Category: Reviews

Adam Ezra Group Along With 600 Runners ‘Found Disturbing the Peace – In Harmony’

Despite the large gathering of rowdy runners and music lovers alike, there were no arrests made at this event for disturbing the peace (that I’m aware of). More than 600 attendees though, came out to watch and cheer on both the runners who participated in the annual Runapalooza, the groups that played along the course, and the Adam Ezra Group as they made an official debut in Syracuse at the finish line. Adam joked around that although it was not technically the first time the band set up to play in the Syracuse region, they did consider this their first time playing here. After all, could they count a quick gig in a mall at a beer joint while patrons ate and drank? Funny enough, one of their fans that attended that un-debut show was present and accounted for this evening, and as she cheered on the group they thanked her for at least paying attention during her dinner to their music.

Adam Ezra Group – Runapalooza

As an occasional runner myself, I was tickled pink to hear that bands would play along the way of Fleet Feet‘s annual race held at Onondaga Community College. What better way to help motivate the runners along the 5k course. The day was gorgeous for a run, and runners of all ages participated in this event as onlookers rang cowbells and cheered them on as though it was the NYC Marathon. Side note to here; the cheering and the music and the encouragement, it does wonders for the runners to help them push through that last leg of the race. So thank you to all the supporters that help cheer them on.

This too was my debut Adam Ezra show. I had heard wonderful things about this band so this night had been penned on my calendar in ink for several months in eager anticipation. As the band began to play I was totally smitten by Adams raspy voice, his poignant lyrics, the catchy beats, and the synchronicity of his band. His humor was delightful and with a slight Boston accent at times, he cautiously mentioned to a crowd of Yankees fans anything Boston related. Yes, Adam Ezra is a wise man, and great musician that loves his fans and what he does.

The music had a perfect blend together. With Turtle on drums (and some of the best make shift instruments I’ve ever seen), Corinna Smith on fiddle (and co-member of “we think Alison Krauss rocks club”), Berklee graduate Francis Hickey who decided to live his dream while he could by playing on bass, Alex Martin who was told trumpet wasn’t cool so stuck with drums (so glad you went with the drums, you rock them), and finally Adam’s multi-talented cousin, Josh Gold on keyboards; each band member contributes amazing skills and quality without overpowered the other. With a gentle flow, they moved from song to song and around the stage seamlessly. With the absence of a setlist, this was a sure indicator that Adam plays music to each audience, as a gift to their needs and not his own. I loved their free spirits, and their positive aura was contagious.

At the end of the evening he solidified my opinion of being a great guy and free spirit as he brought his sole audience member from that original show (the one we aren’t counting) up on stage to sing along to the encore of John Denver’s “Country Roads.” His giving soul welcomed everyone over to his merch table to say hello and grab some music. All he asked is that you contribute what you could to the “love you box.” His goal, to share his music. Oh, and what beautiful music it is. Make sure you check them out next time they are in your neck of the woods. Until then, well worth the donation to the “love you box on-line.

Setlist: Drive, Sacred Ground, Hippie Girl, Devil’s Side, Let Your Hair Down, Life of a Thief, The Devil Came, Up To Boston, Burn Brightly, Steal Your Daughter, Free Fallin (Tom Petty), Country Roads (John Denver)

June 11, 2015
And the winner of Art Voice Boom 2015 is …

This past Friday the Tralf Music Hall located in the theater district of Buffalo was bursting at the seams with musicians and patrons alike. This was the night that many had been waiting for ever so patiently. It was the night a band would be crowned winner of Art Voice Boom competition. They would walk away five-thousand-dollars richer and opening up at the ever famous Kerfuffle concert at the end of July.

I arrived shortly before the first band took the stage and I was pleasantly surprised by what I seen. I saw musicians from many local bands that came out to support and that really was the best part of the night. It shows that this music community is ever-growing and supporting of one another. That what I say holds true time and time again. The fact that we are all in this together. Without the support of other bands and music fans we are nothing.

