On Thursday March 12, 2015 the all-female Led Zepplin tribute band Zepparella left the crowd mesmerized at The Forvm in Amherst , NY.
But before Zepparella took foot on the stage they had local alternative rock band Letter Box open up for them. Front man and founding member Paul Alguire and guitarist Andrew Douglas were the Letter Box Duo until that night. They brought bassist Ian Elder and drummer Ryan Lindfors into the mix for the very first time, and announced that this would be their new line up. Paul had stated this was their first live show together as a full band. As Letter Box started to play you would have never known that this was their first show together. They had such wonderful chemistry, and all their movements and timing were in synch. Ian and Ryan were just what they needed to complete this band. Letterbox was thoroughly impressive and made a large impression on the crowd. People were lining up for the free Eps they were handing out that night. I hope to see more from this band in the coming months
This was my first time ever seeing them and being a long time Led Zepplin fan I was a little hesitant for what I was about to witness. These girls are not only beautiful but they had the talent and pipes to pull off Led Zepplin with their own twist to perfection. The attendance for this show was phenomenal. The fan base was very diverse that night. There were individuals in their best attire to hard-core fans in their Led Zeppelin concert T-shirts with their frizzy ’80s hair-do. No matter what walk you were from, that night they all united and sang along as front women Noelle Doughty nailed every last note.
As the band played classics such as Dazed and Confused, and Ten Years gone. Drummer and founding member Clementine had her own drum solo for a solid five minutes and you could sense and hear that John Bonham was her biggest drumming influence. Once her hard-hitting intricate solo finished the band came together and finished off the evening with a three more songs. After all was said and done they met fans back and their merch table and took the time to talk to everyone and sign photos and take pictures. All in all this was a very impressive showing of what this examiner calls one of the best Zeppelin tribute bands around.
If you missed this show, you really missed a good one. You won’t want to miss the next time these ladies come back to rock the Buffalo area, or it surly will be your loss again.
Folk metal has never really had a strong foothold in the WNY music scene, but all that changed when some talented musicians from Buffalo and Rochester decided to get together in April of 2013 and craft their own brand of it. The band is called Throne of Wilderness and they produce a sound reminiscent of the bands that started folk metal in the first place.
Big European acts like Ensiferum and Korpiklaani are widely regarded as being authorities in the genre, but Throne of Wilderness takes an honest approach to early folk and early thrash. This makes for quite a dynamic and with a collaboration of talent like this, it’s pretty hard to leave one of their shows disappointed, regardless of what kind of metal you’re into.
The band is made up of Allana Sturm (vocals, whistle), Kevin Murphy (guitar, vocals), Josh Mason (guitar), James Hallenbeck (accordian and keys), Jason Roman (bass) and Eareckson Murray (drums). Allana has a fun way of working the crowd like no other I’ve seen. She commands the audience with stories of mythical creatures and enchanted forests, while leaving no excuse to not be a folk metal fan by the end of the set. Kevin’s vocals compliment her’s perfectly, giving the classic folk metal choir sound to their songs. Josh Mason, already a well established metal musician in Rochester with his other band, Nazgul, brings his own array of crushing guitar skills to the table, while James keeps the folk alive with his accordian skills, and Jason and Eareckson provide the perfect rhythm section to back the entire group.
Furthermore, it’s hard to be a part of Buffalo’s metal scene without having heard of Eareckson Murray. He’s a longtime supporter and promoter of shows, and also lays down sick guitars and vocals for local thrash 3 piece, Cain. All this being said, if you’re a fan of any kind of metal and you haven’t heard this band yet, don’t sleep on your next chance to check them out. Your next opportunities to see them are Saturday March 21 at the Rockin’ Buffalo Saloon and Saturday April 18 at the Tudor Lounge.
From the moment I learned that Garth Brooks was returning to recording and touring, I felt as though I finally had a do over. At the height of his career, Garth Brooks made a life changing decision to stay home and help raise his girls, further endearing him to all of the fans that loved him so much already. Not knowing if or when he decided to return to the music business he would be welcomed back, he never hesitated as it was a no brainer for Garth.
