NYS Music 20​16

Category: Western NY

  • DATSIK Brought The Heat On A Cold April Night In Buffalo

    DATSIK had a sold out show at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo was a huge party. It was an unusually cold early April night here in the Queen city but that didn’t stop people from dressing for the occasion. DATSIK really brought the heat with his Spring Loaded Tour.

    datsik buffaloIt was high energy from start to finish. OOKAY and DREZO really set the tone for the evening. By the Time DATSIK took the stage the night was in full bloom. The lazer light show was pretty epic. Especially in a venue like the Town Ballroom. DATSIK had 100% of the crowds attention. The crowd couldn’t wait for the next beat to drop. The bass was so loud that it actually caused my camera to power off more than once.

    DATSIK’s love for his fans is apparent through his music and his actions. A handful of time bottles of water were passed out to people in the first few rows. He expressed his message of gratitude and love for the fans a few times throughout the night. DATSIK is a class act. He put on an amazing show for everyone’s ears and eyes.

    It was an eventful night to say the least. On top of the beach balls and pool noodles being thrown around the crowd, DATSIK went crowd surfing on an inflatable raft. He lost his hat doing so. When he made his way back on stage he asked the crowd for it back. The hat hit the stage less than 10 seconds later. A fan in the crowd was granted permission to take control of the microphone for a minute. He proposed to his girlfriend. Thankfully she said yes, that would have been a little awkward if she didn’t.

    The crowd was rowdy but respectful for the most part. Security at the Town Ballroom did their job and were nice about doing so. Ill be completely honest. EDM is not my first choice to see live. With that being said, I’m glad I chose to cover this show. It was a lot of fun on my end. I’m sure fans got their moneys worth at DATSIK’s Spring Loaded Tour stop in Buffalo.

  • Rochester’s Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad Returning To Buffalo

    Since forming in 2001, Rochester’s  Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad (GPGDS) has been a steady force in the reggae and jam scene. The five piece band includes James Searl on bass and vocals, Chris O’Brian on drums and vocals, Dylan Savage on guitar and vocals, Dan Keller on guitar and vocals and Tony Gallicchi on keys.

    GPGDS notes some of its musical influences as Burning Spear, Sublime, Phish and Bob Marley and the Wailers. The band has been playing at least 100 shows a year recently and have toured through many countries. They have played at music festivals like the Peach, All Good, Mountain Jam and Gathering Of The Vibes. Their current Where There’s Smoke Tour rolls into Buffalo this Saturday April 16 at the Tralf Music Hall.

    Their latest album was released May 15 last year. It has a heavy bluegrass and country influence and features G. Love and his harmonica on the track “Humbolt County Gold.” It’s a welcome change hearing the addition of a banjo on a few tracks. Bright Days goes a long way to show how far the band has come and breaks down any barriers labeling the band in just the jam or reggae genres.

    Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad’s unique sounds and melodies will surely have your feet moving from the first beat. If any of their previous performances at the Tralf Music Hall are evidence of what is to come on April 16, you are not going to want to miss this show. Doors at 8:00 P.M.  The show begins around 9:00 P.M.

    If unable to catch GPGDS in Buffalo, the band is taking part in the MOVE Music Festival in Albany April 23.

  • Aqueous Pushes New Live Release ‘From the ArQives’

    If there’s anything the fervent fans of Buffalo’s Aqueous have had to complain about the past few years it’s the lack of released live material. This all changed recently with a slew of high quality recordings including last years fantastic “Wizard of Oz” themed, Dark Side of the Moon infused Halloween show, the recent Boulder, Colorado release, and a bunch of new recordings on archive.org.

    Aqueous 02 20 2015 (16)

    On the heels of this flurry of activity the band has put forth the latest multi-track live set – From the ArQives: 2015-04-11 King’s Rook Club, Erie PA. This two set monster of a show features some of the bands most intense jamming and “type II” level improvisation within a slew of their top notch original material and some debut covers.