First to take the stage was the band Intent to Sell, I have watched these guys over the past year and I am blown away time and time again by the way they incorporate hip hop with rock and roll. What I like best about this band is that the lyrics tell a story that each and every one of us can relate to. They finished their set off by talking about the dangers of addiction and it really touched home with me. I think for most of us know or know someone who was personally affected by the results of addiction. They finished their set with a song called “The Light.” This song was about losing someone who we can all relate to and really put ourselves in the lyrics of the song. It was truly touching and beautiful.

Second band up was Uncle Bens Remedy. I saw these guys a couple of weeks ago at the semifinal rounds. I must say they really get the crowd going. Tonight was no different from the first time I saw them. They came from Gowanda, N.Y. and brought two busloads of people.

This band can be considered country like. There songs don’t necessarily all have deep meanings but they are fun, witty and upbeat. Front man Ben Westlund really gets the crowd going and you can’t help but be entranced by his on stage charm and loud hillbilly like calls.

Third up was a band I had never previously heard of but was quite entrancing. They were called Luanjie, they are a funk rock kind of band. From their catchy riffs to the melodies this band was entertaining from start to finish. What I loved is the bass player had a homemade bass that he used on stage and it sounded just as great as one pulled from the wall of Guitar Center.

Last but certainly not least was Erica Wolfling. She is a solo artist that I am amazed by every time I have watched her. She has such a beautiful haunting voice that you can’t help but stop what you’re doing and watch her. She is talented in many instruments from the piano, to guitar and even the harp.

Now the time came that everyone for weeks on end has been waiting for, the results. The winner of the Art Voice Boom competition was Uncle Bens Remedy. They walk away with a five thousand dollar prize and opening spot on the Kerfuffle concert.

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June 11, 2015
The War On Drugs Premiere in Rochester

When Water Street Music Hall came back on the scene last year after a short liquor license renewal process, they promised to bring some big acts to town that had previously skipped over Rochester as The War On Drugs coming to town, in support of their critically-acclaimed 2014 release Lost in the Dream on Monday, qualifies as such a show.

The Adam Granduciel-led band took the stage to a packed crowd in front of a backdrop of large blocky white c-shapes washed in shifting LED lights. “Burning” opened what would be a set heavy on material off their latest album. Granduciel painted his Dylan-inspired American rock songs atop landscapes produced by his backing band of David Hartley on bass, Charlie Hall on drums, and Robbie Bennett, Jon Natchez and Anthony LaMarca all on various keyboards. It was more keys then I had expected at this show. Though Natchez frequently switched to flugelhorn or saxophone and LaMarca played some guitars. And Hall added in some synthesized drum beats here and there. With broad strokes they smudged the lines between electric and organic. It didn’t matter if it was the honk of a horn or the pounding of keys, the sound of the band melded together into a singular matte for Granduciel to work from.

The songs existed in the blurred out area between singer/songwriter and rock and roll. They were twisted, turned and kneaded in between that space, languidly oozing from place to place. There was no hurry to get moving, and with no real desire to sharpen or peak. It was blurred out head bobbing music. At times maybe Granduciel was a bit too generous with the smudge stick and songs could almost be indistinguishable from each other, many taking shape as a slow build to a mid-level peak, similarly paced and similarly gloomy.

But amongst that potential monotony came plenty of shining masterpieces worthy of hanging on to. A mid-set “An Ocean in Between the Waves” made generous use of punctuated “Woos!” and “Yeahs!” providing energetic oomph before fizzling out and segueing into the slinky groover “Disappearing.” The funky bass line backed up one of the more fiery guitar solos of the evening before ending on a mellow repetitive sequence that I could have sat inside forever. “Under the Pressure” featured some colorful interplay between saxophone and guitar which then blasted into a quick but rocking jam. Uninterested in giving up too quickly, Granduciel crouched down to his pedals and fiddled with his palette, adding to his band’s wash of sound before reentering the space of the song yet again for a triumphant finish.

