Category: Regions

Twiddle Impresses in Plumpty Dumpty Tour Finale in Ithaca

It had been a decade since I’d been to Ithaca. The final show of Twiddle‘s Plumpty Dumpty tour was more than enough reason to make the drive from Buffalo. I’m sure glad I did.

It was my first time being at The Haunt. It’s a great intimate venue. The security and staff there were nothing but “frendly” and helpful. The Haunt is historic in its own right. Seeing some of the bands pictures hung on the wall it just felt right that Twiddle was closing their spring tour there.

Space Carnival opened up the night. They brought high energy to the stage and the crowd loved it. Their final song for the night was a cover of Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long.” Keep an eye and an ear out for these up-and-comers.

Twiddle opened with a great “Polluted Beauty,” one of my favorite songs off their latest Plump Chapter 1. Some of the guys were not feeling 100 percent healthy after spending a month on the road but you couldn’t tell with the way they hit the stage.

Mihali Sauvolidis took flight from the start, shredding apart the 20-minute “Polluted Beauty.” Twiddle is on fire right now. In my eyes the sky really is the limit for these guys.

My favorite part of the night was hearing the instrumental “Wasabi Eruption” > “The Box.” The set list for the night was very plump with Plump. We look forward to what Twiddle has in store with Plump Chapter 2.

Twiddle ended the night with the crowd-pleaser “Lost In The Cold.” All in all it was a beautiful night. The crowd was nothing but friendly, especially to my pregnant girlfriend. With this upward trajectory, don’t expect to see Twiddle playing at such intimate venues for much longer.

Next up for Twiddle is their May 7 date at the historic The Capitol Theater in Port Chester. If you are planning on attending, get your tickets soon. It will sell out.

Space Carnival: Rango >Regal Krad , Entree The Giant, Pilb, Uh Oh, I slipped My Disco, Cyberia, Moon Boots, All Night Long (Lionel Richie cover)

Twiddle: Polluted Beauty, Wasabi Eruption> The Box, Syncopated Healing, Amydst The Midst, White Light
Encore : Lost In The Cold

Setlist provided by uTwiddle

April 28, 2016
Squirrel Nut Zippers Return to the Road

The ’90s-nostalgia boomlet has revived yet another decade-defining sound — juke-y, jive-y, neo-swing. This summer the Squirrel Nut Zippers will resurface for a seven-date tour.

Announced yesterday via the band’s Facebook page, the tour kicks off on June 29 in Tucson, Arizona, and currently caps with an appearance at the LEAF Festival in Black Mountain, North Carolina. The closest the Zippers will come to New York state is Virginia; but hang tight, swing kids, as fall shows are in the works.

The Chapel Hill, North Carolina, band made noise with the release of their second album, Hot, in 1996, (featuring the chart-topping hit “Hell”), and in honor of the 20th anniversary of this commercial success, the Zippers decided to return to the road. For this limited run, founding members James “Jimbo” Mathus and Chris Phillips recruited the talent of singer Ingrid Lucia (Flying Neutrino) and noted New Orleans musicians to join the new stage show. Phillips commented on the band’s reunion in the statement:

The band has been quiet for long enough. Honestly, the songs from such a unique and rambunctious catalog never get old on stage. When it was brought to my attention that 2016 was the 20th anniversary of Hot I knew the timing was right. We take great pleasure in the sense of togetherness we maintain with audiences that have such a wide age range — from young to old and those in between. Even the old are young at heart when they are at a Squirrel Nut Zippers show…

In other words, press your zoot suits, and get ready for a blast from the past. Most tickets are on sale now through the venue box offices or online; see the full set of tour dates below.

Squirrel Nut Zippers tour dates:

6/29 – Rialto – Tucson, AZ
6/30 – Marquee – Tempe, AZ
7/1 – Orpheum – Flagstaff, AZ
7/3 – Deer Valley Resort – Park City, UT
9/3 – Sausalito Arts Festival – Sausalito, CA
10/18 – The Birchmere – Alexandria, VA
10/23 – LEAF Festival – Black Mountain, NC

April 28, 2016
Woods are Gorgeous in Ithaca

Hot on the heels of the release of their new critically-acclaimed and fan-approved new album, City Sun Eater in the River of Light, Brooklyn-based Woods opened their tour in Ithaca at The Haunt. The quintet peppered their set with the newly minted tunes, all of which were being played for the first time.

