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Have some Funk with your Waffles: An Interview with Greg Ormont of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

If you attend college at SU, every now and then you need an excuse to go to Funk N’ Waffles. Maybe it’s the sweet aroma, abstract art, or the dynamic acts they book. No matter what your reasoning is, October 9^th is the day to be at the Funk, because the one the only Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will astound all of us with a funky fresh energy that will make the best (waffle) dinner and a show of all time. Based out of Baltimore, this quirky combo has sailed to the top in the past five years, from the University of Maryland dorms to prestigious stages across the nation. I got to talk with the lead singer Greg Ormont about their past summer festival season, greatest moments, and upcoming releases.

Julia Wolfe: If you were describing your music to someone who doesn’t know your band, what three adjectives would you use?

Greg Ormont: High energy, psychedelic, and funk. I would need to put fun in there somewhere, so I would probably do that for extra credit?

JW: Sure! I’m cool with bonus points. I also noticed you guys recently played at the Catskill Chill Music Festival, alongside Lettuce, Papadosio, and Dopapod. What was that like?

GO: It was an honor to play Catskill Chill. It was our second time playing there, and the lineup is just so impressive from top to bottom. It was an incredibly deep and fanastic, funky lineup, so playing alongside those musicians is just a dream come true. We were able to invite some of our friends up on stage, so we had Mihali Savoulidis from Twiddle play guitar with us, along with others. There’s so much great cool stuff to see and great music.

JW: What would you say is your dream gig? What bands do you idolize?

GO: My dream gigs would be Jam Cruise, Madison Square Garden, and Vegas on Halloween somewhere. I would play with Phish, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. If I had to answer with one dream gig, though, it would be the Superbowl Halftime Show with special guest Stevie Wonder.

JW: I looked into your discography, and it shows your first record was released in 2010, so you guys are still pretty new. How have you handled taking off so quickly in the past 5 years?

GO: We just love to play music. Back when we started this band, it was for fun. To this day, it’s still about the fun. As we play bigger venues and have more prestigious lineups, we continue to focus on having a good time on stage and have the crowd have an even better time. We’ve always been drawn to the energy that we share with an audience, and that’s what we focus on. It’s nice that we get to play later and longer at shows, but it all boils down to having a great time.

JW: It looks like you’ve hit up a ton of venues across the US. What has been your favorite so far?

GO: Opening for the Disco Biscuits at the Best Buy Theatre on New Year’s Eve. The 930 Club in DC and the 8 by 10 in Baltimore were also some of our favorites.

JW: Where can we expect to see you in the future? Any cool shows or releases coming up?

GO: We just recently announced New Year’s Eve in Richmond, Virginia. Just yesterday, we announced more shows in Upstate New York. We’re also playing Aura Music Festival in Florida, which is one of my favorite places to play by far. It’s one of the most beautiful grounds I’ve ever stepped on with the most visionary lineups of the year. It’s going to be a great show.

JW: If people want to follow your updates, where can they find you?

GO: Definitely on our facebook page as well as our website, but I also would recommend to follow our Instagram. Facebook has most of our band information, but our Instagram has all of our wacky, spur of the moment photos from our tour, so both are worth checking out.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong released their second album, Psychology in July of 2014, and have undergone an extensive season of touring since. Despite their multiple stops in upstate New York, you won’t get as much of an inclusive experience unless you go to Funk N’ Waffles on South Crouse Ave. They stop here October 9^th at 8:30pm, and food and beverages will be available for sale, as always. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door, but I’d recommend getting there early to secure a seat. See ya there!

October 8, 2014
The Hello Strangers at The Linda on October 10

What happens when music emerges from Pennsyltucky by way of Austin via two lovely ladies with a fire in their hearts? Storied tales told through song in a style reminiscent of old-timey country yet dashed in modern indie folk-rock make up The Hello Strangers, that is what happens!

Currently, The Hello Strangers are on tour in support of their self-titled album. Featuring eleven songs and two originals, country giant and omnipresent, Jim Lauderdale sings “What You Don’t Know”. A slowed version of “Que Sera, Sera” is a hauntingly beautiful nod to the sisters’ lineage as their grandfather, Ronald Chace, sang with Doris Day.