The wanting crowd was treated to a lengthy encore that saw the band ditch their latest works and dive deeper into their catalog, before finishing up with a quick but tasty cover of Ronnie Wood’s “Mystifies Me.”

Setlist
Burning, Arms Like Boulders, Baby Missiles, Lost in the Dream, An Ocean in Between the Waves, Disappearing, Red Eyes, Eyes to the Wind, Under the Pressure, In Reverse, Come to the City
Encore: Black Water Falls, Buenos Aires Beach, I Was There, Coming Through, Mystifies Me (Ronnie Wood Cover)

June 10, 2015
Three Nights of Strangefolk at Garcia’s

When one of your favorite bands for nearly 20 years comes around to play a few shows at a venue only two hours away, you make that drive. In the case of Strangefolk, there were three nights of shows at Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre, all worth the commute to Port Chester and full of surprises, guests, covers and classics.

With Jason Crosby (Susan Tedeschi Band, Phil and Friends) sitting in for the entire weekend on keys and fiddle, a venue that grew in attendance each night was treated to classic Strangefolk songs. Thursday’s first set featured “Roads,” “All the Same,” “Speculator” and a creative “Burned Down->Fire On the Mountain->Burned Down,” teasing a theme for the weekend’s sets. The second set led with five Grateful Dead songs: “Althea,” “Deal,” “Dark Hollow,” “Candyman” and “Tennessee Jed” before the band returned to originals including “Cabin John,” “Fountain” and “Westerly.” A surprise cover of John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery” sung poetically by Reid Genauer, preceded “Westerley” while an encore of “Valhalla” finished the night.

On Friday, fans were treated to more Grateful Dead and originals that featured significant exploration inside of jams. An extensive “Alaska” was found in the first set alongside rarer originals “Diary” and “Faces”. There was significant interplay between Jon Trafton and Crosby during “Rather Go Fishin’,” leading to a “Shake Your Body” jam that lit the crowd up.

Shake Your Body jam during ‘Rather be Fishin’ – #strangefolk #garcias

A video posted by NYStateMusic (@nystatemusic) on Jun 5, 2015 at 7:02pm PDT

Set 2 brought out more Dead songs, starting with “Shakedown Street,” “Brown Eyed Woman,” a crowd singalong of “Loser” and “Scarlet Begonias.” Originals ruled the rest of the evening with a lengthy fan favorite “Lines and Circles,” “Rachel” with Crosby on fiddle, “Songbeard,” “45 Degrees” and “So Well” closing out the set. A soulful encore of “Things That Fly” ended the night, a sweaty one for many as club had gotten steamy during the hot second set.

Strangefolk’s three night run at Garcia’s came to a close on Saturday with the trio Sam and Margo opening as fans slowly filled the room. Strangefolk greeted a sold out crowd with “Sweet Libation” before carving deep into their repertoire with “Like You Anyway” and “Poland.” Genauer then brought out Aaron Maxwell, Jon Bevo, and Dan Pifer from God Street Wine, noting that the stage was a “little bit like a clown car” as the musicians joined. God Street Wine had tweeted earlier in the day that the trio would be joining Strangefolk at Garcia’s that night, letting the anticipation build for those attending the show. Having previously teamed with Genauer and fellow Assembly of Dust band members Adam Terrelll and Dave Diamond in 2014 under the Assembly of Wine moniker, Saturday was a chance for the God Street Wine members to play with the rest of Strangefolk.

“Speculator” led off the collaboration between the two bands with Maxwell singing lead vocals and fellow God Street Wine alumnus Jason Crosby trading his keys for a fiddle. “Driving West,” a God Street Wine original, followed before “Sometimes” closed out the band team-up with Maxwell and Genauer trading vocals and Maxwell and Trafton exchanging guitar riffs. As the God Street Wine trio walked off the stage, Genauer hinted at what was to come by informing the crowd “they’ll be back later.” “Whatever” and “Reuben’s Place” closed out the strong opening set with the members of Strangefolk and Crosby posing for a “selfie” with the crowd in the background before heading off stage for the setbreak.

