NYS Music 20​15

Category: Genres

  • Holly Bowling to Record Album of Phish Jam Transcriptions ‘Distillation of a Dream’

    Pianist Holly Bowling, known for her transcription and performance of Phish’s “Tahoe Tweezer” announced today the recording of an album of Phish originals, Distillation of a Dream.

    Distillation of a DreamMelding her classical piano chops with a dedicated love of the music of Phish, “Distillation of a Dream” originates from Bowling’s obsession with Phish’s rendition of “Tweezer” from their 7/31/13 Lake Tahoe show. Bowling transcribed this 37-minute improvisational masterpiece note-for-note and arranged it for solo piano. The process, both painstaking and fulfilling, inspired Bowling to transform other Phish songs and well-known live jams into solo piano interpretations as well.

    The dual experiences of studying classical piano since age five and attending close to 300 Phish shows have allowed Holly to unite elements from two divergent musical worlds and synthesize them into a creation all its own. Having transformed several notable Phish jams into solo piano works, Bowling has been fastidious in her commitment to note-for-note renderings of unique live performances of Phish’s music.

    When asked the goal of her recorded album, Bowling stated, “I think it would be really amazing if ‘Distillation of a Dream’ influenced people who listen to Phish to expand their musical tastes into some of the solo piano music out there…and on the other side, for people who listen to classical music and would never dream of going to a Phish show to hear the band’s music in a different setting and maybe fall in love with the incredible music and compositions that this band has created.”

    “Distillation of a Dream” includes two discs, the first highlighting Phish’s intricate songwriting, and the second a tribute to the spontaneous improvisation Phish creates during their live performances.  The second disc, consisting entirely of “jam transcriptions”, contains three piano reinterpretations of standout live performances, including the “Tahoe Tweezer.”  All tracks will be released as a double album on CD and the “Tahoe Tweezer” will also be released on 180 gram vinyl. A portion of the proceeds from sales of “Distillation of a Dream” will benefit The Mockingbird Foundation.

    The album is available for pre-order exclusively through PledgeMusic.com.  Every order includes an Access Pass, which provides videos of the transcription and arranging process, footage from the studio, updates on the album’s progress and a sneak peek at Bowling’s latest jam transcription. Pre-order for the album is available at www.pledgemusic.com/projects/distillationofadream

    Disc One (55 minutes)
    Wingsuit
    The Squirming Coil
    Fly Famous Mockingbird
    The Inlaw Josie Wales
    My Friend My Friend
    Talk
    Sleep
    The Horse
    Silent in the Morning
    Waste
    Harry Hood
    A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing

    Disc Two (67 minutes)
    Tahoe Tweezer
    Mystery track – jam transcription TBA
    Chicago Wedge

  • Primus and the Chocolate Factory to Sweeten up Syracuse’s Landmark Theatre April 21

    That’s right folks, for one night only those mad capped musical magicians Primus will be making a stop here in Syracuse at the historic Landmark Theater. The evening’s offerings will include two magnificent sets: set 1 features all of your favorite classics performed by the trio; set 2 includes the band’s brilliant and unusual interpretation of the “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” soundtrack brought to life with the help of the Fungi Ensemble. So hurry up and grab your Golden Ticket because you’re not going to want to miss this limited engagement.

    “Ladies and Gentleman, Boys and Girls, the Chocolate Room”

    Primus and the Chocolate FactoryPrimus is:

    Les Claypool – vocals and bass

    Larry “Ler” LaLonde – guitar and backing vocals

    Tim “Herb” Alexander – drums and backing vocals

    The Fungi Ensemble is:

    Mike Dillon – marimba and percussion

    Sam Bass – cello

    Show Details:

    April 21, 2015 7PM Doors 8PM Music. All ages.

    Landmark Theatre, Syracuse, NY

    Tickets are $25-65$ Buy tickets.

    primusandthechocolatefactory

  • Hearing Aide: Rising Appalachia’s ‘Wider Circles’

    Be prepared to be wowed by the sweet harmonies coming forth from these super talented sisters, performing together as Rising Appalachia. A sound this tight could only come from two people who have put in a lifetime of singing and living life together. Hailing from the South, sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith have traveled extensively throughout the world, which truly shines through in their music. Joined by stand-up bassist/baritone guitarist David Brown and world percussionist Biko Casini, Rising Appalachia’s latest album Wider Circles is sure to gain this band heaps of new fans from all walks of life.

