lonely Boy” were crowd favorites that had the audience singing along word by word. If there was any question, the encore sealed it. Auerbach and Carney are still a unique combination that rock the crowd on their own terms.
Opener, Cage The Elephant didn’t miss the opportunity to make their mark. Lead singer Matthew Shultz thrashed around the stage while ripping through a nearly 45-minute set. Their high voltage performance included hits, “Shake Me Down” and “Come a Little Closer”.
Setlist: Dead and Gone, Next Girl, Run Right Back, Same Old Thing, Nova Baby, Gold on the Ceiling, Leavin’ Trunk, Too Afraid to Love You, A Girl Like You (Edwyn Collins cover), Howlin’ For You, Gotta Get Away, Fever, Tighten Up, Your Touch, Lonely Boy
Encore: Turn Blue, Little Black Submarines, I Got Mine
Naysayers about the Rochester music scene will need to clam it up this October. End to end, the month is loaded with more shows than some cities are lucky to see in a full calendar year. ROCtober starts out “Hell Bent For Leather” October 1st with metal icons Judas Priest opening their tour in town at the Main Street Armory. Tour openers continue with hip hop legend NAS also starting his tour in ROC-city the very next night (Also at the Armory). Seemingly unafraid of any genre The Armory will also bring in Reggae (Elephant Man Oct. 10), classic rock (Kansas Oct. 16), country (Charlie Daniels Band Oct. 22) and alternative rock (Bastille Oct. 24).
Montage Music Hall adds to the fun with their own load of diverse genre shows. The New Mastersounds – an unbelievable funky English export – will team up with local top-tier talents Mojo Collective and Ocupanther for their inaugural visit to Rochester Oct 7. The 9th features the new/bluegrass of regional heavy hitters Cabinet. The 17th will find the absolute kings of the metal breakdown Unearth with special guest The Darkest Hour. Buffalo’s Aqueous will heat up the 24th with North Carolina’s The Mantra’s. The 30th will kick off Halloween weekend in style with two of Upstate’s favorite bands: Jimkata and Turkuaz.
Water Street Music Hall was missed for a good portion of 2013-14 due to some ownership changes but they are back and as usual are wasting no time bringing top-tier talent to the area. Dopapod and Consider the Source will jam up Oct 2nd. New Orleans’ Mingo Fishtrap returns to ROC Oct. 5 after an unbelievably packed set at the Xerox International Jazz Fest. The funk will continue with Lettuce making their premier trip to ROC Oct. 23. And to cap it off, one for the ladies – Water Street’s annual Men of General Hospital show Oct 24.
And all that barely touches the surface, check out our list for the rest of the notable haps in ROCtober below.
10/01 Judas Priest w/ Steel Panther (Armory)
10/02 NAS (Armory)
10/02 Dopapod w/ Consider the Source (Water Street)
10/03 BASSNECTAR w/ Kill Paris and Son of Kick (Armory)
10/04 Strange Birds (Montage)
10/04 Giant Panda w/ Mosaic Foundation (Zeppa Auditorium)
10/05 Mingo Fishtrap (Water Street)
10/07 New Mastersounds w/ Moho Collective and Ocupanther (Montage)
10/09 Cabinet w/ TBD (Montage)
10/10 Elephant Man w/ Gyptian and Spice (Armory)
10/10 Theory of a Deadman w/ Fozzy and 3 Pill Morning (Water Street)
10/11 Deicide w/ Septic Flesh (Montage)
10/12 Ryan Montbleau Band w/ Tall Heights
10/16 Heavy Trash w/ Bloodshot Bill (Water Street)
10/17 Unearth w/ Darkest Hour (Montage)
10/22 Charlie Daniels Band (Armory)
10/23 Lettuce (Water Street)
10/24 Aqueous w/ Mantras (Montage)
10/24 MEN OF GENERAL HOSPITAL (Water Street)
10/24 Bastille (Armory)
10/25 Badfish (Water Street)
10/28 Goat Whore (Bug Jar)
10/29 AJR (Montage)
10/30 Jimkata w/ Turkuaz (Montage)
10/31 Love and Theft w/ Joel Crouse and DJ DU (Water Street)
10/31 Roots Collider w/ Thousands of One, Subsoil, Mrs Skannato and Personal Blend (Flour City)
Setlist: So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star, Mary Jane’s Last Dance, American Dream Plan B, Into the Great Wide Open, Forgotten Man, I Won’t Back Down, Free Fallin’, A Woman in Love (It’s Not Me), U Get Me High, Rebels, Two Gunslingers, Yer So Bad, Learning to Fly, Shadow People, I Should Have Known It, Refugee, Runnin’ Down a Dream
Steve Winwood performed at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on September 7, 2014. The setlist included I’m a Man, Them Changes, Can’t Find My Way Home, Medicated Goo, Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, Empty Pages, Higher Love, Dear Mr. Fantasy, Gimme Some Lovin’
If you’re hip to The Nth Power, you know that they preach the power of love and have become a musical sanctuary for that message. Drummer Nikki Glaspie took some time during their set in Buffalo and told the crowd, “The purpose is to share love with all of you and to share love with the world because there’s not enough.” When the band made their stop last Friday before their Saturday night Chill, the group and city came out to share in the compassion for one another.
