NYS Music 20​16

Category: Syracuse

  • Butch Trucks Band to Headline NYS Blues Festival

    This year’s New York State Blues Festival will be headlined by Butch Trucks & Freight Train.

    Trucks, known best as a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, will close out the free, two-night festival in Syracuse’s Clinton Square.

    Also performing at the festival, to be held July 8 and 9, will be Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, blues guitarist Sonny Landreth, and a host of other national, regional and local bands.

    In addition to performing Saturday, blues artist Tas Cru, of Chaumont, near Watertown, will also hold a musical workshop Saturday afternoon.

    This year’s festival will again include the Signature Student Series. Signature Music is a nonprofit group that teaches music to teens in Central New York who can’t afford private lessons. Students from the program will perform in between main stage acts at NYS Blues Festival.

    An estimated 15,000 people from throughout the U.S. and Canada attended last year’s festival, which included the Robert Randolph Band, the Devon Allman Band and a reunion of legendary Syracuse blues band, the Kingsnakes.

    The New York State Blues Festival was founded in 1991, and since then it has grown into the largest free blues fests in the Northeast. Over the years, it has hosted huge names like Buddy Guy, Little Feat, Dickie Betts, Bo Diddley and more. The festival is community focused and seeks to promote and cultivate the great American art form of the blues.

    The full 2016 New York State Blues Festival lineup:

    Friday July 8

    Main Stage

    4pm – MIKE DELANEY & THE DELINQUENTS – main stage

    4:45pm – JANE ZELL – side stage

    5:10pm – FUNKY BLU ROOTS – main stage

    5:55pm – JANE ZELL – side stage

    6:20pm – THE WESTCOTT JUGSUCKERS – main stage

    7:10pm – JEFF JONES – side stage

    7:30pm – BRANDON SANTINI – main stage

    8:40pm – JEFF JONES – side stage

    9:10pm – SISTER SPARROW & THE DIRTY BIRDS – main stage

    Saturday July 9

    12pm – Workshop w/ TAS CRU – side stage

    1pm – SKIP MURPHY & HIS MERRY PRANKSTERS – main stage

    1:40pm – SIGNATURE STUDENT SERIES – side stage

    2pm – TAS CRU – main stage

    2:55pm – SIGNATURE STUDENT SERIES – side stage

    3:15pm – MIDNIGHT MIKE PETROFF BLUES HARP BAND – main stage

    4:10pm – TOM DWYER – side stage

    4:30pm – TORONZO CANNON – main stage

    5:40pm – TOM DWYER – side stage

    6:00pm – SOUL OF SYRACUSE w/ THE FABULOUS RIPCORDS w/special guests PETE MCMAHON, MAUREEN HENESEY, MARK HOFFMAN – main stage

    7:10pm – BIG D – side stage

    7:30pm – SONNY LANDRETH – main stage

    8:40pm – BIG D – side stage

    9:10pm – BUTCH TRUCKS & THE FREIGHT TRAIN BAND – main stage

  • John 5 and The Creatures Terrorize Syracuse’s Westcott Theater

    There was no shortage of excitement this past Friday in Syracuse; The Syracuse University Men’s basketball team crushed the Dayton Flyers in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the SU women’s basketball team dominated Army West Point for a huge win and nestled in the culturally diverse Westcott Street neighborhood, the Westcott Theater hosted the infamous and incredibly talented guitar legend, John 5! John is on his current headlining solo instrumental tour.
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    It was an awesome sight to see so many music fans in attendance. To say that this was just a night of instrumental music would be understating it. I would describe it as an artistic live performance of a horror movie set to an intricate, perfectly designed musical score.

    John lurked out onto the stage with his fine-tuned band, The Creatures, and from the moment the first notes hit the air, they tore up the stage with selections from the most recent album “Careful with That Axe” along with some surprises from earlier albums.

    For those who recognize John 5 as Rob Zombie’s current guitarist and as a horror aficionado, it was probably not shocking that the band paid a little tribute to the horror genre.  John and company played a very kooky and cool version of the classic “Munsters Theme.” During their rendition, a macabre looking skeleton tossed out guitar picks. The audience was definitely getting into the whole vibe.

