NYS Music loves their funk so we wanted to make sure we sent our writers and photographers to both Kung Fu shows in Upstate, NY – Syracuse’s review features words and photos by Kim Richer and the Albany show is highlighted by writer Susan Rice. Keep reading for the details of both funktastic shows!
Syracuse:
Kung Fu had their game face on Friday night, bringing lethal doses of high-powered funk-fusion to the newly remodeled Westcott Theater in Syracuse. Tim Palmieri’s undeniable ability to shred on the guitar, coupled with Todd Stoops skill at traversing the keys of four keyboards simultaneously left the crowd dancing and smiling. Opening with the title track off of their latest release, “Tsar Bomba” Kung Fu graced the audience with a nice sampling of their extensive musical library. They entertained with some newer material and then resorted back to classic fan favorites “Gung Ho” and “Bopcorn”. The real treat of their performance was a funky perfect rendition of the Jimi Hendrix single, “Cross Town Traffic”. Closing the show with encores “Hollywood Kisses” and “Do the Right Thing” Kung Fu left the crowd fully satisfied with a need to replace their worn out dance shoes.
Opening the show, “The Chop Shop” and “Gridline” were very groovy and well fitted to prime the crowd. They each gave a solid stage performance and their music was a perfect fit to prep the audience for Kung Fu, but the real elephant in the room Friday night was The Primate Fiasco. They happened to be passing through Syracuse and stopped by to see Kung Fu. They treated the crowd by playing acoustic ‘brasstronica’ street corner style sets, unplugged and in the middle of the dance floor; the way fans have come to expect it in festival campgrounds. They played in between stage sets, bridging that gap when there is nothing to do except wait for the next act. Before the show started, some fan sentiment outside the venue was less than enthused about The Westcott Theater’s new “No Re-Entry” policy. That didn’t matter though, because once The Primate Fiasco started to play, nobody was leaving anyway. The band was enveloped by a dance party and kept the energy at a high until the next band was ready on stage. This worked so well that the crowd was begging Primate Fiasco to keep playing, even when Kung Fu was ready to begin. A brilliant idea, I hope we see more of this at live shows!
Photos by Kim Richer
Albany: Saturday night at The Hollow was funktastic thanks to power groups Kung Fu and Albany’s own, Groovestick. The trio turned quintet performed a jazz funk fusion with raw energy and a unique sound. “Sharkbait” gave chilling harmonies and quaking bass line from Dan Gerken. Chris Carballeria is a key smashing jazz wizard, providing waves of organ soul. Guests got a special treat when Kung Fu guitarist Tim Palmieri joined in for chord climbing rockage. “Horde” one of their newest songs and a fast paced jazz jam with impeccable string stretching from Justin Hendricks, ended the set leaving the crowd fully charged up for Kung Fu.
The Capital District got round housed to the face with extreme funk served up by none other than the masters, Kung Fu. Front man, Rob Somerville blasted the venue with his explosive saxophone as Chris DeAngelis stood out with major plucking magnitude before the groove came back around in full band force. But the crowd went wild when Mister F mad man, Scott Hannay joined Todd Stoops went head to head over the keys to create the ultimate electric melody meltdown. The four song encore was the cherry on top, with the light-hearted funk of unstoppable buildups from the likes of “Loose” and a boogie get down of “Hollywood Kisses”. Kung Fu will return to the Upstate area on November 13 at The Waiting Room in Buffalo – which can’t come soon enough.
On October 11 and 12, 2014, a group of proud community members hosted the first Shuck ‘N’ Jive Mountain Bike & Music Fest in Newtown, CT. While the quaint New England town, which was placed under the national spotlight after the infamous shooting in 2012, carried on as normally as possible, an eclectic group of bicyclists, music fans, wine lovers, families and friends gathered in the woods a few miles away to live in the moment, dancing and singing, hiking and biking at McLaughlin Vineyards.
“Some people say it’s too soon,” Newtown resident Terrence Ford said before introducing funky five-some Kung Fu to an intimate and exuberant crowd to close the show Saturday night. “I say we’re right on time!”
As children ran freely and 20-somethings danced alongside 60-somethings, hope filled the field behind McLaughlin Vineyeards’ wine tasting room. The weather symbolized locals’ resolve: heavy raindrops fell from a gray sky as the music commenced and bikers hit the Grapes of Wrath mountain bike course Saturday; by the end of the day, however, the sun shined brightly and spirits soared high.
