NYS Music 20​16

Category: Genres

  • Venue Change: Cage the Elephant to Play Albany’s Palace Theatre, May 11

    On Tues. May 11, rock band Cage the Elephant will now play a 7 p.m. show at the Palace Theatre in Albany. The group was originally scheduled to perform at the Times Union Center. Tickets purchased prior to the venue change will be honored. Floor seat holders are granted general admission access to the orchestra section of the Palace, and all reserved tickets will have general admission seating in the balcony section. Tickets for both price levels ($45 floor; $37.50 balcony) are still available for purchase at the Palace Theatre box office at 19 Clinton Ave. or through Ticketmaster. NYS Music was on hand to cover Cage the Elephant’s stop at Rochester’s Main Street Armory in March for the Spring Fling Tour; read more here.

    Original Post:

    The Grammy-nominated rock band Cage the Elephant will head out in May on a string of tour dates that will route the Kentucky alt-rockers to several venues in New York and neighboring states, plus stops in nearby Toronto and Montreal.

    cage the elephant palace theatre
    Jack White will release new album “Boarding House Reach” on Friday, March 23.

    The headlining North American tour kicks off May 1 in Little Rock, Arkansas, before CTE stops in Canada and takes the stage at Times Union Center in Albany on May 11, the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, on May 15, and at SummerStage in New York City’s Central Park May 16. Supporting acts for this run are Portugal. The Man, Broncho and Twin Peaks.

    Prior to launching the 34-date cross-country trek, which comes to a close June 26 in Phoenix, Arizona, the band is continuing Spring Fling Tour with Silversun Pickups, Foals and Bear Hands with shows billed in Pittsburgh on March 25, at the Main Street Armory in Rochester on March 26, First Niagara Center in Buffalo on March 28, XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, March 30, followed by Portland, Maine, and Providence, Rhode Island.

    The high-energy quartet consists of singer Matt Shultz, guitarist Brad Shultz, bassist Daniel Tichenor and drummer Jared Champion. CTE is hitting the road following the release of their fourth studio album, Tell Me I’m Pretty. A follow-up to 2013’s Melophobia with hits “Come a Little Closer” and “Cigarette Daydreams,” the 10-track record produced by Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys, The Arcs) debuted in December and features the alternative chart-topping single “Mess Around.” CTE has shared the stage with Foo Fighters, Muse and Queens of the Stone Age, among other big-name artists, and most recently, the group performed on the Late Late Show with James Corden, the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Conan.

    Tickets for all shows go on sale Friday, March 18 at 10 a.m. Passes for the upcoming New York dates are currently available through the band’s website, the respective venues and ticketing sites like Ticketmaster.

    Cage the Elephant tour dates:

    3/16 – Don Haskins Center – El Paso, TX ~
    3/18 – Cox Business Center Arena – Tulsa, OK ~
    3/19 – Landers Center – Southaven, MS ~
    3/20 – Freedom Hall Civic Center – Johnson City, TN ~
    3/22 – Richmond Coliseum – Richmond, VA ~
    3/23 – Constant Convocation Center – Norfolk, VA ~
    3/25 – Petersen Events Center, University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA ~
    3/26 – Main Street Armory – Rochester, NY ~
    3/28 – First Niagara Center – Buffalo, NY
    3/30 – XL Center – Hartford, CT ~
    3/31 – Cross Insurance Arena – Portland, ME ~
    4/1 – Dunkin Donuts Arena – Providence, RI ~
    5/1 – Verizon Arena – Little Rock, AR *
    5/3 – Chesapeake Energy Arena – Oklahoma City, OK *
    5/4 – INTRUST Bank Arena – Wichita, KS *
    5/6 – DeltaPlex – Grand Rapids, MI *
    5/7 – Masonic Temple Theatre – Detroit, MI *
    5/8 – International Centre, Arrow Hall – Toronto, ON *
    5/10 – Bell Centre – Montreal, QC *
    5/11 – Palace Theatre – Albany, NY *
    5/15 – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD *
    5/16 – SummmerStage, Central Park – New York City, NY *
    5/19 – Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN *
    5/20 – Infinite Energy Arena – Duluth, GA *
    5/21 – Hangout Festival – Gulf Shores, AL
    6/3 – KFC Yum! Center – Louisville, KY ^
    6/4 – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica – Cleveland, OH ^
    6/5 – EXPRESS LIVE! – Columbus, OH ^
    6/7 – UIC Pavilion – Chicago, IL %
    6/9 – BMO Harris Pavilion – Milwaukee, WI %
    6/10 – U.S. Bank Theater at Target Center – Minneapolis, MN ^
    6/11 – Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center – Madison, WI ^
    6/14 – Calgary Stampede Corral – Calgary, AB ^
    6/15 – Shaw Convention Centre – Edmonton, AB ^
    6/17 – PNE Forum – Vancouver, BC ^
    6/18 – McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater – Portland, OR ^
    6/19 – WaMu Theater – Seattle, WA ^
    6/21 – Shrine Auditorium – Los Angeles, CA %
    6/22 – Valley View Casino Center – San Diego, CA %
    6/23 – Bill Graham Civic – San Francisco, CA %
    6/25 – The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, NV ^
    6/26 – Gila River Arena – Phoenix, AZ ^

