Category: News

Street Performer Leif Solem Harassed By Albany Police Officer

Street performer Leif Solem was recently harassed by Albany Police Officer Glenn Szelest while busking, another term for performing on the street.

Solem was confronted by Officer Szelest in front of 7 North Pearl St. while playing his guitar. A woman bystander witnessed and recorded a 43-second video of the confrontation, which Solem posted on Youtube.

Officer Szelest claims the shirt Solem placed on the ground for tips in front of a vacant building looked like he was panhandling and ticketed him for disorderly conduct for blocking the sidewalk.

After the bystander questioned the officer, Szelest calls for backup by saying he was dealing with unruly panhandlers. The officer even tried to grab the phone from the woman’s hands.

Solem stated in an phone interview with News 10 that this was the first time he was ever stopped by police. He said the officer quickly became condescending. Solem told News 10 that the officer asked him rhetorically, “You were picked on in school weren’t you,” and became really demeaning and belittling.

A police spokesperson stated that the department was made aware of the video on Monday and is currently conducting an investigation.

Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox stated: “To my knowledge, there is no ordinance against busking.” Cox also stated that Officer Szelest has been reassigned to administrative duty while an internal investigation takes place.

Szelest is a 21-year veteran of the Albany Police Department.

September 15, 2015
Nothing More Loses Drummer Paul O’Brien Due to Anxiety Over Spotlight

The rock world lost a really amazing live drummer recently. Paul O’Brien of Nothing More has departed from his rock brothers in search of a life in music behind closed doors and away from the spotlight, according to the band’s Facebook page.

In a message he wrote up for the post, O’Brien stated that depression is very real, and being in the spotlight triggered some major anxiety issues buried deep down inside of him, and it’s just too much of a mental struggle for him to carry on.

O’Brien wrote that is was the hardest decision he has ever made to step down from Nothing More. He said the band has an amazing message and it was an absolute honor to be part of something so much bigger than himself.

Being on the road isn’t for everyone, O’Brien wrote, and he learned through a very real experience playing live in front of thousands of fans that he is one of those individuals. With life on the road he felt that he would never escape. It was something O’Brien has been carrying with him for a long time, and he had to do what was best for him and his future.

O’Brien wanted to thank what he called his brothers for life, Daniel, Mark, Jonny and Will. He said the things they been through, no one can take away from them, and and he loves his bandmates more than words can describe. O’Brien also thanked them for being very supportive through this difficult time and wrote that it means the world to him. “I know without a doubt, you guys will take this thing all the way to the top,” he wrote. O’Brien said he will always remember traveling the globe and seeing amazing things with them during that chapter of his life, and he will always be there for musical brothers and is eternally grateful to have such an opportunity that most could only dream of.

O’Brien thanked all the supporters of Nothing More: the families, crew, friends, bands, label, management and all the fans, “every person who bought a shirt, put us up for the night, fed us, carried our gear, took us on the road, booked a gig…..you’re a massive reason for the success of this band” that he hopes help continue to let his former bandmates achieve the ultimate greatness that he knows that they are capable of.

O’Brien plans to lay low for a while looking for a quiet life out of the spotlight. He said he has found happiness in that before and that he his lucky to have his lady, family and close friends at home to help support him through everything.

O’Brien also stated that music will always be a huge part of his life and he would love to get into some studio for some session drumming. He said that he has always been fascinated by the recording side of things. O’Brien would always like to try his hand at producing and maybe some teaching, but first, he said he needs to get his head on straight and smile again. He closed out his statement, “From the bottom of my heart, thank you all for everything. Much love and respect.”

Nothing More has chosen Pearl artist Ben Anderson to head up the drumming duties for the band’s current Monster Energy Outbreak Tour. Anderson has also drummed for Digital Summer and Letters From The Fire.

September 14, 2015
Little Feat to Join moe. for Jamaica Bash

moe.’s Tropical Throe.down planned for January 2016 has combined forces with Little Feat’s Feat Camp.

Little Feat is no stranger to these types of trips: Feat Camp will be Little Feat’s 14th annual Feat Fan Excursion.

Island Gigs representatives have assured moe.rons attending the Jamaica jaunt that Little Feat’s presence will not interfere with moe.’s performances at all. But it will give attendees access to three full Little Feat shows in addition to three moe. shows at night, plus an acoustic day set (for the first 200 people who booked) and three shows from special guests Medeski Martin and Wood.

The addition means the sale of packages for Throe.down were put on hold temporarily, but they will be available for fans to purchase again at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 14. According to moe.’s website, “Space is limited and fans are encouraged to book early, as the rooms are expected to move quickly.”

The joint festival will be held Jan. 10-14, 2016, at the all-inclusive Jewel Paradise Cove Beach Resort & Spa in Runaway Bay, Jamaica, though Feat will play an extra show on Jan. 9 for those who choose to add the extra pre-night to their vacation.

This is not the first time moe. has collaborated with Little Feat. The Hollywood-based band played at moe.’s 2007 Snoe.down in Lake Placid, and Little Feat keyboardist Bill Payne played with moe. for the band’s Big Lebowski-themed Halloween show in Las Vegas last year.

September 11, 2015
CYBERSTAR formed by Members of Drowning Pool, Fozzy and Allele

CYBERSTAR is the next supergroup formed by musicians from other bands ready to hit and the rock airwaves everywhere. CYBERSTAR consists of Drowning Pool vocalist Jasen Moreno, Fozzy guitarist Billy Grey and Allele drummer Dusty Winterrowd.

What seems to be a common and pretty cool trend more often than ever these days in the world of rock music is the formation of supergroups. Bands go on the road together and make friendships while they travel the highways and back roads of the world. Some bands also take breaks and go on hiatus, allowing some of those musicians to explore other opportunities and musical interests.

Moreno and Grey started working on the rock/metal CYBERSTAR super project after the two met on tour in the United Kingdom. The two artists started writing songs together, and then added drummer Winterrowd to the mix. With the chemistry between these three musicians, the writing process began almost immediately.

An upcoming EP from the band is in the works. The music and songs on the EP have been constructed cyberly. The first two singles recorded for release, “Eye for an Eye” and “Floods,” will hit radio this fall. CYBERSTAR has released samples of the two tracks on Soundcloud. The band plans to announce show dates soon.

https://soundcloud.com/cyberstarband/eye-for-a-eye-sample

September 9, 2015
Pat Tiernan Celebration Event at Parish Public House

Parish Public House in Albany will hold A Celebration of the Life and Music of Pat Tiernan on Saturday, Sept. 12. The NYS Music-sponsored show will be hosted by Brian LaPoint & The Joints.

As part of the $5 cover charge for the show, fans will receive a master copy of Tiernan’s original songs upon entry. The disc will include 10 original tracks and one cover track.

Two acts performing at this years event, Brian Lapoint & The Joints and Erin Harkes, also took part in a benefit show shortly after Tiernan’s passing.

Harkes shared memories in an interview after Tiernan’s death:

Because I have no boundaries, I got up and said, ‘Can I sing with you? He nodded, smiled and said go ahead… I apologized for being so bold and went to creep away after the song. He grabbed my arm and said, ‘No, you’re staying.

He told me a joke one time before I went onstage and I could barely perform because I was laughing so hard. He just looked at me, smug and smiling. He knew he had completely ruined the first song for me. I wasn’t even mad because the joke was so funny.

The show will also include the rapidly growing jazz/funk/electro band Formula 5 and the high-energy dance trio Lord Electro.

Tiernan died suddenly at his home on July 24, 2012, at the age of 29. Tiernan as born in Albany and lived in East Greenbush. Pat’s first live stage performance was at 7 years old when he played with his father’s band. Tiernan was focusing on furthering his musical career that fall with a move to Texas before he passed.

The lineup for the event will include:

Erin Harkes – 6 p.m.

18 Strings of Trouble – 7 p.m.

Kyle Albano – 8 p.m.

