NYS Music 20​16

Category: Genres

  • Fantastic Negrito and Bryan Thomas at Cohoes Music Hall

    The Fantastic Negrito will play the Cohoes Music Hall on Thursday, Oct. 13. Albany’s Bryan Thomas will open the show.

    Hailing from the Bay Area, the Fantastic Negrito is a blues-oriented musician who has seen a lot of trouble in his life. He considers his current musical endeavor the third incarnation of his life. After getting caught up with some trouble on the streets of Oakland that ended in a near-death encounter with a masked gunman, he moved to Los Angeles where he got his first record deal that turned out to be disastrous. He quit music, and then, in 2000, he was in a near-fatal car accident. Following his recovery and the birth of his son, he turned back to writing music as the Fantastic Negrito. In 2015, he won NPR’s inaugural Tiny Desk Concert Contest and, subsequently, received critical acclaim for his self-titled EP.

    Fantastic Negrito will be at the Cohoes Music Hall on Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $32 or $26. The show will kick off with Albany-based soul rocker Bryan Thomas.

  • Photo Gallery: Adirondack Independence Music Festival 2016

    Lake George hosted the Adirondack Independence Music Festival on September 30th, and October 1st. With the lineup this year, you would never guess that this is only the 2nd year for this event. This years festival featured sets from headlining acts; Robert Randolph and the Family band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and the Spin Doctors, as well as some local favorites Rich Ortiz, and Formula 5. Were excited to see this festival grow in the upcoming years! Check out the full 2016 lineup below, and re-live some photos from Saturday!

    Adirondack Independence

  • The Struts bring their Dirty Sexy Summer to Upstate Concert Hall

    If you took Mick Jagger, Freddie Mercury and Steven Tyler and threw them in a blender you would get Luke Spiller, lead singer of The Struts, on their Dirty Sexy Summer tour. Spiller along with guitarist Adam Slack, Bassist Jed Elliot and drummer Gethin Davis made their way to the Capital Region for the first time ever on Thursday night and they brought their unique style and throwback rock ‘n’ roll sound with them to the delight of a crowd that sang along to every song over their 90-minute set.

    the strutsSpiller is a true Rock ‘n’ Roll front man, writhing and dancing around the stage capturing every member of the audience in the palm of his hand. When he told the crowd to sing they sang and when he told them to jump they jumped. The Struts are the definition of a down and dirty rock band.

    The band tore through a set that included all but one song off of their debut album “Everybody Wants”. The biggest response came from their single “Kiss This” and their upcoming single “Put Your Money On Me”. While their album is strong and solid, The Struts are a live band. You cannot get the raw and dirty feel off of the album that you do seeing them live.

    The show was opened by the band Dorothy. Lead singer Dorothy Martin, drummer Zac Morris, bassist Gregg Cash and guitarist DJ Black got the crowd pumped up with cuts off of their debut album ROCKISDEAD. Dorothy have a heavy bluesy sound and singer Dorothy Martin could be the reincarnation of Janis Joplin. She has a raw sound to her voice that oozes whiskey and sex. Martin had every eye in the place on her as she danced and sang across the stage. One the closing number “BANG BANG BANG” it was like she made love to the entire place.

    the strutsDorothy Setlist: Kiss It, Dark Nights, Gun in My Hand, Wicked Ones, After Midnight, Woman, Raise Hell, Bang Bang Bang

    The Struts Setlist: I Just Know/Roll Up, These Times Are Changing, Could Have Been Me, The Ol’ Switcheroo, Kiss This, Mary Go Round, Dirty Sexy Money, Let’s Make This Happen Tonight, Young Stars, Put Your Money On Me, Only Just a Call Away

    Encore: Black Swan, Where Did She Go

  • Photo Gallery: Riot Fest 2016 Douglas Park Chicago Day 2

    Punk veterans, The Vandals, kicked off day two of Riot Fest 2016 with some good old fashioned fast paced punk rock tunes. They whipped the audience into a beer throwing, pogo jumping frenzy. This was my first time seeing The Vandals and I am hoping I get the opportunity to catch them again at some point.

