NYS Music 20​16

Category: Rochester

  • Interview: King Buffalo Discusses their Origin, Debut Album, and Aspirations

    Rochesterians tend to think of King Buffalo as a local band, however they are garnering attention on national and international levels. Their debut album, Orion, showed up on the Album of the Year lists for several rock critics. Earlier this month, Stickman Records released a European version of the album.

    King Buffalo
    Photo by Mike Turzanski

    The psychedelic rock band with a heavy blues bent delivers heady grooves laden with symbolic imagery. It’s the kind of music that is best heard live – but if not live, then on a turntable in a room with curtains drawn and incense burning. The sound is reminiscent of iconic classic rock bands like The Doors, Deep Purple, and Black Sabbath, but also has a modern edge that leads one to wonder if this is what Jim Morrison would be creating if he were alive today.

    King Buffalo is comprised of Rochester natives Sean McVay (Guitar & Lead Vocals), Dan Reynolds (Bass & Lights), Scott Donaldson (Drums & Vocals). NYS Music caught up with the band at their recording studio inside the historic Main Street Armory, to discuss the history of the band, their creative process, and future plans.

    Paula Cummings: How did King Buffalo come into being?

    Sean McVay: Dan and I played in a band together for a few years before King Buffalo, called Abandoned Buildings Club. Scott played in a band called Velvet Elvis. We were all in the same sort of psychedelic heavy blues rock circle and played a bunch of shows together. We were all part of the same scene. When our bands dissipated and fell apart, we started jamming, and we clicked really fast.

    Scott Donaldson: I approached those guys because Velvet Elvis broke up before Abandoned Buildings Club. I was booking all these dates and then Velvet Elvis broke up. So I was wondering if you guys were interested in learning some of the songs and filling in. Our fourth original member, Randall, was also the singer of Velvet Elvis. We started jamming and maybe the first or second practice we wrote a song.

    Dan Reynolds: Yeah, I don’t think we played any Velvet Elvis songs until a couple weeks in.

    SD: It was cool we were able to pound that (new) stuff out that quickly. So we started touring and pissing people off because half of them thought we were Velvet Elvis. We were like, “No, we go by King Buffalo now.”

    SM: We’d show up and there’d be a marquee that would say Velvet Elvis and we’d play two Velvet Elvis songs and the rest was King Buffalo stuff.

    DR: And we played one Abandoned Buildings Club song.

    SM: Yeah. We knew pretty early on that we had something cool going. That’s why we kept writing. And then we recorded them. We wanted to have something recorded so we could say, I know you came to see Velvet Elvis, but here. We just ended giving out 300 CD’s on that tour.

    PC: But they were people who were already into that kind of scene.

    SD: Yeah. The first tour we did as King Buffalo was with All Them Witches. They were relatively unknown then. Now they’re doing quite well. We were in an RV with those guys, having fun playing to some people some nights and just to each other some nights. It was a great experience.

    PC: You guys also did a split with Le Betre.

    SD: One dude from STB Records posted a picture of our demo, like “I’m jamming this, packing orders.” And I just emailed him, like “I heard you like our demo, we should do something together.” He said “I’d love to, it sounds amazing, but I’ve got so many projects this year, I can’t do it.” A week later, “You guys are doing a split with this band from Sweden called Le Betre.” STB’s got their own following. It’s a very collector’s-based, die-hard version with splatter vinyl. I mean, none of us had had anything that looked so pretty, so we were all about it.

    SM: The package that they put together – it’s all 180 gram vinyl, it’s super high quality. It has a super loyal following of buyers. I don’t know if they heard of us before they put out the split.

    SD: They have a lot of faith in his label, so they’re like “You’re putting it out? And it looks really pretty, and there’s only so many of these, I’m going to buy one of every version.”

    PC: Tell me about the decision to release Orion internationally.

    SD: To do anything international is pretty easy these days with the internet. You sign up for a website, you put your stuff up there and you pay a little extra to make sure it’s in all the different countries. Stickman Records had approached us after the record had already come out. They gave us an amazing deal because they really love the record and really want to be a part of it. We were obviously floored and extremely happy about it. And then they made a gatefold and 180 gram vinyl record in orange.

    DR: It’s easy to get international, and vinyl record sales right now are so almost bafflingly huge market all of a sudden. In England vinyl sales just passed digital downloads.

    SD: For us, selling internationally is expensive. The shipping is $22.50. I ship everything personally, so I know exactly how much that costs.

    DR: So that’s the only way we could get them out over there.

    PC: I read a lot of the reviews and descriptions of your music, and I’ve seen you guys play, but how do you define your sound?

    SM: We’re influenced by all the classic stuff from the 60’s and 70’s and grew up in a time when grunge was the thing.

    SD: It is what it is. It’s weird now that every genre has so many clear cut “this is what it is” instead of being just one general broad thing. Back in the day, heavy metal was so much more broad than it is now.

    SM: Post–rock pre-blues metal, like what does that even mean?

    DR: I want to know who’s making all these up.

    SD: Psychedelic stoner rock is the one we consistently hear, and heavy blues.

    King Buffalo
    Photo by Mike Turzanski

    PC: You record right here at The Armory?

    SD: This is the room. All the awesome reverb comes from Sean just opening the door and sticking the mic in the hallway. You just get this cavernous amount of sound. If you walk in the hallway and give a nice loud clap, you’ll hear it.

    PC: What is your songwriting process? Do you hammer out the instrumental and then add lyrics to it?

    SM: It’s definitely the very last thing. We just wrote a new song, and we’ve had the structure of it for a while. I wrote the lyrics to it on the way to the gig where we first played it. I knew what I wanted for the melody, but I didn’t have words. We basically jam all our stuff. We’ll have a basic riff or idea and then we’ll just play it for a while and flesh it out and whittle it into something that makes some sense. I’ll just kind of mumble over the top and just sing. Either I’ll come up with some words or Scott will write words and then in the process of reading his words, I’ll write something based off of that.

