NYS Music 20​15

Category: Western NY

  • Photo Gallery: Rob Zombie Brings His Spookshow To Big Flats

    When Rob Zombie makes an appearance in Upstate New York, fans of all ages flocked to see the hellbilly  perform at The Budweiser Summer Stage at Tags, located in Big Flats NY. Tags is a Multifaceted Entertainment Facility and nationally recognized concert venue that’s neatly tucked out of the way and has hosted a wide variety of artists over the years.

    Opening for Rob Zombie was Dropclutch, a band out of Binghamton New York. The band consists of Shawn Swartwood on vocals, Brandon Schuldt on drums, Josh Skellet on bass/vocals and Adam Skellett on guitar/vocals. Dropclutch has shared the stage with many headlining artists such as Breaking Benjamin, Seether, Lamb of God, Gwar and Skindred. They were well received and got the crowd worked up in preparation for Zombie to take the stage. Their set list included: The Becoming, Get Up, Pressure Chemical, Burned Between The Lines, My Island, Make Your Move, The Reason Over and Over One Bullet.

    The line for Rob Zombie started at the entrance and stretched all the way around the venue. Both parking areas were full with fans of all kinds. The only thing that’s more unique than Zombie himself are the fans, some dressed as their favorite characters from his film “House of 1000 Corpses.” The venue was packed pretty tight with those eager to hear some of their favorite hits and Rob is never one to disappoint. His set’s background featured classic movie monsters. The band members blended into the scene with Rob Zombie’s bassist Piggy D dressed as a vampire while guitarist John 5 sporting a nightmarish looking gas mask. The set list for the evening included: Teenage Nosferatu Pussy, Super-Charger Heaven, Superbeast, Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine, Living Dead Girl, Dead City Radio and the New Gods of Supertown, A Drum solo by Ginger Fish, More Human Than Human, Sick Bubble-Gum, Pussy Liquor, Meet the Creeper, Never Gonna Stop and Thunder Kiss ’65 with encores being We’re an American Band, The Lords of Salem and Dragula.

  • Buffalove Music Festival Shines a Bright Light on Upstate Bands

    If you were looking for a festival with continuous high energy bands, then Buffalove was it.   We were greeted with sunny skies on Thursday afternoon, and a buzz in the air from everyone who couldn’t stop talking about what was to come of that first night.  Everyone knew it was going to start with a bang, and they couldn’t have been more accurate.

    Buffalo’s own Imperial Brown kicked things off on the Pavilion stage, setting a tone that would carry throughout the weekend. With a sold base of funk, reggae, soul and jam, Imperial Brown got the feet moving, and everyone’s excitement could be focused on one thing: dancing.

    As Buffalovers made their way across the field to the main stage, you could feel everyone’s energy level soaring. Hometown heroes Aqueous took the stage at 8pm as the sun was setting and it was go time. They eased into their set, building intensity as the hour went on. We could all tell it was just a tease of what was to come. One by one, Dopapod took the stage, with a seamless changeover that left us continuously dancing for hours.  Like Aqueous, they eased into their set, but definitely took things up a notch. Aqueous’ Mike Gantzer was the first to step on stage for the birth of Aquapod.  And with a blink of an eye, members of both Aqueous and Dopapod were all on stage, getting into one of the strongest starts any festival could ever hope for.  If you were a fan of both of these bands before, then this was the penultimate moment.  Trading solos with the biggest of smiles, it just kept going.  Even when the rain started to fall, the set from top to bottom was any fans dream.  The intensity, the happiness of both bands, and the wide-eyes and looks of amazement from the crowd really started Buffalove off right. From there, it just kept going.

    For those whose legs could still hold their bodies up after four and a half straight hours of Aqueous and Dopapod, the late night Woods Stage sets kept the intensity going.  A beautiful little stage, set on the hill and covered with trees, was the scene of several sets that would leave people dancing until the wee hours of the morning.  Sonder and Spacejunk were first up in the woods, with a segue set that rang through the property. Sonder with their jamtronic, groovy set, then Space Junk with a DJ set that got even the weariest of festival goers back on their feet.  The Woods Stage would be the scene of serious talent and body-moving sets.  Even with the rain continuing on and off all night, the vibe was nothing short of magical.

    Friday morning, we were met with cool weather and constant chatter of what we had all witnessed the night before.  The question kept being asked, “How can you top that first night?”  But yet again, Buffalove delivered. Imperial Brown started it off again on the Pavilion Stage as the crowds began to wake up, stretch their bodies and get some food.  Like every band, their dance-worthy set definitely pulled us out of the fog and back into the light.

    Friday afternoon hit, and from there it was on again. Beau Sasser’s Escape Plan, led by current Kung Fu keyboardist Beau Sasser, took the Main Stage and came out swinging with their amped-up, soul crushing version of the Grateful Dead’s “New Speedway Boogie.” Mary Corso’s voice was enough to give anyone the chills, as they cruised through a powerful set.  Guitarists Danny Mayer and Justin Henricks had some solos that could leave anyone’s jaw on the floor and drummer Kevin Urvalek was cruising by the time they closed with a cover of “Whipping Post.” 

