Category: Photo Gallery

Dweezil Zappa and Twiddle Both Play Whatever The F#%K They Want

Canalside is one of the premier outdoor concert venues in beautiful Buffalo New York. July 7 the free concert series brought Dweezil Zappa and Twiddle into town. Bryan Johnson and Family opened the night of music on the waterfront. Their set was high energy while providing a laid back sound.

Twiddle took the stage next. They opened with Amydst The Myst. Buffalo’s own Mike Gantzer of Aqueous joined in on the fun during Apples and Indigo Trigger. The quartet from Vermont closed their set with Catapiller.

Twiddle Set List:

Amydst The Mist, Apples%, Indigo Trigger%, Catapiller

% w/ Mike Gantzer (Aqueous)

Set List Courtesy of uTwiddle

Dweezil Zappa is currently on tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Inventions debut album “Freak Out”. He paid tribute to his late father by using a replica of Frank Zappa’s Gibson Roxy SG. That 80’s medley they played halfway through the set was a trip.

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July 13, 2016
Dead and Company at Citi Field June 25-26

Dead and Company returned to New York City having first visited Madison Square Garden this past fall. Their two-night run at Citi Field was met with excellent weather, some cool breezes, the return of Donna Jean Godcheaux to the microphone, and a chance for Oteil Burbridge to sing a chorus of “Going Down The Road Feeling Bad.”

The band had previously in this tour made many song debuts not heard in the fall tour, though they broke out “Throwing Stones” for the first time.

Dead and Company’s two shows at Citi Field had some more energy than their other appearance in New York at Saratoga Performing Arts Center a week prior, though to be fair to SPAC the crowd was much bigger as was the venue. Almost a year after Mayer experienced Fare The Well from the audience, he continued his Dead and Company trend to impress Dead Heads with his growing adaptability to the Grateful Dead format and style. To the New York City crowd, Mayer’s guitar and vocal work flowed even better than at their October/November 2015 shows at Madison Square Garden.

Check out NYS Music’s gallery from the June 25 show below the setlists.

June 25: (listen on archive.org)

Set 1:
Shakedown Street*, Jack Straw, Althea, Loose Lucy*, Ramble On Rose, Sugaree*, Passenger*, Casey Jones

Set 2:
Dark Star, Friend of the Devil*, Scarlet Begonias* -> Fire on the Mountain* -> Drums# -> Space -> The Other One -> Wharf Rat -> Throwing Stones+

Encore:
Ripple, One More Saturday Night

June 26: (listen on archive.org)

Set 1:
St. Stephen, The Music Never Stopped*, Bertha*, Black-Throated Wind, Peggy-O, Box of Rain, Going Down the Road Feelin’ Bad*

Set 2:
Truckin’ -> He’s Gone*, Help on the Way* -> Slipknot! -> Franklin’s Tower* -> Drums -> Space -> Days Between, China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider*

Encore:
Samson and Delilah*

Notes:
*With Donna Jean Godcheaux
#Oteil Burbidge on marimba
+Dead and Company debut

July 12, 2016
Journey Review: When The Lights Go Down at SPAC, You Want to be The-e-er-ere

Leather-vested and sweat-covered, Neal Schon unearthed a solo that — even amid the political hatefest and madness of 2016 — could unite America. The SPAC lighting backdrop transformed into a slideshow montage of soldiers, flags and the like as the Journey founding member serenaded the crowd with an improvisation-heavy guitar rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Though the concert was the Fifth of July — not the Fourth — Schon’s tight fretwork and re-defining of the term “rock anthem” could be appreciated at anytime. Nearly 50 years into his musical career, he had not lost much in strum speed, not any in his tonal quality.

The masses hooted and hollered, as you might expect an upstate New York crowd to do for an homage to the troops, but the three-minute solo, just half an hour into Journey’s set, was far from the show’s sole highlight.

Without an unfair comparison to the voice of Steve Perry, lead singer Arnel Pineda’s vocals were rich, rangeless and did justice to the classics. The Filipino, now in his ninth year heading the band, was running and hopping around the stage like a man half his age for many of the upbeat songs — “Any Way You Want It” and “Wheel in the Sky”. In the slower, ballad-like hits — “Faithfully”, “Lights”, “Don’t Stop Believing” — he focused more on the notes, avoiding any pitch wavers a jump or leg-kick might cause to a sentimental song.

