Category: Rochester

  • Wild Adriatic Hits the Road for Eurotrip

    Capital Region rockers Wild Adriatic recently rolled out dates for a Eurotrip and U.S. tour as well. The three-piece group will head out on the road beginning Feb. 11 in Boston and wrapping up May 15 in Spain.

    Fresh off the heels of their debut voyage on the Rock Boat, where they played an all-Zeppelin set and jammed onstage with Sister Hazel, Michael Franti and Gavin Degraw, WA’s upcoming tour includes Northeast-heavy dates with home state stops in Corning, Saratoga Springs, Rochester, Syracuse, Brooklyn, Buffalo and Jamestown before returning to Europe for a four-week headlining run.

    The blues-rock band consists of Travis Gray (vocals, guitar), Rich Derbyshire (bass) and Mateo Vosganian (drums); supporting groups that will share the bill with WA during this winter/spring tour will be the Mallett Brothers Band, Let’s Be Leonard, Turkuaz, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, the Suitcase Junket and Animal Years.

    This January, WA released their first full-length live album from their two-night performance in Albany last October and will record the upcoming Feb. 20 show at Putnam Den for a possible future album. The band’s self-titled EP dropped in 2011, and their most recent collection debuted May 2015 as the five-song Never Enough. Although, according to the press release, WA has a new record in the works:

    We’ll be back in the studio making our second full length record in Fall 2016. Hoping to release Early 2017 and we have never been more excited to get in the studio and create! So much inspiration over the last few months, I know we have a few more tunes in us to get out before we hit the studio but we are very excited with how the material has come together so far!” 

    Tickets for all 2016 show dates are on sale through Wild Adriatic’s official website.

    Wild Adriatic 2016 Tour Dates:

    2/11 – Boston, MA – Lansdowne Pub^
    2/12 – Burlington, VT – Nectar’s^
    2/13 – Sugarloaf, ME – Sugarloaf Mountain^
    2/18 – Corning, NY – Corning Museum of Glass 2300 Series
    2/19 – Portsmouth, NH – Birdseye^
    2/20 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Putnam Den*
    2/25 – Rochester, NY – Flour City Station
    2/26 – Syracuse, NY – Funk N Waffles Downtown*
    2/27 – Stratton, VT – Grizzly’s%
    3/3 – Worcester, MA – Electric Haze
    3/4 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl#
    3/10 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theater
    3/11 – Mifflinburg, PA – Rusty Rail
    3/12 – Asbury Park, NJ – Wonder Bar
    3/16 – Washington, DC – Black Cat~
    3/17 – Mercersburg, PA – Mansion House~
    3/18 – Philadelphia, PA – Milkboy~
    3/24 – Hartford, CT – Arch Street Tavern
    3/25 – Manchester, VT – The Perfect Wife
    3/26 – Stratton, VT – Grizzly’s*
    3/31 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Cafe
    4/1 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Iron Works
    4/2 – Jamestown, NY – Shawbucks

    ^ – w/ The Mallett Brothers Band
    * – w/ Let’s Be Leonard
    % – w/ Turkuaz
    # – w/ Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds & The Suitcase Junket
    ~ – w/ Animal Years

    4/14 – Oostende, Belgium – Bada Bing
    4/15 – Kortrijk, Belgium – Den Trap
    4/16 – Krefeld, Germany – Kulturrampe
    4/17 – Turnhout, Belgium – Dax Cafe
    4/19 – Norderstedt, Germany – Music Star
    4/20 – Malmo, Sweden – St Gertrund
    4/21 – Hamburg, Germany – Sound Yard
    4/22 – Bordesholm, Germany – Albatros
    4/23 – Singwitz, Germany – Kesselhaus
    4/26 – Bratislava, Slovakia – Muzeum Obchodu
    4/27 – Kufstein, Austria – Eggers
    4/28 – Besancon, France – Passengers Du Zinc
    4/29 – Alencon, France – La Luciole
    4/30 – Rouen, France – Hipster Cafe
    5/2 – St Etienne, France – Thunderbird Lounge
    5/4 – Bilbao, Spain – Antzokia
    5/5 – Ourense, Spain – Cafe Auriense
    5/6 – Cangas, Spain – Salason
    5/7 – Aviles, Spain – Centro Niemeyer
    5/8 – Leon, Spain – Gran Cafe
    5/11 – Estepona, Spain – Louie Louie
    5/12 – Murcia, Spain – Garaje Beat Club
    5/13 – Castellon, Spain – Veneno Stereo
    5/14 – Valencia, Spain – Pabersematao
    5/15 – Torredembara, Spain – La Traviesa

  • Anthology Will Host the Rochester Revival

    In early March, the new venue in the East End of Rochester, Anthology, will host a two-day celebration of roots and Americana music called Rochester Revival 2016.

