NYS Music 20​15

Tag: Zach Deputy

  • We can Werk it Out 2015

    The sixth annual Werk Out Music and Arts Festival in 2015 was as always a ridiculously good time for all who made the journey. This is the fourth year the festival has commenced at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio. The venue has been host to many famous acts since the ’70s. Most famously one of largest and favorite stops of The Grateful Dead tour in the ’80s. The festival includes three stages as well as a silent disco. The festival is a celebration of music, dance, and friendship brought to you by Columbus’ own — The Werks.

    Thursday night’s music included Papadosio. Which seems to be growing in popularity by the minute. After hearing them there’s no questioning the reason. The level of improvisation is incredible. Next up was Broccoli Samurai and then the much-anticipated first set from The Werks. The Rumpke Mountain Boys picked on into the early morning hours at the B stage. After the two main stages shut down for the evening, many headed over to the Silent Disco tent sponsored by The Untz.

    For those who haven’t been to a Silent Disco before, it’s really an interesting concept. In exchange for your id you pick up a pair of wireless headphones. There are two channels which feature EDM from two live DJs  in the tent. You can choose channel A or channel B to listen to. Then dance till the sun comes up in silence! The Silent Disco is gaining popularity at festivals that have to respect noise ordinances. It might be quiet but the party lives on.

    Friday afternoon welcomed Wisconsin’s own Horseshoes and Hand Grenades. Their brand of progressive bluegrass is especially fueled by pristine songwriting, lightening fast fiddle, banjo, guitar and harmonica solos. Not to mention exceptional five-part harmonies. Their most recent cd Middle Western is a collection of original songs will be sure to get your feet tapping and your brain ticking. Some of their lyrics are down right philosophical and some might say the messages are transcendental. It will  be so exciting to see what these boys have in store for the future.

    Umphrey’s set Friday night was awesome as usual. The band even covered Prince’s “When Doves Cry”. Not only was the music incredible but the lighting was out of sight. Following Umphrey’s was the festival host The Werks. They played an evening set which featured former member Norman Dimitrouleas on keys. The band segued into their perpetual groves and would at just the right moment say the magic words “You are the universe”. Energy was high and hoopers, and dancers all moved as if they were under their spell.

    A peaceful silence fell upon the campground but shortly after the silence was broken by Blue Moon Soup. A Newgrass band from Yellow Springs Ohio. The harmony on their rendition of Manfred Mann’s “Fox on the Run” was spot on. Every solo was also crisp with accuracy and precision.  At the closing on their set it was time to head for the MBFP tent to catch Eoto and Friends. The tent was absolutely filled to the brim with dancers and fans alike. Some featured guests included Chris Houser, and Todd Stoops.

    Saturday I managed to catch Ekoostik Hookah’s set. Many die-hard fans gathered towards the front of the stage and sang along and danced. Next up was musical genius Zach Deputy. Just watching him ties my brain in knots. His dance-able and energetic originals flooded the concert area and his positive energy flooded the audience. He even played our favorite “Just the tip”. Other highlights from Saturday included Lettuce, Dopapod, The Werks final set, and Glostik Willy.

    The Werkout is a celebration of music, dancing and art. Who knows, you may even decide to wed there, as one happy couple did. The staff is super friendly and the music is some of the best ever heard. The overall energy is upbeat and positive. Between the beauty of Legend Valley, the bright spirit of the fans, the innovative music this festival is one of the treasures of the mid west. See you at Werkout 2016.

  • Forever Young, Wild, and StrangeCreek

    The 13th annual Strange Creek thrown by Wormtown Trading Co.,was one for the books.  The weekend was like a fruit filled parfait layered with wild and wonderful people, beautiful works of art, dusty roads, lots of sunshine and of course music to inspire the span of ages that attend StrangeCreek. Majority of people steadily streamed in all day Friday. EZ ups popped up, strangers became neighbors and people all became pieces of the StrangeCreek woods.