The album pushes the band’s sound deeper into psychedelic grooves, heavily influenced by Ethiopian jazz. There was a fairly clear distinction between the new songs and the older material based on the advancement of their sound. Despite being opened fresh out of the box, they were masterfully tight and sounding like well-worn classics.

Fans had a couple of weeks to absorb the new tunes, and many in the crowd were singing along. But more than that, there was a familiarity with the new music, and each song was greeted with a smile as if to say, “Oh yeah, this is a good one.” As each successive new one was added into the mix, it became obvious, if it wasn’t already prior, that this new album was a keeper. as solid as anything in Woods’ catalog.

Lead singer and guitarist Jeremy Earl, guitarist Jarvis Taveniere, drummer Aaron Neveu, and bassist John Andrews were joined by new keyboard/sax/tambourine/backing vocalist Kyle Forester. He may have been playing his first show, but his presence was immediately felt as he aptly rounded out the sonic landscapes.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV1L-QyUay4[/embedyt]

Their highlight-worthy take on “The Take,” had Neveu getting dense beats with mallets, while Earl and Taveniere worked through some syncopated melodies. Eventually Neveu switched to sticks, pounding the song into a long trippy ride featuring some nice sax and guitar interplay that was reminiscent of some classic Traffic jams.

Their older material made strong appearances as well. They showcased their folksier side with “Cali in a Cup” and “Shepherd,” while a set-closing take on “With Light and With Love” gave a glimpse into the evolution that occured to arrive at their current sound. It was an adventure in rock and groove that wrapped up the evening perfectly.

Setlist:
Morning Light, Politics of Free, Leaves Like Glass, Hollow Home, Sun City Creeps, The Take, New Light, Cali in a Cup, Shepherd, Can’t See At All, Creature Comforts, With Light and with Love
E: Blood Dries Darker, Moving to the Left

April 27, 2016
The Wild Feathers MOVE at The Hollow

Hardworking Nashville-based band, The Wild Feathers made their first appearance in Albany on Friday April 22 as part of the weekend wide MOVE Music Festival.

Music lovers filled into The Hollow awaiting an 11:30pm appearance from the band who feature original members, Ricky Young, (guitar, vocals), Taylor Burns, (guitar, vocals), Joel King, (bass, vocals), and Ben Dumas, (drums). Burns’ explosive vocals meshed perfectly with Young and King who all share lead vocals during the 13-song set.

Fan favorite, The Ceiling closed out the set which drew Young into the audience. Shining on guitar was Nashville guitar phenom Daniel Donato who makes an instant impact and valuable addition to The Wild Feathers’ live show.

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April 27, 2016
Tony Markellis Spring Schedule

Bassist Tony Markellis keeps himself quite busy this spring when he is not touring with the Trey Anastasio Band. He is scheduled to play a number of shows throughout New York and nearby this spring.

Markellis, of Saratoga Springs, recently joined Floodwood, the bluegrass side project of moe.’s Vinnie Amico. He’ll join them at many shows throughout New York, starting this week. He also plays with a variety of other musicians in the area and can be seen throughout New York, primarily in the Capital Region.

He joins Grateful Dead tribute band Dead Set on May 20 at the Westcott in Syracuse. He will also be at Summer Camp Music Festival with Floodwood. His full set of dates can be seen below.

