The Syracuse Area Music Awards, affectionately known as the SAMMYS, wrapped up its 25th edition Friday, March 3, 2017 at the Palace Theater in Syracuse with a brief performance from freshly inducted Hall of Famers moe.
Ahead of Saturday night’s show at the F Shed, moe. closed out the two-night affair with a three song set of “Tailspin,” “Spine of a Dog” and “Buster.” Friday night’s awards ceremony, hosted by veteran Syracuse DJ and staunch supporter of the local scene, Dave Frisina, featured awards in 18 categories, including three People’s Choice categories, and performances by four Syracuse area bands, reflecting the broad range of styles and talent found in and around the Salt City.
The SAMMYS is the brainchild of Frank Malfitano and now under the care of Liz Nowak. In 1993 Malfitano created the celebration of area music for an event at the Landmark Theatre. The event changed venues several times over the years before finally settling on the grand old Palace Theater on James Street in the Eastwood district.
The festivities began with the Hall of Fame dinner Thursday night, upstairs at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. The Dinosaur has been one of Syracuse’s premier music venues since opening on Willow Street in 1990 and was a fitting venue for the honors and stories that filled the room.
This year’s inductees were Mohawk Valley via Buffalo jamband moe., pioneering new wave singer/guitarist Meegan Voss, 70s blues rock artists Jukin’ Bone and singer-songwriter Paul Case. Also being honored were Anthony and Patricia DeAngelis for Music Educators of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Vincent Falcone. It was a night that had the feel of a class reunion. Hugs and excited shouts from people who haven’t seen each other in years mingled with stories of years’ past in venues no longer around.
The inductions and awards ceremonies were hosted by Dave Frisina, a 1994 SAMMYS Hall of Fame inductee, long-time Syracuse radio personality, champion of local music and self-professed band dad. His son, Mike is a member of Syracuse-based band Simplelife. Most, if not all, of those in the room have dealt with him in some way throughout their career. A man like Frisina is what every music town needs. He is local music’s strongest advocate and has the platform for it at his current station 105.9 The Rebel.
Induction and acceptance speeches were filled with anecdotes and inside jokes. Though, most in attendance, were on the inside of those jokes. Memories of broken down vans, vanished venues and bad decisions peppered the speeches. It was the talk of well-worn musicians who have dedicated their craft not to become famous, but simply to play. To the outsider, it was a look at a scarcely seen side of the working musician.
The first honor of the night was for Educators of the Year. Husband and wife, Anthony and Patricia DeAngelis, two area music teachers were honored for their decades of influence on local musicians at Syracuse University, Colgate University, LeMoyne College, the Lyncourt School and Onondaga Community College. They were inducted by their well-spoken and surprisingly laid-back granddaughter Olivia.
Voss was inducted by her husband and band-mate in the Verbs, drummer Steve Jordan. In her acceptance speech, she pleaded to “Save the clubs.” Case, visibly touched at the recognition for his long career avoided revealing too much of past days on the road, “My kids are in the room.” He lavished praise on fellow musicians in the room, including Jukin’ Bone member Joe Whiting as well as the master of ceremonies.
Case, sporting a black tux and pronounced the Best Dressed in the Room by Frisina, closed his acceptance speech saying, “You get up. You drive to the gig. You set up. You play your ass off. You tear down. You drive a million miles home, week after week, month after month, decade after decade. You do it for the music.” He then dedicated his award to the late Bob Fleming of the Mossback Mule Band, who passed away in September.
Accepting for Jukin’ Bone was Whiting, Mark Doyle and John DeMaso. Discussing the problems of being a young band, Whiting offered a piece of advice, “I would recommend not signing contracts under the influence of anything distilled or brewed, made in a laboratory or passed around and smoked,” eliciting loud laughter from the audience.
The final inductee of the night was moe. Al Schnier spoke first in accepting the honor, speaking of all the Syracuse area venues spent taking in shows as a fledgling musician. Schnier lauded promoters such as Chuck Chao of Creative Concerts, who inducted the band, thanking them for shaping who they became as musicians:
We came here as kids to see concerts Chuck (Chao) was promoting. They made us fans. Whether it was Driving Sideways or the Todd Hobin Band or the New York Flyers or 805; these were the bands we looked up to as kids. They could have been the Allman Brothers or the Grateful Dead; they were the same to us. You guys were rock stars.
Drummer Vinnie Amico attributed the band’s style to its Upstate New York roots, “We all wear our hearts on our sleeves. We all kind of have this style, this thing we do, because of where we’re from. We’re blue collar, baby. We work hard, we play our music that way. There’s an edge to our music and that’s a testament to Upstate New York.”
