NYS Music 20​16

Category: Jam/Progressive

  • Video Premiere: Space Carnival “Moon Boots”

    An exclusive to NYS Music, Space Carnival has released the video for “Moon Boots.” Filmed by Front Row Dave at Damn Sam’s Harvest Festival in Laurens, NY on October 8, 2016 and edited by Shane O’Sullivan, the song debuted as a single off the group’s recent debut album Drawn in By the Sun.

  • Let it moe. – A Holiday Celebration at The Capitol Theatre

    The holiday spirit was alive and well in Port Chester, NY as New York rock icons moe. treated The Capitol Theatre with its first ever “Famoe.ly Holiday Concert” that saw the band dust off some old holiday covers, debut a few new songs and deliver some good old improvisational rock as only moe. can.

    The show also served as a benefit for Caritas, a local food bank, befitting of the holiday spirit courtesy of food donations from attendees as well as a raffle for signed posters and tickets to future shows at The Cap.  Revelers pre-gamed next door at Garcia’s, a small bar attached to the venue, with libations of their choosing before settling in next door for a unique yet classic moe. show.

    moe holiday capitol theatreThe band took the stage to a full crowd on the floor, although the balcony, surprisingly, was a little sparse early on with plenty of open seats to be had.  In a nod to the show’s locale, “New York City” opened things up in somewhat standard fashion before bassist Rob Derhak began playing the familiar opening notes of the Peanuts theme song, technically known as “Linus and Lucy.”  Their take on the classic Vince Guaraldi jazz song was the first of several tonight previously featured on their 2002 album Seasons Greetings From moe. and hadn’t been played in a live setting for nearly three years.

    The old school rocker “Head” then followed, replete with wailing vocals as delivered by guitarist Al Schnier, and the high energy number soon faded into a softer groove before teases of the same turned into a full on version of “Zed Naught Z.”  This percussion-driven instrumental gave Jim Loughlin a chance to shine on vibes as the composed section was delivered flawlessly before the beat picked up steam again and a delightful almost “Rec Chem”-esque jam ensued, a sign of things to come, before the band roared back into the ending of “Head,”  serving as a true first set highlight.

    The next holiday song of the night followed with “Oh Hanukkah,” another instrumental number found on the 2002 holiday album that had somewhat of a surf rock feel to it, before a brand new song, “Angel,” was debuted.  This one gave Schnier a chance to do his best Bruce Springsteen impression as this song sounded like it could have come directly from The Boss’ catalog and featured some fine complimentary play from fellow guitarist Chuck Garvey.  Then, in what has to be considered one of the peak musical moments of the night, moe. ended the first set with an absolutely blistering and thorough “Recreational Chemistry” that, early on, showcased watery bass tones from Derhak and impeccable drum fills via Vinnie Amico before devolving into a dark, dissonant jam that had the whole room spellbound.  From these depths, slowly and very surely, the song’s signature guitar-driven finish emerged and delivered a firm exclamation point on a well crafted first set.

    “Puebla” started things off to begin the second set and picked up right where things left off with another driving and soaring jam that featured more stellar play from Loughlin on vibes before he took over on vocals himself, a rarity for moe., for “Don’t Wanna Be,” another debut number which had a moody feel to it.  It was then time for the holiday spirit to be reintroduced and moe. did so with “Carol of the Bells,” another instrumental not played in several years. This short and sweet cover yielded a jam that had a brief flurry of “Rebubula” teases thrown about before quickly shifting gears and going into “Downward Facing Dog,” a song found on the band’s 2012 release, What Happened to the La Las. Once again, a crisply played composed section gave way to a rather dark and menacing jam filled with both heavy guitar and vocal distortion.

    The last of the evening’s debuts followed with “Prestige Worldwide” and seems to fit the classic mold of a moe. song in that it featured stellar guitar interplay between Schnier and Garvey and another heady solo from Loughlin on vibes before giving way to another frenzied improv jam showcasing the cohesiveness this outfit has built up over the course of their 27 year career.

    It remains to be seen what, if any, connection this song has to the movie Stepbrothers and Brennan and Dale’s international music corporation.  And just as they did in the first set, moe. ended the second in classic style with a pairing of old school favorites.  “Four” gave Garvey a chance to take lead on vocals and resulted in another jam that started out innocently enough and later ended with feverish guitar licks.  Two great sets of music were capped off with a mild segue into longtime crowd favorite “Buster,” before Derhak thanked a fervently appreciative Capitol Theatre crowd.