    Pennsylvania’s emergent jam-grass heroes Cabinet will return to Rochester to headline the first evening of music on Friday, March 4. Also on the bill that night are fellow ‘grass and dust-kickers The Blind Owl Band from Saranac Lake and The Prickers from Naples.

    The party continues early Saturday afternoon for a full day and night of ear-pleasing, foot-stomping fun. Oyster Bay’s electro-prog instrumental powerhouse TAUK will provide a massive sonic cleanse when they close out the mini-festival late Saturday night.

    Leading up to the grand finale will include the introduction of two new Rochester groups and one of the oldest and most beloved bands of Rochester. Aaron Lipp, who has played keys for Robert Randolph, Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad and the Campbell Brothers, has assembled a new band which will play their premiere performance at this event. Another Dub Squad player, guitarist Dylan Savage, will also introduce a new band with Wil McKenna of RootsCollider called the Medicinals. Rochester’s very own gospel legends The Campbell Brothers are slated to bring their classic sacred steel style that is tried, true and always a great time. Other announced bands include Josh Rollins, Personal Blend and the Honey Smugglers, with more to be announced soon.

    Mark March 4 and 5 down in your calendars. It’s a weekend that will showcase music from all across New York state including a dip into our neighbor Pennsylvania, so make plans now to come and show your support. Tickets are on sale now at the Anthology website. Admission is $12 for Friday and $24 for Saturday, or $32 gets you in for the whole weekend. A great deal for a great deal of music!

  • Celtic Women Make Their Way Through New York on Destiny Tour

    It is not often that artists can say that their albums debut at number one, but it’s no surprise to learn that Celtic Women’s Destiny did just this; it was the ninth album to do so.

    Celtic Women 2015FallPublicityPhoto

    As the Destiny tour begins this March in Nashville, Máiréad Nesbitt, Mairéad Carlin, Susan McFadden and Éabha McMahon, also known as the women of Celtic Women, will grace the stage at more than 79 cities as they make their way across the United States.

    The multi-platinum, all female ensemble made its debut on PBS in 2005 and has achieved massive success encompassing 10 chart-topping albums, nine PBS specials, more than 8 million albums sold, and platinum sales in nine countries.

    Celtic Woman 2015_creditDavidConger

    They sing like angels and float like the wind across stage, as they bring to you a bit of Celtic history in their musical stories. Destiny will feature a fresh fusion of traditional Irish music and modern songcraft, including the Waterboys’ classic “The Whole of the Moon,” Ed Sheeran’s “I See Fire” from The Hobbit film, and Mutt Lange’s “Walk Beside Me.” Traditional Irish highlights include “Bean Pháidín,” “Siúil A Run” and “Óró sé do bheatha ‘bhaile,” an anthem closely connected with the 1916 uprising that led to Ireland’s independence.

    DestinyLogoLockupTHE DESTINY TOUR – 2016 ITINERARY

    3/4-5 Nashville, TN Tennessee Performing Arts Center
    3/6 Memphis, TN Orpheum
    3/8 Owensboro, KY RiverPark Center
    3/9 Louisville, KY The Palace
    3/11 Paducah, KY Carson Center
    3/12 Peoria, IL Peoria Civic Center Theater
    3/13 Rockford, IL Cornado PAC
    3/15 Rosemont, IL Rosemont Theatre
    3/17 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
    3/18 Fort Wayne, IN Embassy Theatre
    3/19 Wabash, IN Honeywell Center (2 shows)
    3/20 South Bend, IN Morris Performing Arts Center
    3/22 Indianapolis, IN Murat Theatre at Old National Centre
    3/23 Bowling Green, KY Sky PAC
    3/24 Cincinnati, OH Aronoff Center
    3/25 Dayton, OH Schuster Performing Arts Center
    3/26 Columbus, OH Palace Theatre
    3/29 Cleveland, OH PlayhouseSquare
    3/31 Williamsport, PA Community Arts Center
    4/1, 2, 3, Lancaster, PA American Music Theater
    4/5 Richmond, VA Altria Theater
    4/6 Norfolk, VA Chrysler Hall at SevenVenues
    4/8 Wheeling, WV Capitol Theatre
    4/9 Baltimore, MD Hippodrome Theatre
    4/10 Salem, VA Salem Civic Center
    4/12 Asheville, NC Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
    4/14 Spartanburg, SC Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
    4/15 Winston-Salem, NC LJVM Coliseum Complex
    4/16 Durham, NC Durham Performing Arts Center
    4/17 Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium
    4/19 Columbia, SC Koger Center for the Arts
    4/21 Athens, GA The Classic Center
    4/23 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre
    4/24 Gainesville, FL Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
    4/27 Daytona Beach, FL Peabody Auditorium
    4/28 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Broward Center for the Performing Arts
    4/29 St. Petersburg, FL The Mahaffey Theater
    4/30 Sarasota, FL Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
    5/1 Niceville, FL Mattie Kelly Arts Center

    photo credit: Jason Clark (L-R) Susan McFadden, Lynn Hilary, Mairead Carlin (back right), Mairead Nesbitt
    photo credit: Jason Clark
    (L-R) Susan McFadden, Lynn Hilary, Mairead Carlin (back right), Mairead Nesbitt

    5/3 Mobile, AL CC Theatre
    5/5 Birmingham, AL BJCC
    5/6 Jackson, MS Thalia Mara Hall
    5/7 New Orleans, LA Saenger Theatre
    5/8 Houston, TX Revention Music Center
    5/10 San Antonio, TX Majestic Theatre
    5/11 Grand Prairie, TX Verizon Theatre
    5/13 El Paso, TX The Plaza Theatre
    5/14 Tucson, AZ Tucson Music Hall
    5/15 Tempe, AZ ASU Gammage Auditorium
    5/17 Bakersfield, CA Rabobank Arena
    5/20 Eugene, OR Hult Center for the Performing Arts
    5/21 Yakima, WA Yakima Valley SunDome
    5/22 Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
    5/24 Boise, ID Morrison Center
    5/25 Salt Lake City, UT Maverik Center
    5/26 Casper, WY Casper Events Center
    5/27 Greeley, CO Monfort Concert Hall
    5/28 Colorado Springs, CO Pikes Peak Center
    5/31-6/1Denver, CO Buell Theatre at Denver Performing Arts Complex
    6/3 Rapid City, SD Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
    6/4 Bismarck, ND Bismarck Event Center
    6/5 Grand Forks, ND Chester Fritz Auditorium
    6/7 Bemidji, MN Sanford Center
    6/9 La Crosse, WI La Crosse Center
    6/10 Prior Lake MN Mystic Lake Casino
    6/12 Grand Rapids, MI DeVos Performance Hall
    6/14 Kalamazoo, MI Miller Auditorium
    6/16 Warren, OH W.D. Packard Music Hall
    6/17 University Park, PA Eisenhower Auditorium
    6/19 Schenectady, NY Proctors
    6/21 Rochester, NY Auditorium Theatre
    6/22 Brooklyn, NY Kings Theatre
    6/24-6/25Orillia, Ontario Casino Rama
    6/26 Erie, PA Warner Theatre
    6/28 Lowell, MA Lowell Memorial Auditorium
    6/29 Providence, RI Providence Performing Arts Center
    6/30 Newark, NJ NJPAC
    7/1 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre
    7/2 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre

  • Hearing Aide: My Plastic Sun “jumping karma trains”

    Album Art by April Laragy Stein

    You know 2016 is starting out fine when word of a new My Plastic Sun EP emerges. jumping karma trains includes five songs, one re-do, a former single and three new songs, it’s their third EP. If you’re unfamiliar with My Plastic Sun, the Rochester duo consists of Johnny Cummings – lead vocals, piano, various keyboards, bass guitar, electric and acoustic guitars, and Roy Stein – drums, percussion, keyboards, backing vocals and studio engineering. This project spends most of its time in the studio, they excel there, each with  deep writing, musicianship and live performance creds. They work under the radar, but their products continue to be way above expectations, which are extraordinarily high.

