Category: Genres

Lil’ Wayne Lights Up The Blue Cross Arena In Rochester

On Saturday, February 20, Lil’ Wayne brought “The Dedication Tour” to Rochester. The performance was held at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial which has had a busy year so far. Prior to the doors opening, not many fans were seen lining up outside the arena, which was surprising considering Rochester hit a high of 55 degrees.

The night started off with a performance by S – Eighty who only had about 10 minutes of stage time. During this quick set, fans were busy trying to find their seats on the floor and around the area. Surprisingly, the floor was all assigned seating, which is why no one had to line up early to secure a spot on the floor. Shortly before 8pm, Rae Sremmurd took the stage. For 30 minutes these guys got the crowd on their feet dancing and singing along. The two brothers Khalif “Swae Lee” Brown and Aaquil “Slim Jimmy” Brown were a great choice as an opener for Lil’ Wayne on this tour. The crowd’s reaction was purely positive and it seemed like everyone wanted a little bit more.

Even though Rae Sremmurd put on a great performance, the crowd came to Blue Cross Arena for one man and his name is Lil’ Wayne. Weezy took the stage shortly before 9pm and the crowd went wild. The night was started with Wayne’s classic “Mr. Carter”. As fans stood up on their chairs and waved their hands in the air, the appreciation of support was shown by Wayne. Throughout the night Lil’ Wayne thanked fans for coming out and supporting him while reminding them that he’s the best rapper alive. Between every couple songs, Weezy would also ask where the real Lil’ Wayne fans were and the entire area would chat “Weezy!”.

For an arena that looked empty to start the night, the floor was filled from front to back and the lower bowl was packed. To no surprise the music of Lil’ Wayne got the entire place on their feet dancing, literally everybody. Hit after hit Weezy kept pleasing the crowd who were having an absolute blast. The vibes throughout Blue Cross Area were incredible and it goes to show how powerful music can be. Toward the end of the show, Weezy brought out a handful of up and coming rappers so they could show the crowd what they were made of. One thing that Wayne is good at is finding new talent and collaborating with other artists. The show ended with all the guys on the tour coming out on stage celebrating a great show and also included an appearance of Weezy’s son who looks like a mini version of his dad.

For those who missed the show, Lil’ Wayne should be pretty busy this year on the road with the highly anticipated release of his last Carter album, the Carter V. Although the album is finished, its release has been held due to issues with the record label. Regardless of when the album finally gets put on shelves, Lil’ Wayne will be out on tour to give his fans their fix of Weezy.

February 22, 2016
Wild Adriatic Record Live Album in Saratoga at Putnam Den

Wild Adriatic brought its show to the Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs with a bit more hype than a typical show. The three-piece rock band, based out of Albany, announced months ago it was going to record a live album on February 20 in the Spa City. For a group that has been on a straight upward trajectory, which included an appearance at Bonnaroo last year after winning a lengthy Battle of the Bands put on by the Den, Wild Adriatic seems to have the hunger and determination to rise to the top of the rock world.

But before the near capacity crowd would be treated to two hours of in-your-face rock and roll by Wild Adriatic, Greenwich-based Let’s Be Leonard set the tone for the evening with a jazzy, up-tempo performance that lends itself somewhat to Steely Dan-meets-Herbie Hancock. The five-piece — displaying two guitars, bass, drums and a saxophone — weaved together a show reminiscent of a sunny Saturday afternoon set at a small festival. Guitarist Matt Griffin and saxophonist Connor Dunn traded solos over Karl Bertrand’s chunky rhythm and Chris Cronin’s bopping bass. Paul Gauy provided the beat.

Toward the end of Let’s Be Leonard’s set, the Den grew crowded as fans filled in to support the local boys. Wild Adriatic’s drummer, Mateo Vosganian, was darting around the venue, greeting friends and fans. There was a festive and mildly rowdy feel, as many people had undoubtedly enjoyed the Saratoga Beer Summit in the hours prior.

As soon as the trio took the stage, the energy in the room grew electric. “Never Enough,” “Letter,” “Tight Grip” and “Lonely” started the show and saw guitarist Travis Gray and bassist Rich Derbyshire hop around the stage. Gray’s voice is a solid fit for their sound, which has a classic rock with an edge feel. The crowd in the front sang along as the band kicked it up with some fiery guitar work from Gray.

