Rochester natives Thunder Body are gearing up for a busy month in March, with a five-week residency at Flour City Station. The ever-evolving band will play two sets every Wednesday in March for what they are calling “Medicine Wednesdays.”
Thunder Body’s recent changes include adding a powerful horn section, sailing them over previous genres. Honing their vocal melodies, they have evolved into something much bigger than fans may remember. Proof of their growth can be witnessed this Saturday, Feb. 13, when they open for funk heavy-hitters Turkuaz at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse.
Medicine Wednesdays at Flour City Station in Rochester will happen every Wednesday in March, with an $8 cover charge each night. All shows are 21+.
Australian rock band, Hands Like Houses, will be releasing their third studio album Feb. 26. Trenton Woodlley, Matt Cooper, Alex Pearson, Joel Tyrrell and Matt Parkitny entered the studio in March for the first time since the release of Reimagine in 2014. Dissonants will be released on Rise Records.
Frontman Trenton Woodlley addressed the band’s relief and excitement to end their fans wait:
We’re feeling a powerful mix of relief and excitement in finally releasing Dissonants. We knew from pretty early on that this album would make us or it would break us — and it nearly did. But we were honest with ourselves, each other and most importantly, the music, adopting the mantra, ‘It’s better to get this right, than to just get it done.’ And we’re proud to finally say that we’ve done both.”
The band released a teaser from the album in March 2015. “I Am” is the first single from Dissonants and also the first track on the record. The entry into this song reminds me of the opening credits of a romantic comedy from the ’90s; it seems light and fun. The feeling lasts for about 10 seconds and then we realize, these guys are for real. The deeper I fell into this track, I realized their are many levels to this song, and so many different elements to love. The slow build up in instrumentals to the chorus grabs the listener’s attention as if to say, “you better be ready for what happens next.” In the bridge, Trenton sings, “I will melt into a choir of angels,” and for a brief moment we hear a choir singing with him. It is the smallest detail but was perfect and chilling. I found myself wondering what was going to happen next and loving every minute of it. This is the song that introduced me to Hands like Houses, and the song that made me a fan.
“Colourblind” is the most recently released single from the album. The beat of this track may seem more upbeat than the previous songs on the album. However, the song holds a very deep meaning. It is a song that separates these rock musicians from the pretty pop princesses of this generation. It is a song with soul. The band described “Colourblind” on their Facebook page:
(The song is) about our cultural obsession with binary ideas — we are black or white, right or wrong. We’re so caught up, we forget that we live in a world of color.”
Hands Like Houses took a different approach with “Momentary” and “Division Symbols,” allowing the tracks to stand out. I fell in love with the way “Division Symbols” enters with a piano and continues the riff throughout the song. The tenderness of the piano allowed me to feel an emotional pull towards the song before even hearing the lyrics. Using a similar soft approach, the beginning verse of “Momentary” is quiet and gentle. And then suddenly the song bursts into the chorus.
Dissonants is an excellent display of the passion that separates the good artists from the great ones. Each track contrasts well with the previous one to make listening to this album a rush of emotional highs and lows. The lyrics blend with the instrumentals perfectly to prove every moment was choreographed and not just thrown together. I believe fans of Hands Like Houses will find this album worth the wait.
Over the past two decades, Gin Blossoms have been a staple in ’90s playlists with their albums New Miserable Experience and Congratulations I’m Sorry peaking high on the charts and each achieving Platinum status. Since the band’s 2002 reunion following a five-year hiatus, Gin Blossoms have recorded two studio albums and continued to tour.
Complementing the iconic 90’s sound of Gin Blossoms is the hometown outfit Joe Duraes & The Skills, making their second appearance on the Paramount stage. The band drives home their own style of Hudson Valley rock building off of Duraes’ previous solo acoustic songwriter work fit for any house, whether coffee house, theater, or street festival.
Sunday’s show is set to start at 8pm, and the Paramount Hudson Valley has special prix fixe dinner-and-a-show tickets available through participating Peekskill restaurants. Visit the Paramount’s website for more information on this offer and tickets to the event.
Details have been announced for the upcoming Disturbed and Breaking Benjamin North American summer tour with special guest Alter Bridge and Saint Asonia.
Dates and venues are now listed, and more are expected to be announced soon. VIP tickets go on sale Wednesday, Feb, 24, and on sale to general public on Friday, Feb, 26.
New York will see four different stops on the tour, including the first show in the touring cycle, which will take place in Syracuse at the Lakeview Amphitheater on Saturday, July 9. Other stops include July 12 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, July 24 at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in Darien Center and July 30 at Nikon at Jones Beach in Wantagh.
