Stratosphere All-Stars is a jam-band supergroup featuring members of Digital Tape Machine, Particle, Pnuma Trio, and formerly of STS9. They host various special guests including Todd Stoops (Kung Fu), Andrew Block (Gramatik), and vocalists Ben Combe (Particle) and Allison Singer at their March 26 debut. The Stratosphere All-Stars are: Mike Greenfield (Lotus), Steve Molitz (Particle), David Murphy (Seven Arrows/formerly STS9), and Marcus Rezak (Digital Tape Machine). Covers of the Grateful Dead, Talking Heads, LCD Soundsystem, and more, fuse with free-form improvisational jams creating an energy 51km high.
Although it may have been the first day of spring, the weather didn’t seem to know that. People were walking briskly to escape the cold and get into Putnam Den where it’s always hot and always a guaranteed good time. As the night started off there were more people huddled around the TV watching college basketball, but fans were about to be treated to another form of “March Madness” in the entity known as Particle.
Greenhouse Lounge, a trio out of Jacksonville, FL started the night off spitting pure fire – these three guys exemplified livetronica. While using samples and homemade beats covered with the sounds of the live band, there was little that could stop the groove. The two were so intertwined at some points it was difficult to tell which was the loop and which was the band, a skill very few have mastered but the boys were spot on, and it drew the crowd from the TVs to the front of the stage. They were getting down to the unmistakeable sound that may be the future of the genre. A perfect way to kick off the night for the Particle party that was about to ensue.
Particle came tearing out of the gate, with Ben Comb shredding his guitar and raising all the energy until everyone was up dancing and flowing to the fast paced groove. Bassist Clay Parnell and drummer Allen Aucion were the perfect back drop, keeping the rhythm solid and following along with the guitar which eventually lead into a keyboard solo from Particle’s leader Steve Molitz. The contrasting sounds he made with the keys were mind blowing – to the point that some of the audience had to stop and listen in wonder to work out where these amazing sounds were coming from. The pattern of drum and bass heavy rhythms continued as Ben and Steve swapped leads.
Although Particle are know for the instrumental jam, they are not a one dimensional band by any means. Ben Comb did more than shred the guitar, he also sang, which is no easy task when the beats are going so fast. He was also able to keep his voice in range and, impressively, in time. This mixture of sounds progressed from Pink Floyd to a Siberian saber dance. The proof was in the music that there is very little Particle can’t do.
One of the Capital District’s loudest kept secrets is the powerhouse funk group known as Groovestick, who recently released their debut album, Groovestick. Lead by bassist Dan Gerken with Justin Henricks on guitar, Kevin Urvalek on drums, Dan Klug on percussion and Hammond organ star Chris Carballeira, these 5 musicians from Way Down, Timbre Coup and Dirty Paris create solid harmonies and high energy progressive funk that force you to groove. The eight track album reaching a little over half an hour is more than enough to convince you to see them live and get down to the funk. The album is available for streaming and a digital copy for $5 via bandcamp.com and was recorded at Telefunken Studios in Hartford, CT.
Groovestick is a quick listen to get the pre-party started for any night of the week. Henricks chillingly shreds classic rock chords as Carballeira adds vintage funky soul on the ivories. The album hits start with the jazzy quick tempo rock of “Horde”, a surge of rock to get the blood racing. “No Time for That” is a modern mo-town with a disco flair and strongly executed catchy lyrics from Dan Gerken and company. “Electric Shoes” is one of their fiercest songs, showcasing stand out solo work as well as mountainous peaks of melody, challenging the listener to break loose. Klug and Urvalek intertwine their controlled rhythm mania throughout the album for a nonstop tight groove. Groovestick is a boogie machine with rebellious soul, making this album of theirs a great soundtrack for the spring ahead.
Key Tracks: Not Time for That, Electric Shoes, Shark Bait
Check out Groovestick when they come to The Hollow in Albany with Lucid on April 3, The Monopole in Plattsburgh on April 24 and The Rustic Barn in Troy on April 25.
Since the inception of Phish and their unique setlist styling, there have been many games played, fantasy setlists written and a fascination with show stats. There are a few fun things that haven’t been done though. With Wrestlemania 31 held this weekend at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, here are a few fun takes on set lists, comparing them to wrestlers, wrestling matches and historic landmarks.
