There’s no doubt that we’ve been having one hell of a year in music. Most recently, we’ve seen artists like Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Bill Withers (finally) becoming inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Leading up this year, we’ve seen big name artists like Taylor Swift pulling their music from online streaming services to crush the myth that “physical sales just don’t sell anymore.” We’ve seen lawsuits changing the recording world and the way we associate artists with earlier musical predecessors.
In the live show atmosphere, we’ve seen many great small music festivals lose the support they need to bring us great music. Luckily, there’s one festival that seems to have left a firm stance in an ever changing music industry, and it’s back for its 20th year to bring us the music that’s so very near and dear to our hearts. Friends, get ready for the Gathering of the Vibes.
Starting as nothing more than a small memorial celebration at SUNY Purchase, “Deadhead Heaven: A Gathering of the Tribe” was created from a batch of devoted, yet mourning fans of the legendary Jerry Garcia: local promoter Bob Kennedy, business guru Ken Hays, and publishers of the fan magazine “Dupree’s Diamond News” Sally Ansorge Mulvey and John Dwork. Their aim was to provide an atmosphere that celebrated the incomparable success of the Grateful Dead, while mourning the loss of a respected, legendary frontman with hope and celebration. As the word spread about the show’s reminiscent and engaging atmosphere, so did the festival itself. Moving to Croton Point Park, NY a year later, it was renamed “Gathering of the Vibes,” named after the devoted fans self-proclamation as the ever present “VibeTribe.” To meet the growing number of attendees, the festival moved the following year to Plattsburgh, NY as the founders searched for an even bigger venue to host a long-term contract. Upon finding Seaside Park in Bridgeport, they immediately jumped on the opportunity, gracing Connecticut with the 1999 and 2000 Gathering of the Vibes Music Festival. It was then that Bob Weir himself played the Vibes stage, alongside his band Ratdog.
With great success always comes great challenge, and renovations needed to be done to Seaside Park as Vibes gained notoriety. For the next six years, the festival hopped over to Red Hook, NY followed by the Indian Lookout Country Club in Mariaville, N.Y. That certainly didn’t stop Dead members stopping in on the fun, however, since Phil Lesh & Friends made a two night cameo appearance in the 2002 festival in Mariaville.
Despite the festival’s continued success in New York, Vibes was able to relocate back to Seaside Park from 2007 onward, with endless support from the Town of Bridgeport as well as the devoted VibeTribe. Today, you can still witness the same spiritual cleansing and celebration of great music that these great pioneers aimed for back in SUNY Purchase. Along with the great artists that graced the stage back in 1996, including Strangefolk, Max Creek, and moe., Gathering of the Vibes has brought in some of the greatest legends in music, including Elvis Costello, Allman Brothers Band, James Brown, Buddy Guy, and Primus, to name a few.
This year, the team at Vibes has thrown us a couple of surprises in their 2015 lineup, including Weezer, Wilco, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, and The Gaslight Anthem. Though you may plan to make your way into a crowd of sweaty, sprightly individuals to jam out to the newbies of the Vibes lineup, make sure you take part in the shows of those who came at the early stages of Vibes, including but not limited to Max Creek, Strangefolk, Warren Haynes, and Deep Banana Blackout.
With so many venue relocations and constant adaptations, Gathering of the Vibes has been no easy wind. With constant support from the beloved VibeTribe, Gathering of the Vibes has been able to withstand the odds and survive as a notable festival, earning ranks on Rolling Stone’s “Summer 2015 Must-See Music Festival.” To join in the 20 year celebration, visit the Gathering of the Vibes official website and get your tickets. While you wait in anticipation for this year’s festival, however, make sure to check out the past performers that graced the Vibes stages, dating back to SUNY Purchase in 1996. The Gathering of the Vibes has certainly beaten many odds and maintained its high reputation, which is certainly worth celebrating, so we’re looking forward to this year as well as many years to come.
If you were looking for a festival with continuous high energy bands, then Buffalove was it. We were greeted with sunny skies on Thursday afternoon, and a buzz in the air from everyone who couldn’t stop talking about what was to come of that first night. Everyone knew it was going to start with a bang, and they couldn’t have been more accurate.
Buffalo’s own Imperial Brown kicked things off on the Pavilion stage, setting a tone that would carry throughout the weekend. With a sold base of funk, reggae, soul and jam, Imperial Brown got the feet moving, and everyone’s excitement could be focused on one thing: dancing.
As Buffalovers made their way across the field to the main stage, you could feel everyone’s energy level soaring. Hometown heroes Aqueous took the stage at 8pm as the sun was setting and it was go time. They eased into their set, building intensity as the hour went on. We could all tell it was just a tease of what was to come. One by one, Dopapod took the stage, with a seamless changeover that left us continuously dancing for hours. Like Aqueous, they eased into their set, but definitely took things up a notch. Aqueous’ Mike Gantzer was the first to step on stage for the birth of Aquapod. And with a blink of an eye, members of both Aqueous and Dopapod were all on stage, getting into one of the strongest starts any festival could ever hope for. If you were a fan of both of these bands before, then this was the penultimate moment. Trading solos with the biggest of smiles, it just kept going. Even when the rain started to fall, the set from top to bottom was any fans dream. The intensity, the happiness of both bands, and the wide-eyes and looks of amazement from the crowd really started Buffalove off right. From there, it just kept going.
For those whose legs could still hold their bodies up after four and a half straight hours of Aqueous and Dopapod, the late night Woods Stage sets kept the intensity going. A beautiful little stage, set on the hill and covered with trees, was the scene of several sets that would leave people dancing until the wee hours of the morning. Sonder and Spacejunk were first up in the woods, with a segue set that rang through the property. Sonder with their jamtronic, groovy set, then Space Junk with a DJ set that got even the weariest of festival goers back on their feet. The Woods Stage would be the scene of serious talent and body-moving sets. Even with the rain continuing on and off all night, the vibe was nothing short of magical.
