NYS Music 20​15

Tag: the low beat

  • ‘Smell the Love’ Fundraiser at The Low Beat on May 23

    A fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Smell the Love features Albany’s finest and most quirky, interesting, and fragrant, musical talent. The Low Beat is the place to be on the evening of May 23 if you love rock and roll and hate cancer.

    Give cancer the glove and rock out with The Maraca Incident, Jillian “Keezamonkee” Matundan and Friends who ride insane distances on their bikes to raise money to fight blood cancer, The Sidd Finch Project, and Message From Vega. Cover change is $10 and donations to kick cancer’s ass are encouraged. The final performance of the night will feature players for all bands.

    For the first 25 entrants, purple flashing spike bracelets will be given out, with posters on sale for $5. Door prizes and silent auction will be available throughout the night.

  • Seven Day Music Marathon, Day 1: Black Mountain Symphony

    Throughout this week, I’ll be seeing one show a night in the Albany area, aiming for seven shows in seven days. Here is Night one of a marathon week of music.

    Black Mountain SymphonyStarting the night at The Low Beat was Dylan Jane, a singer/songwriter with Liz Phair lyrics and a slightly raspy voice. She brought up a mandolin and fiddle player for her last three songs which were the strongest of the night – the mix of string instruments and Dylan’s voice are a natural combination. Looking forward to seeing her down the road.

    Cobblestone, a folk/Americana band with a touch of Lumineers worked in, picked up the energy with a dialed back version of Bob Dylan and Old Crowe Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel” and a great cover of “Uptown Funk.”

    Black Mountain Symphony, a six-piece folk group with a strong jam edge were consistent and had crazy energy in a Railroad Earth style. The songs built up in tempo with a Appalachian/Hackensaw Boys vibe, including a very danceable version of “Rhiannon” and a big closer with the original “We the People,” off their recently released album. All together, a lively start to a week of music.

  • Shana Falana Start Their Tour on Fire

    Shana Falana who are releasing a fantastic album next week started their tour in support of it at Albany’s The Low Beat.

    Starting off the evening was local duo Moon Magick. With hauntingly beautiful vocals from Laura as well as some keyboard work and endlessly looping guitar work from Phil, the duo set the stage for the evening. Their set up was minimal and the music relaxed everyone into the long evening. Next up was Eternal Crimes who woke up the crowd with their version of English Punk via outer space. The band had a great light show to go along with their distorted vocals that pushed them towards psychedelia as the set continued on. Then despite some early sound issues, a packed house got the chance to witness Shana Falana’s new songs out in the open for the first time. Looping vocals underneath Shana’s beautiful voice merged with her ferocious guitar playing and were pushed along by Mike Amari’s drumming. Video in the background was a great way to make the evening feel like an art show with music at times, which suits the band perfectly. Catch them out on tour throughout the United States this spring.