NYS Music 20​15

Category: Special

  • Hearing Aide: New Savant Album ‘Invasion’

    Norwegian musician, Savant has been on an upward spiral since his career started four-years agSavant Invasiono. Since his debut album, Ninur, was released, Savant has continued to top the charts of Beatport in multiple genres of EDM. This year should be no different. 2015 begins for Savant with the release of a new album called Invasion, which has killed it so far among fans. The 18-song album covers a wide spectrum of musical styles but each and every song is made for dancing.

    The album opens up with a playful love song called “Orphan”. In the beginning the notes have a buzz type quality while the song jumps around a scale like a video game. This lighthearted type of love song maybe not purposefully pokes some fun into the sappiness that comes along with missing a lover. A lot of the album is fast paced. It is easy to recognize that the strong pursuit of exploration Savant is taking in EDM. Everything takes a turn when trumpets sound in the song “Innocence” which is funk. It is not free form, which makes it grooveable.

    Part of what makes this music appealing is it gives a taste of aspects of many different styles of EDM music and makes it assessable. In one of the key songs on Invasion, “1997,” Savant revisits the style of techno that thrived at that time in the ’90s.

    Key Tracks: Orphan, Innocence, 1997.

  • Jeff Austin Band at the Fox Theatre

    Like the in-laws’ hungry cat gnawing on the end of an electric cord of the family Christmas tree lights, Jeff Austin ravenously rips into the shiny surfaces of his bluegrass melodies till he and his audience are zapped with a thousand volts of raw music. Nearly one year has passed since Austin parted ways with Yonder Mountain String Band, and when he took the stage at the Fox Theatre in Boulder last week, he seemed anxious to throw some sparks.

    Fronting his new band, Austin assembled a small collection of talented, seasoned musicians, including Eric Thorin on the stand-up bass, Ross Martin on guitar, and Danny Barnes on banjo. Barnes traded licks with Austin with the pan-seared sizzle of a fire department fish fry. Lead-in performer, Sarah Siskind opened with a bluesy, easygoing set before the Jeff Austin band joined to close her set.

  • 2015 Electric Forest Festival Announces Lineup and is now SOLD OUT

    Electric Forest, the four day multi-genre festival will return to Rothbury, MI June 25-28, 2015 with major headliners String Cheese Incident, Bassnectar, Skrillex, Kaskade, Flume, and Big Gigantic. Festival goers become part of the Forest Family, eager to experience the interactive, electrifying art installations and star studded musical performances. The full lineup goes on to include Galactic with Macy Gray, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Lettuce, EOTO, Break Science, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, The Motet, Phantogram, and Dopapod. Not to mention the Silent Disco featuring MoPo and U9Lift plus more additional acts to be announced.

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    Check out the full lineup in the announcement video below. Tickets are available on the Electric Forest website as well as general information.

  • AC/DC Announce North American Tour Dates

    Rock legends AC/DC have announced a slew of North American dates for their first tour in five years.

    The tour will support their new album Rock or Bust – released in November 2014. The North American dates in August and September add to a European run from May through July.

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    Upstate fans who want to see the band will have a little driving to do. The band won’t touch down in New York, but they kick off the North American leg with a show at Foxborough Stadium in Massachusetts Aug 22. Then they head to East Rutherford, N.J.

    Several Canadian dates will come close to Upstate, including Quebec City on Aug. 28, Montreal on Aug. 31, Ottawa on Sep. 3 and Toronto on Sep. 10.

    Guitarist Malcolm Young, a founding member of the band, has retired due to dementia, and his nephew, Stevie Young, replaced him for Rock or Bust  and will continue to do so on the tour. Drummer Phil Rudd is in the midst of legal troubles and will be replaced — at least on this tour — by Chris Slade, a previous drummer who has rejoined the band.

