NYS Music 20​14

Tag: Water Street Music Hall

  • Josh Ritter and The Beast Within

    “I’m singing for the love of it, have mercy on the man who sings to be adored.”

    In an industry inundated with flash, flare and over the top shock-inducing antics, Josh Ritter employs nothing by way of tactic.  In fact, there is nothing exceptional to note of the author-singer-songwriter from Moscow, Idaho.  No fancy foot pedals, no blinding light displays, no revealing bootie shorts.  Nope, just an every-guy and his acoustic guitar.

    What begs consideration however is the depth of his musical catalog and the urgency with which he performs to his loyal following of folk/Americana aficionados.  As a performer, Josh exhibits a boyish charm; an ease and accessibility granted through wide eyes and a cheek-straining smile.  He seems almost smitten to play the songs that he himself has penned.  Like somewhere in the silence of his own head he is begging the question, “Is this really happening?”.  This humility and enthusiasm proves infectious to his audience, and those who packed into Water Street Music Hall on a frigid Friday night in November were no exception.

    Josh Ritter’s current tour, based distantly on the heels of his 2013 LP A Beast in it’s Tracks, is a minimalist presentation and a treat for fans of all things acoustic.  No frills here.  Just he and longtime collaborator Zachariah Hickman on string accompaniment, along with a smattering of original folk music that dates back 15 years.  The audience listened in delight as the duo opened with “Monster Ballad”, “Bonfire” and the foot-stompin’ “Me and Jiggs” from the 2000 LP The Golden Age of Radio.  The set chugged along for over two hours, highlighted by classics such as “Curse The Rose”, “Cumberland” and the painfully revealing yet aptly titled “Hopeful”, a song from his current album that chronicles his divorce from musician Dawn Landes in 2011.  The encore was short and sweet, comprising of the “So the World Runs Away” B-Side “Galahad” and the all-time Ritter classic “Kathleen” from 2003’s Hello Starling LP.

    As the show drew to a close, Josh and Zach pulled back on the strumming and gave the audience it’s long overdue vocal solo:

    “I’ll have you back by break of day. I’m going your way anyway. If you’d like to come along. I’ll be yours for a song.”

    Josh Ritter came to Rochester for more than a song.  In fact, he came for 25 of them.  Throughout the performance he illustrated his prolific range:  brilliant songwriting, enthusiastic musicianship, All-American charm and just enough vulnerability to make it all real.  The Beast that is Josh Ritter is a force to be reckoned with.

  • Mike Doughty Returns to Rochester Leaving No Question Unanswered

    “Hey Mike (Doughty)!  White, wheat or rye?”

    “I’m sorry good sir but you must abide by the format that we have established for this evenings happenings.  If you would like to ask a question you must etch it upon one of these neon colored sticky notes and place it gently in the Question Jar.  Hence, the Question Jar Tour.  Get it??”

    Digging deep into the Jar, Mike Doughty’s satirical sidekick and cello virtuoso, Andrew “Scrap” Livingston draws a tightly folded green post-it from the pile:

    “If you had to be buried alive with any cartoon character, which would it be and why?”

    Consideration is taken as anticipation fills the room.

    Kelli_Marsh_Mike_Doughty-1001

    “That would depend upon whether you consider Grimace to be a cartoon character or not.  I have seen him in cartoon form but was that simply rendered from an actual blue animal who chums around with Ronald and the Hamburglar?  Is he a glossy painted oversized paper mache statue that was never really rendered into a cartoon but I want to think that he was?  I don’t wish to answer your question with a question so I will say Grimace.  How about some music?”

    This type of banter – interlaced with a catalog of tunes that is 20+ years in the making – was the embodiment of a concert performance birthed in the madness that is Mike Doughty, embraced by the fans who came to participate in just that.

    The format of Doughty’s Question Jar Tour is this: prior to performance, audience members populate an empty pickle jar with questions and song requests.  No instruction is provided, no limitations imposed.  Mike and Andrew pull from the jar and so the show begins.  What makes this work is that Doughty fans are of a certain intelligence and possess a bizarre sort of sophistication.  They are loyal to his musical journey and lack the convention to be satiated with having their preconceptions fulfilled.  They came for adventure, they came along for the journey and sold out the Club at Water Street in the process.

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    Barring a fake encore of which Mike and Scrap gave ample warning, the set rolled on for nearly 3 hours and 26 songs.  The list was marked by an abundance of Mike’s solo work sprinkled with a few from his Soul Coughing days.  “Grey Ghost”, “Madeline and Nine” and “Navigating by the Stars at Night” opened the set.  Stage to audience banter was had.  Music resumed.  This continued for some time as the audience was immersed in performances of “Circles”, “Unsingable Name”, “27 Jennifers”,  and “Sunken-eyed Girl”.  “White Lexus” made the set after Mike had to admit to having never actually driven a white Lexus.  The duo finished with a cover of 90’s folk-pop duo Drink Me’s “Train to Chicago”, and two from 2005’s Haughty Melodic “Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well” and “Your Misfortune”.  A fitting closer considering the challenges that Mike has had to face over the years.  Yet a hopeful song that epitomizes the whole Mike Doughty thing.

