NYS Music 20​16

Category: Jam/Progressive

  • Keller Williams’ KWahtro Livens Up the Westcott Theater

    On April 8, multi-instrumentalist and one-man jam band Keller Williams, hosted a night of tasteful jams and brought along a fancy new group of amazing musicians to the Westcott Theater in Syracuse. Adding Gibb Droll on acoustic guitar, Rodney Holmes on Drums, and Danton Boller on the upright bass, Keller dubbed the group The KW KWahtro (fun for quatro, meaning four). For anyone who’s seen Keller play live, whether solo or with any of his collaborations, knew the evening would be filled with danceable rhythms and charming lyrics.

    KWahtroWith no opening performers, the show kicked off shortly after 9 p.m. allowing the group time to dig in and get comfortable. As the house music faded and lights dimmed, the subtle sound of a muted acoustic guitar began to get louder and louder. Soon enough, a silhouette appeared at the back of the stage and Keller then slowly danced his way forward with the rest of the band following behind him. The audience cheered with excitement as Keller strummed his way into a funky instrumental before the rest of KWahtro joined in with a groove.

    Before the crowd knew it, the piece unfolded into the popular hip-shaking “Freaker By the Speaker,” followed with a jam that led into an upbeat version of Jerry Garcia‘s “Bird Song.” Keeping the rhythm flowing, Keller slightly changed direction and began singing “Birds of a Feather” by Phish, which rocketed the energy of the room.  Towards the end of the set, came an incredible jazzy drum solo from Rodney Holmes, known for his jazz influenced style. The ensemble re-emerged from the dark, strapped on their instruments and began into “Up From the Skies.”

    KWahtro The second set followed suit with Keller entering the stage in the same fashion. This time around, the whole band collectively began jamming into the hit song “Best Feeling,” from the album Breathe, made popular by Williams’ collaboration with The String Cheese Incident.  Included in the second half was a delightful “Scarlet Begonias” featuring a “China Cat” intro, “Victory Song,” and two new singles “Mantra” and “The Drop” from Keller’s most recent release, Vape.  KWahtro re-emerged from the shadows of the backstage and asked the boisterous crowd, “Would you like to hear a rockin’ cover or a rockin’ original?” With sincere acceptance for both options, the group graciously jammed out the original tune “High,” seguing into Joe Walsh‘s “Life’s Been Good” to end the evening.

    Overall, these four amazingly talented musicians can surely entertain any audience in any venue simply because they know how to hold a tight groove.  Judging by the response from the crowd, KWahtro is welcome in Syracuse anytime and hopefully they make their way back again in the near future.

    KWahtroSet One: Instrumental Intro > Freaker by the Speaker > Pets > Freaker > Bird Song > Birds of a Feather, Baby Mama, Ripped Six Pack > Cheaper by the Bale, Kiwi & Apricot, Hate, Greed, Love > Moving Sidewalk > Rodney Holmes Solo, Up From the Skies, Fuel for the Road

    Set Two: Best Feeling > Open-Close > The Sun & Moon’s Vagenda, China Cat Intro > Scarlet Begonias, Mantra, Apparition > Victory Song > Buena > Off Time Chorus Line > Breathe > The Drop > Breathe.

    Encore: High > Life’s Been Good

  • Rochester’s Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad Returning To Buffalo

    Since forming in 2001, Rochester’s  Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad (GPGDS) has been a steady force in the reggae and jam scene. The five piece band includes James Searl on bass and vocals, Chris O’Brian on drums and vocals, Dylan Savage on guitar and vocals, Dan Keller on guitar and vocals and Tony Gallicchi on keys.

    GPGDS notes some of its musical influences as Burning Spear, Sublime, Phish and Bob Marley and the Wailers. The band has been playing at least 100 shows a year recently and have toured through many countries. They have played at music festivals like the Peach, All Good, Mountain Jam and Gathering Of The Vibes. Their current Where There’s Smoke Tour rolls into Buffalo this Saturday April 16 at the Tralf Music Hall.

