Part of the fun in attending a Phish show is often the plans we make for the before and after parties. For those heading to Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) July 1 to 3 to see the boys, you’re now completely covered.
The Capital Region’s own Mister F will host three nights of after-parties at Nanola in Malta to keep the fun going long after Phish’s encore. Shuttles will be available to and from SPAC – a quick 10-minute ride.
Mister F recently welcomed Mike Candela as new guitarist to a band that formed in 2013 from regional acts Timbre Coup and Capital Zen.
While a schedule is to be determined, they will be joined by the McLovins, Lespecial, Strange Machines and Hayley Jane and the Primates.
Presented by NYS Music, the bread to this Phish sandwich includes pre-parties on Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3.
Nanola features a full bar, great beer selection and traditional pub fare in addition to creole favorites like jambalaya, oysters and po’ boys.
Tickets are available in a variety of options. Shows are $10 per night. Shuttles are also $10. A combo pass including all shuttles and after shows is $50.
Additional details including the daily schedule and ticket information will be announced soon.
In the last five years, funk has made a resurgence to the music scene in seemingly endless variations. There is the explosivity of Lettuce, the grooves of the Motet, and the thrill of Turkuaz – all of which boast impressive brass sections. Then there is The New Mastersounds who, without horns, are providing a sophisticated and perhaps jazzier version to the beloved genre for a new generation of funk feigns.
With 16 years under their belt, the British four piece has released nine studio albums, two live albums, one remix album and three compilations released in the U.K., United States and Japan. On April 22, they will release The Nashville Session, recorded at Welcome to 1979 studio right in music city.
The album contains 10 tracks from throughout their catalog. There are no overdubs or guest collaborations, leaving the listener with The New Mastersounds in their purest form. It’s an ideal introduction to the band for anyone who recognizes their name but has yet to dive in.
After recording to one-inch tape and then mixed down to quarter-inch stereo tape, the album was then cut directly to vinyl lacquer. They have released 1,000 limited edition vinyls before the digital version becomes available on May 27.
There is a certain level of clarity you get on each instrument that you don’t necessarily hear on their studio albums. Most notably each note of that quintessential funky bass line is crystal throughout each track. Like staring at a top spin on a flat table, Pete Shand lays down the foundation for what is a reliably fast paced and mesmerizing experience.
Eddie Roberts brings audible precision to the guitar, a clear indication of their jazz influence. On several occasions, the listener may become hypnotized by the steady rhythm only to be jolted back to reality by the pure skill of his craft.
“Burnt Back,” is bursting with mood-lifting energy and includes the only noticeable lyric on the entire album – a faint “woo!” during an appropriate pause. Though it’s not clear whether this originated from the band or one of the handful of guests having the pleasure to witness the recording.
“Drop it Down” is probably the most unique of all the tracks. It begins with a stagnated and heavy bass that hops throughout the intro. It begins dark and mysterious before swirling back to a smooth groove.
During “The Minx,’ Roberts delivers the familiar “bow chicka bow wow” modulation like the “Shack” theme song. It pairs nicely with his own style, often referred to as “roughneck.”
The only song not their own is the last track, James Brown’s “In the Middle.” Roberts provides a stellar take on jazz guitarist Grant Green’s arrangement. The finished product is fast and sassy. Dance to this in front of the mirror and watch yo sly self start to move to the perfected rhythm and groove!
The Nashville Session should be listened to in its entirety. While some could say all their songs sound similar, this consistency will make for a fun Friday night happy-hour in a dimly lit bar, while suitable for a sophisticated yet cheerful dinner party at home.
It’s no surprise that the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock released an exciting schedule for the spring.
This unique venue draws a variety of world-class artists throughout the year. This April and May will feature familiar names from several genres including folk, jam bands, reggae, funk and DJ sets.
Bearsville Theater sits in a wooded area about one minute outside of Woodstock. Guests can enjoy the Bear Café next door while checking out the Sawkill Creek. Radio Woodstock 100.1 WDST FM also shares the property. Fans of the venue return time and again for both the music and the incredible atmosphere.
