NYS Music 20​15

Category: Regions

  • This is the Moment that We Lived for: GhostxShip Farewell Show

    In the midst of the hot August sun, there were a number of events happening in Syracuse. The New York State Fair was well into its fourth day and Hank Williams, Jr. was performing at the Grandstand. Just a few miles from the Fairgrounds at the St. Clare Annex, Syracuse’s own GhostxShip was getting ready to perform their final show. The band announced this past spring that they would be parting ways to pursue other projects. However, they promised their die-hard fans that they would have one hell of a memorable finale show.

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    GhostxShip’s, Keith Allen, Sean Mott, Chris Smith, Kyle Howe and Matt Travers kept their promise by pulling together a day-long celebration of music that included 13 bands, pool toys, dodge balls, air guitars and more hardcore riffs than you could shake a fist at.

    Some of the day’s highlights included the band Caverns, kicking off the day’s festivities with a very intense set of music that included an awesome cover of “Caboose” by Snapcase. If you haven’t heard their version, check it out on YouTube. If you missed the performance by Brick by Brick from Albany, NY, then I feel sorry for you. They delivered an astounding set of powerful, blow you away hardcore songs. The band As This Body I Exist, was also celebrating their final performance together. They definitely went out kicking and screaming and leaving the audience wanting more. I would be remiss not to mention one of the fan favorites, the madcap marauders from Syracuse, NY, 40 Dead Men. They delighted the audience with their ultra-violent, “droogy style” performance.

    A single light shines on the stage; the crowd is getting anxious as one by one the members of GhostxShip take the stage. Lead singer, Keith Allen, pauses for just a moment to express his gratitude to the fans who came out to their farewell performance, the feedback rings through the amps and the band explodes into “Burden to Bear” off their final album Cold Water Army.

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    The party begins: The fans erupt into a whirlwind of bodies everywhere, inflatable pool toys fly in the air, air guitars are blazing and watch out for the dodge balls. It’s all good fun. The fans make sure they take care of each other even in the midst of the chaos.

    GhostxShip takes a moment between each song to express their undying thanks to the fans for all of their support. They also take the time to thank each other. It is a very emotional and intense set. The band acknowledged two ‘super fans’ who traveled all over to support the band and were there for them since they started in 2009. They honored them by inviting them on stage to help sing their favorites song, “Cold Truth.”

    The set culminated with all of the fans piling on stage to help wish the band members well and close the evening in style with everyone singing along to the “Here and Now.” The evening ended with a barrage of bear hugs and well wishes. This true sense of camaraderie is why I love Syracuse Hardcore! The feeling can best be summed up by “These are the Moments That We Live For.”

    Thank you GhostxShip for a phenomenal show and for giving us “moments to live for.”

    R.I.P. GhostxShip 2009-2015

  • Photo Gallery: Magnaball, No Place I’d Rather Be

    Magnaball, Phish’s tenth festival, which took place August 21-23, 2015 at Watkins Glen International Speedway. NYS Music photographer Thomas Sgroi (aka Big Tom) had his camera handy and took these shots from that epic weekend.

  • Great NY State Fair Kicks Off Rocking All Venues

    The Great NY State Fair is one of the most highly regarded and visited fairs in America, providing fair goers with an enough crafts, food, rides, entertainment, musical performances and competitions to last 12 days. Each year, the first day is held high with expectations as staff look forward to seeing large crowds and hosting some of Americas’ best musical performers to fill the first day. This year was no exception, inviting ’90s rock group Everclear and singer/actor Rick Springfield to the Chevy Court along with rising country star Eric Church to the Grandstands to cap off the night.

    Everclear has been traveling the world for many years, performing their hit singles such as “Santa Monica,” “Father of Mine,” “Everything to Everyone,” and “Wonderful” to name a few. With the release of their new studio album Black is the New Black this past April, the band has been on tour supporting and sharing their new songs with audiences all over the world. Their set, which was supposed to start at 2pm, kicked off late but rockin’ as the band came out in all black clothes with instruments in hand. The group played just a few select songs from their most recent release, but stayed strong with their hits and crowd pleasers.

