NYS Music 20​16

Category: Bluegrass/Country

  • Thompson Square Becomes Thompson ‘To The Third Power’

    Shawna and Keifer Thompson, better known to their fans as Thompson Square, welcomed to the world the arrival of little Cooper, their newborn son.  Taken along on this gestational journey, all their Thompson Square fans, shared personal moments throughout as they eagerly awaited his arrival.

    For those not familiar with this country music duo, Thompson Square is one of country music’s most loved couples and one of only a few that are duets.  Their musical talent began in Nashville as they both came to town to pursue a music career.  Immediately smitten with Shawna, Keifer knew she was the one.  At a recent show at Kegs Canalside in Jordan, NY, Keiffer took a moment to speak with NYS Music about their pregnancy, musical journey, and upcoming album.

    DSC_0484 copyKathy Stockbridge: Hi Keifer, so excited to be welcoming you and Shawna back to New York again.  You both have been together and performing together now for several years however your careers started as individual artists.  Explain the journey a bit to those that may not know the story.

    Keifer Thompson: Hey there, well we moved to town obviously not knowing each other as individual artists doing our own thing.  We dated three years and then were married three years before we decided that this was not what we wanted.  We wanted to be together all the time, so that is when Thompson Square was formed and that’s when everything started taking shape for us.

    KS:  Some things are just meant to be.

    KT:  That is true.

    KS:  Do you both come from musical families?

    KT: Shawna does, I do not. There is actually no musical talent at all in my immediate family.

    KS:  What drew you in that direction?

    KT: Well my grandmother was a poet and a writer and sometimes a singer.  I think I got everything I have from her.

    KS:  So, what were some of your early influences in music as you were growing up?

    KT:  It’s all rooted in traditional country music.  For me, my first exposure was Elvis, and Roger Miller , and all the traditional music.  For Shawna and I both, we had siblings that exposed us to 80’s rock and roll as well, but really we love everything, every genre.

    KS:  I can tell, you’ve got this rock and roll edge to your music.IMG_1689 copy

    KT:  Yeah we definitely lean more towards that than anything else.

    KS:  Can you give the readers a timeline perhaps of you coming to Nashville and your journey to today?

    KT:  We met in Nashville the very first week we were there.  We were doing our own individual things .  We met at the Nightlife in 1996, it’s kinda like a Nashville version of a karaoke bar.  They have a live band, they play whatever song you want, so you get up and sing.  So we met there and I hit on her the first night.  I had been dating someone else at the time for about five years and had broken it off when I moved from Oklahoma to Nashville.  I knew it wasn’t the right one for me, and at the time wasn’t planning on finding my wife, much less the mother of our children, but God works in mysterious way you know.  We were performing together in the house and I would play down on Broadway and she would come in and sit in with my band on the weekends.  I think we were too close to it at the time to see that what we had we extremely special (the singing together).  It was just unique and sounded different than everyone else.  But that wasn’t why we started Thompson Square.  Thompson Square was formed out of necessity to be together all the time.

    KS:  And congratulations to you both on your wonderful news on the baby.  I am so excited for you guys. Loved how you announced it to your fans on Instagram as well.  How did that come about?

    KT:  Yeah we were trying to figure out how we would announce it. I just happened to pick up a can of Diet Coke one day that said “Dad” on it. And then we thought that might be a good way of telling our fans.  You don’t want to go over the top with it. We wanted it to be organic and real, and that’s how it was.

    KS: (and just so you know, they were not drinking the sodas…just using them as props)

    KS: I think it was really cool that you wanted to share this with your fans.  Some people in the business like to keep their private lives very private, but you guys shared this with all those that love ya’ll.

    KT:  Because the fans are a huge part in our being where we are, we’ve grown with our fans, and we now know what our fans want from us and yes that’s the music, but we also are one of a few married couples doing this so they want to know what’s going on with us as much as a couple as they want to know what’s going on with our music.

    KS:  Yes, it’s a connection, the personal relationship we have with a musician, knowing them not only as a performer but on a personal level that forms that connection and following.  They like your music, but also as individuals.  So thank you for sharing an insight into your personal lives as well as professional lives.