The second set featured the return of Maxwell, Bevo, and Pifer and a journey into the Grateful Dead’s catalog. A gorgeous 17 minute rendition of “Sugaree,” featuring Maxwell on vocals and Crosby returning to the fiddle began the set and “Eyes of the World,” “Jack Straw,” and “Franklin’s Tower” followed with the fans in attendance joyously soaking in every note. Strangefolk closed out the set with their own originals, starting off with Weightless in Water’s “Valhalla” and “Chasing Away,” “Dance,” “…As,” and “Roads” following suit and “Walnut” closing out a special evening and a great three nights in a special intimate room. Strangefolk will play next this summer at the Gathering of the Vibes in Bridgeport, CT and in September at Lockn’ Music Festival.

Additional reporting by Scott Marks

June 9, 2015
CMAC Kicks off Summer Concert Series with Brian Setzer and George Thorogood & The Destroyers

As Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC) kicked off their 2015 Summer Concert Series, they couldn’t have picked a better choice to lead off with; Brian Setzer and George Thorogood & The Destroyers. Nothing like a rocking good time to set the bar high for the summer concert series.

George Thorogood – CMAC

Always a fan of both artists, I prepared myself for the evening with an umbrella to dodge the raindrops and my dancing shoes to splash in the puddles. Other than my camera equipment and trusty journalist notepad…I was all set. Despite the early downpour, the weather had no damper on the evening as attendees just took cover and rocked the night away.

First up was newcomer Davy Knowles. Known as a blues, rock, and Celtic rock musician, his acoustic set was fantastic. Knowles hails from the Isle of Man (England), and his charming style and manner warmed up the evening and helped chase away the rain as the night began. Although only six years into his professional career, his resume is chock full of gigs he’s played, with a list of legends he’s opened for that would make any musician green with envy. There is no doubt in my mind that in no time flat this young man is destined for bigger things.

Davy Knowles – CMAC

Up next was Mr. Brian Setzer, and here is where the party began. There is no way every person in the venue wasn’t tapping their toes to the beats Setzer and his band were setting down. Brian Setzer lead off of course with lead vocal and lead guitar, but with Mark Winchester on bass, Kevin McKendree on keyboards and guitar, and Noah Levy on drums, this group of musicians played like they were just four musicians jamming out together and having a good time playing some great music. The fact that we were there watching…was just icing on their cake.

Brian Setzer – CMAC

Their love of music is contagious and there is nothing that makes me smile more than seeing couples all over the venue taking to wherever they could find enough room to cut a rug while Setzer and his band played their famous rockabilly, swing, revival jumping, bluesy tunes. From hit to hit, they never let up, and the energy kept flowing. Heck my arms hurt just watching how fast Noah Levy played those drums. Piece of advice here, don’t arm wrestle that dude, he will stomp you. For the energy these guys put into their playing, the audience gave it back to them two-fold. As song after song played, more and more of the audience rose to their feet, and by the end of the evening, there was a crowd down at the edge of the stage getting photos and selfies with this amazing quartet as they played. This defnitiely was one hell of a set, and definitely a check of that bucketlist for me. May favorite tune, besides the obvious Stray Cat Strut, Great Balls of Fire, and Rock This Town, had to be a tie between his cover of Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Bues and his encore of Sleep Walk. This may have been my frist time, but definitely won’t be the last time I see Mr. Brian Setzer and his amazing group of accompanying musicians.

As the stage was cleared, I couldn’t image anyone being able to follow that act and hold their own; until George Thorogood took to the stage. Although I have listened to this rocker since high school, this was the first opportunity to see him live. WOW is all I can say. He is a photographers dream performer. In addition to being one of the most talented musicians/guitar players around, he is the most animated performer. As he performed, he danced, he hit poses, he made animated faces. Hell, he entertained and then some. I read somewhere that he started out in the business to be a comedian. I can absolutely see how with a change of circumstances, he would still be on that very stage, just delivering one liners instead of some of rock and roll’s all time favorite tunes.