    Once the sun had nestled into the horizon, the Chevy Court had again filled with folks waiting to see the next performer. As 8pm approached, the audience kept growing by the large numbers, thus enhancing the excitement. Soon, the stage lights dimmed and a brief video began, showing a collage of video clips of highlights throughout Rick Springfield’s’ career. With the video screen flashing on a dark stage, to a crowded audience, Rick and the band quietly made their way onto the stage preparing to burst into song. This particular performance was filled with top hits and sing-a-longs including “Affair of the Heart,” “I’ve Done Everything for You,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “Human Touch,” and “Love Somebody. During the evening, Rick even brought up some very young kids to help sing the chorus’ of “Don’t Talk to Strangers.” The quintet of rock stars took a short break to chug some water and let the anticipation of the encore increase. As cheering echoed in between the buildings, Rick and the gang boarded the stage yet again to end the “Opening Day” show with his top hit “Jessie’s Girl” and “Kristina.”

    While Chevy Court was rocking to some good ole fashioned rock and roll from Rick Springfield, the filled to capacity Grandstands were preparing for what was to be the first of the last three shows to be performed at the venue.  First up on the billing was Eric Church, one of country music’s biggest names in the business.  The country music equivalent to Hollywood’s James Dean, this jean clad, sunglass wearing young man is definitely a rebel, but with a cause.  Making his own music his own way and not apologizing for following his dreams, he has won the hearts of country music fans all over the world with his unique musical style.  As the crowd began to fill in, it was apparent that the grandstands would be filled to capacity for the first of the last of shows here.

    First up for the evening was opening act The Cadillac Three; three long-haired hell raise’n dudes that rocked the stage like a seasoned rock and roll band.  Although they may appear to resemble members of Duck Dynasty, don’t let their appearance fool you as they are some of the most talented rockers in the business today.  Playing their style of country with a southern rock and roll flare, it was the perfect pairing for the main event to follow and had the crowd a rocking when they came a knocking.

    As Eric took the stage, he started us of with a “Cold One”, followed by a chaser or “Creepin”, and then eased into “Guys Like Me”.  Contining to mesmerize the crowd, Eric played all of this girls favorites, including his newest “Like  Wrecking Ball”, sentimental favorite, “Give Me Back My Hometown”, and even threw in a little Springsteen with “Dancing In The Dark”.  How can you not love someone who plays “Dancing In The Dark”? Seriously.  With a catalog of hit after hit, it was no wonder the crowd loves this hell raisin country bad boy.  It was the largest “church” service I had seen in a while.

    As Day One closed it’s gates, it was apparent that they definitely had set the bar high Day One and set the pace for the rest to the week to follow suit.  If they continued to rock both venues, beat first day attendance crowds with their $3 Thursday promotions, it was going to be one memorable 2015 Great NY State Fair.

    Set List:  Creepin , Guys Like Me, How ‘Bout You, Talladega, Pledge Allegiance to the Hag, Jack Daniels, Livin’ Part Of Life, Drink in My Hand, Like a Wrecking Ball, Lotta Boot Left to Fill, That’s Damn Rock & Roll, Give Me Back My Hometown, Homeboy, Smoke a Little Smoke, Over When It’s Over, These Boots, Dancing In The Dark/Springsteen.

    Encore: Loves Me Like Jesus Does

  • Roots Reggae Groups Root SHOCK and Mosaic Foundation Dig Deep and Bare Their Souls

    The room was swarming with movement Saturday, August 29, at Funk ‘n Waffles downtown with Root SHOCK and Mosaic Foundation. The quintessential roots reggae mixture of djembe and melodica tones reverberated throughout the cozy, recently carpeted space. Lead vocalist Yao Foli of Mosaic Foundation expressed an exuberant passion for social issues close to his heart, proclaiming how the power of love is an important mechanism for effecting positive change.

    Combining sequences of fluid dance moves with strings of powerful words, Foli’s band mates melodically bolstered his noble messages, adding a grace to a performance whose content could easily be formatted as a stripped down, straightforward public speech calling citizens to action.

    Between songs, Foli offered positive pearls of encouragement to his audience. “To free Africa we must free ourselves” and “Love knows no boundary my brother.” Foli knows how to make his audience feel welcome and powerful all in one breath. Working up a decent sweat through all of his dancing, Foli brandished a small white towel to pat his face dry during song breaks, a testament to his hard work and dedication on stage. Mid-performance, Foli stepped to the front of the stage, grasping the mic with his other arm outstretched, getting as close to the crowd as possible, standing not only before them, but with them. Foli is not just a showman, but a leader and organizer in his own right, as his spirit brings people together to share a love of music and spread positive messages.