    KT:  Thank you.IMG_2433 KS:  Now you spend a lot of time on the road touring, do you plan on taking the little one with ya and what are you most excited about having him out on the road with ya?

    KT:  Yes, I think just discovering the whole thing as it unfolds as it will be a totally new experience for us.  We have no idea what to expect, this little one will be extremely well traveled.

    KS:  Yes, he will have a jetset life?  Will you be decking the tour bus out for him?

    KT: Yes, we’ve been talking about that. We’re taking all the advice in and deciding for ourselves what’s best for our situation.  I don’t know, I’m just really excited about the whole experience and meeting him.  Our whole lives have been music, and we just got to a point where we knew we didn’t want music to rule every aspect of our lives.  We love it, but we also didn’t want to miss out on kids and family and that whole aspect of our lives.  We didn’t want to turn 60 or 70 years old and regret not having children and a family. Those are the things, those life decisions, that when you get out of your 20’s you kinda start looking at things a little bit different. And thank God for it as we are so excited about the whole deal, it’s going to be a really cool process.

    KS:  I love it!  There is nothing like it. In fact when I was pregnant I found myself singing to my son all the time before he was born.  Do you find yourselves doing that yet?

    KT:  Yes, and in fact we have started dabbling in writing some nursery rhyme stuff, and it’s really been interesting to see how we’ve changed as far as we’ve never had these emotions or influences before where we’re simplifying our lyrics and talking to him as though he’s already here with us. It’s a whole different thing, but it’s so very cool.IMG_1653 KS:  Cravings.  I would be remiss to not ask Shawna what she’s been craving.  And as far as that goes, the husband ends up going through this pregnancy thing as well, are you craving anything?

    KT: She’s craving sleep. Haha.  She went through the whole pickle thing in the beginning, but it wasn’t crazy combination things, it was just pickles but then she didn’t want meat she wanted only carbs, which we’ve heard is pretty common among new moms.  We’ve been really lucky, she hasn’t been sick, she hasn’t had any complications at all so we’re really thankful for that as that would make traveling almost impossible.

    KS:  Now you guys happen to be working on a third album.  What can your fans expect from this next album?IMG_2049 copy

    KT:  The only way I can describe it is, it’s pure Thompson Square.  Whatever you think Thompson Square is, that’s what this one is going to be.  And then there will be some surprises along the way too.  We took a little shot in the dark with Trans Am and that’s a huge part of who we are, that rock style, the edge, and it really connected with our fans, but not in every way we needed it to, to sustain itself.  That song really didn’t work the way we wanted it to and the way a lot of our fans wanted it to, but you live and you learn.  You try things and sometimes they fail, and sometimes you win.  So we’re kinda at that stage right now where we’re going back into the studio.  We’ve cut about 6 or 7 things that we really love. And we’re getting back to the woodshed, as they say, and we’ve cut some amazing stuff.  Sometimes you don’t loose site of who you are as an artist or a person, but sometimes you want to expose a bit too much, too soon.  As an artist you want to grow, you want to do things different, you want to experiment, and you want to do all these things and a lot of times that’s just for you. Your fans grow with you and they love you for what you’ve done and who you are, but as artists we can get away from that.  If it was up to us, from album to album they would be vastly different. That’s been the demise of some artists,s but it’s also been hugely successful for some artists. For us, I think Trans Am was so different from what we’ve done in the past so it was a little bit shocking for everybody, and I’m not sure everybody even knew it was us. Shawna didn’t have a huge presence not that record, and you can analyze it to death…

    KS:  If I could interject here…I think artists are progressive. Used to be years ago a label would sign an artist and then nurture them through several albums to get the sound they would be known for.  Today it’s not the same and so I give you credit for being true to who you are and what you want to sound like.  Not all labels are receptive to that.