Drummer Steve Smith was an unsung hero of the Journey set. Smith, who backed the band from 1978 until 1985, through much of its heyday, rejoined the band this year after Deen Castronovo left in the fallout of a domestic violence arrest.

Smith’s rolls were precise and military-like and his cymbal work seemed effortless during his solo, about two-thirds through the band’s performance. The drummer, using a traditional grip for increased roll speed, may have delivered the best drum solo at the venue since 2013, the last time Neil Peart and Rush were in town; Smith’s work on the kit was simply incredible.

Journey was the third band in the night’s lineup, immediately preceded by fellow Bay Area group — and also fellow notable Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame snub — The Doobie Brothers.

A fan’s first observation of The Doobie Brothers taking the stage is likely the band’s size. With four men on guitars and basses across the front, two kit drummers in the back, and a saxophone and keyboard player too, the group’s look is imposing, and the sound was too.

The Doobie Brothers were not as sing-along as Journey was (do not be mistaken, there were more than a couple patrons joining in on “Black Water”), but instead were jamming more. Whereas Journey’s song interludes isolated individuals soloing on their instruments, The Doobie Brothers had more collective instrumental sections.

The first performance of the concert came from singer Dave Mason, originally of Traffic. Mason performed three of his own songs, including “We Just Disagree”, as well as three from Traffic.

Mason’s guitar playing showed little wear from the years, as he demonstrated ample ability. The singer closed his set with “All Along the Watch Tower”, originally by Bob Dylan and made famous by Jimi Hendrix.

July 12, 2016
Summer Nights: Rascal Flatts, Kelsea Ballerini and Chris Lane Heat Up Syracuse

The music of Rascal Flatts brings memories of summer cookouts, hanging by a bonfire with beers and friends and cruising down a lake in a pontoon boat, while the sounds of country music, the water lapping the hull of the boat and the motor fill the air. And the Lakeview Amphitheater in Syracuse, NY, was the perfect venue for the June 24 Rascal Flatts’ concert. The venue sits with its back to Onondaga Lake and the concert’s starting time of 7:30 p.m. made it coincide perfectly with the sunset, which gave the horizon an almost picturesque rose-colored tint.

Dressed in a tight, white T-shirt and wearing rounded vintage sunglasses, Chris Lane opened the show and brought many ladies to their feet with his laid-back weekend party jam, “Saturday Night.” Keeping the crowd pumped up by asking “Syracuse, are y’all ready to celebrate the weekend or what?! Let’s do it!,” he continued his set with his pop-driven love ballads, “Her Own Kind of Beautiful”and “Who’s it Gonna Be.” Lane showed his musical range and that he knew how to play to his target audience, by including covers of classic boyband anthems such as the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” and ‘N Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye.” Lane finished his set with his latest single, from the album of the same title, “Fix.”

After a short break, new-comer Kelsea Ballerini continued the show. Ballerini released her first album in 2014 and has been touted by many industry experts as the next Taylor Swift. The fact that Ballerini is a tall, beautiful blonde with a smile bright enough to almost make this photographer have to lower the brightness settings on his camera, certainly helps her comparison to Country superstars Swift and Carrie Underwood. Ballerini is also one of only five women to score number-one hits on the Billboard Country Airplay Charts with their first two charted singles. Ballerini’s talent was further recognized when in 2016, she won the Academy of Country Music award for “Female Vocalist Of The Year.” Watching her vocal range, great energy and enthusiasm as she belted out “Yeah Boy,” “Dibs” and “Looking at Stars,” one could see that the hype surrounding her career was definitely warranted. Ballerini kept the crowd engaged between songs by encouraging us to sing-along with her, telling us about her first heartbreak, holding hands and even taking selfies with the crowd. Unsurprisingly, the crowd seemed to especially respond to Ballerini’s two hits, the upbeat “Love Me Like You Mean It” and “Peter Pan.” Great things are to be expected from Ms. Ballerini in the coming years.

