NYS Music 20​15

Category: Rock

  • Hearing Aide: Mark Doyle “One November Night – Live In Concert”

    Mark Doyle has released a two cd live performance by his ten-piece Guitar Noir ensemble project. The material is based on his trilogy of critically acclaimed solo albums, 1999’s Guitar Noir, 2001’s Out Of The Past and the follow-up to Guitar Noir, 2011’s In Dreams: Guitar Noir ll. In Dreams is presented in its entirety on disc one and highlights of the other two cds are performed on disc two along with a few surprise gems. One November Night was performed at Onondaga Community College’s intimate new Recital Hall on November 22nd, 2014 with Jason “Jocko” Randall at the F.O.H. helm and Dan Shaw handling recording duties. Doyle produced and mixed at Near Miss Studios, Jocko mastered the final product at More Sound. The pairing of Doyle and Randall have garnered multiple SAMMY Awards for Mark Doyle and The Maniacs, Doyle’s blues/rock band.

    Mark DoyleThe carefully selected ensemble draws from a list of long-time collaborators, Terry Quill on guitar (former Maniacs), Edgar Pagan-bass, Bill DiCosimo-keyboards, Joshua Dekaney-drums/Roland Pads, all of (Grupo Pagan, Mary Fahl) and a stunning string quintet comprised of Ally Brown-1st violin/section leader, Shelby Dems-1st violin, Leila Dean-2nd violin, Claire Wilcox-viola and Kate LaVerne-cello. The quintet allows Doyle to flex his multi-faceted skill base as a producer/arranger, who states, “I’ve always loved doing string arrangements for recordings, and the idea of working with live strings has long been a dream of mine. The Guitar Noir concept particularly lends itself to this idea, so seeing and hearing it all come together in concert has been very rewarding.”

    Doyle’s extensive history as a guitarist, pianist, composer, producer and arranger would take another several paragraphs to cover properly. I suggest spending some time on his website, there are some excellent stories on his discography page and his bio page spells out his history in depth. You can also go back on the NYS Music website and read other pieces I’ve written for Doyle and his works with Mary Fahl.

    It was as if the Recital Hall was created for a concert such as this, amazing thought and skill has created an architecturally beautiful venue that is near perfect for audiences and musicians alike. It’s plush, with comfortable seating, excellent sight-lines and the sound, the sound! I was fortunate enough to attend the concert when ‘One November Night’ was recorded, this will be a chance to give it the ultimate respect it deserves. Many fans may think it odd to sit in a theater listening to Mark Doyle perform, but Guitar Noir is a totally different animal, instrumental, atmospheric and lush. This venue is perfect for Doyle’s voluminous abilities to be exercised and the audience to lean back and follow along with the nuances.

    Doyle’s love of film noir/sci-fi/horror movies influenced his thematic choices throughout the recordings highlighted here, along with the Sixties theme from Out Of The Past. This is an artist who holds the fullest respect for where he comes from, where he has been, and who influenced his path on the way there. Anyone who has attended one of his shows knows the subtlety in how he expresses them and his affection for them. I highly suggest a good pair of headphones to catch each one.

    ‘The Perry Mason Theme’ opens the show with all hands on deck, Doyle’s guitar playing the familiar lines that everyone of a certain age knows. It’s brighter, then it breaks into a samba-jam with Edgar Pagan and his unmistakeable smile riding a sweet groove with counterpoint provided by his rhythm section mate, Josh Dekaney. The strings swell in and out as Bill DiCosimo’s keyboard flourishes fill the air, Terry Quill’s accompanying guitar licks double, then echo and harmonize with Doyle, their interplay is and always has been magical. As previously noted, the rest of the first set is dedicated to In Dreams: Guitar Noir II in its entirety. ‘Mr. Sandman’ is dreamy and slowed down, Doyle switches from harmonics to slide to pick, emphasizing tonal changes directly into another standard ‘All I Have To Do Is Dream’. While recognizable, these arrangements take on a new depth behind Doyle’s signature and accompaniments. This version is upbeat, sweet and hopeful, perhaps another chapter in his tome, written for the love of his life. Ray Davies’ ‘I Go To Sleep’ – familiar to many from the Chrissie Hynde reading – comes next in an atmospheric inversion, enough to call to memory the words; “I go to sleep, sleep. And imagine that you’re there with me. I go to sleep, sleep. And imagine that you’re there with me.”, spoken with a volume pedal and a little finger on the volume control knob on Doyle’s signature Stratocaster. The guitar solo at the end is worth the admission price alone. ‘Reve Noir (Dark Dream)’, the first of Doyle’s compositions, brings the theremin in with a haunting effect that is quickly softened by a ‘Dream A Little Dream Of Me’ homage lick. The strings are consistently perfect, performed with touch and emotion, never commanding, yet very present.

    Henry Mancini’s ‘Dreamsville’, from The Music Of Peter Gunn precedes ‘Nightmare’, Artie Shaw’s “theme song”, placing dimension on this continuing dream sequence. Doyle’s guitar rises right through the middle of the mix, just on top, right between the ears, precisely where it belongs. ‘Dream Baby’, made famous by Roy Orbison, gets a slower pacing, without the country feel. Not “updated”, but a different take, a saunter of sorts, with Doyle’s slide work and picking dictating the step. The second Doyle composition, ‘Dream Tiger’, gets a bit electronic with sampling running underneath, triggers being pulled and layers upon layers of melody allowing Dekaney to hit it hard. His percussion skills and sound knowledge are flat-out amazing. The band is running at top form, ‘Darn That Dream’ is a late thirties jazz shuffle by Jimmy Van Heusen that reaches deep into Doyle’s cache of tones, throw in the strings and it could be misconstrued as his own composition. ‘Still I Dream Of It’ (Brian Wilson) and ‘In Dreams’ (Roy Orbison) finish disc one. The expression in Doyle’s guitar-voice rides along the melody lines, casually reshaping them, changing tones to define them. One last reference to history and the band is off to break, listening to a rising ovation from the sold-out audience.

