Category: Regions

Update: The Year of Sittin’ In with Scott Hannay

When NYS Music caught up with Mister F’s Scott Hannay earlier this year, we talked about what it’s like to sit-in with a band, the preparation (often none) and coordination that goes into a guest spot, and his goal of jamming out with Turkuaz.

Fast forward to the end of 2015 and Scott Hannay has sat in with over 50 bands, performed with Mister F in Colorado and stretched his music experience even further. Wrapping up 2015, NYSMusic followed up with Scott on the year he had and what lies ahead for him and Mister F.

Pete Mason: What have you learned over the course of the year, regarding guest appearances and overall musicianship?

Scott Hannay: It’s hard to properly put into a paragraph what I’ve learned from this year compared to other years, but I can certainly tell a marked difference in my own musicianship after this one. Throwing oneself into so many different styles and situations has a way of broadening horizons. I’ve gotten to shred Middle Eastern scales with Consider the Source, travel into outer space jamming with Formula 5, make a run on all the instruments (except drums) with The Werks, tickled keytar with After Funk and The Magic Beans, and those are just a small few of many. It’s been incredibly humbling. I’ve always said you can learn something from everyone, but I’ve been really, really spoiled with the ‘everyone’ that I get to learn from!

PM: What has the year in music been like, for both Mister F and yourself?

SH: This year has been exciting for a lot of reasons. We’ve had some very high-profile musicians play with us this year, and I have also gotten to play with many very incredible players. As a band, Mister F played over 150 shows this year throughout over 20 states, providing many opportunities for collaborations. We even found ourselves in Colorado for the first time, where I took my only night off to go play more music at a jam night in Boulder and got together with Jaden Carlson Band for a session. It’s been a very immersive year in terms of music for me, and will continue to be until 2016!

PM: So with how this year went, what do you set your sights on for sit-ins? That Turkuaz happened pretty fast after we last chatted…

SH: Turkuaz happened pretty quickly, yes – the day after the last article came out! We’re playing with Particle on January 1 at The Hollow. I’ve gotten to play with them before, and Steve Molitz has sat in with Mister F, so, who knows what will happen! We’ve got a string of official Umphrey’s afterparties coming up, too, so hopefully some of them can come out and throw down with us. Either way, 2016 is already looking great!

This video is from Buffalove, the night I played all three stages – the ‘hat trick’, if you will. Mister F played the 2nd stage, then I hopped up with PTF on the main stage after breaking down and packing up. Rick (from PTF) and I then traded keytar solos latenight with After Funk at the woods stage. Buffalove was recently tied with Disc Jam for best small festival in your NYS Music article – it was definitely one of the most memorable nights of my summer!

December 30, 2015
New Year’s Eve Across New York State

Don’t have plans yet for New Year’s Eve? Music fans across New York State have got plenty of choices this Thursday. NYS Music helps you get there with the short list of NYE activities.

Albany

Moe. at the Palace Theatre. Tickets start at $42 in advance/$50 day of show

Rustic Overtones at the Hollow with Special Guests Mirk. $10.27 in advance/$15 at the door

Buffalo

Funktional Flow at Buffalo Iron Works with special guests Adam Bronstein’s Freehand Band. Tickets are $10 in advance/$15 day of show.

Lazlo Hollyfeld, Rhubarb, Intrepid Travelers, and Folkfaces at Nietzsche’s. $5 at the door only.

Ithaca

Big Mean Sound Machine and Grey Gary at Upstairs at Lot 10, DJ ha-MEEN and Weazildust Downstairs at Lot 10. $20 in advance

New York City

DIIV at the Bowery Ballroom with special guest Tamaryn. $40

Macy Gray at the Iridium Jazz Club. Tiered pricing tickets are currently available.

Snarky Puppy at the Irving Plaza with special guests Breastfist. Tickets start at $50

The Disco Biscuits and Consider the Source at the Playstation Theatre. Tickets starting at $69.50

Port Chester

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue at the Capitol Theatre with Soulive. Tickets range between $59.50 to $160

Rochester

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad at the Historic German House with special guests Danielle Ponder & Tomorrow People and Funknut. Three Heads Brewing Tasting Party start at 7pm with an acoustic jam featuring members of GPGDS and Extended Family. Late night the party continues with Subsoil and Level 7 Hip Hop DJ Set. $20 in advance/$30 day of show.