    Their latest album was released May 15 last year. It has a heavy bluegrass and country influence and features G. Love and his harmonica on the track “Humbolt County Gold.” It’s a welcome change hearing the addition of a banjo on a few tracks. Bright Days goes a long way to show how far the band has come and breaks down any barriers labeling the band in just the jam or reggae genres.

    Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad’s unique sounds and melodies will surely have your feet moving from the first beat. If any of their previous performances at the Tralf Music Hall are evidence of what is to come on April 16, you are not going to want to miss this show. Doors at 8:00 P.M.  The show begins around 9:00 P.M.

    If unable to catch GPGDS in Buffalo, the band is taking part in the MOVE Music Festival in Albany April 23.

  • Aqueous Pushes New Live Release ‘From the ArQives’

    If there’s anything the fervent fans of Buffalo’s Aqueous have had to complain about the past few years it’s the lack of released live material. This all changed recently with a slew of high quality recordings including last years fantastic “Wizard of Oz” themed, Dark Side of the Moon infused Halloween show, the recent Boulder, Colorado release, and a bunch of new recordings on archive.org.

    Aqueous 02 20 2015 (16)

    On the heels of this flurry of activity the band has put forth the latest multi-track live set – From the ArQives: 2015-04-11 King’s Rook Club, Erie PA. This two set monster of a show features some of the bands most intense jamming and “type II” level improvisation within a slew of their top notch original material and some debut covers.

    Set one kicks off with “Complex Pt. I” and focuses on a mix of material including bust-outs of old school Aqueous tracks “Marty” and “They’re Calling for You” which made their first set-list appearances in close to a year. Also included is a super jammed out cover of Steely Dan’s “Josie.” Aqueous has covered many Dan songs throughout the years (Including a November 2015 cover of “Peg” featuring a Joel Cummins sit-in). Guitarist Mike Gantzer spoke about the Dan’s influence:

    “I always dig pulling out the occasional Steely Dan tune; they’ve personally been a huge influence on my writing and playing style. and often times their tunes are great catalysts for improvisation.”

    Set two continues the jam fest with notable versions of orginal tunes “Underlyer,” “Eon Don,” an “Aldehyde” sandwich with the meat being a cover of The Police’s “Canary in a Coalmine,” and a rare full version of the epic fifteen minute Cycles track “Staring into the Sun.” The audio was recorded and mastered by the bands sound and light engineer Ben Wayt and is available on SoundCloud and archive.org.

    Check out Aqueous in New York Saturday April 16 at Letchworth Pines in Portageville for a rare intimate two set show, and next Friday at Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs with Pink Talking Fish.

    April 11th, 2015
    King’s Rook Club, Erie, PA

    SET 1:
    Complex Pt. I > They’re Calling for You, Triangle, Marty, Josie¹ > Don’t Do It

    SET 2:
    Underlyer > Gordon’s Mule > Eon Don > Aldehyde > Canary in a Coal Mine² > Aldehyde, Staring into the Sun, What’s the Connection?

    ENCORE:
    Mosquito Valley Pt. 1 > Flagpole Sitta³

    Notes:
    ¹ Steely Dan cover, AQ debut
    ² Police cover, AQ debut
    ³ Harvey Danger cover, AQ debut

    Complex had a Josie tease by Steely Dan
    TCFY had a “Waves” tease by Phish and a “Wheels” tease by Cake.
    Eon Don contained a “devils pie” intro by D’angelo, and Master of Puppets by Metallica and Machine Gun by Hendrix teases.
    Staring into the Sun had a long improvised section.
    What’s the Connection had a “We Want the Funk” tease that was audience started.
    MV one had a “Chicken Grease” intro also by D’angelo.

    TCFY was last played on 2014-08-14
    Marty was last played on 2014-06-17

  • Hearing Aide: Telegram ‘Operator’

    CeLGXekWIAAXZZ3In an indeterminate attempt to coerce fans of psychedelic rock to see the horizons of modern-aged punk, the band Telegraph sits on a wobbly fence of musical identity. In a first attempt at studio success, Telegram releases their first album, entitled Operator.

    While some could identify the Psycadelic Furs-inspired vocal intonation of lead singer Matt Saunders combined with the garage-band instrument distortion (featuring Oli Paget-Moon on bass and Matt Wood on lead guitar) as being true to their proto-punk origins, it’s this mix of old and new that throws off the ears of the listeners. Sometimes, punk rockers just want their punk rock without extra fluff, and adding progressive guitar riffs and odd vocal voicings jumble our sense of clarity throughout many of the songs on the album, leaving us unsatisfied with the final result.

    That being said, this is a band that probably blows the roof off live. What makes punk rock so enticing is it’s simplistic, aggressive, garage-band nature, and sometimes that doesn’t come across in digital recording the way it should. Small mixing flaws like making the harmony louder than the melody, EQing the bejesus out of the frontman’s takes, and jumbling the lyrics in clouds of noise don’t necessarily reflect poorly on the band, but rather on what the band is meant to do, aka perform. Their recent visit to SXSW proved to be successful, playing a great show at the Javelina Bar and skyrocketing what was previously their curious visitors into super fans.

    The 3rd track on the album, cleverly named “Inside Outside,” embodies the inner arguments of the brain in determining musical authenticity (along with the lyrics, of course). The groove that rings throughout this track, along with the 4th track of the album, entitled “Godiva’s Here,” is the sole responsibility of drummer Jordan Cook, who takes over an otherwise lagging unison of melody to a create a diverse rhythmic structure.

    While songs such as “Aeons” and “Follow” were pre-released as singles on various music platforms, they don’t stand alone amongst the vast mounds of record submissions from punk rockstar hopefuls. They wish to embody organized chaos as a writing style, but we’re having a hard time following along. They try to engage prime and rusty punk rock with progressive interludes, but they’re not unified in their own sound. The saving grace of the album is their Floyd-influenced tune “Telegramme,” and their traditional closet-sized venue crowd favorite “Taffy Come Home.” These songs contrast in style, but equally identify the pre-developed intentions of this newly formed ensemble. What this band needs is time, and we’re more than willing to see where they will end up with a speech specialist, a little bit of fame, and the same aggression and confusion they throw at us in Operator. Until then, we’ll enjoy the wild ride of an album that put Telegram on the map for SXSW, and by default, everyone.

    These guys are too hip for a website, so we’ll be tracking their changes via their Facebook page.

    Key Tracks: Inside Outside, Taffy Come Home, Telegramme

    [embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vIAQy_6zMs[/embedyt]

  • Hearing Aide: ShwizZ ‘…and then there were Trollz’

    New York quartet ShwizZ have released a new EP ‘…and then there were Trollz’, the band’s third studio effort marking a new and fresh mature sound for the ascending band. The new album blends a completely original sound of progressive rock and roll with elements of traditional funk. The precision behind the dueling guitars drives the listener through a series of meandering twists and turns that are anchored beautifully by the tight rhythm section. The band’s sound sends listeners across a broad spectrum of progressive rock and roll, where it’s not uncommon to find piercing guitar solos draped across heavy drum beats encapsulated around the band’s pensive lyrics. In a realm where the listener can expect the unexpected, ShwizZ’s unique sound reigns supreme.

    The EP kicks off with “Rude Shoes” which drops into a thick grove immediately without wasting a second. This anthem will surely become a crowd favorite as the lyrics are catchy and the musical breakdowns are sharp. “Brain Dead” features a darker and more mysterious undertone at first, with the lyrics surfacing with a filter. The song ends up finishing strong with a lot of room to improvise in a live setting. This number will surely grow to be one of the band’s many jam vehicles. “Hog Thai” is one of the more introspective takes on the new EP, featuring soft melodic fills that get whiplashed into a series of fast paced solos. The band really showcases their range and flexes their musical adeptness on this track. “Transmit and Receive” finds its way into a transcendental like jam, with a space like feel that breaks through to another Umphrey’s-esque prog rock chord progression. The EP wraps up with “The Breach” which is one of the band’s more psychedelic successes.

    Currently the band is embarking on a tour through the mid-west, with dates booked on the east coast in support of the new EP. ShwizZ is also confirmed to play Domefest this year. The New York quartet continue to push the envelope in the studio and they continue to perfect their live performance. Fans have may reasons to rejoice and the new EP is a celebration of the band’s many successes.

    Key Tracks: Transmit and Receive, Brain Dead, Rude Shoes

    https://soundcloud.com/shwizzband/rude-shoes

  • NYS Music Presents Friday Nights at Nietzsche’s

    Fridays in April at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo are presented by NYS Music. Get a taste of the Queen City’s favorite venue for rising acts and indulge in Nietzsche’s first ever JazzFest, providing you with an array of jazz, funk, R&B and Dixieland.

    April 8 – Grace Lougen and The Leftover Pancakes with Jacob Peter Band and Blue Rootz

    Grace Lougen & The Leftover Pancakes are a Blues/Rock group from Buffalo, NY. The band features Grace Lougen on vocals and lead guitar, Caleb Saathoff on drums, Ben Saathoff on bass, and Linnea Cremean on vocals and viola. The LP’s grew up listening and playing to a lot of classic and contemporary artists including Led Zeppelin, John Mayer, and Joe Bonamassa. Their original music encompasses the soul of old school blues and rock with a fresh modern flare. They have developed their musical chemistry learning covers, writing original music, playing shows in the Buffalo area. Grace Lougen and The Leftover Pancakes also have shared shows with many renowned local and national artists including Will McFarlane, Doug Yeomans, David Michael Miller, and Alligator Recording Artist Selwyn Birchwood.

    April 15 – JazzFest Day 3, featuring Cinnamon Jones, THE TRUTH, Toney Rhodes, Houston Gardwell Collective, and Sammy Miller and the Congregation

    9pm: Cinnamon Jones
    10pm: THE TRUTH
    11pm: Toney Rhodes – A well-accomplished and internationally known musician, Toney began establishing his respected reputation and credentials as early as 14 years of age. As with many successful artists, Rhodes traces his earliest influence to his familial gospel roots, particularly attributed to the tutelage and musical talents of his mother; along with the opportunity of being front and center as a young organist in his father’s Pentecostal church.
    12am: Houston Gardwell Collective – improvisatory funk and everything else, featuring a collective of improvisers.
    1am: Sammy Miller and The Congregation
    A native of Los Angeles, Sammy Miller has become known for his unique maturity and relentless focus on making music that “feels good” as a drummer, singer and bandleader. Upon completing his Master’s at The Juilliard School, Sammy formed his ensemble, The Congregation. As a band they are focused on sharing the power of community through their music—joyful jazz. While independently the band members have performed/recorded with notable artist including Wynton Marsalis, O.A.R, Iron and Wine, and Lee Fields at venues including The White House, Lincoln Center, and the Hollywood Bowl, The Congregation has opted to stick together and create globally conscious music with the intention to spread joy throughout the world.

    April 22 – Funktional Flow (Matt Lester’s Birthday Celebration!)

    Buffalo’s own Funktional Flow is a multi-genre quintet heavily rooted in rock and reggae, with a funk foundation. Over the past six years, the band has released three albums and played hundreds of shows throughout the Northeast and beyond. With the release of the newest album Time Will Tell on March 5th 2016, Flow is poised to take it to the next level and branch out nationally. Flow is heavily influenced by Sublime, Umphreys McGee, Moe, and Blind Melon but maintains a fresh, high energy sound that results in a diverse catalog of music.

    April 29 – Midnight Snack, Our Friends Band, Dashuri

    Based in Asheville, NC by way of Boston, Midnight Snack blends masculine rock tradition with a distinctly feminine delicacy. The 6 piece integrates elements of psychedelic rock, indie-dance and baroque pop. Originally the childhood attic project of brothers Jack Victor and Michael Johnson, the duo developed their sound while attending Berklee College of Music. Featuring Jack Victor (vocals, drums), Michael Johnson (guitar, synthesizers), Katie Richter (vocals, trumpet), Peter Brownlee (bass), Zack Kardon (guitar) and Meryll Davis (vocals, percussion), Midnight Snack tours nationally, charming audiences with prominent vocal harmonies, lush instrumentation and introspective performances. Currently, the 6-piece is working on their third studio album and will be touring the Northeast April-May 2016.