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    I have to say what truly amazes me, and I think I have said this before, is how John’s guitar playing is incredibly diverse! From tearing through intense solos, to a very laid back, warm country sound and a revved up killer version of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.”  I can’t wrap my head around the precision in his delivery and his ability to make it look effortless.

    Some of the song highlights of the evening included: “This is my Rifle”, “Mad Monster Party”, “Black Grass Plague” and a medley that pays homage to classic rock and metal music icons!

    After the smoke cleared and final notes faded away, John 5 and the Creatures took a moment to express their thanks and appreciation to those who attended. If you didn’t get the chance to experience John 5 and the Creatures on this tour, you definitely missed an incredible experience musical experience.

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  • Hendrix Spirit Alive In Syracuse

    On Wednesday, March 16th, The Experience Hendrix rolled into the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse as an all-star cast brought the legacy of Jimi Hendrix’s music to life for the capacity crowd. Jimi’s sister, Janie, opened the festivities, welcoming the congregation to the Electric Church in celebration of the spirit and music of Jimi Hendrix.

    The stage saw a revolving cast of guitarists and singers coming on and off the stage to share their renditions from Hendrix’s library. The evening started with Dweezil Zappa on lead guitar, Billy Cox (who played in both the Band of Gypsies and The Jimi Hendrix Experience) on bass and lead vocals, and Chris Layton (of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Double Trouble) on the drums, ripping through “Freedom”.

    hendrix syracuseThe absence of an opening act was evident as it took several songs before the crowd matched the energy level of the music being pumped out of the Marshall stacks. Though, with the 25-song setlist clocking in at 3 hours with a 20 minute intermission, it is debatable if an opening act was even feasible.

    Much like a well-written symphony, the onstage ensemble went through physical crescendos and decrescendos as musicians were added to and taken from the mix, providing a seemingly endless variety of ingredients to the hungry masses. From the basic power trio, to a full stage that included two pedal guitars, two lead guitars, bass, and percussion, The Hendrix Experience delivered a full spectrum of flavors through the night.

    Each of the guitarists more than held their own and provided his own take on Hendrix signatures. Dweezil churned out an amazing wah-laden solo in “Stone Free”. Eric Johnson spent much of “Are You Experienced?” off in the wings of the stage conjuring supernatural feedback sounds from the amps. Zakk Wylde invoked some Jimi showmanship with both behind the head soloing, as well as literally chewing out a solo with his teeth. The Slide Brothers’ Calvin Cooke and Chuck Campbell hit unfathomable registers on their pedal guitars, most notably on “The Sky is Crying”. Mato Nanji and Johnny Lange shared a blistering solo in “Spanish Castle Magic” that had the crowd screaming in appreciation.

    hendrix syracuseThen of course there was Buddy Guy, who was doing his thing before Jimi was doing Jimi’s thing. And at 79 years old, Buddy continues to do it. Buddy delivered gritty, witty lyrics in “Louisiana Blues”, and backed them up with shredding solos that reinvigorated the crowd that had started to look at their watches (not out of boredom, but disbelief and exhaustion). There is something about watching an elder statesman ripping through scales with the speed and feel that most guitarists will never know, it gives folks the energy to cheer just a little louder, a little longer.

    hendrix syracuseLeaving the venue, I noted that instead of hearing conversations that started with “I wish they had played…”, what I heard mostly was “I can’t believe they played…” as the crowd was clearly pleased with how deep they dug into Jimi’s catalog. Much like a congregation after mass, those leaving the Landmark Theater appeared to be uplifted, fulfilled, and spiritually satiated, thanks to the service at The Electric Church.

    For more information on the Experience Hendrix tour, visit their website here. To check out the full photo gallery by Mark McGauley, visit this link.

