The biggest party night of the year turned out to be a special night at Nietzche’s on Wednesday, November 26. Opening the show was Tropidelic from Cleveland, Ohio. The group brought a big sound and packed every inch of the stage with some very solid musicians. The night however, belonged to local Funk Jammers Funktional Flow.
The night was supposed to be a farewell to former guitarist Michael Szczepanik; Unfortunately, Szczepanik failed to show, but you wouldn’t have known it as the group didn’t miss a beat. Matthew Lester joined on stage, playing keyboard and really making up where a void may have been felt. The highlight of the night had to be when Aqueous‘ Mike Gantzer joined the threesome to close out the night. It was one of the finer moments in Flow history and the band looked to have been hitting their stride with great enthusiasm and vigor. It’s Setting up to be one New Year’s Eve that people will be talking about as Funktional Flow and Aqueous will be ringing in the New Year together in their next collaboration at Buffalo Iron Works.
Tropidelic
Funktional Flow w/ Matthew Lester and Mike Gantzer
Aqueous have announced plans for a NYE party at Buffalo’s Iron Works with regional funk superstars Funktional Flow. This will be the band’s second show at one of the Nickel City’s newest venues following a near sell-out at their CD release show October 25th. The Iron Works is located in the harbor district across the street from the home of the Buffalo Sabres – The First Niagara Center – and features an “always open” kitchen, killer draft lineup, and top notch sound lights and stage. Sabres fans should take note, as attendees to the NYE home game versus the Tampa Bay Lightning can get $5 off at the door with their ticket stub.
Non-hockey fans can net a pre-sale ticket for $10 or take their chances at the door for $12. Don’t delay on those tickets – it is extremely likely this event will sell-out – Flow has a huge local crowd and Aqueous has not been in town for NYE since 2012. Given both bands last few NYE sets there should be lots of surprises in store. Check out last year’s Aqueous setlist below. Welcome back to the Buff AQ! (Shirts and shoes required)
2013/12/31 Aqueous at The Crooked I, Erie PA
SET I: The Median, Skyway > Eon Don, Complex Pt. II *, Coyote Run **, Africa ***
SET II: Auld Lang Syne > Master of Puppets ^ > Origami, Dave’s Song > Kitty Chaser (Explosions), King For a Day > Willy is 40, All In, Mean Mr. Mustard ^^ > Polythene Pam ^^ > She Came in Through the Bathroom Window ^^ > Golden Slumbers ^^ > Carry that Weight ^^ > The End ^^
ENCORE: Her Majesty ^^ > Warren in the Window
NOTES:
* First time played original
** with Eric Brewer on guitar
*** First time played, Toto cover
^ First time played, Metallica cover
^^ First time played, The Beatles cover
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
Tuesday, August 12 will be pretty busy downtown, especially at The Waiting Room in Buffalo. The Revivalists come to town and over the past few years have played a lot of shows along the way. The band who hails from New Orleans has really been turning heads as of late with constant air play and festival appearances. The seven piece band will surely get your blood flowing with lead man, David Shaw’s heart filled lyrics and the conviction in his voice. The band will be visiting just days before their appearance at The Peach Music Festival, giving everyone in Buffalo a sample of what they will bring to the very talked about Peach.
Opening the show alongside The Revivalists will be Thomas Wynn & The Believers and Buffalo’s own Funktional Flow. Thomas Wynn & The Believers coming from the deep south in Orlando, Fla. are sponsored by Gibson Guitars. The six piece band has been named Orlando’s ‘Top Rock Band’ four years in a row; and with influences from the all time greats – Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and countless others, it’s no surprise they are so well liked.
Funktional Flow also set to perform is no stranger to the Buffalo, NY music crowd. Playing for anyone and everybody they will bring their funky sound and jam with the best of them. Flow is coming off a very productive summer season with a big time showing at this year’s Buffalove Music Festival where they were the talk of the festival alongside Buffalo’s Aqueous. I would plan on getting to the Waiting Room plenty early to get a taste of the opening bands as they will definitely get you amped up for The Revivalists.