    Seamlessly covering the entire spectrum of musical genres, ranging from traditional music of the American South highlighting the banjo and fiddle, to world music featuring African drums, there’s something on this album for everyone to enjoy. Mixing in poetry, and even rap, on some of their tunes, it is definitely worth giving the lyrics a hard listen. You will feel like you learned something by listening to this album, hearing stories about medicine women and men on “Medicine”; listening to a chorus of African women singing at the end of “Bright Morning Stars”; being called to action in “An Invitation” and “Spirits Cradle” and hearing instruments prominently featured simultaneously that might not typically be paired together, like the banjo and trumpet on title track “Wider Circles”.

    Perhaps even more unique and inspiring than the album itself, Rising Appalachia is taking part in a “slow music movement” approach to touring, in an effort to travel to their shows in a more sustainable way and immerse themselves in the local communities in which they play. In advance of their new album, the band has embarked on their Wider Circles Rail Tour, during which they are traveling by train from show to show throughout their tour of the southwest, which began in New Orleans on March 28, and will feature several stops along their journey to Austin, Texas’s, Old Settler’s Music Festival, which will be taking place on April 18.

    Having graced an impressive variety of venues with their presence, ranging from Radio Popular Italy to Burning Man, this band has impressed audiences all over the world, and they don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. Featuring something for everyone as far as musical tastes go, it is highly recommended to check out the extraordinary harmonies and unique combination of instruments featured on Rising Appalachia’s latest album Wider Circles, which is set to be released on April 21. In the meantime, enjoy a brief video of one of their older songs to get you psyched for their new album release.

    Key Tracks: Novels of Acquaintance, Medicine, Wider Circles

  • RIP: Percy Sledge Dead at 73

    Legendary R&B and soul singer Percy Sledge who is best known for the classic “When a Man Loves a Women” passed away today at the age of 73 from natural causes.percy

    Sledge was originally a hospital nurse and toured on weekends before being signed to a recording contract in the late 60’s. NYSMusic sends Percy’s friends and family our condolences.

    https://youtu.be/FOaDgS1RKK0

  • The Ballroom Thieves Sound Big at Abilene

    New England has unexpectedly become a hotbed of the new folk scene that has emerged in the past decade. At first glance it felt like it was just a perceived and inflated importance caused by the Newport Folk Fest favoring regional bands in their undercard selections. Perhaps that has had some influence. but at this point it does seem much bigger than just the work of one festival. One of the latest bands to emerge on the scene is Boston’s The Ballroom Thieves, with Martin Earley on guitar, Devin Mauch on percussion and Calin Peters on cello. They came to Rochester’s Abilene Bar and Lounge just ahead of the release of their debut full-length, A Wolf in the Doorway, out on April 21.

    As they took the stage the crowd was loud, chatty and hardly aware the band had begun. Opening with “Storms,” a pleasant plucked guitar with just Earley’s voice which could hardly pierce through the noisy din. But as Mauch and Peters’ vocals layered in beautifully, one by one the offending noises dropped out and the crowd nudged in closer. The vocals built to a climax with some punctuated stomping, and just like that the Thieves had stolen the bar for themselves.

    Right away Earley had proven he could carry a performance himself if need be, nailing his vocals and showcasing some quality guitar work. But this was a band of three. As they moved next into “Wild Woman,” a banging country rocker off their upcoming album, the other two were able to showcase more fully their contributions. Mauch’s set-up was customized and somewhat unusual. Just a tom, snare, cymbal and a djembe laid on the floor that acted as a de facto bass drum.  Add to that a string of jingle bells that was wrapped around his thigh. Using sticks, brushes and various sized mallets, he was able to manufacture the perfect amount of noise to fit each tune. His resulting hypnotic seated dance was at times just as entertaining as the rhythms produced.