An equally talented trio supports Larrissa Chace Smith and Brechyn Chace: Spencer Pheil, Trent Renshaw, and Tom Hoy. Don’t miss this opportunity to say hello, hear some tunes and perhaps, no longer be strangers. The Hello Strangers are sure to tickle your fancy. Local 518 band, Rebel Darling led by MR Poulopoulos, will open the show. Tickets are available at The Linda.

October 8, 2014
Super 400 Shreds Putnam Den

Putnam Den was the site of one of the hottest shows that is going to be seen anywhere, at anytime on Friday, October 3 with Super 400. The bar was packed, first with patrons surrounded around the TVs watching the baseball playoffs but when Suitable Groove took this stage the bar became sparse and the stage area began to fill up to get a better look at opening act of the evening.

Opening up with the hoppy dance track “Up to the Front”, which grabbed everyone’s attention with an energy matched by few. The solos where abounding as each member added their own uniqueness to the bands sound. The drummer, Ian Henderson, did not just hold the songs together with his rhythmic beats, he also sang lead vocals, a complicated task. Bassist Eric Johnson helped in this as well as he laid down beats in which keyboardist Chadd Portwine, who was filled with energy, danced around getting the crowd even more engaged then they already were. The guitar playing of Wayne Chaet, however, was a very high energy groove, a Suitable Groove if you will. They also had the ability to bring it back down to the songs original composition. This was the perfect opening act for what was to come next with Super 400 ready to take the stage.

The energetic “Be My Friend” opened up Super 400‘s set and had the crowd eating out of their hands from the onset and there was no turning back. This and many of their songs featured shredding guitar solos from Kenny Hohman, but unlike many bands where guitars solos are the feature of the band, this was not the deal with Super 400. They focused more on the songs, the lyrics and the melodies which complemented the songs to perfection. Lori Friday added a higher pitch and slower vocal that matched Hohman’s more raspy southern rock feel. Friday however was not just a backing vocalist by any stretch of the imaginations, taking leads on many tracks that still wasn’t her highlighted skill. She laid down sick bass solos and had the crowd in awe. She was tearing it up to the point drummer Joe Daly and her were almost dueling, which just brought the energy lever higher. The show was amazing in every aspect.

Playing covers of the Beatles “Don’t Let me Down,” to Carole King’s “I Feel the Earth Move Under My Feet,” and new renditions of standards that have been heard hundreds of times, but with Super 400 playing them it seemed as if it was the first time they were ever heard. Everyone in attendance was blown away, and although it was a free show, people said they would have had no problem paying to see this spectacle, a statement to just how fantastic the night was.

October 7, 2014
The Disco Biscuits give it to The Mann

The Disco Biscuits came to the Mann Center in Philadelphia for the last night of City Bisco Saturday September 27, accompanied by Risky Disco and Giorgio Moroder. If you’ve never been to The Mann Center, you should put it on your radar. Similar to New York’s beloved SPAC with lots of space and rolling hills of grass to lay out on if needed, it retains better sound quality and (at least for Biscuits) most of the pavilion is GA seating. From the top of the hill you can also see the beautiful Philadelphia skyline which is definitely a plus.

photo by Andrew Blackstein

Upon entering the concert, each patron was given a City Bisco baseball card as part of an official art installment called “What Summer Sounds Like” that was created by illustrator Alex Fine. Each card features the band members on the front with little facts on the back such as what year the band formed, and a trivia question about HeadCount. This trading card installation added a fun, whimsical vibe to the experience as soon as you entered the gate, and gave a reprieve from the extensive and slightly invasive search.

In a stroke of luck for Biscuits fans, Orchard Lounge, the originally scheduled opener had to cancel and The Disco Biscuits stepped in to play as their alter ego The Perfume. A Perfume set is when the band plays their own songs in a different style of music, as if another band was covering them. They started early, around 7 o’clock and the crowd was sparse but excited. The band came out and people settled in to dance. Guitarist Jon “Barber” Gutwillig came out dressed to impress with a bright red velour jumpsuit that looked like it could be made out of velvet.

