NYS Music 20​16

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  • Camp Bisco’s Color War XI: the Aquatic Ape to Include Vast New Improvements

    Camp Bisco Color War XI: The Aquatic Ape, will return for its 11th season this year on Friday, July 15 at Montage Mountain. Now in its second year at the venue,  patrons of the festival and Color War faithful will be much more well equipped to deal with the inclined terrain that the venue offers in spades.

    Offering a plethora of new events that utilize the Mountain’s stage-side water park, including the Above the Wave Pool Race and High Speed River Racer, means that Bisconauts can stay cool while the competition heats up.  Even the onsite zip line will be taken advantage of in the finale of the Montage Highwire Marathon.  In addition to the already well loved Disco Biscuits themed games that Camp Bisco Color War has to offer, these new events will assist in truly making Color War great again.

    The Montage Highwire Marathon will have participants dreaming to touch the sky after a foot race to the top

    Color War began in 2005 at the fourth Camp Bisco, and has been growing in momentum and notoriety ever since. Die hard Biscuits fan and founder Yancy Davis catalyzed its advent by combining two of his favorite passions; the Disco Biscuits and friendly organized sports.  Most of the events in the first couple of years are very familiar, such as tug-o-war, a three legged race, and the ever perilous egg toss.  More and more Biscuits references snuck their way into the fabric of Color Wars throughout the passing seasons, including Mr. Don’s Mustache, telling your own Nughuffer story, and the Bernstein and Bacon-off best-bacon-frier competition.  That trend continues in the water park this year, giving this 11th installation the honor of being named after a true Biscuits classic, Aquatic Ape.

    Sister Judy might get a little wet this year; Montage Mountain’s water park will receive a full take over from Color War troops

    Four teams to choose from means more options in the already astounding list that Color War XI: The Aquatic Ape has to offer.  Three time back-to-back champions Purple Reign are looking to remain the reigning kings of Color War.  New World Orange are also three time conquerors, though it has been years since these underdogs claimed the throne.  Returning from earlier years will be the Greenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as well as the ferocious Pink Hydra Squad.

    Camp Bisco attendees will have a lot to think about this year when stepping foot on the Color War field, especially if they plan to participate in another new event called I Want to Be Barber; a costume contest wherein contestants attempt to mimic Disco Biscuits’ guitarist Jon “The Barber” Gutwillig’s legendary stage outfits.  Often imitated but never duplicated, such a challenge has never been met on the Camp Bisco lot.

    Splitting our minds by day and our girlfriends’ thighs by night, Jon “The Barber” Gutwillig is a force to be reckoned with both musically and fashionably

    Anyone who wishes to participate in Color War XI need only go to campbiscocolorwar.com and complete the quick registration form, or simply show up at 12PM on Friday, July 15 at the water park.  Conveniently located next to the Above the Waves stage, Color Warriors won’t need to miss any of their favorite bands or DJs during the festivities.  Word has been getting around that some celebrity members of said bands may even help in judging some of the competitions.  Only one thing is certain for the outcome of Color War XI: The Aquatic Ape: Camp Bisco and Color War will be a little wetter forever.

  • Phish Embarks on Summer Tour 2016

    Phish embarks on their 2016 summer tour tomorrow when they take the stage at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota for their first show of the year on American soil since January 2. Phans across the country will rejoice as the Vermont quartet plays a series of shows at some of their most beloved venues, including the Gorge, the Mann, SPAC, Bill Graham and Dick’s; as well as making some notable debuts at Wrigley Field and the Lockn’ Music and Arts Festival.

    As if the type II jams and deep collective musical voyages aren’t enough, there’s tons of fun stuff to check out beyond when Phish is on stage. In Chicago, Galerie F will be showcasing Jim Pollock’s art – including never before seen sketches, posters and other original pieces. Similarly, Masthay Studios will open their doors in Hartford prior to the Phish show to show fans where the magic happens.