    Friday included notable performances by Banooba and Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds. Sister Sparrow played down bluesy tunes such as “Boom Boom,” “Too Much Ain’t No Good” and a Doors cover of “Roadhouse Blues” with a sit in by Patchen Montgomery of Strangefolk.

    StrangeCreekThe crescent moon had been visible in the sky all day long and as the sun went down during a familiar Shakedown set the magic was undeniable. The wonderful Zach Deputy cleaned up the Main Stage that Friday night with his one of a kind style of comedic RnB. Unfortunately, a flip flop of set times between Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Primate Fiasco lead to a lot of people missing Pigeons set.

    It feels like a blessing that year after year everyone gets to keep reuniting on the banks of the river at Camp Keewanee. Its refreshing that some of the proceeds of the festival go back to Keewanee. It is uplifting to see the amount that members of Massachusetts music community gives back to one another.

    On Saturday at high noon, The Kind Buds gave a beautiful acoustic set performance at the main stage. It did not take long in the day for a mystery to surface. Who in the world is Cuty Phazed? This unknown act began to spark some questions among festival goers. It soon became clear that no one actually knew who Cuty Phazed was. But because it was Strangecreek naturally, Sheriff Zach Deputy was hot on our radars and after some good detective work it became apparent that Cuty Phazed was Zach Deputy with the letters rearranged. This mid day acoustic set at Vernville stage was better than the night before. His setlist included “Chicken Pot Pie,” “Bikers in Diapers” and a cover of “Gold Digger” by Ray Charles.

    StrangeCreek

    A stroll over to the main stage after Cuty Phazed lead me to my first rendezvous with Vermont native band the Gang of Thieves. Michael Reit shred the lead melody of a Led Zeppelin son. They were generating a huge sound. It was hardcore to hear Violinist, Michael Reit shred the lead the melody of a Led Zeppelin song.  At 4:20 Max Creek played their first set of the day on the Vernville stage in honor of their 44 years playing together. The whole day set was a tribute too all songs that came out in 1971 such as “Playing in the Band,” “Brown Sugar” and “Riders on the Storm.” Then later a second set on main stage that when combined with the day set total six hours of music. Saturday night continued to be amazing with William Thompson Funk Experiment. They got everyone very comfortable and loose and grooving by intertwining the art of funk with the art of poetry. One of the best acts of the StrangeCreek weekend.

    The 50 year anniversary of the beloved Grateful Dead has lead to more tribute shows than usual. The Dead set on Sunday featured a “Jack Straw,” the second of the weekend, a “Ripple” and a long and beautifully jammed out “Terrapin Station.”  Following The Dead Set was Consider the Source, a festival favorite, they packed the main stage at 6 p.m. with almost everyone at the festival.  Their setlist included “I’ll Fight for the Imp,” “Put another rock in that bag PT. 1, IV” and VI and You Go Squish Now. CTS is a hard act to follow. Smushed in between the end of Source and Ryan Montbleau a band called Llama Lasagne imposed a jovial spectacle on the river worm stage. The stage held over 12 people, it is no wonder they call themselves a party ensemble.

    The sun set around us as the Ryan Montbleau and Friends set took flight. They treaded lightly into a cover of “Take a Walk on the Wild Side” to open. conveniently enough, the band slid into the tune “Dead Set” which was well played and the feeling of love became contagious as the setlist featured a bunch of songs about women and love such as “Honeymoon Eyes” and “Back in Love again”. If we weren’t already standing it would have been a standing ovation.

    A successful music festival can be weighted by all the musicians who jammed so lovely that their music finds its way into your future repertoire. The bands that made a lasting impression this year include William Thompson Funk Experiment, Mother Ton, Jeremiah Hazed and Banooba. A special thank you needs to be given to everyone who went into making this StrangeCreek, the strangest and most magical to date. That includes the late working vendors, the FireWormz, the volunteers, year after year,the owners and staff, as well as, the musicians and of course the Massachusetts community.