Front Country, a Roots Pop band out of the San Francisco Bay Area heads into New York this week for three shows in NYC, Albany and Nelson. NPR has recently said of these musicians “In the bluegrass world, musicians tend to define themselves by their tradition and discipline. But Front Country is defined by its no-rules approach.”
With acoustic string instruments, the group finds a way to combined acoustic sound with pop songwriting, the byproduct being both complicated yet infectious. Their most recent release Other Love Songs has emotional songs throughout, with lead singer Melody Walker penning 8 of the 12 tracks
“These songs follow the lessons that everyone learns in their own personal evolution toward emotional maturity and vulnerability,” says Melody Walker, “in which all of us learn to break down toxic romantic fairy tales and write our own Other Love Songs that work for real people in the real world.”
Catch Front Country this week across New York. Thursday the 7th they’ll be at American Beauty in NYC, Friday they are at The Egg in Albany supporting Darlingside, and Saturday they play The Nelson Odeon in Nelson, NY.
North Country native and author Garret Woodward will give a reading and discuss his book “If You Can’t Play, Get Off the Stage” on Wednesday, December 27 at Champlain Meeting House in Champlain, NY, and on Thursday, December 28 at Nine Pin Cider, both starting at 6:30pm. Currently based in Asheville and serving as the Arts/Entertainment editor for The Smoky Mountain News, as well as music editor for Smoky Mountain Living magazine, Woodward published his debut book earlier this year to rave reviews.
Diving into the rich, vibrant and controversial history of bluegrass music, “If You Can’t Play, Get Off the Stage: Bluegrass in Western North Carolina and Beyond” features interviews, profiles, quotes and conversations with the biggest names in bluegrass, mountain and string music, including: Andy Hall (The Infamous Stringdusters), Balsam Range, Billy Strings, Bobby Osborne, Claire Lynch, Dave Johnston (Yonder Mountain String Band), David Grisman, David Holt, Del McCoury, Doyle Lawson, Eric Gibson, Frank Solivan, Graham Sharp (The Steep Canyon Rangers), Jeff Austin, Jesse McReynolds, John Cowan, Larry Sparks, Marty Stuart, Paul Hoffman (Greensky Bluegrass), Peter Rowan, Raymond Fairchild, Rhiannon Giddens, Rhonda Vincent, Ricky Skaggs, Ronnie Reno, Sam Bush, Tim O’Brien, and many more.
Born in Rouses Point, Woodward graduated from Quinnipiac University and then crisscrossed America for several years as a music journalist, covering backyard get-togethers and festivals like Burning Man, Rothbury, Grand Targhee, Outside Lands and Wakarusa. In 2015, Woodward won first place in the North Carolina Press Association awards for “Arts & Entertainment Reporting” for his cover story “Bless Your Heart — The State of Women in Bluegrass.” In 2016, Woodward was nominated for “Bluegrass Print/Media Person of the Year” by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). The NCPA also recognized him with another first place in 2016 for “Lighter Columns” for his weekly column in The Smoky Mountain News, “This must be the place.”
It’s been almost three years since Troy’s emotive rockers Hard Soul have performed in the Capital District, but the wait is over. The group has announced the release of their new EP This Will Hurt, due out on Friday, December 8. The band has released an official video of the audio for “See Me,” the first single of the EP on Youtube and the track on Bandcamp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNSggmmIyWo
Lead singer Johnny Salka shared his thoughts on the new EP and return. “Hard Soul has always been about creating simple, singable songs that can connect with listeners of all musical backgrounds. The new EP is a renewed approach to that songwriting ethos which represents the last three years and next step in the musical evolution of Hard Soul. We’re absolutely stoked to share the new songs with our fans and the rest of the world.”
The EP features five tracks, including three brand-new songs and two new arrangements of previously-released acoustic tracks “Fairer ShorTes” and “Have To Be A Miracle,” which originally appeared on the band’s 2015 EP Fairer Shores.