    There will be a series of strong after parties including Pink Talking Phish at the Mezzanine in San Francisco, Assembly of Dust at Martyr’s in Chicago, Jazz Is Phish at the House of Blues Chicago, and an abundance of musical happenings at Nanola Malta, just 10 minutes from SPAC, including pre-show festivities with Hayley Jane and the Primates, and a Sunday brunch with Holly Bowling and appearances from Mister F, The McLovins and more. Additionally there will be a James Brown Dance Party aftershow in Philly. PhanArt will be hosting a series of art shows in Chicago and San Francisco as well, bringing together a rapidly expanding fan base of art aficionados.

    One thing that’s for certain, is there are a lot of moving parts to Phish tour and it’s not all about the music the Vermont quartet makes on stage. It’s about a umbrella of a community where you’ll find so much love and excitement. It’s about exploring new places, trying new things, stepping outside of your comfort zone and reuniting with old friends that you may only see once a year while simultaneously making new connections. There are a lot of exciting things coming out of the band’s camp, including the free sampler Live Bait 12 where every single track clocks in at double digits and the recent release of the third edition of The Phish Companion benefiting the Mockingbird Foundation, available at the PhanArt show this Saturday in Chicago.

    As for the band, things couldn’t look more promising before hitting the road; especially since they’ve presumably finished recording a new album with Bob Ezrin in Nashville. Armed with a fresh stable of new material, it’s safe to say we can expect some debuts and several new launching pads for deep improvisation.

    2016 has been a rough year so far with the losses of musical icons such as David Bowie, Merle Haggard and Prince so it will be interesting to see if Phish takes a swing at any of their musical catalogs. In recent years Phish has come more into their element than ever before in the 3.0 era. Now that all of the members are in their early 50s, they seem to have a grasp on the intrinsic connection they all share after being friends for all of these years. They seem more comfortable, happy, appreciative and healthy than ever before and it is certainly reflected in their music. Chris Kuroda is also rumored to be working with a new light rig that’s unlike anything he’s ever used in the past. There is a multi-panel design that will be suspended above the band and there appears to be three large LED panels encapsulating the members on stage. It looks like the perfect stepping stone to some extensive and deep psychedelic visual experiences.

    One thing to be expected is the unexpected. Phish hates being predictable and if everything goes off without a hitch this could be one of the best tours in the post-Hampton era. The build up certainly makes it seem that this tour will be a success right out of the gates. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty, lets get this show on the road.

  • Kenny Chesney Leaves Audience Feeling Like Rock Stars at CMAC Stop

    Thousands of members of the No Shoes Nation flocked to CMAC in Canandaigua to see their idol and leader Kenny Chesney on his Spread the Love tour. Kenny Chesney’s fans differ from other artist’s fans because they not only buy his music but are also buying and adopting his beach-bum lifestyle. You could sense this by the casual, easygoing vibe that filled the venue. People smiling with Coronas in hand made it clear that they were ready to unwind and let their workweek stresses melt away for the night.

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    Chesney himself made sure to let everyone know he was there to party by coming out onto the stage singing his hit “Beer in Mexico” while sporting his signature faded blue jeans, tank top and cowboy hat. All smiles, he welcomed the crowd’s cheers while going into another one of his hits “Reality.” He kept up the no worries beach vibe playing “Til it’s Gone,” “Summertime,” “Pirate Flag,” and “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems.”

    Before playing “I Go Back” Chesney reflected on how many times he’s visited the area and said whenever the show is over at CMAC he always tells his crew that the rest of the summer has a lot to live up to because the crowd there is so great.

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    After a few more songs he brought out openers Old Dominion to perform “Save it for a Rainy Day,” a song the band wrote with him a few years back. Each member of the band joined in singing and playing with Chesney’s band and made the song a special treat for the audience.

    Taking a break in between his hits, Chesney sang his new, more serious single called “Noise.” This song may not have had everyone singing along but it didn’t spoil the party mood.

    Chesney threw in a cover of The Steve Miller Band’s “Space Cowboy.” He meshed this cover with Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds.” The set ended with his most well-known hit “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” and came back out for an encore with “Don’t Happen Twice.”