    Cast (in order of appearance): Dweezil Zappa: guitar; Billy Cox: bass, vox; Chris Layton: drums; Mato Nanji: guitar, vox; Henri Brown: vox; Chuck Campbell: pedal guitar; Scott Nelson: bass; Calvin Cooke: pedal guitar; Eric Johnson: guitar, vox; Noah Hunt: vox; Zakk Wylde: guitar, vox, keyboard; Johnny Lange: guitar, vox;Janie Hendrix: backup vox; Kenny Wayne Shepherd: guitar; Billy Austin: drums; Buddy Guy: guitar, vox; Guitar: Dweezil Zappa, Mato Nanji, Eric Johnson, Zakk Wylde, Johnny Lange, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Buddy Guy; Pedal Guitar: Calvin Cooke, Chuck Campbell; Bass: Billy Cox, Scott Nelson; Drums: Chris Layton, Billy Austin; Vox and Backup Vox: Henri Brown, Noah Hunt, Janie Hendrix

    Set 1: Freedom, Stone Free, Foxey Lady, The Sky is Crying, Wait Until Tomorrow, One Rainy Wish, Love and Confusion, Third Stone from the Sun, Are You Experienced?, Manic Depression, Little Wing, Purple Haze,

    Set 2: All Along the Watchtower, Fire, The Wind Cries Mary, Spanish Castle Magic, Gypsy Eyes, I Don’t Live Today, Come On – Part One, Voodoo Chile, Voodoo Chile (Slight Return), Louisiana Blues, Hey Joe, We Gotta to Live Together, Red House

  • UpHill Funk You Up: Ampevene at Funk n’ Waffles, March 12

    Funk 4Last weekend, Funk ‘n Waffles up on the hill showcased two great bands: progressive rock band Ampevene and funky reggae and rock band Barroom Philosophers.

    The show kicked off with Barroom Philosophers from Seneca Knolls.  The group lists David Koegel (vocals), Joshua Way (guitar), Ty Hancock (bass and keys) and Brenden Boshart (drums) as their core members, but for this show, they had another member playing some guitar and some beats on conga.  The added layers of texture made for a nice and fuller sound. They added a vintage touch to the visual aspect of the show with a lit sign of their band name on the keyboard stand.  David Koegel really seemed to give it his all singing and they really brought the funk to the funky venue.

    Ampevene took the stage, but a few folks were thrown off by the brief soundcheck thinking that was the beginning of the show.  This group featured Gabe Stallman on guitar, Mack Hogan on bass, Ava Smith on keys, and Bob Morris on drums.  They were all very talented musicians that really didn’t visibly vibe off of one another, but rather they aurally honed in on what the others were doing.  The synth player was so focused; she kept her head glued to the keys and would ditch her seat entirely during intense bits of the show. It was cool to see them transition between instruments taking over for a solo or short feature.  The synth added a unique flair with some awesome intergalactic timbre.  Vocal interjections were few and far between, but they matched the established instrumental prowess.  Their set was all business. There was no dialogue about the band or their tracks in between numbers and they moved seamlessly from song to song.  It was refreshing not to hear, “Hi we’re [insert band name], please like us on [insert social media].”  They truly were engaged with their sound and didn’t distract from that.

    The biggest bummer of the night was the lacking crowd because students at Syracuse University were off on spring break and couldn’t come out to the show.  However, it was a successful show for both bands in terms of talent and execution.

  • Fall Out Boy Fills The Oncenter War Memorial to Capacity

    With lines wrapped around the block like a coiled hose, fans waited patiently to get to their seats to see Fall Out Boy at The Oncenter in Syracuse on Sunday night. This diverse crowd filed in with no issues other than the few expected grumbles due to the wait.  However, security quickly took care of each attendee getting them to their 7,000 seats as soon as possible without missing a beat.

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    A multi-generational crowd quickly forgot all disparity as the first band PRVIS began its fog laden set.  The stage was set in low light and much smoke and fog, encompassing Lyndsey Gunnulfsen, Alex Babinski, Brian MacDonald, and Justin Nace (touring member), who make up PVRIS (pronounced Paris) .  Although the scene was dreary and mysterious, the music was electric and full of energy and light.

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    With a newly released single “You and I,” Gunnulfsen captures your attention with strong vocals and melodic emotions.  This techno meets rock is a perfect blend of musicianship to produce a unique sound all their own.  It won’t be long before you will be hearing more about this band. They captured the attention of NYS Music.

    As the fog began to lift off the stage, up next was AWOLNATION, an electronic rock band, consisting of Aaron Bruno on vocals and guitar, Kenny Carkeet, on keyboards, backing vocals, and rhythm guitar, Isaac Carpenter on drums, percussion, backing vocals, Marc Walloch on bass guitar and backing vocals, and newcomer Zach Irons on lead guitar and vocals.