Salka’s hometown of Troy gets some love in the new single. “The main riff of ‘See Me’ is forever linked to South Troy, a proud neighborhood in my home city where I wrote the song, with the chords and melody materializing early one morning. There was an immediate acknowledgement that there was something special about it. The song slowly evolved into a powerful display of riffs and vibrant vocal harmonies; however, the simple arrangement retains the song’s energy even while being performed on a simple acoustic guitar.”
The group partnered with longtime collaborator & producer Steven “SolidGold” Goldman on their latest musical effort. Returning for the new EP is Nick Kossor (guitar), Steve Thompson (guitar, backing vocals), Mark Podbielski (drums), along with new addition Sean Murphy (bass guitar). The record also features Mike Perri (The Racer) who performed “I Am The Hurricane” and “This Will Hurt,” delivering a thundering performance on drums.
The Monopole in Plattsburgh will celebrate a milestone 120 year birthday, and to get the party going, West End Blend. Last week, NYS Music spoke to Corey Rosoff, owner of the Monopole, about the legacy of the bar’s live music and history in the North Country. Sam Horan, drummer for West End Blend, spoke to NYS Music about Thursday’s show, gave a musician’s view of the venue, and talked about their latest video for “Attitude.”
Pete Mason: Bands seem to pass through The Monopole as a rite of passage. How have your experiences playing The Monopole changed over the years?
Sam Horan: Our first show at Monopole was back in September and from the moment we stepped into the club it was clear that this place had some serious history behind it. So many great bands have come through their doors and it was great to have the opportunity to do the same. That show was a really great first welcome to Plattsburgh. This will be our second time playing Monopole and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate their 120th anniversary with them!
PM: What makes The Monopole such a great music venue?
SH: I think what really makes Monople such a great venue is it’s people. Everyone from the staff to the clientele. The people of Plattsburgh that go out and support shows there. That’s what sold it for us.
PM: With the release of “Attitude” this past October, what makes this studio release the best representation of West End Blend?
SH: Every time we make a new record we strive to create something that best represents the band and where we are at in terms of song-writing, line-up and direction. With Attitude, I think we really found a way to capture the band in a way that is very accurate to what you would see live at a current West End Blend show. In comparison to our previous albums, Attitude really shows an edgier and more raw side of the band that you might find with us live. The song writing process has been very natural and shows how we have evolved from our first album. We are very excited about this one and we can’t wait to share it at Monopole!
PM: Your current tour is one of your most extensive yet. What spots have you hit on the East coast that stand out, and what is coming up the rest of the year for you guys?
SH: This tour is definitely our most aggressive tour to date and it really marks itself as a big step in this bands touring career. We’re all super excited to be out on the road right now and we look forward to even bigger tours in the very near future. In terms of East Coast stand outs, I think my favorite show so far was our hometown CD release show at Arch Street Tavern in Hartford CT. We are in the middle of a south-eastern tour taking us through Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina right now so its hard to choose favorites until we’ve hit all of these spots! I have a good feeling this 120th anniversary show will be a band favorite…
PM: Tell us about the experience shooting your video for “Attitude” at ‘Funkhaus’ and how the video captures West End Blend’s energetic live performances.
SH: That video was a lot of fun to shoot! We basically decided to renovated an old garage next to the Funkhaus and turn it into a large recording space for the shoot. For those who don’t know, the Funkhaus is the house that acts as WEB headquarters. It’s where we record, rehearse and write. This was an ambitious project and we were on a very tight time schedule to finish renovations. I remember at one point, everyone in the band came over the Funkhaus with hammers, screwguns, hack saws and paintbrushes in-hand, and just scrambled to get the space finished before the shoot. It was a crazy amount of work getting the space ready, but when it was finally finished, all of that work was worth it. The space (dubbed Funkhaus Jr.) looks great and we have since used it to recorded some brand new WEB material.
Rochester indie pop group Tart Vandelay has released the first single, “Cloudy Doubts,” off their upcoming EP Flow, which is due out on Friday, December 1. Like others on the EP, “Cloudy Doubts” uses nature as a metaphor for personal trials and tribulations, overcoming challenges and adversity. The idea is to see how nature flows and functions and use that as a guide to narrate one’s own life. The EP was recorded at Wicked Squid studios and was produced by Josh Pettinger.