    Following Mosaic Foundation, Root SHOCK delivered their own high-powered compendium of positivity. Bringing uplifting messages to an already revved up crowd. Opening their set with the always awe-inspiring love ballad to lead vocalist, Jessica Brown’s mother, “Sweet Reunion.” Prompting fans to reflect on and cherish their own familial relationships. Brown’s striking, soul-grasping vocals and incredible range continued to command the crowd. Daring them to dance harder and cheer louder during a bouncy performance of the upbeat “Sunlight of a Brand New Day.” The lyrics challenged listeners to “Live the life you want to live, love to live the life you want to give. Give the love you want to feel, the kind of love that empowers and heals.” The high-energy atmosphere fostered a connectedness and comfort level allowing several liberated spectators to remove their shoes, showing off some fancy footwork, toes unrestricted.

    A crowd favorite cover of indie pop group Miike Snow’s highly danceable “Animal” continued to sustain movement as Brown took to the tambourine with guitarist Phil Grajko assisting on vocals. A rendition of “Rough Cuddle,” a song Grajko recorded with fellow reggae group Morning Sun & The Essentials, describes a dreamily mysterious and thought-provoking woman figure who asks, “what’s stopping you from seeing more?” This question is perhaps meant to awaken listeners and remind them to be more aware and present in their own lives.

    A Stevie Wonder cover of “Master Blaster” followed, during which Grajko is known for sporting a set of shades as an ode to the beloved musical legend. Root SHOCK finished off their set with the more reflective Stephen Marley cover of “Pale Moonlight,” which tenderly recounts a love that has since been lost. Both reggae groups took the room on an awakening emotional journey where observers could connect more with themselves, the people around them, and reflect on their relationships with society as a whole.

  • NYS Music Magnaball Roundtable

    It’s been two weeks since Phish’s Magnaball festival and the buzz from the weekend is still in the air. With the summer wrapping up this weekend at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO, we asked NYS Music staffers who attended Phish’s 10th festival what their takeaways were, following time to rest and reflect on the weekend. (Ed. note – this roundtable was conducted prior to Phish’s announcement of shows in Mexico in January)

    How does Magnaball compare to past Phish festivals?

    Jim Rizzo: Having only attended Festival 8 and Super Ball IX, I’d say that Magnaball was tops. There was a lot going on throughout the weekend that kept everyone occupied and not looking to simply sit around at their campsites. A lot of planning went into the festival, and it showed. I enjoyed myself more overall at this festival than either of the two previous festivals.

    Jess Collier: This was my sixth Phish fest, and I’m not gonna lie, it was easier when I was 17 years old. Overall, though, I felt it was pretty similar to the other Phish fests I’ve been to.

    Tim O’Shea: For some reason, Magnaball felt smaller and more intimate than Phish festivals of the past. Not sure if this was attributed to residing in RV Camping for the first time or not, but the fest as a whole felt almost like oversized regular Phish shows based on this and the fairly standard song selections for the “announced” shows.

    Darren Kemp: Having experienced two previous phishtivals – Camp Oswego and Superball – it seems apparent that every one is an obvious upgrade from the previous. Camp Phish learns from their mistakes and rectifies them with ease. With ample and usually “clean enough” portapotties, unbelievable food and beverage choices at festival reasonable pricing, fast moving shower lines, roving ice carts, professional and not overbearing security, and sound and lights that are simply incomparable to peers, Magnaball proved itself to be one of the best festival experiences of a lifetime.

    Neil Benjamin, Jr.: MagnaBall was special in a different way from Superball and Coventry. It felt more together, like every single person in attendance was lost in a world that only the people around them would understand. It was all smiles, and my interaction with fans was the best I’ve experienced. And musically, it was spot-on with exploration all over. I still enjoyed Superball as a whole more, but that had special meaning attached.

    How does Magnaball measure up against other music festivals?

    Tom Sgroi: I have been to a number of different festivals and as far as setup goes I want to say Magnaball is tops. Watkins Glen is such a perfect setup and the venue worked great. I loved how Phish organized everything and with only them playing made it feel not so rushed like other festivals.

    Darren Kemp: No comparison. Instead of running from stage to stage and making decisions about what bands to see, this “one band” festival allowed the days to be about community, art, conversation, caring, and anticipation.

    Neil Benjamin, Jr.: You can’t compare a festival where one band draws 40,000 people to ones where 100 draws the same. Phish festivals are unlike anything else in the music world.