Various wrestling superstars across the eras of WWE have been matched up to Phish songs that would represent the best Wrestlemania ever.
1. Carini/Ultimate Warrior: Two entities that when the first note hits you know you are in for a mighty bout of energy. It wont last the longest, but for the time it does it will be non stop adrenaline!
2. The Horse>Silent in the Morning/ Koko B Ware (and his bird Frankie): There was not a kid who grew up in the 80’s who didn’t see the Birdman come out flapping his arms holding a parrot. He had arenas across the country cheering when they saw this and they were always together, just like “The Horse” and “Silent in the Morning” (at least traditionally). When Trey strums the first note of “The Horse” the crowd goes nuts and it’s a fun pairing. It’s not the jammiest song, as Koko wasn’t the best wrestler, but everyone always had a great time seeing him.
3. Sneaking Sally Through the Alley/Repo Man: Who the hell is the Repo Man and is he made up? Nope. He was a wrestler, Barry Darsow. This is a pairing that is based strictly on title. The Repo Man was a sneak. He would slither in the ring and threaten to repo your stuff. Not the best gimmick but still…
4.Maze/Bret Hart: Maze starts out where the character is lost unable to find his way out. Wishing he was able to start over and not get stuck in the rut that is the Maze. Bret Hart was like this early in his career, wrestling for his father Stu in Calgary, and just getting lost in the shuffle of being another Hart brother (there are a lot of them). As Brett kept going and working hard, his ability in the ring became more concise and technically sound that any wrestler in his time. Coining the phrase “The best there is. The best there was and the best there ever will be,” is similar to the jam in “Maze”: you don’t know where it comes from but once you are hearing it, much like when you watch Brett wrestle, you know they have both accomplished what they set out to.
5. First Tube/ The Undertaker: When the lights go out and the big gong goes off, everyone shivers as the Undertaker makes his way to the ring. Not only is the Arena dark, but the feeling and the aura are dark as well, just as it is when the first bass line of “First Tube” drops. You can feel your heart jumping in your chest. The song and the wrestler do a superb job at setting out what they set out to achieve: a jaw dropping spectacle leaving the fan in spooky place for an amount of time, yet having a blast while its happening.
6. Run Like an Antelope/The Rock: When The Rock started his wrestling career he didn’t start right at the top. He slowly worked his way up, but when he got to the top he didn’t just stay there, he espically did it in a fashion that no one had ever done before him and no one has or will ever do again. The way Antelope starts out is similar, slow and little silly gimmicky riffs until that break down and we get down to business. As The Rock did, Antelope ends in a completely different place than where it was in the middle, when it was kicking ass.
7. Slave to the Traffic Light/Stone Cold Steve Austin: On paper the two seem very similar. The lyrics to “Slave” could have been written by a 10 year old and Stone Cold’s plain gimmick of a bald beer drinker could have been picked out of, well anywhere. It’s in the meat these comparisons are being made. Neither may look like they can pack a punch but as the each progresses the stronger each becomes. Whether it’s wailing guitar riffs or middle fingers and getting your head knocked in, both are serious parts of the annals of Phish and wrestling history.
8. Harry Hood/ Triple H: “Hood” takes the fan on a journey through many different catacombs as Triple H has had many different characters until he found his niche. Both of the subjects however end with a power unparalleled to any other song in the Phish library or any other superstar in the locker room. “Hood” with its in your face guitar slamming telling what to feel good about and Triple H marrying the bosses daughter and having run of the company.
9.Divided Sky/Hulk Hogan: There are no two other entities that pack more of a punch for so many years than theses two. Hulk hogan has been a staple at the top of the wrestling ladder forever as “Divided Sky” has been for Phish. Although you may have seen or heard both of these iconic figures a million times it still will not be enough. The energy both posses are larger than life. The institution that is Phish and that of the WWE would not be the same without these two in their respective potions.
10. You Enjoy Myself/Andre The Giant. With Andre being the most iconic figure in wrestling history and “YEM” being the most epic song by Phish, it is clear these two should be matched up.