    Tickets for most shows go on sale Monday, Feb. 16 – except for the San Francisco date – which goes on sale Sunday, Feb. 15. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

    Full North American tour schedule:

    August 22 – Foxborough, MA Gillette Stadium

    August 26 – E. Rutherford, NJ MetLife Stadium

    August 28 – Quebec City, QC Plains Of Abraham

    August 31 – Montreal, QC Olympic Stadium

    September 3 – Ottawa, ON TD Place

    September 5 – Moncton, NB Magnetic Hill

    September 8 – Detroit, MI Ford Field

    September 10 – Toronto, ON Downsview Park

    September 15 – Chicago, IL Wrigley Field

    September 20 – Edmonton, AL Commonwealth Stadium

    September 22 – Vancouver, BC BC Place

    September 25 – San Francisco, CA AT&T Park

    September 28 – Los Angeles, CA Dodger Stadium

  • Winter Carnival 2015: The Royal Noise at the Waterhole

    The first night of Saranac Lake’s annual Winter Carnival kicked off Friday night with The Royal Noise bringing the funk to the Waterhole.

    The Philadelphia-based band featured Saranac Lake native Mike LaBombard on saxophone and keys, along with Rodrigo Pichardo on bass and Aaron Zarrow on drums. The band played a free show in the Waterhole’s downstairs bar area, and it was packed with revelers honoring the outset of the weeklong winter festival, one of the oldest in the U.S., which has a theme this year of the Groovy ’60s. The Carnival queen, Linda Jackson, stopped by in her robe and crown after her coronation to celebrate with her subjects.

  • Def Leppard To Pour Some Sugar on Upstate w/ Styx and Tesla

    Get out your spandex and Aqua-Net – 80’s hair metal pioneers Def Leppard are making several Upstate visits on their just announced 2015 summer tour, and sailing along for the ride are Styx and Tesla. Tour kicks off June 23 in Tampa, Florida. New York will be able to go Def July 11 in Bethel, July 12 at Darien Lake, July 23 in Wantagh and July 24 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

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    Fans that join the Rock Brigade Concert Club can get an early VIP shot at tickets Feb. 17 – general public can purchase Feb. 20 at 10am EST. Check the whole tour out below.

    U.S. Tour Dates:

    June 23 – Tampa, FL (MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre)
    June 25 – West Palm Beach, FL (Cruzan Amphitheatre)
    June 27 – Birmingham, AL (Oak Mountain Amphitheatre)
    June 28 – Atlanta, GA (Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood)
    June 30 – Charlotte, NC (PNC Music Pavilion)
    July 2 – Bristow, VA (Jiffy Lube Live)
    July 3 – Virginia Beach, VA (Farm Bureau Live)
    July 5 – Uncasville, CT (Mohegan Sun Arena)
    July 7 – Gilford, NH (Bank of NH Pavilion at Meadowbrook)
    July 9 – Mansfield, MA (Xfinity Center)
    July 11 – Bethel, NY (Bethel Woods Center for the Arts)
    July 12 – Darien Center, NY (Darien Lake Performing Arts Center)
    July 14 – Toronto, ON (Molson Canadian Amphitheatre)
    July 15 – Youngstown, OH (Covelli Centre)*
    July 17 – Clarkston, MI (DTE Energy Music Theatre)
    July 21 – Mt. Pleasant, MI (Soaring Eagle Resort & Casino)*
    July 23 – Wantagh, NY (Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre)
    July 24 – Saratoga Springs, NY (Saratoga Performing Arts Center)
    July 25 – Holmdel, NJ (PNC Bank Arts Center)
    Aug 7 – Sturgis, SD (Buffalo Chip Campground)**
    Aug 8 – Sioux Falls, SD (Sioux Falls Arena)
    Aug 10 – Oklahoma City, OK (Chesapeake Energy Arena)*
    Aug 11 – Kansas City, MO (Starlight Theatre)
    Aug 14 – Sedalia, MO (Missouri State Fair)
    Aug 15 – Des Moines, IA (Iowa State Fair)
    Aug 17 – Cincinnati, OH (Riverbend Music Center)
    Aug 18 – Nashville, TN (Bridgestone Arena)
    Aug 21 – Dallas, TX (Gexa Energy Pavilion)
    Aug 22 – Woodlands, TX (Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion)
    Aug 23 – Austin, TX (Austin360 Amphitheater)
    Aug 27 – St. Paul, MN (Minnesota State Fair)
    Aug 28 – Grand Forks, ND (Alerus Center)
    Aug 30 – Noblesville, IN (Klipsch Music Center)
    Sept 1 – Allentown, PA (Allentown
    Sept 3 – Louisville, KY (KFC Yum! Center)
    Sept 4 – Maryland Heights, MO (Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre)
    Sept 5 – Tinley Park, IL (First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre)
    Sept 16 – Auburn, WA (White River Amphitheater)
    Sept 17 – Ridgefield, WA (Northwest Amphitheater)
    Sept 19 – Mountain View, CA (Shoreline Amphitheater)
    Sept 22 – Chula Vista, CA (Sleep Train Amphitheatre)
    Sept 23 – Phoenix, AZ (Ak-Chin Pavilion)
    Sept 25 – Albuquerque, NM (Isleta Amphitheatre)
    Sept 26 – Denver, CO (Pepsi Center)
    Sept 28 – West Valley City, UT (USANA Amphitheater)
    Sept 30 – Spokane, WA (Spokane Arena)
    Oct 2 – Bozeman, MT (Brick Breeden Fieldhouse)
    Oct 4 – Bismarck, ND (Bismarck Civic Center)