Tickets for The Revivalists in Buffalo can be purchased through The Waiting Room for$15 and the doors open 8PM.
Music filled the air again at Willow Creek Winery this past weekend; two days filled with music to keep everyone happy. One of the greatest things about Willow Creek is that you get the festival experience in a smaller setting. If you combine the great location with Buffalive Productions, you’re getting the entire experience at a great value with Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad and Funktional Flow.
Buffalive, who just recently was founded, is doing things in their first year that many promotors take years to accomplish, putting great music out there for the fan to truly enjoy. Friday and Saturday was no different with the crowd being treated to a stellar show by Badfish-A Tribute To Sublime, bringing everyone the music of Sublime that they love, but most were not fortunate to see since the bands demise in the 90’s.Saturday brought music with reggae influence and started in the afternoon, going until well after midnight.
Preach Freedom, Mosaic Foundation, Tropidelic and The B-Side Dubs all playing early on before the main event. Funktional Flow and Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad played 2 sets each flip-flopping after each set. Funktional Flow started it off with the side stage and GPGDS took over on the main stage. Flow has been playing the winery all summer and seemed to have quite the following since Buffalove Music Festival. Giant Panda was great and as the night wore on with darkness casting overhead and their lighting show, all made for a terrific night of music. Chad from Mosaic Foundation joined them on stage to boost the great reggae infused jam to the next level.
Speaking with Chad as he came off stage he was happy as can be and he even said how it was a dream to be able to be on stage with Giant Panda, he had been huge fans of them since the beginning. Saturday night capped off another great weekend at Willow Creek and with one more event to go who knows what Buffalive has in for store for next summer, it will be tough to beat their inaugural season. But First, up next will be The Grapeful Getdown on Aug 9, featuring a bunch of the area’s top Grateful Dead Tribute Bands with a day full of Dead songs.
You can get more information about The Grapeful Getdown here and stay tuned for our preview of the upcoming show.
Conspirator Lit Up the Sky at Willow Creek Winery on July 11. Funktional Flow set the night off in the opening slot, and as the sun went down, the Buffalo foursome threw down a perfect introduction to a night full of music. The guys continue to perform at a very high level, with funk and jam filled solo’s evolving into songs that could match up with the powerhouses in the music scene. Highlighted by songs “Edge of Time” and “Mulligans”, the band is becoming a nice regular at this spectacular venue. They have a show coming up on July 26 with Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad at the Winery, so clear your schedule and prepare to get funktified.
As good as Funktional Flow played, sometimes all you need is one guy and a vision to light up the night. Ryan Sinatra, aka Notixx, is an electronic artist who takes tunes, bass thumps the heck out of them, and creates an overall good time. He takes the party to the next level and keeps it there. Notixx was perfectly slotted between the two acts, giving the fans no choice but to stay and continue to get down.
There haven’t been many times that our area has seen The Disco Biscuits, but when the opportunity arose to catch two key members from the band, Buffalo jumped at it. Conspirator, a side project of Aron Magner (keys) and Marc Brownstein (bass) from The Disco Biscuits, brought their improvisational, tech-laced funk to the Willow Creek Winery. The super group also includes RAQ’s Chris Michetti and drummer TORCH, which completed the foursome that raged through the night. Along with the music, the band brings a superb lighting show that made you want them to return to our side of the state sooner than later.
Badfish-A Tribute To Sublime is a tribute band that was formed in 2001. They have been selling out shows and touring for quite some time and have been giving Sublime fans something to fill their souls since Brad Nowell’s untimely death back in 1996, dissolving Sublime.
Tropidelic who comes from Kent, Ohio, and most recently played at Willow Creek Winery for the 2014 Buffalove Music Festival, won a lot of fans over with their music. Coming back to the same venue should get some fans real pumped up. Combining hip hop, funk, reggae and some cool masks on stage, Tropidelic is surely a must see.
Whisky Reverb will also be the special guest on Friday night, this band was also on this past Buffalove Music Festivals bill. The band hails from Buffalo and has been touring the past few years to about 125 shows a year. They keep evolving and they are becoming a must see band. Check them out and you won’t be disappointed.
