NYS Music 20​15

Category: Rock

  • Tedeschi Trucks Band at Central Park Summerstage ‘Summer is Coming’

    Nestled away in Central Park lays a bastion for music lovers, a musical oasis in the midst of Gotham. A serene evening with Tedeschi Trucks Band rang in the unofficial beginning of summer with the opening night of Summerstage. Rock ‘n’ Roll royalty Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi orchestrate an amazingly talented ensemble of musicians.

    Kofi Burbridge (keyboard, flute), Tim Lefebvre (bass), Tyler Greenwell (drums), J.J. Johnson (drums), Kebbi Williams (saxophone), Maurice “Mo’ Betta” Brown (Trumpet), Saunders Sermons (trombone), Mike Mattison (vocals), and Mark Rivers (vocals). All got the opportunity to showcase their individual talents throughout the evening.

    Tedeschi led the way out of the gate with her exceptional blues guitar and booming vocals on “Made Up Mind” and “Do I Look Worried” both off of their 2013 release Made Up Mind. Trucks’ slow and deliberate guitar started off “Midnight in Harlem” off of TTB’s 2012 Grammy award-winning, best blues album, Revelator followed with raucous applause from the audience before Tedeschi’s crooning sent them into a blissful trance.

    After The Derek Trucks Band’s fast paced and raucous “Get What You Deserve” the first guest of the evening was invited out on stage, with Doyle Bramhall II (guitar) joining the group. Fans had the rare occurrence of having two former Eric Clapton guitarists on the same stage.

    Next up came The Beatles “I’ve Got A Feeling” from Let It Be then Bramhall and Trucks traded off guitar licks on Derek & The Dominoes’ “Keep On Growing”. Bramhall stayed on for “Key To The Highway,” a tribute to the recently passed B.B. King. King recorded the song with Eric Clapton on 2000’s Riding With The King. Bramhall stepped off stage for the gospel “Break In The Road” which featured another shredding guitar solo from the prodigy Trucks.

    Bramhall returned to join the band with the second guest of the evening Sharon Jones of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings. Trading harmonies and smiles with Tedeschi on Sam Cooke’s soulful “Bring It On Home To Me” and Etta James “Tell Mama”.

    Bramhall and Jones left Susan and Derek in capable hands as Burbridge led the band into Made Up Mind’s “Idle Wind” leaving the keys for his flute to start off the tune before the band gave way for Johnson and Greenwell to show off their drumming talents and convening to bring the song to a close.

    TTB busted out a rendition of Bobby Bland’s 1960 R&B classic “I Pity The Fool” before bringing the two-hour plus set to a close with the original, “The Storm”. Tedeschi reached down deep and soothed the audience one last time with her mesmerizing vocals for the encore of  Revelator’s “Bound For Glory”. If this night was a precursor to TTB’s upcoming ‘Wheels of Soul’ tour, fans will be in for a treat with welcomed collaboration between TTB, Bramhall, and Jones.

    The Wheels of Soul tour will be in Rochester, NY as a headliner at the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival (XRIJF) at Kodak Hall June 25. Followed by a stop at SPAC in Saratoga Springs, on July 29. The band will make one final stop in New York this year for a four night residency at the famed Beacon Theater, September 25-26 and October 2-3. Tickets go on sale on May 21 through Ticketmaster.

    Setlist: 
    Made Up Mind, Do I Look Worried, Midnight In Harlem, Get What You Deserve, I’ve Got A Feeling*, Keep On Growing*, Key To The Highway*, Break In The Road, Bring It On Home To Me#*, Tell Mama#*, Idle Wind>Drums>Idle Wind, I Pity The Fool, The Storm
    E: Bound For Glory
    * – Doyle Bramhall II
    # – Sharon Jones
    [FinalTilesGallery id=’187′]

  • The Church and The Psychedelic Furs Announce 2015 Tour

    Post-punk romantics The Church released their 21st studio album album, Further/Deeper late last year and are bringing 35 years of recordings to North America on a co-headlining tour with art rock stalwarts The Psychedelic Furs. The Church recently premiered the first video from their newest album, Laurel Canyon , it’s thick and lush with layered acoustics, synths and harmonies, reminiscent of their huge hit, “Under The Milky Way” from 1988.

    the-church-2014-press-billboard-650
    photo by Malcolm Viles

    The Psychedelic Furs are practically a perfect match for the tour and will be joining The Church on many of the dates. They’re also touring the east coast in May by themselves. Richard Butler, along with his brother Tim, still maintain their uncanny ability to write songs pleasing to the ear, while questioning their subject. Surfacing in the wake of punk rock, their melodious and thoughtful material sometimes put them in the category of a synth band, but don’t be confused – even if you still love “Love My Way”, don’t forget “Pretty In Pink” – that was inspiration for the 1986 John Hughes film of the same name.

