Cooperstown, NY, is setting up to be a hot spot this summer for concert-goers as Brewery Ommegang and Dan Smalls Presents will host their short but sweet annual Summer Concert Series. The concert season kicked off in May with Lake Street Dive and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. The next show coming up on July 8, is Colorado-based folk-jam band the String Cheese Incident and Vermont’s Twiddle.
Known for their diverse catalog of bluegrass-rock music with energized jams, the String Cheese Incident thrive on live performances and the fans that push them to rock harder every night. Kings of the festival scene, SCI have been touring for more than 20 years with countless studio and live recordings available as well as DVD’s of recent shows courtesy of Tour Gigs. In May 2015, while building their new studio in Colorado, the group chiseled a week out of their schedules to rent a house in Arizona and construct some new material, while bonding like a good band should. Appearing on their website is a free download of a few songs from that recording, titled SCI Sound Lab Volume 1.
While on the road at this very moment, you can catch the String Cheese Incident at some of the major festivals and venues across the states which include Red Rocks, The Peach Fest and Big Sky Brewing Company before returning to New York to pump up the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn.
In 1994 Tom Petty released Wildflowers, a staple album from the time period and still to this day. Originally it was conceptualized as a double album. Petty is now considering performing Wildflowers the way it was originally intended to be heard.
He recently sat with Rolling Stone for an interview and talked about how he’d like to regroup the Heartbreakers to play Wildflowers in 2017.
After 20 plus years fans are still eagerly waiting for an expanded version of Wildflowers. Petty has released some outtakes from sessions on the soundtrack She`s The One that came out in 1996. “I think I put four of the [Wildflowers outtakes] on the She’s The One soundtrack just to fill out the album,” Petty explained.
Tom Petty has been against full album performances in the past but recently he’s changed his tune. “I’ve changed my mind because nobody has ever done something like this where you’re previewing the second part of a never-released album,” Petty revealed. “How often does that happen? It’s old and new at the same time.”
As for now there are no Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers dates booked as the rocker focuses on Mudcrutch. In the meantime, Petty fans can look forward to the possibility of an expanded release of his 1995 classic with a tour to hopefully follow.
Bernie Worrell, keyboardist for Parliament/Funkadelic and the Talking Heads, passed away yesterday at the age of 72.
Bernie Worrell at Backwoods Pondfest, 2013. Photo by Pete Mason
In a post on Facebook, Worrell’s wife, Judie, posted “Bernie transitioned Home to The Great Spirit. Rest in peace, my love — you definitely made the world a better place. Till we meet again, vaya con Dios.” This news came nearly six months following her announcement of his stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis.
Born G. Bernard Worrell, Jr. in Long Branch, New Jersey in 1944 and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey, Worrell began taking piano lessons at age three and wrote his first concerto at eight. He studied at the Juilliard School and went on to receive a degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1967. The school awarded him an honorary Doctor of Music degree in May.
Worrell, also known as the “Wizard of Woo,” was best known for his work with Parliament/Funkadelic, to which he is credited with giving the futuristic sound through the expert use of the Moog synthesizer. As one of the longest standing members of the band, he was among the 15 members inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He became a de facto member of the Talking Heads through much of the ’80s, appearing on their studio album Speaking in Tongues and the much-heralded live album and concert film Stop Making Sense. More recently, he had formed the Bernie Worrell Orchestra, which featured a rotating lineup of musicians performing originals and songs from his past work with Parliament/Funkadelic and the Talking Heads.
Bluegrass singer and legend, Ralph Stanley, died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday at 89 years old, after a long battle with skin cancer. Stanley is credited with being the patriarch of Bluegrass for boosting the genre throughout his musical career which spanned seven decades.
Ralph Stanley was born in Big Spaddle, Virginia, and was raised there in Southwest Virginia with his brother and first music partner, Carter. The Stanley Brothers were heavily influenced by their parents, who first introduced them to traditional songs. Their mother, Lucy Ann Smith, would play on the banjo, while Lee Stanley sang classic songs to the boys like “Man of Constant Sorrow.”