    SD: It was weird because when we first wrote Orion, we were trying to figure out a writing process and it took some time. We definitely got better at it now. Hopefully it goes a little quicker.

    SM: I had this big vision for Orion, and there’s definitely a story in it. It’s all one cohesive story. I very much wanted it to be that. So we can’t just write anything for the lyrics for the song – like the third song has to push the story forward.

    SD: I think this time it might be more polished, the process.

    SM: Yeah, I’m still trying to figure out the story.

    SD: Sean has a habit of sometimes overthinking things.

    PC: But it’s easier if you have a concept in mind going in. A lot of the lyrics on Orion are references to nature, sci-fi and mythology.

    SM: I was trying to use a lot of psychedelic metaphors and imagery to bring it all together.

    SD: It’s a little ambiguous. That’s a good thing because then everybody can put their own interpretation upon it. If you tell somebody, “This is what to think when you’re listening to this,” it’s harder to make a connection.

    SM: People come up and tell me what they think a song is about, tell me what they think the album is about.

    SD: I was talking with Parks about this – Parks is the singer of All Them Witches – he’s like “The best is when someone is like ‘Dude, me and my lady have a lot of sex to your album.’”

    SM: I just want to be the soundtrack to people’s lovemaking.

    SD: It would be a weird sight if we were playing a show and it just kind of broke out.

    SM: I’d turn around and be like, “Guys, it’s working. I think I found the chord progression.”

    King Buffalo released the recording Live at Wicked Squid Studios on December 26. They will be touring in 2017, and have just begun composing songs for a second album.

    Orion is available in multiple formats through King Buffalo’s website. The European version is available through Stickman Records.

  • Tiny Moving Parts and Microwave Deliver Powerful Performances

    2016 has been a good year for alternative rock bands Tiny Moving Parts and Microwave. They each released albums that pushed the boundaries of previous work as far as complexity of music and depth of lyrical meaning. However, listening to the recordings from the studio did little to prepare me for the experience of seeing them perform live last weekend at Harmony House in Rochester.

    The supporting act was A Will Away, an alternative rock band from Connecticut. They warmed up the crowd with songs from their EP’s, but also treated the audience to a song from their forthcoming full-length album. ‘Gravity’ is a melodic song with a catchy hook. It’s sure to be a sing-along crowd favorite when they’re touring with Moose Blood in a couple months. Microwave - P. Cummings 2

    Next up on the bill was Microwave. This foursome from Georgia released their sophomore album “Much Love” earlier this year, a follow up to 2014’s “Stovall.” The audience sang along to songs about losing faith, unrequited love, and disillusionment. The stories in the songs are intensely personal, but strike a chord within those who are also searching for meaning and purpose in the modern age. Heavy on guitar and bass, the music contains a hint of southern rock. The setlist included “Something Right” and “Stovall” off their debut album, as well as songs from the new album, like “Drown” and “Lighterless.” The performance led up to a gut-wrenching climax. On the final song, “Vomit,” the drummer went ballistic and the other band members jumped and spun around on stage as lead singer Nathan Hardy screamed, “There’s no such thing as love. We just feel vulnerable without a God, without a crutch or anything else to lean on. There’s nowhere else, nobody else, nothing.”

    Tiny Moving Parts - P. Cummings 2

    The audience barely had time to catch their breath before Tiny Moving Parts came up on stage. The bassist, Matthew Chevalier, entered wearing a winter hat bearing the word “Minnesota” (as a reminder to the audience of the band’s origin? A piece of home for the road? Or a little of both?). His brother, Billy, took a spot behind the drums, and their cousin Dylan Mattheisen grabbed his guitar and dove right into singing “Sundress.” They played with precise coordination that is rare to find in young musicians, but it makes sense because they have been making music together since they were in junior high.

    They went seamlessly from one song to the next, never letting up on the intensity. The set contained more than a dozen songs from their catalog of three albums and early recordings, including the songs “Happy Birthday,”  “Breathe Deep,” “Vacation Bible School,” “Minnow,” and “Always Focused.” The positive energy was contagious, and a mosh pit opened up in the center of the room. When they got to “Common Cold,” Nathan Hardy came back on stage to accompany on vocals. The set ended as abruptly as it began, leaving the audience in an awe-stricken daze.

    The performers from all three bands hung around to sign autographs and talk with fans. An impressive array of merchandise was available, including apparel, CD’s and vinyl albums, and novelty items like patches, stickers, and pins. Tiny Moving Parts was also selling some of their early work on collectible 7″ vinyl and cassette.

    Tiny Moving Parts will be heading to Europe and Mexico in the new year. A Will Away will be touring the US with Moose Blood, Trophy Eyes, and Boston Manor in February and March. Microwave is also booking shows into 2017.

    Tiny Moving Parts - P. Cummings 1

  • Five Finger Death Punch and Shinedown Rock Blue Cross Arena

    Nothing goes better with the holidays than a kick-ass rock show. Just days before families gathered to have Thanksgiving dinner, rock fans in Rochester, had the opportunity to go see one of the best concerts Blue Cross Arena has had in quite some time. On Tuesday, Nov. 22nd, Rochester welcomed Five Finger Death Punch and Shinedown alongside support acts Sixx:A.M., and As Lions. The entire night consisted of great music alongside magnificent production.

    FFDPSixxAMShinedownAsLionsMarkMcGauley-8424

    The night started early just after 6 PM with opening band As Lions. While the area was still filling in, As Lions had the task of getting this crowd ready for a long night of headbanging. The audience may have not been familiar with the band, but that’s probably due to the fact that the group just came together in 2015. As Lions is lead by vocalist Austin Dickinson. If the last name rings a bell, it’s because you’re thinking of Dickinson’s father Bruce, lead singer of Iron Maiden. The rest of the band is made up of members of Dickinson’s past metalcore group, Rise to Remain, which disbanded with the creation of As Lions.