“The Oddities of the World” – the SAMMYS Hall of Fame Class of 2017
On Friday, 54 artists were nominated among 13 Syracuse Area Music Awards categories. Sprinkled in among the awards were performances by several of the Syracuse area’s finest musicians, representing genres ranging from blues rock to country, rap, alt-rock and jam. There is definitely a varied and vibrant scene in Central New York.
Emcee Dave Frisina kept the event lively and loose, often interacting with presenters and winners as they approached the microphone. Best Jam Band winner, Joe Driscoll, affectionately referred to the host as a jedi to laughter from the crowd.
The performances throughout the night revealed the depth of talent in the area. The Ripcords opened the night accompanied by the Boneyard Horns. They ripped through three bluesy/tex-mex style songs, kicking off the night in a celebratory fashion. Unfortunately, just as they seemed to be letting loose, their set was over. You can get a taste of what the Ripcords have to offer at their ReverbNation page here.
Best R&B recipient Alani Skye had several family members in attendance and received perhaps the most vocal and joyous reception to a win. Her win for Don’t Forget About Mewas never in question for the vocalist as she accepted the award.
A performance by rap artist Curtis “Tall Bucks” McDowell and the Brownskin Band followed. The rhythm section of the Brownskin band mixed equal parts jazz and funk behind McDowell’s rhymes. A guest appearance by Syracuse rapper Real Tall for the song “Solar Radiation” had elements of early ’90s era Leaders of the New School collective.
The reality of life as a working musician came to light when Lauren Mettler was awarded the SAMMY for Best Folk. After an awkward pause waiting for the recipient to make her way to the stage, her brother made his way up to accept. In his speech, he stated how he had just texted her and she was still on her way to the theater. So, as any good brother would do, he stalled for time as she made her way down the aisle, peeling her coat off as she ran towards the stage.
Mettler mentioned how she had just gotten out of work and was trying to get to the theater as quickly as possible, even though she never thought she’d win. Such is life for those looking to make a go of it in the music industry. Everyday jobs sometimes throw hurdles at you along the way. Mettler was genuinely surprised and pleased with her award.
One of the night’s cutest moments came when the award for Best Hip Hop/Rap was awarded to World Be Free for the album Nigg@$ to Gods. He was on the West Coast touring and couldn’t attend the ceremony. As his family accepted the award on his behalf, his young son took a turn on the microphone as his dad’s public relations manager, exclaiming, “My dad has CDs for ten dollars!”
Country artists Chris Taylor of the Custom Taylor Band plead with the audience to get up and dance along to their performance. A funky “Keep Me in Mind” slowly drew the audience to its feet and a rousing rendition of the Charlie Daniels Band’s “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” easily won over the crowd.
The Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist was awarded to Funk ‘n Waffles regulars, reggae-soul band Root Shock. This presentation seemed to be the biggest crowd pleaser of the night as fellow musicians and fans alike rose to cheer their win.
Previous Bourke Award winner, the Spring Street Family Band took over the Palace with their high energy alt-rock performance that even had a band member’s dad jumping up on stage to take video with his phone. Their performance brought the audience to the stage, turning what was a somber awards ceremony into a full-fledged rawk show with a funk-metal-alt sound reminiscent of Rage Against the Machine or Faith No More.
The ceremonies concluded with the awarding of the People’s Choice SAMMYS. Over 110,000 online votes were tallied in categories of Best Band, Best Live Venue and Best Festival or Music Series. The New York State Fair wrapped up the venue and festival categories with their representative thanking all of the venues in the area for supporting the live music that becomes a part of the fair each year.
The award for Best Band went to Cortland-area country band, Small Town Shade, who also won the SAMMY for Best Country Performance for the EP Ring it Up.
moe. wrapped the SAMMYS with a lively three-song set that included “Tailspin,” “Spine of a Dog” > “Buster.” Schnier commented about the lack of curfew at the venue and suggested they keep playing until they are thrown off the stage. To the disappointment of many, Schnier apparently as well, the lights came on at the end of “Buster,” bringing a close to the two-day celebration of Syracuse area music for another year.
