NYS Music 20​14

Tag: Palace Theatre

  • moe. to ring in 25th year at the Palace

    moe.canalside6-19-14-50moe. will ring in their 25th year as a band with a two-night run at the Palace Theatre in Albany.

    This will be the second year in a row that Jim, Vinny, Rob, Al and Chuck will take the stage at the Palace Dec. 30 and 31. Fans are hoping for a special pair of shows to start moe.’s silver anniversary. Band members wore suits for every show in their 20th anniversary year.

    Last year, moe. opened the New Year’s Eve show with the band rising out of the stage and playing five acoustic songs before a sweet segue into the electric part of the set. In their third set, after midnight, they were joined onstage by the horn section from Conehead Buddha, plus the Paul Simon cover “Late in the Evening” was aided by a few of the band members’ children on various instruments. The show included three debut covers, including an amazing version of “Spanish Moon” by Little Feat, plus two bust-outs that hadn’t been heard since 2012. Each of the moe. band members donned furry animal costumes for a set, some of which showed up again in other 2014 shows.

    The Conehead Buddha horns are slated to join moe. again this year for the 12/31 show. That late announcement, coming two-and-a-half weeks before the run, has been a bit controversial among moe.rons. The horns were an exciting addition last New Year’s Eve, but they’ve joined the band for a number of New York shows in the last year including moe.down, Buffalo and the Saranac Brewery shows in Utica, all of which are considered hometown shows for moe. in one way or another and tend to be highly attended by regular fans. Some .rons who value the unpredictability of a moe. show have complained that the setlists are too similar when the CB horns join the band, but others have faith in moe. to bring the heat and continue to surprise their fans.

    moe. formed at the University of Buffalo in 1989, and they moved to Albany in the ’90s to develop as a band. There they grew alongside Conehead Buddha on the Albany jam band scene.

    On the 30th, the popular Vermont-based jam band Twiddle will open for moe.

    It’s been too long for many moe.rons. The band has been taking a break from the road since they wrapped up a West Coast tour Nov. 8 and played at, One More for the Fans, a concert celebrating the songs of Lynyrd Skynyrd, in Georgia in mid-November. They haven’t played an East Coast show since September.

  • Best of Upstate 2014: The Venues

    In our 2014 Best of Upstate series, we have so far looked at the Best Albums and Best Festivals of 2014. Today we look at the music venues throughout Upstate NY. The region is blessed with incredible clubs, theatres and arena throughout the state, all bringing in a wide range of musical acts for the population living in Upstate New York, and drawing in music fans from outside our region.

    Best Club

    The Hollow Bar & Kitchen

    Honorable Mentions

    Upstate Concert Hall

    Brooklyn Bowl

    Buffalo Iron Works

    Garcia’s

    Putnam Den

    Best Theatre

    The Capitol Theatre

    Honorable Mentions

    The Palace Theatre

    The State Theatre

    Town Ballroom

    Best Arena/Amphitheater

    SPAC

    Honorable Mentions

    CMAC

    Ntelos Wireless Pavilion

    NYS Fairgrounds

    Artpark

    Bethel Woods

  • Dark Star Orchestra Bring a 1987 MSG show to the Palace in Albany

    Dark Star Orchestra performed a classic energizing 1987 show on Saturday Nov. 15 to a nearly sold out crowd, at The Palace in Albany.

    The event was hosted by Guthrie Bell Productions. Dark Star Orchestra has made a name for themselves by performing Grateful Dead shows in their entirety with sincere conviction. This night was no different as fans of all ages gathered to hear the familiar songs that prove to still mean so much to so many. The night started off with a funky, light-hearted key work, from Rob Barraco on “Hey Pocky Way” (The Meters) that got everyone jumping.  Jeff Mattson has vocals that will nearly break your heart if you’re not careful and if that doesn’t do it; his passionate guitar riffs ignite the Dead like atmosphere. For a split second, it almost looks like Rob Eaton is Bob Weir with his facial similarities, rustic vocals and fresh rhythm guitar strumming.