    The 5-piece band played like they were playing in front of a sold out arena. The band has that radio-rock sound that could be found scanning the car radio. The band looked very comfortable on stage which isn’t common for an opening band. Their confidence should help carry them forward and land them tour gigs for many years to come. For anyone looking for a fresh new band, check out As Lions. Their debut album drops on January 20.

    The next band of the evening was Sixx:A.M., which features Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe. Joining Sixx in Sixx:A.M. is vocalist James Michael, guitarist DJ Ashba and drummer Dustin Steinke. Sixx’s band has been around since 2007, with the release of The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack, but has always saw the back burner due to Sixx’s commitment with Crüe and Ashba’s work with Guns N’ Roses. Now that everyone is completely focused on Sixx:A.M. the band has their foot pressed against the gas pedal. Just this year, the band has released a double album which features Prayers for the Damned, Vol. 1 and Prayers for the Blessed, Vol. 2. The second of the two albums was released just days before Rochester’s show at Blue Cross Arena.

    FFDPSixxAMShinedownAsLionsMarkMcGauley-8835

    Now with five albums of material, the band has plenty to pick from for a setlist.  The set opened with “This Is Gonna Hurt,” which was the title track of their second album. The second song they played was “Rise,” which has been all over the radio since its single release. The rest of the set consisted of songs mainly from Prayers for the Damned, Vol. 1. It’s remarkable to see how much fun this band has on stage. The joy and happiness radiates from the band into the audience unlike any other band. Fans sing along with every song and have smiles on their faces from ear to ear.

    The set ended with “Life Is Beautiful,” which was off of the debut album The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack. Everyone in the audience surely knew this song and loved it. Sixx:A.M. surely had no troubles opening for Five Finger Death Punch. The heavy metal fans of Rochester welcomed Sixx and his band with open arms. The only thing that could have made the show better would have been a longer setlist. Hopefully once this tour wraps up, fans will have the chance to see a headlining tour around the country.

    Next up for the evening was hard-rock veterans, Shinedown. Opening for Five Finger Death Punch, it was a mystery to see how they would do with the crowd. Questions were answered with the opening track of “Adrenaline.” Coming out strong with one of their heaviest songs from their album Amaryllis, Shinedown was prepared to blow the roof off of the arena. The statement was solidified with the next two songs, “Fly From the Inside” and “Diamond Eyes.” The crowd was going nuts and the band was loving it.

    FFDPSixxAMShinedownAsLionsMarkMcGauley-8773

    Singer, Brent Smith, had Blue Cross Arena at his fingertips and could get the crowd to do anything. On top of that, the production that Shinedown had with them was ridiculous. The last few tours Shinedown has brought out the pyro, but nothing like this tour. Comparing Shinedown’s stage show to the legendary KISS, who just played at Blue Cross Arena just a few months ago, it was night and day. Shinedown did not leave anything at home this tour. The band did slow things down a bit with songs like “How Did You Love” and “State of My Head,” which are off of the bands latest album Threat to Survival.

    The crowd got to be up close and personal with singer Smith while he went out into the crowd to sing from the back of the floor. That wasn’t the only time Brent went out there. During their last song, “Sound of Madness,” Smith ended up at the soundboard platform, surrounded by fireworks. As the song ended, Smith ran back to the stage to say thank you and goodnight to the crowd in Rochester. This was certainly a performance that won’t be forgotten by anyone that was there.

    Things cooled down after Shinedown left the stage and got the crowd ready for the night’s headliner, Five Finger Death Punch. The band came out with their popular opening track, “Lift Me Up.” This is another band that has a ton of material now to make a setlist from, so it’s always exciting to see what the band will do each tour. The night was pretty balanced with tracks from American Capitalist, Got Your Six, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Vol. 1+2 and The Way of the Fist. The crowd interaction with Ivan Moody is always fantastic. At the beginning of the show, Moody was inviting fans to watch on stage, signing autographs and waving hello to whoever he could. While Moody was saying hello through his microphone, bassist Chris Kael and guitarists Zoltan Bathory and Jason Hook were throwing guitar picks at whoever they could.

    FFDPSixxAMShinedownAsLionsMarkMcGauley-9686

    Five Finger Death Punch is by far one of the most fan friendly bands out there. Halfway through their show, a fan was spotted with a sign that asked about playing guitar with them on stage for the song “Under and Over It.” Even though it wasn’t the song they were about to play, Moody invited the kid on stage. Hook gave the fan his guitar and Moody told him to play the intro to the song. The fan, Bathory and drummer Jeremy Spencer did a quick instrumental jam of the song and the kid nailed it. He was walking around stage like an absolute boss and got an arena full of cheers.

    The band also slowed things down like Shinedown, with a few acoustic songs like “Wrong Side of Heaven” and “Remember Everything.” The night ended with “Under and Over It” and the encore anthem “The Bleeding.” This was once again another stellar show from Five Finger Death Punch, who seem to never take a break from the road and recording. Speaking of recording, at the show, Moody announced to the crowd that their new album was completed. Not to be confused with last year’s Got Your Six, Five Finger Death Punch is ready to drop another album. For fans, this means to be on the lookout for new singles, an album release date and more tour dates!