Disturbed/Breaking Benjamin Tour Dates:
07-09 – Syracuse, NY – Lakeview Amphitheater
07-10 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
07-12 – Saratoga, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
07-17 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
07-19 – Pittsburgh, PA – First Niagara Pavilion
07-20 – Indianapolis, IN – Klipsch Amphitheater
07-22 – Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre
07-23 – Boston, MA – Xfinity Center
07-24 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
07-26 – Detroit, MI – DTE Energy Amphitheater
07-27 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
07-29 – Scranton, PA- The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
07-30 – Wantagh, NY – Nikon at Jones Beach
07-31 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
08-04 – Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavilion
08-08 – Toronto, ON – Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
08-12 – Dallas, TX – Gexa Energy Amphitheater
08-13 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
08-15 – Denver, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
08-17 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
08-19 – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion
Original article:
Two huge names in rock music who have both recently ended years of being on hiatus will join forces for one incredible co-headlining summer tour.
Disturbed and Breaking Benjamin will team up and hit the road together for a 24-city summer tour.
If a co-headling tour featuring two of the best frontmen in the business today is not enough, how about two more? Add Miles Kennedy with his boys from Alter Bridge and recently formed super group Saint Asonia, led by Adam Gontier, as the special guest for the tour.
It was only evident that a tour between the bands would come together after a video posted by Loudwire of David Draiman joining Ben Burnley and Breaking Benjamin on stage for a cover of “Under Pressure,” made famous by Queen and David Bowie.
On Feb. 4, Draiman, to the surprise of fans, walked onto stage during a recent stop on Breaking Benjamin’s acoustic tour at Irving Plaza in NYC to sing the duet with Burnley.
Since their return, Disturbed’s touring calendar is filling up quickly. A intimate, sold-out return tour with Nonpoint this winter and a spring tour with Rob Zombie in between countless festival dates to go along with this tour will keep the band busy now through summer.
Breaking Benjamin is showing no signs of slowing down since their return, touring relentlessly for almost two years. Breaking Benjamin started the year off with their second acoustic tour, which will be followed by a headlining tour with Startset.
Burnley and Draiman announced the co-headlining tour live on Sirius/XM Octane with host Kayla Riley, then took over the show as guest DJs for a bit. During the show, Burnley said his old cover band used to cover Disturbed’s “Down With the Sickness,” which delighted Draiman so much that he asked Burnley to play it during sound check. Burnley told him fans will get to hear it twice because he will play it during their set and then Disturbed can play it later. Whether he’ll follow through on that remains to be seen.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Feb. 26. Actual dates have yet to be announced. New York will see dates in Syracuse, Buffalo, Saratoga Springs (July 12?) and Wantagh.
Disturbed/Breaking Benjamin Tour Announced Cities:
Syracuse, NY
Bristow, VA
Saratoga, NY
Cleveland, OH
St. Louis, MO
Pittsburgh, PA
Indianapolis, IN
Boston, MA
Buffalo, NY
Detroit, MI
Cincinnati, OH
Scranton, PA
Wantagh, NY
Holmdel, NJ
Virginia Beach, VA
Gilford, NH
Toronto, ON
Dallas, TX
Houston, TX
Denver, CO
Albuquerque, NM
Concord, CA
Hartford, CT
Seattle, WA
After a short hiatus that took the band off the road and included a change in the band’s line-up, Ithaca based jamtronica/indie rock band Jimkata is back with their much anticipated release In Motion. The album marks the band’s second fan funded album and is packed full of mellow grooves, driving beats and captivating lyrics.
If Jimkata lives by its own musical mantra’s, In Motion is best described by a single line from the band’s 2012 release Die Digital –“All the best things seem to surface after the worst times.” The group’s latest release is a revealing composition that celebrates living in the moment and the gripping realities of love, life and loss.
Musically, In Motion is a varied departure from Jimkata’s signature driving, dance beats and swirling, glaring guitar. There’s a warmer, more peaceful groove infused throughout the entire album, different from some of the band’s harder and edgier releases. But what the band does successfully is create songs that you can lose yourself in. In Motion is full of inviting, listener friendly ear worms; songs that you want to hear constantly on repeat.
There is a world of musical discovery to this album – like a musical onion. Almost undetectable layers to the band’s sounds that present themselves differently every time you listen to a song. Technically, it may be Jimkata’s most successful album to date. You are forced to listen to the album’s production value, because that’s what the album really is about. Yet, In Motion succeeds at sounding sleek but never over-produced.