If one night isn’t enough music for you, you can camp optionally for 10 dollars and check out the following day full of music with Rochester’s Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Preach Freedom, Mosaic Foundation, The B-Side Dubs and Buffalo’s Funktional Flow. GPSDS produces a psychedelic roots reggae sound that will send jolts through your body of euphoria. The group has been touring extensively the past few years as well as some of the country’s premier festivals. The quintet plays so well with each other adding their own layers together producing an improvisational jam that you will want to be part of.
Preach Freedom brings his soulful happy music to the winery and will get everyone in the right mindset the whole day. Mosaic Foundation comes from the Finger Lakes region, they bring their Roots Reggae to the Winery. The Group is Unique and diverse and will surely get everyone ready for the evening. The B-Side Dubs, whose members all have different musical backgrounds bring it all together producing a groovy reggae tone with a psychedelic vibe.
Willow Creek Winery is no stranger to Funktional Flow, and the band has played their in more than a few occasions. They blew the doors off at Buffalove Music Festival this year, played a great set opening for Conspirator and I would expect no different this coming weekend. You will want to make sure you are front and center when Flow hits the stage. You can grab your tickets through Ticketfly or at the gate.
Band Lineup
Friday: Badfish- A Tribute to Sublime w/ Tropidelic and Whiskey Reverb. Tickets are $18 advance or $24.50 day of the event, the show starts at 6pm.
Saturday: Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad w/ Preach Freedom, Funktional Flow, Mosaic Foundation, The B-Side Dubs – $20 advance or $25 day of event, show starts at 2 pm.
If you’re experiencing any type of power loss this weekend there is a very good chance it is being drawn to Silver Creek, NY at Willow Creek Winery. This weekend the Winery and Buffalive Productions will be hosting two days of music that will surely get everyone raging.
Friday starts things off with Conspirator, which was started back in 2004. The group was formed by Disco Biscuits members Aron Magner and Marc Brownstein and DJ Omen. The group has seen some solid success in the festival circuits and in 2012 was joined by RAQ’s Chris Michetti and Pendulum’s KJ Swaka. The group will be sure to give you the full dance treatment and a fantastic electronica experience.
Opening the show will be Buffalo’s own Funktional Flow and if anyone saw them at 2014’s Buffalove Music Festival a few weeks back will tell you, get there early to see this band, they have stepped up big time and are on the way to something big. Jamestown’s Notixx rounds out the lineup for Friday night. Ryan Sinatra will get you moving with his electronic experience that will keep you wanting more.
If Friday isn’t enough for you, and I am sure it won’t be, the weekend continues with Saturday’s Electric Odyssey. The event starts at 12pm with two stages and music from 13 acts. If your camping there is a special treat with music going until the sunrise.
Schedule Of Events
Side Stage: 12pm-1pm – JennaBeatz
1pm-2pm – Chuck Latona vs. Mix Master Bates 3pm-3:45pm – Brian TheVerdict Atzrott 4:45pm-5:30pm – Medison 7pm-8pm – NeckBrace 9:30pm-10:30pm – Space Junk 12:15am-1:15am – DJ Big Basha
There is something magical about Buffalove Music Festival, which took place on June 19-21 in Silver Creek, NY at the Willow Creek Winery. The festival nearly doubled in size in its second year and the venue itself was absolutely breathtaking. Willow Creek Winery will be the concert destination in years to come and Cody Conway, the man behind Buffalove Music Festival, hopes to make it one of the premier destinations for concert goers all over Western New York. The venue boasted two stages, complete with great lighting and superior sound, while the grounds had vending and concessions for anyone looking. The area was also conveniently small, making it very easy to get around. Ticket holders were able to camp and park at no extra cost, which you don’t see at any festival, making the experience very affordable. Over the course of three days, there were over twenty bands, so there was little time to sleep and recover; however, it provided a perfect showcase of bands from all over New York as well as neighboring states.