Next week features rising stars Pink Talking Fish on April 7 followed by a funky treat a few days later on April 10: Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett of Little Feat with special guest the New Orleans Suspects featuring members of Neville Bros., Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the Radiators, James Brown and the Meter Men.
Grateful Dead fans can get their fix on April 15 with the Garcia Project and April 16 with Skeleton Keys featuring Todd Stoops of RAQ (formerly Kung Fu) and Alex Mazur of Gratefully Yours.
Folk group Elephant Revival from Colorado will play on April 30 and rising jam band stars Formula 5 take the stage on May 13.
April 10 – Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett of Little Feat with special guest the New Orleans Suspects featuring members of Neville Bros., Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Radiators, James Brown, and The Meter Men
April 15 – The Garcia Project
April 16 – Skeleton Keys with Todd Stoops (Kung Fu) & Alex Mazur (Gratefully Yours)
April 23 – Ladies Night with DJ Lady Miss Kier of Deee-Lite and DJ Lady Verse
April 30 – Elephant Revival
May 6 – Feast of Friends (Doors Tribute)
May 7 – Tangoman & The Latin All Star World Beat Dance Band
May 13 – Formula 5 with Hayley Jane and Justin Hancock of Hayley Jane and the Primates
May 14 – Gary Nest Pine (former lead singer of The Wailers) & The Big Takeover
Nicole Suto aka “Niki Lee” is an indie singer/songwriter living in Troy, NY who is returning to the live music scene after taking a hiatus to have and raise a child. Her first show in a self-admitted long while will be this Friday, April 1 at the Dinosaur BBQ. She opens up for fellow Lansingburgh natives, The Lawn Sausages, at 9 p.m. The show is free.
With the help of her friends Gary Levitt and Erica Quitzow of New Paltz, she recorded five tracks found on Reverbnation. She plays the guitar and loops her own backup vocals. “Accelerate” is a fun tune that shows off her playful, rocker side and incorporates the organ. Her sound is similar to Liz Phair and other 90s female musicians in the similar genre. Her style however is unique. Instead of your typical chord progressions, Niki often slaps the strings to create both percussion and notes.
“Faith” represents a darker side of Niki. This expression of negative emotion is something she says drives her to write music. Her live performances are a balance of both upbeat positive songs and those that are melancholy.
While performing live is something she intends to do, her real goal is to continue to write, produce and record music.
We recently chatted with Niki about her music and living in Troy.
After listening to your tracks on Reverbnation, we kind of get a Liz Phair vibe. Is that what has influenced you?
I first started really heavy in the singer, songwriter, kind of folksy vein, listening to Ani DiFranco, Suzanne Vega, really growing up with the 10,000 Maniacs, Natalie Merchant stuff. But I think it was really PJ Harvey who kind of hooked me into the electric guitar, not just playing acoustic. Then Liz Phair – I think I’ve probably listened to Exile in Guyville like a million times. I probably can sing the whole album from beginning to end, so yes, that’s a definite influence for me.
What inspires you?
I feel like a lot of the music that I’m playing now has been inspired by relationships, questioning the world about why things are the way they are and how you have an emotional reaction to that. A lot of my songs, I write when I feel upset about things so it’s very hard for me to write upbeat songs. When I’m happy, I’m not in the writing kind of mood, it’s so hard to write a happy song. But I know people don’t want to just hear bitching and moaning when they see me perform so I’ve worked in some positive ones as well.
So your show on April 1 will be the first one in a while, and a hometown show?
I’m opening up for the Lawn Sausages. A lot of us are from Lansingburgh, born and raised there. So it’s a lot of old time friends. I haven’t really played a gig in a long time and one of the members of the Lawn Sausages put this gig up so I asked if I could open for them. It’s going to be a very hometown, packed crowd. It will be a special gig because all my friends and family from years and years, being a Troy native.
I’ve traveled a lot, I’ve lived and played in San Francisco and New York City but I had to come back home. Something about being home it’s hard to get away from sometimes.
Do you have a favorite spot to hang out in Troy?
I really enjoy going down to the Farmer’s Market. It’s one of the best and the fact that it’s all year round is really great. My daughter loves Famous Lunch – we like greasy food in our family.
