Tag: Paramount Hudson Valley

Joe Louis Walker and Jay Geils’ B.B. King Tribute Impresses Hudson Valley Crowd

One of the Hudson Valley’s hottest nights for blues in 2015 took place this last week as Joe Louis Walker paid special tribute to the King with the help of Jay Geils and some newly inducted members of the NY Blues Hall of Fame at Paramount Hudson Valley.

A different kind of induction ceremony kicked off the evening, one far from a yawn-filled series of speeches. With Michael Packer at the helm, an all-star cast joined together on stage to do a five-song opening set with members of this group inducted into the NY Blues Hall of Fame between songs. For a group of musicians who may have only had limited time rehearsing with each other, the sound was solid and energizing. The inductees this year included Michael Falzarano (guitarist for Hot Tuna and New Riders of the Purple Sage), Rick Knapp (bassist for Walter Trout and Jimmy Thackery), Juma Sultan (percussionist for Jimi Hendrix), and producer Osten Harvey Jr. (a.k.a. Easy Mo Bee).

If the roof of the Paramount wasn’t smoldering after Joe Louis Walker’s first song it wasn’t long before it was on fire. As a tribute to the late B.B. King, the setlist included several of King’s songs along with some of Walker’s originals. The set started off with “Friends” and included “Let Your Hair Down,” “She’s Got Eyes Like A Cat” and “Come Back Baby.” Aside from Walker’s incredible mastery of the blues guitar whether screaming at the 24^th fret or playing slow and heavy, the rest of the talent on stage combined for an even compliment, especially Vanessa Collier’s sax solos received by standing ovations.

About halfway through the set Jay Geils joined the set, a guitarist well-rooted in the blues despite his more well-known musical persona with the J. Geils Band. Educated as an engineer, Geils took up a career in music instead and had plenty of stories to share about his start in the blues after accepting his award in a surprise induction into the NY Blues Hall of Fame including some anecdotes about Buddy Guy. In the spirit of the tribute to B.B. King, Geils did not hesitate in saying that the way today’s blues is played can be attributed to King’s style.

Before an encore, all of the performers from the induction ceremony set joined Walker and Geils for a call-and-response shuffle tune. It was a true display on stage of what lies at the base of being a musician, getting together with a bunch of others and having nothing but fun in making music. The encore brought just Walker and his band along with Geils back. Reeling on the power of the end of the set, the crowd took advantage of the Paramount’s coziness and gathered on their feet close to the stage. Possibly an unplanned encore, Walker and Geils took a moment to discuss the structure of what they were about to play. Planned or unplanned, it closed out the night with a strong finish.

As one of only four of these B.B. King tribute shows Walker and Geils were touring with, it was truly a treat to have one of their stops in the lower Hudson Valley.

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November 5, 2015
Garcia Project Brings 1977 Hartwick College Show to Peekskill

Saratoga’s The Garcia Project has been regarded as an authority on the re-creation of the sounds of the Jerry Garcia Band. On Oct. 24, the band continued to celebrate their fifth anniversary at Paramount Hudson Valley in Peekskill, nearing the end of their fall tour.

Nestled close to the front of the stage rather than claiming a stake of real estate, The Garcia Project got cozy with the theater, easing into the set with “I’ll Take A Melody.” The efforts the band has put in to re-creating the performance of the Jerry Garcia Band was clear at the first note, particularly from the intonation and timbre of Mik Bondy’s guitar. To geek out on the band’s gear, check out a detailed rundown of their setups. The band’s presence was cohesive with an agility to build the performance of the songs in the same embodiment as Jerry’s band. Solos were traded between Greg Marshall (keys) and Bondy as if a conversation rather than it just being the next guy’s turn to play. Overall, the first set whetted the audience’s Garcia appetite despite being on the tame side.

On the contrary, the second set took the prize. The setbreak met a mix of conversation and praise for the authenticity of the performance, mostly from first-timers to The Garcia Project. Perhaps that was enough to re-charge the audience as plenty more were on their feet finding their own grooves during the set; although sometimes Jerry Garcia Band shows are a bit more mellow in the first set. Bondy’s guitar work was more noodley, and it was hard to tell that it wasn’t Jerry signing on “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” Throughout both sets, Kat Walkerson’s backing vocals and blithe stage presence enriched the songs as a compliment to Bondy’s vocals.

Like most of The Garcia Project’s shows, this one was a re-recreation of Dec. 3, 1977 at Hartwick College. At the start of the second set, it was announced that the performance was a re-creation of a complete show but which show wouldn’t be revealed until the encore. Hinting at clues about the era of the Jerry Garcia Band based on the stage setup, it turned into a fun, curious guessing game for the audience.

