“There are three things to remember about Beats Antique shows,” said a young woman wearing hand drawn cat whiskers and ears to her friend wearing a red raccoon mask as the musicians began their recent Boulder performance.
“What?” the raccoon-masked woman asked breathlessly.
“Wild, Weird, wacky!” she exclaimed. “Oh, and also wonderful!”
“That’s four things!” her friend yelled back.
Four things by which to remember the Bay-area-based band performance indeed. Towards the end of a two-year “Creature Carnival” tour, there was plenty of the aforementioned wild and weird qualities. But before it got weird, Beats Antique got Old World in what would become a two-day vaudeville/carnie/sci-fi/ adventure. David Satori and Capel began leading a musical caravan of live musicians across the wagon-rutted dirt trails of the ancient Silk Road complete with percussive Middle Eastern rhythms, electronic mixes, and a group of belly dancers wearing animal masks.
Main dancer, Zoe Jakes, decked in an embellished belly dancer costume and jeweled head-piece, channeled famed dancer, Badia Masabni, born in Lebanon around 1892, to begin a series of differently-themed routines that included a burlesque number with over-sized green feathers.
Things, as it were, got weird later during a dance number in which several dancers dressed in Tron-like LED costumes with cheerleader pom poms and black kabuki masks. It was as if high cheerleaders had been sent 2,000 years in the future to perform the halftime show of some science fiction tribal fertility rite under the eerie, blue glow of a black-lit, post-apocalyptic universe. Near the shows end both night, members of Beats Antique called an audience member on stage to help battle a towering one-eyed inflatable monster.
Weird? Yes. Wacky? You bet. But all of it was wild and wonderful.
Upon pulling up to find parking outside The Hollow on November 5, I noticed a familiar face taking a solo stroll down Pearl Street. The late 20s/early 30s man was staring up at the many abandoned buildings that seem to colonize the area as of late. With a closer look, I realized the stranger was Zack Feinberg, guitarist of The Revivalists, the New Orleans based rock hybrid group I was about to see.
Photo Credit: Rocco DeCarlo, 2015
“Oh God, this place must look so lame,” I thought to myself.
Here is a band whose tour has recently included the likes of Telluride and Red Rocks in Colorado, various festivals including Kaaboo, a sold-out Halloween show at the 9:30 club in Washington D.C., and poor Zack here can’t even find a pizza joint open in downtown Albany on a Thursday night.
Fortunately the Hollow was jam packed on this particular evening. A combination of the unseasonably warm weather and the rising popularity for the raw talent of the band. I felt at ease that “Smallbany” would at least provide an energetic crowd, ranging from backwards snap-back sporting college girls to business casual school district administrators who were attending a conference nearby.
Photo Credit: Rocco DeCarlo, 2015
To my surprise, our small city and relatively petite venue seemed to have provided an opportunity for the band to relax and have some fun. While initially pulled back, singer Dave Shaw literally let his impressively voluminous hair down as he bounced about the stage. At times he crouched down so close to the women in the front row, I could practically feel the heat coming from their blushing faces. Had he removed his shirt – as he is known to do – I would have questioned whether we were at a concert or an evening with the Chippendales.
With a few exceptions, the set was mostly tunes from their most recent album Men Amongst Mountains, providing plenty of solo opportunities for the horn section featuring Rob Ingraham on the saxophone and Michael Girardot on trumpet and keys. These two help provide the familiar NOLA sound, while the steel pedal guitar played by Ed Williams announced a twang all his own.
Photo Credit: Rocco DeCarlo, 2015
Shaw continues to woo the ladies by physically joining them in the crowd. Even Williams jumps up from his steel guitar to playfully ask “Why don’t you love me, baby” during “When I’m Able,” a song from their City of Sound album. This particular song provides room for improvisation and crowd interaction. Crystal clear notes rise from the keys, Shaw breaks out the tambourine and an intense faceoff ensues between Feinberg and Williams. These guys are clearly having a blast in Cap City.
