NYS Music 20​14

Tag: Parish Public House

  • A Weekend of Live Music in the Capital District with Aqueous, Formula 5 and Marco Benevento

    The weekend before Christmas marks the penultimate weekend to see live music, before New Years Eve festivities take the place of usual club shows. December 18-20 was no exception and in the Capital District, we had the benefit of three Upstate New York bands playing three local venues to crowds of revelers looking for that one last fix before the holidays arrive.

    Starting with Thursday December 18 show at The Hollow, Ampervene opened the night for Aqueous with complimentary prog rock. Aqueous tore through “What’s the Connection”, leaving the song unfinished for later and segued into “All In”, which contained “Fuego” teases. The debut of “Underlyer” was well received, as was a cover of Hendrix’ “Bold As Love”. The encore was a special treat as Aqueous invited up Joe Davis from Formula 5 to play on a debut cover of “Bertha” by the Grateful Dead, which eventually into the end of “What’s the Connection”.  As a bonus, guitarist Mike Gantzer revealed that this show is likely to be a live release in the near future, so stay tuned for a crisp soundboard recording of the night!

    review by Adam Pensel
    On Friday December 19, Formula 5 made a triumphant return to the stage at Dinosaur BBQ in Troy. The masterfully crafted two set show featured a number of covers layered nicely with some of the band’s most powerful original jam vehicles.

    They began the night with a spirited cover of “The Music Never Stopped”, which featured a smooth segue into “Hot Box”, an upbeat and fan favorite track off of their first self titled album. The most impressive tracks of the first set were covers of Derek and the Dominoes’ “Why Does Love Got to be So Sad” and Warren Zevon’s “Night Time in the Switching Yard”. Lead guitarist went on endless runs in the jams of both songs that would have left Zevon and Clapton nodding in approval.

    The second set featured a sit-in during John Scofield’s “Hottentot” by Kevin Hendricks on trumpet and former Formula 5 bassist Bill Shattuck right at home on vocals for a cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” to close out the evening. The most impressive take away from the evening was the growth this band has shown over the course of this year. On any given night they have the ability to blow you away. Don’t miss your opportunity to see them in 2015 – this is a band on the rise.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfWrJ1BEB1U

    In what is an annual tradition, Marco Benevento played a December show at Parish Public House (formerly Red Square) on Saturday December 20, and in turn packed the house with patrons who drank the bar nearly dry until the wee hours of the morning while dancing to the contagious beats from this fantastic trio. Joining Marco was Andy Borger on drums and Dave Dreiwitz on bass, who was particularly on point all night and laid down greater bass grooves than had been heard in past shows – this was a standout performance from him alone. Marco sang more this night than in the past, something you can hear on his latest album Swift, a step in a great direction for Marco. The night was celebrated by all as evidenced by the enthusiastic revelers  dancing away in full view of Marco, feeding off his energy and he doing the same.

  • Finally Sold on the Northern Rock of Eastbound Jesus

    I can’t say that in the last two years of knowing and seeing Eastbound Jesus that I had been sold on them, let alone found in them what many others have. The ‘Northern Rock’ descriptor is unique but never defined them well enough for me. They have a couple catchy songs, but I couldn’t get into them despite being a huge bluegrass and jamgrass fan. While they without a doubt have a unique sound, I just didn’t fall into it in a way that would make me want to throwdown like their fans do on the dance floor.

    eastbound jesus northern rockThat changed when I got a listen of Ruff Stuff Nuff Said, a wonderful live album recorded earlier this year at the same venue they released the album at, Parish Public House (formerly Red Square). I had every intention of going to this show before I heard the live album and couldn’t wait after a single spin of the disk. It has a great flow and choice tracks throughout, as well as a few covers and surprises mixed in. I had found my motivation in this live album to finally get to an Eastbound Jesus show.

    Throughout the night the room had an electric vibe that stood out from other local shows – the fans bring this feeling with them and it permeates the audience, welcoming newcomers into an active atmosphere. You could have gone to the show looking forward to your favorite band or checking out something new and your night would be flipped on its axis, casting you out into the night amid a flurry of confusion as to what you just experienced. Eastbound Jesus has that wonderful effect on its audiences and gained at least one fan this past Saturday night.

    Highlights from the show included Lucid’s North Country brand of rock which opened the show, a new song unnamed song from EBJ that opened the night and felt inspired by The Band; a great start to the live album from “I Wouldn’t Know” which came out early in the set, “Whisky on Dirt”, “Beat the Baker” featuring Lowell from Lucid on mouthharp and an encore of “Don’t Use it Much” which had a solid “Turn on Your Lovelight” jam and of course, “Holy Smokes”. The group is taking some time off to record in the studio, but when they come back in the springtime, you’ll be sure to find me at their shows from now on fully supporting Northern Rock.

