NYS Music 20​14

Tag: The Haunt

  • Jimkata Comes Home to Play The Haunt in Ithaca with Turkuaz

    Ithaca’s The Haunt was the place to be on Friday April 11th as Jimkata and Turkuaz broke it down for the locals. Ithaca locals Jimkata has just returned from a countrywide tour that included 18 states and over 35 shows, with a few more still to go as they prepare for festival season. The band has been exponentially growing in popularity in the past few years, as they have made appearances at some of the nation’s largest festivals and venues. From the Rockies to the East Coast, Jimkata has been featured at Gathering of the Vibes, Summercamp, Catskill Chill, and most recently, opening Colorado’s SnowBall.

    Since Jimkata’s formation in 2006, the band’s style and overall sound has changed immensely. The band started as a jam/rock group with meaty guitar solos and psychedelic undertones, but since then has morphed into more of an electro/indie rock band. Jimkata’s influences can easily be detected in their music, with hints of MGMT, Talking Heads, and LCD Sound System. The unique electro-rock music that the band makes has somewhat forged a new frontier for this ever-expanding genre and is constantly evolving all the time.

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    Opening for Jimkata was the notoriously funky band Turkuaz. For those who have never seen or heard of the group before, your ears will be pleasantly surprised. The Haunt seemed almost too small for the energy and huge sound that Turkuaz produced. The band consists of nine members, including two saxophonists, both tenor and baritone, two guitarists, bass, trumpet/keys, two vocalists, and of course a rock solid drummer to keep all that funk together.

    Starting off the set was an unreleased track titled “Typa-Lika,” exemplifying the power that the group has harnessed. The distorted guitar, groovy bass line, and driving rhythm are comparable only to funk music masters such as Lettuce. Their set continued with all original songs from their three studio albums and even a few more unreleased tracks. Besides giving the crowd outstanding dancing music, Turkuaz also had a soulful side that allowed the audience to feel the music on a whole new level. Lead guitarist and vocalist Dave Brandwein, in combination with the two female vocalist/dancers sang the blues like no other, ending their set with all instrumental jam, “20 Dollar Bill.”

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    With the crowd sufficiently sweaty and riled up, Jimkata wasted no time making their way to the stage. In contrast to the big-bad-funk of Turkuaz, Jimkata started off with a more laid back tune, “American Cars,” combining psychedelic bass and synthesizer. Their popular songs “Lighter” and “Nightshade” followed, featuring big choruses and breakdowns, as what seemed like the entire audience bellow the lyrics “You can let it go!” The band maintained the high energy set with more songs from their two most recent studio albums, Die Digital and Feel In Light. Winding down the show, Jimkata pulled out some of its older fan favorites, going back to their roots with a couple tracks off their self-titled debut album. These songs allowed one to see the transformation the group has made from the harder rock and heavy guitar solos that Jimkata started off their career with. As to be expected, the Ithaca natives drew a huge crowd, filling The Haunt nearly to capacity with a party that will not soon be forgotten.

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    Turkuaz Setlist: Typa-Like, Bubba > Coast, Chatte > Lookin Tough, Rules > M’Lady > Tiptoe Thru Crypto, Murder Face > Pickin Up, 20 Dollar Bill

    Jimkata Setlist: American Cars, Lighter, Nightshade > Beat the Curse, Die Digital > Legoland, Electronic Stone, Feel in Light, Feed > Daytime Fiction, Low Low, Chainstore

    Encore: Intro, Release > Mind Crossing

  • Giant Panda Returns to Ithaca for an Epic Night of Dub and Dance with Beat The Grid

    There was standing room only at The Haunt as Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad returned to Ithaca with Beat The Grid on Thursday, February 20th. Good vibes and smiling faces were in abundance, with fans coming from far and wide to see what was undoubtedly the best show around. Giant Panda has recently returned from an eight-show West coast tour, highlighting their new mixtape In Roots We Trust, featuring The Expanders and The Simpkin Project, which explores North American Reggae music.

    Giant Panda is a Dub/Americana/Roots band from Rochester NY, but got their start in Ithaca about ten years ago. The band has gained immense popularity since then, touring the country and even getting spots at some of the nation’s largest music festivals, including Summercamp and All Good Music Festival. Giant Panda’s music is known for its positive and uplifting lyrics backed by infectious dub that soothes the soul. In addition to dub/reggae, they also released a country album displaying the band’s musical versatility.

    Opening for the band was a local Ithaca group by the name of Beat The Grid. The band had a similar upbeat feel with some added funk that warmed the crowd up nicely.Their beautiful female vocalist had the entire audience mesmerized by her smooth voice and exotic dancing. Beat The Grid’s set included fan favorite “Her Cosmic Lines” and many other tracks from their 2013 self-titled album, as well as some new songs.

