NYS Music 20​16

Tag: strange machines

  • Catskill Chill Offers Fierce Line-Up at New Location

    If you’re not quite ready for the summer to end, the Catskill Chill offers many music lovers one last chance to spend a weekend immersed in sights and sounds at the festival’s new location. Just a mere ten miles southwest from its former location, 2016 ushers in a new era for the festival at the New Minglewood.  This year’s basic festival ticket includes three days of music and camping starting September 24-26.

    Catskill Chill kicks off this year with a Thursday pre-party, a new addition for the festival.  At the mere cost of $45, the pre-party offers a powerhouse line-up of northeast festival favorites. The inaugural evening features Buffalo grove rockers Aqueous, jamtronica favorites Jimkata, two sets from Vermont’s Twiddle and superduo Trakstar featuring Todd Stoops (RAQ) and Rob Chafin (The Werks). The evening will be filled with high energy music that looks to set the bar high for future pre-party festivities.

    Martie Locke who will be traveling from King of Prussia, PA, said that the Thursday pre-party is actually what sold him on the weekend.  “It’s amazing.  Aqueous, Jimkata and Twiddle offer some of the best musical vibes,” he told NYS Music. “I think Thursday night could be some of the best fun of the weekend.  Well worth the price of the entire ticket.”

    For folks not making the Thursday festivities, the entire weekend is packed with creative collaborations, solid headliners, as well as up and coming artists from all over the country.

    Friday offers a mixture of relaxed vibes and funk.  Zack Deputy kicks off Friday’s Main Stage music.  Kung Fu offers the day’s first look at Main Stage funk takeover while funk masters George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic and Phish bassist Mike Gordon headline the Main Stage on Friday evening. Pink Talking Fish are sandwiched in between the two powerhouses, with their performance on the B Stage, creating a solid five hours of music.

    Ryan Montebleau sets the mood for the Saturday Main Stage, with Cabinet and Keller Williams offering up a Saturday afternoon filled with Bluegrass vibes.  Lettuce closes out the Saturday Main Stage Music.

    Sunday’s Main Stage is a variety of musical genres.  Roosevelt Collier’s NY Get Down will feature Dopapod’s Rob Compa and Eli Winderman as well as Michelangelo Carubba and Taylor Shell of Turkuaz.  Bluegrass favorites Greensky Bluegrass and electronic rock masters Dopapod fill out Sunday afternoon. Electron will conclude the activity on Sunday’s Main Stage

    This year’s Catskill Chill is filled with a variety of beloved music performed by some of the festivals most respected veteran artists as this year’s Chill is jam packed with tribute performances. Friday night will feature Pink Talking Fu paying tribute to this year’s passing legends David Bowie and Prince.

    Saturday hosts the majority of these performances. Shwikus, featuring members of Shwizz and Fikus, will pay tribute to the music of the Beatles.  The Heavy Pets bring their highly praised Tribute to the 80’s, while fans of Primus will want to check out Lespecial’s Primus set in Club Chill.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN246u0Q7J8

    Dopakuaz, featuring members of Dopapod and Turkuaz, returns after a memorable performance of the music of Studio 54 at last year’s Catskill Chill.  This year, the two bands have collaborated to showcase the best of classic 80’s preppie soft rock, also known as Yacht Rock.  Saturday night’s tributes will conclude with the Chillfam All-stars Tribute to Michael Jackson. Fans of Led Zepplin should catch Elise Testone’s tribute set on Sunday. Bitches Bloom will perform the music of American Jazz legend Miles Davis on Sunday as well.

    The Catskill Chill is also offering a few unique choices on their 2016 line-up.  Primate Fiasco’s unique blend of Americana, street band and off humor lyrics are a refreshing change of pace for almost any festival line-up. Meanwhile, Reed Mathis (Tea Leaf Green) and Electric Beethoven featuring Jay Lane (Primus, Ratdog),Todd Stoops, Cochrane McMillian (Tea Leaf Green) and Clay Welch will perform a set of “classical dance music” with a reimagining of Beethoven classics.