With anything love related, you have to be careful not to get in too deep, too fast. So let’s take a step back and start at the beginning, where most love stories start. The Friday night began on the earlier side for typical Buffalonians with Jamestown’s smackdab starting things just before nine. The band has been an area staple for funk for quite some time now and really knows their own strengths, playing to them specifically at shows. The group is fronted by vocalist Jon Marc Johnson whose strength and power has the ability to draw you in. The rhythm this group has is like none other in the area as they’re anchored by thick cuts from bassist Ryan Ecklund and precision stickwork from drummer Daniel Witherspoon. Their music though has so many different facets and that’s largely due to the melodies that are being crafted around everything.
During one particular section, keyboardist Mark Cooper laid down a heavy synth section that propelled a psychedelic drift into a borderline metal tear. The group may be heavy on the funk side, but they dabble and take some exploratory jamming out into other areas right in stride. At times, the band would slide into some more jam-heavy segments that were slow and droney, conjuring up sounds that were akin to Pink Floyd and The Doors having a funky little baby.
It was the perfect pairing for the night as the band’s sound complimented The Nth Power’s well and the crowd enjoyed the smackdab set overall. If we’re back on the topic of love though, this was simply the first date and Buffalo was already tripping over their words in anticipation for more.
For a little taste of smackdab, check out a video of their song “First and Main” from their set. The video is brought to you by our friends at Buffalo.fm.
As The Nth Power took the stage, Buffalo gave a warm welcoming to the group being that it was their first appearance in the Queen City. After a few bars of an intro, the band dove head first into “Spirits”, easily an early favorite with its haunting melody and fat bass line. It might’ve been early on in the relationship, but this band was not shy about bringing it early on. Percussionist Weedie Braimah played off of the rhythm from Nikki Glaspie, adding an incredible range of percussive sounds to the overall color of the song. With no setlists visible, it seemed as though this band was just going to feel its way through the set.
The Nth Power’s Nick Cassarino and Nate Edgar
While the drumming from Weedie and Nikki was a powerful force in and of itself, it seemed the crowd couldn’t take their eyes off of the front of the stage where guitarist Nick Cassarino bobbed and danced as he plucked his strings and felt every note through the expressions on his face. His energy and presence alone had the crowd charged and equally feeling the same emotions that Cassarino was going through. The excitement he brought not only fueled the crowd, but the band seemingly fed off of it as well, engaging each of them deeper into the music. Love usually takes time to develop, but when you’re this passionate, you can quickly fall head over heels for what’s being created, and the crowd in Buffalo that night was all in.
Throughout their set, you could tell that the band was communicating through a romantic language that was in the music vernacular. At one point, Nick Cassarino asked each member how they were feeling to which each responded with a strike of a key or a hit on their drum. They were feeling good and the eye contact and shared smiles were an easy indicator from the beginning. Not wanting to leave the crowd out, Cassarino also asked the crowd, “Does it feel good to you?”, to which the crowd responded with a heartfelt scream.
