NYS Music 20​16

Tag: blues

  • Hearing Aide: Mike Powell “Tied to the Rail”

    Singer/songwriter Mike Powell has no shortage of inspiration for writing music. Raised in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, he taught himself guitar at the age of 13, boasting a catalog of 20 or so songs by the age of 15. Powell went on to become one of the most decorated college lacrosse players in history for Syracuse University, declining an offer to play in the pros straight out of college, opting instead to follow his passion for music and songwriting to the stage.

    With the reverent simplicity of his soulful voice, an ax, and a harmonica, he delivers nine heartfelt, timeless songs on his fourth album, Tied to the Rail. Eliciting influences from Bob Dylan and John Prine, Mike Powell has been described as a “polite rebel; a truly unique and inspiring American voice,” by The Boston Globe. Powell has also released Blue Eyes and Hand Me Downs, Replevin, and the 2014 Syracuse Area Music Award-nominated Kapow.

    Powell eventually did play lacrosse professionally – for the Baltimore Bayhawks in 2005 and the Boston Cannons in 2007. Two years later, he was back on stage, touring alongside Sarah Lee, the granddaughter of Woody Guthrie. A woodworker, Powell nearly lost his ring finger on his playing hand while moving a stack of logs in 2014. With a varied past such as his, it comes as no surprise that Powell is such a great storyteller!

    The album kicks off with the folk/southern rock hybrid “Empire,” a track that showcases the power of what one can accomplish with the simplicity of an acoustic guitar and Powell’s smokey yet earnest voice. It’s a taste of what’s to come – a no-frills album showcasing powerful lyrics by a seasoned vocalist.

    The second track, “Bibles and Bourbon,” features a signature steel guitar and is a short but sweet busker song, good for helping you get out of your own head.

    His lyrics – like these from “Mary Anne” – are pieces of Americana.

    When the water cost money and the drugs seem cheap

    When all your dreams stay lost in your sleep                                    

    And you can feel a break down coming soon

    When your head gets dizzy from the rattle and the spin

    And the sadness seems to burn on your skin

    And every night you’re left yelling at the moon

    Conjuring up images of dusty railroad tracks and bible thumping preachers, “Tied to the Rail” combines folk, soul and a bit of country to create a sound that is sure to give you the feels. Inspired by the birth of his daughter in 2016, Powell is back on the road promoting his third album.

    You can catch Powell on the road Tuesday, December 13 at the Light Club Lamp Shop in Burlington, Vermont, at Ray Brothers BBQ in Bouckville, New York on Friday, December 23 and at the Brae Loch Inn in Cazenovia on Friday, December 30.

    In January, he returns to the studio with his Black River Band to record a new record set to release in March. He resumes his tour in early 2017 with over a dozen upstate New York appearances already scheduled, many of which Powell will be joined by Black River Band featuring John Hanus on guitar, Shane Kelson on keys, Joe Bell on bass and Dom Scicchitano on drums, with intimate solo shows when appropriate.

    Visit Mike Powell on Facebook or his website for more dates or to pick up a copy of Tied to the Rail.

    Key tracks: Empire, Bibles and Bourbon, Mary Anne

  • Hearing Aide: The Nth Power “To Be Free – Live”

    low-res-to-be-freeThe Nth Power’s latest release To Be Free – Live is exuberantly funky, bursting with spirituality, and clearly on a mission to inspire! After touring to promote their 2015 release Abundance, The Nth Power obliged their fans by creating this nine-track live recording during two nights of performances in Boston, Massachusetts and one night in the band’s hometown of Brooklyn, New York.

    This feel-good 10-track album captures something that you can’t get from a studio recording – the authentic energy that can only come from bearing your soul before a live audience hanging on every note. Anchored in the jazz and funk of New Orleans, The Nth Power’s heady gospel tones and inspirational messages create a well-grounded album which promotes understanding through music. This, my friends, is what love sounds like.

    “Gil said the revolution won’t be televised. These days I start to see it with my own eyes. The media has got you fused with a state of fear. Got you believing all the hate and lies that you feel. I used to believe everything that they tell me was true. But since 9/11 I know I stay lied to. Go smash your TV. You can choose to be free. Stand up and be your own page in history.”

    The lyrics to the song “Truth,”, are a nod to Gil Scott-Heron’s political statement “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.” With it’s polished yet quirky world-music feel, “Truth” is the track you’d be most likely to hear on your local college radio station. With powerful and poignant lyrics, the song is a call for action, and proof that music is just as powerful of a weapon in this day and age as it was in the 1970’s.