    The timing of the news from My Plastic Sun couldn’t have happened at a better time, the morning of January 11th, the morning the music world was shaken by the loss of David Bowie. There are few things that could’ve brightened that day, but there it was, an e-mail from Roy Stein, sent the night before. I could see the excitement in his eyes and hear the enthusiasm in his voice, “It was great to press the send button and get it out to you.” Stein continued, “We wanted to make a gentler EP with a bit of a spiritual journey kinda undercurrent to it. Not sure how that will play out but we made the record we wanted.” Ultimately, it’s what they always do, make the record they want, it’s been a solid benchmark for them for years.

    “Wheels Turn Slow” is an introspective opener. It begins the story with a longing refrain, a look back, a look forward, reflecting on the progress of change and enlightenment. Brilliantly built-up from a acoustic track, the Sam Snyder floating electric guitar feels wanting, the soft march speaks to determination, the vocal toward mistake, deceit and re-invention, the difficulties of momentum.

    “Falling Awake” will be familiar to long-time fans. Stein said, “We redid “Falling Awake” in a new way we felt captured the essence of the song better.” “Falling Awake,” the source of the EP’s title, has it’s origins founded in Sgt. Pepper’s with Lauren Becker’s subtle french horn, but this remake is all Pet Sounds. The light orchestration from the keys and choral backing harmonies ring true to the concept of “gentler EP” and the singer/songwriter basis shines through clearly. “In The Moment” has a bit of Philly Soul like Hall and Oates, but Cummings’ play with words keeps hinting at something more spiritual. Something bigger, more true, just slightly out of reach, from hand and heart. It’s hymnal, it’s beautiful. It’s love.

    Cummings voice has a distinct feel of Chris Martin and the production plays right into it on “Somethings Coming Over Me.” It reveals itself as he goes to falsetto and retains the strength of his full voice. The hoped-for undercurrent is on full display here, the piano, the choral backing vocals, the broad mix, the “Tears For Fears” opening and rhythm. A tall standard to accomplish indeed. John Viviani’s guitar track is perfectly placed and Bree Draper’s vocal speaks to spirituality, strongly.

    “Couldn’t Love You More” wasn’t on any EP and we thought it fit well on this so it was in.”, Stein says. “Couldn’t Love You More” is as sweet as pop can be, Johnny’s light vocal reading and ukulele lilting with the emotions expressed then enhanced with the acoustic bass by Kyle Vock. This is well visualized by Stein’s multi-talented wife, April Laragy Stein and John Runkel in the video previously released with the single. (see below) This song is Revolver quality, the addition of accordion (April Laragy Stein), acoustic guitar and reversed electric are deftly applied with Snyder’s assistance.

    jumping karma trains was produced by My Plastic Sun, recorded and mixed by Roy Stein and mastered by Brad Blackwood. EP artwork by April Laragy Stein. While this band has seen a few bright lights, they haven’t been nearly as bright as they deserve. They consistently deliver music that is way above their current recognition and if someone in the know actually listened, there is so much more ground for them to cover. My Plastic Sun continues to be among the clearest voices expressing true pop art music anywhere. Get on the train and learn more about the band on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify and Youtube.

    Key Tracks: Couldn’t Love You More, Falling Awake, In The Moment, Somethings Coming Over Me, Wheels Turn Slow

  • Spring Fling Rock AF 2016 to come to Western New York

    Buffalo and Rochester have been announced as two of the 15 cities on the Spring Fling Rock AF 2016 Tour.

    The tour package will hit the Main Street Armory in Rochester on March 26 and roll through the Queen City on March 28. First Niagara Center will be hosting the event in Buffalo. Cage the Elephant, Silversun Pickups, Foals and Bear Hands are slated to perform on the multi-city run.

    Spring Fling Rock AFTickets for both venues go on sale to the general public on Jan. 15 at 10 a.m. and range from $33 to $43. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone, or through the venue box offices.  Pre-sales for fan clubs members for both of the bands and various radio stations sponsoring the event begin as early as Wednesday, Jan 13.

