Category: Genres

Hearing Aide: ‘Damn Country Music’

What could possibly make a Friday better? Well, the official release of Tim McGraw‘s 14th studio album, Damn Country Music of course. Just in time for the upcoming holiday season, Big Machine Records released the highly anticipated album this week. The record was produced by McGraw and trusted collaborator Byron Gallimore, and proves to be yet another album chock full of hits.

Tim shares the opening number with his first-born daughter, Gracie, in an upbeat country tune with a Celtic vibe of a tin whistle in the background; outstanding. Gracie’s sultry undertones match her father’s voice perfectly, and the tiny glimpse into their relationship at the end is super endearing. He also kicks up some dust with friends and co-collaborators Big & Rich on what’s sure to be a hit for them, “California”.

To McGraw, the album’s title track is reflective of the entire record’s tone and his musical journey thus far. “When I recorded Damn Country Music, it was one of those electric moments. It speaks to a passion and being at a crossroads in your life when you make that decision to pursue it knowing you might pay a heavy price,” says McGraw.

Damn Country Music’s lead single, “Top Of The World,” has been rocketing up the country radio charts since its out-of-this-world debut in August. The song’s widely-viewed lyric video features an intimate look into McGraw’s life as he surveys various personal photos and memories.

The release of Damn Country Music will cap off an exceptional year for McGraw, which began with a critically acclaimed & trending performance of “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me at the 87th Academy Awards on February 22. In April, McGraw was included on TIME 100 – Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people – and narrated the ESPN Films & SEC Network documentary Shaq & Dale, which detailed the enduring relationship between basketball icon Shaquille O’Neal and his former Louisiana State University coach Dale Brown.

Continuing to bolster his film career, McGraw starred in Disney’s Tomorrowland in May before kicking off his wildly successful Shotgun Rider tour in June. The tour thrilled thousands of fans and awarded mortgage-free homes to veterans through McGraw’s partnership with Operation Homefront & Chase in more than 30 cities throughout the summer. The tour concluded on September 19 in Irvine, CA to a sold out crowd.

Photo by Danny Clinch

Not sure how he fit in recording an album of this caliber, but we are sure glad he did.

Damn Country Music Standard Tracklisting:
• Here Tonight (ft. Gracie McGraw) – Perfect opening song featuring his first-born daughter Gracie. His smooth country sound blends perfectly with her warm bold undertones and gives a depth to the song.
• Losin’ You – This is an amazingly well written song. Through words, Tim paints the backdrop and tells a story of lost love. This is a great country song.
• How I’ll Always Be – This snappy upbeat diddy describes the simple pleasures in life of a man who knows who he is and what he finds important. ” I’ll always be a fan of old stray dogs and guitars playin’; One room churches, back road walks, and front porch swingin’; Sunset skies and bonfire nights, I love the simple things; That’s how I’ll always be”. Think that says it all. I absolutely loved the percussion and the great guitar riff within this number.
• Damn Country Music – Tim sings of the passion surrounding the life a musician. The constant dedication it takes is all rolled into a ballad of the love affair he has with country music and the ups and downs in the career as such. This is a perfect reflection of the cannon ball jump musicians make to follow their dreams.
• Love Runs – Love walks you to….and the lyrics within bring definition of what is the essence of a relationship. But it’s the love runs through your veins that is so strong and confirms the love you know, will be a forever love. Loved it. Number one hit for sure.
• What You’re Lookin’ For – This ballad tells of an admission and realization. This mellow tune is an acknowledgement of a love that just isn’t right. We have all been there, and Tim’s ability to deliver a sad song of love, just makes you weak in your knees.
• Top Of The World – The first release on the album came this past August and didn’t take but a minute to climb its way into the charts and our hearts. Would say that Tim McGraw definitely sits on Top of the World.
• Don’t Make Me Feel At Home – This number has a very old-fashioned country flavor of the George Jones era. Loved it. A must listen track.
• Want You Back – WOW! All I can say is, you can have me back. Definite hit. (drops mic)
• California (with Big & Rich) – This collaboration with Big & Rich rocks your country boots off. It’s one of those songs you hear, and you immediately pull your beau out to the dance floor. Fun and upbeat. Loved it.
• Humble and Kind – My hands down favorite on the album. It’s a conversation; one that brings me back to so many I’ve had throughout the years with my momma, my grandma, and my pop pop as they teach me how to be the best person I can be in life. Truly a number that everyone will relate to and love as well. So beautiful. The arrangement on this number must get a shout out as well as it is spectacular. Can’t wait to see this one live!