Friday morning, we were met with cool weather and constant chatter of what we had all witnessed the night before. The question kept being asked, “How can you top that first night?” But yet again, Buffalove delivered. Imperial Brown started it off again on the Pavilion Stage as the crowds began to wake up, stretch their bodies and get some food. Like every band, their dance-worthy set definitely pulled us out of the fog and back into the light.
Friday afternoon hit, and from there it was on again. Beau Sasser’s Escape Plan, led by current Kung Fu keyboardist Beau Sasser, took the Main Stage and came out swinging with their amped-up, soul crushing version of the Grateful Dead’s “New Speedway Boogie.” Mary Corso’s voice was enough to give anyone the chills, as they cruised through a powerful set. Guitarists Danny Mayer and Justin Henricks had some solos that could leave anyone’s jaw on the floor and drummer Kevin Urvalek was cruising by the time they closed with a cover of “Whipping Post.”
Slip Madigan continued the party, with a rhythmic, groove-oriented set on the Pavillion Stage. Then it was time for Funktional Flow to begin their first of three sets over the next 24 hours.
Flow took Main Stage for a 5pm set that only left fans craving more. Their tight, jam-based songs got the excitement level up once again. With covers like “Atlantic City” by Bruce Springsteen and Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4,” it was very apparent that they can span the genres. Then before you knew it, Albany-based Formula 5 took the Pavilion Stage. For these guys, it was a pre-cursor to their late night segue set with Funktional Flow at the Woods Stage.
Headlining the evening was Kung Fu and Particle, both bringing the hammer down on Saturday evening. Kung Fu, brought the jam-funk to the Main Stage, giving fans a different taste of what they could accomplish with a slightly modified lineup. Sasser soared, with solos that layered and layered, and meshed so well with their new sound. Kung Fu fans were shocked at what the band had become: a funk-heavy jam band. Then it was time for Particle to take the party to the next level. As the disco ball beamed, they played a set that was clearly meant to leave people exhausted from dancing.
Late night Friday was a beast of its own. Funktional Flow came out heavy on the Woods Stage. And if you weren’t keeping an eye on the stage at all times, you wouldn’t have even noticed that one by one, Formula 5 took over. If you had caught their earlier set, this one was completely different in attack. We could all tell they just wanted to get out there and jam as hard as they could. James Woods’ intricate and heavy bass lines and Joe Davis’ cruising guitar licks were almost too much to handle. Before you knew it, Funktional Flow had taken the Woods Stage over yet again. This time, it was one for the books. With a closer like Umphrey’s McGee “All In Time”, we were dancing just as hard as with Kung Fu and Particle, if not harder. The woods were lit up and the buzz around these two bands was heavy. Buffalovers had been treated to one of the most seamless sets of the weekend and all in the wee hours of Saturday morning. Closing out the morning was Buffalo-based Skyepilot, led by powerhouse lead singer Skye Del Re. If you still had the energy, this band kept the party going until the wee hours of 5am. The sun was coming up, and the groove was still ringing through the woods.
With a full weekend of high-energy bands, we were still left with Saturday. From top to bottom, the last day of Buffalove was filled with talent. Even though Skyepilot had just packed up on the Woods Stage, they opened Saturday on the Main Stage. Their strong, fast-paced versions of songs like “Sugaree” was enough to get even the weariest back on their feet for the final day. Buffalove contest winner The Goods hit the Pavilion Stage, with a very apparent reason why they were the winners. With a slightly different flare than the rest of the acts, they added that international/world groove.
The Main Stage on Saturday was filled to the brim with talent, as Blue Rootz and Whiskey Reverb both gave noteworthy sets. Next, it was time for Funktional Flow to give their final of three sets. With a setlist that included heavy originals and crowd-favorite covers like Warren Zevon’s “Lawyers, Guns and Money” and to close it all out, Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.” Funktional Flow definitely earned their three sets, and stood on par with the headliners.
To close out the Pavilion Stage and Main Stage, Albany favorites Mister F tag teamed sets with Pink Talking Fish. Mister F did a stripped down set to start, with Andrew Chamberlaine playing a banjitar (banjo/guitar combo) for the first set. If you ran across the mud-filled lawn, you could witness the greatness of Pink Talking Fish, with their full, accurate versions of Pink Floyd, The Talking Heads and Phish. With their first set over, Mister F took the Pavilion Stage. The crowd filtered in fast, and before you knew it, hundreds of people were crowded around for Mister F’s final set. The energy coming off them was undeniable, and anyone who wasn’t a fan before, was now. Even with drummer Matt Pickering sick as a dog, they blasted through their set. With almost all originals, they included one cover that got everyone’s feet moving a little faster, Jamiroquai’s “Canned Heat.”
Sit-in master Scott Hannay of Mister F wasn’t done there. After finishing packing up, he decided to hang out the rest of the night and see what else he could dive into. Pink Talking Fish topped their first set with versions of Phish’s “Possum” and “Tweezer” that had the crowd in full fun mode. Scott Hannay jumped on for “Crosseyed and Painless”, swapping keyboards back and forth with keyboardist Richard James. It was a spectacle, to say the least.
Late night Saturday drove it all home. Grateful Dead tribute band Workingman’s Dead took the Woods Stage around midnight, giving everyone that comfortable, familiar set of Dead music that left everyone with a smile. High energy, fast tempo Grateful Dead is exactly what we needed after all that was Buffalove. If you weren’t completely out of steam, heavy-hitters After Funk closed out the whole festival in the woods with their horns blaring. Scott Hannay managed to sneak in for another sit-in, adding to the already sonic boom that is After Funk. For those resting at their campsites, there was no way you couldn’t perk up hearing this band wail through the night.