School Bus Yellow – 9 p.m.

Brian LaPoint & The Joints – 10 p.m.

Lord Electro – midnight

September 8, 2015
Full Concert Release: Frank Zappa and The Mothers at the Roxy

The “Roxy & Elsewhere” Tour brought Frank Zappa & The Mothers to theaters and colleges throughout the U.S. and Canada in the fall/winter of 1973 including a 3-night run at the Roxy in California Dec. 8-10.

These highly coveted shows formed the 1974 commercial live release Roxy & Elsewhere, which included a few recordings from May 1974 at Edinboro State College in Pennsylvania.

Now, in 2015, the Zappa Family Trust has restored the 16mm video reels that captured the show and will be making it available in a combo DVD/CD package in surround and stereo sound. No official announcements have confirmed an exact release date but according to online music retailer EVO88 it can be expected out on the eve of Halloween this year.

Track Listing for the DVD and CD:

DVD:
1) Cosmik Debris
2) Medley: Penguin In Bondage / T’Mershi Duween / The Dog Breath Variations / Uncle Meat / RDNZL
3) Inca Roads
4) Medley: Echidna’s Arf (Of You) / Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing / Cheepnis – Percussion
5) Cheepnis
6) Medley: I’m The Slime / Big Swifty
7) Be-Bop Tango (Of The Old Jazzman’s Church)
8) Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow
9) Father O’Blivion
CD:
1) “Something Terrible Has Happened…”
2) Cosmik Debris
3) Medley: Penguin In Bondage / T’Mershi Duween / The Dog Breath Variations / Uncle Meat / RDNZL
4) Medley: Echidna’s Arf (Of You) / Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing / Cheepnis – Percussion
5) Cheepnis
6) Be-Bop Tango (Of The Old Jazzman’s Church)

Additional tracks: (1) Medley: Pygmy Twylyte / The Idiot Bastard Son (2) Dickies’s Such An Asshole

Lineup: Frank Zappa, guitar/vocals; George Duke, keyboards; Tom Fowler, bass; Ruth Underwood, percussion; Bruce Fowler, trombone; Walt Fowler, trumpet; Napoleon Murphy Brock, tenor sax/ vocals; and Chester Thompson and Ralph Humphrey, drums

September 3, 2015
Phish to host three-day Mexico romp in January

The Phish from Vermont will head to Mexico in January and take those fans who can afford it with them.

The all-inclusive vacation/concert experience will take place from Jan. 15 to 17, 2016, in Mexico’s Riviera Maya at the recently renovated, five-star Barceló Maya Beach Resort. It’s “on one of the most amazing beaches in the Mexican Caribbean. It stretches 1.2 miles where you will find white sand, crystal clear waters, and a coral reef,” according to the resort’s website. It boasts three restaurants, a nightclub, a pool and a hot tub. Attendees will be allowed to stay at other hotels and still join the music festivities, though.

The vacation includes three nights of Phish shows with a beachfront stage just a few feet away from the Caribbean.

Prices range from $1,640 per person if you book a room for four to $2,056.50 if you book a room for two.

The trip is being billed as family friendly, and packages can be added with tickets for children at a few hundred dollars, depending on the child’s age.

Tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. Sept. 10.

For more information, check out phishrivieramaya.com.

September 2, 2015
Mastodon Coming to ROCKchester

Mastodon recently announced their long-awaited return to Rockchester with a show at new venue Anthology on Nov. 13.

Although technically from Atlanta, half of the ferocious foursome call the Flour City home. Both guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer Brann Dailor have deep roots in the Rochester metal music community, having come from the local legendary mathcore group Lethargy, which disbanded in 1999, amongst several other projects.

Anthology is a new music venue located in Rochester’s East End in the former Daisy Duke’s location. While not officially open yet, several upcoming shows have been announced with major talents such as the “post-hardcore” of Silverstein (Nov. 18) and the bluegrass grooves of Yonder Mountain String Band (Nov. 1). Keep an eye on NYSMusic for more information and a grand opening date for Anthology as it becomes available.