The festival started off on Thursday with Buffalo’s Intrepid Travelers and Slip Madigan on the main stage. The Little Mountain Band played in-between the two, while Lazlo Hollyfeld went on after. Jimkata, who calls Ithaca home, headlined Thursday night and treated the early festival crowd to a great night of music. Jimkata continues to make a name for themselves out in the Buffalo area as they amazed and wowed concert goers in their first Buffalove appearance. They will continue to impress the Western New York region when they take the stage tonight at The Great Blue Heron Music Festival in Sherman, NY. Slip Madigan came back out for the late night faithful with a set on the side stage for anyone looking to party through the end of the night.
Friday brought out the majority of the crowd, and with fans filtering in throughout the day from their busy work weeks, the weekend really looked to pick up some steam. One of the neat things about this festival is the small size and family-like vibe that it produces. All of the bands, workers, and fans all seem to know one another and it created such a different experience than those commercial-size festivals. The music began promptly at twelve o’clock with Red Horning Project and Lancaster, NY’s Wonder Crayon on the main stage, and The Grace Stumberg Band between the two slots on the side stage. Formula 5, an Albany-based band, really impressed a lot of folks, and rightfully so, combining jazz, funk and jamming. It was easy to see how many new fans they converted with lots of chatter around the camp sites about them, especially their late night split session with Funktional Flow. Their cover of moe.’s “Happy Hour Hero” was a great set closer and perfectly placed in Buffalove’s happy hour slot.
Groove Force and Smackdab followed Formula 5 on the main stage, while Broccoli Samurai and Brown Sugar played between breaks, leading up to what a lot of people were waiting for, headliners Funktional Flow. Smackdab is such a fun group, very uplifting and they provided the perfect setup to the evening. Combining soul and funk to create just a blazing good time, they really are what festivals are all about. Broccoli Samurai, who call Cleveland, Ohio home, set it off on the side stage, making a strong case for the main stage next year. The band is influenced by such bands as Lotus, The Disco Biscuits, and STS9 and produces a live electronica show that got everyone talking throughout the festival.
Funktional Flow has grown so much in the last few years and is truly making a name for themselves as of late. They have been relentlessly touring for the past few years and their playing and following is proof of that hard work. Funktional Flow consists of Ben Whelan (bass), Jeffrey Kuebler (guitar), Mike Szczepanik (guitar) and Jim Edgar (drums). Flow provides a funk driven jam that feeds off of the energy on stage as well as in the crowd. The rhythm section of Ben Whalen and Jim Edgar are the real heartbeat of the group, while Szczepanik and Kuebler bridge everything together with their exceptional guitar work. Busting out fan favorite “Mulligans” was a real treat and its jam rivals some of the best of the scene. Funktional Flow had some nice surprises as well when they played Umphrey’s McGee’s “Hajimemashite”, with Kuebler leading vocals that were spot on. Even with that hard-to-follow combo, the band surpassed everything when they closed with Trey Anastasio Band’s “Push on Til’ the Day”, complete with horns and fireworks and a truly amazing solo by Szczepanik. Funktional Flow put on such a good show that they really set the bar high for Aqueous who would be headlining the festival the following night. Flow took a much deserved break before their late side stage set with Formula 5. Those who managed to stay up were treated to a special night.
Funktional Flow Set List: Moonlight, Improv, Edge of Time, Animals, Ambush, What Will Be Will Be, Bumblin, Sevenate, Runaway>Bring You Down>Runaway, Mulligans, Hajimemashite*, Push on Til’ the Day^
*Umphrey’s McGee cover
^Trey Anastasio Band cover
Friday Photo Gallery:
With everything that already happened, it was crazy to think there would be another day packed with great music and great vibes. Saturday started right at twelve o’clock with Blue Roots, followed by Relics on the side stage. Relics, Western New York’s tribute to the music of Pink Floyd, played the entire Animals album and filled the side stage tent with anyone that was up early enough. The band is most known in the area for being a side project of Buffalo News music critic, Jeff Miers. He did a great job recreating the Roger Waters role, with the band as a whole performing flawlessly. It was a great start to the day and got everyone’s blood flowing.
Jeff Miers of Relics
Mister F played on the main stage in the dinner slot and anyone grabbing some eats from the various vendors got a pretty good show. Mister F is an Albany-based band that is tightly run, featuring members of Timbre Coup and Capital Zen. The group is quickly becoming a must see act and has been gaining some solid steam this year. Playing several festivals this summer and coming off their debut album, The F Stands Four, the sky is the limit for these guys.