    For a small venue, the sound at The Haunt was of very high quality and the place was busting at the seams with the huge amount of people in attendance. Giant Panda opened with “Not The Fool” and “Solution”, spreading the love and pushing towards making this world a better place. The night continued with songs old and new, with teasers from their upcoming album to be released this summer. Dylan Savage on guitar and Tony Gallicchio on keys displaying their mastery of their instruments as they traded solos that sent chills down the spine. Guitarist Dan Keller was also in his prime, presenting his saxophone skills and unforgettable vocals to add to the already amazing performance. Giant Panda mashed up some of their most popular songs, “Missing You More” and “Pockets” to make for some outstanding medleys and even surprised the crowd with a rendition of soul legend Marvin Gaye’s “Lets Get It On.”

    After Giant Panda left the stage, chants for “One More Song!” were started up by the fans, who at midnight had a lot more left in the tank and were not ready to call it a night. Not long after, the band returned to play Jackie Wilson’s classic “Higher and Higher”, featuring Dan Keller on saxophone and “Mr. Cop” as every crowd member sang the chorus “They callin’ up the cops ‘cause it smells like Ganja!” There was not a still body in the house as everyone danced their hearts out for the fifteen-minute encore, leaving everyone sweaty, exhausted, and satisfied.

  • Man Man and Xenia Rubinos Turn The Haunt Into Their Own Laboratory for a Night of Experimental Jam

    Ithacans and Man Man fans alike came to The Haunt on Wednesday, January 29th, for what was no less than a spectacular show of music new and old. Though it may have been -5 degrees out, that did not stop people, including many local college kids, from coming down for a night of dancing, fun, and maybe even a little crowd surfing.

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    Xenia Rubinos of Brooklyn, kicked off the night with her very own creation of electronic rock fusion that served as a perfect set up for Man Man’s unique sound. Rubinos and drummer Marco Buccelli are unlike anything many have ever heard before. Their music is filled with constantly varying time signatures, contrasting chords, and vocals that can only be described as soulfullypunk. The set consisted of many songs from their 2013 album Magic Trix, including “When You Come” and “Help.” With the house completely full, the band ended with two unreleased songs, “Black Stars” and “Motorcycle Song”, and finally a crowd favorite, “Hair Receding.” Xenia Rubinos is quickly making a name for herself as she continues her countrywide tour with Man Man.

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    With the crowd primed and ready to go, Man Man took the stage for an epic journey through sound. As Honus Honus made his way to the microphone, wearing a glittered cape with the rest of the band in skeleton consumes, you could feel the crowd’s excitement brewing. Starting with a 2006 tune, “Feather”, Man Man got right to work. The band played a broad selection of their songs, from nearly all of their six albums, which allowed one to see the transformations Man Man has made over the past 10 years. Featuring many songs from their most recent album, On Oni Pond, the wild cast of musicians performed on instruments ranging from hubcaps to the flugelhorn. Xenia Rubinos added supporting vocals, joining the band for “Zebra” and “Pink Wonton”, which also included a fan onstage for a brief moment before he dove into a sea of hands. Man Man’s performance was a one of a kind event that should be a must see for everyone. Their outstanding musicianship, unpredictability, and Honus Honus’ extravagant costumes made it a party that will not soon be forgot. “El Azteca,” a number best described as a fight song, gave the crowd one last opportunity to dance their hearts out as Man Man’s stellar return to Ithaca concluded.

  • Man Man set to Play The Haunt With Xenia Rubinos January 29

    Man Man will be performing with Xenia Rubinos at Ithaca’s The Haunt on Wednesday January 29th. Man Man is an energetic five-man crew that hails from Philadelphia. Since the band’s formation in 2003, they have been making music that cannot be contained by a single genre, but can only be categorized as experimental.

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    Man Man’s unique sound seems to have many influences and hints of 50’s rock & roll, psychedelic jam, Russian folk, and something that’s completely their own. Focused around leader singer and pianist Honus Honus, the band’s music uses instruments ranging from spoons to Chinese funeral horns. Their fifth and most recent album On Oni Pond, released in 2013, exhibits a new or possibly just another side of Man Man that seems more mellow and soulful.

    Man Man’s upcoming show is part of their countrywide tour with Xenia Rubinos, an equally unique group that has combined rock, funk, soul, and Latin music in a way that has never been done before. Last year the band released their debut album, Magic Trix, and has been quickly gaining popularity. Man Man and Xenia Rubinos should combine for an amazing and exceptional show that Ithacans are bound to love. The performance begins at 9 pm and will cost $15 at the door.