NYS Music 20​15

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  • A Great Set by Yarn at Funk N’ Waffles Downtown

    Yarn Funk N' Waffles
    Mandolin of Andrew Hendryx from Yarn

    Melodic twangs were drifting out of the walls of Funk N’ Waffles and down the crisp streets of downtown Syracuse on Friday night. A band of local Syracuse musicians who go by Boots n’ Shorts were in the midst of their set. This bluegrass band was a great welcome off of the street into the warm bar. It’s nice, for a change of pace in Syracuse, to hear live bluegrass. The five piece Boots n’ Shorts were fired up, playing fast and well their entire time on stage. It was a good opener for Yarn at Funk N’ Waffles.

    The main act of the night at Funk N’ Waffles was the band Yarn; a bluegrass/americana band from New York. These guys started the night with some bright songs that were totally easy to get along with. With a little bit of direction lead singer Blake Christiana turned the place into a whimsical sing along. The crowd mirrored his words, belting, “I’m a king, I’m a god.” It was easy to spot out the old adorning fans and soon the heartfelt sprit was easily caught be new ones. The sing along was a spin on the everyday way of appreciating the American dreams of conquest and freedom in a funny, boyish way.

    The roots of American county lie in the heart of a good story. Happiness and joy are the greatest feelings we can wish for, but all paths are sometimes rocky. It is not without contrast of those moody days that makes us appreciate the people we have to lean on. Blake Christiana definitely enjoyed telling a tale. About half way through the set, they took a chance on a slow song. It after all was the beginning of the weekend and the bar was full of people whose bellies are warm and full. It was a respectable time to evoke that kind of moment. It took a little while for the mandolin player to get his game face on. Once he got into it, the set got rather impressive. There were multiple stand out moments when the mandolin and the double bass were together in beautiful harmony. It is always a treat to hear a performance with an upright. All in all it was beautiful show; the show became a performance and the course of the set displayed diversity in the feelings of the sound.

  • NYS Music March Madness – Round of 16

    The Sweet Sixteen is complete! Pop on over to the Round of 8 to vote for your favorites!

    Welcome to Round 3 or better known as the “Sweet Sixteen” of NYS Music’s March Madness! This tournament-style competition includes the remaining 16 bands and artists who call Upstate New York their home.

    This year’s 4 regions are based on genres of music – Funk/Jam/Reggae, Metal/Rock, Bluegrass/Folk/Americana and Indie/EDM. Each region has 16 Upstate New York bands in their respective region, battling it out to reach the Final Four and claim this year’s title. Bands were chosen based upon their origins in Upstate and popularity in their respective genres.

    Since we are including all the genres together and you may not be familiar with all the bands, please take some time to check them out. In the Folk/Bluegrass/Americana/Country category there is 8) Eastbound Jesus vs. 4) Floodwood and 11) North & South Dakotas vs. 10) Blind Owl Band. In the EDM/Indie/Other genre are 1) Ani Difranco vs. 5) Manhattan Project and 3) Jimkata vs. 2) Phantogram. In the Jam/Funk/Reggae genre check out 1) moe. vs. 4) Giant Panda and 6) Conehead Buddha vs. 7) Sophistafunk.  Wrapping things up in the Metal/Rock/Punk division are 16) Hard Soul vs. 12) Jesus Christ & the Hallucinogenic Allstars and 14) Brick by Brick vs. 10) Wild Adriatic.

    Round 3 voting began March 24 at Noon and ends at midnight on Thursday March 26th at midnight. Round four (Elite 8) will begin on March 27, with additional rounds announced on the NYS Music Facebook page.

  • Alan Evans Reunites With Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe

    Buffalo native Alan Evans is at it again. This time, it is a reunion with soul-funk icon Karl Denson and his band Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe.

    Evans is no stranger to the funk scene as drummer for the wildly popular band Soulive, as well branching out with his own (now defunct) trio PlayOnBrother. When Soulive was in their freshman years, he was an integral part of Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe almost three decades ago as one of their first drummers.

    Alan Evans Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
    Alan Evans of Playonbrother

    Denson has seen his share of success – touring and recording with Lenny Kravitz’s band, then playing saxophone and singing for jazz/funk legends the Greyboy Allstars. More recently, Denson joined Slightly Stoopid, while still maintaining his Tiny Universe. Denson and his band recently released their debut album on Stoopid Records titled New Ammo. 

