The event will also be giving away free band merchandise for every fan that brings in at least five cans of food to be donated to the food drive. This event is a perfect way to celebrate one of the biggest party nights of the year and a really great way to support the local food drive. Funktional Flow is becoming a larger presence in the Buffalo scene and have a brand new record being wrapped up at Sonic Farms Studio for release in 2016.
SkyePilot is also starting to gain some real steam with a very promising Buffalove Music Festival showing as well as a nice following around town after coming of their brand new EP, Biology which was released last May.
After Funk, a Toronto based Funk Jam experience has been really blowing up in the northern states as they have been touring quite a bit and are coming off the heels of a new album, ‘Till The Sun Comes Up, which came out last month, you can take a listen to it on their website and purchase singles or the entire album.
Dead and Company came to the First Niagara Center in Buffalo on Wednesday November 11, 2015. The band, which includes three of four founding members of The Grateful Dead and Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti and most notably John Mayer. Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, and Bob Weir were on top of their game and the chemistry that was ignited really created a great experience. There is no doubt that John Mayer brings something incredible to the table and the reviews couldn’t be more accurate. Mayer continues to turn heads. If Dead and Company does continue to tour, John Mayer better be a part of the cast.
Set 1: Promised Land, New Minglewood Blues, Bertha, Here Comes Sunshine, El Paso, Althea, U.S. Blues
Set 2: Viola Lee Blues > Wang Dang Doodle > Viola Lee Blues > New Speedway Boogie > Truckin’ > Dark Star >
Drums > Space > Dark Star > China Doll > Sugar Magnolia
I have always liked cheese, whether it’s a nice Brie, Jarlsberg, smoked Gouda, or even NY Cheddar; after all who doesn’t love cheese. Only made sense I would like a band named String Cheese Incident. Thought to myself, “wonder where that ‘incident’ part came from?”. Guess I would quickly learn, as off I went to my first String Cheese Incident show at Syracuse’s F-Shed, Oct. 21.
Normally covering rock, country, and bluegrass genres mainly, I was a little apprehensive if I would be able to do a review justice. After all these guys have been around for 22 years and have a huge following. Come on, selling out Red Rocks numerous times, who wouldn’t be a little bit nervous? I’m sure journalists over the years have written extensive bios, talked about recent releases highlighting just the right musical points, and critiqued their shows with expertise. If that’s they type of review you’re expecting, let me apologize now. This is a review through the eyes of a newcomer. These random thoughts and observations often go unnoticed to those that have been desensitized to their surroundings. So let me share with you, what this country gal noticed throughout the night at her first incident.
Merchandise sales begin in the parking lot. Bowls and pins, something for everyone. How enterprising.
My first friend I met inside was holding a stuffed cat named Kathy B. Really? (my maiden name was Kathy B!) #karmic
Lots of beards – ahhh.. not so different than country and bluegrass shows.
Lots of headbands – I like headbands. I should buy more headbands. I could pull off headbands.
Hey, I could have worn my glow in the dark devil ears too. #hindsight
I really should have worn pajama bottoms and my poncho – little overdressed in my dress slacks and work blazer.
Oh wow, a pink cowboy hat – feel at home now for sure.
Hey, there’s Jake the Dog from Adventure Time! Seriously, a guy is wearing a Jake the Dog costume – sweet – now I’m really overdressed. Hope he doesn’t have to pee half way through the show as he’s standing right by me.
Okay, any band that starts off with a fiddle solo is okay in my book – Love them already.
Holy shit they can pick and fiddle.
Okay, they have framed photos of their wife and kids on the amp – really love these guys even more now.
Light Show is amazing!!! Good thing lights don’t bother me or cause seizures of any kind. #dontchangeathing
Shit…reggae mannn! I want my flip-flops and a Corona now.
Bongos too? Be still my heart.
Fiddle players must all wear Bob Marley shirts!! I’m making it a law.
Did I mention he could really pick?
Oh hell yeah, 70’s funk is still cool.
Drums Baby.
Wow, thank you so much for putting both drum kits up on platforms. Photographers want to photograph you too.
Wow everyone behind me is jumping, should I be jumping? I would probably hurt myself if I jumped. #notcoordinatedenough
Every instrument is as strong as the other, nothing overpowers the other. Sweet. These musicians rock baby.
Okay, these lights that look like snow are as much snow as I want any time soon. #supercoolthough
Random cobweb making rounds in the crowd. Hope I don’t get caught in it. I am blonde you know.
Boy does Kyle look like my first boyfriend! Nah, couldn’t be.
I swear I just saw Russell Brand taking photos at this show. Wait, is Russell Brand now a photographer?
Tiny triangles make beautiful music.
Wonder what the crowd looks like from up on stage jumping up and down?
