NYS Music 20​15

Category: Jam/Progressive

  • Hulaween 2015: All Aboard the Ghoul Train

    NYSMusic is excited to announce our coverage of the third annual Hulaween, a three-day music and camping festival held at Spirit of Suwanee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida. Presented by Silver Wrapper and Purple Hat Productions, Hulaween 2015 is headlined by Colorado’s very own String Cheese Incident, who will be playing seven sets over the weekend.

    hulaween 2015The festival hosts more than 50 artists over three days, including Pretty Lights, Primus, Odesza, and STS9. For those looking to start their weekend early Hulaween is throwing a pre-party on Thursday, Oct. 29 — including New York’s esteemed Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, the eclectic electronic improv duo Eoto, as well as funk stalwarts Dumpstaphunk. Other notable New York acts include surging funk legends Lettuce, who’s looming album release is highly anticipated, the tight dance grooves of Dopapod, Brooklyn’s own Break Science in collaboration with Manic Focus to create “Manic Science” and the soulful funky licks of Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds.

    As north easterners hunker down and prep for winters onslaught, Spirit of the Suwanee is bustling with activity in October, beckoning to the north to flee south and join the Southerners for one last hurrah in the sunshine. Often touted as a magical, even mystical place, Suwanee boasts a devoted fan base that borders on extended family from its ability to bring people together and cultivate an atmosphere of unfettered fun in a temporary communal setting.

    Festival goers should be excited for an extended version of “Spirit Lake,” an experimental collage of multimedia metalwork, paintings, sculpture, light projections and live performances that transforms the primal forest into a vivid psychedelic dreamscape. Held on Halloween weekend means costumes. Hulaween’s costume theme is “Ghoul Train” a blend of the late ’70s hit show “Soul Train” and “Monsters” or “The Addams Family”. Be sure to get in the spirit and dress to impress.

    There aren’t many places that cultivate a communal feel quite like Suwanee. To celebrate that, Hulaween is once again hosting an Ultimate Campsite Contest. Giving fans and their #HULACREW a chance to build their own theme based campsite, a celebrity committee of judges will scope the campsites Friday evening and choose their favorite site. The entire campsite will receive Werewolf VIP upgrades on the spot (up to 8 people per campsite). The upgrade includes discounted beer and liquor drinks, VIP indoor bathrooms, VIP viewing areas at the main stage, VIP swag bag, complimentary massages and complimentary golf cart shuttle service throughout the park at designated VIP stops.

    For a sneak peek at the full schedule go here and don’t forget to pace yourself and make it to the Silent Disco, which will run from 2am to 5am on Friday and Saturday, featuring a variety of  electronic  artists  including Vlad the Inhaler, Prophet Massive (aka Jason Hann of SCI), MZG and Unlimited  Aspect among others.

    For Hulaween goers traveling from out-of-state, keep in mind a brand spanking new program will offer Scoobie Shuttle Buses to and from Jacksonville International Airport. One way tickets are $35 and include all taxes and fees, on-sale through Elevate at suwanneehulaween.com.

    Tickets & Ultimate Incident VIP Packages are on-sale now. To join the wait list for cabins, golf cart rentals and RV hook-ups, please contact SOSMP at +1 (386) 364-1683.

  • Hearing Aide: Papadosio ‘Extras In A Movie’

    “When spring arrives epiphany/I’m still the last leaf on the tree.” As homage to the changing seasons, Papadosio has changed their musical hues from bright neon to softer, more organic colors in their fourth phenomenal studio album, Extras In A Movie. 

    Despite their label as a “genre-bending” group of musicians, Papadosio’s initial album releases of Observations and T.E.T.I.O.S. did in fact fall under one specific category- and that was electronic music. Yes, adoring fans may argue that they possess the improvisational capabilities inspired by jazz, progressive rock, and even jam rock to shape their melodic phrasing and musical transitions, and thus don’t belong under the same umbrella as electronic artists Skrillex or Bassnectar. However, I saw a dash of prog rock and a sprinkle of jazz for what they really were to Papadosio- and that is mere sensibility. I believed that to be labeled as a band that dismisses categorization, each style of music had to be crafted on an individual basis, incorporating the key elements and instrumentation of that style, yet somehow creating one inner voice over the entire work, as a subtle reminder of the single creator.