So I understand you had friends from New Paltz help you with your recordings. Did you go down there to do it?
Yeah. Gary Levitt and Erica Quitzow who I met in San Francisco but were from New York. After we all moved back I reached out to them because they are just amazing engineers and musicians. I asked them if they could record a few songs for me. I had done a few recordings in the past but never ones I felt proud of. I felt OK about them but they just didn’t represent how I wanted my songs to sound in a studio recording. These guys really nailed it. I like Imogen Heap and Tori Amos, people who pull in a lot of different elements and layered harmonies into their music. Unfortunately I can’t recreate that on stage so it will be kind of like a PJ Harvey four-track demos kind of feel at the show (laughs). I like pushing the boundaries of the singer-songwriter into the different musical sounds that you can play with and layer. It’s one of my favorite things about the music that I’m drawn to.
What else do you like to do when not songwriting or recording?
I work for the state as a budget analyst. I really like spreadsheets! (laughs) I do a lot of work with spreadsheets, tracking or spending. It’s nice because it’s really easy, it either adds up or it doesn’t. Plus, I don’t make the decisions of how it’s being spent In my free time I am a 4H Club co-leader for a dog training club call the Clover Paws. It’s something I do with my daughter. We have two dogs, so when I’m not making music or taking care of my daughter, I’m playing with my dogs.
The Free Friday Night Concert Series Fridays at the Lake: Band and Brews at Shepard Park in Lake George will feature bands from a variety of genres with the first show scheduled for Friday, June 24.
Now in its seventh year, the summer festival series has expanded to include a revolving schedule of restaurants/bars who serve as hosts of the beer/wine tent and food service.
With the exception of the first and last night, there will be an opener at 4 p.m. followed by a headlining act from 6 to 8 p.m. Kicking things off on June 24 is big/swing band Georgie Wonders Orchestra. They’ll play favorites from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s including covers from Glenn Miller, Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Harry James, Bunny Berrigan and more. Food and beverages will be sold by King Neptune’s Pub.
Other acts include the Refrigerators, Spiritual Rez and Funky Dawgz Brass Band. The concert series will close out on Sept. 2 with Skeeter Creek, five-time winners of No. 1 County Band and three-time winners of Best Cover Band by Metroland.
Admission is free and the events are family and dog friendly. There will be children’s activities including a bounce house, face painter and air brush artist.
New York Players 2012
Friday’s at the Lake 2016 schedule:
June 24: No opening act scheduled; Main act — Georgie Wonders Orchestra (big band/swing)
Food and beverages by King Neptune’s Pub.
July 1: Opening act— Richie Ortiz; main act — New York Players (funk)
Food and beverages by Backstreet BBQ.
July 8: Opening act — Jonathan Newell Band; main act — Audiostars (rock)
Food and beverages by King Neptune’s Pub.
July 22: Opening act — The After Fab; main act — The Refrigerators (Party Band)
Food and beverages by Duffy’s Tavern.
July 29: Opening act — The Tumbling Dice (Rolling Stones tribute band); main act —Emerald City (rock)
Food and beverages by The Boardwalk Restaurant.
Aug. 5: opening act — Meet the Mockers; main act — Grand Central Station (pop)
Food and beverage by Fire & Ice Bar & Grill.
Aug. 12: Opening act — Richie Ortiz; main act — Spiritual Rez (reggae/ska)
Food and beverages by Backstreet BBQ.
Aug. 26: Opening act — Jonathan Newell Band; main act — Funky Dawgz Brass Band (funk/jazz)
Food and beverages by The Boardwalk Restaurant.
Sept. 2: no opening act scheduled; main act — Skeeter Creek (country)
Food and beverages by Duffy’s Tavern.
Although festivals are scheduled all year round, if you’re from New York, you typically kick things off in May or June. But, if you’re willing to travel south to a magical place called the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park, festival season starts early – this year with The Disco Biscuits and Thievery Corporation as headliners at Aura Music and Arts Festival.
