NYS Music 20​14

Tag: rock

  • All That Remains Announce New Album

    allthatremainstheorderofthingscdAll That Remains, a metalcore band from Massachusetts, announced the title of their upcoming album, The Order of Things, which is due out in February. The  Dec. 12 announcement was made via their website.

    Vocalist Phil Labonte “quietly” released the first single of the album, “No Knock” by offering a lifetime pass to all shows to whoever could find its audio on the internet. After leaving a virtual trail of clues, the winner posted the link to the new song, “No Knock” on Nov. 15.

    Although no other details or track listing have been revealed, pre – orders for The Order of Things will began on Dec. 15, and can be done so through the band’s website.

  • Punk Legend Billy Idol Announces Album, Tour and Autobiography

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

    Billy Idol tour

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

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

    BItunnel

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

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

  • Queens of the Stone Age Paid a Visit to Rochester, NY

    It’s 6:30 PM on a warm Friday night in downtown Rochester, NY. A lengthy line stretches down a sidewalk running parallel to the historic Main Street Armory; the venue that is about to house the alternative hard rock sound of California’s own Queens of the Stone Age. As this show was their only stop in Upstate, NY, there was certainly no shortage of eager fans packing the floor and balcony of the large performance room.

    Taking the stage first was the freshly signed (Sony Music Entertainment) New York City trio, Unlocking the Truth. Considering  their roots come from setting up shop in Times Square, along with the fact this was only their third stage show ever, one would assume that a hint of nervousness would be obvious, especially when not one member of the band has hit their fourteenth birthday yet. Instead what the crowd got was a surprisingly heavy sound from the incredibly talented and comfortable teens on stage. The band was able to get the night started on the right foot, drawing cheers and immense applause from awe-stricken faces in the crowd. They continue their route to fame in the fall as they tour with rock veterans, Living Colour.

    Next on stage was Aussie rocker and wife of Josh Homme, Queens of the Stone Age frontman, Brody Dalle. From start to finish in their ten-song set, the band delivered an edgy, up-tempo punk rock sound to the ever-growing audience. Along with a majority of newly written songs, Brody Dalle also threw in the single, “Coral Fang” from her prior musical project The Distillers. The fast paced sound that Brody Dalle delivered kept the anxious crowd energized and moving as they awaited the main act of the night. The band continued touring the United States through the end of July before they traveled across the pond to tour Europe during the month of August.

    At 10:00 PM, the light panels at the back of the stage displayed a sixty-second countdown to which the ever-ready crowd counted along as the moment they had all been waiting for, finally became a reality. The large venue was sporting a packed balcony and limited free space on either side of the floor. As the band dove right into the popular hit “No One Knows” there were few heads not banging along to the music as well as fists stuck straight up into the air demonstrating a love for the ones on stage. As the show continued, it was hard not to appreciate the amount of work that went into stage and lighting setup. With elaborate overhead and backing lights, the mood of each song could be captured by different colors and light speeds. After powering through six or seven fast-paced, in-your-face fan favorites, Josh Homme took the piano to slow it down for their song, “Like Clockwork”. The crowd stayed rowdy and slowly more lighters than camera phones began to prevail from the sea of people. They did not keep the mood mellow for long as they revamped the tempo with more crowd favorites like “Sick, Sick, Sick” and “3’s and 7’s”.

    The Queens of the Stone Age were admired as kings of rock n roll for the night, from beginning to end, keeping the audience jumping and cheering with no signs of stopping. The sweat-soaked band members finished their set, leaving the audience begging for more. As they walked off the stage, the overwhelming cheers begging for an encore began growing louder and louder. Gone for no more than two minutes, the band took the stage, beers in hand, welcomed back by the adoring fans whose cheers now reached a new peak. The three-song encore satisfied the crowd above and beyond what they could have hoped for, and shortly after the band left the stage for good, the lights came on and the venue was clear of the majority of people. Queens of the Stone Age put on not only a terrific musical show, but created an experience for their fans that left ears ringing and heads pounding for the ride home. The band continues its tour throughout August as they head to Norway to appease even more insatiable fans

  • Lake Street Dive Welcomed Warmly to the Westcott Theater

    Lake Street Dive is a band on the upswing, and their Westcott Theater performance shows it. After more than ten years of playing music together, this little Boston four-piece has made a big splash and are progressively building a solid fan base. After a YouTube performance of the Jackson 5’s, “I Want You Back” that went viral (two million views) and their appearances on the Colbert Report, The Late Show with David Letterman, the Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Town Hall (NYC), they are definitely carving a niche for themselves.