    ~ Spring Fling tour dates with Silversun Pickups, Foals and Bear Hands
    * with Portugal, The Man + Broncho
    ^ with Portugal, The Man + Twin Peaks
    % with Portugal, The Man

  • Craic Is Had By All at The Wescott Theater with Enter The Haggis

    The Irish word “craic” refers to fun, music, and enjoyment. It is always great “craic” for all when Enter the Haggis plays the Westcott Theater, as they did this past weekend.

    Two Hour Delay opened to a near empty venue prior to the main act, Enter the Haggis. As the audience began arriving, those present were unfortunately not truly engaged in the original music of this band. One song with its Jerry Garcia folksy feel, although really good, wasn’t enough to demand the full attention of the crowd.  As the night progressed, and the crowd filled, it was the last song with Brian Buchanan, that definitely roused the attention of the otherwise distracted audience.  It was a shame, but this band’s musical style was clearly not matched with the proper audience and unfortunately was lost in translation. Seeing this often, it reaffirms the importance of venues when booking acts to pair opening acts to the main act.  This not only readies the crowd for the headliner, but also introduces them to another band in the same genre.

    craic enter the haggisThe Westcott is the perfect venue to showcase the relationship of Enter The Haggis shares with their fans. Concert goers get the sense that they are family and friends as band members Brian Buchanan, Craig Downie, Trevor Lewington, Mark Abraham and Bruce McCarthy take to the stage to play for their loyal following. Changing their name from Enter The Haggis to Jubilee Riots, back to Enter The Haggis, their fans didn’t skip a beat but instead skipped all the way to the next venue they were playing.  Their fans truly have a love affair with them and honestly could care less of their name.  Well, except for those die hard fans that already had the Enter The Haggis tattoos.

    craic enter the haggisThe band opened with the lyrical and soulful “Aerials” which incorporated the vocals, guitars, bagpipes and fiddle of this cohesive group of entertainers. They continued with fan favorites including “Lanigans Ball”. At this point, everyone in the theatre was dancing. “Gasoline” was also a crowd favorite featuring Brian Buchanan on the fiddle and vocals. The audience joined him in an enthusiastic sing along. “C Section” featured multi-talented Craig Downie on the bagpipes. “One Last Drink” featured Trevor Lewington on the guitar and vocals. A concert attendee yelled “We love you, Trevor!” and he responded “I love you too, man!”

    craic enter the haggisBecause the band is just a whole bunch of great guys, the entire audience was invited to the Enter the Haggis concert on Saint Patrick’s Day in Portland, Maine, and they would be remiss to not take a selfie of the evening for of those nearest and dearest to them to commemorate the evening, telling them “We are going to tag everyone in this room!”

    The show was a continuous hour of strong vocals and an entertaining performance that incorporated many different instruments. The band returned for an encore of three more songs including one of their new songs, “Rose of Tyrone”. Enter the Haggis tells us they have written seven new songs, they will be recording and making the videos for in the weeks to come.

    craic enter the haggisAll in all, good times “craic” was had by the audience which was a mix of devoted fans and those that were experiencing the band for the first time. This renowned Celtic rock band does not disappoint, and anyone who has the opportunity to experience their unique style of music should definitely attend a concert.

  • Cradle of Filth Unleashes ‘Inquisitional Torture Tour’ On Cleveland

    Not since 2011, have the states been graced by one of the most renown British metal bands, Cradle of Filth. The North American Inquisitional Torture Tour was meant to kick off in Philadelphia, PA on January 26, but the first four dates were cancelled due to visa issues. The tour kicked off on January 31 in Charlotte, NC and wrapped up in New York, NY on March 8 before heading back overseas.