Bobby Paltauf and his band were the first of a slew of Connecticut musicians to take the stage. Wearing a mean face and wielding his axe, Paltouf tore though a bluesy rock set. With all eyes on Bobby, he ended the set with a dark rendition of “In The Hall of the Mountain King” that left me humming the tune for the rest of the day. While he may not be old enough to drive a car in most states—that’s right, he’s 15—Paltauf can already control a stage with aplomb.
The Alpaca Gnomes
After the Alpaca Gnomes played an entertaining set that included covers of “Midnight Rider,” “Son of a Preacher Man,” and “With a Little Help From My Friends,” I meandered over to the McLaughlin Country Store for the wine tasting. Still early in the afternoon, I had the place to myself. Samples of the vineyards’ three whites and two reds came with detailed descriptions from knowledgable and friendly staff. Their most popular white, Blue Coyote, was crisp and smokey; a tart and dry red, Vista Reposa, was my favorite. Portions were more than generous and they refused to let me pay after seeing my “Media” laminate. Like the rest of Shuck ‘N’ Jive, everything about the McLaughlin wine tasting was pleasant.
The Z3
Feeling a bit warmer on a nippy mid-October day, the music also heated up as The Z3 took the stage, opening with “Fifty-Fifty.” The three-piece side project, consisting of Kung Fu guitarist Tim Palmieri, Alan Evans Trio organist Beau Sasser and Max Creek drummer Bill Carbone, played tunes spanning Frank Zappa’s career, often producing a magnificent sound that seemed to come from more than three musicians. Between funky covers, the guys sipped beers and told jokes to the growing crowd, clearly enjoying themselves as much as anyone.
Jen Durkin and the Business and Sons of F.U.N.K. were the next two scheduled acts. Durkin and her band came out first, but it didn’t take long for the Sons to follow. Rather than breaking up the sets, the bands shared the stage, playing continuously for nearly three hours and inviting nearly every musician on hand to join in. Artist at large Billy Iuso hopped up and ripped on his guitar as the sun finally came out. Highlights of the super-set came when Durkin belted “God made me funky!” and the Sons of F.U.N.K led Parliament Funkadellic classic “We Want the Funk”.
Sons of F.U.N.K and Jen Durkin and the Business
By the time Max Creek took the stage, the crowd had grown from a couple to a couple dozen to roughly a couple hundred. The Creek demonstrated why they’ve been playing strong for forty years, putting on an incredible set of music. Billy Iuso joined for a moving version of “Blood Red Roses” that they jammed on for over sixteen minutes. Keys player Mark Mercier proved looks can be deceiving; he appears more like an assuming veteran professor than a rock star, but the man was merciless on the piano all night. While much of the crowd, having floated along with the Creek before, sang along to hits like “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight,” “Thank You (For Letting Me Be Myself),” and “Yes We Can Can,” I felt my eyes widen and jaw drop multiple times. There were a few special moments where everything except the clean and glorious vibrations of Max Creek was tuned out.
Max Creek
After their introduction from Ford, Kung Fu closed the night in style. Tenor saxophonist Robert Somerville blew into his hands a few times to warm them up before blowing up his instrument, then Palmieri literally jumped into the set, striking down on his guitar strings with the landing. Fresh off a recent string of shows with Dopapod, drummer Adrian Tramontano did not slow down or miss a beat back with Kung Fu; he crushed a solo between encores as many looked on in disbelief. Bassist Chris DeAngelis has a relatively quiet stage presence but plays a booming bass and Palmieri’s picking hand looked like it was moving in fast forward when they played “Hollywood Kisses” off new album, Tsar Bomba. The funk kept everyone grooving and warm as keys player Todd Stoops knew when to get down and when to get weird. Billy Iuso scooted in between Somerville and Palmieri at the end, adding an exclamation point to a great day and night.
Kung Fu with Billy Iuso
Shuck ‘N’ Jive was one of the family friendliest festivals and there did not seem to be a single hiccup in the first year music fest. Between the fantastic music, delicious wine, bike racing, and welcoming crowd, not much could go wrong. Even a damp morning could not dampen anyone’s spirits. I will be back next year to spend time with some of Connecticut’s finest musicians and friendliest citizens.
Every rocker/ninja’s favorite band, Kung Fu, kicks off its fall tour this weekend and Upstate New York gets two of the first three shows.
