NYS Music 20​17

Author: Alyssa Ladzinski

  • As this Summer’s Music Festivals Begin to Unfold, Disc Jam 7 Comes Out on Top

    With well loved music festivals being forced to fold their cards and encountering unfortunate mishaps in an ever-growing and highly competitive field, it’s both refreshing and reassuring that Stephentown, NY’s Disc Jam 7 can boast a laid back atmosphere and tightly-woven, yet growing community and still come out on top. A jam-packed, 4-day musical jaunt with a star-studded lineup attracted herds of fans from all over the Northeast and then some. Nearly 4,000 flocked to the cozy farm for a potpourri of funky jam headliners, late night producer and DJ sets, skilled vendors, a hula hooping and fire spinning flow tribe, on site artists and food trucks to keep festival dwellers happy, well-fed and entertained.

    Thursday set the tone for the sunny weekend ahead, as Albany’s Lord Electro warmed things up on the CEG stage, before Strange Machines welcomed the booming voice and bubbly personality that is Hayley Jane, for the first of her many sit-ins as artist at large. Just after their set, they hopped on Teddy Midnight’s RV, also accompanied by a hot tub, for a quick interview on Teddy TV, which we later found out doubled as a surprise, late night party bus.

    NYC trio Lespecial jumped up on the main stage to deliver some night-time grit and grime as Thursday night headliners. Their odd time signatures, heavy tunes and musical fortitude brought fitting teases of Tool, Rage Against the Machine and Primus’ own “Cannibal Holocaust.” After the help of Dopapod  drummer Neal “Fro” Evans on the genre bending “Enter Sandman” into “Sandstorm,” the trio closed out their headlining performance on the main stage,  riding the wave of symbiotic high energy between fans and artist.

    Friday found a string of New York state bands representing their native stomping grounds into the early evening, including an all-star lineup of Aqueous, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Wild Adriatic, Chromatropic, Leila, Litz, The Motet and jamtronica four piece Teddy Midnight, who rolled out phish teases and a number of stellar covers of The New Deal, STS9 and a pair of hard-hitting Disco Biscuits tunes, “Rock Candy” and “Tricycle,” proving Wiley Griffin can absolutely man handle a guitar. Over on the tent stage, Litz worked their magic to hype up the crowd while the saxophonist alone had enough personality on hand for the whole group. A sound malfunction forced immediate improv with bongo and guitar solos. Doing so seamlessly, the group dove right back into the jams once all issues were resolved and held down their set like true musicians and professionals.

    The excitement for Friday night’s headlining Dopapod set loomed in the air as other festival favorites, Kung Fu, took the stage. Beau Sasser and company  brought an arsenal of just that to the stage at Disc Jam this year for their one of a kind “Sunset-Set.” With Disc Jam 7 being their 6th time playing the festival, Kung Fu has been a fan favorite of the fest since 2012. That being said, the Fu you now groove to in 2017 may not have been the same back in 2012. With fresh tunes and a familiar sound, the group proved why they get invited back every year to the ever-growing festival. Kung Fu welcomed Hayley Jane during their set to perform Joan Jett’s “Reputation,” or for Freaks and Geeks fans, it’s notable theme song while their full set  jammed through a slew of songs such as “Chop Suey,” “Joyride,” and a set closer of Steely Dan’s “Charlemagne.”

    In past years, Dopapod have been known to deliver two sets to the festival they’ve been with since its culmination seven years ago. Unfortunately a gig in Colorado called for the festival veterans to head out early but not before offering up an eye-opening set that had all on feet and moving to the zips Eli’s keys and defined head bobs. Adorned in a blue Dopapod hoodie, Rob Compa took to the front row of the crowd to incite fan engagement, asking what songs they’d like to hear. After a “Trapper Keeper” suggestion and “Nerds” being loudly projected to the forefront of the stage, they launched into none of the above as they continued with songs of their choice. While the hour and a half set didn’t boast a laundry list of material, each delivery had a flair of its own and incorporated lengthy jams throughout, leaving fans both thankful and energized. Fans were treated to an opener of “8 years,” new track “Mucho, classic Dopapod hits and two-bit favorites “Priorities,” “Trickery” and “Cloud.”

    Feeling wired post-Dopapod, a two hour “after party” ensued at the tent stage with the Motet’s uplifting and encapsulating music. Their kinetic energy and signature style made it impossible to stand still, as everyone underneath the tent found a dance partner in the strangers to their left and right. Paired with groovy visuals on the back wall of the tented  stage, the Motet provided time travel through the decades with their genre-spanning music. Just in case anyone let out a yawn or felt their bodies slowly yearning for sleep, singer Lyle Divinsky doubled as hype man for the group, spewing catch phrases into the mic and pumping up the crowd as he stalked back and forth across the front of the stage.

    With late night sets and DJs playing through the early stages of the morning, many found their way back under the tent to witness the magic that poured out of the tips of Holly Bowling’s fingers. While first depicting psychedelic visuals to pair with her compositions of well-loved jam tunes, Bowling offered the audience a “behind the scenes” look at her performance with a special camera placed in front of her hands. Viewers were able to watch her fingers tickle the instrument as she raced her hands back and forth while banging on the black and white keys, all while sporting a quirky smile on her face. It’s evident that Bowling is not only great at what she does but that it embodies the happiness she feels inside. Her takes on Grateful Dead, Phish and The Disco Biscuits found sweet symphonic sounds mimicking “Franklin’s Tower,” “It’s Ice,” and “Magellan” among others. Thankfully, this wasn’t the last we saw of the all-star pianist.

    With at least one expected day of rain, the only dampening of the weekend came from the early morning dew and spilled beer across widely spread campsites. If you even attempted to get some sleep between the late woods parties and the beat boxers dressed in all black outfits adorned in glow sticks, the sun was enough to jolt you up out of your increasingly heated tent making you feel just Bearly Dead, or at least awake enough to go catch their early morning Grateful Dead tribute set–a slot they held at the tent stage all weekend. As Saturday progressed, Consider the Source took on their late afternoon set on the main stage, gathering a large crowd regardless of the fact they had a highly anticipated late night set scheduled for 2am. Ripping through well-known source tracks like “This Dubious Honor,” “Many Words of Disapproval” and “Closer to Home” paired with the wailing of instruments and heavy emotion written across their faces, the trio proved and surpassed reasons why they deserved two slots at disc jam. Never missing a note and playing the most difficult instruments and arrangements, consider the source managed to put a spin on their already involved tunes, oozing mastery musicianship.

    Wild Adriatic brought their Saratoga Springs flair to the Disc Jam stage as declarations of “getting my hair like that guy’s” were made in the crowd, referencing to the stellar afro rocked by bassist Rich Derbyshire. Keeping it in the Capital region, Formula 5 boasted an unforgettable set, complete with a sit in by Holly Bowling and an emotional Allman Brother’s Band tribute cover. Drawing a solid, dance-ready crowd, Formula 5 brought the jams to those swaying back and forth on feet as well as those sitting and relishing in the moment. Bowling sat in for “Floating” as the group made what was the only Gregg Allman tribute of the weekend at the time, with an impassioned selection of “No One to Run With.” Mister F kept the upstate grooves going directly after, despite their recent misfortune of being down a tour van and itching to get new music out to fans, Scott Hannay showed his chops and delivered hard on keys before treating fans to a late night surprise.

    Anticipation struck Gardner’s Farm for the party that Turkuaz was about to unleash on its weekend inhabitants. Making their rounds on the festival circuit, the 9-piece power funk ensemble offered harmonica stylings and powerful vocals with a groovy dance party to match. Shira Elias and Sammi Garrett have been getting more and more attention and for good reason. Their dialed up vocal chops, coordinated dance moves and soulful sound give enough reason as to why–plus, a cover of The Band’s “Don’t Do It” didn’t hurt.

    Saying the tent stage was filled to capacity for Break Science Live would be an understatement. When they took the stage on Saturday night, the original duo of Adam Deitch and Borahm Lee reeled in a humongous crowd as well as support on stage when they were accompanied by a handful of Lettuce members– Erick Coomes on Bass, Eric Bloom on Trumpet, Adam Smirnoff on Guitar and Ryan Zoidis on Tenor Sax. The super group, paired with an intense light show captivated the audience with a combination of trip-hop, dub and jazz which found the tent jumping as a unit. During their set, Manic Focus joined Lee on the table to help with DJing, which brought a unique sound to an already extraordinary group of musicians.

    A 2am set drew in a rather large and sleepy crowd underneath the tent stage. Known for their magical history with performing late night festy sets, most of the audience knew to place their blankets and tired bodies on the floor to witness an amplified, yet scaled back Consider the Source set in a more intimate setting with calming visuals to match. Two girls, however, missed the memo and kept prompting everyone to “stand up and enjoy the music” while others retaliated with, “but it’s a seated performance!” Nonetheless, all in attendance found themselves in awe at the mastery level in which the trio plays. Having checked off deliveries of stirring tracks, including one they learned during their trip to India and haven’t played since, Jeff Mann, John Ferrara and Gabriel Marin know how to nail a performance through tempo, chord progressions, arrangement and elements of surprise.

    At the same time Consider the Source was delivering their intimate set to a lulled crowd, Teddy Midnight’s surprise RV party bus was at full force. Disc Jam artists swapped on and off the luxury bus, playing tunes from the backside of the opened vehicle and slithering guitar necks in between its doorways. Joe Davis and Matt Richards of Formula 5, Scott Hannay of Mister F, Adrian Tramontano of Kung Fu, Wiley Griffin of Teddy Midnight all took a musical ride on the bus.

    As silent discos were offered into the premature minutes of the early mornings, Saturday night/Sunday morning offered listeners a stroll through the Techni-colored woods to “No Diggity” as one looked around and noticed life in the woods is a bit different than out on the wide open spaces of the farm. After placing a pair of silver headphones over your head, you were welcomed into a wooded world of festival dogs, multiple pin boards circulating and growing raves.

    Sunday morning’s sunrise guided everyone to their tents for a quick nap ahead of the final day of Disc Jam 7. Upon awakening and being lazy around camp, the opening notes of Dopapod’s “Bubblebrain” trailed widely across the farm, conjuring many to the stage. Quickly, it had to be discovered who was playing such a top-notch delivery of the unique track. To the surprise of many, it was a group of kids from the ages 11-18 in Zachademy of Music All Stars, including a young boy with luscious blond locks, reminiscent to that of Formula 5 bassist James Woods. A mind blown audience watched as kids half the age of the festival goers shredded through a difficult catalogue including covers of Vulfpeck, Consider the Source and Kung Fu. Dopapod’s Compa went forth to share the “Bubblebrain” video to Facebook, announcing that even he messes up his guitar solo at times and further affirming the true talent boasted by the all stars.

    Around noon, a very talented group new to the scene took the tent stage and made it their own. New Paltz’ The Other Brothers brought a unique sound to the festival, drawing a nice crowd to their set that blended a variety of genres. As always, Chris Owen was able to captivate the crowd with his larger than life vocals and impressive dance moves while Bera, Marquez, Morrison, Nelson and Mendelson kept every groove as tight as possible. Where one song took on the structure of a love ballad, the others were sure to get toes tapping and hips swiveling, gaining a new circle of Disc Jam fans. Be sure to check out this humble group on the rise, you won’t want to miss these brothers in a city near you before they ultimately break through. They’re currently out in L.A. recording their spirited music at the famous Sound City Studios.

    Comparable to the tunes of Twiddle and their upbeat feel, Annie in the Water proved to be the fun 5-piece they are with a super involved set– a smorgasbord of sit ins by Holly Bowling on ‘Carry the Burden,” “Girl Let’s Dance,” with Twiddle’s Dempsey and Hannay of Mister F as well as Hayley Jane and Meadow Eliz offering assistance on “Crispy.” Keeping the theme going, a bulk of talent joined the Twiddle side project known as Gubbulidis. The group’s name derives from the combination the two members;  Zdenek Gubb on bass Mahali Savoulidis on acoustic guitar and vocals. Usually all the two need are some loop pedals to make their sound one that very few could duplicate but to add depth to their one-off set, the power duo was joined by a plethora of talented artists such as the other components of Twiddle, Holly Bowling, Honeycomb,  Billy Comstock of Annie in the Water, Wiley Griffin of Teddy Midnight and two members of Mister F; Colin Shore and Scott Hannay, making their Disc Jam set one of a kind. The full performance, which pieces together “Juggernaut,” “Rocky Raccoon,” “Mad World,” and more, can be found on Archive.org.

    Later on in the day, a tent stage party was hosted by none other than G-Nome Project. The Israeli-based Livetronica Electro-Funk band rocked the tent and everyone inside with their synth-heavy instrumental tunes. Resembling jams taken on by trans-fusion/jam bands such as The Disco Biscuits, Lotus and Phish, G-Nome Project appealed to the masses, zeroing in on a unique blend of genres and inverted jams with covers of tunes from Game of Thrones, Lotus’ “Livingston Storm,” the Biscuits’ “Abraxas,” and Phish’s “Frankie Sez.”

    Pink Talking Fish helped round out the festival with a Sunday evening performance, rotating their famous Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish covers to an appreciative crowd. Mixing up the music of three undeniable bands in the scene, treats came in all sizes with covers of “One in a Lifetime,” “Run Like Hell,” “Mother,” “Rift” and “Harry Hood.” To close out their set, guitarist Eric Gould and artist manager brought out his latest guided talent, Hayley Jane to end with the second and final tribute to Gregg Allman with a moving version of “Soulshine.”

    Neal “Fro” Evans, Holly Bowling and Hayley Jane certainly made their rounds throughout their four days on the farm, collectively marking an impressive number of sit ins. Evans brought his skill on the kit to help Lespecial and Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad on stage. Bowling spent time jamming with Electric Beethoven, Formula 5 and Annie in the Water while Hayley Jane notched an impressive sit in count of nine, with a TLC “Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls” cover alongside Roots of Creation and appearances with Strange Machines, Bearly Dead, Aqueous, Congo Sanchez, Kung Fu, After Funk, Pink Talking Fish and, Annie in the Water. Her final performance with Ryan Montbleau tucked Disc Jam 7 into bed and put the weekend to sleep with one last performance as Yes Darling, as they ripped through a set of original material.

    An intimate experience and independent effort, Disc Jam 7 sure packed a punch of a weekend before coming to a close. Every year, Disc Jam sees exponential growth and although it’s tucked away in the cozy knolls of Stephentown, NY, it’s small town aesthetic and low maintenance atmosphere is exactly what keeps fans coming back for more. When you step onto the farm, you step into the Disc Jam Fam–a world in which you meet and click with those you cross paths with if only for the weekend, a world in which you most likely already know an abundance of people there. After a widely successful seventh year in operation, those who self-identify as Disc Jam Fam left Gardner’s farm already mapping out next year’s detailed blueprints for Disc Jam 8.

  • Plentiful Pineapples, Disc Golf and Late Night Sets: Disc Jam 2017 Is Upon Us

    Next week, all walks of festival life will be welcomed into the pineapple ridden, lush meadows of Stephentown, NY–the stomping grounds for Disc Jam 2017, just as it has been for the last two years.

    For the last seven years, jam, electronic and funk fans have flocked to the Northeast to enjoy a smaller-scale celebration of music, and this year it’s from June 8-11 at Gardner’s Farm. That’s not to say it’s small when it comes to heart. Disc Jam has gathered exponentially growing festival goers each year in operation, whether it took place in its starting location of Massachusetts or where it sits now, just 40 minutes from New York’s state capital.

    Nestled in an cozy location just over the border of Massachusetts and its original festival grounds, Disc Jam is easily accessible and hours away from larger cities like Albany, NYC, Hartford, Providence and Boston. The Northeast can effortlessly swarm to a flat, perfectly sized area to catch their favorite musicians across four stages, all while staying in close quarters to camp sites, vendors, artists and the side-by-side main stages. Remaining a tight-knit event with around 4,000 attendees last year, the festival still brings a larger-than-life mentality to the forefront of its stages. Along with booking popular acts in the scene, he crafts unique daily lineups with late night sets, silent discos and mesmerizing moves provided the talented flow tribe, helping you get into a groove of your own.

    This year, be on the lookout for a number of New York groups coming from all corners of the Empire State. By now, we all know not to miss the heavy hitters like Brooklynites Turkuaz, NYC trio Consider the Source and Oyster Bay’s TAUK. Be sure to lend your time to catching Giant Guerilla Dub Squad, Aqueous, Teddy Midnight, The Other Brothers, Chromatropic and Sophistafunk as well as the Capital Region’s own Mister F, Lord Electro, Wild Adriatic and Formula 5, who now comfortably hold their own in the middle of the jam pack. Before you know it, these are the names that could one day headline Disc Jam and your other favorite summer fests–jump in on the early stages of their careers and enjoy the journey from day one.

    Last year’s highlights included a Radiohead set by Consider the Source and fans can expect big talent from the enlightening, NYC based trio again with two sets– one being a two hour acoustic set from 2:00am-4:00am.  SO if you happened to be passed out in your tent, hooping fearlessly into the night or checking out the cows on site, you have a chance to redeem yourself and see the magic that is Consider the Source after hours.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qjdeniyk2U

    Remaining a faithful headliner, Dopapod has topped the bill each year since the fest’s birth. Fans only have one complaint: they’re not playing two sets. Although it’s something they’ve done on past bills, the Boston-born quartet will instead jet over to Colorado for a gig the very next day, which can only lead one to imagine what stops they’ll pull out for Dopafans in Stephentown.

    On the bill for the second time, Pink Talking Fish brings their tantalizing Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish covers to the Disc Jam stage. The multi-talented group has gained such expedient notoriety over the years; they rank among the best cover bands in the scene. In 2016, an impromptu “bachelor party” for keyboardist Richard James broke out with Hayley Jane leading a band of ladies on stage, appropriately dancing to “White Wedding” and circling him with dance moves and leopard print garments. Both James and Hayley Jane, who recently signed on to be managed by PTF’s Eric Gould, will be back this year with their respective bands, ready to surprise audiences with hidden tricks up their sleeves.

    If it’s your first fest of the year, you may want to take this week to dig out and wash your cooler that I can only bet smells like last summer’s festivities. Round up the troops and pre-game with the Spotify playlist below.  Disc Jam starts in one week!

    Check out daily schedules, vendors, parking information and more here.

  • Intrepid Travelers Drop First Leg of Summer 2017 ‘Everyday is Your Birthday’ Tour Ahead of Summer Camp Festival

    With a name based around the ideology of fearlessly hitting the road and even other dimensions, Intrepid Travelers have set their sights on their latest voyage– the first leg of their Summer 2017 Everyday is Your Birthday tour. With a stacked, 20-date tour launch, the Buffalo-based quartet of Donny Frauenhofer (vocals/keyboards), Brian Calisto (vocals/guitar), David Naimanis (vocals/bass) and Jon Fohl (vocals/drums) will kick off at Summer Camp Festival in Illinois and bring the birthday celebration mentality through the midwest and back home to the Empire State.

    IT will tackle notable gigs in the very near future, with their first summer tour date doubling as a Sunday, 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Camping Stage festival slot at this weekend’s Summer Camp. From there, the funky, psychedelic rockers will bring their explosive improvisation, stockpile of musical elements and interwoven catalog, to the second annual IT Fest in Alden, NY from June 9-10. Last year, fans were delighted with three IT sets–one of those being a full cover of MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular from front to back.

    After notching their very own second festival, the group will keep the celebrations going at Woodhenge Music Festival for a weekend of sustainability-centered workshops and solar powered music. Fellow NYS 87/90 bands sit on the bill such as headliners Formula 5, as well as Boogie Low and Space Carnival. The boys will head to familiar territory at Buffalo Iron Works on June 29 for an official, Everyday is Your Birthday EP release party, giving them one specific night to relish in praises of their latest accomplishments. Among their summer tour dates and the peppered festival stops throughout, Intrepid Travelers have tacked an electric and acoustic set at Rochester’s Three Head’s Brewing as well as a set at Cobblestone Live! Festival in Buffalo onto the end of leg one, giving an abundance of veteran and potential fans a chance to see their receptive musical relationship.

    Through eclectic musicianship, stellar improvisation and quick evolution through an evident jazz-funk fusion outer shell, nods to reggae, bluegrass, classical and electronic tendencies by Intrepid Travelers are sure to take you through a cerebral journey of your very own.

    Summer 2017 Everyday is Your Birthday Tour Dates:

    5/28 – Chillicothe, IL – Summer Camp Music Festival
    6/9-10 – Alden, NY – IT Fest II
    6/24 – Adams, NY – Woodhenge Music Festival
    6/29 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Iron Works **EP Release Party**
    6/30 – Canton, OH – Royal Dock’s Brewery
    7/1 – New Philadelphia, OH – Bud and Tootie’s
    7/2 – Greenwood, IN – That Place
    7/3 – Louisville, KY – Magnolia Bar
    7/5 – Lawrence, KA – The Bottleneck
    7/6 – Cedar Rapids, IA – Dick’s Tap & Shake
    7/7 – Racine, WI – George’s Tavern
    7/8 – TBA
    7/9 – Madison, WI – The Wisco
    7/11 – Ann Arbor, MI – Club Above
    7/12 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
    7/13 – TBA
    7/14 – Youngstown, OH – Suzie’s Dogs Drafts
    7/15 – Rochester, NY – Three Heads Brewing ** Acoustic and Electric Set**
    7/16 – Buffalo, NY – Cobblestone Live! Festival

  • Hearing Aide: Let’s Be Leonard ‘Live at Gugs’

    After planting their musical seed in Saratoga Springs, Let’s Be Leonard sprouted rather quickly into a jam-jazz fusion powerhouse with all intentions of climbing the jam community ladder. Just a few short years after their formation and quitting their jobs, they’ve become a prized outfit in the Capital Region and beyond. Following the debut of their 2015 debut Cow., LBL put forth four live recordings on Bandcamp, this time, releasing the fifth, Live at Gugs in Glens Falls.

    The 5-piece, led by Karl Bertrand (vocals and rhythm guitar), Matt Griffin (guitar), Connor Dunn (saxophone), Chris Cronin (bass) and Paul Guay,
    (drums) took on their Thursday night gig at Gugs on March, 23.      The 14-track live recording displays the group’s organic and majestic improvisations, whether they’re taking it slow and steady with poppy lyrics and sing-a-long choruses or bringing back the blues with suave, seductive saxophone solos.

    The gathering at Gugs was treated to a debut opener of “Spit it Out,” a fresh track with buttery-smooth jazz from start to finish and soft vocals to match. “Kindergarten Blues” follows as a well-known LBL track off of Cow. If you’re a previous fan, you’ve probably heard the blues-referenced track, as well as “Frisbee,” the third execution of the night, on radio stations like WEQX. The back-to-back hits ended with attention honed in on Dunne’s tickling of the saxophone, a busted drum pedal and verbal rant by Mike Rios. “Jump Ship” comes next with a switch-up in musical approach. Vocals take precedence in this easily accepted track with a story to tell, while the band acts as support on this Bertrand-led venture.

    In relation to their debut album, Bertrand described them as “generated by feelings you have at the best time in your life: childhood.” It’s safe to say that the material played at Gugs drew from that same care-free mentality. Other highlights of the night include a blues-heavy “Young Sprite,” which bears a slight, yet pleasant sounding comparison to the Dead’s “Sugaree” at moments, as well as unmistakable insight to the groups comfort with one another and stage banter, regardless of the time span they’ve officially been Let’s Be Leonard. If all that wasn’t enough to be wrapped around their fingers, the sensationally executed guitar solos mark a personal favorite milestone in the set.

    A surprise “Brad Paisley” cover ended the night with unconventional onstage vocal motif between the guys, extremely comparable to Phish’s “David Bowie.” All members repeatedly sing and spew out the country star’s name over and over in a mimicked care-free manner as the jam icons. The light-hearted song acted as an engaging way to close out a set that was so obviously and mutually enjoyed by band members and the crowd alike.

    While Saratoga Springs is no stranger to celebrity strolls down in its perfect weekend-visit city with SPAC just round the corner, it’s hard for residents not to get excited when Brad Paisley is spotted in a local coffee shop. In town for his summer show at SPAC, a local mentioned the group’s own “Brad Paisley.” I wonder if he ever found his way to track of his namesake.

    Bertrand and company recently snagged a headlining spot for Glenn’s Falls 2nd annual GEM Festival held on July 29 and sits among local artists on the newly announced trio of Sunday afternoon concerts on SPAC’s gazebo stage. From their youngest hours as a group, they’ve gained fast and hard earned notoriety. With signing on as one of the founding bands on NYS Music 87/90, it’s safe to say things will keep moving with the same onward energy and hunger to get their next gig booked and festival played.

    Key tracks: Spit it Out, Young Sprite, Brad Paisley

    Live at Gug’s Set list:

    Spit It Out,  Kindergarten Blues,  Frisbee, Jump Ship, “Salvation”, Balloons, Most Days > How Do You Fall In Love?, Open Your Eyes,  Channel 2, Young Sprite, Comet > High n Dry, Birdsong > Rocky Road, Sad Town
    E: Brad Paisley

  • Balance and Composure ‘Afterparty’ Breaks Out for Night 2 at Monty Hall

    Reflection: Who did I really see? What turned out as a spontaneous, nearly three hour drive from New York’s capital region to Jersey City to catch Doylestown, PA natives Balance and Composure for a low key night of alternative rock, grunge and some newfound shoegazey material, quickly turned into what can be described as a Balance and Composure after party, an appropriate nod to a popular track on their latest album. I’ve been to my fair share of B&C shows and lets just say this one does not conventionally belong among the rest.

    Queens of Jean and From Indian Lakes opened up the second Monty Hall gig of the weekend on April 23 before the three groups took the reigns of their US. Spring 2017 tour. Frontman Jon Simmons took to the stage to prep for the set ahead–along with two other non-band members, which quickly generated buzz among the loitering fans. Simmons guitarist Andy Slaymaker and drummer Bailey Van Ellis, took their respective spots on stage, however, guitarist Erik Petersen and bassist Matt Warner were nowhere to be seen.

    Taking a glance around the tightly packed venue, it was evident that the calmer and probably older Balance and Composure veterans sat toward the back while the younger crowd channeled their energy and pushed their bodies to the forefront of the room. The two unknown members turned out to be members of the Doylestown, PA group on hiatus, Superheaven, bringing an evident “pop punkier” sound throughout the set.

    Without lineup explanation or further ado,  Simmons briefly addressed the crowd, thanking everyone for coming out for night two at Monty Hall in Jersey City– a place they’ve yet to play or “even knew existed.” It was clear Balance and Composure 2.0 was ready to kick things off for a night of fun, even with the unconventional or unexpected lineup. Making cryptic jokes and spewing one-off phrases and interjections throughout the show such as “well, let’s uh have some fun tonight” and “the band and I have taken a consensus…” I wasn’t sure if I had walked into the alternative rocker’s edition of The Twilight Zone or if Ashton Kutcher reprised Punk’d just for me, but confusion danced in the air as did I. Although not the run of the mill B&C show, there was only one thing to do– embrace it. (I later found out that Erik and Matt are in the midst of planning their own weddings. Congrats, guys!)

    The group’s third and most recent studio album, Light We Made, stirred up some fan controversy and genre expectations. With the help of producer Will Yip, they took a leap away from the grunge and angst given off on their debut album Separation and implemented auto tune and electronic drumming. Their sophomore release, The Things We Think We’re Missing, blended said genres with more wistful sounds and whimsical lyrics until their third album completely strayed away from their original angered disposition. Diving into Light We Made’s inaugural track for the opener, “Midnight Zone,” Simmons’ threw his hands in the air and began to groove, as the crowd followed. He began to sing through a mic which crafted his voice into the exact way it sounded on the album, certainly Kanye West-style auto tune, but airy and intriguing all at once.

    “Spinning” came next, further conjuring fans to dance and get movin’ before TTWTWM’s “Tiny Raindrop” and “When I Come Undone.” “Void” awakened the violent finger pointing, mosh veterans and long-time fans of the band, conjuring nostalgia and angst from their very first studio album which segued nicely into “Fade,” another heavy hitter. “For A Walk” definitely sits in its own category, as it uses mainly electronic sounds and beats and only makes sense it was delivered to the Monty Hall crowd during the band’s most electronic set to date. “Postcard” was fun to see in a live setting, as Bailey originally tracked the song with electronic drums. If you’ve ever heard of Balance and Composure, you know “Quake,” which was instantly proven as all sang along and rocked their heads to the classic fan-favorite. Next, the group executed  “Run From Me,” giving fans another opportunity to hear their latest Record Store Day project before a bust out of the calming and emotionally charged “Stonehands.” “Notice Me” found the most audience praise and participation as the ending lyrics and title were shouted loudly in repetitive unison with Simmons.

    “Afterparty” came next to accurately sum up the night’s theme. With a group of what seemed to be intoxicated high school girls screaming “well that was fun!” rap music blaring over venue speakers between sets, the makeshift lineup and the care-free, party mentality that Simmons displayed, it truly felt like the song’s namesake. A penultimate deliverance of “Reflection” and a final encore of “I Tore You Apart in My Head” found all fans pushing directly to the front. Whether you entered the Balance and Composure fandom at the grungy, ground level, jumped in during TTWTWM’s experimentation or just came into their new-found electronic explorations, all fans found themselves layered against one another for the final track of the night.

    I’m not sure if it was the atypical line-up, or the self-preparation before the show that shaped this one of a kind experience, but toss all factors together into a neat package and the hour and ten minute set proved to be quite a unique one– and one I’ll never forget. Balance and Composure never fails to deliver.

    Setlist: Midnight Zone, Spinning, Tiny Raindrop, When I Come Undone, Void, Fade, For A Walk, Postcard, Quake, Run From Me, Stonehands, Notice Me, Afterparty, Reflection, I Tore You Apart in My Head

  • Hearing Aide: Lotus ’86 Revolutions’

    From start to finish, it took Lotus 86 days to execute their latest tour that saw sold-out crowds across the United States. To mark the conclusion of a successful run, budding fan base and adding another notch on the touring belt, the post-rock electronic jam band decided to share a live compilation album fresh off the heels of their recent journey. Titled 86 Revolutions, the 14-track release brings listeners through live takes of tracks pulled from the five-piece’s Eat the Light and Build, as well as dug up songs from Lotus’ developing stages as a group.

    “We had a new soundboard for this tour, and the multi-track sources sounded great,” said bassist Jesse Miller, who selected each track and mixed the album. “We release all of our shows, but this was an opportunity for me to spend extra time mixing to expose all the layers that build the Lotus sound.” Group improvisation is the name of Lotus’ game and Miller plays a solid hand in highlighting that through the albums construction.

    We’re welcomed into 86 Revolutions by percussion on “Debris” as Disc One introduces listeners to six tracks of high-energy jamtronica. The entire album can be found via Bandcamp, where more information is listed on track performance date, artist collaborations and more. Proven to be a solid inaugural track with tantalizing guitar, “Debris” is sure to get you grooving by the time Eat the Light track, “Anti-Gravity” ft. electric soul artist Oriel Poole, kicks in. Performed in Ohio, Poole’s soft vocals and lyrics of “You’re my anti-gravity, hold me so I don’t float away,” pair nicely with the spacey jams that help keep the dance mentality alive. At 7:30, the track’s sound takes a turn as it relies heavily on drums and keys until an ultimate fade out transitions into Nomad’s “Livingston Storm” from the very same gig. Loud cheers from the fans can be heard just before the five minute mark until tempo begins to pick up, slow down and do it all over again before closing out the track.

    “Sleep When We are Dead” comes as the first vocal-heavy choice, executed by the band members themselves with breathy vocals, a catchy “Surf Rock” chorus and clean guitar with warbling effects. Lyrics describe grabbing life by the horns, living in the now and of course an allusion to the age old saying “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead.” Highlights from the first half of the release come in “Expired Slang,” which hails from the instrumental-heavy group’s outrageous performance at the 930 Club in Washington, DC. Hearing the track that’s never been included on a studio album through the buds of earphones and computer speakers does, in fact, do the song justice–which only makes one wonder how impeccable it sounded in person. The recorded take relinquishes zippy synth/keys and heavy electro-funk to end on a powerful note. Disc one’s closing track treats fans to another round of pleasing vocal harmonies and percussion breakdowns with lyric-heavy Eat the Light’s “When Our Nerves No Longer Twitch.”

    The second disc leads with a “Slow Cookin” sandwich, pieced between funky “Neon Tubes” Part 1 and 2 on each end. Recorded during their Aspen, CO gig, Greensfield begins to explore unique time signatures at about a minute and a half into the track. “Slow Cookin’” keeps things rolling with cymbal crashes, drum solos and percussion teases as the sampler and synthy vocals get ample attention. “Neon Tubes” rolls back around, transitioning in with whirling sound effects on the dance heavy song. Guitar harmonies and mastery on “The Opus” instantly draw attention inward for the track that was recently performed for the first time ever at the famed Port Chester Capitol Theatre.

    Quite possibly the cleanest sounding tune from the compilation, “The Opus” is another first-time studio album cut. “Rà-Àkõ-St,” originally by Lindstrøm’ and the first cover included on 86 Revolutions, outwardly appeals to the more electronic side of Lotus. The track is played in a triumphant key, as its improvisational volume and speed bounce from high to low and slow to fast. “Blacklight Sunflare” follows, with exploration of diverse sounds and elements, giving a more progressive rock feel to the album. The second and final cover comes as an ode to Talking Heads with a 9-minute “Moon Rocks,” originally off of 1983’s Speaking in Tongues, complete with David Byrne-esque voice inflection and new wave tendencies.

    86 Revolutions wraps up with an 11-minute “Umbilical Moonrise” off of 2003’s Germination, sure to send long-time fans into an extreme state of bliss. Appropriately placed as the ultimate tour closer, the track was the first to ever be penned by Lotus, giving a “full circle” feel to their start as musicians and conclusion of a triumphant tour. It’s fitting for a calm and reflective song, giving listeners time to unwind and reflect on the 86 day journey Lotus embarked on and condensed into 14, carefully selected tracks.

    Key Tracks: Anti Gravity, The Opus, Blacklight Sunflare

    Disc One

    1. Debris  8:39  
    2. Anti-Gravity feat. Oriel Poole >  10:22
    3. Livingston Storm  13:26
    4. Sleep When We Are Dead  6:12
    5. Expired Slang  10:56
    6. When Our Nerves No Longer Twitch  6:10

    Disc Two

    1. Neon Tubes Part I >  6:26
    2. Slow Cookin’ >  7:47
    3. Neon Tubes Part II  4:19
    4. The Opus  9:17
    5. Rà-Àkõ-St  7:20
    6. Blacklight Sunflare  7:52
    7. Moon Rocks  9:01
    8. Umbilical Moonrise  11:40

  • Formula 5 Gets By with a Little Help From Their Friends During ‘All Points North’ Album Release Party

    Capital Region jammers Formula 5 pulled out all the stops for their final All Points North album release party in Saratoga Springs in front of a full crowd of familiar faces and an exponentially growing fan base. After premiering the album in its entirety in New Haven with Relative Souls, the foursome decided to team up with the New Paltz-rooted The Other Brothers to serve up slices of true NY funk and soul on a Saturday night with a dirty laundry list of reasons to celebrate.

    From 8pm-10pm, fans rolled through the Putnam Den doors to enjoy the likes of a free keg with The Other Brothers set slated to rock at 9 pm. With a 15-song set, the six-piece of Chris Owens (vocals), Brandon Bera (drums), Gabe Marquez (keys), John Morrison (Guitar), Jared Nelson (Percussion) and Jordan Mendelson (Bass) kicked off the night with their rock and roll origins, soulful captivation and soaring vocals. Having convened in 2012 at SUNY New Paltz, the group is in the midst of preparing their first studio album, Jones. Having played shows for a few years and acting as seasoned veterans on the Rock and Roll Resort lineup, it’s a bit surprising that they’re only releasing their first album. At the same time, it allows you to get in on the ground level and perhaps grow with a band you’ve never had the pleasure of seeing or listening to before.

    From first impression, you could tell The Other Brothers’ sound and Owens’ powerhouse vocals provided a pleasing contrast to Formula 5 and what was to follow. As their set unraveled, each song found the front man, dressed in pale pink, rocking his hips back, forth and around town and further exploring his vault of dance moves. During a fun reggae-fusion tune, “These Cycles,” Owens’ charisma and onstage conversation demanded your attention–all that was left to do was listen and sway along with him. He often took the audience through anecdotes of how song titles came to be and strange one-off experiences that helped shape their musical contributions. It was hard not to keep your eyes locked on Nelson as his hands transitioned through tapping the congas and tossing a shaker, tambourine and rain stick for high points of the set, which also included Mendelson, sporting a Iron Maiden hockey jersey, impressively hitting quick tempo switches and odd time signatures on “Your Machine.” “Hit You Up” brought out the first guest of the night, Wavy Cunningham, to ease smooth tunes and a bit of rap into the set while the ending track of the night, “Levee for Free” had all fans on foot and Formula 5’s Joe Davis (also sporting pink) delivering tasty licks on guitar.

    The eclectic group of six will open up for Vulfpeck’s Theo Katzman on April 19 at the famed Capitol Theatre in Portchester, NY.  Looks like all is pointing North not only for Formula 5 but for these New Paltz natives as well.

    The Other Brothers Set List:

    Sleep Yo, Good Thing, The Man, Don’t Mean A Thing, Love Recedes, These Cycles, K2 in the Bathroom, New Friends, Can I Get It?, Why You Are, Hit You Up*, Game Show Radio, Your Machine, Bound, Levee for Free*

    * Wavy Cunningham

    $ Joe Davis from Formula 5 on guitar

    After a short introduction from a sincerely grateful and proud band manager, Pete Mason, Formula 5 immediately launched into their double header with transcending energy and multicolored lights boasting “F” and  “5” from the top corners of the stage.

    set the tone for their Saturday night gig with kinetic energy that only kept building. While fans may have heard the newer tunes from recent gigs and even more recent album release teases, it was the first time listening to the entire album in a live setting, lending their ears to Formula 5’s natural creativity and improvisation. Bassist James Woods sported a slight smirk all night, which could be attributed to a number of things, but we’ll just pin it on the electric energy and a “load-off” feeling of finally offering the band’s new studio album to the world. The merch table was freshly stocked with musical material both new and old, freshly crafted Trout Waters pins and newly designed T-shirts available for longtime fans and those just discovering their music.

    Having transformed a Kickstarter goal into reality, Joe, Matt, and James long awaited the night’s celebrations after pouring endless amounts of effort into their third studio album which follows their self titled debut album, April 2014’s Edging on Catastrophe and one live album, Live Five Vol. 1. The quartet implemented some classic strategies as well as newfound ways to draw a dancing crowd to their Putnam Den gig. Joe and Matt dedicated a few hours of their day to Albany’s own Madison Avenue Ben and Jerry’s shop on free cone day to dish out tasty frozen treats to Albany locals, hand out fliers for the album release show and spin their newest record to listening ears and the hungry humans attached to them–talk about a marketing triple threat. 

    Set one presented All Points North front to back, with friends Phil Chow on trumpet and Bryan Brundige of The Chronicles on trombone during “It Goes” paired with a loud exclamation of “I love horn-ula 5!” from the depths of the crowd. Not only did Brundige lend a helping horn on stage, he handles audio engineering at OverIt Media and aided the guys through their All Points North journey in the studio. A long set break brought set two, chock full of covers, a “Tweezer” tease and a loaded surprise sit in. Following a jam and “Booher’s Pass,” moe.’s own Vinnie Amico took to the drum kit during “Pedro” to sit in for the group’s drummer. The two seamlessly transitioned on and off stage while the drummer tried to use his surroundings to aid the beat to try and smoothly dip back behind the moe. veteran. Amico’s presence was unplanned, making the surprise sit in all the more sweet. The seasoned drummer happened to be hanging in the Saratoga venue before wandering into the back room and admitting  he was a Formula 5 fan and excited to see their set. From there, an organic sit in blossomed to cap off an already exceptional night.

    Next up was a double header of covers with Don Henley’s “Dirty Laundry” and Steely Dan’s “Hey Nineteen,” band and fan favorites alike. Appropriately closing out a night of well deserved festivities and completing a pretty solid song cover trifecta, the night was wrapped up into a funky package with a Phish phavorite, “Run Like An Antelope.” Keeping the momentum rolling the next day, the guys announced their participation at The Werk Out Music and Arts Festival alongside Dopapod, Emancipator, BIG Something, Spafford and more. They’ll keep the grooves going with a continued Spring 2017 tour as summertime bliss will bring Formula 5 tunes not only to the festival circuit but directly to phans during the Madison Square Garden Baker’s Dozen run.

    Formula 5 Set List:

    Set I: (“All Points North”)

    Come Along, Sad Bed*, Trout Waters, Pt. I & II, It Goes…^, Excalibur, The Birch Tree^, Q&A, Do Tell^, Figure Out A Feeling^

    Set II:

    Jam -> Booher’s Pass, Pedro$, Dirty Laundry$, Hey Nineteen!

    E: Run Like An Antelope~

    *Unfinished

    ^ Phil Chow on trumpet, Bryan Brundige on Trombone

    $ Unfinished, Vinnie Amico of Moe. on drums

    $Don Henley cover

    ! Steely Dan cover

    ~ Phish cover

  • Dopapod Wraps 3-Night Run at Brooklyn Bowl Leaving Fans Happily Ever After

    Capping off back-to-back explosive nights at Brooklyn Bowl, Saturday, March 25, brought the third and final Dopapod show of the run, closing one chapter and marking the beginning stages of their 26-date Spring 2017 tour.

    The last gig of the trifecta came in hot, feeding off of the energy from their two previous performances which broke out Chuck Berry tribute covers, birthday celebrations and fresh, unheard material from the prog-jam quartet, who recently reunited with their original drummer, Neal “Fro” Evans. As if an original lineup, a newly mapped out tour and debuting fresh grooves to their fans wasn’t enough of a natural high, a smiley Rob Compa, guitarist of Dopapod, dropped the news that he got engaged that very same day—giving a tight-knit Brooklyn Bowl crowd a handful of reasons to celebrate.

    Paris_monster opened up the show for Dopapod faithfuls and while they seemed to be an alternative indie group to the naked eye, it became apparent the Brooklyn-based duo thrives in the midst of synth-pop, garage genres.

    From the second the music began, all eyes were drawn to the pig-tailed singer who exemplified an arsenal of talents by singing, playing the keys with one hand and impressively, the drums with the other. The two took the stage and while the bassist seemed mainly focused on the tunes, the singer’s vocals took command of the entire room, assumingly well-trained and practiced. The vocals shaped up to be that of a hypnotic and spiritual performance with a voice to be heard, climbing to the loudest crescendos and back down to minute whispers.

    Their sound in its entirety had the capability of transforming and layering the noises of two men, into what sounded like a room of beaming musicians. Their experimental ties definitely drew to the Dopafans through their naturally unique tastes, although remaining incomparable to the headliner—something the crowd was more than willing to embrace. Once you get past the initial shock value of their arena-like sound and switchboard of genres, you come to realize the extreme talent and precision it must take to juggle vocals and keys while playing the drum with one hand, all while doing so with a picture of ease. Even if the music isn’t your style, you can appreciate the theatrical, confident and encapsulating performance the duo let loose.

    Setlist: The Unclean, Hot Canyon Air, Moles, The Cause of it All, Ape, Important, Malcolm Hart, Had Damon Caught His Sloane, I Wanna Know If It’s Good To You, Baby*, A Vision Complete, Grandma, Water to the Well

    *Funkadelic cover

    Ready to close out a glorified 3-night run at Brooklyn Bowl, Eli, Rob, Chuck and Neal walked to their respective instruments and while most were taken by the lingering moment ahead of hearing their favorite tunes, my eyes couldn’t be peeled away from analyzing and chuckling over Chuck’s Led Zeppelin t-shirt, which most certainly was adorned with the members of KISS—a solid wardrobe choice with a clear indication the Boston-born group was ready to rock. The first set rolled out with fan-favorite hits like 2014’s Never Odd or Even tracks,“Picture in a Picture” and “Hey Zues! (Que Tal?)” with an abundance of covers and teases peppered throughout the introductory set. The first tease came upon Rob’s elated engagement announcement. While some heard the news via Facebook, others were delighted with the announcement from the beginning notes of “Here Comes the Bride.”

    Shortly after sharing the joyous milestone, the group delivered treat number two, which came in the form of a brand new song titled “Mucho.” Bringing their rock roots to the forefront of the famed Brooklyn venue, the group launched into a gratifying cover of Black Sabbath’s “The Wizard” with help from Paris_monster’s vocalist Josh and Jackson from Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds on harmonica before closing set 1 with “Blast.” High energy was maintained throughout, as both the band and audience were able to feed off of one another’s positive energy and uncontrollable excitement. Compa specifically had an extra spring in his step, demonstrating impressive vocals throughout the night and absolutely manhandling his guitar. Who can say if it can be attributed to his engagement, raw talent or both- but Compa’s performance easily soared high over a Brooklyn audience.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BSFrTzcjxpj/?taken-by=nystatemusic

    The second set welcomed an enticing Chuck and Fro jam session and although some may be torn about the decision to replace Scotty Zwang with their original drummer,  it was evident his skill on the drum kit was appreciated by most. Next came “Weird Charlie,” taking things back a few years to their Redivider days with “Bubblebrain,” complete with FABA teases, and “Vol. 3 #86” paired with top-notch technicolor lighting and teases of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” and Nirvana anthem “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (which it most certainly did, with appropriately described, stagnant air in a venue that offers live music, bowling, plentiful food and drinks).

    Dopapod’s lighting designer Luke Stratton never fails to disappoint—even when Fro manages leaves his haze fluid in Colorado. Eli grabbed the reigns during “Vol. 3 #86, ” as abundantly enthusiastic and rhythmic head nods ensued from his seat as his hands flew back and forth across the keys. “Indian Grits” unwrapped gifts like a “Watermelon Man” tease and “Stand By Me” jam—one that was unexpected. The 3-night stint came to a close with a “Psycho Nature” encore which left all in attendance chanting “eat, drink, breathe, sleep,” four essentials every fan must remember when left in amazement from Dopapod performances.

    The quartet will continue to embark on their 2017 tour just ahead of the anticipated festival season. Compa and company will be riding the wave of excitement this year will continue to bring them—engagements, new music and touring, oh my!

    Set 1: Plaese Halp!, Picture in Picture, November &, Here Come the Bride Engagement Announcement*, Hey Zeus! (Que Tal?), Mucho^ , The Wizard #, Blast

    Set 2: Chuck and Fro jam, Weird Charlie > Bubble Brain •, Indian Grits %, Vol. 3 #86 +, Bahbi, Super Bowl

    Encore: Psycho Nature

    & Spottieoppiedopalicuous tease
    * announcement of Rob and Becky’s engagement!
    ^ new song; debut
    # Black Sabbath cover; w/ Josh from Paris Monster on vocal and Jackson from Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds on harmonica
    • FABA teases
    % Watermelon man teases; Stand By Me jam
    + 7 nation army jam, smells like teen spirit teases

  • Hearing Aide: BIG Something ‘Tumbleweed’

    When BIG Something arrived on the scene back in 2009, their name made it apparent they knew what the future had in store for them. Fast forward eight years later and the funky, electronic, alternative rockers have gone nowhere but up, managing to keep climbing the ladder of fame. Continuously bringing the high-energy jams to east coast music festivals, the group crafted their own annual fest in Mebane, North Carolina: The Big What. After three studio albums, the six-piece hailing from NC decided 2017 was the year to put forth their newest endeavor titled Tumbleweed, the namesake of their December 2016 teaser single. If Tumbleweed is any accurate indication, 2017 is already shaping up to be huge for them.

    In anticipation of their then-impending album, the group decided to launch “Tumbleweed,” paired with a quite jarring narrative, giving fans a spoonful of what was to come in the following weeks. The name “Tumbleweed” references the main character of the track who finds himself endlessly wandering through the depths of a post-apocalyptic desert. If that’s not enough of a concept, he’s hallucinating on peyote, too–quite a trip. The album’s narrative is centered on his lonesome and dark destination and his will to survive and keep movin’ on.

    Released on February 24, 2017 and recorded at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC, the album blew into the speakers of many, proving to be an apt addition to their album lineup: 2010’s Stories From the Middle of Nowhere, 2013’s self titled venture and their penultimate release in 2014, Truth Serum, in addition to a number of live releases. The 8-track album covers a lot of ground, taking a step away from the group’s more lighthearted, carefree and fun tone, bringing it down to a darker realm of sonic trips through barren desserts. Of course, some tracks held true to an upbeat feel but for this runaround, the group decided they’d convey a heavier temperament while flying through a variety of genres.

    The title track, acting as the first glimpse of the album produced by Grammy-nominated John Custer, leaves listeners feeling as if they’re the ones left deserted on the cracked earth beneath a heavily beating sun. The opening notes alone spark an instant curiosity and yearning to hear more. The lyrics, “Cactus tripping/eclipse the sun/mind or mirage/are you having fun?”and synthy keys conjure up psychedelic inspiration and provoke deep thought with airy guitar solos to match.

    This is quickly juxtaposed by “Song for Us,” the second track on the album. Desolate emotions are exchanged for happier, reggae tunes solidifying the fact that the listener is on their own unique journey through Tumbleweed, one they must come out of in their own way, as they bounce between lighter and darker moods. Allowing an ending guitar solo to smoothly transition into “Passenger,” the track begins to grab at bluegrassy (think String Cheese Incident), western influences and spirals further into the theme of wandering in darkness.

    “Blue Dream” follows, introducing a jammier, space rock sound to the album that has yet to be seen. Regardless of being instrumental in its entirety, the track demands your attention. Contributing to the southern rock theme and tying in psychedelia, this track mirrors the album artwork nicely, which displays major sci-fi nods with images of UFOs and alien life. “UFOs are Real” brings a bit of kitschy lyrical fun with groovy bass lines, an added horn section and a quick ability to force you on your feet to dance. The penultimate track, ironically titled “In the Middle,” brings some Californian vibes with surfer rock mentality through its vocals. Wrapping up the 2017 release, “Waves” proves to be a fitting closing track, offering a powerhouse of a crescendo that softens into reminiscent tunes from the album’s opening track. Listeners are seemingly looped and dropped off at the beginning of their own desert trip, left to reflect on the highs and lows the last eight songs challenged them with.

    Tumbleweed is a gripping, innovative release chock-full of imagery, creative instrumentation and solid production, which gave Nick MacDaniels (vocals, guitar), Doug Marshall (bass), Josh Kagel(keys, trumpet), Casey Cranford (saxophone, EWI), Jesse Hensle (lead guitar), and Ben Vinograd (drums) the opportunity to shine in their respective areas and display their utmost dynamism, both in the studio and on stage. Although unmistakably dark, the album grounds the listener and helps them come to terms with the fact that we are all just tiny ants on this humongous globe in space, dragging ourselves through the scorched earth beneath our feet. It’s up to us to keep going.

    Key tracks: Tumbleweed, Blue Dream, Waves

  • Kung Fu and lespecial Bring Friday Night Heat to Putnam Den

    An eager, tight-knit crowd impatiently awaited a double header of CT-rooted funk-fusion Friday, February 24 at Putnam Den, straight from the talents of lespecial and Kung Fu.

    Fresh off the heels of a sold-out double header at Vermont’s own Nectar’s and Bishop’s in Northampton, livetronica act and festy favorite, lespecial, is riding their wave of growing fame. Last year at Disc Jam they offered an unforgettable late night set to their fans in Stephentown, NY, just 40 minutes out from the Den’s home. Kung Fu made a return to the Saratoga Springs venue in less than a year, after their last run around performance with Particle to a 330-person crowd. Acting as their first show of 2017, the five-some will soon after embark on tour before hitting the summer festival circuit, incorporating one original set and one Steely Dan set each night of The Fez Tour.

    lespecial hopped on stage with an impressive amount of gear to warm things up for a Saratoga crowd. As the aggressive, death-funk dance trio exploded into the first set of the night, gentle improv ensued but not for long. Completely unforeseen, the genre-spanning musicians swiftly ditched light and airy tunes and kicked into high-gear heavy metal paired with matching facial expressions. The intensity was written all over drummer Rory Dolan’s face as the grit grew stronger, so did the jam face.

    Dipping into afro-latin fusion with “Harambe Zombie” and funky, self-explanatory acid jazz improv, they took the crowd by storm with Star Wars’ delights as the opening notes of “Imperial March” had all ears perked up. Jonathan Grusauskas and Luke Bemand swapped their guitar and bass to face each other on synths and samplers for the Darth Vader theme. Another treat of the night came wrapped up with a Beau Sasser sit in. The Kung Fu keyboardist aided the trio with a Beatles cover, bringing the naturally slow and emotional “Because” into an unforgettable reggae jam with sprints of polka sprinkled in between. Cowbells were broken out during “Jackwise” ahead of a “Feel it in the Air” cover that segued in and out of what sounded comparable to R.L. Grime/DipLo and Friends mix samples.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ7CMFtjtBD/?taken-by=nystatemusic

    Their hard-hitting and glitch-hop tunes have a way of capturing you inside of a real-life video game as each level-up introduces you to yet another genre or sample. Conventional isn’t their game– and that’s why they’re so captivating. Their ability to span multiple genres in one song and effortlessly transition between them makes you wonder why these guys haven’t gotten the blown up recognition they so rightfully deserve. Yet at the same time, you cherish the fact that they’re still loved in a small, niche group and not popularized to the masses for your own selfish reasons.

    An already amped crowd moved forward and tightly packed together for Kung Fu’s introductory show of 2017, which quickly and almost instantly incited an electro-fusion 70’s dance party. In addition to recent waves of global warming, Kung Fu brought the heat, making Den dwellers feel as if they stepped into a groovy time machine.

    Beau Sasser, Todd Stoops’ keyboard replacement, Adrian Tramontano and Chris DeAngelis of Fu have all been recently found in the Albany/Capital Region area playing with side projects and supergroups at local pubs and restaurants, offering smooth tunes at Speakeasy 518 or getting funky at the City Beer Hall for what used to be Funk Night Wednesday’s. Although this Putnam Den stop wasn’t scheduled as part of the Fez Tour, fans certainly got a treat of what was to come with two Steely Dan songs, “Black Cow” and “Peg” sandwiched throughout the night’s tunes of “Scorpion>Gungho” and “Bopcorn,” before closing out with an encore of “Getdown.”

    Imaginations were left to roam wild and wonder what Steely Dan bust outs will make their way to the national, 28-date Fez tour.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ8Uxa8DcV9/?taken-by=nystatemusic

    If Friday night was anything close to what fans can expect from both groups on tour and on festival bills, summer 2017 is one to be cherished. lespecial will continue their current tour with four more NY dates in Ithaca, Buffalo, Rochester and NYC while Kung Fu embarks on their inaugural tour of 2017, making their Putnam Den stop feel like an ultimate launch party.

    lespecial Set List: Improv> Pentachronic, Harambe Zombie, Pressed for Time, Acid Jazz Improv, New Fish, Imperial March>Force>Lamp, Because*,Sound We Do, Jackwise, Bugg’n>Air>Bugg’n
    *the Beatles

    Kung Fu Set List: Hammer>Paragon, Black Cow*, Scorpion> Gung Ho, Bopcorn, Peg*, Do The Right Thing, Saul Good, Samurai
    Encore: Getdown
    *Steely Dan