After a breather, they launched into the Led Zeppelin favorite “The Ocean.” Gray again danced up and down the fret board with precision. “Can’t Be Your Man,” “Woe” and “Because of Me” continued the energetic theme. A spirited take on Neil Young’s “Keep On Rockin’ in the Free World” showcased Gray’s vocal abilities.

Derbyshire and Vosganian provide an air tight rhythmic combo that gives Wild Adriatic a sound that is unique, funky and noticeable. Add in Gray’s fret work, and the band has a winning combination, no better displayed than during the show-closing combo of “Good Times, Bad Times”>”Communication Breakdown.” The crowd hadn’t thinned out at all and judging by the satisfied look on most faces, Wild Adriatic accomplished what it set out to do. It will be exciting to see how the raw energy translates to tape.

Wild Adriatic Setlist:

Never Enough, Letter, Tight Grip, Lonely, The Ocean, Can’t Be Your Man, Woe, Because of Me, Trouble, 40 Days 40 Nights>Rockin In The Free World>40 Days 40 Nights, Heavy Soul, The Fool, The Spark, Cooperstown, Use Me, Bound To Let You Go, Lose My Mind, Strange Persuasions, Mess Around

Encore: Untitled New Song, Superstition, Good Times Bad Times>Communication Breakdown

Let’s Be Leonard Setlist:

Jumpship, Rocky Road, Open Your Eyes, Comet> High and Dry, Most Days> LGWC> Most Days> Sad Town tease> Boy Into Man> Pourdungchoo> Sad Town, TOT, Wandering Frisbee

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February 22, 2016
Lotus Rocks Terminal 5

On Saturday, February 6, Lotus played Terminal 5 in NYC and brought some serious funk and covers for this stop on their Winter tour.

Arriving at the venue, the line stretched almost the entire length to the West Side Highway. Faces of eager fans contorted and cringed at the thought of waiting in the cold to see Lotus bring the heat. Once inside, the familiar funk of “Greet the Mind” warmed things up a bit; it’s a great opener in terms of getting everyone grooving and in terms of title. Lotus continued the funk with “Philly Hit” and then laid into some heavy jamtronica grooves with “Neon Tubes.” We were only three songs in and it seemed as though the crowd were bobbing their heads and weaving their shoulders in unison. They closed out their first set with “Age of Inexperience” which had guitarist Mike Rempel laying down some fiery licks.

Second set opened with “Eats the Light,” a newly released single which is a Lotus track in every way, shape and layer. Keeping the flow with “Kodiak,” “Spaghetti,” and “Nematode,” Lotus jumped into an excellent vocoder-laden cover of Tame Impala’s “Elephant.” For their encore, Lotus played “Behind Midwest Storefronts” and then busted out an amazing rendition of Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime.”

Set 1: Greet The Mind> Philly Hit> Neon Tubes, Molluskunk, Travel> Greet The Mind, Marisol, Age Of Inexperience

Set 2: Eats the Light, Kodiak, Spaghetti> Nematode, Elephant*, In An Outline, 128

Encore: Behind Midwest Storefronts, Once in a Lifetime**

* – Tame Impala Cover

** – Talking Heads Cover

February 19, 2016
Bryan Adams Romances Central New York on Valentine’s Night

Negative temperatures in Central New York couldn’t keep Bryan Adams from heating up the Event Center at Turning Stone on Valentine’s night.

A nearly sold-out crowd in the town of Verona, NY warmed up quickly as the band took stage shortly after 8pm and the Get Up! tour got underway. Thrusting into a lofty single set, the band consistently churned up the big hits from the past three decades like “Run To You,” “Summer of ’69,” “Somebody,” and made sure the audience was dancing and singing along to “Cuts Like A Knife.” The first encore of the evening was a three-song mix of new tracks “Brand New Day” and “That’s Rock and Roll,” sprinkled with a cover, titled “C’mon Everybody” by Eddie Cochran. The second and last encore was a romantic send-off, featuring 2 solo-acoustic love ballads by Adams and a full band power end with “All For Love.”