For those that purchase the Deluxe Edition, you will be treated to the following extra tracks as well.
Damn Country Music Bonus Tracks (Deluxe Edition):
• Everybody’s Lookin’
• Kiss A Girl
• Country And Western

This album has a great energy to it. It is a perfect mix of both upbeat and ballad; every song is a hit; and every song has substance. With some of the most talented writers in the business working with Tim, their words are made into stories and Tim delivers them magically and perfectly. A lot of scuttlebutt has been made in the industry claiming that commercialism has taken over and strayed country music from its roots. This album reflects a bit of those roots within, and gives the listener a taste of what country music is all about; the stories of life, love, and loss. I predict that this album will one of Tim’s biggest selling albums. I give it a definite two thumbs up. I believe it’s substance was a compilation of all that Tim’s endured over the years on the road and in the business. Tim’s was able to deliver an honest and heartwarming album, while standing tall and true is a direct reflection to his character and talent. A must purchase. I know I will.

Key Tracks: Want You Back, Humble and Kind, California

November 7, 2015
Sister Sin’s Brief Break Turns Permanent

What was supposed to be an eight-week break from a relentless touring and recording cycle since 2008 has now turned into a permanent hiatus for Swedish rockers Sister Sin.

The band released a statement on social media about calling it quits:

We have been touring and recording in a relentless schedule since 2008 and I guess we burned the candle in both ends and hit a wall. When we finally had the opportunity to step back and get some perspective, the motivation for some members in the band just wasn’t there anymore.

Sister Sin then went on to thank everyone who helped their journey over the past seven years as a professional touring act including their beloved road crew, Danger Music, Victory Rec, Artery Foundation TKO and all the companies that they have worked with.

Sister Sin also thanked the fans for their loyalty:

Most of all we would like thank YOU; Our dedicated, devoted, loving and caring fans around the globe! We’ve truly been blessed to be able to travel the world and meet so very many of you Sinners. Together we managed to sell tens of thousands of albums and achieve what most young bands only can dream of in this day in age. You truly are the sole reason we pushed on for as long as we did and we will cherish the memories forever and never forget your unconditional love!

Sister Sin has left the door open for a possible return someday as the band stated:

It is our hope that the flame will burn once again and hopefully resurrect this Swedish bastard sometime in the future. Time will tell. For now; Au Revoir, Sincerely, Dave, Liv, Jimmy, Strand.

November 7, 2015
The Milkman Cometh: An Interview with Ray Paczkowski

Ray Paczkowski, the bearded, bespectacled Vermonter behind the keys in Trey Anastasio Band, and is a hard man to track down. Having first played with TAB in the summer of 2001, ‘The Milkman” has been a staple of Stage Left, holding down the organ, clavinet and keys and adding funk to the well-rounded sound of Anastasio’s side-project.

Paczkowski is also one half of the duo Soule Monde, alongside drummer Russ Lawton, whose funk blend infuses jazz elements and Brazilian and World music themes for a full bodied sound.

Currently on Fall Tour with Trey Anastasio Band, Paczkowski and drummer Russ Lawton recently released a new EP, Smashed World. This June at a music festival in the Berkshires, Ray found time to sit down and have a conversation with NYS Music about his music.

Pete Mason: How did you get your name “Milkman?”

Ray Paczkowski: I worked on a dairy farm for 10-12 years when I was first in Vermont, doing gigs and milking cows. Trey always thought that was funny.

PM: When did you first start playing piano?