Tony Markellis spring dates:
Thursday 4/28 – Floodwood – Nectar’s, Burlington, VT
Friday 4/29 – Floodwood – The Hollow, Albany, NY
Saturday 4/30 – Floodwood – Garcia’s, Port Chester, NY
Sunday 5/1 – Caffè Lena Folkathon Benefit with Jo Henley (3:30 p.m.), Michael Jerling (7:45 p.m.), New Standard (8:30 p.m.) – Saratoga Springs, NY
Thursday 5/12 – Floodwood – NaNola, Malta, NY (9 p.m.)
Friday 5/13 – Melick, Maul & Markellis – First Reformed Church, Selkirk, NY
Saturday 5/14 – Jeanne O’Connor and the New Standard – One Caroline, Saratoga Springs, NY (9 p.m.)
Wednesday 5/18 – Michael Jerling – Mouzon House, Saratoga Springs, NY (7 p.m.)
Thursday 5/19 – Floodwood – Abilene, Rochester, NY (9 p.m.)
Friday 5/20 – Dead Set – Westcott, Syracuse, NY
Saturday 5/21 – Jay Barady & Nick Piccinnini – Oneonta Theater, Oneonta, NY
Wednesday 5/25 – Jo Henley Trio – Mouzon House, Saratoga Springs, NY (7 p.m.)
Thurs-Sun 5/26-29 – Floodwood – Summer Camp Festival, Chillicothe, IL
Wednesday 6/1 – Jeanne O’Connor Trio – Mouzon House, Saratoga Springs, NY (7 p.m.)
Thursday 6/2 – Floodwood – Outer Space, Hamden, CT
Friday 6/3 –Floodwood – Smoke Signals, Lake Placid, NY
Saturday 6/4 – Floodwood – Taste of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY (7 p.m.)
Wednesday 6/8 – Bob Warren – Little Theater on the Farm, Ft. Edward, NY
Thursday 6/9 – Floodwood – NaNola, Malta, NY (9 p.m.)

April 27, 2016
Exclusive Interview: Ryan Dempsey of Twiddle

Tim Merrill of Sugar Foot Photography sat down with Ryan Dempsey, keys player for Vermont’s hottest “three dimensional” rock band, to talk Twiddle tour, influences, favorite bands, and even a bit of politics.

Check out the video interview below.

Catch Twiddle next in New York May 7 at the Capital Theatre in Port Chester, and July 8 at Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown.

Full Tour Information

April 27, 2016
Yonatan Gat Floors at the Bug Jar

Ex-Monotonix guitarist Yonatan Gat returned to the Bug Jar in Rochester and thoroughly scrambled the minds of all in attendance without ever taking the stage. The band set up, as they do for all of their shows regardless of venue, in the middle of the floor. Everyone always yearns to be as close to the stage as possible, and here they had the opportunity to be on the stage. Gat’s trio includes Gal Lazer, playing some of the most frenetic drums outside of the Muppet universe, and Sergio Sayeg holding down the fort on a powerfully grooving bass.Each member of the band is illuminated by a single floor lamp. Gat is lit with a red gel, the others bathed in green. Whenever a musician is playing the light remains on. When they take a break, whether it be just 5 seconds or a full minute, the light turns off. It’s somewhat of a mental improvisational exercise for the musicians. In addition to concentrating on they and their mates are playing, they also need to pay attention to their lighting. What at first feels a little gimmicky, is actually also a musical enhancement for the audience as well. Once privy to their system, you come to anticipate the next move. Like some Pavlovian experiment, when you see the light turn back on (particularly when it’s Lazer’s) you’re fully ready for the music to immediately turn up a notch.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aoa7TCVDgs[/embedyt]

Entirely instrumental, save for short period, on this evening, of indistinguishable chanting, is a world-infused psychedelic rock that is equal parts head-banging and head-swirling. In a nearly non-stop set they weaved in and out of themes from their 2015 release, Director. Melodies from “East to West,” “Casino Café” and “Theme From a Dark Party” all made their way into the ether over the course of an all-too short 40 minute set.

Improvisational bands often speak of connecting with their audience in ways that enhance the experience for musicians and on-lookers alike, giving each performance it’s own unique flavor. When the band exists within the audience, this effect is all the more apparent and effective. Though when you invite the crowd into your space, you certainly run some risk. As so happened on this night. An inebriated man stepped up and tried his hand at some unintelligible shout-singing into Gat’s mic. As it’s always interesting to see how a class comedian can handle a heckler, it was also telling to see how this one played out. The band initially worked the “singing” into it’s improv, jamming along with him, Gat seeming particularly amused with the ordeal. But when he overstayed his welcome, Lazer, taking advantage of the close-knit staging, reached out from his kit and quickly and forcefully grabbed the mic stand, ripping it to the ground without missing a beat. Problem solved.