    Jess Collier: My boyfriend insists that Phish festivals are ridiculous because there’s only one band playing. “What’s the point of throwing a music festival if it’s just one band?” is his reasoning. I never really thought of that before he first mentioned it to me, since my first three or so music festivals were all Phish fests, and I never felt the need for more bands. But once he mentioned it, I started to think that maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing ever to add some other bands.

    Steve Malinski: It’s tough to compare. Magnaball is in its own league of festival with the pace and atmosphere. While it’s not musically packed from 10am until 2am with multiple stages of music, the time to relax and make new friends put it a notch above other festivals – quality vs. quantity, as they say.

    What was the Number 1 thing you loved about Magnaball?

    Eli Stein: Enjoying a great old band with great old friends.

    Neil Benjamin, Jr.: The relaxed atmosphere. I wasn’t bombarded with people selling this or that, and didn’t have to deal with many waste cases. That, and I got to attend it with someone super close to me and also my best friend from childhood. Made it special.

    Steve Malinski: The community. I’ve only ever experienced Phish in single-day stints so the music was the only side of Phish I saw. Getting a full 3-day immersion in it, off the grid, with other phans was really special.

    Jess Collier: The music of course!

    Jim Rizzo: The energy was incredible. I realize it’s not something concrete, but there was a certain energy throughout the festival that existed among the attendees, the band, and each and every person working the festival from the vendors to the security folks. Everyone seemed to share the same energy and excitement that this was a very special event. And that made it even more special.

    Tom Sgroi: I think I enjoyed that it was just one band, it allowed for you not to miss anything and not feel rushed.

    Tim O’Shea: The number one thing was far and away the “unannounced” but universally known secret set. Take the randomness of Superball’s Storage Jam, add tremendous visual displays and more freewheeling and psychedelic jamming and you’ve got the Drive In Set.

    Darren Kemp: Phish

    What could have been improved with Magnaball? For future Phish festivals?

    Tom Sgroi: I really liked that their was only Phish but I wouldn’t have minded a smaller band at late night.

    Steve Malinski: On-site communication of weekend activities and the layout of the grounds. While only so many paper maps can be passed around, it would have been nice to see a board or something along that line at the entrances with a large map and list of activities and events. Since it’s 2015, perhaps even a smartphone app like some other festivals make for themselves would be very beneficial. The field had a few sweet spots for stage viewing but the slant of the field was slightly unfriendly for seeing the stage in some areas. Projection screens on the sides of the stage would have prevented a few achy necks. Warm showers. Though, ice cold showers are a good wakeup call.

    Jess Collier: If you’re going to make people camp that far away, maybe give them mini-sites or storage lockers or something closer to the concert grounds so they don’t have to walk the hour round trip to pick up a hoodie during setbreak. Also, screens showing what’s going on onstage would have been great for fans who didn’t want to muscle their way up through the crowd to get a good view.

    Tim O’Shea: Portable bathrooms could have been managed a little better. Page side porto’s were extremely crowded and somewhat clusterfuck-ish. And the RV camping area didn’t seem to be equipped with enough either. Thank goodness for the small public restroom with flushable toilets that everyone knew about but still kept hush hush about.

    Eli Stein: Directional signage and signage in general seemed to be an after thought. Other festivals I have been to are very easy to navigate and make ample use of clear signs. The festival signs at Magnaball mixed in with the general signs used at the racetrack. They needed to be more clearly from the festival and also needed to more clearly point the way. Big room for improvement here.

    Jim Rizzo: The walks from the campsites to the festival grounds were very long. There were also walkways and exits that did not double as entrances, which made things confusing when people tried to visit friends in other campgrounds and make their way back to their own, having to cut through the festival grounds. So I guess improved directional signage would have been very helpful. They should keep this in mind for future festivals. Signage should be extended to the drive in to allow people to better find various campgrounds to at least try to stay in the same campground as friends they aren’t arriving with.

    Neil Benjamin, Jr.: Security into the show area was annoying and slow. Let us bring beer into that area and I’m a happy man.

    What can other music festivals learn from Phish festivals?

    Jess Collier: I love the atmosphere at Phish festivals. They always have the groups of characters roaming about, and the collaborative art installations, both of which could be supercool at a lot of other festivals. I like the idea of themes for the festival as well.

    Eli Stein: The quality of sound at Magnaball was as good as any concert I have attended. Outdoor concerts in general and festivals specifically often have horrible sound. Other festivals should make this more of a priority.