What’s missing from In Motion is the musical push and pull that has become synonymous with previous Jimkata releases. At times, the album teeters into more ambient territory, but despite less edge, the album never borders on sleepy. There is always something to keep your ear listening. And although the album isn’t full of mind altering guitar solos or face melting jams, In Motion showcases a completely different side to the band.
In a time where bands are incorporating the glory of 80s snyth and new wave technology, Jimkata is exploring it. Whereas the band’s last few releases simply infused the era driven sounds into their mix of catchy guitar riffs and hooky lyrical mantras, In Motion delves deeper into that already established aspect of the band’s sound.
The album’s first single “In the Moment” captures the essence of Jimkata past and present. It is the one single that feels like it could have fit on albums past, yet In Motion would somehow be incomplete without it. Perfectly timed drums from Packy Lunn create a mellow yet focused disco beat while layers of snyth and keys cascade around vocalist/guitarist Evan Friedell’s comforting vocal style.
The true gem of In Motion is the album’s lyrical experience. Friedell creates a haunting familiarity that is personal and connective. In several songs, like “Wild Ride” and “In the Moment,” it feels that he is singing directly to the listener. And it’s that quality that makes this album so special. It takes a confident and self-aware lyricist to create the kind of moments that feel connected and relatable. At times, the album feels like a movie soundtrack without a movie. If you listen close enough, the story is perfectly laid out for the listener to discover.
As the band launches a late winter tour in support of the album, it will be interesting to see how these songs will fit into the live, high energy performances that Jimkata is known for. Of the albums nine tracks, “Innocence” has the most intriguing live performance potential. “Ride the Wave” and “Build Me Up” have already seen stage time during the last year and fit neatly into the Jimkata live show.
In Motion drops on February 12, but is still available for pre-sale through the band’s Pledgemusic campaign. Jimkata kicks off their In Motion Release tour on Feb 19 in Burlington, Vermont.
Key Tracks: Ride the Wave, In the Moment, Wild Ride
Capital Region rockers Wild Adriatic recently rolled out dates for a Eurotrip and U.S. tour as well. The three-piece group will head out on the road beginning Feb. 11 in Boston and wrapping up May 15 in Spain.
Fresh off the heels of their debut voyage on the Rock Boat, where they played an all-Zeppelin set and jammed onstage with Sister Hazel, Michael Franti and Gavin Degraw, WA’s upcoming tour includes Northeast-heavy dates with home state stops in Corning, Saratoga Springs, Rochester, Syracuse, Brooklyn, Buffalo and Jamestown before returning to Europe for a four-week headlining run.
This January, WA released their first full-length live album from their two-night performance in Albany last October and will record the upcoming Feb. 20 show at Putnam Den for a possible future album. The band’s self-titled EP dropped in 2011, and their most recent collection debuted May 2015 as the five-song Never Enough. Although, according to the press release, WA has a new record in the works:
We’ll be back in the studio making our second full length record in Fall 2016. Hoping to release Early 2017 and we have never been more excited to get in the studio and create! So much inspiration over the last few months, I know we have a few more tunes in us to get out before we hit the studio but we are very excited with how the material has come together so far!”
Tickets for all 2016 show dates are on sale through Wild Adriatic’s official website.
Wild Adriatic 2016 Tour Dates:
2/11 – Boston, MA – Lansdowne Pub^
2/12 – Burlington, VT – Nectar’s^
2/13 – Sugarloaf, ME – Sugarloaf Mountain^
2/18 – Corning, NY – Corning Museum of Glass 2300 Series
2/19 – Portsmouth, NH – Birdseye^
2/20 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Putnam Den*
2/25 – Rochester, NY – Flour City Station
2/26 – Syracuse, NY – Funk N Waffles Downtown*
2/27 – Stratton, VT – Grizzly’s%
3/3 – Worcester, MA – Electric Haze
3/4 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl#
3/10 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theater
3/11 – Mifflinburg, PA – Rusty Rail
3/12 – Asbury Park, NJ – Wonder Bar
3/16 – Washington, DC – Black Cat~
3/17 – Mercersburg, PA – Mansion House~
3/18 – Philadelphia, PA – Milkboy~
3/24 – Hartford, CT – Arch Street Tavern
3/25 – Manchester, VT – The Perfect Wife
3/26 – Stratton, VT – Grizzly’s*
3/31 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Cafe
4/1 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Iron Works
4/2 – Jamestown, NY – Shawbucks
^ – w/ The Mallett Brothers Band
* – w/ Let’s Be Leonard
% – w/ Turkuaz
# – w/ Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds & The Suitcase Junket
~ – w/ Animal Years