    KT:  We are blessed as artists and fortunate to have a label that doesn’t push us in one direction. They pretty much let us do what we want.  Perhaps that’s because they haven’t had another married couple duo so they don’t have any benchmarks to look at and say, “hey that worked for them so it will for you”.  It’s kinda unchartered territory. So we are very thankful.  Ya know, every song can’t be a hit, and until you get to the level where everything you put out charts and is a hit… and we all want to get to that place.

    KS:  Do you write your own music.IMG_1515 KT:  Yes we write almost all of it. We’re just going to keep putting our heart into it, and releasing songs we believe in and we’re just going to keep doing our thing.

    KS: So covering the Taste of Country Music Festival is where I first saw you both for the first time and you blew my socks off.  Talk to me a little about that last set where you joined the legendary Hank Williams Jr. on the stage.

    KT:  I can’t express what big fans we are of Hank Williams Jr. and what a big deal that was for us. We actually do one of his songs just about every night in our show. But yeah, that was a huge deal for us.  He asked us to come join him and hang out on his bus and visit a little bit and get to know him. That was a big deal.  I don’t consider him a peer, I consider myself his student. He’s definitely done just about everything a person can dream of in their career.  So yeah, we were really proud of that.

    KS:  I think the lineup that day was the perfect combination as well.  We had you guys, with Tyler Farr, and Hank Williams Jr. Yeah, that was the best.  Now if you were asked to do a CMT Crossroads with anyone…who would you choose to collaborate with?

    KT: I would lean towards the Boss and the E Street Band.  We’re both huge Springsteen fans. But that list is huge.  It could be Foo Fighters, Black Keys, Tom Petty, Springsteen, I mean Double Trouble would be amazing.(Stevie Ray Vaughns Band)  there are countless people as we are huge music fans. We are definitely students of music so we have a list that would go on and on in that regard.

    KS: Well heck if that ever happens, let me know and NYS Music will be there to cover for you.

    KT:  Absolutely.

    KS: Thank you so much Keifer for taking the time to talk with us and we can’t wait to welcome you back to NY.

    As I ended the interview and then covered the show the following evening at Kegs Canalside, I noted the chemistry of this couple was absolutely electric.  Their mutual respect for each other’s talents musically and as husband and wife, gives a whole new level to their music and stage presence.  I feel that this part of them that they share with their audience opens them up and gives them a vulnerability that many artists don’t have.  The fact that they continue to experiment musically and develop their sound as it moves them, is just another testament to me that they are the cutting edge of country music today. NYS Music is excited to welcome with Keifer and Shawna their new addition to the group, and can’t wait to hear the new album once it’s been released.   DSC_0421 copy

  • Thunder 106 Brings Kelsea Ballerini to Starland Ballroom

    Thunder 106 brought up – and – coming country artist Kelsea Ballerini to Starland Ballrom in Sayerville, NJ, for what promised to be a rocking night of female country artists. Kelsea Ballerini was supported by North Dakota’s Hailey Steele and NJ native Madeline Smith. Starland Ballroom has been hosting a slew of talented country artists in the recent months including Kip Moore and Michael Ray on the Wild Ones Tour and the upcoming show on February 14th with Dustin Lynch and Chris Lane.

    Madeline Smith opened up the evening with a mix of her own songs and various covers of popular country songs to get the crowd engaged and involved. Among the covers played by Smith were “We Were Us” by Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert, a good choice for a local artist to catch the attention of the crowd with a song they could sing along to, and her closing song, another by the extremely talented Miranda Lambert, “Mama’s Broken Heart”.

    Hailey Steele was up next after travelling from North Dakota to play two shows with Kelsea Ballerini, this show in NJ and the show the next day in Boston, MA. Steele took the stage with nothing but her guitar and strong vocals to captivate the crowd. She too played a good mix of songs including some of her more popular music from 2014 and 2015. “Another Like You”, an original by Steele was one of her most popular of the evening drawing strong favor from the crowd. The other song that seemed to stand out most with the crowd was “I Want Your Boyfriend” with a catchy chorus and highly relatable lyrics.