    Set one kicks off with “Complex Pt. I” and focuses on a mix of material including bust-outs of old school Aqueous tracks “Marty” and “They’re Calling for You” which made their first set-list appearances in close to a year. Also included is a super jammed out cover of Steely Dan’s “Josie.” Aqueous has covered many Dan songs throughout the years (Including a November 2015 cover of “Peg” featuring a Joel Cummins sit-in). Guitarist Mike Gantzer spoke about the Dan’s influence:

    “I always dig pulling out the occasional Steely Dan tune; they’ve personally been a huge influence on my writing and playing style. and often times their tunes are great catalysts for improvisation.”

    Set two continues the jam fest with notable versions of orginal tunes “Underlyer,” “Eon Don,” an “Aldehyde” sandwich with the meat being a cover of The Police’s “Canary in a Coalmine,” and a rare full version of the epic fifteen minute Cycles track “Staring into the Sun.” The audio was recorded and mastered by the bands sound and light engineer Ben Wayt and is available on SoundCloud and archive.org.

    Check out Aqueous in New York Saturday April 16 at Letchworth Pines in Portageville for a rare intimate two set show, and next Friday at Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs with Pink Talking Fish.

    April 11th, 2015
    King’s Rook Club, Erie, PA

    SET 1:
    Complex Pt. I > They’re Calling for You, Triangle, Marty, Josie¹ > Don’t Do It

    SET 2:
    Underlyer > Gordon’s Mule > Eon Don > Aldehyde > Canary in a Coal Mine² > Aldehyde, Staring into the Sun, What’s the Connection?

    ENCORE:
    Mosquito Valley Pt. 1 > Flagpole Sitta³

    Notes:
    ¹ Steely Dan cover, AQ debut
    ² Police cover, AQ debut
    ³ Harvey Danger cover, AQ debut

    Complex had a Josie tease by Steely Dan
    TCFY had a “Waves” tease by Phish and a “Wheels” tease by Cake.
    Eon Don contained a “devils pie” intro by D’angelo, and Master of Puppets by Metallica and Machine Gun by Hendrix teases.
    Staring into the Sun had a long improvised section.
    What’s the Connection had a “We Want the Funk” tease that was audience started.
    MV one had a “Chicken Grease” intro also by D’angelo.

    TCFY was last played on 2014-08-14
    Marty was last played on 2014-06-17

  • NYS Music Presents Friday Nights at Nietzsche’s

    Fridays in April at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo are presented by NYS Music. Get a taste of the Queen City’s favorite venue for rising acts and indulge in Nietzsche’s first ever JazzFest, providing you with an array of jazz, funk, R&B and Dixieland.

    April 8 – Grace Lougen and The Leftover Pancakes with Jacob Peter Band and Blue Rootz

    Grace Lougen & The Leftover Pancakes are a Blues/Rock group from Buffalo, NY. The band features Grace Lougen on vocals and lead guitar, Caleb Saathoff on drums, Ben Saathoff on bass, and Linnea Cremean on vocals and viola. The LP’s grew up listening and playing to a lot of classic and contemporary artists including Led Zeppelin, John Mayer, and Joe Bonamassa. Their original music encompasses the soul of old school blues and rock with a fresh modern flare. They have developed their musical chemistry learning covers, writing original music, playing shows in the Buffalo area. Grace Lougen and The Leftover Pancakes also have shared shows with many renowned local and national artists including Will McFarlane, Doug Yeomans, David Michael Miller, and Alligator Recording Artist Selwyn Birchwood.

    April 15 – JazzFest Day 3, featuring Cinnamon Jones, THE TRUTH, Toney Rhodes, Houston Gardwell Collective, and Sammy Miller and the Congregation

    9pm: Cinnamon Jones
    10pm: THE TRUTH
    11pm: Toney Rhodes – A well-accomplished and internationally known musician, Toney began establishing his respected reputation and credentials as early as 14 years of age. As with many successful artists, Rhodes traces his earliest influence to his familial gospel roots, particularly attributed to the tutelage and musical talents of his mother; along with the opportunity of being front and center as a young organist in his father’s Pentecostal church.
    12am: Houston Gardwell Collective – improvisatory funk and everything else, featuring a collective of improvisers.
    1am: Sammy Miller and The Congregation
    A native of Los Angeles, Sammy Miller has become known for his unique maturity and relentless focus on making music that “feels good” as a drummer, singer and bandleader. Upon completing his Master’s at The Juilliard School, Sammy formed his ensemble, The Congregation. As a band they are focused on sharing the power of community through their music—joyful jazz. While independently the band members have performed/recorded with notable artist including Wynton Marsalis, O.A.R, Iron and Wine, and Lee Fields at venues including The White House, Lincoln Center, and the Hollywood Bowl, The Congregation has opted to stick together and create globally conscious music with the intention to spread joy throughout the world.