The Fu will provide musical therapy to Baltimore, whose Orioles just fell a step short of the World Series, on Thursday night. Friday, Kung Fu brings their high-octane funk fusion to Syracuse’s Westcott Theater before wrapping up the weekend at The Hollow in Albany on Saturday.
Like every great funk outfit, the band has a bassist, Chris DeAngelis, who will send vibrations through your bones and shake up your soul. Each show gets more than slightly Stoop-ed as Todd Stoops handles the keys and Robert Somerville will be center stage crushing the tenor sax. Adrian Tramontano is absurdly relentless on the drums and Tim Palmieri, who just added a newborn ninja to his family last week, rounds out the band on guitar.
If you’re not following Kung Fu on Facebook yet, you’re missing out. Earlier this week, the band offered free tickets and 10% commission to volunteers for manning its merch booth all weekend. Wednesday, Stoops took to the social media site to give away free tickets to anyone who asked — no contest or duties involved.
For more information or to check out Kung Fu’s new album, Tsar Bomba, visit the band’s website.
Tickets to Syracuse’s show can be purchased here. Click here to purchase Albany tickets.
And in case you can’t catch them this weekend in Syracuse or Albany, the band is heading to Western New York later in the tour for a stop in Buffalo on Nov. 13. Click here for tickets to their show at The Waiting Room.
On Oct. 11 and 12, Sandy Hook, Connecticut’s McLaughlin Vineyards will host the Shuck ‘N’ Jive Mountain Bike Festival. On Saturday, bicyclists will traverse the pro-level Grapes of Wrath Mountain Bike course, attempting to earn the $1,000 grand prize. For the first time in the race’s five-year history, a music and camping festival, featuring plenty of local talent, accompanies the race on the vineyards’ 160 idyllic acres.
Funk fiends Kung Fu headline the music portion of the event. The band’s stage presence matches its sound in enormity and it is a safe bet that, between elating jams, the New Haven-based group will remind Kung Fu is here for you. Connecticut quintet Max Creek is also slated to take the stage. Their resume spans four decades and good times will flow as the Creek dips into their diverse rock catalog. Jen “Pipes” Durkin, another Connecticuter, will be joined at Shuck ‘N’ Jive by her backing band the Business. Known for her work with Deep Banana Blackout, Durkin’s soulful voice will ring out among the myriad rows of grapes. Funk will be thick in the air as New Orleans resident Billy Iuso is the artist at large all weekend.
There are separate general, family, and rustic camping areas to set up at on Saturday night and there will be a central bonfire next to the Vineyard Stage where late-night music takes place. Whether racing or not, all are encouraged to bring a bicycle to explore the vineyards and marvel at the peaking foliage. There are plenty of hiking trails, too, if you prefer getting around by foot.
Camping passes are already sold out, but individual day passes can be purchased here.
No family tree has as many strange branches as the ChillFam, and, from Sept. 5-7, approximately 5,000 fanatics gathered at the world’s foremost musical family reunion–the fifth annual Catskill Chill. Old friendships were rekindled and new ones born at Camp Minglewood in Hancock, NY. Among many other acts, Lettuce, Turkuaz, and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe pumped out the funk, Kung Fu, Particle, and Papadosio rocked hard, and Dopapod, Electron, and Yonder Mountain String Band played their unique styles. From staff and vendors to artists and admirers, everyone at The Chill was camped on cloud nine. With round-the-clock live music on five official stages, pristine early September weather, and characters aplenty, The Catskill Chill was once again the perfect way to wind down festival season.
Friday
Anticipation and excitement blew in the pleasant Friday afternoon breeze as tents sprang up from the tennis courts down to the lake. My friend Chris and I headed to our “island”—a grassy triangle between sidewalk paths, large enough for our tents and chairs. Last year, we were known as the parking lot pirates; donning old-school Pittsburgh Pirates caps in homage to Ryan Stasik, our volunteering duty was to direct festival goers where to park. This year, we graduated to press pirates, hooked up by PR director Destiny Beck at the eleventh hour to promote the music we feverishly crave.
After setting up camp on the island, MUN’s early evening set in Club Chill was the first batch of music for me. While Nahko and Medicine for the People played the Main Stage, MUN jammed in the only fully enclosed stage. Led by guitarists Alfred Rylands and Wiley Griffin, they put on a heavy set of improg. The Brooklyn-based quartet will tour the Northeast this fall, providing the desirable kind of MUNdays with their “astrofunktronica.”