    Joining Cradle of Filth on this tour were Los Angeles natives, Butcher Babies and the Australian Progressive Death Metal band, Ne Obliviscaris, who were embarking on their first US tour.

    Cradle of FilthOn March 3rd, the House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio fell under siege to the trio of metal bands. A long line of Cradle of Filth fans outside the venue, braving the elements eagerly waiting for the show. Some with their faces painted and donning wildly colored contacts similar to those of Cradle’s vocalist, Dani Filth.

    The night started off with Ne Obliviscaris, who immediately won the crowd over. From the powerful screams and growling vocals of Xenoyr to the clean vocals and symphonic cries of the violin by Tim Charles along with guitarists Benjamin Baret and Matt Klavins, bassist Brendan Brown and drummer Daniel Presland, this band knew how to leave you wanting more.  Their 2015 EPs Sarabande to Nihil and Hiraeth are worth checking out.

    Cradle of FilthIt’s always refreshing to see women, dominating the stage in the metal world and that’s just what the Butcher Babies did. With their their aggressive stage attire and vocals, the band’s frontwomen Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey kept the crowd screaming. Backed by Henry Flury on guitar, Jason Klein on Bass and Chrissy Warner on drums, the band played songs from their 2015 album, “Take It Like A Man.”

    Setlist: National Bloody Anthem, Blonde Girls All Look the Same, The Butcher, Gravemaker, Igniter, Jesus Needs More Babies for His War Machine, Monster’s Ball, Magnolia Blvd., The Deathsurround, Goliath, I Smell a Massacre and Axe Wound.

    Cradle of Filth’s long awaited US Tour brought fans flocking from out of state to Cleveland’s House of Blues. The band serenaded the crowd with favorites from albums past in addition to songs from their new album Hammer Of The Witches, the album cover which also made for the background for the stage. Frontman Dani’s entered the stage in spiked attire, a painted face and ghoulish contact lenses, later adding of a crown of horns. With their sometimes dark and provocatively poetic lyrics, symphonic musical style and macabre imagery  a Cradle of Filth performance is always a glorious spectacle. With the unique vocals of Dani Filth in addition to the vocal power of keyboardist, Lindsay Schoolcraft along with Martin ‘Marthus’ Skaroupka on drums, guitarists Richard Shaw and Marek ‘Ashok’ Šmerda, bassist Daniel Firth, Cradle of Filth never fails to deliver and outstanding performance.

    Setlist: Humana Inspired to Nightmare (Intro), Heaven Torn Asunder, Gilded Cunt, Blackest Magick in Practice, Lord Abortion, The Graveyard by Moonlight, Malice Through the Looking Glass, Right Wing of the Garden Triptych, Born in a Burial Gown, Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids, Nymphetamine (Fix), Her Ghost in the Fog, The Twisted Nails of Faith, Yours Immortally, From the Cradle to Enslave, At the Gates of Midian, Cthulhu Dawn, The Principle of Evil Made Flesh and The Forest Whispers My Name.

  • Choose Your Own Genre: Ether Band at Brooklyn Bowl

    Way back when on Friday February 5, Ether Band took their fans and the patrons of Brooklyn Bowl on an improvised auditory journey like no other. This experience is extremely unique as the audience is invited to aid in the style of music the band plays by choosing the key and genre before each performance. That means that every song or jam is very particular and a surprise for all in attendance. tmckenna_ether_bkbowl_14

    There was a very special guest present as famed trombonist Natalie Cressman joined the band for their improvisational expedition as the night ranged from “EDM in D” to “Nola Funk in F#,” “Williamsburg Chainsaw Massacre in F” and even some “Light Metal in D.” No matter what Ether Band played they exuded massive amounts of precision musicianship and talent; it’s as if they were reading each other’s minds during the performance. Every genre displayed someone’s chops in full swing and had the crowd moving non-stop.

    As a fan of live, improvisational music I realized that it is an absolute treat to witness an Ether Band performance; the audience CHOOSES what the band plays which ensures that no show is the same, the band is comprised of incredibly talented musicians that continuously find each other’s grooves, and lastly, there are amazing guest musicians that join in on the fun. If you’re able to see them live I implore you to do so, it’s certainly an adventure.