    Much more on the upcoming tours on their websites – The Church, The Psychedelic Furs.

    Here is the northeast leg of The Church’s upcoming itinerary. Dates with an asterisk indicate The Psychedelic Furs will also play.

    Aug. 7: Toronto, Ontario (The Danforth)
    Aug. 8: Buffalo, NY (Town Ballroom) *
    Aug. 9: Silver Springs, MD (The Fillmore) *
    Aug. 11: New Haven, CT (College Street Music Hall) *
    Aug. 12: Albany, NY (Northern Lights) *
    Aug. 13: Hampton Beach, NH (Hampton Beach Casino) *
    Aug. 14: Portland, ME (The Asylum)
    Aug. 15: Philadelphia, PA (Keswick Theater) *
    Aug. 16: Hyannis, MA (Cape Cod Melody Tent) *
    Aug. 18: New York, NY (Irving Plaza) *
    Aug. 19: Westbury, NY (Theater at Westbury) *
    Aug. 21: Pittsburgh, PA (Altar Bar)

  • Jason Bonham Serves The Capital Region Some ‘Rock And Roll’

    Tribute and legacy acts are big business for concerts in today’s industry. The baby boomer generation has gotten older and wants that feeling they had growing up listening to the music that was the soundtrack to their lives.

    You also have the newer generation who may not have had the chance to experience the great music, and are interested in seeing what their parents got to see.

    In the case of Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience you get the best of both worlds. Jason, son of Led Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham, celebrates the music that he did not have much of an opportunity to see. Performing to audiences who are starving to see it in person.

    Bryan-Lasky-Jason-Bonhams-Led-Zeppelin-Experience-15

    “The Song Remains The Same” starts the concert with a bang, and the energy never left the Palace Theatre for the next two hours. Stringing together both hits and rarities, Jason and his band kept the crowd in their palms with ease. Jason told funny stories about his father and the feeling he got playing in London with the surviving members of Led Zeppelin in 2007.

    He also spoke about how the band is never trying to act as if they are Led Zeppelin. For most of the evening that last part was true, but about three-quarters of the way through the show the audience was invited to crowd the aisles and to have a “fucking good time.” After this request and for most of the rest of the evening lead singer James Dylan began to channel more than just Robert Plant’s vocals. Lead guitarist Tony Catania similarly did more than evoke Jimmy Page’s guitar work. Moving about the stage like two legends for the rest of the evening. James and Tony had been doing just fine with their great vocal and guitar playing respectively and did not need to change what they had been doing.

    During “Thank You” video screens showed videos of John, receiving some of the loudest cheers of the night. An acoustic “Going to California” had the loudest sing along. “Kashmir” ended the set to a standing ovation and the band came out for a one-two punch of “Rock And Roll” and “Black Dog” to end the evening.

    There is a fine line for a tribute or legacy act to walk on, so as not to become a caricature of the band they are paying their respect to.

    For most of the night the musicianship on stage during Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience spoke for itself, but for a small part of the show the line became a little too blurred.

    [FinalTilesGallery id=’188′]

  • Get Ready for MMJ, Beck and More at Boston Calling 2015

    Forget trudging out to a field in the middle of nowhere to see a string of your favorite musicians at a festival. Boston Calling 2015 has all the music you want, and in an easy-to-reach urban setting that also lets you explore one of the best cities in the Northeast while you’re at it.

    And oh, by the way, it’s got a sweet lineup including My Morning Jacket, Beck, the Pixies, Tenacious D and TV on the Radio.

    Boston Calling 2015 will be held for the third time at City Hall Plaza – in the center of Boston – this Memorial Day weekend. The festival allows for re-entry, so festival-goers can hang out in downtown Boston while taking breaks from some great music.

    On Friday, May 22, Sharon Van Etten takes the stage at 6:30. Tame Impala will play at 7:45, and Beck starts at 9:25. All acts will appear on the same stage.

    Saturday will be headlined by My Morning Jacket and also includes Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, St. Vincent, Marina and the Diamonds, Gerard Way, Tove Lo, Run the Jewels, Mo, DMA’s and Krill.