    Not missing out on one last chance to ramp up the holiday spirit, the moe. bassist emerged in full Santa garb for the encore which featured a fantastic cover choice in The Kinks’ “Father Christmas” and one last nod to the holiday album in “We’re A Couple Of Misfits,” the band’s interpretation of Hermey’s and Rudolph’s song of outcast from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  With a fantastic night of music in the books and a very successful food drive accomplished, one can only hope this is the start of a new holiday tradition for Port Chester and The Capitol Theatre, one of the more aesthetically pleasing and intimate venues the metropolitan area has to offer.

    moe. ~ 12/03/16 ~ The Capitol Theatre ~ Port Chester, NY

    Set 1: New York City, Linus & Lucy#, Head > Zed Naught Z > Head, Oh Hanukah##, Angel^, Recreational Chemistry

    Set 2: Puebla > Don’t Wanna Be^^, Carol Of The Bells%, Downward Facing Dog, Prestige Worldwide%%, Four > Buster

    Encore: Father Christmas+, We’re A Couple Of Misfits++

    # LTP > 12/13/13
    ## LTP > 12/06/13
    ^ FTP > (original – al. song)
    ^^ FTP > (original – jim. song)
    % LTP > 12/09/13
    %% FTP > (original – rob. song – working title)
    + FTP > (cover – The Kinks)
    ++ LTP > 12/07/13

  • THE PORTAL Opens at the Minetta Lane Theatre

    Off-Broadway “modern Shamanic journey,” THE PORTAL, opened this weekend to a spiritually minded audience at The Minetta Lane Theatre. Before stepping foot inside the half-filled preview, I was informed that this groundbreaking concept incorporated elements of a live concert, choreographed dance performance, and movie all in one. THE PORTAL soundtrack is now available and I feel that the show flows even better by pre-listening to the mythological themes presented in the lyrics and compositions by Tierro Lee and Luke Comer with Charles Newman and David Sisko.

    Frontman Billy Lewis Jr., most recently credited on Fox’s “Glee,” appears on stage and sonically narrates the dreamlike adventure of Dante, through inspirational and symbolic landscapes, Alex Grey-influenced imagery and psychedelic desserts that I assume were once visited by Jim Morrison.  The audience is introduced to the voyage with songs like “Eclipse” and “Greeting,” sung by Lewis as the film, starring Dante (Christopher Soren Kelly), is projected on the large screen behind him. The eclectic mix of tribal and electronic beats, modern dance music and monstrous rock riffs are brought to life by percussionist Gilly Gonzalez and guitarist Paul Casanova who also appear on and off stage from scene to scene.

    Dante’s inner-demons appear to be haunting him in the film as actors portraying the same characters can be found roaming the theatre floor to terrorize and intrigue the audience.Fans of electronic giants like EOTO, The Disco Biscuits, and Beats Antique will appreciate the deep and transformational grooves during songs like “Trance,” “Synth” and “Space Weaver” while Jessica Aronoff and Nicole Spencer interpretively dance their way on and off the stage in between songs and themes. While there is not much live acting of any kind, there is a ritualistic Burning Man-influenced dance routine in nearly every song bringing the art forms together in a very unique fashion.

    The only way to truly understand THE PORTAL is to expect the unexpected and dive right in. Creative Director, Luke Comer, has developed a new way to present a rock opera story off-Broadway. As an audience member, each person can relate to many of the human experiences presented on screen and on stage while still enjoying live music, dance and film. Tickets can be purchased for Wednesday-Friday performances at 8PM and for Saturday performances at 5PM and 9PM.

    https://soundcloud.com/theportalnyc

  • Let it moe. – A Holiday Celebration

    The holiday spirit was alive and well in Port Chester, NY last weekend as New York rock  icons moe. treated The Capitol Theatre with its first ever “Famoe.ly Holiday Concert” that saw the band dust off some old holiday covers, debut a few new songs and deliver some good old improvisational rock as only moe. can.  The show also served as a benefit for Caritas, a local food bank, befitting of the holiday spirit courtesy of food donations from attendees as well as a raffle for signed posters and tickets to future shows at The Cap.  Revelers pre-gamed next door at Garcia’s, a small bar attached to the venue, with libations of their choosing before settling in next door for a unique yet classic moe. show.

