Category: Features

New York Minute: A Chat With Jess Novak

Jess Novak is young, talented and so full of soul that it’s sometimes tough to remember she’s just a regular girl. A girl who has recorded multiple albums, performed nearly 300 shows, has participated in triathlons, has sung the National Anthem at the Carrier Dome and is an award-winning journalist. Oh, and she’s also done some modeling and has donated some of her time to go in Syracuse schools and enrich the kids with her music. The list goes on and on.

In 2011 and 2012, the New Jersey-born Novak, who is a trained violinist and plays guitar and has a heavenly powerful voice, started jamming with friends in Syracuse while she was the music writer for the Syracuse New Times. In 2013, she met Brian D. Golden, a super talented blues guitarist with a raspy, deep voice whose influences span the entire rock genre.

They soon recorded Bad Habit, Novak’s first solo album, with Mark Nanni (Los Blancos) on keys and Byron Cage on drums. In October of last year, the Duo released Rodeo.

Novak said the Duo is working on its next record, while she is also working on her next solo jaunt.

NYSMusic caught up with the busy singer to talk about everything from the importance of collaboration, to her favorite venue and even fielded a marriage proposal.

Neil Benjamin Jr.: You are having a lot of success both solo and with your various groups (Golden Novak Duo, GNBand, GNTrio). How do you fit in a personal life with an incessant touring schedule?

Jess Novak: Yes! It’s been so exciting watching The Golden Novak Band, Duo and Trio grow in a very short time. I still can’t believe we founded the band in the summer of 2014. The duo (including trio and band shows) is coming in around 270 shows annually and I’ve been doing more solo shows, too. Honestly, I don’t have much of a personal life, but it helps that my best friends are in the band! It also works out because so much of touring is about the time between shows. Golden and I, especially, have seen so much of the East Coast at this point. It’s really amazing. I feel my personal life and love are all mixed up with my passion and livelihood and that can be a great thing. I’m really lucky. … and somehow I still manage to fit in my favorite things – like reading Star Wars novels.

(Click here to see all of Novak’s upcoming schedule.)

NBJ: Tell me about Brian Golden. You two seem to have incredible musical chemistry. Can we get a glimpse of how you two work together?

JN: I was just talking about this with a friend. The beauty of Golden and I is that we are the right combination. I’m a control freak and he is game for anything. I think people struggle for control too often and the key to a good relationship of any kind is allowing things to be. You have to let the other person to be themselves, and furthermore, celebrate them for it. We’re so lucky that our personalities complement one another. I’m also big on all things natural. If something doesn’t click – you can’t force it and I think that’s especially apparent in music. Golden and I clicked from the moment we met. I picked him out as the player I wanted to work with and we have ever since. It was completely natural and continues to be an art of working together to bring out the best in each other. Beyond that – our music is completely dependent on our friendship. If that suffers, the music does, so we work really hard to be good to each other. That’s a great thing and comes through in the performance. I also feel lucky to have found someone I can travel with for 45 days – SOLID – at a time. That’s amazing and rare. The key is most definitely laughter and we do a TON of that. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s the best guitar player I know. I have tremendous respect for him – another key to a great relationship.

NBJ: You’ve become a force in CNY music scene and have worked with so many artists. Do you find it rewarding to work with so many talents?

JN: Collaboration is key. I just heard a quote recently – if you want to go far, go alone. If you want to go further, go together. That is the truth and people will see that from me more than ever this year (exciting things on the way!). I have a whole new project in the works that will involve a completely different group of people and the GNB family grows all the time. You learn something from everyone you meet and work with if you just keep yourself open to it. You can only benefit from working with others even if the experience is negative. I’ve been so lucky to be in different bands and learn different styles – like with Shining Star Band, sitting in on Mark Nanni and The Intention’s jazz night, RESPECT, The Ameribeat Orchestra, Vinyl Albums Live, etc. – and that’s just it. I’ve learned something from every experience and from every person. New relationships mean new ideas, new growth and new possibilities. That’s what it’s all about. It’s the most rewarding thing I do and I improve constantly because of it. It’s also important to stay humble and working with people better than you ALL the time will definitely keep you modest.

NBJ: Tell me some names in the local scene that we may not know yet, but that you think will emerge in the near future.

JN: I really enjoyed Liz Canino’s record, Mercy. I always love hearing from other female musicians. I’m also a big fan of Major Player and Spring Street Family Band. Those guys are troopers and are working so hard to make it happen. I admire that (and they’re fun to dance to).

NBJ: What is your favorite venue to play and why?