The styles of each song of The Perfume set were interesting and varied, ranging from a dub style “Mindless Dribble” to a garage band punk version of “Kitchen Mitts”, a definite highlight. They started with a Devo-style “Frog Legs” that turned into a disco dance party that was perfect foreshadowing for Giorgio Moroder. “Frog Legs” got the crowd moving right away with a version of the song that would fit right into the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever. From there they got their reggae on with the aforementioned dub “Mindless Dribble”. A Wa-wa “7-11” and raucous “Pilin’ it High” came after that really amped up the crowd. The beauty of a Perfume set is that it was so different I didn’t realize that they were ending their set with “Kitchen Mitts” at first. So much so, that I left my spot to get a drink. As I walked across the back part of the venue I recognized the song so I stopped to revel in it and saw a mosh pit.

The second set started with an outfit change, Gutwillig coming out in a black shirt and white pants. Musically, it started and ended with “Little Lai”, with keyboardist Aron Magner trilling notes on the keyboard, while Gutwillig followed suit on guitar. A cohesive jam followed with each player adding their share, but with Magner and Gutwillig taking the reins. The transition into “Caterpillar” was pretty flawless and took the crowd on a musical exploration of the darker side of electronic jam music that The Disco Biscuits do so well. The drummer, Allen Aucoin, lead the pack on this one like a drumming machine.

The theme of the second set seemed to be about delving the crowd into musical chaos then pulling us out of the darkness by juxtaposing upbeat, dancey tunes. This can definitely be heard as the band went from “Caterpillar” into “Little Betty Boop”. The set ended with a subtle and funky “On Time” back into “Little Lai” that had Gutwillig wailing pretty hard on guitar to end with a flourish.

Set break featured Giorgio Moroder, also known as “the godfather of disco” who came all the way from Europe to unleash his beats on our American ears. At 74, Moroder threw down harder than most people in the crowd. His music had us flashing back a few decades, remixing songs that he produced such as Donna Summer’s 1979 hit “Bad Girls” and 1984’s “Never Ending Story” which he composed. He also remixed the contemporary “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea which was unexpected and awesome. After Moroder’s performance every member of the band turned into the 80s kids that grew up with his music. Moroder is so legendary he had a hand in making his own theme song…Daft Punk‘s “Giorgio by Moroder”. They were star struck in the biggest way because without Moroder, the disco in Disco Biscuits wouldn’t exist.

The third Biscuits set commenced with a fan requested “Crickets,” the beginning of which was slow and sexy as always. It eventually worked the crowd up into a frenzy as the song progressed. The song alternated between high energy peaks to lows riddled with bass bombs thanks to bassist Marc Brownstein. After “Crickets” they played a faced paced “42” into Conspirator’s “Orch Theme”. The first half of the third set focused more dark, heavy electronic jams, some of which didn’t really go anywhere. Seldom played “Aquatic Ape” developed into a break beat jam that really showcased Aucion’s skills. “42” rounded off the set with a happy and upbeat ending.

“Helicopters” worked really well as an encore, encapsulating the energy of the show into one song. It had everyone out of their seat, dancing and yelling lyrics at the top of their lungs. It was the perfect nightcap to end the show on a high note with Gutwillig slaying the guitar. Overall, the energy of both the show and the crowd were great meaning the Biscuits rocked Philadelphia out right.

October 7, 2014
Gov’t Mule Announces New Years Eve run and Vault Releases

Gov’t Mule will spend their New Years run in New York City at The Beacon Theater on Dec. 30 and 31 and swing down to Philadelphia for two more shows on Jan. 2 and 3 at The Tower Theater. On New Year’s Eve, Mule will be joined by Myles Kennedy for a potential night of AC/DC covers, given the artwork below and Kennedy’s vocal potential.

On Jan. 2, Cabinet and Ron Holloway will join Mule, and sax legend Bill Evans will join the band on Jan. 3. Tickets are on sale for the Beacon shows Friday, Oct. 10 at 12 noon, while Tower Theater tickets are on sale Friday, Oct. 17.