    “Right Now,” featuring a funky Motown vibe, is a reminder to live in the moment, and “celebrate what you’ve been given. This life is so worth living right now.”

    The genre-melding song “Could It Be” mixes a Doobie-Brothers-esque feel –  specifically a throwback to the 1973 hit “Drift Away” – with smooth and sultry vocals, ending in a round of “Stir It Up with You,” conjuring up a bit of Bob Marley’s spirit.

    “Take My Soul” is one of the highlights of the album with the scream of the organ ushering us into roadhouse-style guitar licks and smokey vocals.

    nth-group-1-copy

    Each member of the quartet brings varied musical backgrounds. Nikki Glaspie toured as Beyonce’s drummer for five years before joining up with Dumpstaphunk. Bassist Nate Edgar plays with the likes of Groovechild and John Brown’s Body. Singer and Guitarist Nick Cassarino came from the Jennifer Hartswick Band and toured with Big Daddy Kane. The newest member, Courtney J’Mell Smith, toured with Braimah and was musical director of a church in St. Louis, which comes through in the strong gospel tones on “To Be Free.”

    Since 2013, the Nth Power has performed at renowned festivals including Electric Forest, Bear Creek, Catskill Chill, North Coast Music Festival, and in just the last six months, the group has performed more than 50 shows in 21 states, along with making their second international appearance. Distributed on Harmonized Records, “To Be Free – Live” will be available online and in stores starting November 11th. Check them out on Facebook or visit their website for a full tour schedule! 

    For a sneak peek at the band’s new material, check out their latest video below for “Take My Soul” – a standout blues track from the album which was filmed live in Boston at The Bridge Sound & Stage.

    Key Tracks: Truth, Right Now, Take My Soul

    The Nth Power – Live Album “To Be Free” & Fall Tour Announcement from The Nth Power on Vimeo.

  • Hearing Aide: Dave Keller “Right Back Atcha”

    Northeastern blues can be heard echoing from the mountains of Vermont in Dave Keller’s new album Right Back Atcha. The September 23 release date came just a day after the start of fall and his lyrics are symbolically vibrant with a colorful spirit and a life-changing attitude.

    dave kellerRecorded in the Green Mountain State, Keller recruited a 3-piece horn section, two backup vocalists and a small string ensemble to collaborate with his usual members of The Dave Keller Band. The diverse talent was used right off the bat in “It’s Time You Made Up Your Mind,” which serves as the opening track and the lone cover on the album. Willie Clayton originally brought the song to the studio during the peak of his funk-soul era in 1974 and much like Keller, Clayton didn’t see much in the way of commercial success or critic recognition until he was ripe into his 40s. Keller tips his hat to the roots he knows best while adding his own modern blues sound to this underplayed gem.

    Title track, “Right Back Atcha” has a very seductive brass and bass combination highlighted by Jessica Friedman’s baritone sax. Although the lyrical structure is very inventive, I found the song somewhat off putting, as I know that Keller is around the same age as my father and singing about his sexy time with a woman.   The album artwork on the back of his LP lets us know Keller is still getting freaky and his not-so-subtle innuendos complete the picture. Putting my personal issues with the song’s story behind, Keller nails his silky guitar solo and gets some help from the backup vocalists to bring this sonic, sweaty bang to a finish.

    After the most provocative track on the album, Keller hits us with his first love ballad entitled, “Deeper Than The Eye Can See.” Original band member, Ira Friedman, warms the tune up with a soft piano introduction before Keller gently harmonizes with the female backup singers. This lyrically and vocally soulful composition is reminiscent of Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey” and will leave you feeling all the feels the same way Van the Man does.

    “Circles” clocks in as the longest track of Right Back Atcha, which allows time for the Hammond B3 organ to really drive home the profound message. If “Deeper Than The Eye Can See” is Keller’s way of expressing the beauty of being in love, “Circles” tells the tale of how shitty life can be during the confusing parts. He lets his guitar solo do the crying as Friendman’s B3 steals the show during this deep-rooted blues piece.

    Vermont may one of the least populated states in the country, but that doesn’t prohibit their bands from getting funky. While Keller’s subject matter may be geared towards an older crowd in terms of the over-the-hump, post mid-life crisis topics presented in the lyrics, I can still get down with the eclectic musical arrangements he brought to the studio. This isn’t the type of album that someone in their twenties would throw on during a party, but give me twenty more years of experience and Right Back Atcha may be found on my iPhone 17 shuffle.