His family came first. In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres in 2013, he commented that “..if everybody was allowed that luxury, I think 99% of parents would take it..” I believe he is correct in his statement. As the girls grew up and the house become quiet, it was Ms. Yearwood (as he lovingly refers to her) that suggested to him that perhaps it was time to go back out on the road again. As a lifelong fan of Garth Brooks and Ms. Yearwood, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this chance of a “do over”.
Garth Brooks – Buffalo, NY 3/5/15
I will never forget where I was the first time I ever heard Garth Brook’s “The Dance”. As the music began I lifted my head up from what I was reading and my eyes went to the TV immediately where a newcomer sat with a guitar while clips of video played on behind him. As the music and lyrics progressed to say “And now I’m glad I didn’t know, the way it all would end, the way it all would go. Our lives are better left to chance, I could have missed the pain, but I’d have had to miss the dance”, tears began to well up in my eyes. On the screen flashed images of Lane Frost, the famous bull rider who lost his life in 1989 while riding the bull for the full 8 seconds, Keith Whitley and his wife, Lorrie Morgan, as they danced at their wedding, the crew of the space shuttle Challenger as they walked to their journey that never retuned, and images of John Wayne, Martin Luther King Jr., and JFK reminding us of their moments in time that are embedded in our lives, you could not help but become so entranced in the lyrics and what they meant to these individuals at those moments, but also how it applied to us personally. It was Garth’s personal investment in each and every song after that moment that pulled me in farther and farther as I watched from the sideline a career that spanned more than a decade of outstanding moments in time given to us from this country music superstar.
As a country music fan since childhood, I followed his career via radio and purchased every cd he put out. I can remember standing at the fence at the NY State Fairgrounds in the 1990’s listening to his band doing sound check, and wishing I could catch a glimpse, or afford a ticket to see the show. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever think that many years later I would be taking a selfie with the one and only Garth Brooks. So as I write this article, please forgive my gushing and star struck comments, as this was truly a surreal moment for me.
Arriving in the nick of time to the press conference with my Features Editor, Kristen, I prepared what I would ask him about. When normally preparing interview questions, I always think to myself, what would I, as a reader, want to know about the artist. It always comes down to personal feelings, thoughts, and moments. I know what I can see, and it’s the what I can’t see that I am most interested in. As Garth arrives to the venue, a whole group of us anxiously await for our opportunity to speak with him. Clad in jeans, sneakers, and a baseball cap, Garth’s presence exudes a feeling to us as he’s not just country royalty, but just one of us. As the news anchor gets the first opportunity to question him, he recalls her from other interviews, totally blowing my mind at his memory. As I raise my hand to question him, I introduce myself and our publication, and he stops me momentarily to confirm my name before proceeding. I was humbled that he cared that much to make sure he knew who he was talking to. I welcomed him back to New York State and asked him how his transition back into touring as been, and how he is doing mastering his new social media accounts. His response to touring was it was a slower start but as he rounded the first few months, it kicked in again, and everything that was before, was now again. As far as social media, something he never thought he would do, has become a wonderful tool to take down barriers with his fans, and communicate with them one on one. Something a superstar such as himself never really could before.
Garth Brooks – Buffalo, NY 3/5/15
As the press conference ended, and the crowds began to amass for his first night in Buffalo, I was impressed and pleased to see how seamless the First Niagara Center was at getting attendees in the venue and to their seats without any issues. The demographics you would expect at this show of those who knew and followed him varied from those who couldn’t have even been born at the time, to those of us who have followed him faithfully throughout the years. This first sold out show, would be one of six in a four-day stay in Buffalo for Garth, his wife, and his band.
As the show began, I as the photographer, was allowed to shoot professional photos for our article from the soundboard, of which the lighting and production of this show was outstanding for this task. Then after securing my camera I continued to get a few more photos from my phone for my readers. Sitting or should I say standing on the floor looking up at him performing, it was everything and more than I anticipated. I had seen his show on tv several years ago and the energy he gives on his performances are what makes his shows the best they can possibly be. The stage, set to give attendees a 360 degree view of him and the band does just this.