Yes, that band name is inspired by a classic Seinfeld, but this group is a sonic importer/exporters that began as a duo featuring musical couple Marty LoFaso and Katie Halligan. The two began dating in 2011 while studying music in their hometown of Rochester, NY. After moving to Boston, MA, the couple officially formed Tart Vandelay in the summer of 2014. The duo added a rhythm section recently, adding Stephen Petoniak on bass and Christopher Dubuc-Penney on drums in spring of 2016, and in 2017 Pete Zamniak replaced original bassist Stephen Petoniak. Stay up to date with Tart Vandelay and listen to “Cloudy Doubts” below.
New York-based Provocado – the duo of Derek Chilvers and Eric Essebag (owner and curator of Caché Life) melding eclectic backgrounds with R&B compositions, pop, rock and more, debut with their single “Only You.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOhN63GHCgg
“Only You” features Chilvers’ soothing baritone vocals over meticulous keyboard patterns and Essebag’s unique guitar riffs soar over subdued production. The black and white video portrays a day-in-the-life of a metropolitan woman walking the streets of Manhattan. The viewer observes her as she appears seemingly reluctant to find satisfaction and inner peace from the everyday lifestyles of New York City, but captures the subtleties and nuances of city life in a truly mesmerizing way. Listen to “Only You” on Spotify.
Chris Frantz, founder of the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, and one of the curators of the emerging artist series, interviewed Pierce Fulton to learn more about his roots, influences, and connection to Fairfield, Connecticut.
Chris Frantz: We are looking forward to your upcoming show at FTC in our Emerging Artists Series. Have you ever been to Fairfield, CT before? Have you ever performed here?
Pierce Fulton: I’m really looking forward to it too!! And it’s funny because I was born in Bridgeport, CT! I lived in Fairfield until I was 9 and then moved to Vermont for middle school, high school and
college. A very large majority of my family lives in Fairfield so it’s always still felt like home and playing at FTC will be my first time playing in Fairfield which is big for me! The fact that it’s an all
ages show means my entire extended family can come and see me play, young cousins, aunts, uncles etc!
CF: How would you describe your musical style at the moment or do you prefer to avoid categorization?
PF: Well a majority of my music falls under the Progressive House categorization, which is totally accurate and I’ve mostly made Progressive House over my years pursuing music full time. I’ve been playing music my entire life though; well before producing electronic music I was playing guitar in bands and picking up various instruments in school music classes. 3 years ago, after I’d
established myself in the electronic scene a bit, I decided to bring back those early influences by injecting more recorded music into my electronic songs. The combination is what I describe as “electronic music with a live band feel” because typically I play and sing all of the recorded parts on my songs so it’s basically a band of myself with featured vocalists from time to time.
CF: Do you have any musical heroes, influences or mentors that people should know about?
PF: Like my past, my influences totally come from opposite sides of the spectrum. I was very fortunate to be raised by parents that have an excellent ear for music. My childhood was filled with the Rolling Stones, The Doors, Grateful Dead, Neil Young, and lots of really timeless rock music. And on the flip side, what got me into electronic music were artists like Eric Prydz, Above & Beyond, Paul Kalkbrenner and a lot of the more melodic house and trance sounds that came out of 2007-2010. After years of experimenting and teaching myself the ins and outs of producing and engineering on the computer, all of those influences started blending together unintentionally.
CF: How do you feel about protest music and people expressing their political views in song?
PF: I think it’s both very good and very bad. There are a lot of issues that people are too afraid to even think about, let alone talk about, and to be able to express that with music is so powerful in the really good way. But then I think about all of the mixed messages that one person can take in between the media, the art world, their family, friends, colleges, etc. Anyone’s opinion can get in front of millions of people these days so it scares me to think about how many are flying around the internet and how people who have a hard time having their own opinion might latch onto someone else’s.
CF: What can people expect from your show production wise?