Aura drew us in on March 3-5 with its incredibly stacked lineup, sunshine and rumors of perhaps something bigger to be discovered. Everything seemed to fall in place throughout the trip, from something as small as a free burrito bowl at Tijuana Flats to a chance encounter that would lead to a dozen new best friends. This festival’s namesake is vibrant, full of light and overwhelmingly positive.
Like most festivals, the first day of Aura brings a heightened sense of excitement. Guests find the perfect spot to camp under draping live oaks, walk the more than 500 acres of festival grounds and plan their strategy for attending their favorite sets. The park feels like an enchanted forest out of a fairy tale and the guests as happy as royalty attending a special kind of ball. We kicked off Thursday with a passionate set from Florida’s own Greenhouse Lounge at the Amphitheater Stage. The electronic trio gave it their all for their last performance as a band, while welcoming their former drummers Jason Hunnicut who now runs the 1904 Music Hall in Jacksonville and Scotty Zwang, now of Dopapod who came to Aura as an “artist at large” (AAL).
Fusik of Jacksonville delivered an upbeat and funky set in the vibe tent, covering The Talking Heads’ “Born Under Punches” and preparing the crowd for ultimate cover band Pink Talking Fish. PTF is the perfect night-one band by seamlessly blending favorites from each beloved group.
The Werks were a major draw for us, having only seen them once before, but making appearances in our earbuds on the regular. Unfortunately, the only rain of the whole weekend decided to come down mid-way through a powerful “Duck Farm,” After only three songs, the Werks were forced to call it quits as fans ran for cover.
By late morning on Friday, the Florida sun dried things out. Georgia natives Dank delivered a hard-rocking set, reminiscent of the progressive rock style of Umphrey’s McGee. Crazy Fingers provided the familiar and beloved sounds of the Grateful Dead, while welcoming guitarist Ben Sparco for the later half of the set, who was clearly still feeling the adrenaline from his own set earlier that afternoon.
Mike Dillon brings a wild stage presence during his bands set, preceding an incredible show from Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO). They are joined by Carly Meyers and Adam Gertner of ROAR for one of the best sets of the weekend just in time to release their new album Follow the Yarn.
Particle delivered a stellar performance keeping the tempo of Escort’s “Cocaine Blues” throughout the majority of the set. At the same time, a special project called Nunchuck!, consisting of Mike Dillon, Craig Brodhead of Turkuaz and again Chuck Jones and Scotty Zwang of Dopapod, did something unique in the Vibe Tent. The “psychedelic punk rock” set was more quirky than it was tight leaving the crowd giggling, and blushing when Dillon “tea bagged” his own drum. (Yes, this happened.)
The New Deal and Thievery Corporation both had beautiful stage presence with lasers and lights for days. However it was Turkuaz that stole the show Friday night. The nine-piece funk outfit from Brooklyn, NY filled the Porch Stage with a powerful and truly fun set. Artists at large Jennifer Hartswick and trombone player Natalie Cressman of Trey Anastasio Band brought the brass to the party.
On Saturday, Broccoli Samurai of Ohio welcomed artists at large Chuck Jones and Scotty Zwang of Dopapod adding to the delight of fans. The Heavy Pets brought us back to the 80’s covering Paul Simon, David Bowie, Thomas Dolby and R.E.M. Jennifer Hartswick and Natalie Cressman sat in as well.
Tom Hamilton’s American Babies welcomed Aaron Magner of the Disco Biscuits on the keys for a rendition of “The Wheel” into their own “Joelene” and back to “The Wheel.”
Two-time Grammy-award winners Snarky Puppy was an experience in itself. The 13-member jazz/funk group is more of an orchestra than it is a band. Keeping with the guest appearances, they welcomed Dillon on percussion and again Hartswick and Cressman for an outstanding version of “Quartermaster.”
The festival culminated with two sets of jamtronica giants The Disco Biscuits. Tom Hamilton helped them kick off the first set with “Scarlet Begonias” and “I Know You Rider.” “Pimp Blue Rikki” was a surprise to many leading into the ending of “Morph Dusseldorf.” Hartswick and Cressman joined tDB for “Funky Town” before taking a set break. The second set was geared towards the masses picking up again with “Morph Dusseldorf” and weaving in and out of Caterpillar with “A Fifth of Beethoven.” The laser light show was out of this world reflecting off the woodsy amphitheater.