JN: Whammy Bar in Calais, VT is like visiting family. I absolutely adore the vibe of that place and everyone there. We actually have a guy sit in with us on a brown paper bag there and it’s amazing. Once we battled – I played the cup and he played the bag. We also had a great time at the Pooler, Georgia World of Beer on this last tour. I closed the night with an acapella version of a Tenacious D song that I’m not sure you can print the title of here. It was amazing. There are great venues and people everywhere – most often where you least expect them.

NBJ: Is Nanni ever going to shave that beard?

JN: Not as long as I have something to say about it! That thing is a work of art! In my opinion – best beard in the world. ….though I may be a little biased.

NBJ: Will you marry me?

JN: You might have to fight a few people for that one 🙂

Here’s a professionally shot video for the remix of the Golden Novak Band’s “Rat a Tat,” which features many of Novak’s friends.

And here’s an inside look at Novak and Golden inside the recording studio in Norwich, complete with interviews and insight on the pair’s songs. (Warning: Golden’s fingers move at warp speed, so don’t blink.)

March 7, 2016
Geoff Tate Brings Operation: Mindcrime To The Westcott Theater

After exiting Queensryche in 2012, vocalist Geoff Tate has kept busy by continuing to make new music and touring. On Thursday, March 3rd, Geoff brought his band Operation: Mindcrime to the Westcott Theater in Syracuse for a headlining performance.

As the only act of the night, Geoff and Operation: Mindcrime took the stage at the Westcott shortly after 8PM. The band kicked off the night with “Neue Regel”, a Queensryche song off of the Rage For Order album from 1986. With Rage For Order being out for 30 years now, it was appropriate for Geoff to play “Screaming In Digital” as the second song of the night. These two songs got the crowd right up out of their seats and up to the barrier in front of the stage. Geoff’s band seemed to get in the groove of things as the crowd showed their love for the music.

Geoff Tate

Just after the two song intro, Geoff took time to address the crowd and express his gratitude. After the short break, the band got back into things with songs such as “I Am I” and “I Don’t Believe In Love”. The band’s choice of songs for the evening stretched over the entire Queensryche catalog it seemed. The die-hard fans knew all the material, while the casual fans knew all the words to songs like “I Don’t Believe In Love” and other hits but not songs from the lesser known albums such as Hear In The Now Frontier and American Soldier.

For the next portion of the show, Geoff and his band performed a few songs acoustically. The acoustic set consisted of songs, “Jet City Woman”, “Take Hold Of The Flame”, “Silent Lucidity” and “The Weight Of The World”. While hearing those songs in a different form was new and fresh for some people in the audience, others hoped to hear Geoff blast out the powerful notes of “Take Hold Of The Flame”. Unfortunately, Geoff seems to know his vocal limitations nowadays and simply does what he can. Changing the songs wasn’t necessarily a bad thing because the audience still sung along and seemed to really enjoy the show. The rest of the guys in Operation: Mindcrime stayed true to most of the Queensryche material by only making some minimal changes here and there.

Operation: Mindcrime Acoustic

Last year, Operation: Mindcrime released their first of a series of three albums. The first album is titled, The Key, and the band jammed through four songs off of it. The songs Geoff and the band chose to perform from The Key were excellent. The four of them consisted of, “Re-Inventing The Future”, “The Stranger”, “Burn”, and “The Fall”. It’s apparent that Geoff was going back to his roots on The Key with the progressive metal sound. For instance, “The Fall”, is a track that sounds like it could be right off of a Dream Theater album and the fans definitely enjoyed hearing this song live.

The evening ended with a bunch more Queensryche classics such as “Walk In The Shadows”, “Eyes Of A Stranger”, and “Empire”. Fans were left wanting more after the surprising “evening with” performance by Operation: Mindcrime. Overall, the band sounded great and Geoff’s interpretation on his old Queensryche tunes produced a great show that everyone in the audience seemed to thoroughly enjoy.

Since the band has two more albums scheduled within the next year or so, fans of Geoff Tate can look forward to him coming back to the area in the near future. To keep track of Geoff’s schedule and album progress, fans can check his official Facebook Page and the official Operation: Mindcrime Facebook Page.

Setlist: Neue Regel, Screaming In Digital, I Am I, One More Time Around, I Don’t Believe In Love, SpOOL, At 30,000 Ft, Jet City Woman, Take Hold Of The Flame, Silent Lucidity, The Weight Of The World, Re-Inventing The Future, The Stranger, Burn, The Fall, Damaged, Walk In The Shadows, Eyes Of A Stranger, Breaking The Silence, Empire

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March 7, 2016
Not Your Momma’s Country – Brantley Gilbert’s Blackout Tour Doesn’t Disappoint

As Brantley Gilbert’s Blackout Tour rolled into the Turning Stone Casino this past week, Central New Yorkers came out in droves to see the hard core country rocker perform.

