NYS Music 20​17

Author: Pete Mason

  • Governor Cuomo Releases His Spotify Playlist

    This past week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo released his personal Spotify playlist.

    A typical play by politicians who attempt to appear more as your everyday Joe and connect with the populace, this is an early indication that Governor Cuomo is positioning himself to run for President in 2020.

    Included on the playlist are a variety of born-in-New York artists – a fair amount of Billy Joel, some Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, the Ramones, Jay Z, Alicia Keys, Lou Reed, Pete Seeger and Wild Adriatic. The songs represent the state and popular, agreeable picks without being too controversial. You could call this ‘Dad rock’ but that would be insulting to Dad Rock. What’s missing are NY artists Talking Heads, Goo Goo Dolls, Rick James, 10,000 Maniacs, Cab Colloway. Listen to his selections here.

  • Christopher Lloyd Takes the Audience Back in Time at Proctors

    Confession: I used to mow the lawn while listening to a cassette of the Back to the Future soundtrack. There’s all the great Huey Lewis and the News a pre-teen could ask for, plus that score that brought you right back to Hill Valley. I could step back (or ahead) in time with one of my favorite movies, and thanks to Marty (who had a Sports poster in his room), became a Huey Lewis fan overnight. So when Christopher Lloyd was announced to hold a viewing and conversation with an audience at Proctor’s Theater, naturally this was a can’t miss event for myself and nearly 2000 other Doc Brown fans.

    Christopher LloydBefore the Doc came out, we were treated to some film trivia and the full movie beforehand. Having seen the other two movies in the series nearly as many times as the original, revisiting the original, devoid of time-twisting and altering events from the sequels was like seeing the film for the first time. When the film ended and the curtain lifted, two chairs and a small table were on the stage, to which Christopher Lloyd was welcomed by the audience with a standing ovation. 

    He shared with the audience general thoughts on the film, as well as responded to audience submitted questions. He recounted that people who have met him over the years have told him that the movie was a life-changing event, shifting their careers towards science, engineering, physics and the like. But the movie may never have had the iconic Doc Brown without giving the script a second look while on film location in Mexico City. When he met with director Robert Zemeckis shortly thereafter, they discussed the role, who Doc was and what he would look like. Lloyd revealed that Doc’s look, particularly his hair, was derived from seeing an animated, white haired conductor at a performance of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets.”‘

    With regard to the casting of Michael J. Fox, after 6 weeks of filming with Eric Stoltz as Marty, Lloyd recalled the recasting led to “chemistry that was automatic between us. He was perfect, and it worked out.” Among the three films, his favorite was the finale of the trilogy, partially due to his love of westerns and gaining a love interest in the film. He wishes that not only were true hover boards around today but also that big apparatus Doc is wearing on his head when he first meets Marty in 1955, as well as Mr. Fusion for the conservation aspect.