After exiting momentarily to take a breath, the septuplet returned to the stage for an encore of “Need You,” an emotionally charged and powerful song from the new album. And finally the cherry on top of this Cajun sundae, the boys closed out the evening with Prince’s “When Doves Cry.” Although they weren’t dressed the part as they did for their Halloween show, the Revivalists nailed the cover while adding their own grit to this pop classic.
If the Revivalists were unimpressed with Albany, it certainly wasn’t evident by the intensity of their set. So there you have it – at least when it comes to cities and venues – size apparently doesn’t matter.
Setlist: Bullet Proof, Stand Up, Fireflies, Amber, Monster, When I’m Able, Keep Going, Fade Away, Criminal, It Was a Sin, Wish I Knew You Encore: Need You, When Doves Cry
There are moments in one’s life that will stay with them long after the music has stopped. The third and 2015 edition of Hulaween once again curated a festival experience for the ages. One that will be stuck in festival goers minds for a long time to come, until next year that is.
The third installment of Suwannee’s Hulaween Music and Arts Festival brought many new faces to Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL. Having grown to over 21,000 attendees this year, it was the largest festival ever thrown at the site since it began hosting. Not without some slight growing pains, long lines on Friday for ticketing and entrance into the event quickly gave way to smiles and wide eyed amazement of what was in store for the weekend.
Hosted once again by The String Cheese Incident, Hulaween brought many other big name musical acts to the party, some for their first appearance at Suwannee. With a total of seven sets over the course of the weekend, including their Halloween “Ghoul Train” cover set featuring Wu Tang’s Gza acting as Don Cornelius, plowing through crowd favorites such as “Brick House,” “Boogie Man,” “Car Wash,” and “Dance to the Music,” SCI held nothing back, whipping revelers into a dancing frenzy at every opportunity.
A highlight at the Amphitheater Stage Friday was undoubtedly Primus, getting the crowd started with “Those Damn Blue Collar Tweakers,” they left it all on stage with favorites like “Mr. Krinkle,” “American Life” and the coveted “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver.” Their set was not without Les Claypool’s usual witty banter with the crowd, as well as some less usual songs like “Jilly’s on Smack” and “Salmon Man.”
Pretty Lights played to a majority of the attendees Friday night interspersing some new music into a set chock full of his trademark energetic glitch hop, with horns and keys aplenty. A highlight at the Amphitheater Stage on Saturday was Suwanee virgins Odesza who harnessed the crowd’s energy and magnified it into an incredible set of danceable electropop and chillwave grooves leaving everyone in a breathless sweaty heap by the end of their set. With many festivals opting for a relaxed schedule on Sunday’s to encourage a relaxed crowd, Hulaween had other plans.
After a tight bluegrass set by SCI on the main stage, the skyrocketing Griz took the amphitheater by storm announcing that it was the “Funkiest party in the galaxy until Lettuce takes the stage.” Hit after hit had a packed amphitheater crowd bouncing and gyrating until it appeared to form into one massive dancing organism. After String Cheese played their final set, Lettuce indeed brought the funkiest set of the weekend, playing new material off of their fourth studio album Crush. Many were seen looking for their jaws on the ground afterwards.
Closing Hulaween down were none other than livetronica pioneers Sound Tribe Sector 9. Once again the main concert field was packed with fans drawing from energy reserves to dance their hearts out for one finale set of music.
The expansion of Spirit Lake brought many new art exhibits and interactive sculptures, as well as the return of exhibits from previous years. With some stellar performances by Manic Science (Manic Focus X Break Science) and The New Mastersounds at the Spirit Lake Stage, the art wasn’t the only selling point.
Silver Wrapper Productions and The Spirit Of Suwanee Music Park have outdone themselves, once again. Time will tell if it’s possible to bring together a more impressive line up, a more perfect lay out, or a more incredible all around music and art experience together in one gorgeous package.