    Key Tracks: Right Back Atcha, Circles, You Make It Easy

  • Tad Robinson Brings a Heart Full of Soul to The Dev

    Two steps past the front door of The Dev to load in for a Friday, September 16 performance in Utica, Tad Robinson took a quick glance left and figured he and the band were about to be pigeon-holed into playing in the front window of the small bar. Twenty-five years ago, that would have been the case, with the likes of Danny Morris, Sonny Rhodes, Hubert Sumlin, and others having done so. The bar has expanded since then, added a raised stage, and co-owner Tim Schram has avoided having The Dev be pigeon-holed by featuring a wide variety of live music styles, with a commitment to primarily original music.

    The Indianapolis based Robinson is an eight-time Blues Music Award nominee. His 2016 Soul Blues Album of the Year nomination was for Day Into Night, his fourth release on the renowned  Severn Records label. A diverse crowd of blues fans, bar regulars, out of town businessmen, and neighborhood residents were all captivated by Robinson’s voice and the musicianship of him and his band. Backing Robinson were Paul Holdman on guitar, Jeff Chapin on drums, and Kevin Anker on keys, who has appeared on and co-produced Robinson’s recent recordings.

    Tad RobinsonA smooth, stylish, distinctly different vocalist, Tad Robinson impressed with both tone and control by knowing when to punch a phrase and when to lay back. He also exhibited notable harmonica skills, particularly on the chromatic harp. Holdman took the lead for a song of his own with a bit of a gospel touch, and Robinson often gave Anker plenty of room to showcase his abilities on the Hammond keyboard. Remarkable moments during the two set show included “Rained All Night” from Back in Style, Little Walter’s “Last Night,” and a crowd-pleasing rendition of the O.V. Wright southern soul classic, “A Nickel and a Nail.”

    Tad Robinson

  • American Music at the Earlville Opera House, from Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin with The Guilty Ones

    Dave Alvin and his brother Phil have been checking things out ever since they snuck into legendary clubs and theaters as under-aged teenagers to see and hear the artists that provided them with a musical education. In doing so, it is evident that they formed an appreciation for those artists and edifices that have stood the test of time. So it was no surprise to see Dave strolling down the sidewalk of Earlville, checking out the storefronts and old buildings prior to Friday night’s performance of Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin with the Guilty Ones at the Earlville Opera House on September 2.

    Dave AlvinTheir appreciation for those venerable artists was also evident in the choice of songs performed that evening. Bill Broonzy and Big Joe Turner, featured songwriters on their two most recent releases, Common Ground and Lost Time from Yep Roc Records, were highlighted in multiple selections. Even one of Dave Alvin’s own songs honored a singer whose star shone brightly but briefly for only twenty-five years, and whose gunshot death by his own hand has been the subject of rumors and wild conjecture that only grew as decades passed. Those elements provided the basis for “Johnny Ace is Dead,” one of several stand out numbers in a rambunctious two hour performance. This song showcased Dave Alvin‘s songwriting, story telling, singing, and guitar.

    Dave’s brother Phil Alvin, now back recording and performing after serious health issues in recent years, is a tremendous vocalist. Phil’s singing on Turner’s “Cherry Red Blues” displayed both the power and nuance for which he is known. He also added his skills on harmonica and acoustic guitar to various songs.

    The not-so-secret weapon in the Guilty Ones, the Alvins’ backing band, is the incredible Lisa Pankratz behind the drums. I’ve heard it said that for drummers, songs are like children. Some you can trust on their own, and just remain in the background keeping an eye on things. Others need to be nudged along to find their way forward. Still others might require a kick in the ass. Pankratz performs those tasks as well as any I’ve ever seen. Rounding out the Guilty Ones are Brad Fordham on bass and vocals, and Chris Miller on guitar.

    The Alvins also drew upon their days as founding members of prominent Los Angeles band The Blasters with crowd favorites “Border Radio” and “American Music” as well as two of their encores, “King of California” and “Marie, Marie.” For a toe-tapping, hip-shaking good time, go see Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin with The Guilty Ones.

    Special guest performer Sarah Borges opened the show with a solo acoustic set of primarily songs off her recent CD, Good and Dirty. Included was an exceptional cover of “Stop and Think It Over” (No, not the Perry Como song.) She had an easy rapport with the audience, and told hilarious stories of life on the road playing music. The Boston based musician is a name you should remember to check out, as Dave and Phil Alvin did.

    All photos were taken at the historic Earlville Opera House, now celebrating its 45th anniversary season.