    During his encore, Chesney brought a young girl on stage and he and Old Dominion signed a guitar to give to her. He also stayed for several minutes while the band played, signing autographs for lucky fans in the front, showcasing his love for his fans. Chesney also made sure to grab gifts that fans had given to him throughout the show including an old college fraternity composite that he was blown away by seeing. His appreciation for the signs, photos and other gifts from fans is another display of his true class act attitude.

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    Chesney performed for just over two hours and in that two hour span there wasn’t a moment he wasn’t beaming at his audience. He even had the venue light up the packed lawn so he could see each of his followers. You can’t argue with the fact that no matter where Chesney’s fans were in the crowd, he made sure to make each of them feel like a rock star for the night.

    Setlist: Beer in Mexico, Reality, Til It’s Gone, Summertime, Pirate Flag, No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems, Somewhere With You, I Go Back, Anything But Mine, Save It for a Rainy Day – (with Old Dominion),
    Living in Fast Forward, Young, Noise, American Kids, You and Tequila, How Forever Feels, Big Star, The Joker – (Steve Miller Band cover), Big Star, Out Last Night, She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy

    Encore: Don’t Happen Twice

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  • 50 Years of SPAC: Mumford & Sons Sells Out Saratoga’s Historic Venue

    Mumford & Sons brought an eclectic, sold-out show to Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, June 15, making it the first sold-out show of SPAC’s 50th season. The band’s set covered predominantly songs from their 2015 album Wilder Mind, while also throwing in hits from their more folk-influenced debut Sigh No More.

    Mumford & Sons opened with “Snake Eyes,” soon after followed by “Little Lion Man,” bringing the entirety of the audience to their feet. As Marcus Mumford sang the chorus, it was often difficult to discern his voice from the shouts of the crowd singing along.  The audience continued singing and standing through the close of “Little Lion Man,” into “Below My Feet,” off the band’s second album Babel.

    Marcus Mumford was energetic and engaged throughout: perhaps most impressively, he often swapped from playing guitar to drums, such as in “Lover of the Light.” Between songs, the band sparingly addressed the crowd, occasionally invoking some humor by bringing up topics such as the Euros.

    In the middle of the set, the band was joined on stage by Senegalese performer Baaba Maal, who sang two songs with Mumford & Sons. Maal took the vocals on “Si tu veux,” and then swapped vocals, singing with Mumford on “There Will Be Time.” The audience was less engaged during this portion of the set, perhaps from not yet knowing the songs, but most remained standing throughout.

    “The Cave” soon followed Maal’s exit, capturing the crowd fully, again making Mumford’s voice hard to discern from the singing along. As “The Cave” blended into “Ditmas,” Mumford left the stage to run up the aisles and through the lawn, before returning for “Dust Bowl Dance,” once again taking up the drums, as sparks poured down behind the band.

    The band played a four song encore, joined again by Baaaba Maal,” before closing with “I Will Wait,” and “The Wolf.”

    While many older songs such as “Little Lion Man,” “The Cave,” “White Blank Page,” and “Dust Bowl Dance” received the most prominent singing along and ovations, reactions to new songs such as “The Wolf” and “Ditmas” demonstrated that fans are still committed to Mumford & Sons evolving sound.

    Johannesburg, a five-track collaborative “mini album” with Baaba Maal, recorded during the band’s 2016 South African tour, was released June 17.

    Set list: Snake Eyes, Little Lion Man, Below My Feet, Monster, White Blank Page, Lover of the Light, Tompkins Square Park, Believe, Ghosts That We Knew, Si tu veux (with Baaba Maal), There Will Be Time (with Baaba Maal), The Cave, Ditmas, Dust Bowl Dance

    Encore: Hot Gates, Wona (with Baaba Maal), I Will Wait, The Wolf

  • Catfish and the Bottlemen Light Up Buffalo’s Town Ballroom

    With the recent release of their sophomore album, The Ride, Catfish and the Bottlemen are rising to stardom quite quickly. On June 2, fans eagerly waited up and down the pavement for the Town Ballroom’s doors to open, where Catfish and the Bottlemen would be playing for a sold-out crowd.