    April 22 – Funktional Flow (Matt Lester’s Birthday Celebration!)

    Buffalo’s own Funktional Flow is a multi-genre quintet heavily rooted in rock and reggae, with a funk foundation. Over the past six years, the band has released three albums and played hundreds of shows throughout the Northeast and beyond. With the release of the newest album Time Will Tell on March 5th 2016, Flow is poised to take it to the next level and branch out nationally. Flow is heavily influenced by Sublime, Umphreys McGee, Moe, and Blind Melon but maintains a fresh, high energy sound that results in a diverse catalog of music.

    April 29 – Midnight Snack, Our Friends Band, Dashuri

    Based in Asheville, NC by way of Boston, Midnight Snack blends masculine rock tradition with a distinctly feminine delicacy. The 6 piece integrates elements of psychedelic rock, indie-dance and baroque pop. Originally the childhood attic project of brothers Jack Victor and Michael Johnson, the duo developed their sound while attending Berklee College of Music. Featuring Jack Victor (vocals, drums), Michael Johnson (guitar, synthesizers), Katie Richter (vocals, trumpet), Peter Brownlee (bass), Zack Kardon (guitar) and Meryll Davis (vocals, percussion), Midnight Snack tours nationally, charming audiences with prominent vocal harmonies, lush instrumentation and introspective performances. Currently, the 6-piece is working on their third studio album and will be touring the Northeast April-May 2016.

  • DATSIK Is Bringing His Robotic Funky Sounds Back To The Queen City

    Troy Beetles, the Canadian born DJ / Producer better known as DATSIK will be in the Queen City of Buffalo April 7th.

    datsik queenIf you were wondering where his stage name is derived from, it comes from his XBOX gamer tag. Since hitting the Dubstep scene in 2008 he has steadily been a force to be reckoned with. In 2009 alone he had 7 number one releases on Beatport. In 2012 his debut album Vitamin D was released. That same year he started his own record label, Firepower Records.

    DATSIK has collaborated with huge names in the music business such as The Crystal Method, Diplo, Jonathan Davis (Korn) and Method Man. He has performed with artists of the likes of Steve Aoki, Nero, Rusko, and Bassnectar. Datsik has played venues all across the world and at festivals such as EDC Las Vegas, Electric Zoo, Ultra Music Festival and Coachella. He will be bringing his self described dark, robotic, funky and gangster sounds to the Town Ballroom Thursday April 7th.

    Show starts at 8 and is sold out.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpiuyFpYMFo

  • Spring Fling Tour Invades Rochester’s Armory

    When you work up a sweat at a show, you know you’ve had a good time. The Easter eve stop of the Spring Fling tour at Rochester’s Main Street Armory made sure the 6500 in attendance did just that. The package tour, headlined by Bowling Green, KY natives, Cage the Elephant along with Silversun Pickups, Foals and Bear Hands, may become one of those hallmark tours mentioned years from now. This show puts together four perfectly complementing artists, all proving the state of rock and roll is alive and quite well, thank you.

    https://youtu.be/uBeohY2O2PA

    Headliners Cage the Elephant had the sold out crowd eating out of their hands from the opening notes of “Cry Baby.” Lead singer Matt Schultz’s stage presence evokes the spirit of peak Iggy Pop or Mick Jagger. Shortly into the set, his red sport coat and shirt were shed and audience members were surfing the crowd. This is the band the young crowd was here to see and a band sure to make waves in the mainstream if its current live show is any indication.

    Like many great bands, Cage the Elephant is best heard in a live setting. Shultz commands your attention and the band is top notch. Particularly impressive was the interaction the audience had with the band during its performance. For an “indie” band, Cage the Elephant surely engages the masses. This was particularly exhibited during Cage’s “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” from their 2008 debut. Fans held their hands high in the air while singing along while others made attempts to surf the crowd.

