NYS Music 20​16

Category: Genres

  • The Budos Band Strikes at Brooklyn Bowl

    Slated for two nights at Brooklyn Bowl, the 9-piece Staten Island based Budos Band played to a small but excited crowd on Friday, April 1. Initially known for their instrumental funk and soul sound, The Budos Band has evolved into a darker and more psychedelic rock band. 

    This was evidenced on Friday night throughout their frenetic performance.  Drum, bass guitar, and percussion beats were deep and the organ bellowed. The horn section blared a noisy sound while lead guitarist Thomas Brenneck chaotically worked his way around the stage with his guitar in perpetual motion; at one point he even wedged the head of his guitar between two amps to distort its sound.

    Budos Band

    The Budos Band is certainly unique – soulful afro-beats shaken and stirred with psychedelic hard rock. I had expected to experience a relaxed show with funky beats, but instead was greeted with an unconventional loud, frenzied night of music.  The new sound of The Budos Band is upon us. Their fifth album, Burnt Offering, was recorded in Brooklyn and released in 2014 on Daptone Records. 

    Budos Band

    The Budos Band:
    Jared Tankel – baritone saxophone
    Thomas Brenneck – electric guitar
    John Carbonella Jr. – congas, drums
    Mike Deller – organ
    Daniel Foder – bass guitar
    Andrew Greene – trumpet
    Rob Lombardo – bongos, congas
    Brian Profilio – drums
    Dame Rodriguez – percussion

  • 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]

  • Rock legends, The Cult “Hustle and Strut” at Upstate Concert Hall

    Rock legends, The Cult, ventured into Clifton Park’s Upstate Concert Hall on Saturday April 2, 2016 to a mixed macho crowd of mid 40-somethings. Formed in 1983, the British rockers gained a solid following due to songs like “She Sells Sanctuary” and “Fire Woman”. Thirty-three years later the bands latest release, “Hidden City:, the last in a trilogy of tightly woven albums features hard hitting and catchy tracks like,”GOAT” and Dark Energy”. What continues the bands long standing success and popularity are lead singer, Ian Astbury and Gretsch guitar toting god Billy Duffy. The two are also often credited as the two major songwriting talents for the band who have ten full length studio releases.
    The band led off with the 1987’s “Wild Flower” from the mega popular, Rick Rubin produced album, “Electric”. Throughout the 15 song set list Astbury projected a re-invented energy that seemed to be missing from parts of the “Electric” anniversary tour a few  years prior.  Fingers, sporting fresh tape from previous nights dominance of the tambourine resulting in numerous cuts only adds fuel to the passion that has always been the music of The Cult. Perhaps the catchiest new tune of the night is “GOAT” which means “Greatest of All Time”. A song that more than fitting for one of the worlds most talented lead guitarist, Duffy

    Opening up for The Cult was Holy White Hounds out of Des Moines, Iowa. Obvious fans of The Cult, frontman Brenton Dean duly noted how excited the foursome continues to be each evening to be opening for the band. The bands super short 7-song set list was a tad too brief to gain any real connection with the crowd but Dean kept his humor and energy in tact as well as his rapport with long time friend and bass player Ambrose Lupercal. The bands debut album, “Sparkle Sparkle” is scheduled to be released on May 6th with a return to Upstate Concert Hall on May 7th.

    The Cult – April 2, 2016 – Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park, NY – Setlist

    Wild Flower, Dark Energy, Rain, Hinterland, Rise, Gone, Lil’ Devil, Birds of Paradise, Deeply Ordered Chaos, Sweet Soul Sister, Fire Woman, Phoenix, She Sells Sanctuary, GOAT, Love Removal Machine