    Bands like theirs generally get a good turnout in hip and trend-savvy metropolitan areas like Brooklyn or Cambridge, but generally not as much in smaller cities like Syracuse. But, thanks to a soulful subculture of Syracuse show-goers, and a breathtaking performance at last year’s Blue Heron Music Festival in Sherman, NY, Lake Street Dive was about 70 tickets away from selling out the Westcott Theater – a 700 person capacity venue. This is quite a feat, and came as a lovely surprise to the band, “You are very nice,” lead singer Rachael Price said to the audience with a very appreciative and genuine tone, “we like you very much.” The show-stopping soul-queen also stated that they would definitely be back again, much to the chagrin of fans.

    The scene was hot, sweaty, sultry and sweet that Thursday, June 26. The Westcott Theater was packed wall-to-wall with fans and newcomers of all ages, eager to be near the now big-stage dive bar band. Rachael Price wasted no time in filling the air with impressive vocal pushes on “You Go Down Smooth” and soulful sing-along lines on the title track of Lake Street Dive’s 2014 album release, Bad Self Portraits. The evening felt a bit like it was taken from a page of Rachael’s diary; as her songs reflected on her bitter-sweet, sometimes tragic, sometimes triumphant love life. She proceeded to dive into the complexities of love, musing on the dichotomy of sad break-ups and the happy resignation of reuniting with the one you truly love in the fun and soulful rock/pop tune “Stop Your Crying”.  She went on to flex her vocal muscles and impress the crowd further as she held insane sustain on the sultry and sexy “Just Ask”. Lake Street Dive demonstrated that it is much more than a front-woman band on songs like the funky soul tune “Rabid Animal”, wherein bassist Bridget Kearney and drummer Mike Calabrese sang immaculate and perfectly balanced harmonies and inspired the crowd to clap along. Lake Street Dive maintained audience attention and interest throughout a full set, and encore finished by a cover the classic rock/soul hit by Hall and Oates, “Rich Girl”. This nostalgic, feel-good hit was a perfect choice. Everyone loves “Rich Girl” and everyone left loving Rachael Price and Lake Street Dive.

  • Hearing Aide: Mastodon “Once More ‘Round the Sun”

    Mastodon_-_once_more_'round_the_sun

    The most recognizable aspect of the music of Mastodon is that their music is not recognizable for a particular aspect. Yes, they have their trademarks, such as unusual lyrical themes, shared lead vocal duties, and a wide variety of musical abilities and sounds. Much like a band such as Phish, there is no actual way to boil this band down into one particular genre because each album sounds different. Their newest album, Once More ‘Round the Sun, is absolutely no exception. In fact, the band is taking you Once More ‘Round the Sun, but you’re going in a different spaceship — in terms of the sound.

    It was clear by the release of the album’s first single, “High Road,” the new album would be a further progression into their hard rock side. The album is certainly a way to find a new market. In the single, the band delves into the most “metal” sound they reach the whole album. The song features a driving chorus with emotionally laden chords, but still features Mastodon’s harmonic, trademark vocals from Crack the Skye, or even Blood Mountain. The track’s vocals, mainly delivered by bassist Troy Sanders, are produced much like Jill Janus’ on Huntress’ Spell Eater, the same is true for “Chimes at Midnight” but will be appreciated by fans of evolutionary hard rock, such as Led Zeppelin.

    The album’s title track is musically a polar opposite. It features the “weaving” guitar patterns, achieved by Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher, first featured on an early track the band wrote, “Joseph Marrick,” but casts an evolutionary shadow on “Joseph.” The song is clear evidence that Mastodon’s songwriting has taken an evolution. This is clear because their use of vocals is prevalent. For the second time, drummer Brann Dailor takes a drivers’ seat role, balancing vocals and drumming. In perfect time, each member of the band contributes to this aspect, never failing on their harmonies or blend. Further, vocal editing and pitch correction is less than prevalent.

    While the vocals should receive high marks, so should the instrumentation, which is borne of the combination of experimentation and the band clearly not limiting themselves to one school of thought. For that reason, this album could be enjoyed by many music listeners, especially anyone who likes music in the range from something as heavy as a band like Lamb of God, to a band as soft as Clutch.