In addition to their four-night New Year’s run, Mule will also be releasing four vault releases:

Stoned Side of the Mule: Volume 1 releases exclusively on vinyl on Black Friday, Nov. 28 and features seven Rolling Stone covers from Halloween 2009 at The Tower Theater.

Dark Side of the Mule, will release on Dec. 9, including 90 minutes of live Pink Floyd covers. Recorded on Halloween 2008 at The Orpheum in Boston, this release will be available as an album, an album/DVD package or double vinyl.

Dub Side of the Mule, to be released in early 2015, will feature reggae songs with reggae legend Toots Hibbert of Toots & The Maytals from Mule’s New Year’s Eve 2006 show at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. This release will be available as an album, an album/DVD package or double vinyl and features special guests Gregg Allman & Friends and John Popper.

SCO-MULE, a long-awaited release that celebrates John Scofield’s teaming with Gov’t Mule as the band enters their 20^th year. Details from the press release spell out the great potential for this live release:

In late September of 1999, John Scofield teamed with Gov’t Mule, then featuring original bass player the late Allen Woody, along with keyboardist Dr. Dan Matrazzo, in Georgia for two legendary shows of mind-bending live prowess. Both shows were recorded and included the Mule’s first-ever all-instrumental sets. The band had begun preparing the music for eventual release while working on their third studio album Life Before Insanity. However, less than a year later, their beloved bassist Allen Woody passed away, setting the Mule on a different path. The idea of releasing SCO- MULE came up over the years, but the timing was never as right as it is now – helping to mark Gov’t Mule’s 20th Anniversary. While Scofield and the Mule did reunite briefly for a set at Warren Haynes’ 25th Annual Christmas Jam in December 2013, fans have been clamoring for the return of the project ever since those lauded 1999 shows, and for more than a decade the Mule have been eager to share the music from these shows through an LP. Now for the first time, fans can experience the SCO-MULE magic first-hand in album form, newly mixed and mastered. The 3-hour all-instrumental album is a jazz romp laced with rock riffs and will be available as a 2-CD set as well as a double vinyl.

October 7, 2014
Music, Cars and Food Trucks Combine for a great time all month long at Paddock Chevrolet

Every October, there seems to be quite the buzz in Western New York over a few things, whether it’s the onslaught of changing colors with the trees, the Oktoberfest themed weekends or the pumpkin picking for the families there seems to be always something to do. One big event that seems to also get people out and about is the many different types of Automotive sales events that seem to dominate the radio and television channels. So how does one decide who to visit? I’m not sure there really is a correct answer but one local dealership has seemed to really taken the month of October and really made it their own.

Paddock Chevrolet, nestled in the tiny Buffalo suburb of Kenmore, coined the tagline ” A world-class dealership with small town values” and has been around for over 77 years in the same location. So how does Paddock Chevrolet make October different then its competition? They have branded themselves and the month with an annual sales event called ROCKTOBER. The event which started out as a sales event that produced the catchphrase “Rocking deals on Rocking Wheels” will be amping up this year with some really incredible stuff. The month will obviously be a perfect time to check out some of the deals but there will be some fun stuff happening at the same time making it a lot more fun to come to the dealership.

The showrooms will be a lot more lively with live music on Saturdays featuring some local music talent. A perfect place for not only an up and coming artist to get their name out there and a place where local solo artist Tim Britt will be able to increase his already growing audience. Britt will be appearing on Saturday October 25. Britt has opened for Dave Matthews Band’s Boyd Tinsley (violin) and guitar virtuoso Tim Reynolds. Tim Britt is an incredible artist and a must see for anyone in the area. There will also be food trucks on site for Saturday’s in October and who doesn’t love a perfect excuse to get some great eats from local food trucks? Giveaways will be going on all month as well with three signed guitars being giving away, signed by Dave Matthews, Keith Urban and local hometown hero and Goo Goo Dolls frontman Johnny Rzeznik. There will also be a grand prize giveaway for a trip for two to Las Vegas for a 2 night 3 day stay at Planet Hollywood and orchestra seats at the Rock of Ages show. You also may want to checkout Paddock Chevrolet on Facebook because they are also giving away two signed microphones, signed by Michael Buble and James Taylor. Rockband and Guitarhero will be in the showrooms as well to keep you busy while you wait or keeping your kids entertained while your going through the sales buying experience.

