NYS Music 20​15

Category: Saratoga Springs

  • 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

  • Local Limelight: Let’s be Leonard is the new ‘It Girl’ of Saratoga Springs

    If you aren’t from the Capital Region of New York, there’s a good chance you’re missing out on a little gem called Let’s Be Leonard, a five piece rock, jazz, fusion from Saratoga Springs. Hell, even if you live in Albany there’s a chance they’ve slipped under your radar as they’ve only officially formed in March 2015. This was the case for me, although I’m not sure how this happened given their surge in popularity in the spa city and rapidly growing fan base. They have even played Albany street fests Pearlpalooza and Lark Fest.Let’s be Leonard

    Regardless of my own lack of exposure, I recently wised up and sat down to listen to their debut album, Cow, just released on November 29. The album is really quite enjoyable, with a few mellow and romantic tunes sprinkled among a largely high energy and up-beat selection of original songs.

    lbl1According to guitarist Karl Bertrand, he and Matt Griffin, also on guitar, met saxophonist Connor Dunn at Schenectady County Community College just last year. They added drummer Paul Guay and bassist Chris Cronin in March to complete their ensemble. While the album provides a chance for all members to shine to different degrees, it is Dunn whose impressive and smooth notes serve as the lead in most songs.

    The strongest tracks on the album include “Rocky Road,” and “Kindergarten Blues,” which, not surprisingly, blend rock and blues. “Young Sprite” is blues heavy with velvet smooth layers of jazz. Listeners are sure to find themselves wrapped up in the groove with a good head bob – the universal body language for “I’m digging this!” The young band has gone beyond having just potential, they sound like the real thing.

    Another sign of Let’s Be Leonard’s sudden, yet warranted, rise in popularity is their inclusion on upcoming bills with other local and better known favorites. They’re scheduled to open for Mister F on December 26, and for Wild Adriatic on New Year’s Eve. Both shows are at Grizzly’s Bar and Kitchen, just over the border in Stratton, Vermont. They’re also opening for Lucid at the Putnam Den on January 1. But for the hard evidence, check them out on their own turf at Café Lena in Saratoga Springs on December 22. Based on both rumors and, now, my own listening experience, I would bet it will be one of many packed shows to come.

    Check out their Facebook page for information, music, photos and morelbl2

    Erin Clary: What or who inspires your music?
    Karl Bertrand: We definitely draw influences from the Grateful Dead and Dave Matthews Band in terms of song form and arrangement, we also are influenced a good deal by use of jazz harmony from a variety of artists.

    EC: What is the ultimate goal of “Let’s Be Leonard?”
    KB: To throw a killer show on the Moon.

    EC: How did LBL come to be?
    KB: Our three founding members, Karl Bertrand, Matt Griffin, and Connor Dunn met while studying music at Schenectady County Community College close to two years ago and we met our current bassist, Chris Cronin, and drummer, Paul Guay, through the Saratoga/Glens Falls music scene in Winter/Spring of this past year

    EC: How old are you guys?
    KB: We range in ages 21-23

    EC: Is there a theme to your debut album, Cow?
    KB: We’d probably have to say the theme to Cow is kind of like a day in the life of a kindergartner. A lot of the songs are generated by feelings you have at the best time in your life: childhood.

    EC: Do you play all originals at your shows?
    KB: We do play mostly originals, we do a number of Dead covers though and a few others as well.

    EC: Where does the name “Let’s Be Leonard” come from?
    KB: The name comes from a couple of our members having a convo about possible band names, someone said “let’s be ‘Leonard’” as in just Leonard and someone realized “Let’s Be Leonard” had a pretty little ring to it.

  • Darlingside Releases Additional Northeast Dates

    Rising folk quartet Darlingside will head to the Northeast this winter, with several dates in New York state.

    The indie four-piece is scheduled to play at Daryl’s House in Pawling Jan. 13, Club Helsinki in Hudson Jan. 14, Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs Jan. 15 and two nights at Rockwood Music Hall’s Stage 2 in New York City on Jan. 16 and 17 before dates in the Midwestern states and West Coast.