Following a short period, which allowed the stage crew set up for the next act behind a large black curtain, Rascal Flatts took the stage to the cheers of the crowd. They kicked off their set with the same song that had been in my head since I arrived at the Lakeview Amphitheater earlier that day, “Summer Nights.” Lead singer Gary LeVox’s ability to hit the highest notes did not fail to impress. The concert was filled with shout outs to Syracuse, high fives/hand holding with the members of the audience, and on several occasions, Levox would take one of the many phones being held up by the fans in the front rows, turn around and take a selfie with the crowd in the background, before handing the phone back to the lucky fan. The group even ventured into new musical territory and in honor of the late, great Prince, played “Purple Rain.” The group wound down their set with the hit designed to honor their hordes of fans over the years, “Here’s To You,” before leaving the stage for a short time and returning for an encore with one of their biggest hits, “Me and My Gang.” Chris Lane and Kelsea Ballerini joined them on stage at this point creating a memorable grand finale.

Rascal Flatts Setlist: Summer Nights, I Like the Sound of That, Banjo, Come Wake Me Up/I Melt/I Won’t Let Go, Life Is a Highway, Why Wait, Stand, Bless the Broken Road/Open Arms (Journey cover), Rewind, Fast Cars and Freedom, Purple Rain (Prince cover), Love You Out Loud, My Wish, Take Me There, What Hurts the Most, Here’s To You

Encore : Me and My Gang

July 11, 2016
Phish in Hartford July 9 2016

Phish stopped in Hartford on Saturday July 9 for the penultimate show of the Northeast leg.

The first set featured a fantastic “Meat”, “Vultures” > “Free” segment which was the anchor while a “You Enjoy Myself” set closer kept the crowd buzzing all setbreak. The “Down with Disease” to open the second set took a bit for them to find their footing, but once they did it was worth the wait. “Sand” was funked out and led into a stellar version of “Tela,” with Trey nailing the solo. A “Lizards” encore is always a perfect choice and sent the crowd into the night with smiles on their faces.

Setlist via Phish.net

Set 1: Pigtail, The Moma Dance, Birds of a Feather, Meat, Vultures > Free, Let me Lie, Halley’s Comet > Julius, You Enjoy Myself[1]

Set 2: Down with Disease^[2] > Sand > Tela, Carini > Twenty Years Later > Run Like an Antelope > Backwards Down the Number Line

Encore: The Lizards, Loving Cup

[1] Trey on Marimba Lumina, Page on bass, Mike on keys for portion of the jam.
[2] Unfinished.

July 11, 2016
Dave Matthews Band Gets Sexy With Sold Out Lakeview Amphitheater

Dave Matthews Band brought an eclectic mix of its unique catalog of songs and covers to an enthusiastic crowd of 17,500 at the Lakeview Amphitheater in Syracuse on Wednesday June 22. The show marks the first sold out show at the newly opened amphitheater.

Fans were a bit apprehensive about the traffic, the no tailgating policy and the venue’s ability to handle the large crowd, but the venue seemed to do a good job managing traffic. Shuttles were running constantly to and from alternate parking locations as far away as downtown Syracuse. The no tailgating policy was generously overlooked. People were having a good time enjoying a few drinks but it didn’t appear that anyone was out of control. However, a no pop-up tent and no grill policy was strictly enforced. Some lighting could be added to improve visibility toward the exits and in the parking lots and they definitely need to add some additional porta-potties. The sound quality and the views are the best I’ve experienced compared to other amphitheaters in the northeast.

Dave Matthews Band took the stage around 8:30 and opened with their classic tune “Warehouse,” followed by “When the World Ends” and mega hit “Crash Into Me.” It seemed as if every single person in the audience knew every song as they belted out the words with every breath. The audience continued singing and dancing through “Don’t Drink the Water.” The band slowed things down with “Stay or Leave” and immediately got the crowd revved up again with fan favorite “#41,” where Boyd Tinsley had the audience cheering as he showcased his awe inspiring violin skills.

As the band is currently on tour celebrating their 25th anniversary before they go on a hiatus in 2017, they had no problem celebrating as fans jumped up and down, pumped their fists and occasionally took the lead singing parts of songs. At one point the fans lead a chant of “Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself,” to which Matthews took a step back and treated the audience to his trademark impish grin and eyebrow raise.