  • Fridays in April at Parish Public House, Presented by NYS Music

    NYS Music is proud to announce the lineup for Fridays in April at Parish Public House, one of Albany’s premier music venues with a taste of New Orleans infused throughout the beer selection, decor and menu.

    April 8 – The Deadbeats

    Playing the music of The Grateful Dead, Phish, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Janis Joplin and so much more! The Deadbeats are based in New Paltz/Albany, NY, and have been one of the hardest working bands in the Northeast since their inception in 1993.  In all the years of playing together, they have amassed a large and loyal following of fans who appreciate the open ended, participatory nature of their performances. Along with a virtually inexhaustible repertoire of cover tunes, they have a considerable amount of original material. The Deadbeats are actually able to please most of the people most of the time. The Deadbeats play the first Friday of every month at the Parish Public House and every Wednesday night at The Low Beat.

    April 15 – Blind Owl Band

    Hailing from Saranac Lake, NY, in the heart of the Adirondack mountains, The Blind Owl Band has been creating what they call Freight Train String Music since 2010. And a freight train it truly is. Although the quartet’s sound is rooted in traditional stringed instruments (guitar, basses, banjo and mandolin), their music surges forward with the strength and power of a hundred-ton diesel locomotive. Songs barrel down the tracks with momentum and intensity normally found in much heavier, heavily amplified music. They’ve played on almost every festival east of the Mississippi and shared the stage with countless artists across all genres of the musical spectrum. Looking ahead into 2016, the band will begin recording their as-yet-untitled third full length album in early spring, with an eye toward a mid-summer release. This freight train has no one conductor but four shovel boys pushing the limits of their engine night after night, so climb aboard and get ready for a one-of-a-kind ride.

    April 22 – MOVE Music Festival

    The MOVE Music Festival is a Indian ledge Music Group production. The festival will consist of approximately 100 acts performing at venues across Albany, New York on April 22-24 2016. The main purpose of this event is to give exposure to regional talent through live performances at select venues and provide musicians with insight on how to conduct their careers in today’s independent music scene. Music starts at 6pm on Friday, April 22 with multiple bands performing throughout the evening. Check back for updates when the schedule is released.

    April 29 – Lord Electro

    Hailing from Albany, NY Lord Electro quickly emerged on the scene in 2015 with their organic high energy Live-Electro/trance music. This has proven to generate quite the dance party! After making a name for themselves with their first show at Bellstock 21 LE played a run of Summer and Fall dates in markets across NY and New England including opening for The New Deal in Saratoga, NY this past November. With experienced musicians Dan Gerken (Timbre Coup, Groovestick) and Steve Mink (Digital Dharma) behind the tones and the addition of Jordan “George” LeFleur on the drumkit this trio is a force to be reckoned with and a magnificent display of organic improv on the dance floor.

  • Hearing Aide: The Heroic Enthusiasts “Memory Wheel”

    Rochester’s self-described “new wave influenced indie-pop” group The Heroic Enthusiasts have spun their new EP Memory Wheel and landed on a unique combination of musical genres.

    album

    Released in February 2016 on Jam Tom Music, the guitar-heavy tracks combined with lyrics delivered with a slight English accent put off a progressive rock vibe with a slight 1980’s tone. That’s no surprise as the group is led by James Tabbi and Tom Ferrara on vocals and guitar, both of whom are math majors and music lovers of Sicilian descent.

    Tabbi and Ferrara have weaved intricate guitar stylings and open-for-interpretation lyrics into a soundtrack reflective of the tangled melodies of track 2, Falling of the Drop, which runs the gamut of emotions from a sense of foreboding to a feeling of release, a reminder that through music we we truly are “all one.”