    The second set, or disc two, opens with ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’, the Lennon/McCartney gem from Revolver that brought the Indian feel to the experimentally minded band. Guitar Noir just rolls it, the Indian undertone as a drone, Doyle voicing the vocals through his fingers, pick and whammy bar. The Jazz Crusaders’ ‘Young Rabbits’ gives each member of the ensemble some individual space while staying tight to the groove of the original. The band doesn’t mind a little jazzy, funk stuff. The Boz Scaggs feel of ‘Invitation’ is such a classic sound. The theremin pushes through in parts, Doyle just soars, and the band is so far in the pocket that you can’t see them. ‘Guitar Noir’ expresses the virtuosity Doyle haunts this song with, the hollow-body whammy gives some surfer vibe, but the synth and pad parts are updated and push just slightly. The theremin entices like an old horror movie, just enough to keep you guessing until he tosses another emotive at you. ‘Out Of The Past’ is a monster. The Indian influences, both string and percussive, paired with the precision of the guitar work and tonalities, is just majestic. These two songs are Doyle’s personal contributions to disc two. It’s understandable why they’re the title tracks from the second disc’s featured albums.

    The Doors’ ‘The Crystal Ship’ is a time establishing riff that is just as strong, if not more strongly expressed through six strings. It provides the vehicle to go back, while still moving forward through Doyle’s interpretation. The Beach Boys’ ‘Warmth Of The Sun’ is read in similar terms, lush with strings and keys, the lead gently overhead. Both are so heartfelt, they’re nicely paired in the set and the ‘Surfer Girl/I Only Have Eyes For You/In My Room’ interlude is signature material for Doyle, perfectly placed and segued, setting the stage for a new song to the ensemble. ‘Jive Samba’ by Cannonball Adderly takes the slow jazz feel and uses guitar for the horns while the string ensemble echoes back to them, the bottom is unstoppable even when Doyle lights it up strong. Then, DiCosimo, Quill, Pagan and Dekaney each get several measures of solo space and their introduction to the crowd. Sometimes it’s hard to pay attention to each individual while the band plays, wanting to absorb the whole presentation, but the crowd surely showed their appreciation for each. The set ends with a Stones/Beatles mash-up, consisting of ‘Paint It Black/Eleanor Rigby’. The Caribbean rhythm intro of ‘Paint It Black’ morphs into a rocky, upbeat chorus, then transitions into a searing ‘Eleanor Rigby’ with a Chick Corea like break. DiCosimo rips another organ solo while Quill and Doyle pounce on the top, firing to a dramatic end with the audience standing and yelling for more. The encore is a seasonal piece considering the recording date. ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ and ‘The Christmas Song’ had the audience smiling wide in understanding the moment they were just a part of.

    While it isn’t considered professional or appropriate to personalize reviews, in this case and several others recently, these people are my friends. I’m very fortunate to have them. I write what I write because I want to, not for money, but for the love of music, especially when it’s made by people I respect and care deeply for. Check out more of Mark Doyle’s music on his website, youtube and his band, Mark Doyle and The Maniacs’ facebook page and website. There is a rich history there that continues to grow, it should be noted and explored, please do.

    Key Tracks: Out Of The Past,  Dream Tiger,  Guitar Noir

  • A Moment With The Queen of Hearts – Ms. Ann Wilson

    In the photojournalism profession, there are certain things you hope to one day do in your career. Whether it’s covering a favorite band, or capturing the perfect shot, or interviewing someone you’ve revered over the course of their career, we all have that bucket list of wishes. As we get ready to welcome Heart to the Oncenter’s Mulroy Civic Center Theaters, June 30,  I recently was able to check off one such accomplishment on my bucket list.  Graciously agreeing to speak with our readers, I had the opportunity to interview one of the icons of rock and roll, Ms. Ann Wilson.

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    Ann Wilson – Heart

    Ann and Nancy Wilson are known and revered as trailblazers in a predominately male field of rock and roll. Shattering the glass ceiling and overcoming adversities, Ann and Nancy not only blazed the way, they set rock and roll on fire.  Over the years their music has spanned generation after generation, and their longevity can be attributed to their ability to touch their audience no matter what age they are.  Recognized once or twice along the way in their successful careers, I found Ann so humbled by it all. Let’s recap a few of those awards: In 2013 they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and in 2012 they were honored with their Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They have had four GRAMMY nominations over the years as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the GRAMMY Foundation Northwest Chapter.  They have been awarded the Lifetime Achievement from the VH1 Rock Honors, and the Image Award’s Lifetime Achievement for Excellence in Songwriting from ASCAP.  They have exhibits in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum, the Electronic Music Project Museum, and the Grammy Museum. Needless to say, they’ve made their mark in the industry over their more than 40-year career and along the way grown in the “Hearts” of all their fans; myself included.

    As I sat down to speak with Ann Wilson, I had to pinch myself.  This was definitely a humbling experience and I wanted to ask the right questions that our readers would want to know.  So I took a survey and a few of these questions can be found within.

    Kathy Stockbridge (KS):  Thank you so much for agreeing to talk with our readers.  We are so happy to have Heart coming to the central New York area.  You have been one of the most influential women in rock and roll history.  You and your sister have made every list possible hailing you as trail blazers in this field.  When it come to breaking the glass ceiling as women in a predominately male genre, you forged the way for so many females that wanted to be like you.  Being in the forefront who motivated YOU to pursue your dream in music and sculpted your love of rock and roll.  Who were some of your earliest influences.

    Ann Wilson (AW):  You’re welcome.  Well one of my really early influences would be someone like Judy Garland.  You know, that’s who my mother listened to, but the people that influenced me to do rock and roll were not women, they were all men.  They were The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, and people who were being played on the radio back then.  Then later on it was Deep Purple, Led Zepplin, and Pink Floyd, and all those people that populated the airwaves back then is what really turned me on, and got me into it.