In 1946 they formed their band, the Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys, with Carter on guitar and lead vocals, Ralph on banjo and vocals, adding an element of deep tenor, Pee Wee Lambert on mandolin, and Bobby Summer on fiddle. While this is not the first band that the brothers formed, it is the Clinch Mountain Boys that would become a lifelong affair for Ralph.
Besides the influence from their parents, which not only taught the brothers tradition, but old-time clawhammer style where the fingers slap down the strings in a rhythmic style, the boys were influenced by listening to the Grand Ole Opry radio station. They especially found inspiration from star Bill Monroe, and were considered one of the first bands to copy the “Monroe Sound,” or “Nashville Sound,” which comprised of less ragged rhythm and more melodic vocals and smooth strings.
Right before Carter’s death in 1966 from a battle with liver disease, the group found themselves amid the budding folk movement, and toured the country hitting Bluegrass festivals. After the loss of his brother, sources say Ralph was not sure he would continue his music career, because Carter was always the front-man of the group, the lead singer, and Ralph was accustomed to being behind his brother.
However, in an interview that Ralph gave for the Associated Press in 2006, he said that ultimately, he decided to continue with music after an out pour of calls, telegrams and letters that urged him not to quit. In 1967, he reformed the Clinch Mountain Boys to include icons Ray Cline, or “Curly Ray,” Larry Sparks and Melvin Goin.
Curly Ray was a Bluegrass fiddler, who like Ralph, was very influenced by listening to the Grand Ole Opry, and would go on to appear on every succeeding Clinch Mountain Boys record until he retired in 1993. Ralph was quoted at Cline’s funeral saying, “He plays the fiddle sort of the way I play the banjo; he plays it the way he feels it.” Larry Sparks played the guitar and did vocals, recording songs like “I Only Exist,” during his time with the band, which was only two years. Bassist Melvin Goins has said in an interview that Ralph Stanley called him up for two weeks of work, but he ended up staying to play alongside Ralph for four years.
The Clinch Mountain Boys at this point adapted much deeper Appalachian roots. The lineup would later change quite a bit, and at times featured artists like Jack Cooke, Keith Whitley and Ricky Skaggs.
In 1992, Ralph Stanley was added to the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, and he became a member of Opry in 2000, which was the start of a slew of recognition for him. His fan-base was fierce in their love of his unique voice, which stands out because it is in minor key against the happier major keys of his colleagues, and later coined as “high lonesome” mountain sound.
Stanley acquired a whole new fanbase after the debut of the chilling “O Death” on the “O, Brother Where Art Thou?” movie soundtrack album. The album, produced by T. Bone Burnett, would go on to win a Grammy Award for Album of the Year; and in 2002 Ralph would go on to win a Grammy Award for Best Male Voice, beating out other big names like Tim McGraw.
Stanley also won another Grammy Award in 2002 for his collaboration with Jim Lauderdale on the album Lost in the Lonesome Pines. Dr. Ralph Stanley received an honorary Doctorate of Music from Lincoln Memorial University in Tenn., in 1976. He then went on to perform at the inaugurations of former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Additionally, he was awarded the coveted “Living Legends” award by The National Endowment for the Arts and President George W. Bush.
This past year, the Ralph Stanley festival celebrated its 46th anniversary. Despite his age and his battle with health, Stanley continued to tour and record well into his 80s, performing with his son, Ralph Stanley II and grandson Nathan.
In an interview for the AP, Stanley said that he liked seeing younger people at his shows, and that he enjoyed the belated recognition, but he said, “I wish it had come 25 years sooner” so that he could have enjoyed it longer.
Dr. Ralph Stanley is survived by his wife, Jimmie Stanley, of 47 years; they would have celebrated their 48th anniversary on July 2. He is also survived by his children: Lisa Stanley Marshall, Tonya Armes Stanley and Ralph Stanley II; His grandchildren: Nathan Stanley, Amber Meade Stanley, Evan Stout, Ashley Marshall, Alexis Marshall, Taylor Stanley, and Ralph Stanley III; and great grandchild Mckenzie Stanley. Memorial service details are yet to be announced.
Live Bait Vol. 12 is a ten track collection of treasured Phish tracks released to help phans survive the building anticipation before Summer Tour 2016, which kicked off Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. It is a tradition that archivist Kevin Shapiro has kept going for years, each one featuring tracks from the cities that the group will hit on its tour.