Buffalove came through. Co-founder of Buffalive Productions and Founder of Buffalove Cody Conway clearly had one goal in mind: keep the energy as high as possible. Every single band had heads turning and jaws on the ground. There was never a lull, never a band that just played to fill space. Every minute was dance-worthy. If you missed out this year, we can highly recommend you don’t make that mistake next year. Without any problems or unruly attendees, this festival made its mark at North Fork Music Park in Warsaw, NY. The amount of talent coming out of Upstate New York is only paving the road for more incredible shows. Buffalove, you certainly were lovely.
For two days the Dean Ween Group took over The Heath at the classy The McKittrick Hotel, which, in fact, is not a hotel at all. The McKittrick, most known for being the home of Sleep No More, is a frequent stop on most tourists’ itinerary. On this Monday and Tuesday the McKittrick was going to see a very different type of visitor, as Ween fans have a reputation as a hard-drinking and partying group and their New York contingent couldn’t wait for the opportunity to leave their mark.
The Dean Ween Group, consisting of Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo (guitar, vocals), Dave Dreiwitz (bass, vocals), Scott Rednor (guitar), Glenn McCelland (keys) and Claude Coleman Jr. (drums), played two very different shows over the course of two nights, despite repeating a lot of Ween classics for the faithful fans. Monday started out with some technical difficulty overshadowing the beginning of the show, but once it was sorted Deaner and Co. treated the crowd to a roaring rock show. The stench of sweat and Corona quickly overtook the small retro-fitted bar as soon as Deaner lead the charge on a powerful “Don’t Get 2 Close (2 My Fantasy)” which erupted from the whimsical opener “Ice Castles.” Dreiwitz took the lead on “Homo Rainbow” and graced us with a raging bass solo during the overly ironic “I Saw Gener Crying In His Sleep.” The first night was highlighted by the calypso rumblings of “Bananas & Blow” and the dark, set-closing “The Rift” before the three-song encore which featured McCelland leading the way on “Waving My Dick In The Wind” followed by “Hey There Fancypants” before the night was brought to a close by the fan favorite “Roses Are Free.”
The second night back with Dean Ween Group at the McKittrick brought quite a different atmosphere. While the room was slightly more crowded, a more subdued and calming feel came over the room, with no technical difficulties out of the gate. With one night under their belt the band sounded tight from the get go. The first night felt more like a booze-fueled band practice and that may just be what the Ween fans were looking for. Is it really a Ween show if Deaner isn’t sweating on the first few rows of rabid fans? The crowd and band alike got fired up quickly and left all the pleasantries behind with Dean Ween favorite “Booze Me Up” and an early set “Roses Are Free” with Deaner and Dreiwitz dueling it out face-to-face. Standouts from this evening include “Spinal Meningitis,” “Homo Rainbow” and “The Mollusk,” as well as an extended duo jam featuring McCelland and Coleman Jr. on keys and drums respectively. We can only hope that Dean Ween Group continues to tour and play together. You can catch them next in the Northeast at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, N.J. Tickets available here.
What a difference a year makes. For the weather at least. The band, Widespread Panic, was steady as always. But instead of tempting the dark ominous clouds by playing “Hatfield,” which resulted in a show-shortening electric storm at their Artpark show in 2014, 2015 was nothing but blue skies and sunshine.
The show was both the opening of Artpark’s summer concert series as well as the opening show of Widespread Panic’s summer tour. Both were dialed in like it was midseason. It is difficult for a venue to capture the full breadth of sound that the 6-member jam rockers bring, but Artpark was up to the task, presenting incredibly crisp sound all night, especially for an outdoor space.
As a fan of the band since the early 90’s, going into a show these days, I am hoping to hear the old Panic classics. Since I’m only seeing about one show a year, if that, the newer songs haven’t really entered my vocabulary. The boys delivered on that wish in spades with the first set they put together. The show opened “Traveling Light,” “Weight of the World,” “Can’t Get High,” “Ride Me High” and it wasn’t until a mid-set “Shut Up and Drive” that saw a song which was debuted after 2000. After that blip, it was right back in the saddle with a one two three punch to the jam gut with classics “Pilgrims,” “Space Wrangler” and a massive “Greta” that saw guitarist Jimmy Herring flexing his jazz and prog rock muscles. Playing flurries of time-shifting notes that were difficult to comprehend, the jam reached multiple peaks. Dave Schools reined it in, leading the band smoothly into the Jerry Joseph-penned anthem, “North.” John Bell appropriately sang, “I go North, the sun it hurts my eyes” as the crowd shielded their eyes with the burning orb setting slowly behind the stage. Paired with last year’s storm-predicting Hatfield, seems like the band is reading the weather report as closely as the fans. In one of the more surprising moments of the night, “North” included a get down and funky segment led by JoJo Herman on the organ, before a set-closing big rock finish.