    It wasn’t until the release of Extras In A Movie that I felt this proficiency in musical obscurity towards Papadosio, but I am confident that this album will break ground for many listeners, especially those who may not have approved of the band’s stylistic approach at first.

    With an addition of some interesting sound effects, acoustic guitars, and tight harmonies, opening track “The Last Leaf,” and tracks “Epiphany,” and “Bypass Default” bring a strong introductory splash to the album, with an erratic yet satisfying mess of musical classes, ranging from styles of barbershop quartets to Pink Floyd to Awolnation. Anthony Thogmartin’s adaptation of vocal timbre throughout each track is complimentary and appropriate, while the surrounding band of Mike Healy, Rob McConnell, Billy Brouse, and Sam Brouse tend to throw in some instrumental surprises, most of the time in an effective and aesthetically pleasing manner.

    The fact that the average track is about three minutes long throughout this sixteen track album speaks great masses as well- this album was created to defy the standards of recorded music, and the ideas were organized in this fashion to isolate and preserve the individual conception of each instance.

    By writing, recording, mixing, and even video conceptualizing themselves, Papadosio has become the purport of the avant-garde composer, keeping the pillars of studio-induced creativity a strong part of their foundation. Their ability to showcase psycadelia-inspired electronic anthems like the album single “Glimpse of Light,” followed by the stripped down acoustic rawness in “Anima Mundi,” “Gazing the Great Oscillator,” and “Open” adapts Papadosio to any kind of setting, guiding listeners into an array of color, vibrancy, and authenticity. Along with developing their own voice, I also heard inspiration from other great genre gods, including Incubus, Genesis, and Daft Punk.

    As part of their grand release, Papadosio has introduced a tour they’ve cleverly named Extras In A Movie Tour – Act 1. If that doesn’t leave you with a curiosity of what “Act 1” implies, I don’t know what will. I suppose the only way to find out is to hitch a ride on their tour, with stops at Irving Plaza, the Westcott Theatre, and Town Ballroom in November.

    Key Tracks: The Last Leaf, Epiphany, Bypass Default, Anima Mundi

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  • Hearing Aide: String Cheese Incident ‘The Rhythm of the of Road Vol 2, Live in Las Vegas’

    String Cheese Incident The String Cheese Incident is celebrating their 20th year together as a band. The Rhythm of the Road Vol 2; Live in Las Vegas is a new release for October. This album is successful because the music explores the uniqueness that life can bring.  Each member of The String Cheese Incident comes from a different musical background. These happy differences have lead to the marriage of many genres and twangy Colorado mountain bluegrass.  This album is a live performance that exemplifies how sounds of music can all come together to create whirlwind imagery.

    Imagine a bunch of road lovin’ country boys who play music. Along their travels meet a man with a bright twinkle in his eye. Graciously he invites them to a paradise in the caribbean- the place he was born. Right as he waved his arm in the follow me motion the young men were swept over by a soft salty wind. When the dreamy haze settles, they realize they have been instantly transported. Their toes rest on the sand in ‘San Jose’, a land entrancingly unfamiliar.

    The imaginary cinema of travels inspired by SCI’s music continue in the back seat of a car.  One close and personal view of just the side of a man’s face and his delicate reflection on the window. Outside of the window is the sound of the winds and the brown, American earth, passing by at fifty-five miles per hour, backroad. Nowhere to be but somewhere; excitement in the unknown of what lays ahead. The performance on ‘Desert Passage Jam’ is filled with bright expression of musical beauty and occasional slow rhythmic bongos create feelings of undeniable appreciation for life that surrounds us.