Hey Albany area rock fans, are you in the holiday spirit? If so, guitar virtuoso Mike Campese will bring his heavy shredding style of hero holiday guitar playing to The Madison Theater in Albany on Saturday, December 5.
Campese and his band will play rock-themed holiday favorites such as “Deck the Halls,” “Grinch,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Auld Lang Syne” and “Silent Night,” to name a few.
Show time starts at 8:30 and tickets cost $10.
Campese has released eight studio albums in his solo career, but the holiday-inspired show will see Campese perform songs from his sixth studio album The Meaning of Christmas, along with some other releases. The well-received album was released in 2008.
Campese is a guitar virtuoso and composer. He is best known for his time as a member of the symphonic speed metal group Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Campese was chosen over several guitarists in 2004. In his first album with the band, Campese received a gold record for his work on TSO’s fourth album, The Lost Christmas Eve.
Campese is no stranger to the Albany area, born right in the New York capital and graduated from Shaker High School in Latham. Campese is an honors graduate from the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. Growing up around musicians, Campese started playing guitar at the age of 13. His father was a virtuoso violinist and his brother also played guitar.
Fans can also catch Campese in a solo performance at this year’s First Night 2016 in Saratoga Springs at Empire State College’s meeting room #1 – 103 starting at 7 p.m. At midnight, Campese will play to the First Night fireworks inside Congress Park to “rock” in the New Year.
Dead & Company was an idea that to most, floating on an initial thought, may have been hard to conceptualize. To a very large amount of the Grateful Dead community there was a vast amount of skepticism around how it could be possible for John Mayer to find his place as the lead guitarist for an adaptation of the Grateful Dead, involving three of the ‘Core Four.’
To many of his faithful fans, Mayer could do no harm. However, even those who bridged the gap between Mayer fans and Deadheads would likely respond that Mayer may be most likely to have what most would see as a tenuous grasp of the Dead musical lingo. After all, John Mayer had little knowledge of the depths of the Grateful Dead library until he signed on to this project. On October 29 in Albany, NY, Dead & Company officially began their first tour.
Fast forward a little over a week, five live shows into what seemed like an experiment. This newly created band called Dead & Company takes the stage at Madison Square Garden for the sixth show of their first tour; a free show to those lucky enough to score a ticket in a small number of lotteries between sponsoring names like American Express and Headcount. One could tell from the initial sounds of what would turn into a “Shakedown Street” opener that this experiment had completely transitioned into a band that had found their groove.
The communication among the bandmates was obviously fluid; they were on the same page. The first set was solid and showed great signs of how this band has matured in a short period of time. From the first show, it was clear that there was confidence in each individual player, but from the first moment of the first set on November 7 there was an immediate indication that all involved were working as one, including the crowd.
Three of the ‘Core Four’, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann, were joined by three other musical monsters, John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, and Jeff Chimenti, and moved deftly through a quick, hour-long first set, bringing home in strong fashion songs like “I Need a Miracle,” “Cold Rain and Snow,” and “Jack Straw.” The quick set brought up thoughts of whether this free show was going to be a layup for the band and allow them to have a brief two sets, while still keeping their fans happy.
Then came set two. A strong and long second set is something anyone would be looking for and even more so after a short first set, and what was sought after was certainly delivered. Bobby, John and the crew came out and fired off with “Help on the Way” and from there they could not be stopped. One amazing rendition of what could now be seen as age-old jam band tunes flowed into the next.
Jaws were dropped multiple times as Mayer and Burbridge conveyed just how hard they have worked to contribute to this next step in Grateful Dead adaptation. Dead & Co. gracefully and masterfully presented the crowd with a wonderful, heartfelt “Franklin’s Tower,” sung by Mayer, and really showed what potential they have with a “St. Stephen,” that caused the fans to erupt in cheers multiple times. This second set, which was nothing short of magical, flowed through eight continual songs that ended with “Drums>Space>The Other One,” before a break in the action was taken. The set was capped off with Bobby warming the audience with “Stella Blue” and a seamless transition into “Not Fade Away,” which did not seem to end until the band came back out for encore. The crowd just could not be silenced, clapping the drum cadence and continuing to sing, “You know our love will not fade away!”