RP: I took piano lessons as a kid and started playing out in various projects. I always wanted to just play piano but you can’t haul a piano around, and digital pianos I just hated. Then I started hearing Jimmy Smith, (John) Medeski, and those guys and the sounds that they were getting out of that instrument, it was just so cool and I found that the Hammond has the same quality as a piano and everyone is different and every night there’s some kid of sound that pops out and that’s when I started doing it. A guy I worked with had a Hammond and just said take it.

PM: When was this?

RP: Early ’90s

PM: How did you get on Trey’s radar along with the Vermont musicians that have made up Trey Anastasio Band, particularly on your first tour in Summer 2001 with fellow Vermonters Jennifer Hartswick, Dave Grippo and Andy Moroz?

RP: I was in a band for a long time called Viperhouse and the lead singer, Heloise Williams, did some work with Trey, and we were kind of on a similar circuit, Phish had just started taking off, like we would be playing a club and they’d be next door in the arena. We would see them all the time, it’s Burlington, it’s a small musical community. I would play with Vorcza, a jazz trio and Trey would come listen to it and when he decided to put a band together, he asked me to do it.

PM: What was that first meeting like?

RP: We were doing a gig with Viperhouse in Winston-Salem, NC at Ziggy’s and they were playing next door in the arena. We went over to their show, they came over afterwards and he mentioned that he was thinking of putting a band together and said if I was ever interested and I said ‘Yeah’, but never really thought about it after that. A year later he showed up at a gig I was playing and asked me to do it. I thought about it for like five minutes and said ‘yes’ (laughs).

PM: What were those first shows like for you on the Summer 2001 TAB tour?

RP: It was at a whole other level with bigger shows, a full crew, and it was kind of bewildering going from just driving around in a van to a full scale operation. It was really fun with such a big band, and at that time I was playing in a trio and they had a much smaller sound, so fitting into that thing (with TAB) it was interesting, it was really cool. It was more orchestrated, I don’t know what the word would be exactly. I liked everyone and the music was great.

PM: Did you and drummer Russ Lawton know each other before playing together in Trey Anastasio Band?

RP: We had met here and there but I only knew him as a drummer. I didn’t meet him until we were playing together.

PM: So Soule Monde formed directly out of TAB?

RP: Yup.

PM: What were you seeking to create with the side project?

RP: I live in Vermont and Russ and his family had just moved here, and they were in the next town over. He called me up one day and said “I know this place that has a Hammond organ, let’s go there and make some shit up.” So we did, just kind of went from there. That was maybe 2008 or so.

PM: One of your first shows was a late night show in a cabin at StrangeCreek Campout. It was an unknown performance, knowing that two musicians in TAB were performing under the name Soule Monde, making for an intimate performance.

RP: I remember that, that was one of the first shows. We would just play at this place in Vermont and just make shit up.

PM: And now you’ve gotten to the point where you have songs and a wide array of compositions, have released one self-titled album and plan to release a new album this fall (the recently released Smashed World)

RP: Yeah we’re at a ‘one album every three years’ pace these days.

PM: How did Trey come to sit in with Soule Monde at Iridium Club in New York in May of 2014?

RP: It was just kind of random, we were driving to New York and I thought ‘Let’s call Trey, see if he’s around and wants to come to the show.’ We thought maybe we’d see him and hang out a little bit. He said “Mind if I bring my guitar?” I’m never one to ask, ‘Hey, come sit in with us?’ so he came down and played the whole second set. It was great!

PM: How has Soule Monde been on tour and the audience response over the past few years?

RP: We don’t travel much, do a lot of local stuff, like Disc Jam, that has a close range to Vermont, but the response has been good all around. With the new album, we’re trying to push it up to the next level, whatever that might be. It’s been really good and people are coming out. I think that not many people know the name Soule Monde, who or what it is. It’s really a factor of just hammering on the name even though we’re not on the road a lot, months out of the year.

PM: You and Russ being out of Vermont and knowing the local scene, and even the more rural areas, are there any musicians in Vermont that people should know about?

RP: I know a lot of players that are involved in various things, from folk type stuff to soul. I know a lot of musicians, but not so much the bands they are in. There’s a lot of good shit coming out of Vermont.