    Steve Malinski: Other festivals can look up to the security and law enforcement at a Phish festival. They were remarkably friendly and cordial.

    What was the best moment of the festival for you? Why?

    Neil Benjamin, Jr.: “Blaze On,” hands down. Have had a really rough two years personally and that song picks me up and makes me smile. I got to stand arm-in-arm with my best friend since childhood, singing those lyrics of redemption. It made me tear up for the third time ever at a Phish show. If I could recreate that moment every day, I would. Bumping into old tour friends is up there, too. I just love seeing old faces from years past.

    Jim Rizzo: The best moment for me was definitely the Drive In Set. It felt like it was… IT. All the energy from the previous incredible three sets of music came to a head with that set as the anticipation built while attendees arrived wondering what was going to happen.

    Eli Stein: The jam in Tweezer mirrored the jam in Weekapaug from Colgate 4/23/93, which is one of my favorite Phish moments of all time, so that’s an easy pick for best moment for me personally.

    Anastasia Marie Michalowskij: The thing I loved about Magnaball was how laid back it was. Comparatively it was a cool change of pace to go to a music featival and only see one musical act preform the whole weekend. I also loved all of the instillation art and the featured film. It was nice to see so many other creative artforms being celebrated.

    Steve Malinski: Day 2, Set 2: I broke away from my friends for a set so I could do my best to get a good view and managed to get myself to a perfect spot next to the soundboard, no one in front of me. As the set went on a small cluster of set friends formed and we all stood our ground there for the set. It was really great to share the fun of the music with complete strangers.

    Darren Kemp: Ending the weekend on the Ferris wheel with my beautiful new girlfriend as fireworks went off over our heads was one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

    Jess Collier: “Simple” has been one of my favorite Phish songs since I started listening to them about 20 years ago, so I was thrilled when the first show on the first night opened with that wonderful tune. The beginning of the fest holds so much promise and so much anticipation, so there are few things that compare with the very first chords of the first show, anyway. And to make it my favorite song? Just magic.

  • Chase Rice Drives Crowd ’50 Shades of Crazy’ at the Wayne County, PA Fair

    Renee-Clark-Rice-5676Chase Rice is currently on Kenny Chesney‘s The Big Revival tour, but that didn’t stop him from taking the night off to make a stop to shake up the Wayne County Fair in Honesdale, PA.

    Chase Rice has built up a phenomenally large and diverse fan base in a short period of time. His latest album Ignite The Night debuted at #1 on Billboard’s top country album chart. His first single “Ready Set Roll” may of only peaked at #5 on the charts but it garnered him a platinum certified single. His latest single “Gonna Wanna Tonight” is also on its way to be a success with its rising top 20 status.

    Rice is a well known song writer in Nashville and has co-written hits such as Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise.” Which was the most downloaded song in the history of country music to date. He also co-wrote all but four of the 19 songs on his current release, Ignite The Night.

    The crowd at the Wayne County Fair was just as diverse as his fan base. Young and old were seated impatiently as they awaited Rice’s set to begin. Before the lights went out you could see the band gather together on the side of the stage to give each other words of encouragement. Once they were ready the lights went down and the intro music began, forcing everyone to their feet in excitement. Rice’s band came out one by one then when they began playing “Do It Like This,” then Rice took the stage and immediately captivated every audience member’s attention. And he didn’t let go of it until the very end.

    Audience members were able to contain themselves at their assigned seats for about a song, but after Rice started into his second song “50 Shades Of Crazy,” the people on the track all rushed the stage to get closer to their current obsession. Rice reveled in the crowd’s “rebellion” and told everyone to come on up. This invitation was exactly the right thing to do, because the closer his fans were to him, the more Rice lit up with excitement and joy.Renee-Clark-Rice-5661

    Rice reigned the stage for over an hour. He stuck to songs from his latest album “Ignite The Night” but also threw an older song “I Like Drinking, Cause Its Fun” from his “Dirt Road Communion” album. Rice rounded out his set with crowd favorites from Ignite The Night including, “Going Out,” “Look At My Truck,” “U Turn” and “Carolina Can.”