    Key Tracks: San Jose, Got What he Wanted, Desert Passage Jam, Cedar Laurel, Dirk

  • We Had No Complaints: Perpetual Groove Return from Hiatus at Brooklyn Bowl

    There is a sticker growing in popularity in the jam band scene nationwide. It is a simple square sticker, white letters on a blue background, stating “I Have No Complaints.” The original idea, the “saying before the sticker” came from a Phish phan on tour after the group reunited. After each show, if his pals nit-picked about this song or that jam, he would always respond, “I have no complaints.” That would bring the group back to reality; after all, their band was back! What in the world should there be any complaints about? It ended up being such a positive slogan, and not necessarily specified to any band, political party, anything. Just a universal reminder of being thankful for the good things. So a sticker was printed. Then reprinted. Thousands of times over.

    Perpetual GrooveOn October 9-10 at Brooklyn Bowl, there were no complaints. This saying represented the energy of everyone in attendance at Brooklyn Bowl both Friday and Saturday night. The McLovins opened for Perpetual Groove on Friday night and will be opening for them again for future shows. The Hip Abduction was Saturday’s opener, and after the PGroove set Wyllys spun a DJ set which kept people dancing until the bar shut down, hours after the headliner’s encore.

    The dance area was packed both nights, and it was obvious that most attendees knew PGroove’s music very well. Singing along, fist pumping, high fiving and even tears were witnessed.

    Perpetual Groove
    Photo by Scott Harris for LiveMusicBlog.com

    Perpetual Groove has lyrics that can be pretty haunting at times. Their second song on Friday, “Three Weeks,” sings about a bad breakup from a relationship where the sadness is so great that guitarist Brock Butler sings: “I’ve been dancing with possibility, playing with my razor blade. I lost the thing I thought I had, the thing that made me think I had it made.” A crowd favorite, “Three Weeks” has a middle section that gets very electronica and danceable. You can feel the mood lighten in the song and feel the crowd’s energy grow. The healing and recovery begins. “It seems it’s been forever now, I’m giving up on that bed. I ain’t got much soul left now, and I don’t have that much bread. I’m seeing that there are no more possibilities, I’ve tossed away my razor blade. I never had the thing I thought I had, the thing that made me think I had it made…” Doesn’t sound like a real positive place still, but hey, at least those razor blades are out of the picture and the healing can begin. hiatus

    PGroove fans had also felt that feeling of loss. In January 2013, Perpetual Groove announced an indefinite hiatus so that one of the members could fight the downward spiral many rock stars fall into. On April 5, 2013 the band took the stage of the Georgia Theatre for their then-final show. The news was heartbreaking to their fans, but many had already witnessed a decline in his health. The majority of diehard PGroove fans wanted what was best for all involved, and all prayed for a successful (yet speedy) recovery so the band could go back to touring.

    Other than a few shows this summer closer to their hometown in Athens, GA, NYC’s Brooklyn Bowl was the band’s return to the scene. Their only other shows scheduled this year is a two night Halloween run in South Carolina, another two nights in early December in Colorado, and a three nighter in Atlanta, Georgia for New Year’s Eve.

    The Brooklyn Bowl shows were proof that the band is not only doing MUCH better with their demons, but also looked happy and excited to be playing as a band again. Their energy spread through the entire room; not one person looked like they weren’t having a blast. If 2016 brings them back, there will no doubt be another great turnout of happy fans, new and old. Here’s to hoping to for their continued happiness, health and desire to make people boogie down and keep smiling.

    Setlist, October 9
    Trouble> Three Weeks> Speed Queen, Holy Ship, Lemurs, Two Shores, Sun Dog, Diggin in the Dirt, TTFPJ, A Day the Way> Robot Waltz
    Encore: Out Here> Trouble

    Setlist, October 10
    Life> Man With All The Answers, TSM2, Paper Dolls, Walkin in Place, Stealy Man, It Starts Where it Ends, Mr. Transistor, Cairo, All My Friends
    Encore: Teakwood Betz>…and Everything

  • Hearing Aide: ALO ‘Tangle Of Time’

    tot_featureIt has been three years since ALO last released an album. During that time, the band kept busy working on side projects and sit-ins with other artists. The result of that break is Tangle Of Time, their latest album, which was influenced by those side projects and other musical endeavors.