PM: Is there any music that you are listening to right now that is catching your ear?

RP: I have a 15 year old daughter and she turns me onto all this electronic type stuff.

PM: There must be an interesting connection between that genre and playing keys.

RP: It’s a cool genre, I don’t know that much about it. As far as listening to music, I’m a radio guy. When I’m traveling around, I’ll scan through things and if you’re in any area with college radio, you’ll get this weird stuff and find some new music.

November 6, 2015
Moon Taxi Release ‘Year Zero’ Music Video

Alternative indie rockers Moon Taxi have premiered a new music video for their single “Year Zero.”

The video was directed by Collin Palmer at Vessel Creative. The single comes off their brand-new record Daybreaker, their fourth studio album, which is released on 12th South Records under the BMG banner.

Daybreaker was produced by Jacquire King, who has also produced albums for the likes of Kings of Leon and Modest Mouse. The “Year Zero” single is already making waves on the AAA radio chart. The new single is in constant rotation across the United States including KINK in Portland, WRLT in Nashville, WXRV in Boston, KGSR in Austin and WTTS in Indianapolis.

Reigning from Nashville, the five-piece quartet is quickly making a name for themselves. Moon Taxi has had some of their singles grace national TV, landing spots for BMW, Major League Baseball, The National Football League, HBO Sports and ABC’s Nashville.

Moon Taxi has also made TV appearances on Late Night with David Letterman, Conan and NPR World Café.

Moon Taxi has made several major music festival appearances including Bonnaroo, Governors Ball, Austin City Limits, Firefly, Lollapalooza and Forecastle to name a few.

Rolling Stone has stated that Moon Taxi has worked their way up from Bonnaroo buzz-band to something approaching Kings of Leon country, playing pleasingly cross-bred rock.

Moon Taxi is currently on a fall tour that started at the Gothic Theatre in Englewood, Colorado, and will conclude on New Year’s Eve in their hometown of Nashville, at the War Memorial Auditorium.

November 6, 2015
Camp Bisco Permit Saga Continues

Well, Disco Biscuit fans, it looks like Camp Bisco will for sure not be returning to Schenectady County anytime soon as the permit saga drags on.

On Oct. 28, state Supreme Court Justice Vincent Reilly Jr. deemed the county’s ruling and safety issues raised as valid reasons for permit denial, as reported by Times Union. The summer event had been planned for a July 15 through 19 revival at Indian Lookout Country Club in Mariaville, where the three-day festival was held for seven consecutive years; however, the application for a mass-gathering permit was rejected by the county with major opposition from its sheriff.

This news continues a chain of events that has plagued Bisco since its 2014 hiatus, regarding safety concerns with transportation, emergency plans and insurance coverage, plus the festival’s failure to create a zero-tolerance drug policy. But the EDM-focused concert did return this summer with a venue change; Bisco 13 went off without a hitch at Montage Mountain in Scranton last July, and NYS Music contributor Jimmy Chambers reported on its success in his glowing review of the festival (revisit Camp Bisco here).

While the Philadelphia-based band has yet to announce plans for Bisco 2016, hang tight and take a look back at Camp Bisco 13 with the recently released aftermovie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zT1SazqseQ&feature=youtu.be

November 6, 2015
Yonder Mountain String Band Celebrates All ‘Strings’ Day at Anthology

The first day of November, the day after Halloween, All Saints Day. Or, if you’re seeing the Colorado road warriors, Yonder Mountain String Band maybe it’s All ‘Strings’ Day. The night prior, the blocks around Anthology in the East End of Rochester were buzzing with costumed masses in various states of inebriation. On this night, the streets were clear and quiet. But inside the doors of Anthology, a brand new music venue, a hoedown was whipping up.