Starting promptly at 7pm, the Event Center at The Turning Stone was packed to the gills with rowdy fans. It was a pleasure to see the center utilized to it’s fullest capacity, confirming the importance of the venue to the area and the musical acts that bring them out. Brantley Gilbert is not your every day run of the mill act though. On the road with Brian Davis, Michael Ray, and Canaan Smith for the Blackout Tour, the opening acts definitely set the momentum for the night.

Brian Davis, a relative newcomer to the crowd set up his acoustic set front and center with a stool, guitar, and red solo cup. Thanking everyone for welcoming him, he proceeded to share a few songs, a few cheers, and few sips with the crowd. Although the set was short, it was sweet, and a taste of what is to come from this performer in the near future.

Michael Ray who Central New Yorker’s may recall opened for Carrie Underwood in 2014 at the Great New York State Fair, took the stage next. Wowing them that night with Underwood, he has since climbed the charts and made a lasting impression on everyone who has had a chance to see him over the last few years. A definite crowd favorite, Michael Ray and his entire band know how to crank it up and get the party started. Most impressive to me about this young man was his willingness to connect with fans spending a good deal of time signing hats, taking selfies, and shaking hands. Artists that take the time with their fans are class acts in my book, and puts them head and shoulders above the rest.

Next up was Canaan Smith. Never seeing Canaan Smith before, he can definitely be described as one ramped up, knee buckling, country boy, that has a special knack for reaching his audiences through his music and dynamic stage presence. Whether it’s a sultry ballad or hair raising boot scooting medley, Canaan has a way of reaching inside you and touching a part of you while he’s singing. Watching him on stage was like watching a thunderstorm roll in with it’s quiet lighting in the distance, turning into a thundering and lightening induced downpour. His apparent respect for those in the service was saluted through a full size flag being waved through the air, and the storm only ended when the final drum beat rang out and the storm flew off the stage in the form of a full sized drum. If you haven’t heard of this young man yet, mark my words, this rock star cowboy will definitely grab your attention.

As the lights went down, and the video began tor roll, Brantley Gilbert takes you along on a ride throughout the countryside on the back of his motorcycle. Amped up attendees went crazy as the momentum built for the band and Brantley to take the stage, and rightly so. Brantley Gilbert isn’t your every day normal country musician. He has a clear vision for what he wants his music to be. This no holds bar entertainer spoke to the crowd about not giving in to business politics, staying true to himself and his vision. Only thing he gave was the finger, and a song called “Grown Ass Man” that demonstrates his true character and strength and not caving to business expectations. To him, it’s about the music.

Brantley doesn’t follow the crowd by any means, he lives in his hometown in Georgia with his new wife, Amber, making a life for them outside of the spot light. As he began to sing “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do”, a song inspired by his wife, he told the audience “that was the best day of my life” as a the video clip began to roll and a glimpse inside the personal lives of Brantley and Amber were shared on the screen behind him. It’s this personal peek into who Brantley is, that tells you he’s a modern day Merle Haggard or Hank Williams Jr. He’s man that believes wholeheartedly in personal rights, family, friends, and faith and he doesn’t care if you agree because that just how he rolls.

Don’t get me wrong though, he’s a softy too. As the show came to a close he had his security guard bring a young Ariana Star Levin on stage. Little did Brantley know that this was the first concert for this young lady (well first that she remembered if you don’t count seeing Willie Nelson at the age of two) and he was one of her all time favorite country musicians.

Ariana’s Aunt Audreanna had been given two VIP ticket’s as a gift and was going to bring Ariana’s mom, Christina Trainham, but knowing that her daughter was huge fan, she gave up her ticket to the sold out show and decked Ariana out in a Brantley Gilbert t-shirt that said “Bottoms Up” and sent her off to see her hero. Before the end of the night, Ariana would be on stage singing along with Brantley to “Bottoms Up” and rocking it like a true rock star she is.

I would be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to Brantley’s band. Surrounding himself on stage with the best musicians out there you’ll find Noah Henson (of Pillar) on guitar, Ben Sims on drums, Jess Franklin ( the bandleader) on lead guitar, slide guitar, banjo, keyboard, and background vocals, Stephen Lewis on bass guitar and background vocals, and Mr. B.J. Golden a multi-instrumentalist on keyboards, mandolin, guitar, etc . etc. These men do not appear to be what you anticipate a country band to look or sound like. Metal describes them better with the dreadlocks, spiked hair, and a bandleader that can pass as Tommy Shaw’s doppelganger. Had to seriously do a double take a few times. One of my favorite moments of the evening thought was B.J. Golden playing opposite of Noah Henson and shaking his beard back and forth like Noah does his dreads. Epic moment. The fun they have on stage performing for the audience is apparent and definitely deserves mentioning.