For the third and last video for their brand new Snow Day Sessions EP – Mister F welcomes us to “The Machine.” The F are NY bred from the Albany area and feature brothers Matt and Ben Pickering on drums and bass, guitarist Andrew Chamberlaine, and jack of all keys Scott Hannay who gave us some details on the song’s background:
“The Machine” was untitled during most of the Midwest tour – it debuted on November ’14. We took suggestions from people, we thought of everything we could, but we just couldn’t come up with the *right* name, and didn’t want to just phone it in. We were in the van between shows watching a video of this guy, Bert Kreischer, on Joe Rogan’s podcast, telling a rather involved story about being abroad with a college class of his in Russia. He accidentally introduced himself as ‘The Machine’ to these Russian mobster bodyguards named Igor and Igor, and they laughed, partied, and took him in…and made him rob an entire train(and his classmates) with them. Obviously, we called the song “Igor and Igor”. That lasted for one show – we then decided that “The Machine” was more appropriate for the sound!
The three track Snow Day Sessions release is now available for less than a latte on the F Bandcamp page. Check out “The Machine” below and go get yourself F’d on tour soon!
Welcome to Round 4 or better known as the “Elite Eight” of NYS Music’s March Madness 2016! This tournament-style competition includes the remaining 8 bands and artists who call New York their home.
This year’s 4 brackets are based on genres of music – Funk/Jam/Reggae, Metal/Rock, Bluegrass/Folk/Americana and Indie/EDM. Each bracket has 16 New York bands in their respective region, battling it out to reach the Final Four and claim this year’s title. Bands were chosen based upon their origins in New York and popularity in their respective genres.
Since we are including all the genres together and you may not be familiar with all the bands, please take some time to check them out. The winner of each matchup will move on to the “Final Four” and go head to head with a band from another genres. In the Folk/Bluegrass/Americana/Country category there are 8) Eastbound Jesus vs. 10) Blind Owl Band. In the EDM/Indie/Other genre are 5) Manhattan Project vs. 3) Jimkata. In the Jam/Funk/Reggae genre check out 1) moe. vs. 6) Conehead Buddha. Wrapping things up in the Metal/Rock/Punk division are 12) Jesus Christ & the Hallucinogenic Allstars vs. 10) Wild Adriatic.
Round 4 voting begins Friday, March 27 at Noon and ends on Sunday March 29th at midnight. Round 5 (The Final Four) will begin on March 30, with additional rounds announced on the NYS Music Facebook page.
The final night of the Bowlive run is akin to the last day of your wedding week. Seeing the same faces you have seen all week, reminiscing over all the great times you had, and looking forward to one final party to cap it all off. On this the eighth night, Soulive could’ve chosen any band in NYC to open the show. Instead they tapped Royal Potato favorite Wyllys to get the crowd warmed up ahead of Marco Benevento and Soulive. Wyllys still opts for the old school method of spinning rock, funk, and soul tunes on vinyl in addition to using the electronic devices at his disposal. If one thing was learned throughout this run it was the importance of the opener to not only set the stage for Soulive but to warm the crowd up. On this Saturday night in Brooklyn, the crowd was ready to have the best night of their lives.
Soulive took the stage for their final engagement with just the three members of the band. Eric Krasno (guitar), Alan Evans (drums), and Neal Evans (keys) hit the ground running with “Rudy’s Way” off of the 2002 album Turn It Out, then took it back even further with the 2001 tune “One In Seven” off of Doin’ Something. Only two songs into the night and The Shady Horns consisting of Benny Bloom (trumpet) and Ryan Zoidis (sax) joined in on the action on “Spark”, a tune penned as a tribute to American jazz blues guitarist Melvin Sparks. The next two songs “Backwards Jack” and “PJ’s” both came off of the 2009 release Up Here. The final guest of Bowlive 6, Marco Benevento, joined in the fun to occupy his empty piano at center stage and close out the first set with a psychedelic rendition of the appropriately named “Up Right.” He jammed away on his piano, giving the crowd a slight foreshadowing of how electric the remainder of the night would be. In between sets a montage was played on the screens at Brooklyn Bowl recapping the previous seven nights, the same you would find at a wedding, recapping all the good times spent together.