    * – No Styx

    ** – No Styx & Tesla

  • Photo Review: Wild Adriatic and Conehead Buddha at Montage

    Saratoga Spring’s Wild Adriatic enjoyed a 2014 chock full of press and band milestones. Their blues-funk-rock jams are full of pop potential without being emblematic of anything today’s pop scene contains. While shades of The Black Keys and The Strokes may exhibit themselves to a casual listeners ears – what we truly have here is an original sounding trio full of fire, emotion and quite possibly eternal hell fire. Wild Adriatic rocked the Montage on Saturday night with Conehead Buddha and will continue to rock Upstate with upcoming shows April 16 at Buffalo’s Ironworks and a hometown gig April 18 at Vapor.

    moe. fans have come to know the horn section of Coxsackie NY’s Conehead Buddha well over the past year with the two collaborating on multiple occasions. Those fans should get their butts down to see the full experience of the ska/world music based band who has toured for years. If the moe. connection isn’t enough, consider they also recently added Suke Cerulo, former guitarist for the down right epic defunct jazz/psych/funk trio Schleigho. Upstate will have another chances to run Buddha’s belly Feb 13 at Syracuse’s Funk n Waffles.

  • Hearing Aide: Tyler Smilo ‘Dust In a Grave’

    Singing the songs of a true wanderer, traveling throughout the country before settling in Erie, PA, Tyler Smilo has numerous stories to share that are more than worthy of a listen. On top of his deep lyrics, Smilo’s shockingly powerful voice featuring incredible vibrato definitely hits a nerve right from the start of his second and latest album Dust in a Grave.

    tyler smiloIt’s hard not to get sucked right in to the intense emotions of this tremendously talented singer-songwriter. Spouting lyrics about love – and love lost – on “These Will Be the Days” memories of the good old days before technology took over on “Rescue the Radio” and death of a loved one on “Dust in a Grave.” This musician seems to have experienced a great deal of trials and tribulations for someone so young. Let’s hope he continues to have many more adventures that he is willing to sing about for years to come, as after listening to this album, I was left wanting more.

    Because his thoughtful and thought-provoking lyrics are so compelling, it is easy to overlook the fact that this musician has mad guitar talent too. Able to change rhythms on a dime, and switch between minor and major chords several times within just one measure, it is certainly worth honing in on his guitar licks while listening through his album.

    In advance of his album, Smilo put out a series Rooftop Session videos recorded on the roof of the Renaissance Centre in his hometown of Erie, PA. Once you watch these videos, you’re going to find it hard not to delve deeper into Smilo’s music by checking out an upcoming show or purchasing one of his albums.