George Thorogood – CMAC

Together with high school friend and original band member, Jeff Simon on drums/percussion, George and Jeff are joined on stage by Billy Blough on bass, Jim Suhler on rhythm guitar, and Buddy Leach on saxophone/piano where together they ramp up the audience and have laid down some of rock and rolls greatest hits over a forty-year career. When asked about his career, the man quoted Stan Musial. Stan was asked “What was the greatest day of your career?” He replied, “Every day when I walk onto the field is the greatest day”. George feels the same “Every night when I walk on that stage is the highlight of my career. I hit that first chord, the band kicks in, and we hear the audience respond. That’s the rush. Over 40 years into this, and every night that’s still the only moment that matters.” Okay, as if I didn’t love this man already, quoting one of this lifetime Cardinals fan’s favorite Cardinal players just sealed the deal. George Thorogood, you are definitely BBBBBaddd to the Bone! You truly set that bar high for the rest of the 2015 Summer Concert Series to follow. Well played…well played.

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Brian Setzer Set List

Rumble in Brighton (Stray Cats)
Vinyl Records
Stray Cat Strut (Stray Cats)
Nothing is a Sure Thing
Stiletto Cool
’49 Mercury Blues
Great Balls of Fire (Jerry Lee Lewis cover)
Drive Like Lightning (Crash Like Thunder)
Slow Down/Folsom Prison Blues
Blue Moon of Kentucky (Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys cover)
Runaway Boys (Stray Cats)
8 Track
Fishnet Stockings (Stray Cats)
Let’s Shake
Encore
Sleep Walk (Santo & Johnny cover)
Rock This Town (Stray Cats with Train Kept A Rollin tease)
Seven Nights to Rock (Moon Mullican cover)

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George Thorogood & The Destroyers Set List

Rock Party
Who Do You Love (Bo Diddley cover)
Help Me (Sonny Boy Williamson cover)
Night time (The Strangeloves cover)
I Drink Alone
House Rent Blues/One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer (John Lee Hooker cover)
Cocaine Blues (Clarence Ashley cover)
Ge a Haircut
Gear Jammer
Move It on Over (Hank Williams cover)
Encore
Tail Dragger (Howlin Wolf cover)
Bad to the Bone

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June 7, 2015
Hearing Aide: Sean Rowe ‘Her Songs’ EP
Upstate NY / Troy native Sean Rowe recently released a very well received full-length album, Madman in 2014 which showcased his songwriting ability. This year he tried something a little different, going for an EP of his acoustic translation and resonance of works from some well-known female artists. This six song EP from Sean Rowe, under the title Her Songs recently made its debut April 28, 2015. It features Rowe’s take on songs by Regina Spektor, Neko Case, Sade, Lucinda Williams, Feist, and Cat Power.

Rowe’s uniquely baritone voice grabs our attention from the start of the EP just as with his previous releases. It’s just as much an instrument as his guitar, driving melody and emotion into the vehicle that carries the story of each song, embodying the tradition of a singer-songwriter folk performance. For just one singer and one guitar the EP is remarkably full-bodied in sound and character.

The EP is almost equally divided into two parts, at least in terms of the nature of the arrangements. On “Ode to Divorce,” Let It Die,” and “Color and the Kids,” Rowe maintains the similar simple sound of the original recording and relays the song and its emotion through his own style without much rework of the original. The other three songs take on a new life of their own. It wouldn’t be fair to slight the originals by calling Rowe’s take on them better; rather they are fresh, wholesome, and creative parallels to the originals. “Hold On, Hold On” is given a psychedelic feel through rhythm and “By Your Side” gets stripped down and smoothed from the original’s pop-ballad feel. Perhaps the most profound song is Rowe’s rework of Lucinda Williams’ “Soldier’s Song.” Already a strongly emotional song, Rowe takes it intangible to a new level. Williams herself remarked that “this is the best cover of any of my songs that anyone has ever done.”