    Confession: I used to mow the lawn while listening to a cassette of the Back to the Future soundtrack. There's all the great Huey Lewis and the News a pre-teen could ask for, plus that score that brought you right back to Hill Valley. I could step back (or ahead) in time with one of my favorite movies, and thanks to Marty (who had a Sports poster in his room), became a Huey Lewis fan overnight. So when Christopher Lloyd was announced to hold a viewing and conversation with an audience at Proctor's Theater, naturally this was a can't miss event for myself and nearly 2000 other Doc Brown fans. Before the Doc came out, we were treated to some film trivia and the full movie beforehand. Having seen the other two movies in the series nearly as many times as the original, revisiting the original, devoid of time-twisting and altering events from the sequels was like seeing the film for the first time. When the film ended and the curtain lifted, two chairs and a small table were on the stage, to which Christopher Lloyd was welcomed by the audience with a standing ovation.  He shared with the audience general thoughts on the film, as well as responded to audience submitted questions. He recounted that people who have met him over the years have told him that the movie was a life-changing event, shifting their careers towards science, engineering, physics and the like. But the movie may never have had the iconic Doc Brown without giving the script a second look while on film location in Mexico City. When he met with director Robert Zemeckis shortly thereafter, they discussed the role, who Doc was and what he would look like. Lloyd revealed that Doc's look, particularly his hair, was derived from seeing an animated, white haired conductor at a performance of Gustav Holst's "The Planets."' With regard to the casting of Michael J. Fox, after 6 weeks of filming with Eric Stoltz as Marty, Lloyd recalled the recasting led to "chemistry that was automatic between us. He was perfect, and it worked out." Among the three films, his favorite was the finale of the trilogy, partially due to his love of westerns and gaining a love interest in the film. He wishes that not only were true hover boards around today but also that big apparatus Doc is wearing on his head when he first meets Marty in 1955, as well as Mr. Fusion for the conservation aspect. Stepping away from Back to the Future, Lloyd began to discuss other iconic roles, including one that he said he would love to play for the rest of his life, Uncle Fester, from The Addams Family, the comic of which he was a fan of at at early age, and spoke highly of co-star Raul Julia, remarking he was both 'intelligent and gracious.' On Taxi, he played Reverend Jim Ignatowski, initially a one-off appearance where he would marry Latka Gravas (Andy Kaufman) to a prostitute so that he would have a Green Card to remain in the country, but he ended up being a recurring character, and cited the 'Yellow Light' scene as one of his personal favorites. Kaufman, he said, "went to the beat of a different drummer" and could be irritating and odd on the set because that's who he was. He loved the 1998 biopic Man on the Moon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HvmtbZzA40 A theater actor originally, Lloyd said it felt like home to him. He ended up in two or three musicals as well, including singing at 1976 Tony Awards. Theater led to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and eventually to Back to the Future, and the rest is movie history. Christopher Lloyd still sees Michael J. Fox and will meet up with him for a benefit soon for his foundation to promote Parkinson's Research. Speaking of his friend, "He is so brave, he has so much courage and he does not stop. He just keeps going." He used an example of the episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm where Fox appeared as himself, and used his Parkinson's as an excuse to the ire of Larry David. "I admired him being able to do that scene." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI4lFjWoFqc Finally, when asked if he could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself. Given that he was recently married just before Christmas to a woman he had lived with for 12 years, and being married four times prior, he said "I wish I had more wisdom about who I hung out with prior." If only there was time to change the past...Stepping away from Back to the Future, Lloyd began to discuss other iconic roles, including one that he said he would love to play for the rest of his life, Uncle Fester, from The Addams Family, the comic of which he was a fan of at at early age, and spoke highly of co-star Raul Julia, remarking he was both ‘intelligent and gracious.’ On Taxi, he played Reverend Jim Ignatowski, initially a one-off appearance where he would marry Latka Gravas (Andy Kaufman) to a prostitute so that he would have a Green Card to remain in the country, but he ended up being a recurring character, and cited the ‘Yellow Light’ scene as one of his personal favorites. Kaufman, he said, “went to the beat of a different drummer” and could be irritating and odd on the set because that’s who he was. He loved the 1998 biopic Man on the Moon.

    A theater actor originally, Lloyd said it felt like home to him. He ended up in two or three musicals as well, including singing at 1976 Tony Awards. Theater led to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and eventually to Back to the Future, and the rest is movie history.

    Christopher Lloyd still sees Michael J. Fox and will meet up with him for a benefit soon for his foundation to promote Parkinson’s Research. Speaking of his friend, “He is so brave, he has so much courage and he does not stop. He just keeps going.” He used an example of the episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm where Fox appeared as himself, and used his Parkinson’s as an excuse to the ire of Larry David. “I admired him being able to do that scene.”

    Finally, when asked if he could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself. Given that he was recently married just before Christmas to a woman he had lived with for 12 years, and being married four times prior, he said “I wish I had more wisdom about who I hung out with prior.” If only there was time to change the past…

  • Roger Waters Bringing US + THEM Tour to Times Union Center

    Roger Waters will bring Pink Floyd’s historic album The Wall to Albany’s Times Union Center on September 23, 2017, part of the US + THEM tour.

    Waters has toured on Pink Floyd’s The Wall in recent years, and will be performing songs from Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall, Animals, Wish You Were Here and more. The Wall tour came through Upstate in June of 2012, and has even been suggested to be performed on the U.S/Mexico border.

    Tickets for the show go on sale on Monday, February 27 at 10 am through Ticketmaster.

