Upstate NY’s metalcore band, Sirens and Sailors, is living “every band’s nightmare” right now. According to several posts to social media, the band is currently experiencing a devastating crisis overseas. While on a European tour with Scottish band, To Kill Achilles, they returned to their van to find that everything “down to [their] toiletries” had been stolen.
According to a recent Facebook post by one of the band members, they have been left with nothing, and that this experience is “one of the most devastating things to ever happen to us as a touring band.” Despite their former commitment to “earning their keep” and resisting the urge to start a crowd-funding program (such as Kickstarter) to support them, Sirens and Sailors now has “no other option” and are asking fans to help out. Their tour-mates, To Kill Achilles, are also using the power of social media to encourage fans to support. More details and up-to-date Twitter feeds are available at http://sirensandsailorsmusic.com/tour/ and https://www.facebook.com/sandsmusic?fref=nf.
Sirens and Sailors was scheduled to play in the Czech Republic on August 28 and in Belgium on August 29. This is the band’s first European tour. Formed in Rochester in 2005, this five piece band has been actively “earning their keep.” They released Sirens & Sailors in 2007 and Still Breathing in 2010, and Skeletons in 2013, all available at iTunes.
Rochester’s Party in the Park has returned to the original location of the concert series this summer and music lovers couldn’t be happier about the move. Music events are always well attended in the city center and with the spectacular lineup of artists, this summer of music has been a good one, especially with Railroad Earth and YMSB.
With the recent surge in Bluegrass music in the last several years, Rochester bluegrass fans were in for a treat when Party in the Park served up a double-header of bluegrass with Railroad Earth and Yonder Mountain String Band as co-headliners of the Thursday night event. The show brought a full crowd to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park at Manhattan Square Park for a night of dancing and local food from on-site food trucks. The energy was phenomenal, the music was on point and concert goers were delighted with the sounds of bluegrass music.
YMSB opened the night with a set list full of favorites like “My Gal” and jammy, out of the ordinary, fantastic “Only A Northern Song” – where the band proved that even without Jeff Austin, they still have undeniable energy that can’t be contained. With Austin’s departure the band had to look elsewhere for someone to fill that void and the result has been the addition of mandolin player Jacob Jolliff and Allie Kral on violin. Although Austin’s place could never be filled, the addition of Kral and Jolliff seems to be a comfortable fit.
Highlights of the night included the addition of Allie Kral on violin with YMSB and two songs with RRE; after the departure of Jeff Austin, fans have been wondering which direction the band was going to go in with filling in his place, without replacing what Austin brought to the band. The result was a more than pleasant surprise with her addition.
I had the opportunity to speak with Kral after the show and I asked her about leaving Cornmeal and what it was like to be on stage with the boys from Yonder Mountain String Band and whether this was a permanent thing for her. With a giant smile on her face she explained how she had only been playing with Cornmeal for so long and now she’s learning jazz and more bluegrass and it’s awesome; she went on to say that her husband was happy she was on tour and enjoying herself. When I asked if this might be a permanent gig for her she stated, “Not permanently but I’m happy to be here.”
Railroad Earth Setlist: Lordy Lordy, Head, When the Sun Gets in Your Blood, Carrying Coal to Newcastle, A Day on the Sand, Bird in a House, Monkey, Walk Beside Me, Hard Livin’, RV*, Like a Buddha*
* with Allie Kral on violin
Yonder Mountain String Band Setlist: Blue Collar Blues, Hello City Limits, Don’t Worry Happy Birthday, Finally Saw The Light> Girlfriend Is Better> Finally Saw The Light, Dire Wolf, Pockets, Dominated Love Slave, Long Time, Loved You Enough, My Gal, Honestly> Only A Northern Song> Honestly,
E: Southern Flavor
Keith Urban is a little bit country, a little bit pop, and a whole lot of heart, loves being on stage and it showed in his concert at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center. It was more than just a performance for the audience to witness; Urban made them a part of the show. In one example, he brought a young girl up to take a “selfie” on stage. Later, Urban brought contest winner Jordan Hokaj of Lancaster onto the stage to sing a duet with him on the song, “We Were Us”. The crowd was clearly thrilled to have some of their own sharing the stage with the talented Urban. When he wasn’t wooing the crowd, Urban was performing hits that the crowd was eager to sing along with. “Cop Car” and other songs from his recent album Fuse got just as much love from the audience as did some of his older songs like, “Without You” and “You Look Good in My Shirt”. Packed full of excitement and talent, Urban showed he has the recipe to keep his fans coming back for more.