    KS:  You mentioned that your mother listened to Judy Garland.  I read somewhere that your mother  was a very strong woman and could be considered a feminist.  How did she encourage you and your sisters when it came to pursuing your career choices?

    AW:  I think that our mother was pretty suspicious of the music business.  She considered it to be the fake and phony tinsel world; a scary world especially for two of her three daughters to enter into.  But she wanted us to be happy and wanted us to find a bliss and follow it.  Yeah, she was happy about that part.  She used to not have any problem with offering up her advice about how to survive in the entertainment industry though, which I always thought was pretty interesting since although she was a smart woman, she had no experience in it.  She just saw what happened to Judy Garland and said, watch out, don’t do that.

    KS:  You had some major obstacles you had to overcome over the years along the way.  What were some of those obstacles that came up and you hurdled them with no problems whatsoever.

    AW:  Haha, hurdle them with no problem?  Well that didn’t exist.  In the very beginning of course there was a level of sexism that wouldn’t be acceptable today.  That was the first hurdle.  Then along with that came credibility.  “Are women trying to do rock and roll even credible or are they some kind of cartoon character?” That was the biggest hurdle at first.  And then after that..all the typical ones like ageism, body image, like all those that people face.  Only somewhat amplified because it’s in entertainment.  But the thing is if you really love and are focused on what you’re doing and that’s your main focus, than you can always look at that and center on that and some of that stuff can go by without really screwing you up too bad.

    KS:  Absolutely … kinda like you had to do twice as much as the next male artist to get to where you were.

    AW:  Yes, but backwards and in high heels, right?

    KS:  And you did it!  Along the way, who was there for you before you were famous that you would say thank you to? The one person that made a difference in your career?

    AW:  I would have to say my parents. My blood family.  Our older sister and my parents were the ones who were most there for us and our friend, Sue Ennis, she was there too. And the original lineup of the Heart band was a tight and committed little unit so we were all there for each other.

    KS: You have played with some amazing musicians over the course of your career.  What are some of the “stand out” moments, moments that resonate as “ah ha/oh wow” moments for you?

    AW:  Getting to go into the studio at all and make a record was a big  “oh wow”, and the whole thing expanded from just different levels of it.  First you play a big club, then you get to play a big outside show, then you might get to open up for someone big in an arena, then you get to headline the arena yourself.  As it climbs, there are just bigger levels of “oh wow” I guess.  Then there are some moments like you get your first gold album, then you get to star in a rock video, then you have to deal with all those problems we talked about a minute ago.  Those are “oh wow” moments too when you say, “okay this is what I signed up for … oh wow.”  Then in later years I think moments like being inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, that was big.  Then playing for the President at the Kennedy Center Honors was very big.  That was pretty great, yeah really great.

    KS:  Did you deal with phobias at all like stage fright in the beginning?  I know like for myself, I still have to sometimes take a deep breath and begin as I do an interview such as this with yourself, as I get a bit nervous.

    AW:  Oh thank you. There were times when I did have fears before going on stage.  But after a while both Nancy and I learned that is just really so counterproductive.  I mean if you allow yourself to fall into that, really your just looking at yourself. You’re not going out there and putting out and getting into it.  So we learned different techniques you know like breathing and just being more mindful about being in the moment.  So to answer your question, I rarely have any nerves now before I go on.  But I do want to be awake and alive up there.  I don’t ever want to be just acting it out or holding it in.

    KS:  Do you feed off of the audience in that moment?

    AW:  Oh yes, totally.  It’s all about that!!  If you feel like they’re not there or they’re drifting, or looking at their cell phones, or yawning, or something you take it personally.  And then when they’re there and everybody is up on their feet and loving it, and you see peoples eyes are full of excitement, then it really does affect you.  It helps you be excited, and then therefore they’re more excited.  They factor a lot.

    KS:  Not sure if the readers are aware but in the 90s you played a part in the Seattle music movement.  Talk to me a bit about those years, the grunge movement, and how you all had a hand in that.

    AW:  Well, I don’t know if we had a real hand in the grunge movement.  I would say that if anything we were involved in the 80s in the big bombastic movement in the 80s which grunge was a reaction to, partially.  We did live here then, and when we came in off the road when the 80s were over, we just kinda melted into the music community and made friends with a lot of those guys who were being sought out by the record companies.  Suddenly Seattle was the place for the record guys to go and like put on their plaid shirt at the airport and come try and find people. And there were a generation or two down from us who were having a big struggles with singing and drugs.  The music community was pretty close at that point and we found ourselves hanging out a lot. There were hard times with people dying and people really fading, and so there was a support system there that was really really cool.  We would get up on stage at each others shows locally and there was some really great people involved in that scene. And they didn’t appreciate the title “grunge” either.

    KS:  I think the movement grew more after the fact.  I think in the moment, it was the “hip” thing.  But people didn’t appreciate truly it till it was over.

    AW:  I think that’s probably the way it is with most movements.  Like even the hippy movement, when the rest of the world finds out about it, it’s really over.  And that’s how it was here.

    KS:  You folks were playing music for years. You started playing in the late 60s early 70s, during the end of the hippy movement, and then continued through and had such a long lasting career.  What do you think your longevity is attributed to? And how do you see your music progressing through those times?

    AW:  Back in the 60s I was still in high school and at art school so I wasn’t really performing professionally until the mid 70s.  But from the mid 70s till now has been nearly 40 years, and it’s just been a time continuum focusing on something I just really love to do.  And sort of whitewater rafting the music industry changes.

    KS:  You’ve stayed true to yourselves and your sound.  You’ve not succumbed to the different genres to stay popular.  In fact I see you fluctuating between a rock sound and a kinda folky rock sound throughout all the years.  I attribute that to your longevity and ongoing popularity over the years and through several generations.  My son who is a teenager and he and his friends, they all know who you are.  Demonstrating the generational span.  But your talents do not end there.  You mentioned you were in art school.  You recently put out a book where you illustrated the entire book as well as wrote with your sister both that one and your memoirs in Kicking and Dreaming.  Was that therapeutic to you to get that all out on paper?  What was the motivation for that book?