Set: Do What Ya Gotta Do, Can’t Stop This Thing We Started, She’s Only Happy When She’s Dancin’, Run To You, Go Down Rockin’, Heaven, Kids Wanna Rock, It’s Only Love, This Time, You Belong To Me, Summer Of ’69, When You’re Gone (Acoustic), (Everything I Do) I Do It For You, If Ya Wanna Be Bad Ya Gotta Be Good, Here I Am, Somebody, I’ll Always Be Right There, Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?, Cuts Like A Knife, 18 Til I Die, The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You

Encore: Brand New Day, That’s Rock and Roll, C’mon Everybody (Eddie Cochran cover)

Encore 2: She Knows Me (Solo Acoustic), Straight From The Heart (Solo Acoustic), All For Love (Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart & Sting cover)

February 19, 2016
Barry Manilow to Play Turning Stone Despite Emergency Surgery

It looks like Barry Manilow will be able to play his scheduled performance at Turning Stone after all.

The 72-year old singer/songwriter made a surprise return performance Sunday night at Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. He underwent emergency oral surgery on back-to-back days on Feb. 8 and 9 and, after performing in Memphis, Tennessee on Feb. 11, Manilow was rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital for a third procedure due to complications from the first two surgeries.

ET Canada reports that Manilow’s third surgery was a success. Manilow was instructed by doctors not to talk, sing or rap for 48 hours after the surgery. According to ET, music producer David Foster said the recent hospitalization isn’t as scary as it sounded and Manilow will be fine, but it was something that he just had to deal with.

At Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party, Manilow performed his 1974 hit “Mandy.” Manilow told the audience, “I am glad to be here tonight. What a week.” Manilow then performed a duet, “Zing Went the Strings of My Heart,” with the late Judy Garland who appeared on the video screen behind Manilow.

Days later, Manilow resumed his One Last Time-One Last Tour Wednesday night at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Two dates in Tennessee were postponed due to the hospitalization. Central New Yorkers can catch their last glimpse of this music icon when he hits the stage at the Turning Stone Events Center at the Turning Stone Casino on Friday, March 18, in Verona, outside Syracuse.

From 2008-2011, Manilow held residency in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Hilton performing over 400 shows. Manilow has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide with several Billboard hits to go along with various multi-platinum selling albums.

Manilow has won various awards in his career including a Grammy for Best Pop Male Performance for the song “Copacabana,” EMMY awards in 1977 for Outstanding Special (Comedy, Variety or Music) – The Barry Manilow Special and 2006 for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program – Barry Manilow: Music And Passion, a Tony award in 1977 for Barry Manilow on Broadway and several American Music Awards.

February 19, 2016
Funk Yes: Lettuce Set to Groove University of Rochester

Although you won’t find it listed on their current roster of dates, Lettuce will make a third appearance in New York state during this spring/summer tour. According to the University of Rochester’s event ticketing website, the funk-fueled jazz band is booked for a Feb. 26 show on the River Campus. The New York City group will also return to their home state for performances at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester on April 8 and Hunter Mountain Jam Festival this June.

Known for soulful super jams, Lettuce debuted their fourth studio album, Crush, last year. Jeremiah Shea said in his NYS Music review that this album “is the convergence of road tested and polished material, musical exploration, deep pockets of groove, and a band that is simply on top of their game.” Brian Ferguson was on hand to catch the two-night Crush release party at the Playstation Theater last November, where Marco Benevento opened the show and Lettuce encored with a new tune titled “Phyllis” (hear the song below).

Eric Krasno

The band, featuring Adam Deitch (drummer), Adam Smirnoff and Eric Krasno (guitarists), Erick “Jesus” Coomes (bassist), Neal Evans (keyboardist), Ryan Zoidis (saxophonist) and Eric Bloom (trumpet player), last played in Rochester June 2015 for the city’s Party in the Park (after Taj Mahal cancelled) and made a stop at Water Street Music Hall October 2014.