    Earley picked up his electric guitar for the deep Delta blues of “Oars to the Sea.” But it wasn’t the guitar that would shine. Unexpectedly, Peters stepped up with as bluesy a solo you will hear on a cello. Throughout the evening her cello work proved to be the secret weapon. Either with her solos which could mimic a guitar’s wail, carrying the songs melody or filling in the gaps with plucks and bows, the cello grabbed my attention as much as anything. Later in the set she would show off more of her talents, singing a lilting lead on a song she co-wrote with Earley, “Bury Me Smiling”. (video below)

    So it begins with Earley’s guitar work. Then sprinkle on the unique rhythms from Mauch and engaging cello work from Peters. Layer upon that what might be this bands strongest attribute, their soaring 3-part harmonies. Working all together to perform the music they’ve written, a varied collection of rockers, ballads, hymnals, barroom blues and on, all hewing Americana. The new songs noticeably stood out as especially strong throughout the set. I expect A Wolf in the Doorway will be turning some heads in the coming weeks and months and year. It is such a treat to be able to see a young band’s evolution occurring in real-time on the stage.

    Usually you long for the days when you could still see a band with a small intimate crowd before they “made it.” But The Ballroom Thieves played beyond the walls of the small neighborhood bar. The sound reached up and out and yearned to be heard somewhere bigger, with better acoustics, more people, more energy, more everything. I’m looking forward to when they make it, which might not be too far off, and might even be up on that Newport stage.

  • Finland’s Nightwish to Perform at Town Ballroom April 16

    On Thursday, April 16, Finland’s Nightwish will be performing in Buffalo, NY for the very first time at Town Ballroom, located at 681 Main St in downtown Buffalo. The Finnish symphonic metal band has toured the globe several times over and released eight full length albums, the most recent of which is entitled Endless Forms Most Beautiful. It’s a long epic release named after a quote by Charles Darwin and is based on the wonders of life, as well as making choices based on science and reason. It’s also the driving force behind their current world tour, which just kicked off in New York City on April 10.

    Finland's Nightwish Nightwish will be making their first trip to Buffalo during a very interesting time in their career. They’ve just recently brought Floor Jansen into the group for lead vocals. Some might remember her from her long career with Dutch symphonic metal group, After Forever. This makes Floor, Nightwish’s third female vocalist since the forming of the band, and the general consensus so far is that she’s proven herself to be a very worthy successor of Tarja Turenen and Anette Olzon. Nightwish is also being joined by Wintersun drummer, Kai Hahto for the foreseeable future, after their longtime drummer and friend Jukka Nevalainen decided to step down recently due to chronic insomnia. Furthermore, Troy Donockley is permanently adding his Celtic instrumentation to the band’s already enchanting orchestral sound, which is bound to treat every audience they play to on this tour to an even more unique experience.

    One of the highlights on Endless Forms Most Beautiful is the 24 minute closing track, ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’, and rumors are flying that those in attendance at Town Ballroom this Thursday will be hearing that very long, very impressive epic in the latter portion of the setlist. Longtime fans are hopeful that they’ll be hearing some of Nightwish’s older material at the show, and according to online sources, select tracks from Oceanborn, Wishmaster, Century Child and Once will be resurrected for this tour.

    So, whether you’ve only recently been introduced to Nightwish, or you’re a longtime listener, given the group’s sterling reputation for live performances, it seems fair to say that no one will be leaving this show disappointed. Even if you’ve never heard music like this before and you want to try something different, most fans of music in general can find something they appreciate in the music of Nightwish. Their songs are captivating, theatrical, symphonic, passionate and honest. We sincerely hope to see you there for what is bound to be a breathtaking event, the likes of which Buffalo has never experienced!

    “I do believe only innocence can save the world.” – Tuomas Holopainen (Nightwish founder, composer and lyricist)

  • Robby Krieger Celebrates 50 Years of The Doors at The Egg

    Bryan Lasky - Robby Krieger 2The Doors were one of the biggest acts all over the world from 1967 to 1971, but the tragic death of Jim Morrison put a halt to that. The music still resonates with a lot of people and Robby Krieger is making sure fans can celebrate the band’s music this year, since it is the 50th anniversary of them first getting together. Wrapping up this leg of the tour at The Egg, Robby Krieger celebrates with his band. They tore through two hours of Doors hits and rarities to the delight of the crowd.