The Garcia Project gave a thoroughly enjoyable performance and experience for the crowd. Though there were a few minor differences between them and the Jerry Garcia Band, inherent to any tribute band, The Garcia Project’s attention to detail on intonation and performance structure does set them apart as an authority on Jerry Garcia.

Setlist:

Set 1: I’ll Take A Melody, Mystery Train, Mission In The Rain, Lonesome And A Long Way From Home, Catfish John, The Way You Do The Things You Do

Set 2: Let It Rock, Harder They Come, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Don’t Let Go, Tore Up Over You

Encore: (not part of the 1977 JGB set): Ramble On Rose, Cats Under the Stars, Talking About You

November 3, 2015
End of Summer Jam at Paramount Hudson Valley

The weekend after Labor Day brought a wide variety of sounds to Paramount Hudson Valley in Peekskill with several NYC and Westchester-based acts both inside and outside the theater as part of their End of Summer Jam. In the week leading up to the show, weather reports were cautiously optimistic about keeping the day dry but a few heavy downpours dampened the outdoor festivities a bit. Fortunately, the music had shone through and kicked up the energy for the crowd that made it out to the free day of music.

Phineas and the Lonely Leaves

The street stage, lined with food and craft vendors that braved the intermittent rain, featured a mix of solo singer-songrwriter type acts and full bands. Acoustic sets were presented by New York Times author and musician Andy Revkin, Chloe Cannon, Rufus Rufasu, and The Godfather Johnny Giovanni. Peekskill’s own Phineas and the Lonely Leaves gave a high-spirited mix of their original and rock cover songs. Trifecta‘s set was mostly covers, but took on a stripped-down heavy blues/rock take on classic rock songs complete with some added shred-talent on guitar. The final outdoor act of the day, The New Resistants, played with a similar feel and energy to Trifecta, taking on a classic garage punk sound. A late addition to the schedule from North Carolina and familiar name to the area was the aggressive jazz trio Joy On Fire who kicked off the afternoon.

Trifecta

Kicking off the day inside was Yardsale, a brisk-paced bluegrass trio from nearby Mahopac, NY. The standout of the afternoon Gedeon Luke & The People gave the Paramount a gossip-worthy set full of driving Memphis blues and soul, Gedeon himself dancing in the aisles with the crowd. For something a little bit different, DJ Logic gave a well-mixed DJ set, though a thin crowd seemed slow to get into the set. Closing out the night was NYC’s all-instrumental progressive jam band TAUK as they make their way through a tour supporting their brand new double live album, Headroom.

Gedeon Luke

Certainly a fantastic assortment of live music, let’s hope the End of Summer jam returns next year under sunny skies with a packed house.

September 23, 2015
End of Summer Jam Festival Feat. TAUK, DJ Logic, and Local Acts Coming to Peekskill This Saturday Sept.12

With Labor Day weekend just behind us, everyone seems to be scratching their heads as to where the summer went. The good news is that it’s not quite over yet and there’s another chance coming up to enjoy some great music indoors and outdoors before the leaves start to change. The Paramount Hudson Valley in Downtown Peekskill is throwing their first End of Summer Jam Festival on September 12.

The new music festival is free with music on the streets and inside the theater throughout the afternoon and evening. The festival is all about NY, bringing acts from around town and around the state.

Several local vendors and restaurants will be taking to the streets from 12pm – 8pm featuring free music from Rufus Rufasu, Chloe Cannon, Andy Revkin (Hudson Valley), Phineas & the Lonely Leaves (Peekskill), The Godfather Johnny Giovanni, Trifecta (Mahopac), and The New Resistants (NYC).

Hitting the stage inside the Paramount will be DJ Logic (The Bronx), Gedeon Luke and The People (NYC), Yard Sale (New Paltz), and TAUK (Long Island). TAUK is hitting a handful of other spots around NY, and for more information on their shows check out NYS Music’s preview of those shows here.

Although End of Summer Jam Festival is free, there is a $5 suggested donation which will support the Paramount’s non-profit Paramount Hudson Valley Arts.

Linup:

Outside
1pm – Rufus Rufasu
2pm – Andy Revkin
3pm – Phineas & the Lonely Leaves
4pm – Chloe Cannon
5pm – Trifecta
6pm – The Godfather Johnny Giovanni
7pm – The New Resistants

Inside
2pm – Yardsale
4pm – Gedeon Luke & The People
6pm – DJ Logic
8pm – TAUK

September 8, 2015