Coming off their special Halloween gig, where they transformed into Yonder Mountain ‘Punk’ Band, littering the set list with fan-requested punk songs, the band took the stage looking a bit road weary. There was a small fear that maybe they were going to go through the motions at the start. Each member got a chance to warm up their fingers in the show opening cover of Danny Barnes’ “Funtime.” Ben Kaufman (bass) took vocal duties, while Jake Joliff (mandolin), Adam Aijala (guitar), Allie Kral (fiddle) and Dave Johnston (banjo) each worked a solo in between the songs’ three verses. The band continued to warm themselves up with runs through songs spanning their entire career. With two new members in Joliff and Kral, and a new album Black Sheep released in June, the band surprisingly went deep into their catalog. In fact, they played more songs from their first album (3), then from their latest (only 2).

Even after the antics from the night prior, YMSB still had plenty of tricks and surprises left. The band broke through what had been a fairly traditional evening of bluegrass music when Johnston led them in a mid-set rendition of the Rolling Stone’s “Torn and Frayed.” A mellow freeform jam followed and all members of the band crowded together, finally starting to find their footing. Kral and Joliff built the jam up and then the walls came completely crumbling down as the band kicked into Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train.” The energy level was suddenly doubled and the crowd was matching the band’s excitement, bellowing out the lyrics and pumping their fists.

The audience was feeling feisty after that ride and started yelling out requests. Kaufman remarked that sometimes they take requests, but don’t let it become a habit. But this time they obliged, with a solid run through of their classic “40 Miles From Denver” featuring even more from newcomers Kral and Joliff. After a gorgeous “Ooh La La” highlighted by a magnificent guitar solo, the band was ready for more requests, opening it up to the floor to decide the next song. After a lot of calls from the crowd and a long on-stage conference, “Deep Pockets” was the choice.

The second set would build from the first’s strong finish. A couple of cover-song sandwiches would highlight the set as the band felt more comfortable stretching out into full band improvisation. “Sideshow Blues” built from Kaufman’s dark and spacey bass into a solid groove that eventually slid perfectly into “Jack-a-Roe” which made its way back to “Sideshow” the same way it came in. Kaufman then surprisingly swapped his upright for an electric bass and the band kicked into the second most out-of-character cover of the evening with their take on Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man.” Kral nailed the vocals and Joliff and Aijala found space for some tasty soloing making it a welcome departure.

A late set “Pass This Way” once again extended into a full band jam. Aijala and Joliff assumed the reins and moved the band into a tight segue into David Grisman’s “EMD” which was really just an excuse to amp up the jam into a rollicking bluegrass breakdown. A more pronounced transition back to “Pass This Way” preceded a high energy “Southern Flavor” to close out the set.

Kaufman promised to end the show the same way it started, with some “fast bluegrass music,” which in this case meant an amped up cover of “I Know You Rider.” Who says you can’t have fun the night after Halloween?

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

Set 1: Funtime, High On A Hilltop, I’m Not Saying, Annalee, Mental Breakdown, Long Time, Torn And Frayed, Crazy Train, 40 Miles From Denver, Ooh La La, Deep Pockets, Drawing A Melody

Set 2: Son Of A Gun, Straight Line, Sideshow Blues> Jack A Roe> Sideshow Blues, Son Of A Preacher Man, This Lonesome Heart, Amie, My Gal, Pass This Way> EMD> Pass This Way, Southern Flavor E: I Know You Rider

Download the Show

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November 5, 2015
Joan Baez Announces Ithaca and Albany Performances February-March 2016

Joan Baez, one of the most recognizable and beautiful voices in folk music will be making two appearances in early 2016 in Upstate New York as part of a tour spanning January through March.

Now 74, Joan Baez has reeled over 50 years of a memorable music career intertwined with activism in social and political movements, from the 1960s civil rights movement through the Iraq War and more recent Occupy Wall Street movement. With her first record released in 1960, she has released 23 more studio records and about half of that number in live recordings. A Staten Island native, Baez began her career spreading out from Cambridge, Massachusetts, where her father took a position at MIT before her professional career took root at the 1959 Newport Folk Festival.

Baez has recently announced several tour dates in early 2016. Her first New York stop will be at the State Theater in Ithaca on Feb. 26. Tickets are available in a pre-sale now, with a public on sale starting at 11 a.m. Nov. 6. Her second New York performance is March 25 at The Egg in Albany.