All in all this was definitely not your run of the mill country show. The performances of the evening were sure electric, and were sure to win over any skeptics. Brantley Gilbert’s Blackout Tour is not your momma’s country music folks. It’s a true rocking event that is a must see to appreciate.

Brian Davis Set List: Hurt Like Hell Yeah, You And Me Against The World, and I Earned This Beer

Michael Ray Set List: Another Girl, Run Away With You (Big & Rich cover), Look Like This, Kiss You in the Morning. Everything In Between, This Love, Dust on the Bottle (David Lee Murphy cover), Drivin’ All Night (Jake Owen cover),and Real Men Love Jesus

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Canaan Smith Set List : Getting Into, Two Lane Road, Hole In a Bottle, Love At First, One of Those, Fire/Iris(Goo Goo Dolls cover), American Muscle, and Love You Like That

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Brantley Gilbert Set List: Read Me My Rights, Hell on Wheels, If You Want A Bad Boy, Dirt Road Anthem (Colt Ford cover), Stone Cold Sober, My Kinda Party, That Was Us, My Baby’s Guns N’ Roses, You Don’t Know Her Like I Do, Country Must Be Country Wide, Grown Ass Man (Acoustic), Them Boys (Acoustic), Outlaw Women (Hank Williams, Jr. cover), Small Town Throwdown (With Canaan Smith and Michael Ray), One Hell of an Amen, Take It Outside, and Kick It in the Sticks
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March 6, 2016
Reel Big Fish Tear Up Higher Ground

It wasn’t the ‘90s, but it sure felt like it when Reel Big Fish skanked up Burlington’s Higher Ground. It’s been 25 years since the band got its start, and they’re definitely making the most of this significant anniversary.

The age range in the Higher Ground Ballroom on Feb. 5 was surprising. My friend and I, who saw Reel Big Fish together in high school in the ‘90s, expected everyone there to be our age or older, but it seems the band is still drawing younger audiences as plenty of the kids in attendance seemed to be in their 20s or younger.

The show began with a set by a California band called the Maxies. Band members all wore creepy masks as they said purposely offensive things, made fun of the headliner and played a song about how they were better than your favorite band. They also did a really touching rendition of the All-4-One classic “I Swear,” complete with the lead singer reaching out a hand to the audience. It was entertaining, but a little too heavy on shtick and light on talent.

Next up was Suburban Legends. The band out of California’s Orange County got the show going in the right direction with some peppy ska. The lead singer, who has a seriously impressive mustache, oozed energy, and the rest of the band wasn’t exactly sitting around. They jumped around onstage, and they carried out a serious amount of choreographed moves — little things like walking left then walking right at the same time, but it was still a lot to do while also playing instruments and singing and all that those things entail.

Sadly, this band, which has a complicated background, announced in December 2015 that the 40-day tour with Reel Big Fish would likely be their last tour, but they left things open to the possibility of touring again after a break.

But they definitely had fun that night in Burlington. In addition to fun originals, Suburban Legend played a wide variety of hilarious covers like “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” and songs from Disney’s The Little Mermaid. They recently released an EP full of covers from animated movies, but their most recent album is called Forever in the Friend Zone, and they played a few tunes from that record as well. All in all, the set was the perfect way to get pumped up for Reel Big Fish.

And finally, the ska legends took the stage. Reel Big Fish launched right in with one of their hits, “Everything Sucks,” with a vengeance not always seen by bands who have been touring for 25 years.

Reel Big Fish, from Huntington Beach, California, is currently made up of Aaron Barrett on vocals and guitar, Billy Kottage on trombone, John Christianson on trumpet, Ed Smokey Beach on drums, Derek Gibbs on bass, and Matt Appleton on saxophone and vocal harmonies. Barrett is the only member of the band who remains from the founding lineup, which started as a Led Zeppelin cover band. They grew to success in the ‘90s and early 2000s, but since then they have become more of a band with a cult following, according to their wikipedia page.

The current band lineup is great — each musician has tons of character and they’re really entertaining to watch.

The band seems keenly aware of what fuels their popularity, playing plenty of songs from the albums that made them famous, especially Turn the Radio Off. The setlist bounced around between the band’s eight albums, but it started and ended with Turn the Radio Off hits. Toward the end of the show, they said they were going to play their big hit from the ’90s, and they launched into Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” for a few moments. Then they went through a few other ’90s hits, teasing the crowd, including Lit’s “My Own Worst Enemy” and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones‘ “Knock on Wood.” Then finally, they played the song everyone had been waiting for, “Sell Out.”