Mikaela Davis at the Bug Jar with Harmonica Lewinski and The Temptators. $10 in advance/$12 day of show

Saratoga Springs

Eastbound Jesus and Lucid at the Putnam Den. $15 in advance/$20 day of show.

Turning Stone Casino in Verona

Showtime, Gridley Paige, and Last Left at The Gig

Ryan Brooks Kelly, The Beadle Brothers, and DVDJ Biggie at the Tin Rooster

DJ Dread, Caroline D’Amore, and Joe Maz at Lava

Isreal Hagan and Stroke and The Swooners at the Turquoise Tiger

Syracuse

Sophistafunk & Root Shock at Funk ‘n Waffles – Downtown. $20 in advance/$25 day of show.

Erie

Aqueous at the Kings Rook Club. Two sets. $10 at the door only.

Burlington

Gang of Thieves at Nectar’s with The Tenderbellies. Gang of Thieves will be performing Are You Experienced by the Jimi Hendrix Experience in its entirety. $10 in advance/day of show

December 30, 2015
Kissing Candice at Syracuse’s Rock Garage

Kissing Candice brought their bloody, gory horror themed show to Syracuse’s newest DIY venue, The Rock Garage on December 18^th. Syracuse area locals, The Entropic Principle, Welcome the Ancients, and IMPULSE helped get the crowd warmed up.

The lights go dark, smoke rolls onto the stage, the crowd’s excitement builds as the intro cues up; then the band explodes onto the stage tearing right into “Unloaded” off of their newest album “Blind Until we Burn.” They didn’t waste any time before ripping into “Successful test” and their latest single “Put em’ up.” The band played a very powerful and supercharged set consisting of a mix of songs from their EP “Conjured” and newest release “Blind Until We Burn” including highlights “Tusk” and “Nilbog” to which they pay homage to one of the “best” worst movies of all time Claudio Fragasso’s Troll 2!

Even though it was cold outside, Kissing Candice had no trouble keeping fans excited and engaged throughout their 50 minute set. After taking a short break, the band came out a played a two song encore ending the blood and smoke filled set with a song that that is not often played “Rampage.” The band thanked everyone and invited the crowd to hang out with them at their merch table before they were on their way back to Long Island.

It is certain that with their mix of metal, hardcore and industrial and let’s not forget some very catchy heavy and hook – laden songs, Kissing Candice puts on one hell of a blood and gore soaked show!

December 29, 2015
The Night Before Phishmas

The Night Before Phishmas

Twas’ the Night Before Phishmas
And all through our nook,
Not a creature was stirring,
Not even a wook.
The hoodies were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes The Phish from Vermont would soon be there.
And I in my lot shirt and heady mama with her booze,
Had just settled down for a quick winter snooze.

When out in the lot there arose a great cheer
I sprang from the bed to grab a fresh beer.
Away to the Shakedown I flew like a flash,
Cracked open a brew and smelled some faint hash.
The moon shone down on the freshly laid out wares,
As the cops walked around but clearly didn’t care.
When what to my bloodshot eyes did I hear?
But a mini VW bus with 6 n00bs driving it down the street in low gear.

With a ginger for a driver, so torn and so frayed,
I knew at that moment it must be Trey!
Faster than a Llama, his phanners they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
“On Fee! On Rutherford! On Mule and Tela the spy!
On Horse! On Guyute! On all of you guys!
To the top of MSG! To the heart of the city!
Now dance away! dance away! dance away so pretty!”

As unsold extras that before the show did fly,
When they meet with the ticketless, hoping for Divided Sky.
So up to the rooftop the phanners they flew,
With the VW bus full of jams, and Fish, Mike and Page too!
And then just like that I heard on the roof,
The dancing and jumping of each members foot.
As I put on my dance shoes and was twisting around,
Down the chimney Trey came with a Mound!

Trey was dressed to the nines, and Mike in purple pants
Page munched on a sandwich, Fish simply danced.
The bundle of jams Trey had flung on his back,
Made him look like a traveler, just opening his pack.
His eyes how they sparkled! His gingerness so merry!
His cheeks were like free roses, his nose like Jerry’s!
His floppy head of hair and rounded glasses framed his face,
And his beard was red as he ran like an antelope in space.