This year’s edition has an especially notable, almost 30 minute long, “Mike’s Song> Simple> Mike’s Song> Tela> Weekapaug Groove” from Onondaga War Memorial Auditorium in Syracuse on Nov. 4, 1994; as well as, “Piper>Gotta Jibboo” from SPAC on June 19, 2004, which is a little over 40 minutes long. In fact, every track is in the double digits in length on this volume.
With the exception of “Mercury” (2015), which was recorded by Jon Altschiller, the other nine tracks were recorded by Paul Languedoc.
Phish is doing a three-night run at the SPAC this summer starting on July 1, and will later hit Syracuse on July 10 at the Lakeview Amphitheater.
You can download the album live here or stream it via the LivePhish+ App.
Phish Live Bait Vol. 12
Reba (1995-10-25 Civic Center Arena – St. Paul, MN)
Split Open And Melt (1997-08-10 Deer Creek Music Center – Noblesville, IN)
Piper > Gotta Jibboo (2004-06-19 Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, NY)
Stash (1993-07-24 Great Woods Performing Arts Center – Mansfield, MA)
Ghost (2000-07-01 Meadows Music Theatre – Hartford, CT)
Mike’s Song > Simple > Mike’s Song > Tela > Weekapaug Groove (1994-11-04 Onondaga War Memorial Auditorium – Syracuse, NY)
Foam (1997-08-03 Gorge Amphitheatre – George, WA)
Bathtub Gin (2003-02-14 Great Western Forum – Inglewood, CA)
The historic Paramount Hudson Valley theater in Peekskill celebrates its 86th year this Saturday June 25 with a special fundraising anniversary event featuring multi-Grammy award winning artist Michael McDonald. This year marks the third year of the theater’s stewardship by Red House Entertainment, who brought the venue back to life after it took a brief hiatus in 2012.
The evening starts at 8 p.m. with the Hudson Valley’s own Marc Von Em of the Rob Thomas Band. As a regular at clubs throughout NYC and the northeast, Von Em’s dynamic performance on both vocals and acoustic guitar round out a complete sound for a one-man show. Following Von Em’s set Michael McDonald’s son Dylan McDonald takes the stage with his band Dylan McDonald and the Avians for a set.
The evening’s headliner has made a name for himself apart from the bands he has worked with – Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers – along with many other musicians he has collaborated with after his time with those two bands. His work has won five Grammy Awards throughout his career. At the Paramount, McDonald will bring a collection of songs from his years with Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers along with his solo hits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3v8LEb1LxA
The 86th anniversary fundraising celebration at the Paramount will include giveaways and merchandise auctions. The theater asks for support “to assure [they] provide world-class entertainment to the Hudson Valley all year-round.”
Show: 8 p.m.
Tickets: $70/$90/$105/$130 available online or by calling the Paramount box office at 914-739-0039
Phish embarks on their 2016 summer tour tomorrow when they take the stage at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota for their first show of the year on American soil since January 2. Phans across the country will rejoice as the Vermont quartet plays a series of shows at some of their most beloved venues, including the Gorge, the Mann, SPAC, Bill Graham and Dick’s; as well as making some notable debuts at Wrigley Field and the Lockn’ Music and Arts Festival.
As if the type II jams and deep collective musical voyages aren’t enough, there’s tons of fun stuff to check out beyond when Phish is on stage. In Chicago, Galerie F will be showcasing Jim Pollock’s art – including never before seen sketches, posters and other original pieces. Similarly, Masthay Studios will open their doors in Hartford prior to the Phish show to show fans where the magic happens.
There will be a series of strong after parties including Pink Talking Phish at the Mezzanine in San Francisco, Assembly of Dust at Martyr’s in Chicago, Jazz Is Phish at the House of Blues Chicago, and an abundance of musical happenings at Nanola Malta, just 10 minutes from SPAC, including pre-show festivities with Hayley Jane and the Primates, and a Sunday brunch with Holly Bowling and appearances from Mister F, The McLovins and more. Additionally there will be a James Brown Dance Party aftershow in Philly. PhanArt will be hosting a series of art shows in Chicago and San Francisco as well, bringing together a rapidly expanding fan base of art aficionados.