    Sunday’s lineup is headlined by the Pixies, and they will be joined by Tenacious D, TV on the Radio, Vance Joy, Jason Isbell, Chet Faker, The Lone Below, Ilovemakonnen, Halsey, and the Ballroom Thieves.

    On Saturday and Sunday, the sets shift between two stages, and sets don’t overlap, so attendees can catch every minute of music.

    Gates open at 6 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday and Sunday. Music ends each day promptly at 11 p.m. Organizers recommend taking the T to Haymarket or State Street stations, then entering at the main entrance on Congress Street. For those who choose to drive, organizers offer a discount to the Government Center parking garage at 50 New Sudbury St.

    Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes for lots of dancing and walking. Dress in layers, and be prepared for any weather — the event is rain or shine.

    A variety of Sam Adams beers,  Angry Orchard hard cider and Wicked Wines will be for sale. Food and non-alcoholic drink vendors will consist of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Tasty Burger, The Chicken and Rice Guys, Arancini Bros, Dean’s Concessions, Roxy’s Grilled Cheese and Burgers, Alltown and Polar Beverages. Concession booths are spread throughout the festival.

    Tickets, including a few VIP options, are still available online. All ages are welcome, with children aged 10 and younger getting in free.

    Organizers recommend those who don’t have accommodations arranged yet should check out Ames Boston Hotel. It’s steps away from the festival and is an award-winning, chic boutique hotel that attracts artists and celebrities.

    There will be another fall Boston Calling Sept. 25-27, and organizers will announce the lineup at the May festival. Those who attend the spring edition will get a discount on a pre-sale for the fall fest starting May 26. Last year’s fall festival included The National, The Hold Steady, Lorde, Nas and the Roots, among others.

    Boston Calling is also hosting block parties every Thursday until Sept. 17 from 5 to 8 p.m. in Dewey Square, on Summer Street at Downtown Crossing.

  • Dylan Birthday Celebration to be Held in Woodstock

    For the seventh year in a row, Bob Dylan’s birthday will be celebrated with a benefit concert in Woodstock Memorial Day weekend.

    A group of Hudson Valley-based artists will perform Dylan’s hits at the Bearsville Theater at 8 p.m. Sunday, May 24.

    The current lineup features Happy Traum, Cindy Cashdollar, Jules Shear & Pal Shazar, The Stacks, Sara Fimm, Marc Black, Lindsey Webster, Eric Redd, Jerry Marotta, Zach Djanikian, Tim Moore, Kyle Esposito, Sin City, and The Saturday Night Bluegrass Band. More artists are to be announced.

    DylanSquareThe concert will benefit the Family of Woodstock’s Crisis Hotline and the John Herald Fund for musicians in need.

    Those looking to attend have the option of buying $45 non-premium seats, $65 premium seats, or $100 premium seats that also include raffle tickets to win a photo and signed poster of Bob Dylan.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbc3PSiHu6I]

  • Seven Day Music Marathon Day 4: Masters of Nostaglia in Saratoga Springs

    1. Halfway through this week-long Music Marathon, I opted to stay local and see Masters of Nostalgia at One Caroline Street at the suggestion of bassist Tony Markellis, who was sitting in with the group this evening. Set up in a semi-formal dining restaurant that hosts live music nightly, One Caroline Street Bistro provides great music, ambiance and fantastic gumbo that paired well with a smooth Malbec.

    Masters of nostalgiaAnd the music was as local as you can get, with area musicians Dave Pedinotti (guitar, harmonica), Andy Hearn (drums) and skillful session guitarist James Gascoyne joined by bassist Tony Markellis (Trey Anastasio Band). The bass and drums combo made their presence known in each song, not relegated to the background and stood out to keep a solid beat going while Dave led the group through a smattering of covers – some well-known and some not so well-known – with Pedinotti’s soulful voice accompanied by his great harmonica playing.

    The set included “House of the Rising Sun”, “Into the Mystic”, “Ain’t no Sunshine”, “Born on the Bayou”, Buddy Holly’s “It’s So Easy”, “Eleanor Rigby”, “Get Back”, “Take it Easy”, “Free Fallin”, “Wild Nights” and two stand out highlights of the night – John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery” and Merle Travis’ “Nine Pound Hammer”. The selections played were all surefire hits and drew a crowd in over the course of the evening. As the audience got lubricated over the course of the night, they began to dance and take up space on the dance floor, which was my cue to head back to Albany, full of delicious gumbo and experiencing a fresh venue for live music.