The encore consisted of a newer song, “Everyone Else is an Asshole,” before dipping back into TTRO with “Beer.” Then to end the show, they played a-ha’s “Take On Me,” which got Reel Big Fish 15 minutes of fame when they played their rendition of it in the movie BASEketball.

Overall the show was wholly satisfying. There was plenty of nostalgia but also had a good amount of newer material, and the band’s electric energy kept the crowd going all night. It’s impossible to stand still when Reel Big Fish is throwing it down on stage.

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March 6, 2016
Anders Osborne Beams at The Westcott Theater

On a night capping off a daylong deluge in Upstate New York, it was all rays of sunshine inside the Westcott Theater when Anders Osborne and Tom Hamilton’s American Babies took the stage. The two guitarists are both at the top of their game and were showing why to the well-packed and exuberant crowd.

American Babies got things started with their unique blend of Americana and electronica, showcasing Tom Hamilton’s history, present and future together in one jam-happy presentation. Classics like “Tangled Up in Blue” started in the Jerry Garcia Band style before evolving slowly into an electronica-based section. While the first single off their forthcoming album, “Synth Driver,” exhibited the electronica influence early before mellowing into a spacey improv.

After a solid hour-long set, the band thanked the audience and exited the stage while the house music took over. Seconds later, with no prompting from the crowd, the band came back out, “They said we can play some more.” And that they did! Another 30 minutes brought unexpected highlights like a lengthy “Old Time Religion” > “Joeline” combo, and a “What Does it Mean To Be” that blasted toward the finish line with a rocking jam. It was 50% more American Babies! What a deal.

With set-opening “Five Bullets,” Anders Osborne and his band were “coming in hot!” as a member of the crowd aptly called out. Osborne smiled and pointed, repeating, “We’re coming in hot!” In previous years he might have started high and kept the energy high all night. With his current band, featuring his long-time bass player Carl Dufrene, Brady Blade on drums, Eric McFadden on guitar and mandolin, and Danny Eisenberg on keys, he was able to put together quite a dynamic set.

Surrounding himself with such incredible players, Osborne wasn’t required to stand front and center every song playing blistering solo after solo. And because the band was so good, that was actually not a bad thing.

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Things were immediately taken down a notch with “47,” where Osborne’s recent forays with Phil Lesh’s band came to the fore in a beautiful reserved Jerry Garcia-esque jam. More Dead-influence was showcased in “Dyin’ Days” that featured some excellent work by McFadden playing off Osborne. The song wound its way up to ferociously before erupting into a quick “Down By the River” finish that left the crowd wondering if the set was already peaking three songs in.

With the bouncy blues of “Lafayette” and slow-building “Pontchartrain” from Osborne’s forthcoming album, it was clear this band still left room for surprises. Each song brought it’s own unique flavor, steeped in Louisiana’s musical cuisine.

Tom Hamilton and his backing rhythm guitarist Raina Mullen joined just Osborne and a mandolin-wielding McFadden for a mostly acoustic take on “Friend of the Devil.” Then McFadden and Osborne continued acoustically to play “Coming Down” as a duo. with Osborne scatting along with his guitar and McFadden trading licks on the mandolin.

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The slinky reggae groover “Sarah Anne,” took a turn when Dufrene stepped to the front and blasted the groove into a dark space. A full-band improv ensued that could best be described as a beautifully controlled madness. It set your arm hair at attention. Osborne clearly felt it too. As soon as the song ended, he raised his arms in victory, looking excitedly around at his band. After a couple mid-set hugs, he stepped to the mic with a huge grin, “What is this place? Why haven’t we played here before? This is my favorite gig of the whole tour!”

The joy continued when they came back out for the encore. Osborne expressed his appreciation for the crowd, telling of his battles with addiction and how he’s built himself back up over the past seven years. This show, and the crowd’s enthusiasm, were vindication for all his hard work. He was truly excited about the amazing reception he was getting. On this rainy Syracuse evening. it truly was all sunshine on the inside.

Setlist: Five Bullets, 47, Dyin’ Days, Lafayette, Pontchartrain, Lean On Me/Believe In You, Friend of the Devil*, Coming Down, Move Back To Mississippi, Sarah Anne, Windows, Send Me A Friend
Encore: Call On Me

*with Tom Hamilton on guitar and Raina Mullen on vocals

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March 5, 2016
Hearing Aide: Funktional Flow ‘Time Will Tell’

Buffalo’s Funktional Flow is starting to gain momentum. The start of 2015 saw the band undergo line-up changes. By the end of the year, Flow (as they are simply called by their fans) was in the studio recording their latest release Time Will Tell. The band has just under six years in the city’s emerging jam scene, but they are a prominent force in Buffalo’s budding community. Time Will Tell is a reflection of that.