    Bryan Lasky - Dark Star Orchestra 3

    Set two brought a continuous flow of music that surged throughout the venue. The crowd sang out the worn lyrics of “Eyes Of The World” with gusto. The night took a turn into dark territory as “Drums>Space” was a terribly stretched vortex of noise from Dino English and Rob Koritz before finally picking up with “Gimmie Some Lovin” by The Spencer Davis Group. The set came to an end with a cheerfully sweet fan favorite of “Sugar Magnolia” with an appropriate encore of “It’s All Over Now”. As the performance wound down, the musicians revealed the specific show that they had recreated effortlessly that night as September 15, 1987 at Madison Square Garden in NYC. Dark Star Orchestra beautifully crafts the art that is Dead music with more than just playing the notes, it’s something you feel. You can witness the Grateful Dead/Dark Star Orchestra experience at the Best Buy Theater in NYC on the Nov. 28 and 29 and The Westcott in Syracuse on Dec 1.

    Set One: Hey Pocky Way, New Minglewood Blues, When Push Comes To Shove, Beer Barrel Polka; Me And My Uncle > Mexicali Blues, Row Jimmy, Queen Jane Approximately, Tennessee Jed, The Music Never Stopped

    Set Two: China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World > Drums > Space > The Wheel > Gimme Some Lovin’ > All Along The Watchtower Tease > Black Peter > Sugar Magnolia

    Encore: It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue

  • Like a Boss: Gov’t Mule Returns to the Palace Theatre

    Warren Haynes and Gov’t Mule returned to the Palace Theatre Friday, Nov. 14 amid their 20th anniversary tour. “World Boss” opened the show on a strong note, seguing into “Steppin’ Lightly”, a song of pure heartache.  “Gameface” stretched into a jam of “Mountain Jam”, a nod to the fest Warren lent his name on for many years. A deep rocker emerged in “Which Way Do We Run” followed by the highlight of the set, “I’m a Ram”, full of Haynes turning his vocals up to 11. Danny Louis played the keys with the sound of a second guitar, a latter day Ray Manzarek. The set ended with “Railroad Boy”, which makes for good fightin’ music.

    govt mule palace(Before Set 2 started, a proud grandparent mentioned to me that this show was his grandson’s first concert ever. Grandpa picked a good one too. Hope you enjoyed the show Chris!)

    A spooky wind machine sound preceded the Set 2 opener, “Fearless”, by Pink Floyd, with Danny Louis joining on second guitar. Mule will release an album of Floyd covers, Dark Side of the Mule, on Dec. 9. “Beautifully Broken” let loose a cover of Tom Petty’s “Breakdown”, jammed out quite nicely before returning to “Beautifully Broken”. A Doors cover, “People are Strange” roused the crowd once again as the set ended on a high note, closing with “Soulshine” and “Slackjaw Jezebel”. The encore “Bring on the Music” off 2013’s Shout! capped a solid rock performance from veterans Gov’t Mule who blended rock and jam perfectly – not too much rock and not too little jam.

    Download the show at Mule Tracks.

    Set 1: World Boss > Steppin’ Lightly, Gameface, Which way do we Run, I’m a Ram, Child of the Earth, Stratus, Railroad Boy

    Set 2: Fearless > Stoop So Low, Beautifully Broken > Breakdown > Beautifully Broken, Larger Than Life > Drums, People Are Strange, Soulshine, Slackjaw Jezebel

    Encore: Bring on The Music

  • Ray LaMontagne Turns the Palace Into a Supernova

    Words by Lauren Byrnes

    On Sunday night, Albany’s Palace Theatre was given a real treat: The Belle Brigade opening for Ray LaMontagne. LaMontagne’s new album, Supernova, was produced by The Black Keys’s Dan Auerbach and promised a new sound from the singer/songwriter.

    The opening act, The Belle Brigade, was a traditional four piece rock band with a brother and sister duo at its heart. Barbara and Ethan Gruska play the drums and guitar, respectively, and both do the vocals for the band. Their set at the Palace ran about 45 minutes and was excellent. Their sound was reminiscent of the pop rock sound that predominated in the 1990s without ever truly giving in to it. They have been touring with Ray for the past 6-7 months and were even part of his band during the singer/songwriter’s set.

    Bryan-Lasky-Ray-LaMontagne-2

    Ray came on about half an hour after The Belle Brigade had finished to an eager crowd. The sound was different from his earlier works as Mr. Auerbach’s influence was well evident from the first song on. Four out of the first five songs came from the new album where the new rock influences were heavy. The first song, “Lavender”, had an incredible trippy feel to it. The use of the synth/keyboard contributed heavily to this. The four acoustic songs toward the end of his set were a nice call back to his days with The Pariah Dogs and much appreciated by the crowd. Throughout the performance, the lighting for him was very reminiscent of the old Joshua Light Shows from the Fillmore East and West of the 60’s and 70’s. LaMontagne’s lighting is usually subdued to fit his folksy background, but with this new direction, the lighting fit perfectly along the vein of his musical supernova.