    Slip Madigan continued the party, with a rhythmic, groove-oriented set on the Pavillion Stage.   Then it was time for Funktional Flow to begin their first of three sets over the next 24 hours.

    Flow took Main Stage for a 5pm set that only left fans craving more.  Their tight, jam-based songs got the excitement level up once again. With covers like “Atlantic City” by Bruce Springsteen and Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4,” it was very apparent that they can span the genres. Then before you knew it, Albany-based Formula 5 took the Pavilion Stage.  For these guys, it was a pre-cursor to their late night segue set with Funktional Flow at the Woods Stage.

    Headlining the evening was Kung Fu and Particle, both bringing the hammer down on Saturday evening. Kung Fu, brought the jam-funk to the Main Stage, giving fans a different taste of what they could accomplish with a slightly modified lineup. Sasser soared, with solos that layered and layered, and meshed so well with their new sound. Kung Fu fans were shocked at what the band had become: a funk-heavy jam band.  Then it was time for Particle to take the party to the next level.  As the disco ball beamed, they played a set that was clearly meant to leave people exhausted from dancing.

    Late night Friday was a beast of its own.  Funktional Flow came out heavy on the Woods Stage.  And if you weren’t keeping an eye on the stage at all times, you wouldn’t have even noticed that one by one, Formula 5 took over.  If you had caught their earlier set, this one was completely different in attack.  We could all tell they just wanted to get out there and jam as hard as they could.  James Woods’ intricate and heavy bass lines and Joe Davis’ cruising guitar licks were almost too much to handle.  Before you knew it, Funktional Flow had taken the Woods Stage over yet again.  This time, it was one for the books.  With a closer like Umphrey’s McGee “All In Time”, we were dancing just as hard as with Kung Fu and Particle, if not harder.  The woods were lit up and the buzz around these two bands was heavy.  Buffalovers had been treated to one of the most seamless sets of the weekend and all in the wee hours of Saturday morning.  Closing out the morning was Buffalo-based Skyepilot, led by powerhouse lead singer Skye Del Re.  If you still had the energy, this band kept the party going until the wee hours of 5am.  The sun was coming up, and the groove was still ringing through the woods.

    With a full weekend of high-energy bands, we were still left with Saturday.  From top to bottom, the last day of Buffalove was filled with talent. Even though Skyepilot had just packed up on the Woods Stage, they opened Saturday on the Main Stage. Their strong, fast-paced versions of songs like “Sugaree” was enough to get even the weariest back on their feet for the final day. Buffalove contest winner The Goods hit the Pavilion Stage, with a very apparent reason why they were the winners. With a slightly different flare than the rest of the acts, they added that international/world groove.

    The Main Stage on Saturday was filled to the brim with talent, as Blue Rootz and Whiskey Reverb both gave noteworthy sets.  Next, it was time for Funktional Flow to give their final of three sets.  With a setlist that included heavy originals and crowd-favorite covers like Warren Zevon’s “Lawyers, Guns and Money” and to close it all out, Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.” Funktional Flow definitely earned their three sets, and stood on par with the headliners.

    To close out the Pavilion Stage and Main Stage, Albany favorites Mister F tag teamed sets with Pink Talking Fish. Mister F did a stripped down set to start, with Andrew Chamberlaine playing a banjitar (banjo/guitar combo) for the first set.  If you ran across the mud-filled lawn, you could witness the greatness of Pink Talking Fish, with their full, accurate versions of Pink Floyd, The Talking Heads and Phish.  With their first set over, Mister F took the Pavilion Stage. The crowd filtered in fast, and before you knew it, hundreds of people were crowded around for Mister F’s final set.  The energy coming off them was undeniable, and anyone who wasn’t a fan before, was now.  Even with drummer Matt Pickering sick as a dog, they blasted through their set. With almost all originals, they included one cover that got everyone’s feet moving a little faster, Jamiroquai’s “Canned Heat.”

    Sit-in master Scott Hannay of Mister F wasn’t done there.  After finishing packing up, he decided to hang out the rest of the night and see what else he could dive into.  Pink Talking Fish topped their first set with versions of Phish’s “Possum” and “Tweezer” that had the crowd in full fun mode.  Scott Hannay jumped on for “Crosseyed and Painless”, swapping keyboards back and forth with keyboardist Richard James.  It was a spectacle, to say the least.

    Late night Saturday drove it all home. Grateful Dead tribute band Workingman’s Dead took the Woods Stage around midnight, giving everyone that comfortable, familiar set of Dead music that left everyone with a smile. High energy, fast tempo Grateful Dead is exactly what we needed after all that was Buffalove.  If you weren’t completely out of steam, heavy-hitters After Funk closed out the whole festival in the woods with their horns blaring.  Scott Hannay managed to sneak in for another sit-in, adding to the already sonic boom that is After Funk. For those resting at their campsites, there was no way you couldn’t perk up hearing this band wail through the night.