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    The band’s electronic techno rock sound filled the arena under a cloak of darkness.  A parade of silhouettes graced the stage for the majority of its songs.  Reminiscent of a earlier techno sound from the 80’s but mixed with a flavor of today’s rock, Bruno delivered the energy filled lyrics to a hyped up crowd stirring up a bees nest of frenzy.  Best known for their top ten rock single, “Sail” and cover of “I’m on Fire” in the film 50 Shades of Gray, AWOLNATION delivers an eclectic mix of music  pleasing to many.

    As the lights went out for a brief intermission to set up for Fall Out Boy (FOB), the cloak draped stage curtain fell to the ground, a cage was shifted off to the left of the stage, and from the sky fell a million tiny bubbles as the members of Fall Out Boy took their respective places.  The crowd erupted into screams and cheers and from that minute forward the energy in that arena was contagious and spread like a wild fire.  The V shaped stage encapsulated those lucky enough to be in the pit, while the rest of the arena was entertained by the band as they played every inch of the stage, the front platforms, and were gigantically projected on the above jumbotron.

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    IMG_1630 copyRight off the bat, FOB launched into “Irresistible,” a song they also recorded with Demi Lovato.  As heads bobbed to the beat and hands  waved back and forth in the air, they followed with an earlier hit “We’re Going Down,” as the already incited crowd danced and sang along with every word. This momentum continued throughout the entire set, including the more acoustic piano numbers. Ending with their signature “Saturday,” front man Patrick Stump was hoisted above the crowd allowing those in the pit to become a hands on part of the show.

    The production for this show was outstanding.  The videography that played in the background was aesthetically as pleasing as the music it accompanied, and whether it was the streamers exploding into the crowd, or the gigantic balloon balls being volleyed around the arena, this interactive production engaged the audience, keeping it on its feet the entire night.

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    Being labeled emo, softcore punk, punk rock, indie rock, pop rock, or alternative rock over the years, it is apparent that this band had the right idea to take a few years off to decompress. These guys have proven that music is more than the roller-coaster ride they were on or a genre they would be pigeonholed into.  The constant touring and in-studio work created a momentum for their careers, but the constant push to produce doesn’t always make for a best case scenario for creativity.  Taking time off, they were able to regroup.  Once the decision was made to regroup, they knew what they wanted, the roles they wanted to play, and the music came from that new place.  This was not the same FOB as in 2009.  Like their lives, their music evolved to become who they had grown into as they returned to the studio, new and more mature.  Their audience has evolved too. It’s obvious their new music is exactly what they want to hear. This is proof that artists should write and perform for themselves because audiences relate to feeling behind the music not what is currently popular or the sound the labels push for.

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    As the show played on, I couldn’t help but be totally impressed with lead vocalist, Patrick Stump.  His voice has the strongest roundest vocals that resonate within you, and he had me hooked when they rolled out the piano.  Being partial to guitar, Joe Trohman,  shredded leaving me just as impressed.  The energy provided by drummer/percussionist  Andy Hurley reminds me of one of my most beloved characters “Animal,” as he is truly an animal on the drums, putting every ounce of himself into each beat. The tats just sealed my fan girl crush.  Finally, bassist Pete Wentz took the award for nicest guy Sunday night as he took the time to hand a pick directly to a young fan dancing close by in the aisles with his mother and sister.  The smile that came across his face was priceless and something he’ll never forget; in addition to winning the respect of this mother and journalist.

    In fact this entire band is unique as it takes the time to engage with its audience.  There is no looking out into the crowd, or at the tops of the heads of those in front of them. These guys make eye contact with those in the audience.  That personal touch creates a personal experience not only the audience but you can see the band feeding off of it. That is great showmanship, and wins accolades and referrals to anyone on the fence about buying a ticket to see these young men.  This is a show to be recommended.  You will not be disappointed.