    Mike and Scrap delivered a genuine and genuinely strong performance to their fans in Rochester.  There is no question that they are welcome back whenever they need an audience to play along.

    Set 1: Grey Ghost, Madeline and Nine, Navigating by the Stars at Night, Janine, These Are Your Friends, Light Will Keep Your Heart Beating in the Future, Ossining, Russell, Busting Up a Starbucks, Tremendous Brunettes, Super Bon Bon, Circles, Unsingable Name

    Set 2:  (I Keep On) Rising Up, When the Night is Long, Lazybones, I Just Want the Girl in the Blue Dress to Keep on Dancing, 27 Jennifers, Sunken-Eyed Girl, Vegetable->Sleepless, I Hear the Bells, White Lexus, Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well, Put It Down

    Encore: Train to Chicago (Drink Me cover), Your Misfortune

  • RAGEchester: Lettuce Brings the Funk to Water Street Thursday

    Fall Tour 2014
    Fall Tour 2014

    If you have yet to hear the collective talent from the funkiest group in the world, you’re sadly missing out. Although they’ve been around now for damn near twenty years, Lettuce is that elusive band that once you hear, you don’t know how you’ve lived without.  Everything from their extremely tight and infectious rhythms thrown down by drummer Adam Deitch and bassist Jesus Coomes, to the offset melodies that just reek of funky hooks is what makes this band so dope. No matter where you look, there’s a diverse mix of talent who all bring their own flavor to their otherwise flavorless name. Maybe that’s part of the thing that gets people.  With a somewhat unsuspecting name, you’re instantly gripped by the music that just feels so right.

    This Thursday, Lettuce is making their way to the area as they make a stop at Water Street Music Hall in Rochester.  The band played Buffalo earlier this year in February, and for the sold out crowd that was present, there wasn’t a still body in the place. From wall to wall, the band seduced the audience through nothing but sound and their feel-good energy.

    The band began their fall tour at the beginning of October and over the course of the last couple of weeks has excited their devoted fans as they’re feeding off of the energy and excitement of playing some new music. Their last record, Fly, was released back in 2012, and to say people are eager to hear something new from this group would be an understatement.  Already, the band has played at least three new songs on this tour, so fans should expect something they’ve yet to hear. The band is locking in and the new material has provided fuel to this funky fire. If you’ve been following their live journal, you know the guys are feeling it with segments like the following:

    Schmeeans (guitar): We came, we saw, we raged. And we had a great show, we played a brand new song for the very first time tonight, never ever done before, can’t ever be the first time again. Only one first time baby.

    Neal (keyboard/organ): The coolest thing about tonight is if you’re in Baton Rouge tonight and you witness this show with Lettuce and Gramatik at The Varsity, we are dropping brand new music that’s never been heard, and I think people are gonna bug out cause we’re bugging out. We’re having such a great time and this is only day three. This is gonna be an incredible tour.

    Deitch (drums): Tonight in Tuscaloosa was off the chain. We added a new song that we’re calling for now “The Big Anthem,” and it felt really big and powerful for the first time, we’re really excited to have added that. And then we played another song that Shmeeans and I wrote in Harlem entitled “Chief,” played that again and it was even better tonight. The new songs are infusing a lot of energy into our sets, and when we’re excited you know the crowd’s gonna be excited, so we feel like they got it tonight.

    Want to know how fresh this material is? Check out Krasno’s log in the diary about a new song he heard a day prior to playing:

    Krasno (guitar): It’s always fun to play new stuff super fresh, its way fresh for me because I didn’t play it till today pretty much.

    Casual fan or dedicated one, there’s no reason why this tour specifically isn’t one of the most exciting the band has ever been on and luckily Rochester’s in their sights. Their Emo’s show in Austin, TX last week was streamed, and while it was choppy, the new music was somehow crisp and full of that typical Lettuce RAGE. If you don’t have your ticket yet, you’re going to want to grab one quickly here.

  • Dopapod Soars to new Heights at Water Street Music Hall

    Kelli_Marsh_Dopapod-1017Dopapod axe-man Rob Compa motions towards the left side of Rochester’s Water Street Music Hall’s floor -“Right there! As a kid, I stood right there and watched Umphrey’s McGee play.”