With the short set and no encore, the crowd, easily doubled from Gat’s show last fall, left only wanting more. And when they come back, the audience will likely double in size again, to witness what is a wholly unique must-see live music experience.

April 26, 2016
Talking Bernie & 4/20

We sit around in the green room at The Hollow in Albany, NY, listening to the muffled sounds of Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets play their opening set of the 4/20 Party above us. From my left to my right sit Formula 5’s Joe Davis (guitar, vocals), Matt Richards (keys, synth, vocals), and James Woods (bass). They’re a great group of guys who have an incredible rapport, making fun of one another and seldom not laughing or smiling. It’s no wonder they have a symbiotic stage presence and ability to make the music talk to the crowd.

We start talking about the fact that they are playing their first official 4/20 party and what kind of importance the day has. Aside from the obvious sociopolitical talking points and stoner jokes, Joe quickly says, “It’s just another day,” which receives instant consensus from his bandmates. They talk about how the day does mean a lot to many people and it’s a great opportunity to play a show on a day that’s so widely celebrated.

Formula 5 is no stranger to playing in front of large crowds during massive celebrations. The Monday before, they played in front of 4,000 people at the Albany Rally for Bernie Sanders, at which the 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate gave an invigorating and inspiring speech. When asked about their individual experiences they all gave answers filled with excitement and pride, reflecting on a day that they really didn’t see coming.

Matt’s friend, Brian Maier, organized the rally and invited Formula 5 to be the musical act to support Bernie. Since the event was planned and announced in short order, the band found out only two days before, on Saturday. “It all happened really quickly,” said Woods. “Matt let us know (Saturday night) that [the rally] was Monday morning.”

Load-in was Sunday night and first set started at 11 AM on Monday. It was an experience few bands ever get; organizing with Secret Service, playing for a large room where people attending were there for something other than music, and the intensity of meeting one of the most popular Presidential candidates in the history of the US.

“It was a sweet experience for us,” said Joe. “I had never been to a political rally or anything like that before. To go to one in my hometown and to be a part of it was pretty sweet.” He went on to talk about how, contrary to what he thought an event like that might be like, the energy was very high and attributed it to Bernie’s ability to really get a crowd excited about changing the country for the better.

Matt added that their exposure as a band has grown quite tremendously since being able to support Bernie Sanders at his rally. Playing for 4,000 people and getting publicly thanked by Bernie at the commencement of his speech has boosted their social media support by the hundreds and grew their video exposure by the thousands. “It was a very surreal experience playing to that many people,” he said. “It was very different from any show we’ve ever played; not just the experience, but the atmosphere itself.”

Being entertainment for the day, while not being the main attraction, along with the typical club security experience being replaced by Secret Service police officers made for a truly unique adventure. Matt was probably the most excited to talk about dealing with the Secret Service. “It was kind of cool just being backstage in an area where no one is allowed to be,” which is quite different from even the most strict security at the green room door. Matt continued to boast about Secret Service commanding him that he wasn’t allowed to be backstage and being able to reply, “No, I can. I actually can. I’m in the band.”

Even with Matt’s ability to tell those federal police officers what was what, they still had to follow strict protocol, especially when getting to meet Bernie after his speech was done. They were guided in very structured fashion to what they called, in unison, the “safe room.”

After we wrapped up our conversation they took the stage. They instantly galvanized the crowd by opening up with a flow of “Q&A” into Phish’s “Makisupa Policeman,” followed by “Pokeman Battle Theme” and then back into “Q&A.” For a relatively young band Formula 5 has an ability to act as one musical organism as if their 4 years was more like 14. They paid homage to the day of celebration by playing “Low Rider,” featuring Mister F’s Scott Hannay on synth, as well as laying down a crowd favorite “Legalize It” jam.

If you didn’t get a chance to see this 4/20 show, don’t fret. The momentum of Formula 5’s schedule won’t be stifled any time soon. Their summer is filled with great shows and festivals, some of which they couldn’t even share because of impending announcements. Their announced festival billings include Disc Jam and Ohana Music and Art Festival. They also have some exciting shows coming up including a few with Dude of Life, Steve Pollak, and his band, Fluid Druids. Keep an eye on Formula 5’s Facebook page and website to keep track of updates to their growing summer schedule.