    They have the uncanny ability to make every song feel like an encore. From the first note played to the very last, Catfish and the Bottlemen created a vibe in the Town Ballroom that is unprecedented in the music scene. At their colorful best, they were indie without indie dowdiness. The group’s latest singles “Soundcheck” and “7” ignited two of the loudest sing-alongs of the night. The energy and enthusiasm of the band did not falter, as the audience lapped up every moment.

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    Formed in Llandudno, Wales, almost nine years ago, Catfish and the Bottlemen have been working their way steadily through the ranks. Describing their new album as “stadium rock,” it is in their live performances that Catfish and the Bottlemen prove their worth. At times, frontman Van McCann didn’t even need to bother singing, stepping away from the microphone and listening to his lyrics — mainly about relationships, booze and hangovers — being chanted back at him. As rock stars, they’re unapologetically traditional, and they’re breathing new life into the genre. There is a reason why they are currently one of the most in-demand rock bands at the moment.

    The Naturalists had been added to the bill only shortly before the doors opened. These guys lit the crowd up, and were a perfect opener. The garage-alt Buffalo natives finally had a moment to shine in front of a sold-out crowd of new fans and continued supporters.

    Catfish and the Bottlemen will roll through the Empire State again this fall with an Oct. 18 show at New York City’s Terminal 5.

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  • Disc Jam 2016 Outdoes Itself

    Now in its sixth year and second at the current location in Stephentown, NY, Disc Jam Festival has established itself in every sense of the phrase. The bands are top caliber, the stage setups are the real deal, and the attendees make it feel like home away from home. Disc Jam 2016 has set the bar high for an overall festival experience in the Northeast.

    Thursday night of the festival was spent by many setting up their home for the weekend. Those in VIP were granted access to prime real estate next to the creek, adjacent to the pond. Other campers with cars took up residency in the spacious fields surrounding the main stage area. The great thing about Disc Jam is that no matter where you camp, you’re no more than a two-minute walk to the main stage. That also means that you can hear the music throughout the venue – a nice perk of small festivals.

    The sounds of Strange Machines filled Gardner’s Farm, setting the tone for the festival – heavy on the jams – though their set ended with a playful “Shake Your Body” cover by Michael Jackson. Next was everyone’s favorite cover smash up, Pink Talking Fish, taking the main stage until midnight. Weaving in and out of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish brought them to a surprise lap dance for the soon-to-be-wed keyboardist Richard James. Set to Billy Idol’s “White Wedding” Hayley Jane of Hayley Jane and the Primates, and her pack of back-up dancers, playfully teased the bashful bachelor only to have their spot taken over by Boston promoter and tutu sporting Benny Tucker aka “Woodies and Cream.” Hayley Jane led the vocals through “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)” and “Suzy Greenberg to wrap up the evening on the main stage.

    Thursday night – and really the whole festival – was unseasonably cold. With temperatures in the mid to low 40s with high winds, festival patrons were disappointed there was no community bonfire as promised. The bonfire did blaze on the next few nights which was a welcomed relief.

    Friday was easily the best day weather wise. Although breezes still made for a slight chill, the sun was warm and skies were crystal clear. Chicago based rock group, Litz, kicked things off in the morning followed by Teddy Midnight who really picked up the pace. The Brooklyn natives added jam scene veteran Wiley Griffin as their guitarist last August. Since then the group has been gaining fans and notoriety with steady momentum. The blues guitar riffs and synthesized key strokes along with a fantastically funky bass line made for the get-out-of-bed energy disc jammers needed.

    Hayley Jane and the Primates, along with original drummer Jesse Hayes, took the early afternoon main stage with a full David Bowie tribute set. As usual, Hayley Jane is theatrical in her stage presence. Although her voice is truly impeccable, the set was reminiscent of a high-level karaoke production.