    By the time Kelsea Ballerini was set to take the stage the crowd was more than ready to see what the 22 year old, up – and – coming country artist would bring to the stage. Ballerini took the stage with command and confidence of someone well beyond her years. She has a stage presence and charismatic personality that sets her apart from many other rising artists and will enable her to continue to grow as a musician.

    Ballerini kicked things off with “Looking at Stars” off her first full length release, The First Time (2015). She continued on with a mix off songs off that record that had the crowd engaged and singing along including “Sirens” and her most recent single “Dibs” which was clearly a fan favorite from the crowd’s strong reaction. She carried on into “Peter Pan” which she introduced as a song for all of the girls who have encountered a guy that refuses to grow up and act his age, which is entirely relatable to the demographic of her fan base and the song “Stilettos, another relatable song for young girls about moving on from heartbreak and carrying on with your life. Ballerini is one of the stand out female artists in country currently that have been making a splash on country music radio with her strong willed, confident lyrics that resonate very strongly with the younger generation of country fans which is why she will continue to amass a dedicated fan base.

    A highlight of the evening was her cover of Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” in which she enlisted the help Hailey Steele and had the entire crowd singing along emphatically as the two young women commanded the stage together. Ballerini ended the night on a very strong and memorable note with the spunky “XO” once again showing off her confident and spunky flare, and her most recognizable song, “Love Me Like You Mean It”. Ballerini took the country music world by storm with this song reaching gold as well as number one on the Billboard Country Airplay with her debut single. She is among ten other women in history to achieve such a feat including Carry Underwood most recently in 2006. Ballerini has had a lot going for her since her start and has capitalized on the many opportunities she has earned including her most recent nationwide tour opening for Jake Owen and Dan + Shay.

    The night was a memorable concert with three talented young women looking to make a name for themselves in country music. Each showed great potential to carry on and further their careers. It will not be long until Ballerini, especially, is preforming on much larger stages much like the ones she was on during her fall tour.

  • Chase Rice Brings the JD and Jesus Tour to the Nearly Sold Out Fillmore

    On January 8, 2016, Chase Rice brought his Jack Daniels and Jesus Tour to the nearly sold out Fillmore in Philadelphia, PA. The Cadillac Three and young, up-and-coming artist, Tucker Beathard joined him on the road to help get the crowd ready for what promised to be an incredible night. Each of the three acts brought their own unique flare to the stage, captivating the audience from beginning to end.

    Tucker Beathard, one of Big Machine Label Group’s youngest artists, and son of heralded songwriter Casey Beathard took the stage first. The 20-year-old, like his father, has shown a penchant for songwriting, and blends country elements with a rock influenced sound. In addition, Beatard was recognized as a hot new country artist when he was recently named one of CMT’s Listen Up artists for 2016. After seeing him perform, it is no wonder that he has already captured the attention and recognition of the country music world. While it seems that he is still finding himself as an onstage performer, his passion for music and love for his craft comes across very clearly to fans and makes his set memorable. From the beginning, Beathard did a good job of connecting with the audience with songs like “Better Than Me” and the very catchy, radio-ready “Rock On”. Big things are coming for Beathard with his rebellious lyrics and growing stage presence.

    Next up was another artist off of the Big Machine Label Group roster, The Cadillac Three. By the time the group consisting of Jaren Johnston, Kelby Ray and Neil Mason, took the stage the crowd had grown considerably larger and more energetic thanks to Beatard’s exciting opening performance. The country trio with a serious southern-rock flare captivated the crowd with their unique sound, stage presence and eclectic style.  Johnston, Ray, and Mason, are skilled writers, having penned hits both for themselves and for other country stars, including Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Jake Owen and Dallas Smith. They performed a variety fan favorites including, “The South,” “Party Like You” and “Girls on Fire,” but their most recent hit “White Lightning” drew the strongest reaction from the crowd.  Also included in their set was “Days of Gold,” a top 20 hit for Jake Owen written by Johnston and Mason. The group’s spirited rendition of the song had the entire crowd singing along emphatically.