    Renee-Clark-Rice-5638He slowed it down and sat on stage alone with just him and his guitar to play “Jack Daniels & Jesus,” a song that he wrote when he lost his father. He then brought a young lady on stage to serenade her with his cover of Somo’s “Ride,” in which during the song he joked with her and how her boyfriend was going to be so mad he didn’t come to the show. Towards the end of their set, Rice and his band went into a montage of covers. Garth Brook’s “Low Places” was among one of the songs, Rice of course threw in the popular third verse. They also did a few Blink 182 covers and a snippet of Puddle of Mudd’s “She Hates Me.”

    When Rice came back for the encore people were expecting him end with “Ready Set Roll” but he threw in a surprise performance of his song “Cruise” that he co-wrote with Florida Georgia Line before closing his set with it.

    Rice captivated everyone from the grandstand down to everyone in the front row at the Wayne County Fair that night. He held their attnetion the entire duration of his set and never stopped interacting with them. His ability to work the crowd, plus his energy and pure happiness of being there made this country concert one for the books for everyone who was in attendance.

    Chase Rice will continue his tour with Kenny Chesney through the remainder of the summer and then he will begin his headlining JD and Jesus Tour this fall with The Cadillac Three. Get more info on his website here.

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  • Lee Terrace and Steep Stepped it Up for Farewell Show

    Progressive rock groups Steep and Lee Terrace may not be familiar names to many, but they left a hearty impression on the calm and collected crowd Friday August 28 at the Westcott Theater.

    Steep was up first, with guitarist Dylan Lundgren front and center sporting a lime green guitar and infectious smile, full of pep as he intermittently bopped his head in beat with the music. After their first song concluded, Jack Jarvis, drumsticks in hand, offered the sparse crowd a small witticism, “One fish in a tank says to the other, ‘How do you drive this thing?’” Those not clustered around the makeshift beer keg tables in deep conversation happily chuckled in response.

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    Steep declared their next track, “Brain Fuel,” a dance tune, but the night was too young and most attendees weren’t loose enough to get their feet moving quite yet. “Brain Fuel’s” dynamic ebb and flow faded between genres, beginning as a moderate tempo rock jam before mellowing out into a jazzy breakdown where Elliot Jarvis’ metallic bass parts slyly hinted at the Seinfeld theme song, before the song intensified toward fast-paced rock.

    As Steep finished their set, the crowd had filled in considerably, largely composed of a more mature demographic, the type that stand solidly in place and mindfully contemplate the instrumentation rather than dance like wild banshees near the front. A crew of four grey-haired audience members had camped out in matching green lawn chairs, just a half a shade off from Lundgren’s guitar hue. A few young rogue dancers did have a mind for letting loose and flailing freely to the music, and luckily for them the entire front half of the room was open for them to flit and bounce at will. The rest of the crowd clung to shadows, observing with keen eyes.

    Fellow Futurama fans may have glimpsed the Zoidberg figurine resting pensively atop the amp next to the drum kit as members of Lee Terrace took the stage. Exposing a small glimmer of their inner nerdiness, the potent jam that quickly blossomed from the group of five musicians heightened their “cool factor” as obviously talented musicians and science fiction sitcom aficionados.

    Playing a mix of originals and covers, a rendition of MGMT’s “Electric Feel,” sung by bassist Michael Sloan, appealed to younger attendees. Front man Kevin Metzger entertained the crowd with an anecdotal explanation detailing the origin of the title “Goldie’s Song,” and publicly exposing the time his father took the family cat to the vet and couldn’t recall it’s name. Bringing vocalist Nina Pelligra on stage to cover Led Zeppelin’s “The Song Remains the Same” created an exhilarating rendition worthy of a rambunctious round of applause at the end. Saxophonist August Cook and trumpeter Nick Coggiola and percussion accompanist Jon Kane enhanced a string of Michael Jackson covers including “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” “Billie Jean” and “Thriller,” which energized the room before Lee Terrace polished off their set with a crisp performance of their title track, “Deep Blue.” And for the encore? How about Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.” Yeah, it was a great night.

  • Funky Jam Benefit Party Presents Mixture of Talent to an Intimate Crowd

    Funky Jam at the Westcott Theater Friday August 14 saw the Syracuse music locale transform into a collaborative art space of opportunity for local crafters and musicians.

    Painter Yegor Mikushkin planned the benefit show to raise money for supplies to execute a mural on the outer rear brick wall of the theater. The dark inner walls of the theater were brought to life with an array of Mikushkin’s vivid paintings, which were scattered throughout the 700-person venue. The tall canvases stood sentry, attesting to the skill and aesthetic the painter will be bringing to the mural, while also daring attendees to splurge and take home a Mikushkin original. Other crafters also sold their wares, including screen printed t-shirts, paper lamps and art books.