    Set in the Innova Tent Stage at 5 p.m., Tom Hamilton’s American Babies overlapped Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band and part of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. Guest bassist Jim Hamilton, Tom’s brother, filled in for the set. Having grown up playing music together, this was something truly special for die hard fans and even those new to the Babies. The set included several songs off their new album, An Epic Battle Between Light and Dark, including “Fever Dreams” and “What Does it Mean.” Covers included the Grateful Dead’s “Shakedown Street” and The Band’s “Atlantic City.”

    As the sun began to set Kung Fu powered through an incredible set welcoming Shira Elias of Turkuaz on vocals and Lowell Wurster of Lucid on percussion. The following 30 minutes was a complete change of pace. Cappadonna of the Wu Tang Clan and his posse pumped up the crowd with Craig Brodhead and the Turkuaz Horns as support. Free style rapper Honeycomb laid down a solid flow, even tossing shade to Jay-Z.

    After a short break, headliners Electron took to the stage for a set many people attended the festival to see. Flow artists bordered the stage adding to the entertainment of it all, a psychedelic circus if you will, starting with “Plan B,” “42,” -> “Rock Candy” and later back to “42” after a solid rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2.”  The set ended with fan favorite “Shelby Rose,” and the crowd singing in unison, “every night is heaven sent!”

    Friday night wasn’t over yet as Dopapod packed the Innova Tent Stage with Disc Jammers. Opening with “Nuggy Jawson,” a “Nerds” tease ultimately served as hint to one of Saturday night’s picks during their second set with the Dopapod Orchestra. Ed Mann hopped on the vibraphone for “Dracula’s Monk” and Frank Zappa’s “Peaches en Regalia.” Turkuaz’s Craig Brodhead joined Dopapod for a heart pounding “8 Years Ended,” before concluding with “Vol. 3 #86.”

    Saturday was a wet one, raining from 11 a.m. to nearly 1 p.m. which kept many campers from attending the daily set of Bearly Dead, as well as Elm, Funky Dawgz and Mister F. Congo Sanchez was the first dry set on the main stage which absolutely blew the crowd away. The trio features Thievery Corporation’s drummer with a down-tempo, reggae, hip-hop mix. This will be a band not to miss in the future. Consider the Source did a full Radiohead set, that while was impressive in so far as pure skill, simply did not have the attraction a regular COS set has.

    The Nth Power, a world, funk, jazz group featuring Nikki Glaspie on the drums, flexed their creative muscle during their Saturday afternoon set. With the sun shining and drying things out, fans got down with the funky yet sultry tunes. The Turkuaz Horns and Shira Elias played a few brand new songs to the delight of the smiling faces in front of them. Directly proceeding the Nth Power, prog rockers TAUK took the stage sounding better than ever. Craig Brodhead also jumps on for a nasty cover of Hendrix’ “Voodoo Child.”

    The highlight of the entire festival was without a doubt the Dopapod Orchestra. Clouded in mystery for months since it was announced, fans gathered to the stage as the grounds became engulfed in a low, warm fog. Beginning with a straight forward “Turning Knobs,” the Blend Horns of West End Blend were welcomed on stage laying down a new element to favorites like “Nerds,” “Super Bowl,” and a seriously sinister “Psycho Nature.” Kung Fu drummer Adrian Tramontano hopped on the drums next to Scotty Zwang for a lengthy “FABA.” The Turkuaz horns  then took a turn with a stunning “Ophelia” by The Band. Turkuaz drummer Michaelangeo Carubba also sat in for “Roid Rage,” a song he helped write as he is Dopapod’s original drummer. The Orchestra ended with Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” before returning to the stage for the  encore of “Picture in Picture” in which Rob Compa’s guitar student Greg King took over for the later half of the song. Compa hopped on bass for a few minutes as well so the two could jam. This was truly incredible to witness and a set not easily forgotten.

    The Turkuaz Horns and Ryan Dempsey of Twiddle joined lespecial for some late night action. This is another band that seems to get better each time they play. Their stage setup was incredibly psychedelic. Unfortunately these guys rocked so hard a fuse was blown momentarily, but certainly did not take away from the overall set. A cover of Radiohead’s “National Anthem” was absolutely incredible and the horns only added to the depth.