After The Eric Krasno Band lit up the B Stage with Alecia Chakour, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe played the first primetime Main Stage set. With a solid mix of covers and originals, the funk-masters ignited a massive dance party in the hangar-like pavilion. Denson showed off his versatility with back-to-back covers of The Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See”, and The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army”, on the flute before switching back to the sax for The Beastie Boys’ “Suco De Tangerina”. Dressed to the nines, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe wrapped up with “Shake It Out” and the mass before them obliged excitedly.
Uplifting piano notes from Marco Benevento began floating down from the B Stage as Karl Denson and company were still raging. Benevento’s was one of my most anticipated sets of the weekend, and he delivered. Banging his head and keys emphatically, melodic runs rained from Benevento’s piano in the steamy three-walled shed. Once in a while, he would take a break from jamming to clap along, beaming. “DJ” Drew Dreiwitz, also of Ween, cranked out a huge bass solo while Benevento sat back, sipped from his Solo cup, and soaked it in. The trio, rounded out by Andy Borger on the drums, covered “Benny & The Jets” and had the whole venue singing in raptures. Benevento will be touring this fall in support of his new album Swift, which releases on September 16th, and his show is not one to miss; he is as energetic and talented onstage as he is gregarious offstage.
From 11:15 p.m. to 1:15 a.m., Lettuce blew everyone away back at the Main Stage. Guitarist Eric Krasno, feeling at home at The Chill, shredded like a madman. The fired-up Kras sparked the rest of the band: Neal Evans crushed on the keys while the funk was rooted in the horns section. The venue was packed with fans swaying in hammocks, chilling in the bleachers, or grooving on the dance floor, which spilled out onto the hill in the rear. Lettuce played hits off each of their studio albums, including “The Dump”, “Sam Huff’s Flying Raging Machine”, and “Madison Square”. Adam Deitch was a rock on the drums and turned it up from “Outta Here” into a slamming solo. Jesus Coomes rattled bones with the bass and Alecia Chakour’s vocals were exalting. By the time they ended with “Blast Off”, the ChillFam was already in a state of bliss.
With Lettuce still keeping it fresh on the Main Stage, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong began flocking in Club Chill. The quartet features two guitarists with very different demeanors. Greg Ormont’s Sideshow Bob-like hair, infectious smile, energetic personality, and emphatic upbeat vocals make him hard to miss. While Ormont danced around grinning and singing, Jeremy Schon stood relatively in place, shaking his blonde mane, fingers deftly sliding around his six-string. Schon ripped through PPPP’s lively funkalogue, showing off big-league guitar skills. Barefoot bassist Ben Carrey scooted around the stage playing tight bass lines and drummer Dan Schwartz made his presence well-known. Twiddle’s Mihali Savoulidis joined for “Poseidon”, a number off Pigeons’ new album, Psychology, and the Baltimoreans hatched new dirty birds by concluding with a red-hot cover of “Suck My Kiss”.
The music would go on past 5 a.m. with Alan Evans’ Playonbrother jamming in Club Chill, but DJ Shpongle’s 2:30 a.m. set was my last bit of music on Friday. Shpongle, aka Simon Posford, had no trouble adding to his loyal following. He has mastered the art of playing to the mood. Those not melted into the hillside danced vigorously to the ambient DJ set. His beats are all-inclusive and joy ballooned in the pavilion as DJ Shpongle closed the Main Stage in style.
Saturday
Vermont quartet Twiddle was the first to play the Main Stage at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday. They opened with a rendition of “When It Rains It Poors” featuring beautiful vocals and warm harmonies. With each member dressed as a different Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, Twiddle segued into “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”. The master of turning knobs, Dopapod’s Eli Winderman, joined a few songs later and they almost got “Stooooped” off the stage when Kung Fu’s Todd Stoops sat in on the keys. Twiddle is finding their stride with well-composed songs, a positive message, and rapidly growing following.
Last year, as Chris and I directed cars in the hot, dirty parking lot, new-found enemies mocked us from their all-access/VIP pedestals: the teachers. When I heard a “Hey, pirate!” call while grabbing lunch between Twiddle and Cabinet, I knew instantly who it must be and my hand reached instinctively for a non-existent sword. As anticipated, it was one of the teachers.