4/14 – Oostende, Belgium – Bada Bing
4/15 – Kortrijk, Belgium – Den Trap
4/16 – Krefeld, Germany – Kulturrampe
4/17 – Turnhout, Belgium – Dax Cafe
4/19 – Norderstedt, Germany – Music Star
4/20 – Malmo, Sweden – St Gertrund
4/21 – Hamburg, Germany – Sound Yard
4/22 – Bordesholm, Germany – Albatros
4/23 – Singwitz, Germany – Kesselhaus
4/26 – Bratislava, Slovakia – Muzeum Obchodu
4/27 – Kufstein, Austria – Eggers
4/28 – Besancon, France – Passengers Du Zinc
4/29 – Alencon, France – La Luciole
4/30 – Rouen, France – Hipster Cafe
5/2 – St Etienne, France – Thunderbird Lounge
5/4 – Bilbao, Spain – Antzokia
5/5 – Ourense, Spain – Cafe Auriense
5/6 – Cangas, Spain – Salason
5/7 – Aviles, Spain – Centro Niemeyer
5/8 – Leon, Spain – Gran Cafe
5/11 – Estepona, Spain – Louie Louie
5/12 – Murcia, Spain – Garaje Beat Club
5/13 – Castellon, Spain – Veneno Stereo
5/14 – Valencia, Spain – Pabersematao
5/15 – Torredembara, Spain – La Traviesa
Michael Lang, best known as co-creator of the most famous music festival in history, is at it again with plans for a 50th anniversary Woodstock music festival.
The original Woodstock took place in 1969 in Bethel and became one of the most famous music festivals of all time. There have been two other Woodstock anniversary festivals in the past, Woodstock ’94 in Saugerties and Woodstock ’99, held in Rome, N.Y., which came to a rather disastrous end with rioting, fires and police lines.
Since then, promoters have taken a break from using a festival to commemorate the most epic of all festivals, though the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts regularly hosts concerts at its amphitheater on the original festival grounds.
Lang told the Poughkeepsie Journal that with all the attention music festivals are seeing these days, it seems time for a Woodstock anniversary. He said there is a possibility of not only a U.S. event but one overseas as well, and he would like to see something done on an annual basis that uses the Woodstock name after the 50th anniversary. This is not the first time Lang has alluded to a 50th anniversary concert.
There are no details yet on locations or bands but stay tuned to see updates as they become available. Stay tuned for more info on the 50th Anniversary Woodstock Festival.
Last week, the Albany-based jamband Mister F casually published a stream-worthy collection of cover songs recorded live from their Southeast run this January. The 14-track mixtape features old-school hip-hop songs with guest appearances from the band’s current touring mates, the McLovins.
The hour-long downloadable release includes funky covers from popular ’90s artists like Snoop Dog, Beastie Boys, Dr. Dre, MC Hammer and Naughty By Nature. While Mister F keyboardist Scott Hannay lends his vocals to many of the rap renditions (and keytar skills on “Cantaloop”), guitarist Mike Candela takes the lead on “The Real Slim Shady” and drummer Matt Pickering does so on “This Is How We Do It,” with McLovins‘ drummer/frontman Jake Huffman tackling “Rapper’s Delight” and “Hot In Herre.”
Recorded at venues across Georgia, Virginia and the Carolinas, the tape offers a snapshot of setlist surprises from 13 different shows, and with an extensive string of concert dates on the horizon (thankfully, many are in the Northeast), here’s hoping this will be a continued effort throughout the remainder of the tour — because it ain’t nothing but an F thang, baby, and we can’t wait until the next episode.
Mister F January ’16 Mixtape:
1. Nuthin’ But A G Thang* 1/14/2016 – The 8×10, Baltimore, MD
2. Ice Ice Baby* 1/17/2016 – The Pour House, Charleston, SC
3. Forgot About Dre* 1/15/2016 – Martin’s, Roanoke, VA
4. Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)*$^ 1/29/2016 – Nowhere Bar, Athens, GA
5. Baby Got Back* 1/16/2016 – The Camel, Richmond, VA
6. U Can’t Touch This* 1/21/2016 – SOL Bar at New Mountain AVL, Asheville, NC
7. Gin and Juice* 1/19/2016 – The Blind Tiger, Greensboro, NC
8. The Real Slim Shady%+ 1/27/2016 – The Rabbit Hole, Charlotte, NC
9. Rapper’s Delight@& 1/24/2016 – The Pour House, Raleigh, NC
10. Intergalactic*~ 1/20/2016 – The Whiskey, Wilmington, NC
11. Big Pimpin’* 1/24/2016 – The Pour House, Raleigh, NC
12. Hip Hop Hooray* 1/28/2016 – Buffington’s, Milledgeville, GA
13. This Is How We Do It#* 1/30/2016 – Aisle 5, Atlanta, GA
14. Hot In Herre@? 1/30/2016 – Aisle 5, Atlanta, GA
*w/Scott Hannay on vocals
$w/Atticus Kelly of McLovins on keys
^w/ScottHannay on keytar
%w/Mike Candela on vocals
+w/Justin Berger of McLovins on guitar
@w/Jake Huffman of McLovins on vocals
&w/Jason Ott of McLovins on bass
~w/Scott Hannay on vocoder
#w/Matt Pickering on vocals
?w/Mister McManagers trio (Mike Dean, David Limentani, Nick Sonsini) on backup singing/dancing
Plattsburgh residents can rejoice in drawing clever new meaning from the acronym PB&J. Starting Feb. 12, prominent music photographer Laura Carbone, in partnership with 30 City Foundation and Shen Marketing Solutions, will spotlight award-winning musical talent with Plattsburgh Blues and Jazz.