    The tour features Grammy-nominated Kentucky based rock band Cage the Elephant, Alt rock veterans Silversun Pick-ups, up and coming UK indie rock band Foals and the Brooklyn based band Bear Hands.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBeohY2O2PA

    With packaged tours becoming more of a rarity, the bands are all eager to hit the road together. Cage the Elephant front man Matt Shultz had this to say:

    “There’s a real sense of camaraderie and a shared philosophy amongst all of us on this tour. We come from all over the world, but we share a love of music and being on the road. These shows will celebrate that spirit.”

    The tour kicks off March 11 in Fresno, California. In addition to two other California dates Spring Fling Rock AF Tour will also make stops in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Maine before wrapping up on April 1 in Portland, Maine.

    Spring Fling Rock AF 2016 Tour:

    03/11 – Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center
    03/12 – Sacramento, CA – Sleep Train Arena
    03/13 – Bakersfield, CA – Radobank Arena
    03/16 – El Paso, TX – Don Haskins Center
    03/18 – Tulsa, OK – Cox Business Center
    03/19 – Southaven, MS – Landers Center
    03/20 – Johnson City, TN – Freedom Hall Civic Center
    03/22 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Coliseum
    03/23 – Norfolk, VA – Constant Convocation Center
    03/25 – Pittsburgh, PA – Petersen Events Center
    03/26 – Rochester, NY – Main Street Armory
    03/28 – Buffalo, NY – First Niagara Center
    03/30 – Hartford, CT – XL Center
    03/31 – Portland, ME – Cross Insurance Arena
    04/01 – Providence, RI – Dunkin Donuts Center

  • Rubblebucket Brings New Songs in the New Year to Water Street Music Hall

    In what has become a bit of a tradition, afrobeat-dance-pop partiers Rubblebucket once again worked Rochester’s Water Street Music Hall into their New Year’s weekend plans this year. Though their visit is never quite held on New Year’s Eve, they’re always sure to carry over some antics with them.

    Rubblebucket-WaterStreet-10216-2

    The stage was dressed with a painted and black-lit backdrop that was hit with various animations throughout the night, including jellyfish, clouds, hyperspace-esque bursts etc. The band continued their strong touring behind their latest album Survival Sounds. The show opened with “Shake Me Around” and “Sound of Erasing” and the rest of the set was peppered with more Survival Songs tracks. Past hits from Omega La La “Silly Fathers” and “Came Out of a Lady” (hilariously available now as a onesie) aren’t ready to leave the rotation though. Most exciting though, the band continued it’s slow and subtle evolution showcasing two brand new songs that will hopefully find their way into stores on a new album sometime in 2016.

    First up was “Donna,” a song about imaginary lovers unrelated to the Richie Valens classic and just a smidge more upbeat. It featured Kalmia Traver back on the sax, something that has grown rarer, and Alex Toth making use of a megaphone. Later in the set, the band emerged with another new one, “Party Like Your Heart Hurts.” An apt title for a song by a band who brings a party every night and oozes love for their music, audience and life in general. With an undercurrent of electronics bubbling up, this one is immediately infectious and the crowd spent no time acclimating to the groove. It was as if they’d heard it a 100 times. Check out videos of both songs below.

    [embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z6utKdEqXM[/embedyt]

    [embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6BURv6gqy0[/embedyt]

    After an hour long set that featured a tutu worn by multiple members of the band, confetti cannons, full-crowd jump-alongs, a horn march through the crowd, and Kalmia Traver riding through the crowd in an inflatable raft (impressively while still holding mic and singing), the audience wasn’t ready to quit this not-quite New Year’s Eve celebration. Rabidly chanting “One more song!” as loud as you will ever hear, when the band came back Alex Toth asked, “Is it OK if we play 2 songs?”

    So two songs they played, the first a cover of Fugazi’s “Waiting Room” (video below) which brought a much harder edge to the mix. It served as a dynamic contrast to their usual bright sound and was a great addition to the repertoire. The night closed with “Save Charlie” and a huge balloon drop, including a massive blue octopus that snaked through the crowd. Rubblebucket continually out-Rubblebucket’s themselves over the New Year’s holiday, and Rochester happily hosted the party once again.

    [embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d2A1FIi2Z4[/embedyt]