Instead of spending our energies plotting each others’ demise, however, we formed the teacher-pirate alliance against wooks at this year’s Catskill Chill. On good terms, we wandered around pretending to duel and enjoying each other’s company at killer sets of music. From 4:30-6:25, ChillFam favorite Dopapod jumbled up an enthusiastic Main Stage crowd with jams like “Black and White”, “Freight Train”, and “Vol. 3 #86″. While they oozed out mostly originals, Adrian Tramontano joined on the hand drums for a Herbie Hancock cover before we headed to see a band people were talking about all weekend.
Long Islanders TAUK poured out chunky progressive rock in Club Chill after having slammed Lockn’ Festival the afternoon before. The quartet, whose members have been friends for longer than many Chillfam members have been alive, proved that they are not up-and-coming: they are here. They looked at ease on stage delivering heavy instrumental jams. They played “Mokuba”, “Friction”, and, personal favorite, “Collateral”, off new album Collisions. Bassist Charlie Dolan anchors the group while Matt Jalbert’s tight guitar riffs and well-placed solos add a healthy dose of inflection. Alric “A.C” Carter manipulates his keyboard dexterously while the “new guy” Isaac Teel does not miss a beat on drums. As Dolan pointed out, the group has the flexibility of continuing down the instrumental route or adding vocals one day, and their firepower gives them plenty of time to decide.
Despite the warmth of Club Chill and the delicious eeriness of TAUK, I moved over to the Acoustic Junction to catch the most talented trio in show business, Consider the Source. A loyal following wiggled in the rain as the Sourcerors rewarded with a cover of The Beatles “Blackbird”. They followed up with “Wayfaring Stranger” during which drummer Jeff Mann stepped up to the mandolin; he was so smooth that I barely noticed he was playing an atypical instrument. As the rain fell and the sun went down,the music was just getting turned up.
Yonder Mountain String Band played the headlining set on Saturday evening as the rain let up. Allie Kral sat in on the fiddle and, having caught her final set with former band Cornmeal at Summer Camp in 2013, I was eager to see her add to the Colorado bluegrass quartet. Their version of “Only A Northern Song” was awe-inspiring and they plucked out a unique rendition of The Talking Heads’ “Girlfriend Is Better”. Having also headlined in 2012, Yonder Mountain String Band may be an outlier to the funk-rock heavy lineup, but they bring a great following to the party and put on a captivating show. The strings-only group closed out their set by playing “40 Miles From Denver” and “Southern Flavor” to a delirious crowd.
After the first half of Cabinet’s Dead set in Club Chill, I learned that, after disbanding in 2011 (following 12 years of bumping), Canadian-based techno trio The New Deal is back. Consisting of keys player Jamie Shields, bassist Dan Kurtz, and drummer Joel Stouffer, they played a late night technotronica set to a packed Main Stage. Reunited, the band is scheduled to play a handful of shows across the country this fall as well as Dominican Holidaze.
I hopped over to the B Stage for The Nth Power after some more wook-watching. I need to be tested, but I may have been impregnated by their music. The quintet with one outlier (Nikki, Nigel, Nick, Nate, and… Weedie) played baby-making music to a dazzled crowd. Most of the songs they played will be featured on their 2015 debut full-length album, Abundance, but they threw in a euphoric cover of Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You”. Featuring powerful vocals and deep bass lines, the Nth Power creates a rich flavor of funk and produces a mesmerizing show.
Papadosio’s late night Main Stage set on Saturday proved that a music festival is like a box of chocolates. Anticipating an ambient, trancey end to the night, Papadosio put on a slamming set of rock. Festival goers like myself, who expected to be gently lulled toward sleep, were rocked back to life starting with a 20-minute “Find Your Cloud”. Eli Winderman joined for a tasty “Unparalyzer” as the Brouse brothers, who handle the band’s keys and synths, gave Dopapod’s keyboardist the reins. Anthony Thogmartin’s songwriting ability was evident as always and ‘Dosio is rounded out by bassist Rob McConnell and drummer Mike Healy. The Ohio natives jammed deftly until 4 a.m. while Pink Floyd/Talking Heads/Phish fusion Pink Talking Fish wound down the night in Club Chill.
Sunday
Every day at a music festival should start with a set from Turkuaz. After helping one of my best friends (whom I met at last year’s Catskill Chill) move out, Dopapod showed their innovation is not limited to the stage by serving up pancakes with a side of jam. Then, Turkuaz supplied the fuel needed for the rest of the weekend at the Main Stage. One cannot not dance while watching the Brooklyn-based funkernaut. Michelangelo Carubba looked and sounded fly as usual while leading the 9-pack on drums. Celebrating her birthday by gracing loyal fans with rich vocals, Sammi Garrett was on point all day and guitarist Dave Brandwein laid down the hammer on his axe. Bubbles and sunshine filled the early afternoon air while Turkuaz put the “fun” into funk with the title track off their recent album Future 86. As the horns rang out, knowing looks spread through the crowd: “These guys are getting it!”The band is on fire right now and their merch sports my new go-to alibi: “Turkuaz made me do it!”
After packing my gear up and reluctantly moving off the island, the rest of the day was dedicated to music. Particle carried on the bash that Turkuaz started as drummer Darren Pujalet led a one-way race to funkville. Turuaz’s horns section came out to brighten the set for a jam, then The Hornitz and original bassist Eric Gould joined and shook up the house. Guitarist Ben Combe is a force on stage, and Particle’s progressive synthy style is catalyzed by Steve Molitz on the keys, who also spit a rendition of Slick Rick’s “Children’s Story”. Particle played plenty of new songs and left many people slack-jawed with one of the harder sets all weekend.
I followed Particle’s bassist Clay Parnell up to the B Stage, where he also played with American Babies. They played a more traditional rock set highlighting Tom Hamilton’s songwriting and singing abilities. Electron’s Aron Magner sat in for a cover of The Dead’s “New Speedway Boogie” and the crowd loved Dylan’s “Tangled Up In Blue”.
Back at the Main Stage, Kung Fu impressed with hard funk. Tim Palmieri challenged Eric Krasno for “master shredder” title of the weekend and Todd Stoops played some glorious piano solos. Robert Somerville got real saxy and Chris DeAngelis was crisp on the bass. These ninjas’ chemistry glows like a beacon on the stage. Drummer Adrian Tramontano’s kit, like Tramontano himself, is compact, but the Zack Galifianakis look-alike is an inspiration for us vertically challenged denizens everywhere. As onlookers gawked, he crushed one of the best drum solos of the weekend, moving with remarkable speed. The horns and ladies of Turkuaz reappeared to form Kungkuaz and play Stevie Wonder’s “Haven’t Done Nothing”, a highlight of the entire weekend. The Connecticut quintet, who will tour the East Coast in October and November, never fail to deliver.
Before I could see Consider the Source‘s plugged-in set, I heard them and thought, “That can’t be them; that’s at least 6 or 7 people.” It was, however, CTS. There is videographic proof that I am not being hyperbolic describing the Sourcerors as a crew filmed the set. Drummer Jeff Mann must have eaten his Wheaties; he played with a maniacal reckless abandon. Guitarist Gabriel Marin, whose fingers glide like butter on glass across his fretless guitar, played an upbeat trumpet solo on his custom double-necked instrument. “Tihai For The Straight Guy” was a classic example of Beach Boys meet Middle Eastern pop-rock and, during “Keep Your Pimp Hand Strong”, bassist John Ferrara ripped the dirtiest bass solo of the weekend. With the first part of their new album World War Trio releasing this Halloween, expect heavy ripples from Consider the Source this fall.
The final evening at Camp Minglewood was chilly, but Electron cranked the heat at the Main Stage. Comprised of The Disco Biscuits’ Marc Brownstein and Aron Magner on bass and keys respectively, Lotus’s Mike Greenfield on the drums, and American Babies’ guitarist Tommy Hamilton, they broke through with the most expansive jams of the weekend. Not only was their music out of this world, their light show was spectacular. Despite being Sunday night, the dance floor was as packed and busy as any point during the weekend. Electron played richly textured space jams with intricately laid layers and explored the psychedelic. Magner pounded emotionally on the piano and gave equal attention to the synths, and Greenfield put the pedal to the metal a bit more than he would with Lotus. With glow sticks flying, rage sticks raging, and bodies bumping, Electron put an exclamation point on a great weekend of music.