    Spring Fling TourCage had tough acts to follow on this night. The earlier bands on the bill all delivered solid performances. Veteran Los Angelinos, Silversun Pickups could very well have been the headliners on this tour. The Pickups have been indie rock stalwarts since their debut Carnavas in 2006. Lead singer Brian Aubert and bassist Nikki Monninger have an onstage chemistry akin to an older brother and younger sister. Aubert introduced the new song “Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)” as Monninger’s first foray into lead vocals. She responded as being nervous putting herself out there but performed the song beautifully, winning over the audience. The Pickups set ended with a raucous version of their first charting song, “Lazy Eye.” Aubert’s vocal were hardly necessary as the crowd sang along word for word. It was a solid ending to a solid performance by one of indie rock’s most versatile bands.

    Foals performed early, and while still working to win over the American public, they made it known that they wouldn’t be an opening act for long in the states. These Brits performed a set reminiscent of Joy Division meets the Clash. Lead vocalist Yannis Philippakis has a manic stage presence that makes you take notice. Foals will be making their presence known to the American mainstream in short order.

    Brooklyn-based band Bear Hands opened the night. Out of the four bands on the bill, Bear Hands were the most indie of the bunch. Several times throughout the brief yet energetic set, one could imagine Interpol or the Smiths onstage. But Bear Hands absolutely proved their worth on this bill of indie heavyweights. We’ll be hearing more from this band in the future.

    The Spring Fling tour has wrapped but Cage the Elephant is continuing to tour. Upcoming in New York is a date with Portugal, the Man and Broncho at the Times Union Center in Albany on May 11. You can also catch them at Summerstge in Central Park on May 16 and 17.

  • Hearing Aide: The Heroic Enthusiasts “Memory Wheel”

    Rochester’s self-described “new wave influenced indie-pop” group The Heroic Enthusiasts have spun their new EP Memory Wheel and landed on a unique combination of musical genres.

    album

    Released in February 2016 on Jam Tom Music, the guitar-heavy tracks combined with lyrics delivered with a slight English accent put off a progressive rock vibe with a slight 1980’s tone. That’s no surprise as the group is led by James Tabbi and Tom Ferrara on vocals and guitar, both of whom are math majors and music lovers of Sicilian descent.

    Tabbi and Ferrara have weaved intricate guitar stylings and open-for-interpretation lyrics into a soundtrack reflective of the tangled melodies of track 2, Falling of the Drop, which runs the gamut of emotions from a sense of foreboding to a feeling of release, a reminder that through music we we truly are “all one.”

    “Suspended, connected, singularity of thought, the falling of the drop. In silent reflection, more powerful than fear, the falling of the drop.”

    The lyrics in track 4 Broken Liquid could be about anything from broken friendships, regrets, love or loss.

    “We say we’re friends but never can speak again. Leftover thoughts, discarded with broken plans. Isn’t this how it always ends”

    The Heroic Enthusiasts (3), photo credit Jason Wilder

    Professionals by day, Tabbi and Ferrara started playing together performing covers, but soon realized they wanted to write their own songs. They’ve since recorded eleven songs as The Heroic Enthusiasts since 2013, four of which are featured on their first EP Memory Wheel, also featuring Dexter Redic on bass and Mike James on drums. The album is worth taking a spin, especially for those who enjoy a methodical and progressive approach to music.

  • Metal Allegiance All-Star Lineup Jams In Rochester

    Friday night was the ultimate jam night at the Montage Music Hall in Rochester, NY. The all-star lineup known as Metal Allegiance stopped in town on April 1st to give metal fans a night to remember. The band is made up of the best of the best when it comes to metal musicians. Metal Allegiance features current and past members of bands such as Testament, Dream Theater, Death Angel, Guns N’ Roses and more.

    Taking over vocal duties for the evening were Chuck Billy of Testament and Mark Osegueda of Death Angel. Together these guys ripped through a setlist that consisted of both metal classics and original songs. The guitars for the evening were provided by Chuck Billy’s bandmate in Testament Alex Skolnick and Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, who was, until recently, a member of Guns N’ Roses. On drums for the evening was Mike Portnoy, who has been a member of Dream Theater and Avenged Sevenfold. Finishing off the lineup on bass was Mark Menghi, the founder of Metal Allegiance.

    Even though attendance at the Montage Music Hall was low, the band didn’t seem to care. Mark Osegueda made it clear throughout the night that these guys were out on the road to celebrate heavy metal music and have fun. The celebration of metal started with a cover of “Electric Eye” by Judas Priest featuring Osegueda on vocals. Next up were two Iron Maiden covers that the crowd instantly got into. Chuck Billy took the vocals for “Wrathchild” and it was incredible to hear him do more Iron Maiden. The cover of “Powerslave” featured on Testament’s last studio album was a personal favorite.

    DSC_2929

    The night wasn’t all covers for Metal Allegiance. In 2015, Metal Allegiance penned a deal with Nuclear Blast to release a full-length album of original material. The self-titled album featured a who’s-who from the metal scene, including David Ellefson of Megadeth, Gary Holt of Exodus and Slayer, Randy Blythe of Lamb of God and many others. The deluxe edition of the album included one cover of the Dio song “We Rock” that included Chris Jericho, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Alissa White-Gluz, Phil Demmel, Mike Portnoy, Alex Skolnick, Mark Osegueda and more. With the core of Metal Allegiance in Rochester on Saturday, the group ripped through originals “Can’t Kill The Devil”, “Dying Song” and “Pledge of Allegiance”. These three songs mixed right in with the covers and definitely showed these all-stars are capable of anything.

    Wrapping up the second half of the night were covers of Black Sabbath, Kiss, Van Halen, AC/DC, Motörhead and Metallica. While Skolnick took out his inner Eddie Van Halen, Bumblefoot took a break to watch him make Eddie’s work seem easy. Skolnick also rocked a Gibson SG similar to Tony Iommi’s for the Black Sabbath tunes.

    DSC_2617

    It’s unfortunate that Rochester couldn’t draw more fans for an awesome Friday night show. This Metal Allegiance all-star lineup probably won’t be back in the area anytime soon because of the difficulties in working around everyone’s schedules. For those who did make the show, they witnessed some of the absolute best cover the absolute best along with some awesome original tunes.

    To keep up to date with tour dates and new releases, check out the Metal Allegiance Facebook Page and Official Website.

    Setlist:

    Electric Eye (Vocals: Mark Osegueda)

    Ides of March

    Wrathchild (Vocals: Chuck Billy)

    Can’t Kill The Devil (Vocals: Chuck Billy)

    Fast As A Shark (Vocals: Mark Osegueda)

    Balls To The Wall (Vocals: Mark Osegueda)

    Heaven & Hell (Vocals: Mark Osegueda)

    Creeping Death (Vocals: Chuck Billy)

    Territory (Vocals: Chuck Billy)

    Dying Song (Vocals: Mark Osegueda and Chuck Billy)

    Pledge Of Allegiance (Vocals: Mark Osegueda)

    Lord Of This World (Vocals: Mark Osegueda)

    Into The Void (Vocals: Mark Osegueda)

    God Of Thunder (Vocals: Chuck Billy)

    Running With The Devil (Vocals: Mark Osegueda)

    Eruption

    Whole Lotta Rosie (Vocals: Mark Osegueda)

    Iron Fist (Vocals: Chuck Billy)

    Seek And Destroy (Vocals: Mark Osegueda and Chuck Billy)

    [FinalTilesGallery id=’723′]

  • Water Street Music Hall is Back

    Rochester’s Water Street Music Hall is back has been awarded a conditional entertainment license allowing the historical venue to re-open.

    Water Street, as previously reported, was not given a renewal for their entertainment license due to several previous incidents cited by the city. Without an entertainment license, a venue cannot provide live music or dance related events.

    The new license is active immediately and will be re-assessed on Jan. 31, 2017. The conditional nature of the license indicates the club must be extra careful to provide the appropriate amount of security and proper amenities for guests.

    Along with the license announcement, a slew of upcoming shows appear to be booked. Check out the unofficial itinerary below.