    Next up: Grand Ole Opry legend Hal Ketchum at The Egg

  • Seven Day Music Marathon Day 3: Halestorm, The Pretty Reckless and Starset at The Palace

    Working into Day 3 of this Music Marathon, I found myself once again seeing music I was unfamiliar with and had little knowledge of beforehand so I had no expectations. The only thing that made tonight’s show different was the venue – The Palace Theatre, where I would see a vastly different crowd take in the great music Albany has to offer compared to the usual shows I attended, with a lineup of Halestorm, The Pretty Reckless And Starset.

    Halestorm The Pretty RecklessUnfortunately, I walked into this show with Nickelback on my mind, but only for the most hilarious reasons. Starset snapped me out of it with symphonic sounds brought about by lead singer/keyboardist Dustin Bates, who spoke to me later citing Hans Zimmer, Nine Inch Nails and Sigur Ros as influences on their sound. I was impressed, and reminded of Stabbing Westward amid the intensity of the show. The band wore light up masks which added depth to the pageantry, capped off by mentioning the “Starset Society”, a latter day KISS Army or nonpoint Nation. The concept of a band-driven community instead of a community-driven band intrigues me – its the opposite of what I’m used to, but if it keeps the fan base strong, go for it.

    The audience for the three bands was such a mix of rock fans, young and old, kids with parents and parents without kids. I knew nothing about these bands but couldn’t help but remark on the diversity of the crowd, the metal heads and rock stars lightly thrashing to the music throughout the night. It was a nice break from the usual for me and The Pretty Reckless were the stand out set of the night. With a “For Whom the Bell Tolls” intro followed by sounds of a woman moaning, this female fronted band was heavy, but not metal. Taylor Momsen has great stage presence and an incredible voice, while drummer Jamie Perkins looks like Mick Foley. They have a good ‘rock god’ motif down, and has an edge of Pantera influence to the music, especially on “Going to Hell.” Overall I found The Pretty Reckless to be like Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, but from the wrong side of the tracks, and by wrong I mean the hard rocking side. They were great.

    Halestorm, fronted by Lzzy Hale made this night into a rarity – two female-fronted rock bands, and I could only count four off the top of my head upon Halestorm taking the stage (Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Hole, L7). Encouraging fans to raise their devil horns high, I heard Whitesnake through the guitar work of Joe Hottinger and an altogether more polished sound than The Pretty Reckless.

    The set seemed to mellow about halfway through – the first seven or eight songs were straight fire, but the drum solo and all that followed were underwhelming. They could have thrown in a Def Leppard cover or something – the lack of covers this night surprised me greatly – but instead it was all originals. “Apocalyptic” was pretty solid, and the three encores were good and catchy, especially “Like a Reckoning”, but it was pushing on soft rock at that point. To cap the night, the band had the crowd serenade bassist Josh with “Happy Birthday” while toasting shots of Jagermeister. Halestorm is solid and has a rightful following, but I’m thinking that The Pretty Reckless could lap them in a few years time, with Starset showing strong potential if the fans can dig it.

    Next up for Seven Day Music Marathon: I head to Saratoga Springs for Dave Pedinotti and the Masters of Nostalgia at One Caroline Street.

  • Seven Day Music Marathon Day 2: Knuckle Puck, Firestarter and more at Bogies

    I don’t go to Bogies often, because that was the high school/early college venue for me, with few bands sparking my interest to bring me to Albany’s famed dive venue; Nietzsche’s, eat your heart out.

    I found out about this show through Jambase and was surprised to learn the only band listed on the lineup, Firestarter, was not the headliner. In fact there were three bands that played prior to Firestarter – Broken Field Runner (Albany), Coldfront (Canada) and Routine (Albany, playing their first ever show), all who had 20 minute sets. Knuckle Puck, out of Chicago and drawing the majority of the crowd, headlined the night.

    Firestarter is an Albany based band with influences from Blink 182, New Found Glory, Silverstein and Starting Line. I was thrown back to the late ’90s and my pre-jamband heyday with the influences ringing loud and clear, and it was alright. Matt Bliss, Firestarter’s lead guitar/vocalist spoke to me about the two year old band, who have done four cross-country tours and four regional tours, generating solid fanbases in pockets around the country, as well as a few Warped Tour shows. For a band this young and with an audience that is flocking to shows and singing every word, their potential is limitless. A new EP, A Life Inconsistent, is due out this summer.