  • Luke Bryan Hit the Lights at the Carrier Dome

    The Carrier Dome in Syracuse held it’s largest country music concert to date with Luke Bryan and his Kill The Lights Tour, featuring Grammy award-winning performers Little Big Town and rising star Dustin Lynch this past Saturday night. Fans from all across the country traveled to the Salt City to attend the event and indulge in some of country’s most popular music. As the chilled spring evening got underway, the halls and seats began to fill with enthusiastic concert-goers dressed to the nines in jeans, boots, plaid shirts,  cowboy hats, and ball caps.

    luke bryan carrier dome With no time to spare, the house lights dropped as the sound system started thumping, synchronizing with blue pulsating stage lights. Dustin Lynch and his band invaded the stage for their brief set and kicked off the night with “To the Sky,” from his latest release Where It’s At. Strapped with his Taylor acoustic and cowboy hat, the Nashville-born singer warmed up the eager crowd with more of his hits including “Cowboys & Angels,” “Mind Reader,” and topped off with “Hell of a Night.” Bearing a smile the entire time on stage, Lynch frequently thanked the audience for helping him feel welcome to their town.

    Four-part vocal group Little Big Town, began their set with an a cappella version of Dolly Parton‘s “Jolene,” giving nod to the accomplished female singer. The full band joined in with “Little White Church,” an upbeat single led by elemental vocalist Karen Fairchild, who donned a Ramones tee and sparkling silver coat. Their hip-swinging summer anthem “Pontoon,” allowed the energy to settle a bit before building up again with their latest title track “Pain Killer.” Kim Schlapman took to the catwalk with her flashy gold dress while she led vocals on “Sober.” The memorable moments of their set were embellished by crowd participation in Fleetwood Mac‘s “The Chain,” the disco ball lighting during “Girl Crush,” and the unified whistling of “Day Drinking” before ending with the classic homage to their hometowns, “Boondocks.”

    luke bryan carrier dome After an extended intermission, the house lights dropped one final time and the audience erupted as green lasers beamed through the hazy interior. The host and star of the evening, Luke Bryan, kicked off his set with “Rain is a Good Thing” as he appeared at the top the LED-lit steps and danced his way the down to the stage with a video montage of stormy landscapes in the background. Bryan took his “signature” pelvis-shaking moves down the catwalk to heat up the crowd during “Kick the Dust Up.”  Bryan and his band continued to shake the sold-out Carrier Dome with more of his hits including “Crash My Party,” “Play It Again,” and “Roller Coaster,” before rising up through the catwalk with Karen (Little Big Town) for a intimate vocal duet on “Home Alone Tonight.”

    Sparing little time, Fairchild and Bryan hustled back to the stage to welcome the remaining members of Little Big Town for a mash-up of Ed Sheerans‘ “Thinking Out Loud” and Marvin Gayes‘ “Let’s Get It On,” all while toasting each other with celebratory shots of liquor.  Luke stepped up his game with having tour opener Dustin Lynch join him for a rockin’ rendition of Brooks & Dunn‘s “Play Something Country.”  Moments after, the 2016 CMA Entertainer of the Year directed the crew to turn the stage lights out and asked the audience to light up the dome with their cell phones, displaying a beautiful  fluorescent glow upon the dome’s white canopy.  Luke delicately sang “Drink A Beer,” while strumming his acoustic at the edge of the catwalk and asked the crowd, “If any of you out there have lost a loved one that you used to drink a beer with, lets take a sip right now and think of them,” while holding his Miller Lite can up high.

    With the recent passing of country legend, Merle Haggard, Bryan wouldn’t let the evening go by without paying tribute to him with his 1982 classic “Big City.”  As the historical evening started to wrap up, the country star busted out a few more popular hits like “All My Friends Say,” “That’s My Kind of Night,” and  “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” before ending with “I Don’t Want This Night to End.”  Bryan recognized and thanked Syracuse consistently throughout his performance, for making this night so special to him and his band.

