NYS Music 20​17

Author: Pete Mason

  • Photo Gallery: Aqueous Welcomes Joel Cummins and Jake Cinninger to Highline Ballroom

    After a 30 minute set at Summer Stage, Buffalo’s Aqueous headed to Chelsea for a post-Umphrey’s show at The Highline Ballroom. Aqueous was joined tonight by Jake Cinninger and Joel Cummins, who joined the band for a majority of their set. After “Uncle Phil’s Parachute,” Jake and Joel hit the stage during “Don’t Do It,” and joined on a debut of Umphrey’s “Booth Love,” Radiohead’s “National Anthem,” and Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemagne.” To close the night, Aqueous performed ‘just one more song’ with a 40+ minute “Random Company” > “Numbers and Facts” > “Random Company” and an encore of “Origami.” Umphrey’s and Aqueous seem like a natural pairing, one that we hope to see again later this fall.

    Set: Skyway, Uncle Phil’s Parachute¹ > Don’t Do It¹ ² > Highline Jam², Booth Love² ³, National Anthem², Strange Times², Kid Charlemagne², Random Company > Numbers and Facts > Random Company
    Encore: Origami
    ¹ Unfinished
    ² Ft. Jake Cinninger and Joel Cummins of Umphrey’s McGee
    ³ Aqueous debut, Umphrey’s McGee cover

    Setlist via Aquiantances

  • Audience Gets Wet and Keeps Dancing at Umphrey’s McGee in Central Park

    Central Park’s Summer Stage has quite the lineup this summer, with the centerpiece being a double bill of prog/jam goodness in Aqueous and Umphrey’s McGee on July 7.

    Aqueous performed just two songs, “Second Sight” and “Kitty Chaser,” in their 30 minute, all-too-short set to start the night, but that would be remedied by their post-show later this evening. Umphrey’s opened up their set with some technical issues, doing a double take on “Bridgeless” as a result. After the second attempt, the band played “Miss Tinkle’s Overture,” hinting they were slightly pissed off but pressed on with “2×2” and “Dump City” which highlighted the rest of the set, and the final segment of “Bridgeless” finishing the first set.

    Much like their Midwest counterparts playing in the Bronx this evening, Umphrey’s began to heat up when the rain cleared. Jams blossomed through the encore with two huge sandwiches in their second set. “Plunger” opened, as did the skies during “Utopian Fir” which had a “Whole Lotta Love” tease, as well as “Driven 2 Tears” which segued back into “Fir.” If the crowd wasn’t already wet, “Mantis” > “The Triple Wide” > “Mantis” took care of that. An encore of “Rocker Part 2” capped the night and sent the fans streamed out of a moist Central Park and headed to the Highline Ballroom where Aqueous and Umphrey’s would join forces for the after show.

  • NYS Music’s Guide to Baker’s Dozen Pre and Post Shows

    Phish’s Baker’s Dozen of shows at Madison Square Garden starts in just two weeks, and with 13 shows spread out over 17 days, the marathon of music won’t be relegated only to the ‘World’s Most Famous Arena.’ Pre and post show events can be found on virtually every day surrounding the Baker’s Dozen. For phans looking for a complete list of what New York City holds for Phish fans both before and after each night of Phish, NYS Music presents our handy Baker’s Dozen guide. Save the images, share with friends and rest up – this will be a musical endurance test like no other!

  • Tedeschi Trucks Band Rocks SPAC with Hot Tuna and The Wood Brothers

    Tedeschi Trucks Band‘s Wheels of Soul tour rolled into Saratoga Springs on July 3 with rock legends of new and old, The Wood Brothers and Hot Tuna. Hot Tuna performed with their electric trio, featuring Justin Guip of Levon Helm Band on drums and two energized 70+ year old rock legends, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, strutting through classics and bouncing around the stage. The Wood Brothers brought a stripped down sound that was full of gusto, including spirited renditions of “Luckiest Man” and a set closing “Ophelia.”

    tedeschi trucks hot tuna wood brothersTedeschi Trucks Band stole the show and brought the audience to their feet numerous times throughout the show, sparking the crowd on this 4th of July weekend as though they had bought tickets for spiritual renewal. In many ways, that is what the night provided. TTB opened the night with a cover of Derek and the Dominoes’ “Anyday” with Mike Mattison providing ample vocal support to Susan Tedeschi. (Coincidentally, on June 16, Bobby Whitlock of Derek and the Dominoes opened his show at The Egg with the same track off Layla and Assorted Love Songs.)