    With decades of experience and success behind them, Evans and Denson are most certainly a force to be reckoned with. Fresh off another successful Brooklyn Bowl residency – Bowlive – Evans will be shaking the walls with Denson. Though we have seen our fair share of Royal Family Records collaborations, this one is sure to leave fans begging for more. Keep an eye out for show announcements in the very near future.

  • Rochester’s Party in the Park 2015 Full Lineup

    One of the most popular musical events in Western New York returns, as the 2015 Windstream Party in the Park series in downtown Rochester. The concerts moved back to the picturesque Manhattan Square Park last year – saving people from the infamous “Party in the Parking Lot” downtown. Tickets are a wallet friendly $5. Party Packs (for the general public) are available for $35 for tickets to all 9 shows and access to an express entry line – available at the Blue Cross Arena box office. Food trucks, local beer selections, and vendors will be on site every week. Regional bands will be featured on the lower “bowl” stage while the headlining acts will play on the main stage in the field next to the skating rink.

    Things kick off this year with Buffalo’s own moe. coming to town June 18. Jazz legend Taj Mahal comes in on June 25 George Clinton will funk up the place on July 9. Another Buffalo act – Aqueous – will open for the legendary Victor Wooten on July 30. Hometown heroes Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad will close things out on Aug 13.

    PITP is held every Thursday from June 18 to Aug XX 5-10PM. All ages. Parking available at several nearby garages. Check the website for more info. Check out the full lineup below.

    PARTY IN THE PARK MAIN STAGE 2015

    June 18 moe. w/ Jonathan Scales Fourchestra
    June 25 Taj Mahal w/ Spirit Family Reunion
    July 2 Kickoff July 4th Weekend Party w/ Fastball, Zac Brown Tribute Band & Jumbo Shrimp
    July 9 George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic
    July 16 Get the Led Out – The Led Zeppelin Experience
    July 23 Jonny Lang w/ The Coup DeVilles
    July 30 Victor Wooten w/ Aqueous
    Aug 6 Dylan Scott w/ The Lacs (co-headliners)
    Aug 13 Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad w/ Driftwood & Noble Vibes

    PITP

  • ‘Fare Thee Well’ Heads West for Additional Shows

    As reported by SportsBusinessDaily, ‘Fare Thee Well’, reuniting the ‘Core Four’ of the Grateful Dead, will be heading west to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, not far from Palo Alto, the birthplace of the Grateful Dead. Rumored dates point to June 26-28, the weekend prior to the final shows at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL.

    Just this evening, NBA legend and well-known Deadhead Bill Walton tweeted

    While there is no official word on the lineup and dates are not yet confirmed, word leaking out means that we will be seeing more Dead this summer than previously expected.

  • Bowlive VI – Night 6 – Soulive with Anders Osborne and George Porter Jr. “The Captain of Bowlive Pt.1”

    On the sixth night, we had confusion. Opener Curtis Harding was suddenly unavailable at the last minute, with the lone announcement of “Showtime will be changed to 8:45, full refunds will be available.” Despite the nice gesture, I don’t believe anyone was running to get their money back, with the New Orleans powerhouse combo of Anders Osbone and George Porter Jr. headlining the event.

    Soulive Anders Osborne

    Soulive, consisting of Eric Krasno (guitar), Alan Evans (drums), and Neal Evans (keys) took the stage at the adjusted set time to a half full Brooklyn Bowl as it appears not everyone got the memo. The opening act has a large responsibility and its not just to kill time until the headliner goes on. They are intended to insert a certain amount of energy in the crowd, and on this night when Soulive took the stage both audience and band seemed to be missing that energy. It felt as if the trio was going through the motions on the original “Dig” as well as the nightly Beatles cover we’ve come to expect “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”

    The Shady Horns then joined on stage and while the hope seemed to be they would inject a little energy into the building, they ran their way through two more Soulive originals “Fire Eater” and “The Swamp” without too much fanfare. On the last Soulive original tune of the night “Upshot” the band finally drew the crowds undivided attention with horn filled funk. The energy inside finally came to a peak as “The Captain of Bowlive” as dubbed by band leader Krasno, George Porter Jr.(bass, The Meters), took the stage and Neil Evans (keyboard) was finally able to give his left hand a break from that clavinet. When Porter Jr. is on stage his presence usurps Krasno from his traditional band leader roll and works each musician like he is conducting an orchestra. Porter Jr. got the best out of each musician on stage for the three Meters songs to close the set “Pungee,” “Keep On Marching,” and “He Bite Me (The Dragon).”