    AW:  Yeah, doing that book was a little like being in therapy. We just wanted to “from the horses mouth” tell our side of the story, because there is so much of the story that gets told for us and is sort of misinterpreted.  Especially in the early days when there were no women really doing rock, there were a lot of people going that this is how they should be stereotyped.  So I think we felt it was important to set the record straight and show what it was like for us.  And we worked with Charles Cross who is a great writer, and wrote a great book about Kurt Cobain, and another great one about Jimi Hendrix. He is from here in Seattle so he kinda had a clear understanding of Seattle musicians.  A real first hand knowledge of them. So that’s why we chose to work with him.

    KS:  You also are in the process of putting out a children’s book.  Talk to me a little this project and your illustrations in the book.  You are extremely talented, you sing, you play, you write, you draw, you do everything!

    AW:  Well thank you.  The book came out of the lyrics to the song “Dog & Butterfly” obviously, but to make a full book out of a set of lyrics you have to expand on it.  So that’s what we’ve set out to do is make a bigger story out of  the visual of the dog chasing the butterfly, and the metaphor of a person chasing after their dreams. So it’s for the kids, but it’s also for the lucky adult who gets to read the book a hundred times to the child, because having done that myself I know how much I really appreciated the books that my kids loved that I read to them that were well done.
    So we’ve tried to do that, and make it a worthwhile story.  Has a little moral that if you keep going after something and you keep at it you’re patient, it may come to you.  There’s a really good chance of it coming to you.

    KS:  You do so much, what is your favorite part of the work you do.  Do you find that one creative outlet tends to call to you more than another?

    AW:  My favorite part is singing.  The actual act of singing itself.  All the stuff that surrounds it, and nothing against interviews I like doing them, but the actual getting out there and being one with the melody and physicality of singing is what I really like the most. It’s spiritual to me, it’s more than just getting up there and screaming. It’s way more than just getting out there to make money or having lifestyle maintenance, ya know.  Yeah, yeah that’s my favorite part.

    KS:  Throughout your entire career you’ve been recognized on the Walk of Fame, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but for all of that that you have been recognized what strikes me as most poignant is all your work with charitable organizations.  Talk with me a little about these organizations you feel passionate about and why you lend your name and time to these causes.

    AW:  Well, if you care about the world and you feel like a participant, I think artists should be participants. If someone comes to you and they say “I’ve got this project and as part of the outreach for awareness we’re doing this album or we’re doing this show,” then that is like nail on the head.  That is what I know how to do and that’s what I can give.  So that’s why we’ve contributed to different causes in the past; the trafficking, the LGTB’s, and all the different things that we’ve done all are important.

    KS:  If I were to sum up your career in one paragraph, what would you want your legacy to be?

    AW:  I think that a really important part of it is, and not to harp on the gender thing constantly, but it’s important that rock music and that art in general not be delegated to one gender or the other. It’s about equality and that’s one of the biggest things that Nancy and I would like people to remember when they look back on us.

    KS:  If you were to have a sound track of your life, what would you name it?

    AW:  “Hope and Glory” (which is also the name of her 2007 solo album)

    KS:  At the end of the day you made so many sacrifices along the way, to you were they worth it? Is there anything you would do differently?

    AW:  The sacrifices are worth it.  Definitely.  I think if I had to do anything differently, I probably wouldn’t have gone to so many parties in the 80’s. I think I would have been a little bit more mindful of my physical health.  Other than that, it’s really when you go back and see that one thing leads to another, and one decision you makes something happen which makes the next thing happen, I don’t think it’s really important to say “would I change anything?” Because you can’t.

    KS:  I feel the same way.  I think everything we do throughout our lives molds us to who we are and those decisions (at that time) we felt were right. Ms. Wilson it was so nice talking to you. Thank you so much taking the time to speak with us and I look forward to your show in Syracuse.  And as a music photojournalist, this was truly a highlight of my career so thank you. And let me thank you as well for forging the way for so many women that have followed you and your sister in rock and roll.

    AW:  I enjoyed this, thank you. And I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.

    So as I hung up the phone I basked in an afterglow of the conversation and all that it held.  Ann Wilson was a generous, thoughtful artist that truly loves music and everything about music.  I get the impression along the way she had to battle so many adversities, that it caused a certain mistrust with not only those in the industry but media as well.  But I bow to her as she hurdled all those difficulties and blazed a new direction of music for women.  In the beginning I felt her apprehension in our interview, and I could tell that she was cautiously choosing her words, but as time went on I felt that it became a conversation between us and that perhaps she trusted that my intentions were genuine.  I was so humbled by the conversation, and had to seriously pinch myself a time or two to make sure it was actually occurring.  Going in to the interview I was a huge fan of hers just by what I knew about her, but after speaking to her I became a big fan of hers as a person.  The shear talent this woman possesses in all creative mediums is amazing.  I got a sense of gratitude that over the years she’s survived the challenges, and celebrates now that in the end gets to just play the music she loves to the audiences that she so loves.  So glad she persevered and came out the other side to enjoy the part that feeds her soul.

    I am truly looking forward to celebrating this music and this week with the band that changed the face of rock and roll forever.  It’s time to just enjoy the moment and celebrate the music with the queen of Hearts, Ms. Ann Wilson.

  • Chris Cornell to Play Buffalo, NYC, Boston This October

    Rock musician Chris Cornell, best known for being the lead vocalist and songwriter of Seattle grunge band Soundgarden, will perform across North America in his recently announced acoustic fall tour, including several stops in the northeast. On Oct. 11, Chris Cornell will take stage at the University of Buffalo Center of the Arts in Buffalo, two days after an Oct. 9 performance at Massey Hall in Toronto, Ontario.

    About a week later, Cornell is scheduled to play at the Beacon Theatre in New York City on Oct. 18 and the Shubert Theatre in Boston on Oct. 21.