One thing that’s for certain, is there are a lot of moving parts to Phish tour and it’s not all about the music the Vermont quartet makes on stage. It’s about a umbrella of a community where you’ll find so much love and excitement. It’s about exploring new places, trying new things, stepping outside of your comfort zone and reuniting with old friends that you may only see once a year while simultaneously making new connections. There are a lot of exciting things coming out of the band’s camp, including the free sampler Live Bait 12 where every single track clocks in at double digits and the recent release of the third edition of The Phish Companion benefiting the Mockingbird Foundation, available at the PhanArt show this Saturday in Chicago.
As for the band, things couldn’t look more promising before hitting the road; especially since they’ve presumably finished recording a new album with Bob Ezrin in Nashville. Armed with a fresh stable of new material, it’s safe to say we can expect some debuts and several new launching pads for deep improvisation.
2016 has been a rough year so far with the losses of musical icons such as David Bowie, Merle Haggard and Prince so it will be interesting to see if Phish takes a swing at any of their musical catalogs. In recent years Phish has come more into their element than ever before in the 3.0 era. Now that all of the members are in their early 50s, they seem to have a grasp on the intrinsic connection they all share after being friends for all of these years. They seem more comfortable, happy, appreciative and healthy than ever before and it is certainly reflected in their music. Chris Kuroda is also rumored to be working with a new light rig that’s unlike anything he’s ever used in the past. There is a multi-panel design that will be suspended above the band and there appears to be three large LED panels encapsulating the members on stage. It looks like the perfect stepping stone to some extensive and deep psychedelic visual experiences.
One thing to be expected is the unexpected. Phish hates being predictable and if everything goes off without a hitch this could be one of the best tours in the post-Hampton era. The build up certainly makes it seem that this tour will be a success right out of the gates. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty, lets get this show on the road.
Camp Bisco Color War XI: The Aquatic Ape, will return for its 11th season this year on Friday, July 15 at Montage Mountain. Now in its second year at the venue, patrons of the festival and Color War faithful will be much more well equipped to deal with the inclined terrain that the venue offers in spades.
Offering a plethora of new events that utilize the Mountain’s stage-side water park, including the Above the Wave Pool Race and High Speed River Racer, means that Bisconauts can stay cool while the competition heats up. Even the onsite zip line will be taken advantage of in the finale of the Montage Highwire Marathon. In addition to the already well loved Disco Biscuits themed games that Camp Bisco Color War has to offer, these new events will assist in truly making Color War great again.
The Montage Highwire Marathon will have participants dreaming to touch the sky after a foot race to the top
Color War began in 2005 at the fourth Camp Bisco, and has been growing in momentum and notoriety ever since. Die hard Biscuits fan and founder Yancy Davis catalyzed its advent by combining two of his favorite passions; the Disco Biscuits and friendly organized sports. Most of the events in the first couple of years are very familiar, such as tug-o-war, a three legged race, and the ever perilous egg toss. More and more Biscuits references snuck their way into the fabric of Color Wars throughout the passing seasons, including Mr. Don’s Mustache, telling your own Nughuffer story, and the Bernstein and Bacon-off best-bacon-frier competition. That trend continues in the water park this year, giving this 11th installation the honor of being named after a true Biscuits classic, Aquatic Ape.
Sister Judy might get a little wet this year; Montage Mountain’s water park will receive a full take over from Color War troops
Four teams to choose from means more options in the already astounding list that Color War XI: The Aquatic Ape has to offer. Three time back-to-back champions Purple Reign are looking to remain the reigning kings of Color War. New World Orange are also three time conquerors, though it has been years since these underdogs claimed the throne. Returning from earlier years will be the Greenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as well as the ferocious Pink Hydra Squad.
Camp Bisco attendees will have a lot to think about this year when stepping foot on the Color War field, especially if they plan to participate in another new event called I Want to Be Barber; a costume contest wherein contestants attempt to mimic Disco Biscuits’ guitarist Jon “The Barber” Gutwillig’s legendary stage outfits. Often imitated but never duplicated, such a challenge has never been met on the Camp Bisco lot.
