High energy ska and funk is headed towards New York this week with Spiritual Rez’s 2016 Northeast Tour. With live performances that elicit an incredibly powerful blend of reggae, rock, ska and jam, the group has been on a cross country tour amid the release of their upcoming album due out this summer.
The Northeast Tour brings the group to Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, Erie, Brooklyn, New Haven, Boston, Portland, Burlington and Saratoga Springs over a two week period, providing ample opportunities for you to dance the night away and walk into work exhausted but smiling the next morning.
The as of yet untitled album, slated for an early summer release, was recorded in Los Angeles at Jim Kaufman Productions under the direction of Kenny Carkeet (Awolnation) and Max Collins (Eve 6). One of the many collaborators that took part in the album is trombonist Billy Kottage of Reel Big Fish, who is featured on the track “Bad Girl.” More jaw dropping collaborations will be revealed around the album’s release.
The state’s premier outdoor concert venue is celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer as Saratoga Performing Arts Center kicks off its golden anniversary concert season with the fourth running of the SPAC Rock and Run, which offers 5k, 10k and half marathon distances, on May 15. Albany-area siblings Jocelyn and Chris Arndt, who were breakout artists at last fall’s Utica Music and Arts Festival, will perform as part of the SPAC Rock and Run Races.
The annual Freihofers Saratoga Jazz Festival, featuring headliner Smokey Robinson in addition to three 2016 Grammy Award winners, Jon Cleary, Christian McBride, and Eliane Elias, takes place June 25 and 26.
One of the timeless dangers of cataloguing relationship woes through song is the risk of drowning in cringe-worthy cheesiness. Bump and their debut album Broken Fix is swimming in an industrial vat of artery-clogging Velveeta. Released in October, the self produced album was recorded over the course of a week in an old barn in Cambridge, NY. Mixed by JJ Beck at Akin Studios and mastered by Larry DeVivo at Silvertone Mastering.
Formed in Saratoga Springs, cheesemongers Todd Pasternack (guitar), Angela Ford (bass), Gregory Nash (drums) and special guest Kirk Juhas (piano/B3) comprise Bump, and have formulated an almost unpalatable recipe over-salted with boring and predictable lyrics in a watered-down interpretation of Red Hot Chili Peppers. Any hope for attaining béchamel quality music on this album is melted by weak vocals.
The first track “Hello Again” serves up Pasternack’s whiney voice with Ford’s backup vocals adding more confusion than complexity to the laid-back rock flavor. He opens the song, “Hello again, did my text get through? And are we still friends, or did we lose that too? Just send me a picture of your broken heart, tell me once again we should never have started to care.” Predictability breeds familiarity, so despite the eye-roll inducing lyrics, many listeners can at least relate to their meaning.
“Wrecking Ball” opens with grungy guitar before Ford’s voice emerges, evoking a gentle Pocahontas quality that doesn’t support the musical tone reminiscent of “The General” by Dispatch. An alien-like mid-song lyrical breakdown is an intriguing experiment that seems out of character for the album as layers of Ford’s voice hauntingly echo each other.
In full Flight of the Concords fashion, “How Could You Go So Low” presents feathery falsetto and restrained instrumentation, emphasizing the exaggerated vocals. “Anymore” holds a promise of redemption with bluesy jazz instrumentation and whirling organ before the words “Just can’t maintain this lifestyle anymore/Will my spirit no longer fly? The wings are paralyzed,” interrupt the mystical instrumentals.
Key tracks: Wrecking Ball, How Could You Go So Low, Anymore
Steely Dan is hitting the road again this spring and summer, kicking off its tour at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker have booked several New York dates in addition to the opener, including stops in Niagara Falls, Bethel and Saratoga Springs.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will first hit up theaters and event centers on the initial leg of the Dan Who Knew Too Much tour before Stevie Winwood joins them, hitting sheds and amphitheaters country-wide throughout the summer months.
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
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
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
The North & South Dakotas, from the Saratoga Springs area, have been bringing their blend of bluegrass, country and rock n’ roll infused folk to music fans around the area since 2013. While they’ve always been a great combination of those genres, their new release ‘Been Away’ shows them able to put together an album that even further masters that sound. Start to finish, this is a great piece of alt-country, full of a healthy portion of slide guitar, great harmonies and songs that just sound like the sound track to living and loving far away from the lights of any big city.
The album’s opening track “Caroline” starts off full of twangy goodness and sets the tone for the album, in the listener’s mind it’s all rural country life, there’s going to be lots long roads and heartbreak. But perhaps most importantly there’s some fast-as-lightning string picking and great melodies to carry us through the ups and downs. Once the vocals kick in, you know you couldn’t be listening to any other group it’s the distinct sound of Zack Hay’s voice, now with a hint more grit and attitude from their previous releases.
Sometimes though, the long nights full of whiskey, the growing feeling of needing a change, and perhaps a bad choice or two catch up with you and a day in bed is in order, contemplating how rough the lows really may have become. On one of the records slower tunes, “Please Don’t Wake Me” there’s talk about about speaking with the devil if he chooses to shows up, and admitting maybe it’s time to pack up and move along. “I ain’t ashamed to float like a feather as I fall from grace. And I ain’t putting up a fight, and heaven knows I’ve tried, and when I land, you know I’ll find my place.” Guitarist Mark Retajczyk never misses the opportunity to throw in a classy guitar solo and in the video below, seeing the band in the warm golden glow of a fall corn field helps you hear the breath of hope even in a sad song.