Throughout the weekend, both on stage and off, collaboration seemed to be a key theme. We ended our experience gathered around our own campfire we collectively built with a family who just days before were complete strangers. We came for the music, but we left so much, much more.
You’re young, fashionable, talented, hip and completely full of love. But time after time, you get “friend zoned.” That’s right, you’re ready to take your friendship to the next level, but shorty just wants to keep it platonic. This is the mental picture I got when listening to Above Water, an independent album to be released March 8 by Long Island singer, songwriter and producer Gibbz.
Above Water is an electronic pop/R&B album with some surprise elements of funk and a whole lot of soul. Gibbz is as talented on the turntable as he is on the mic. The album’s lyrics bring you to the bar, on a date and to the bedroom.
The album begins with “Stay for a While,” with an upbeat tempo and a beat comprised of the sounds of a ping pong ball hitting the table. The lyrics are mundane and the vocals have an audible resemblance to that of Ben Gibbard of The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie. Throughout the album, Gibbz vocals are reminiscent of various other familiar artists including Michael Jackson and Sam Smith.
The first single “Higher than I’ve ever been” features Dominic Lalli of Big Gigantic on the saxophone towards the end of the track. The abundance of synthesized tones throughout the track is on the cusp of irritating but the chorus is purely delightful. The vocals are impressive, giving the song a fun, flirty vibe. This is a great song to get a party started.
“I Really Love You,” is again upbeat and playful, but in this case the chorus loses me. There are too many sounds happening all at once and what sounds like a guitar comes off as muffled noise. My least favorite track of the album, it also happens to be the second single.
No matter though, “Feel Good” featuring Russ Liquid on the trumpet wins me back. This song is energetic. The rhythm is fast and forces you to clap along. It is arguably the best track on the album.
Gibbz supported Cherub, if only for a month, but this experience is evident when listening to “Too Too Shy.” His high pitched voice reminds me of the Nashville electro-duo. The song is heavy on the synth tones once again, with robotic bass lines.
The album concludes with “How it’s Supposed to Be.” It’s a song of a hopeless romantic. The lyrics encapsulate the vision many of us have of the support between two lovers in it for the long haul. As a heterosexual woman, it’s everything I’d want to hear in a romantic interest. But coming from a friend, it would sound desperate.
Above Water put me on a roller coaster of relatable emotions from hope, excitement, infatuation, heartbreak and ultimately love. My level of affection for the album parallels this variance. Gibbz has the potential to be a household name. But I wouldn’t want to lead you on, at times it feels like this New York producer attempts to add too many layers. Gibbz, we can be friends, but nothing more.
Key Tracks: Higher than I’ve ever been (featuring Dominic Lalli) Feel Good (featuring Russ Liquid) Too Too Shy, How it’s Supposed to Be
On Thursday, February 25, those willing to boogie down on a school night took to the Hollow Bar and Kitchen in Albany to see Tom Hamilton’s American Babies. Considered to be “the hardest working man in show business,” Hamilton proved once again that this hard work pays off. The crowd, while somewhat sparse considering the talent on stage, was thoroughly impressed as evident by cheers, dancing and plenty of “Hamilton’s the man” exclamations.
The evening began with opening act Bump, a three piece ensemble with Americana sounds similar to that of their headliner. American Babies rhythm guitarist Justin Mazer joined the trio for a rendition of “Angels from Montgomery,” which was as rocking as it was sweet.
American Babies played “What Does it Mean to Be” early in their set, a song from their new and still unreleased album, An Epic Battle Between Light and Dark, which kept the crowd as equally intrigued as it was satisfied. The song is about not feeling your age or what society tells us we should feel like at a certain age; the album is set to release on March 18.
The rest of the set was cover heavy and was surely influenced by Hamilton’s experiences in his other projects. “State Police” and “Let’s Start a Gang,” both Brother’s Past songs, provided opportunities for spacey yet upbeat jams. Directly following this was several Grateful Dead covers including “Big River” and “Cumberland Blues,” in which Mazer delivered the solo of the night.