Best Jazz: Second Line Syracuse, Second Line Syracuse Best Other Category: Syracuse Society for New Music, Music Here & Now Best Folk: Lauren Mettler, Patchwork Best Jam Band: Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate, Monistic Theory Best R & B: Alani Skye, Don’t Forget About Me Best Pop: The Jess Novak Band, Inches From The Sun Best Americana: Driftwood, City Lights Best Blues: Tas Cru, Simmered and Stewed Best Hard Rock: Breaking Solace – Shatter the Silence Best Alternative: Bell & Sgroi, Bell & Sgroi Best Rock: King Chro and the Talismen, King Chro and the Talismen Best Hip-Hop/Rap: World Be Free, Nigg@$ To Gods Best Singer/Songwriter: Alanna Boudreau, Champion Best Country: Small Town Shade, Ring It Up EP
Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist: Root Shock
People’s Choice Awards were conducted in an online poll for three categories. Over 110,000 votes were tallied. The winners were:
Favorite Band: Small Town Shade Favorite venue to see live music: Chevy Court at the New York State Fair Favorite festival or music series: The Great New York State Fair
Brooklyn-based Acrassicauda, a metal band originally formed in Iraq and featured in the 2007 documentary Heavy Metal in Baghdad, is hosting a benefit at the Knitting Factory Sunday to support immigrant resettlement programs in Brooklyn. The 6:00 p.m. all-ages show is free to attend, donations are encouraged.
Speaking with Billboard about the decision to conduct the benefit, the typically apolitical band says it was sparked by President Trump’s executive order calling for a travel ban from seven majority Muslim countries. Drummer Marwan M tells the magazine:
We dodged that conversation because of everything we went through growing up in Iraq. But what’s going on here is idiotic and making us sick to our stomachs. We decided that we can’t pretend nothing is happening. This country is built on immigration and the idea of diverse cultures united. So many Americans are people who have fled their countries for one reason or another and built a home here. And this country has benefited from them.
The Sunday show features special guests Alex Skolnick of Testament – who produced Acrassicauda’s debut EP, Only the Dead See the End of the War – and Jay Weinberg of Slipknot, along with the bands I Killya, Sun & Flesh, Robots and Monsters and Signals of Bedlam.
Original Acrassicauda members, drummer Marwan and guitarist/vocalist Faisal Talal, with assistance from members of Staten Island band Sicada, will headline the affair. All proceeds from the event, including from all Acrassicauda merchandise sold, will go towards immigrant resettlement causes. The band hasn’t designated one specific organization, but did say a portion will go to the International Rescue Committee, an organization instrumental in helping the band members when seeking asylum in 2009.
Weinberg was enlisted to help via text message from Marwan after witnessing the recent airport protests. He was on board right away.
If you’ve seen the documentary, then you know what those guys went through just to be a band; just to practice. They are trying to live, quote unquote, the American dream, but it seems more difficult to attain these days. So, they are standing up and speaking out for what’s right. They walk the walk, and if I can contribute to a cause that they’re behind, I’m honored to be a part of it.
Acrassicauda released its first full length album Gilgamesh in February 2016. Watch the powerful video for the single “Rise” below. The Vice documentary Heavy Metal in Baghdad can be viewed in its entirety on the band’s website here.
Disc Jam Music Festival 2017 announced the initial lineup for its 7th edition. The June 8-11 festival returns for the third year to Gardner’s Farm in Stephentown, NY, a Berkshire Mountain town near the Massachusetts border.
The weekend of music, art and disc golf features more than 60 acts on its twin main stages and two side stages and features headliners The Motet, Break Science Live Band, Dopapod, Turkuaz, Manic Focus, TAUK, Kung Fu, Pink Talking Fish, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Aqueous, Gubbulidis (Twiddle side project), Ghost-Note (Snarky Puppy side project), Electric Beethoven, Consider the Source and Honeycomb.
The festival’s grounds are home to a 27-hole disc golf course that will play host to a number of tournaments throughout the weekend appealing to the enthusiasts as well as casual players.
Other announced artists reads like a list of the Northeast’s best talent, including: Yheti, lespecial, Esseks, Brightside, Of the Trees, Spiritual Rez, Roots of Creation, Holly Bowling, Hayley Jane, Agent Lockhart, the Mallett Brothers Band, Strange Machines, Congo Sanchez, Sophistafunk, Wild Adriatic, After Funk, Funky Dawgz, Funk You, Swift Technique, Litz, Calliope Musicals, Earphorik, West End Blend, Teddy Midnight, Mister F, Formula 5, Chromatropic, Annie in the Water, Goose, the Mushroom Cloud, Eggy, Lord Electro, William Thompson Funk Experiment, Ben Silver (Orchard Lounge), Toadface, Saltus, Uncle Bob, DELTAnine, Klassik, Leila, Detox, Tsimba, Zerogravity, Zoologic, Bunk Buddha, Bells & Robes, Icculus, Echo Mecca, Kroma Kode, In Flux, Stephen Lewis, Mether, Qwill, Oogee Wawa, the Other Brothers, Humble Digs, Monotronic, Resin Heads, Big Jon Short, Zack Slik, Political Animals, Schooley Mountain Band and Cal Kehoe.