    PVRIS Setlist:  White Noise, St. Patrick, Smoke, Fire, You and I, My House

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    AWOLNATION Setlist: Soul Wars, Hollow Moon (Bad Wolf), Not Your Fault, Windows, Kill Your Heroes, Woman Woman (Guitar Solo), I Am (Extended Outro), Drum and Guitar Solo, Burn It Down, Sail

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    Fall Out Boy SetList:  Irresistible, Sugar, We’re Goin Down, Phoenix, Hum Hallelujah, Alone Together, “The Take Over, the Breaks Over”, The Kids Aren’t Alright, This Ain’t a Scene-It’s an Arms Race, Novocaine, Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes, Save Rock and Roll, Fourth of July, Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy, Uma Thurman, Dance, Dance, American Beauty/American Psycho, Jet Pack Blue, I Don’t Care, Thnks fr th Mmrs, Centuries, Encore: My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up), Saturday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Syracuse City Ballet Stages Classic Fairytale This Weekend

    This weekend, Syracuse City Ballet will present Tchaikovsky’s fairytale classic Sleeping Beauty, starring local Central New York dancers with New York City Ballet’s Ana Sophia Scheller as Aurora at the Crouse Hinds Theater. And in addition to professional choreography, glittering costumes and magical sets featuring original puppetry, audience members might catch the real chemistry between the prince and princess, as the two leads are actually a couple.

    syracuse balletScheller and Nicolai Gorodiskii, who will dance the role of Prince Desire, met back in 1996 in Argentina where the two began their dance training, as reported on Syracuse.com. Scheller, a native of Buenos Aires, became a principal ballerina with NYCB in 2012, and she first performed the role of Princess Aurora for the prestigious company in 2013. Ukraine-born Gorodiskii is a former soloist with the Pennsylvania Ballet, and this will be his premier performance as Prince Desire. As told to Syracuse.com, Syracuse City Ballet  Artistic Director Kathleen Rathbun said, “Engaging a dancer who is at the level of Ana Sofia Scheller is a big step for our company. And we know that she and Nicolai will enchant our audiences with their skill and artistry in this sumptuous new production.”

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    Ana Sophia Scheller as Princess Aurora in New York City Ballet’s 2013 production.

    After months of preparation, Scheller and Gorodiskii arrived in Syracuse this Monday and began rehearsing in the theater with the Syracuse City Ballet Corps de Ballet and other cast members. The Corps consists of 12 dancers from across New York state who auditioned for the spot and have been training with Ballet Mistresses Stephanie Dattellas and Rachael Cierniakoski since January. Professional dancer Anton Kandaurov will perform the role of Bluebird and Gvansta Gavashelishvili of the Connecticut Ballet dances the role of Princess Florine, while Leonid Goikhman and Rie Aioki will play Puss-n-Boots and the White Cat. Other soloists are former SCB dancers and now Rock School for Dance Education students, Kameron Triche (yes, of the same Syracuse Basketball royalty) as the sorceress fairy, and Mary Coon as the young fairy who alters Sleeping Beauty’s curse from death to deep sleep.

    Immediately following Friday night’s show, Syracuse City Ballet hosts its second annual champagne soiree to present local arts champions with Grande Jete Awards. This year’s honorees are Syracuse University Associate Professor of Dance Anthony “Tony” Salatino and Jean Fahey, owner of the Turning Pointe. The soiree is a benefit of membership at the $100 donor level or higher. Dignitaries for the weekend performances are WSYR Newschannel9 anchors Carrie Lazarus and Jennifer Sanders. Lazarus will also emcee the awards reception, which will take place behind the stage after final curtain.

    Syracuse City Ballet is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1997, and it remains one of the only professional ballet companies serving the Central New York community. Through its dance education programs, SCB is deeply committed to serving the full diversity of youth in the community, and its special student performances of The Nutcracker each December are a well-attended and much cherished tradition. Syracuse City Ballet presents Sleeping Beauty on Friday, March 11 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 13 at 2 p.m. at the Crouse Hinds Theater, John H. Mulroy Civic Center. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or the Oncenter Box Office. Check out the official production trailer below for a sneak preview of the family friendly ballet.

  • SAMMYS 2016 Induction Ceremony and Awards Event

    The music world is a family, and no where more so than in Syracuse.  Each year Syracuse area musicians and music lovers come together to celebrate their own.  Submissions of new music for consideration inundate the committee each year, and through a painful process of choosing just four nominees, awards in all musical genres are given out at what has become the musical event to attend in Syracuse, the SAMMYs.Jim Houle Photography - 2016 SAMMYS Awards - Small NYS Music Watermarked-7

    The night before the award ceremony is a special recognition event for those inducted into the SAMMYs Hall of Fame.  There are many wonderful musicians who have roots in Central New York and have played huge roles in the Syracuse music scene.  This years inductees, honored at a ceremony upstairs at the Dinosaur Barbeque Thursday, were George Rossi, The Bells of Harmony, Savoy Brown, and Jam Factory.  Mark Copani was given the award for Music Education; and the Lifetime Achievement Award was given to the late great Mark Murphy.