    Sunday was a struggle for many Disc Jammers as the temperatures once again dropped and high winds made wearing a jacket completely necessary. Despite the cold, Formula 5 rocked out to a pretty substantial crowd. They welcomed Ryan Dempsey to the stage as he and Matt Richards played on keys together for Warren Zevon’s “Nighttime in the Switching Yard.”

    After sitting in all weekend with various bands, the Blend Horns finally joined their full band, West End Blend, for an incredibly funky set, helping to warm up those shivering in front of them. Front woman and lead vocalist Erica Bryan got fans off their feet with her tambourine skills. The band welcomed The Turkuaz Horns, Shira Elias and Craig Brodhead on stage. With 15 people on stage, the Sunday-funday party had officially started.

    Local bluegrass band Eastbound Jesus welcomed Lowell Wurster for some twangy fun before Aqueous hopped on stage for their harder rocking set. Soule Monde showed off their talents making it easy to see why the drum and organ duo has such an impressive résume including being members of Trey Anastasio’s touring band.

    Disc Jam 2016 came to an incredible close with Gubbulidis, or Mihali Savoulidis and Zdenek Gubb of Twiddle. By now, it should be clear from the events of the weekend that they’d be joined by guests including their own Ryan Dempsey who took a moment to crawl across the stage for a lick on Mihali’s leg. The set was packed full of jams including Twiddle favorites “Lost in the Cold” and “Syncopated Healing, as well as Sublime’s “What I Got,” Blues Traveler’s “Run Around” and Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower.” The amount of pure energy on stage was exactly what the frigid crown needed and the perfect period to the end of an incredible weekend.

  • Joywave Returns To Rochester With Some Familiar Faces Saturday Night

    Joywave, Rochester own indie-rock darlings, will make a stop in their hometown of Rochester at Anthology on Saturday night. The band is continuing on their rise to stardom with a lengthy headlining tour before a mostly quiet summer ahead, save for a smattering of festival dates. Their infectious and creative dance-happy music has graced the stages of Coachella, Lollapaloozas both domestic and abroad, X Games, Summerstage in Central Park, Jimmy Kimmel and the list goes on.

    Joywave will be bringing three bands with strong Rochester ties with them. KOPPS, an electro-dance group from the Flour City, has been working together with Joywave since their inception, sharing members and guesting on each other’s albums, shows and even in their merchandising. Maybird, psychedelic rockers fronted by Josh Netsky, are currently working out of Brooklyn, but originally, and until recently, hail from Rochester. And lastly, Transviolet, a fresh pop band making waves out in Los Angeles (and beyond), features three members from Rochester.

    It’s an incredible four-part Rochester-centric bill, featuring bands that are all on their way up. While it isn’t quite sold out, it certainly will, so it’s best to get tickets in advance. Doors will open at 7 p.m. Saturday night with the music getting going around 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance ($25 day of show) and are available at the Anthology website or in person at House of Guitars, Aaron’s Alley and Record Archive.

  • Boy and Bear Sell Out The Hollow

    Hard-working Aussies, Boy and Bear worked a sold-out crowd at The Hollow Bar and Kitchen on June 8. The five-piece indie/folk band barely fit onto The Hollow’s stage, but that didn’t seem to matter to the crowd, which appeared to be filled with a mix of 20-year-old girls and a handful of limb-flailing hippies. Pants cuffed, Boy and Bear ripped through an 18-song set with ease, and although there was little movement from the band, lead singer, David Hosking, mesmerized the crowd with his passion and digit-flaring moves. Throughout the evening, Hosking kept his eyes focused on the abyss, while periodically addressing the attendees with little tidbits about the songs. A few standouts from the Boy and Bear set include “Showdown,” “Back To Black” (Amy Winehouse cover) and “Part Time Believer.” All three songs played in succession, leading up to the grand finale of “Harlequin Dream,” “Southern Sun” and “Walk The Wire.” Hosking was nice enough to inform the crowd that there would not be an encore, and seeing that the band played 18 straight songs, nobody seemed to mind; it’s a trend that many bands seem to be embracing.