Between songs, Matthews was relatively quiet, thanking the audience and remarking about the beauty of the venue. He did leave fans hopeful by stating, “I hope we can come back here and play for y’all again sometime.” The celebration continued as the band paced through a nineteen song set. Stefan Lessard rocked a beautiful six string bass for the occasion. Carter Beauford, smiling as always, pounded the drums so fast at some points it looked like his hands were vibrating. Guitarist Tim Reynolds zipped up and down the fret board, producing intricate and unique sounds while making it look completely effortless.

Jeff Coffin (saxophone) and Rashawn Ross (trumpet) were joined by saxophonist and old friend, Sam Kininger. Kininger has played with Ross in Lettuce and Soulive’s Shady Horns Section. The horn section showed they are more than just an accompaniment as they blared in perfect harmony through “What Would You Say” and “Jimi Thing.”

Matthews showed his silly side as he borrowed a party hat from an audience member and wore it through the band’s almost hilarious version of Prince cover “Sexy Mother F*cker” to end the main part of the set. You would think that after almost two and a half hours that the fans would start to fade, but instead they roared, cheered and many chanted their “wish list” song hoping the band would oblige and play it during the encore. Shouts of “Two Step,” “Halloween,” and “Watchtower” rang out over the deafening cheers of the crowd. It is this intense level of excitement and anticipation that proves why Dave Matthews Band is a summer ritual for so many fans.

The band took a short break and ended the evening with a two song encore that included “The Song That Jane Likes” and fan favorite “Tripping Billies.” Carter Beauford tossed out buckets of drum sticks as fans roared and begged for more.

Set list:

Warehouse, When the World Ends, Crash Into Me, Sugar Will, Don’t Drink the Water, Stay or Leave, #41, Samurai Cop, Grey Street, Satellite, Break Free, Lie in Our Graves, Shake Me Like a Monkey, Typical Situation, What Would You Say (with Sam Kininger), Jimi Thing (with Sam Kininger), Sexy M.F. (Prince cover) (with Sam Kininger)

Encore:

The Song that Jane Likes, Tripping Billies

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June 29, 2016
Phish Takes on Wrigley Field

Phish made its Wrigley Field debut this weekend and what a debut it was. Among the many highlights on Friday were a powerful first set “Sand,” and a “Down with Disease” > “Fuego” > “Twist” that started the second set off as strong as you could ask. Night 2 brought the return of “Fluffhead,” which was found after the one-two punch of “Carini” > “Tweezer.”

A new song “Miss You” debuted, as well as an acapella version of Bowie’s “Space Oddity”, with a “Run Like an Antelope” that followed for a “Space Antelope” encore on Friday. Phish returns to The Mann Music Center in Philadelphia, PA tonight.

Friday, 6/24/2016, Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Set 1: Sample in a Jar, Chalk Dust Torture, Martian Monster > Rift, Yarmouth Road, Sand, Miss You[1], The Wedge, Free > Blaze On
Set 2: Down with Disease[2] > Fuego > Twist > Twenty Years Later > Waste > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Backwards Down the Number Line, Loving Cup
Encore: Space Oddity[3], Run Like an Antelope

[1] Debut.
[2] Unfinished.
[3] Phish debut; a capella.

Saturday, 6/25/2016, Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Set 1: The Moma Dance, AC/DC Bag > 555, Waiting All Night, Heavy Things, Happy Birthday to You, 46 Days, I Didn’t Know, Divided Sky, Cavern > Good Times Bad Times
Set 2: Carini > Tweezer > Fluffhead > Piper -> Steam > Wading in the Velvet Sea, Harry Hood > Tweezer Reprise
Encore: I Am the Walrus

Setlists via Phish.net

June 28, 2016
Fitz & The Tantrums Dance the Night Away

American neo-soul and indie-pop band, Fitz & The Tantrums strutted into Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park on June 23 to a large crowd of 18 and under kids accompanied by parents who for the most part stayed near the back of the venue.

The Los Angeles band, fresh off the Firefly Festival in Dover the weekend before, dominated the stage from the start in support of their third and self-titled album, Fitz & the Tantrums featuring “HandClap.”

Michael Fitzpatrick and Noelle Scaggs delighted the energetic crowd during their 19-song set, which included the band’s classics “Out Of My League,” “Money Grabber,” “Walker” and “6 AM.” Although the band’s style has progressively changed over the past few years, there’s no denying their stage presence and dedicated fan base.

Opening the night were fellow Californians, Finish Ticket. Signed back in 2014, the band performed a surprisingly hypnotic set which even included a cover of the Killers’, “When You Were Young.”