Headlining the night, and such a big part of the Buffalo music scene, was none other than Aqueous. The band has been playing nonstop for sometime now since they graduated from North Tonawanda. Their playing has evolved into something quite magical and their future looks strongest of all the bands from this festival. The group who consists of Mike Gantzer (guitar), David Loss (guitar), Evan McPhaden (bass) and Nick Sonricker (drums) is really something to be proud of for anyone who is from the area. The band combines great music with a stage presence that just oozes energy all over the place. It’s a real joy to have watched these guys grow up from when they started out. Gantzer and Loss have such a control over their respected guitars and pack a one-two punch on any given song.
McPhaden may hang back a bit in the background with drummer Sonricker, but they’re an integral part of what makes this band so successful. “They’re Calling For Ya” started out the opening set, which provided a perfect build up to the evening, followed by “King For a Day” and “Mosquito Valley Part I>Marty>Complex Part II”. AQ dipping into the covers,as they usually do, with the Smashing Pumpkins “Today “, followed by an impressive run of “Timmy’s Blades>Cellino> Triangle”. “Cellino” was one of the biggest bustouts with the song not being played in 60 shows, according to UnclePhils’sBlog. Loss’s intro on “Triangle” setup a back and forth musical volley with guitar-mate Gantzer. Sonricker kept them both in check all night though with his tight percussive work.
A short set break for the band brought out DJ Jeff The Repeater, and armed with just a Macbook and his beats, he entertained the crowd with some techno-infused dance music.
Aqueous resumed their night with “Willy is 40>20/20>Warren in the Window” with a tease of Phish’s “Meatstick”. Aqueous debuted a first time David Bowie cover in “Lets Dance” before a solid set ending run that included “Kitty Chaser (Explosions)>Staring into the Sun>Kitty Chaser (Explosions)>Star Spangled Banner”, finishing with fireworks overhead that produced a very memorable moment. One thing that Aqueous does well is treading in unknown waters. Even with cover’s that most bands couldn’t pull off, they still find a way to make a song their own. The encore was no different. The band ended the night with R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly>Mice>I Believe I Can Fly”.
Aqueous Set List –
Set 1: They’re Calling For You, King for a Day, Mosquito Valley Part I>Marty>Complex Part II, Today*>Timmy’s Blades>Cellino>Triangle
Set 2: Willy is 40>20/20>Warren in the Window, The Village Dog and Pony Show>Eon Don, Lets Dance^, Kitty Chaser (Explosions)>Staring in to the Sun>Kitty Chaser (Explosions)>Star Spangled Banner
Encore: I Believe I Can Fly#>Mice>I Believe I Can Fly#
*Smashing Pumpkins cover
^David Bowie cover
#R. Kelly cover
All in all, Buffalove is an incredible festival that is only going to grow year after year. I think Cody Conway and his vision for what it’s going to become is a true testament to what he is as a person. Aqueous’ encore was more of a tribute to that as well with the belief that this festival will continue to fly.
The Revivalists will be coming to the Upstate New York area with a show on August 12 at The Waiting Room in downtown Buffalo. The Revivalists have been touring non-stop since 2007 and the New Orleans based band has no plans to let up. The group has such an amazing energy level, with their rocking sound and unique blend of music that gets everyone up and wanting more.
Opening for the Buffalo show will be home-grown funkadelic jamband Funktional Flow, who have been really taking their music to the next level. The band most recently enjoyed a successful Buffalove Festival, where they were one of the headliners of the event.
Thomas Wynn and The Believers are set to open the show. The band comes from Orlando, Florida and has been coined by SOUNDBOARD as – “Southern Rock Muscle/Soulful Rock n’ Blues.”
The Waiting Room will be the place to be come Tuesday, August 12. You should anticipate a full crowd right from the beginning so get your tickets today. Tickets for The Revivalists can be purchased through the Waiting Room in Buffalo for $15, doors open at 8pm