    “Suspended, connected, singularity of thought, the falling of the drop. In silent reflection, more powerful than fear, the falling of the drop.”

    The lyrics in track 4 Broken Liquid could be about anything from broken friendships, regrets, love or loss.

    “We say we’re friends but never can speak again. Leftover thoughts, discarded with broken plans. Isn’t this how it always ends”

    The Heroic Enthusiasts (3), photo credit Jason Wilder

    Professionals by day, Tabbi and Ferrara started playing together performing covers, but soon realized they wanted to write their own songs. They’ve since recorded eleven songs as The Heroic Enthusiasts since 2013, four of which are featured on their first EP Memory Wheel, also featuring Dexter Redic on bass and Mike James on drums. The album is worth taking a spin, especially for those who enjoy a methodical and progressive approach to music.

  • Bearsville Theater Announces Spring Schedule

    It’s no surprise that the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock released an exciting schedule for the spring.

    This unique venue draws a variety of world-class artists throughout the year. This April and May will feature familiar names from several genres including folk, jam bands, reggae, funk and DJ sets.

    Bearsville Theater sits in a wooded area about one minute outside of Woodstock. Guests can enjoy the Bear Café next door while checking out the Sawkill Creek. Radio Woodstock 100.1 WDST FM also shares the property. Fans of the venue return time and again for both the music and the incredible atmosphere.

    Next week features rising stars Pink Talking Fish on April 7 followed by a funky treat a few days later on April 10: Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett of Little Feat with special guest the New Orleans Suspects featuring members of Neville Bros., Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the Radiators, James Brown and the Meter Men.

    Grateful Dead fans can get their fix on April 15 with the Garcia Project and April 16 with Skeleton Keys featuring Todd Stoops of RAQ (formerly Kung Fu) and Alex Mazur of Gratefully Yours.

    Folk group Elephant Revival from Colorado will play on April 30 and rising jam band stars Formula 5 take the stage on May 13.

    A full schedule is available below. Please visit www.bearsvilletheater.com for details and tickets.

    April 1 – The Mountain Goats

    April 7 – Pink Talking Fish

    April 10 – Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett of Little Feat with special guest the New Orleans Suspects featuring members of Neville Bros., Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Radiators, James Brown, and The Meter Men

    April 15 – The Garcia Project

    April 16 – Skeleton Keys with Todd Stoops (Kung Fu) & Alex Mazur (Gratefully Yours)

    April 23 – Ladies Night with DJ Lady Miss Kier of Deee-Lite and DJ Lady Verse

    April 30 – Elephant Revival

    May 6 –  Feast of Friends (Doors Tribute)

    May 7 – Tangoman & The Latin All Star World Beat Dance Band

    May 13 –  Formula 5 with Hayley Jane and Justin Hancock of Hayley Jane and the Primates

    May 14 – Gary Nest Pine (former lead singer of The Wailers) & The Big Takeover

  • The Disco Biscuits Sell Out Debut Run at the Capitol Theatre

    The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester is a venue that has earned itself a unique spot in the heart of American jam band culture. Being a regular stop for legends such as the Grateful Dead and Frank Zappa in the past, today the Cap continues its tradition of booking the cream of the progressive rock crop. The Disco Biscuits fit that role exquisitely, and it showed this weekend during their back to back maximum capacity shows on March 25th and 26th. With the New Deal opening on both nights, the bill would provide a trance-fusion treat that no fan of the band or the venue could deny.

    There was an anticipatory energy crackling through the Capitol as the New Deal started the evening smoothly. The unique blend of catchy and accessible electronic rock served as an excellent warm up as the crowd settled in; swelling to a size that would worry the fire marshal as the opening act concluded. Giving a salute to one of the many gods to grace the same stage, the Disco Biscuits kicked it off in style with Frank Zappa’s “Pygmy Twylyte.” Zappa can lubricate anyone’s mood, and the song clearly got it going perfectly as the crowd brimmed with positive energy. “Spraypaint” always being a pleaser, the set promised to be an uplifting one as bassist Marc Brownstein had everyone feeling mellow for the transition into “Rainbow Song”. Maintaining the upbeat theme immaculately, “Spectacle” was followed promptly by a thundering “Helicopters” introduction that had everyone singing along. The set concluded with keyboardist Aron Magner’s crushing organ outro for the set-closing end of “Spraypaint”.