    Luke Bryan Setlist: Rain Is a Good Thing, Kick the Dust Up, Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, Move, I See You, Crash My Party, Play It Again, Roller Coaster, Strip it Down, Home Alone Tonight, Thinking Out Loud (Ed Sheeran)/Let’s Get it On (Marvin Gaye), Play Something Country (Brooks and Dunn), Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day, Drink a Beer, We Rode in Trucks, Big City (Merle Haggard), Drunk on You, All My Friends Say, That’s My Kind of Night

    Encore: Country Girl (Shake it For Me), I Don’t Want This Night to End/Can’t Feel my Face (The Weeknd)

    luke bryan carrier dome Little Big Town Set:

    Jolene (Dolly Parton), Little White Church, Pontoon, Front Porch Thing, Pain Killer, Sober, Pavement Ends, Tornado, Stay All Night, Save Your Sin, The Chain (Fleetwood Mac), Day Drinking, Girl Crush, Boondocks

    [FinalTilesGallery id=’736′]

    Dustin Lynch Set:

    To the Sky, Halo, Cowboys and Angels, Where it’s at, Small Town Boy Like Me, Mind Reader, Hell of a Night

    [FinalTilesGallery id=’737′]

  • Festy News: Inaugural Bear Creek Bayou Music Fest Announced

    The producers of the Bear Creek Music and Arts Festival have announced a new festival taking place at Mardi Gras World in the New Orleans bayou Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

    The Live Oak, Florida festival ran for eight years at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. The 2015 edition was to have featured a funk heavy lineup, including Galactic, Soulive and Dumpstaphunk but was unfortunately canceled. The new fest promises a menu rich with the traditional sounds of New Orleans and bands similar to past Bear Creek headliners.

    Mardi Gras World is located in the New Orleans Warehouse District along the banks of the Mississippi River and offers a view of the New Orleans skyline.

    The full website for the fest will be launched soon, along with the initial band lineup.

  • Santana Smooths Over the Event Center at Turning Stone

    Rated as one of the top guitarists in the world, Carlos Santana is a household name and his music and performances have been celebrated since the late 60’s. When Santana hits the road, he nearly sells out every show and they’re worth every penny. The 2016 Luminosity Tour brought the group to the Turning Stone Casino Event Center on April 7th for an Evening With Santana, in support of their new album, Santana IV, which is due out on April 15.  The 11-piece ensemble entertained almost 5,000 people in the venue and what a mighty fine evening it was.

    santana turning stoneThe show kicked off with a brief Woodstock video montage while the band danced their way onto the stage. Each member took their position as Carlos strapped on his most popular custom PRS guitar (Santana I) and hit the proverbial gas pedal of Latin Rock. The rhythmic booty-shaker, “Soul Sacrifice” brought the audience to their feet and set an amazing energy to the room. The feel-good vibe stayed all throughout the performance as Santana played a number of hits including “Maria Maria,” “Evil Ways,” “Black Magic Woman,” “Smooth” and a new single from their upcoming release titled “Love Makes the World Go Round.”

    The Luminosity Tour will bring Santana all around the world this summer as the group travels across North America and then heads over seas to Europe before settling back in San Francisco in September.

    Set: Woodstock Intro, Soul Sacrifice, Saideira, Love Make the World Go Round, Freedom in Your Mind, Maria Maria, Foo Foo, Europa, Corazon Espiando (Benny & Cindy Solo), Jingo, Evil Ways/A Love Supreme, Everybody’s Everything, Se a Cabo, Sacalo, Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen, Oye Como Va

    Encore: Smooth, Toussaint L’Overture

    santana turning stone

  • PB&J Series Bringing John Nemeth and The Blue Dreamers to Plattsburgh

    This coming Tuesday, April 12, Plattsurgh Blues and Jazz (PB&J) will feature blues legend John Nemeth and The Blue Dreamers. Nemeth most recently won Best Soul Blues Album at the 2015 Blues Music Awards and is a nominee for B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. Considered the “New face and sound of Soul,” Nemeth is a contemporary member of the Blues elite and one of the most soulful singers today.