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  • Bell Serenades The Knitting Factory

    On Sunday February 28, Bell brought their tranquil sounds to an eager crowd at The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. The southern-bred, NYC-crafted folk group is comprised of Caitlin Marie Bell (guitars/vocals), Gab Bowler (bass), Harper James (guitars) Jared Saltiel (drums) and Jason Sager (keyboards).

    It was a fitting night for their bright, soaring harmonies and placid soundscapes as Mother Nature had graced the borough with warm(ish) temperatures and plenty of sunshine earlier in the day.

    The band took the stage, made quick introductions and graciously thanked the crowd for their support. They opened with a cover of “Let the Mermaids Flirt With Me” which was performed with so much character and earnest, you’d think it was an original. Caitlin’s soft and honest vocals weave a serene story over the band’s crisp and considered notes. They’re able to tell a different tale with each song and have the audience feel as if they’re a part of it; “Isn’t That Life,” an original, is a great example of this.

    They performed an excellent rendition of Hozier’s “Work Song” showcasing their tact at turning music into serious emotion. My favorite song of the night was their amazing performance of “In the Pines.” I’ve heard this track covered before but not quite how Bell did it justice; their harmonies and endearing sentiment allowed me to perceive the pain and worry the song imbues in a way I hadn’t heard before. Once the track ended you could hear a pin drop; they have an uncanny ability to tug on heartstrings through sound.

    I’m excited to hear and see more from Bell as they certainly possess an abundance of talent. Be on the lookout for upcoming shows in the NYC metro area!

  • Aura Music and Arts Festival Stacks the Collabs at Suwannee

    Although festivals are scheduled all year round, if you’re from New York, you typically kick things off in May or June. But, if you’re willing to travel south to a magical place called the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park, festival season starts early – this year with The Disco Biscuits and Thievery Corporation as headliners at Aura Music and Arts Festival.

    aura

    Aura drew us in on March 3-5 with its incredibly stacked lineup, sunshine and rumors of perhaps something bigger to be discovered. Everything seemed to fall in place throughout the trip, from something as small as a free burrito bowl at Tijuana Flats to a chance encounter that would lead to a dozen new best friends. This festival’s namesake is vibrant, full of light and overwhelmingly positive.

    Like most festivals, the first day of Aura brings a heightened sense of excitement. Guests find the perfect spot to camp under draping live oaks, walk the more than 500 acres of festival grounds and plan their strategy for attending their favorite sets. The park feels like an enchanted forest out of a fairy tale and the guests as happy as royalty attending a special kind of ball.
    _MG_5301 We kicked off Thursday with a passionate set from Florida’s own Greenhouse Lounge at the Amphitheater Stage. The electronic trio gave it their all for their last performance as a band, while welcoming their former drummers Jason Hunnicut who now runs the 1904 Music Hall in Jacksonville and Scotty Zwang, now of Dopapod who came to Aura as an “artist at large” (AAL).

    Fusik of Jacksonville delivered an upbeat and funky set in the vibe tent, covering The Talking Heads’ “Born Under Punches” and preparing the crowd for ultimate cover band Pink Talking Fish. PTF is the perfect night-one band by seamlessly blending favorites from each beloved group._MG_4477

    The Werks were a major draw for us, having only seen them once before, but making appearances in our earbuds on the regular. Unfortunately, the only rain of the whole weekend decided to come down mid-way through a powerful “Duck Farm,” After only three songs, the Werks were forced to call it quits as fans ran for cover.

    By late morning on Friday, the Florida sun dried things out. Georgia natives Dank delivered a hard-rocking set, reminiscent of the progressive rock style of Umphrey’s McGee. Crazy Fingers provided the familiar and beloved sounds of the Grateful Dead, while welcoming guitarist Ben Sparco for the later half of the set, who was clearly still feeling the adrenaline from his own set earlier that afternoon.

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    Mike Dillon brings a wild stage presence during his bands set, preceding an incredible show from Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO). They are joined by Carly Meyers and Adam Gertner of ROAR for one of the best sets of the weekend just in time to release their new album Follow the Yarn.