The stump of Mike’s bass was held tight in his hands
It fucked my face with the smoke, something quite grand;
Page had a smiling face and a nice new shirt on his chest,
And when he laughed it was like he had brought in the Dude – his absolute best!
Fish was chubby and stout, like a hellborn child elf,
And I laughed when I saw him and I enjoyed myself;
A wink of his eye and a hi-hat intro,
And soon began to surrender to the flow

They spoke not a word, it was a silent vocal jam,
And filled all the hoodies with dry goods merch, hot damn!
And they touched their heads as the evening shocked their brain,
They each gave a nod, and up the chimney they went as they came.
Trey sprang to the VW bus and to his team gave Reba’s whistle,
And away they all flew towards the Mountains in the Mistle.
But I heard him exclaim, as some green tea he poured,

“MERRY PHISHMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD TOUR!”

Safe travels to New York City!

December 29, 2015
Lemmy Dead at 70

Lemmy, born Ian Fraser Kilmister, the legendary frontman of iconic metal band Motorhead, died Monday at his home in Los Angeles due to complications from an aggressive cancer that was only discovered on Dec. 26, according to the band’s official Facebook page.

There is no easy way to say this…our mighty, noble friend Lemmy passed away today after a short battle with an extremely…

Posted by Official Motörhead on Monday, December 28, 2015

If there were a definition of the term “badass” in the Oxford Dictionary, Lemmy’s picture would be it. The man lived a pure rock and roll lifestyle until his last breath. Famous for his deep vocals into a down-turned microphone and his unorthodox style of playing bass, Lemmy proved an inspiration to a generation of musicians of all genres. Many called his style of playing “lead bass” because he really wasn’t holding the low end as most bassists do. He was like a second lead guitarist in the Motorhead trio.

Lemmy had experienced a number of health issues in recent months, cutting shows short in Salt Lake City and Austin and canceling a show in Denver altogether. Prior to leaving the stage in Austin, he said, “I can’t do it,” before leaving the stage. The thin air of Salt Lake was named as the cause for Lemmy cutting the show short and also given as the reason for the Denver cancelation.

Musicians the world over have taken to social media to express their sympathies and appreciation for Lemmy, including original Motorhead guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke, who wears the unfortunate title of sole remaining original member of the band following the November death of drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor.

I have just been told that Lemmy has passed away in LA.Like Phil, he was like a brother to me. I am devastated.We did…

Posted by Fast Eddie Clarke Official on Monday, December 28, 2015

Gene Simmons of KISS posted:

Lemmy: Rest In Peace, my friend. pic.twitter.com/2M6VPiBGyE

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) December 29, 2015

Lemmy was born in Burslem, England on Dec. 24, 1945. The infamous Hollywood club, Whiskey A Go Go, hosted a private, star-studded 70th birthday celebration for Lemmy on Dec. 13. The show featured a band consisting of Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum and Gilby Clarke of Guns N Roses; Robert Trujillo of Metallica; Charlie Benante and Scott Ian of Anthrax; Zakk Wylde of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society; and Steve Vai, among others.

Comedian Jim Norton, who befriended Lemmy and had him as his band director on the short-lived HBO stand-up series Down and Dirty, tweeted the following:

RIP Lemmy, the purest heavy metal artist of all time. I was honored to know you. #RIPLemmy pic.twitter.com/yEtKdjMwJc

— Jim Norton (@JimNorton) December 29, 2015

Lemmy began his musical career in the early ’60s and was heavily influenced by the Beatles. He served time as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix and earned his chops in the early prog-rock band Hawkwind. On his exit from the band, Lemmy said in his autobiography that he was fired “for doing the wrong drugs.”

Motorhead and Lemmy’s legacy loom large on the metal scene and popular music as a whole. His death leaves a big hole in rock and roll. The world has lost a legend and as posted on Motorhead’s Facebook page:

Celebrate the LIFE this lovely, wonderful man celebrated so vibrantly himself.
HE WOULD WANT EXACTLY THAT.
Ian ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister
1945 -2015
Born to lose, lived to win.