    Overall, the combination of the two bands was unmatched in compatibility. The pop rock sound of The Bell Brigade matched with the folk and newfound psychedelic sound of Ray LaMontagne made for a truly magical evening of music.

  • The Mule to buck the State Theatre on November 15

    Celebrating their first twenty years, Gov’t Mule will be stopping at the State Theatre in Ithaca, NY on November 15 in the midst of their celebratory anniversary tour to spread their unique organic brand of heavy rock and blues. In support of their 2013 LP Shout!, the concert is sure to feature recent Mule compositions in addition to a plethora of unique cover tunes and Mule classics from their genre twisting classic recordings.

    Following a preceding November 14 visit to The Palace Theatre in Albany, the Mule will be bringing the musical party to the Upstate masses in what is sure to be the usual incendiary Govt Mule musical display. The current tour reaches its conclusion in Ithaca, in what is guaranteed to be blow out finale for the band.

    Mule State TheatreTickets are available for $29.50-39.50 for the all age’s performance here. The concert will begin at 8:00 PM on November 15, 2014.

  • Primus Pounds the Palace

    Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble sold out Albany’s Palace Theatre on October 24. With a radically unique style, Primus is difficult to define, however, their signature sound earned them a great deal of popularity in the 1990s.

    primus palaceOpening the first set on a bare, black stage, the three piece band treated the mostly-Gen-X crowd to seven songs. Six of those songs were released in the 1990s, including the popular “My Name is Mud” and “Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver.” Les Claypool, the band’s bassist and lead singer, explained that they had received some feedback on social media that fans were ‘sick of’ Primus performing “Jerry was a Race Car Driver” repeatedly at shows. The Albany crowd was clearly not among the complainers; they were disappointed. They recovered though, as many of them came to see the second set.

    In stark contrast to the stage from the first set, the second engaged fans with brilliant color, funky costume, and stage characters. This performance featured the band’s reinterpretation of the soundtrack from the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Psychedelic video rolled scenes from the film behind the performers, and even the sound and light technicians, set up as usual in the auditorium, dressed in the red Oopma Loompa uniform. The classy nature of the Palace was a perfect venue for this performance; it added a rich drama to the show that might be lacking from those held in less grand locations.

    primus palacePerforming all 14 compositions in order, Primus’s distinctive sound heightened the dark, scary elements of the music, emphasizing some of the more ominous parts of the film. Claypool put down his bass guitar for many of the songs, relying instead on the resonance of the classical bass. The band also welcomed a cellist and percussionist to the stage, which added to the quality of the sound.

    Primis finished the performance with another couple songs from the 1991 album, Sailing the Seas of Cheese. Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble tour dates run through January and are updated at primusville.com.

  • Syracuse’s ‘Salt City Waltz’ Announced Featuring The Levon Helm Horns

    What has become an annual Syracuse holiday music tradition, the Salt City Waltz has added the moniker A Sound Check 35th Anniversary Celebration to commemorate Dave Frisina’s ongoing contributions to the regional music scene. For the first time with Salt City Waltz, The Levon Helm Studio Horns will be featured, the LHS Horns are: Jay Collins, Steve Bernstein, Erik Lawrence and the legendary Howard “Hojo” Johnson (Charles Mingus, Taj Mahal, Levon Helm, The Band for the original Last Waltz). Local stand-outs Joe Altier, Miss E (Missy Ragonese), Sean Patrick Taylor, Karen Savoca, and Pete Heitzman will be featured (among many others), also, fresh off his amazing performances on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Syracuse native Jonah Smith completes the ensemble.

    Through his long-running radio show Sound Check, countless time and boundless energy, Frisina is the definition of what is good in the regional scene. The CNY reading of The Band’s classic performance movie, The Last Waltz, has been announced for Saturday, November 29 at The Palace Theater in Eastwood. This remarkable work will highlight Syracuse’s music scene at one of the area’s most acclaimed venues, creating an event that is singular in its scope. This once a year event has sold-out in each of its prior performances and this year anticipates the same. With the intimacy of the venue and vibe created through musical and audience energy, SCW has come to be known as one of the hottest tickets of the year. SCW is scheduled on Thanksgiving weekend to echo the date of the original recording of the movie on Thanksgiving day 1976, which was billed as the farewell performance of the The Band.