    The last time Chase Rice was in Philadelphia he sold out The Theater of the Living Arts (TLA) with ease. So while it was a natural progression to step up to a bigger venue, it was astonishing that he came as close as he did to selling out the 2,500 capacity Fillmore. This feat truly shows how much he as progressed as an artist and performer since this time last year. Rice opened his set with the funky rock tinged “How She Rolls,” from his 2014 album Ignite The Night.

    Rice turned the heat up during his set with performances of the “50 Shades of Crazy,” and the sensual “Ride.” During the latter, which has fast become one of Rice’s signature songs despite not being a single, the North Carolina born singer brought a swooning fan onstage to the delight of the crowd to sing the somewhat explicit lyrics to her up close and personal.

    Rice also performed numerous notable covers spanning multiple genres including Puddle of Mudd’s “She Fucking Hates Me,” Blink 182’s “What’s My Age Again!?’ and Garth Brook’s Friends in Low Places,” in addition to a collection of tracks inspired by his college partying days: “Smoke A Little Smoke,” “Living On a Prayer,” “Free Falling,” “Dust on the Bottle,” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me.”  Some of Rice’s own party songs, such as “Do It Like This,” and “We Goin Out,” had the crowd dancing early and often. Slower, more intimate tracks like “Carolina Can,” inspired by his father, and “Jack Daniels and Jesus,” a track highlighting Rice’s inner battle and struggle to be a better person, as well as faith that has helped him keep pushing forward, showcased his writing ability and more serious side. The hypnotic top 10 hit “Gonna Wanna Tonight” had fans singing along emphatically, even carrying the chorus on their own.

    Towards the end of the show, The Cadillac Three and Tucker Beathard rejoined Rice on stage for a joint performance of Florida Georgia Line’s smash #1 hit “Cruise,” one of the most popular country songs in recent memory. Rice co-wrote the song with the the duo, Joey Moi and Jesse Rice. The collaborative performance was one of the most memorable parts of the show, and it had the crowd reacting thunderously to one of their favorite tracks.  Rice closed the show with his own top 5, certified platinum hit, the hard driving and edgy “Ready Set Roll,” an incredibly catchy song that brought fans to their feet and had them singing along.

    Each of the performers at The Fillmore left a lasting impression on the audience, and left them eager for more. The Cadillac Three and Beathard both illustrated why they’re making a splash in the country music, while Rice displayed the charisma and ever growing star power that has him shooting up the ranks as a performer and and artist. There is no doubt that the best is still yet to come for each of these three talented acts.

  • Hearing Aide: Larry Keel’s ‘Experienced’

    Larry Keel’s latest album Experienced, due out on February 26, can truthfully be described as ear candy. For those who like music of the bluegrass or blues persuasion, or even for those for whom these are not your favorite genres, this album is a highly recommended addition to your collection. Accompanied by his wife Jenny Keel on upright bass and vocal harmonies, and longtime band-mate Will Lee on vocals and banjo, Keel is also joined on this album by a cast of bluegrass superstars, including none other than Del McCoury, Peter Rowan, Sam Bush and Keller Williams.

    This album has all three elements going for it: the instrumental, the vocal and the lyrical. It takes several listens-through to feel the full effect of this extremely well-rounded album. It is definitely worth “binge listening” to, taking the time to truly listen to each of the album’s elements. Treated to a healthy mix of sing-along-able songs, and those songs that make you want to just sit back and listen to the poetry coming at you, you’ll find it hard to eject this CD from your player.

    It is clear just how much heart was put into each and every word written, and every note sang and played. It also seemed that Keel took the time to write songs that fit well with the musical stylings of his guests. Opening with guest Sam Bush on “Ripchord,” this song manages to tell a silly, whimsical tale without any words, something Bush manages to do so well. On “Fill ‘Em Up Again,” Keel takes the opportunity to employ bluegrass masters Del McCoury and Jason Carter of the Del McCoury Band and Mike Guggino of the Steep Canyon Rangers on this, the most bluegrass of all the tunes on the album. Keller Williams’s fancy guitar picking is complemented nicely on “Miles and Miles,” and Peter Rowan’s signature yodeling is featured on “The Warrior.” The last song, “Another Summer Day,” featuring Anders Beck of Greensky Bluegrass, provides a mellow sing-songy ending to this gem of an album, making you want to start the whole thing over again.