    Robby let loose on his guitar throughout the evening whipping the crowd into a frenzy with his great solos on songs such as “Moonlight Drive”, “When the Music’s Over” and “Maggie M’Gill”. About half way through the concert he played an extended stunning version of “Spanish Caravan.” His band were spot on with the music all night, while his son Waylon honored the lyrics with his best take on Jim Morrison. Near the end of the show, a good portion of the crowd flocked to the front of the stage to get an up close look at the band while they played their last few songs. Ending the night with “Light My Fire,” Robby, with a smile from ear to ear, thanked the crowd for coming and celebrating the great music.

    Set: Break On Through (to the Other Side), People are Strange, Not to Touch the Earth, Moonlight Drive, Horse Latitudes, Wild Child, Peace Frog, When the Music’s Over, Spanish Caravan, Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar), Five to One, Riders on the Storm, Touch Me, Wishful Sinful, The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat), LA Woman

    Encore: Maggic M’Gill, Light My Fire

    [FinalTilesGallery id=’145′]

  • Camp Bisco Revival Might Not Happen

    Organizers trying for a revival of the Disco Biscuits’ Camp Bisco are running into issues that may make it difficult to host the festival this year.

    Schenectady County officials denied the new organizers a mass gathering permit, saying they want the festival to have a zero-tolerance drug policy, according to the Daily Gazette. They also want 50 police officers stationed throughout the concert grounds 24 a day throughout the festival, plus 20 officers to control traffic.

    Officials also cited concerns about traffic congestion and emergency response logistics.

    Camp Bisco Revival

    After seven years of Camp Bisco being run by MCP Presents, the festival was put on hiatus in 2014 as organizers dealt with drug issues and a lawsuit due to alleged inadequate emergency response to a woman having a seizure. This year, the owner of the country club where Camp Bisco has always been held in Mariaville and Gathering of the Vibes founder Ken Hays hope to hold a new kind of Camp Bisco with acts that attract an older crowd July 16-18.

    They have gotten permission from state police and the state departments of Health and Transportation, but need county approval as well. Stay tuned for updates on this potential Camp Bisco revival.

  • Zappa Plays Zappa Celebrates 40 Years of Frank Zappa at The Egg

    It was a calm, cool, April evening in Albany when Zappa Plays Zappa descended on The Egg in Albany. The show was completely sold out and the crowd was tame but one could tell it was full of die-hard Frank Zappa fans who remained seated all show and absorbed every single note.

    The band featured Dweezil Zappa (guitar), Scheila Gonzalez (saxophone, flute, keyboards, vocals), Ben Thomas (vocals, trumpet, trombone, guitar), Chris Norton (keyboards), Kurt Morgan (bass guitar), and Ryan Brown (drums). The show was one long set with no breaks, which found the band play the landmark 1975 LP “One Size Fits All” in its entirety along with other Zappa and Mothers of Invention classics.

    zappa plays zappa the eggThe show started with a small speech from Dweezil who explained how they were honoring the 40th anniversary of his father’s iconic album “One Size Fits All”. The band then wasted no time before diving into opener “Inca Roads”, which features very unusual lyrics and tempo, but a soaring guitar solo by Dweezil. Next up was the prog rocker “Can’t Afford No Shoes” and the instrumental “Sofa”. The always weird “Po-Jama People” followed, with its lyrical satire and jazzy feels. Next up was the complex “Florentine Pogen” and the short, quirky, “Evelyn, a Modified Dog”. “San Ber’dino” was next on the album, a tune about the recollection of staying in jail and true love. The band was firing on all cylinders during a nice jam of “Andy” before finishing up the album with “Sofa#2”.

    Dweezil gave a brief explanation of the next song “Status Back Baby” (Mothers of Invention), before leading the band through a slew of other Frank Zappa and Mothers of Invention songs. The band cruised through classic Zappa tunes “The Grand Wazoo”, “Baby Snakes”, and “Society Pages”. With no setbreak and the show almost 1.5 hours in, some people were taking off already since the band had already covered the album. Those who stuck around were treated to a “Who Needs the Peace Corps?” and the rocker “My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama” which featured furious guitar work by Dweezil. The band finished off the night with a classic off the 1974 album “Apostrophe (‘)”, “Cosmic Debris”. The band also closed the night with the well-known “Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy” and “Muffin Man.” The room acoustics are absolutely amazing, and no matter where you were in the room, every band member was loud and crystal clear. This added to the experience making it a truly intimate evening for the many Zappa fans in attendance,

  • Third Times a Charm for The Decemberists at Center for the Arts in Buffalo

    Touring behind their early 2015 album, What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World, The Decemberists brought their show to the Center for the Arts in Buffalo. It was their third time at the venue, but the first time that they sold it out.