The second set began with the ensemble on stage joined by Maurice “Mo Betta” Brown (trumpet, Tedeschi Trucks Band) for the second time of the run for a heart filled rendition of George Benson’s “Soulful Strut.” As Marco delved into “Limbs of a Pine” off his 2012 Tigerface, it became apparent that no man was smiling wider then Benevento, his electric personality and smile energizing the audience and band in what would be their seventeenth and final set of Bowlive 6. Up next was “At The Show,” which featured Benevento leaving his bench and keys to prance around the stage like a exuberant child on Christmas morning, only making a pit stop to share a dance with his ivory tickling brother, Neal. Marco returned to his piano to close out the second set with the jammed out psych jazz “The In Crowd.”
For the final encore Soulive, The Shady Horns, and Marco Benevento went an interesting route and chose an instrumental version of Led Zeppelin’s “The Ocean,” the same tune they closed out the previous Saturday night with, with Jennifer Hartswick on vocals. After the encore, Pete Shapiro came out on stage and gifted the band “61” necklaces to honor the 61 shows Soulive has played at Brooklyn Bowl to date. The evening was brought to an end with Wyllys continuing to keep the crowd grooving into the late hours of the night with his unique mash-ups and fan favorite tunes.
On Friday March 20, the Buffalo metal scene came together at the Rockin’ Buffalo Saloon in West Seneca, NY, to raise some money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The event was called “Metal Fights Cancer” and it was hosted by Brian Pattison, a longtime Buffalo show promoter and supporter. Six bands took the stage that night, playing to a packed house of other musicians and show goers. Each act put on a killer set and added to the Buffalo metal scene’s already sterling reputation for excellent musicianship and charitable contributions.
The night kicked off with Tyranitar, a Viking themed metal band from Rochester, NY. They ascended to the stage in full Viking attire, paying homage to the Nordic gods while playing flawless Euro-influenced melodic death metal. I’d recommend this band to any fan of Amon Amarth or Kings of Asgard. Tyranitar’s set ended with a great Amon Amarth cover, which set a nice mood in the audience for the next act.
Armageddon, Buffalo’s ‘young thrash attack’ took the stage next. This three piece ranges ages 12-18, but don’t let that discourage you. They can hold their own with the best of the best and put on a fantastic performance. Armageddon audiences are never disappointed. I like to think of their sound as being a rejuvenated Death Angel.
Following Armageddon, was Weaponex This band features guitarist, Mike Willard, a local idol in Buffalo’s guitar world. He’s a master of all styles and his riffs and leads are well complimented by a stunning rhythm section. Weaponex reminds me of a very progressive Megadeth, with song structures and dynamics that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Enthauptung (ent-owpt-oong) appeared shortly after, under haunting blue lights in an otherwise dark and silent room. It was my first time seeing them, but I can already tell you they are a true black metal authority in WNY. Their songs are long, symphonic and hypnotic with guitar work and drumming that resets the black metal standard. Fans of Emperor, Mayhem, Burzum or other local black metal lords, Hubris, will appreciate Enthauptung.
Seven Faces returned to the stage in Enthauptung’s wake, just in time to calm things down before the night could become too evil. They’re a solid rock metal band, with tight heavy riffs and clean singing, reminiscent of the great radio rock bands of the mid-late ’90s. A few songs reminded me of Alice in Chains’s heavier material. I give them 5 out of 5 stars for great musicianship and making me feel nostalgic.
The night concluded with Aspired Infliction, melodic thrash with breakdowns from Buffalo. They’ve been on the scene the last four years, only you’d never know it because of repeated hiatuses and a briefly spun carousel of guitarists. They came out with their usual heavy and gave those who came to mosh a reason to. The pit erupted during the first song and intermittently continued until the end of their set. It was a truly fitting end to a very successful night.
Brian Pattison ended up raising a good chunk of change for young cancer patients that night, and further upheld the Buffalo metal scene’s good name. Then, on the following night, Saturday March 21, he put on a second cancer benefit for the family of Jennifer Rinaldo, a dear friend of his who died of cancer a few years back. Regretfully, I was unable to attend.
Here are some links for donations to both causes:
glorioustimesdeathbook@gmail.com- Paypal for Jennifer Rinaldo’s family
Rolling around the northeast on their Spring Steady Tour, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad burned one down this past saturday with the help from the High Hopes Band and Danielle Ponder & the Tomorrow People at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse, NY. High Hopes hit the stage at 8 p.m. sharp, not wasting a moment of the audience’s time. Ready as ever, they kicked off the first set with originals from their newly released album Forever Love. HHB serenaded the crowd for the their full hour with silky smooth lyrical stories accompanied by cavernous bass lines and rich drum rhythms. Luscious guitar melodies and keyboards were nothing short of ear pleasing for the 70’s era reggae lovers in the theater.