Sick guitar riff…wow. #mindblown
Slide Whistle?….OMG that was awesome. I could take up that instrument.
Never heard such smooth seamless transitions between genres in my life. Beautifully done guys.
Even sound board dude is jamming. Love when soundboard guys jam too.
Hey that one song has a Richie Vallens vibe.
New random friend “J” from north country – I was not taking dinner orders with my notepad but I will definitely have to try fries with mayo now.
Oh hell yeah you definitely pulled off those bell bottoms Mike Kang. #crushing
And I like that belt too.
I now want a Bob Marley playing soccer shirt.
Yeah, red and purple lights suck even worse when trying to take cell phone photos.
Hard rock riffs too? Heavenly guys.
Yep that synth sound was totally back to the futur-ish. Nice.
Uni pod for photos? Wonder if they are worth it to get those crowd shots?
Glow in the dark devil ears man playing a mean air guitar. Should have dressed up in devil glow-in-the-dark ears too. Wonder where he got them, as I really don’t have a pair.
Hats are in. Why don’t I wear hats more?
Kathy B. the cat is dancing so much.
I don’t care how blonde I am, I’m dancing.
Love how Kyle mimics each note he plays – makes me smile.
Yeah, bongos always make me dance – yeah total turn on.
So glad your first concert was Santana in Syracuse because all these years later, we got to see you.
I have been Incident-ed.
So I understand the ‘incident’ now. Incident means; likely to happen because of; resulting from. It is very likely that I once again will see another String Cheese show, causing many more ‘incidents’ to occur. Resulting from my first show, I will happily enjoy this band from this point further. Such a happy incident. Note to self, must find glow-in-dark devil ears and Bob Marley shirt before the next incident.
Set 1: Valley of the Jig, Eye Know Why, San Jose’*, Doin’ My Time > Chameleon, Love Is Like A Train > On The Road
Set 2: Colorado Bluebird Sky, Rhythm of the Road > Blackberry Blossom#, Stay Through, Joyful Sound, Colliding, Rollover
Encore: Rolling In My Sweet Baby’s Arms
* = last time played 8/2/13 (88 Incidents)
# = featuring “Back to the Future” Jam
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Magnaball, Phish’s tenth festival, which took place August 21-23, 2015 at Watkins Glen International Speedway. NYS Music photographer Thomas Sgroi (aka Big Tom) had his camera handy and took these shots from that epic weekend.
There has been a lot to be said about the Buffalo music scene these days, especially with bands like moe. and most recently Aqueous, making a splash in the music community. One band that has been around for the last few years is Buffalo’s Funktional Flow.
Pictured left to right: Matthew Lester, Joey Lewis, Jeffrey Kuebler, Jim Edgar, and Ben Whalen
They added two new members to the trio. Joining the band is guitarist, Joey Lewis. Alongside horn/keyboard player, Matthew Lester, everything seems to be moving onward and upward since. It was only a month or so ago that both were introduced as full-time members during the band’s CD release party for, Let it Settle, that went down at local music hot spot Nietzche’s.
Lester and Lewis join original members Jeffrey Kuebler (guitar), Jim Edgar (drums) and Ben Whelan (bass).
NYS Music caught up with the band while they were rehearsing for their much-anticipated sets for Buffalove Music Festival at North Fork Music Park in Warsaw, NY. The festival will take place June 18-20 and Funktional Flow have been a big part of Buffalove since the beginning.
Tom Sgroi: For those people who haven’t seen or heard you, who is Funktional Flow?
Jeffrey Kuebler: Funktional Flow is a melting pot of a lot of different genres that we are influenced by. It’s basically each one of us in the band and our different influences that we bring to the table, a lot of different styles and genres that we kind of throw in a blender. If we’re into reggae at one time that will come out and if it’s funk that will come out.
Jim Edgar: Whatever music you get into at the time that you listen to definitely influences you.
TS: What’s been the most difficult thing for the band with going through a few different guitarists since the beginning?
JK: Integrating different people to the music, songs that we played a thousand times we had to run over and over and getting them integrated into has probably been the biggest setback. At the end of the day it was a good learning experience and it made us all better going through it.
JE: Yea, definitely three different guitar players gives the band three different sounds for sure, it does make song more fun as it wasn’t the same over four years (laughs).
TS: Tell us a little about the newer members with Matt and Joey, how you guys ended up picking them up and having them come on full-time?
JK: It was a natural progression and Matt was before Joey. We played with Matt with Ben Whalen, Your Mom and the Reacharounds and that got us playing together and he got familiar with our style and that was a no brainer. Me and Joey have been playing for years, pushing a decade really, so that was a natural thing, it was great having him come aboard and were very happy with the current and final lineup.
TS: Ben, Jim and Jeff, you’re all original members, how have you guys kept it together since the start?