    Rob’s hometown enthusiasm (Rob is from East Rochester) would carry through a blistering two set/multiple encore night that even Light/Sound man extraordinaire Luke Stratton proclaimed on Twitter as “Best show of the tour so far!” – and that dude sees every show. 2014 has been a rocket ship year for Dopapod – filled with top festival spots and packed shows – and their performance on a warm Fall night in ROC-city showed abundant proof why.

    Before the aforementioned Dopa-storm occurred, two other excellent performances would foreplay the crowd nicely. Stereo Nest – a one man looping experience project by multi-instrumentalist Collin Jones (also of Ocupanther and Haewa) – played an energetic set of organic jamtronica fusion as the floor filled up and got the people moving. Think Keller Williams gone EDM. Only a few shows deep into existence, Stereo Nest is proving to be a force to track.

    After a fast 15 minute changeover NYC’s Consider the Source came out and immediately laid into an extended middle eastern infused spooky-as-hell jam that perfectly complemented October’s arrival. Everyone stared,  transfixed by the bands mind numbing instrumentation. Silence made an odd and welcome entrance throughout the crowd if only for a few fleeting minutes: People – in the rarest of occasions at a modern musical show – actually shut up and listened to the band. CTS is mental music at its absolute peak which can bring the listeners to the frayed edges of sanity. Much like an unexpected hostel tryst with a sexy debonair stranger – they might not always be exactly sure what’s going on, but they know they like it and they want it to keep going. Highlights of the set included a mash-up of “Miserlou” (popularly known as “that Pulp Fiction Song”) and the Beach boys “God Only Knows” along with a blazing outro jam replete with Star Wars teases. An apropos ending for three gentleman who have obviously attained Jedi powers.

    Kelli_Marsh_Dopapod-1009Set-break ensued while people happily refilled their beers and rested their limbs for the last time that night. Water Street had gone a long time without the fizzy stuff due to an ownership change and it was great to throw back some brews yet again at one of Rochester’s most historic of venues. Dopapod came out with the 2009 song “Roid Rage” – a song that starts off jazzy and unassuming before barreling into the fusion/prog/rock hodgepodge typical of ‘Pods genre-wildcard style. Dopapod is one of those crossover bands that should give those fans that are music lovers but have a natural disdain for bands labeled as “jam” a reason to consider. This band is no Phish, no Dead – this band is a culmination of influences across the spectrum. Imagine if all your favorite bands played at once and you get a sense of what ‘pod is all about. As the set continued the band visited several tracks off their upcoming release Never Odd or Even –  “Psycho Nature” “Hey Zeus” and perhaps one of the most epic songs ever – “FABA”. “FABA” – an instrumental which no one seems to want to reveal what the acronym stands for – typically exceeds the ten minute mark and is a dictionary level study in the science of musical contrast.  Filled with more goose bump inducing air guitar raging peaks then the Alps, this song grabs the mind heart and soul and does not let go. As if that wasn’t enough, the set ended with an exclamation mark – an absolutely mm/ rendition of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” with all three members of Consider the Source joining the fun on stage.

    At this point – being 12:30 AM on a weekday – sadly this reporter had to head to bed. The band continued with a full second set filled with some of the most revered songs according to the bands fan club – Dopafam – with enthusiastic reports on excellent versions of “Nuggy Jawson” “Onionhead” and “French Bowling” as well as a rare “Carolina” second encore that ended after 2 AM. When the ‘pod hits the area again, that next day is getting taken off.

    Dopapod Set List

    Set 1: Roid Rage, Trapper Keeper, Psycho Nature, Hey Zeus!, FABA, Grow, Vol. 3 #86, War Pigs*
    Set 2: Nuggy Jawson, Priorities->Off the Cuff->Priorities, Onionhead, French Bowling
    Encore: Nerds, Carolina

    * Black Sabbath, w/With Gabe, John, and Jeff from CTS[FinalTilesGallery id=’26’]

  • Fitz and the Tantrums Electrify at Water Street Music Hall

    Fitz And The Tantrums brought loads of emotion and punch to Rochester’s Water Street Music Hall on Sept. 2.  Opening with “Get Away” the fans knew immediately that they were in for a high-energy show. Together, the voices of lead vocalist Michael Fitzpatrick and backup vocalist Noelle Scaggs created an undeniable heat that fired through the crowd.

    © Kelli Marsh - Fitz And The Tantrums
    Photo © Kelli Marsh

    Fan favorites “Out of My League” and “Don’t Gotta Work It Out” had the audience singing every word across the floor and balcony. Fitzpatrick and Scaggs have an electric connection that buzzed through the air at Water Street.  They kept the poppy pace going and the fans bumping from start to the encore finish.  The catchy hits, “Moneygrabber” and “The Walker” closed out an enthusiastic performance.