The band’s latest release is an amazing representation of what Funktional Flow has become known for in the Queen City – organic funk fusion. They create a swirling blend of funk rhythms laced with Americana. Hints of folk, rock and bluegrass pour from the guitar work of Jeffrey Kuebler and Joey Lewis. Matt Lester adds his own variety of swing style keys and saxophone jazz elements to the mix. Bassist Ben Whelan and drummer Jim Edgar head up the band’s moniker funk sound with a solid foundation of groove and drive.

Time Will Tell is Funktional Flow’s coming of age album. Recorded and produced at Sonic Farm Studios in Colden, NY, the album is a glimpse into a group of musicians with no restrictions on their artistry. The album is varied from personal and upbeat, to relaxed and driven. With producers Dan Brace, Scott Nadolinski and Nick Sonricker, Funktional Flow have created a recorded look into a sound that is distinctly their own.

Of the albums twelve tracks, “Back Door” is by far the most successful. It’s an earworm. The kind of song you want to listen to on repeat. It has the qualities of a song that gets people to listen to a band later simply because they want to hear “that” song again. With a catchy chorus and a definitive groove, “Back Door” may just be the song to launch Funktional Flow out of the Western New York scene.

“Strong Feeling” could be the album’s most overlooked track, with a 90’s fusion that playfully captures the best of the decade’s sounds of ska, jam and college rock.

Songs like “Moving On” and “Time Will Tell” are the true showcase pieces of the signature Flow sound. Thoughtful fusions of reggae, funk, and rock that feel like soundtracks for a day at the beach or an early summer drive with the windows down.

Funktional Flow isn’t afraid to go toward a more intimate place either. The album’s second single “On the Way” is a personal look at embracing life’s changes – a song written by Kuebler after learning he and his wife were expecting. And whereas a song of that style could lend itself to popish tendencies, there is a beautiful resolve to this tune that balances both the subject matter and the musical style.

The album concludes with an instrumental titled “Ben’s Beach”. Its may sound fairy tale inspired, but it’s the kind of song you might listen to while sitting on the coast line at night. There is a cool, calm variety of groove that at moments almost nods to fellow Buffalo groove rockers Aqueous’ in its spaciness and layered technical execution.

Musically, Flow is heading in the right direction. Vocally, there is room for growth. The bands two main vocalist, Kuebler and Lewis have very distinctive and different vocal styles. And generally on the album, you hear them separately. But if they can figure out a way to fuse their two styles and play more with harmonies and lyrical exchange, it could just be the extra “something” that makes Funktional Flow stand out.

Time Will Tell drops for official release on Saturday March 5. The band will be hosting a Roaring 20’s themed CD Release party at Buffalo Iron Works with special guests AjamajA. The CD will be available for purchase through Bandcamp.

Key Tracks: “Back Door”, “Strong Feeling”, “Time Will Tell”

March 5, 2016
Hearing Aide: Chris Maxwell’s ‘Arkansas Summer’

Chris Maxwell‘s Arkansas Summer is his first release as a solo artist, but the Woodstock resident first appeared in New York’s music scene in the mid-1990’s, when his band Skeleton Key became known for its well-tailored combination of unruly grunge and mass-appeal rock ‘n roll. The right-place-right-time conglomeration of sub-genres landed Skeleton Key a major label deal, resulting in the 1997 Fantastic Spikes Through Balloon. After a period of touring behind the album, hitting several continents and playing shows with some of the era’s best-known alternative acts, Maxwell left the band and struck out on his own.

In the time since, he’s accomplished seemingly everything in a solo career other than putting out an entire record under his own name. He’s been a producer, a co-writer, a composer for commercial projects like Bob’s Burgers and Inside Amy Schumer, and he’s used these experiences to built up to what is now Arkansas Summer, an album whose title fittingly circles back to the beginning of it all.While the album’s stylistic shifts and carefully unfolded genre transitions contextualize the extensive musical background Maxwell has developed, the album consistently stays grounded in the traditional americana influence of an upbringing in the South.

Leading with an ethereal, sentimental track titled “Strange Shadows,” the record quickly sets a standard for swift changeovers by evolving into “Have You Ever Killed Yourself,” an aurally uptempo song defined by its hammond organ grooves and its electric guitar riffs. The two songs show serious Jeff Tweedy characteristics in their personal lyricism and Maxwell’s seemingly cigarette-stained – yet controlled, graceful – vocals.

It’s the introduction to the album’s fourth track, which follows a brief recording of a woman candidly speaking in the assumed accent of Maxwell’s native Little Rock – driving home a wistful thematic overture of Maxwell’s roots – that the Tweedy comparison is at its most obvious. “Imaginary Man” begins with an intricate display of acoustic picking patterns coupled sparingly wth the musician’s engaging vocals. Eventually building up to a full-band finish reminiscent of Jakob Dylan’s Wallflowers days, the track is a definite American Summer highlight.

