Category: Regions

Tyler Farr Rocks The F Shed

What can be better than seeing two of Syracuse’s favorite bands, Castle Creek and Country Swagg? Just follow them up with country’s newest favorite bad boy, Tyler Farr, and you’ve got one hell of a rocking show.

Opening the show this evening was Sammy Award winners Castle Creek, whose soulful rock sound reverberated throughout the venue as they played both original music and covers. Their cover of the Beatles “Come Together” mashed up with Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in The Wall” was hands down one of the best covers I have ever heard! Having seen both Kim Monroe and Chris Eves play once before at a local festival, I looked forward to once again catching their set and congratulating them on their new award.. Blown away yet again, I sat there trying to pinpoint a reference of sorts to describe them to my readers. At a loss for adjectives that described their style, I feel as though perhaps certain influences of musical greats such as Bonnie Rait, Johnny Cash, Jack White, Pat Benetar, Muddy Waters, and so many others could very well have helped to direct their musical style. Their distinctive uniqueness melded together perfectly while one never over shadowing the other at all. This deserves mentioning as they both display such very strong vocals and instrumentation. The fact that they can play and sing the same instruments simultaneously without becoming one sound and over powering the other is what makes their sound so unique, so soulful, so bluesy, and gets to me every time I see them. Just love them.

[FinalTilesGallery id=’149′]

Country Swag, took the stage next. Was the first time I saw this band and was thoroughly impressed by lead singer Mike Johnson who sings lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Gabe Infantino on bass, Tim Horst on lead guitar and Rob Trout on drums. Belting out rocking covers together with a few originals they certainly had the crowd warmed up by the time the main act took the stage. Appropriately named…they brought some foot stomping, party rocking, swag to the stage and had the crowd primed for the main event.

[FinalTilesGallery id=’150′]

As Tyler Farr took the stage, he welcomed everyone to and joked with the crowd there at the FShed. Yes, I too wonder Tyler what the “F” could stand for. I can speculate…but sometimes mysteries are much more fun. Having covered this band before I am always impressed with Tyler’s stage presence and interactions with his audience.

Appealing to all audiences members, don’t let his sexy raspy voice fool you in thinking he’s just another good ole boy singing country music. Well, he is a good ole country boy, however, he’s much more than what you see on the surface. This good ole boy enjoys his hunting, four wheeling, and fishing for sure, but what fans may not know though is that he is also a classically trained opera singer. Studying music throughout high school and college while attending Missouri State University, Tyler’s talent is far-reaching beyond what you see on stage. He also surrounds himself with some of the best musicians in the business as well. His traveling family consists of Tracy Goode on bass, Mark Poiesz on drums, Gary Jannaman on electric guitar and Dirk Weaver on acoustic guitar. These four guys round out the Tyler Farr experience bringing down the house each and every time. Playing all sides of the stage and taking the time to say hello to fans, are just a few of the things I love about Tyler’s band. The are fan friendly and approachable. Oh, and I love photographing them. I may or may not have numerous photos of Gary’s spiky hair. What?!! He’s a fun subject and his hair is rocking!!

Tyler Farr – FShed Syracuse

The one thing I’ve noticed about Tyler’s shows, he’s extremely personal with his fans giving them a new show each and every time. He makes his audiences part of the show whether it’s through conversation or just coming out into the audience and shaking hands and taking selfies. With a similar set list night after night, he has a way of making each show unique to each audience. As he performed a mix of rock and roll country hits throughout the night, it was his acoustic numbers that truly impressed me. He gave the audience a glimpse into his vocal range in numbers such as “Hello Goodbye”. Then there was Mark’s drum solo. I’m leaving it at that..trust me it’s a must see. #spoilalert #awesome The entire show flew by before I knew it, and although I have seen him now three times, it’s still a new show each and every time he comes to town. Pretty remarkable feat.

So in summary I wonder myself Mr. Tyler Far what the F stands for. Perhaps it was for the full venue of fans. Perhaps it was the folksy, bluesy sound that Castle Creek brought to the stage. Perhaps it was the foot stomping rocking set Country Swag performed warming the stage for you. Maybe it stands for your fan friendly disposition you and your band share with fans, demonstrating your appreciation for their support. However, I think it was a combination of all of those things that made the entire evening fantastic. Whatever the F stands for, Tyler FARR brought the party, and we all had FUN at the FShed.