    While Tangle Of Time starts out in a familiar manner, long-time fans of the band might notice a different feel to much of this album. “There Was a Time” starts the album off in a fun, laid back manner. A pair of songs, “Not Old Yet” and “Keep On,” seem to be influenced by Phish bassist Mike Gordon’s solo work. Fans of ALO’s 2002 album Time Expander will enjoy the dancy groove of “The Ticket.” “Simple Times,” a ballad about spending time with loved ones, and “Strange Days,” a folksy number to close out the album, both draw from a country and folk influence. Lyrically, many of the songs on this album speak of various aspects of time, such as reflecting on the past (“A Fire I Kept”) or looking forward to the future (“The Ticket”).

    There are a couple low points, but Tangle Of Time is, overall, a fun album. The band is keeping their music fresh by drawing from new influences. Fans will notice the influences of folk, jazz, country, cajun and electronica on this album. It’s always refreshing to see bands and artists change up the styles of music on display in their repertoire. Tangle Of Time is just that.

    ALO is currently on tour. Tickets are still available for many of their shows.

    Key Tracks: The Ticket, Simple Times, Sugar

    [embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lO3kEh8kDw[/embedyt]

  • Listen to Holly Bowling at The Cutting Room

    Exclusive to NYS Music, enjoy a soundboard recording of Holly Bowling from her August 18 show at New York City’s The Cutting Room. Check out photos and a recap of her swing through New York State, including video from Relix and audio of her campground set at Magnaball. Don’t miss Holly when she heads to Albany on October 28 for a very special performance at The Massry Center at The College of Saint Rose.holly bowling cutting room

  • Hearing Aide: CBDB ‘The Fame EP’

    The Fame EP

    Southern “joyfunk” group CBDB recently released their EP The Fame, which melds pop and electronic jam influences to create an often warm and upbeat sound with hints of blues-rock.

    Recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the four tracks were recorded in one session. The six-piece jamband includes Cy Simonton (guitar & vocals), Kris Gottlieb (guitar & vocals), Glenn Dillard (sax/keys & vocals), Donald Deloach (percussion), Paul Oliver (drums) and David Ray (bass & vocals). The album was produced by CBDB and John Gifford III, mixed and mastered by Don Srygley, with Spencer Coats acting as assistant engineer.

    The first number on the EP “Ground Score,” opens with a brisk guitar riff similar to the opening riff in progressive rock group Lee Terrace’s title track “Deep Blue.” Lively guitar makes way for Simonton’s crisp Michael Jackson-esque vocals. His less poppy, southern-infused singing weaves into the instrumental groove, at points almost seeming to compete with the instrumentation, but breaking off halfway through the track to make way for a playful exchange between guitar and saxophone. The rich saxophone evokes the same horn heavy influences carried throughout the theme music of late night comedy show Saturday Night Live.

    “Echoes in the Room” provides a fulfilling swell of organ that blends beautifully with blues-rock guitar and Simonton’s lyrics, creating a song that ebbs and flows in intensity, seeming more purposeful than the other more jam-based tracks. The heavier guitar in the beginning of “A1A” sets the stage for what one might expect to be a pretty standard, well-layered jam. Guess again. Simonton’s angsty, whining vocals interject in ways that don’t comfortably blend with the song, leaving this pop/rock conundrum to ooze through the speakers like a giant melty cheese ball.

    The FAME EP can be found on cbdbmusic.com, iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Rhapsody, Google Play, and Pandora.

    Key track: Echoes in the Room

  • Bob Weir Hints at More Performances with Fare Thee Well Lineup

    With Dead & Company hitting the road later this month, starting at The Times Union Center in Albany, Bob Weir shed some light on the the upcoming tour as well as the potential for more shows with the Fare Thee Well “Core Four” in the future.

    Weir had high praise for John Mayer, filling in for lead guitar with this modified FTW lineup. “John’s enthusiasm for this is amazing — I couldn’t believe it. He learned the songs, has great enthusiasm, and he’s a great guitar player. So he fits in perfectly.” Mayer addressed his role in a humble manner, referring to his role by saying, “I don’t feel the pressure, but I would say I feel a responsibility.”