    Firestarter at Bogies. All I hear is Blink 182 #musicmarathon #nysmusic

    A video posted by pete mason (@phanart) on

    Knuckle Puck, a great rock n roll band name if there ever was one, had a similar sound to Firestarter, but their audience was not just singing/shouting every single word of every single song alongside the band, they were more raucous and lively than before. Crowd-surfing and moshing was the norm for most of the night, just without the flying fists. Being Star Wars night (May the Fourth be with you), the crowd also had lightsabers worked into their fist-pumping action. The dudes in the front row were singing the words right into the face of the lead singer, pushing ever closer towards the lip of the stage, with surfers falling into the pit. I still don’t get moshing, but the crowd was welcoming and full of energy all night.

    .@knucklepuckil at Bogies #maythefourthbewithyou #punk #blink182 #moshing #nysmusic #musicmarathon

    A video posted by pete mason (@phanart) on

    The band has a vast following and an intense crowd at that, and while Knuckle Puck is far from my usual listening, it was a treat to see a thriving fan base for a completely different genre pack 200 people into Bogies, one of the last four shows at the venue, which is closing on May 31.

    Next up in this Music Marathon: Halestorm and Pretty Reckless at the Palace Theatre.

  • Hearing Aide: Wild Adriatic ‘Never Enough’

    Saratoga area trio Wild Adriatic haven’t stopped picking up speed in the past few years, gaining fans worldwide with their contagiously fun and dance-able yet heavy in just the right ways blend of blues, soul and good ol’ straight up rock ‘n roll. They released a full length album in January 2014 and since have been on the road almost non-stop, touring coast to coast and for the first time taking their live show overseas on a European tour. During a six-week residency in Austin, Texas they released a new five-track EP on March 17 titled Never Enough that is a fantastic sampling of the talents and sounds they bring to the table.

    wild adriatic never enoughThe title track to this release starts off with a big, dirty, head bang inducing guitar riff that will grab any listener’s attention whether they’re ready for it or not. Then when the sounds of Mateo Vosganian on drums and Rich Derbyshire on bass join in together, it’s clear that it’s time to crank the volume as loud as possible, because this band is about to show you a damn good time.

    The second track, “Strange Persuasions” slows down slightly, with hip swaying grooves. After an electrifying solo towards the end of the song, when guitarist/vocalist Travis Gray comes back in with the words “Tell me now do you want me?” you can envision the ladies in a crowd nodding, weak in the knees after the shredding that just swept them off their feet. Then they let the listener down softly for a moment with the ballad “Because of Me” showing that although good times are what they’re known for, they’re equally able to melt every heart in the room. The last-minute of the song Gray lets his guitar take a verse, showing that his playing can portray the same level of emotion as his soaring falsetto vocals.

    The fourth track, “Trouble” full of hard-hitting yet intricate drum fills, funky keys, pulsing bass lines and rocking’ riffs, is a song that in the live setting would be a challenge for anyone to sit still through. This release is short and sweet, and for a new listener, an ideal introduction to what this band on the rise has to offer. Yet the studio version of this trio is only a fraction of the band that they are on stage, a true powerhouse of sound and energy where they take their songs to new levels in each performance.

    Oh, and there’s also a cover of Bill Wither’s “Ain’t No Sunshine” but not much needs to said about that. When this trio decides to do a cover, they fill it with soul, make it their own, and exceed all expectations.  From releases to live performances, everything Wild Adriatic does continues to set the bar higher and higher for the band. They are truly a band to watch this year and beyond as they continue to grow their sound, picking up influences and styles as they continuously hit the road running. With their intense touring schedule, it’s likely they’ll be in a town near you soon, but until then, Never Enough will keep you smiling, dancing, and singing along from whatever speakers you’re blasting it from.

    Never Enough is available at wildadriatic.bigcartel.com and via iTunes.

    Wild Adriatic have announced tour dates through August, including Bonnaroo (Manchester, TN) and Summer Camp (Chillicothe, IL). Full list of dates can be found at wildadriatic.com

  • Gregg Allman launches new Laid Back Festival at Jones Beach

    Greg Allman will host the new Laid Back Festival, a single-day fest he will headline at Jones Beach amphitheater.

    The lineup includes Allman with his solo band, the Doobie Brothers, Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers, Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band and City of the Sun, and organizers promise more acts will soon be announced.

    AllmanLaidBack

    The fest will be held Saturday, Aug. 29, starting at 4 p.m. at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh. It’s named after Allman’s debut solo album, released in 1973.

    Regional restaurants, wineries and breweries will be available.

    A presale already happened, and tickets went on sale to the general public at 9 this morning. VIP packages include a VIP clam bake on the beach and signed posters.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT6KdpSaL10]