    [ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”239″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_slideshow” gallery_width=”840″ gallery_height=”600″ cycle_effect=”fade” cycle_interval=”3″ show_thumbnail_link=”1″ thumbnail_link_text=”[Show picture list]” ngg_triggers_display=”never” order_by=”pid” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

  • The Lake Brothers Retrofit Rochester with Old School Rock n Roll

    The Flower City music scene has continued to blossom over the past few years, displaying its symphonic diversity as a focal point of Rochester’s cultural identity. New venues have taken root as the city continually evolves and locals are finding more ways to fall in love with this mid-sized but mighty Finger Lakes of NY destination. In the midst of this inspiring evolution, modern nostalgia weaves its own thread into this rich cultural tapestry in the form of The Lake Brothers heralding retro rock ‘n’ roll tinted with a punk rock kick.

    the-lake-brothers-rochester-20162

    Trevor (26), Austin (24) and Brendan Lake (19) grew up on a 30 acre farm in Hilton, NY where they forged a strong sense of camaraderie cultivated from a lack of proximity to other kids in the neighborhood. Their father, a jazz drummer, always kept drums in the house, though never pressured his sons into music. Nevertheless, playing music became a main hobby for the Lake brothers, and after years of marching band, jazz band and concert band throughout school, they’re taking their skills to the hipster bars and grungy basements of Rochester and making waves.

    the-lake-brothers-rochester-20164

    Between the three brothers, there are three bands in which they each lend their skill in varying combinations. The Televisionaries (TV’s), a largely instrumental surf/rockabilly trio features Trevor (guitar/vocals) and Austin (drums). Punk rock ‘n’ roll group, The Temptators, features Austin (guitar/vocals) and Brendan (bass/vocals) along with three other band mates. Finally, the ten-piece explosive, high energy rock ‘n’ roll drive in Aweful Kanawful & His Rubber Husband’s Band is manned with Austin (vocals) and Trevor (guitar). And yes, Austin plays in all three bands. I met up with them at Trevor’s apartment to learn more about their collective contributions to the Rochester music scene, how they got started and where they’re headed.

    Ally Dean: I was in Rochester a couple weekends ago and saw Aweful Kanawful & His Rubber Husband’s Band at Skylark on Friday, then saw The Temptators at a basement show on Windsor Street Saturday. I thought it was really interesting that you’re all brothers, are all musically talented and collaborate together on your different projects.

    Austin Lake: We probably could have ended up as mechanics together. Playing music just came after all your other extracurricular things in school. After building ramps and scaring the shit out of each other. We had a fake wrestling ring for a while. That could have tooken up. So music is just kinda the only thing that’s working right now. Later in life you could see the three bandits ready to go fight crime in the ring. It could happen.

    AD: Do the three of you practice together or jam?

    Brendan Lake: Probably been a year since we’ve done that.

    AL: The world would probably end if we did that.

    AD: Why?

    AL: We just don’t know what would happen.

    Trevor Lake: The stars could align. We could make some serious music.

    AD: Do you guys get along pretty well? Do you think it would be a good collaboration?

    BL: Oh yeah. I think it would be too easy.

    TL: We are all song writers. In each band we’re each the main songwriter except for The Temptators where Austin and Brendan each write some, in the TV’s I write all the songs and in Aweful Kanawful Austin writes all the songs. We’re each the head chef in the kitchen, so to have three head chefs in one kitchen, I dunno what would happen.

    AL: Too many cooks! Although I don’t think any of us are too strict in our ideas that it wouldn’t work.

    TL: We would need more time. We’d have to quit every other band.

    AL: We could take a year, write a record. (half jokingly) Maybe that’s what we’ll do now.

    TL: There’s a lot of music already. Brendan also plays drums in a group called Gun Trouble.

    BL: I don’t write any of that music though.

    TL: We each have our own solo projects. Austin has two tapes he’s recorded which turned into Aweful Kanawful & His Rubber Husband’s Band.

    BL: I’ve been trying to put out a solo tape for three years and I’m finally at a point where I’ve got an album I’m happy with so I’ll probably put it out this winter. Just stuff I recorded in my room at my house.

    TL: And I did a solo tape as well that was recently released.

    AD: I have to ask: How did you come up with the name Aweful Kanawful & His Rubber Husband’s Band?

    AL: Dude I don’t know, that’s a good one. I like that name. I think about changing it a lot too.

    AD: Why?

    AL: Because he’s not my character, he’s an actual character. There’s tons of Aweful Kanawfuls out there. And the Rubber Husband’s part, you know what a rubber husband is right?

    AD: Should I?

    AL: Yeah! It’s probably not what you think it is.

    AD: The first thing I picture is a blow up sex doll.

    AL/TL: (pensive) Okay…

    TL: It’s actually the most innocent thing you could imagine.

    AL: They’re the little things that help you open jars. We’ve used em. They come in handy for anyone.

    AD: You could write jingles for them!

    AL: We might ruin the product forever!

    AD: What are each of your musical influences? Name the first thing that comes to mind.

    BL: Beach Boys.

    AL: Queen.

    TL: 1950’s rock ‘n’ roll, Sun Records, Elvis, Golden Age of rock ‘n’ roll, Phil Spector.

    BL: I remember Modest Mouse being the first band I really loved in middle school.

    AL: Four Tops, Motown. Motown should be number one, really. That was definitely the first thing I got into. And Buddy Holly, early rock ‘n’ roll, the goofballs of the 50’s. Pretty much everything. It’s hard to weed out anything. Tons of pop punk. That was definitely what got me into rock ‘n’ roll.

    AD: So what do you guys do when you’re not playing music?

    TL: Thinking about it. Obsessing over it.

    BL: I wait tables at a vegan restaurant, The Red Fern, on Park Ave. Been working there three years and started waiting tables seven months ago. I like it, it’s easy and it’s a nice area.

    AL: (proudly states) I just quit my job. I screen printed shirts with a good friend of mine for five years at Galaxy Graphics and now I’m goin’ to probably wash dishes somewhere at an undetermined place. Or rock ‘n’ roll for the rest of my life. Who knows!

    TL: And I am a full time barber. It was my mom’s recommendation, but thinking back, my friends would come over and I’d give em hair cuts.

    AL: Bowl cuts.