My ship had sailed at Catskill Chill by the time the plug was pulled on Electron. Having bonded with old friends, acquired a host of new friends, danced to hours of incredible music, and explored every corner of Camp Minglewood, I was ready to put another successful Chill in the books. The marathon was over and the memories were made; now, I attempt to wait patiently as anticipation is already bubbling for Catskill Chill 6.
Check out a video of Yonder Mountain String Band from the festival:
Funk-supergroup Kung Fu has announced a 2014 Fall tour set to kick off in mid-October and features back to back nights in Upstate New York. The Connecticut-based funk-fusion group will start their East coast swing on October 16th in Baltimore before moving north to The Westcott Theater in Syracuse and The Hollow in Albany (with special guests Groovestick) the next two nights. Kung Fu is touring in support of their latest studio album, Tsar Bomba.
NYC based Snarky Puppy played their last hometown show of the year at the Watermark Bar and Lounge located at Pier 15 in Manhattan Saturday night. After Kung Fu got the pier rocking harder than the adjacent barges in the East River, Snarky Puppy wrapped the night up led by bassist/music director Michael League with eight other pups displaying their wide range of jazzy jams.
A cool wind blew in from the direction of the setting sun as Kung Fu opened the night with a wholesome set of funk. “We’re Kung Fu, and we’re here for you!” guitarist Tim Palmieri quipped early in the set to a huge applause.
Kung Fu
Clearly enjoying themselves on stage, the Connecticut quintet exuded an air of total confidence jamming for the Lower East Side crowd. Drummer Adrian Tramontano abused his set in the best way and bassist Chris DeAngelis was the heart of the funk. With bright orangey-pink rays of sun bouncing off the city skyscrapers, Kung Fu’s set concluded with grooving dual saxes.
Horny puppies.
As darkness set in, Snarky Puppy took the reins in spectacular fashion. Justin Stanton and Mike “Maz” Maher were in sync blaring out trumpet duets and sounded equally sharp taking turns soloing. Chris Bullock anchored the brass section for the night, playing a highly emotive saxophone into the unseasonably brisk city air.
The Brooklyn-based band, which formed in Texas in 2004, won its first Grammy earlier this year. “Something”, the fifth track off their 2013 album Family Dinner- Volume 1earned the award. The tune—an all-around hit— features velvety trumpeting, quaking bass, and a stirring performance by Lalah Hathaway on vocals. The recent success has helped launch the band to an all-time level with widespread critical acclaim, playing to audiences worldwide.
With the bright lights of the big city shining, Snarky Puppy transitioned seamlessly between blues, jazz, and soul. I strolled around the pier, soaking in the view of the Brooklyn Bridge in the foreground and the Manhattan Bridge behind it, connecting the boroughs. Thudding bass vibrations floated my way, and I couldn’t help but to snap and bop while walking.
The Brooklyn Bridge in background, stage left.
Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Werth kept the beat on drums and percussion all night, changing tempo between slow R&B jams that would escalate into soulful clap-along funk. Cory Henry and Bill Lawrence split duties on the keys while Bob Lanzetti rounded out the Puppy-pack on the guitar. As a whole, the group showcased creative and well-rounded composition skills. Their ability to improvise equally adroitly places them at the top of their music game. Despite the chilly temperatures, Snarky Puppy followed Kung Fu’s lead and rocked NYC’s Watermark late into the night.
The historic Capitol Theatre hosted a night of funk and soul on May 1st thanks to supergroups Kung Fu and The Word. The small crowd of over 500 people left more than enough dance room on the wide open GA floor and prime seating in the loge/balcony with universal grand views of the architecture and visionary light show. The Cap is larger than life with its numerous chandeliers, deep colors of carpeted floors and tall ceilings that glow with the psychedelic projections that glide over the venue.
Kung Fu started the evening with a brief set of electrifying rock and funky heavy jazz with members of RAQ and The Breakfast. The dirty rhythm of Adrian Tramontano with the deep bass notes of Chris DeAngelis was the ideal groove to get the night moving. Todd Stoops kept both hands busy on two different sets of keys throughout the set as Rob Somerville blasted light-hearted funk melodies. Kung Fu will bring their lethal funk to festivals this year such as Disc Jam, Gathering of the Vibes and Catskill Chill.