When the boys did return for encore, everyone was announcing what song they expected for encore and even those who did not guess right were not disappointed. Dead & Company finished off their sixth show of the tour, the third at Madison Square Garden, with an unbelievable “Brokedown Palace.” Everyone has heard Bob Weir sing that song many times. However, hearing John Mayer contribute to the singing with Bobby was something that brought a free concert, filled with such fun and emotion, to a very happy ending.
Setlist:
Set One: Shakedown Street > I Need A Miracle > Cold Rain & Snow, Tennessee Jed, They Love Each Other, Jack Straw
Set Two: Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower, He’s Gone > St. Stephen > Drums > Space > The Other One > Stella Blue > Not Fade Away
Christmas just got a whole lot more interesting in Western New York. A brand-new supergroup of New York-based musicians coined Borg Party will be playing a two-night stint this December at Buffalo Iron Works (Dec. 22) and Flour City Station in Rochester (Dec. 23).
Consisting of Rob Compa (guitar/Dopapod), Mike Gantzer (guitar/Aqueous), Mikey Carruba (drums/Turkuaz), James Searl (bass/Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad), and Wiley O’Riley (keys/The Niche), the Borg Party should attract a star cruiser full of assimilated dancing fans.
With all of these musicians have collaborated multiple times in the past, attendees should expect far more than a simple night of improvisation and covers. In the past year alone, Compa’s Dopapod has played entire mash-up sets with Aqueous and Turkuaz.
Stephen Foster wrote what became the Florida state song “Way Down upon de Swanee Ribber Far faw Away.” That is where Magnolia Festival lies and October 15-18 marked the 19th annual Magnolia Fest being held at The Spirit of the Suwannee Music park in Live Oak Florida. The park spans over hundreds of acres and has sustained a reputation for being one of the most gorgeous places in the south hidden right in the middle of the pan handle, between Tallahassee and Jacksonville. Every year thousands of music festival enthusiasts patiently wait the time to return to the Suwannee to “Get their Mag On,” and that is what many did.
It truly was a surreal weekend of music and fun. One thing can absolutely be agreed on, the weather was perfect. There was always a cool breeze, fair amount of warmth from the sun hidden under all the beautiful Spanish Moss and absolutely no rain. The perfect atmosphere to set the stage for funky bass lines, smoking fiddle solos, and some of the most soulful singing ever heard.
The Lee Boys kicked off the festival by setting the bar quite high! Between the powerful guitar solos to the thumping bass the boys played a set with such high energy no one could stand still. Their melodies soared up to the trees as they sang “Testify.” Band of Heathens not only boasted great harmony vocals but also featured two lead guitar players. It seemed after every song it was time for a different guitar.
The Congress set the mood for a soulful night under oak trees. One of the highlights of the set was a tasteful rendition of the classic “People Get Ready” and just about everyone in the audience joined in the singing. The voices echoed against the trees and filled the amphitheater with beautiful voices. The Motet and their upbeat funky dance music made for the perfect late night dance party under the stars. This band really had the perfect amount of finesse and sass, each solo spontaneous and sensationally crafted.
After The Motet it was time to head over to the Porch Stage, located near vendor row between the Amphitheater Stage and Meadow Stage. The crowds gathered close for the sweet mountain voices of Nikki Talley and Jason Sharp. The duo tour regularly but hail from the Asheville area and recently released Out from the Harbor and included many of the songs in their set that night. It is really wonderful to see two musicians compliment each other so well. Sharp’s smooth guitar solos create the ideal accompaniment to Talley’s full vocals. Talley puts down her guitar and picks up her claw-hammer banjo. She plays a rendition of the old time tune “Railroad Boy.” the song creating a pleasant tension in the audience as everyone lingers on the lyrics.
Closing out the evening back on the Amphitheater Stage was Boston’s own Lake Street Dive. The band truly packed a punch into the evening with their powerhouse set. Lead singer Rachael Price has a voice with such fidelity. It is incredibly relaxed, soulful and you can hear the joy she lets out when she performs. She and bassist Bridgette Kearny compliment each other in a way that most musicians can only dream of. Towards the end of the set they played a fun version of Annie Lennox’s “Walking on Broken Glass,” resulting in a very well-deserved standing ovation.
Friday was yet another beautiful day, and taking the Amphitheater Stage was Grits and Soul, a duo featuring Anna Kline on guitar and vocals and John Looney on mandolin and vocals. They are currently working on recording a new album to be released in 2016, and it will be fun and exciting to see the results. Later in the afternoon the Habanero Honeys took the stage inside the music hall. The band is typically comprised of Cathy Lee, Beth Judy, and Tom Nelly, and today welcomed Stef Lee, Jeff Sachs, and Bobby Burns from Sloppy Joe as well as Nikki Talley. The super group played a variety of original songs and Beth Judy also recited a couple of poems while being accompanied by Nelly and members of Sloppy Joe.
The Meadow Stage was the place to be for driving bluegrass this afternoon. Del McCoury is without a doubt a bluegrass legend and his vocals are undeniable with one of the tightest bands in the bluegrass world alongside him. For the more progressive bluegrass fans, the “boys” as they are fondly referred to performed an amazing jam filled set back at the amphitheater following their meadow performance. Most bluegrass fans would agree that this band continues to uphold the traditions of bluegrass but at the same time release a new energy to their own brand of new grass.
Finally, it was time to make the trek back to the Meadow Stage for the Grammy award winning husband and wife team, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, the heart of Tedeschi Trucks Band. Susan Tedeschi’s vocals are comparable to the blues legend Bonnie Raitt. To say that Trucks is a phenomenal guitarist would be a great understatement. After seeing Trucks as a member of The Allman Brothers Band, it is refreshing to see Trucks leading his own project and accelerating into musical success. Packing a loud punch, The Tedeschi Trucks Band is complete with a full horn section and back up singers.
Closing out the evening was another set from the Motet. However when their set concluded the night was not over. One of the most unique things about Magnolia fest is that when the stages end for the evening the music does not stop. There are two campground stages on the festival map which welcome campers to come jam in their camps until the early morning hours. Slopryland hosted by the band Sloppyjoe from Wisconsin is famous for their Halloween decor. Upon approaching the campsite campers are dazzled by over a hundred illuminated Jack O’lanterns hanging from the trees. The Jack O’lanterns in the picking tent were vivid sculptures this year depicting a plethora of facial expressions, while the Bill Monroe shrine is also a favorite place for the pickers to congregate. Don’t be surprised to see many stage performers there swapping solos and sharing new original songs. Between Slopryland and The Bill Monroe Shrine, a great time is guaranteed. Each are different, but both are a picker’s paradise.
Back from the Brink performed at noon on the Amphitheater Stage. The band features father and daughter Steve and Lyndsay Pruett, two musical virtuosos who bring it to every ensemble they perform in. The Pruett’s play with a sort of musical telepathy and it is apparent that their connection is the result of many years of practice, dedication, and mutual support. I spied a few teary eyes when the lead singer’s own daughter was guest featured and sang a lovely version of Brandi Carlile’s “The Eye.”
Late in the afternoon it was time to go see Grammy award winning Steep Canyon Rangers, recently famed for having recorded and toured with Steve Martin, performed an exceptional set. Rapid fire fiddle and banjo solos arose throughout the set, while midway through the set, John Stickley and Jeff Austin were invited to sit in for the remainder of the set. This made the perfect segue for Austin’s own set shortly after.
One of the hidden gem’s of the festival was New Orleans own Grammy Award winning Rebirth Brass Band, started thirty two years ago and well known from HBO’s Treme. They have been giving their true brass sound to the world all these years but never forgetting where they are from. The best part of their set is when they did a great rendition of “When the Saints go Marching Home” in honor of their beloved New Orleans Saints.