Fitz & The Tantrums Set List:

Get Right Back
Spark
Don’t Gotta Work It Out
Out Of My League
Run It
Breaking The Walls
Breakin’ The Chains of Love
Walking Target
Complicated
Fools Gold
Roll Up
Do What You Want
Money Grabber
Tricky
Burn It Down
L.O.V.
HandClap
6AM
Walker

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June 28, 2016
Rochester Jazzfest Visuals: Erykah Badu at Kodak Theater

Fans of legendary R&B artist Erykah Badu got to spend an extra hour and a half getting to know each other outside Rochester’s picturesque Kodak Hall at Eastman Center as the 8:00 p.m. scheduled show was delayed due to flight issues.

As the lights dropped around 9:30 p.m. Miss Badu’s band took the stage and quickly entered into a smooth jazzy jam for about ten minutes as the anticipation grew. Badu finally took the stage to a roar and portrayed her vocal mastery through a mishmash of hits and deep cuts deep into the evening hours. A few songs into the set she paused to reflect on her last trip to Rochester many years before and invited the crowd to come down and join her by the stage.

With no soundcheck, no time to prepare, and basically walking from a plane onto the stage, Badu proved her superstar status with an impeccable and flawless performance that will live on until she graces Rochesterian’s with her awe-inspiring presence again.

Rochester Jazz Festival, 2016.

Jazzfest continues all week long with Chick Corea (Tues. June 28), Bruce Hornsby (Wed. June 29), Chris Botti (Thurs. June 30) and Greg Allman (Fri. July 1) filling out the remainder of the Kodak Hall schedule. Check out the full schedule here.

June 27, 2016
50 Years of SPAC: Mumford & Sons Sells Out Saratoga’s Historic Venue

Mumford & Sons brought an eclectic, sold-out show to Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, June 15, making it the first sold-out show of SPAC’s 50th season. The band’s set covered predominantly songs from their 2015 album Wilder Mind, while also throwing in hits from their more folk-influenced debut Sigh No More.

Mumford & Sons opened with “Snake Eyes,” soon after followed by “Little Lion Man,” bringing the entirety of the audience to their feet. As Marcus Mumford sang the chorus, it was often difficult to discern his voice from the shouts of the crowd singing along. The audience continued singing and standing through the close of “Little Lion Man,” into “Below My Feet,” off the band’s second album Babel.

Marcus Mumford was energetic and engaged throughout: perhaps most impressively, he often swapped from playing guitar to drums, such as in “Lover of the Light.” Between songs, the band sparingly addressed the crowd, occasionally invoking some humor by bringing up topics such as the Euros.

In the middle of the set, the band was joined on stage by Senegalese performer Baaba Maal, who sang two songs with Mumford & Sons. Maal took the vocals on “Si tu veux,” and then swapped vocals, singing with Mumford on “There Will Be Time.” The audience was less engaged during this portion of the set, perhaps from not yet knowing the songs, but most remained standing throughout.

“The Cave” soon followed Maal’s exit, capturing the crowd fully, again making Mumford’s voice hard to discern from the singing along. As “The Cave” blended into “Ditmas,” Mumford left the stage to run up the aisles and through the lawn, before returning for “Dust Bowl Dance,” once again taking up the drums, as sparks poured down behind the band.

The band played a four song encore, joined again by Baaaba Maal,” before closing with “I Will Wait,” and “The Wolf.”

While many older songs such as “Little Lion Man,” “The Cave,” “White Blank Page,” and “Dust Bowl Dance” received the most prominent singing along and ovations, reactions to new songs such as “The Wolf” and “Ditmas” demonstrated that fans are still committed to Mumford & Sons evolving sound.

Johannesburg, a five-track collaborative “mini album” with Baaba Maal, recorded during the band’s 2016 South African tour, was released June 17.

Set list: Snake Eyes, Little Lion Man, Below My Feet, Monster, White Blank Page, Lover of the Light, Tompkins Square Park, Believe, Ghosts That We Knew, Si tu veux (with Baaba Maal), There Will Be Time (with Baaba Maal), The Cave, Ditmas, Dust Bowl Dance

Encore: Hot Gates, Wona (with Baaba Maal), I Will Wait, The Wolf

June 20, 2016