    The Massachusetts-based band — Don Mitchell (guitar, banjo), Auyon Mukharji (violin, mandolin), Harris Paseltiner (cello, guitar) and David Senft (bass) — met as students at Williams College and have been playing together for six years. Their textured, collective sound is being hailed as unique and genre-fresh by music critics and the like, with much praise being given to the group’s method of performing around a single microphone.

    Paseltiner said in a release announcing the dates:

    Each song and set of lyrics are created by all of us together, a sort of ‘group stream-of-consciousness.’ So we moved away from a single lead vocalist and started gravitating towards singing in unison, passing the melody around, or harmonizing in four parts through an entire song.”

    These additional tour dates are in support of the group’s latest album Birds Say; the 13-track release dropped in September and it is the second album on Nashville company Thirty Tigers, which also manages clients like Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson. Darlingside’s extended string of dates come off the heels of a successful fall run, including sharing the bill with Grammy-nominated Patty Griffin. Tickets for all 2016 dates are on sale now through the band’s website. But if you can’t wait until the New Year, Darlingside is booked at Milkboy in Philadelphia this Wednesday.

  • Jam for Tots Brings Holiday Joy and Music to The Capital District

    Jam for Tots, a music benefit series held throughout New York State each holiday season, returns with host Luke Weiler who has been holding the benefit shows 2008.

    With events held at The Hollow in Albany, Putnam Den in Saratoga, Last Chance Cheese (Tavern) in Tannersville and Aaron’s Irish Pub in Gloversville, intimate shows are on tap with a variety of live music as well as a chance to donate gifts and raise money for the neediest this holiday season. Weiler feels encouraged for this year’s Jam for Tots. “I’m so excited to see what takes place this year as I am always excited about the events and the vibe that we can all create collectively as Jam For Tots keeps going strong another year.”

    The impact of the donations raised by Jam for Tots is quite impressive. “We have donated about $20,000 worth of toys over the last 8 years. We’ve had exceptionally amazing years where we had $10,000 in toys total, and years where we only had two events that raised about $2,000,” shared Weiler. “All bands donate their performances and with four events this year, I am looking forward to a good amount of toy donations, hopefully at least $2,000. I set attainable goals and more the better if we surpass the goal.”

    As a holiday event, Jam for Tots is something that is feel good and fun to be a part of. These intimate events help to bring joy to many kids over the Christmas season. Bring a toy and get free admission to each of the Jam for Tots events in November and December.

  • Putnam Den Brings Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real on November 14

    On Saturday November 14, rising talent in American rock ‘n’ roll will grace the stage at Putnam Den when Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real come to Saratoga Springs. Having performed at Farm Aid when the annual concert made a stop at SPAC in 2013, Lukas and P.O.T.R. recently backed Neil Young on his latest album The Monsanto Years.

    Having made a promise at the age of 11 to his father Willie, that he would teach himself how to play guitar alongside Hendrix and Vaughn, the now 24 year old Nelson has found his calling amid touring year round across the country to continually growing audiences among some of the greats – Neil Young, John Fogerty, Bob Weir, B.B. King, and Bob Dylan, to name a few. No Depression magazine has noted of Lukas’ voice “With a unique voice and gift for penning timely socially conscious lyrics stretched over muscular guitar riffs, Lukas Nelson is earning not only fans but, heaps of critical praise as well.”

    Supporting Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real are Glens Falls natives Joe Mansman and The Midnight Revival Band, a 5 piece rock band influenced heavily by outlaw country, roots, blues, and folk. Rich Ortiz starts the night with his one man band drawing on inspiration from the likes of Jim Croce, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder and Willie Nelson.

    More information on the show can be found through Putnamden.com.

  • Halloween Dance Party with Mister F, and Lucid at Putnam Den

    Halloween parties at Putnam Den are often some of the best gatherings of the year, with enthusiastic audiences & bands wearing their favorite character costumes, decorative rooms, grotesque drink mixes, and supreme music selections. The theme of every party is to dance, celebrate, enjoy the visuals, and celebrate.