    2015 Last Waltz FB COVER

    Stacey Waterman, owner of DMR Booking Agency and Organizer of this event is thrilled to announce the event date and the incredible line-up of artists contributing. With Gary Frenay as Music Director, Syracuse’s own Los Blancos performs as The Band, accompanied by Joshua Collins on piano in a special homecoming performance from Louisville, plus a stellar compliment of local, national and native ‘cuse musicians.

    IMG_2323 Photo by Juan Junco

    This is Waterman’s personal expression and cornerstone annually, she takes special pride in this event and if you’re aware of her skills, that says a lot. She is the driving organizational force behind a majority of the larger musical events in this area. She states, “The music of The Band has historic musical significance world-wide and the same reverence is given by many musicians and music fans right here in Central New York.”

    Being held on Thanksgiving weekend allows the community to participate in a charitable sense too as St. Lucy’s Food Pantry will be on hand for Salt City Waltz’s Food Drive, collecting much-needed items to re-stock their shelves right after the holiday. Corporate sponsor, the Syracuse Crowne Plaza Hotel, is also collecting food donations through their many departments. Please join in on the collection as this is a big part of the community spirit of the event, yet another aspect of the whole production.

    The Crowne Plaza is offering a “room and show” package for those traveling into town for the show as well as their sponsorship, along with media partner 105.9 The REBEL, Red Shoes Marketing, Meyda Tiffany and Saranac Brewery.

    Waterman and her crew encourage concert-goers to purchase their tickets early, as another sell-out is anticipated. There will be no second show or change of venue to accommodate a larger crowd, the ambiance and intimacy of The Palace is essential to the overall vibe of the event. That, combined with the All-Star level of musicians participating make the Salt City Waltz a stand-out and stand-alone event annually.

    Doors open at 7pm for the 8pm show, tickets are priced at $30 in advance and are on sale now at Sound Garden in Armory Square, The Palace Theater and online at upstate-shows.com. Salt City Waltz “Room and Show” packages include either a king or a double room at the beautiful Crowne Plaza Syracuse and two (2) tickets to the show. The package includes overnight parking, wireless internet and access to their fitness and business centers. That’s a $199 value for $159 + tax, for reservations call (315) 479-7000.

    You can follow the event’s progress on either their Facebook event page or Facebook page.

  • 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.

  • Nas Kicking off Illmatic Tour With Back to Back New York Shows

    Nas has been at the top of the rap world since he debuted 20 years ago and will be celebrating the anniversary with the Illmatic tour for his landmark first LP Illmatic. The Illmatic tour has a little extra punch to it due to the fact that not only will Nas be playing the album front to back, but he will also be showing his brand new documentary “Nas: Time is Illmatic.” The film follows the trajectory of the album from when it was being recorded all the way up to today. The influence that the album had on the rap genre is undeniable, and to be able to see it right before hearing the man play the legendary album is a once-in-a-lifetime event.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESkmaXnw8ow

    Nas, including Illmatic, has released eight platinum and multi-platinum albums throughout his career and has played all over the world. Born in Brooklyn, NY, Nas eventually moved to Queens with his family at a young age and soon became interested in hip hop and the growing community surrounding it. Illmatic was a fan favorite from the moment it was released, earning high praise from the hip hop community. Not only did he rap about problems in everyday life, but he also rapped about the hope for a better one. These two shows are the only ones anywhere in New York.

    This film, which premiers at the Tribeca Film Festival on Oct. 1, means a lot to him. Nas has said, “I want to thank Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and the Tribeca Film family for all of the love & support they’ve given Time Is Illmatic. It is an honor to be in partnership with them, and I feel there is a cultural kinship bonded by the city of New York.” The film unfortunately won’t be shown on the tour’s opening night at Main Street Armory in Rochester on Oct. 2, but it will be shown the following evening, Oct. 3, at Albany’s Palace Theatre. Tickets are still available for both nights, $40 for Rochester and up to $70 for Albany, so don’t sleep on your chance to see these special shows from easily one of the best rappers out there today.