Other stand out tracks include “Katie”, fast paced with quick little starts and stops this is a song in the live setting that is going to get the ground shaking resulting from a room full of stompin’ boots. Nayt Patenaude sets the strings of the mandolin on fire in this track, good luck trying to sit still when it hits your ears. Throughout the album, the rhythm section of Mike Graves on drums and Colin Hunt on bass stay locked in time and provide a steady backbone throughout an album with plenty of musical turns and changes in tempo that give the songs life.
“Nowhere Slow” is a little more outlaw country, like a dark storm rolling in, hot on your trail as you bolt out of town. The break down towards the end even sounds as if they threw a dash of sludgy metal into the every-type-of-Americana stew they’ve whipped up through the album. “Prayin’” will be the track that gets hips swayin’, before leading into the album’s final track “Swan”. The album’s closing track talks about making the way back home, after an album that has taken the listener through several tales of love, a few lonely nights, and no shortage of fun evenings spent with a drink in hand. With a long instrumental close to the song and album we’re reminded that these tracks are just as catchy as they are complex, and at its heart this is a group of very talented guys that are capable of showing us a good time while maintaining a level of depth and integrity that is often lacking in modern country music.
On Saturday, February 13th The North and South Dakotas will be celebrating the release of Been Away at The Parting Glass in Saratoga. $10 entry also gets you a copy of the new album. The night will start off with a performance from Rebel Darling, the full band that M.R. Poulopoulos, one of the area’s strongest songwriters, puts together with a rotating cast of talent. Doors open at 7pm, music is set to start at 8pm. The Parting Glass is located at 40 Lake Ave. in downtown Saratoga.
Key Tracks: Katie, Nowhere Slow, Please Don’t Wake Me
Lock’n festival alum The Southern Belles are starting out the year with a new drummer, and a slew of touring dates that span the Northeast. Their new pick for drummer is Aaron Zarrow of Philadelphia’s The Royal Noise.
“I think this is going to be the beginning of an exciting musical journey,” Zarrow said in a press release. “I’m really stoked to be given an opportunity like this, to play in a band whose music I already enjoy listening to. Now I get to contribute to a band’s sound that I feel is unique and powerful enough to go very far. I’m also walking into what seems to be such a tight knit, family-like fan base and support system, and that’s huge.”
The Richmond, Virginia-based quartet will head up north to Rockwood Music Hall in New York City Feb. 19, and you can catch them at the Putnam Den in Saratoga on Feb. 25. They will wrap up their tour with dates in Montana and Colorado.
Full tour dates:
2/9- Blue Water, Jacksonville, FL
2/10- Guanabana’s, Jupiter, FL
2/11- Little Econ Love Fest, Jupiter, FL
2/12- Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin, FL
2/13- The Jam, Gainesville, FL #
2/19- Rockwood Music Hall, New York, NY
2/21- Stella Blues, New Haven, CT
2/24- Nectar’s, Burlington, VT
2/25- Putnam Den, Saratoga Springs, NY
2/26- Thunder Road, Somerville, MA %
2/27- Stone Church, Newmarket, NH %
3/4- The Camel, Richmond, VA **
3/5- Preservation Pun, Knoxville, TN
3/8- Gabe’s, Iowa City, IA
3/9- The Bridge, Columbia, MO
3/11- Bohemian Biergarten, Boulder, CO
3/12- The Whisk(e)y, Fort Collins, CO
3/13- Lola, Denver, CO
3/14- Sancho’s, Denver, CO
3/15- Little Nell, Aspen, CO
3/16- Little Nell, Aspen, CO
3/17- Black Nugget, Carbondale, CO
3/18- Bonfire Brewing, Eagle, CO
3/19- Zio Romolo’s, Denver, CO
*w/ Lord Nelson and Kendall Street Company
^w/ Soul Mechanic
#w/ Loccochino
%w/ The Jauntee
**w/ Groove Fetish
Saratoga Springs police are currently in search of a possible street video that shows a street performer being attacked, according to the Times Union. Police are also talking to downtown bar owners about the situation.
According to the report, street performer Sam Mitchell of Montgomery County was a victim of an unprovoked attack as he came to the city to play his guitar on Putnam Street to entertain people as they walked by.
Police said that not only was the attack on Mitchell unprovoked, the beating itself was brutal. The attack happened in the parking lot of the Saratoga Springs Public Library sometime after midnight.
Mitchell, 53, was accused by a man between the ages of 25 and 30, of messing around with another vehicle. According to city police Lt. Robert Jillson, the man punched and kicked Mitchell to the ground as Mitchell tried to protect himself from the assault. Mitchell tried to shield himself with his instrument to no avail as the attacker smashed Mitchell’s guitar on the ground.
The assailant, who was accompanied by a woman, fled in a dark-color, four-door sedan. As of now, no arrests have been made.
Mitchell described the man as a short blonde hair and standing about 5-feet, 5-inches tall wearing a light-green hoodie. The woman was described as wearing black boots with maroon pants and black hair.
After the attack, Mitchell headed to police officers located on Caroline Street and told them about the attack right after it happened. Mitchell then went on to seek his own medical attention.
Mitchell suffered facial fractures and bruises from the attack. A GoFundMe page has been created to help him raise money for a new guitar. The page has currently surpassed the set goal of $500 almost two times, as the current total for his campaign is at $1,380.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 518-584-1800 or 518-584-TIPS.
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The album’s opening track “Caroline” starts off full of twangy goodness and sets the tone for the album, in the listener’s mind it’s all rural country life, there’s going to be lots long roads and heartbreak. But perhaps most importantly there’s some fast-as-lightning string picking and great melodies to carry us through the ups and downs. Once the vocals kick in, you know you couldn’t be listening to any other group it’s the distinct sound of Zack Hay’s voice, now with a hint more grit and attitude from their previous releases.