    Buffalove came through.  Co-founder of Buffalive Productions and Founder of Buffalove Cody Conway clearly had one goal in mind:  keep the energy as high as possible.  Every single band had heads turning and jaws on the ground.  There was never a lull, never a band that just played to fill space.  Every minute was dance-worthy. If you missed out this year, we can highly recommend you don’t make that mistake next year. Without any problems or unruly attendees, this festival made its mark at North Fork Music Park in Warsaw, NY.  The amount of talent coming out of Upstate New York is only paving the road for more incredible shows. Buffalove, you certainly were lovely.

  • Chris Cornell to Play Buffalo, NYC, Boston This October

    Rock musician Chris Cornell, best known for being the lead vocalist and songwriter of Seattle grunge band Soundgarden, will perform across North America in his recently announced acoustic fall tour, including several stops in the northeast. On Oct. 11, Chris Cornell will take stage at the University of Buffalo Center of the Arts in Buffalo, two days after an Oct. 9 performance at Massey Hall in Toronto, Ontario.

    About a week later, Cornell is scheduled to play at the Beacon Theatre in New York City on Oct. 18 and the Shubert Theatre in Boston on Oct. 21.

    The 50-year-old singer has recently announced the release of an acoustic album titled Higher Truth, to be released on Sept. 18. The fall performances will have an intimate, acoustic setting, featuring music off of Cornell’s upcoming album.

    Cornell is widely considered to have one of the best voices in rock music, with a four-octave range. In 2011, Rolling Stone selected Cornell as the #9 Best Lead Singer of All Time, while he was named the #12 Greatest Voice in Music by MTV in 2005.

  • Widespread Panic Beams Under the Sun at Artpark

    What a difference a year makes. For the weather at least. The band, Widespread Panic, was steady as always. But instead of tempting the dark ominous clouds by playing “Hatfield,” which resulted in a show-shortening electric storm at their Artpark show in 2014, 2015 was nothing but blue skies and sunshine.

    The show was both the opening of Artpark’s summer concert series as well as the opening show of Widespread Panic’s summer tour. Both were dialed in like it was midseason. It is difficult for a venue to capture the full breadth of sound that the 6-member jam rockers bring, but Artpark was up to the task, presenting incredibly crisp sound all night, especially for an outdoor space.

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    As a fan of the band since the early 90’s, going into a show these days, I am hoping to hear the old Panic classics. Since I’m only seeing about one show a year, if that, the newer songs haven’t really entered my vocabulary. The boys delivered on that wish in spades with the first set they put together. The show opened “Traveling Light,” “Weight of the World,” “Can’t Get High,” “Ride Me High” and it wasn’t until a mid-set “Shut Up and Drive” that saw a song which was debuted after 2000. After that blip, it was right back in the saddle with a one two three punch to the jam gut with classics “Pilgrims,” “Space Wrangler” and a massive “Greta” that saw guitarist Jimmy Herring flexing his jazz and prog rock muscles. Playing flurries of time-shifting notes that were difficult to comprehend, the jam reached multiple peaks. Dave Schools reined it in, leading the band smoothly into the Jerry Joseph-penned anthem, “North.” John Bell appropriately sang, “I go North, the sun it hurts my eyes” as the crowd shielded their eyes with the burning orb setting slowly behind the stage. Paired with last year’s storm-predicting Hatfield, seems like the band is reading the weather report as closely as the fans. In one of the more surprising moments of the night, “North” included a get down and funky segment led by JoJo Herman on the organ, before a set-closing big rock finish.

    Second set, on paper, was what I fear. Dreaded new songs. Even 15-year-old songs, like set-opening “Second Skin” is new in my mind. But “Second Skin” was a fine opener, with Herring again taking control and exploding through his solos while Bell kept his own, proving he is one of the more inventive rhythm guitarists on the scene. A stop-on-a-dime dropout into their funky “Rebirtha” got the crowd singing along in glee, while Herring again was the shining star on stage. That transitioned into “Cotton Was King,” another new-ish tune that actually didn’t stick out as such. The band finally stopped for a breather before kicking into “Henry Parsons Died,” the second song of the evening written by their Bloodkin pals Danny Hutchens and Eric Carter. A wonderful spacey jam then bled into a brand new tune, “Cease Fire.” This one took a journey that started in late-era Talking Heads, mixed in a little samba flare, moved into a segment that harkened early Genesis, before finishing off with a stretched out mellow jam reminiscent of the ending of “Layla.” Intriguing to say the least and amazing to see this veteran outfit, whom I wished only to see the classics, was still full of new and exciting surprises. But wait, Widespread Panic still had more “new” up their sleeve. “Cease Fire” ceased slowly and effortlessly into “Jamais Vu.” A slinky bass-led groover that melted into the spaciest jam of the evening, with Herring weaving drawn out notes in between Herman’s trickling clavinet playing. After the drums segment, a strong “Surprise Valley” gave them one last opportunity to show that they are the masters of the segue. “Rock” emerged and served perfectly in the requisite heavy-finish role.