[FinalTilesGallery id=’151′]

April 17, 2015
Funk N Bowl in Brooklyn April 14

Living in New York you always stumble upon legendary sit-ins and collaborations amongst your favorite artists. When you’re favorite trumpet player or vocalist get called on stage to accompany the band, that feeling in your stomach starts to grow, you ask yourself “what will they play?” or “I wonder what these two will come up with?” At the Funk n’ Bowl show at Brooklyn Bowl the fans had plenty of time to let their imaginations run wild on what sound, songs, and jams this stellar group of musicians would come up with.

With a line up as long as the bathroom lines at Wrigley Field the stage was graced by Eric Krasno (guitar, Soulive), Jesus Coomes (bass, Lettuce), Adam Deitch (drums, Lettuce), Marco Benevento (organ) accompanied by Snarky Puppy’s Chris Bullock (sax), Michael “Maz” Maher (trumpet), Justin Stanton (trumpet), and Nate Werth (percussion). The show opened as most superjams do with each member of the group showing off their talents, but none stood out more than Coomes who stood center stage like this was his band. They worked their way through multiple tracks off of Krasno’s 2010 release Reminisce which included covers of Jimi Hendrix’s “Manic Depression” and The Beatles “Get Back” and a sit-in by Maurice “Mo Betta” Brown (trumpet, TTB). While Coomes seemed to be guiding the band we were graced the the occasional Krasno guitar solo and fantastic high’s from the horns section.

The second half of this one set show featured Marco taking charge, highlighting his organ work, a rarity you see him without the rest of his arsenal. He captivated the crowd and got everyone involved with “At The Show” off of his current album Swift. Bobby Deitch took his son Adam’s place behind the drum kit for a couple of songs then the evening was brought to a close with both Deitch’s on stage working percussion while the rest of the band brought the night of funky jams to a close.

April 17, 2015
Hearing Aide: Misery Kills ‘My Ugly Insides’

Misery Kills (formally called Misery) is a metal band from the Long Island/New York City area that I never heard of until a couple of weeks ago when I caught a few metal shows down there while visiting family. Bassist Joe LoCasto, who plays in Misery Kills, also plays in a band with Joey Z of Life Of Agony called Zire’s War. After having the pleasure of witnessing Zire’s War, Joe LoCasto told me to check out Misery Kills, so after receiving their album My Ugly Insides, I had high expectations for this album, after listening to this album, I was not disappointed.

The album starts of with an instrumental intro entitled “Eight FortySix Thirty” then blazes into a devastating track called “Eyes Wide Open.” And when you hear the evil screeching roars of vocalist John LoCasto combined with dual guitars of Corey Schaefer and Duane Conlon, you know that this band means business. To top it off the bone crushing tracks from drummer Scott Borrero aided with underlying bass of Joe LoCasto gives this band a unique chemistry. The best way to describe the sound of this band…remember the circle charts from elementary school? Picture three interlocking circles representing three bands: Lamb Of God, Coal Chamber, and Agnostic Front. The gray area that the three bands I just mentioned share is what Misery Kills and this album reminds me of.

Now back to the album. The track that I fell in love with is “Poltroon.” That song makes me want to stomp someone the hell out, a great feel good aggressive song. Every track is solid, thrashy, and to the point. The quality and mixing of this album sounds retro, which I believe that producer Joey Z (Life Of Agony, Zire’s War) was going for when he was putting the finishing touches on this album.

The next track that gets me going has to be “Kills My Day,” it’s the fastest and most vulgar track on the album, it’s very blue-collar with no-nonsense. Right after that, the guitar work on the following two tracks “Sick Around You” and “White Trash” is absolutely top-notch. This band grabs you by the collar and makes you listen…and trust me, you will be hooked.
Towards the end of the album, you are graced with the track “Give Em Hell” which is a foot stomping anthem with catchy hooks and nasty breakdowns , then My Ugly Insides ends with the title track which is the cherry on the bloody sundae that this band serves. It’s a very appropriate and dark song to cap off to what is in my opinion, a very solid metal album from a very hard-working band. I was happy this band reached out to me, so do your ears, mind, body, and soul a favor and pick up this album.

You can purchase My Ugly Insides here. Check out the track “13 Miles” below.