    Particle delivered a stellar performance keeping the tempo of Escort’s “Cocaine Blues” throughout the majority of the set. At the same time, a special project called Nunchuck!, consisting of Mike Dillon, Craig Brodhead of Turkuaz and again Chuck Jones and Scotty Zwang of Dopapod, did something unique in the Vibe Tent. The “psychedelic punk rock” set was more quirky than it was tight leaving the crowd giggling, and blushing when Dillon “tea bagged” his own drum. (Yes, this happened.)

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    The New Deal and Thievery Corporation both had beautiful stage presence with lasers and lights for days. However it was Turkuaz that stole the show Friday night. The nine-piece funk outfit from Brooklyn, NY filled the Porch Stage with a powerful and truly fun set. Artists at large Jennifer Hartswick and trombone player Natalie Cressman of Trey Anastasio Band brought the brass to the party.

    On Saturday, Broccoli Samurai of Ohio welcomed artists at large Chuck Jones and Scotty Zwang of Dopapod adding to the delight of fans. The Heavy Pets brought us back to the 80’s covering Paul Simon, David Bowie, Thomas Dolby and R.E.M. Jennifer Hartswick and Natalie Cressman sat in as well.

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    Tom Hamilton’s American Babies welcomed Aaron Magner of the Disco Biscuits on the keys for a rendition of “The Wheel” into their own “Joelene” and back to “The Wheel.”

    Two-time Grammy-award winners Snarky Puppy was an experience in itself. The 13-member jazz/funk group is more of an orchestra than it is a band. Keeping with the guest appearances, they welcomed Dillon on percussion and again Hartswick and Cressman for an outstanding version of “Quartermaster.”

    The festival culminated with two sets of jamtronica giants The Disco Biscuits. Tom Hamilton helped them kick off the first set with “Scarlet Begonias” and “I Know You Rider.” “Pimp Blue Rikki” was a surprise to many leading into the ending of “Morph Dusseldorf.” Hartswick and Cressman joined tDB for “Funky Town” before taking a set break. The second set was geared towards the masses picking up again with “Morph Dusseldorf” and weaving in and out of Caterpillar with “A Fifth of Beethoven.” The laser light show was out of this world reflecting off the woodsy amphitheater.

    Throughout the weekend, both on stage and off, collaboration seemed to be a key theme. We ended our experience gathered around our own campfire we collectively built with a family who just days before were complete strangers. We came for the music, but we left so much, much more.

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  • Weiland Book Hits the Shelves

    Veteran rock journalist Greg Prato has penned a new volume about the life of the late Scott Weiland, titled Scott Weiland: Memories of a Rock Star. The book features 30 interviews exclusively for the book with members of bands that toured with Weiland, including Megadeth, Blind Melon and Meat Puppets, as well as with admirers of the man and his music, such as Matt Pinfield, Eddie Trunk and Richard Patrick.

    scott weiland book
    Scott Weiland & The Wildabouts

    Weiland was one of the premiere front-men in hard rock from his debut with Stone Temple Pilots in 1992 until his death at the age of 48 this past December. Weiland commanded the stage. Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan told Rolling Stone of Weiland:  

    If you asked me who I truly believed were the great voices of our generation, I’d say it were he, Layne [Staley], and Kurt [Cobain]

    Prato has written for Rolling Stone and has authored such books as A Devil on One Shoulder and an Angel on the Other: The Story of Shannon Hoon and Blind Melon, Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music, Too High to Die: Meet the Meat Puppets, and Survival of the Fittest: Heavy Metal in the 1990’s.

    The book is available in paperback for $19.99 through usual outlets or as an e-book through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iTunes for $9.99.

  • Testament Lifts Spirits Of Rochester’s Metal Community At Anthology

    With the Water Street Music Hall getting shut down just last week, fans of the hard rock and heavy metal community have been busy trying to get their precious venue back up and running. What some of those fans may not realize is that there’s another awesome venue in Rochester that’s not afraid to host metal shows. That venue is Anthology and they’re helping keep metal coming to Rochester, and on Monday, March 7th, Anthology hosted 80’s thrash metal legend Testament.

    testament The night’s lineup consisted of two other bands, Voice Of Valor and Slikk Wikked. The opening support surely got the crowd ready for Testament. Slikk Wikked, who took the stage prior to Testament set the bar high. This young metal band had the crowd going wild with circle pits and moshing right off the start. The entire band had a great stage presence that lead them to get a lot of attention from the crowd. Their set was highlighted by their vocalist who joined the crowd and moshed while the band played an Anthrax cover of “Caught In A Mosh.”