    Photo courtesy of Jonathan Pankau
    Photo courtesy of Jonathan Pankau

    To give the audience a taste of Mikushkin’s work style, he live painted a canvas on stage with help from fellow painter and musician Sara Potocsny, while local musicians serenaded the unfavorably sparse crowd composed primarily of friends and family. The stage supported various acts of artistic expression including performances by musicians Phil Grajko, of Grayak, Morning Sun and the Essentials and Root SHOCK, Jessica Brown of Root SHOCK, Christopher Woods of Root SHOCK and The Sauce, drummers Tyler Dattmore and Adam Ast, guitarist Chris Chiesa, violist Sara Potocsny, DJ Leonard Adams, Jamie Knittel of The New Daze, and freestyle vocals of Eric Dwyre. An on stage devil stick demonstration by local artist Breeze tied into the tangle of performers who came out to support Mikushkin’s cause.

    Photo courtesy of Jonathan Pankau
    Photo courtesy of Jonathan Pankau

    Even in a room replete with talent, some of the musical collaborations were disjointed. Musicians who have played together before, including Grajko, Brown and Woods, were able to deliver a more cohesive and satisfying performance. Grajko, performing several songs he has recorded with different bands, relied on Tyler Dattmore’s percussion skills on the cajon to backup a stripped down version of Grayak’s “Have a Beautiful Now,” which traditionally incorporates a more diverse accompaniment including elegant fiddle and upright bass parts.  Mid-song, Grajko and Dattmore transitioned to a rendition of Morning Sun and the Essential’s uplifting number, “Love Agenda” before seamlessly returning back to “Have a Beautiful Now.”

    Photo courtesy of Jonathan Pankau
    Photo courtesy of Jonathan Pankau

    As the song title, “Have a Beautiful Now” suggests, audience members and performers alike, all whom have personal ties to Mikushkin, relished in the splendor of the evening, soaking up the joy of filling the Westcott Theater with love and beauty, even in lieu of a small turnout.

  • Shadows Fall Kicks Off Special Reunion Tour At Upstate Concert Hall

    On Friday August 21st, Shadows Fall kicked off their special three date tour at Upstate Concert Hall. Just one year prior to this run, Shadows Fall announced they would be going on a hiatus from touring. With busy schedules and other commitments it didn’t seem like the members of Shadows Fall would be able to play any shows for a long time. Well, the planets aligned and everyone was available to do a special mini tour.

    Shadows Fall

    Fans got to the venue early and eagerly waited to see Brian, Jason, Paul, Jon and Matt all take the stage together again. Starting around 10:30pm, Shadows Fall showed no signs that they ever stopped playing together. Fans could easily tell that this group of guys just click together naturally. Although most of the band is still very active in the music world, they definitely don’t have the time to play their Shadows Fall songs on a weekly basis. That being said, the band was spot on from the opening note of the night.

    Shadows Fall
    Brian Fair (left) and Jonathan Donais (right) of Shadows Fall

    As promised, Shadows Fall played a set filled with songs deep from their catalog. The band hit six different albums including Threads Of Life, Fire From The Sky, Retribution, Of One Blood, The War Within and The Art Of Balance. The energy didn’t stop at all throughout the 18-song set the band ripped through. That energy from the band poured right into the crowd, fueling the circle pits that were going all night. With no barrier between the crowd and the stage, fans were able to hop onto the stage and stage-dive into the crowd. The night ended with “The Light That Blinds” which only left the crowd wanting more. Afterwards, fans stuck around to thank the band for coming back to do this show. Each member of the band took time to hang out, take pictures and sign autographs for everyone.

    Shadows Fall
    Singer Brian Fair Of Shadows Fall

    After their show at Upstate Concert Hall, Shadows Fall played a show in Providence, RI and then ended the tour in Lowell, MA. The shows were definitely a special treat to fans who thought they had seen the last of the band. First-timers who got to see a show on this tour got to find out first hand what they had missed for the last 15-years or so.

    Setlist from Setlist.fm – The Power Of I And I, What Drives The Weak, Destroyer of Senses, Weight Of The World, Still I Rise, Redemption, A Fire In Babylon, A Public Execution, Crushing Belial, The First Noble Truth, Stepping Outside The Circle, King Of Nothing, Inspiration On Demand, Thoughts Without Words, Of One Blood, The Light That Blinds

    To keep up to date with Shadows Fall and it’s members, be sure to like and follow their Facebook Page.