    Basking under the warm glow of orange-hued lighting, the room bubbled with conversation as patrons populated the bar and clustered around dining tables. SAMMYs committee member Liz Nowak gushed, “The award show is about honoring the music of 2015, but tonight is about honoring six decades of music.” Patrons and honorees reminisced and swapped stories over platters of pulled pork, cornbread and coleslaw before the formalities commenced.

    The evening’s master of ceremonies, Dave Frisina of 105.9 The Rebel channeled attention toward the podium, effortlessly sashaying through heartfelt and witty dialogue. Frisina as emcee, had the privilege of introducing each inductor, who in turn introduced an inductee. Regarded as a special honor, each inductor’s relationship with their inductee afforded them an opportunity to share personal accounts of why the inductees deserved the distinction.

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    The remarks of the evening ranged from comedic genius to sublimely sentimental, projected toward a responsive crowd eager to empathize with laughter or somber head nods. Copani acknowledged his family’s presence in the audience gesturing, “They showed up without any prompting.” As Rossi spoke into the mic for his speech he jested, “Wow, a microphone- that’s new.” The Bells of Harmony concluded their acceptance with a quick gospel tune to the audience’s utter delight.

    Following the ceremony, attendees were treated to a performance downstairs by Tennessee-bred funk, R&B and jazz fusion band Dynamo. The congregation of musicians clustered on the cramped stage infused the room with polished yet experimental dexterity as Dain Ussery’s vocals coasted elegantly on the surface. An air of mutual respect floated between the star-studded crowd and the talent pouring their hearts into the music. A tale of old meets new, Dynamo upholds the legacy set before them, all in the name of making music that moves people.

    Jim Houle Photography - 2016 SAMMYS Awards - Small NYS Music Watermarked-3The sold out Palace Theater, hosted the 2016 SAMMY Awards Friday. The atmosphere afforded attendees the opportunity to indulge their chic fashion tendencies or embrace a more casual attitude. The spectrum of ballgowns to jeans was well represented in the diverse attire of guests.

    Carolyn Kelly Blues Band warmed up with a quick jam before Kelly strolled to the stage in a silky black confection that swayed delicately with every soulful note. The first performance of the evening initiated an onslaught of striking computer-generated video projections, adding visual effect behind the bands. The extravagant visuals added an early 2000’s old school vibe. The blues band concluded its short set with an energetic rendition of “Amazing Grace,” as a flaming sunshine explosion flared across the screen behind them.

    Instrumental rock group Ohne-ká and the Burning River brought a very different energy to the stage. Emitting a folk vibe clad in suspenders and a plaid button down, Ryan Jones widened his stance, the first indication of the big, skull-penetrating sound they exude. Though their musical style didn’t invite fluid dance like other genres represented that evening, their tone beckoned listeners to look inward and quietly contemplate from their seats.

    Savoy Brown delivered a solid blues rock performance, not accurately reflected by the lack of dancing on the open floor space directly before the stage. Before exiting the stage, in a moment of jest, leading man Kim Simmonds put his glasses on, slightly recoiling as if his new-found sight brought an awareness to the fact that he’d just performed to an occupied theater.

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    Once Joe Driscoll‘s one-man reggae rap garnered the crowd’s attention, a handful of willing dancers finally got their feet moving. He cleverly paired looped beat boxing with live harmonica to compose a catchy rhythmic pulse, easy to nod your head or tap your foot to.

    During the previous night’s induction ceremony, Jam Factory frontman Mark Hoffman qualified the band’s impending award show performance, proudly stating, “We’ve had three rehearsals and the band is kicking ass.” Their performance supported his confident assertion, topping off the award show with a sweetly nostalgic finale. Approximately thirty willing dancers, many Jam Factory followers since early adulthood, danced in front of the stage. They basked in time-honored soul alongside a handful of newly made fans.