    For those looking to see the Core Four perform together again, Weir offered hope to Deadheads hoping for more shows with bassist Phil Lesh. “Phil doesn’t want to hit the road. He’s 75 now. It’s kind of not an option for him, the way he puts it. And so, you know, that’s still where we are; that’s still where we’re going to live, at least I am. And so, if we’re going to see him, we’re going to see him around here or around someplace where he is.”

    Suffice it to say, if there were to be shows, they would be similar to the two and three-day events held in Santa Clara, California, and Chicago this past summer, and not a full-blown tour.

  • Backwoods Pondfest 2015: Small Festival with Big Heart

    One of the best kept secrets in the festival circuit took place on August 7 and 8, 2015 in the Adirondack region known as Backwoods Pondfest put on by Full Circle Music Productions. The intimate festival is located at Twin Ponds Campsite in Peru, NY (almost Canada) with less than 2,000 attendees, most of whom have been coming to Pondfest for years and rejoice in the North Country reunion. The open car camping provides festival goers with spacious sites in the grassy fields, pond side or quiet wooded area.Newest and biggest upgrade to the festival was the large circus, cone shaped tent over the Woods Stage that offered quality sound and intrigue late night visuals. The event features over 20 musical talents from all genres and calibers of local favorites and national acts, with back to back performances on two stages. Guests who took advantage of the Early Bird Thursday night tickets got prime real estate and a live stream of Albany’s Formula 5 show in Lake George.

    Pondfesters arrived all throughout the day on Friday, unloading and setting up under crystal blue skies and sunshine. The Lynguistic Civilians voted Vermont’s best hip hop groupand making their debut at Pondfest, engaged the crowd with old school favorites and original, expressive lyrics. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong was another group new to the festival and was received with open arms. Their lighthearted, psychedelic funk was at an all-time high with a splash of reggae stirred in was the perfect start for the party on Friday night. “F U” got an extended jam with extra voltage from Max Garrett on trumpet from Capital Zen. The all string, quartet of Blind Owl Band call the Adirondack region and are no strangers to Backwoods Pondfest with a dedicated fan base at the Woods Stage. It was a hot set of bluegrass with an extra steamy, ferocious cover of The Allman Brother’s “Whipping Post”.

    [FinalTilesGallery id=’469′]

    Lucid took a break from festival hosting duties to perform their traditional first set of the weekend on the main stage. “Simmer On Down” had beautifully stretched peaks of tropical melodies that splashed down into a psychedelic middle eastern ride. The crowd got charged up as Lucid brought up George Wurster on harmonica for the “Backwoods” theme song. The night only got hotter after the sun went down with the fire spinners whipping and juggling the flames in sync with the North Country music and to the awe of the audience. At the woods stage,Gang of Thieves, Vermont’s funk rock and roll band slayed their first Pondfest with a mighty Led Zeppelin medley that sent chills all over the backwoods. Headliner of the night, Particle, brought their dirty Philly street funk to Pondfest for a set full of high organ groove courtesy of Steve Molitz and heart racing rhythm of Allen Aucoin. Guitarist Ben Combe and bassist Clay Parnell unfolded layers of riffs that drove the vibrant rock. Friday night wasn’t over yet as Albany’s Mister F closed out the woods stage with a late night set of chilling livetronica. Fans who stayed up for the action got a special Steve Molitz sit in that raised the bar for the rest of the weekend.

    Saturday began as another beautiful day at Pondfest with perfect weather settings and an incredible lineup to look forward to. Those seeking a space of meditation and peace found it with Samantha Jo at her morning yoga class. Dozens participated in the deep breathing and stretched that were so desperately needed after a night of dancing. Meadow and Kevin Sabourin of Lucid serenaded the yogis with soft, acoustic lullabies. One of the best things about this festival being so small is that you can hear the music from the stages at your campsite. You’re always in the music. The Balkun Brothers, Steve and Nick Balkun invited everyone into the sandbox of the Wood Stage for train track, funk rock. Festival host and performer, Lowell sat in with his mean harmonica soul as the Balkun music awed the crowd. Twiddle fans were gifted with a Mihali Savoulidis acoustic Story Telling set on the Main Stage for a mellow ease into the afternoon. The raw and intimate set featured beat box looping of Twiddle classics about love and friendships, with behind the scene tales of how they came to be.The Heavy Pets kicked it up a notch with improvisational tight jams of rock and roll. Their deep focused peaks provide high cliff hangers when the chorus catches up with you.