Key Tracks: Poltroon, Kills My Day, Give Em Hell

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OdE60fKpWs&w=420&h=315]

April 16, 2015
Next Best Thing – ZBTB Takes Over Nicole’s of Camden

When I learned that a new venue in Camden, Nicole’s of Camden, would be featuring a Zac Brown Tribute Band (ZBTB), I knew I had to take the drive to check out this new venue and this cover band. So glad I did. The venue is amazing. Nicole’s of Camden offers great acoustics and awesome lighting with plenty of space to dance. For a small venue it’s the perfect setting for bands and attendees to enjoy enough room to dance and play comfortably. The completely revamped restaurant/bar offers patrons the perfect spot for a night out. With a full menu and bar, I highly recommend you taking a drive to Camden to take in one of their many shows and some good eats.

Every once in a while you just need a dose of your favorite bands live? What do you do if they are in the studio recording, or touring overseas, or just not coming anywhere within earshot of you? You do the next best thing, you catch a cover band.

Zac Brown Tribute Band – Nicole’s of Camden

Every musical photojournalist has a “bucket list” of sorts. This list includes the names of bands that they must cover as well as ones if they come to town they would like to cover. The difference between the two lists is simple. The must cover shows will include ungodly amounts of travel, with little to no sleep for the following day, only to stand on a bucket and shoot 30 seconds of a song, to capture a shot they hope when cropped, is still in focus and not too pixellated. The ones they would like to cover require less travel, usually no bucket is involved, and if they are tired they may just miss it if they have something pressing the next day at their day job. I’m happy to say that I have had the opportunity to check a few off my must cover list. However, there is one band still on my list I’m hoping to check it off real soon. Until then, a good cover will suffice. What band would I be referring to? Well the Zac Brown Band my friends.

Zac Brown Band

We all love them. Since the first time we heard “Chicken Fried”, we’ve tapped out toes and raised a glass to “salute the ones who died, those ones that gave their lives, so we don’t have to sacrifice all the things we love; like our chicken fried”. Come on, you know the words, don’t be shy. Well this may have been the first song that captured my attention, but what held it has been the diverse mix of music they’ve created since that first tune hit the charts. There’s something unique about the Zac Brown Band that makes them so very special. I love their blend of sounds. This mix of Caribbean flare with country bluegrass, and a touch of seventies and eighties rock gives them their unique sound. It hooked me and keeps me on the line following them as they amass their catalog of music and fans worldwide.

Opening the evening were locals Mad River Junction. This band brought the party with their renditions of some Stray Cats, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tom Petty, and Johnny Cash. Any band that plays Stevie Ray Vaughn gets my automatic stamp of approval. Describing themselves as the love child of Cyndi Lauper and Muddy Waters, who ultimately is raised by Prince, Neil Young, and Bret Michaels, I totally can see that love child(ren) becoming Mad River Junction. Kudos to band members, or love children, Matt Chalifoux on drums/percussion, Nick Pulizzi, on guitar and vocal, Greg Owens on guitar, bass, and vocals. And Kenny “The Demon” Swavely on harmonica. Really enjoyed this set.

As the ZBTB took the stage and began to play, it was crystal clear that this cover band recognized the one key quality that makes the original Zac Brown Band special, the individual instrumentation brought to the sound by each original band member. The ZBTB recognized how to replicate that sound and bring their audiences the musical magic they would expect to see from their beloved original band by providing a full band to back up some amazing vocals. Pete Frank fronts the group with his spot on vocals and acoustic guitar. If you closed your eyes, you would be hard pressed to tell a difference. I was super impressed. Joining him on vocals and guitar was Matthew Stephens who rocked the crowd as he shredded some amazing Metallic “Enter Sandman” towards the end of the evening, setting the crowd over the top. For those of you that know me well know I’m a sucker for a fiddle, and Mike Kedley is one of the best in the state. Joining in on fiddle and vocals, Mike brings that down home country bluegrass sound you come to expect from the Zac Brown Band. Also on vocals and guitar we had Jeremy Laursen who with his harmonies take these songs to a new level. On that background beat we had Tim Hull on bass, and Joey Saliceti on keyboards pounding out the tunes and undertones. And keeping the whole lot of the bunch in time we had Danny Roelle on drums/percussion. With this full band playing Zac Brown favorites such as “Knee Deep”, “Sweet Annie”, “Whatever It Is”, and “As She’s Walking Away”, I felt as though my need for a bit of Zac Brown Band was satiated by this cover band, and could totally fill my need any time I couldn’t see the real deal.