We’d say “Rest in Peace, Lemmy” but you’d tell us to “Eff off.” RIP anyway, sir.

https://youtu.be/XUJ0IYZKLvE

December 29, 2015
Strangefolk Returns to Garden of Eden August 12-13

Strangefolk’s Garden of Eden takes place this weekend in Jay, VT at Stateside Amphitheater, bringing back to Vermont the original festival that was spawned 20 years ago on nearly the same weekend. The Vermont foursome have teamed up with Percy Hill and Assembly of Dust for two days of music amid an idyllic setting that provides incredible views and sound in a remote location that encourages a weekend trek to the site.

Guitarist/Singer Jon Trafton spoke to NYS Music about his thoughts on the 20th anniversary event, the return to Eden, and what fans can expect from the weekend:

“This upcoming Eden festival at Jay Peak is the 20th anniversary – almost to the date – of the first one we did. What’s cool about it is that Jay Peak is about 20 miles down the road from the original site, in Eden, VT. So, twenty years later we come nearly full circle.

I’ve been spending a lot of time revisiting the Eden shows, checking out what we played, looking at pictures, getting back into that mindset. The early Edens were so free and easy and under the radar. They were more like a big party we threw for our friends and fans.

I remember at the first Eden it struck me that we had something bigger than ourselves happening. There was a group of 600 or so people who trekked into the middle of Vermont to be together and celebrate with us. We were just a part of it, maybe a catalyst but not necessarily the focus. It had a life of its own. That has always stuck with me. So many of those people have remained friends and we’ve all grown up together. I know a lot of them will be at Jay Peak, so going into it feels like a family affair.

It’s been fun looking back on those years. They seem so long ago and not long ago at all. I’m looking forward to this upcoming one and hopefully we can re-launch the Eden annual tradition.”

Enjoy a compilation from nugs.net of past Garden of Eden shows, a perfect compliment to the road trip to Northern Vermont.

Schedule of Music

The music starts on Friday at 7pm with Percy Hill, followed by two sets of Strangefolk. On Saturday, fans have a wide variety of music and events to choose from. The VIP Strangefolk set takes place at noon, as well as a free performance by Dead Sessions, celebrating the August West Festival, with free Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and more throughout the day. There is also hiking, golfing, mountain biking and much more that Jay Peak has to offer, including the indoor water park! The music gets started at 7pm on Saturday once again with Percy Hill, followed by two more sets of Strangefolk, and at midnight, Assembly of Dust performs at Bullwheel Bar right next to Stateside Amphitheater until 2am.

Strangefolk formed in 1991 and began holding the Garden of Eden festival in 1996 in Eden Mills, Vermont. The festival was also held in subsequent years in Plattsburgh, various locations in Vermont, and Greenfield, Massachusetts, the latter morphing into the StrangeCreek Campout which continues to this day.

Strangefolk took a hit in 2000 when band founding member and guitarist Reid Genauer left to pursue a graduate degree. The founding members of the band joined forces again as Strangefolk Reunion in 2012 and continue to play shows each year.

While the Garden of Eden hasn’t been held since 2006, when Strangefolk played the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival in Burlington in 2013, they called the performance “Edge of Eden” as a hat tip to the fest.

https://youtu.be/xAwHZNQsVRY

December 29, 2015
Best of NYS Music 2015: Staff Picks for Out-of-State Festivals

While most might dream of tropical getaways when it comes to vacation time, music fans accrue their days to travel across the country—or world—for weekends jam-packed with live performances, indulgent food and experimental fun. From the east to the west coasts to the Midwest, NYSMusic staffers traveled near and far throughout the year to see their favorite groups in action. Here we give you our top picks for out-of-state festivals of 2015.

Best Small Festival: Arise Music Festival, East Coast Tsunami Festival, Grand Point North Festival and The Werk Out Music and Arts Festival

With the growing number of small-scale festivals that seem to pop up each year, it’s no wonder that our team could not pick just one or two as their favorite—so we decided to include the ones we felt deserved an honorable mention. First up is Arise Music Festival, an event in Loveland, CO, that according to Andrew Wyatt “offers a spicy jambalaya of multi-cultural live music, electronic performances, art presentations, along with numerous workshops centered around eco-activism, social justice, and spirituality practice.” With nearly 100 musical acts, the three-day festival now in its third year featured the likes of the Polish Ambassador, Rising Appalachia, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, Lukas Nelson, Turkuaz, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Trevor Hall, Emancipator Ensemble, Ozomatli and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, among others.