    Soulive Anders Osborne

    This show could easily be described as a tale of two sets. Set two began with Soulive, The Shady Horns, and the second guest of the evening Anders Osborne (guitar). Anders Osborne led us through two of his original tunes “On The Road To Charlie Parker” and “Pleasin You” before The Shady Horns left the stage for a rendition of “Back Together” from Osborne’s newest project NMO All-Stars. With Porter Jr. back on stage joining Anders Osborne we were treated to two living New Orleans legend doing their own funky takes on some classic tunes. First up was the JJ Cale penned “After Midnight,” and for the first time tonight the building was shaking. What came next will one day appear on a Best of Bowlive album. Kicked off with The Shady Horns back on stage and joined by Maurice “Mo Betta” Brown (trumpet, TTB) CSNY’s Ohio led the way with a phenomenal trumpet solo by Brown with Osborne, Krasno, and Porter Jr. on vocals. A seamless segue in a mind melting mashup of Pink Floyd’s “Breathe” > Neil Young’s “Down By The River” > “Breathe” had everyone mesmorized. This mashup was highlighted by Victor Cornette’s mastery of the lighting rigs at Brooklyn Bowl to give you the full experience. The Grateful Dead’s “Bertha” followed and didn’t disappoint as Neal took it to another level on the organ as Porter Jr. egged him on with deep rhythmic basslines. To round out this phenomenal set, Questlove (drums, The Roots) commandeered the drum kit from Alan to join in on another The Meter’s original “Africa,” this was the most talent that had been on stage at one time during the Bowlive run and the crowd responded appropriately. For the night six encore Soulive and The Shady Horns were joined on stage by Brown and Porter Jr. for one more The Meters tune “Ain’t No Use” starting out with Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” being teased into the intro. George Porter Jr. returns tomorrow night to end his two night run with Soulive.

    Video by Marc Millman

  • Hearing Aide: Papership ‘No No Radio’

    NONORADIOPapership is a five piece trash-pop musical entity based out of Syracuse and No No Radio is their third release and first official EP. Papership consists of: Mark Romano (vocals/guitars), Joel Reissig (drums/vocals), Charlie Bell – (synths/keys), Alan Smead (bass) and Shawn Sullivan (guitar).

    This disc jumps out of box fast, Sullivan’s distorted rhythm is soon accompanied by Romano’s belted vocals, Bell’s Attractionsesque keys plus the thunder of Reissig’s drums and Smead’s bass on “There’s Yer Blues.” Romano’s voice has a early ’80s punk snarl and Sullivan’s leads bend upward heightening the tension there. Straight-up trash-pop emotion. Bell opens “Pleased” with a psychedelic goth line into a intro right out of a Ozzy nightmare. It quickly turns into another up-tempo sprinter that spits at the ideal of the title. You can almost smell the pic-guards wearing off when they bridge to the ending. The title track has that familiar formula and stretches it to fit the distain. Bell’s keys really drive the song along, swirling through the biting guitar lines, Romano’s howl and the over-the-top rhythm section, Reissig/Bell just brutalize the bottom-end. The true pop hooks explode in “Graduation Day,” I almost expected to hear Elvis Costello’s voice chime in, but this rave-up doesn’t need a vocal line, it’s practically perfect as it stands. “Car” closes the disc with a burst of exposition and defiance, Romano still dynamic at the top of his range and just beyond. The way the band pushes and pulls is also beyond the edge of its self-imposed genre. They’re tight and loose at the same time, right on the edge, then a little bit over, just like rock should be. They are an absolute must see live!

    11082867_935619033135863_993012875_n

    Key tracks: They’re all key tracks!

    Papership are currently working on their follow-up LP to No No Radio for an anticipated release in Fall of 2015.

    Learn more and listen Facebook, Bandcamp, Reverbnation

  • ZZ Still On Top At Kingston’s UPAC

    More than four decades into their careers together, the legends that make up ZZ Top can still rock a theater, as their performance at Kingston’s beautiful Ulster Performing Arts Center (UPAC) on March 13 evinced. After guitarist Billy Gibbons declared the only two rules—1) no drinking during gospel tunes, and 2) no gospel tunes would be played—the Hall of Famers pumped out hit after hit to an elated Upstate crowd.

    ZZ-TOP-2014

    Sporting their signature long beards, dark black pants and jackets, and cheap sunglasses, Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill took stage in front of ironically beardless drummer Frank Beard. The sold-out crowd instantly recognized nearly every song, from “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide” to encore “La Grange.” Gibbons shredded bluesy solos in his distinguishable Southern-rock tone and Hill thumped out thick bass lines. Beard remained steady, occasionally unloading tight fills between drags from his cigarette.

    While many stages look like early computer rooms with pedals strewn all over and cords snaking around, ZZ Top’s stage was completely unsullied and their sound sans effects. Gibbons and Hill’s bravado was on full display with the clean floor-space; they stepped in tune and rocked guitars with their patented syncopated shuffle. On a projector screen in the background, a blond beauty led the audience through a journey featuring images that corresponded with songs. Volcanoes erupted during “Got Me Under Pressure” and the band members were dressed to impress and driving fast cars during “Sharp Dressed Man.” Following a solo in “Whiskey’n Mama,” Gibbons flipped his guitar over to reveal a homemade sign on the back—“BEER”—to the crowd’s chagrin. Before the set’s finale (“Legs”) Gibbons and Hill disappeared for a moment to grab white, fur-lined instruments. Beard stayed away from the fur, but his bass drums did both have light-up tiki heads carved out in the middle.

    Iconic classic rock tunes poured out for nearly ninety minutes straight. ZZ Top showed why it has been on top of the rock universe during the past six decades. The band’s musicianship and showmanship rivaled each other on stage and the trio’s unapologetic devotion to booze, boobs, and blues has earned them a devoted and boisterous fan base. The only downside to the show was that it came to an end despite vehement requests from the crowd for a second encore. 

    Setlist: Got Me Under Pressure, Waitin’ For The Bus, Jesus Just Left Chicago, Gimme All Your Lovin’, I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide, Pincushion, I Gotsta Get Paid, Flyin’ High, Foxy Lady, Tube Snake Boogie, Cheap Sunglasses, My Head’s In Mississippi, Whiskey’n Mama, Sharp Dressed Man, Legs

    Encore: La Grange, Tush

  • Festy News: First Annual Moondance Meltdown Announces Lineup feat. Aqueous

    A new festival is in town to usher in the summer music season with some hearty acts. Moondance Meltdown is coming your way May 9th for a night of music at the Greeks in Newton, NJ and camping at The Great Divide campground.

    Moondance Meltdown 2015

    Headlining the festival is Buffalo’s Aqueous joined by NYC’s Dorsia, Inner Vision, One Day Waning, Mike Mcbride & the Family Band, Sprocket, and K-Diggs & the Telepathic Funk.

    A late night show for those 21+ will feature Horseshoe Throwin’ Freaks (moe. tribute band), and Albany’s Mister F.

    Grab a ticket for Moondance Meltdown at a pre-sale price here (or a little more at the door).  Information on camping at The Great Divide can be found here.

  • Theatre Nocturne: Horror. Melancholy. Metal.

    nocturne

    Founded in September 2011, Theatre Nocturne has been a force to be reckoned with in Buffalo’s underground metal scene.

    They’re influenced by bands like At the Gates, The Black Dahlia Murder, Dark Tranquillity, and other authorities on dark melancholic riffing; so you know what you’re getting yourself into just a few seconds into your first listen. But they aren’t your typical euro-influenced note fest. Theatre Nocturne proudly stands for horror, melancholy, metal and a dash of teeth grinding death riffing of a style all their own. Having just recently parted ways with vocalist Justin Foley, their lineup is currently comprised of Erik Wagonblott (guitar), Kenny Zotara (guitar), Justin Herzog (bass) and Mike Paquette (drums).

    These boys have really raised the bar for other locals pursuing similar sounds in this already prevalent genre, having already shared the stage with bands like Arsis and Skeletonwitch. They’ve also already recorded two EPs, which more than secured their seats among Buffalo’s local metal greats. Anhedonia was recorded in August 2012 and Depictions of Life and Death followed in January 2014. Now, they’re on the hunt for a new vocalist, having just finished recording their first full length with Doug White at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, NY.

    The new album is currently untitled and features ten tracks that are said to be, “heavier and more diverse” than anything they’ve written to date. Every song is brand new and is being kept a closely guarded secret, until the band returns to the stage at Stamps Bar in Tonawanda, NY – April 22.  It’s been a prosperous and groundbreaking ride for Theatre Nocturne thus far, and with their new vocalist (whoever that turns out to be), they’re bound to keep on dominating Buffalo and beyond for years to come.

    You can check out their recordings and merch at www.theatrenocturne.bandcamp.com.