    After playing two by their buds from Bloodkin, Panic evened the score, encoring with “Chainsaw City,” the second Jerry Joseph tune of the night. On right at 6:30pm, off right at 10:00pm, they jammed Artpark with as much of their jam as they were allowed, making up for last year’s short show as well as they could.

    Setlist:
    Set 1: Travelin’ Light, Can’t Get High, Weight Of The World, Ride Me High > Shut Up And Drive, Pilgrims, Space Wrangler > Greta > North
    Set 2: Second Skin > Rebirtha > Cotton Was King > One Arm Steve, Henry Parsons Died > Cease Fire > Jamais Vu > Drums > Surprise Valley > Rock
    Encore: Chainsaw City
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  • Cheap Outdoor Lettuce in Rochester

    No, this isn’t a poorly thought out ad for the Wegmans produce section; it’s your tip that the world’s funkiest band is making their way to Western New York. That’s right, on the heels of Taj Mahal cancelling his appearance at Rochester’s Party in the Park due to health reasons, the promoters scrambled and quickly brought in New York City’s Lettuce as the replacement. That is one hell of a substitution, and while Taj Mahal will certainly be missed, there weren’t many complaints upon his departure.

    Lettuce has a head (no pun intended) full of steam. Over the last year or so, the band has been touring more regularly and hitting many regions across the U.S. The band followed up last year’s opening slot performance at Red Rocks with a headlining date there just a couple of weeks back that included the likes of The Motet, Exmag, and DJ Jazzy Jeff. If that momentum wasn’t enough, the band will soon release their latest album. And although the release date hasn’t been established, fans have already gotten an early taste of it as the band has been regularly playing the new cuts.

    Thursday’s headlining performance will also include Spirit Family Reunion and Uptown Groove. Lettuce will be bringing it hard as they ramp up for some major festival dates like Electric Forest the following day (June 26) and All Good Music Festival on July 10. Tickets are $5 and you can grab them here or at the gate. If you’re traveling in to the R-O-C, Party in the Park is held downtown at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park at 353 Court St. (corner of Court and Chestnut streets), right near The Strong Museum. The show starts at 5 p.m. with Lettuce hitting the stage at 8:30.

    *Special Note: Individual tickets purchased for Taj Mahal on June 25 will be honored for Lettuce or may be returned to the place of purchase for refund until June 30. Refunds can only be made on non-stubbed/attended tickets. Once a ticket is used for entry on June 25, a refund can no longer be issued. Season tickets will be honored for the Lettuce show.

  • Hearing Aide: Imagine Dragons ‘Smoke & Mirrors’

    Imagine Dragons has released their newest album, Smoke & Mirrors. With the huge success of their first studio album Night Visions in 2012, selling more than 2 million copies to date, Imagine Dragons took the world by storm and by doing so set the bar pretty high for themselves when it came to following up with their second studio album. They had fallen into the proverbial trap of having such a huge success right out of the gate, that anything following was bound to be held to a higher standard.

    imagine dragons Smoke & Mirrors
    Imagine Dragons Smoke & Mirrors

    So with this dilemma, how did this Grammy Award winning band follow up their first hit album? They did it like they should, with an album written for themselves. After all, isn’t that what music is about? Personal messages paired with instrumentals to express themselves.

    Writing continuously while on the road touring , the band compiled and recorded demos and as the Night Visions Tour ended, they purchased a house in Las Vegas, converted it into a studio, and for the next 8 months put together a story of sorts from experiences on the road that were laden with a roller coaster of personal emotions. After all, the whirlwind of life on the road from local venues to sold out arenas, had to take a toll on them emotionally. What better way to share than through song?

    Hailed as one of rock n roll’s greatest newcomers in the 2013, their new found popularity and accolades brimmed over the top as America welcomed them with open arms. As new artists trying to achieve success, was the photo in their mind exactly what they pictured once achieved, or was it writ with unbeknownst angst they would encounter throughout the tour and along the way? I believe it may have been some of the latter. As I listened to the new album the creative differences between the two albums were not as apparent as other seemed to say.  I still saw the same vocals and rhythmic distinctions still shining through.

    Smoke & Mirrors

    I love Imagine Dragons, and I believe it’s their unique sound and truthful lyrics that caught my attention initially and holds it still today.  It’s not their commercial success that makes them stand out. They are not mainstream music, they are not mainstream artists, and their unique style and sound is representative of who they are and how their creative process. Yes, their sound has been compared to a mix of The Killers, U2, Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, and Arcade Fire; taking bits and pieces from each band when making that generalization – influences have that kind of effect on you. You tend to find yourself creating similar sounds because, well you like them in the first place.  They have been criticized for using every technical instrumentation trick known to mankind in their new music, and my reply to that is, ‘so what?’ That’s why it exists: to use it. Artists are known for creating something from their souls. It doesn’t have to be what you would want it to be. If that was the case, it would be your creation. So the fact that they use any or all technical tricks doesn’t lessen their musical creations to me in the least. I feel it has an energy to it. Although the lyrics on this album brim with a deep dark almost undaunting edge, the pulsating rhythms and melodic vocals give it an upbeat sound that over plays the underlying message.

    Working along side Alex Da Kid on this album, his reputation for bringing out the creative sides of artists like Eminem and Christina Aguilera, demonstrates the perfect example why he’s a perfect match with Imagine Dragons on each of their studio albums.

    As I listened to this album I had to do so a few times before I could collect my thoughts to develop a constructive opinion. In true Imagine Dragons style you have the strong percussions and amazing vocals and harmonies with a mix of synthesizer in there throughout the album, but with this particular album you got something else. You get variety in sounds that represent their travels with the first album. What the audience had become accustomed to (vocal/harmonies/percussion/synth) from Imagine Dragons was there in songs such as “Shots” and “The Fall”, but you also got a hint of some R&B with “Friction”, mixed with a flair of the Middle Eastern sounds in there as well. In “Hopeless Opus” you’ll see a flavor of Asian sounds intermixed with a bit of rapping, guitar solo, synth. Heck you pretty much get a bit of everything in that song. Same goes for “Summer”. The beauty though is how well they were all mixed together seamlessly. In fact in most of the songs you’ll see a variety of sounds and tempos within the songs that without the expert help in mixing could have been a disaster. This is where the expertise of Alex Da Kid played a huge part.

    I have to say my favorite tracks were “I Bet My Life” and “Trouble” demonstrating their folky sounds mixed with a huge helping of underlying percussion. Just love their take on this sound. Running close second would be “It Comes Back To You” and “Dream” where I can definitely see influences from Coldplay and U2 in this song. It was the upbeat tempo and lyrics in this song that hooked me; “…all the things you had lost will find their way to you… am I a shadow you drew.” I can definitely see a commercial success with this release.

    Criticized by others on this album, I definitely can see a darker side in their lyrics though with an underlying message perhaps of life on the road wasn’t all they expected, but I can’t understand the criticism. Music is an expression of life and everyone’s message is different. Give me a break negative Nellies. In both “Gold” and “Polaroid”, focus should be on the mixing of sounds, not the lyrics. “Gold” was another example of expert mixing. “Polaroid” to me was a little disappointing but only because as a photographer I had hoped this track would be as upbeat a message that the tempo held. But hey, everyone sees something different in a photo hence the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words”, and the message was something totally different. But still, it was a good song. No one is going to like every song on an album; you can’t expect every album to be Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band.

    The title track “Smoke and Mirrors” and “I’m So Sorry” give the listener a true rock and roll feel to the songs. These will be great live songs with the guitar and percussion in them.

    After listening to the whole album several times, I came one conclusion: it’s a great album. Was it what the public anticipated from them? Perhaps not. Was it the mix of techno sounds with anthem rock and pop beats they are known for? Yep. With so many negative reviews and plays on words with the title, I find Smoke & Mirrors nothing but honest and forthwith. I can see the growth within the band, and the influences of experiences of the last few years in their lyrics. It’s the honesty on this album though that makes it the perfect second album. As far as commercial success, I believe those that loved Imagine Dragons will agree with me that this was a great album. It may not be a mainstream as some expected, but when it came to making an album that is true to themselves, this definitely met their expectations. This is one of those albums I think that when you listen to it initially you may not get it right away, so listen a few more times. Read the lyrics and see the messages. Then go back and listen to the music once again, and you will see that this really was a great album and will play out even more so as a great live performance.

    As they roll into town this week to the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, they will be joined by Metric and Halsey.  Show starts at 7pm and tickets can be purchased through Live Nation.  Hope to see you there.

    Key Tracks: Shots, I Bet My Life, Dream

  • In The Studio with Sisters of Murphy at More Sound Recording Studio

    Not sure if it’s the same for you, but music to me is like air. I need it to survive. Whether it’s at work, in the car, while I’m running, or just putzing around my home, music is the one thing that allows me to escape the stressors of every day life, to celebrate life, or to lift me up when I’m in need of a mood adjustment.

    To totally immerse myself in the how and why’s of the music business has always been a curiosity of mine. When my friends of Sisters of Murphy, Rochester’s number one Celtic Rock band, invited me to tag along while recording their upcoming album at More Sound Recording Studio in Syracuse, I jumped at the chance. Finally I would see the behind the scenes view of music being recorded and mastered.