    Other notables included the UK band The Hives, who despite a late start to their set, belted out hit after crowd pleasing hit. Alternative punk pop band Motion City Soundtrack took the stage to perform their second to last show. In March of 2016 the band announced that they were calling it quits for now and didn’t know what the future had in store for them. They invited their fans to come out to a show and sing along with them one last time.

    It would be criminal not mention another icon who played an intense and incredible set, former Husker Du guitarist, Bob Mould! I was blown away by the passion and ferocity of his performance! At 55 he can easily shred and tear up the stage with the best of them! I was humbled to finally get the chance to see him perform.

    Day two of Riot Fest 2016 ended with some of my personal favorites. What can top the Descendents and Social Distortion playing live?  I have been fortunate enough to see both bands in the past and just like before, the Descendents were absolutely incredible live. Milo and the gang came out swinging hard and didn’t let up for the entire hour that they played. They tore through classic favorites like “Everything Sux,” “Rotting Out,” and “I Like Food” as well as some new songs. After an unforgettable 29 song set, the massive crowd was screaming for more. 

    I love Social Distortion and my favorite Social D album is White Light, White Heat, White Trash so you can imagine how thrilled I was when I found out that they would be performing the album in its’ entirety at Riotfest to celebrate its’ 20th anniversary. Normally, I don’t get star struck when I am shooting bands but being in the photo pit when Mike Ness and the band took the stage and started playing “Dear Lover” left me awestruck with my jaw on the floor. It was definitely surreal. They ended their set with Johnny Cash’s immortal classic “Ring of Fire” which had the audience screaming so loudly it drowned out Morrissey who was playing on the other stage at the time. Thank you Social Distortion for performing my favorite album.

    Earlier in the day I sat down with singer, songwriter Donna Missal. Even though I had missed her performance that morning, we had fun chatting about music and riot fest.

    Day 2 was amazing. Please enjoy the photos and interviews below.

  • Arc Iris Transforms Abilene

    Abilene Bar and Lounge is a modest neighborhood bar built into an old house on an out of the way street in downtown Rochester. Generally it plays host to roots Americana acts, honest tunes sung and strummed on good old fashion acoustic stringed instruments. But Tuesday night, Arc Iris descended onto the stage and transformed the joint into their own little Moon Saloon.

    A complete DIY stage set, composed of multiple gelled floor can lights and strings of LED lights, including one hanging off the back wall writing their name, helped to set the scene. Lead singer Jocie Adams came dressed in a skin-tight shiny gold one piece, with a quasi-cape neckpiece and white tasseled ankles. She would add wings to the ensemble midway through the show, with a dramatic entrance and full on display during “Kaleidoscope,” like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. However, a small stuffed doll Max Rebo sitting on Zach Tenorio-Miller’s keyboard may have been the most appropriate prop of them all.

    Arc Iris was like a spaceship: Adams as the captain, Tenorio-Miller at the controls and drummer Ray Belli providing the driving power behind the ship as the engine. With the opening notes of “Saturation Brain,” off of their spectacular 2016 release Moon Saloon, the audience was pulled from the Earth’s gravity, floating along attached to lifelines. Each song was a journey, traveling from point to point. They could lull you into a beautiful dreamscape before jolting with sudden acceleration in a surprising new direction, such as on “Paint With the Sun.” Arc Iris defies convention at every turn.

    Adams commanded attention with her incredible vocal range, navigating complex narrative song structures. Singing through two mics, run through different effects pedals and loops, one voice could be many, human voice could be alien. Tenorio-Miller kept busy, constantly pounding out bass lines with his left hand while maintaining much of the melodies that were represented by horns, strings and more on the album. He provided extra boosts to the ships rockets with some downright brilliant keys work, reminiscent of greats like George Duke and Herbie Hancock. Loops, samples, backing vocals and percussion just added to his arsenal.