    We will continue to provide updates as this story develops, stay tuned, and welcome back Water Street Music Hall!

    WATER STREET SPRING SCHEDULE

    April 10 – Monuments
    April 14 – Mobb Deep
    April 19 – We Came as Romans / Oceano / Miss May I
    April 22 – Nekrogoblikon
    April 25 – Amon Amarth
    April 30 – Chris Webby
    May 3 – Soulfly / Suffocation / BATTLECROSS
    May 4 – OTEP / Lacy Sturm (from Flyleaf)
    May 6 – J. Schmallz
    May 14 – CHANZ
    May 28 – AURAS / MANDROID ECHOSTAR
    June 12 – The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (10 year anniversary tour)

  • Dope Announces Fan Funded Reunion Tour

    Add Dope to the list of bands making a reunion run in 2016. The band plans to tour to more than 45 cities across North America inside of two months. The Die Mother Fucker Die reunion tour will consist of the classic Dope lineup that includes Edsel Dope (vocals, guitar), Acey Slade (bass), Virus (lead guitar) and Racci Shay (drums).

    Dope DMFD Tour Poster

    Dope’s North American portion of the tour was successfully crowdfunded by fans who pre-ordered the band’s first-ever live album on dopereunion.com. The album will only be available through the band’s site and will not be available on online music stores like iTunes or retail stores anywhere. The band’s goal is to raise enough money to tour overseas, to places in the United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and Europe.

    With some dates still to be announced, Dope will come through New York state on Oct. 9 at the Montage Music Hall in Rochester, and Oct. 13 at Revolution Hall in Amityville.

    Cameras will be rolling as the band will record the entire tour for the first-ever Dope live DVD. The DVD will also include past backstage footage, unreleased music videos, and never before seen clips.

    Dope’s “Die Mother Fucker Die” tour dates:

    09-13 – DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA
    09-14 – Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR
    09-15 – The Rickshaw – Vancouver, BC
    09-16 – La Tropicana – Pasco, WA
    09-17 – Studio Seven – Seattle, WA
    09-18 – The Palomino – Spokane, WA
    09-19 – The Falls Venue – Idaho Falls, ID
    09-20 – Herman’s Hideaway – Denver, CO
    09-21 – Sunshine Studios – Colorado Springs, CO
    09-22 – Sokol Underground – Omaha, NE
    09-23 – The Ready Room – St Louis, MO
    09-24 – The Cabooze – Minneapolis, MN
    09-25 – Val Air Ballroom – Des Moines, IA
    09-26 – TBA
    09-27 – The Reverb – Waterloo, IA
    09-28 – Live On Main – Stevens Point, WI
    09-29 – Every Buddy’s – Chippewa Falls, WI
    09-30 – Music Factory – Battle Creek, MI
    10-01 – Machine Shop – Flint, MI
    10-02 – TBA
    10-03 – Realm – Toledo, OH
    10-04 – Concord Music Hall – Chicago, IL
    10-05 – The Agora – Cleveland, OH
    10-06 – Park Street Tavern – Columbus, OH
    10-07 – Chameleon Club – Lancaster, PA
    10-08 – Sherman Theater – Stroudsburg, PA
    10-09 – Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY
    10-10 – Sneaky Dees – Toronto, ON
    10-11 – Mavericks – Ottawa, ON
    10-12 – TBA
    10-13 – Revolution Hall – Amityville, NY
    10-14 – TBA
    10-15 – Fish Head Cantina – Baltimore, MD
    10-16 – TBA
    10-17 – Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
    10-18 – TBA
    10-19 – Dirty Dog Bar – Austin, TX
    10-20 – Scout Bar – Houston, TX
    10-21 – Trees – Dallas, TX
    10-22 – Aftershock – Merriam, KS
    10-23 – 89th St. Collective – Oklahoma City, OK
    10-24 – TBA
    10-25 – The Juggernaut – Gallup, NM
    10-26 – Club Red – Phoenix, AZ
    10-27 – Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA
    10-28 – Counts Vamp’d Las Vegas, NV
    10-29 – The Grove – Anaheim, CA
    10-30 – The Whiskey – W. Hollywood, CA