Second set, on paper, was what I fear. Dreaded new songs. Even 15-year-old songs, like set-opening “Second Skin” is new in my mind. But “Second Skin” was a fine opener, with Herring again taking control and exploding through his solos while Bell kept his own, proving he is one of the more inventive rhythm guitarists on the scene. A stop-on-a-dime dropout into their funky “Rebirtha” got the crowd singing along in glee, while Herring again was the shining star on stage. That transitioned into “Cotton Was King,” another new-ish tune that actually didn’t stick out as such. The band finally stopped for a breather before kicking into “Henry Parsons Died,” the second song of the evening written by their Bloodkin pals Danny Hutchens and Eric Carter. A wonderful spacey jam then bled into a brand new tune, “Cease Fire.” This one took a journey that started in late-era Talking Heads, mixed in a little samba flare, moved into a segment that harkened early Genesis, before finishing off with a stretched out mellow jam reminiscent of the ending of “Layla.” Intriguing to say the least and amazing to see this veteran outfit, whom I wished only to see the classics, was still full of new and exciting surprises. But wait, Widespread Panic still had more “new” up their sleeve. “Cease Fire” ceased slowly and effortlessly into “Jamais Vu.” A slinky bass-led groover that melted into the spaciest jam of the evening, with Herring weaving drawn out notes in between Herman’s trickling clavinet playing. After the drums segment, a strong “Surprise Valley” gave them one last opportunity to show that they are the masters of the segue. “Rock” emerged and served perfectly in the requisite heavy-finish role.
After playing two by their buds from Bloodkin, Panic evened the score, encoring with “Chainsaw City,” the second Jerry Joseph tune of the night. On right at 6:30pm, off right at 10:00pm, they jammed Artpark with as much of their jam as they were allowed, making up for last year’s short show as well as they could.
Setlist:
Set 1: Travelin’ Light, Can’t Get High, Weight Of The World, Ride Me High > Shut Up And Drive, Pilgrims, Space Wrangler > Greta > North
Set 2: Second Skin > Rebirtha > Cotton Was King > One Arm Steve, Henry Parsons Died > Cease Fire > Jamais Vu > Drums > Surprise Valley > Rock
Encore: Chainsaw City
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moe. continued its 25th anniversary celebration with two shows at its hometown Saranac Brewery Friday and Saturday night. Old friends and new were on hand, as well as a brand new Saranac Double IPA named Hoppy Hour Hero in their honor.
moe. Saranac Brewery
Friday’s big surprise was the return of original moe. drummer Ray Shwartz. Shwartz left the band following the band’s Fatboy album in 1992. Current drummer Vinnie Amico graciously stepped aside while Shwartz sat in for the moe. classic “Don’t Fuck With Flo.”
Saranac brewed a special batch in honor of the hometown boys’ return to the brewery for a pair of shows June 19-20.
The weekend had a mini-festival vibe about it, with Twiddle opening Friday night and Cabinet and Kung Fu joining in Saturday. Additionally, Shnier and Amico’s side project Floodwood took to the Celtic Harp stage following Friday’s show, and the legendary Ha Ha the Moose did the same Saturday night. Ryan Montbelau was another post-show option for fans at Lukin’s just up Varick Street.
moe. Saranac Brewery
moe. spent little time getting to the down and dirty on Friday, opening with “Tailspin” into “Bearsong” followed by the introduction of their new beer and the tried and true Saranac theme song “Happy Hour Hero” (for the record, as an avowed beer snob, your author made sure to grab a growler of the Hoppy Hour Hero from the Tavern. This is one of Saranac’s best outings, in this reviewer’s humble opinion).
Friday night’s setlist
Set I: Tailspin > Bearsong, Hoppy Hour Hero, Mar-DeMa > Y.O.Y. > George > Lazarus
Set II: Don’t Fuck With Flo*, Tubing The River Styx > The Pit > meat., White Lightning Turpentine, Blue Jeans Pizza > Downward Facing Dog
Enc: Billy Goat, Low (Cracker cover)
Notes: * with original drummer Ray Schwartz
Saturday saw Cabinet kicking things off with its blend of bluegrass and jam. Truly appreciative of the Utica love, they made an appearance in the merchandise tent following their solid set.
Kung Fu followed and proved to be a formidable act to follow. They brought the funk promptly at 6:30 and proceeded to move many a booty in the Saranac crowd. If you haven’t had a chance to check out this fusion quintet, it is highly recommended. They blend Hancock’s Headhunter-era fusion with James Brown funk and some Zappa thrown in for good measure.
moe. hit the stage Saturday with a rousing “Captain America” to engage the huge Saranac crowd. Over several years of shows at this venue, this one ranked among the highest attended.
moe. Saranac Brewery
An easy ride through “Akimbo” was followed by “Not Coming Down” which seemed to mock the few sprinkles that started falling from the sky midway through.
By far, the highlight of the night was the guest appearance of Tim Palmeiri and Rob Somerville of Kung Fu during “Silver Sun.” The addition of the sax invigorated this newer song and Palmieri’s guitar battles with Garvey and Schnier were the stuff of moe. legend. Check out this YouTube clip for just a scant view of what was truly something to behold in person:
Following a quick set break, moe. returned with “Okayalright” which segued seamlessly into “32 Things.” The boys were on their game here. Aside from the Kung Fu sit-in, this segue ranked as one of the high points of the show.
If there were any doubt that twenty-five years in, these guys are tired of the game, this was quickly laid to rest with an epic “Recreational Chemistry” encore to finish the run. Derhak was at his best during this twenty-seven minute version of their classic and while some fans bemoaned the fact that this one has been frequently played on this mini-tour, it’s tough to argue with the intensity of the version played Saturday night.
Twenty-five years in and moe. is still playing with the energy and fervor they did back in their club days. A weekend such as this was a celebration of moe. A celebration of all that they have given their fans all these years. A celebration of their roots. It was evident that they had a grand old time in their old stomping grounds this weekend. What would you do for freedom?
Saturday’s setlist
Set One: Captain America > Akimbo, Not Coming Down > Wormwood > Skrunk, Loser >(nh) Silver Sun*
Set Two: Okayalright > 32 Things, Nebraska, Time Ed, Wind It Up
Encore: Do Or Die, Recreational Chemistry
* – w/ Tim Palmieri on guitar & Robert Somerville on sax from Kung Fu
The annual Fly 92.3 Summer Jam hit Saratoga Performing Arts Center June 6 this year with a promising line up and beautiful day. Seven diverse yet talented acts were set to preform throughout the day with other activities going simultaneously all throughout the venue from signings to Frisbee to various venders with games and prizes for attendees. It was sure to be an all around fun day for families and young adults alike.