Baez also has a few other performances scheduled for the northeast including New Hampshire, Connecticut and Vermont. Check out her tour website for more information on her other performances.

November 5, 2015
Demi Lovato & Nick Jonas Future Now Tour Predicted to Land in Buffalo

Fans of Disney’s Demi Lovato & Nick Jonas will be in heaven July 17, 2016, as the two will join forces to bring their Future Now: the Tour to Buffalo.

These two headlining acts would each fill the arena on their own, so their anticipated joint collaborative tour will most definitely sell out the First Niagara Center in record time. We wouldn’t hesitate to purchase tickets as soon as possible.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. A random handbill policy will be in effect. A limited number of handbills are available now.

Friday, June 24, 2016
Sunrise, FL BB&T Center

Saturday, June 25, 2016
Orlando, FL Amway Center

Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Atlanta, GA Philips Arena

Thursday, June 30, 2016
Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena

Saturday, July 2, 2016
Raleigh, NC PNC Arena

Sunday, July 3, 2016
Virginia Beach, VA Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach

Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena

Friday, July 8, 2016
Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center

Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Newark, NJ Prudential Center

Thursday, July 14, 2016
Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center

Saturday, July 16, 2016
Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium

Sunday, July 17, 2016
Buffalo, NY First Niagara Center

Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Boston, MA TD Garden

Friday, July 22, 2016
Montreal, QC Bell Centre

Saturday, July 23, 2016
Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre

Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Washington, DC Verizon Center

Wednesday, July 27, 2016 ]
Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center

Friday, July 29, 2016
Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center

Saturday, July 30, 2016
Auburn Hills, MI The Palace of Auburn Hills

Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena

Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Indianapolis, IN Bankers Life Fieldhouse

Friday, August 5, 2016
St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center

Saturday, August 6, 2016
Kansas City, MO Sprint Center

Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Denver, CO Pepsi Center

Thursday, August 11, 2016
Salt Lake City, UT Energy Solutions Arena

Saturday, August 13, 2016
Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena

Sunday, August 14, 2016
San Diego, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre

Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Anaheim, CA Honda Center

Thursday, August 18, 2016
San Jose, CA SAP Center

Saturday, August 20, 2016
Portland, OR Moda Center

Sunday, August 21, 2016
Seattle, WA Key Arena

Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Vancouver, BC Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena

Friday, August 26, 2016
Edmonton, AB Rexall Place

Saturday, August 27, 2016
Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome

Monday, August 29, 2016
Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre

Wednesday, August 31, 2016
St. Paul, MN Minnesota State Fairgrounds

Friday, September 2, 2016
Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena

Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena

Friday, September 9, 2016
Houston, TX Toyota Center

Saturday, September 10, 2016
San Antonio, TX AT&T Center

Monday, September 12, 2016
Dallas, TX American Airlines Center

Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Albuquerque, NM Isleta Amphitheater

Friday, September 16, 2016
Phoenix, AZ Talking Stick Resort Arena

Saturday, September 17, 2016
Los Angeles, CA The Forum

November 5, 2015
Joe Louis Walker and Jay Geils’ B.B. King Tribute Impresses Hudson Valley Crowd

One of the Hudson Valley’s hottest nights for blues in 2015 took place this last week as Joe Louis Walker paid special tribute to the King with the help of Jay Geils and some newly inducted members of the NY Blues Hall of Fame at Paramount Hudson Valley.

A different kind of induction ceremony kicked off the evening, one far from a yawn-filled series of speeches. With Michael Packer at the helm, an all-star cast joined together on stage to do a five-song opening set with members of this group inducted into the NY Blues Hall of Fame between songs. For a group of musicians who may have only had limited time rehearsing with each other, the sound was solid and energizing. The inductees this year included Michael Falzarano (guitarist for Hot Tuna and New Riders of the Purple Sage), Rick Knapp (bassist for Walter Trout and Jimmy Thackery), Juma Sultan (percussionist for Jimi Hendrix), and producer Osten Harvey Jr. (a.k.a. Easy Mo Bee).