    The band took the stage to a full crowd on the floor, although the balcony, surprisingly, was a little sparse early on with plenty of open seats to be had.  In a nod to the show’s locale, “New York City” opened things up in somewhat standard fashion before bassist Rob Derhak began playing the familiar opening notes of the Peanuts theme song, technically known as “Linus and Lucy.”  Their take on the classic Vince Guaraldi jazz song was the first of several tonight previously featured on their 2002 album Seasons Greetings From moe. and hadn’t been played in a live setting for nearly three years.  The old school rocker “Head” then followed, replete with wailing vocals as delivered by guitarist Al Schnier, and the high energy number soon faded into a softer groove before teases of the same turned into a full on version of “Zed Naught Z.”  This percussion-driven instrumental gave Jim Loughlin a chance to shine on vibes as the composed section was delivered flawlessly before the beat picked up steam again and a delightful almost “Rec Chem”-esque jam ensued, a sign of things to come, before the band roared back into the ending of “Head,”  serving as a true first set highlight.

    The next holiday song of the night followed with “Oh Hanukkah,” another instrumental number found on the 2002 holiday album that had somewhat of a surf rock feel to it, before a brand new song, “Angel,” was debuted.  This one gave Schnier a chance to do his best Bruce Springsteen impression as this song sounded like it could have come directly from The Boss’ catalog and featured some fine complimentary play from fellow guitarist Chuck Garvey.  Then, in what has to be considered one of the peak musical moments of the night, moe. ended the first set with an absolutely blistering and thorough “Recreational Chemistry” that, early on, showcased watery bass tones from Derhak and impeccable drum fills via Vinnie Amico before devolving into a dark, dissonant jam that had the whole room spellbound.  From these depths, slowly and very surely, the song’s signature guitar-driven finish emerged and delivered a firm exclamation point on a well crafted first set.

    “Puebla” started things off to begin the second set and picked up right where things left off with another driving and soaring jam that featured more stellar play from Loughlin on vibes before he took over on vocals himself, a rarity for moe., for “Don’t Wanna Be,” another debut number which had a moody feel to it.  It was then time for the holiday spirit to be reintroduced and moe. did so with “Carol of the Bells,” another instrumental not played in several years. This short and sweet cover yielded a jam that had a brief flurry of “Rebubula” teases thrown about before quickly shifting gears and going into “Downward Facing Dog,” a song found on the band’s 2012 release, What Happened to the La Las. Once again, a crisply played composed section gave way to a rather dark and menacing jam filled with both heavy guitar and vocal distortion.

    The last of the evening’s debuts followed with “Prestige Worldwide” and seems to fit the classic mold of a moe. song in that it featured stellar guitar interplay between Schnier and Garvey and another heady solo from Loughlin on vibes before giving way to another frenzied improv jam showcasing the cohesiveness this outfit has built up over the course of their 27 year career.  It remains to be seen what, if any, connection this song has to the movie Stepbrothers and Brennan and Dale’s international music corporation.  And just as they did in the first set, moe. ended the second in classic style with a pairing of old school favorites.  “Four” gave Garvey a chance to take lead on vocals and resulted in another jam that started out innocently enough and later ended with feverish guitar licks.  Two great sets of music were capped off with a mild segue into longtime crowd favorite “Buster,” before Derhak thanked a fervently appreciative Capitol Theatre crowd.

    Not missing out on one last chance to ramp up the holiday spirit, the moe. bassist emerged in full Santa garb for the encore which featured a fantastic cover choice in The Kinks’ “Father Christmas” and one last nod to the holiday album in “We’re A Couple Of Misfits,” the band’s interpretation of Hermey’s and Rudolph’s song of outcast from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  With a fantastic night of music in the books and a very successful food drive accomplished, one can only hope this is the start of a new holiday tradition for Port Chester and The Capitol Theatre, one of the more aesthetically pleasing and intimate venues the metropolitan area has to offer.

    moe. ~ 12/03/16 ~ The Capitol Theatre ~ Port Chester, NY

    Set 1: New York City, Linus & Lucy#, Head > Zed Naught Z > Head, Oh Hanukah##, Angel^, Recreational Chemistry

    Set 2: Puebla > Don’t Wanna Be^^, Carol Of The Bells%, Downward Facing Dog, Prestige Worldwide%%, Four > Buster