    Set 1: New song, Talking to John, Ghost Town, I Wouldn’t Know, Easy Now, Sittin by the River, Where the Winter Goes, KT Belle, Whisky on Dirt, Doors Open, Corn Whiskey, Tennessee, 54 Miler
    Set 2: Better Things, Pipe Dreams, Times Wasting, The Storm, Here’s to You, Eastbound and Down, Hawk, Hold on me now, Take a Ride, Wastin on the Sun, Beat the Bakes
    Encore: Don’t Use it Much, Ballad of Eastbound Jesus, Holy Smokes

  • Hearing Aide: Eastbound Jesus ‘Ruff Stuff Nuff Said’

    ruffstuff1On Saturday December 6, Parish Public House and Guthrie Bell Productions will host the North Country Rock band known as Eastbound Jesus for the release of their fourth album, Ruff Stuff Nuff Said.

    This is Eastbound Jesus’ first live album, recorded at Parish Public House back on January 31 and February 1, 2014, when it was still known as Red Square. They recorded over 40 songs from that weekend and picked the top 14 songs to create the fun loving, foot stomping Eastbound Jesus show experience.

    Ruff Stuff Nuff Said was worth the wait for the crisp professional sound alone. Knowing firsthand how smothering the sound can be in Parish Public House, especially with more than a few enthusiastic fans, the album has a great balance of vocals, instruments and cheers. With a “take it or leave it” attitude, much like the musicians themselves, Ruff Stuff gives fair warning to listeners of the stripped honesty and raw energy of their live shows. The album starts with “I Wouldn’t Know”, a slow building melody that erupts with continuous peaks of banjo and guitar plucking with a mighty chorus, the foundation for most of their songs and it works every time.

    Showcasing EBJ’s ability to convey their unique sound as well as a few crowd pleasing covers, one of the top tracks is the Grateful Dead’s “Turn on Your Lovelight” jam that grows out of “Don’t Use It Much” when joined by trombonist Bryan Brundige and keyboardist Tony Meier. You can actual feel the venue start to get dizzy with the ferocious melody. From soft country ballads to rebellious swamp rock, Ruff Stuff Nuff Said provides light to why it’s no wonder EBJ has such a dedicated, rowdy fanbase that can relate to their Upstate sound and everyday themed lyrics about the weather, drinking and authority.

    Key Tracks: 54 Miles, Don’t Use It Much, Where The Winter Goes

    Click here to read our review from the shows where Ruff Stuff Nuff Said was recorded.

    Doors for the show on Saturday open at 8 with backwoods rockers Lucid set to kick off the night around 9. Tickets will be available at the door for $12 but you can secure yours today online for $10. Eastbound Jesus shows have a reputation for being sold out events, making this coming one no different. Red Square recently underwent a full upgrade to become Parish Public House, the same music venue we love with the addition of a full Louisiana eatery and drinkery. Their menu makes it a smart decision to get there early with items like the various po boys, alligator bites, gumbo, burgers and more Cajun delights. Eastbound Jesus has recently announced that they will be taking some time off for some desired studio time. So be sure to pick up your copy of Ruff Stuff Nuff Said to help you survive the winter and come out to the show this Saturday!

  • BIG Something proves they are a BIG deal at Parish Public House

    North Carolina’s BIG Something made the trek to Albany’s Parish Public House formally known as Red Square, for a night of alternative rock with some original groove. The Capital District was greeted with the first sight of snow that night on the 13th as BIG Something prepared to heat up Broadway. The 6 piece band began the night with some Pink Floyd and a Edgar Winter “Frankenstein”, definitely a solid start.

    big something parishThe BIG Something has a bigger than life sound, as they rock out loud with a fusion improv of funk, jazz and hip hop. Casey Cranford is a double threat with his captivating EWI (electronic wind instrument) as well as saxophone playing. Josh Kagel has an ear for hitting all the right notes whether it’s alternating reality on his keyboard/synth or on trumpet. Jesse Hensley surges vibrating psychedelic rifts as Doug Marshall’s steady bass notes heighten the trip.