    In The Studio with Sisters of Murphy
    In The Studio with Sisters of Murphy – More Sound Recording

    I met these amazing musicians last year at the Syracuse Irish Festival and totally loved their energy and chemistry together as a band. Their style is fun and upbeat, and their personalities match it ‘to a T’. With Mark Tichenor on lead vocals and concertina; Bruce Lish on bass and vocals; Cedric Young on mandolin, banjo, whistles, pipes, vocals, etc.; Jona Chartrand on electric guitar and vocals; Mike Kedley on fiddle; Rick Elmer on drums and vocals; and Scott Austin on acoustic guitar and vocals, these seven men amp up traditional Celtic music with a spin that gets the toes a tapping and the party going. I knew this recording session was to be epic and I couldn’t think of a better band to introduce me to the ins and outs of making an album.

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    Meeting them at More Sound Recording Studio, in downtown Syracuse, I was super impressed with the space, the equipment, and the owner Jocko. This space had all the top-notch equipment and set up needed to capture and master the sounds of tomorrows hits, as well as house out-of-town guests working at the studio. Jocko’s attention to the details was immediately apparent making sure all sound was spot on before any recording began. After the set up was completed…he took the time to get really communicate with the band to what sound they really want to capture and the essence of what they were striving for. With his expertise along with top recording and mastering equipment, I am eagerly awaiting a finished copy of this album. It is no surprise to me to know that More Sound Recording is booked out months in advance and in high demand. His attention to details, his mannerisms on extracting the very sound (vocals or instrumentation), and capturing the vision the musicians have, explains why he is in such demand as a producer and bands travel long distances for his expertise.

    More Sound Recording Studio
    In The Studio with Sisters of Murphy

    Had a chance to speak with Mick Fury, a local country musician that recently moved to Nashville to tour with his latest album, one that was recorded at More Sound Studio. He took a minute out of his schedule to share with me his thoughts on More Sound Recording Studio.

    Mike Fury (MF):  Jocko at More Sound Recording, along with Andrew Greacen, produce tunes that have people in Nashville asking what studio down here they were recorded in so that they might try to achieve that same sound on their projects. Andrew brings a master songwriter’s touch to every project he touches. A tireless vocal coach, when he has coaxed the best possible performance out of ya, he sends it upstairs to Jocko, aka the Sonic Ninja. That man can make a crying baby sound like #1 Beatles record. And that’s no joke. Just ask the babies.

    We all have specific skills right? Things we’re REALLY good at. I know a ton about songwriting and performance, you’re probably very well versed in photography and journalism, another friend may have gone to school for 7 years to be a doctor and be remarkably intelligent in the medical field. Of all the experts I have had the honor to know in my life, Jocko knows THE MOST about his specialty of anyone I have ever met. The guy has a monster knowledge of sonic manipulation, Bill Gatesian computer skills, is a high-end percussionist, harmony vocalist, and occasional violinist, and always manages to see the big picture of a project, be it one of our country songs or a crushing death metal tune. Oh yeah, and he build his entire studio. From scratch. By hand. Wow.”

    I have to say, it was enlightening to see this master at his craft, and to see how his vision and that of the bands came together. It’s so much work to lay down tracks, re-record to make them just right, and then edit so that each piece fits together perfectly like a puzzle. The time and attention that goes into making a final album holds so much more meaning to me now that before, as just a puzzle, it’s tedious, rather frustrating, but in the end as it begins come together, it makes one heck of a beautiful picture.

    K. Stockbridge - In The Studio 2015-03-28 15.30.57 copy
    More Sound Recording Studio

    Being in the studio with the band and Jocko was a pleasure and NYSMusic would like to thank both the band and More Sound Studio for allowing our readers a peek inside the studio this month.

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    In The Studio with Sisters of Murphy
    In The Studio with Sisters of Murphy

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    In The Studio with Sisters of Murphy
    In The Studio with Sisters of Murphy

  • Ed Sheeran Sold Out Show Brings Down The (Lego) House At CMAC

    The third event at CMAC’s 2015 Summer Concert Series, Ed Sheeran was what I would refer to as a winning musical trifecta wrapped in a “Lego House.” With the combination of stellar weather + stellar crowd + stellar music, CMAC couldn’t have planned it any better. This show sold out it’s 15,000 capacity within a 24 hour period of time as just one of several great shows planned for the series, the summer sure has kicked off with a bang.

    ed sheeran lego house
    Ed Sheeran – CMAC

    As the long and winding crowds made their way in to take their seats, it was apparent that Ed Sheeran’s music held mass appeal to multiple generations. In a matter of minutes the green grassy area up above on the lawn filled in that you couldn’t see a blade of grass anywhere. Yes there were crazed teenagers everywhere sporting “X” t-shirts, carrying signs, and even letters to spell out ED! There were also adults of all kinds, and trust me they were not there just because their daughters needed rides. They too danced and sang along the entire night.ed sheeran lego house