    Last month the band played a special set in Burlington. VT where they recreated Joni Mitchell’s Blue in it’s entirety. Mixed in with the set heavy on Moon Saloon material, they treated Rochester to a trio of their Blue re-workings, playing through their versions of “Last Time I Saw Richard,” “River” and “Blue,” each flown out to outer space and back, jumbled and reconfigured. sounding in the end almost like new Arc Iris originals. One foot in the past, one foot firmly planted in the future.

    [embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TCcJ5DpNdQ[/embedyt]

    It’s not often a band can completely consume and redefine the stage on which they play. With some simple stage design, but mostly through their transformative music, Arc Iris successfully took Abilene on a short but memorable journey up and away from what had just been a regular old Tuesday in Rochester, NY.

  • Hearing Aide: Phish’s “Big Boat”

    Ever think Phish would start off a studio album with a sort of Brit-pop-punk sounding song?

    Me either, but that’s exactly what the band did by kicking off Big Boat with the Jon Fishman song “Friends,” which is the perfect lead-in to an album by a band that has built its fanbase by throwing it curveballs. Phish’s 13th studio recording is the most genre bending album they have released.

    big boatTeaming back up with Fuego producer Bob Ezrin, Phish has created an at-times overproduced record that probably will not be universally loved by fans and aside from a few tracks, won’t get much play from me. But, the beauty of Phish is that this is perfectly fine because each of these songs will be defined by what they do on stage.

    “Blaze On” and “No Man in No Man’s Land” both debuted live in 2015 and become almost immediate jam vehicles. The album versions of these songs are very strong and have the same feel of the live performances.

    The apocalyptic “Breath and Burning” gives way to the first Page McConnell song, “Home,” which features a very Phishy little synth-driven jam. “Things People Do” is very Mike Gordon-like, but is written by McConnell. “Waking Up Dead,” written by Gordon, is among the few songs that sound Phishy.

    The Anastasio ballads “Running Out of Time” and “Miss You” are poignant, with the latter being one of the more emotive songs the guitarist has written in a while. “I Always Wanted it That Way” goes back toward the synth-pop sound, before straightforward rocker “More” sits as the last barrier until the orchestral composition “Petrichor” closes the album with a complicated, at times intricate but often wandering song that Anastasio initially wrote to be performed with an orchestra.

    Big Boat is not their best album, but honestly, who cares? Let’s see what happens on Fall Tour and during the New Year’s Run.

    Key Tracks: More, Waking Up Dead, Petrichor

  • Skillet rocks the Q lounge at Lucky Strike

    Skillet stopped by the Lucky Strike Social Club on Tuesday on a promotional stop for their upcoming album Unleashed that will be released on August 5. The show was put on by Q103 and was an invite only performance and this writer was lucky enough to get an invite.

    skilletThe acoustic show opened with the band, singer John Cooper rhythm guitarist and Cooper’s wife Korey playing percussion on a wooden box, drummer Jen Ledger also playing percussion on a wooden box and lead guitarist Seth Morrison, taking the stage and performing their hit “Monster”. The show continued with local DJ Candace from Q103 doing an interview with the band and taking a couple of questions from the audience.

    The band discussed many topics including their music being used by the WWE and their love of professional wrestling. Another topic of discussion was the band being considered a “Christian Rock” band and if that label has hurt them and their success. Singer John Cooper stated that he was proud of his faith and that the band has many fans that reach beyond religion. There was also discussion of the meaning behind some of their deeper cut recordings.

    The band closed their 3 song set with their newest single “Feel Invincible”. The small but rowdy crowd seemed to love the intimate setting that was provided and the up close feel between them and one of their favorite bands.

  • Hearing Aide: Teddy Midnight “Velvet Blue”

    On September 7 New York City’s own Teddy Midnight released their first LP Velvet Blue. An eight song release captivating their blend of genres from funk, rock, and jamtronica, to so much more.  Recorded at Telefunken Elektroakustik by Alan Venitosh, produced by Sean Silva (synthesizers/bass), and co-produced by drummer Adam Magnan. Velvet Blue was written and recorded entirely by the members of Teddy Midnight with the addition of Amy Grace adding her powerful vocals to “Blue Dream,” the final track. An excellent debut album by a group of musicians that have earned a respectable spot as an up and coming band. Teddy Midnight is hard working, both in and out of the studio.