ZBTB – Nicole’s of Camden

Starting their set list with Zac Brown Band favorites and covering some of the most popular covers the band played two full sets of music covering all of my personal favorites and then a few more. Dancing the night away was a full house of patrons who concurred with my sentiments fully. Overall, I wholeheartedly gave a thumps up to this cover band for doing the original Zac Brown Band justice and suggest you check them out soon in a venue near you.

Set 1

Natural Disaster Let It Rain
The Wind
No Hurry
Let It Go
Midnight Rider
As She’s Walking Away
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down Jump Right In
Ants Marching/Frankenstein Whiskey’s Gone
Sweet Annie
Make This Day
All Alright
Can’t You See
Times Like These
Colder Weather
Toes

Set 2
We’re An American Band Day For The Dead Comfortably Numb
Knee Deep
Settle Me Down
Whatever It Is
Keep Me In Mind
Sic ‘Em On A Chicken
One Way Out
Highway 20 Ride
Enter Sandman
Free/Into The Mystic
Chicken Fried
Uncaged/Kashmir/Devil Went Down To Georgia Killing In The Name

April 15, 2015
Screaming Females ROCK the Bug Jar

New Jersey’s Screaming Females may have started as a punk rock band, but they currently are just a rock band.

But not “just”, they have distilled the mere essence of rock, consumed it, and ooze it out of their every being. The rhythm section powers through every tune like their lives depend on it, which I suppose they do in a way. Abbate’s bass work is melodic yet driving. Dougherty’s drumming is not needlessly flashy, but tight and controlled with just the right bounce. Paternoster’s guitar work is nothing short of phenomenal. The riffs. Oh my god the riffs. These are riffs that cannot possibly be written. They already exist somewhere to be discovered, and she has discovered them, somehow, somewhere. Guitars exist so these can be played. Her solos explode from her guitar seemingly effortlessly. Her singing feels a little forced, but in the best possible way. It’s like she is creating a voice that is not her own, simply because it is the perfect voice to accompany the music.

“First and foremost we want to make the show as good as it can be.”—Marissa Paternoster, guitar and lead vocals

“The reason for us to go on tour is to go play music.”—Jarrett Dougherty, drums

“If you’re going to be in a band you should want to play shows, right? I mean what the hell is the point if you’re not going to play?”—Michael Abbate, bass
(Quotes taken from Noisey’s recent tour documentary)

Midway through their hourlong set Saturday night at the Bug Jar, a ragged and sweaty man collapsed against the wall next to me, hunched over with his arm on his head. I thought he might collapse, or perhaps be messed up on too much drugs. After asking if he was ok, he looked up at me, smiled, and assured me he was just exhausted. He caught his breath, and seconds later jumped back into the maddening mass of people. The club was acting as one organism, pulsating in and out, back and forth, bodies knocking against each other with reckless abandon. When you left the show that night, you had the sweat of a dozen other people dripping off your skin. The line between the stage and the crowd was blurred, the audience regularly pushing past the edge of the stage. Paternoster took a couple of solos leaning out while the crowd supported her, once in a full-out crowd surf. And Abbate, at once point, called up a friend from the audience, quickly taught him the bass line, handed over his guitar, and then ran out into the crowd to see how it was on the other side, jumping around and screaming, like a fan of his own band. Later he exuberantly lead us in the post set encore chant. The band was having as much fun as the audience, our energies were equalized, the entire room was one.

Screaming Females yearn to put on the best possible show every night. On this night, I can confirm, they damn well succeeded.

April 15, 2015
Interview: Natalie Cressman Band at The Blue Note Jazz Club April 18

On Saturday April 18, Natalie “Chainsaw” Cressman will grace the stage at the iconic Blue Note Jazz Club with her full band and blend of jazz, funk, and just the right touch of indie rock. With her own band she showcases her songwriting and composing talents highlighted by beautiful vocals and stellar trombone play. Natalie Cressman has taken cues from band leaders such as Trey Anastasio and Peter Apfelbaum to assemble an amazing line-up of musicians behind her. Calling on some of her most trusted friends and colleagues certainly makes it easier for this band of young up and coming musicians to click and fire on all cylinders.

You can purchase tickets for Natalie Cressman Band April 18 at the Blue Note Jazz Club here.