    It’s amazing how different Keel’s voice sounds on each of the tunes. Reminiscent of Eddie Vedder on “Miles and Miles” and Johnny Cash on “The Warrior,” his voice gets so deep on “The Warrior” that it almost sounds like a didgeridoo. Keel’s voice balances very nicely with Will Lee’s more distinctive, mellow, pitch-perfect vocals. Keel’s wife, Jenny, adds beautiful harmonies on several of the tunes, blending perfectly as only a husband-and-wife duo can.

    Larry Keel’s Experienced is essential for any music lover’s collection, no matter what type of music suits your fancy. It is appealing on so many levels, with its approachable more traditional tunes drawing in listeners, and some of the more rhythmically out there songs giving those listeners a taste of something a bit more sophisticated.

    Key Tracks: “Ripchord,” “Fill ‘Em Up Again,” “Another Summer Day”

  • Second Annual Winter Warm Up at The Linda Announced

    Four regional bands will play the second annual Winter Warm Up at The Linda in Albany to benefit WAMC, Northeast Public Radio, on Saturday, Jan. 16.

    Bryan Thomas, KoriSoron, SubSlab and The North & South Dakotas are contributing their performances to benefit the area’s non-profit NPR affiliate, at WAMC’s performing arts studio, The Linda. Beer, wine and pub fare will be available for purchase at the benefit.

    Albany’s own Bryan Thomas will bring his self-described soul rock that promises to get everyone dancing. Schenectady’s acoustic trio KoriSoron will enchant the audience with their global tradition-influenced rock and progressive music. SubSlab will supply their female-led rock-n-roll. And The North & South Dakotas bring their old-timey Appalachian-style music, with elements of bluegrass, folk and honky-tonk.

    WAMC/Northeast Public Radio is a regional non-profit radio network that serves parts of New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It is affiliated with National Public Radio and Public Radio International. The Linda is a multipurpose performance space run by WAMC that hosts concerts, lectures, debates and films among other events, many of which are broadcast over WAMC’s radio stations.

    The Jan. 16 show will take place at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 with all proceeds supporting WAMC.

    [embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hJRAd_0mtY[/embedyt]

  • Blast From the Past: YMSB Rings in New Year With Nostalgic Covers

    They didn’t have 3-D projections, laser lights or massive stage props, but Yonder Mountain String Band (YMSB) brought plenty of energy, heart and even a little Motown soul to the Boulder Theater during their four-night residency in Colorado to celebrate the New Year. In addition to guest performers each night, the local bluegrass favorites picked and jammed through cover songs from different decades each night.

    Thursday night, mandolin impresario Sam Bush joined the band in covering a number of 1960’s classics like The Rolling Stones’ tune “Jumping Jack Flash.” But it was fiddler Allie Kral’s soaring vocals that provided the first night’s highlights by belting out Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell” and Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man.”

    New Year’s Eve highlighted 70’s classics like the Grateful Dead’s “Shakedown Street” and a percussion-led version of David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust.”

    Local fans went foot-stomping mad on Friday night when dobro master Jerry Douglas joined Yonder for a night of 80’s-themed tunes, including Black Sabbath’s “Crazy Train” and the Cyndi Lauper favorite, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” Along with his trademark improvisational stylings, Douglas sported 80’s spirit by donning an oversized black wig.

    Saturday night’s YMSB set was boosted by the presence of jazz guitarist Stanley Jordon. With dazzling and introspective fret work, he lent an introspective flair to 90’s-themed music that included old Yonder standards like “Hole” and covers like Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon.” Yonder Mountain String Band’s sound is as polished and vibrant as ever in its history even when the band reaches back into history to celebrate the future.

  • Some Kind of Jam 11 Announces Lineup

    Some Kind of Jam 11, which will be taking place April 22-24 in Schuykill Haven, Pennsylvania, has announced its initial lineup.