    Key Tracks: Blood In the Water, Dust In a Grave, These Will Be the Days

  • The Original Stuck Mojo Lineup Reunites, New Album on the Way

    Atlanta, Georgia rap metal pioneers Stuck Mojo, who recently played in their hometown back in December, announced last week they are working on new material. This marks the first time since 1998’s Rising that the original lineup of Rich Ward (guitar), Frank Fontsere (drums), Bonz (vocals), and Corey Lowery (bass) have worked together.

    Ward, who has kept busy with Fozzy with Fontsere has stated:

    “[Bonz is] doing great, he looks great, we’re getting along great, and so far, knock on wood, he seems like he’s dealt with all his demons and he’s sorted that part of his life out that [he needed to take care of in order] for me to move forward with him. So I’m feeling good about it. And I also have four other partners in FOZZY that, obviously, are wanting to tour and stuff, so I need to be mindful and respectful to everything — not only the guys in STUCK MOJO, but also to my FOZZY family — and make sure that if I’m working on STUCK MOJO, it’s because Chris (Jericho) is back in the WWE doing a little, short run, which he does from time to time. And that works out good for me. That way he’s working on something else, and I can do the same.”

    On Saturday, Stuck Mojo announced their second reunion show at the Amos’ Southend in Charlotte, NC on Friday April 17.  No further shows announced as of yet.

  • Machine Head Tears Apart Town Ballroom In Buffalo

    Going against the grain on what most metal bands are doing as far as touring these days, Machine Head is currently taking the bold approach and doing an “Evening With” headlining with no openers whatsoever, in support of their latest album Bloodstone & Diamonds, arguably one of their best to date, and easily the best metal album of 2014.  Rob Flynn and the boys stopped at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo last Thursday night for the second time in three years, setting for what was an unforgettable night.

    The bodies piled into the venue long before Machine Head hit the stage.  By showtime, the crowd kept chanting “Machine Fucking Head! Machine Fucking Head” was nonstop during the whole show, The band stormed the stage opening with “Imperium.”  Machine Head, although are getting up there in age, were performing like if they were in their prime – hungry and vicious.  Their stage presence and energy have NEVER been better.  They are giving their fans their money’s worth and putting other bands on notice.

    machine head official Bloodstone & Diamonds Photo

    Machine Head has gone through a slight lineup change since they appeared at the Town Ballroom back in February 2012. New bassist Jared MacEachern replaced Adam Duce this past year, so the big question is, does MacEachern fill the void?  Adam Duce was a monster on the bass, but also had remarkable backing vocals to go with Flynn’s vocals.  So when Duce was fired, I was saddened, and wondered how MacEachern could pull this gig off.  And I will say I was blown away by MacEachern’s stage presence, skill, backing vocals were amazing! He has much more range than Duce had (although Duce does sound a lot like Flynn) but he pulled off vocal harmonies, grunts, growls, and sings VERY well, so he adds such a new and killer dynamic to Machine Head’s live show that they never had before.  Dave McClain was a fiend behind the kit, and playing all those songs in a long set is no easy task.  And lead guitarist Phil Demmel rifts and solos are unmatched.  And his flying v Randy Rhoades black polka-dot guitar was gorgeous to look at.  But vocalist guitarist Rob Flynn is the unquestionable all-star and leader of the band and no one anchors the band better, or gets the crowd psyched like no other.  The most fascinating thing to watch on stage is watching Flynn and Demmel exchange guitar solos, as well as their harmonizing guitar solos…. it is such a spectacle to behold on stage.

    As far as their set, they gave the fans what they deserved with a two-hour and fifteen minute set – with no intermission.  We heard new songs like “Now We Die” and “Sail Into The Black”  and were also treated to classics like ”Old” and “Ten Ton Hammer.”  But really gave me a pleasant shock, early into their set, Machine Head played their nu-metal anthem “From This Day” for the first time in 13 years and the crowd went absolutely bananas.  They managed to play at least one song from every album from their 20 year catalog.  Closing with the unforgettable song “Halo” afterwards, not one person left this show disappointed. Machine Head told the crowd they will come back and said that they will do “evening with” again. It’s safe to say that Machine Head gave the fans their money’s worth and are truly a force to be reckoned with.