NYS Music 20​16

Tag: rock

  • Of Mice and Men Band Members Respond to the Departure of Carlile

    News had spread that frontman for Of Mice and Men, Austin Carlile, has stepped down from the band that he helped start up in Orange County, California back in 2009 due to his ongoing battle with Marfan syndrome. Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissue in the body, making Carlile vulnerable to illness at a moments notice.  Carlile stated that the disease, is now making it hard for him to scream, and could suffer permanent damage.

    of mice and men carlileCarlile stated that he will continue to write music as he heals and rests in Costa Rica, where he now resides, and that the band would not seek a replacement, and continue as a quartet.

    Hours after Carlile explained in a lengthy post on social media to fans about the reasons of his departure from Of Mice & Men, his bandmates, released this statement on social media:

    Dear Of Mice & Men Fans,
    It’s with heavy hearts that we announce Austin’s departure from the band for reasons pertaining to his health. As many of you are aware, Austin suffers from a rare connective tissue disorder called Marfan syndrome & has been struggling with the physical demands of touring since the band began.

    After his most recent series of surgeries at Stanford University Hospital, following the cancellation of our European headlining tour, his team of doctors informed him of the damage that performing, & more specifically his aggressive vocals, have been causing his body. They warned that if he were to continue on doing so, it would cause permanent & irrevocable damage to his spine & nervous system.

    Following the advice from his team of specialists, Austin decided it best that he step away from the band & change his lifestyle to better his health. Though we’re heartbroken that he can no longer continue, his health has always been of utmost importance to us & we support him now in this decision & are proud of his perseverance over the years.

    We’ve had an amazing & unforgettable past few years making music & touring the world together & the 4 of us look forward to sharing the next chapter of the band’s story with you. All previously announced shows will proceed as planned & we thank you for your continued love & support. We couldn’t do this without all of you! See you real soon.

    -Aaron, Alan, Phil & Valentino

    Carlile’s full Twitter statement can be read below. He touches all the grateful experiences he has had throughout his career, to the reason why he must step away from singing, and what the future holds.

    of mice and men carlile

  • Hearing Aide: The Black Clouds ‘After All’

    Like many music lovers, I spend a lot of time seeking new artists. Although, the Black Clouds are not new, per se. They’ve been working on music since 2008, and After All is their third effort.

    blackcloudsThe Black Clouds, rock from Monmouth County, New Jersey, just finished recording their newest album, After All, set to hit shelves January 6, 2017. With influences such as Soundgarden and Alice in Chains, I appreciate the enthusiasm present from the beginning to the end of the album.

    Produced by Jack Endino, After All is energetic and fast. From the words of the band themselves, their central dedication is playing fast and hard. That’s exactly what guitarists Neil Hayes and Dan Matthews (vocalist as well) deliver: short, punchy, loud songs identifiable as personal life stories.

    Along with Gary Moses and Cory King on bass guitar and drums, respectively, it’s clear that The Black Clouds have developed cohesively as a team. Numbers like “Self Control,” and “Going Going Gone” display chemistry between all members. Vocal melodies are reminiscent of singers like Dave Grohl and Danko Jones, and the fast, aggressive music mirrors this energetically, but also grants some dynamic range. “Falling” features weaving acoustic guitars and a sad melody.

    Overall, I enjoyed a few listens of this album, and I would go as far as to call it solid, but every album has its weaknesses. After All has a limited amount, if any, musical risk, and in many parts, Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell may as well have recorded one of their legendary runs over the instrumentals. Although more originality could have been exhibited in many places, one might classify this as a “good problem.”

    I can definitely say I would attend a live show of theirs and enjoy the loudness, as I’m sure many will after hearing After All. For now, The Black Clouds have my attention, and I’m excited to see what silver linings The Black Clouds have in their near future, and for the rest of their career.

    For fans of: Danko Jones, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden

    Key tracks: Going Going Gone, Falling, Merchants of Death

  • STS9 Rewinds Time at Terminal 5

    Picture your mind and body being taken on an intergalactic journey through time and space where imagination is limitless. On November 12, Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9) truly made every soul in Terminal 5 rock their bodies to the charm of sweet sound waves. This galactic adventure transported and tickled the tummies of many with tasteful sounds and groovy jam produced by this very unique tribe.

    STS9 Terminal 5STS9 has the power to elevate sensations of happiness and fulfillment. This group brings instrumental electronic rock music to the next level – incorporating a bit of jazz, funk, hip hop, drum and some badass bass. Fans at Terminal 5 were truly astounded at the immense rhythm that filled the atmosphere. Many were ecstatic to hear songs from their latest album, The Universe Inside, recently released in September. They kicked off the night with one of their newest tracks “World Go Round”, and played various brand new songs including “Worry No More,” “Light Years,” and threw it back with a classic called “When the Dust Settles” released in 2011.