    The three-day event takes place just 20 miles northwest of Reading and will feature four stages and 31 musical acts. Since 2005, Jibberjazz festivals has been hosting the event. Headliners the New Mastersounds will offer their unique blend of funk/soul/jazz fusion, while the recently reunited RAQ brings an added element of excitement to the bill. Buffalo groove rock masters Aqueous were also announced.

    some kind of jam
    The weekend will include a variety of music including jam, funk, bluegrass, folk, blues, rock, reggae and jazz. In addition to live music, festival-goers will have many activities to choose from including various workshops, light shows, fire performances and yoga. The family friendly event will also include a kids’ area and activities.

    The weekend event is located on a 60-acre fairground that includes indoor and outdoor stages, camping, permanent restrooms and showers as well as nature trails, trout fishing and electricity access for RVs. Additional information about the festival, venue and tickets is available through Jibberjazz.

    Complete Some Kind of Jam 11 Line-Up
    THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS
    RAQ
    JASON RICCI & THE BAD KIND
    MIKE DILLON BAND
    BANDITOS
    AQUEOUS
    THE BIG DIRTY
    SHOKAZOBA
    GANG OF THIEVES
    BLACK MASALA
    CAPTAIN GREEN
    ON THE SPOT TRIO
    YOSEMIGHT
    DESMOND JONES
    THE PLATE SCRAPERS
    THE JAKOB’S FERRY STRAGGLERS
    STRANGE MECHANICS
    THE HAWK OWLS
    LOVANOVA
    HEXBELT
    THIS WAY TO THE EGRESS
    APPALACHIAN GYPSY TRIBE
    BONZO TERKS
    UNCLE JAKE & THE 18 WHEEL GANG
    KATE VARGAS & THE RECKLESS DAUGHTERS
    COSMIC COWBOY SOWING CIRCLE
    HEZEKIAH JONES
    MATEO MONK
    GILLIAN GROGAN
    OLDS SLEEPER
    KNITEBITCH

  • Best of NYS Music 2015: Staff Picks for Bands on the Rise

    While we said fare thee well to our NYS Music staff picks for the best albums, festivals, venues and shows of 2015, we welcome the new music experiences that 2016 has in store, and with a new year, comes new talent on the rise.

    Every year we shine a light on the music scene’s rising newcomers currently flying under the radar — but not for long. Here we note the five bands that the NYSMusic team has pegged as the emerging artists to keep an eye on in the New Year.

    Some of the groups have already toured the globe, shared the stage with notable acts and appeared on national television, while others are still in heavy rotation at their local venues and surrounding regions. But you can be sure to expect new records, show announcements and other surprises from our 2015 bands on the rise.

    1. THE BLIND OWL BAND

    FROM: Saranac Lake, NY
    ALBUM: This Train We Ride is Made of Wood and Steel (2013)
    WHY WE DIG THEM: Formed in 2010 after meeting at Paul Smith’s College, the Blind Owl Bandhas become a household name in the jam circuit after putting on impromptu lot shows during Phish runs at SPAC, followed by heavy touring throughout the northeast and having now appeared at more than 25 festivals, including the Peach Music Festival Backwoods Pondfest and Winter Carnival. Coining their style as Adirondack freight train string music, the North Country bearded quartet—Arthur Buezo (guitar, vocals), Christian Cardiello (double bass, fretless bass), James Ford (banjo, vocals) and Eric Munley (mandolin, vocals)—released their debut 15-track album Rabble Rousing in 2012 and have since shared the stage with Trampled by Turtles, Railroad Earth, Hot Day at the Zoo and Yonder Mountain String Band. Their raw, contemporary bluegrass style throws the genre’s traditional rules to the wind characterizing” their sound as if they stood on top of their mountain reaching out their beat up instruments grabbing various concepts of music, holding it captive ultimately for a presentation unique to the scene,” described Tabitha Clancy, and according to Laura Carbone, experienced live, they move, twist and turn, fingers a flying, bass a spinning and the audience pressing closer to the stage, dancing and feeling the joy of what is The Blind Owl Band. Hoot!