    Setlist: All by Myself, I Feel So Good, World’s in a Bad Condition, Mister Kicks, Cherry Red Blues, Hide and Seek, Southern Flood Blues, Border Radio, Johnny Ace is Dead, Truckin’ Little Woman, What’s Up with Your Brother?, Dry River, American Music

    Encore: King of California, Marie, Marie, Turn on Your Love Light

  • Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin with the Guilty Ones to appear at Earlville Opera House

    Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin are well known as founders of the prominent Los Angeles band the Blasters, which existed where blues, punk, country, and rockabilly found a way to intertwine and helped spark the resurgence of what has come to be known as roots rock or Americana music. In the late 1980’s, the brothers went their separate ways with solo acts and side projects, until rejoining forces for 2014’s Grammy nominated Common Ground, a tribute to Big Bill Broonzy. Dave Alvin’s driving guitar work, along with Phil Alvin’s powerful howling vocals, and backed by the Guilty Ones, make for an irresistible sound on last year’s release, Lost Time, also available from Yep Roc Records. That recording saw Dave and Phil continue to pay homage to their influences, and includes four songs written by Big Joe Turner, who they had met when still teenagers. Turner had been a friend and mentor to the Alvins until his passing in 1985.

    As for the enduring appeal of the music they play and cover, Dave Alvin has said, “In some ways, this type of music doesn’t die. It goes through bleak periods or droughts, but I think there’s always going to be a type of kids like us, who are looking for something else. We may not be in the majority, but there will always be a sizable minority of oddballs that find purpose in old music, find meaning in the older music, and then take it wherever they’re going to take it from there.”

    On Friday, September 2, the Earlville Opera House will present Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin with The Guilty Ones, along with special guest opening performer Sarah Borges, beginning at 8:00 p.m.

    The Earlville Opera House is an intimate, historic building originally constructed in 1892. A limited number of tickets remain available for the show, and may be purchased through the Earlville Opera House.

  • In Focus: Grace Potter at Xerox Rochester International Jazz Fest

    Day one of the Xerox International Jazz Fest and Grace Potter gave an energized performance.  Grace rocked the blues as the headlining act in the beautiful venue of Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre.

    The packed venue of seated fans were told by Grace in between songs, her performance will feed from their energy.  She elaborated sharing that if people felt like like they wanted to stand, dance sway, tap their foot to feel comfortable with enjoying as they wished.  The crowd loosened up as she continued through her set and took up her offer to get up close to the stage if they wanted to.  Fans faces were lit up with smiles as they enjoyed her close interaction by reaching out to them from stage.  The air filled with the excitement while she was on stage.  A piece of that night stays with each person of the energy that was created by the performance, music and people.

    Grace and each member of the band played the whole set with meaning and directed it to those there to see them.  It was an incredible treat to have attended to see Grace in action whipping her hair as she moved to the music playing.  Every song was given the attention, emotion, energy and soul as if it was the first time they played it, no mechanical movement or sound could be noticed.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty7J5tJRZIQ[

    Setting on her piano had a large crystal on one side and an alien figurine on the other, a sign she is filled with wonder, depth, love and channeling energy.    It was unforgettable night because of Grace Potter coming to Jazz Fest.  The tone had been set for the remaining 9 days of the festival after that show.  The Jazz Fest had the positive vibe of people coming to enjoy music to dance, smile and have a good time with one another each day.  Check out these moments caught from the night brought to you by NYS Music.

  • Show Preview : Danielle Ponder and the Tomorrow People to Play Funk N Waffles

    Danielle Ponder and the Tomorrow People will be making a stop at the Downtown Syracuse Funk N Waffles on July 16. Ponder, a Rochester native, offers a transcendent mix of powerful groove and soul music with gospel roots.

    Ponder and the Tomorrow People was named one of the “Top Ten Bands to Watch” by CityPaper and was the winner of the 2015 Roc Awards, “Best Local Band.” Ponder and her band are currently on tour in support of their 2016 EP release Blow Out the Sun.

    danielle ponder funk waffles

    Ponderhas been described as having a “riveting and honest” stage presence. Ponder describes her live shows as an interactive experience, “When I get on stage I want the audience to be just as important as the musicians. I want to hear them, feel them and see them dancing and moving.” The Funk N Waffles show starts at 9 p.m. and tickets are still available here.

  • Hearing Aide: Husky Burnette “Ain’t Nothin’ But a Revival”

    Husky-Burnette--Aint-Nothing-But-A-Revival-album-coverThe blues aren’t played. The blues aren’t heard. The blues are felt. And on his latest album, Ain’t Nothin’ But a Revival, Husky Burnette is feeling it, and his audience surely will too.

    This isn’t your back porch strumming blues. This isn’t your dance hall boogie blues, nor is it your big city soaring guitar blues. This is the blues born on the Southern highways, in its barbecue joints and roadhouses.