    Perhaps just as impressive as Boy and Bear was the Capital Region’s own Bear Grass. By chance, the foursome had a similar name, but couldn’t have been more different. Lead singer Katie Hammon drove an absolutely intoxicating 10-song set, which quickly won over The Hollow audience. The performance even seemed to win over Boy and Bear drummer, Timothy Hart, who more or less stood and watched the entire set. Even Hosking himself exited the tour bus to check out a few numbers. Hosking was quick to praise and thank Bear Grass as the night concluded, even though the two were sharing the stage for just one night. It’s easy to see why Hammon and Bear Grass are a local band that stand out as on the rise; she’s reminiscent of a Nina Gordon of Veruca Salt fame.

  • Hearing Aide: Waydown Wailers “Empty Promises”

    The whiskey drinkin’ outlaws of Waydown Wailers from Northern New York have been roaming across the state supporting the release of their sophomore recording, Empty Promises. Brothers Dave (lead guitar/vocals) and Christian Parker (guitar) along with Michael Scriminger (drums/percussion) and Connor Pelkey (bass/backing vocals) outfit the four-man roots rock band, which coalesced in 2012.

    Waydown Wailers Empty PromisesReleased February 2016 through Woodstock Records, Empty Promises embodies a multitude of familiar human experiences nestled in straightforward blues-rock riffs and uncomplicated lyrics. The cautionary “Don’t Let Life Pass You By” opens the 10-track album, spurring listeners to derive meaning through a slew of thrill-seeking adventures. Dave contends, “You can spend your money, ya won’t ever get it back, to get that feeling that you lack.” Though jumping from an airplane or being shot from a cannon may only appeal to some, anyone can relate to the notion of attributing meaning through memorable experiences.

    The title track “Empty Promises” engages a harder rock sound with more percussive guitar. Waydown Wailers‘ genre-bending outlaw jam style is embodied by the varying stylistic elements of this song. Low octave backing vocals reiterate lyrics in a “Monster Mash” fashion, while the chorus in unison with guitar impart a likeness to Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger.” “Jealousy” concludes with an uptempo organ-driven siege perfectly tailored for a wild west cowboy chase. Strong classic rock vibes on “No Time to Waste” emulate a satisfying Allman Brothers-esque guitar mix, while “St. Vraine” gets a little softer in Eagles fashion, depicting the unrelenting power of a river in Colorado.

    These rock outlaws are keeping fairly busy throughout the summer playing shows across the Empire State, with the next upcoming gig on Thursday, June 16 at the Westcott Theater opening for Devon Allman Band. Interested in the album? Purchase it here.

    Key Tracks: Empty Promises, No Time to Waste, St. Vraine

  • Nanola Announces Schedule for Phish SPAC Pre and Post-Parties

    Looking for your pre- and post-show plans during Phish’s run at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) July 1 through 3? NYS Music and Nanola have you fully covered.

    The Capital Region’s own Mister F will host three nights of pre-shows and after-parties at Nanola in Malta to keep the fun going long after the lots have cleared after Phish each night. You can even take a shuttle to and from SPAC, just a short 10-minute ride from Nanola to SPAC.

    Friday’s after-party starts with Mister F at 12 a.m. and Lespecial at 2:15 a.m. Saturday’s pre-party features Hayley Jane and the Primates at 4 p.m., and Mister F is on again at 12 a.m. following the show, with Strange Machines hitting the stage at 2:15 a.m. Sunday’s pre-party has Mister F on at 4 p.m. and The McLovins closing out the weekend with an after-party beginning at 12 a.m.

    In addition to these pre- and post-shows, Nanola will be offering a $13 brunch buffet on Sunday, July 3, for Holly Bowling‘s performance. Reservations are recommended for table service and can be made by calling 518-587-1300.

    All pre-parties are free, with each nightly show costing $10. Shuttles are also $10, and a combo pass including all shuttles and after-shows is $50. You can pick up tickets here.

    Nanola features a full bar, great beer selection and traditional pub fare in addition to creole favorites like jambalaya, oysters and po’ boys.