    After a wide and diverse sampling of their musical influences, BIG Something performed some of their original work off their latest album, Truth Serum which was released at the beginning of the month. Click here to listen and download the album. “Megalodon” a slamming funk of a hip hop song with collaborations from DJ logic on their latest album had high voltage guitar, blaring horns and ear catching album scratching. “Capt. D” is like discovering a heavy punk rock club with a tropical Caribbean theme, refreshingly rebellious and alarmingly inviting. “Sirens” had each instrument screaming for attention with psychedelic echoes coming from all angles. The evening ended with their amped up rock rendition of The Who’s “Baba O’Riley” followed by an all-out jamgrass encore of “Amanda Lynn” with front man, Nick MacDaniels strumming the life out of a mandolin. BIG Something is the next big thing! As BIG Something continues to spread their highly energetic unique sound, be on the lookout for tour dates and their 4th annual festival, The BIG What?! June 25-27th in North Carolina.

    Setlist: Welcome to the Machine > Saturday Night Zombie > Frankenstein > Pinky’s Ride, UFOs are Real, A Simple Vision > Mr. Roboto, Megalodon, Capt. D Sirens > Love Generator > Baba O’Riley
    Encore: Amanda Lynn

  • Consider the Source Drops EP Stream Before Stops in Albany and Buffalo

    WWtrioSplashTake2This past Wednesday, the instrumental wizards in Consider the Source dropped a bomb as they released a stream of the first installation off their new EP World War Trio, titled “Put Another Rock in That Bag”. The release is a six-part, 25-minute impeccable composition that showcases that band’s talent in new and interesting ways. The overall vision and thought-out structure shines in the smooth transitions and its careful ebb and flow of energy. At the risk of sounding cliché, this is a prog-opera with hints of jam, metal, Middle Eastern, and a fusion of other genres into an emotional and dramatic epic. If this band wasn’t unique enough, this album puts them in a category all their own and pushes some serious musical boundaries.

    These three gentlemen have stepped outside of the songwriting box and are delving into composer-level status with their vision. The juxtaposition of beauty and fierce aggression propels at the same time it slows down for the view. This tease, and I use that loosely as it is still 25 minutes in length, will lead to a huge anticipation for parts two and three of this album series.

    The ONLY way to listen to this album is from start to finish as it tells a tonal story through vivid language, rife with patient punctuation. If you liked this band before, you’re going to love this direction as they’ve found their calling and have created something truly beautiful. If you’re going to cheat your ears out of this masterpiece though, at least take the time to listen to “Put Another Rock in That Bag IV,” which is simply powerful and moving. No band in the jam scene has ever had the balls to step outside the circle like this album does and this song is the climax.

    IMG_6046

    As the album comes to a close, the band circles back to the opening theme. How else would you close something of this magnitude? By tying it all back to the origin and closing the circle, the band leaves you wanting to start the journey again. Absolutely beautiful.

    The album can be streamed in its entirety right here and I would strongly recommend taking a listen. Additionally, I got the chance to sit down with the group at Night Lights Music Festival back in September and we talked about the upcoming release, their influences, and a few other things. Check out the video below from our friends at Buffalo.fm.

    The band is set to play the new album in its entirety tonight  in Albany at their album release party. Tomorrow night they’ll be making their way across the state to play a show in Buffalo at Waiting Room. If you still need tickets, you can grab some for Albany here and Buffalo here.

  • ‘World War Trio’ Starts With Consider the Source

    Marin (L) and Ferrara (R) jamming together.
    Marin (L) and Ferrara (R) jamming together.

    New York-based Consider the Source has announced the first installment of their new studio project, World War Trio.  On October 31st, they will release the first disc, an EP entitled “Put Another Rock In That Bag”.  The Halloween treat features Jeff Mann playing drums in the studio with CTS for the first time alongside incredibly unique stunt-guitarist Gabriel Marin and virtuosic bassist John Ferrara. The Middle Eastern/Sci-Fi fusion trio will release the rest of World War Trio as a full, double-album in the Spring of 2015.

    Fans have grown accustomed to face-melting, heavy improvisational shows from the improg group, but “Another Rock” will demonstrate some of their other tricks. “We felt this piece needed its own release,” says bassist John Ferrara. “It is our longest and most in-depth composition to date. It is going to have six distinct movements, about 25 minutes in length.”  The epic piece showcases the band’s compositional prowess and features one movement composed by Jan Zehrfeld, guitarist of Munich-based Panzerballet.  The EP will also include a Making of World War Trio documentary.

    “Another Rock”, marks the band’s first studio release since 2010’s That’s What’s Up.  The band has been playing since Marin and Ferrara met in 2004 and has two other studio releases: 2007’s Esperanto and 2009’s Are You Watching Closely?  Since finding Mann on Craigslist in 2012, the group has released two live albums, but this is their first studio venture as the current Consider the Source.  Yesterday, exactly two years after playing his first show with the band, Mann wrote: “It feels like we’re just getting started. I am so grateful to be able to play with the best musicians in the world for the best fans in the world.”    