Jake Miller kicked off the event with a high energy and fun set that certainly appealed to the younger demographic at the show. Miller had a quite a few fans at the edge of their section hoping to get as close as possible to sing along to their favorite songs. Miller played a mix of songs off of his most recent release the EP renamed the Dazed and Confused, formerly known as Lion Heart and his full length Us Against Them. Miller’s fans happily sung along to some of their favorite songs and are undoubtedly excited for his upcoming tour this summer.
Warner Bro.’s Records’ Echosmith took the stage next with a fun—filled, high energy set with family fun on stage and in the crowd. Echosmith is comprised of Sydney Sierota and her three brothers Jamie, Noah, and Graham Sierota all of whom bring a unique element to the group dynamic. The group did a fantastic job of getting the crowd to their feet and involved in the set. The group has recently been making quite a name for themselves, even sharing the stage with Taylor Swift a few days after Summer Jam. The group’s first full length was released on Warner Bros. Records in 2013; Talking Dream was very well received and catapulted the family of young musicians into great success. They played a mix of songs off of the record throughout the set and closed out with their most well known song, “Cool Kids”. This song went double platinum in the U.S. and received a great deal of radio play due to its high success. Much like their song “Cool Kids”, their performance at SPAC was very well received by all in attendance. Echosmith are certainly a band to check out for anyone that has not heard of them before.
The next act to take the stage was the most unlike the others on the lineup, B.O.B. and yet was still well received by the crowd. B.O.B. took the stage to play portions of many well known songs including “Strange Clouds” and “Airplanes” both of which received great success with fans. He even threw t-shirts into the crowd and took a “selfie” with each section of the crowd, right, middle and left which had people up and out of their seats hoping to make his Instagram later that evening.
Walk the Moon was up next with quite a few fans extremely excited to see their set. The group has recently been making a strong name for themselves since their 2012 self titled release Walk the Moon. The group played a mix of songs off of their self titled release and their 2014 release Talking Is Hard which received even greater success than the previous release. Among the songs played during Summer Jam were the two most popular releases from these records, “Anna Sun” and “Shut Up and Dance” respectively. Walk the moon are also a band that have great potential and have already taken the stage at many well recognized events and will continue to do so in the future.
Next to take the stage was All Time Low fresh off of their Future Hearts Tour which closed out the prior week and had sold out the last three nights long with other nights throughout the tour so a large crowd was nothing new for the four piece pop- punk band from Baltimore, MD. They started off their 45 minute set with “Satellites” off of their new record, Future Hearts, which was released on Hopeless Records this year. Over 80,000 copies of this record were sold the first week, which made Future Hearts the most successful record for both All Time Low and Hopeless Records. It was also the band’s third time reaching #1 on the Billboard Rock Albums Chart. Their nine song setlist consisted of a mix of songs off of their more recent albums including Nothing Personal (2009), Don’t Panic (2012) and Future Hearts (2015). “Stella,” “Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don’t)” and “Weightless” were played off of Nothing Personal. None of these songs making the setlist would come as any great surprise to avid All Time Low fans however, “Therapy” not making the cut was quite a surprise for many in the crowd as it is one of the more sober, slow songs that has become a staple for the group over the years. “Kids in the Dark,” the first single off of their new record and “Somethings Gotta Give,” the second single off of Future Hearts were the only other songs played off of the record which left “Missing You” off the list. With yet another one of the groups few serious songs that have become staples not making the cut it would seem as though the group decided on keeping a faster—paced set for the family friendly event. This would be in keeping with the severely toned down antics the group usually brings to the stage. Jokes often stray into slightly crude, teenage boyish humor and based off of lead guitarist Jack Barakat’s joke about what he was allowed to say on stage it would seem as if they had been instructed to keep everything family friendly. During “Kids in the Dark” Barakat took off and left the stage to run through the audience and play the entire song up at the soundboard which certainly got a rise out of the crowd. They closed out their set with “Dear Maria, Count Me In” off of their 2007 release So Wrong, It’s Right. It is by far one of their most popular songs which is why it comes as no great surprise that the avid fans that were clearly here for All Time Low were singing along passionately, and those new to the group seemed to really enjoy the song as well as the entire performance. After All Time Low closed out their set they were scheduled to have a signing which lead to a mass exodus from the seats to line up to meet the group. After their set it was clear that many in the audience had come to see All Time Low in particular based off the sing along that had been most of their set and the abundance of people who left after the set and signing were over.
Charli XCX was up next and certainly captivated the interests of the young girls in attendance with her performance. She took the stage alongside her two female guitar players in high heels and dresses ready to put on an interesting and enjoyable set. Charli XCX is most known for her part in “I Love It” by Icona Pop and “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea, however she has been doing great things on her own including opening up for Katy Perry on the European leg of her Prismatic Tour earlier this year.