If the roof of the Paramount wasn’t smoldering after Joe Louis Walker’s first song it wasn’t long before it was on fire. As a tribute to the late B.B. King, the setlist included several of King’s songs along with some of Walker’s originals. The set started off with “Friends” and included “Let Your Hair Down,” “She’s Got Eyes Like A Cat” and “Come Back Baby.” Aside from Walker’s incredible mastery of the blues guitar whether screaming at the 24^th fret or playing slow and heavy, the rest of the talent on stage combined for an even compliment, especially Vanessa Collier’s sax solos received by standing ovations.

About halfway through the set Jay Geils joined the set, a guitarist well-rooted in the blues despite his more well-known musical persona with the J. Geils Band. Educated as an engineer, Geils took up a career in music instead and had plenty of stories to share about his start in the blues after accepting his award in a surprise induction into the NY Blues Hall of Fame including some anecdotes about Buddy Guy. In the spirit of the tribute to B.B. King, Geils did not hesitate in saying that the way today’s blues is played can be attributed to King’s style.

Before an encore, all of the performers from the induction ceremony set joined Walker and Geils for a call-and-response shuffle tune. It was a true display on stage of what lies at the base of being a musician, getting together with a bunch of others and having nothing but fun in making music. The encore brought just Walker and his band along with Geils back. Reeling on the power of the end of the set, the crowd took advantage of the Paramount’s coziness and gathered on their feet close to the stage. Possibly an unplanned encore, Walker and Geils took a moment to discuss the structure of what they were about to play. Planned or unplanned, it closed out the night with a strong finish.

As one of only four of these B.B. King tribute shows Walker and Geils were touring with, it was truly a treat to have one of their stops in the lower Hudson Valley.

[FinalTilesGallery id=’497′]

November 5, 2015
Utica Music and Arts Festival 2015 – A Destination Fest

The Utica Music and Arts Festival has quickly become a must-do summer ending activity in Central New York. The 8th Annual version of UMAF, was held at various venues throughout Utica the weekend of September 11-13. The biggest problem involved with attending this festival is being able to fit in all the great music available throughout the weekend.

Going in without a plan is probably the best way to attack this weekend. Doing it this way, one can experience such pleasant surprises as the young brother and sister combo of Jocelyn and Chris Arndt, who played a Saturday mid-afternoon set at Nail Creek Pub, in the process winning over those in attendance.

Jocelyn Arndt

Joceyln is slight in stature, yet huge in vocal talent. She has a soulful, bluesy voice backed up with power; think Bonnie Raitt channeled through Grace Potter with a visit from PJ Harvey. Jocelyn’s animated vocal delivery commands attention. Her brother Chris, who is also her co-writer, delivers a solid and crisp sounding blues-rock style guitar that is the perfect accompaniment to Jocelyn’s voice.

The band’s tour itinerary is scant during the school year, as both are students at Harvard, but they will be hitting stages across New York in the coming weeks. Check here for dates.

Spending the weekend bouncing between Lukin’s and Nail Creek Pub seemed to be what many people were doing but to do so is to miss out on many of the other acts. Tiny’s hosted several jazz influenced bands, including Notified and the Carmen Caramanica Jazz Trio, while D.A. Bentley’s entertained the EDM crowd with sets from DJ D.A., Vongel and Phungeye among others. Harlee’s Pub & Grille was geared towards the metal. Local favorites Nineball and Street Rock Mafia provided Friday crowds with high energy entertainment at Harlee’s. Nineball is also festival producer, Joe Sweet’s main project.

Lukin’s hosted Conehead Buddha on Friday night. The Albany-area band has been on the jamband circuit for twenty years and showed no signs of wear this weekend. While the band has taken a hiatus here or there within that time, on this night it provided a sharp mix of reggae, ska and jam that has endeared Conehead Buddha to the northeast scene all these years. Also saxophonist Shannon Lynch provided much of the theatrics throughout the set, anchoring the big horn sound Conehead Buddha is known for.