    This year, hosted a social event like no other at the Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs, with the help from Albany based Mister F and Plattsburgh’s own Lucid. As the holiday fell on a saturday with clear skies, Saratoga was open for menace.

    Jim Houle - Putnam Den NYSMusic - 10-31-15-2

    Mister F kicked off the evening with their eclectic mix of funk, rock, and sophisticated rhythms which attracted many ghouls and goblins right from the start. This local four piece hit the stage dressed as characters from the movie Spaceballs and ripped up an hour performance from out of this world. Their set highlights were an original “Answer the Dog,” featuring members from Lucid and Formula 5 and Bela Fleck & the Flecktones cover, “Sinister Minister.”

    Lucid brought an inspiring set with their north woods folk rock grooves that made all the skeletons shake their bones. These handsome devils attired the Village People and busted out their set with a greatest hits medley. Highlights from their set were “Backwoods” featuring George Wurster and “I Kill People” with Scott Hannay of Mister F.

    Formula 5 raucously hit the stage running with a Jay & Silent Bob skit featuring Scott Hannay of Mister F and the contagious cover of “Jungle Love” by Morris Day and the Time, a tune long favored by their chosen characters. Highlights from their the Formulaic set was the Huey Lewis and Ray Parker Jr. mix, “I Want a New Drug” > “Ghostbusters” > “I Want a New Drug.”

    Formula 5 Set:
    Jay & Silent Bob Skit@ > Jungle Love^ > Excalibur, Perch Above the Earth$* -> I Want A New Drug* -> Ghostbusters -> I Want A New Drug -> Mister Elixir* -> Perch Above the Earth > Mister Elixir, Low Rider!, Catch Me, Nu-GEN#* -> Pedro* -> Night Time In The Switching Yard, Epiphany
    Encore: Magic Carpet Ride
    @ – featuring Scott Hannay (Mister F)
    ^ – featuring Matt Pickering and Scott Hannay (Mister F), Lowell Wurster (Lucid),
    $ – Thriller Jam
    * – Unfinished
    ! – Featuring Jamie Armstrong, Chris Shacklett and Lowell Wurster (Lucid), Scott Hannay (Mister F)
    # – Featuring Andrew Chamberlaine and Scott Hannay (Mister F)
    ‘Jungle Love’ – Morris Day and The Time (1st time played)
    ‘I Need a New Drug’ – Huey Lewis & The News (1st time played with James and Joe)
    ‘Ghostbusters’ – Ray Parker Jr. (1st time played with James)
    ‘Low Rider’ – War
    ‘Night Time In The Switching Yard’ – Warren Zevon
    ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ – Steppenwolf (1st time played)

    Mister F
    Mister F

    Mister F Setlist:
    Vocoder > Everything You Say, This One Goes to 11@, See Level > Answer the Dog#, Inside, Eye Level > The Machine, Do It Again%, Sinister Minister^, On and On, Don’t Lose Your Watch

    @ – w/ The Munsters Theme Tease
    # – w/ Joe Davis (Formula 5) & Lowell Wurster(Lucid)
    % – Original, First Time Played
    ^ – Bela Fleck & The Flecktones Cover

    Lucid
    Lucid

    Lucid Setlist:
    Village People Medley (YMCA > In the Navy > Macho Man > YMCA), 4 Bangers and Hash (Styles of the Smooth > Yanomamo Lullaby > R.L. > The Russian), Gemini Eye > Surf Side Rock Side, Black Smoke, Came and Went > Silhouettes, Backwoods*, Dirt
Whiskey Dreams > Shinbones, Blessed and Cursed, I Kill People ^

    * with George Wurster
    ^ – (Andrew James Deller) w/ Scott Hannay of Mister F

  • It’s an Upstate Halloween Throwdown at Putnam Den with Formula 5, Lucid and Mister F

    Halloween in Saratoga means the Putnam Den will be rockin’, this year with three of Upstate New York’s biggest names: Mister F, Lucid and Formula 5.