    The 50-year-old singer has recently announced the release of an acoustic album titled Higher Truth, to be released on Sept. 18. The fall performances will have an intimate, acoustic setting, featuring music off of Cornell’s upcoming album.

    Cornell is widely considered to have one of the best voices in rock music, with a four-octave range. In 2011, Rolling Stone selected Cornell as the #9 Best Lead Singer of All Time, while he was named the #12 Greatest Voice in Music by MTV in 2005.

  • Bananas, Blow and Dick Waving: Dean Ween Group Thrills Small Hotel

    For two days the Dean Ween Group took over The Heath at the classy The McKittrick Hotel, which, in fact, is not a hotel at all. The McKittrick, most known for being the home of Sleep No More, is a frequent stop on most tourists’ itinerary. On this Monday and Tuesday the McKittrick was going to see a very different type of visitor, as Ween fans have a reputation as a hard-drinking and partying group and their New York contingent couldn’t wait for the opportunity to leave their mark.
    The Dean Ween Group, consisting of Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo (guitar, vocals), Dave Dreiwitz (bass, vocals), Scott Rednor (guitar), Glenn McCelland (keys) and Claude Coleman Jr. (drums), played two very different shows over the course of two nights, despite repeating a lot of Ween classics for the faithful fans. Monday started out with some technical difficulty overshadowing the beginning of the show, but once it was sorted Deaner and Co. treated the crowd to a roaring rock show. The stench of sweat and Corona quickly overtook the small retro-fitted bar as soon as Deaner lead the charge on a powerful “Don’t Get 2 Close (2 My Fantasy)” which erupted from the whimsical opener “Ice Castles.” Dreiwitz took the lead on “Homo Rainbow” and graced us with a raging bass solo during the overly ironic “I Saw Gener Crying In His Sleep.”  The first night was highlighted by the calypso rumblings of “Bananas & Blow” and the dark, set-closing “The Rift” before the three-song encore which featured McCelland leading the way on “Waving My Dick In The Wind” followed by “Hey There Fancypants” before the night was brought to a close by the fan favorite “Roses Are Free.”
    dean ween group
    The second night back with Dean Ween Group at the McKittrick brought quite a different atmosphere. While the room was slightly more crowded, a more subdued and calming feel came over the room, with no technical difficulties out of the gate. With one night under their belt the band sounded tight from the get go. The first night felt more like a booze-fueled band practice and that may just be what the Ween fans were looking for. Is it really a Ween show if Deaner isn’t sweating on the first few rows of rabid fans? The crowd and band alike got fired up quickly and left all the pleasantries behind with Dean Ween favorite “Booze Me Up” and an early set “Roses Are Free” with Deaner and Dreiwitz dueling it out face-to-face. Standouts from this evening include “Spinal Meningitis,” “Homo Rainbow” and “The Mollusk,” as well as an extended duo jam featuring McCelland and Coleman Jr. on keys and drums respectively. We can only hope that Dean Ween Group continues to tour and play together. You can catch them next in the Northeast at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, N.J. Tickets available here.

  • Losing Local Talent: A Farewell to Loose Cannon

    I can’t express to you music lovers just how important it is to support your local talent. Without the support of us, many of these talented artists fall between the cracks and have nowhere to go.

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    Unfortunately, the music scene is losing another great local band because local venues just won’t open their doors and give musicians the exposure they deserve – Loose Cannon. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard Syracuse-area venue owners or managers tell a band that they couldn’t play there because they were from Oswego County. I just don’t see the logic in that. I mean seriously, several Syracuse bands are welcomed with open arms in other county venues. In my opinion, “You’re not from Syracuse” is a poor excuse.

    With that being said, I’d like to say farewell to the amazing, talented group of guys from Loose Cannon. Hopefully things will turn around in the near future, and these bands that have had to call it quits will be able to rejoin the music scene. Until then, I beg all of you to get out there and support your local artists and voice your opinion to these venue owners/managers.

  • Grace Potter Summer Tour Begins Friday

    Blues-Rock bombshell Grace Potter kicks off her summer tour this Friday in Oklahoma City as part of the city’s annual OKCFest. Oklahoma’s show is the first of 26 dates this summer, eventually ending up in Nashville this October. The Grace Potter tour comes in the midst of her forthcoming album, Midnight, available Aug. 14.

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    Potter, known for her chill-inducing vocals and rock-solid song writing is no stranger to the road, starting her musical career at the age of 14 and quickly gaining the reputation of a must-see act.
    Over the years she has continued to grow. She puts on a high-energy performance, rich with grit and soul.

    Buffalo residents will be lucky enough to have Potter in their backyard, with a July 28 date at the gorgeous Artpark Theater, located right along the Niagara River. Other New York dates include Canandaigua (CMAC) on Aug. 2 and Radio City on Oct. 3.

    A complete list of tour dates are available below. And as a general warning — if you feel like Grace “looked at you” or was “giving you the eye,” or if you think that you are “in love” and “100 percent sure she’s the one,” just remember: Everyone else is thinking the exact same thing.

    Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
    Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

    GRACE POTTER SUMMER TOUR 2015:

    June 26
    OKC FEST
    Oklahoma City, OK

    July 17
    BRENTON SKATING PLAZA
    Des Moines, IA

    July 19t
    BLUESTEM CENTER FOR THE ARTS AMPHITHEATER
    Moorhead, MN

    July 20
    MEYER THEATRE
    Green Bay, WI

    July 23
    IROQUOIS AMPHITHEATER
    Louisville, KY

    July 24
    TAFT THEATRE
    Cincinnati, OH

    July 25
    FLOYDFEST
    Floyd, VA

    July 26
    XPONENTIAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
    Camden, NJ

    July 28
    ARTPARK
    Lewiston, NY

    July 30
    DANFORTH MUSIC HALL
    Toronto, ON

    July 31
    OSHEAGA FESTIVAL
    Montreal, QC

    August 1
    THOMPSON’S POINT
    Portland, ME

    August 2
    CMAC
    Canandaigua, NY

    August 4
    DEER VALLEY RESORT
    Park City, UT

    August 8
    CELEBRITY THEATRE
    Phoenix, AZ

    August 9
    RIALTO THEATRE
    Tucson, AZ

    August 12
    VINA ROBLES AMPHITHEATRE
    Paso Robles, CA

    August 13
    THE FONDA THEATRELos Angeles, CA

    August 14
    THE FONDA THEATRELos Angeles, CA

    August 15
    FOX THEATER
    Oakland, CA

    September 19
    RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE
    Morrison, CO

    September 20
    KAABOO FESTIVAL
    Del Mar, CA

    September 30
    INNSBROOK PAVILION
    Glen Allen, VA

    October 1
    CLAY CENTER FOR THE ARTS & SCIENCES
    Charleston, WV

    October 3
    RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
    New York, NY

    October 10
    ASCEND AMPHITHEATRE
    Nashville, TN

  • Fly 92.3 Summer Jam 2015

    The annual Fly 92.3 Summer Jam hit Saratoga Performing Arts Center June 6 this year with a promising line up and beautiful day. Seven diverse yet talented acts were set to preform throughout the day with other activities going simultaneously all throughout the venue from signings to Frisbee to various venders with games and prizes for attendees. It was sure to be an all around fun day for families and young adults alike.

    Jake Miller kicked off the event with a high energy and fun set that certainly appealed to the younger demographic at the show. Miller had a quite a few fans at the edge of their section hoping to get as close as possible to sing along to their favorite songs. Miller played a mix of songs off of his most recent release the EP renamed the Dazed and Confused, formerly known as Lion Heart and his full length Us Against Them. Miller’s fans happily sung along to some of their favorite songs and are undoubtedly excited for his upcoming tour this summer.

    Warner Bro.’s Records’ Echosmith took the stage next with a fun—filled, high energy set with family fun on stage and in the crowd. Echosmith is comprised of Sydney Sierota and her three brothers Jamie, Noah, and Graham Sierota all of whom bring a unique element to the group dynamic. The group did a fantastic job of getting the crowd to their feet and involved in the set. The group has recently been making quite a name for themselves, even sharing the stage with Taylor Swift a few days after Summer Jam. The group’s first full length was released on Warner Bros. Records in 2013; Talking Dream was very well received and catapulted the family of young musicians into great success. They played a mix of songs off of the record throughout the set and closed out with their most well known song, “Cool Kids”. This song went double platinum in the U.S. and received a great deal of radio play due to its high success. Much like their song “Cool Kids”, their performance at SPAC was very well received by all in attendance. Echosmith are certainly a band to check out for anyone that has not heard of them before.

    The next act to take the stage was the most unlike the others on the lineup, B.O.B. and yet was still well received by the crowd. B.O.B. took the stage to play portions of many well known songs including “Strange Clouds” and “Airplanes” both of which received great success with fans. He even threw t-shirts into the crowd and took a “selfie” with each section of the crowd, right, middle and left which had people up and out of their seats hoping to make his Instagram later that evening.

    Walk the Moon was up next with quite a few fans extremely excited to see their set. The group has recently been making a strong name for themselves since their 2012 self titled release Walk the Moon. The group played a mix of songs off of their self titled release and their 2014 release Talking Is Hard which received even greater success than the previous release. Among the songs played during Summer Jam were the two most popular releases from these records, “Anna Sun” and “Shut Up and Dance” respectively. Walk the moon are also a band that have great potential and have already taken the stage at many well recognized events and will continue to do so in the future.

    Next to take the stage was All Time Low fresh off of their Future Hearts Tour which closed out the prior week and had sold out the last three nights long with other nights throughout the tour so a large crowd was nothing new for the four piece pop- punk band from Baltimore, MD. They started off their 45 minute set with “Satellites” off of their new record, Future Hearts, which was released on Hopeless Records this year. Over 80,000 copies of this record were sold the first week, which made Future Hearts the most successful record for both All Time Low and Hopeless Records. It was also the band’s third time reaching #1 on the Billboard Rock Albums Chart. Their nine song setlist consisted of a mix of songs off of their more recent albums including Nothing Personal (2009), Don’t Panic (2012) and Future Hearts (2015). “Stella,” “Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don’t)” and “Weightless” were played off of Nothing Personal. None of these songs making the setlist would come as any great surprise to avid All Time Low fans however, “Therapy” not making the cut was quite a surprise for many in the crowd as it is one of the more sober, slow songs that has become a staple for the group over the years. “Kids in the Dark,” the first single off of their new record and “Somethings Gotta Give,” the second single off of Future Hearts were the only other songs played off of the record which left “Missing You” off the list. With yet another one of the groups few serious songs that have become staples not making the cut it would seem as though the group decided on keeping a faster—paced set for the family friendly event. This would be in keeping with the severely toned down antics the group usually brings to the stage. Jokes often stray into slightly crude, teenage boyish humor and based off of lead guitarist Jack Barakat’s joke about what he was allowed to say on stage it would seem as if they had been instructed to keep everything family friendly. During “Kids in the Dark” Barakat took off and left the stage to run through the audience and play the entire song up at the soundboard which certainly got a rise out of the crowd. They closed out their set with “Dear Maria, Count Me In” off of their 2007 release So Wrong, It’s Right. It is by far one of their most popular songs which is why it comes as no great surprise that the avid fans that were clearly here for All Time Low were singing along passionately, and those new to the group seemed to really enjoy the song as well as the entire performance. After All Time Low closed out their set they were scheduled to have a signing which lead to a mass exodus from the seats to line up to meet the group. After their set it was clear that many in the audience had come to see All Time Low in particular based off the sing along that had been most of their set and the abundance of people who left after the set and signing were over.