At last it was time for the headlining Avett Brothers! It was especially exciting to see Tania Elizabeth of The Duhks tearing it up on her violin and harmony vocals. The Avett’s played hits such as “Murder in the City” and “The Prettiest Thing,”while the night concluded with the traditional Saturday night dance party with Magfest staple band “Donna The Buffalo.”
Sunday’s at Magfest are always bitter sweet. Some of the best music is heard Sunday afternoon but even the greatest of things must come to an end. Keller Williams and Grateful Gospel brought an unforgettable show to the table. Featuring the soul singers from William’s ‘More than a Little’ touring band, the group played an extensive array of songs from The Grateful Dead in a gospel style. Melvin Seals of Jerry Garcia Band fame ripped on the Hammond B-3 and truly helped transform Grateful Dead classics into a rejoicing experience for all. The festival ended with another great set by Donna The Buffalo, which included many guests including the infamous Jim Lauderdale, who performed festival favorite “Except for That One Time” and kicked up the energy to a whole new level. That is what is means to ‘Get your Mag On’ as many veterans confidently say. Magfest is a Southern tradition rooted in music, community, and love. It is the venue for people from all walks of life to unite in one of the most beautiful places in the world, set up camp and celebrate music. It has been an exhilarating nineteen years and the festival family hopes for many more exciting Magnolia fests in years to come. You do not have to wait for Magnolia Festival next year to appreciate this amazing park. Check out Musicliveshere.com for plenty of upcoming events.
The Solid Soul Tour pulled through Proctors in Schenectady this past week and it was surprising to see the show not as highly attended as one would hope. Mavis Staples and Joan Osborne were both in fine form though and played as if the Solid Soul show was a complete sellout. Both artists of course are no stranger to the stage, as Mavis has been going since the 50’s and Joan the early 90’s, but this is the first time these wonderful leading women have gone out together. The pairing is perfect as both of them at heart are blues based artists and share a love for the genre.
The Solid Soul show was about two hours long and had no set break as Joan used Mavis’s band for her set. Rick Holmstrom played some impressive guitar during both sets and was clearly in control of where the music went. He shined bright during Joan’s set on the Bill Withers song “The Same Love That Made Me Laugh” and during Mavis’s set on “Can You Get to That.” Stephen Hodges, who has toured with so many amazing artists, held down the drums with such ease all night and was complimented by Jeff Turmes on the bass, who also has an impressive resume of artists he has toured with.
Both sets were short, but Mavis and Joan included many funny stories and put their great voice on full display. Joan noted how happy she was to be back in the area, as she used to play The Capital District when she was a nobody playing in tiny little clubs. Before Bonnie Raitt’s “Angel of Montgomery,” Joan talked about how she was nervous to do one of her songs, but after seeing her friend Susan Tedeschi do it at Jones Beach this past summer, she thought to herself “Why not give it a shot?” She also couldn’t hold in how happy she was to be sharing the stage with Mavis, as she was a major influence when she was younger and a major part of music history. During “One of Us” you could hear a pin drop in the theater and after that a rousing set ending “I Can’t Let It Get Me Down” with a “Rolling on the River” tease brought the crowd to their feet.
Mavis soon strode onto the stage with a smile on her face, after being introduced by backup singers Donny Gerrard and Vicki Randle, and gave the crowd a one two punch of “If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me)” and “Slippery People.” Mavis welcomed the crowd and talked about her love of The Talking Heads and David Byrne in general. Mavis seemed to be battling a cold all night, but her voice was still just as strong as ever. She was happy to be in Schenectady, though she had trouble saying the city’s name all night, and told the crowd as much many times. The band turned Proctors into a church for the gospel ending of “We’re Gonna Make It” and had people finally get out of their seats and dancing. She also noted that though she continues to get older and can’t do the moves Joan does on stage, while proceeding to try, she will never “be old.”