Headlined by Wu-Tang Clan and Life Of Agony, the East Coast Tsunami Festival held in Reading, PA, treated hip hop, hardcore and metal fans to two full days of shows, including favorited groups Body Count, Mobb Deep, Murphy’s Law, Madball and more. And despite sound issues during day one, Jay Saint G. still dubbed the festival as “a wave of brutality that every music lover should experience.”

Up next is the Grand Point North Festival held in Burlington’s Waterfront Park with views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. Headlined by Vermont’s sweetheart Grace Potter, the fifth annual installment boasted two nights of music featuring Phish’s Mike Gordon, the Flaming Lips, Shakey Graves, Greensky Bluegrass, Amy Helm and the Handsome Strangers, among others, and special guests like Kenny Chesney who joined Potter to perform their single, “Wild Child.” Alexandra Provost and Laura Carbone noted that “as Potter walked onto the stage, her skin glistening from raindrops, the audience went wild” and that she “put on an astounding performance, showing off her piano, guitar and bluesy vocal skills.”

And finally the Werk Out Music and Arts Festival at Legend Valley, a venue favorited by the Grateful Dead in the ’80s. With a stacked lineup featuring the Werks, Papadosio, Dopapod, Lettuce, Umphrey’s McGee, the Floozies, Consider The Source, Break Science and Tauk, the sixth year for the Thornville, OH, festival “was as always a ridiculously good time for all who made the journey,” according to Ben Landsman. With three stages, a silent disco and one fan wedding,Landsman noted that “between the beauty of Legend Valley, the bright spirit of the fans, the innovative music, this festival is one of the treasures of the Midwest.”

Best Midsize Festival: Green River Festival
Honorable Mention: Aura Music and Arts Festival, Boston Calling, Camp Bisco, DelFest, McDowell Mountain Music Festival

Held at Greenfield Community College in Greenfield, MA, the sold-out 29th annual Green River Festival was “fresh, exciting and invigorating,” according to Eli Stein. Featuring four hot air balloon launches, the family-friendly July event pulled out all the stops with a craft tent, Frisbee dog show, acrobats, karate demonstrations, swimming, a Mardi Gras-style parade and exotic local fare like elk, boar and venison burgers, a Korean food truck and kabob vendors. Throughout the three-day weekend, more than 40 performers ranging from Americana to dance, blues and jam graced the event’s three stages nestled in the foothills of the Berkshires, including Eilen Jewell, the Wood Brothers, Rubblebucket, Marco Benevento, MAKU Sound System, Langhorne Slim and the Law, the Punch Brothers and tUnE-yArDs, which Stein noted was the perfect mixture:

Musically, the festival served up a heaping slab of New England comfort food. The rest aforementioned activity, as they say, was just the gravy. Not only were the band selections great, they were clearly hand-picked and not just pulled off the nearest passing festival train. The music flowed wonderfully from set to set, and built to a nice peak at the perfect times. There was an evenness to the passion and approach of the musicians that made for a smooth transition no matter where you went.”

Best Large Festival: Gathering of the Vibes and Summer Camp
Honorable Mention: Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, Hangout Music Fest, Lockn’ Music Festival, Peach Festival, Rock Allegiance, Rock On the Range

Celebrating its 20th year, Gathering of the Vibes offered up an impressive lineup with headliners Wilco, Weezer, Tedeschi/Trucks Band, Dark Star Orchestra, Ben Harper, Greg Allman and the String Cheese Incident. The late summer festival returned to Seaside Park in Bridgeport, CT, and treated fans to a super jam called Vibes 20th Anniversary Spectacular featuring Gov’t Mule guitarist Warren Haynes, saxophonist Branford Marsalis, Meters founding bassist George Porter Jr., Marco Benevento on keys and Joe Russo behind the drum kit, plus Jackie Greene on guitar. Although the four-day festival will take a break in 2016, VibeTribers Julia Wolfe and Steve Olker recounted the last day of the 2015 event and dubbed this run as one that would set the pace going forward:

As the sun set over Vibes for the last time, [Ben] Harper closed out with his song “Better Way,” and it was finally time to head home. Seeing so many bands perform was both enticing and overwhelming at the same time, making leaving Vibes even more bittersweet. The range of genre, popularity, age and background is what makes Gathering of the Vibes separate from other festivals. After 20 years, Gathering of the Vibes has remained one of Connecticut’s most well-known festivals, and it’s attention to bringing about change while discovering your own inner peace is what will bring success for future gatherings to come. Until next time, thank you vibes for a real good time.”