This event is starting to become the destination for buying a new vehicle. The biggest thing people hate to do seems to be buying a vehicle so why not go somewhere that is making it fun again to head down to the dealership with the whole family. Grab something to eat from the local food trucks, check out some local music, maybe win a cool guitar or trip and perhaps drive home in a great new vehicle for you and your family.

October 7, 2014
Tweedy Traverses Past & Present at Buffalo’s Town Ballroom

When Jeff Tweedy took to the storied stage of Buffalo’s iconic Town Ballroom this past Wednesday it was clear that he had nothing to prove. The alt country, alt rock, alt convention pioneer had once again cut a detour into the sonic highway he’s been paving for the better part of the last three decades. This time with his newly formed band , Tweedy, and a repertoire of fresh yet strangely familiar songs that left the audience craving Uncle Tupelo, longing for Loose Fur, begging for Wilco yet somehow completely immersed in the journey at hand.

Tweedy consists of Jeff on guitar and lead vocals, long-time friend/collaborator and down-right dynamite musician – Darin Gray on bass, the fabulous Jim Elkington on guitar, and the multitalented, multi-instrumentalist Liam Cunningham. Oh, and who better to round off the new lineup than Tweedy’s 18-year old son Spencer on drums? He has grown up quite a bit since his appearance behind a kit in Sam Jones’ 2002 I Am Trying to Break Your Heart – A Film About Wilco. Stands to reason, Spencer was 6 at the time. He has come a long way since then, and so has dad.

Tweedy took the stage armed with new material from their recently released 20-track, 74 minute debut album Sukierae – an album whose title is fittingly the nickname of Jeff’s wife & Spencer’s mother, Suzie Miller. The band kicked things off with a viciously beautiful 14-song set of masterfully developed songs that somehow felt Jeff Tweedy influenced, yet altogether Tweedy the band. Highlights of that set included the melodic, “Summer Noon”, the heart-wrenching yet charming, “Nobody Dies Anymore” and the drum-forward ever-shifting, “Diamond Light Pt. 1”. The band remained focused throughout the first set, with very little of the slightly awkward, yet adorable banter that Jeff has been known to strike up with his audiences over the years.

Then the gloves came off…

Turning to his son and offering a hug, Jeff suggested the band take a break and the lighting crew dim the stage. It was time in the program for Jeff to dig into his immense catalog and perform some choice numbers on his own. Just he and those beautiful acoustic guitars that he plays so effortlessly. The crowd sang along softly and mostly in key in their very best Jeff Tweedy voice – “I am an American aquarium drinker, I assassin down the avenue”. For the next hour, Jeff delighted all in attendance with songs of familiarity from his time with Uncle Tupelo, Loose Fur and Wilco. Classics like “Jesus, etc.”, “Hummingbird”, “I’m the Man Who Loves You” and “A Shot in the Arm” were included in the 12 song set. All interlaced with the type of crowd interaction that has become an irreplaceable aspect of the Live Jeff Tweedy Experience. “Free Bird” was requested prompting Jeff to explain his elaborate plan to form a coalition to rid the World of those who shout “Free Bird” at any live performance. Whistling solos were met with large applause which led to…more whistling solos.

When the band re-emerged, Jeff had everyone in the audience right where he always does, wrapped tightly around his finger. “Thank you Buffalo, you are hands down the best audience we’ve had on this tour” yelled Jeff. “We’re off to Michigan tomorrow and well, we don’t want to leave. We could play this room every night.” The 5-song encore featured yet another new melodic Tweedy song, “Please Don’t Let Me Be So Understood”, covers of Mavis Staples’ “Only the Lord Knows” and Doug Sahm’s “Give back the Key to My Heart”, “California Stars” from Jeff’s Mermaid Avenue Project and “Acuff-Rose” from the Uncle Tupelo vault.

It was a beautiful journey through Jeff Tweedy’s personal history and musical history. Blended perfectly for a stellar performance in a legendary place.