    Guitarist Jon Gutwillig greeted us warmly to start the second set, with his fingers even hotter for the incendiary riffs of “Mindless Dribble”. A few people mentioned that the “Crystal Ball” that followed seemed to have a less lively jump than usual, and the set seemed to have changed course from the first. The Biscuits opted for their more contemporary sound when continuing with “Highwire”. Never before heard cover “She’s a Bad Mama Jama”, originally by funk forerunner Carl Carlton, continued to bring the show to a less engaging air. Intertwining back into “Dribble”, drummer Allen Acoin provided a thundering drum solo before the band broke into a haunting “Orch Theme”. The conclusion of “Highwire” would conclude the second set, with encore frequent “Frog Legs” leaving everyone with high hopes for the following evening.

    This wouldn’t just be one more Saturday night in Port Chester, however. Sold out yet again but feeling cooler and more breathable on the floor, the boys started the first set with a “Shem-Rah Boo” fake out which dubiously changed key into “Bernstein and Chasnoff”. The Disco Biscuits were clearly locked and loaded for the evening yet again, breaking out “Bombs” like they had something to prove. The inverted “Shelby Rose” filled us all with delight, and served as a perfect segue vessel into the true gem of the entire weekend, “And the Ladies Were the Rest of the Night”. Bringing it back to “Bernstein” before dismissing us to set break, where glowing faces abound chatted about the wholly satisfying experience we had all shared moments ago.

    They set the bar almost impossibly high with the first set that night of the 26th, and it seemed they would continue to exceed expectations with the beginning of “Hope” swooning us comfortably into the final set of the run. An inverted “Above the Waves” washed over the crowd as the band nailed the immensely technical composition. “Mr. Don” followed suit, leaving the impression that the closing set would be chalk full of Biscuits classics. This was not so, unfortunately, as they surprised us by playing LCD Soundsystem cover “Home.” The choice seemed lazy and out of place that late in the run; the consensus seemed to be that we all would’ve much rather heard a song written by the band themselves this close to the conclusion of their maiden voyage at the Capitol. Ending the fourth and final set of the run, the boys brought the “Helicopters” that was started during the first set of the previous evening in for a landing. The Disco Biscuits waved triumphantly as they returned for the encore “Caves of the East” adding a hip hop twist with a sample from A Tribe Called Quest’s “Check the Rhime” in salute to the late MC of the group, Phife Dawg, who passed earlier this week. Ending lightly with the last measures of “Mr. Don”, Brownstein ended the weekend by hinting that we should expect to see them again soon on the very same stage.

    All things considered, the Biscuits’ inaugural weekend at the legendary Capitol Theatre left the crowd flying high. Returning to our homes and hotels, with sleep came dreams of what may be just around the corner for the new alliance between the band and the theatre.
    03/25/2016 • Capitol Theater • Port Chester, NY

    Set 1: Pygmy Twylyte> Spraypaint> Rainbow Song, Spectacle, Helicopters1> Spraypaint

    Set 2: Mindless Dribble> Crystal Ball, Highwire> She’s A Bad Mama Jama2> Mindless Dribble> Orch Theme> Highwire

    Encore: Frog Legs

    1. Unfinished
    2. First time played

    03/26/2016 • Capitol Theater • Port Chester, NY

    Set 1: Jam1> Bernstein And Chasnoff> Bombs> Shelby Rose2> And The Ladies Were The Rest Of The Night2> Bernstein And Chasnoff

    Set 2: Hope3> Above The Waves2> Mr. Don> Home> Helicopters

    Encore: Caves of the East4> Mr. Don

    1. With ‘Shem-Rah Boo’ teases
    2. Inverted version
    3. Unfinished
    4. With “Check the Rhime” (A Tribe Called Quest) sample