    Joining Hoffman on stage for the family affair was his son, contributing funky bass lines while his daughter added backing vocals. As the band members poured their hearts into a project they love, an adoring fan glowingly praised, “They’re still as good as they ever were.”Jim Houle Photography - 2016 SAMMYS Awards - Small NYS Music Watermarked-5

    The SAMMY Awards of 2016

    Rock – Joe Whiting
    Folk – Austin MacRaie
    Pop – Elizabeth Canino
    Jazz – Andrew Carrol
    Americana – Early Bird Trio
    Jam Band – Jam Factory
    Alternative – Professional Victims
    Country – Lonnie Park
    Hard Rock – After Earth
    Hip-Hop/Rap – Mafiosa

    The People’s Choice Awards for 2016

    Best Band: The Horn Dogs
    Best Festival: The Great New York State Fair
    Best Venue: Dinosaur BBQ

    The Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist: The Lightkeepers

  • Geoff Tate Brings Operation: Mindcrime To The Westcott Theater

    After exiting Queensryche in 2012, vocalist Geoff Tate has kept busy by continuing to make new music and touring. On Thursday, March 3rd, Geoff brought his band Operation: Mindcrime to the Westcott Theater in Syracuse for a headlining performance.

    As the only act of the night, Geoff and Operation: Mindcrime took the stage at the Westcott shortly after 8PM. The band kicked off the night with “Neue Regel”, a Queensryche song off of the Rage For Order album from 1986. With Rage For Order being out for 30 years now, it was appropriate for Geoff to play “Screaming In Digital” as the second song of the night. These two songs got the crowd right up out of their seats and up to the barrier in front of the stage. Geoff’s band seemed to get in the groove of things as the crowd showed their love for the music.

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    Geoff Tate

    Just after the two song intro, Geoff took time to address the crowd and express his gratitude. After the short break, the band got back into things with songs such as “I Am I” and “I Don’t Believe In Love”. The band’s choice of songs for the evening stretched over the entire Queensryche catalog it seemed. The die-hard fans knew all the material, while the casual fans knew all the words to songs like “I Don’t Believe In Love” and other hits but not songs from the lesser known albums such as Hear In The Now Frontier and American Soldier.

    For the next portion of the show, Geoff and his band performed a few songs acoustically. The acoustic set consisted of songs, “Jet City Woman”, “Take Hold Of The Flame”, “Silent Lucidity” and “The Weight Of The World”. While hearing those songs in a different form was new and fresh for some people in the audience, others hoped to hear Geoff blast out the powerful notes of “Take Hold Of The Flame”. Unfortunately, Geoff seems to know his vocal limitations nowadays and simply does what he can. Changing the songs wasn’t necessarily a bad thing because the audience still sung along and seemed to really enjoy the show. The rest of the guys in Operation: Mindcrime stayed true to most of the Queensryche material by only making some minimal changes here and there.

    Operation: Mindcrime Acoustic
    Operation: Mindcrime Acoustic

    Last year, Operation: Mindcrime released their first of a series of three albums. The first album is titled, The Key, and the band jammed through four songs off of it. The songs Geoff and the band chose to perform from The Key were excellent. The four of them consisted of, “Re-Inventing The Future”, “The Stranger”, “Burn”, and “The Fall”. It’s apparent that Geoff was going back to his roots on The Key with the progressive metal sound. For instance, “The Fall”, is a track that sounds like it could be right off of a Dream Theater album and the fans definitely enjoyed hearing this song live.

    The evening ended with a bunch more Queensryche classics such as “Walk In The Shadows”, “Eyes Of A Stranger”, and “Empire”. Fans were left wanting more after the surprising “evening with” performance by Operation: Mindcrime. Overall, the band sounded great and Geoff’s interpretation on his old Queensryche tunes produced a great show that everyone in the audience seemed to thoroughly enjoy.

    Since the band has two more albums scheduled within the next year or so, fans of Geoff Tate can look forward to him coming back to the area in the near future. To keep track of Geoff’s schedule and album progress,  fans can check his official Facebook Page and the official Operation: Mindcrime Facebook Page.