Setlist: Love’s Poster Child, Sweet Thing, Somewhere In My Car, Only You Can Love Me This Way, Long Hot Summer, Even the Stars Fall 4 U, We Were Us, Kiss a Girl, Used to the Pain, Good Thing, I Told You So, Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me, Stupid Boy, Little Bit of Everything, Something Like That (Tim McGraw cover), Days Go By, Without You, You Look Good in My Shirt, Cop Car, You Gonna Fly, Put You in a Song
Encore: Making Memories of Us, Better Life, Somebody Like You
Allen Toussaint and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band will be teaming up for a joint tour of the United States this fall and the Northeast is getting a full docket of shows. The tour promises to see plenty of interaction between the acts, with each band sitting in with one another throughout the show. Ben Jaffe, the Preservation Hall band leader released a statment for the tour saying “After all these years of playing together in New Orleans and coming to the same festivals here and there around the world, it is amazing that we never hit the road as a package before. It was almost as if we’ve always just assumed it had already happened, and then one day it was like ‘Oh yeah, WE need to do this thing’ and the Oh Yeah! Tour was born.”
“I’ve been playing with the guys in Preservation Hall around New Orleans since the 1960’s, so I’m really excited to finally get out on the road and perform together with them every night on a tour,” said Mr. Toussaint, “we’re going to have a lot of fun, and so will the audience.”
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
Despite a small setback and some unusual weather for the time of year, Alan Evans’ Playonbrother had the mixed crowd that attended their show in Buffalo on August 13th packed in tight and listening intently. Alan is a Buffalonian, born and raised, but this was the first time playing Larkin Square, and with the combination of the opening band and some enthusiastic fans, the homecoming couldn’t have went any better.
Larkin Square is easily one of the newest gems in Buffalo. The mere revitalization and beautification of area was astounding, proving that the city is on the verge of turning the corner. The venue, which opened up in 2012, had so many great things going for it that it’s hard to list them all. Two pickle ball courts with equipment provided, free parking, numerous food trucks on site, a beautiful covered area for the stage and music, and an all-around good atmosphere for congregating; this is how you host a concert and all venues in the area need to take note.
The night got started when the Forealists took the stage, and if you couldn’t tell by the name, they didn’t just come to warm up the crowd. With special guest/semi-official member Nelson Rivera on saxophone for the night, the band came out strong and immediately grabbed those wandering around the venue and drew them in. You can mark my “Favorite Up and Coming Band from Buffalo” on my ballot right now as the ensemble had a perfect mix of raw talent and control over each and every song. The band laid smooth melodies on top of an ever-pressing rhythm that was propelled by the combination of drummer Deshawn Jackson and bassist Zuri Appleby. The band’s sound was sprawled across multiple genres without being watered down. A Snarky Puppy-esque vibe is all that’s needed to describe what they’re capable of. The band shined on some of their faster-paced songs and had the crowd moving right away. It wouldn’t be surprising if this band one day took off; they just need the right visibility. Knowing that, we worked with our good friends at WNYmedia Network who captured some of their set from last Wednesday for our loyal readers. With a new album due out this Fall, check back at soon for our interview with the talented Zuri Appleby.
After the Forealists finished up, the crowd needed a collective breather to digest what they just heard and prepare for what was on deck. Alan Evans, Danny Mayer, and the newest member, Kris Yunker took the stage behind their respective instruments. The venue was packed, but that didn’t stop people from finding ways to fill in the cracks as the everyone seemed eager to welcome home one of their own. Playonbrother started things off with a song I had yet to hear live. “Tammi”, also the name of the band’s Tiger that sits on stage during their set, came out with a fierce, rhythmic onslaught. If it was any indication of the direction of the new album, you’re going to want to make sure you grab it as soon as it drops. The band paused for a four count before launching right into “Who Dares Knock at my Door”. The newest member Kris Yunker took his first solo with a tone that was muddied and modulated through various effects, creating a spacey feel, rich in the stench of funk that the band is known to dabble in. From new to old, Yunker slipped in without anyone knowing he was only twenty or so shows into his POB tenure.