    Not to mention the light show was fantastic, which ultimately brought a sense of cosmic waves shooting through the air and lifted everyone’s spirits. The crowd gave thanks to this dynamic group. Hunter Brown expressed himself on guitar/keys, Jeffree Lerner gave into the groove on percussion, David Phipps smiled to the punch of his keyboard, Zach Velmer went crazy on drums, and Alana Rocklin simply rocked the bass to the max.

    STS9 Terminal 5Reflecting the stardust of the universe and everything within it, this band knows how to become one with its audience and its surroundings. Being at a show like this makes you reflect on living in the moment and how everything circles in a glorious manner. Their tunes wrap around you with warmth and a comfort that is lacking in this world. STS9 is an identity of the planet and beyond, reaching and rewinding a sense of timeless nature.

  • Hearing Aide: Spiritual Rez “Setting in the West”

    This is not just a reggae album. This group of Boston, Massachusetts dwellers have created an in depth and diverse Jamaican roots album that stands out miles ahead of most contemporary bands alike. Setting in the West is the fourth album from Spiritual Rez since the birth of the band in 2002 and they’ve really nailed the niche they define themselves. Their sound is heavy on a powerful reggae sound, but it’s garnished with a number of genres, with hints of pop, rock and funk that set the sextet above most other reggae groups.

    Each song is diverse and though each song is heavily rooted to a reggae groove, they manage to make the first two songs sound like two different bands. The first track, “Sober,” has the exact recipe for a reggae song, but the drums and bass line gives the song a certain power that isn’t found in most songs in that style. The tonality changes throughout the song so things stay interesting, instead of falling into a drone which some reggae songs tend to do. The sound is still sultry and lazy but a more prominent beat perks up the song while still holding the roots of the genre.

    But then, “Red Room” comes on, and the listener is taken to a whole new world of pop beats. Featuring rapper Duddy B and loads of computer generated tones, this track sounds like something that would be played on today’s pop radio stations. There’s a hint of popping, staccato guitar riffs, but an almost complete delete of all other reggae influences. It’s still just as good as any other song in this collection, but might be a deal breaker for some listeners as well as “Tidal Wave” and “Digital Age.” There are still traces of the defining characteristics that made reggae sound the way it does, but the band is obviously trying to reach a greater audience. The producer of the album, Kenny Carkeet, a founding member of AWOLNATION, might explain the more pop based tunes, which was definitely a smart move as Spiritual Rez strives for greater recognition.

    For those that may see these tracks as the band selling out, worry not because the majority of the tracks stick to a standard reggae formula, still dropping hints of dance, funk and rock into the mix, with “Bad Girl” and “Square Grouper” show casing the talents of the group. The spice of a reggae group is the horn line, with Quinn Carson (trombone) and Julian Dessler (trumpet) deserving much credit for making this band sound the way it does. Although there are countless reggae bands without such, the duo brings a more cultured and complex sound that helps separate this group from others. Of course, the talents of Toft Willingham (vocals), Ian “Meat” Miller (drums), Jesse Shaternick (bass) and Mohamed Araki (keys) are not to be undersold being the backbone of the group, setting up a solid and groove for every track.

    Spiritual Rez will be spending some time in New York this year playing from Canton to New York City all this month. More info is on their website.

    Key Tracks: Sober, Bad Girl, Square Grouper, Whisky

  • Avenged Sevenfold Surprises Fans with New Album Drop, Pop-Up Shows

    With the holiday season rapidly approaching, Avenged Sevenfold has decided to play Santa Claus, and give A7X fans an early Christmas present in the form of the band’s new seventh studio album The Stage. The music world was going crazy after the band’s virtual performance on top of the Capital Records building in Los Angeles on Oct. 27.

    An announcement that the band was working on a new CD would have been great news, but with all the hints that A7X has been showing the past couple of weeks, fans had a feeling something huge was around the corner.

    Others in the music business have released an album in this fashion before, but only through a digital media source. Avenged Sevenfold fans can head right out and pick up a physical copy of The Stage at any record store.

    Since the announcement, Sirius/XM Octane has been playing tracks off the new album with intro’s by A7X frontman M. Shadows. Shadows recently had an interview with Sirius/Xm’s rock and metal DJ Jose Mangin, to talk about how the release came about.