    On the harmonica, Németh began building on the style of rootsy heroes like Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson. Németh’s first paid performance came in 1991, when he was hired to perform drinking songs for a pinochle luncheon held by the Catholic Daughters of America before setting his sights on the Boise club scene, where, for nearly a decade, he played seven nights a week at local pubs, taverns, joints, and parties.

    Memphis Grease, the long-awaited follow up to Németh’s fourth solo studio release, is innovative and unique while epitomizing the absolute best of the genre. It’s a deeply forged combination of scorching harmonica-driven blues and sweet blue-eyed soul ala the Box Tops or Roy Head.

    Plattsburgh Blues and Jazz (PB&J) is a new live music series that brings the best, award-winnig performers in Blues in Jazz to the Plattsburgh area. All event proceeds from PB&J shows go to the 30 City Foundation to fund the artists and to bring new performers to Plattsburgh. Tickets can be purchased online at Plattsburghbluesandjazz.com and in person at the Champlain Wine Company located at 30 City Hall Place.

  • 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.

  • Oneonta Audience Grooves With Jimkata and Space Carnival

    Breaking in the new month, Jimkata, a musical trio from Ithaca, and Space Carnival, a fiery four-tet based out of Oneonta, hit the Oneonta Theatre on Saturday, April 2. Fans were raging about the floor and craved some more.

    Space Carnival unlocked the stage and were born into the atmosphere as they unleashed magical sensations throughout. With Jeremy Kraus on guitar, Cameron Fitch on keys and vocals, Chris Meier on Bass, and Nick Tassinari on drums, these four gentlemen took the night and fed their fans more of their funky psychedelic slippery disco.

    jimkata space carnivalThis group has become outstandingly popular; having been to several of their shows, they never seem to disappoint. Since their formation in 2013, they have created a beautiful fan base and evoke a sphere of jam and funky madness. On this night, they pumped the smoky carnival air with tunes such as “Regal Krad”, “Moon Boots”, “Uh Oh I Slipped My Disco”, “Rango”, “Mister Sam”, “Plibt”, and “Entree The Giant”. It is pleasing to witness how they have progressed over the years and it is an honor to watch them continue to grow into galactic flowers.

    jimkata space carnivalSpace Carnival meshes funk, progressive rock, and high-energy disco all while melting brains and hearts. They have a unique rhythm and spatial sound which all keep their fellow dancers afloat and on their toes. They performed covers throughout the night along with their fresh jams to keep the spacey flow going. Stay tuned as they are currently recording their debut album Drawn In By The Sun.

    jimkata space carnivalFollowing Space Carnival, Jimkata settled the night in the most perfect way, allowing the audience to cool down and sooth to the smooth moves of soft soundwaves. This night was about the promotion and celebration of their newest album In Motion. This band is much more than what they seem; their anthemic-synth-washed rock n’ roll and pop take you through the night and underground on a happy rollercoaster with sweet melodies and charming hooks. One can feel the emotional energy that emanates from their gentle tunes. It has an adventurous, continuous flow of undulating waves.

    jimkata space carnivalOn this night of the tour, Evan Friedell (guitar/vocals), Aaron Gorsch (synth/guitar), and Packy Lunn (drums) collectively embraced their listeners with a fresh perspective of feeling. Their music lures you with emotion and hits your body with the beat. The crowd cheered to some of their hits such as, “Wild Ride”, “Innocence”, “Won’t Let You Down”, “Jumping Out of Airplanes”, and “Ride The Wave”, all from their most recent album.

    They have a very natural sense of feeling and breath of life that they fuse into their hits. The background jams tune into the vocals as it creates a fresh experience all around. It shifts into different forms along the journey of each song. They were able to evolve their music, as they are now three members instead of four. They were able to successfully regroup after their recent transition. It was certainly a reflective time period for them; it is all about positive energy for Jimkata, a beautiful balance.