“Buckle in, we’re just getting started,” Hamilton tells the crowd as he took off his pin-decorated jacket to reveal a black t-shirt with the text “9:30” in large white letters, likely from the famed club in Washington D. C. Drummer Al Smith also changed out a cymbal in preparation for what was to come.
They picked up with another Grateful Dead song, “The Wheel” which led into the American Babies’ version of “Jolene” and then back into “The Wheel,” adding depth to the familiar sound and inches to my perma-grin.
The Babies then did another cover, this time Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City,” but again adding something to it all their own.
Throughout the set, Hamilton seemed to have chemistry with every member of the band. Smith and Bassist Mark Sosnoskie looked to him as a leader, awaiting cues for their next move while he and Mazer bounced back and forth taking turns as the star. His professional chemistry was only amplified by that of the romantic sort with guitarist Raina Mullen. They harmonize well on stage and off it as well as a couple.
The night ended with even more Dead, “Deal,” and I’m just left thinking how much Hamilton really sounds like Jerry Garcia at this point. Clearly, his work with Billy and the Kids and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead has become ingrained in his repertoire. If for any reason John Mayer stops playing with Dead and Company, Tom Hamilton is the obvious choice to step in.
The 7th annual Aura Music and Arts Festival is less than two weeks away and we couldn’t be more excited to show the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida some New York love! The Disco Biscuits and Thievery Corporation will headline this festival, one that many say is their favorite all year. In addition to a stacked lineup of various talented artists, one that we’re particularly intrigued by is Nunchuck!
Nunchuck! is a new project consisting of bassist Chuck Jones and drummer Scotty Zwang of Dopapod, guitarist Craig Brodhead of Turkuaz, and renowned percussionist Mike Dillon. The collaboration was formed specifically for Aura and despite what the name suggests, it’s not a Chuck Jones led group or even solely his brain child. (Nor is it affiliated with Lotus’ Mike Greenfield’s side project bearing the same name.)
Chuck Jones and Scotty Zwang of Dopapod.
Jones explained the selection of the other band members. He and Brodhead have become close friends as they both live in Hartford, Connecticut and are geographically displaced from the rest of their band members. Brodhead’s main project Turkuaz is also on Aura’s lineup. Mike Dillon – a member of Critters Buggin and Les Claypool’s Fancy Band – has past experience playing with Dopapod and even opened for them last year at this festival. The Mike Dillon band is on Aura’s schedule for Friday.
Craig Brodhead of Turkuaz
The four of them together make Nunchuck! – a “psychedelic punk rock” band that is sure to be something unique.
“The entire set list that we’re figuring out is all our favorite punk songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s,” said Jones. “All of us – myself, Scotty, Mike and Craig –part of our musical background has been inspired by heavier artists and genres so it will be nice for us to be able to experiment with that a little bit.”
Jones said their own creative palate is where the “psychedelic” portion comes in.
“That really means that we’re going to have not enough music to fill the slot, so we’ll be making lots of noise,” he said. “It’s going to be loud, aggressive and upbeat – so it will be fun!”
Mike Dillon.
According to Jones, the project was developed after Zwang expressed interest in participating in Aura, even though Dopapod is (sadly) not on this year’s lineup. With attendance around 5,000 guests in some of the most picturesque scenery, Aura offers something other festivals cannot.
“I love Suwanee so anything down there is a good time. I really think they do a nice job working with artists that are true to the festival circuit. Sometimes large ones pull in big names that they know will bring in a lot of people but they kind of lose its – I think the only way to describe it is ‘music festival vibe.’ Only people who’ve been to smaller ones and medium ones will know what that is exactly – the community vibe sort of thing.”
Nunchuck! is playing on Friday, March 4, from 8 to 9:15 p.m. in the Vibe Tent. Also playing at this time is Particle to which Jones sends a friendly challenge:
“I can guarantee with 100 percent certainty that Particle will be tighter and well-rehearsed, but…I don’t know if they’ll have as much fun as we are.”
In addition to The Disco Biscuits and Thievery Corporation, Nunchuck! will join the The New Deal, The Main Squeeze, The Werks, Snarky Puppy, Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO), The Heavy Pets Tribute to the ‘80s, American Babies and more at this year’s festival March 3 – 6.