PF: So I’ve been building up to a tour like this since I first started sprinkling live instruments into my electronic music. I’ve been collecting gear, learning live show tips, and slowly preparing my
songs to be played live rather than on turntables for close to 3 years. I even did some mock up sets in private years ago just to test techniques out that I was positive I’d one day turn into my actual show. And that was all just preparation for the past 3 months that I’ve spent deconstructing my entire catalog for a completely live and unique show experience each night, programing a light show that is tied to each musical element of each individual song (which means I can rearrange my set at any given moment wooo!), and simply practicing playing and singing my songs. As I said, I’ve been planning to make my show like this for a very long time so I’m putting 110% of myself into this tour and so far it feels incredible.
Join Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, and record producer Peter Katis for Pierce Fulton and NVDES’ debut in The Warehouse on Monday, November 27. Tickets, information, and samples of the music can be found at Fairfieldtheatre.org.
The Monopole, Plattsburgh‘s historic bar known for its live music will celebrate 120 years later this month. First opened in 1897, the bar has withstood prohibition, bitter winters and thousands of customers over the years, with live music a staple of the ‘single stick’ for the past 30. On November 30, West End Blend will be part of a night long celebration of The Monopole reaching the ripe old age of 120, with many years of live music and revelry yet to come.
To discuss the legacy of The Monopole, NYS Music talked to owner Corey Rosoff about the notable history of the venue, live music memories and how they’re celebrating 120. Photos courtesy of The Monopole.
Pete Mason: The Monopole has a history spanning over a century that few institutions reach. What do you credit this longevity to?
Corey Rosoff: I think a big part of the longevity has a lot to do with staff and how no matter who you are, we make you feel welcome. The Monopole has always been a melting pot of diverse clientele including doctors, lawyers, contractors, locals, college and also visitors to the area that all are made to feel comfortable here. We also have been very aware of the history and have worked hard to keep as many original features of the building and the bar. We still have the original woodwork and stained glass and mirrors.
PM: Among the decades found in the walls of The Monopole, what is your favorite anecdote about the bar’s history?
CR: I think one of the best story is how Theodore Roosevelt would be here every time he visited the barracks in Plattsburgh. I am still amazed of the amount of couples that come in or email about how they met their husband or wife at the Monopole.
PM: How has the role of music changed in the history of The Monopole? What was the earliest music performed here?
CR: I started working here in the late 70’s when I came to college up here and the Monopole was the first place to install high end stereo equipment. In fact the speakers were such high end they still are in use today. We started doing live music upstairs in the early 80’s with mostly acoustic acts and then evolved into what we have today.
PM: Who are some of the most notable bands to gain their start playing The Monopole?
CR: Some of the more notable bands that got their start here would be the Ominous Seapods (one of their songs is titled “Leaving The Monopole”) the South Catherine Street Jug Band and Christine Santelli (Grammy nominee for Songwriting & NYC Blues Hall of Fame ) who got her start in music hosting Open Mic with Matt Mousseau (NYC Blues Hall of Fame here in the early start of Open Mics at The Monopole which is still running every Wednesday night. Also Dave Grippo who is a saxophone player on some of Phish’s albums was a regular performer here back in the early 80’s.
PM: Why is West End Blend a good choice for a 120th birthday party?
CR: We chose to do this with West End Blend because after their initial performances in Plattsburgh (once for a city festival & then here in the early fall) everyone who saw them were impressed with their talent so we had been trying to fit a date where they could come back to the venue. We wanted to do this event with a band that we don’t get in the area much to create some extra hype for the special occasion.
Stay tuned for our interview with West End Blend next week and see what’s in store for November 30th. And if you’re looking for a New Year’s Eve show in Plattsburgh, don’t miss Groovestick with the venue staying open until 8:00am for a New Years party.
David Crosby brought his friends to The Egg on Friday, November 17 for a sold out performance that featured tracks off his new album Sky Trails, as well as songs from the 60’s and 70’s by CSNY, CPR and The Byrds. Crosby’s Friends this evening included Jeff Pevar on guitar, James Raymond on keys, Mai Agan on bass, Steve DiStanislao on drums, and Michelle Willis on keys and vocals.