When it was time for the last performer to take the stage he was greeted with a very warm, hometown welcome. Sawyer Fredericks certainly knew how to draw a crowd, especially here. Fredericks recently won the popular TV show, The Voice, on NBC. This was his first time taking the stage in the area since that phenomenal victory, so it was a bit of a celebratory performance as well as a wonderful welcome home. Being from the area the chance to play at such a fantastic venue and summer event, let alone headline it was certainly something very special to Fredericks, who took the stage with an enormous smiled painted on his face. That smile did not fade all throughout the evening as he clearly was having as amazing of a time as those in the crowd were. He opened up his set with two of his own songs both of which were extremely well received and already loved by the crowd as the majority sung along happily. Lighters and phone lights lit up the orchestra seating and were scattered throughout the lawn for Fredericks’ second song, which made for a stunning sight to see. This young man has an outstanding voice and very charismatic personality; it would have been impossible not to enjoy his set! Signs were held up all throughout the set and t-shirts were proudly worn all day expressing individual’s (and family’s) support of Fredericks during The Voice and going forward from that victory. It was clear the area is quite proud of the young man from their hometown who has worked so hard to achieve his dream and will continue to support him going forward. Although Fredericks is not yet signed to a label with the support he has received and will continue to have, he will continue to make his hometown supporters proud and will certainly grow as a musician in the upcoming months.
With a lineup of talented and engaging artists, a beautiful day, and the hard work of so many this years Fly 92.3 Summer Jam was a huge success. The event was a fun-filled event for the whole family and undoubtedly left attendees looking forward to next year’s show.
Taste of Country 2015 kicked off its third annual country music festival at Hunter Mountain on Friday afternoon with a bang and a star-studded lineup. Set in the gorgeous Catskill mountains in Upstate New York, legions of East coast country fans packed the mountain ready for great country music, delicious food and drink and myriad of other activities and attractions carefully designed to create an exciting and unforgettable summer festival experience.
Although a ski resort during the winter months, it’s scenic mountain views framing the main stage, sprawling hills for fans to spread out on and numerous camping areas make Hunter’s transformation into a music festival venue in the summer, a seamless one. As usual, fans arrived at the show enthusiastic, animated and ready for a party.
Keith Urban – Taste of Country 2015
Friday, Day 1: Fans crammed the venue and fair ground area for a highly anticipated opening day lineup of Rachel Lipsky, Logan Mize, LOCASH, Colt FormEli Young Band and Keith Urban. They were also able to enjoy a bunch of delicious food choices, plenty of drinks and various shopping, where anything from cowboy boots to band merch was available. The food stands, despite having been good from the first year of the festival definitely took a step up this year, providing a wider variety of food and more choices than ever. When in search of lunch I found myself wandering through the grounds unable to decide what to get because there were so many delicious options!
Taste of Country Festival 2015
Although the forecast predicted that a massive thunder storm was looming, the weather throughout much of Friday at Hunter Mountain was clear, sunny and hot, albeit very humid. It was only around 9 p.m. when Eli Young Band (whose set had already been move up 15 minutes due to the impending lightening) finished their set that the festival announced a delay for headliner Keith Urban’s set. Fans were directed to quickly and calmly leave the mountain and take cover in their cars until the festival deemed it was safe for them to return. Fans were kept updated on weather conditions and the delay through both the Taste Of Country Festival app and through social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Thankfully, venue announced that it was safe for fans to return at 10:24 p.m., and after some stage cleanup and giving fans time to return, Urban was finally able to take the stage around 11 p.m. Outside of weather issues at the end of the night, the festival ran very smoothly throughout most of the day.
As the day of music began, Rachel Lipsky was the first to take the stage. This young lady has one heck of a voice and a “hell ya” attitude that captured the audience immediately and reeled them in and amped them up, setting the stage on fire from the get go. Singing both originals and covers, this young lady owns the stage and gathers fans everywhere she goes. Whether it’s overseas to perform for the troops or at the next Nascar Race, Rachel’s a fan favorite and a veteran to the Taste of Country stages being her second year performing at the festival.
Rachel Lipsky – Taste of Country 2015
Next up was Logan Mize. This young man, with his wholesome good looks and amazing voice owns both stage and screen when he performs. Fans adore him, and music lovers can’t get enough. Keeping up the momentum, Logan continued to engage the audience and by the end of his set, the party was well under way.
Eli Young Band – Taste of Country 2015
LOCASH was the third act to take stage on Day 1. Anyone who has seen this duo before knows that they are the life of the party on stage, and aways know how have a good time while putting on an amazing show. Comprised of Chris Lucas and Preston Brust, the duo is down to earth, funny, patriotic and always vibrant on stage. It is truly hard not to like LOCASH, and the pair is easily able to connect with the crowd in live settings because of their engaging nature and the relatable subject matter of their songs. Although I arrived about 10 minutes late, I was still able to catch most of their set. The duo was just about to begin playing a new song called “I Know Somebody” as I arrived. The song was undeniably catchy and featured pleasant harmonies between Lucas and Brust. It should be a good track or even a single on a future album or EP.
Eli Young Band – Taste of Country 2015
The pair delighted a predictably intoxicated crowd with their fun and carefree song “Drunk Drunk,” which to no surprise, they wrote when they were drunk one night. LOCASH’s set also featured another new song, “What We Got”, a romantic and charming track about being thankful for the love in their life. The duo also performed some notable covers; “Truck Yeah” which the pair wrote with fellow country artist Chris Janson, and was recorded by Tim McGraw. This number was a huge crowd pleaser as the lyrics are fun and easy to sing out loud. LOCASH briefly went out of genre with covers, of Bruno Mars’ “The Lazy Song” and a rousing version of Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me.” They rounded out their setlist with self-proclaimed redneck anthem “Hey, Hey, Hey”, and a track they called a “meat and potatoes, knockout punch” song that they plan to be their next single, called “All I Need Is You.” LOCASH closed with their current hit single and fan favorite “I Love This Life,” an anthemic track that details the simple pleasures of living a country lifestyle. Before performing the song, they informed the audience that New York is the No. 1-selling market for LOCASH, and thanked fans for their support, dedication and for buying their songs.