JK: A lot of fist fights (laughs).
Ben Whalen: I don’t know, communication and true friendship. We’re actually friends when were not playing.
JK: We have a lot of fun and that’s what it really boils down to.
TS: How do you think adding keys and horns will add to the overall sound of the band?
JK: It can only add to it and make it more dynamic and full sounding. It also kinda lends itself to what we originally wanted when we set out to create the band. When we generally write songs we will write them in mind of all the instrumentation. Having that has really rounded out our sound.
TS: Tell me a little about Buffalove. You guys have really been the forefront of it, what is it all about?
JK: Yea Cody (Conway) built the festival around us and Aqueous and it’s grown from there. Its getting bigger every year and to play with some of the caliber of bands it’s getting, is really a cool thing.
TS: Matt and Joey, what’s it been like for you guys joining the group?
Matt Lester: Yea I started playing with these guys a lot, anytime they needed horns I would play. I was fortunate to be invited to Bliss, NY to the cabin they go down to and that was the first time I played keys for them and that’s when everything starting clicking. It’s been a lot of fun for sure.
TS: Joey?
Joey Lewis: Yea, I was there for a while seeing how the rotation was going for Funktional Flow. Having the guitarists and not having the best of luck and I would help out with whatever gig I could. I was pretty aware of the songs so they didn’t need to waste time. So, finally I decided I wanted to play with the kids I grew up with and are my friends, and the music I like to play. I was really happy when they asked me to be in the band and contribute.
TS: Yea, because you were involved with a couple other bands. ( The Heritage and Whiskey River).
JL: Yea, I felt obligated to them but at the end of the day when you hone in your talent and want to play the music you want to play and you don’t want to do it for any other reason that is when I asked Jeff and Ben if they wanted to bring me on full-time.
ML: Yea like joey said we were in other bands and had an obligation but at the same time when the opportunity arose it wasn’t something we could pass up for sure. I’m really glad we made the decision because it’s been a blast ever since.
TS: This is more for Jeff, Jim and Ben again but last year you guys played Catskill Chill, what festival would you want to be part of in the future?
JK: Any and all of them, I would love to play Summer Camp
BW: F@#$! Yea, Summer Camp!
TS: Ok, sounds like that is the big one for every one.
TS: What other local or regional bands influence you guys?
JK: Oh man there is so many good bands around here with so many talented people and to be part of the scene is great. I would say at the top of the list would be our boys, Aqueous. We have done a lot with them and they’re doing some great things and representing for our area. They have been a big influence, but there is so many to mention but that is the first one that pops in the head. We go out to so many show’s in Buffalo since Ben has a hand in so many shows. I say that we gain a bit of influence from every band we play with.
JE: I’d say anyone we play with in the area too.
TS: If there was one band you could tour with and open for perhaps who would it be?
JK: Umphrey’s McGee!
BW: I think we would be a better fit for like moe. or a reggae band. The Green or Rebelution.
JK: Revolution would be awesome. Umphrey’s would be a dream and I could hang it up after (laughs).
TS: Is there one musician, past or present that if you could have a conversation with you would pick?
JK: Bradley Nowell
JL: Shannon Hoon
ML: That’s a really good question and there is so many to choose from but I have a deep affiliation for Phish pretty heavy I would have to say Page McConnell.
JE: There is probably a million people but drummer wise I would have to say Keith Moon, maybe.
BW: Hendrix I guess
TS: Anything else you guys want to add?
BW: New album coming in the late summer/fall.
TS: Yea, I know you guys have been writing a bunch of new songs so that is good to hear, so new album the fall. Well thanks for your time guys and I look forward to checking out your sets with the upcoming Buffalove Music Festival in a few weeks.
Check Funktional Flow out with a bunch of other great bands at Buffalove Music Festival! Get your tickets here.
Funktional Flow and new members brought the funk to Nietzsche’s on Saturday, April 25 with their release party for Let it Settleand not only did they put an album out they also welcomed guitarist Joey Lewis and keyboardist/saxophone player Matthew Lester.
The two local musicians are no stranger to the band as they have been sitting in quite frequently and now officially became part of the growing group.
Sonder, another local product got the party started with some great lights and an equally matched livetronica show. It was a very packed crowd that seemed to have gotten what they have been begging for, a much anticipated album and a complete group of musicians, mission accomplished.
Funktional Flow Setlist
Set 1: Dumber, Strong Feeling , Back Door, Walking Blind ,Moving On, F Trance, Shape , Mulligans>Great Gig in the Sky>Mulligans, Bulls on Parade
Set 2: Trouble, Time Will Tell, Happy Hour Hero>Bullet, Leaving Town, Ambush , You Should be Dancing, Dreidel, Southern Fried, Doin’ Time, Moonlight Tide , Sledgehammer, I Wish
Northeast Jammers Dopapod put on quite the show both sight and sound on Thursday, February 26 at The Tralf Music Hall in a blistering cold Buffalo, NY. The evening started off with three-piece Moon Hooch, who certainly got the crowd ramped up for the main event.