    tedeschi trucks hot tuna wood brothers“Don’t Know What It Means” was one of the numerous times Susan showed off her powerful vocals, as well as Kebbi Williams’ jazz chops, during a breakdown at the end with drummers Tyler Greenwell and J.J. Johnson. Susan didn’t let up by then belting out “Anyhow,” supercharging the venue with three big band numbers to kick the set off. Carey Frank, filling in for the recovering Kofi Burbridge, made his presence known on “Let Me Get By” and “Save Me,” adding to the big band sound as the show wound down. Rock goddess Susan and husband Derek put on a clinic of blues guitar, pounding out powerful chords and engaging the audience, eliciting cheers as peaks were reached, only to then be taken higher and higher. The final songs of the set bookended a monster rock ‘n’ roll show that had hardly a mellow moment.

    For the encore, a perfect tribute to the late Gregg Allman in “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More” preceded Susan’s calm rendition of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?,” one that made it feel like we were at a revival and ready to head out and preach her good word. To close the night, “Made Up Mind” allowed all vocalists, including Mattison, Mark Rivers and Alecia Chakour, to show off their vocal chops. Susan then asked the audience to offer birthday wishes to a member of the TTB crew, Bobby, by singing “Happy Birthday” to him, an exclamation point on a night of pure rock ‘n’ roll.

  • Southern Avenue brings Memphis Blues to Plattsburgh and Buffalo

    Southern Avenue, Memphis’ hottest blues group will be heading to New York this weekend for two can’t miss shows. They’ll perform at the Plattsburgh Mayor’s Cup on Friday, July 7 and Buffalo Niagara Blues Fest on Saturday, July 8. The Concord/Stax recording artists just released their self-titled debut album in February and bring together soul, funk and rock that when combined with blues moves your feet and stirs your soul.

    https://soundcloud.com/concordmusicgroup/dont-give-up-southern-avenue

    Talking with Southern Avenue’s Ori Naftaly, an Israeli-born blues guitarist who came to Memphis in 2013 for the International Blues Challenge, his blues sound started with the electrified Chicago blues before he turned to earlier blues legends and connected with the soul side of Memphis. Southern Avenue brings in a Mavis Staples angle of blues, with more gospel-based tunes and greater arrangements for vocals from Tierinii Jackson and Tikyra Jackson. Two songs in particular, “Don’t Give Up” and “80 Miles From Memphis,” have the Staples Singers sound, but Naftaly admits, each has a different vibe to it. “We have so many different things to write and find inspiration in, so every song has a different vibe in it and a whole different world we can dive into.” Executive producer John Burke from Concord Music Group helped to trim down the album from 18 songs to those that showcased their broad sound.

    One track in particular, “Peace will Come,” was written about his childhood growing up in Israel during the Gulf War. It beckons a question asked often in the Middle East, ‘When will peace come?,’ but this question refers to peace between people and the environment, not necessarily countries. The song has power to it with the weight of the goal of peace weighted down in the lyrics, alongside a Staples Singers vibe.

     And while Naftaly is an Israeli burn blues guitarist, he is not the first. Guy King moved to Chicago a generation before Ori ventured to Memphis. While both are blues musicians and have found a comfortable place in the roots of their genre, Ori looks to bring the blues to the table with Southern Avenue. But soul, funk and jazz will surely find their way into the Southern Avenue performances this weekend in Plattsburgh and Buffalo.

  • Photo Recap: Summer Camp Music Festival 2017

    Summer Camp 2017 was another fantastic year in the Midwest festival’s history. Amid powerhouse sets from hosts Umphrey’s McGee and moe., and alongside memorable performances from Trey Anastasio Band, Pretty Lights Live, Gov’t Mule, Turkuaz, TAUK, The Disco Biscuits and dozens more artists from across the country.

    Tributes to Gregg Allman, who passed away on the third day of the festival, poured out almost immediately, with Eric Krasno Band, Flaccid and Gov’t Mule all covering “Whipping Post” within hours of his death. Trey Anastasio Band followed suit the next day by covering “Midnight Rider,” just a small sampling of the immense influence and praise Greg Allman earned from nearly 50 years of performing. Watch Gov’t Mule’s star-studded tribute:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVt8ni18N50

    Buffalo’s Aqueous played three sets over the weekend, each one drawing a larger crowd than the last as they finally moved from the Camping Stage to the Starshine Stage. The following Aqueous has developed over the past decade is a testament to the band’s work ethic and connection with fans as far back as performances at Nietzsche’s. They welcomed moe.’s Vinnie Amico and Joel Cummins of Umphrey’s McGee to the stage for a cover of Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemagne,” putting an exclamation point on their breakout weekend.