    This year’s line-up is also highlighted by a laundry list of this summer’s most buzz worthy bands. Hailing out of New York State, Mister F, Formula 5 and TAUK continue to make noise on festival line-up’s all over the Northeast. Hayley Jane and the Primates are Chill vets, but their rising stock makes the Vermont based group one of the weekend’s acts to see.

    Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Tom Hamilton’s American Babies are other noteworthy artists for the four-day weekend.  North Carolina’s based Big Something and Boston’s progressive eletrofunk outfit Strange Machines have also been gaining steam all summer long.

    “Strange Machines is just so epic and progressive as they make you want to dance harder,” said Nick Augustine of Maryland, “They blow me away again and again every time.”

    The Werks, Turkuaz and Indobox are also solid, ‘can’t go wrong’ choices amongst this year’s jam packed line-up.

    First time attendees will find themselves on even ground with experienced Chill attendees, as everyone will be learning the festival’s new lay-out.  However, festival organizers look to make the transition a bit easier by keeping stage names and key amenities the same.

    However, beyond the music, the hope of most attendees is that despite venue changes, the “Chill Fam” will maintain the vibe that has, in part, kept the festival growing.

    Rachael Dube from Vermont, a four-year Chill attendee isn’t worried about the venue change.  In fact, she says she is excited for the new location.  “There is just something pretty righteous about moving it from the original spot you know? Change is beautiful and inevitable, nothing should stay the same forever. Being able to take the great base that we have created at the Chill, and move it wherever we like, seems pretty cool to me. It’s something special that’s for sure.”

    And it’s not just the festival goers that are excited for the vibe that the festival offers.  Scott Hannay of the band Mister F was a three-year Chill attendee before his band played the festival in 2014. He told NYS Music, that it’s the “the ubiquitous Chillfam” that makes the festival special. “The vibe, the staff, all that music and unique combinations of musicians, it all melds together in a way that other festivals do not. Chill is exactly that, Chill.”

    Tickets for general admission as well as VIP packages are still available.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Domefest 2016, The Flock Congregates for a Weekend of Pleasure

    Smaller festivals are considered to be a more intimate and familiar experience. Domefest 2016 is certainly that, but on a whole different level. There is a palpable energy, a feeling that being a part of this Flock brings with it a love that pulsates in every interaction, welcomes you as you are and most importantly, makes you belong without any doubt.

    This year’s Domefest was held in the beautiful back hills of Bedford, PA, at Front Royale Farm; it was the event’s seventh anniversary. The new location was favorable primarily to VA Flockers, PA Flockers and some from New York, but the Flock is everywhere, and some dedicated fans made a much longer drive. Over the years, the event has moved locations a number of times, most recently relocating from Tripp’s Farm in Terra Alta, West VA, where it was held last year. While making my rounds talking to veteran Flockers, I got the impression that this year’s location was the best one yet, due to proximity, ease of navigation and lay of the land.

    On Thursday, everyone arrived at the farm greeted by sunlight and a warm breeze pushing the clouds overhead. There was a large forest camping area most of which lined a long stretch of the main cleared road. There was also an option for field camping in the Dome Field that some people opted for. A path with wooden bridges that were fairytale picturesque, albeit a little risky, connected the general camping areas to the concert area. Camps set up and hammocks suspended, the early arrivals had a chance to enjoy the afternoon sun, while soft sounds of acoustic guitars from nearby campsites floated on the wind, laughter and conversation filled the woods.

    domefest 2016Music kicked off at 6 p.m. on the Flo Stage with Star City Disco, led by DigitalDevy. Lespecial followed at the main stage sparking the evening heat, spreading their melodies on hard electronic grooves and stirring vocals. This year’s Domefest had three stages again, the Flo Stage for in-between sets, the main Runa Stage and the Late-Night Stage, sponsored by the Bamboo Eater.

    Electric Love Machine (ELM) took us into the first evening with an energetic, ethereal “Hattori,” a spectacularly haunting “Rabbit Hole,” closing with a hard grooving “Tomorrow knows.” After that, the Flock, in full dancing mode from ELM’s set, got ready to see the first Pigeons set of the weekend. This set featured old favorites and tracks off their newly released third studio album Pleasure, such as, “Burning Up My Time” and “Live It Up,” along with a first-time cover of “1999” (Prince tribute). Broccoli Samurai did not give people a chance to miss them; opening with a Lotus cover that stopped people in their tracks, and kept them dancing well into the early morning.

    domefest 2016Friday morning was perhaps the best weather the Flock saw before rain took over for the rest of the weekend. Everyone emerged from their tents to meet the warm sun, shaded from the heat by the surrounding forest. Workshops kicked off with a Rise and Shine Yoga Flow both Saturday and Friday mornings, with the talented Rebecca Simms. Music kicked off at 1 p.m. with Mateo Monk’s soothing tones, “like gospel on a Saturday morning.” The Jauntee, Litz and McLovins kept the crowds glued in the concert area, while Puremotion and Vibe and Direct kept them from leaving during set changes. The Jauntee started the marathon with funky grooves, which Litz later picked up and reverberated with their unforgettable vocals by Austin Litz, closing out their set with the first song guitarist Justin Robb has ever written for the band, “If you haven’t heard our name, you’re overdue.”

    domefest 2016The evening was beginning to gather more and more of the Flockers, as Aqueous played their first set of the weekend (live stream by our Amanda Siedner available in AQuaintences Facebook group), followed by a heavy Mantras set with a memorable “The Way Life’s Been Good During Wartime” mashup. The second night of Pigeons certainly did not disappoint, with a Funky start, “Funk e Zekiel,” slowing a little for “Walk Outside” and “Sunny Day” before bringing the funk back with “Penguins>Funkijam” and a “Julia” with an “Under the Sea” tease. The Pigeons played an original debut “Fun in Funk” before closing out with “Ocean Flows” and “E. The Liquid.” The rain was starting it’s own marathon right around that time. Consider the Source mesmerized the crowd for as long as possible, until they thinned due to the heavy outpour, but many were determined not to let weather deter them from the amazing set. ShwizZ took the stage as the sky really opened the water flow for the remainder of the night, but again those determined were not dismayed and danced with ShwizZ until 5 a.m.

    domefest 2016Waking up on the last day of Domefest was a little less warm and a lot less sunny. Flockers were slower to emerge, hoping that the downpour would take a break, but a drizzle was present for the whole day. Music kicked off at 1 p.m. with Strange Machines and Out of Beardspace, while Mateo Monk once again soothed in between sets. The Hornitz rocked the stage with a cool “Dayman” cover (Always Sunny in Philadelphia), vibrating their horns through Dome. Mister F brought their funk with deep bass, synthesizers, high-energy tunes and great covers,  at one point sharing the stage with Hornitz. Scrambled Greg got the crowds ready for a Splintered Sunlight Grateful Dead set. Deaf Scene rocked the crowd before and after the amazing Big Something set that got the rainy night rolling with “Closer” and later “Passenger>Tumbleweed” and “Love Generator>The Curse of Julia Brown” to finish. Pigeons closed out their festival with an amazing run, with a “Skipjack” teased with “Paint it Black,” “J-Town>Black Dog>Whoopie” with the Hornitz boys and a first-time cover of “99 Red Balloons” that was sublime. A “Zydeko” finished the set, weaving into “Rainbow” in the middle. The last late-night was held by ELM and Aqueous, who held a sizable crowd in the soft mist until early morning. ELM kicked off the rainy dance party with “Captain Disco” and later went into a fly “Weird Fishes” cover, and Aqueous took the crowd home with “Origami” and “Skyway>Dave’s Song>Kitty Chaser (Explosions)” with Marty teases in Origami and Dave’s Song.

    This is the second year that Domefest has held three days of music. The stacked line up made it difficult for Flockers to leave the concert area, despite nature’s best attempt to wash them out. At the end of the weekend, although cold and wet, the Flock packed up with warmth in their hearts from the new memories and friendships that they will hold until we get to do it all over again next year. “Tell the right people,” Greg finished their last set with wisdom for keeping that very special energy that lives at Domefest alive.

  • Dopapod Brings Spring Tour to a Close with Three Nights in Cambridge

    Dopapod spring tour came to a satiating conclusion this weekend, April 28, 29, and 30 at the prestigious Sinclair in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the band would be returning to the venue for the first time since April 17, 18, and 19 of last year. Having a different opening act to look forward to on each night attracted familiar faces from the previous year, as well as plenty of patrons unacquainted with the headlining act.

    dopapod cambridgeAqueous began the weekend at 9 o’clock sharp on Thursday the 28th. Hailing from Buffalo, New York, the band’s old school groove rock sound served as a perfect appetizer for the heavier energy of the evening. Guitarists Mike Gantzer and Dave Loss provided inspiring technical tandem guitar lines; extremely refreshing in a scene full of one-guitar bands. With pleasant vocal harmonies to match, the opening set provided foresight into the stunning musicianship that would recur throughout the weekend.

    Dopapod left the starting line with their spin on the “Donkey Kong Country Theme”, which saw us into a newer composition called “Super Bowl.” Keyboardist/vocalist Eli Winderman turned up the heat as they continued with “Turnin’ Knobs,” providing the perfect counterpoint to guitarist/vocalist Rob Compa’s ice cold leads which teased us out and into the next track, “Vol. 3 #86.” Aqueous guitarists Mike and Dave then returned to the stage to join Dopapod in giving us a special treat, The Eagles‘ legendary “Hotel California.” You’d think that that would be a track best left to its originators, but this cover did more than justice. Rob’s pitch perfect vocals accompanied Aqueous’ chilling guitar harmonies perfectly in a display that would’ve impressed Joe Walsh. A brief “Bubblebrain” jam directed us to the end of the set, an even briefer return to “Turnin’ Knobs”. The second set began with a jam and a “Weird Charlie”, which met its moniker perfectly in a flurry of teases that might seem weird on paper. Rage Against the Machine‘s unmistakable “Killing in the Name” began the onslaught. The familiar power chords of Green Day‘s “Brain Stew” then progressed surprisingly well into the chorus of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” All the while teasing their own “French Bowling,” a French flag was projected with the stage lights as the boys settled on a uniquely arranged version of this masterpiece. Moving right along with “Braindead” and “Sonic”, bassist Chuck Jones and drummer Scott Zwang’s firm rhythm kept the energy in the room brimming. The band chose a couple of tracks off of their latest album ‘Never Odd or Even’ to bring the second set to an end, “Like a Ball” and fan favorite “Present Ghosts.” The second part of “Weird Charlie” fulfilled the call for encore, and left the crowd almost anxious to return to the venue for the next evening’s show.

    4-28-2016
    Set I: Donkey Kong Country Theme, Super Bowl, Turnin’ Knobs [1], Vol. 3 #86 [2], Hotel California [3], Bubblebrain [4], Turnin’ Knobs
    Set II: Jam, Weird Charlie [5], French Bowling, Braindead, Sonic [6], Like a Ball, Present Ghosts
    Encore: Weird Charlie pt. 2 [7]

    [1] (Contained Vol. 3 tease)
    [2] (Contained Turnin’ Knobs, Donkey Kong, Escort – Cocaine Blues teases)
    [3] w/ Mike and Dave from Aqueous (Eagles cover)
    [4] unfinished (Contained Turnin’ Knobs tease)
    [5] included Green Day Brain Stew jam (Contained French Bowling, Killing in the Name, Jack’s Lament, While My Guitar Gently Weeps teases)
    [6] contained FIGHT and FATALITY Mortal Combat samples (Contained Fly Like an Eagle tease)
    [7] contained FATALITY Mortal Combat sample

    Boston’s own Hayley Jane and the Primates started the night with a bang on Friday the 29th. Combining elements of American folk, early rock, and a plethora of other popular genres, they create a sound that captivates in a way that the mere sum of its parts cannot. Vocalist Hayley Jane’s stage presence is something that can be matched only by her sheer range and overall vocal prowess. Guitarist/vocalist Justin Hancock and keyboardist/vocalist Jeff King provide clean three part vocal harmonies, as well as the base of a sound which diverse doesn’t begin to describe. With dates scheduled through spring and straight into the festival season, fans in New York and all over New England should certainly keep an eye out for the strikingly gorgeous Ms. Jane and her wonderful Primates.

    “Nuggy Jawson” drew the crowd’s attention like a tractor beam as soon as the lights went down. Dopapod was all smiles at the sold out friday night crowd, going into the fourth “Priorities” they’ve played this year. A menacing “Black and White” got everyone moving, with bassist Chuck Jones’ gut busting grooves truly allowing the rhythm section to cut through the mix. Next we got an insight into where exactly he might’ve honed his nearly sensual plucking skills, welcoming his former bass instructor Dan Morris to the stage. Frank Zappa’s crushing “Apostrophe” would serve as the backdrop for a dual bass solo that was emotionally fulfilling to say the least. It was moving to see a musician invite his mentor to the stage to show him the true reverence from both the crowd and the pupil. As ‘D-Mo’ waved goodbye, everyone concurred that nary a dual bass solo had been heard since Spinal Tap’s Derek Smalls played one with himself back in ’88. The more relaxing “Cure” continued the set, which saw it’s live debut on the third show of the tour in Colorado. The third track of the evening off of the ‘Drawn Onward’ album, “Flipped”, brought us to intermission. After a long and arduous TSA style search upon reentry, the Sinclair was gracious enough to allow Dopapod in continuing to be the only thing tighter than their security. “Nerds” had everyone who knew them singing along to no words. A dreamy intro from lead us into “FABA”, next driving the set in a heavier direction with “Give It a Name”. “Freight Train Filled With Dynamite” was actually filled with a finger pickin’ good bluegrass jam, exemplifying Dopapod’s propensity for true cross-genre fusion. The second night concluded with “Cloud World” and “Dracula’s Monk”. Rob Compa returned to the stage for a one man encore, playing right up until curfew to the crowd’s dismay. We would all have to wait until the final evening to see a complete return.

    4-29-2016
    Set I: Nuggy Jawson, Priorities, Black and White, Apostrophe [1], Cure, Flipped
    Set II: Nerds [2], FABA, Give It A Name [3], Freight Train Filled With Dynamite [4], Cloud World, Dracula’s Monk

    [1] w/ Chucks bass teacher Danny Morris (Frank Zappa cover)
    [2] (Contained Flipped tease)
    [3] (Contained Kung Fu Fighting tease) (Contained FABA teases)
    [4] Bluegrass

    Another Boston based band, Strange Machines, warmed the engine for the final drive of the weekend on Saturday the 30th. The spirit was high in another sold out crowd, as we received an early surprise when Dopapod’s Rob came out to join for the haunting “Little Monster”. Guitarist/vocalist Mike MacDonald upped the ante and busted out his falsetto for a funky cover of Escort’s “Cocaine Blues” that everyone related well with. All three opening acts of the weekend related to and prepared us for Dopapod’s sound perfectly, and that theme culminated in Strange Machines.

    “Onionhead” was actually the song that introduced me to the prog rock princes who are Dopapod, so it was a perfect coincidence that they would open this Saturday night tour finisher with the track. “Off the Cuff” provided a window into the previous evening, teasing tracks “Black and White” and “Give It a Name”. Another song which they debuted in early April, “November”, transitioned in and out of the next song “Bahbi”, which turned back into “November”. “Whale (I am)” was the next selection, with the jam seeming a bit directionless as Dopapod played it live for the third time in their career. “Psycho Nature” left us with another explanation of Friday night’s set, teasing “FABA” on its way into the end of the first set, “Weedie”. Feeling in a jammier mood than usual, the boys decided to begin the end with a bouncy “Piazole”, which rang excitedly into the soon to be classic “Trapper Keeper”. The jams and transitions throughout the run and the tour in general were far and above anything that Dopapod has played live thus far, and this last three song set exemplified that fact. At the end of “Picture in Picture” Rob told us exactly who’s to blame for the spectacular spring tour finale that we had just witnessed, thanking each and every one of the road, lighting, and sound crew members by name. The encore began with yet more new songs from the repertoire, beginning with “Made A Design”, which debuted on the 6th of April. “8 Years Ended” looped briefly back into “Picture”, then ending the night, the run, and the entire tour on “Bluetooth”.

    Set I: Onionhead, Off the Cuff [1], November [2], Bahbi, November, Whale (I Am), Psycho Nature [3], Weedie
    Set II: Piazole, Trapper Keeper [4], Picture in Picture [5]
    Encore: Made A Design, 8 Years Ended [6], Bluetooth

    [1] contained Black and White jam (Contained Give It A Name tease)
    [2] (Contained Bahbi tease)
    [3] (Contained FABA tease)
    [4] Extended Jam; Tim and Eric samples
    [5] Extended Jam; crew introductions
    [6] (Contained Picture in Picture tease)

    It’s interesting to wonder who will be the forerunners of rock and roll when the present day torch holders are forced to make their pass. Unique song structure, improvisation, seamless transitions, and iconic stage presence are all requirements on the checklist. They are all traits that Dopapod commands like old pros as well. This three night run proved that the band is more than just another act on the bill. They compose well. They rehearse as they should. And they executed their sound with more vim and vigor than ever before this weekend in Cambridge.

  • NYS Music presents Phish SPAC after-parties with Mister F and friends

    Part of the fun in attending a Phish show is often the plans we make for the before and after parties. For those heading to Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) July 1 to 3 to see the boys, you’re now completely covered.

    The Capital Region’s own Mister F will host three nights of after-parties at Nanola in Malta to keep the fun going long after Phish’s encore. Shuttles will be available to and from SPAC – a quick 10-minute ride.

    20160510-phish-spac-after-party-Mister-F

    Mister F recently welcomed Mike Candela as new guitarist to a band that formed in 2013 from regional acts Timbre Coup and Capital Zen.

    While a schedule is to be determined, they will be joined by the McLovins, Lespecial, Strange Machines and Hayley Jane and the Primates.

    Presented by NYS Music, the bread to this Phish sandwich includes pre-parties on Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3.

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

    Tickets are available in a variety of options. Shows are $10 per night. Shuttles are also $10. A combo pass including all shuttles and after shows is $50.

    Additional details including the daily schedule and ticket information will be announced soon.

  • Strange Machines Announce Extensive Spring Tour

    Strange Machines are embarking on their biggest tour to date this spring, traveling to lots of new places and sharing the stage with great bands such as Dopapod, Consider the Source, Broccoli Samurai, Formula 5 and more!

    The guys are fresh off a successful winter tour which included headlining at some of the Northeast’s premiere venues and a show opening for Twiddle in New Haven, Connecticut. This band has been upping the ante with each and every performance and show no signs of slowing down. Check the dates below and come see what all the hype is about.

    March 20 Brooklyn, NY | Brooklyn Bowl *~
    March 24 Syracuse, NY | Funk ‘n Waffles *
    March 25 Buffalo, NY | Buffalo Iron Works *
    April 15 Northampton, MA | Bishop’s Lounge
    April 16 Bridgeport, CT | The Acoustic #
    April 23 Plymouth, NH | PSU Earth Jam
    April 28 Albany, NY | Parish Public House +
    April 29 Ithaca, NY | The Haunt *^
    April 30 Boston, MA | The Sinclair %
    May 6 Newmarket, NH | The Stone Church $
    May 7 Burlington, VT | Nectar’s +
    May 18 Washington, D.C. | Gypsy Sally’s ^
    May 19 Virginia Beach, VA | Doc Taylor’s
    May 20 TBA
    May 21 Bedford, PA | Domefest
    May 28 Great Barrington, MA | MASSGathering (2 sets)
    June 9 Stephentown, NY | Disc Jam Music Festival
    July 30 Croydon, NH | Wild Woods Music Festival

    % w/ Dopapod
    # w/ Consider the Source
    * w/ Broccoli Samurai
    ^ w/ Mister F
    ~ w/ Flux Capacitor
    + w/ Hayley Jane & The Primates
    $ w/ Formula 5

  • Formula 5 and Strange Machines Get Weird at Funk ‘N Waffles Downtown

    In these frigid mid-winter temperatures, sometimes even the promise of submerging the subconscious in metamorphic melodies is not a strong enough force to lure blanket-wrapped couch dwellers from the confines of ultimate comfort. Those that failed to emerge from their cozy cocoons missed Formula 5 and Strange Machines exploring an assortment of jam tactics at Funk ‘N Waffles downtown Saturday January 23.

    Massachusetts-based Strange Machines opened, featuring Mike MacDonald (guitar/vocals), Christian Perron (keys), Bill Noonan (drums) and Craig Holland (bass). They launched their set with a hard rock attitude, temporarily taming their monster sound and diffusing into a nebulous ambience before mutating into a funky breakdown.Mike MacDonald, Craig Holland, Christian Perron- Strange Machines

    Throughout their set Strange Machines continued to cross genre boundaries, fully utilizing distortion techniques to broaden the scope of their sound and keep the crowd intrigued. At the conclusion of a song that culminated in a unification of crashing symbols and heavy guitar strumming, MacDonald posed, “You guys are okay with weird, right?” Swerving into a hip hop beat, the band continuously shifted gears to undulate seamlessly between rock and reggae overtones.

    Mike MacDonald, Craig Holland, Bill Noonan- Strange MachinesMacDonald’s vocals fluctuated conjunctively between soul and rock. While he nailed a falsetto covering MGMT’s “Electric Feel,” as is often the case with instrumental projects, the sound from his lips fell short of the grandeur projected from the musician’s fingertips. Despite vocals that at times felt forced, MacDonald and Holland conveyed an organic chemistry during a bluesy portion of the set as they merged into a matching rhythm, momentarily mirroring subtle full-body swaying. Knees and hips swiveled as skillful fingers dexterously plucked the stringed instruments slung across their bodies.

    Formula 5 followed, the crew of young musicians channeling New York pride from their Albany home base. Joe Davis (guitar/vocals), James Woods (bass) and Matt Richards (keys/vocals) presented a gentler, more even-toned identity, flooding the room with a mellow jazziness. The pleasant tones washed the crowd in a sea of warmth, conveying a sensation of floating leisurely through tropical ocean waves, or perhaps burrowing in that same fuzzy blanket flung abandoned on the couch on a Saturday night.

    Formula 5 and Strange Machines’ cover choices appropriately blended with each band’s sound aesthetic. Collectively, they served up a medley of jam-based dishes for every taste ranging from plain buttered noodles to jazzed-up spicy stew.

    Strange Machines setlist:

    Steal Away > jam, Squid, Golden Rule, Juxtaposed > Enter the Interceptor, Little Monster, The Shape of Things, Electric Feel*, Brighton Tickler, The In-between

    * MGMT cover

    Formula 5 setlist:

    I: Earthbound$* -> Floating@ -> Earthbound, Kid Charlemagne (Steely Dan), Pedro* -> Excalibur$, Coming Home -> Mellow Mood! -> Jam -> Hot Box

    E: Drum Solo -> Magic Carpet Ride (Steppenwolf)

    * – Unfinished
    $ – contains Tweezer (Phish) Tease
    @ – contains Divided Sky (Phish) Tease
    ! – Bob Marley & The Wailers cover, First time played