Keith Urban – Taste of Country 2015
Country rapper Colt Ford followed LOCASH. Known for his patriotism and high profile collaborations with some of country music’s biggest stars, Ford’s setlist contained an abundance of popular and well known songs. The always aware and generous Ford is also heavily involved in various charity projects to aid current soldiers as well as veterans suffering from PTSD, noting how important it is to support those who fight and sacrifice every day for our country and our freedom. A prime example of the entertainers desire to help others, all of the proceeds of one of his current songs that he performed called “Workin On” will go to help soldiers with PTSD. He also mentioned that he always performs with an American flag attached to his microphone stand, a tribute to soldiers and first responders. Ford performed his infectious party song single “Crank It Up” a track with a dance beat and killer hook, as as well as “Country Thang” recorded with Eric Church, “Driving Around Song” recorded with Jason Aldean, “The High Life” recorded with Chase Rice and even covered Eminem song “Lose Yourself” which the crowd got a kick out of.
Although he is known as a country rapper of sorts, Ford kept his music grounded in country with plenty of fiddle during his time on stage. He ended his set with “Dirt Road Anthem” a game changing, massively popular song he wrote with Brantley Gilbert that was taken to No. 1 on the country charts by Jason Aldean. LOCASH joined him on stage to perform the song, adding camaraderie to an already fun set.
Eli Young Band was the fourth act to take the stage, but the last before the festival issued it’s weather delay. Known for their vocals, songwriting and the pleasant overall sound of their music, Eli Young Band has been able to accomplish the often rare feat of finding critical, commercial and radio success during their time together. They opened their set with a song called “Revelations” an emphatic rock influenced track from their most recent album 1000 Towns, which were followed by the album’s title track, previous single “Dust” and three songs from their new Turn It Up EP, “Drink You Up” and “Plastic” and it’s title track (also the band’s most recent single). Self-proclaimed “bonfire tune” “Always The Love Songs” soon followed. The four man band kept the patriotism going as well, leading several enthusiastic USA chants with the pack out crowd and like Ford, keeping an American flag on stage at all times. They also took the time to dedicate their touching and heartfelt song “Prayer For The Road” to members of the military and first responders. Eli Young band made sure to express how lucky they knew they were to be able to play music for a living, and how thankful the were for the fans that have continued to support them throughout their career.
LOCASH – Taste of Country 2015
The group chose to perform several well known covers, including David Lee Murphy’s crowd pleasing “Dust On The Bottle,” Tom Petty’s “Learning To Fly” and Garth Brooks’ “The Thunder Rolls” which was unfortunately a very appropriate prediction of the weather that was soon strike the mountain. Radio hits and Eli Young Band staples “Drunk Last Night,” “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” and “Crazy Girl” came at the back half of the band’s set, delighting the thousands of fans in attendance with their relatable lyrics, catchy hooks and deep content. Even though a nasty storm was soon to come, Eli Young Band’s set definitely rocked the thousands sprawled out on the hills of Hunter Mountain before the thunder, rain and lightening could ruin the party.
Logan Mize – Taste of Country 2015
Not 10 minutes after Eli Young Band’s set (around 8:50 p.m.), the festival announced the temporary delay of Keith Urban’s set, and informed fans that for their own safety, they would have to leave the mountain until the weather improved. Although disappointing, the festival officials always maintained that they believed the show would be able to go on after the delay. Sure enough, around 10:20 p.m. they announced via Twitter and the Taste of Country Festival app that the venue had re-opened and that headliner and worldwide superstar Keith Urban would finally be able to perform after the stage was cleaned and fans had returned.
Keith Urban – Taste of Country Music Festival 2015
Urban, who has been a titan in the music industry for decades has drawn millions of fans to his concerts and music though his perfect pop-country formula, movie star good looks, sweet personality world renowned skill on the guitar, and distinguishable voice and musical sound. The Australian native’s illustrious career beginning in 1991 includes 10 wildly successful headlining tours starting in 2004, 18 No. 1 songs, three Grammys and numerous country music awards.
Taste of Country Festival 2015
Fans were relieved and thankful to see Urban take the stage. The continuing rain, and substantial pools mud that were a result did nothing to deter fans from flocking excitedly back to the mountain for his set. While the guitar is nothing more than a prop for many musicians on stage, for Urban it is like an extension of his arms, and at times can be just as poignant and affective as his vocals or lyrics. He often delights the crowd in live performances, showing off his extensive shredding ability with long, emphatic and complicated guitar solos at the end of many of his songs that leave fans wondering how he has enough fingers to hit each note and this night was no different. Urban also has a fully stocked stable of well known hits that he trots out confidently each show, often having to trim down the list to fit his set into the allotted time frame. He began his set with the upbeat “You’re Gonna Fly,” the catchy “Put You In A Song,” followed by “Somewhere In My Car” a No. 1-hit from his most recent album Fuse, and irresistible summer jam “Long Hot Summer.” Urban then brought talented singer and fan from Saratoga Spring Kayla Saris, who won a fan contest on stage to help him perform his hit song “We Were Us” a duet he recorded with fellow country artist Miranda Lambert. Also from Fuse, Urban performed popular singles “Little Bit of Everything” and “Cop Car” before the romantic, fan favorite “Sweet Thing” which included an extended guitar solo to close out the song and an acoustic rendition of “Making Memories of Us.”
Urban also broke out his brand new lead single “John Cougar, John Deer, John 3:16” an easygoing, laid back, easy to jam out to track that is sure to become another hit for the talented singer, and the last single from Fuse, “Raise Em Up,” a star-studded collaboration with Eric Church that also included a thrashing guitar solo at it’s conclusion. The audience enthusiastically screamed back the lyrics of sweet, fan favorite “Kiss A Girl.” He closed the show and brought down the house with performances of massive hits the cheeky and anthemic “You Look Good In My Shirt” and the the uplifting ” Someone Like You.”