    TL: A lot of bowl cuts. There’s an early picture of me, probably 12 years old cutting Brendan’s hair in the backyard and I saw that and thought it all makes sense. My mom one day said “Hey you’re not going to college, why don’t you go to hair school and be a barber. So I gave it a try and it worked out. Now I do that and make a living and I can buy a car somehow, which blows my mind.

    AD: Is it the red one parked out front?

    TL: Yeah it’s a ’65 Thunderbird. It’s ready to go away pretty soon. As soon as the snow hits. I can’t drive it in the winter time. The salt will destroy it.

    AD: So what do you do without it? Do you have another car?

    TL: Nope I bought the car at the beginning of the summer and up until then I didn’t have a car for about two years so I just walk.

    BL: I was sixteen when I bought my motorcycle. It sounds bad ass but I dunno what I was thinking.

    AL: I mean, you dropped out of school at sixteen years old, bought a motorcycle, moved to the city. And our parents were flipping out like “What have we done!”

    BL: It wouldn’t have happened that way unless I was the third child. Trevor was definitely the guinea pig for our parents.

    TL: I moved out pretty early.

    BL: By the time it was me they were like “Just do what you’re gonna do,” so I had way more leniency than they did.

    AD: Are your parents supportive of your musical endeavors?

    TL: Totally. They love it.

    BL: They come to shows every now and then.

    AD: Do they dance?

    BL: No. They seem like they genuinely like it though. Hopefully it gives them something.

    AL: Yeah we’re gonna make em a ton of money someday. I’d like to have my mom see us on TV someday. Actually, Aweful Kanawful did have its first show ever on the news. We played Good Day Rochester. It might be gone now. It should be gone. It wasn’t very good but it was sweet. It was a lot of fun. Getting ten people up that early was a miracle.

    AD: So what should we expect in the near future from your respective bands?

    BL: Music that’s gonna blow your mind.

    TL: Temptators just came out with a new 45. TV’s have half of a record out on CD and the other half will be recorded in a month and we’ll put it together and give it an official release.

    AD: Nice. Any upcoming shows?

    BL: The Temptators and Gun Trouble are playing in Brooklyn on December 11th so that should be really fun. As far as shows in Rochester I don’t think there’s anything planned yet.

    AL: Two Kanawful tapes with about twenty songs are coming soon. Probably January.

    BL: We’ve all got big plans, that’s for sure.

    AD: So where do you guys see yourselves in five years?

    BL: Hopefully living somewhere other than Rochester

    AD: Where would be ideal for you?

    BL: Since I was a little kid I always dreamed of moving to California and I think Austin has too.

    AL: It’s not that we want to make a lot of money and bang a lot of chicks, we just want the opportunity to.

    AD: Sometimes just having the option can put your mind at ease.

    TL: That’s the spice of life, having the option. I have never really wanted to move. I like staying here for now. In the future hopefully we’ll be playing on the road more often.

    AL: I think our music will probably do better overseas if it gets out there.

    TL: They say older style rock ‘n’ roll does really well in Mexico and Spain. Everyone has always worshiped American rock ‘n’ roll.

    AL: And now America doesn’t give a shit about rock ‘n’ roll.

    BL: I think if your music is genuine enough then it will mean something to everybody.

    AL: It would be nice to entertain the current generation but provide something that will last a while. It’s gone sort of back in time now where artists release a single and get it out there as fast as possible. It sort of exonerates the whole idea of putting out a record that will stand through time and not just be good right now. It’s hard because who doesn’t want to put stuff out now and be in on the action.

    TL: Everyone can record music themselves now on their computer or cell phone. Puts everyone on the same level.

    AD: It is a gift and a curse because it’s a very saturated market but it’s also easier for people to get their stuff out there so it’s a matter of being on top of it and reaching your audience. So how do you all branch out to widen your audience?

    AL: I’m horrible at it.

    TL: We’re trying to get better at it. For a while we didn’t do any social media because we were against it. But after a while you realize if you want to keep up with the Jones’ and book shows in NYC you have to have a social media presence. If people can’t find anything about you online they’re not gonna book you. So you have to play the game.

    AD: Any final comments?

    BL: As far as us being brothers goes, we’re always gonna stick together. We’ll always be making music and we’ll always be friends. We have a really strong connection. We were never bored as kids and when we’re together now it’s never boring. Gotta stick with your pack.

    AD: One last but very important question: What’s your spirit animal?

    AL: Keith Richards.

    BL: A turtle.

    TL: Mine is a lizard. It was given to me.

    AL: Someone told me mine was Christopher Robin from Winnie the Pooh. He’s the leader of all the animals.

    BL: It’s pronounced Christopher Walken. (does impression) “Don’t get on my back about crumbs.”

    AL: My spirit animal is a bag of crumbs.

  • RoarShark Celebrate Release of Debut Album

    Surf Rock has ridden the ebbs and flows of popularity over the decades, and the tradition is kept alive by enthusiasts of the genre, such as the members of RoarShark. This band hails from Rochester, a location which inspired the album title “…It Came From Lake Ontario.” The band celebrated the album’s release with fans at the Backroom Lounge at Record Archive on November 13.

    roarsharkSurf Rock primarily consists of instrumental music played on electric guitars with rapid alternate picking and lots of reverb, not to be confused with pop music featuring lyrics about surfing. You won’t hear any Beach Boys tunes at a RoarShark show, but you will hear music familiar from its use in television and movies, like “Misrilou” by Dick Dale and the Del Tones and “Apache” by The Shadows.

    The quartet played covers of those songs, as well as original songs which are featured on the album. Inspired by the the greats, the songs written by RoarShark blend seamlessly with the classics. “Azo Go Baja” could feasibly be dubbed into a 60’s beach movie. “Cattle-esque” was nestled between covers of similarly bovine-themed cowboy songs.  “Faulty Equipmonk” has more of a sci-fi feel, with the use of a theramin (played by guest performer H. Elizabeth Alcott of Infrared Radiation Orchestra).

    Attendees were swept away by the infectious grooves. This all-ages show drew in people who grew up during the birth of Surf Rock, toddlers who galloped around the venue, and everyone in-between. Girls in floral dresses danced in a group. Guys in Hawaiian shirts hung out by the bar. There were even a smattering of teenage punk rockers – which isn’t surprising, because the punk and metal genres were heavily influenced by surf rock.

    Together since 2010, RoarShark is Brian Gemme and Josh Reiner on guitars, Neil Bourque on bass, and Gary Yanni on drums.  “…It Came From Lake Ontario” can be found at Record Archive or ordered through CDBaby.

    Set List: Crabs in the Harem, Out of Limits, Faulty Equipmonk, Sadie Hawkins Atom Bomb, Apache, Cattle-esque, Azo Go Baja, Surfin’ Cow, La Femme Electrique, Spy Surfer, Dirk Diggler’s on the Prowl, High Pressure Cutoff, Taco Wagon, Secret Agent Man, White Rabbit, Misrilou, Percolator, Playa de los Muertos, Kids in the Hall

  • Hearing Aide: Haewa “There Is No History”

    haewa_coverHaewa’s, There Is No History, offers a wide assortment of songs, encompassing a range of 90s grunge and jam band influences. Matching its meditating psychedelic album cover, Haewa sets forth a heavier side in the realm of thoughtful soundscape.

    An instantly likeable track is “Born Into the Morning Light,” which has an excellent convergence of drum and slide guitar, both of which work off of each other in a format that seems fitting as what could be part of a film soundtrack. Coming in at the #4 slot on the album this song is a track that utilizes multiple and interlocking guitar riffs that give the song longevity in repeated listens. The lyrics, “I was born in the morning light,” allot this song a hopeful outlook amidst its more serious style. Although somewhat of the black sheep song on the EP, this one definitely deserves attention as a great listen.

    “Chem Division” is a track off the EP that retains much more of the style that Haewa is known for based off of this EP. It’s a heavier jam that has a prominence of layered and unique guitar chords. Similarly related is the Black Keys/Led Zeppelin riffing of “Innovation at the Edge of Time.” This gives great credit to Haewa’s ability to likely be an excellent live show band. “No Ocean” is another fitting jam and be sure to listen to the fluttering guitar work found towards the end of the song.

    Last but not least, “Swamping,” is a key track off the EP, which displays the use of harmonica, feeding into the 90s grunge feel overall. Ultimately, Haewa is a highly guitar driven band that has a great deal of potential going forward with their future EPs, which hopefully come out frequently.

    Key Tracks: Born Into the Morning Light  Swampin’ Chem-de-Vision

    Follow Haewa on Facebook

    <a href=”http://haewamusic.bandcamp.com/album/there-is-no-history”>There Is No History by Haewa</a>

  • Social Repose Performance in Rochester before Starting Month-Long Tour

    Social Repose made a stop in Rochester on November 2nd as he was making his way to Toronto to join some friends for a month-long tour. The artist/musician with a penchant for goth performed an hour-long electronic pop set on the stage of the historic Harmony House Ballroom.

    Social ReposeAs we entered the hall, we spotted Social Repose signing autographs and taking pictures with fans between opening acts. He wore his trademark feathered headdress and wings – all black, of course. It’s a look instantly recognized by anyone who has seen his YouTube Channel, which has attracted nearly three quarters of a million subscribers. Over the past five years, he has used YouTube to post hundreds of videos featuring original songs, a cappella covers, comedic skits, and performance art.

    In fact, watching him and his crew set up the stage, I felt like I was witnessing a live art installation. Multiple light towers stood behind a DJ Booth featuring a dream-catcher logo. He launched the evening with “I Can’t Sleep,” an ode to insomnia with digital tick-tock beat. A light show was timed to the rhythms, and the back-lighting emphasized the silhouette of Social Repose’s figure in full regalia as he dominated the stage.

    The local scene turned out, wearing T-shirts from alternative bands and beanie hats over vibrant hair colors. We jumped, clapped and sang along. At one point, when Social Repose thought the crowd was a little too cheerful for the mood of a particular song, he brought us down by reminding everyone that My Chemical Romance has broken up and will never re-unite.

    Social ReposeHe sang a handful of fan favorites, and even threw in a cover of a Twenty-One Pilots song. The highlight of the evening was “Filthy Pride,” the new single released on Halloween, just three days prior to the show. A warped music-box melody augments the heart-wrenching lyrics: “I should’ve known a little better / Good things never last forever / My heart in repose / I need you the most.” Winding things down, Social Repose pulled out a ukulele for “If You’re Thinking of Leaving, You Should.” This emo ballad is about setting a loved one free while yearning for her return.

    The sentiment echoed as we all parted at the end of the evening, hoping that Social Repose will make his way back to our city again someday.

    Social Repose is the stage persona of Richie Giese, a 24-year old who resides in the vicinity of Washington, DC. He can be found on multiple social media platforms, including YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. His music is available for purchase through iTunes and Google Play.

    The day after this performance, he joined fellow musicians Say We Can Fly and Johnnie Guilbert for the Something Before Christmas Tour. Shows are listed as open to all ages.

    Something Before Christmas Tour dates:
    November 3 Toronto, ON Hard Luck Bar
    November 4 Philadelphia, PA Voltage Lounge
    November 5 Cambridge, MA Middle East Downstairs
    November 6 New York, NY Webster Hall
    November 7 Kittanning, PA Radioactive Events Center
    November 8 Lakewood, OH The Foundry Concert Club
    November 9 Pontiac, MI The Pike Room at Crofoot Ballroom
    November 10 Columbus, OH Park Street Saloon
    November 11 Chicago, IL Reggies Rock Saloon
    November 12 Burnsville, MN The Garage
    November 13 Saint Louis, MO Fubar
    November 15 Denver, CO Moon Room @ Summit Music Hall
    November 16 Salt Lake City, UT Billboard – live
    November 18 Orangevale, CA The Boardwalk
    November 19 Van Nuys, CA White Oak Music
    November 20 Anaheim, CA Chain Reaction
    November 22 Mesa, AZ Nile Theatre
    November 23 Albuquerque, NM Blu Phoenix
    November 25 San Antonio, TX Korova
    November 26 Fort Worth, TX Tomcats
    November 27 Houston, TX Scout Bar
    November 29 Orlando, FL Backbooth
    November 30 Saint Petersburg, FL Local 662
    December 1 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
    December 2 Nashville, TN Rocketown
    December 3 Greensboro, NC Arizona Pete’s
    December 4 Freehold, NJ GameChanger World

  • Just the Tip is Night 1 of the 3 Day Halloween Indoor Fest at Anthology

    Just the Tip is the start of a three day Halloween event at Anthology in Rochester, NY. Kicking off on Thursday, October 27, this ALL AGES show, featuring regional bands and headliners each night for a sensational music experience.

    On Thursday, Level 7, Joe Driscoll, Funknut and Subsoil perform sets throughout the night, performing from 8:30 PM until 2 AM. Save money by purchasing the three-night ‘megaticket’ and enjoy PBR specials at Just the Tip.

    Friday, October 28 features Thunder Body, Danielle Ponder and the Tomorrow People, with Saturday night performances from The Blind Owl Band, The Honey Smugglers, and Mulberry Soul. Friday tickets are $20 and Saturday tickets are $16.

    Thursday schedule:

    Doors: 8:00 PM
    Level 7: 8:30 PM to 9:00 PM
    Joe Driscoll: 9:00 PM to 9:30 PM
    Funknut: 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM
    Joe Driscoll: 11:00 PM to 11:30 PM
    Subsoil: 11:30 PM to 1:00 AM
    Joe Driscoll: 1:00 AM – 1:30 AM
    Level 7: 1:30 AM to 2:00 AM

    Known for their high-energy live shows, Subsoil is lyric-driven live Hip-Hop music. Subsoil’s performance wields a keen edge of razor-sharp lyricism, with equal emphasis on tight grooves and furious improvisations within a funky dance aesthetic.

    Funknut formed in 2006 when Tony Gallicchio and Tristan Greene started playing together as a key and drum duo. Since then, Funknut has expanded and has been blessed to play with a rotating cast of talented musicians with Tristan and Tony as the core. In 2009, Sean McLay became a permanent member of the band holding down the low end and making things even funkier than before. In 2010, good friend Paul McArdle joined in on the guitar. Fans of improvisation, each Funknut show is different from the next.

    Joe Driscoll was born in Syracuse, New York. He performs solo, and uses recorded loops of his own beatboxing and live looping using a sampler to fuse hip-hop, reggae, soul, folk and roots rock. During 2007 and 2008, Driscoll has toured with Dirty Pretty Things, Regina Spektor, Coldcut, and The Sugar Hill Gang at events in the US and Europe.

    Level 7 (Skribe & DJ 2way) are a hip-hop duo who have been blessed to share the stage with bands such as Mosaic Foundation, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Thunderbody, Subsoil, Sophistafunk, Danielle Ponder and TheTomorrow People, and Cha Cha & the Ndor Band.

  • Arc Iris Transforms Abilene

    Abilene Bar and Lounge is a modest neighborhood bar built into an old house on an out of the way street in downtown Rochester. Generally it plays host to roots Americana acts, honest tunes sung and strummed on good old fashion acoustic stringed instruments. But Tuesday night, Arc Iris descended onto the stage and transformed the joint into their own little Moon Saloon.

    A complete DIY stage set, composed of multiple gelled floor can lights and strings of LED lights, including one hanging off the back wall writing their name, helped to set the scene. Lead singer Jocie Adams came dressed in a skin-tight shiny gold one piece, with a quasi-cape neckpiece and white tasseled ankles. She would add wings to the ensemble midway through the show, with a dramatic entrance and full on display during “Kaleidoscope,” like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. However, a small stuffed doll Max Rebo sitting on Zach Tenorio-Miller’s keyboard may have been the most appropriate prop of them all.

    Arc Iris was like a spaceship: Adams as the captain, Tenorio-Miller at the controls and drummer Ray Belli providing the driving power behind the ship as the engine. With the opening notes of “Saturation Brain,” off of their spectacular 2016 release Moon Saloon, the audience was pulled from the Earth’s gravity, floating along attached to lifelines. Each song was a journey, traveling from point to point. They could lull you into a beautiful dreamscape before jolting with sudden acceleration in a surprising new direction, such as on “Paint With the Sun.” Arc Iris defies convention at every turn.

    Adams commanded attention with her incredible vocal range, navigating complex narrative song structures. Singing through two mics, run through different effects pedals and loops, one voice could be many, human voice could be alien. Tenorio-Miller kept busy, constantly pounding out bass lines with his left hand while maintaining much of the melodies that were represented by horns, strings and more on the album. He provided extra boosts to the ships rockets with some downright brilliant keys work, reminiscent of greats like George Duke and Herbie Hancock. Loops, samples, backing vocals and percussion just added to his arsenal.

    Last month the band played a special set in Burlington. VT where they recreated Joni Mitchell’s Blue in it’s entirety. Mixed in with the set heavy on Moon Saloon material, they treated Rochester to a trio of their Blue re-workings, playing through their versions of “Last Time I Saw Richard,” “River” and “Blue,” each flown out to outer space and back, jumbled and reconfigured. sounding in the end almost like new Arc Iris originals. One foot in the past, one foot firmly planted in the future.

    [embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TCcJ5DpNdQ[/embedyt]

    It’s not often a band can completely consume and redefine the stage on which they play. With some simple stage design, but mostly through their transformative music, Arc Iris successfully took Abilene on a short but memorable journey up and away from what had just been a regular old Tuesday in Rochester, NY.

  • Project/Object Kicks-Off Northeastern Tour

    New Jersey-based Frank Zappa tribute band Project/Object will be touring the Northeast United States through October 23rd with stops at Mavericks  in Ontario, Canada on Friday, October 7; The Garrison in Ontario, Canada on Saturday, October 8; at The Tralf in Buffalo, New York on Sunday, October 9 and at Lovin’ Cup in Rochester, New York on Monday, October 10.

    Founded in 1989 by guitarist/vocalist André Cholmondeley, Project/Object has gone through numerous lineup changes since its inception, hosting more Zappa alumni than anyone other than Zappa himself. Project/Object welcomes back alumni vocalist/guitarist Ike Willis and synthesizer legend Don Preston for a tour  “Celebrating 50 years of The Music Of Frank Zappa” featuring material both men recorded with The Mothers Of Invention, The Frank Zappa band, and much more!

    NYSMusic’s Amy Cavalier recently caught up with Cholmondeley about the upcoming tour and what it’s like being in the longest-running Zappa alumni tribute band in the world!

    NYS Music: Tell me the story behind Project Object’s inception? What was the vision for the project?

    André Cholmondeley: My vision for the project was simply to turn people onto music that was very influential and important to me.

    Around 1989 I started having a Frank Zappa birthday party at my apartment. We would listen to only Zappa music for 24 hours and read interviews read album covers etc. I realized that many people were showing up and did not know a lot about Zappa and left with names of records and songs scribbled on paper. This is way before the blow up of the Internet so people would come back the next year having searched record stores and maybe built a little Zappa collection.

    About the third and fourth year, my band played at one of these parties, performing about a half-dozen Zappa songs. It went over great so we learned another half dozen and soon we played our first gig in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It just blew up from there. Next was Lion’s Den in New York City where we connected with our first managers Howie Schnee and Mike Maietta.

    NYS Music: A pretty high bar has been set by Frank Zappa, his son Dweezil other Zappa tribute bands…what makes Project Object so unique?

    AC: Indeed Dweezil’s band is incredible.I think what makes us unique in our way is that we went out and did it before other bands, over twenty years ago. We were the first band to tour with so many diverse Zappa alumni across the USA and into Canada since Zappa himself took them on the road. We also were the first to do a wide variety of his music

    The Grandmothers (ex Zappa/Mothers members) were out there but they tended to do the very excellent early stuff ONLY. We went out there with Ike Willis then Napoleon Murphy Brock etc. and did material from every period in Zappa’s history.

    NYS Music: Is there a lot of pressure to get it right and recreate the songs as accurately as possible? Or is there still room for improvisation?

    AC: The fans know every note! We strike the balance between doing some tunes as close to the record as we can, with the correct sounds and timbre and instrumentation. And then other things we do – perhaps one of Zappa’s many live versions – we look for moments in the songs where he would leave room for improvisation.

    Improvisation is very important part of the Zappa aesthetic but at the core is doing the music accurately and getting chords and little parts correct. I have been fortunate to have so many of the actual ex-Zappa players in the band so along the way they correct parts and help us get little details right.

    NYS Music: There have been a lot of stories about Zappa’s family and disagreements over copyright issues, as well as stories floating around about bad blood between you and Dweezil, in the news. How do you get away with playing songs without infringement issues? And has the air cleared between you and Dweezil?

    AC: Early on we got so many threats from Gail Zappa that we sought the advice of a lawyer and I learned a lot about copyright law. It’s very basic and simple. As long as the venue you are performing is paying their American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) or Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) membership dues for publishing rights, you are fine. That’s why there is an enormous business in cover bands of every genre imaginable. It was always completely legal to do what we do. In the Project/Object entire career of over two decades we have had to cancel two, maybe three gigs because the venue was not part of ASCAP membership.

    I think the NPR interview I did “NPR Zappa Lumpy Legacy” is the final word on it. NPR spoke to me as well as Gail Zappa and independent legal

    counsel and they said on national radio that as long as the club is certified it’s no problem playing published music of any artist.

    As far as the recent history about the copyright issues and the Zappa family, a lot of what happened was due to the wishes and direction of Gail Zappa. Now that she is gone there is a real splintering of stuff and the siblings are sadly in dispute over many issues.

    Even before she passed away I made peace with Dweezil and have seen his band several times. He was very gracious about accepting my apologies for the previous bad vibes. He was aware it flowed in both directions. This thawing of the ice has continued after Gail Zappa’s passing and Dweezil has been very public talking about how the Zappa family trust unfairly charged him for various things and made it difficult for him to just go out and play the music.

    I’m happy to say that through his agent, Dweezil and I worked together recently to plan out these historic appearances that Ike Willis is doing with his band. I want to support anything and everything that celebrates Frank’s music.

    NYS Music: Your partner was in a serious car accident recently which caused you to postpone your tour. How is she doing and why have you decided to resume the tour at this point in time?

    AC: While Robin is still experiencing a fair amount of pain and difficulties she has come a long way in what is almost seven months since the accident. She will be with us on this tour in a very tentative and basic role – we are trying to see how much she can do safely in her regular job as merch and Production Assistant. We hated canceling that tour and she is happy to be out on this one and to be able to personally thank so many of the fans who helped us out.

    NYS Music: What is the feeling going into this tour?

    AC: We just love to play and get out and travel and this is a great time of year to do so. We have a few things we have never done before, some stuff we have not done in a decade or more, balanced with a couple of the Zappa song-along, crowd favorites that you almost have to do, so it’s a mix!

    We are upbeat and excited to get out there playing this incredible music again. Also Zappa lyrics, without even touching them up, have a timeless political accuracy and so getting out right before yet another ridiculous American election season is kind of perfect.

    For more information about Project/Object visit www.projectobject.com or follow Project/Object on Facebook or Twitter.