  • Show Number One: Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire at SPAC, August 29

    After years of radio play and later, jam band covers from the extensive catalog of both bands, I was finally able to see Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire. Performing together and separately at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Saturday, August 29.

    chicago earth wind fireI am still surprised that I hadn’t seen either of them in the past, but a co-bill for the two bands that presented the bands in a ‘Don’t worry, you won’t miss a moment’ manner was as ideal as you can get for a late summer show at SPAC. The audience filled nearly every inch of the SPAC lawn with chairs for an incredible night of ’70s and ’80s funk and soul. Here’s my take on my first time seeing Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire.

    • Both bands came out at the start of the night together singing “Got to Get You Out of My Mind” by The Beatles.
    • Incredibly, and despite having 20+ musicians on stage, you can hear the sound clear as day. Great mix.
    • Bassist Verdine White from Earth, Wind & Fire asked “Is there a Chicago/Earth, Wind & Fire dance party in the house?” and it was too cheesy to not laugh.
    • Heavy ’70s soul groove with these two bands on the stage. You figure they had to share bills together back in the Nixon/Ford/Carter years.
    • The stage is symmetrical with pianos, drums and horns spread out evenly – not a bad angle in the house.
    • When Robert Lamm said “We had no idea we would be around this long,” I nodded my head in agreement. It’s even more surprisingly the band has toured every single year since they first formed.
    • “Boogie Wonderland” – people were dancing or sitting – they couldn’t figure out what to do. Regardless, Earth, Wind & Fire was the set to dance to.
    • After a few tunes, and knowing they had to be saving “Shining Star” and “September” for the encore, I realized I do not know much Earth, Wind & Fire and need to go through the full catalog soon.
    • A solid mix of live footage and photos from the past were seen on the video screen throughout the set.
    • The SPAC lawn was not that bad. Phish fans, myself included, complain about the sound on the lawn. Definitely not an issue tonight. I regretted not bringing earplugs.
    • Band intros went on for a while, then they introduced the three original members of the band, Philip Bailey, Maurice White and Ralph Johnson.
    • I know these songs, but not the titles, the result of years of casual radio play.
    • Maurice can hit some HIGH notes!
    • “Let’s Groove” was a perfect closer
    • After a short set break, I realized I hadn’t been to SPAC with both my parents, ever. Last time I was here with my mom, I saw Huey Lewis and the News in 1989.
    • “I’m so happy that you love me.” Sometimes, the song titles just write themselves.
    • I’d estimate that half of this crowd had Chicago and/or Earth, Wind & Fire songs as their wedding reception music.
    • Hell, half of this crowd had to make out/get laid to any of these songs. This is baby-making music for Boomers.
    • “You’re the Inspiration” is such a dad rock song, if dad is serenading mom.
    • Chicago covers “I’m a Man” by Spencer Davis Group. One of my favorite all time rock songs and it has had a second life this whole time. This is awesome. If I wasn’t a Chicago fan before.
    • The drums section in “I’m a Man” was unexpected and impressive. This provided a perfect counterbalance to the overly mellow “Inspiration.”
    • I have my mom’s copy of Chicago Transit Authority and she’s not getting it back.
    • “Street Player” is a damn fine and energetic disco era song. Someone start covering this, please.
    • Some of these songs do sound the same when played in succession. “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” is the spring from which all others grow.
    • People are snuggling. This is cute.
    • “Saturday Night in the Park,” was pretty spot on for being in Saratoga Spa State Park on a Saturday night. It’s like they were waiting all week to sing it here.
    • Random pockets of dancing popped up throughout the crowd intermittently for Chicago, a band best enjoyed from a seat.
    • No matter the song, someone in the crowd knew it and sang along. We all sang along at some point.
    • “September” and “Sing a Song” started the final songs of the night, getting everyone back up again.
    • “Does Anybody Really Know What Time it is?” was sweet and preceded “Shining Star”, leaving enough time for…
    • “25 or 6 to 4” – I have loved this song since first listen when I was maybe 12 or so. It might be the first time I ever heard it played live, outside of a high school holiday concert in 2005. Beyond that, only teases from jam bands. Hearing this live was a treat.
    • I need to get Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire back into my life – two fantastic bands crossed off the list.