With more than 100 bands over four days on seven stages, this year’s installment of Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe, IL, saw a stacked lineup of bands like moe., Umphrey’s McGee, Steve Miller Band, Widespread Panic, STS9, Big Gigantic, John Butler Trio, Krewella, Trampled by Turtles, Keller Williams and Grateful Grass, Yonder Mountain String Band, Violent Femmes and many, many more. Festivalgoers also had access to on-site camping, the infamous late night Red Barn Shows, musician workshops, a nonprofit village, arts and crafts and unique food vendors, plus some impressive improvements. In Pete Mason’s review of the festival’s final day, he detailed what made the perfect ending to the much celebrated event:

The final set of the night to check out was North American Scum, an LCD Soundsystem cover band who might be the best band to close out Summer Camp. Members of the group are formerly of This Must be the Band, a Talking Heads band from Chicago, who have traditionally played one of the final sets at Summer Camp. This incredible two hour set featured the entire Sound of Silver album and, because everyone else was playing Grateful Dead songs, a spirited version of “Scarlet Begonias” to cap the night.”

Read more from Summer Camp Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 and Day 4.

December 28, 2015
Guitarist Andrew Chamberlaine to Leave Mister F

Mister F guitarist Andrew Chamberlaine is leaving the band.

Chamberlaine, also known as Mister A, announced the news on his Facebook page today. “Making music with my best friends Ben, Matt, Scott, and Mike while visiting at least 20 new states will always be one of the best memories I’ll ever have, however it is something I will not be continuing in 2016,” he wrote in the announcement.

He notes that he will continue his involvement with music, writing songs and playing as much as possible while building his student base at Parkway Music in Clifton Park.

The Albany-based jam band, which formed in 2013 with members of Timbre Coup (including Chamberlain) and Capital Zen, has two New Year’s shows lined up — Dec. 31 at the Monopole in Plattsburgh and a post-moe. show Jan. 1 at Albany’s The Hollow. They will be Chamberlain’s last two shows with the band. The band has an extensive tour schedule for January and February, but there is no news yet from the band as to whether Chamberlain will be replaced for those dates.

The full announcement from Chamberlaine’s Facebook page:

Dear Friends, Family, And Fans of Mister F, I’d like to start off by saying that this last 3 years has been one…

Posted by Andrew Chamberlaine on Monday, December 28, 2015

Here’s Mister F playing “Don’t Lose Your Watch”:

December 28, 2015
Musical Happenings in NYC Pre- and Post-Phish Shows

Phish will return to New York City’s Madison Square Garden for a four night New Year’s run. While Phish might be the main event, there are many shows happening around the city both before and after Phish that fans might interested in checking out. Here’s a rundown of those shows – both those being billed as Phish after-parties and those that are not.

Many New York bands are represented in those performing around the Phish shows, including some of the after-parties. On Wednesday night, Jersey City’s Lil Joe and the ill Picards will bring their funk to Leftfield on Ludlow Chromatropic will join forces with Sprocket to form ChromaSprocket. They will perform with special guests Natalie Cressman and Peter Apfelbaum of the Trey Anastasio Band at Lucille’s at B.B. King’s also on Wednesday night. Late night on New Year’s Eve, Snarky Puppy will play Irving Plaza.

On Friday night, Nyack’s ShwizZ will join forces with FiKus to perform as ShwiKus and play tribute to P-Funk at Lucille’s. Saturday night brings Elise Testone and an all star lineup, including Todd Stoops, Natalie Cressman and Michael Ray, leading a James Brown Dance Party at B.B. Kings. ShwiKus will also be at Lucille’s again, this time playing an ’80s set. One ticket gets you into both of those shows. Dopapod will be at the Grammercy Theatre. Finally, Ha Ha the Moose, made up by members of moe., will bring their off-centered musical theatre to Irving Plaza. You can expect nothing but the unexpected from “The Moose.”