Promoter Tony Scavone said of the talent:
We’ve put together a Who’s Who of Northeast musical talent without straying from our funk/jam roots, while keeping with the times to include the electro-fusion craze that has taken hold of new music being created by today’s fastest rising acts
In addition to the breadth of music and disc golf, there will also be flow arts workshops, interactive art throughout the grounds and daily yoga sessions. Craft and art vending will be sponsored by PhanArt.
Early bird tickets are available now at the Disc Jam website for $125. This includes camping and early entry to the grounds. Special VIP packages include a stay at nearby Jiminy Peak.
Check out Dopapod’s performance with the West End Blend horns from last year’s festival below:
Clyde Stubblefield, the drummer who provided the backbeat for a generation, died Saturday at the age of 73. As the drummer for James Brown’s band, Stubblefield laid the groundwork for funk and inadvertently created the most sampled track of all time. The drummer’s wife, Jody Hannon, confirmed his death from kidney failure.
Stubblefield’s resume as Brown’s drummer includes classic tracks such as “Cold Sweat,” “Say it Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud,” “I Got the Feeling,” “Sex Machine” and the track that gave him his notoriety, “Funky Drummer.”
He was a funky drummer. The brief interlude in “Funky Drummer” provided the beat that launched a thousand hip-hop acts. The track was sampled by the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Run DMC, N.W.A., LL Cool J and even George Michael. Unfortunately, Stubblefield never saw any royalties from any of these uses of his most famous piece as he was not listed as a songwriter on the track.
Roots drummer Questlove proclaimed Stubblefield, “The Funky Funkiest Drummer of All Time” in a tribute on Instagram Saturday
Stubblefield was born in Chattanooga, TN on April 18, 1943, influenced by the factory sounds and the rhythm of the trains near his home. He went on to briefly perform with Otis Redding before being introduced to Brown, joining his band in 1965.
Following his career with Brown’s band, Stubblefield relocated to Madison, WI, performing weekly Monday night gigs with his Clyde Stubblefield Band, a band that included long-time friend Steve “Doc” Skaggs on keyboards and vocalists Charlie Brooks and Karri Daley. He maintained this schedule until health problems sidelined him in 2011.
Over the years, Stubblefield performed with Rock and Roll Hall of Famers the JBs and frequently collaborated with fellow Brown band drummer John “Jabo” Starks as the Funkmasters.
Stubblefield battled kidney problems and bladder cancer since 2000. Due to his lack of health insurance, paying for the procedures proved difficult. Following Prince’s death last year, Stubblefield revealed that Prince had secretly paid his nearly $90,000 in medical bills in full. Prince and Stubblefield had never met but Prince considered the funky drummer one of his idols.
Check out the 1999 video below, where Stubblefield discusses his style and jams with John Medeski on keys, Fred Thomas on bass, Fred Wesley on trombone and John Scofield on guitar:
Talk of the 2017 GRAMMYs will center on Adele’s profanely humble request to re-start her tribute to George Michael so she can “get it right for George,” Beyonce’s cinematic performance of “Love Drought” and “Sandcastles” from her universally acclaimed album Lemonade or Bruno Mars’ role as the Purple One in the joyous celebration of Prince that also included Morris Day and the Time. The televised portion of the awards is the show, with the focus on performances and the marquee categories. However, there was a slew of awards presented throughout the weekend that weren’t televised. NYS Music detailed a number of the New York-based honorees and nominees in December. Many took home Grammys this weekend.
The late David Bowie was nominated in five categories for his groundbreaking album Blackstar and won all five. Taking home the Grammy for Best Rock Performance, Blackstar, Best Rock Song, “Blackstar,” Best Alternative Music Album, Blackstar, Best Recording Package, Blackstar, andBest-Engineered Album, Non-Classical, Blackstar. Bowie had never won for his music throughout his storied career prior to this year. In his later years, the Great White Duke maintained a residence in Woodstock.
DJ duo the Chainsmokers, Andrew Taggart (a Syracuse University graduate) and NYC native Alex Pall, were nominated in three categories – Best New Artist, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their single, “Closer,” which also features Halsey on vocals, and for Best Dance Recording for their single, “Don’t Let Me Down,” featuring Daya – ultimately leaving with a win in the Dance category.
2016 Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, Fallen Angels, and for Best Historical Album, The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series, Vol.12 (Collector’s Edition), winning for Best Historical Album.
New York-via-Texas transplants, Snarky Puppy were also nominated and won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Culcha Vulcha, an album NYS Music reviewed last year. The jazz fusion band made several stops in New York last year, breathing new life into the genre. You can read our review of Snarky Puppy’s Syracuse stop last year here.