    Mangin showed some love to A7X for breaking the mold for an album release. He asked Shadows the reason why the band decided to go this route to release the new album:

    There’s a million reasons, but I guess the most prominent reason would be just the lack of, you know, originality in the way people are releasing records these days. The internet is so quick, things happen instantly. When your parents have iPhones, and they know everything that’s going on, you know everyone is connected and you can do something like this and the word is gonna get out there. A lot of it has to do with our boredom of having to go through three to four singles before you get to the record release, and then three months later it’s finally out, and all the excitement is gone. We just wanted to give the fans the cherry on top right off the bat and just say, here it is. You thought that we were messing around for a year, but we’ve been working.

    A lot of bands, you’re hearing what people are saying. You know their reviewing this, you’re hearing the vibe of the record before you even get to hear the music and that’s just wrong to me. Like I want people to make their own decision. Listen to the music and figure it out for yourself instead of being fed the press release. Like, this is what its going to sound like and it’s our favorite most melodic heaviest thing ever. It’s just so boring at this point.

    After Mangin plugged all the ways on media you can hear the album, he wanted to confirm that fans could purchase a physical copy immediately from retailers. Shadows replied:

    Well that’s the craziest thing, Props to Capitol Records for being able to pull that off. This is the first surprise release that actually has a  physical release with it. You know when you talk about Radiohead or Kanye (West) or Beyoncé, it was all digital, but we’ve been able to sneak records into the stores. So you can go anywhere and pick it up now.

    After joking with Shadows about hiding the new album with a fake cover or labels, Shadows confessed, “We definitely had some fake labels going around, and we also had (Chris) Jericho’s fake album title.”

    A7X set up pop up shops in New York and Los Angeles over the Halloween weekend to celebrate the release and for fans to get their hands on some A7X merch.

    The Stage Tracklist:

    01. The Stage
    02. Paradigm
    03. Sunny Disposition
    04. God Damn
    05. Creating God
    06. Angels
    07. Simulation
    08. Higher
    09. Roman Sky
    10. Fermi Paradox
    11. Exist

  • Hearing Aide: Communist Daughter ‘The Cracks that Built the Wall’

    Photo Credit: Communist Daughter WebsiteIt’s a pretty phenomenal album, but only when there is a fairly deep understanding and sympathy for who wrote this and why he did. A naive listener would view this album as just another “hipster” sound with spacey vocals, an indie sound with touches of punk rock. And they wouldn’t be wrong, but the album represents so much more than that.  

    The protagonist of the story is Johnny Solomon and the tale of his musical career started with his first band, Friends Like These, which was allegedly widely recognized, but was short lived as well as his marriage, thanks to substance abuse and mental health issues that landed him behind bars for sometime.

    Needless to say it was a low point in his life and he wanted to push forward and moved to Prescott Wisconsin hoping to escape his demons with the assumption his musical career was over. He found that song writing was the coping mechanism he needed, but little did he know that he would have created some true masterpieces. Friends and colleagues came to help record what Solomon thought would be his eulogy, and before they knew it  Communist Daughter was born. The band launched off, and during all of the success, Solomon leaves for a rehab one more time to be as clear eyed as possible for the release of the band’s debut album, Soundtrack to the End in 2010, an EP Lions and Lambs in 2012 and now, their sophomore album, The Cracks That Built the Wall releasing October 21.

    This new album is very personal, very indie and very well done. The production value is immaculate and their sound, although very familiar, is strong and empowering.

    This big euphoric sound is the most prominent in the first track, “Hold Back”. Like most of these songs, the tone is major and uplifting, but the musicianship is rock based, which tends to have a minor tone to it. That defining characteristic of indie music coupled with what is unmistakably punk or rock undertones, will result in an ethereal tone that  is given power and force which can be synonymous with a feeling of freeing oneself of a physical/ mental hardship or point in life, like what Solomon endured. The album has so much more meaning when the muse of it is fully understood and it’s especially true with this collection.

    Other tracks have the same effect, with some being a bit more dainty than others, like “Strange” with Solomon’s wife, Molly, taking the lead vocals in the track. Her voice is breathy and angelic, with some aid from sound effects and echo, but nonetheless makes this track more ballad-like but still not necessarily depressing, but definitely more uplifting.

    Other tracks “Beach Stalker” and “The Dealer” are harder variations that definitely stick out in the album more than some of the softer tracks. They feel like they have more effort put into the production and songwriting especially when it comes to the direction of the songs. The ones mentioned later are omnidirectional and unpredictable at first listen. The ballads on the other hand can be a bit dreary and lackluster. Arguably, this is album is a representation of his Solomon’s life, which undoubtedly had it’s many, many ups and downs.