    H/T Q103 Albany

  • Funk n Waffles is Coming to Rochester, Closing Original SU Hill Location

    Update: The original location of Funk ‘N Waffles, located on the SU Hill in the original home of Hungry Charlie’s, will be closing on Wednesday, February 22. The downtown location will remain open. In a statement on the venue’s Facebook page, owner Adam Gold said:

    It is with a heavy heart that after 10 years of great food, delicious coffees, wonderful people, fun times, hard work, ups and downs, (and a few open mic nights thrown into the mix), Funk ‘n Waffles owner Adam Gold announces the closing of the restaurant’s original location on the SU Hill (727 S Crouse Ave). This has been difficult for us as a staff, however we are left with no choice as the building block is being torn down.

    Original article follows below:

    Funk ‘N Waffles is heading west on I-90 this spring. The Syracuse business has leased the former Water Street Music Hall, bringing their delicious menu and concert calendar with them.

    Owner Adam Gold, also of Sophistafunk, posted the following message on Facebook this morning:

    Hello Rochester! If you haven’t already heard, I’m really proud to announce that we are opening Funk ‘n Waffles 3 in Rochester very soon at the old Water Street Music Hall!!! We’ll be open all day every day serving up the same funky menu, and there will be live music 7 days a week! We are really excited to be a part of Rochester’s growing St. Paul Quarter!

    Rochester has a few venues for up and coming bands – 3 Heads Brewing, Flour City Station and Montage Music Hall – but the closing of Water Street Music Hall in the past few years last left a void in the Rochester scene, as local bands cannot move directly into the 900 capacity Anthology without stepping up into a mid-sized venue the size of the Funk ‘N Waffles at the old Water Street Music Hall. The musical history of the building and central location would serve the area well as a future Funk ‘N Waffles.

    Update: this article reflects updated time frame for opening and clarification on leasing of building.

  • North Country Festival Backwoods Pondfest Bids Farewell

    Backwoods Pondfest, a staple music festival held just south of Plattsburgh, NY each summer, has announced it will not return in 2017. The festival’s promoters posted on the Pondfest Facebook page:

    Hello Backwoods Pondfest family!
    Coming off our 10th and best year yet, it’s disheartening for us to have to let you know that we will not be having our 11th Pondfest this coming summer. This was not an easy decision to arrive at, but after much discussion we’ve concluded that we can’t have our beloved festival for a variety of challenging reasons – rather than fight the universe, we’re instead remaining optimistic for what the future holds in years to come.

    Many of you have kindly and graciously reminded us year after year that this festival is something special for you and your loved ones, and it truly pains us to have to make this choice. We look forward to making more memories with you, no matter what form in the future they may come. We love you and thank you for making Backwoods Pondfest such a special place for 10 years running.
    Sincerely –Backwoods Pondfest

    Backwoods Pondfest was a staple of the summer in the North Country of New York. The festival finds its roots in the 70s and 80s, when Sandy Bazzano held ‘Pondstock’ each summer. Around the turn of the century, SWM Productions produced Pondstock for a few years, and was later resurrected in 2007 when Lowell Wurster of Lucid, Katie Bazzano (Sandy’s daughter), and Chris Boire teamed together to bring the event back under the name Backwoods Pondfest.

    Initially held in early September, the festival shifted to August and saw a continually huge turnout from a loyal audience who came for a wide array of music offerings. Lucid performed twice each weekend, serving as host band, and welcoming acts that included Spiritual Rez, Twiddle, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Bernie Worrell, Pork Tornado, Pink Talking Fish, Chali2na, Ryan Montbleau, Assembly of Dust, Melvin Seals and JGB, The Breakfast, Cabinet, Conehead Buddha, plus up and coming bands including Formula 5, Mister F, Capital Zen, Annie in the Water, Hayley Jane and the Primates and many, many more over the 10 years Pondfest brought music to the North Country.

    Reflecting on what he will miss the most from the past 10 years of Pondfest, Lowell Wurster replied

    After 10 years of Backwoods Pondfest, what I will miss the most is the family. New people come every year, but there are a bunch of people who have come every year or most every year. Some of those people I only see once a year, some of them I see often. But once a year we are all together in the same place, at the same time to worship music and freedom. Pondfest isn’t like other festivals and these people understand that. This is more than a festival: it’s a community, it’s a family, and that is what I will miss most.

    Pondfest may be gone for now, but if Pondstock can give rise to Pondfest some 20 years later, perhaps Pondfest will lead to yet another music festival, one that maintains the true feeling, freedom and experience of music festivals not found at larger, corporate events. The empty weekend on early August calendar will be the first time in 10 years we didn’t get lost in the back of the woods, by a pond, at a music festival.

    Backwoods Pondfest

  • moe. and Twiddle to co-headline Red Rocks on August 13

    moe. and Twiddle have announced a co-headlining show with special guest Pigeons Playing Ping Pong on August 13 at Red Rocks in Morrison, CO.

    The weekend will kick off at Boulder Theater with moe. and Twiddle trading off acoustic and electric sets on August 11 and 12. Tickets go on sale February 17 through moe.org and Twiddlemusic.com
    Multi-day, VIP and GA tickets will be available Friday, February 17.

  • Castle Studio: Rehearsal and Recording Studio for Burgeoning New Paltz Scene

    In the Hudson Valley, the village of New Paltz is giving rise to a healthy music scene. With venues like Snug’s Harbor and Oasis Cafe, and bands including The Other Brothers and Upstate Rubdown, Castle Studio arrives as a key component to the scene. Castle Studio serves as a welcome recording and practice space for bands in the area who seek to stay local while playing and recording music in the midst of touring out of the greater lower Hudson Valley region. Open for less than two years, Castle Studio is the preeminent recording studio in the area, and Danny Berger spoke to NYS Music about the early history of the recording space and how the studio benefits New Paltz area bands.

    Pete Mason: What inspired you to open Castle Studio?

    Danny Berger: Two years ago, Jim Kramer had bought this really stunning 4 acre property just outside of New Paltz, and I went to check it out for the first time in August 2015. There was all this extra space on the property, including this garage-workshop that was in its own building. It was like looking at a blank canvas. I knew I wanted to do something creative with it and proposed the idea of turning it into a cool music rehearsal space. I’m a musician, so I wanted to use it for myself, and I also felt there’d be a demand in the community for a fully equipped studio, especially among the college students. Jim’s company, Organic Harmony Music Management, manages the local band Upstate Rubdown, and they needed a place to rehearse at the time, so he was into the idea. So we started the project as part of his company.

    PM: Where did the name come from?

    DB: When Jim worked full time in the music industry, he and his friends lived in a mansion they nicknamed “The Castle.” Fast forward a few decades and my friend Henry, who is also Jim’s son, dubbed the new property “The Castle” in reverence to the mansion of yesteryear. Plus, it really was a shock to see such a beautiful and expansive property after living in college housing. We all sort of knew it was much more than just a house, but at the time we didn’t know what form it would take.

    castle studioPM: Castle Studio is not just a rehearsal space, but also a studio and music venue. How has managing these three focal points contributed to your success? How has it hampered success?

    DB: The main focal point has always been rehearsals, and we’re doing well in that regard. This past fall, as the space was starting to take shape, I realized I needed to get creative in order to get the word out about the studio. I got a bunch of my friends in bands to play a show to get bodies into the space to see the mural that had just been finished by my talented friend, Mel Berardicelli. I think it was really successful. A lot of people showed up, the bands all sounded great and everyone had a blast. But once you promote a show, and it goes over well, you get bit by the bug. It’s kind of a high, and you have to do it again. It’s a lot of work but it’s worth it. So I put on a couple more shows and I think it’s provided additional publicity as well as being a ton of fun.

    The first time we did a recording session was a surprise. The Other Brothers had booked a couple of days and brought in my friend Max Siegal to engineer the session. It went really well, so Max and I decided to offer recording services to anyone who wanted them. For me, Castle Studio is a rehearsal space first, but if someone likes the sound of the room and thinks the view of the mountains is pretty enough to hole up for a recording session, we’re more than happy to have them.

    PM: What background do you and Jim Kramer have that makes you confident in the future of Castle Studio?

    DB: Jim and I both have strong backgrounds in music, but in different ways. He used to work in the industry as a booking agent for a lot of big bands, and has a solid business-oriented mind. Plus, I know the local scene in New Paltz. I know the young musicians and some of the long-time veterans. I have connections at the college and some of the local music businesses in town and they’ve really helped me out with referrals. The reciprocal, collaborative nature of the music community here has really been a blessing.

    PM: What variety of events do you currently hold at Castle, and what long term ideas do you hope to explore and bring to fruition over the next two years?

    DB: There are a lot of ideas cooking in the pot right now. Yoga classes with live music, monthly jam sessions, big cookouts with great local bands, live art installations during concerts, flow arts, hopefully even a mini-festival. I think we’ll just have to wait and see.