    Encore: Father Christmas+, We’re A Couple Of Misfits++

    # LTP > 12/13/13
    ## LTP > 12/06/13
    ^ FTP > (original – al. song)
    ^^ FTP > (original – jim. song)
    % LTP > 12/09/13
    %% FTP > (original – rob. song – working title)
    + FTP > (cover – The Kinks)
    ++ LTP > 12/07/13

  • Lotus Fans Eat the Light at Playstation Theater

    On the night of November 25 at PlayStation Theater, an electronic jam band by the name of Lotus, set out to lift the hearts of many through musical madness. This five piece group has a way of capturing the attention of their soundwave-thirsty audience. A concert is one thing, but this was a performance.

    lotus playstationIt was quite refreshing to see this band live again. When you see a really good show live, you automatically wonder when you are ever going to get the chance to see them again. In that hiatus and chunk of time that you have not seen them, they have grown in many ways. Bands fashion and master fresh new tracks and work with each other to create something revitalizing and beautiful.

    Lotus commenced their musical power right at Playstation Theater before the turn of the 21st century. Since then, they have fabricated a style of unique instrumental post-rock and electronic dance, which makes their fans groove to the max.

    They dropped their newest album this past summer, Eat The Light. You better believe they killed it with a few fresh tunes off this energetic composition, such as “Sodium Vapor,” “I’ve Been a Fool,” as well as hits from the past including “Tip of the Tongue,” “Slow Cookin,’” “Basin to Benin,” “Juggernaut,” “Shimmer ‘n Out,” “Suitcases,” and many more. They also covered an awesome hit by Ratatat called “Cream on Chrome.”

    Lotus’ band members keep things alive and current all while adding flare to the mix to remain original. We must give thanks to Mike Rempel on guitar, Chuck Morris on percussion, Jesse Miller on bass, Luke Miller on guitar and keys, and Mike Greenfield on drums. These loyal members opened up the hearts of many like a blossoming lotus flower.

    This show made a grand impact on those who were destined to be there at that very moment in time. Each song mastered a journey of transcendence, telling a story unique to its own. The soothing lighting and delicate but strong jams of the evening had everyone feeling jovial, friendly, and dedicated – a true reflection of this amazing band’s powerful yet gentle nature.

  • Photo Gallery: Mike Gordon Returns to The Egg

    Halfway through the second set of his November 26 performance at The Egg, Mike Gordon paused to remark, “I think this is the best sounding venue on the Eastern seaboard,” which led to thunderous applause from the sold out crowd. Gordon spoke of his affinity for The Egg in a recent interview with NYS Music, something residents of the Capital Region have known for many years.

    mike gordon eggThe two-set show opened with “Waking up Dead,” followed by “Jumping,” which featured strong interplay between Gordon’s bass, John Kimock’s drums and Craig Myers’ percussion, which broke down into a bluesy duel with Mike and guitarist Scott Murawski working up and down their instruments. A stand out jam was built by Kimock’s drums during the set closing “Traveled Too Far.”

    A six-song second set featured “Just a Rose” by Max Creek, a high energy number that added a spark to the crowd. A dark “Yarmouth Road” segued smoothly into “Let’s Go,” which brought out the interactive instrument REEL into the crowd, which fans touched to add to the jam (Mike got in a few touches too). Robert Walter’s nasty keyboard work was on full display during “Take it as it Comes,”  while “Tiny Little World” closed the set with “My Sharona” teases mixed in.

    Gettin weird with the audience during ‘Let’s Go!’ #mikegordon #nysmusic #518love #albanydoesntsuck

    A video posted by NYS Music (@nystatemusic) on


    An encore of “Sugar Shack” had Mike invite fans to dance on the front of the stage, perhaps to the dismay of security but with absolute joy from the looks of fans dancing and smiling to close out the night.

    Set 1: Waking Up Dead, Jumping, Morphing Again, Don’t Chin The Dog > Let Her Go > Traveled Too Far

    Set 2: Here Today, Just a Rose, Yarmouth Road > Let’s Go, Take It As It Comes, Tiny Little World

    Encore: Sugar Shack

    Download Scott Bernstein’s recording of the show

  • Jam for Tots Benefit Shows Kick off November 25 in Tannersville

    Jam for Tots returns to the Capital Region of New York for the 10th year in a row, with a series of performances that bring the live music community together in supporting children in need this holiday season.

    jam for totsHosted by Luke Weiler of Positive Mental Trip, the event started as a way to help make less fortunate children happy and doing so through music for a positive cause. Working with The Marines Corps, who run Toys for Tots, the events grew from one in 2007 to nine in 2013, while keeping a focus on the Northeast as an area of need.

    “Our goal for 2016 is to make as many children happy on Christmas Day and make sure that every person that comes to Jam for Tots leaves happy and glad that they took the time to come,” said Weiler. “We go to great lengths every year to make sure people have a blast at Jam for Tots with raffles, giveaways, great bands and all around good vibes. When a town and a good promoter get behind these events, there is really nothing that can stop them from being successful. This year all four shows are in places that love Jam for Tots and are all about it so they are all gonna rock.”

    The four Jam for Tots events kick off on Friday, November 25 in Tannersville at The Spinning Room. Bring a toy for a child as your cover charge for the shows.

    November 25, The Spinning Room, Tannersville, NY

    Bands include Positive Mental Trip (band), The Vicious Knishes, and In Good Company. Doors 8:30pm, Music goes from 9pm-1 am. Event link

    December 2, The Stewart House, Athens, NY

    Bands include Positive Mental Trip (band), For the Grateful and DUBB Agents. Doors 6:15pm, Music from 7-10pm. Event link

    December 10, Putnam Den, Saratoga Springs, NY

    Bands include Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets, Positive Mental Trip (band), The North and South Dakotas, Too Much Too Fast, and Dustin Sawyer. Doors at 7pm with live music until 2am. Event link

    December 17, Aaron’s Irish Pub, Gloversville, NY

    Bands are Too Much Too Fast, Positive Mental Trip -Band, Our Secret Love Society, Noise Between Stations and Memory of Me. Doors at 6pm with live music from 7pm – 2am. Event link

  • Photo Gallery: Dopapod w/ Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

    Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY played host to Dopapod and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong on Saturday, November 19. Check out some of the the action below.

    Dopapod pigeonsPigeons Playing Ping Pong Setlist: Walk Outside, Stay, Too Long, Lightning, Poseidon, >Horizon->Eyes of the world->Horizon, King Kong, Fortress, Time to Ride

    Dopapod Setlist: My Elephant Vs. Your Elephant, Flipped, FABA, November, Nuggy Jawson, Foxy Lady*, Nude^, Vol. 3 #86, The happy song->Trickery, Braindead
    Encore: Blast, You Oughta Know”
    *Jimi Hendrix Cover
    ^Radiohead Cover
    “Alanis Morrisette Cover

  • Interview: NYS Music talks to The Other Brothers

    The Other Brothers have been bringing a soulful twist to funk and R&B in the greater New York City area since 2012. They’ve  since appeared on stage with artists like Goose, Bushicks, with members of Kung Fu and Deep Banana Blackout and more.

    This six piece includes Brandon Bera (drums), Chris Owens (vocals), Gabe Marquez (organ and keys), Jared Nelson (percussion), John Morrison (guitar) and Jordan Mendelson (bass), all of whom are SUNY New Paltz students, both current and graduated.

    They took out some time this weekend to answer a few questions for NYS Music about their origin, creative process, and future aspirations.

    Karina Verlan: What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?

    The Other Brothers: We would say we’re neo-soul, but with some jam flavor. Our sound is derived from a handful of records that we’ve been in love with for the past few years, including Voodoo (D’Angelo), Channel Orange (Frank Ocean), and Off the Wall (Michael Jackson). We take a lot of cues from Phish, who we’ve collectively seen a million times. The Band is also a big influence on us, especially since we live in the Hudson Valley where they set up shop.

    KV: How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?

    TOB: John & Chris met at a Phish show at Bethel Woods in 2011. Then John heard Chris jokingly sing Creed at a house party and was very impressed. In fall 2012 John met a then-freshman Brandon at a jam session at the then-house of Matt Richards (of Formula 5) where they had a memorable “Good Times Bad Times” jam. Brandon met Jordan through a mutual friend at the very start of college (2012) and they jammed together in the dorms as well as in jazz ensembles. Then in the past year we met Jared and Gabe through jam parties and mutual friends.

    KV: How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?

    TOB: Our goal has always been to write soulful tunes based in a real moment or feeling so that our audience can share that experience with us. Whether they are funky, slow and soulful, or dark, we try to keep the original emotion as raw as possible. We try to keep the tunes loose so that we can jam on them if the mood strikes at a particular show. The recent addition of Gabe (organ/keys) and Jared (percussion) has opened everything up. They’re both great musicians and they’re really elevating our sound.

    KV: What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?

    TOB: We have a cozy rehearsal space at Castle Studios in New Paltz, where we practice usually 3 times per week depending on schedules. We keep it mostly productive, working on new material or polishing up old tunes. We also spend a lot of time kicking it and jamming on covers we’ll never play – just having fun. The other nights of the week we are usually out seeing music in New Paltz or shredding with our favorite vinyl at our house (Brandon, John, and Jordan live together).

    KV: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?

    TOB: Play music with people you love to be around. We’re always joking around with each other and we care about each other. The stronger your friendship is, the stronger the musical relationship will be. Also, support your friends’ bands and local scene as much as you can.

    KV: What was the most exciting gig that you have done in 2016 thus far?

    TOB: Our gig at American Beauty in NYC in support of the B.R.Y.A.C. Funk All Stars (of Kung Fu and Deep Banana Blackout) was too much fun. We had an amazing audience of friends and new fans. It was also our first full show with Gabe on keys, and he just crushed it. Halloween weekend at Neptune’s in Lake George was insane – the crowd was killer and Formula 5’s Lord of the Rings improv set was simply incredible music.

    KV: What is your dream gig, venue, and supporting artist?

    TOB: Someday we’ll host our own festival in the beautiful Hudson Valley with Breakfast for the Boys, Formula 5, and Let’s Be Leonard. Be on the lookout… We’re also looking forward to our gig at Madison Square Garden on New Year’s Eve 2023 with Anderson Paak opening.

    KV: How can fans-to-be best gain access to your music?

    TOB: If you sign up for our email list and we will send you a copy of our album which we’re recording in February at Art Farm studios in Accord. For now we have a few demos on our site. Also be on the lookout for our live release medium called Noach’s Roaches from chemist, brewer, and archivist Adam Noach.

    KV: How do you feel about the influence of the internet on the music business?

    TOB: It’s causing a shift in focus back to live performance because that’s where the money is now, which is fine by us because that’s where we thrive. We’re big Vulfpeck fans, and Jack Stratton is currently reinventing the game in terms of music marketing, which is cool to see.

    KV: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?

    TOB: We don’t have a standard setlist and play mostly originals with some covers. We’ve played our song “Addicted to Weed” at pretty much every recent show because it’s such a fun groove. Also a big tune for us is called “In the City,” which is about all the social injustice our country is facing. We have a few covers that are in pretty heavy rotation including “Nothing from Nothing” (Billy Preston) and “Who Did That to You” (John Legend). We’ve covered a wide variety of artists from Eminem to Radiohead.

    KV: Which gig are you most excited for before the end of the year?

    TOB: We have three more shows this year. We’re playing Thanksgiving Eve at the Hollow in Albany with our good friends the Late Shift and Loveport. Then December 2nd we have a hometown banger scheduled at Snug Harbor in New Paltz with our best friends Formula 5.  December 3rd we hit Rockwood Music Hall in NYC where we always enjoy a nice crowd.

  • All You Really Need: DSO at the Palace Theatre

    On Saturday night at the Palace Theatre in Albany, Dark Star Orchestra (DSO) brought the good ol’ Grateful Dead back to life in a stellar fashion.  Excitement filled the room before the first note was played as word had spread that Jeff Chimenti would be on keys for the entire show as he did the night before in New Haven, CT.  Normally holding down the boards, Rob Barraco replaced Skip Vangelas on bass creating a music chairs scenario that we were all ready to embrace.  

    DSO Palace TheatreOpening the set with a heartfelt “Sugaree,” the Capital Region crowd began to “shake it” on low gear while blissfully enjoying Jeff Mattson’s passionate vocals.  After the silky first set introduction, rhythm guitarist Rob Eaton wasted no time channeling the cowboy in Bob Weir with a wild west “Me and My Uncle> Big River” one-two punch.  While “Me and My Uncle” is by far the most played song in the Dead’s expansive repertoire, I never get tired of the rockabilly energy release after a soul searching Jerry Garcia tune.  Chimenti gave the fans a symbolic “YEEHAW” on the keys during “Big River” and reminded the room why he was invited by the remaining Dead members to join them on the “Fare Thee Well” run.  