Perhaps one of the most powerful performances of the night came from Queens natives a Tribe Called Quest who were joined by Busta Ryhmes and rising rap newcomer Anderson .Paak to perform “Award Tour” and “We the People.” An empty microphone stand was present in tribute to fallen Tribe member Phife Dawg, who passed away last March.
The performance with Rhymes delivering a particularly scathing diatribe of President Trump and the executive order signed to prevent people from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. It concluded with a parade of people of varying ethnicities entering the stage to cheers from the people in attendance.
Art rock pioneers the Velvet Underground were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, an award few would have imagined for the band in the burgeoning New York City art scene of the late 1960s. The late Lou Reed and Sterling Morrison, former roommates at Syracuse University, along with Welsh-born John Cale formed an early version the Velvets, called the Worlocks in the mid-60s. Cale was in attendance at Sunday’s ceremony to represent the band.
The Velvet Underground was a band that never achieved significant commercial success. But as producer Brian Eno once said in an interview, “everyone who bought one started a band.”
The field for the 13th edition of Mountain Jam is set. The annual Catskills festival, held at Hunter Mountain, announced its lineup and headliners, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Steve Miller Band back in November. Friday, the full line up was announced, including additional headliner String Cheese Incident.
Also added to the June 16-18 bill are indie folk artists the Head and the Heart, reggae rapper Matisyahu, Brooklyn-based sax buskers Moon Hooch, Sudanese pop, krautrock, free jazz artist Sinkane, country legend Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives and “hometown” girl Amy Helm and the Handsome Strangers.
Helm is the daughter of the late Band drummer Levon Helm, whose studio, affectionately known as “the Barn,” is located in nearby Woodstock.
Matisyahu, Moon Hooch and Sinkane will participate in the Late Night Jam. The full lineup is available here.
Noticeably absent from this year’s bill are festival hosts Govt Mule and Mountain Jam regular Grace Potter. However, festival mainstays Michael Franti and Spearhead and Gary Clark, Jr. will appear. Also appearing is Peter Frampton, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Holly Bowling, TAUK, White Denim and the Big Takeover.
Mountain Jam prides itself on its family inclusive environment and the kids can expect to see sets from the Paul Green Rock Academy and Ratboy Jr. along with kid friendly activities in the Kozy Kids area.
Three-day general admission tickets, camping and parking passes as well as several VIP packages are available at the festival’s website.
The impetus was a one-off tribute to The Last Waltz during last spring’s New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and Warren Haynes and Don Was put together an all-star cast of musicians to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Band’s all-star farewell concert at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom on Thanksgiving Night, 1976.
That performance spiraled into yet another tribute during Haynes’ annual Christmas Jam featuring many of the same musicians. All involved agreed that it was too good and too fun not to continue. The Last Waltz 40 Tour was born.
Upon entering the picturesque Palace Theatre, attendees were treated to a full scale reproduction of the original Waltz stage, chandeliers and all. With the stage aglow in indigo, the mood was set before the musicians even set foot on stage.
While billed as a tribute to the now 40-year-old classic concert, this show felt fresh, more of a celebration of this great slice of Americana. Those in the know understand that what was originally released in the film and the three-LP album in 1978 was far short of the actual four hour-plus long show back in 1976. Thursday’s show was closer in length to that evening, clocking in at three hours and 20 minutes.
The “Band” for this tour was fronted by Warren Haynes, founder of Govt Mule and former Allman Brothers Band guitarist. There isn’t much Haynes hasn’t had a hand in. Among his unlikely group of merrymakers was former Doobie, Michael McDonald, outlaw country artist Jamey Johnson, avant-jazz keyboardist and virtual mad scientist of the keys, John Medeski, of Medeski, Martin and Wood, Dirty Dozen Brass Band drummer Terence Higgins and uber-producer and bassist Don Was. The four-piece horn section, anchored by Bonerama trombonist Mark Mullins, performed the late Allen Toussaint‘s arrangements throughout the night, adding just perfect punch of authenticity to the classic songs of the Band.
The night began with the PA pumping in the introductory theme from the movie, bringing the capacity crowd to its feet. Johnson took the lead vocals on “Up on Cripple Creek,” giving proper reverence to Levon Helm while maintaining his Nashville twang. Each time Johnson took the lead throughout the night was a pleasure, particularly during his performance of “Georgia on My Mind.” Johnson channeled the legendary Ray Charles with a touch of Willie Nelson in a soulful country-fied take of this classic that had the audience cheering throughout. McDonald’s piano solo and Haynes’ guitar solo complemented Johnson’s vocals perfectly.