    One of the key, defining aspects of this album is the fact that it follows Mastodon’s trend: each album is a transition into another genre. For instance, Remission and Leviathan featured mainly guttural and unclean vocals, whereas Blood Mountain marked a new era of accessibility for people who did not listen to Mastodon, or heavy metal. This led to Crack the Skye, which proved that Mastodon had a far more progressive side, into The Hunter. Now, the band sounds a lot less frantic. The tunes are all very accessible. You can sing along, show your friends, and rejoice in the fact that heavy metal and hard rock are far more diverse than they used to be, and this was a major complaint for long time Mastodon listeners who misunderstand the works of Mastodon.

    Because Mastodon’s sound has changed so much over the years, they can’t really be classified into a genre. Most people would agree that “heavy” bands like Alter Bridge could be categorized. While this is not negative, it is simply the music that they wish to write. For Mastodon, the case is different. They prove that they want to write more than just sludge metal, or prog rock. For Mastodon, music is a great experiment in which the performer is allowed to explore his or her musical polarities. Therefore, it is not possible to make an argument against Mastodon’s ever – evolving sound, as that is exactly the point of the band. Because of this, going Once More ‘Round the Sun is an amazing journey.

    Key tracks: Asleep in the Deep, High Road, and Halloween.

    Once More ‘Round the Sun can be purchased on iTunes, on Mastodon’s website, and in stores.

  • Photo Gallery: Ghost B.C and King Dude at Best Buy Theater NYC

    New York welcomed back the Swedish rockers known as Ghost B.C on May 14. This time accompanied by very dark folks King Dude, they delivered a powerful performance to a packed Best Buy Theater.  With a nice touch of neo-folk, the lesser known King Dude opened the ceremony with a beautiful set of Luciferian music. The mystery that surrounds Ghost, their enigmatic, mysterious personnel known as The Nameless Ghouls, and their leader Papa Emeritus II will forever draw in a mass of faithful followers that gather around to celebrate a black mass of 70’s style rock. The electricity and emotion were in the air as their devotees chanted along all night with passion and faith to some of their biggest hits.

    Setlist: Infestissumam, Per Aspera ad Inferi, Ritual, Prime Mover, Jigolo Har Megiddo, Con Clavi Con Dio, Elizabeth, Body and Blood, Death Knell, Here Comes the Sun, Depth of Satan’s Eyes, Stand by Him, Genesis, Year Zero, If You Have Ghosts, Ghuleh/Zombie Queen, Monstrance Clock

  • Hearing Aide: Dan Johnson “Mercury 85”

    a4120112466_10Despite calling Vermont home, the origins of Dan Johnson’s music career lie here in Upstate New York, where he first strummed his guitar to the public inside where Valentine’s Music Hall and Beer Joint once stood. Valentine’s is gone, but Dan Johnson’s Americana sound continues today with the release of his latest, Mercury 85.  The album was released on May 27th.

    Located off Albany’s New Scotland Avenue, Valentine’s was a popular venue for live music before it succumbed to a local hospital’s progressive movement to expand last year.  Johnson, along with his Expert Sidemen, had hosted his Americana music series every Tuesday night featuring the likes of Woody Pines, Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs, The Farewell Drifters, Hamell on Trial, JP Harris and the Tough Choices, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, and Eastbound Jesus.

    “Most of the album is about people I’ve known,” said Johnson, “especially folks from the time I spent in Buffalo, but also moving from New York to Vermont, and life changes [too]. The songs mostly use driving and cars as a metaphor for writing,” he added. “I’m curious about what other people get out of the songs so don’t want to go crazy breaking it down.”

    Dan and Mike

    Mercury 85 is Johnson’s third album and features twelve original songs that were all recorded at his home in Jericho, VT. It presents a departure from the live instrumentation of his previous releases, featuring drum machines, amp modeling and MIDI instruments to support his acoustic guitar, banjo and mandolin. While the instrumental support has taken some new turns, said Johnson, the songwriting remains rooted in storytelling and first person narration with strong poetic imagery.

    Johnson’s unassuming approach to the mic is intended to allow the story to take the spotlight: Well-matched with his low-key but welcoming attitude towards the listener. The presentation is reminiscent of Bob Dylan, as each song tells a story surrounding common people remembering yesterday, lamenting today, and looking forward to a better tomorrow. Never does there seem to be a resolution to change. As with “Rose”, for which Johnson only recently released a video, the protagonist speaks to another about a woman he casually met at a bar his band had played. Over the course of one night, skirting around the truth and telling lies over cups of coffee, he fell in love. But, it’s apparent he has since spent a long span of time searching her at each bar he happens to play and seems to have given up hope on ever finding her. “If you ever see this girl, she’s got a tattoo of a rose.  Tell her that I miss her when the chilly wind blows.”