    2. CASTLE CREEK

    FROM: Syracuse, NY
    ALBUM: The Only Life (2014)
    WHY WE DIG THEM: Winner of the 2015 SAMMY Award for best blues recording, the Central New York-based band Castle Creek, comprised of Kim Monroe (vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass) and Chris Eves (vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass, drums), debuted their first full-length—and self-produced/engineered—album in 2014. Since then the alternative blues rock duo has extensively toured regionally and nationally from Maine to Texas to California and played at international festivals in Ireland and Japan. Most recently Castle Creek performed as guest vocalists with the Zac Brown Band for three east coast shows during their “Jekyll and Hyde” tour, landed a main stage spot at the winter NAMM show in Anaheim, toured with Tony Lucca from season two of The Voice and last March Phish drummer Jon Fishman sat in with the group for a surprise four-song jam at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse. After seeing the band open for Tyler Farr, Kathy Stockbridge recalled how the duo’s vocals complement rather than overshadow each other, noting that “they both display such very strong vocals and instrumentation. The fact that they can play and sing the same instruments simultaneously without becoming one sound and over powering the other is what makes their sound so unique, so soulful, so bluesy.” Castle Creek has also opened for artists like Cabinet, Johnny Lang, Floodwood and John Popper and the Duskray Troubadours. Up next the band will release an EP recorded at Abbey Road Studios while touring abroad.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyURLYctKaA

    3. FUNKTIONAL FLOW

    FROM: Buffalo, NY
    ALBUM: Let It Settle (2015)
    WHY WE DIG THEM: Founded in 2010, Buffalo-based funk, rock, reggae quintet Funktional Flow has risen in the music community’s ranks in the past few years, playing at Night Lights Music Festival and Buffalove Music Festival and sharing the stage with the likes of Warren Haynes, Railroad Earth, New Riders of the Purple Sage and notable local groups Twiddle and Aqueous. Comprised of Jeffrey Kuebler (guitar, vocals), Ben Whelan (bass), Joey Lewis (guitar, vocals), Jim Edgar (drums) and Matthew Lester (keys, saxophone, vocals), Funktional Flow released their self-titled album in 2011 and recorded their third studio effort Time Will Tell at Sonic Farm Studios this fall. The band recently gave fans a sneak listen of the album’s first single “Back Door” from the forthcoming 12-track record to be debuted in March 2016. While the band did face a departure of members this year, it surely did not stop the group from evolving into a tighter sound with two new bandmates in tow. And after witnessing this seamlessness at Buffalove 2015, Jen Foster and Thomas Sgroi noted that Funktional Flow “definitely earned their three sets, and stood on par with the headliners.”

    4. VULFPECK

    vulfpeck

    FROM: Ann Arbor, MI
    ALBUM: Thrill of the Arts (2015)
    WHY WE DIG THEM: It’s been a big year for Los Angeles funk group Vulfpeck. Since arriving on the scene in 2011, the band has released four EPs and made international news in 2014 after sneaking the silent album Sleepify on Spotify to fund an admission-free mini tour; they raised $20,000 in two months. The four-man rhythm section formed at the University of Michigan—Jack Stratton (keyboards, drums, guitar), Theo Katzman (guitar, drums, vocals), Woody Goss (keyboards) and Joe Dart (bass)—self-produced their first full-length release Thrill of the Arts through a 59-day Kickstarter campaign in October, and the album landed a number 16 spot on the R&B Albums chart and earned a review in the Wall Street Journal. The multi-instrumental quartet made their Brooklyn Bowl debut this fall with two nights of sold-out crowds. Pete Mason recalled the band’s showmanship, noting that the way the band was “moving around on stage and switching instruments, with two keyboardists at times, added a degree of difficulty not seen by many acts.” From a YouTube video to the Big What Festival in North Carolina to appearing on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Vulfpeck is proving that independent musicians in the 21st century can provide much more than studio session backtracks.