It is worth noting that the composition of the EP renders a better listen through ears connected to the mind and not as the background music to your evening tasks. At just under 22 minutes it makes for the perfect break from whatever your hectic pace might be; listen from start to finish in one sitting.

Key Tracks: Hold On, Hold On; Soldier’s Song

Grab a digital copy of Her Songs on iTunes.

Track Listing (original artist in parenthesis):
1. Ode to Divorce (Regina Spektor)
2. Hold On, Hold On (Neko Case)
3. By Your Side (Sade)
4. Soldier’s Song (Lucinda Williams)
5. Let It Die (Feist)
6. Colors and the Kids (Cat Power)
June 3, 2015
Tipper and Quixotic at Red Rocks Ampitheatre
Who would’ve thought. It would take the arrival a Brit with a blood sacrifice to dispel a month-long blanket of gunmetal grey skies, daily rainfall, and dispiriting gloom that settled into Colorado’s front range. The thought may seem a bit paradoxical considering England is a country so often associated with bad weather. But he is no ordinary bloke and May 16, 2015, was no ordinary night.

Dave Tipper, the bloke to which I refer, is the pioneer/ wizard of electronic music from London that led the way on for a one night extravaganza at Red Rocks Amphitheatre that included transcendental artists, aerial and fire performers, and a brand new stage sound system.

For the record, the islands that comprise Great Britain only averages 46th in yearly rainfall- well behind the U.S. ranking of 25th in the world. And Tipper reported on Twitter that he felt compelled to leave a drop of his blood on the Red Rocks stage the night before in order “to appease the rain gods.” So, it turns out that the unlikely Englishman and his blood sacrifice was just what was needed to part the roiling cloud billows like actor Charlton Heston parted Red Sea.

From the outset, Tipper determined to make the evening different from other electronic shows. Departing from more typical stage set-ups, Tipper and fellow Brit producer, Ott did not place themselves center stage. He explained before the show that he felt the night’s attention shouldn’t be focused on the DJs or their egos. He felt that crowd’s focus should solely be directed towards the music and the surrealistic map projection art. Both Tipper and Ott placed themselves on the far ends of the stage and remained unlit throughout the night. There were no lasers or visual projections on the crowd or the stone amphitheater.

It set the tone for a “no-frills” approach to the evening, but the performances weren’t short on spectacle. Tipper’s first down tempo set was accompanied by a giant center stage screen of fractal map projections created by Jonathan Singer. Acclaimed artists Alex Grey and his wife Allison painted on stage through the first set. For the first time ever, Tipper employed the use of a massive new face-melting sound system called Funktion One. Following his first set, Quixotic, a music/artist collective that combines aerial performance, fire dancing, and live music chewed up the scenery with jaw-dropping athleticism and ethereal melodies. The sold-out crowd lept to life with a DJ set from Ott and Tipper’s up tempo set. The big screen visuals pulsed with a flurry of morphing images by Colorado artist, Android Jones.

With a single drop of blood, a collection transcendental art, cutting-edge electronic sound and a sold-out show became a beautiful mix of music, motion, and mountains. Some might even say it was magic.
June 2, 2015
The ‘New’ New Deal at The German House in Rochester

Toronto trio The New Deal played to a packed German House in Rochester on May 28. With energetic local group Ocular Panther as the opener.

With clear influence from Dopapod and The Disco Biscuits, Ocular Panther brings good funk into driving livetronica that is not too heavy, and not too light. Colin Jones pulls double duty on keys and guitar, pairing well with guitarist Mike Pantano. A strong opener for the night, they’re a must see as they play New York State this fall.