    [FinalTilesGallery id=’470′]

    One of the most anticipated sets of the weekend was the Ex Presidents featuring Eric Gould of Particle, Todd Stoops of RAQ and Kung Fu, Neal “Fro” Evans of Dopapod, and Andrew Block of Big Sam’s Funky Nation. There was plenty of hype to go around with it being their first performance and let’s hope it’s not their last. The chemistry these veteran musicians have is impeccable with a fluid groove that kept the set fun and airy. Jeff Lloyd of Heavy Pets joined the talented crew for an awesome cover of Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side.” Stoops made the announcement of Evans becoming the newest member of RAQ with a side of jokes of everyone joining each other’s bands.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i__QLSM3_y4

    The night took a turn towards a urban street party as Sophistifunk packed out the Woods Stage with old school hip hop that had the ground shaking. The big event of the night was Backwoods Pondfest veterans, Spiritiual Rez blowing up the Main Stage at midnight. You could see the steam rising over the band as they feverously rocked out with a climactic unannounced fireworks show that flawlessly matched up with “Let’s Go Out With A Bang.” Normal Instruments brought the key ingredient of late night festival life with high energetic livetronica with fast rhythm and blaring chords.

    The festival ended as quickly as it began. The pack up is never as much fun as setting it up but we carry the memories with us until next year’s festival. Backwoods Pondfest continues to be a close knit festival of friends and family working together to host talented musicians that bring incredible music and smiles. It’s one of the best weekends you could have of the summer in Upstate NY so be sure to meet us in the backwoods for next year’s Backwoods Pondfest.

  • Holly Bowling Announces 2015 Fall Tour

    Classical pianist Holly Bowling has announced that she plans to hit the road for a tour in the fall of 2015 to support her current album, Distillation Of A Dream: The Music Of Phish Reimagined For Solo Piano. The tour will feature some headlining dates in between opening shows for Pink Talking Fish.
    Holly will start the tour opening a pair of shows for Pink Talking Fish in Denver, Colorado, at Quixote’s True Blue, while ending the 13-date run with a two-day stay at the Pittsburgh Winery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
    Holly Bowling Tour Art
    Bowling will also play two shows in New York, first appearing at The College of Saint Rose’s Massry Center for the Performing Arts in Albany on Oct. 28 and Rockwood Music Hall in New York City on Nov. 8.
    Fans can also catch Bowling sail off on Jan. 6-11 on Jam Cruise 14, and she’ll appear at the AURA Music and Arts Festival on March 3-5.
    Bowling’s album Distillation Of A Dream: The Music Of Phish Reimagined For Solo Piano has been released on Royal Potato. Fans can also snatch up a vinyl version of Bowling’s arrangement of Tahoe Tweezer, also on the Royal Potato Family.
    Touring Cycle:
    10-16-2015 – Quixote’s True Blue – Denver, CO
    10-17-2015 – Quixote’s True Blue – Denver, CO
    10-18-2015 – Owsley’s Golden Road – Boulder, CO^
    10-28-2015 – Massry Center for the Arts – Albany, NY^
    10-29-2015 – Higher Ground – Burlington, VT
    11-03-2015 – The Lilypad – Cambridge, MA^
    11-05-2015 – 8×10 Club – Baltimore, MD
    11-06-2015 – Gypsy Sally’s – Washington, D.C.
    11-07-2015 – Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA
    11-08-2015 – Rockwood Music Hall – New York, NY^
    11-10-2015 – Woodlands Tavern – Columbus, OH^
    11-11-2015 –  Pittsburgh Winery – Pittsburgh, PA^
    11-12-2015 – Pittsburgh Winery – Pittsburgh PA^ **
    01-06-11-2016 Jam Cruise 14 – Miami, FL
    03-03-05-2016 AURA Music and Arts Festival – Live Oak, FL
    ^ headlining dates
    **featuring music of Phish and the Grateful Dead