The music of the Band is the music of America (despite four of the original five members being Canadian). In their productive years, this group defied classification as they waded through the waters of blues, country, New Orleans-style funk and classic rock. At their peak, they were lauded by such legends as Eric Clapton and George Harrison, the former even expressed an interest in becoming a member at one point. There is a direct line that can be drawn from the Band through the Eagles, Tom Petty, Big Star, R.E.M., Wilco, My Morning Jacket to Blitzen Trapper. They compiled the best of American music into one package and launched the careers of a hundred bands. That is what this tour was all about. The fact that Haynes and Was could gather musicians of different genres and generations to pay tribute to this band attests to that truth.
Late in the first set, New Orleans royalty, Ivan and Cyril Neville, joined the festivities for a funky version of Bobby Charles’ classic “Down South in New Orleans,” a song performed with Dr. John in the original show. Medeski displayed his virtuosity on the keys here as Cyril and Ivan provided the vocals. This was followed by the biggest curve ball of the night, a slinky, slowed-down, funky version of the classic blues song “Who Do You Love.” Cyril drove home the beat on the congas accompanied by Higgins in the pocket, while Ivan joined Medeski on the keys. The contrast from the original, performed by Ronnie Hawkins, couldn’t be more pronounced, yet it fit the setlist perfectly. Haynes worked the pedals, Medeski and Ivan worked the keys and everyone with a microphone in front of them harmonized the chorus to a T. Mullins tossed in a muted trombone solo to cap off a true highlight of the night.
The first set concluded with Johnson leading a sing-along to the Band classic “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” Johnson’s contributions to this show cannot be overstated. The man has the vocal chops to handle anything in the Band’s repertoire.
Following a quick 20 minute intermission, the band jumped feet first into the second set with a stellar horn intro to the classic “Ophelia.” Johnson again took the lead singing as Don Was kept the back end with a huge smile on his face. Haynes contributed one of his trademark solos and the stage was set for a second set that somehow ended up overshadowing the first.
At the original, a maroon jump-suited Van Morrison appeared to perform his classic “Caravan” with the Band backing. On this night, Haynes played the role of Van the Man. Morrison’s voice is difficult to replicate. Haynes made it sound effortless on his turn at the mic. His soulfulness combined with the horn section made it seem as if one was back at the Winterland in 1976.
Michael McDonald took center stage for Neil Young’s “Helpless,” tossing in a bit of his blue-eyed soul that gave his own imprint on the song. McDonald is still at the top of his vocal game and his unique cover of Young’s classic was a welcome addition to the setlist. McDonald was the wild card of this lineup. While he’s contributed keys and vocals to many classics throughout his career, covering someone like Neil Young isn’t something one would expect from him. He made it his own while still keeping true to Young’s original.
As if the night couldn’t get more exciting, John Medeski took over McDonald’s keyboard while the Doobie sat aside him playing banjo for the Johnson-led “Rag Mama Rag.” Medeski put on one of the performances of the night with his assault on the keys, putting the audience’s feet in motion and the keyboard on notice. His performance on this song alone cemented his status as one of the best keyboardists in the game today. One could not help but focus on him as he played.
Following this run-through, the Palace crowd was treated to an appearance from the first of two original The Last Waltz performers in “Steady Rollin’” Bob Margolin. Accompanied on harp by Chris O’Leary from Levon’s Barn Burners, Margolin introduced himself as someone who performed with blues legend Muddy Waters at the original. He told a story of an after-show jam session at the hotel with Ronnie Wood, Levon Helm, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan, where they performed a series of Robert Johnson songs. O’Leary then broke into his harp intro to Robert Johnson’s “Kindhearted Woman Blues” as Margolin laid some old school blues on the Palace crowd. He then broke into a stomping version of “Further on Up the Road,” performed by Clapton in the original, with Haynes on vocals. The 68 year old Margolin displayed more energy than just about anyone on stage during this performance, frog-hopping towards the front row while wailing away. Those who didn’t know him prior, took note this night.
Following Margolin’s electric performance was the part of the night everyone was anticipating. Original member of the Band, Garth Hudson gingerly approached the stage to a standing ovation, decked in a wide-brimmed black hat to hit the keys for “The Weight.” Johnson kicked off the vocals, followed by Haynes and then McDonald, providing that Doobie bounce to one of the Band’s signature songs. O’Leary and Margolin remained onstage for this one. O’Leary provided the “Wait a minute, Chester” portion with a bouncing spirit that had the crowd bouncing along as well.
A soulful rendition of “I Shall Be Released” was delivered with aplomb by Johnson accompanied by a classic Hudson keys solo. Unfortunately, he wasn’t very visible behind the keyboards, aside from his wide-brimmed hat, however the sounds coming from the keys were unmistakably Hudson.