    Lettuce alums Break Science and Eric Krasno Band stepped out on their own for well received performances, as did Brooklyn’s Turkuaz, who blew the crowd away at the Campfire Stage late Saturday night with a powerhouse set, putting them head and shoulders above others in the funk world. Wild Adriatic and Intrepid Travelers performed at the Camping Stage, a stepping stone for the many rising bands that Upstate New York produces. Both bands dropped spirited covers to the Camping audience, with Wild Adriatic covering Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” and Intrepid Travelers paying homage to Prince with “Electric Avenue.”

    Of course moe. performed five sets throughout the weekend, with one set being rained out on Friday afternoon. Their late night performance in the Red Barn with Everyone Orchestra was full improv, and a treat for all ticket holders. moe. later brought up Turkuaz horns for “Ophelia” and “Happy Hour Hero” and bringing a jaw-dropping opener “Battle Without Honor Or Humanity” from Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill and was part of moe.’s Halloween performance last year. Turkuaz later came out in full for “Life During Wartime” in a show that featured a giant “Meat” sandwich of the entire second set on Saturday. Sunday’s performance closed out with pure moe. start to finish, including a “Chromatic Nightmare” sandwich of the second set and “Opium” featuring Allie Kral of Yonder Mountain String Band on fiddle.

  • A Rainbow Shines over Dead and Company Performance at SPAC

    Dead and Company roared into Saratoga Springs on a rainbow for a show at SPAC on Tuesday, June 20 after a hot weekend of shows at Fenway Park. The national tour has Deadheads and Mayerheads alike buzzing about the continued pairing of the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart with John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti. Few tours of this nature attract an audience where grandparents bring grandkids to the show, tying music across generations and inviting fans of all ages to enjoy the music of the Grateful Dead with an infusion of new blood.

    dead and company SPAC rainbow

    Out of the gate, Weir led the troupe through “Hell in a Bucket,” and let Oteil take over on “Next Time You See Me,” laying down the deepest of bluesy grooves that Pigpen would nod at approvingly. “Loose Lucy” and “Mississippi Half Step” had the audience singing along with Bob and John, but “Looks Like Rain” was where the music connected with Mother Nature. Just as Weir returned to the chorus, the skies opened up and a soft sunshower began with a subsequent rainbow appearing over the gleeful crowd moments later. The refreshing rain led to a “Dire Wolf” sing along followed by “Lost Sailor > “Saint of Circumstance” that wrapped up a tight first set.

    The second set started with “Chinacat Sunflower” and instead of expected “I Know You Rider,” Mayer shifted gears into “Deal” where he let off steam, jumping up and down as he led through a rip roaring version of “Deal,” easily the highlight of the night. “China Doll” with Oteil’s heavenly vocals and “Terrapin Station” were the centerpiece of the second set feast. Bass ripples from “Drums>Space” rolled into mellow noodling that soon became “All Along the Watchtower” with Bob charging full ahead before pulling up the reigns for “Black Peter.” To sandwich the set, a patient segue into “Rider” tied the night together with tantric energy built up throughout. For an encore, “Goin Down the Road Feelin Bad” capped the night with a delighted crowd singing loudly and gleefully.

    Set 1: Hell in a Bucket, Next Time You See Me, Loose Lucy, Mississippi Half-Step, Looks Like Rain, Dire Wolf, Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance

    Set 2: China Cat Sunflower>Deal>China Doll>Terrapin Station>Drums>Space>All Along the Watchtower>Black Peter>I Know You Rider

    Encore: Goin Down the Road Feeling Bad

  • Bobby Whitlock and Coco Carmel Perform Intimate Show at The Egg

    Legends of their various genres pass through the Capital District all the time. The Egg’s Roots and Branches series brings acts that can bring an intimate audience together with a legend who has touched their lives through his or her music. June 16 found Bobby Whitlock of Derek and the Dominos in The Swyer Theater at The Egg for an two hour acoustic performance with plenty of story time built in between songs.

    Bobby Whitlock

    I’ve listened to Bobby for years, wearing out burned copy after burned copy of Derek and the Dominos at The Fillmore East 10/23/70 and 10/24/70. Every minute of those shows is pure rock n roll at the start of its greatest decade. By the end, the audience had a different view of Layla and Assorted Love Songs and heard the original songs performed in one of the songwriter’s to the classic album.

    “We just come to play for your guys, we’re not promoting an album or with merch,” Bobby shared with the audience prior to “Anyday” off Layla. Bobby and Coco Sherman, whom has been performing alongside Coco for nearly 20 years, each played acoustic guitars while Reuben Chess from Brooklyn played backup electric guitar.

    Bobby Whitlock

    Chess took his solos with reserved grace so as not to step on the toes of Bobby Whitlock. “Got to get Better in a Little While” was gritty and not rushed. Whitlock shared a story of how he spent a year in England with Clapton, intending to be there for just a week., leading to “I Looked Away,” the first song they wrote together.

    “Keep on Growing” was preceded by an extended story on recording the song with Clapton and George Harrison; the story reflected on how Sam and Dave’s vocals influenced Clapton and Whitlock’s on “Growing.” This story made the audience sit up in their seats and get comfy while they listened to Bobby tell tales from the road.

    Whitlock switched to piano and Carmel to saxophone for “The Captain’s Song,” “Slowdown,” and “Bell Bottom Blues.” The closer, “Layla,” took on its own life – slow and bluesy during the verses, but back up to 38rpm for the chorus. The second half of the song was performed just as God/Clapton intended, and Chess closed the song out effortlessly. In three years, Layla and Assorted Love Songs will be 50 years old – let’s hope we can see Clapton and Whitlock together to perform the one of rock’s most influential and classic albums.

  • A Vintage Year Release Video for “Lousy Soul” from Upcoming Album

    A Vintage Year, a progressive alt-rock group out of Rochester have released the video for “Lousy Soul” off their upcoming album Picture Perfect. The video finds the band heading into the club for a show for a live performance reminiscent of early Alice in Chains, with shadowy images of the band interspersed.

    A Vintage Year has been performing since 2014 and released their debut EP in early 2015, and follow up EP, Beautiful Disease, in January 2017. After touring Texas in February 2017, the band returned to the studio to wrap up their first full album Picture Perfect, slated for a July release. A Vintage Year features Joe Williams (vocals), Jordan Barney (guitar, bass) and Nick Manka (drums, vocals).

  • Hearing Aide: Midnight North “Under the Lights”

    On the third album from Midnight North, the band captures their growth on the road, the trials and errors, the good and the bad, all celebrated in Under the Lights, a perfect summer album. With a sound that draws comparisons to Railroad Earth, Tedeschi Trucks Band and Donna the Buffalo, the entire Americana album has a ‘never too light, never too heavy’ quality of perfection in song writing and delivery, making Under the Lights a must listen.

    Recorded by David Simon-Baker (Los Lobos, ALO, Jackie Greene, Mother Hips) at the Greene Room and Allegiant Studios in California, Under the Lights is a repeat listen album – each track has a familiarity that invites passive and active listening. With a lineup of Grahame Lesh (vocals, guitar), Elliott Peck (vocals, guitar), Alex Jordan (vocals, organ), and Connor O’Sullivan (bass), the band’s young musicianship comes alive throughout the album with insightful, relatable lyrics and a consistent flow that makes it hard to tune out.

    The high energy Americana-rock “Under the Lights” kicks off the album fantastically, reckoning the Traveling Wilbury’s tight harmony and memorable lyrics. On both “Playing a Poor Hand Well” and “Greene County,” the gorgeous vocals of Elliott Peck shine brightly, a gentle Midwestern accent sliding along her flawless delivery. “Everyday,” a sing-along with great potential live, has excellent horns alongside excellent vocals, one of the many strengths on this album while “Roamin’,” the first darker turn on the album, rolls with an intensity that balances the lighter tracks that begin the album.

    Grahame Lesh singing “Back to California” is appropriately reminiscent of Phil’s There and Back Again solo album from 2001; there is a distinct similarity with a few tracks between the father and son’s initial releases. “One Night Stand” a twangy blues number with Peck on lead, is followed by “Echoes,” a high energy Mudcrutch-style rocker. “The Highway Song” is the single off the album, although it is one of many strong tracks. The slick guitar lick from Grahame and geographic tour of the country make for a classic country song that can get stuck in your head in the best way possible. Rounding out the album is “Little Black Dog,” telling the kind of story you might hear on Garcia and Grisman’s Not for Kids Only. 

    Key Tracks: Under the Lights, Everyday, Back to California, The Highway Song, Little Black Dog