    Johnson attributes the country landscape of his new home for the stripped down production of his latest release. The focus on the storytelling is certainly his strong suit, and is the most appealing factor to this album. This same quality may also be off-putting to the casual music fan used to a contrasting style, but it is a sound that can easily find itself played at trendy coffee houses.  And, for those who appreciate good storytelling, Mercury 85 is worth a preview (and purchase) on Bandcamp or contact the artist directly on his Facebook page.

    Key Tracks: Rose, Mercury 85, and Allentown.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1TQ21xYfKQ

  • Local Limelight: Ian Wagner Brings a Fresh Sound to Watertown

    magazine1

    Ian Wagner is a local Watertown artist whose incredible talent has raised the expectations for musicians all over the North Country. Originally from Fairbanks, Alaska, Ian traveled the country and joined the military in 2001. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion 22nd Infantry Regiment Ft. Drum as a Combat Medic on May 13th 2003. He was medically retired after being wounded in action during his second tour. In 2009, Ian decided to pursue his dreams as a musician. He was a member of local bands Network and Wagner’s Agenda before going solo in 2011. Ian has made the North Country his home, and we are happy to have him!

    With acoustic covers of artists like Luke Bryan, Shinedown, Tenacious D, and even Eminem, he hits every genre. He transforms every song into his own, performing with incredible passion and energy. His talent is unlike anything you will hear out of this region. You will remember the first time you saw him play, and you will be sure to see him again. I have been lucky to see him play many times and recently I sat down with him to learn more about this upcoming artist.

    Katrina Johnson: I heard you were working on an album, is that true?

    Ian Wagner: Not entirely. I have about an LP’s worth of original material that’s ready to be recorded. But I’m shy with my originals. You actually heard one on Saturday though, which is rare. That song is called “Deeds Not Words” and was written specifically for the families of fallen soldiers.

    KJ: I loved that song.Very well done! What is the next step for you? What is your ultimate goal?

    magazine3

    IW: Well, that’s still a little up in the air. I’ve played on every stage Jefferson County has to offer, and I consider this place my new home. I’m definitely interested in branching out though. It seems like the logical choice. We are fortunate to live in an area rich with musical talent. I’ve shared the stage with some incredible musicians, some of international notoriety. Most significant to me are Brian Purwin and Marcus Hagans. They have become my brothers both on and off the stage. If I had my way the three of us would be out on the road, but there are numerous obstacles preventing all of us from being able to commit 100% to the dream. I plan on spending my summer here in the North Country playing as much as possible.

    KJ: Did you meet them here or did you serve with them?

    IW: I met them both at jam nights in Depauville actually. Marcus was in the Army. He gets out this week actually. Brian is originally from New Jersey and wound up here visiting his childhood friend at Better Farm in Redwood.

    ian11

    KJ: When did you start playing and performing?

    IW: I’ve been playing music my whole life. I didn’t start performing until I decided to resign from my position as a tactical medical instructor at the MSTC on Drum and pursue my lifelong passion as a musician. That was in 2009

    KJ: Who taught you to play?

    IW: I have approximately five years of state recognized education. For the most part I taught myself everything I know. That isn’t to say I haven’t studied everything I can get my hands on. My mom plays a bit and sings from the heart. I guess in a lot of ways I inherited that from her. I taught myself how to read tablature when I was 13 and immersed myself in learning my favorite albums front to back when I could afford the corresponding book. The five years I was in school I learned how to read music and play every brass instrument my school had. I also tried my hand at clarinet and tenor sax. When I was very young my mom had a keyboard that I began picking familiar melodies off of. It’s hard to say who “taught” me to play because my musical experiences are multi-faceted. At the end of the day, I believe I taught myself. Music is a personal experience for me, and even though I share it with every one else these days, I always try to put 110% of myself in everything I do.