Doors will open at 8:30 p.m. with show time of 9 p.m. Tickets are available online through the University, or at the Common Market in Wilson Commons. The concert is open to the public; special ticket pricing applies for students and faculty. If you’re nearby the Finger Lakes area next Friday, pencil in this performance as it’s guaranteed to be one energetic soul shakedown party.

February 19, 2016
Hearing Aide: tai free ‘Journals’ EP

If you’re on a searching for some smooth and soulful hip hop music, you might consider listening to tai free’s new EP Journals. Each track has a calm, relaxed feel that puts listeners at ease and provides the opportunity to assess the musicality. The selections aren’t aggressive or fueled by overwhelming rage like some hip hop tracks. This EP wouldn’t be what most would consider dance music, but rather music you can vibe along to.

The Brooklyn artist has been making music for a while, but only started getting serious about two years ago. tai free writes and performs his own songs, and the EP is appropriately titled as it provides snapshot of his thoughts and experiences. He describes the collection as “a sketchbook of colors, moods, and self-actualizations.”

In “I’m Not Here,” it’s clear he’s talking to someone close to him saying that he doesn’t want to be lied to any longer and that he is “not here for games.” Whoever he’s addressing was making him wait and reveals that he’s not going to wait around because he’s too focused on bettering his personal situation to be involved. At the end of “Bite Your Tongue,” he repeats the lines “Baby don’t bite your tongue, baby don’t lie…” seemingly trying to reinforce the idea that he desires honesty. Rap artists frequently draw on personal experiences for lyrical substance and he does so too by subtly depicting his thoughts and goals.

The syncopated percussion part in “Complications” is slightly unpredictable and bolsters the title and uncertainty of the situation with the girl expressed throughout. “Drive” incorporates female vocals by Francesca in the beginning which lay down the poignant foundation for the track.

tai free seems to have a lot of raw talent and knows how to write lyrics that can easily fit into a song structure. The dynamic range of his vocal delivery however, could be broader throughout to show more expression and emotion behind the words. The mixes of each track are relatively simple, and more production elements could be added to his music to enhance the texture. As a newer artist, more consideration for creative direction and collaboration with other songwriters can only benefit his music moving forward. Overall, tai free has taken the right steps and could have a reputable future in music.

Key Tracks: I’m Not Here, Drive, Bite Your Tongue

February 18, 2016
Twiddle Hits New York with Four Nights of Plumperdump

Vermont based quartet Twiddle kick off their Plumperdump Tour this Thursday with a sold out show at the Port City Music Hall in Portland Maine. Twiddle fans in New York State will be able to catch the band in a number of cities during the month long tour.

Twiddle will be hitting the Empire State first on Saturday Feb 20 in Syracuse at the Westcott Theater. The band will then kick off a three day New York State run starting at the Town Ballroom on Thursday Feb 25 in Buffalo before heading to the Upstate Music Mall on Feb 26 and Irving Plaza in New York City on Feb 27.

As Twiddle continues to lock down slots on large festivals and sell out venues around the country, the Plumperdump tour may be one of the last chances fans have to see the band in smaller more intimate venues. And fans wanting to see the band on this tour, shouldn’t wait until the day of the show to buy tickets.

Twiddle’s December tour included sold out shows at the Brooklyn Bowl and the Paradise Rock Club in Boston as well as a sold out three day New Year’s Eve run in their hometown of Burlington. With several Plumperdump dates close to selling out, fans in New York state may want to act sooner rather than later by locking down tickets in advance.

Twiddle’s brand of hi-def shredding is a fusion mix of rock, jazz, reggae and funk is gaining a rapidly growing fan base across the country. But fans in the northeast are a large part of the band’s continued success.

Many Twiddle fans are finding themselves following the band on smaller runs throughout the country. According to Chris Hollywood of Slingerlands, NY, who will be hitting every stop on the Plumperdump tour, it’s a combination of the music and the fans that make the Twiddle live experience what it is. “The music is better than ever! People are realizing how great the fan base is, and even if the music was terrible, it would be worth the experience.”

Jennifer Graves from New Haven, CT has been listening to the band since 2011. “I’ve seen them play 100 person rooms and I’ve seen them pack the Vibes main field at 11am on a Friday,” she noted. “I see their fan base grow exponentially every year, and some of the people I met at my very first Twiddle show are my best frends today.”