Much like the initial stages of the record, tracks five through thirteen each show a different take on Maxwell’s ability to express his history through songwriting. “Arkansas Summer” is a patiently epic piano ballad, and “Devil Song” offers impressive production skills with its ominous and eclectic instrumentation.

It’s taken a long time and great deal of experience for Chris Maxwell to get to the point at which he finds himself with American Summer. If the album feels like winding, compelling journey for the listener, it’s because this is exactly what shaped Maxwell’s ability to make the album. From start to finish, American Summer is the work of someone who has earned his credibility, his influence, and his wisdom.

Key Tracks: Imaginary Man, Arkansas Summer, Devil Song

March 5, 2016
The Lightkeepers Serve a Hot Dish to a Hungry Shifty’s

Aside from their famous hot wings, Shifty’s in Syracuse is known for hosting some incredible musicians including local quintet The Lightkeepers. The 2016 SAMMY awards nominated group settled in last friday night and cooked up a heater to a packed house, hungry for more than just chicken. Nestled into one corner of the tavern, no bigger than a port-o-potty, is where the five-piece rock band stationed themselves allowing the most room possible for their fans to dance comfortably.

As folks trickled in, the band eagerly took the stage and kicked off the first set with the very groovy tune “Miracle,” from their recent self-titled album. Jes Sheldon led the band on this swinging song with her sassy, powerhouse vocals that rival the likes of Aretha Franklin and Amy Winehouse. Swaying and twisting her slender frame from song-to-song, provoked the crowd to boogie without hesitation. Aaron Fried escorted the parade on Bob Dylans’ “Serve Somebody” and their original, “Empty” with some distinct bass-influenced rhythms. Participation from the audience began to pick up as they helped sing a soulful rendition of “Come Together” by the Beatles. Having never played at Shifty’s as The Lightkeepers until now, the group collectively played their cards right, mixing up a balanced list of originals and covers.

After a short break, the troop of entertainers hit the stage once again and brought the fire with a funky original, titled “Bruteforce.” Following closely was an attractive trio of segued covers “Boogie On Reggae Woman,” “The Weight,” and “Hard to Handle.” P.J. Will governed the rhythm guitar on “Rock Steady” with funky-fast guitar wahs while Mike Vincitore tore up the proverbial rug with his untamed six-string guitar. Tucked neatly along the photo-blanketed back-wall, sat Jim Dunham on the drums, vigorously driving the Lightkeepers with his cognizant flow and time-keeping.

A slow psychedelic rendition of “Whole Lotta Love” featuring a heap of sensual vocals and swelling guitar licks brought the energy of the room to a lull only for brief moment before the band jumped into the riff-heavy, “Cryin’ Shame.” Before closing out the second set, the ensamble knocked down the Doors with “Light My Fire” and a new unreleased rock song titled “Damaged.” Nearly consumed by the supportive crowd, the band finished up the evening with a spot-on “Soulshine” segueing into “Sugaree” for one last heightening sing-a-long. Check out the full set list below and be sure to catch another show coming up where you can purchase their full length album and some cool swag.

Listen to “Mr. Coltrane” (written by P.J. Will) and “Snowflake” (written by Aaron Fried) performed at Shifty’s and recorded by sound engineer Patrick Allen.

Set I: Miracle, Birdie, Just Dropped In, Gypsy Lights, Serve Somebody, Empty, Come Together, Mr. Coltrane, Snowflake, The Thrill is Gone, Mae, Love the One You’re With, River of Atonement, Tried & True, Water Needs Wine, Gimme Shelter

Set II: Bruteforce, Boogie On Reggae Woman > The Weight > Hard to Handle, Rock Steady > Mr. Charlie, Mexican Plane, Save Me > Stormy Monday, Whole Lotta Love > Cryin’ Shame, Astronaut, Valerie, Light My Fire, Dear Mr. Fantasy, Damaged

Encore: Soulshine, Sugaree

Video by Lori Newcomb

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7XenJILrDg[/embedyt]

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March 4, 2016
Sunday Night Legends: Dave Mason and Leon Russell at The Egg

Watch the Oscar’s or go see live music? Leo and Chris Rock or Leon Russell and Dave Mason? It wasn’t a close call when The Egg announced the pairing of two legendary musicians from the 60s who have continued to create and perform music to crowds for nearly half a century.