The entire band left the stage following “Released,” leaving Hudson alone at the keys with the spotlight on as he performed his signature improv “The Genetic Method,” a nearly five minute piece inspired by Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” that accompanies “Chest Fever.” This one featured vocals by all the leads including an especially soulful take from McDonald. Each musician on stage was admiring Hudson’s work throughout smiling at the legend as they performed. Haynes’ solo was particularly inspired in this one.
“Don’t Do It” closed the night on a high note with inspired vocals from O’Leary and McDonald with a pop from the horns that left the audience dancing in the aisles with smiles on their faces.
The Last Waltz and the Band are American (and Canadian) treasures. Forty years on and the music that was created is still celebrated and inspirational. The audience in attendance was a mix of those who saw the Band in their heyday as well as those who have been influenced by the artists influenced by them. The music is still as relevant today as it was when it was originally performed and yet sheds a light on the history of American music. This tour was a celebration of that legacy but also a continuation of it. As the years go by musicians will still perform these songs and the legacy will still be celebrated. Here’s to more of that. Thank you to Don Was and Warren Haynes for providing us with this celebration, which will no doubt continue at least until the 40th anniversary of the movie’s release in 2018.
Syracuse was treated to a double dose of bluegrass Wednesday night as Greensky Bluegrass and Fruition rolled into The Westcott Theater. The Kalamazoo crew returned to the Westcott stage nearly a year to the day from their last visit, this time in support of the new album, Shouted, Written Down & Quoted, released in September.
Earlier in the day, news of founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, Butch Trucks’ death cast a sadness upon the music world and the jam scene specifically. A tribute to Trucks would surely be on the agenda for Greensky, one of the premier progressive bluegrass bands on the scene today.
Greensky eased the capacity crowd into things, kicking off the set with a midtempo “The Four” that segued into a rollicking “Eat My Dust” featuring some stellar dobro work from Anders Beck. The first set remained heavy on the bluegrass the band was founded upon before slowing things down for a heartfelt rendition of “Nine Days” with Michael Arlen Bont’s banjo and Beck’s dobro again featured prominently. A lengthy run through of the Greensky staple and jam vehicle, “Broke Mountain Breakdown,” brought the highlight moment of the night, if not one of the most anticipated. Fruition’s Jay Cobb Anderson was welcomed on stage, harmonica in tow, for a ripping tribute to Trucks in the form of the Allman Brothers Band’s “One Way Out.”
“Hold On,” from the band’s latest release, kicked off the second set, segueing into a cover of the Traveling Wilburys’ “Handle With Care” and into “Blood Sucking F(r)iends.” The segue-filled second set finished up with a “Casual Wednesday” for this casual Wednesday, segueing into the new “Run or Die,” an explosive way to finish the night.
Frution, from Portland, OR, gained the respect of the early arriving attendees, ripping through twelve songs in their opening set. While also heavily based in bluegrass, Fruition blends soulful vocals and a funk downbeat to deliver a unique sound that complemented the headliners perfectly. This is a band that will be headlining stages at theaters in short order.
If you missed Greensky and Fruition at The Westcott Theater you can still catch them at The Egg in Albany on Jan. 31, the Union Transfer in Philadelphia PA on Feb. 1, and a three night run at the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C.
You can also check out Greensky Bluegrass and Fruition’s upcoming tour dates here.
Set 1: The Four> E.M.D. (Eat My Dust), Into the Rafters, Room Without a Roof, White Freight Liner Blues, Demons, Nine Days, Broke Mountain Breakdown> One Way Out*
Set 2: Hold On> Handle With Care> Blood Sucking F(r)iends, Tied Down, Last Winter in the Copper Country> A Letter to Seymour> New Rize Hill, Casual Wednesday> Run or Die
Mike Powell rolled into Downtown Syracuse Saturday night at Funk n Waffles with his new band, the Black River (John Hanus – guitar, Joe Bell – bass, Dom Scicchitano – drums, Shane Kelsen – keyboards). The packed crowd was treated to a night of originals from Powell’s solo releases, including his latest, Tied to the Rail, as well as songs from the forthcoming Black River debut, due in March.
The evening was originally billed as Powell opening the show with his solo material followed by the full band. Instead, the band took the stage straight away, ramping up with a slow bluesy groove punctuated by soulful breaks from guitarist Hanus. This flowed into the first performance of a Powell solo piece with the whole band.