Conehead Buddha

Female artists took ownership of this year’s Utica Music and Arts Festival. In addition to Lynch and Arndt’s performances; on Saturday, the festival faithful were treated to the eclectic mix of jangle pop of Sirsy. Lead singer and stand-up drummer, Melanie Khramer and her partner, guitarist Rich Libutti, had the Nail Creek crowd, the biggest one of the weekend to this point, dancing and singing along. Khramer has the uncanny ability to engage the crowd with humor and powerful vocals with lyrics that may take you to a darker place. The fact that the music is typically so upbeat and Khramer so quick-witted with her banter, may disguise some of the darkness in the lyrics but it also gives the listener pause. Krahmer’s Ella-like voice and stage presence added a terrific touch to the band’s final song of the night, a cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.”

Melanie Khramer of SIRSY belting it out.

Sirsy will be in Utica again on Dec. 8, performing an all-ages show at The Tramontane (known familiarly as The Tram). The show begins at 8:00 p.m. and will be a celebration of the band’s new EP to be released the week prior.

Exploding onto the Nail Creek stage after Sirsy’s set was Brooklyn’s Shinobi Ninja. With an elaborate and energetic stage show led by lead singer, Baby G, clad in an Iron Maiden t-shirt. It was clear from the start that this wouldn’t be your typical rock show. The band’s uniqueness has been described as being “like the Beastie Boys, Slayer and Lauryn Hill all mixed together.” After witnessing the band’s performance, that is an appropriate description. The following video gives a good impression of a Shinobi Ninja experience. Mix in some metal, reggae, rap, a little punk and a whole lot of jumping and you get this.

The uninitiated looked on in puzzling disbelief once the Ninjas took the stage, however in the short time they performed for the UMAF crowd, most of the leery were won over. The true venue to witness Shinobi Ninja is a live one. If this band doesn’t make some noise on the national scene in short order it will be a surprise.

UMAF faves Hank and Cupcakes followed Shinobi Ninja to a welcoming reception. Also based in Brooklyn, this duo is all about the performance. The husband and wife duo originally began performing together while serving in the Israeli Army at the age of 19. Colorfully dressed and highly animated, lead singer Sagit “Cupcakes” Shir isn’t afraid to get into the face of the audience while performing. In addition to pulling off vocal duties, Shir also drums and plays piano while bassist Ariel “Hank” Scherbacovsky keeps the beat and uses samples while safely tucked away stage right.

Hank and Cupcakes deliver a performance that begs to be seen and the elbow to elbow crowd in front of the Nail Creek’s outdoor staage proved that on a rainy Saturday night in Utica.

Hank and Cupcakes rockin’ the Nail Creek

The other Saturday night headliners performed nearly simultaneously up the street at Lukin’s. Floodwood, a bluegrass based band comprised of moe. bandmates Al Schnier and Vinnie Amico, as well as Jason Barady, Nick Piccininni and Zachary Fleitz, put together a two set show that, unbeknownst to all in attendance, would turn out to be one of the band’s final performances with this lineup. Schnier and Fleitz announced their departure from Floodwood in a release just a few weeks ago.

Floodwood

The band packed the house at Lukin’s, playing right up to the 2:00 a.m. hour, performing Floodwood originals mixed with some moe. covers, Dead covers and other bluegrass. A Floodwood show is always a good time. Varick Street Legend, Rainbow Young even made an appearance opening the set with a rousing version of the “Star Spangled Banner” that included maximum audience participation. Rainbow’s presence was seen at Lukin’s throughout the weekend, cementing the festival as a true Utica tradition.

Rainbow Young, Varick Street Legend, performing the National Anthem prior to Floodwood’s set.

If you’re in a music glut and looking for something new to listen to, the Utica Music and Arts Festival is the perfect venue to get you out of that funk. Festival organizer Joe Sweet and his booking crew go out of their way to include a huge variety of music to the festival each year. The 2015 edition was no different. And at a cost of $10 for a weekend bracelet, the music lover in you simply cannot go wrong attending this destination festival.

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November 4, 2015