    Teddy Midnight Velvet BlueEach member patiently brings a noticeable flavor to Teddy Midnight‘s unique sound and brings an individual ingredient that gives their fans that taste they are looking for when looking for the right band to go see. Velvet Blue captures the essence of their raw, high energy jams and electronic influence. A terrific soundtrack to getting down or just listening to good tunes.

    The album opens up with “Velvet Mist” with each member layering in and immediately getting the dance party started. Continuing this theme throughout the entire album with each track holding it’s own.  With tasteful blends of sounds from keyboardist Sean McAuley using full bodied tones complimenting guitarist Wiley Griffin’s seasoned tones and style. Whether the two are syncing notes or complimenting each other, bassist Sean Silva and drummer Adam Magnan lay down a solid foundation for tracks to soar such as “Popo Jijo.”  Subtle uses of an arpeggiator backing track gives this album a hint of what STS9 does when composing music and adding organic energy. Be sure to check out Velvet Blue.

    Key Tracks: Velvet Mist, Turkish Silva, Popo Jijo

  • Daft Punk Tour Rumors Pick Up Steam

    The never-ending Daft Punk may be on tour again rumor has resurfaced; this time with a bit more fuel.

    daft punkA mysterious website has appeared with nothing more than a black background and the word “ALIVE” in white. As Dancing Astronaut reports, further examination reveals a countdown timer within the “I” in “ALIVE” with an end date of Oct. 27, 2016.

    Rumors began to surface last month on Reddit when fans discovered a link for the band on the Lollapalooza website, leading to speculation the reclusive French duo would be headlining Lollapalooza Chile.

    Daft Punk hasn’t toured in 10 years. The previous tour in 2007 resulted in a live album, simply titled Alive. The first tour was in 1997 so it isn’t illogical to assume that 2017 could be the year for another tour.

    The sleuths have been busy picking apart this new website. One Reddit user has broken down the source code of the website, determining that the numbers within it represent coordinates of major cities around the world.

    The chatter in Daft Punk subreddits is trending towards a hoax in regards to the site but fans are holding out hope for another “Alive” tour for the coming year.

    The duo has largely kept quiet in the three years since winning multiple Grammy awards in 2013 for the Random Access Memories album.

    They most recently collaborated with the Wknd for the single “Starboy.”

  • Rolling Stones to Release ‘Blue & Lonesome’

    The Rolling Stones are set to release their first studio album in over a decade, titled Blue & Lonesome.

    The Rolling Stones announced their first studio album since 2005’s A Bigger Bang will be released on Friday, Dec. 2. Blue & Lonesome is an album of covers of classic Chicago blues songs. The 12-track album was recorded last December over a three day period. It was produced by Don Was, the producer behind many of their more recent albums, including Bridges to Babylon and Voodoo Lounge. The Stones were joined by longtime touring partners Darryl Jones (bass), Chuck Leavell (keyboards) and Matt Clifford (keyboards), as well as Eric Clapton on two tracks and percussionist Jim Keltner on one.

    The album will be available on CD, digital download, double heavyweight vinyl that includes a download card or a deluxe edition that includes the album on CD, a 75 page mini-book about the making of the album and band photo postcards. The album is currently available for pre-sale.

    Rolling Stones Blue & Lonesome Track Listing
    1. Just Your Fool
    2. Commit a Crime
    3. Blue and Lonesome
    4. All of Your Love
    5. I Gotta Go
    6. Everybody Knows About My Good Thing
    7. Ride ‘Em On Down
    8. Hate to See You Go
    9. Hoo Doo Blues
    10. Little Rain
    11. Just Like I Treat You
    12. I Can’t Quit You Baby