Garth plays every inch of that stage and to every audience member in that venue. Whether you have a seat in the nosebleed section or the front row, you get every bit of him he has to give in his performance. Playing favorites from his career such as “Ain’t Going Down,” “The Thunder Rolls” and “Standing Outside The Fire,” fans young and old joined in to sing along. When asked at the press conference his favorite songs to perform, he had two. “The Dance” of course, and then “Call It Baton Rouge” because that one is just so much fun to perform. Yes, it was so much fun to view as well. I can see why he loves performing that one. When asked what is it like to perform so many shows in so few days, he voiced his concern about his vocals by the last show, and thanked his audience when songs such as “Friends In Low Places” comes on and the audience takes over for him. It must be the most amazing feeling to just sit back and listen to thousands of fans singing your words together with you.
Garth Brooks – Buffalo, NY 3/5/15
Half way through the show, Ms. Yearwood joins him on stage to sing a duet, and then he steps off allowing her to sing her tunes, which I must add the audience takes over and sings along as well. This woman is such an inspiration to those that have followed her career. Not only is she one of the most talented musicians in country music, she is also an amazing writer and chef. Each Saturday morning I wake up and the first thing that goes on TV, is “Trisha’s Southern Kitchen”. Her cooking show features her favorite dishes, with guest such as Garth, her niece, her lifelong friends from college, her sister, her zumba buddies, and even her band members joining her to make some amazing traditional dishes. I can’t help but become hungry by the end of the show. I love her singing, but it’s her personality that exudes kindness, witness, and charm. Her outtakes are my favorite moments on the show. Like Garth, she isn’t shy about sharing who she really is with those that adore her. As she continues to sing, she too sings to every inch of that venue and to every member in that audience. She uses the jumbotron behind her to feature a “kiss cam” of sorts while singing “She’s In Love With The Boy”. I absolutely loved her set, and so thankful she sang my favorite tune, “How Do I Live”. I loved her new song, “PrizeFighter” and loved how she featured the photos from her participation in the Brest Cancer Walk. As she finishes singing her set, and Garth joins her on stage, the love between the two is electric, and before she leaves, he plants a kiss on her that steamed up all our glasses. Yes, it is so neat to see such love between them, and so thankful they feel like they can share that with us all. Yes, Garth and Trisha make the cutest couple ever.
I don’t want to give away all the show highlights as it’s almost like Christmas day. You don’t want to know the surprises ahead, because you just need to live that moment for yourself. As Garth continues to announce cities he will be coming to, I hope that a city close by will be on the list for you as well. I have seen many, many shows over the course of the last few years. This hands down was the BEST show I’ve ever been a part of. Everything is top-notch, and every moment is one I will cherish. Welcome back Garth Brooks to New York. We love you.
From The New & Curious Fan – Features Editor, Kristen Mack-Perry
Live music is my thing, going to concerts is my thing, I fancied myself as a seasoned concert goer. 100+ Phish shows, three Dead shows (with Jerry) and 25+ Furthur shows, Avett Brothers, Willie Nelson, Del McCoury, Yonder Mountain String Band and so many more – with several annual music festivals over the course of twenty years, and nothing, nothing could have prepared me for a Garth Brooks show.
I use the word show because it wasn’t just a concert, this was a gathering of cowboy boots and ten-gallon hats, all of whom knew every word to every song, and the audience became part of the show with the jumbotron kiss-cam whilst the biggest country star in history sung his greatest hits – stopping only to express gratitude or to connect personally with fans holding signs.
It was a finely manicured theatrical experience, littered with nostalgia for this country girl. The stage was set like a Broadway theatre stage, with the giant video screen that began the show with a countdown clock and became the kiss cam during “People Loving People,” and a motorized sphere with the drummer and drum kit inside – when the lights shone on the drummer, the color of the drums would change to the beat of the music, towards the end of the show the sphere lifted off the stage and spun around; theatrics you just don’t see at the concerts I have been to.