With the band locking in, the outdoor setting began to rear its head and provide some challenges. It started with the wind creating some noise on Alan Evans’ microphone. That was just a harbinger though as shortly thereafter, his mic completely dropped out on their song “Easy Meat”. It’s impossible to say for sure, but the band seemed to angrily throw themselves into the solo section, taking every note out on their respective instruments. You can’t always prepare for the elements, but the band played on without missing a beat. Their entire set weaved like a car in the thick Buffalo snow, touching on deep grooves before sailing smoothly out of them. Unlike a car though, the band was in tight control, driven by the rhythmic steering of Buffalo’s own Alan Evans.
Leaving the set list on an off-the-cuff whim, Playonbrother took on a Jimi Hendrix cover in “Ain’t No Telling”. The deviation was akin to a quarterback calling the perfect audible. It was on that song that the band turned a corner, syncing up on an undeniable rhythm that transcended the entire crowd.
The venue mid-set resembled a mini-festival with people dancing freely, kids playing catch, and hula hoopers spinning circles in the grass to the music that blanketed the entire area. More venues need to take this approach to shows as it created a spirit and environment that went hand in hand with the music. If adds a “Best New Venue” category to its end of the year writers poll, you know where my vote will lie.
Guitarist Danny Mayer was the nexus between Alan and Kris the entire night, standing in the middle of the stage and using his experience with both to lead the way. There was no denying the effect he had on the crowd either. The guitarist made some easy side money as a fan felt compelled enough to rush the stage and start throwing singles during his blistering solo on “Buffalo”. Post-show, Danny mentioned to me that it was the first time that had ever happened to him. What’s there to say? Buffalo flat-out appreciates a man with a talent.
As their set ended, the crowd beckoned for another showing, and to the surprise of many, both Playonbrother and Forealists joined the stage together, being dubbed as either the Foreal Playonbrother Superjam or the simpler Playonrealists. Either way, pupils were dilating at the expectation of what was about to start. Phones were up in the air recording the members setting up, not wanting to miss the start of jam. There wasn’t even enough room on stage for everyone and Forealists drummer Deshawn Jackson ended up setting up on the side of the stage, directly on the floor. Once everyone was set, the nine piece band dove into the Cream hit “Sunshine of Your Love”. The absolute climax of the night came blasting through the brass in the hands of Nelson Rivera. He cut through the other eight members on stage ripping a solo that exuded his feeling, the crowds collective spirit, and the night as a whole. It might have been a cold night in August, but there was no stopping the positive energy that this show thrust upon all who gathered. It was a great night to be a Buffalonian.
Buffalo’s Aqueous just announced their 2014 Fall tour schedule and, even with losing long-time drummer Nick Sonricker, the band refuses to take their foot off of the proverbial pedal. Locked and loaded with the newest member, Ryan Nogle, the band made a solid showing at The Peach Music Festival this past weekend with a sizeable crowd that latched on to the band’s infectious sound. With summer still not exactly over, the band will head to moe.down next weekend for a prime slot and two sets on Sunday night opposite of moe..
Getting back to the announcement, the band will embark on a heavy rotation throughout the Northeast on tour this Fall, touching down in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania among other states. The band will travel as far south though as North Carolina and as far west as Indiana, ultimately wrapping up at Nectar’s in Vermont. Along the way, Aqueous will be joined by their friends in The Mantras, The McLovin’s, and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. Knowing that the band has a great relationship with each, it wouldn’t be a surprise if we saw some fun guest sit-ins.
If the tour itself doesn’t have you excited, the band will be debuting their newest album on October 25th in their hometown of Buffalo at Iron Works and will be joined by The Mantras. With their last album being almost two years old, this has been long-overdue and overly anticipated by fans.