    Charli XCX was up next and certainly captivated the interests of the young girls in attendance with her performance. She took the stage alongside her two female guitar players in high heels and dresses ready to put on an interesting and enjoyable set. Charli XCX is most known for her part in “I Love It” by Icona Pop and “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea, however she has been doing great things on her own including opening up for Katy Perry on the European leg of her Prismatic Tour earlier this year.

    When it was time for the last performer to take the stage he was greeted with a very warm, hometown welcome. Sawyer Fredericks certainly knew how to draw a crowd, especially here. Fredericks recently won the popular TV show, The Voice, on NBC. This was his first time taking the stage in the area since that phenomenal victory, so it was a bit of a celebratory performance as well as a wonderful welcome home. Being from the area the chance to play at such a fantastic venue and summer event, let alone headline it was certainly something very special to Fredericks, who took the stage with an enormous smiled painted on his face. That smile did not fade all throughout the evening as he clearly was having as amazing of a time as those in the crowd were. He opened up his set with two of his own songs both of which were extremely well received and already loved by the crowd as the majority sung along happily. Lighters and phone lights lit up the orchestra seating and were scattered throughout the lawn for Fredericks’ second song, which made for a stunning sight to see. This young man has an outstanding voice and very charismatic personality; it would have been impossible not to enjoy his set! Signs were held up all throughout the set and t-shirts were proudly worn all day expressing individual’s (and family’s) support of Fredericks during The Voice and going forward from that victory. It was clear the area is quite proud of the young man from their hometown who has worked so hard to achieve his dream and will continue to support him going forward. Although Fredericks is not yet signed to a label with the support he has received and will continue to have, he will continue to make his hometown supporters proud and will certainly grow as a musician in the upcoming months.

    With a lineup of talented and engaging artists, a beautiful day, and the hard work of so many this years Fly 92.3 Summer Jam was a huge success. The event was a fun-filled event for the whole family and undoubtedly left attendees looking forward to next year’s show.

  • Disturbed End Hiatus And Reunite With New Single And Album

    More than “Ten Thousand Fist’s” will be in the air as Disturbed fans everywhere will once again be able to get “Down With The Sickness.” After almost four years, the wait is finally over. Disturbed has announced that they will indeed end their hiatus as they released a new single to radio called “The Vengeful One.” Disturbed will also release a new album titled Immortalized on Aug. 21 which is available for pre-order.

    On June 20, fans saw the band post a picture of a new Disturbed logo, and the first of three short cartoon video clips of their mascot “The Guy,” on their Facebook page. Each Clip saw The Guy become more and more to life leading up to an official announcement from the band on what these video clips actually mean. June 22 saw an official countdown clock appear on the band’s website.

    Disturbed went on hiatus in Oct. 2011. Since then, members of the band have all worked on different side projects in other bands. David Draiman started the side project Device as Mike Wengren and Dan Donegan took part in the band Fight or Flight and John Moyer joined Adrenaline Mob.

    Disturbed has released five studio albums in their career. Those releases include The Sickness (2000) –  Believe (2002) – Ten Thousand Fists (2005) – Indestructible (2008) and Asylum (2010). A month after their planned hiatus, Disturbed released a compilation album of unreleased tracks cleverly titled The Lost Children.

    June 20

    Posted by Disturbed on Saturday, June 20, 2015

    “>teaser video – June 21

    Posted by Disturbed on Sunday, June 21, 2015

    “>teaser video – June 22

    Posted by Disturbed on Monday, June 22, 2015

    “>teaser video

    Connect with Disturbed:

    Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Spotify

  • Hearing Aide: Imagine Dragons ‘Smoke & Mirrors’

    Imagine Dragons has released their newest album, Smoke & Mirrors. With the huge success of their first studio album Night Visions in 2012, selling more than 2 million copies to date, Imagine Dragons took the world by storm and by doing so set the bar pretty high for themselves when it came to following up with their second studio album. They had fallen into the proverbial trap of having such a huge success right out of the gate, that anything following was bound to be held to a higher standard.

    imagine dragons Smoke & Mirrors
    Imagine Dragons Smoke & Mirrors

    So with this dilemma, how did this Grammy Award winning band follow up their first hit album? They did it like they should, with an album written for themselves. After all, isn’t that what music is about? Personal messages paired with instrumentals to express themselves.

    Writing continuously while on the road touring , the band compiled and recorded demos and as the Night Visions Tour ended, they purchased a house in Las Vegas, converted it into a studio, and for the next 8 months put together a story of sorts from experiences on the road that were laden with a roller coaster of personal emotions. After all, the whirlwind of life on the road from local venues to sold out arenas, had to take a toll on them emotionally. What better way to share than through song?

    Hailed as one of rock n roll’s greatest newcomers in the 2013, their new found popularity and accolades brimmed over the top as America welcomed them with open arms. As new artists trying to achieve success, was the photo in their mind exactly what they pictured once achieved, or was it writ with unbeknownst angst they would encounter throughout the tour and along the way? I believe it may have been some of the latter. As I listened to the new album the creative differences between the two albums were not as apparent as other seemed to say.  I still saw the same vocals and rhythmic distinctions still shining through.

    Smoke & Mirrors

    I love Imagine Dragons, and I believe it’s their unique sound and truthful lyrics that caught my attention initially and holds it still today.  It’s not their commercial success that makes them stand out. They are not mainstream music, they are not mainstream artists, and their unique style and sound is representative of who they are and how their creative process. Yes, their sound has been compared to a mix of The Killers, U2, Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, and Arcade Fire; taking bits and pieces from each band when making that generalization – influences have that kind of effect on you. You tend to find yourself creating similar sounds because, well you like them in the first place.  They have been criticized for using every technical instrumentation trick known to mankind in their new music, and my reply to that is, ‘so what?’ That’s why it exists: to use it. Artists are known for creating something from their souls. It doesn’t have to be what you would want it to be. If that was the case, it would be your creation. So the fact that they use any or all technical tricks doesn’t lessen their musical creations to me in the least. I feel it has an energy to it. Although the lyrics on this album brim with a deep dark almost undaunting edge, the pulsating rhythms and melodic vocals give it an upbeat sound that over plays the underlying message.