Natalie Cressman took some time out of her busy schedule, which includes multiple bands, duets, side projects, sit-ins, and baking to answer some questions about her current project, her influences and her upcoming show at The Blue Note:

Graig Adler: How would you describe your current project? Who are the members of the Natalie Cressman Band?

Natalie Cressman: The music is definitely an eclectic mix of styles, both old and very new. Anyone who knows me knows I have a love for a crazy range of music, from Brazilian choro to Kendrick Lamar. As a result, my music pulls from elements of established traditions including jazz and world music, but fused with more modern soundscapes it becomes something entirely new and somewhat uncategorizable. My bandmates are some of my best friends, and also some of the most brilliant musical minds I have ever encountered. The band usually consists of Ivan Jackson (trumpet, vocals), James Casey (tenor sax, vocals) though unfortunately he won’t be with us on Saturday, Samora Pinderhughes (keys) who I’ve been playing music with since we were 10 years old, Mike Bono (guitar), Jonathan Stein (bass), and Mark Whitfield Jr. (drums).

GA: Where do you draw your influences from for this project?

NC: Everywhere from rhythmic traditions of the african diaspora, jazz, soul, funk, and indie rock. There’s a density and layering of elements so on one hand it’s really accessible but layered with harmonic and rhythmic depth that I think makes us really unique.

GA: Are you writing most of the music yourself?

NC: I write all the songs and arrange them myself, but each band member infuses the music with their own personality and tastes, so they definitely have a huge creative impact on the sound too.

GA: There was an obvious evolution from Unfolding to Turn The Sea , especially in your vocals, how have you evolved since? Do you have a new album in the works, how will it be different from the first two.

NC: I think I’ve developed a lot as a songwriter even since Turn the Sea, because I’ve been cultivating my original voice without relying quite so much on certain elements that come naturally to me because of my jazz background, such as having a lot of moving chord changes. I’m trying to be really deliberate with my musical choices and I think that awareness is changing the way I write. The other big thing that’s changed is that I’m getting more into the production side of things. I’m working on a new EP that will be wildly different because it’ll be a combination of live instruments and electronic-based productions, that in my opinion heighten emotional impact of my songs. But it’s still music from my very eclectic point of view, with my horn writing, so it’s not departing from what I’ve done previously, merely developing it further.Turn the Sea sort of hinted at this direction but now I’m embracing it whole-heartedly.

GA: Of all the different groups and projects you are currently involved in, besides your own, which are you most excited about?

NC: I’m excited about so many different projects, but at the moment I’m most excited about playing in Peter Apfelbaum’s S P A R K L E R!! He is one of my favorite composers and I love the wildly creative nature of this band, plus I get to rap and play bass on some of our tunes! I also love playing with Jesus on the Mainline, such a fun band with some of my favorite people. We have a show this month at Brooklyn Bowl and we’re pumped.

GA: What festivals will you be performing at this summer? Is there one that you are most excited about?

NC: I’m excited to return to Burlington’s Jazz Fest with my band in June, we love playing up there. Besides that, I’ll be in Europe for a bunch of the summer so actually am missing a lot of the big festivals. But I am probably most excited to be playing Catskill Chill w/ my band for the first time, as we haven’t done many jam-centric festivals at this point. I think people will dig what we bring to the table. Not exactly a festival, but I’m really stoked about the super jam in Chicago post-GD50 that also happens to be on my birthday. The line-up is bananas, it’s gonna be so dope.

GA: We know you have been playing the trombone since a very young age, can you play any other instruments?

NC: I play some piano and electric bass, and am just picking up guitar. I can also play trumpet and tuba pretty terribly.

GA: It is becoming well-known you bake recreationally, will there be “Chainsaw Cookies” for sale at the Blue Note?

NC: Unfortunately, I have a feeling that my bake sale won’t fly at The Blue Note merch booth, so no “Chainsaw Cookies” this time around. But I am considering opening an Etsy page for my “bakery,” as an outlet for my baking obsession….

GA: One of your most popular performances from last year was when TAB covered Ana Tijoux’s “1977”, how did that come about? Do you speak Spanish or any other languages?

NC: I think Trey got the idea when one of his daughters played the song while they were driving around in his car. He just got this crazy idea for us to cover it and called me up. And I never like saying no to his crazy ideas because most of them turn out to be awesome. So I got to work learning the song at half-speed, line by line, until I could do it. I speak French fluently and a bit of Portuguese, and I’ve sung in Spanish and Portuguese a bunch growing up, so I think Trey thought rapping wouldn’t be any different. But it took me a loooonnnng time to get that rap down.

GA: Being such a young band leader what have you learned from working with Trey Anastasio in TAB?

NC: I’ve learned about a million things from Trey about being a bandleader but some of his most impressive qualities are his boundless creative energy, positivity, and work ethic. He wakes up at the crack of dawn almost everyday and gets straight to work on various ideas and projects. One quote he’s passed on to me that I’ve really taken to heart was from his old music teacher, who used to say “It’s so good it should be even better.” That concept of forever revising and improving on one’s craft made a huge impact on me, and that’s really reflective of Trey’s super-human work ethic.

April 14, 2015
Primus and the Chocolate Factory to Sweeten up Syracuse’s Landmark Theatre April 21

That’s right folks, for one night only those mad capped musical magicians Primus will be making a stop here in Syracuse at the historic Landmark Theater. The evening’s offerings will include two magnificent sets: set 1 features all of your favorite classics performed by the trio; set 2 includes the band’s brilliant and unusual interpretation of the “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” soundtrack brought to life with the help of the Fungi Ensemble. So hurry up and grab your Golden Ticket because you’re not going to want to miss this limited engagement.

“Ladies and Gentleman, Boys and Girls, the Chocolate Room”

Primus is:

Les Claypool – vocals and bass

Larry “Ler” LaLonde – guitar and backing vocals

Tim “Herb” Alexander – drums and backing vocals

The Fungi Ensemble is:

Mike Dillon – marimba and percussion

Sam Bass – cello

Show Details:

April 21, 2015 7PM Doors 8PM Music. All ages.

Landmark Theatre, Syracuse, NY

Tickets are $25-65$ Buy tickets.

April 14, 2015
The Ballroom Thieves Sound Big at Abilene

New England has unexpectedly become a hotbed of the new folk scene that has emerged in the past decade. At first glance it felt like it was just a perceived and inflated importance caused by the Newport Folk Fest favoring regional bands in their undercard selections. Perhaps that has had some influence. but at this point it does seem much bigger than just the work of one festival. One of the latest bands to emerge on the scene is Boston’s The Ballroom Thieves, with Martin Earley on guitar, Devin Mauch on percussion and Calin Peters on cello. They came to Rochester’s Abilene Bar and Lounge just ahead of the release of their debut full-length, A Wolf in the Doorway, out on April 21.

As they took the stage the crowd was loud, chatty and hardly aware the band had begun. Opening with “Storms,” a pleasant plucked guitar with just Earley’s voice which could hardly pierce through the noisy din. But as Mauch and Peters’ vocals layered in beautifully, one by one the offending noises dropped out and the crowd nudged in closer. The vocals built to a climax with some punctuated stomping, and just like that the Thieves had stolen the bar for themselves.

Right away Earley had proven he could carry a performance himself if need be, nailing his vocals and showcasing some quality guitar work. But this was a band of three. As they moved next into “Wild Woman,” a banging country rocker off their upcoming album, the other two were able to showcase more fully their contributions. Mauch’s set-up was customized and somewhat unusual. Just a tom, snare, cymbal and a djembe laid on the floor that acted as a de facto bass drum. Add to that a string of jingle bells that was wrapped around his thigh. Using sticks, brushes and various sized mallets, he was able to manufacture the perfect amount of noise to fit each tune. His resulting hypnotic seated dance was at times just as entertaining as the rhythms produced.

Earley picked up his electric guitar for the deep Delta blues of “Oars to the Sea.” But it wasn’t the guitar that would shine. Unexpectedly, Peters stepped up with as bluesy a solo you will hear on a cello. Throughout the evening her cello work proved to be the secret weapon. Either with her solos which could mimic a guitar’s wail, carrying the songs melody or filling in the gaps with plucks and bows, the cello grabbed my attention as much as anything. Later in the set she would show off more of her talents, singing a lilting lead on a song she co-wrote with Earley, “Bury Me Smiling”. (video below)

So it begins with Earley’s guitar work. Then sprinkle on the unique rhythms from Mauch and engaging cello work from Peters. Layer upon that what might be this bands strongest attribute, their soaring 3-part harmonies. Working all together to perform the music they’ve written, a varied collection of rockers, ballads, hymnals, barroom blues and on, all hewing Americana. The new songs noticeably stood out as especially strong throughout the set. I expect A Wolf in the Doorway will be turning some heads in the coming weeks and months and year. It is such a treat to be able to see a young band’s evolution occurring in real-time on the stage.