Check out the dates below and make sure to mark one down on your calendar as the new lineup has the band full of energy and ready to bring it to your hometown.
Sirens & Sailors, the five-piece metalcore group out of Rochester, recently released a new music video in support of their debut album, Skeletons.
The band is currently on tour in Europe, where they will stay until the end of August before they pick up again to tour the United States along with Beartooth in the fall. The domestic tour only skirts Upstate New York, hitting venues in Toronto, New York City, and Worcester, Mass. in October. A full schedule of both the European and US tours can be viewed below.
“The Chosen One” is Sirens & Sailors’ second video from their first, full-length album. Though Skeletons is marketed as the band’s debut album, they have two EPs under its belt since forming in 2005. Since then, the band has developed a healthy following, having toured extensively with such acts as Affiance, Dr. Acula, Knights of the Abyss, The Air I Breathe, and King Conquer. The group has also appeared on the Van’s Warped Tour.
Sirens & Sailors Tour Dates
August 11 – Leeds, UK – Temple Boom
August 12 – Dundee. UK – Non Zero’s
August 13 – Manchester, UK – Sound Contral
August 14 – London, UK – Scream Lounge
August 15 – Toulon, France – Local Morts Subtles
August 16 – Barcelona, Spain – Sla Tube
August 17 – Madrid, Spain – Sala – TBA
August 19 – Paris, France – Le Klub
August 20 – Oberhausen, Germany – Resonanzwek
August 21 – Tilburg, Netherlands
August 22 – Prague, Czech Republic – Chapeau Rouge
August 23 – berlin, Germany – Open Air
August 24 – Wroclaw, Poland – Cema Strona Miastra
August 25 – Bratislava, Slovakia – Rock N’ Ribs
August 26– Vienna, Austria – Das Bach
August 28– Ostrava, Czech Republic – Barrak Club
August 29- Mechelen, Belgium – Kamikaze
w/Beartooth, Vanna, Alive with Me Tour
October 3 – Chicago, IL – The Beat Kitchen
October 5 – Toronto, ON – Hard Luck Bar
October 6 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium (Upstairs)
October 7 – Philadelphia, PA – The Barbary
October 8 – New York, NY- Gramercy Theatre
October 9 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
October 10 – Richmond, VA – The Canal Club
October 11 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theater
October 12 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
October 14 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room
October 15 – Orlando, FL – Backbooth
October 17 – Houston, TX – Walters
October 10/18 – Dallas, TX – The Door
October 19 – San Antonio, TX – Backstage Live
October 21 – Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater
October 22 – San Diego, CA – Soma Sidestage
October 23 – Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction
October 24 – Sacramento, CA – Assembly Music Hall
October 26 – Murray, UT – Murray Theater
October 28 – Denver, CO – The Marquis Theater
October 30 – St. Louis, MO – Fubar
October 31 – Columbus, OH – The Basement
This year marked the 20th anniversary of Illmatic by Nas and he has dedicated the entire year to this landmark album. This fall he will be touring in support of not only the album, but also the documentary film Nas: Time is Illmatic. This film follows the making of the album to how it is seen and heard today. The film will open theatrically via the Tribeca Film Festival on October 1st followed by a nationwide expansion to follow. At these shows not only will Nas play the album from front to back, but at most stops the documentary will be shown as well.
“I want to thank Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and the Tribeca Film family for all of the love and support they’ve given Time Is Illmatic,” said Nas. “It is an honor to be in partnership with them, and I feel there is a cultural kinship bonded by the city of New York.”
“When we started this project, Erik Parker and I couldn’t imagine that audiences would one day be able to experience the film with a live performance of Illmatic, the album that started it all. It will make each night a truly special moment for the culture. We are sure people of all generations will be inspired by the story of Nas, the Jones family, and electrified by a live performance,” said One9.
The tour kicks off at Rochester’s Main Street Armory on October 2 and stops at Albany’s Palace Theatre on October 3. Unfortunately Rochester will not have a screening of the documentary, but Albany will. These shows are sure to be special and tickets go on sale this Friday August 15th.
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.