    Working along side Alex Da Kid on this album, his reputation for bringing out the creative sides of artists like Eminem and Christina Aguilera, demonstrates the perfect example why he’s a perfect match with Imagine Dragons on each of their studio albums.

    As I listened to this album I had to do so a few times before I could collect my thoughts to develop a constructive opinion. In true Imagine Dragons style you have the strong percussions and amazing vocals and harmonies with a mix of synthesizer in there throughout the album, but with this particular album you got something else. You get variety in sounds that represent their travels with the first album. What the audience had become accustomed to (vocal/harmonies/percussion/synth) from Imagine Dragons was there in songs such as “Shots” and “The Fall”, but you also got a hint of some R&B with “Friction”, mixed with a flair of the Middle Eastern sounds in there as well. In “Hopeless Opus” you’ll see a flavor of Asian sounds intermixed with a bit of rapping, guitar solo, synth. Heck you pretty much get a bit of everything in that song. Same goes for “Summer”. The beauty though is how well they were all mixed together seamlessly. In fact in most of the songs you’ll see a variety of sounds and tempos within the songs that without the expert help in mixing could have been a disaster. This is where the expertise of Alex Da Kid played a huge part.

    I have to say my favorite tracks were “I Bet My Life” and “Trouble” demonstrating their folky sounds mixed with a huge helping of underlying percussion. Just love their take on this sound. Running close second would be “It Comes Back To You” and “Dream” where I can definitely see influences from Coldplay and U2 in this song. It was the upbeat tempo and lyrics in this song that hooked me; “…all the things you had lost will find their way to you… am I a shadow you drew.” I can definitely see a commercial success with this release.

    Criticized by others on this album, I definitely can see a darker side in their lyrics though with an underlying message perhaps of life on the road wasn’t all they expected, but I can’t understand the criticism. Music is an expression of life and everyone’s message is different. Give me a break negative Nellies. In both “Gold” and “Polaroid”, focus should be on the mixing of sounds, not the lyrics. “Gold” was another example of expert mixing. “Polaroid” to me was a little disappointing but only because as a photographer I had hoped this track would be as upbeat a message that the tempo held. But hey, everyone sees something different in a photo hence the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words”, and the message was something totally different. But still, it was a good song. No one is going to like every song on an album; you can’t expect every album to be Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band.

    The title track “Smoke and Mirrors” and “I’m So Sorry” give the listener a true rock and roll feel to the songs. These will be great live songs with the guitar and percussion in them.

    After listening to the whole album several times, I came one conclusion: it’s a great album. Was it what the public anticipated from them? Perhaps not. Was it the mix of techno sounds with anthem rock and pop beats they are known for? Yep. With so many negative reviews and plays on words with the title, I find Smoke & Mirrors nothing but honest and forthwith. I can see the growth within the band, and the influences of experiences of the last few years in their lyrics. It’s the honesty on this album though that makes it the perfect second album. As far as commercial success, I believe those that loved Imagine Dragons will agree with me that this was a great album. It may not be a mainstream as some expected, but when it came to making an album that is true to themselves, this definitely met their expectations. This is one of those albums I think that when you listen to it initially you may not get it right away, so listen a few more times. Read the lyrics and see the messages. Then go back and listen to the music once again, and you will see that this really was a great album and will play out even more so as a great live performance.

    As they roll into town this week to the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, they will be joined by Metric and Halsey.  Show starts at 7pm and tickets can be purchased through Live Nation.  Hope to see you there.

    Key Tracks: Shots, I Bet My Life, Dream

  • Binghamton Rock Isn’t Dead Yet Tom Keifer

    The general public may not know or remember who Tom Keifer is but they do know his music. Keifer has been a stronghold in the rock music scene for over 30 years, as a solo artist and with his band Cinderella.

    Keifer and his band made a stop in Binghamton at the recently re-opened Club Eclipse in support of his debut solo album The Way Life Goes.

    Renee Clark - Keifer 8048

    The crowd was regrettably on the small side but their excitement and enthusiasm filled the room to its capacity. You could physically feel the energy and excitement from each individual when Keifer and his band busted out on stage playing the bluesy rock Cinderella song “Fallin’ Apart At The Seams”. Keifer kept the crowd captivated by going into “Its Not Enough”, followed by “Different Light” and “Save Me”.

    Slowing the set down and switching gears to an acoustic setting, Keifer brought his wife Savannah out to perform with him. She beautifully assisted him (and stole everyones hearts) with songs “Ask Me Yesterday” and “Don’t Know What You Got (Till Its Gone)”.

    Tom Keifer performs with his wife, Savannah in Binghamton, NY
    Tom Keifer performs with his wife, Savannah in Binghamton, NY

    After thanking Savannah for her assistance Keifer took the show up a notch and rounded out the set with fan favorites “Solid Ground”, “Cold Day In Hell”, “Coming Home”, and “It’s Only Rock n’ Roll”.

    He also did a fantastic cover of The Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends”. This cover was one of the most memorable songs of the night. It had people hugging and swaying/singing along with their friends that accompanied them that night. Keifer also brought out a few of the band members wives (along with his own) to “help” with the song.

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    Keifer undoubtedly appreciated his fans and was truly moved by the audience’s love for him and his music. He personally thanked everyone for their 30-plus years of dedication and for having faith in him while he overcame his vocal chord issues. Toward the end of the show to commemorate the night and his fans there, he brought out his camera and recorded a video clip of the crowd cheering for him. There wasn’t one unsatisfied fan in the venue when the house lights came on at the end of the night.

    After the set Keifer graciously came out and greeted fans who were eagerly waiting to meet him. His appearance in Binghamton impressed long time fans and won over a few new young ones for life.

    Keifer’s tour in support of The Way Life Goes will continue around North America and the UK through the end of 2015.

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