Dave Mason (no relation) got the night started with songs spanning his career, featuring solo work and songs written during his time with Traffic. A darker “Dear Mr. Fantasy” came early in the set and was hauntingly bluesy, a theme reprised throughout the set. An extended blues jam was patient and went beyond with Johnne Sambataro (guitar) and Anthony Patler (keys) taking requisite solos; they synced up well and carried the song through its motions without a need to rush. “Good 2 U” came from a certain era of 70s rock that is smooth, accessible and engaging without being too jazzy or improv reliant. The set closed with “Feelin’ Alright,” rearranged slightly for a darker vibe, as well as the encore of “All Along the Watchtower.”

The only subpar aspect of Mason’s set was the backdrop for the band. What amounted to a computer screen broadcasting behind the band was basically a billboard for albums and dated promo for the artist as though he was just getting around to branding himself in 1995 and never updated his ad set. There were some albums, cover art and his music catalog along with some old photos, but it felt as though Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam could have used a much more psychedelic feel to their stage presence, beyond the music.

After a short change over, Leon Russell took to his white grand piano to perform Elvis’ version of “I Got a Woman” and didn’t hesitate to keep playing the hits. “Rolling in my Sweet Baby’s Arms” and “Let the Good Times Roll” fit the label of not soft rock yet not hard rock. It was Goldilocks rock: just right. Russell told stories about playing The Concert for Bangledesh at George Harrison’s behest and performing in Woodstock for Bob Dylan, including on “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall.”

A classic country version of “Wild Horses” was highlighted by the pedal steel of Beau Charron who was versatile on the keys and mandolin over the course of the night. “I’ve Just Seen his Face” by The Beatles had a Widespread Panic sound to it which was followed shortly after by a remark about the All-Star Mad Dogs and the Englishmen set that he performed at Lockn’ Festival this past September. “Delta Lady” and “The Ballad of Mad Dogs and Englishmen” both reminded me of that powerhouse set with Tedeschi Trucks Band, Chris Robinson and the singers from the original album, all of which Russell spoke highly of in reminiscing. “Roll Over Beethoven” served as the final song of the night, and while a dual encore of Dave Mason and Leon Russell would have been great, there were no complaints to be had from a night of classic rock at The Egg.

March 3, 2016
Hearing Aide: ‘Vinyl: Music From the HBO Original Series — Volume 1’

Atlantic Records and Warner Brothers Records have teamed up to release the official soundtrack of the new HBO series Vinyl. The first volume was released on February 12, two days before the series premiere on Valentine’s Day. The second volume is expected to be released on April 15, two days before the season finale. Both volumes are expected to be released on vinyl (how fitting).

Vinyl director Martin Scorsese is easily one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. It’s not just his ability to craft and tell a story, or his unique vision, or his fearlessness to never stray from anything dark and controversial, Scorsese really rises above the rest by incorporating music into his projects flawlessly. Whether it’s introducing a character, a love scene, or a couple of wise guys getting whacked, Scorsese always manages to find the perfect sounds that clutch to our emotions. Scorsese is no stranger to the ever evolving music industry, especially with legendary rockumentaries attached to his name like The Last Waltz, Shine A Light, No Direction Home: Bob Dylan and George Harrison: Living in the Material World; it is clear he has a finger on the pulse of some prolific music.

Martin has never been shy about projecting his love for the Rolling Stones and he frequently dips into their catalog. Whether it was “Jumping Jack Flash” in Mean Streets when Johnny Boy (DeNiro) is first introduced, as he walks into a bar with two women on each arm in the peculiar dark red lighting, or the opening scene of The Departed when “Gimme Shelter” opens the film, painting the picture of pure evil with the lyrics “rape, murder, it’s just a shot away.” “Gimme Shelter” also makes appearances in Casino and Goodfellas as well because why wouldn’t it?

Scorsese’s most recent project finds himself side by side with his idol Mick Jagger as co-creator of the new HBO series Vinyl (along with Terence Winter). The series takes place in New York City in the early 1970s, the epicenter for sex, drugs and rock and roll. The story follows a record executive, Richie Finestra, as he tries to adapt to the changing tides of the music scene, especially with punk and hip-hop on the horizon. Finestra is head strong on finding new talent to save his tanking record label and he has a laundry list of problems, including a cocaine habit that makes Scarface look like he had his shit together.

Scorsese uses music as good as he ever has in this series. The first volume includes takes from The Meters, Otis Redding, Edgar Winter, and even the fictional band from the series, the Nasty Bits (fronted by Mick Jagger’s son, James Jagger). With the series currently underway there’s a lot that can still happen, but after three weeks it seems like the series is setting itself up for a twist. Vinyl airs on Sunday nights on HBO and HBO streaming services.

Key Tracks: The World Is Yours, Sugar Daddy, Rotten Apple

March 3, 2016