April 26, 2016
Sevendust’s Lajon Witherspoon Talks Tour, Family, and More

Sevendust has been around for 20 years, but the last 12 months may have been their biggest yet. The band has attracted a lot of new fans thanks to a well-deserved Grammy nomination. They released their most acclaimed album to date: Kill the Flaw. They just played sold out shows in New Zealand and Australia. And… starting today they are headlining a tour here in the states.

As front man, Lajon Witherspoon said to NYS Music, “This (Sevendust) is a great thing, we can never stop now. After the Grammy nomination it created a spark and it opened the door.” The door has been opened and Sevendust is taking advantage.

This will be the band’s first headlining tour since the Grammy nomination for their song “Thank you,” and if the set lists from Australia are any indication of what’s to come, fans are going to be excited to hear some classics mixed into the new. Lajon said that the band “is not sure of the set list, yet. (It’s hard) setting up and picking a set list with so much music.” But they do plan on tapping into each album, to “make it a true Sevendust experience.”

As for new music, besides Kill the Flaw, the band is constantly coming up with new stuff. LJ explained that “(They) have grown as writers, grown as artists, and grown as men.” They have families now, and take the much needed time away to reset and do things the right way. This keeps the music fresh-minded, and obviously with recent success, relevant. Lajon also squashed any rumors, past or present, of this being the band’s last tour, “we can never stop now, the cats in the band really love each other.”

Time off the road is as important as time on the road, especially with young kids. Lajon welcomed a son into the world in December, and juggled that with the Grammy nomination, a New Years Eve show and planning the New Zealand/Australia and the U.S. tours. Before going on the road, he even fit time in to watch his daughter’s first softball game.

Being an attentive dad and a great musician is in Lajon’s blood. His father was in a disco era band, and he remembers going to see his dad play around Nashville as a young kid. “The instruments were so much bigger. I got to go to sound check and I still remember the colors on the walls and wanting to be an artist.” Those experiences laid the groundwork for Witherspoon’s start in music – initially soul, and then bringing that soul to the metal world. It’s that unique sound that has helped influence many bands in the metal and hard rock scene today, the fusion of soul and metal.

The Kill the Flaw tour consists of thirteen headlining dates and a rock festival nearly every weekend. For the headlining shows, you can expect well over an hour of high-energy rock and roll. Get to the shows early because one of metal’s new stars, Like A Storm, will be opening the shows, and perennial powerhouse, Trivium, is providing direct support. This is a line-up that you can’t miss.

Mark your calendar, the dates are:

Apr. 26 – Baton Rouge, LA @ The Varsity Theatre
Apr. 27 – Birmingham, AL @ Iron City
Apr. 29 – Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage
Apr. 30 – Fort Myers, FL @ Fort Rock
May 01 – Jacksonville, FL @ Welcome To Rockville
May 03 – New York, NY @ Playstation Theater
May 05 – Hartford, CT @ Webster Theater
May 07 – Charlotte, NC @ Carolina Rebellion
May 08 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head
May 13 – Clear Lake, IA @ Surf Ballroom
May 15 – Somerset, WI @ Northern Invasion
May 17 – Sioux Falls, SD @ The District
May 18 – Arlington Heights, IL @ Home Bar
May 20 – Columbus, OH @ Rock On The Range
May 21 – Reading, PA @ Reverb
May 22 – Schaghticoke (Albany), NY @ Rock ‘n Derby
May 24 – Flint, MI @ Machine Shop
May 25 – Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom
May 27 – Shreveport, LA @ Riverside Warehouse
May 28 – Pryor, OK @ Rocklahoma

Note: 2016 has been a rough year for music legends, we’ve lost David Bowie, Merle Haggard, Phife Dawg, Glenn Frey, and now Prince. I found out about all the deaths in the normal way, well, the normal way “now” – through social media, except Prince. I found out about Prince’s death from another rock legend, Sevendust’s Lajon Witherspoon. We were on the phone talking about the upcoming tour, Grammy nominations, and influences. And, like any musician over the past 40 years, Prince touched LJ’s work, and like any music lover over that same time frame, Prince touched my life. When Lajon told me that him and his publicist, Kevin Chiaramonte, just heard Prince passed, I was truly at a lost for words.