    testamentComing to Anthology for an “off-date” from their tour with Slayer, Testament was ready to rip through a full setlist and give fans a kick-ass show. The night started with “D.N.R”‘ off of their album The Gathering. From that first song, the floor was a whirlpool of fans for the rest of the evening. The band didn’t waste too much time between songs which was good because it didn’t let the energy escape the room. Lead singer Chuck Billy did take the time to express his gratitude for the Rochester support and talked about all of the times they’ve played in the city. One of the best things to watch at a Testament show is the shredding guitar action by guitarists Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson. Together, these guys create something not many other bands can produce. Rounding off the band’s lineup are Gene Hoglan on drums and Steve DiGiorgio on bass. These guys combined really create something special when it comes to their live shows.

    Fans who came out to Anthology were treated to a setlist mixed with tracks from seven different albums. With both old and new music throughout the night, different generations of fans had something to truly enjoy. Tracks like “Native Blood” and “Rise Up” which are off their latest release, Dark Roots of Earth, sound absolutely killer live. Not only do their new songs kick-ass live, but Testament takes their older tracks like “Over The Wall” and “The Haunting” and makes them even better then they were in 1987.

    testamentThe night wasn’t all business for Testament, as they took the opportunity to sing happy birthday with the crowd for their tour manager. After this quick little break of metal, Chuck and the guys finished the night off with the song “The Formation Of Damnation”, which is the title track off their 2008 release. Testament fans can look forward to their upcoming release The Brotherhood Of The Snake, which is due out sometime this year. The first single from the album should be hitting airways sometime in the next few weeks. The direction of the album is said to be heavier and faster than their last album, Dark Roots Of Earth. If Chuck Billy’s words hold true, it will be another masterpiece from Testament who just seem to keep getting better with age. If any Testament fans missed out on Monday’s show at Anthology, look forward to them being on the road in support of their upcoming album later this year.

    To stay up to date on all Testament news, album updates and tour dates, click here for their Facebook page. To visit their website click here.

    To check out Anthology’s upcoming events calendar, head over to their Facebook page here. Also, visit their website Anthology Live.

    Testament Setlist: D.N.R. – Legions Of The Dead – Over The Wall – Rise Up – Dog Faced Gods – The New Order – The Haunting – Practice What You Preach – Into The Pit – Native Blood – 3 Days In Darkness – Disciples Of The Watch – More Then Meets The Eye – The Formation Of Damnation

  • Hearing Aide: Howardian ‘A Smurf At Land’s End’

    Howardian CoverBrooklyn-based band Howardian has released their sophomore album, A Smurf At Land’s End. The group records and operates under the name Howardian, but the band is fronted by and more commonly identified by Ian Vanek.  It’s seemingly more common for artists to brand themselves with the musicians they work with, even when the bulk of the recognition and creative distinction stems from that lead singer or performer.

    Howardian has labeled themselves as an “art rock” band, and that genre is defined by noticeable influences from classical music and/or music that features experimental avant-garde styles.  One listen through the album and the unique, experimental nature of the compilation is quite evident. This is a prime example of genre bending: pop, hip-hop, punk, and rock.

    Samples of pre-recorded voices of short monologues give the tracks more meaning and allow listeners to identify any potential significance for the inclusion.  It’s hard to pinpoint who is speaking in these voiceovers; they could be from noteworthy individuals or events.

    In “Over the Laptop,” you can clearly hear Vanek’s vocals doubled with two separate takes. This technique gives the track a fuller sound, but also gives it an indie flair with the vocal pitches not 100% congruent with each other.  The indie-esque sound is reinforced with the percussion; the snare sounds authentic and not of the best quality.  “Front Street” uses a video game power-up sound every two measures which is a unique timbre that nicely juxtaposes the heavily distorted power chords throughout.  

    “I’m The Ocean” is quite repetitive in nature and it’s important to note that it’s purely instrumental.  The repetitive melodic lines make listeners feel like they are sifting through a monotonous flow of ocean waves.  “Cap’n Such n’ Such” is interesting because the instruments are playing a pretty standard of a rock groove, but the syncopated hook spelling out the band’s name is a bit hip-hop eqsue. “Fulton Mall” is the song that is closest to a standard pop song due to its immensely repetitive nature and backing vocals.