    Slowing things down with an exceptional threesome of “Peggy-O,” “Cassidy” and “Friend of the Devil,” this show was starting to feel like a classic late-70’s gathering.  Barraco displayed his nasty bass playing abilities during “Peggy-O” before Lisa Mackey floated her way on stage during “Cassidy,” playing the role of Donna Godchaux. She would return two songs later for “From the Heart of Me” which would turn out to be one of the last times this tune was ever played on stage.  It was after “Ramble On Rose” that a wide-eyed seasoned tour-veteran giddily informed me of the Grateful Dead show the Orchestra was recreating:  January 11th, 1979 from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY.  

    My original hunch of a late-70’s show turned out to be true, but I did not realize the importance of the date until hearing the tear-the-roof-off “Jack Straw.”  Cowboy Bob was back for this desperado masterpiece as Mattson threw in some rawer than usual jamming.  Deadheads young and old call this one of the best versions of all time for the blistering Jerry solo and, nearly 38 years later, DSO honored their heroes to the fullest extent.  Also noteworthy in the original performance was Bobby’s comical word-swap as he sang, “We used to play for acid, now we play for Clive.” But from what I heard on Saturday, Eaton left those lyrics in 1979.  Out of all the stand-out moments of the first set, the vocal belting of “Jack Straw from Wichita” hit the crowd with a sonic uppercut that we didn’t recover from until after set break.  The always rockin’ “Deal” closed out a set filled with Jerry’s greatest hits and some colossal Bobby moments in between.  

    Picking up right where the first set left off, “I Need a Miracle” carried the tidal wave of momentum that was felt over the intermission.  “Ship of Fools” calmly sailed into the number two slot of the second set before kicking off another Weir-inspired highlight in “Estimated Prophet.”  Chimenti, Barraco and Mattson provided the foundation for the psychedelic reggae and while we were in Upstate NY, the California lyrics were shown a lot of love.  “My time’s comin’ any day” eerily stood out to me as the original 1979 show would be Keith Godchaux‘ last appearance at the famed Grateful Dead stomping grounds of the Nassau Coliseum.  An even more fitting tune for the final night of Keith in Long Island, “He’s Gone” allowed my over-thinking self to read even further into the lyrics, symbolism and song placement of my favorite band.  Fortunately, we were given a temporary vocal time-out and the spinners in the audience were treated to a short and sweet “Drums” by Dino English and Rob Koritz on kits and percussion.  

    [singlepic id=6787 w= h= float=none]

    New Yorkers from Long Island to Albany were able to enjoy the home state lyrics delivered in the straightforward version of “Truckin’” before the second major highlight of the set, “Stella Blue.”  Mattson made his guitar strings shine one more time during this bluesy crowd pleaser.  “Stella” may have a somber tone, but Jerry’s fiery guitar solo always brings the boil to high during this signature ballad and the Orchestra perfected the nucleus of the original.  Closing the second set with a reminder of all we really need, “Good Lovin’” pleasantly drifted off into DSO show history.  

    The boys encored with “Casey Jones,” which serves as a rarity in late-70’s era.  The “upper” drug reference in one of the band’s most radio-played tunes gave the crowd the extra pep in their step before pouring out into the street of Albany for a night cap.  Similar to the good ol’ Grateful Dead, Dark Star Orchestra seems to have a particular affinity for the Empire State.  While I have not done the research, I would suggest that New York may have more Deadheads per capita than any other state from sea to shining sea.  Saturday night’s recreation of a legendary 1979 Nassau show performed in front of an Albany crowd furthered my love for New York State, the Grateful Dead and the incredibly talented Orchestra that pays tribute to them tour after tour.   DSO returns to the state with “the ways and means” for two shows on November 25th and 26th at The Paramount in Huntington.  

    01/11/79
    Nassau Coliseum – Uniondale, NY

    Set 1: Sugaree, Me And My Uncle, Big River, Peggy-O, Cassidy, Friend Of The Devil, New Minglewood Blues, From The Heart Of Me, Ramble On Rose, Jack Straw, Deal

    Set 2: I Need A Miracle, Ship Of Fools, Estimated Prophet, He’s Gone, Drums, Truckin’, The Other One, Stella Blue, Good Lovin’

    Encore: Casey Jones

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