Nikki Glaspie of The Nth Power
It was easy to get swept away in the compassionate delivery of The Nth Power’s music. Each member added so much to the music itself, but also to the overall performance. Bassist Nate Edgar was another who you could physically see was feeling the music. As he swayed along to the beat, he would not only keep up rhythmically with Nikki Glaspie’s superb drumming, but also dance around the melody and support Nick and Nigel in where they were headed throughout a song. It’s a daunting task that Nate not only handled, but challenged the other band members at times with some colorful bass runs of his own.
When falling in love, there’s usually several factors that add up to the infatuation, and the same can be said about the band. It’s not just one member that does it, it’s their collective efforts that builds them up that high. At one point during their set, percussionist Weedie Braimah took a solo that really showcased his prowess and what he adds. The man was literally combing out a rhythm with his fingers on his djembe, pulling every possible note, yes I said note, that is possible through pure precision. A thrusting beat came barreling out of the solo with which drummer Nikki Glaspie and the rest of the band jumped on, bringing the remaining sitters to their feet. The band’s control over the mood and feel in the room was apparent as they could lift the crowd before gently laying them down. In the same way Cassarino’s axe could cut, his voice could simultaneously cull the deepest of woes with grace and pure empathy. Every part of this band fits together like a puzzle, filling in the proper gaps, while leave the right amount of space.
The Nth Power keyboardist Nigel Hall
The band wrapped up the lovefest with “Soul Survivor” as an encore, unleashing blinding rhythmic speeds and a guitar solo that was dropped like a bomb on the crowd. Since they initially walked off to a chant of “ten more songs”, I guess the band wanted to pack the power of ten into one. The power of love is strong and if you don’t know that, you need to check this band out and feel it for yourself. Leaving the venue, you could tell everyone still had butterflies in their stomach as they went through a rollercoaster of emotions and were walking on clouds being simply uplifted. There’s something special about this band and it’s amazing and exciting at the same time that this is only the beginning.
As mentioned earlier, “Spirits” was an early favorite from The Nth Power. Watch the video of the song here from that night:
smackdab:
The Nth Power:
After the show, The Nth Power was gracious enough to sit down with us for an interview. Here are some shots from after their set and the interview itself. We want to thank our friends at Buffalo.fm for all of the video from the night and to The Nth Power for taking the time. Buffalo and NYS Music love you right back!
To mark the first day of autumn, 
With ever concert there are opening bands and performances. The first group to kick it off and get everyone moving and smiling was Vinyl Theatre. They had won battle of the bands in 2013 to open for Twenty One Pilots, newbies to the music scene forming in 2012. Gaining new fans with their sound of indie electronic rock that night they will surely keep them because of the passion. Each member exudes it when they are on stage. A trait of the performance that makes music worth watching. This was starting to transform the night into what has long been lost in definition as a concert by transforming the music experience into a new level. Their record label, Fueled by Ramen, seem to have targeted their artists having deep passion as they perform; making the record label one to watch as the sign artists.
Misterwives added to the build up to the night amping up the crowd. This group’s carefree and fun spirits is contagious in the crowd. Group participation as Mandy Lee, lead singer, led the audience to snap along with them during songs was a communication all of its own between the artists on stage and the people taking it all in. The whole band is amazing. Front women Mandy is a vocal powerhouse. She is the full package when it comes to lead singers. Has the energy to rock the whole performance with their pop style, has a personality that keeps it entertaining to watch and spot on vocals. The ability to reach the back of the room with her voice from such a petite body but then would have people leaning in at the right times for the dynamics and drama. Watching each of her Misterwives look as she performed smiling they all feed off one another with a pure look. The talent they had paid off by the response from everyone.
At the end of the performance, I caught up with Mandy to share how incredible her powerhouse of a voice is. Giving me a huge hug she was bubbly with an amped up energy level. She replied humbly with a huge smile hearing that their performance was so well received by their potential new fan base in Rochester, NY. She was gracious to agree to with Andy DeLuca Photo making sure we caught it all live and putting this together for us to share:
Backed by keyboardist John Clement Wood and bassist Richard Swift, singer-guitarist Auerbach and drummer Carney were the main attraction on stage. Carney wailed on the drums while Auerbach seemed content to get lost in the songs. Without saying much in between tunes, they let the music speak for them. “Howlin For You” and “Lonely Boy” were crowd favorites that had the audience singing along word by word. If there was any question, the encore sealed it. Auerbach and Carney are still a unique combination that rock the crowd on their own terms.