April 26, 2016
Acting a Fool at the First Fool’s Paradise

The inaugural Fool’s Paradise two day concert was a fantastic weekend for visitors to the oldest city in the country, St. Augustine. The music flooded the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and featured Lettuce, Griz, Chris Robinson, and many more incredible artists. There were occasional showers in the forecast but nothing serious enough to deter the music lovers from dancing and enjoying the music. This event had a wonderful first year and offered some unique activities reminiscent to jam cruise.

On Friday at six the power duo Goldfish took the stage. The two multi-instrumentalists are currently touring South America, The United States, and Europe, sharing their latest release Games Continued. After watching a few minutes of Goldfish their talent is impossible to deny. Both musicians hail from the most southern tip of Africa and have been called, “the duo to see this year.” The duo play upright bass, flute, saxophone, and synthesizers.

Up next was Lettuce who played a powerful set that got everyone dancing and set the tone for the rest of the evening. Following was fellow headliner Griz. The set was powerful, dynamic and was the perfect mix of funk, and electronic jams. Mid set Lettuce joined Griz for a perpetual groove that radiated from everyone’s feet up through their fingertips. The energy was high and the audience absorbed the music and recycled its energy into non-stop dancing.

The music ended at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre at 10:30 due to the venue’s proximity to local residents. This was by no means the end of the party. Many attendees had previously purchased late night show tickets for sets that would be held in the Elk’s Lodge which was practically on the premises. Friday night’s late night featured both Vulfpeck and Lettuce side project Break Science.

It was previously mentioned that Fool’s Paradise is reminiscent of Jam Cruise because of the fun and exciting excursions that could be taken with the artists. The excursion tickets were sold separately and included mini golf with Jesus Coomes, and Adam Deitch of Lettuce, sailing with Shady Horns and a zip-line adventure Borham Lee at The Alligator Farm The greatest part of these excursions was being up close and intimate with the artist doing something you both like.

The amphitheater also had a healthy array of eats and crafts vendors to explore.

The Shipwreck Stage, located near vendor row in the parking lot of the amphitheater started the party rocking each day before the amphitheater stage opened.

Saturday began with the Groove Orient, and Herd of Watts on the Shipwreck Stage. After the stage closed for the weekend, Brasstracks started the amphitheater grooving. Nikki Glaspie and the Nth Power followed and brought the funk. Vulfpeck took the stage at five-thirty and also provided some background music for a spontaneous wedding which happened right on the amphitheater stage. The crowd cheered for the happy couple as they eagerly read their unique self-penned vows.

Vulfpeck was quite engaging with the audience and lead everyone in singing three part harmonies while dancing to their funky beats. One thing is undeniable, each member of the band is extremely versatile. Every few songs the guys would switch instruments with each other, transforming their whole sound. The lead singer was especially energized because it was his 30th birthday. He took a picture and sent it to his mom for all the people at the festival.

Chris Robinson’s Soul Revue was a once in a lifetime line up. The band’s all-star cast featured George Porter Jr. of The Meters, Ivan Neville, Nikki Glaspie, Eric Krasnoyarsk and Neal Casal featuring the Shady Horns. The bass was thumping and the horns wailing. Their set was definitely one of the high points of the weekend.

The artist at large was Cory Henry of Snarky Puppy. Henry effortlessly alternated from keys to drums numerous times and was a great addition to every band that he sat in with.

Lettuce’s final set also featured Nigel Hall, and Cory Henry. Late night sets followed at the Elk’s Lodge with Goldfish and Fools of Funk which was a collaboration between some of the members of Lettuce, Nigel Hall, Weedie Braimah, Eric “Benny” Bloom, Ryan Zoidis, and Cory Henry.

Fool’s Paradise was an intense, fun, and funky weekend in an amazing venue. The St. Augustine Amphitheater has excellent amenities and terrific staff. Purple Hat Productions did a bang up job in creating such an incredible concert. The talent was limitless, the production quality was seamless. The crowd was harmonious. See you next year in Fool’s Paradise After year one you can expect anything to happen in paradise.

April 25, 2016