While The New Deal continues to play fantastic livetronica shows, tonight and even their recent set at Summer Camp felt a little short of potential. With the addition of drummer Joel Stouffer joining bassist Dan Kurtz and founding member Jamie Shields. Stouffer keeps a strong beat, while Shields’ keys are tight as always, explorative and focused. All the while Kurtz’s bass drives the speed of the song. They let the crowd do their thing on the dance floor but didn’t engage them beyond buildups. Overall the nearly two-hour set was solid but felt dialed back from previous years.

June 1, 2015
Jeff Austin Band at City Winery ‘Y’all weren’t invited to any BBQ’s?’

There are few musical stylings that can be considered more American than bluegrass, so seeing Jeff Austin on Memorial Day was the perfect fit. The meticulously set dining room at City Winery set the perfect ambiance for this intimate show.

Austin, playing to the light crowd quickly quipped “I guess y’all weren’t invited to any Barbecue’s today?” — breaking the ice on what is sometimes an uncomfortable situation for artist and fan alike.

Accompanied by legendary Danny Barnes (banjo), Eric Thorin (bass) and Ross Martin (guitar). Austin and Barnes alternated taking the lead on tunes and both brought their own special level of intensity.

Barnes reeled listeners in with his bluegrass roots, and voice. Eventually succumbing to Austin, who was taking us on a perfectly drawn ride aboard his deep and heavy mandolin play.

Despite both bluegrass legends throwing it down the highlight of this show was Thorin’s stellar upright bass play. The deep grooves he was laying down were reverberating throughout the room and rattling the wine glasses. The show came to a climax with a cover of the Chuck Berry penned “Promised Land” made popular by The Grateful Dead.

While Austin was enamored by the cabs driving by in the heart of the big city he was also distracted by the cardboard cut-out across the street, which he believed was haunting him throughout the show. Jeff Austin made it a point to recognize each band member and giving them all time to shine — playing Barnes and Martin originals to bring the set to a close. If you weren’t invited to a Barbecue, a healthy dose of Memorial Day bluegrass does not play second fiddle.

May 31, 2015
Hearing Aide: Coal Chamber ‘Rivals’

After being away for over a decade plus, Coal Chamber has rediscovered their furious chemistry and unleashed Rivals, released by Napalm Records and produced by Mark Lewis who has worked wonders with bands like Trivium and DevilDriver. This album delivers and lives up to the hype that was brought forth, however, does it enhance Coal Chamber’s legacy even further?

It starts off with a fast stylish track “I.O.U. Nothing” which appropriately opens with screeching guitars from Meegs with a fast nu metal beat from Mikey Cox, and Dez Farara’s brutal vocals hasn’t aged one bit. The second track “Bad Blood Between Us” has a slower tempo but everything gets dark and haunting with “Light In The Shadows” something you would expect from vintage Coal Chamber. I saw an interview with Dez Fafara a few weeks back where he stated that this album isn’t a “throwback album” but honestly to me, it is. I’m not saying it sounds like the previous three albums, but it certainly sounds like classic Coal Chamber and everything you would expect from this band, however, they tastefully made this album for 2015 because it is more mature sounding.

The track “Suffer In Silence” is a real behemoth track. Ministry’s Al Jourgensen makes a guest appearance on this track to make this one a real stand out. Another real stand out track is “Another Nail In The Coffin” because it’s a heavy and erratic. It speeds up, it slows down, it breaks down and Fafara’s vocal tracks are arranged all over the place. Kudos to producer Mark Lewis for being tactical on mixing this track. After the title track and single “Rivals,” the track “Wait” is a fun and catchy song with a real nice groove to it.

Towards the end of the record “Fade Away (Karma Never Forgets)” is really catchy then it ends hard and fast with “Empty Handed” thus marking an album that is candidate for one of the best albums of 2015. This album proves Coal Chamber is back with a vengeance, picks up where they left off and has us all wanting more. I would highly recommend picking this one up and catch Coal Chamber play these songs live.

Purchase Rivals here.

Key Tracks: “I.O.U. Nothing,” “Suffer In Silence,” “Another Nail In The Coffin”

May 30, 2015