The second performance was delightfully owned by Danielle Ponder and the Tomorrow People. These Rochester, NY funksters brought with them to Syracuse a style of their own, blending Soul, Funk, R&B, and Hip Hop. The group practically tore down the roof with covers of “Killing Me Softly” by the Fugees and “Cherish the Day” by Sade, along with a mix of their own original music. Danielle belted out every lyric and syllable with precision and affection as a passionate singer should, which may have come easy being backed up by a modestly qualified band.
By the time the first two performances were finished, the crowd was warmed up and awaiting some Giant Panda love. A few moments later, the five members of GPGDS ascended the stage with instruments in hand and propelled into their set. Opening with a new song called “Make it Better,” the squad put their faith into the commendable crowd, which yielded a boisterous cheer. Graciously, the quintet pursued a monstrous segue jam that Chris and Tony kept glued together, consisting of “Seasons Change,” “Foundation,” “Mr. Cop,” “Pockets,” and ending with “Healing.” Without taking a breath, they dove right into “Steady,” the title track of their most recent release and the crowd displayed extensive joy as they sang along with Dylan and Dan’s unified harmonies.
Giant Panda flawlessly gave the people what they wanted with more fan favorites, such as “All Night Music,” “Whatever Cost,” and “Take Your Place.” The energy in the building was immense to the point that the band did not want to take a break, playing nearly a three hour set. Sparing no expense, the guys dropped a whopping “.45” with James leading on vocals and bass. After departing the stage for a brisk water break, the ensemble returned with a two song encore consisting of “Far Away” and “OK,” coupled with a fancy dub jam molded in the middle. Before anyone could appeal, the show was closing and the band was thanking the Salt City along with everyone in attendance for sharing their evening with them.
Amidst a lengthy northeastern run, these artists held their momentum and have not wasted one ounce of energy on their fans. As GPGDS continues their Spring Steady Tour through April with three more shows in Ithaca, Albany, and Buffalo, they will also be traveling to the west coast for a few appearances this spring, including the California Roots Festival on May 22.
It has been quite some time since trailblazing musician Karyn Crisis has played Upstate New York. She used to front the heavy rock band Crisis, and they made a few stops over the years in this area before disbanding in 2006. Now, she is set to bring her newest project to Trickshots in Clifton Park on Saturday March 28.
Gospel of the Witches brand new album Salem’s Wounds was just released to the masses on Century Media Records. Karyn has laid low since leaving Crisis, focusing on her love or art and the occult. But after meeting her husband Davide Tiso, and starting to lend some vocals on his projects, she decided to venture forth into the world of music once again. The band started as an incantation between Davide and Karyn, and has morphed into a full on project with members of Immolation, Tombs and others join the ranks to bring this occult metal band to life. Upstate New York’s up and coming premier metal venue, Trickshots Billiards in Clifton Park, is lucky enough to house one of two special performances by the band on the east coast in support of their new record, thanks in part to the tireless efforts of Joelggernaut Productions.
Also appearing on the bill will be local heavy bands Purifier, The Final Sleep and Black Iron Prison. Doors are at 7pm, and the $10 cover ensures you get a night you won’t soon forget, and shouldn’t miss out on, for every band brings something unique to the stage. Check out more details at the Facebook event here.
For a taste of Gospel of the Witches new record Salem’s Wounds check out “The Alchemist”.
One of the Capital District’s loudest kept secrets is the powerhouse funk group known as 
6. Run Like an Antelope/The Rock: When The Rock started his wrestling career he didn’t start right at the top. He slowly worked his way up, but when he got to the top he didn’t just stay there, he espically did it in a fashion that no one had ever done before him and no one has or will ever do again. The way Antelope starts out is similar, slow and little silly gimmicky riffs until that break down and we get down to business. As The Rock did, Antelope ends in a completely different place than where it was in the middle, when it was kicking ass.
The night kicked off with 
Following Armageddon, was 
Seven Faces