Graves also noted that even longtime fans are blown away by the bands growth, “Watching how the last year has panned out, I can only imagine where their journey will bring them in the future. Sky’s the limit for these boys.”

Tickets for all four New York shows are still available.

Twiddle Pumperdump Winter Tour 2016

Feb. 18 – Portland, Maine (Port City Music Hall) SOLD OUT

Feb. 19 – Providence, Rhode Island (Fete Music Mall)

Feb. 20 – Syracuse, New York (The Wescott Theatre)

Feb. 25 – Buffalo, New York (Town Ballroom)

Feb. 26 – Clifton Park, New York (Upstate Music Hall)

Feb. 27 – New York, New York (Irving Plaza)

March 10 – Washington, DC (9:30 Club)

March 11 – Philadelphia, PA (Theatre of Living Arts)

March 12 – New Haven, CT (Toad’s Place)

March 13 – New Haven, CT (Toad’s Place)

February 18, 2016
RAQ Stuffs the Hollow on Reunion Run

RAQ is baq. Let’s hope they continue this upward trajectory.

The four-piece band has not played much in recent years due to members being tied up in a cavalcade of other projects. A somewhat perfect storm recently paved way for the band to start playing shows again, and let’s just say the group’s performance in Albany, N.Y. at the Hollow proved these guys are quite well-oiled.

Guitarist Chris Michetti and keyboardist Todd Stoops seem to have a connection that goes beyond what might happen between confident and talented band mates, as displayed by the opening pairing of “Premium”> “Hannah,” which saw virtuous playing from both. Drummer Neal Evans and bassist Jay Burwick held down the rhythm section, which settled nicely into the background.

“Push the Lil Daises”>”Late Night”>”Will Run” kept the show at a sprinter’s pace, before “Momamoth”>”Dance Hall Days”>”Momamoth”>”Wax” did nothing to put anyone to sleep. Michetti is a guitar player who can shift from trance to metal to jazz to chunky rhythm and back around again without missing a measure. I don’t know how else to describe him.

“Transcontinental,” “Shirley,” “Donkey Show” and a “Late Night” reprise closed out the rocking set. The encore consisted of “Tequila All Day”, “Nationwide”, and the ever elusive “Sweet Cream Butter”. The packed crowd exited the Hollow content, from what I could tell.

Let’s hope that RAQ decides to keep this train rolling so that everyone who wasn’t there last week can experience this group for years to come.

February 17, 2016
Update: Twiddle Finalizes ‘TumbleDown’ Lineup

In a video posted to their Facebook page, Twiddle announced the lineup for their Tumble Down taking place July 29 and 30 at Burlington, Vermont’s Waterfront Park.

In addition to Twiddle’s four sets over the weekend, they’ll be joined by New York funk favorites Turkuaz, Montana-based bluegrass act the Kitchen Dwellers, and special guest Holly Bowling on July 29. July 30 will see them joined by Cabinet and Nahko and Medicine for the People, along with Holly Bowling.

Tickets are on sale now. Both single-day and two-day passes are available.

Original Post:

Vermont-based quartet Twiddle and Higher Ground have announced two nights of Twiddle at Burlington’s Waterfront Park this summer. The weekend will be known as Tumble Down and will be held July 29 and 30.

The weekend will continue as part of a tradition started last year at the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival that included alternating sets with moe. This year, Twiddle will headline the event with two full sets each night. Several supporting acts will be announced.

In addition to live music, the weekend will include various activities including a charity disc golf tournament supporting Twiddle’s fan-founded charity, The White Light Foundation. Late night sets will also be announced around Burlington featuring members of Twiddle.

A limited number of early bird passes will be available at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 19 for $54 through Ticketfly.

The announcement of Tumble Down adds a punch to Twiddle’s already packed summer including dates at Red Rocks and multiple festival appearances including the Frendly Gathering, Lockn’ Festival and the Werk Out.

Twiddle hits the road in support of their latest release, Plump – Chapter One, on Thursday for a sold-out show at the Port City Music Hall in Portland, Maine.

February 17, 2016