    Opening the evening was the UK sensation Rixton. The energy level of these four young men blew me away. Was totally impressed by their musical talent and their showmanship. They had the crowd at hello. I’ve seen numerous opening acts prime an audience for the main show over the course of my career, however they were one song in and the audience was on their feet dancing and singing along. Amazing. With Jake Roche on vocals, Charley Bagnall on lead guitar and vocals, Danny Wilkin on keyboards, bass, and vocals and Lewi Morgan laying down the beat on drums, their energy levels were contagious. Singing hits from their recently released album, Let The Road, they engaged the audience by pitting section vs. section, pointing out audience members, and just rousing everyone out of the seats. It was fun to watch and even more fun to photograph.

    ed sheeran lego house
    Ed Sheeran – CMAC

    With a quick set change, Ed Sheeran took the stage. A man, a guitar, some platforms, two mics, and a loop pedal. That’s all this amazing musician needed to put on a show that blew the roof off the place. This young man’s musical abilities astound me. He played non-stop, gave more than 110% on each song and was the whole band rolled into one. His writing ability and ability to mesh melodies together and sing/rap them seamlessly blew my mind.

    ed sheeran lego house
    Ed Sheeran – CMAC

    As he sang, his eyes were closed feeling everything from within and projecting out to the audience where they took hold of it and became part of the show. The entire audience sang along, waved their arms, flashed their cell phones and became as immersed as he was in each and every number. One audience member was so emerged she stormed the stage to see him.  Ed so graciously agreed to take a selfie prior to her being escorted out. His kindness and love for his fans is well known as he takes the time to join one fan recently on stage at a local mall while she performed his cover of “Thinking Out Loud.”

    In addition to his outstanding performance, his visual production was top notch projecting animations and videography of Ed (with some amazing special effects) as he performed behind him on stage side screens. The moments matched the music perfectly and the show was an auditory and visual celebration. So glad I was there to celebrate with him. Okay CMAC, this show will be a hard one to follow. Can’t wait to see what’s in store next. Stay tune readers for our next show from CMAC.

    Setlist: I’m a Mess, Lego House, Don’t/Loyal/No Diggity/Nina, Drunk, Take It Back/Superstition/Ain’t No Sunshine, Photograph, Bloodstream, Tenerife Sea, Thinking Out Loud, Feeling Good/I See Fire, I Was Made to Love Her (Stevie Wonder cover), The A Team, Give Me Love

    Encore: You Need Me, I Don’t Need You/Fancy, Sing

  • Family, Freedom and Phish: Mike Gordon Melds it all Together

    Life is good for Mike Gordon these days, with Phish coming off arguably one of the most creative years in its 32-year history and his solo band gaining steam across the country.

    On top of that professional success, the 50-year-old bassist says he has a wonderful family life, one that allows his wife and daughter to travel with him when he’s on tour. This time spent with his 6-year-old daughter has changed his perspective on a bevy of things.

    “I waited until I was older to have a child,” Gordon said. “And I was so ready for it. I spend time with her every day and I don’t tour as much as I used to. It’s cliché, but I get to see the world through young eyes. It’s a unique and whimsical perspective.”

    Gordon, who is in the middle of a tour with his band, treks through New York this week, stopping in Buffalo on Tuesday and Syracuse on Thursday, before stopping at the Egg on Friday in Albany. Accompanying Gordon is Max Creek guitarist Scott Murawski, Craig Myers on percussion, Robert Walter on keyboards and John Kimock on drums. This is the second tour Gordon has done since he released Overstep, an 11-song LP featuring songs such as “Say Something,” “Yarmouth Road” and “Tiny Little World.” Gordon and Murawski wrote all the songs over a handful of trips to places in New England, such as North Adams, Mass., where Gordon’s mother, Marjorie Minkin, owns a loft.

    “With Overstep, our goal was to rock and display a lot of raw energy,” Gordon said. “Moving forward, we don’t want to stop that, but we want to be more experimental, maybe a bit thrashy. We’re exploring all sorts of themes.”

    mike gordon phishGordon added that his daughter has been a big inspiration for a lot of the lyrics he’s written lately, and added that Tessa also influenced some of the writing on Phish’s most recent album, Fuego.

    This band has become Gordon’s personal artistic outlet. Trey Anastasio and Tom Marshall are the “chief” songwriters in Phish, and this band gives Gordon the ability to do what he wants. Full creative control, if you will. He spoke of seeing the Trey Anastasio Band recently.

    “Trey is great about running a tight outfit and I admire it a lot,” Gordon said. “I saw them recently and the horns really work great in the band.”

    Seeing as how Phish fans are highly critical of just about everything anyone in the band does, it’s easy to draw comparisons between Gordon’s band and TAB, but none of that seems to affect the bassist.

    “I want to be edgy, to push the limits further,” he said. “I love it when we’re tight and loose at the same time. I don’t have much to prove — we take chances, especially with the strange, angular parts. We try to just live in the moment.”

    Gordon has been a fan of Max Creek for many years, and recalled the first time he saw Murawski and the band.