    Setlist: Neue Regel, Screaming In Digital, I Am I, One More Time Around, I Don’t Believe In Love, SpOOL, At 30,000 Ft, Jet City Woman, Take Hold Of The Flame, Silent Lucidity, The Weight Of The World, Re-Inventing The Future, The Stranger, Burn, The Fall, Damaged, Walk In The Shadows, Eyes Of A Stranger, Breaking The Silence, Empire

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  • Anders Osborne Beams at The Westcott Theater

    American Babies - K. Stockbridge - IMG_3410 copyOn a night capping off a daylong deluge in Upstate New York, it was all rays of sunshine inside the Westcott Theater when Anders Osborne and Tom Hamilton’s American Babies took the stage. The two guitarists are both at the top of their game and were showing why to the well-packed and exuberant crowd.

    American Babies got things started with their unique blend of Americana and electronica, showcasing Tom Hamilton’s history, present and future together in one jam-happy presentation. Classics like “Tangled Up in Blue” started in the Jerry Garcia Band style before evolving slowly into an electronica-based section. While the first single off their forthcoming album, “Synth Driver,” exhibited the electronica influence early before mellowing into a spacey improv.

    After a solid hour-long set, the band thanked the audience and exited the stage while the house music took over. Seconds later, with no prompting from the crowd, the band came back out, “They said we can play some more.” And that they did! Another 30 minutes brought unexpected highlights like a lengthy “Old Time Religion” > “Joeline” combo, and a “What Does it Mean To Be” that blasted toward the finish line with a rocking jam. It was 50% more American Babies! What a deal.

    With set-opening “Five Bullets,” Anders Osborne and his band were “coming in hot!” as a member of the crowd aptly called out. Osborne smiled and pointed, repeating, “We’re coming in hot!” In previous years he might have started high and kept the energy high all night. With his current band, featuring his long-time bass player Carl Dufrene, Brady Blade on drums, Eric McFadden on guitar and mandolin, and Danny Eisenberg on keys, he was able to put together quite a dynamic set.

    Surrounding himself with such incredible players, Osborne wasn’t required to stand front and center every song playing blistering solo after solo. And because the band was so good, that was actually not a bad thing.

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    Things were immediately taken down a notch with “47,” where Osborne’s recent forays with Phil Lesh’s band came to the fore in a beautiful reserved Jerry Garcia-esque jam. More Dead-influence was showcased in “Dyin’ Days” that featured some excellent work by McFadden playing off Osborne. The song wound its way up to ferociously before erupting into a quick “Down By the River” finish that left the crowd wondering if the set was already peaking three songs in.

    With the bouncy blues of “Lafayette” and slow-building “Pontchartrain” from Osborne’s forthcoming album, it was clear this band still left room for surprises. Each song brought it’s own unique flavor, steeped in Louisiana’s musical cuisine.

    Anders Osborne - K. Stockbridge - IMG_5410 copy

    Tom Hamilton and his backing rhythm guitarist Raina Mullen joined just Osborne and a mandolin-wielding McFadden for a mostly acoustic take on “Friend of the Devil.” Then McFadden and Osborne continued acoustically to play “Coming Down” as a duo. with Osborne scatting along with his guitar and McFadden trading licks on the mandolin.

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    The slinky reggae groover “Sarah Anne,” took a turn when Dufrene stepped to the front and blasted the groove into a dark space. A full-band improv ensued that could best be described as a beautifully controlled madness. It set your arm hair at attention. Osborne clearly felt it too. As soon as the song ended, he raised his arms in victory, looking excitedly around at his band. After a couple mid-set hugs, he stepped to the mic with a huge grin, “What is this place? Why haven’t we played here before? This is my favorite gig of the whole tour!”

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    The joy continued when they came back out for the encore. Osborne expressed his appreciation for the crowd, telling of his battles with addiction and how he’s built himself back up over the past seven years. This show, and the crowd’s enthusiasm, were vindication for all his hard work. He was truly excited about the amazing reception he was getting. On this rainy Syracuse evening. it truly was all sunshine on the inside.

    Setlist: Five Bullets, 47, Dyin’ Days, Lafayette, Pontchartrain, Lean On Me/Believe In You, Friend of the Devil*, Coming Down, Move Back To Mississippi, Sarah Anne, Windows, Send Me A Friend
    Encore: Call On Me

    *with Tom Hamilton on guitar and Raina Mullen on vocals

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