Aura also includes more than 25 yoga classes and an extensive Silent Disco lineup with guest DJ appearances from various musicians including Scotty Zwang.
Fans of the French electronic duo Daft Punk, rejoice! Err…perhaps clap energetically. While Daft Punk rarely performs in the United States, one group that covers them, Future Rock, has recently released Daft Rock Live, a full, 13-track song featuring the very best of their live Daft Punk covers. Album releases go hand-in-hand with tours, meaning American fans can get taste of the interstellar sounds of Daft Punk right here in the United States including performances at Euphoria Fest and Electronic Forest.
Have a dance party in your living room. Future Rock’s latest release covers songs from a variety of albums spanning from Daft Punk’s debut album, Homework, released in 1997, to their most recent and Grammy-winning album, Random Access Memories.
The cover album is spot on. Future Rock loops their live drums, keys and bass to create an electronic astronomical audio journey that precisely parallels the originals of their muse. One can’t help but picture themselves with a futuristic helmet and spandex suit hurtling through space as the songs aggressively crescendo and then subside with dance-mandatory grooves.
The album begins with covers like “Robot Rock” and the frequently sampled “Technologic” from the 2005 album Human After All. Future Rock provides their own flavor to “Technologic,” the first of three Future Rock mixes on the album. “Around the World,” perhaps one Daft Punk’s more popular songs, is the fourth song on the album and covered true to original form.
The rest of the album is heavily focused on the 2001 Daft Punk release, Discovery. This album was featured in the animated film, “Interstella 555.” This includes “Crescendolls,” named after the film’s fictional protagonist band, which is teased in later songs as well as “One More Time,” although this song is not listed as a full track.
Other tracks include teases of “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” made famous to non-fans by Kanye West’s sampling in 2009. The tracks weave songs from different albums into one, as Daft Punk themselves often do during live performances. Several of the tracks include sounds of a crowd cheering and singing, reminding the listener that these are indeed live recordings.
The album ends with “Contact,” from Random Access Memories, which is uplifting, fun and the perfect ending to the audio space odyssey the listener has engaged in throughout the album. It again teases “One More Time,” reminding the listener of where they’ve been.
With repetition, intense crescendos and high-energy rhythms, Future Rock covers Daft Punk with precision that so closely resembles the real thing, it’s hard to decipher the difference when listening to the songs at parallel. Even when adding their own mix, it only adds to the thrill. Daft Rock Live leaves a craving for a live performance. If their live performances sound like this, it certainly wouldn’t feel like settling to see these guys instead of the real thing.
Key Tracks: Aerodynamic – Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, Around the World, The Prime Time Of Your Life – The Brainwasher – Rollin’ & Scratchin’
Eddie Roberts brings audible precision to the guitar, a clear indication of their jazz influence. On several occasions, the listener may become hypnotized by the steady rhythm only to be jolted back to reality by the pure skill of his craft.
Nicole Suto aka “Niki Lee” is an indie singer/songwriter living in 
We kicked off Thursday with a passionate set from Florida’s own Greenhouse Lounge at the Amphitheater Stage. The electronic trio gave it their all for their last performance as a band, while welcoming their former drummers Jason Hunnicut who now runs the 1904 Music Hall in Jacksonville and Scotty Zwang, now of Dopapod who came to Aura as an “artist at large” (AAL).
That’s right, you’re ready to take your friendship to the next level, but shorty just wants to keep it platonic. This is the mental picture I got when listening to Above Water, an independent album to be released March 8 by Long Island singer, songwriter and producer Gibbz.
“Buckle in, we’re just getting started,” Hamilton tells the crowd as he took off his pin-decorated jacket to reveal a black t-shirt with the text “9:30” in large white letters, likely from the famed club in Washington D. C. Drummer Al Smith also changed out a cymbal in preparation for what was to come.
Have a dance party in your living room. Future Rock’s latest release covers songs from a variety of albums spanning from Daft Punk’s debut album, Homework, released in 1997, to their most recent and Grammy-winning album, Random Access Memories.