    “It’s pretty cool,” he said. “Not just his playing, but his whole vibe. Seeing Max Creek play a long time ago – people say they sound a lot like the (Grateful) Dead. I see them as a tweaked version of country rock. Scott smiles so much and is always in control, yet he’s humble at the same time. Before I knew him, I noticed that he always looked so comfy (on stage) and I really like that influence.”

    mike gordon phishSo in his two bands, Gordon plays with two different guitar monsters in the jam band scene in Murawski and Anastasio. On the surface, both guitarists share some similar themes and styles in their playing, but Gordon did his best to explain the differences between the two.

    “Scott is very clever about outlining chord changes as they happen,” he said. “Trey is the opposite. He’s good at flowing over the changes, creating textures. Sometimes he sounds like a movie soundtrack in the way he flows. But I definitely think there is some cross influencing going on between them.

    “One week after I met Trey, we went and saw Max Creek. Not long after, Trey got his Ibanez. Maybe it was just a coincidence. And Scott now owns a Languedoc. Trey is great at melody, and I’ve noticed Scott bring some of that in. Every connection is based on another connection.”

    Gordon went on to conclude the topic: “Scott and I spend so much time together, it’s just organic. Scott is the one who wants to jam as long as possible and stretch things out. So I guess it’s apples and oranges.”

    While Phish is lauded for the light show that accompanies its marathon concerts, Gordon’s band takes stage production to the next level. He and Murawski had special guitars built for last year’s tour, and they are all black with sensors on them that reflect the light, making them appear luminescent.

    Gordon also revealed that he is going to debut another new bass sometime soon, which he dubbed it the “2.0 version” of the bass he had been playing in his solo band. The concept was designed by Gordon, who said it looks like a Modulus, but is a hollow body, which gives the appearance of a 3D effect. He said it has an EMG/Modulus sound. The guitar was built by Ben Lewry of Visionary Instruments, which Gordon gave high praise.

    “This is very organic,” he added, saying Murawski’s guitar has basically the same concept. He didn’t specify when he will be debuting the new bass, but said it will happen on this tour.

    Back in 2011, Gordon played The Egg, a venue nearly universally applauded for its stellar acoustics, uninhibited sight lines and friendliness to performers. It ended up being one of the few official Mike Gordon Band releases, and Gordon said he is quite excited to return to the venue.

    mike gordon phish“I loved that show,” he said. “The sound at the venue is conducive to what we do and it’s very technical. A lot of times there are different challenges at venues like unpredictability and that can make a lot of things pretty hard. We already have enough to think about and the Egg is just so easy to play. I can hear it all, both the loud and the soft, and it all resonates in a very controllable way.”

    As for his work with Phish, Mike Gordon said that he’s mostly focused on his work on this solo tour, but did give a glimpse into what Phish has been up to recently.

    “It’s hard to think about, because I have so much going on with this band, but I’ll tell you this: The guys in Phish all got together two months before our tour is starting, and this is the first time in a long time I can remember us practicing so much, this early before a tour,” he said. “Who knows, we may even have a handful of new songs.”

    He even shared a brief thought on the upcoming Fare Thee Well shows, celebrating 50 years of the Grateful Dead.

    “The Grateful Dead have obviously been a big influence, and it’s really nice they feel proud enough to commemorate the 50th,” he said. “All four of them still have the fire.”

    Over the past two years, Gordon has been sharing his own version of Couch Tour with fans via his Facebook page, posting photos of him on various couches, often with a funny look on his face.

    Is the couch tour going to continue? More importantly, has Gordon settled on a couch?

    “Yes, I am going to continue it and yes I found a couch, but … it needs a little work,” he said.

  • Mike Gordon Tours the NYS Thruway

    Twitter conversationalist, hotline recorder, and Phish bassist Mike Gordon, taking a break from his ongoing couch tour, is on the road in NYS with his solo band. Next week they’ll hit upstate New York hard, with stops in Buffalo, Syracuse (technically Baldwinsville), and Albany. After a few shows outside of New York, Mike will return to play down in Port Chester.

    mike gordon NYSThe tour has already seen the band debut a few originals as well as take on new covers of Fiona Apple, Here We Go Magic and Robert Palmer. Keyboardist Robert Walter was added to the touring band though he won’t be the only one playing the keys. The stage will feature an interactive synthesizer available for the audience to join in the fun. This could be your shot to jam with one of the greats! Dates and details below.

    Read a past interview with Phish bassist Mike Gordon here.

    June 16, Town Ballroom, Buffalo
    Doors 7pm, Show at 8pm
    Tickets $28

    June 18, Paper Mill Island Amphitheater, Baldwinsville (outside Syracuse)
    Doors 6pm, Show 7pm
    Tickets $30

    June 19, The Egg, Albany
    Doors 7pm, Show 8pm
    Tickets $31.25

    June 27, Capitol Theater, Port Chester
    Doors 7pm, Show 8pm
    Tickets $30/$45