The music series will supply a rich diversity of blues and jazz styles, ranging from southern bayou roots to funk-infused soul. Those looking to diversify their musical interests or support time-tested favorites have a sparkling opportunity to witness world-class entertainment in a small city nestled in northern New York between Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains.
Performances will transpire every three to four weeks, with artists scheduled through mid-April. Those already booked for PB&J’s inaugural year include Swampcandy, Biscuit Miller and the Mix, the Slam Allen Band, JP Soars and the Redhots and John Nemeth. Tickets range between $12 and $15, with proceeds circulating right back into the musical flow to fund artists and to continue drawing inspiring talent to the Plattsburgh area.
The series promises to add extra flair to the Plattsburgh music scene, providing reliable, top-notch entertainment for locals, but also a worthy reason for out-of-towners to make Plattsburgh their next day-trip destination. Most shows will take place at Champlain Wine Company located at 30 City Hall Place. Tickets can be purchased through 30City, their online music and arts forum.
Rising pop star Catey Shaw will headline a triple bill this Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. The lineup will feature three locally based performers dishing out plenty of synth-driven music to dance to, plus a healthy dose of indie rock.
Shaw is still fairly new to the pop world, but her distinctive voice is showcased on two EPs and several singles, the earliest of which, “Family,” earned her a performing spot on The Queen Latifah Show back in 2013. Having started out playing in New York City subway stations, Shaw is now touring the country. The creative instrumentals produced by Jay Levine for Shaw’s studio recordings are brought to life by the live band she is touring with. Fans will see Shaw alternately strumming a ukulele and howling over the slap-bass and gritty synths backing her catchy hooks. Catey Shaw has been recording since 2012 and is currently seeing new success with singles “Tell Everyone” and “The Ransom.”
Supporting Shaw this Saturday night will be Memoryy, the moniker used by Shaun Hettinger for his self-released electro/synthpop musical output. When not writing film scores and music for television commercials, Hettinger pours his love of ’80s synth giants Depeche Mode and New Order and more recent inspirations like Cut Copy into his own brand of pop that accomplishes everything from ruminating on falling in love to setting the tone for summer pool parties. Memoryy will warm up the Knitting Factory stage, perhaps giving attendees a taste of his slick new take on Blue Öyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” just released last month.
Brooklyn-based indie-rock five-piece Gillian will open the show. The bright and upbeat riff-driven pop tunes on their most recent EP Colorize make this band a natural fit for the evening’s lineup. Vocalist Kym Hawkins’ strong, rich voice is a rival to that of Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino. Check out Gillian’s music on Bandcamp.
Doors at the Knitting Factory open at 8 p.m. this Saturday, and the show starts at 9 p.m.
Over the past two decades, Gin Blossoms have been a staple in ’90s playlists with their albums New Miserable Experience and Congratulations I’m Sorry peaking high on the charts and each achieving Platinum status. Since the band’s 2002 reunion following a five-year hiatus, Gin Blossoms have recorded two studio albums and continued to tour.
The original Woodstock took place in 1969 in Bethel and became one of the most famous music festivals of all time. There have been two other Woodstock anniversary festivals in the past, Woodstock ’94 in Saugerties and Woodstock ’99, held in Rome, N.Y., which came to a rather disastrous end with rioting, fires and police lines.
The music series will supply a rich diversity of blues and jazz styles, ranging from southern bayou roots to funk-infused soul. Those looking to diversify their musical interests or support time-tested favorites have a sparkling opportunity to witness world-class entertainment in a small city nestled in northern New York between Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains.