Category: Rochester

  • 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

  • Update: Project/Object Cancels Spring Tour

    Announced this afternoon via Facebook, the Frank Zappa Tribute band Project/Object is postponing their April 2016 tour dates until further notice. The cancellation comes due to the ongoing health issues surrounding the group’s production assistant-social media manager-merch seller Robin Gelberg, who survived a tragic car accident about a month ago near Shelby, NC; she is the partner of the band’s guitarist Andre Cholmondeley. According to Cholmondeley’s post, this is the first time Project/Object has cancelled concerts during his time with the band since the 1990s. A support page has been set up for Gelberg through GoFundMe.

    Project Object2:58 pm For Immediate ReleasePROJECT/OBJECT TOUR POSTPONEDIt is with a heavy heart that I have to…

    Original story:

    On April 14, Project/Object will bring the sounds of Frank Zappa back to life on stage at The Hollow in Albany.

    The alumni-based Zappa tribute band, featuring Ike Willis and Don Preston, is touring the Northeast this spring in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Zappa’s debut album, Freak Out! Willis’ booming baritone vocals and rhythm guitar appeared on Zappa band tours and albums from 1978 to the final FZ tour in 1988. Preston, a well-known synthesizer and jazz pioneer, played on the Mothers Of Invention records until 1974’s Roxy and Elsewhere; he has also scored soundtracks for feature films like Apocalypse Now.

    The tour kicks off in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on April 7 and makes stops in Marlboro the following night before shows in Brooklyn, Buffalo, Rochester and closing out in Teaneck, New Jersey, on May 1.

    Each show this tour will feature two sets of Zappa music with Willis and Preston; the Boston show is double billed with Consider the Source. And this April run continues the voter registration partnership with HeadCount, as shared on Twitter last month:

    Project/Object: The Music of Frank Zappa has toured the United States, Canada and Europe during its 20-year existence. The group was founded in the 1990s by guitarist Andre Cholmondeley as a tribute to Zappa, who died of cancer in 1993 at 52. In 2015, Willis and Denny Walley came out of retirement for a special tour in celebration of Zappa’s late ’70s catalog, playing several shows in New York state. Alongside Willis (guitar, vocals), Preston (keys, vocals), Cholmondeley (guitar, vocals) and Walley (bass), the group will include musicians Ryan Berg (drums), Kendall Scott (keys, synths) and special guest Rich Rakowski (sax) at select shows.

    Tickets for the 9 p.m. show at The Hollow are on sale through the venue’s website, along with passes for Brooklyn’s The Hall, Tralf Music Hall in Buffalo and Rochester’s Lovin Cup. Project/Object’s show at The Falcon in Marlboro does not require a cover charge for live music, but donations are appreciated. See the full tour dates below and visit the band’s website for more venue and ticket sales information.

    Project/Object Spring 2016 tour dates:

    4/7 – The Acoustic – Bridgeport, CT
    4/8 – The Falcon – Marlboro, NY
    4/9 – House of Independents – Ashbury Park, NJ
    4/10 – Iron Horse – Northampton, MA
    4/12 – Higher Ground – Burlington, VT
    4/13 – The Middle East – Boston, MA
    4/14 – The Hollow – Albany, NY
    4/15 – The Hall – Brooklyn, NY
    4/16 – Arch St. Tavern – Hartford, CT
    4/17 – American Brewing Company – Harrisburg, PA
    4/19 – The 8×10 – Baltimore, MD
    4/20 – Club Café – Pittsburgh, PA
    4/21 – Radio Radio – Indianapolis, IN
    4/22 – Shank Hall – Milwaukee, WI
    4/23 – Martyrs – Chicago, IL
    4/26 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
    4/27 – The Tralf – Buffalo, NY
    4/28 – Lovin Cup – Rochester, NY
    4/29 – Havana’s – New Hope, PA
    4/30 – River St. Jazz Café – Wilkes Barre, PA
    5/1 – Mexicali – Teaneck, NJ

  • Venue Change: Cage the Elephant to Play Albany’s Palace Theatre, May 11

    On Tues. May 11, rock band Cage the Elephant will now play a 7 p.m. show at the Palace Theatre in Albany. The group was originally scheduled to perform at the Times Union Center. Tickets purchased prior to the venue change will be honored. Floor seat holders are granted general admission access to the orchestra section of the Palace, and all reserved tickets will have general admission seating in the balcony section. Tickets for both price levels ($45 floor; $37.50 balcony) are still available for purchase at the Palace Theatre box office at 19 Clinton Ave. or through Ticketmaster. NYS Music was on hand to cover Cage the Elephant’s stop at Rochester’s Main Street Armory in March for the Spring Fling Tour; read more here.

    Original Post:

    The Grammy-nominated rock band Cage the Elephant will head out in May on a string of tour dates that will route the Kentucky alt-rockers to several venues in New York and neighboring states, plus stops in nearby Toronto and Montreal.

    cage the elephant palace theatre
    Jack White will release new album “Boarding House Reach” on Friday, March 23.

    The headlining North American tour kicks off May 1 in Little Rock, Arkansas, before CTE stops in Canada and takes the stage at Times Union Center in Albany on May 11, the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, on May 15, and at SummerStage in New York City’s Central Park May 16. Supporting acts for this run are Portugal. The Man, Broncho and Twin Peaks.

    Prior to launching the 34-date cross-country trek, which comes to a close June 26 in Phoenix, Arizona, the band is continuing Spring Fling Tour with Silversun Pickups, Foals and Bear Hands with shows billed in Pittsburgh on March 25, at the Main Street Armory in Rochester on March 26, First Niagara Center in Buffalo on March 28, XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, March 30, followed by Portland, Maine, and Providence, Rhode Island.

    The high-energy quartet consists of singer Matt Shultz, guitarist Brad Shultz, bassist Daniel Tichenor and drummer Jared Champion. CTE is hitting the road following the release of their fourth studio album, Tell Me I’m Pretty. A follow-up to 2013’s Melophobia with hits “Come a Little Closer” and “Cigarette Daydreams,” the 10-track record produced by Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys, The Arcs) debuted in December and features the alternative chart-topping single “Mess Around.” CTE has shared the stage with Foo Fighters, Muse and Queens of the Stone Age, among other big-name artists, and most recently, the group performed on the Late Late Show with James Corden, the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Conan.

    Tickets for all shows go on sale Friday, March 18 at 10 a.m. Passes for the upcoming New York dates are currently available through the band’s website, the respective venues and ticketing sites like Ticketmaster.

    Cage the Elephant tour dates:

    3/16 – Don Haskins Center – El Paso, TX ~
    3/18 – Cox Business Center Arena – Tulsa, OK ~
    3/19 – Landers Center – Southaven, MS ~
    3/20 – Freedom Hall Civic Center – Johnson City, TN ~
    3/22 – Richmond Coliseum – Richmond, VA ~
    3/23 – Constant Convocation Center – Norfolk, VA ~
    3/25 – Petersen Events Center, University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA ~
    3/26 – Main Street Armory – Rochester, NY ~
    3/28 – First Niagara Center – Buffalo, NY
    3/30 – XL Center – Hartford, CT ~
    3/31 – Cross Insurance Arena – Portland, ME ~
    4/1 – Dunkin Donuts Arena – Providence, RI ~
    5/1 – Verizon Arena – Little Rock, AR *
    5/3 – Chesapeake Energy Arena – Oklahoma City, OK *
    5/4 – INTRUST Bank Arena – Wichita, KS *
    5/6 – DeltaPlex – Grand Rapids, MI *
    5/7 – Masonic Temple Theatre – Detroit, MI *
    5/8 – International Centre, Arrow Hall – Toronto, ON *
    5/10 – Bell Centre – Montreal, QC *
    5/11 – Palace Theatre – Albany, NY *
    5/15 – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD *
    5/16 – SummmerStage, Central Park – New York City, NY *
    5/19 – Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN *
    5/20 – Infinite Energy Arena – Duluth, GA *
    5/21 – Hangout Festival – Gulf Shores, AL
    6/3 – KFC Yum! Center – Louisville, KY ^
    6/4 – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica – Cleveland, OH ^
    6/5 – EXPRESS LIVE! – Columbus, OH ^
    6/7 – UIC Pavilion – Chicago, IL %
    6/9 – BMO Harris Pavilion – Milwaukee, WI %
    6/10 – U.S. Bank Theater at Target Center – Minneapolis, MN ^
    6/11 – Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center – Madison, WI ^
    6/14 – Calgary Stampede Corral – Calgary, AB ^
    6/15 – Shaw Convention Centre – Edmonton, AB ^
    6/17 – PNE Forum – Vancouver, BC ^
    6/18 – McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater – Portland, OR ^
    6/19 – WaMu Theater – Seattle, WA ^
    6/21 – Shrine Auditorium – Los Angeles, CA %
    6/22 – Valley View Casino Center – San Diego, CA %
    6/23 – Bill Graham Civic – San Francisco, CA %
    6/25 – The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, NV ^
    6/26 – Gila River Arena – Phoenix, AZ ^

    ~ Spring Fling tour dates with Silversun Pickups, Foals and Bear Hands
    * with Portugal, The Man + Broncho
    ^ with Portugal, The Man + Twin Peaks
    % with Portugal, The Man

  • Testament Lifts Spirits Of Rochester’s Metal Community At Anthology

    With the Water Street Music Hall getting shut down just last week, fans of the hard rock and heavy metal community have been busy trying to get their precious venue back up and running. What some of those fans may not realize is that there’s another awesome venue in Rochester that’s not afraid to host metal shows. That venue is Anthology and they’re helping keep metal coming to Rochester, and on Monday, March 7th, Anthology hosted 80’s thrash metal legend Testament.

    testament The night’s lineup consisted of two other bands, Voice Of Valor and Slikk Wikked. The opening support surely got the crowd ready for Testament. Slikk Wikked, who took the stage prior to Testament set the bar high. This young metal band had the crowd going wild with circle pits and moshing right off the start. The entire band had a great stage presence that lead them to get a lot of attention from the crowd. Their set was highlighted by their vocalist who joined the crowd and moshed while the band played an Anthrax cover of “Caught In A Mosh.”

    testamentComing to Anthology for an “off-date” from their tour with Slayer, Testament was ready to rip through a full setlist and give fans a kick-ass show. The night started with “D.N.R”‘ off of their album The Gathering. From that first song, the floor was a whirlpool of fans for the rest of the evening. The band didn’t waste too much time between songs which was good because it didn’t let the energy escape the room. Lead singer Chuck Billy did take the time to express his gratitude for the Rochester support and talked about all of the times they’ve played in the city. One of the best things to watch at a Testament show is the shredding guitar action by guitarists Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson. Together, these guys create something not many other bands can produce. Rounding off the band’s lineup are Gene Hoglan on drums and Steve DiGiorgio on bass. These guys combined really create something special when it comes to their live shows.

    Fans who came out to Anthology were treated to a setlist mixed with tracks from seven different albums. With both old and new music throughout the night, different generations of fans had something to truly enjoy. Tracks like “Native Blood” and “Rise Up” which are off their latest release, Dark Roots of Earth, sound absolutely killer live. Not only do their new songs kick-ass live, but Testament takes their older tracks like “Over The Wall” and “The Haunting” and makes them even better then they were in 1987.

    testamentThe night wasn’t all business for Testament, as they took the opportunity to sing happy birthday with the crowd for their tour manager. After this quick little break of metal, Chuck and the guys finished the night off with the song “The Formation Of Damnation”, which is the title track off their 2008 release. Testament fans can look forward to their upcoming release The Brotherhood Of The Snake, which is due out sometime this year. The first single from the album should be hitting airways sometime in the next few weeks. The direction of the album is said to be heavier and faster than their last album, Dark Roots Of Earth. If Chuck Billy’s words hold true, it will be another masterpiece from Testament who just seem to keep getting better with age. If any Testament fans missed out on Monday’s show at Anthology, look forward to them being on the road in support of their upcoming album later this year.

    To stay up to date on all Testament news, album updates and tour dates, click here for their Facebook page. To visit their website click here.

    To check out Anthology’s upcoming events calendar, head over to their Facebook page here. Also, visit their website Anthology Live.

    Testament Setlist: D.N.R. – Legions Of The Dead – Over The Wall – Rise Up – Dog Faced Gods – The New Order – The Haunting – Practice What You Preach – Into The Pit – Native Blood – 3 Days In Darkness – Disciples Of The Watch – More Then Meets The Eye – The Formation Of Damnation

  • Frost Ridge returns! WNY campground can host concerts again

    After nearly two years, Frost Ridge, a popular outdoor venue in Le Roy has been cleared to host concerts again.

    Nestled deep within the farmlands and orchards of Western New York, Frost Ridge Campground lends to an intimate, outdoor venue for live music while also being accessible to the cities of Buffalo and Rochester, each about 40 miles away.

    frost ridge jam

    The Le Roy Zoning Board of Appeals reached a decision Wednesday, Feb. 17,  that will end years of disputes over the Frost Ridge Campground’s use of hosting outdoor concerts with amplified music.

    “We appreciate the diligent efforts of everyone involved to work through the obstacles presented during this process,” David and Greg Luetticke-Archbell, the campground’s owners, posted on their Facebook page last week, “and [we] are thankful to have this resolved so our lives may return to normal. Frost Ridge will continue to operate within the boundaries of the law, while bringing fun for the whole family to Our Little Slice Of Heaven at Exit 47.”

    maxresdefault2This week, the Luetticke-Archbells are entertaining a shortlist of potential acts: Charlie Daniels Band, Kenny Rogers, Oak Ridge Boys or Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
    frostridgetop

    The drama has been earnestly reported by The Batavian, an online news source for the local community. Through its investigation, the crux of the matter seems to lie on how the land was being used in 1967.

    Ownership of the grounds has changed hands a few times over the years. David and Greg Luetticke-Archbell bought the grounds in 2008. At the time, there was no confusion over how the land could be used; as the land was being sold nearly 20 years ago, its owner asked the zoning board to clarify how it was zoned. The ZBA supposedly responded in 1998 that the land was “pre-existing, non-conforming,” as the campground and existing land uses were established before the town devised its master plan in 1967.

    Starting in 2012, the Luetticke-Archbell have been throwing a robust summer music festival called Jam at the Ridge, luring music talents from across the country. According to the campground’s website, music has been played there since the days when it was known primarily as a ski lodge. The campgrounds, according to the two brothers, were established in 1963.

    In 2013, the ZBA had approved live music at the grounds, addressing complaints from local residents. The complaints, however, escalated through the threat of litigation. The town subsequently challenged its own ZBA’s ruling.

    The town, citing from their records, see only the ski lodge as being grandfathered into their zoning plans. Everything else, after 1967, would require a use variance, which would go through the ZBA.

    In summer 2014, the grounds’ owners were ultimately ordered to cease outdoor music by a New York State Supreme Court judge as both town and residents pursued litigation. More than a year later, the Daily News out of Batavia reported that another supreme court judge ordered the ZBA to host a public hearing on the topic.

    At the December 2015 public hearing, Town Attorney Reid Whiting said the town would not challenge the ZBA’s decision.

    The board’s decision appears to hinge on the campground owners’ argument that any issue residents have with outdoor concerts should be addressed through the town’s sound ordinance, and not land use. David Roach, the grounds’ attorney, argued this point in the December public hearing.

    Western New York is no stranger to disputes over sound ordinance. In neighboring Newstead, residents successfully shut down an outdoor venue in 2014 by means of the town’s sound ordinance.

  • Rochester Got a ‘New View’ of Eleanor Friedberger

    Eight years ago Eleanor Friedberger played to a raucous sold out crowd at the Bug Jar with her previous band, The Fiery Furnaces. A lot has changed in eight years.

    The Fiery Furnaces have taken an extended and possibly permanent break. Friedberger has released three increasingly excellent solo albums in that time. Her post-Furnaces sound has developed over the three albums, emerging in the latest, New View, out earlier this year, as her most accessible and personal yet. But for any number of reasons, the crowd from eight years prior didn’t return. Friedberger and her backing band, Ice Water, who also played a short opening set, performed to a paltry couple dozen souls who saw fit to venture out on a Sunday night in Rochester.

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    Midway through the set Friedberger slipped up on the lyrics to “My Mistakes,” (apropos!) one of two songs she played off of her first solo album, Last Summer. After finishing the song, she admitted she lost her train of thought as she had been thinking about advice she had been given about how to play in front of 1000 people or in front of 10. She assured her audience, “If anyone is concerned, don’t be, I feel the exact opposite. Happy to be here.” Perhaps she was just excited to play under the Bug Jar’s whacky ceiling. Earlier she proclaimed it to be the “best ceiling in the world… except maybe that other famous one.”

    Her band, drummer Neil Hecht, guitarist Malcolm Perkins, bassist Jonathan Rosen, and his brother Michael Rosen on Wurlitzer piano and keyboards, were also the backing band for the album. They laid down tight slinky grooves with just the right touches and punch to bring Friedberger’s songs to life on stage. Often times the opening band sounds great until the headliner comes along and sounds even better. Such was the case on this night, except the opening band consisted of the same musicians as the headliner, more or less. Ice Water’s qualities were enhanced, refined and magnified under the scope of Friedberger.

    They ran through the entire new album in order, with just a few diversions sprinkled in from her previous two albums. The style in the older songs, with a more conversational cadence, stood in contrast to the newer material, which reached stronger melodic hooks.

    The set finished strong with the psychedelic “All Known Things” and proggish “Does Turquoise Work?” with an extended mid-section build. That left only one New View song unplayed. For the encore performance of “A Long Walk” Friedberger played solo on the stage alone, before the full band walked back up and kicked into full gear for a strong and jarring instrumental finish. They closed the night with the lone representative from 2013’s Personal Record, the fun and upbeat “Stare at the Sun,” with it’s appropriate lyric, “If that was good-bye then I must be high, you know I’ll be seeing you soon.” Those who elected to stay home missed a treat, one that might come around only every eight years or so, lyrics aside.

    Setlist: He Didn’t Mention His Mother, Open Season > Sweetest Girl, Roosevelt Island, Your Word, Because I Asked You, Never Is a Long Time, My Mistakes, Cathy With the Curly Hair > Two Versions of Tomorrow, All Known Things, Does Turquoise Work? Encore: A Long Walk, Stare at the Sun

  • 3 Great Metal Shows Coming to Rochester

    Three metal shows are coming to Rochester at Montage Music Hall in May, including Like A Storm with Devil You Know, Texas Hippie Coalition and All That Remains.

    Kiwi rockers Like A Storm are known for combining heavy baritone guitar riffs and hard rock songs with the didgeridoo, the traditional Australian wind instrument. They have shared the stage with Alter Bridge, Korn, Shinedown, Creed, Puddle of Mudd and Staind. They will be joined by metalcore supergroup Devil You Know from Los Angeles on Friday, May 6.

    Texas Hippie Coalition will take the stage on Friday, May 13. Vocalist Big Dad Ritch describes their sound on their website:

    It’s like Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top had a child, and Pantera ended up raising it. We’re Red Dirt Metal. That’s a flag we wave high. There wasn’t a line formed for us, so I created a line and jumped to the front of that bad boy. Ride On is the best example of what we do.

    Opening for Texas Hippie Coalition is Sons of Texas.

    Hailing from nearby Springfield, Massachusetts, All That Remains have released seven studio albums and sold well over a million records worldwide. They recently went through a lineup change back in September when longtime bassist Jeanne Sagan left the band. She has since been replaced by Aaron Patrick. All that Remains will play Sunday, May 22.

    Tickets for these shows are not yet on sale. Check the Montage Music Hall website for more info.

  • Lil’ Wayne Lights Up The Blue Cross Arena In Rochester

    On Saturday, February 20, Lil’ Wayne brought “The Dedication Tour” to Rochester. The performance was held at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial which has had a busy year so far. Prior to the doors opening, not many fans were seen lining up outside the arena, which was surprising considering Rochester hit a high of 55 degrees.

    lil wayneThe night started off with a performance by S – Eighty who only had about 10 minutes of stage time. During this quick set, fans were busy trying to find their seats on the floor and around the area. Surprisingly, the floor was all assigned seating, which is why no one had to line up early to secure a spot on the floor. Shortly before 8pm, Rae Sremmurd took the stage. For 30 minutes these guys got the crowd on their feet dancing and singing along. The two brothers Khalif “Swae Lee” Brown and Aaquil “Slim Jimmy” Brown were a great choice as an opener for Lil’ Wayne on this tour. The crowd’s reaction was purely positive and it seemed like everyone wanted a little bit more.

    Even though Rae Sremmurd put on a great performance, the crowd came to Blue Cross Arena for one man and his name is Lil’ Wayne. Weezy took the stage shortly before 9pm and the crowd went wild. The night was started with Wayne’s classic “Mr. Carter”. As fans stood up on their chairs and waved their hands in the air, the appreciation of support was shown by Wayne. Throughout the night Lil’ Wayne thanked fans for coming out and supporting him while reminding them that he’s the best rapper alive. Between every couple songs, Weezy would also ask where the real Lil’ Wayne fans were and the entire area would chat “Weezy!”.

    For an arena that looked empty to start the night, the floor was filled from front to back and the lower bowl was packed. To no surprise the music of Lil’ Wayne got the entire place on their feet dancing, literally everybody. Hit after hit Weezy kept pleasing the crowd who were having an absolute blast. The vibes throughout Blue Cross Area were incredible and it goes to show how powerful music can be. Toward the end of the show, Weezy brought out a handful of up and coming rappers so they could show the crowd what they were made of. One thing that Wayne is good at is finding new talent and collaborating with other artists. The show ended with all the guys on the tour coming out on stage celebrating a great show and also included an appearance of Weezy’s son who looks like a mini version of his dad.

    For those who missed the show, Lil’ Wayne should be pretty busy this year on the road with the highly anticipated release of his last Carter album, the Carter V. Although the album is finished, its release has been held due to issues with the record label. Regardless of when the album finally gets put on shelves, Lil’ Wayne will be out on tour to give his fans their fix of Weezy.

  • Funk Yes: Lettuce Set to Groove University of Rochester

    Although you won’t find it listed on their current roster of dates, Lettuce will make a third appearance in New York state during this spring/summer tour. According to the University of Rochester’s event ticketing website, the funk-fueled jazz band is booked for a Feb. 26 show on the River Campus. The New York City group will also return to their home state for performances at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester on April 8 and Hunter Mountain Jam Festival this June.

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    Known for soulful super jams, Lettuce debuted their fourth studio album, Crush, last year. Jeremiah Shea said in his NYS Music review that this album “is the convergence of road tested and polished material, musical exploration, deep pockets of groove, and a band that is simply on top of their game.” Brian Ferguson was on hand to catch the two-night Crush release party at the Playstation Theater last November, where Marco Benevento opened the show and Lettuce encored with a new tune titled “Phyllis” (hear the song below).

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    Eric Krasno

    The band, featuring Adam Deitch (drummer), Adam Smirnoff and Eric Krasno (guitarists), Erick “Jesus” Coomes (bassist), Neal Evans (keyboardist), Ryan Zoidis (saxophonist) and Eric Bloom (trumpet player), last played in Rochester June 2015 for the city’s Party in the Park (after Taj Mahal cancelled) and made a stop at Water Street Music Hall October 2014.

    Doors will open at 8:30 p.m. with show time of 9 p.m. Tickets are available online through the University, or at the Common Market in Wilson Commons. The concert is open to the public; special ticket pricing applies for students and faculty. If you’re nearby the Finger Lakes area next Friday, pencil in this performance as it’s guaranteed to be one energetic soul shakedown party.

  • Rochester’s Thunder Body to Host Five Week Residency

    Rochester natives Thunder Body are gearing up for a busy month in March, with a five-week residency at Flour City Station. The ever-evolving band will play two sets every Wednesday in March for what they are calling “Medicine Wednesdays.”

    Thunder Body’s recent changes include adding a powerful horn section, sailing them over previous genres. Honing their vocal melodies, they have evolved into something much bigger than fans may remember. Proof of their growth can be witnessed this Saturday, Feb. 13, when they open for funk heavy-hitters Turkuaz at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse.

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    Medicine Wednesdays at Flour City Station in Rochester will happen every Wednesday in March, with an $8 cover charge each night.  All shows are 21+.

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