Splitting our minds by day and our girlfriends’ thighs by night, Jon “The Barber” Gutwillig is a force to be reckoned with both musically and fashionably
Anyone who wishes to participate in Color War XI need only go to campbiscocolorwar.com and complete the quick registration form, or simply show up at 12PM on Friday, July 15 at the water park. Conveniently located next to the Above the Waves stage, Color Warriors won’t need to miss any of their favorite bands or DJs during the festivities. Word has been getting around that some celebrity members of said bands may even help in judging some of the competitions. Only one thing is certain for the outcome of Color War XI: The Aquatic Ape: Camp Bisco and Color War will be a little wetter forever.
Joywave, Rochester own indie-rock darlings, will make a stop in their hometown of Rochester at Anthology on Saturday night. The band is continuing on their rise to stardom with a lengthy headlining tour before a mostly quiet summer ahead, save for a smattering of festival dates. Their infectious and creative dance-happy music has graced the stages of Coachella, Lollapaloozas both domestic and abroad, X Games, Summerstage in Central Park, Jimmy Kimmel and the list goes on.
Joywave will be bringing three bands with strong Rochester ties with them. KOPPS, an electro-dance group from the Flour City, has been working together with Joywave since their inception, sharing members and guesting on each other’s albums, shows and even in their merchandising. Maybird, psychedelic rockers fronted by Josh Netsky, are currently working out of Brooklyn, but originally, and until recently, hail from Rochester. And lastly, Transviolet, a fresh pop band making waves out in Los Angeles (and beyond), features three members from Rochester.
It’s an incredible four-part Rochester-centric bill, featuring bands that are all on their way up. While it isn’t quite sold out, it certainly will, so it’s best to get tickets in advance. Doors will open at 7 p.m. Saturday night with the music getting going around 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance ($25 day of show) and are available at the Anthology website or in person at House of Guitars, Aaron’s Alley and Record Archive.
Looking for your pre- and post-show plans during Phish’s run at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) July 1 through 3? NYS Music and Nanola have you fully covered.
The Capital Region’s own Mister F will host three nights of pre-shows and after-parties at Nanola in Malta to keep the fun going long after the lots have cleared after Phish each night. You can even take a shuttle to and from SPAC, just a short 10-minute ride from Nanola to SPAC.
Friday’s after-party starts with Mister F at 12 a.m. and Lespecial at 2:15 a.m. Saturday’s pre-party features Hayley Jane and the Primates at 4 p.m., and Mister F is on again at 12 a.m. following the show, with Strange Machines hitting the stage at 2:15 a.m. Sunday’s pre-party has Mister F on at 4 p.m. and The McLovins closing out the weekend with an after-party beginning at 12 a.m.
In addition to these pre- and post-shows, Nanola will be offering a $13 brunch buffet on Sunday, July 3, for Holly Bowling‘s performance. Reservations are recommended for table service and can be made by calling 518-587-1300.
All pre-parties are free, with each nightly show costing $10. Shuttles are also $10, and a combo pass including all shuttles and after-shows is $50. You can pick up tickets here.
Nanola features a full bar, great beer selection and traditional pub fare in addition to creole favorites like jambalaya, oysters and po’ boys.
Known for their diverse catalog of bluegrass-rock music with energized jams, the String Cheese Incident thrive on live performances and the fans that push them to rock harder every night. Kings of the festival scene, SCI have been touring for more than 20 years with countless studio and live recordings available as well as DVD’s of recent shows courtesy of Tour Gigs. In May 2015, while building their new studio in Colorado, the group chiseled a week out of their schedules to rent a house in Arizona and construct some new material, while bonding like a good band should. Appearing on their website is a free download of a few songs from that recording, titled SCI Sound Lab Volume 1.
Ralph Stanley was born in Big Spaddle, Virginia, and was raised there in Southwest Virginia with his brother and first music partner, Carter. The Stanley Brothers were heavily influenced by their parents, who first introduced them to traditional songs. Their mother, Lucy Ann Smith, would play on the banjo, while Lee Stanley sang classic songs to the boys like “Man of Constant Sorrow.” 
The evening starts at 8 p.m. with the Hudson Valley’s own 