Having been told Brooks was an extremely animated performer, I was excited to see what he had up his sleeve. Every note, every word he sung could be felt through every inch of my being, I was instantly thrust back to the mid ‘90s riding in Jana Schmitz’s mother’s stationwagon on the way to the shopping mall, listening to the local country music station 92.5. That was really my only experience with country music, I heard it when I was with people who listened to it and when I began to drive a car I would listen to the same station and sing along to every ballad and beer drinkin song, and I never knew who the artist was, I just loved the songs. It was in that moment as I stood at the Garth Brooks concert belting out every word to, “We’re Two of a Kind, Workin on a Full House” that I realized, I DO love country music, and I know a lot of Garth Brooks songs too, I took off my sweater, folded up the seat of the chair and prepared to get down and dance. I reveled in that moment, feeling the music glide through my soul.
The show was a highlight of my concert going experiences, the togetherness the comradery of the fans, the choreographed moves of the band – we were all one. This is something Brooks spoke about in the press conference earlier that day, saying “now we have video during the show, we didn’t have video in the ’90s and you look in the camera and you see a guy and they think they are the only person in the entire world, so they’ve got their head back their arms are out and they’re dancing – I can’t tell you how many guys 6′ 6” 300 pounds, singing “She’s In Love With A Boy” louder than any sixteen year old girl and its crazy and so much fun to watch.” Brooks genuinely cares for his fans and it shows in his performance on stage.
Brooks was asked how he was mastering Twitter and with the same southern boy charm that he exhibits on stage he replied, “I don’t know if I mastered it, but what I love about Twitter is it wipes all the walls out between me and you, and what I really love is to respond and then get the response from that respond kind of thing.” Although it may not seem unique for an artist to use Twitter to connect with fans, the manner in which Brooks replies to his fans is what connects them.
It seems that the recipe for a great concert isn’t what the genre of music is, it’s how the musician connects to the fans, both at the show and through social media, how the words to the song ring true to your life and make you feel like the song must have been written for you. When we feel connected to the things that are most important in our lives, the things that make us feel alive, then we validate the existence we all share while seeing live music, and that is what it’s all about.
This show will go down in my personal history books as one not only to remember but one to cherish, for it was an experience you can’t find on the TV or in a book, its something you have to live and breathe and be a part of.
By now, anyone who frequents local metal shows in Buffalo has heard of I’m From the Government and I’m Here to Help. Having seen these guys live many times myself, I wanted to give the dedicated metal show goers of our town a behind-the-scenes look at this particular band, and why I think they’re worth a listen to anyone who isn’t familiar with them. Personally, I’d recommend these guys to any fan of any kind of metal, because I think they have something for everyone in the metal world. Their performances are energetic, their songs are incredibly catchy, and they stay just as brutally heavy as they do honest and melody driven, for the duration of their tunes.
Recently, I had an opportunity to catch up with Tom Bieler (vocals), Robby Warren (guitar) and Steve Keicher (drums), and ask them a few important questions about their project. Here’s what they had to say.
Mike Marlinski: Where does the name I’m From the Government and I’m Here to Help come from and how would you describe your music to new listeners?
Robby Warren: The name comes from the famous words said by President Reagan during a speech as “the 9 most terrifying words in the English language”. He couldn’t have been more right and those words still hold value today.
Tom Bieler: I almost wanted to name the band, I’m a Firefighter and I’m Here to Help You, but the government quote was a lot better. I would describe our sound to new listeners as metal. Too many people focus on sub-genres nowadays and it isn’t helping local scene unity at all.
Steve Keicher: For new listeners, I would describe our sound as being heavy with some underlying melody, whether it be vocals or guitars, with influences ranging from hard rock, heavy metal and hardcore. Modern American Heavy!
MM: What kind of music were you raised on? Who are your musical influences?
RW: I was raised on a lot of classic rock, ‘80s hair metal and country from being raised by my mom. Once I found Megadeth at 10 or 11, it was all metal there on out. My guitar influences range from Dimebag Darrell to Ted Nugent to Marty Friedman.
TB: I was raised on mostly rock in the same vein as Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Tom Petty, Billy Joel and stuff like that. Once I hit high school, it was all Wu-tang and skate punk music like Millencolin and Bad Religion.
SK: I was raised on a wide variety of things. My parents listened to everything from The Doors and The Beatles to Alabama and Charlie Daniels. I grew up with some older cousins who were always jamming the heavy stuff so Sepultura, Suicidal Tendencies, Slayer and Metallica invaded my ears when I was in like 4th grade.
Everyone was always skating and blasting thrash! MTV was huge while I was growing up too. Pop music was everywhere, then I saw that first Nirvana video. Pantera wasn’t far behind either. I’m constantly trying to discover new bands and things to listen to. Lately it’s been old psyche rock bands from the ‘60s and ‘70s, bands like Blue Cheer, The Nice, Joshua and a ton more.
MM: Who do you typically listen to on the way to a performance?
RW: On my way to a show, I’m usually listening to something very heavy to get me psyched up. As I Lay Dying is a regular to get me pumped.
TB: Just whatever’s in the CD player. Lately it’s been Seplophile and Makhai, both Buffalo locals.
SK: Since a show night tends to be filled with a lot of loud and heavy music, I tend to listen to hip hop to get pumped or old classic rock to just chill out and focus.
MM: Do you have future touring plans? Where are you hoping to tour?
RW: I hope we are able to tour in the near future, but who knows how realistic that is. These days it’s tough to do it with bills and such at home, while making next to nothing being on the road. It is a dream of mine though and I hope to at least tour the east coast.
TB: If the demand for a tour comes and we’re able to do it then that would be really rad. The truth is we’re all hardworking American men and have jobs and we can’t just leave our responsibilities at a moment’s notice.
SK: I would love to travel with this band. I’d love to see the west coast, and from there, possibly some European cities. I’ve always loved to travel, so any place outside of the norm would be fine with me.
MM: Do the five of you have a common major musical influence? Who would you collectively love to open for one day?
RW: We all have our own style we bring to the band to create what you hear. I can’t say we all have a common musical influence, but that makes for something truly special having that many different influences coming together. We would love to open for any major band out there in the metal world. It is always very exciting to share the stage with a band you listen to. I personally would be able to die a happy man if we got to open for Megadeth.
TB: Collectively, we have a really wide range of influences, so I don’t know if we would agree on one band between us. I would love to open for a classic metal band like Iron Maiden or Megadeth.
SK: I can’t say if we all collectively have a common influence. The age range (23?-33?) in this band is funny, but I feel that’s what brings all sorts of different influences to the table. We all want to write heavy, memorable songs that connect with the listener on some level. Musical, lyrical, emotional, spiritual, whatever.
MM: Can you recall a specific news story or personal experience that first motivated you to take the band’s lyrics in a political direction?
RW: Tom, that’s all you. (laughs)
TB: I think it’s important to have meaningful song lyrics. We sing songs about things that matter to everyday Americans like you and me. We worry about drones, we worry about politics and religion and we worry about getting through the day and taking care of our business.
MM: Does the band have an overall message you all wish to convey to your audience with each performance and studio release? If so, what is that message?
RW: The overall message we try to give our audience, whether it’s live or in the studio, is that we must unite and stand for what we believe in, whether it’s against a shaky government or uniting with our brothers and sisters in the metal scene.
TB: Musically speaking, I think the one thing we try to convey in everything that we put out is the importance of riffs. We’re lucky to have some tremendous guitarists. At the end of the day metal is all about the riffs!
MM: What can we expect from the next EP?
SK: New songs. (smiles)
RW: The next EP is going to have lots of exciting guitar work, pummeling drums, sick bass ripping, and of course lots of hard truth.
TB: The next EP is going to be a step up. I think we set a pretty high standard with “Hard Truth/Forced Unity” and now we have to meet and exceed that standard. It’s a challenge but I think we have the right songs to do it.
Below is a full stream of their debut EP, “Hard Truth/Forced Unity”:
Snapcase’s fierce driving riffs and aggressive vocals defined them as one of the premier genre bands for the ’90s hardcore music scene.
Originally conceived in a basement in West Seneca NY in 1989 – the five piece built quite the frenetic fan base over the course of the next 16 years before mostly disbanding in 2005. Since then they have played occasional shows – usually in Buffalo – but none since a finale show with the closing of Mohawk Place in 2013.
That all may be changing soon as the band indicated on their website today that they are practicing.
With their next and only 2015 tour date scheduled for Montebello, Canada’s Amnesia Rockfest way off in mid June fans will no doubt be wondering if more tour dates are in the works – or perhaps (hold your breath) some new music? Stay tuned!
Going against the grain on what most metal bands are doing as far as touring these days, Machine Head is currently taking the bold approach and doing an “Evening With” headlining with no openers whatsoever, in support of their latest album Bloodstone & Diamonds, arguably one of their best to date, and easily the best metal album of 2014. Rob Flynn and the boys stopped at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo last Thursday night for the second time in three years, setting for what was an unforgettable night.
The bodies piled into the venue long before Machine Head hit the stage. By showtime, the crowd kept chanting “Machine Fucking Head! Machine Fucking Head” was nonstop during the whole show, The band stormed the stage opening with “Imperium.” Machine Head, although are getting up there in age, were performing like if they were in their prime – hungry and vicious. Their stage presence and energy have NEVER been better. They are giving their fans their money’s worth and putting other bands on notice.
Machine Head has gone through a slight lineup change since they appeared at the Town Ballroom back in February 2012. New bassist Jared MacEachern replaced Adam Duce this past year, so the big question is, does MacEachern fill the void? Adam Duce was a monster on the bass, but also had remarkable backing vocals to go with Flynn’s vocals. So when Duce was fired, I was saddened, and wondered how MacEachern could pull this gig off. And I will say I was blown away by MacEachern’s stage presence, skill, backing vocals were amazing! He has much more range than Duce had (although Duce does sound a lot like Flynn) but he pulled off vocal harmonies, grunts, growls, and sings VERY well, so he adds such a new and killer dynamic to Machine Head’s live show that they never had before. Dave McClain was a fiend behind the kit, and playing all those songs in a long set is no easy task. And lead guitarist Phil Demmel rifts and solos are unmatched. And his flying v Randy Rhoades black polka-dot guitar was gorgeous to look at. But vocalist guitarist Rob Flynn is the unquestionable all-star and leader of the band and no one anchors the band better, or gets the crowd psyched like no other. The most fascinating thing to watch on stage is watching Flynn and Demmel exchange guitar solos, as well as their harmonizing guitar solos…. it is such a spectacle to behold on stage.
As far as their set, they gave the fans what they deserved with a two-hour and fifteen minute set – with no intermission. We heard new songs like “Now We Die” and “Sail Into The Black” and were also treated to classics like ”Old” and “Ten Ton Hammer.” But really gave me a pleasant shock, early into their set, Machine Head played their nu-metal anthem “From This Day” for the first time in 13 years and the crowd went absolutely bananas. They managed to play at least one song from every album from their 20 year catalog. Closing with the unforgettable song “Halo” afterwards, not one person left this show disappointed. Machine Head told the crowd they will come back and said that they will do “evening with” again. It’s safe to say that Machine Head gave the fans their money’s worth and are truly a force to be reckoned with.
The members of Dr. Dog waltzed onto Buffalo’s Town Ballroom stage all in varying levels of “disheveled-ness,” each with their own unique style.
But one thing was uniform across the board. Saddle shoes. They all wore those dapper looking black and white saddle shoes. Now I only mention this bizarre detail because their dress informed their music perfectly. Each member brings their unique somewhat off-kilter sound, together hanging on the precipice of a complete cacophonous collapse. Yet they remain grounded in a fantastic one-ness. It’s gotta be the shoes. (Or perhaps Eric Slick’s stellar drumming?) All that is to say, there aren’t many bands that play this tight, while keeping it so wild and loose at all times. They didn’t even miss a beat when, upon hearing some people in the front row beat him to the opening lines of “Shadow People”, guitarist Scott McMicken handed the mic into the crowd to let them sing the first verse.
Dr. Dog brings a raucous energy to everything they do, even their down-tempo songs are rife with energy. Throughout the night it spread like an airborne virus into the crowd. The nodding-head foot-tapping audience became a rabid mass of dancing fools by nights end. The show didn’t ride any highs or lows and didn’t depend on any showstoppers to bring the set to a head or take it to the next level. They started high, ended high, and kept it up in between. The best song they played was the last one they played before you quickly forgot what it was because they were kicking your ass with the next one. Most of the tunes just flowed right into each other, there was no time to catch your breath and appreciate what was happening. Everything was in the moment.
Dr. Dog is touring behind their just released live album Live at a Flamingo Hotel. And it is great. Yet, if a band does it right, no recording, not even a live one, can completely capture their live experience. And as Dr. Dog proved once again in Buffalo, they are an incredible live band.
moe. turns 25 this winter and continue to be one of the biggest acts to come out of Upstate New York and have a strong legacy and influence on bands following in their footsteps a generation later. Chuck Garvey, guitarist for moe., took some time to reminisce on the formative years of moe. in Buffalo and Albany, discuss relationships with 90s jam bands and the struggles the band had early on, something bands getting their start today can identify with.
Photo by Tom Sgroi
Pete Mason: Take us back to the first show you played as ‘Five Guys Named Moe’. What memories linger 25 years later?
Chuck Garvey: For the first proper bar gig, we opened for a Buffalo band called Monkey Wrench at the dive-y bar called Broadway Joe’s that all the SUNY Buffalo area bands played. The guys in ‘Wrench are awesome dudes and even though we were different styles, neither of us cared. It was a bunch of their friends and a couple of ours in the “audience”, drinking cheep beer and soaking up the ambiance. We played a mix of covers and a couple of our own fledgling compositions and it was a lot of fun. After that, we just wanted to do more.
PM: What did you enjoy the most from your time as a band in Buffalo? The least?
CG: The good: Cheap beer, live music, unhealthy but yummy fried food with blue cheese, art, social fun and the summers. The bad: Lake effect snow and high wind without the possibility anything closing, crime, rodents, shifty landlords and their crappy properties.
Photo by Tom Sgroi
PM: How did playing the I-90 circuit as you were starting out contribute to the growth of the fan base and lead to larger gigs?
CG: There are many small and large college towns that a band can play, helping to spread the word while honing a live set of music that people might actually like. We also traded gigs with other bands, slept on friend’s and stranger’s floors, generally making connections and trying to convert fans, one set at a time. Playing shows with bands like Monkey Wrench and Scary Chicken in Buffalo, as well as FreeBeerAndChicken and The Ominous Seapods from Albany was fun and we shared growing fan bases.
PM: Why move to Albany after Buffalo? Why not look west or go right to New York City or Boston?
CG: We planned on moving to the Greater New York Area, but only made it as far as Western Avenue in Albany. We knew people there and it was far less expensive, so we stayed for a while! This was also a time when we were beginning to tour all over the damn country, relentlessly, ruthlessly, so paying rent in NYC while living in a van and truck stops would have been a waste. Maybe that’s one thing we did correctly!
Photo by Tom Sgroi
PM: What were some of the biggest struggles and obstacles the band faced in the early years?
CG: Poverty, cleanliness, good health, booking, keeping gas in the van, trying to not get ripped off – all the stuff that touring bands struggle with if they are paying dues.
CG: He was one of those guys that loved the music, loved to promote and hang out – a true music fan who helped us by being as interested as we were in the whole thing. He still does it for the right reasons. That kind of involvement is always the best. When you are a true fan and not just a businessman, people will listen a little more intently. That goes a long way whether you’re blogging, promoting, chatting with friends. Unsolicited advertising from a source that is trustworthy goes very far. Greg is like any good music fan: he wants to tell you about what he likes and get you into his new band, the new find, etc.
Photo by Tom Sgroi
S21PM: What did you enjoy the most from your time in Albany? The least?
CG: Personally, I enjoyed it because I was near family. We had friends in town when we were not touring and we wrote & rehearsed a lot of music there. We were broke, but everything was simple and we were working really hard, so it felt good, regardless. The only thing I didn’t totally love was our house that the band, FOH engineer and Manager lived in. Parts of it were charming, then there was the waterfall of mold that came into the living room over a built in bookcase in the corner. It was so dark and weird that no one got into the house, even when we left the front door wide open for weeks while on the road.
PM: How has the relationship you formed with Conehead Buddha in the 90s stayed strong over 20 years?
CG: CB was a band that we knew – along with Yolk, Lynch and others – and kept contact with through Jim and Vinnie. Jim has played in bands with different assemblages of musicians, sometimes playing drums or bass, as he did with Lynch. Shannon and Terry have played with us for years. Greg Bell is also instrumental in keeping all of us musicians in touch by putting together great shows, as well as having laid the groundwork for our scene in the Albany area.
PM: Was there any time early on that you wanted to call it quits?
CG: Only when all our guitars were stolen in Columbus, Ohio. And when our van died on the way to a show at the Wetlands. And when we ran out of money trying to get home, stranded on the Thruway. And when some drunk whacko came into Broadway Joe’s with a gun. And when we almost wrecked and died in our camper trying to get to Chicago in the snow.
Oh, wait. None of those things made me want to quit! Never!
PM: Is there a chance we could see Ha Ha the Moose perform at Bellstock?
CG: Is that an invitation? If they do come, they won’t leave till the cops come and the liquor’s gone.
Chuck has previously written about the early history of moe., including lineup changes and events in the first decade of the band’s existence. Read more here and check out the rest of ‘s coverage on moe.’s 25th anniversary including reviews of Town Ballroom shows and Tropical Throe.down.
Special thanks to Schultzy, AFF and Kyle for contributions to this interview.
“I look out and see a lot of different faces from 25 years ago, you guy’s are giving me a real big boner right now,” Rob Derhak, original founding member of the band moe. shouted out during the kick off of their much-anticipated 25th anniversary tour. Town Ballroom was sold out both nights and for good reason as the band was celebrating quite a milestone, where a lot of acts come and go, this one is as strong as ever.
The group which formed a quarter century ago to a much smaller crowd was on top of their games. Derhak was joined on stage by Chuck Garvey (guitar) and Al Schnier (guitar), Vinnie Amico (drums) and Jim Loughlin (percussion). Derhak, Garvey and Amico all wearing silver jackets which coincided with their 25th. The group always has had a fun part of them when it came to stage presence and I think the Buffalo crowd enjoyed it better this time around since Rob hadn’t teased the crowd with a New England Patriots hat like the last time they had played the room. The first night was amazing with lots of fan favorites and closing under a very lit up disco ball to the Rush song, Tom Sawyer. It was a great first night and set up for Saturday nicely.
Set 1: Y.O.Y. > Skrunk > Down Boy, Little Miss Cup Half Empty, Rebubula > Yodelittle > Rebubula Set 2: Captain America > Puebla > Bullet > Wormwood > Deep This Time, Jazz Wank > Buster Encore: Farmer Ben > Tom Sawyer
The Second night certainly took off right away. “Silver Sun > Water” was certainly a high point of the set and closing with an excellent “Timmy Tucker” to top it off. The second set jumped right back into the flow of things with a six song segue that left you no time to collect your thoughts, and just when you were able to catch your breath the band came back on stage and brought it home with a “Wind It Up” encore. The two nights were spectacular on so many levels and Buffalo still holds something special in the moe. camp and it shows, every time they come back home to play these guys really bring it and leave you wanting plenty more. Thank you moe. for your first 25 years and we look to continue to celebrate with you for 25 more.
Set 1: Annihilation Blues, Same Old Story, Silver Sun >(nh) Water, Big World > Ricky Marten > Timmy Tucker Set 2: Brent Black* > CalifornIA > Opium > The Other One > Moth > 32 Things Encore : Wind It Up
It was a mere 25 years ago in the winter of 1990 when a group of guys got together using the name “Five Guys Named moe.” and since that faithful night, 20 studio and live albums, 15 moe.downs, 15 Summer Camps and thousands of fans of moe. have come to love the band formed in Buffalo. They kick off their 25th anniversary tour in the same city they started in with two nights at the Town Ballroom,
Friday January 23 and Saturday January 24. The band is coming off the very successful release of No Guts, No Glory and recently wrapped up their destination concert Throe.down in Jamaica. The climate outside may be quite the change from the Caribbean but you can certainly guarantee that it will be hotter than ever in the venue. Don’t delay on getting tickets and come celebrate arguably the greatest live music act to come out of Buffalo, NY.
Tickets can be purchased through the Town Ballroom’s website. Tickets are $30-34 and doors open at 7pm each night.