As the show was winding down, Mavis brought Joan back out for a great roll through “Down By the Riverside” that had the two singers trading verses, smiles, and hugs. A short break before everyone came out for the encore let the audience get up out of their seats and applaud in utter appreciation for the legendary member of The Staples Singers. After everyone came back out she made sure the band got their appreciation and introduced each member before going into “I’ll Take You There.” The entire audience sang right back to Mavis throughout the extended version that ended the evening. With smiles on the faces of each person in the building, Mavis, Joan and the band left the stage to a thunderous applause.
Ray Paczkowski, the bearded, bespectacled Vermonter behind the keys in Trey Anastasio Band, and is a hard man to track down. Having first played with TAB in the summer of 2001, ‘The Milkman” has been a staple of Stage Left, holding down the organ, clavinet and keys and adding funk to the well-rounded sound of Anastasio’s side-project.
Paczkowski is also one half of the duo Soule Monde, alongside drummer Russ Lawton, whose funk blend infuses jazz elements and Brazilian and World music themes for a full bodied sound.
Currently on Fall Tour with Trey Anastasio Band, Paczkowski and drummer Russ Lawton recently released a new EP, Smashed World. This June at a music festival in the Berkshires, Ray found time to sit down and have a conversation with NYS Music about his music.
Pete Mason: How did you get your name “Milkman?”
Ray Paczkowski: I worked on a dairy farm for 10-12 years when I was first in Vermont, doing gigs and milking cows. Trey always thought that was funny.
PM: When did you first start playing piano?
RP: I took piano lessons as a kid and started playing out in various projects. I always wanted to just play piano but you can’t haul a piano around, and digital pianos I just hated. Then I started hearing Jimmy Smith, (John) Medeski, and those guys and the sounds that they were getting out of that instrument, it was just so cool and I found that the Hammond has the same quality as a piano and everyone is different and every night there’s some kid of sound that pops out and that’s when I started doing it. A guy I worked with had a Hammond and just said take it.
PM: When was this?
RP: Early ’90s
PM: How did you get on Trey’s radar along with the Vermont musicians that have made up Trey Anastasio Band, particularly on your first tour in Summer 2001 with fellow Vermonters Jennifer Hartswick, Dave Grippo and Andy Moroz?
RP: I was in a band for a long time called Viperhouse and the lead singer, Heloise Williams, did some work with Trey, and we were kind of on a similar circuit, Phish had just started taking off, like we would be playing a club and they’d be next door in the arena. We would see them all the time, it’s Burlington, it’s a small musical community. I would play with Vorcza, a jazz trio and Trey would come listen to it and when he decided to put a band together, he asked me to do it.
PM: What was that first meeting like?
RP: We were doing a gig with Viperhouse in Winston-Salem, NC at Ziggy’s and they were playing next door in the arena. We went over to their show, they came over afterwards and he mentioned that he was thinking of putting a band together and said if I was ever interested and I said ‘Yeah’, but never really thought about it after that. A year later he showed up at a gig I was playing and asked me to do it. I thought about it for like five minutes and said ‘yes’ (laughs).
PM: What were those first shows like for you on the Summer 2001 TAB tour?
RP: It was at a whole other level with bigger shows, a full crew, and it was kind of bewildering going from just driving around in a van to a full scale operation. It was really fun with such a big band, and at that time I was playing in a trio and they had a much smaller sound, so fitting into that thing (with TAB) it was interesting, it was really cool. It was more orchestrated, I don’t know what the word would be exactly. I liked everyone and the music was great.
PM: Did you and drummer Russ Lawton know each other before playing together in Trey Anastasio Band?
RP: We had met here and there but I only knew him as a drummer. I didn’t meet him until we were playing together.
PM: So Soule Monde formed directly out of TAB?
RP: Yup.
PM: What were you seeking to create with the side project?