Setlist: Nobody Dies Anymore, Flowering, Summer Noon, World Away, New Moon, Pigeons, Desert Bell, Why Why Why?, High As Hello, Fake Fur Coat, Diamond Light Pt. 1, Hazel, Love Like a Wire (Diane Izzo cover), Low Key

Solo: I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, One Wing, Reservations, New Madrid (Uncle Tupelo), Please Tell My Brother, Hummingbird, The Ruling Class, Passenger Side, Jesus, Etc., Misunderstood, I’m the Man Who Loves You, A Shot in the Arm

Encore: Please Don’t Let Me Be So Understood, Only The Lord Knows (Mavis Staples cover), Give Back The Key To My Heart (Doug Sahm cover), California Stars, Acuff-Rose

October 7, 2014
Trey Anastasio Band Fall Tour and New Album ‘Paper Wheels’

Exciting news today as Trey Anastasio Band has announced a fall tour of the Northeast and a new album, Paper Wheels, due in early 2015. The album was recently recorded by the band at The Barn, Anastasio’s reconstructed barn-turned-rehearsal/recording studio located outside Burlington, VT, in less than a week.

Inspired by the immediacy of Stax-era recordings, Anastasio and his band mates recorded the songs live, playing and singing together in one room and often requiring no more than one or two takes. This tour will let the band preview the songs on the album before the release. As an added bonus today you can download “Bounce” right now as a free download at Trey’s website for a preview of Paper Wheels. The album was produced and engineered by Bryce Goggin, who helmed several Phish albums and has also partnered with Anastasio on previous solo projects, and mixed by Elliot Scheiner (Steely Dan, Van Morrison).

Trey Anastasio Band has previewed some of these songs already on their West Coast tour this past spring, as well as the special Brooklyn Bowl taping for PBS in August. Other songs that have been played already and are expected on the new album include “In Rounds,” “Paper Wheels,” “Lever Boy”and “Sometime After Sunset”.

The tour will start the day after Thanksgiving in Chicago before coming to the East Coast. The first two night stand of the tour will take place at the famed 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. on December 2 and 3. This will be followed by another two night stand at Boston’s Orpheum Theatre on December 5 and 6. On December 9, the band will be Binghamton’s Broome County Forum Theatre. The Beacon Theatre in New York City will get the band on December 11 and 12 with the tour wrapping up the following evening on December 13 at Philadelphia’s Tower Theatre. Tickets will be going on a pre-sale through Trey Ticketing on Thursday October 9 at Noon with a public sale happening Thursday October 16. The full list of tour dates is below.

11/28 – Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
11/29 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
11/30 – Richmond, VA @ The National
12/02 & 03 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
12/05 & 06 – Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
12/07 – Portland, ME @ State Theatre
12/09 – Binghamton, NY @ Broome County Forum Theatre
12/11 & 12 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
12/13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Tower Theatre

October 7, 2014
Punk Legend Billy Idol Announces Album, Tour and Autobiography

Punk rock legend Billy Idol has released January and February dates for the latest leg of his world tour supporting “Kings & Queens Of The Underground” that begins in Europe next month. Tickets for these tour dates in Canada and The U.S. go on sale Friday, October 10 on the heels of the release of his self-penned autobiography, Dancing With Myself on October 7.

Idol’s new album, his first in nearly ten years, hits the shelves on October 21 and is garnering pre-release raves for the single, “Can”t Break Me Down”, including from USA Today: “With its punkish drive, sneering vocals and roaring Steve Stevens guitar, ‘Can’t Break Me Down’ could have made a great follow-up to latter-day Idol hits.” Produced by Trevor Horn (with two tracks co-written and produced by multiple Grammy nominee Greg Kurstin) the anthemic lead single can be heard below.

Idol will appear on NBC-TV’s Today Show on October 7 and the Howard Stern Show on Wednesday, October 8. The following day, Thursday, October 9, Idol will be interviewed live on stage as the keynote event of the 2014 CBGB Music and Film Festival in New York City.

Welcome back Billy, get out there and bust some balls!