    Upstate HalloweenAll three bands have performed throughout New York and Putnam Den is one spot they call home. Formula 5’s Joe Davis: “I’ve really been looking forward to this show for a while. Putnam Den is one of my favorite venues to play in the Northeast and probably my favorite in the Capital Region. Add in Formula 5, Mister F and Lucid and it should equate to quite the rager. We have a lot of surprises in store and you know Mister F and Lucid will be pulling out all the stops.”

    When it comes to Halloween, fans can expect a special set from each of the three bands, with music getting started around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and going until early Sunday morning. Taking the stage first is Mister F, the prog-rocking quartet who recently debuted FTV Cribs. “I’m so glad we’re all on this bill together. The 518 rolls deep with incredible talent, and this is one hell of a sampler platter of that. I’m excited to see some collaborations between these bands – we’re all good friends, and it’s really gonna show on Halloween,” said Mister F keyboardist Scott Hannay.

    Lucid takes the stage after Mister F, ready for a night of costumed originals and that Northern New York sound Lucid is best known for. Lucid’s Lowell Wurster: “We are very excited to be sharing the stage with our super great friends this Halloween. These are two bands that we’ve known since their creation and couldn’t be more excited to jam with them. It will be a night filled with great music and lots of laughs.”

    Formula 5 closes out the night with a late night set for the Halloween ragers that will bring a cap a truly memorable night. More info, as well as costume contest details, can be found in the event. For fans who can’t make the show and want to tune in, ShowtheShow will be providing a free audio stream for the night.

  • Strange Machines and Broccoli Samurai hit Putnam Den October 24

    Two of the jamtronica scene’s rising stars, Broccoli Samurai (Cleveland) and Strange Machines (Boston) will bring a powerhouse show to the Putnam Den on Saturday, October 24.

    Broccoli Samurai, with a progressive electronic complemented by a powerful drum/bass combo that has energized audiences in the Midwest for five years. They’re making their way out east and pack an incredible punch. Check out their performance at this year’s Summer Dance for a taste of what to expect.

    Strange Machines is no stranger to Albany and have developed a solid following throughout the Northeast with a blend of funk, rock, jazz and livetronica, creating a powerfully danceable live show. If you’re looking for tight improvisation wrapped around well crafted songs, Strange Machines is the fix you’re looking for.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UvOpDGaV7s

  • 5 Seconds of Summer Brought the ‘Rock Out with Your Socks Out’ Tour Through SPAC

    5 Seconds of Summer brought their Rock Out with Your Socks Out Tour to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center along with Hey Violet from their record label Hi or Hey Records. Fans arrived early to see the band 5SOS brought along for their first headliner of this magnitude. The Rock Out with Your Socks Out tour had proven to be extremely successful for the groups up to this point and the show at SPAC was no exception.

    Hey Violet kicked off the night with an energetic set filled with crowd engagement. All throughout their time on the stage members encouraged fans to get involved in the set and have a good time. From the moment they took the stage they had the feel of a 2000’s girl fronted pop-punk group much like Paramore when they started or Hey Monday. They elicited a strong reaction from the crowd with original songs such as “You Don’t Love Me Like You Should” and “I’m There”. The strongest part of the set came with their cover of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” with their own unique punk flare mixed in throughout the song. Fans really seemed to enjoy their set and remain engaged through its entirety singing along when they knew the words and dancing along when they didn’t.

    As time grew closer to when 5 Seconds of Summer was scheduled to take the stage the excitement could be felt throughout the venue. An image of a clock flashed across the projector screen counting down the time until the set would begin. This had fans screaming with excitement from the moment it started and increasing in volume as the seconds ticked away closer to zero. When the clock struck zero the incredible production and showmanship started; drummer Ashton Irwin kicked things off with a drum entrance for their opening song, “End Up Here” off of their 2014 self titled release, while he rose from the ground up to the top of his riser. They also played “Don’t Stop” and “Long Way Home” off of that release. After “Long Way Home” it was time for one of the highlights of the evening; 5 Seconds of Summer searched the audience for one lucky fan to bring on stage to help with guitar during their song “Rejects” which had every pre-teen and teenage girl off their feet screaming at the top of their lungs hoping to be selected.