Wednesday, Dec. 30
Post-Phish:
Tower of Power @ B.B. King’s Blues Club – 10 p.m.
Kevin Hedge and Louie Vega @ Cielo – 10 p.m.
Joseph King @ Rockwood Music Hall Stage 3 – 10 p.m.
The Bad Plus @ Village Vanguard – 10:30 p.m.
*Start Making Sense @ Irving Plaza – 11 p.m.
Disco Biscuits w/ Horizon Wireless @ PlayStation Theatre – 11 p.m.
*Particle w/ New Riders of the Purple Sage @ The Cutting Room – 11:55 p.m.
*ChromaSprocket (Chromatropic x Sprocket w/ Natalie Cressman and Peter Apfelbaum) @ Lucille’s at B.B. King’s – 11:55 p.m.
*Rebirth Brass Band @ Highline Ballroom – 11:59 p.m.
*Lil Joe and the ill Picards @ Leftfield on Ludlow – midnight

New Year’s Eve, Thursday, Dec. 31
Post-Phish:
*Snarky Puppy @ Irving Plaza – 2 a.m. (technically on Jan. 1)

Friday, Jan. 1
Pre-Phish:
*Holly Bowling @ The Cutting Room – 4 p.m to 6 p.m.
Frank & Tony, Taimur Agha, Ray Zuniga, Nikola Baytala, Ted Krisko, Willie Graff, Alex Graham & More TBA @ The Panther Room – 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. (technically ends Jan. 2)

Post-Phish:
The Bad Plus @ Village Vanguard – 10:30 p.m.
Disco Biscuits w/ Animal Rexx @ PlayStation Theatre – 11 p.m.
*Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe @ Irving Plaza – 11:30 p.m.
*Dead Sessions @ The Cutting Room – 11:55 p.m.
*Pink Talking Phish @ Highline Ballroom – 11:55 p.m.
*ShwiKus plays P-Funk (ShwizZ + FiKus = ShwiKus) @ Lucille’s at B.B. King’s – 11:55 p.m.
The Motet @ B.B. King’s – 11:59 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 2
Pre-Phish:
PhanArt Presents: Skyscraper is Grand @ Hotel Pennsylvania – 12-7 p.m.
*New Mastersounds @ The Cutting Room – 4 p.m.
Touchpants @ American Beauty NYC – 5 p.m.

Post-Phish:
*Ha Ha the Moose (Rob, Chuck and Jim from moe.) @ Irving Plaza – 10:30pm
The Bad Plus @ Village Vanguard – 10:30pm
*Dopapod @ Grammercy Theatre – 11 p.m.
Disco Biscuits @ PlayStation Theatre – 11 p.m.
BIGYUKI @ Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 – 11 p.m.
Subset @ Webster Hall – 11 p.m.
*The James Brown Dance Party (Michael Ray, Natalie Cressman, Chris Bullock, Todd Stoops, Fred Thomas & Moussey Thompson, Adam Chase & Matthew Chase, Elise Testone) @ B.B. King’s – 11:55 p.m.
*ShwiKus plays The 80s @ Lucille’s at B.B. King’s – 11:55 p.m.
*New Mastersounds @ The Cutting Room – midnight
Walker Adams @ Rockwood Music Hall – midnight

* billed as Phish after-party

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBT1UgsWm-M[/embedyt]

December 27, 2015
Elise Testone and Brian LaPoint and the Joints at The Hollow

Elise Testone has a voice to be reckoned with and she showed it off beautifully at The Hollow in Albany on the 17th of December. Her all-star band consisting of Todd Stoops, Eric Kalb, Jed Lingat, and Brad Williams played great funk, soul, and rock and roll behind her booming voice.

Unlike other recent shows they have done, Elise Testone stuck to playing mostly all original material. The songs were great and show that she has the “it” factor that is needed to succeed in the music industry. Only bigger and better things can be coming for her as we roll into 2016.

Opening the evening was Brian LaPoint & the Joints with set that mixed covers and originals. The Joints are always a rotating cast of Albany musicians and on this night included members of School Bus Yellow, and MONK. Brian is a great band leader and made sure each member got their moment to shine brightly in the various jams that occurred throughout the set.

December 24, 2015