NYS Music 20​15

Tag: Music News

  • Specials Drummer John Bradbury Passed Away

    John Bradbury, drummer of legendary ska band The Specials, died on Monday, Dec. 28 at the age of 62.

    John BradburyBradbury was the drummer from English 2-Tone and ska band The Specials, formed in 1977. He was known for his signature reggae and ska sound and seen as ground-breaking on the Specials’ early hits. He was an integral member of the Specials reunion in 2008. No cause of death was given when the band broke the news via Twitter.

    The Specials were known for their ’60s mod-style suits worn on stage, and they had seven hits in the UK top 10, including “A Message to You, Rudy” and “Too Much Too Young.”

    Bradbury was born and raised in Coventry, England where the Specials formed. When the band split up in 1981, he joined The Specials AKA. He also headed the JB All-Stars, a northern-soul revue act.

  • Country Singer Craig Strickland Found Dead

    UPDATE 1/4/16: Craig Strickland was found dead today. Here’s the post from the Ponca City News:

    The body of country singer Craig Strickland was found Monday north of Bear Creek Cove on Kaw Lake by a state game ranger…

    Original post: 

    The search for Backroad Anthem vocalist Craig Strickland continues. Strickland, 29, and his friend Chase Morland, 22, set out for a late-night duck hunting trip on Sunday, Dec. 27 on Kaw Lake in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

    Craig Strickland 2

    Backroad Anthem posted on their Facebook page that Craig’s father, Randy Strickland, texted the band informing them that they haven’t had any contact within 24 hours from Craig or Chase and feared the worse.

    Weather conditions that night saw a mixture of rain, sleet and snow with 45 mph winds making it around 15 degrees.

    Morland tweeted what seemed to be a joke and not distress, even though they were traveling through some rough weather, turned serious hours later. Craig Strickland retweeted Morland’s post.

    Morland tweeted late Saturday night:

    Screenshot_2015-12-31-00-18-44[2]

    Morland was found dead at the lake by State Troopers on Monday morning, Dec. 28, near Tulsa. Their boat was also found which seemed to have capsized in the water. Strickland’s dog Sam was found alive and well sitting next to the body of Morland. Police have stated that no flotation devices were found.

    Strickland’s wife Helen, who is a former Miss Arkansas USA, has sent out several tweets over the last few days updating the search rescue efforts while remaining hopeful that Craig will be found and asking fans to pray for him.

    Backroad Anthem released several statements through social media since they been made aware of the news of Strickland’s disappearance. In their statement, the band says that Craig is the most passionate person they know. The statement went on to say that his passion for music and the stage has kept them going miles and miles down the road. “Craig is an amazing person, husband, son, bandmate, and most certainly best friend.”

    Screenshot_2015-12-31-00-42-14[1]

  • Lemmy Dead at 70

    Lemmy, born Ian Fraser Kilmister, the legendary frontman of iconic metal band Motorhead, died Monday at his home in Los Angeles due to complications from an aggressive cancer that was only discovered on Dec. 26, according to the band’s official Facebook page.

    There is no easy way to say this…our mighty, noble friend Lemmy passed away today after a short battle with an extremely…

    Posted by Official Motörhead on Monday, December 28, 2015

    If there were a definition of the term “badass” in the Oxford Dictionary, Lemmy’s picture would be it. The man lived a pure rock and roll lifestyle until his last breath. Famous for his deep vocals into a down-turned microphone and his unorthodox style of playing bass, Lemmy proved an inspiration to a generation of musicians of all genres. Many called his style of playing “lead bass” because he really wasn’t holding the low end as most bassists do. He was like a second lead guitarist in the Motorhead trio.

    Lemmy

    Lemmy had experienced a number of health issues in recent months, cutting shows short in Salt Lake City and Austin and canceling a show in Denver altogether. Prior to leaving the stage in Austin, he said, “I can’t do it,” before leaving the stage. The thin air of Salt Lake was named as the cause for Lemmy cutting the show short and also given as the reason for the Denver cancelation.

    Musicians the world over have taken to social media to express their sympathies and appreciation for Lemmy, including original Motorhead guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke, who wears the unfortunate title of sole remaining original member of the band following the November death of drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor.

    I have just been told that Lemmy has passed away in LA.Like Phil, he was like a brother to me. I am devastated.We did…

    Posted by Fast Eddie Clarke Official on Monday, December 28, 2015

    Gene Simmons of KISS posted:

    Lemmy was born in Burslem, England on Dec. 24, 1945. The infamous Hollywood club, Whiskey A Go Go, hosted a private, star-studded 70th birthday celebration for Lemmy on Dec. 13. The show featured a band consisting of Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum and Gilby Clarke of Guns N Roses; Robert Trujillo of Metallica; Charlie Benante and Scott Ian of Anthrax; Zakk Wylde of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society; and Steve Vai, among others.