    KJ: Who is your idol?magazine2

    IW: They change frequently. The list is way too long to get to them all. I attempt to get to every genre. Locally there is a guy named Ben Wisner that I aspire to play as well as. Stevie Ray Vaughn had a big influence on me as I began maturing as a guitar player. Bradley Nowell taught me that you don’t have to have an amazing voice to sing with passion. Django Reinhardt had incredible absolutely impeccable rhythm and played with two fingers fused together after a burn injury. I explored trying to recreate sounds that guys like Jimi Hendrix made without having the luxury of being able to afford expression pedals, which was ultimately impossible, but taught me so much about digging sounds out of the instrument. Lately I’ve been on a country kick. I recently had the opportunity to stand 10 feet from Brad Paisley’s Dr. Z amplifiers while he delivered a show to 10,000 adoring fans. Not only was I up front, but I got to hang out with him a bit backstage! An incredible experience. Marcus and Brian consistently blow my mind. I can cover hundreds and hundreds of songs; I tend to do them my way. These guys just feel it and make it happen, even if they haven’t ever heard the original song. None of us have rehearsed for a gig as long as we have played together. We literally built our shows making it up as we went, and that has been incredibly inspirational for me. If the roles were reversed and I were supporting them, I would be sure to disappoint.

    KJ: That is impressive. You guys do an amazing job. Do you have any shows scheduled yet for this spring or summer?

    IW: I think the show I’m looking forward to the most so far in May is Bella Brook Vineyards, May 24th. That’s in St. Lawrence County, and I have had an incredible time every time I have played there. This summer is starting to fill up with a lot of fun events, both public and invite only. I guess in closing I’d like to send a shout out to @musicology in Watertown. I play out multiple times a week and that takes a toll on my gear. I can always count on them t keep me ready for the next gig!

    Check out Ian’s Facebook page to find out where you can see him next!

  • Aqueous Running KickStarter to Fund New Album

    Buffalo’s groove rock champions Aqueous are in the midst of a Kick Starter campaign to fund their new studio album. With the advent of mp3’s and digital music rendering cd sales and labels practically moot, more and more artists are turning directly to their fan base to fund the expensive process of studio creation, mixing and production.

    This has become a win for fans – with most campaigns including a plethora of unique and exclusive opportunities up for grabs, the barricades between artist and audience start to crumble. Aqueous’s campaign is no exception, offering everything from personalized artwork from band members, brand new merchandise, personalized set lists, to having the band play a raging full show in your backyard.

    Even the most basic contribution will net the lucky investor their name in the albums liner notes. is a big supporter of these campaigns and we hope you’ll consider helping out one of our favorite up and coming bands.

    At the least you should check out the page for the really amusing video. Lemonade anyone?

    AQ-PRESS

    Upcoming Upstate Aqueous Dates

    April 24th Putnam Den, Saratoga NY*

    April 25th The Westcott Theatre, Syracuse NY*

    April 26th The Waiting Room, Buffalo NY **

    May 9-10 Carey Lake Spring Revival Festival, Macedon NY

    * w/ Dopapod

    ** w/ Dopapod and Mister F

    Aqueous – King For a Day – Erie Pa 2013-12-31

    http://youtu.be/x7YHjUm7XBI

  • The Revivalists to play The Sinclair in Cambridge, MA, April 22nd

    Listen up Bostonians, and any other Northeasterns that may be in the area –  a show you do not want to miss is coming up on Thursday, April 22nd. The Revivalists, a 7-man band filled with old-school spirit and new-age appreciation, are coming to The Sinclair of Cambridge in Cambridge, MA and bringing a wild mixture of genres to the stage.

    the revivalists sinclairThe Revivalists have been providing their voluptuous sound since 2007 with members Ed Williams on pedal steel guitar, David Shaw on vocals, Zack Feinberg on guitar, Rob Ingraham on sax, Georges Gekas on bass, Andrew Campanelli on drums and Michael Girardot on keys and trumpet. Like their extensive list of instruments, their sound has been plunging from traditional rock to airy acoustics to funky beats reminiscent of their New Orleans hometown – a musical jambalaya, some may call it.

    This is the kind of band that will blow the roof off of a 30,000 person warehouse, let alone an intimate venue like The Sinclair. Their live set has so much sound and energy you’ll walk out of the show needing a slap in the face to wake you from the heavy trance you were just in. Lovers of all genres and a wild time are bound to enjoy this one.

    So don’t be afraid of the musical revival these fervent performers have in store – you know you want to be a part of it. Get your tickets for The Revivalists at The Sinclair, 4/22 here

    …and give them a listen if you’re still unconvinced:

    Studio version of Navigate Below

    Live version of Concrete (Fish out of Water)

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