    IMG_6046

    Upstate New York will be treated to the first live version of “Put Another Rock In That Bag”, as the Sourcerors will play the EP in its entirety at the Parish Public House in Albany on Halloween night. The band recently played The Hollow in Albany and has plenty of Upstate dates planned this fall. They will be playing the Catskill Chill and Night Light festivals in Hancock and Sherman, NY, respectively. Canton, NY, gets two free sets on September 11th, and Dopapod will join them for shows at Saratoga Springs’ Putnam Den on September 27th and Rochester’s Water Street Music Hall on October 2nd.

    Check out a trailer of the new material here.

  • Triumph: More than a Tribute to the Disco Biscuits

    Albany’s newest place to grab a bite to eat and catch a great live show isn’t really that new at all. Parish Public House, formerly Red Square, has completely redone the whole establishment to make it a quaint southern style restaurant serving such Louisiana favorites as Boudin Balls, Alligator Bites, and of course the Po Boy. Don’t let the charming decor fool you though, the Parish still has a stage and some of the best live music around. Saturday night was no exception, as Squid Parade and Triumph: A Tribute to the Disco Biscuits, had the place jumping.

    Squid Parade took the stage first with their eccentric style of the jamtronica sound. Zak Westbrooks guitar playing was spot on, soaring to heights only a special lot of musicians can reach. Straight away the Squids had the place vibing out to their fast paced wall sweating groove and this remained the aura throughout their set.

    Being a tribute band comes with a certain stigma attached to it. Why don’t they just write their own music if they’re so good? Why wouldn’t they want to have their own identity? These questions are fair and reasonable, however in the case of Triumph these stigmas do not ring true. Featuring members of B.A Dario and Resident Frequency, original bands with their own songs, but once in awhile, this actually only being their third show as Triumph, they like to have fun and play tribute to one of the hottest bands around: The Disco Biscuits.

    Not only did they play the music of the band, they were playing tribute to, they composed their jamming around the Biscuits as well. With dark and dirty beats from drummer/vocalist Brad Greene, taking the audience through a journey that seemingly was Bisco. At times having to look up on stage and realize it was Bryce Hughes on guitar, and not Jon Gutwillig. During the “Therapy” jam, many teases were thrown in, mostly by the keys of Aaron Nackoul and bassist John Kelly riffing on “Confrontation”, only to bring the jam into “Orchestra Theme”. This was impressive to say the least and the party was just getting started as the band told everyone they would be back for a second set. This set was indeed a tribute to Biscuits style of set writing. “Astronaut” was the foundation for the whole set, being thrown in with a plethora of other songs only to end the set as it began with “Astronaut.”

    When you hear a tribute band is coming to town, and if you like the band they’re playing homage too, don’t just shrug it off and assume its going to be gaudy or hokey, because in the case of Triumph, you would’ve been disappointed if it was missed.

    Setlist:

    Set 1: Plan B>Helicopters>Spacebirdmatingcall, Therapy>Orchestra Theme>Therapy
    Set 2: Astronaut>Cyclone>I-man, Bombs, Mr Don>Astronaut
    E: M.E.M.P.H.I.S

  • Triumph to Invoke The Disco Biscuits at The Parish Public House

    This coming Friday, August 15, will be a pretty heady evening at the newly revamped Parish Public House in downtown Albany. People will come from all over to see what has changed at the historic venue once know as Red Square. Last weekend in Washington, DC and at the Gathering of the Vibes, the Disco Biscuits put on some of their most historic shows, playing with Grateful Dead drummers, Billy Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart. This was a rare appearance for all involved, as the rhythm devils, Hart and Kreutzmann have not played together since 2009, and the Disco Biscuits have played sporadically over the last few years, leaving songs that fans love to fall into a “Great Abyss”. This is where Triumph: a Tribute to the Disco Biscuits comes in.

    Forming out of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, members of B.A Dario and Resident Frequency have come together to bring these adored songs out of obscurity. They will be bringing their take on these songs to Parish Public House 8 pm on Friday, August 15th, with special guests, the very experimental and abstract Squid Parade. This is a night any fan of transfusion should not miss. Take a listen for yourself below to these great live versions of both bands.

    Tickets for the show are $10 the door.

    Triumph on Archive.org

    Squid Parade

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4IyHg2IT5M