    Comedian Jim Norton, who befriended Lemmy and had him as his band director on the short-lived HBO stand-up series Down and Dirty, tweeted the following:

    Lemmy began his musical career in the early ’60s and was heavily influenced by the Beatles. He served time as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix and earned his chops in the early prog-rock band Hawkwind. On his exit from the band, Lemmy said in his autobiography that he was fired “for doing the wrong drugs.”

    Motorhead and Lemmy’s legacy loom large on the metal scene and popular music as a whole. His death leaves a big hole in rock and roll. The world has lost a legend and as posted on Motorhead’s Facebook page:

    Celebrate the LIFE this lovely, wonderful man celebrated so vibrantly himself.
    HE WOULD WANT EXACTLY THAT.
    Ian ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister
    1945 -2015
    Born to lose, lived to win.

    We’d say “Rest in Peace, Lemmy” but you’d tell us to “Eff off.” RIP anyway, sir.

    https://youtu.be/XUJ0IYZKLvE

  • Aqueous Announces National Drummer Search

    Buffalo groove rock band Aqueous is once again on the search for a new drummer.

    Drummer Tom Vayo has left the band to work on local projects. He officially joined the band this past August. The band will begin its nationwide search for a new drummer immediately.

    aqueous drummer searchFormer Aqueous drummers Nick Sonricker and Ryan Nogle will cover all scheduled and future shows until a new drummer is selected. The two have remained part of the tight-knit Aqueous family and will assist in drumming duties. Aqueous’ New Year’s Eve show at the King’s Rook Club in Erie, Pennsylvania, and New Year’s Day show with Twiddle at Burlington’s Higher Ground will feature Sonricker.

    Aqueous is launching a nationwide search for their new drummer. In a statement released by the band, they are choosing to publicize their search in the hopes of finding the right fit.

    Full statement from Aqueous:

    In an unfortunate turn of events, Aqueous’ new drummer Tom Vayo has decided to step down from the position for personal reasons. In the meantime, we’re pleased to announce that previous AQ drummers Nick Sonricker and Ryan Nogle will come back into the fold temporarily to fill in while we search for a permanent member.

    It’s no secret that we’ve had some movement in the drummer department, and it’s getting harder to NOT think of it like the joke from Spinal Tap; but here’s the deal- The band has been through an awful lot in the past couple of years, and this is a truly stressful process to not only find what we hope to be the right player, but also the person that can truly fit in and join our brotherhood of friendship too.

    That being said, we’ve decided to go fully public with the search and lay down some parameters to help ensure that no one’s time is wasted and to help us get closer to finding that person- Although being in a touring rock band is truly fucking awesome, it also comes with A TON of hard work and much sacrifice in almost every facet of life; this fact is not something we wish to sugar coat; We are here to work, to put on the highest quality shows possible, and to take this thing as far as we can. Integrity and work ethic are cornerstones in the AQ world, and friendship is everything to us. On the other side of the token, it has been the most gratifying, exciting, and certainly fun journey of my life, and it’s taken us to places we definitely didn’t think were possible when we started ten years ago. So here’s some outlines we’re putting in place, and with that said, DO YOU KNOW OUR NEW DRUMMER? Is it you? Is it a friend? We KNOW somebody has to want this seat, and it’s currently up for grabs!

    Here’s what we’ll need from you, to be submitted to aqueousband@gmail.com-

    -Playing/Touring experience (This is a full time position, are you available and ready for the road?)

    -High Quality video of you playing drums, ideally creating a cover of an AQ song if possible!

    -Thorough list of your BIGGEST musical influences and why, and songs you would love to cover in an ideal world

    -A brief description of your approach to playing/style and why you think you’d fit in with AQ

    -Current line of work/location/availability (Is moving to or near Buffalo a possibility for you?)

    At the end of the day, while having “chops” is really important, the real thing we look for is feel, groove, and musical intuition; we improvise/jam a TON, so creativity and style are huge in this band, and we like drummers that play dynamically, but hit with purpose and authority; It’s all about seeing what we can create as a unit and listening as deeply as possible. And ROCKING of course!

    So, with all of that, DO YOU KNOW OUR NEW DRUMMER?? Help us get the word out by sharing this post! Much love from all of us over here at camp AQ, and thank you ALL for an amazing year, this is just the beginning!

    Aqueous is slated to hit the road in February with Papdosio. They are also inked to play the Paradise Music and Arts Festival in April as well as the Aura Music Festival in Live Oak, Florida in March.

  • Guitarist Andrew Chamberlaine to Leave Mister F

    Mister F guitarist Andrew Chamberlaine is leaving the band.

    Chamberlaine, also known as Mister A, announced the news on his Facebook page today. “Making music with my best friends Ben, Matt, Scott, and Mike while visiting at least 20 new states will always be one of the best memories I’ll ever have, however it is something I will not be continuing in 2016,” he wrote in the announcement.

    Jim Houle - Mister F - 10-31-15-22

    He notes that he will continue his involvement with music, writing songs and playing as much as possible while building his student base at Parkway Music in Clifton Park.

    The Albany-based jam band, which formed in 2013 with members of Timbre Coup (including Chamberlain) and Capital Zen, has two New Year’s shows lined up — Dec. 31 at the Monopole in Plattsburgh and a post-moe. show Jan. 1 at Albany’s The Hollow. They will be Chamberlain’s last two shows with the band. The band has an extensive tour schedule for January and February, but there is no news yet from the band as to whether Chamberlain will be replaced for those dates.

    The full announcement from Chamberlaine’s Facebook page:

    Dear Friends, Family, And Fans of Mister F, I’d like to start off by saying that this last 3 years has been one…

    Posted by Andrew Chamberlaine on Monday, December 28, 2015

    Here’s Mister F playing “Don’t Lose Your Watch”:

  • Funktional Flow Release Studio Video for “Back Door”

    Buffalo funk/rock/reggae fusion outfit Funktional Flow are giving fans a sneak peek at their upcoming album Time Will Tell. The band released an official studio video for the album’s first single, “Back Door.”

    The band’s third studio effort, which will feature 12 tracks, is slated for release in March 2016. The official date and venue location for the band’s CD release party will be announced at the band’s New Year’s Eve show at Buffalo Iron Works.

    Time Will Tell was recorded over three weeks at Sonic Farm Studios in Colden with producers Dan Brace and Scott Nadolinski. Although it’s Funktional Flow’s third studio release, it’s the first with Funktional Flow’s new lineup. In April 2015, the band took on a new life with the addition of Joey Lewis (guitar) and Matt Lester (keys).

    Bassist Ben Whelan told NYS Music that the lineup change has been a positive step for the band’s growth. “The type of music we play really calls for the lineup we have now, and it has helped us grow exponentially,” said Whelan. “With the addition of Joey and Matt, we truly feel as though we gained brothers, not just band mates. It really has been a great time growing with them and having them add their flavor to the mix. It doesn’t always go that way with new additions, so we are really blessed in that aspect!”

    funktional flow back doorGuitarist and lead vocalist Jeffrey Kuebler told NYS Music that the history of “Back Door” began prior to the song’s life with Funktional Flow. “Back Door started as essentially a riff that I had come up with in 2008 when Joey and I were in a band called Lake View Effect,” he said. “With me and Joey each contributing to the composition, it all came together and we played it a couple of times with LVE. After years of being on the shelf that was one song we decided to add to the Flow repertoire when Joey joined the band!”

    The band chose “Back Door” as its first single due to the overwhelming response the song has gotten from fans at their live shows. The band is currently working on a spring tour to support Time Will Tell that they hope to announce after the New Year. Funktional Flow is slated to open for Twiddle at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo on Feb. 25.

  • Nashville Producer Dave Cobb Rallies All-Star Cast for Concept Album

    Grammy-nominated producer Dave Cobb has rounded up some of Nashville’s best and brightest country and Americana stars for an upcoming compilation album.

    The 12-track record titled Southern Family features artists Chris and Morgane Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Shooter Jennings, Zac Brown, Rich Robinson (of The Black Crowes), Miranda Lambert, Anderson East, Jamey Johnson, John Paul White (formerly of The Civil Wars), Brandy Clark, Brent Cobb and Holly Williams.

    dave cobbAccording to MusicRow, the album was inspired by 1978’s Civil War concept album White Mansions that featured notable musicians Waylon Jennings, Eric Clapton and Jessi Colter, and for this latest project, the acclaimed producer gathered “all of my friends on one record” to share a collection of stories about growing up in the South.

    Dave Cobb is best known for his work on Sturgill Simpson’s Metamodern Sounds in Country Music (2015 Americana Music Awards Artist and Song of the Year), Isbell’s Southeastern (2014 Americana Music Awards Album and Artist of the Year) and Something More Than Free and Stapleton’s Traveller (2015 CMA Awards Album of the Year). Cobb has also produced records for Houndmouth, Honey Honey and Lake Street Dive. This year he is nominated for several Grammy Awards, including Producer of the Year, Traveller is up for Album of the Year and Best Country Album and SMTF for Best Americana Album.

    Southern Family is expected to be released on Cobb’s own label imprint Low Country Sound/Elektra Records on March 18.

    Southern Family Track List:
    1. John Paul White, “Simple Song”
    2. Jason Isbell, “God Is A Working Man”
    3. Brent Cobb, “Down Home”
    4. Miranda Lambert, “Sweet By and By”
    5. Morgane Stapleton with Chris Stapleton, “You Are My Sunshine”
    6. Zac Brown, “Grandma’s Garden”
    7. Jamey Johnson, “Momma’s Table”
    8. Anderson East, “Learning”
    9. Holly Williams, “Settle Down”
    10. Brandy Clark, “I Cried”
    11. Shooter Jennings, “Can You Come Over”?
    12. Rich Robinson (featuring The Settles Connection), “The Way Home”

  • Another One Bites the Dust: Wakarusa Music Festival Announces Hiatus

    The times they are a changin’ for music festivals. Last month celebrated fest Gathering of the Vibes announced that after 20 years it would take a break in 2016, and the newest festival to join the group of events taking (at least) a year off is Wakarusa.

    wakarusa

    The festival’s organizers broke the news yesterday through a public social media post, noting that legal issues with disagreeable partners are to blame for the leave of absence. But according to the statement, Waka will return:

    “Wakarusa was significantly damaged by partners claiming to share our vision. Sadly, they lied. They are being dealt with appropriately through the legal system. Further, we have found that the universe is often much more effective in dealing with these perpetrators than the legal system. Regardless, it is our sincere hope and anticipation that what we have built together, we will once again enjoy on our beloved and magical mountain.

    For now, we shall dust ourselves off. We must take time to recharge our faith and our energy. Passionate people do not throw in the towel because of a bump in the road. We look brightly toward the future. We will bring more music and more art and many more wickedly unrivaled memories. We know the world is a better place when there is more music and more love…”

    Founded in 2005, the five-day event held on Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, Arizona, Wakarusa Music Festival offered fans a consistent, heavy lineup of artists throughout the past 12 years, including the String Cheese Incident, Umphrey’s McGee, Dr. Dog, My Morning Jacket, Twiddle, Moon Taxi, and often introduced eventgoers to rising bands like the Magic Beans.

  • Bassist Jeremy Davis Leaves Paramore

    American pop-punk superstars Paramore announced through their Facebook page that bassist Jeremy Davis is leaving the band.

    The departure leaves singer Hayley Williams as the only remaining original member. The band said they will continue on, despite Davis’ departure.

    “We’ve written and re-written this countless times and there’s just not a good way to put it… Jeremy is no longer going to be in the band with us. To be honest, this has been really painful. After taking time to consider how to move forward, we ultimately found that we really do believe Paramore can and should continue on. And so we will.”

    posted by Paramore on Monday, December 14, 2015

    This isn’t the first time Jeremy Davis has departed from the band. In late 2004, Davis cited personal reasons when he announced he was quitting the band. Six months later, Paramore asked Davis to return for a stint on the Van’s Warped Tour. In 2010, brothers and founding members Zac and Josh Farro left the band, citing on Josh’s blogger page that they no longer wanted to be a part of a “manufactured product of a major-label.” Those statements later brought to light that the Paramore concept was merely a vehicle for Williams, who was the only member of the band actually signed to Atlantic Records.

    Paramore will be looking to replace Davis quickly. Their next live appearance will take place on their four-day music cruise Parahoy, including music from New Found Glory, Chvrches and Lights.
    Paramore released its last album, Paramore, in 2014. The single “Ain’t in Fun” became the band’s highest charting U.S. single to date. The song also won Best Rock Song at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.

  • Chris Duffy Joins the Magic Beans

    Guilderland native Chris Duffy, former bassist for Dirty Paris, will be move to Colorado from Los Angeles to join The Magic Beans as its bassist.

    Chris Duffy Magic Beans

    From magicbeansmusic.com:

    The Magic Beans are a traveling band from Nederland, CO set out to bring their unique, genre-blending music to the masses and inspire a good time. Their diverse songs move your mind, while tight grooves move your booty when they come to town or through the speakers. Drawing from a wide range of influences, The Magic Beans leave nothing off the table as they combine americana, funk, rock, and electronica into a one sound and sometimes even one composition. Their sound has been described as space funk, ameritronica, and groove grass. The group uses no pre-recorded tracks or samples in favor of a more traditional approach to music: original songwriting, diverse instrumentation, and continually pushing the envelope are what have set this group apart. Seamlessly combining acoustic roots music and traditional instruments with modern technology and electric dance music, The Magic Beans are as unique as their place of origin, the Colorado Rockies.

    Chris Duffy’s first shows with The Magic Beans will be this weekend in Keystone, Colorado.