The Word was greeted with overwhelming cheers and general excitement for a night with the quintet of musical masterminds, as well as this being a rescheduled show for the original date in February. The Word reunites Robert Randolph on steel lap guitar, John Medeski on keyboards, Chris Chew on bass and brothers Cody Dickinson on percussion and Luther Dickinson on guitar for the first time since 2012. The Word performed an outstanding three-hour set full of slip sliding guitar licks, crashing cymbals and rejuvenating organ chords full of bluesy rock. Medeski swam laps over the keys with hard-hitting strokes of spiritual reckoning.
Randolph is an A+ entertainer as he karate chops and both figuratively and literally licks the lap steel strings with a smile in his chair or on his feet. Luther Dickinson energized the crowd with his head to head strumming with Randolph and overall, southern rock flair. The big man himself, Chris Chew, laid out a consistent, booming rhythm much to the delight of the fans and band members after his personal health hiatus back in 2012. The Word will be performing at the Jam Cruise 13 but you can catch individual members, Robert Randolph and the Family Band at Mountain Jam Music Festival, John Medeski will be at this year’s Lockn’ Festival and North Mississippi Allstars members will be touring Europe for the summer. The Word continues to bring together music lovers and band members for a fusion of gospel rocking funk to create a unique and instrumental experience.
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, a.k.a Jazz Fest, is wrapping up this weekend and if you weren’t one of the lucky people in attendance this year we don’t want you feeling left out. This week’s Editor’s Playlist #3 is in the spirit of Jazz Fest, highlighting artists in the jazz and funk scene, both of which dominate most lineups throughout NOLA during this fest each year. This sampling of sorts will range from, hopefully, some artists you haven’t heard of, but also some heavy hitters that headline wherever they play.
With so many great bands making up each respective scene, it was definitely a tall order to try to pick a few standouts. On the funky side of things, I chose to go with the current kings, Lettuce, adding “King of the Burgs” and the live version of “Nyack.” Both showcase this band’s immense capabilities and prove why they’re one of the best out there. Also in the funk-realm is Alan Evans’ Playonbrother, Kung Fu and Zach Deputy. One other band you might not have heard of is Cape Cod’s Funktapuss and we’re featuring a new song from their upcoming album in “Soul Specific.”
On the jazz side, I chose to go with both someone who’s been around and an up-and-coming band who’s made some big waves as of late. The seasoned veteran is none other than Derek Trucks with his now-disbanded band and their song “Pleasant Gardens” from their 1998 album Out of the Madness. The other song featured is a new favorite in Snarky Puppy‘s “Lingus,” which is just an incredible display of musicianship all around.
Stay tuned for the next Editor’s Playlist in the near future, and if you’re still craving some actual Jazz Fest music, check out the Phoncert app for iOS or website as they will be streaming some of the remaining performances through Friday, May 2nd.
The Gospel Rock band is made up of pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, John Medeski from Medeski Martin & Wood, and brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson with Chris Chew from North Mississippi Allstars. The show is a must see given the limited tour dates of this rare lineup combining forces for a night of soul strengthening grooves. The Word began over a decade ago when North Mississippi Allstars toured with Medeski Martin & Wood and were joined in the studio with Robert Randolph, recording their debut album and gaining recognition for their fusion of gospel, blues and rock.
John Medeski will perform at this year’s Lockn’ Music Festival with Phil Lesh & Friends for both nights. This will be your last chance to catch The North Mississippi Allstars before they leave for their European Tour in June and July. Robert Randolph will tour with his band, Robert Randolph & The Family Band this summer making stops at Mountain Jam and FloydFest. Each of these artist shine with their respectable bands but together, The Word is a high energetic, funky blues reunion with tour dates few and far between. Tickets are still available ranging from $35 to $45 with the doors set to open at 7pm and show at 8pm.
Kung Fu returns to Upstate after a successful spring tour of powerhouse funk sets with back to back sell out shows during the New Orleans Jazz fest. Yesterday, it was announced that Kung Fu will be returning to this year’s Catskill Chill Music Festival. Their electronic funk music is prime for any dance floor and is a solid choice for the sure to be jazzy funk filled evening ahead.
Author’s Note: This is a never before seen video I recorded at my first Word show at Terminal 5 in New York City on Dec 27th, 2007 with lifelong friend and photographer, Bryan Lasky.
NYS Music loves their funk so we wanted to make sure we sent our writers and photographers to both Kung Fu shows in Upstate, NY – Syracuse’s review features words and photos by Kim Richer and the Albany show is highlighted by writer Susan Rice. Keep reading for the details of both funktastic shows!