    Think: trucks cruising on a rainy night with the opposing traffic’s headlights dancing all over the wet roadways; slow-smoked ribs being ripped from the bone by hungry, bearded mouths dripping in grease and sauce; burly men slamming down large beers on the charred and stained wood bar top, as another patron crosses a friend—this is how this record feels.

    Throughout the 11 tracks, listeners will need a sickle to navigate through Husky’s (nee Brian) rough voice, dirty guitar and crunchy harmonica. The guitar comes in heavy and hard from the first track on that will no doubt make listeners bob along before venturing into some full-fledged head banging. But it’s not all pedal to the metal. The songs “36 Degrees” and “Busted Flat” are welcomed slowdowns, where more nuanced performances allow Burnette to display the extended range of his talents.

    From Chattanooga, TN, the relative of rockabilly kings Johnny and Dorsey Burnette, Husky has music in his blood. Recorded by Andy Gibson in Nashville, Ain’t Nothin’ But a Revival is Burnette’s second album under the Rusty Knuckles label. Released the last week of February, the album is available now, so pull up a stool, grab a bottle of beer and a plate of ribs and dig in.

    Key tracks: “36 Degrees,” “See,” “I Moan the Blues”

  • Hearing Aide: Sly Fox and The Hustlers “American Gypsy”

    Sly Fox and The Hustlers released their new, full-length CD, American Gypsy at The Hollow in Albany on January 9th. Well known in the Capital District and beyond, they’ve found a place opening for touring Nationals around the region and doing incendiary shows, large and small, since 2010. The band consists of Sly Fox: guitar/vocals, Dylan Storm: bass/vocals and Sean Ireland on drums. Collectively they’re a three-piece blues-rock outfit, individually, they’re highly accomplished at their craft, sharing a passion for live performance. This is the domain of blues-rock, its strength lies in presence along with the music, the more difficult part is translating that to recording.

    sly fox american gypsyThe opener and title source, “American Gypsy” skips the formality of introduction and goes straight to the point. It has a defiant, swampy feel of movement and searching that echoes Steppenwolf with its drive and instrumentation. It’s a tribute to the hit tv show “Sons of Anarchy” and the video illustrates it well. “Home By Morning” speaks to the blues leanings Sly obviously lives by. The guitar is down and dirty, the harp accentuates and the organ fills are well-placed. Then there’s the rhythm section, make no mistake, a soloist is a soloist, but blues-rock lives on the drive underneath and these cats are tight. It reminds me a bit of Foghat when they jam and just about any other 70s era outfit from their cut, like J. Geils.

    “Forever Young” is a tribute to the memory of a friend shortly before his passing. It’s soulful and spiritual with a reading that moves from Hendrix to Martha Davis in its gut-wrenching emotion. It’s blues with a spiritual longing, raved-up into expression. Followed by “Smooth”, contrasting the prior with a cock-sure upbeat rock tune. The mandatory clap and response section is a pitfall of trying to studio record a live action. “Angels Can Fly” strikes on another aspect of Sly’s musical personality and voicing. It’s softer, emotive and wanting, the guitar solo is crisp and clean, the string-feel adds that heavenly lift to the lyric.

    “Revolutions 2012” is a straight-up rocker spitting against the overwhelming injustices and practices of our times. It’s a rallying cry to the masses for revolution, it’s heavy on all counts and may well hold the best guitar work of this release. Sly flips another switch and turns on a Texas-Blues feel on “Let Me Down Easy”, his influences flying freely from Hendrix to S.R.V., a twist of Morrison in the vocal and the simplicity of ZZ Top in the roll. This is another road song, there are many here, but this one excels, highly.

    sly fox american gypsy
    Photo by Bryan Lasky

    “My Name Is Jimmy” tries to reach into the punk attitude jar, but gets its hands slapped with over-zealous imagery. It has its moments, but is disconnected and over-stated. “Jessica’s Song” is an acoustic guitar song, strumming out a Page-like melody. It’s just slightly dissonant, short and bittersweet, leading back to his and their strength with the closer, “Heart & Soul”. It’s got all of the pieces shining brightly, the organ holds such importance and is easily under-mixed, but not here. Sly meters out his thoughts, rips a few licks and rides on the driving rhythm, reaching into his basket of tricks for the soul aspect. “Got ta, got ta, feel it!”

    Sly has put together a solid release, exhibiting the many facets of his musical personality and life-experiences. It’s well done with maximum energies applied, at moments forced, but it’s damn hard to translate this style to the studio. Get out and catch these cats live, there’s plenty of evidence here that they’ll rip it up. Check them out on their website and on Facebook for news and upcoming tour dates.

    Key tracks: American Gypsy, Home By Morning, Smooth