    © Kelli Marsh - Fitz And The Tantrums
    Photo © Kelli Marsh

    Setlist: Fitz and the Tantrums Water Street

    Setlist:  Get Away, Don’t Gotta Work It Out, Break The Walls, Breakin’ the Chains of Love, Keeping Our Eyes Out, Spark, Sweet Dreams, Out of My League, Fools Gold, 6am, Tell Me What Ya Here For, L.O.V

    Encore: Moneygrabber, The Walker

  • Water Street Music Hall Welcomes Dan Smalls as the new Talent Provider for the Venue

    h2o streetWater Street Music Hall, which first opened its doors as the Country Warehouse in 1977, has gone through many changes over the years – owners have come and gone just as the name has changed from earlier years. Recently there was a change in the owners of the historical Rochester venue and they were unable to serve alcohol for some time, which led to several shows being moved to different venues within the city. Water Street Music Hall announced yesterday, the addition of Dan Smalls of Dan Smalls Presents, as the newest member of the Water Street family. Smalls will now be the exclusive talent buyer for the venue.

    Currently the exclusive talent buyer for the State Theatre in Ithaca, the summer concert series at Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, and the prestigious Event Gallery in the Woodstock Museum at the Bethel Woods Center for the Performing Arts, Dan joins Water Street with more than two decades in the entertainment business.  This new addition  completes our team in providing a diverse lineup and a variety of genres.

    Anthony Marsocci, owner of Water Street said, “Dan is the consummate talent buyer, he is smart, dedicated and one of the most down to earth persons I have ever met.  We feel fortunate that Dan has joined our team and shares our vision of creating a memorable experience for both the artist and fan. Dan Smalls has brought shows to Water Street in the past, and with the upcoming renovations and the new management team in place, he is ready to bring music back to Water Street and to the city of Rochester.

    For more information on upcoming shows to Water Street Music Hall please visit them online.

  • Water Street Music Hall is Back in Business

    Water Street Music Hall posted on their Facebook page this morning that Happy days are here again! – The Rochester, NY music venue has their liquor license once again. After a change in owners and management team and this long-awaited granting of their liquor license, Water Street is back in the game.

    Water Street Music Hall
    Photo by: Darren Kemp

    Rochester has suffered lately with a lack of venues fit for the same shows that are coming to Buffalo and Ithaca, NY.  With Water Street Music Hall re-opening with a full liquor license and an updated interior, this is great news for Rochester.

    The folks at Water Street have said they will now be handling all of their booking as well as the Zeppa Auditorium on Gregory St. in Rochester. After the sold out Devil Makes Three show at Zeppa this past Wednesday (that was co-produced with Funtime), this is a good sign of things to come for the Rochester music scene.

    will have concert announcements and news as it is released so stay tuned for the exciting comeback of one of Rochester’s favorite music venue.

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  • We Can Dance If We Want To: Lotus at Water Street Music Hall

    Despite several non-heady forces: A red hot Syracuse basketball team playing,  sub-zero wind chills, and a liquor license-less venue; Rochesterians turned out en masse for the electro-jam instrumentals of Philly based Lotus. Touring heavily behind their latest critically acclaimed release Monks, fans came from far and near to catch this rare Upstate performance of Lotus at Water Street Music Hall. Local DJ favorite Papi Chulo opened the night with his skillful genre hopping house infused DJ set that got everyone limbered up for the headliner.

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    Water Street, as many know, has been struggling to get their new liquor license for many months, and many shows have been canceled, rescheduled or moved. Despite the lack of delicious hops, this show was expertly staffed and it was a relief to see a packed show again in Rochester’s most history filled venue. Note to New York State: These unbelievably long, senseless bureaucratic delays for a simple license continue to cripple small businesses struggling to profit and stay open. Reboot this system and let’s get New York’s small entrepreneurs back on top!

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    By the time Lotus took the stage Water Street was elbow to hoop girl from front to back with a large contingency spilling upward into the balcony for some dancing room. Their sound, while definitely in the EDM genre, sticks mostly to old school influences with healthy doses of funk and hip-hoppy beats mixed within melodic keyboard battles and a dual-ax core. Beyond some occasional voice effects by guitarist Luke Miller, the songs are all instrumental, yet hold a distinct memorable vocal character to them that transcends many similar bands in the genre. No UntzUntzUntzDROP here, this is hypnotic organic dance music filled with timeless melodies.  Unfortunately Lotus has no more shows scheduled in NY currently, but keep an eye on their tour page, as they’ll be back and you won’t want to miss it.

    Check out and purchase Lotus’s Monks  here

    Setlist:
    Set 1: Bellwether, Ashcon, Neon Tubes, Opo, Wooly Mammoth, Bubonic Tonic ->Tip Of the Tongue
    Set 2: Debris, Golden Ghost -> Livingston Storm, Different Dream, Behind Midwest Storefronts, IACTMN ->Wax
    Encore: Cain & Abel, Hammerstrike