Dopapod who hadn’t played the room before would certainly be asked to return as they filled the space with a very packed crowd. The group is so well versed and tight at this point in their early career and with one of the best lighting rigs of its size, Dopapod will just continue to grow as a northeast powerhouse, look for them to return to Western New York as they announced a slot in the much-anticipated Buffalove Music Festival which will take place at Cole Farm June 18-20 in Panama, NY.
The band played through a number of songs stretching through their growing catalog. The band seemed to hit on all strides providing some great jams and hearty Americana rock. The New Jersey band continues to give New York state some love as they make it out this way whenever they can and will be continuing their tour with a stop in New York City with three dates this weekend at Brooklyn Bowl.
“I look out and see a lot of different faces from 25 years ago, you guy’s are giving me a real big boner right now,” Rob Derhak, original founding member of the band moe. shouted out during the kick off of their much-anticipated 25th anniversary tour. Town Ballroom was sold out both nights and for good reason as the band was celebrating quite a milestone, where a lot of acts come and go, this one is as strong as ever.
The group which formed a quarter century ago to a much smaller crowd was on top of their games. Derhak was joined on stage by Chuck Garvey (guitar) and Al Schnier (guitar), Vinnie Amico (drums) and Jim Loughlin (percussion). Derhak, Garvey and Amico all wearing silver jackets which coincided with their 25th. The group always has had a fun part of them when it came to stage presence and I think the Buffalo crowd enjoyed it better this time around since Rob hadn’t teased the crowd with a New England Patriots hat like the last time they had played the room. The first night was amazing with lots of fan favorites and closing under a very lit up disco ball to the Rush song, Tom Sawyer. It was a great first night and set up for Saturday nicely.
Set 1: Y.O.Y. > Skrunk > Down Boy, Little Miss Cup Half Empty, Rebubula > Yodelittle > Rebubula Set 2: Captain America > Puebla > Bullet > Wormwood > Deep This Time, Jazz Wank > Buster Encore: Farmer Ben > Tom Sawyer
The Second night certainly took off right away. “Silver Sun > Water” was certainly a high point of the set and closing with an excellent “Timmy Tucker” to top it off. The second set jumped right back into the flow of things with a six song segue that left you no time to collect your thoughts, and just when you were able to catch your breath the band came back on stage and brought it home with a “Wind It Up” encore. The two nights were spectacular on so many levels and Buffalo still holds something special in the moe. camp and it shows, every time they come back home to play these guys really bring it and leave you wanting plenty more. Thank you moe. for your first 25 years and we look to continue to celebrate with you for 25 more.
Set 1: Annihilation Blues, Same Old Story, Silver Sun >(nh) Water, Big World > Ricky Marten > Timmy Tucker Set 2: Brent Black* > CalifornIA > Opium > The Other One > Moth > 32 Things Encore : Wind It Up
It looks like after 15 years, moe.down will be taking a break in 2015. The band announced on social media yesterday that along with promoter Eastern Artists, they would be taking a break from the annual summer-ending festival this year.
After fifteen consecutive years of organizing and hosting moe.down, the band and promoter Eastern Artists have decided to take a break this year. There aren’t very many band-driven festivals in the Northeast, or even around the country, that can say they’ve gone on for fifteen consecutive years with the success we have had. We will keep everyone informed on what the plans are for years to come, as we look ahead at the future of the festival.
We have many people we would like to acknowledge and thank for their dedication over the past decade and a half:
Eastern Artists and their team for running the festival All the moe. crew and home office, past and present, for making the shows happen Snow Ridge Ski Resort, their staff, and the Town of Turin All the bands that have played the festival over the years All the vendors, sponsors and moe.down kids tent staff And of course, the many attendees who helped bring the family vibe we aimed for. Whether 2014 was your very first moe.down or your 15th annual, you were all very much involved in helping make moe.down the unique and wonderful music festival its grown to be.
Thanks,
moe.
Let’s hope this is just a one year hiatus and the band and promoter can work things out to keep the very loved festival and annual destination for moe.rons running beyond 2015.
Three bands from last years Buffalove Music Festival will get together on the night before Thanksgiving in Buffalo. Funktional Flow, Skyepilot and After Funk will be celebrating with CranJam at The Tralf Music Hall.
My first friend I met inside was holding a stuffed cat named Kathy B. Really? (my maiden name was Kathy B!) #karmic
JE: I’d say anyone we play with in the area too.