    Toronto quintet Alvvays (pronounced Always) opened the evening, performing the excellent material off of their debut self-titled album released last year. It was their first in a run of shows with the Decemberists, after they were held up at the US border and had to miss their engagement the previous night in Pittsburgh. The trials and tribulations of being an opening band continued unfortunately, and the sound was downright awful throughout their set. Squeezed into a small spot at the front of the stage, they plowed through a quick 30 minutes that fell somewhat flat, through no fault of their own. The heavily distorted low-end, drowned out whatever other sounds were present.

    IMG_2106

    After a quick and extremely punctual changeover, The Decemberists took the stage innocently enough. Colin Meloy, his acoustic guitar and a lone spotlight. He started up the first track on their new album, the appropriately titled, “The Singer Addresses His Audience.” Simultaneously a dark backdrop displaying some female archers dropped behind the stage. One by one the remaining members of the band, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee, John Moen, Nate Query and two backup singers including the fantastic Kelly Hogan, entered the stage. A second backdrop fell in front of the first, creating a dimensional representation of the new album’s colorful artwork. The band kicked in, Meloy revved up the energy, jumping on to the drum riser, running into the front of the stage, strumming with ferocity. Not only was the singer addressing his audience, but within the first three minutes, he was making a pronouncement: “We are the headliners, and we are here to entertain the heck out of you!”

    Early on the audience called out their requests in the silence between songs. Meloy answered that they had a set list, and they were happy with the way it flowed. And he wasn’t kidding either. The set list was constructed almost as carefully as their well crafted songs. As would be expected, the latest album was best represented. The album itself hasn’t particularly grabbed me, it lacks the overarching character and completeness that their previous efforts have included. The individual songs however, suit their live show well, and blended seamlessly with their time-tested material. The evening included the live debut performance of “Anti-Summersong” (video below). Through perfect song placement, including material from their entire catalog, Meloy and the band played the room like a puppet. Controlling the energy throughout the night, they perfectly brought it to a head late in the set. The seated audience roared to its feet, almost on cue, and stayed there the rest of the way.

    Meloy wasn’t afraid to lay bare some of the messier moments in the honing of his songwriting craft. He revealed the original lyrics to “The Calamity Song” as sung to his son one morning over breakfast – Hank eat your oatmeal. Later also confiding in us the worst song he ever wrote, which concerned Dracula’s daughter; And yes, we should all be glad that one was scrapped.

    The band, seven strong, had the ability to sound like much more. Each member played various instruments throughout the night, filling in whatever was needed for each song and providing a dynamic range of sound. Accordion, trumpet, pedal steel, banjo, percussion… During “The Rake” Conlee and Funk came out with floor toms, banging away with rhythmic bombast. Meloy then orchestrated the audience in a three-part clapping exercise that worked flawlessly and incredibly into the mix. The audience would be called upon again to become an eighth member in a sing-along on the ensuing 16 Military Wives.

    Old songs were given fresh legs, such as with early era hit “Los Angeles, I’m Yours.” Conlee’s jazzy organ and the backup vocal oohs and aahs gave it a funkily awesome Stevie Wonder vibe. Somehow their live mainstay, “The Mariner’s Revenge” was kept feeling fresh. A large confetti-spewing whale was carried out on stage by the backup singers and it “devoured” the band, which lay lifeless on the stage. A fitting end for The Decemberists. What other band would/could/should play a theatrical Russian-folk-song inspired sea shanty as their big closing number?

    Set List: The Singer Addresses His Audience, Cavalry Captain, Down by the Water, Calamity Song, Grace Cathedral Hill, Anti-Summersong, Make You Better, The Wrong Year, The Island, Los Angeles, I’m Yours, Carolina Low, A Bower Scene >Won’t Want for Love (Margaret in the Taiga), The Rake’s Song, 16 Military Wives, O Valencia!, A Beginning Song, 12/17/12, The Mariner’s Revenge Song