    There doesn’t seem to be one central theme in terms of album’s subject matter, but there is a distinct flow in terms of style that makes the album work.  The instrumental parts of the tracks are not overwhelmingly challenging.  The musicianship is evident, but each song is quite simply outlined with basic beats and chord progressions.  The synth is a crucial element in almost all of the tracks as it breaks up the streams of vocal phrases with a simple top line. However the lack of virtuosity seems to be what the band is getting at.  The band’s sound is quite unique in terms of non-musical elements.  The music seems to be an outlet for artistic freedom, and not a way to showcase high-caliber musical talent.  This album is a cool listen if you wish to diversify your aural palette of music and experience something new.

    Key Tracks: Over the Laptop, Capn’ Such n’ Such, Front Street

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  • Soulful Folk: The Wood Brothers at Carnegie Hall

    On March 5, the Wood Brothers closed their 2016 Winter Tour to a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall. Oliver Wood reminded the crowd that even though the show was in Zankel Hall, we were to refer to the venue as the world famous Carnegie Hall, which is where this smaller room resides. (He mentioned, “…because it sounds fancier.”) Eleven years ago to the date in Manhattan, the Wood Brothers picked their first notes to a live audience. The recording of that show would later debut as their first official release, Live at Tonic EP. The soulful folk-filled family reunion from that evening in 2005 planted the seed for numerous records, dozens of tours and thousands of die-hard fans waiting to have their spirits moved at the next gathering.

    The band entered the front of the stage with percussionist Jano Rix on his homemade “shuitar” and opened with an instant fan favorite, “Never and Always,” off their new album Paradise. The trio took advantage of the amazing acoustics of the room and stayed standing for the next song “Atlas” which they also performed at their first show more than a decade before. Oliver delivered the lyrics, “It’s no accident I landed here, eyes wide open and seein’ clear, I have come a long, long way,” which couldn’t be more true on this milestone show. Time travel seemed to be the theme of the evening as they jumped from new tunes to old tunes and everything in between. Rix sat down at the drums for their third song, “Mary Anna,” and Oliver made sure the crowd knew it was a Saturday night party during “Snake Eyes,” another one from their freshest batch.

    During band introductions, Oliver referred to Chris Wood as his “little dancing brother” followed by Chris playfully firing back, calling Oliver his “older, but not more mature brother, and he meant that in a good way.” Over the years, we have seen the brothers create a signature sound while simultaneously forming a stronger bond with each other. The on-stage family banter always adds a bit of comic relief before returning to their deep and thought-provoking lyrics. “Heartbreak Lullaby” cooled things down before Chris Wood made his lead vocal debut for “Pay Attention.” Oliver thanked the crowd for embracing yet another Paradise tune, “American Heartache” before Chris grabbed his stand-up bass for an eerie, tripped-out intro to “Who The Devil?”

    The band brought out their “fourth member, Big Mic,” which is an old-fashioned, “time-machine” microphone utilized by the band to create an intimate sound or as Oliver calls it “O Wood Brother, Where Art Thou?” “The Muse” was the perfect piece for their sonic time portal which led to a blast from the past with “One More Day.” Even a tame, well behaved, Carnegie Hall-dressed audience was having difficulty staying in their red velvet seats during the quiet rendition of this classic, also performed live at Tonic, way back when. The Wood Brothers from the future returned as Chris pulled out his electric bass, which Oliver noted, “Some say it’s an abomination, I say it’s the bomb!” They got electric-funky right off the bat with their intro and jam during “Wastin’ My Mind” and “Singin’ to Strangers.”

    Once again, the band went back in time with an emotional “Postcards From Hell,” which was dedicated to their light designer, Heather, on her last night with the band. After they wiped the tears from their faces, Chris slapped the bass for the memorable cover of “Express Yourself” to get the crowd wiggling in their seats again. The energy reached an all-time high as the crowd began standing up and shaking for the set ending “Honey Jar.”

    Rix came out alone for the encore and played a beautiful intro to “Luckiest Man” on the keyboard before Chis and Oliver joined to send this jazzed-up version home. The crowd was encouraged to sing along and there wasn’t one person that didn’t know every word to one of their most played songs. Oliver kept the time-travel theme alive by closing out the encore with “When I Was Young,” a song soaked with memories from the past. In the small, dark space that is Zankel Hall, the crowd leapt to their feet to give the guys a well deserved standing ovation as we all looked ahead to a big and bright future for the Wood Brothers.

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