Usually you long for the days when you could still see a band with a small intimate crowd before they “made it.” But The Ballroom Thieves played beyond the walls of the small neighborhood bar. The sound reached up and out and yearned to be heard somewhere bigger, with better acoustics, more people, more energy, more everything. I’m looking forward to when they make it, which might not be too far off, and might even be up on that Newport stage.

April 13, 2015
Finland’s Nightwish to Perform at Town Ballroom April 16

On Thursday, April 16, Finland’s Nightwish will be performing in Buffalo, NY for the very first time at Town Ballroom, located at 681 Main St in downtown Buffalo. The Finnish symphonic metal band has toured the globe several times over and released eight full length albums, the most recent of which is entitled Endless Forms Most Beautiful. It’s a long epic release named after a quote by Charles Darwin and is based on the wonders of life, as well as making choices based on science and reason. It’s also the driving force behind their current world tour, which just kicked off in New York City on April 10.

Nightwish will be making their first trip to Buffalo during a very interesting time in their career. They’ve just recently brought Floor Jansen into the group for lead vocals. Some might remember her from her long career with Dutch symphonic metal group, After Forever. This makes Floor, Nightwish’s third female vocalist since the forming of the band, and the general consensus so far is that she’s proven herself to be a very worthy successor of Tarja Turenen and Anette Olzon. Nightwish is also being joined by Wintersun drummer, Kai Hahto for the foreseeable future, after their longtime drummer and friend Jukka Nevalainen decided to step down recently due to chronic insomnia. Furthermore, Troy Donockley is permanently adding his Celtic instrumentation to the band’s already enchanting orchestral sound, which is bound to treat every audience they play to on this tour to an even more unique experience.

One of the highlights on Endless Forms Most Beautiful is the 24 minute closing track, ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’, and rumors are flying that those in attendance at Town Ballroom this Thursday will be hearing that very long, very impressive epic in the latter portion of the setlist. Longtime fans are hopeful that they’ll be hearing some of Nightwish’s older material at the show, and according to online sources, select tracks from Oceanborn, Wishmaster, Century Child and Once will be resurrected for this tour.

So, whether you’ve only recently been introduced to Nightwish, or you’re a longtime listener, given the group’s sterling reputation for live performances, it seems fair to say that no one will be leaving this show disappointed. Even if you’ve never heard music like this before and you want to try something different, most fans of music in general can find something they appreciate in the music of Nightwish. Their songs are captivating, theatrical, symphonic, passionate and honest. We sincerely hope to see you there for what is bound to be a breathtaking event, the likes of which Buffalo has never experienced!

“I do believe only innocence can save the world.” – Tuomas Holopainen (Nightwish founder, composer and lyricist)

April 13, 2015
Robby Krieger Celebrates 50 Years of The Doors at The Egg

The Doors were one of the biggest acts all over the world from 1967 to 1971, but the tragic death of Jim Morrison put a halt to that. The music still resonates with a lot of people and Robby Krieger is making sure fans can celebrate the band’s music this year, since it is the 50th anniversary of them first getting together. Wrapping up this leg of the tour at The Egg, Robby Krieger celebrates with his band. They tore through two hours of Doors hits and rarities to the delight of the crowd.

Robby let loose on his guitar throughout the evening whipping the crowd into a frenzy with his great solos on songs such as “Moonlight Drive”, “When the Music’s Over” and “Maggie M’Gill”. About half way through the concert he played an extended stunning version of “Spanish Caravan.” His band were spot on with the music all night, while his son Waylon honored the lyrics with his best take on Jim Morrison. Near the end of the show, a good portion of the crowd flocked to the front of the stage to get an up close look at the band while they played their last few songs. Ending the night with “Light My Fire,” Robby, with a smile from ear to ear, thanked the crowd for coming and celebrating the great music.

Set: Break On Through (to the Other Side), People are Strange, Not to Touch the Earth, Moonlight Drive, Horse Latitudes, Wild Child, Peace Frog, When the Music’s Over, Spanish Caravan, Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar), Five to One, Riders on the Storm, Touch Me, Wishful Sinful, The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat), LA Woman

Encore: Maggic M’Gill, Light My Fire

[FinalTilesGallery id=’145′]

April 13, 2015