David Crosby and Friends at The Egg
Shortly after opening with “In my Dreams,” a prime sample of Crosby, Stills and Nash’s late 70s elevator rock sound, Crosby dove into the first of a few CPR tracks, “Morrison” and later “At the Edge” and the powerful “Breathless,” as he spread out his vast catalog throughout the evening.
After a show in Boston that had an audience member taking issue with Crosby’s anti-Trump stance, there were four instances this evening where he took jabs at Trump, with no vocal disdain from the audience. There was also the groovy “She’s Got to be Somewhere,” a song about a spy, influenced by Trump, and the first track off Sky Trails.
Crosby shared stories throughout the evening, the first about The Byrds touring in England for the first time in the 60s, and told of how they were scared to meet The Beatles because they had copied their look, clothes, hair, shoes, sound and all. While performing one night, Crosby saw Mick Jagger and John Lennon in the crowd, and while he was nervous to meet either of them, they were as mellow as could be when they got to talking after the show. This led to Crosby offering a Ravi Shankar album to George Harrison, which had a profound influence on the quiet Beatle and his music in the years that followed. Crosby and Friends then performed “Laughing” which was written for Harrison.
The touching CSN classic “Guinevere” was followed by referencing the Boston audience member, leading Crosby to wonder if “maybe they thought it was a Stephen Stills show,” before discussing the impact of Eisenhower’s “Military industrial Complex” speech and how it had an early influence on his view of American politics. With cheers and applause from the audience, he briefly spoke against the buying of Congress (and how there may only be five good ones left), which led into the short acapella song from an era of protest against the Vietnam War “What are their names?” Keeping the spirit of the era alive, a pairing of “Long Time Coming” and an extended “Deja Vu” with a soft jazzy interlude closed the first set.
“Delta,” a song written on Warren Zevon’s piano (thanks to Jackson Browne when he was helping Crosby get clean) and “My Country Tis of Thee” with a CSN spin on the American staple stood out in a shorter second set. An encore of Neil Young’s “Ohio” had Crosby encouraging the crowd to sing the chorus “Four dead in Ohio,” and left the audience emboldened to take the spirit of the era from which these songs were born.
While the show had plenty of reminiscing, Crosby’s show was far from a novelty act or nostalgia show. There were a few songs from his forthcoming album Sky Trails that were performed this evening amid plenty of classics from across his Canon. The 76 year old showed no signs of slowing down or mailing in his performance as he heads into the twilight of his career. Crosby is fired up and ready to go.
NYS Music along with Positive Mental Trip present 13 Jam for Tots shows throughout New York State (and one in Connecticut) to help those most in need this holiday season. Fans who attend any of these shows are encouraged to bring an unwrapped gift for a child age 2-12.
Eight bands are part of the Jam for Tots lineup this year, a charitable effort that brings live music and holiday season charity. Luke Weiler (Positive Mental Trip) has brought this series of shows to venues around Northeast, and has been expanded this year to span across New York State and includes 87/90 artists Intrepid Travelers, Cousin Earth, Formula 5, Space Carnival, Gowanus and Let’s Be Leonard, as well as Funkworthy and Chinatown Lights.
Bring an unwrapped gift for a 2-12 year old and the gifts will be gathered by USMC representatives. Give back to those most in need this holiday season and enjoy a great show at the same time!
Chris Frantz: We are looking forward to your upcoming show at FTC in our Emerging Artists Series. Have you ever been to Fairfield, CT before? Have you ever performed here?
PM: Among the decades found in the walls of The Monopole, what is your favorite anecdote about the bar’s history?
PM: How has the role of music changed in the history of The Monopole? What was the earliest music performed here?
PM: Who are some of the most notable bands to gain their start playing The Monopole?
Eight bands are part of the Jam for Tots lineup this year, a charitable effort that brings live music and holiday season charity. Luke Weiler (Positive Mental Trip) has brought this series of shows to venues around Northeast, and has been expanded this year to span across New York State and includes 87/90 artists Intrepid Travelers, Cousin Earth, Formula 5, Space Carnival, Gowanus and Let’s Be Leonard, as well as Funkworthy and Chinatown Lights.