    Another noteworthy aspect of their set was their candid happy birthday performance with the audience for Tyler Szalkowski, lead guitarist for the Albany pop-punk group State Champs. Pure Noise Records’ State Champs recently supported 5 Seconds of Summer on their last Australian tour. Seeing such a fun moment shared among friends certainly made the show a unique experience for everyone in attendance. 5 Seconds of Summer have been very active in promoting smaller bands from the pop-punk and heavier rock genres including State Champs. Also among those bands are Sleeping with Sirens, All Time Low, Beartooth and many more talented groups.

    Fan favorites like “Amnesia” had what seemed like the entire audience singing along to every word. However, the energy reached a new level for their cover of the Green Day song “American Idiot” and did not fall as they carried on into “Kiss Me, Kiss Me,” their current single “She’s Kinda Hot” and arguably their most well-known song “She Looks So Perfect”. They finished out the show on a high note with “Good Girls” and “What I Like About You”. 5 Seconds of Summer put on a high energy, extremely well produced set that will keep fans coming back every time the group returns.

  • Catch the Bass: Saratoga Bassist Tony Markellis Plays Around the Country This Fall

    While a wider audience will recognize his regular gig with the Trey Anastasio Band, Saratoga Springs bassist Tony Markellis enjoys fielding his talent in the local music community and performs locally at many venues this fall.

    Aside from TAB, Tony plays with a range of musicians and groups throughout the Upstate New York area. This fall he will make plenty of appearances throughout Saratoga Springs and around the Capitol District in addition to touring with the Trey Anastasio Band, which will make two New York appearances at the newly reopened Kings Theater in Brooklyn.

    tony markellisTony Markellis Fall Dates

    Friday 9/18: Jo Henley Acoustic Trio – Café Nola, Schenectady, NY (6:30)
    Saturday 9/19: Michael Jerling Trio – Caffè Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY (7)
    Tuesday 9/22: Dead Set – Club Metronome, Burlington, VT (10:30 PM)
    Wednesday 9/23: Sam Whedon & Friends – Mouzon House, Saratoga Springs, NY (7)
    Friday 9/25: Bob Warren – Wiawaka, Lake George, NY (6 PM)
    Sunday 9/27: TBA
    Tuesday 9/29: Dead Set – Club Metronome, Burlington, VT (10:30 PM)
    Wednesday 9/30: Jo Henley Acoustic Trio – Mouzon House, Saratoga Springs, NY (7)
    Wednesday 10/7: Sam Whedon & Friends – Mouzon House, Saratoga Springs, NY (7)
    Saturday 10/10: Brass & Blues – The Morgan, Glens Falls, NY (6-9)
    Friday 10/16: TAB – Kings Theater, Brooklyn, NY (7)
    Saturday 10/17: TAB – Kings Theater, Brooklyn, NY (7)
    Thursday 10/22: Dead2Me – Gaffney’s, Saratoga Springs, NY(9)
    Friday 10/23: Street Corner Holler – One Caroline Street, Saratoga Springs, NY (9)
    Friday 10/30: TAB – Brooklyn Bowl, Las Vegas, NV (9)
    Saturday 10/31: TAB – Brooklyn Bowl, Las Vegas, NV (9)
    Sunday 11/1: TAB – House of Blues, San Diego, CA (7:30)
    Wednesday 11/4: TAB – Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles, CA (9)
    Friday 11/6: TAB – Fox Theater, Oakland, CA (7:30)
    Saturday 11/7: TAB – Fox Theater, Oakland, CA (7:30)
    Monday 11/9: TAB – Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR (7:30)
    Tuesday 11/10: TAB – Showbox SODO, Seattle, WA (7)
    Thursday 11/12: TAB – The Depot, Salt Lake City, UT (7:30)
    Friday 11/13: TAB – The Fillmore, Denver, CO (8:00)
    Saturday 11/14: TAB – The Fillmore, Denver, CO (8:00)
    Friday 11/20: TBA
    Saturday 11/21: Jeanne O’Connor & the New Standard – One Caroline Bistro, Saratoga Springs, NY (9)
    Friday 11/27: Dead2Me – One Caroline Bistro, Saratoga Springs, NY (9)