RP: I live in Vermont and Russ and his family had just moved here, and they were in the next town over. He called me up one day and said “I know this place that has a Hammond organ, let’s go there and make some shit up.” So we did, just kind of went from there. That was maybe 2008 or so.
PM: One of your first shows was a late night show in a cabin at StrangeCreek Campout. It was an unknown performance, knowing that two musicians in TAB were performing under the name Soule Monde, making for an intimate performance.
RP: I remember that, that was one of the first shows. We would just play at this place in Vermont and just make shit up.
PM: And now you’ve gotten to the point where you have songs and a wide array of compositions, have released one self-titled album and plan to release a new album this fall (the recently released Smashed World)
RP: Yeah we’re at a ‘one album every three years’ pace these days.
RP: It was just kind of random, we were driving to New York and I thought ‘Let’s call Trey, see if he’s around and wants to come to the show.’ We thought maybe we’d see him and hang out a little bit. He said “Mind if I bring my guitar?” I’m never one to ask, ‘Hey, come sit in with us?’ so he came down and played the whole second set. It was great!
PM: How has Soule Monde been on tour and the audience response over the past few years?
RP: We don’t travel much, do a lot of local stuff, like Disc Jam, that has a close range to Vermont, but the response has been good all around. With the new album, we’re trying to push it up to the next level, whatever that might be. It’s been really good and people are coming out. I think that not many people know the name Soule Monde, who or what it is. It’s really a factor of just hammering on the name even though we’re not on the road a lot, months out of the year.
PM: You and Russ being out of Vermont and knowing the local scene, and even the more rural areas, are there any musicians in Vermont that people should know about?
RP: I know a lot of players that are involved in various things, from folk type stuff to soul. I know a lot of musicians, but not so much the bands they are in. There’s a lot of good shit coming out of Vermont.
PM: Is there any music that you are listening to right now that is catching your ear?
RP: I have a 15 year old daughter and she turns me onto all this electronic type stuff.
PM: There must be an interesting connection between that genre and playing keys.
RP: It’s a cool genre, I don’t know that much about it. As far as listening to music, I’m a radio guy. When I’m traveling around, I’ll scan through things and if you’re in any area with college radio, you’ll get this weird stuff and find some new music.
Well, Disco Biscuit fans, it looks like Camp Bisco will for sure not be returning to Schenectady County anytime soon as the permit saga drags on.
On Oct. 28, state Supreme Court Justice Vincent Reilly Jr. deemed the county’s ruling and safety issues raised as valid reasons for permit denial, as reported by Times Union. The summer event had been planned for a July 15 through 19 revival at Indian Lookout Country Club in Mariaville, where the three-day festival was held for seven consecutive years; however, the application for a mass-gathering permit was rejected by the county with major opposition from its sheriff.
This news continues a chain of events that has plagued Bisco since its 2014 hiatus, regarding safety concerns with transportation, emergency plans and insurance coverage, plus the festival’s failure to create a zero-tolerance drug policy. But the EDM-focused concert did return this summer with a venue change; Bisco 13 went off without a hitch at Montage Mountain in Scranton last July, and NYS Music contributor Jimmy Chambers reported on its success in his glowing review of the festival (revisit Camp Bisco here).
While the Philadelphia-based band has yet to announce plans for Bisco 2016, hang tight and take a look back at Camp Bisco 13 with the recently released aftermovie.
The third installment of Suwannee’s Hulaween Music and Arts Festival brought many new faces to Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL. Having grown to over 21,000 attendees this year, it was the largest festival ever thrown at the site since it began hosting. Not without some slight growing pains, long lines on Friday for ticketing and entrance into the event quickly gave way to smiles and wide eyed amazement of what was in store for the weekend.
Campese and his band will play rock-themed holiday favorites such as “Deck the Halls,” “Grinch,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Auld Lang Syne” and “Silent Night,” to name a few.
Christmas just got a whole lot more interesting in Western New York. A brand-new supergroup of New York-based musicians coined Borg Party will be playing a two-night stint this December at 