Powell’s songs tell stories and sometimes these stories need an introduction. The song, “Moonlight, Sunshine and Rain” is the result of an encounter Powell had at a farmer’s market. He prefaced the song describing a near perfect zucchini he found. He asked the farmer how he is able to cultivate such beauty. The farmer simply replied, “Moonlight, sunshine and rain.” The band, particularly Shane Kelsen’s keys, compliments Powell’s blue-eyed soul perfectly on this piece.
Continuing with the stories, Powell introduced the next song, “Tell Me Why,” as one about witnessing a friend spiral into the depths of addiction. His first-person account of an old college friend captivated those in the front of the house. Unfortunately, crowd chatter from the back of the room took away from some of the intimacy the song commands.
Hanus and Powell drew the audience in with a new song, “Alchemy” featuring a Hanus solo reminiscent of Warren Haynes. Powell had his well-worn Gretsch and effects pedal creating haunting sounds as the crowd began to take notice of the talent on stage.
While this band is relatively new, it’s clear that they are all seasoned. They’ve been holed up in the Big Blue North Recording Studio in Utica, putting the finishing touches on their debut album. It is clear that a true chemistry has developed among the members and they are truly a band, not Mike Powell and Friends.
That said, Powell was front and center all night. As the band exited, one of the audience members asked jokingly, “Were they that bad?” eliciting a smile from the front man. Powell’s short solo set was next. All throughout, he demonstrated his versatility as a vocalist and instrumentalist, vacillating among the doo-wop sounds of “Go Back” to the heartfelt, soulful delivery of his Jeff Buckley-styled cover of the late Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”
A Mike Powell performance is an exhibit in honest talent. He’s humble to a fault, often admitting in interviews that he’s uncomfortable hearing his own voice, yet he’s unafraid to put that to the test in front of an audience. This came to light in Powell’s final song of his solo set, “21 Rounds.” This song was his contribution to the Acoustic Guitar Project. According to the website, the project is a global one with a mission of inspiring creativity. Several cities are chosen and one guitar is passed among five musicians in that city. They have one week to come up with an original song using that guitar and record it live. Each musician signs the guitar and takes a picture with it to upload to the site. Once all five musicians in the given city complete their project, a concert is held. Powell came up with this heart-wrenching song about fallen soldiers on the final night of his turn in the Acoustic Guitar Project.
Hanus and Kelsen rejoined Powell onstage for a roll through of “Empire Line,” a song about taking the train from Syracuse to New York City and were joined by the rhythm section of Bell and Scicchitano to finish up the night. “Gone Too Far” was the finale of the set. Beginning with a jazzy piano intro from Kelsen, the song slowly gained steam with Powell and Bell harmonizing on the chorus and Hanus providing understated yet solid leads. Kelsen’s keys are the highlight on this one.
As Powell gave his salutations, several in the crowd chanted for an encore. Unfortunately, another band was due to perform later in the night, preventing that from happening. Those wishing to catch more of the Black River, can do so at a hometown gig in Watertown on Feb. 10 at the Savory Downtown. Tickets for that all-ages show are $12 and available through Ticketfly.
Powell has been working his way through the bar and art center scene since making the decision to concentrate on music after a highly successful lacrosse career at Syracuse University. His balance of honest and raw songwriting have helped him to gain a strong following among the Central New York faithful and the addition of this powerful and talented band will only serve to catapult all of them to the next level. See them in the small venues while you can. They won’t be playing them much longer.
Mike Powell returns to Syracuse this Saturday. However, he won’t be wielding the lacrosse stick that helped him become the all-time leading scorer with Syracuse University’s acclaimed lacrosse program. This time he comes packing his guitar and his new band, Mike Powell and The Black River.
The show, at Funk ‘n Waffles Downtown, will feature Powell playing double duty. He’ll open the show with his solo material, which should be heavy on music from his latest album Tied to the Rail (reviewed here by NYS Music in December). Powell’s solo material draws heavy influence from Bob Dylan and John Prine. His soulful voice and deep lyrics take the listener on an introspective ride. TheBoston Globe has called him, “a polite rebel; a truly unique and inspiring American voice.”
Following Powell’s solo set, his band The Black River, named after the North Country waterway of the same name where Powell was raised, joins him for a set of high energy indie/soul/rock.
The band (guitarist John Hanus, bassist Joe Bell, keyboardist Shane Kelson and Dom Scicchitano on the drums) formed in October of 2016 and has been busy laying down tracks at Big Blue North Recording Studio in Utica for its debut album, scheduled to arrive in March.
Doors open at 6:30 and Powell’s solo set will begin at 7. Tickets, available via Ticket Fly or at the door, are $10.
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Following Powell’s solo set, his band The Black River, named after the North Country waterway of the same name where Powell was raised, joins him for a set of high energy indie/soul/rock.