  • This Week in Protest Music: Tribe at the Grammys, Depeche Mode and Standing Rock

    In a busy week for protest music, the Grammy’s served as ground zero for speaking out against the actions of the Administration in Washington, D.C. Katy Perry wore a ‘Persist’ armband, a nod to Senator Elizabeth Warren.

    A Tribe Called Quest stole the show at the Grammy’s with a three song medley of “Award Tour,” “Movin Backwards,” and “We the People,” which featured Busta Rhymes thanking the President:”

    “I wanna thank President Agent Orange for perpetuating all the evil that you’ve been perpetuating throughout the United States. I wanna thank President Agent Orange for your unsuccessful attempt at the Muslim ban. Now we come together!”

    Depeche Mode released the video for “Where’s the Revolution,” off their upcoming album Spirit, due out March 17th. The lyrics are straightforward – wondering where the revolution is – and the video dark with nods to authoritarian leaders.

    “You’ve been kept down / You’ve been pushed ’round / You’ve been lied to/ You’ve been fed truths / Who’s making your decisions / You or your religion / Your government, your countries / You patriotic junkiesWhere’s the revolution / Come on people / You’re letting me down / Where’s the revolution / Come on people / You’re letting me down”

    Joan Baez talked to Rolling Stone to discuss protest movements in the 1960s and today and her feelings on our current president.

    Billboard checked in with record shops around the country to see what protest music people are buying. Stores in L.A, NYC, Detroit and Madison, WI were sampled and among others, Bob Dylan’s music stands the test of time.

    Wayne Coyne isn’t a fan of protest music, telling Newsweek “If you want to protest, you can’t do it abstractly. Music only works as an abstraction.”

    Musicradar.com takes a negative (or tongue in cheek – we really couldn’t tell) look at why protest songs are making things worse.

    Glassine, a musician from Baltimore, created a track comprised solely of samples from the Women’s March to benefit Planned Parenthood.

    Charlene Haparimwi from Depaul University writes for Huffington Post with a look at women of color in folk music, a direct tie-in to protest music of today and yesteryear.

    Trapdoor Social, an activist-centered music group, produced “Never Stop Listening,” focuses on the group’s experiences at Standing Rock in North Dakota, and the fight that has yet to come.

    This cover of Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War” includes overviews of the protests in the past four weeks.

    People Magazine has as list of 16 protest songs from the past century, including some lesser known tunes.

    Brendan Maclean’s explicit “House of Air” video was pulled off YouTube and Huffington Post discussed the idea behind the song and video with him.

    Washington D.C. group Coup Sauvage and The Snips released Heirs of Nothing, the title track speaking like a sermon on gentrification before it gets funky.

    The Cornel West Theory released “#weaintblack,” using samples from Cornel West speeches ahead of deep lyrics on race and the struggle of African-Americans through U.S. history

    The Observer, serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s colleges, reflects on how we arrived at 2017 with a look at modern protest music, summing up the current state of affairs:

    Internet fundraising in 2017 may not have Country’s Joe’s iconic flare or Springsteen’s popular appeal, but it makes up for these shortcomings with its clear logistical vision. Awareness won’t cut it anymore. A successful movement turns its obstacles into assets and embraces a political game movement in which persuasion is king and money the most convincing premise

  • EC Radio Launches in Utica

    Former owner of The Electric Company, Anthony ‘Zee’ Donaldson, offers a glimmer of hope for the Utica music scene in the form of EC Radio. Launched in January, the radio show host has had a hand in the Utica area for more than 20 years, owning the fabled venue from 2002-2012. With the new show, Zee hopes to breathe life back into The Handshake City.

    The Utica music scene has fallen on hard times in recent years. The 2012 closing of The Electric Company marked the lack of a main music venue in town, and Utica Music and Arts Festival not returning in the fall of 2016 have not been the best news for the once burgeoning scene in Central New York. Utica does have Saranac Brewery summer concert series that continues to be well-received and attended by fans for a variety of music each summer, but the rest of the year, the Utica scene is struggling, to put it lightly.

    EC RadioPete Mason: What made you want to start EC Radio?

    Zee: EC Radio starts with the D. Disruption Networks is a new media channel my partners and I launched on January 30th this year and features a lot of uncensored talk shows. On EC Radio I like to focus on live music, indie bands and introducing the world to all different types of music.

    PM: What can listeners expect to hear when they tune in?

    Zee: Topics range from everyday life, music, sports, different segments and interviews. All uncensored and live.

    PM: As the former owner of the Electric Company, which closed in 2012, how has the Utica music scene fared in recent years?

    Zee: There’s a lack of venues unfortunately. It’s a risk to run a live music venue. People aren’t supporting live music like they used to. It’ll come back again. It’s always a constant circle.

    PM: How can the Utica scene find its footing again?

    Zee: I hope my new platform with EC Radio will help get people out there supporting the music.

    PM: Are there bands in the Utica area that may be part of a future renaissance?

    Zee: There’s so much talent in the 315, I would be typing for days, but off the top of my head: Rusty Doves, Glen Street, Nineball, Mason’s Revolt, Copper Vein Clones, Enemy Down, Dying Breed, Floodwood, jay n nick, Alpaca, Matt Lomeo Band, Showtime, Simple Props, The Bomb, Gridley Paige, Dave Snediker Band, Joe Sweet n John Kelsey, Old Main, and there’s way more but that.

    EC Radio airs Monday through Friday from 3-6pm. Tune in!

  • Strange Machines Launch Kickstarter Campaign for First Full Length Album “Voice of Color”

    Strange Machines is hitting 9b Studio in Milford, MA this winter to record Voice of Color, the band’s first full length album. Working with producer Toft Willingham (Spiritual Rez) who also worked with the band on 2014’s Turn the Tide, the group has launched a Kickstarter campaign with a great deal of rewards for fans new and old.

    Guitarist/singer Mike MacDonald talked to NYS Music about the campaign and shed some light on the project. Catch them on the road this spring at April 8 at Putnam Den with Lord Electro and April 20 at The Haunt in Ithaca supporting TAUK.

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/strangemachines/strange-machines-first-full-length-album

    Pete Mason: The video is hilarious and gets the message across for purpose of the Kickstarter in a unique way. How did you guys come up with the concept and how long did it take to shoot?

    Mike MacDonald: Haha the video was a blast to make, we were in tears laughing the whole time. The concept came from myself and Toft one night in the studio tossing around concept idea’s and that one stuck. We shot it the next day over the course of several hours, Toft has a great eye for film.

    PM: You are recording at 9b Studios in Milford, Mass. How did you come across the studio for your first album and what brings you back for the second time, with producer Toft Willingham?

    MM: We came across 9b back in 2013 when our previous bass player recommended the studio for our first music video shoot. We did our Steal Away video there with Toft and clicked immediately with him on both a creative and personal level. The chemistry was right so we decided to do our whole EP there and we couldn’t have made a better choice. Toft is an incredible producer, he brings a wealth of technical knowledge to the table as well as creative input and is just down right fun to work with. He’s become a great friend over the years. 9b has almost become like a second home to us, we feel completely relaxed and at ease there which is essential when creating any form of art. It’s for all these same reasons that we decided to return for our new album.

    PM: How does the upcoming album “Voice of Color” compare to 2014’s “Turn the Tide”?

    MM: You’re going to see a whole new side of SM on this record. Some new songs as well as some we’ve been playing out for awhile but with a new twist. We also have two new members since the last one which brings a very different feel. It’s already starting to sound incredible, we couldn’t be more excited to share it with everyone. Turn the Tide was a very reggae-oriented album; and while Voice of Color touches on some reggae at points, there is much more diversity. A lot of rock and a lot of funk with hints of livetronica, hip hop and other things all  while keeping to our roots. I think there is something for everyone on this album.

    PM: How has Strange Machines grown and evolved over the past 5 years, and where does 2017 find the band headed, both directionally and on tour?

    MM: The band has evolved a great deal since it’s incarnation back in 2012. We’ve had several lineup changes but we’ve finally found the perfect fit. Isaac and Craig are both incredible musicians and we’re lucky to have found them. We all have very diverse musical backgrounds which has been the cornerstone for our eclectic sound which is constantly developing and changing. We’re dreaming big for 2017; we plan to release the album in May and we will be releasing our spring tour soon with some big surprises in the mix. We also plan to hit more festivals than ever before this summer, which ones we can’t say just yet but there’s some good ones on deck. We’ve even discussed doing our first tour to Colorado in the fall but that’s still a little ways away. Keep an eye out for spring dates coming soon.