    Overall, this album will definitely help launch Communist Daughter into more music scenes, with production value and pedigree being a catalyst. Indie bands are widely abundant and loved these days, which is ironic within itself, but nonetheless will help these very talented musicians make waves in the indie music scene.

    Key Tracks: Hold Back, Beach Stalker, The Dealer

  • Reznor Responds to Questions of NIN Returning in 2016

    Ever wonder what happened to that Nine Inch Nails‘ return that Trent Reznor spoke about around last holiday season? Reznor sent out a tweet around the Christmas holiday in 2015 and stated that Nine Inch Nails’ would return in 2016.

    Well with 2016 rapidly coming to an end, the only thing NIN fans have heard from Reznor were a couple movie announcements he will take part in. Reznor will be apart of Leonardo DiCaprio’s documentary about climate change titled Between The Flood, and Peter Berg’s motion picture about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings titled Patriot’s Day, which stars Mark Wahlberg.

    NIN 2016With less than three months left on the calendar year, COS reports that Reznor recently posted a photo to Instagram of him and some crew members from the movie Between The Flood. This prompted fans to comment and ask the front man, what’s the deal with NIN returning in 2016 like he said – Reznor responded with “2016 is not over yet!”

    Reznor over the summer registered a song titled “Dive and Slam,” on ASCAP’s Repertory and attributed the song to Nine Inch Nails’. The track originally had a September 16 release date, but that info was disputed by Reznor and has yet to be released. Reznor is the only original member of the band, and serves as the band’s main singer, songwriter, producer and instrumentalist. Once Reznor records a new album, he then sets out to assemble a band to play live on tour with him.

    Nine Inch Nails’ has released nine studio albums. The band’s most current album Hesitation Marks, was released in 2013. NIN has sold over 10 million albums in the United States and over 20 million worldwide.

  • 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

  • Hearing Aide: Ampevene ‘Rometheu’

    12 minutes and 30 seconds. That’s how long it takes to listen to Ampevene’s new EP, Rometheu. But that’s not the total sum of each of the songs; it’s just one extended track!

    Ampevene RometheuAmpevene is a band that stemmed from Gabe Stallman’s solo project as a guitarist.  Now the full band consists of Gabe Stallman on guitar and vocals, Mack Hogan on bass, Bob Morris on drums, and Ava Smith on keys, and Jeff Nania on saxophone.  The progressive rock group is based in Albany, so it wasn’t too far to the studio, The Recording Company, in Esperance, NY.

    It’s not clear by the song why it’s called “Rometheu,” but it is the word “Prometheus” without the first and last letter… Perhaps the song was inspired by Greek mythology?

    Rometheu starts out with a rock blues that’s very guitar and bass ostinato heavy. The beginning is not in standard 4/4 time, but rather it’s written with a 6/8 feel – where the first and fourth beat are emphasized in each measure. This helps give the track a flowing groove. At around 2:47, the mode shifts into a fast 4/4, really driving the piece forward.

    The lyrics are posted to accompany the track on Bandcamp, which is immensely helpful. The lines don’t seem to relate directly to one another in a story; the emphasis and poetry are behind each individual line. There are only vocals in the first quarter and very end of the song; it’s clear the music drives this track.

    The crazy guitar riffs and multi-instrument improvisation are awesome and the instruments sound flawless showcasing their melodic riffs.  There’s a point where there is a lack of a clear tonal center, and the band just creates a powerful wall of sound.  At around 6:07, a slower groove is established without saxophone at first to allow the audience to breathe after the more intense section.  It is here where the piano is high in the mix complementing the haunting guitar melodies. The experimentation with the guitar distortion, some organ sounds, and smooth saxophone is quite soothing and fun to listen to.

    The coolest part of this track is the juxtaposition between musical ideas/styles. It makes the piece dynamic and engaging throughout.  The slow section is immediately followed by a short, quicker ending featuring a quick line of lyrics. Rometheu is very impressive from a compositional standpoint as well as a musicianship standpoint.  It’s a track you can’t help but jam along to.

    Listen to it on bandcamp here.

  • Photo Gallery: Alive at 5 Welcomes Tumbleweed Highway and Molly Hatchet

    Tumbleweed Highway and Molly Hatchet performed in Albany at Alive @ 5 on August 4. The two bands gave a performance that rocked the hearts of all attending. The crowd roared with patriotism and pride as they listened to the sweet riffs and vocals of the southern rock bands. It put a great end to the Alive @ 5 free concert series for Summer 2016.