Billy Idol Winter 2015 U.S. Tour dates:
January 21: House Of Blues, New Orleans, LA
January 22, The Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA
January 24: Tower Theatre, Upper Darby, PA
January 25: Lincoln Theatre, Washington, DC
January 28: Beacon Theatre, New York, NY
January 31: Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA
February 3: Metropolis, Montreal, QC
February 4: Massey Hall, Toronto, ON
February 7: Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL
February 9: Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO
February 12: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, BC
February 13: Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA
February 15: The Fox Theatre, Oakland, CA
February 18: The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA

October 7, 2014
Nas Gives Albany a History Lesson at The Palace Theatre

Nas celebrated the 20th anniversary of his famed debut LP Illmatic at the Palace Theatre in Albany on Friday October 3, 2014, the unofficial kick-off of the tour. The previous night he played at Rochester’s Main Street Armory, but it was not the full show, as the film “Time is Illmatic” was not shown at the venue. Albany got the full treatment and the crowd loved it. Fans spanning from teenagers to 50-year-olds packed the sold-out show and made their way to their seats as the lights dimmed at 9:15 p.m. and the film started.

This film not only gives the history of the album, but Nas’s family history. In the beginning of the film Nas states how “he just wanted to be something” and throughout the story, every person interviewed said how they knew Nas would rise out of the Queensbridge housing projects to do something special. Growing up in the projects was hard for Nas and his brother Jabari, especially after their mother kicked their father out of the house. His father, Olu Dara, was a jazz musician when he was younger and made sure that Nas learned the importantance of music and as a child he played with the instruments that were laying around the house, slowly sparking his venture into rap. Fannie Ann Jones, his mother, raised him and his brother afterwards and the brothers both expressed a lot of grief over her passing.

As the film went on, some in the audience got a little restless, but a vast majority quietly sat in their seats, watching and listening to the tale of how this great record came to fruition. Notable names in the hip-hop community, such as Kendrick Lamar, Erykah Badu, Pharrell, and J. Cole, all held the album in high regard and how it has always been apart of their lives since it came out in 1994.

The great Dr. Cornel West also spoke how the album not only was great for hip-hop, but also how it was great for young black men to hear a man not just rap, but also send a message and talk about his feelings. Illmatic is notable for how Nas expressed his anger against the crack epidemic and the poor neighborhoods of Queensbridge. He wasn’t just rapping to make a living, Nas was rapping to be heard. The film’s archival footage of a young Nas rapping in front of New York crowds is astonishing to watch as he takes over everyone’s attention in a matter of a few verses.

The movie ended with Nas talking about how the album was his philosophy and a way of life. Despite dropping out of school in the 8th grade, Nas was happy to state that he was still teaching himself lessons and rules about life on his own and didn’t drop out and disappear into jail or death, like many of his friends did along the way. Once the film ended, the crowd began to roar as the screen lifted up and “The Genesis” began playing. Nas slowly strode out to the stage to one of the most raucous crowds that the Palace Theatre in Albany has ever seen. Many people walked down the aisles to the stage, people were standing on chairs to take pictures, and there was even a woman on her boyfriend’s shoulders for a song. The whole scene, although chaotic, was just another part of the celebration for the album and no patron got out of hand.

Nas was all smiles for the hour or so he was on stage. Going through the entire album front to back, Nas gave everything he had into the songs. “N.Y. State of Mind,” “The World is Yours,” “One Love” and “Represent” really drove the crowd crazy. During the performance, he thanked producers and collaborators of the album as well as those who inspired him to make the record.

Only being a short drive to New York City, he continued to thank Albany for coming out and embracing the album. Nas thanked those who made the trip Upstate to Albany for the last New York show of the tour. A double shot of “Hate Me Now” and “Made You Look” closed the evening out after he finished up Illmatic.

With the whole evening over it felt like the crowd wanted more, but walking off stage with his entourage and DJ, Nas left the building and nothing but smiles could be seen on people’s faces. History had been served and embraced by Albany. It’s not every day that you get to hear a legendary album played front to back and get the history behind it. Nas’s Time is Illmatic Tour is one for the record books and is not to be missed.

October 6, 2014