By the end of the show Urban had proven yet again why is a must see performer for all casual and serious music lovers and showed that even a storm couldn’t stop the thousands of loyal country music fans in attendance from, showing up in droves to enjoy their favorite performers. Urban’s headlining set was the cornerstone to an incredible day full of great music, delicious food, eclectic festival environment and beautiful views at Hunter Mountain. The best part was that there were still two more exciting days of the festival to look forward to.
The general public may not know or remember who Tom Keifer is but they do know his music. Keifer has been a stronghold in the rock music scene for over 30 years, as a solo artist and with his band Cinderella.
Keifer and his band made a stop in Binghamton at the recently re-opened Club Eclipse in support of his debut solo album The Way Life Goes.
The crowd was regrettably on the small side but their excitement and enthusiasm filled the room to its capacity. You could physically feel the energy and excitement from each individual when Keifer and his band busted out on stage playing the bluesy rock Cinderella song “Fallin’ Apart At The Seams”. Keifer kept the crowd captivated by going into “Its Not Enough”, followed by “Different Light” and “Save Me”.
Slowing the set down and switching gears to an acoustic setting, Keifer brought his wife Savannah out to perform with him. She beautifully assisted him (and stole everyones hearts) with songs “Ask Me Yesterday” and “Don’t Know What You Got (Till Its Gone)”.
Tom Keifer performs with his wife, Savannah in Binghamton, NY
After thanking Savannah for her assistance Keifer took the show up a notch and rounded out the set with fan favorites “Solid Ground”, “Cold Day In Hell”, “Coming Home”, and “It’s Only Rock n’ Roll”.
He also did a fantastic cover of The Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends”. This cover was one of the most memorable songs of the night. It had people hugging and swaying/singing along with their friends that accompanied them that night. Keifer also brought out a few of the band members wives (along with his own) to “help” with the song.
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Keifer undoubtedly appreciated his fans and was truly moved by the audience’s love for him and his music. He personally thanked everyone for their 30-plus years of dedication and for having faith in him while he overcame his vocal chord issues. Toward the end of the show to commemorate the night and his fans there, he brought out his camera and recorded a video clip of the crowd cheering for him. There wasn’t one unsatisfied fan in the venue when the house lights came on at the end of the night.
After the set Keifer graciously came out and greeted fans who were eagerly waiting to meet him. His appearance in Binghamton impressed long time fans and won over a few new young ones for life.
Keifer’s tour in support of The Way Life Goes will continue around North America and the UK through the end of 2015.
On a picturesque day in New York City, tens of thousands of visitors flock from all around the world to Central Park. Some are row boating on the Lake, some come for lunch at Tavern On The Green, and many came for hometown funk band Lettuce. As the crowds filtered in to Summerstage one of New Orleans finest brass ensembles, The Soul Rebels, serenaded them with their powerful horns. For Brooklyn based Lettuce headlining Summerstage is a monumental accomplishment and coming off their sold-out show at Red Rocks they had set the bar high.
With Erick “Jesus” Coomes (bass) straddling his usual center stage position he lead Lettuce, consisting of Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff (guitar), Adam Deitch (drums), Neal Evans (keys), Ryan Zoidis (sax), and Eric Bloom (trumpet) on a funk filled journey in the park. The band was joined on stage by The Soul Rebels for an ensemble performance of “Sam Huff” and Nigel Hall stopped by as well. As the set got moving Central Park Summerstage shut the gates as the capacity crowd reveled away in the sun and the deep funk grooves.
Lettuce will be back on the East Coast opening for Umphreys McGee in Boston, Asbury Park, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. You can find tickets here.
Setlist: Lettuce at Central Park Summerstage, 06/13/2015
Reunion, Big Anthem, Chief, Blast Off, Lettsanity, Phyllis, Get Greasy, Sam Huff*, Hip Hop Odyssey, Madison, New Reel,
Lett Gogo, Makin My Way, Hang Out and Hustle, Do It Like You Do
Ginger Baker brought his new band Jazz Confusion to The Egg for a grand evening of music for a packed audience. Playing two sets, though the second was a little shorter, and an encore, Ginger and his band had the crowd sitting on the edge of their seats to see what they would perform next. Ginger Baker is of course known most famously for being in the super groups Cream and Blind Faith, but at the heart of his playing has always been jazz. He was just getting over a bout with pneumonia, but the only time you would have know he had been sick was when he talked to the audience or stood up from his drum kit. When he was sitting behind the kit, his hands still flew all over the kit with ease. After all these years and problems he has gone through in life, it is a joy to be able to see him still be able to play the drums so effortlessly.
The band that Ginger put together displayed their power during the show, seamlessly weaving in and out of one anothe. Pee Wee Ellis, formerly James Brown’s band leader, played beautiful solos and dotted the songs with intricate melodies on his saxophone, while Alec Dankworth’s bass playing kept the music steamrolling forward. Abass Dodoo, a tremendous percussionist from Ghana, added a flair of Afrobeat to the music of the others and complimented Ginger’s playing perfectly. Anytime one of the members had the chance to take a solo, it was great to see the other three members of the band watch as if they were in the audience and seeing the other member play for the only time on the short tour the band is on. Though there may not have been any “famous songs” played by the group, the crowd at The Egg got their moneys worth and then some from the four virtuoso musicians.
Gathering of the Vibes.
2015 lineup, including Weezer, Wilco, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, and The Gaslight Anthem. Though you may plan to make your way into a crowd of sweaty, sprightly individuals to jam out to the newbies of the Vibes lineup, make sure you take part in the shows of those who came at the early stages of Vibes, including but not limited to Max Creek, Strangefolk, Warren Haynes, and Deep Banana Blackout.