Mastodon is touring behind the 2014 release Once More ‘Round the Sun. Tickets are $26.50 in advance, $30 at the door. It’s a near certainty that this show will sell out.

September 2, 2015
UPDATE: Nas to Replace Snoop Dogg at Canceled NYS Fair Appearance

UPDATE: Master lyricist Nas has been announced as the replacement for Snoop Dogg by New York State Fair officials hours after Snoop’s cancellation announcement.

Nas has been frequently named as one of the best in the game and will no doubt satisfy many fans who were hoping to see Snoop Dogg at Chevy Court on Wednesday.

ORIGINAL CONTENT:

Snoop Dogg’s performance for tomorrow, Sept. 2 at the New York State Fair has been canceled due to illness.

New York State Fair officials were informed late this afternoon by Snoop’s management that he was ill and unable to perform. Fair officials are hopefull of finding a replacement and are for schizzle searching for last minute alternatives to fill the 8 p.m. slot at Chevy Court.

Salt-n-Peppa are set to perform at the matinee show at 2 p.m.

Snoop Dogg’s tour is set to continue at Riot Fest on Sept. 13 in Chicago.

Keep an eye on NYSMusic for all your NYS Fair updates.

September 1, 2015
The Waterhole is Closed… For Now

Residents of the North Country are mourning the loss today of one of the most legendary concert venues around. The Waterhole closed last night after decades of serving up amazing music along with countless beers and strong cocktails.

Hope remains that the Saranac Lake watering hole will reopen soon under new ownership, but for now, the dim lights of the downstairs bar and the bright stage lights will be dark for the future.

For a venue of its size in such a small town — Saranac Lake has around 5,000 residents, and it’s a strong population center in the middle of the sparsely settled Adirondack Park — the Waterhole’s stage has been graced with some heavy hitters, as well as nurturing plenty of local talent.

In 2013, the venue held a two-month-long celebration to mark 20 years since owner Billy Allen converted the second level of the bar (which was open for more than 40 years) from apartments into the Upstairs Music Lounge. Since then, some significant bands have filled the two-level concert hall with music: moe., the Del McCoury Band, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Soulive, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Man Man, Gov’t Mule, Leftover Salmon, the Infamous Stringdusters, Max Creek, and Donna the Buffalo, among many others.

It’s also been a regular gathering place for locals and visitors during the village’s popular Winter Carnival, with music every night and often two acts a day, as well as its Party on the Patio series that meant a free show every Thursday night, usually from May through October.

On Friday night, EMEFE played the last show there for a while, and near the end of the show they dedicated the song “Good Future” to the Waterhole and the crew who have been running it.

Traveling bands have appreciated the Waterhole as a venue with character as well as an opportunity to build up their fan base in the Adirondacks, but few have appreciated it as much as the local bandswho got their start there. Lowell Wurster, percussionist for Lucid, posted kind words yesterday on Facebook:

“So tonight marks the end of a North Country legacy. The beloved Waterhole in Saranac Lake is closing its doors. It really makes me sad, but I understand the reasons. Lucid first played there about 10 years ago and to this day, its one of our favorite venues. Thank you Brenda and everyone who has worked there over the years.”

Eric Munley, mandolin player for the Blind Owl Band, also booked music there for the last handful of years.

“The Waterhole is temporarily closing its doors tonight, between change of ownership. While it is a sad day for the bar, town and Upstate music community, we all look to the future with hope that soon enough the doors will reopen and live music will again fill its walls. The Waterhole has always been a blessing. A true music venue with focus on nothing besides music. Every musician that has gotten to play there knows the love that exists with in its walls. We all want to thank Brenda and her crew for so many great years of music. I know I would not be where I am today if the Waterhole was not there to inspire my path.”

This drawing was seen on the chalkboard at the Waterhole the last few days it was open. Photo courtesy of Katrina Lauber. Drawing done by John?

Are you a musician or a music lover with fond Waterhole memories? Tell us about it in the comments!

September 1, 2015