Such Gold ripped a gig in Rochester on Friday the 13 of October. The punk rockers played at Bug Jar, their familiar stomping grounds, at the midway point in their fall tour. “We’ve played here one… thousand times,” quipped front man Ben Kotin between songs.
The all-local show included support from Barbarosa, California Cousins, and Taking Meds. Two members of Such Gold did double duty, as they also play in Taking Meds: Kotin (guitar) and Jon Markson (bass). Such Gold is rounded out with Nate Derby on guitar and Matt Covey on drums. They performed work from their eight-year span, including a handful of songs from last month’s release Deep In A Hole. Both in their studio recordings and at live shows, they’re energetic and fun.
The crowd at Bug Jar was abuzz with excitement, and it wasn’t long before the center of the room opened up into a mosh pit. There was a great dynamic between the band and members of the audience, many of whom have been supporters since the early days. Tonight’s show was full of crowd surfing and even a stage dive or two. A highlight was when Skylar Sarkis of Taking Meds took the stage to sing on a cover of Snapcase’s “Energy Dome.”
Such Gold takes to the road for the second leg of their tour with a headliner on Thursday, October 19 in Stanhope, New Jersey. They join A Wilhelm Scream, After The Fall and We Were Sharks for a run of shows which start on Friday, October 20 at St. Vitus in Brooklyn and end with a Halloween show in Lancaster, PA.
Setlist: Intro, Locked Out of the Magic Theater, Engulfed In Flames, Two Year Plan, Ceiling Stare, Ransom, Four Superbowls No Rings, Nauseating, Deep In A Hole, Rot Gut, No Cab Fare, Energy Dome (Snapcase), Storyteller, Sycamore
Firestarter’s latest album, The Time It Takes, is proof that good things do come to those who wait. While the band from New York retains their songwriting and lyrical prowess, their latest work exceeds expectations. They’ve risen to a higher caliber by amplifying punk elements. The release was celebrated with a show at The Cave featuring support from Light It Up, The Weekend Classic, and Something More.
The Cave is located within RVP Studios in New Haven, Connecticut, just southwest of Yale University. In addition to the venue, this hub of the local scene offers rehearsal space and music lessons. Most places where up-and-coming independent artists play aren’t this well equipped. They’ve got a top-notch sound system and a great lighting setup, which were immediately apparent upon arrival during Light It Up’s sound check.
Light It Up
From nearby Wallingford, Light It Up is fronted by Gina Fritz, a no-holds-barred punk rocker who could hold her own toe-to-toe against any other singer on the scene, male or female. Their original pop punk songs speak to empowerment and strength in the face of adversity. They threw a cover of Paramore’s “Misery Business” into their set, too, to the delight of the members of the audience.
Next on the bill was The Weekend Classic from Indiana. It took a few minutes to set up the drum kit, so the guys noodled around on their guitars to the house music, which was Toto’s “Africa.” Their set officially started with “More Alive.” It’s one of their newer songs, more refined and polished than the tracks off their early EP’s. And when they played a couple of songs they wrote a couple years ago, like “Disbelief” and “The Better Half,” they gave them a fresh spin, with more intricate instrumental work and enhanced melodies in the three-part vocals.
Something More from Maryland stormed the stage, rife with positive pop punk attitude. What’s not to love about a band who names two of their three works Dogs and Dogs Part II, with a cute canine on the covers? Their set included “Distance & Space,” “All My Friends Are Dogs,” and “It’s Not About You, Part II.” The energetic set included tons of punk jumps and an impassioned speech about making a collective effort to keep venues safe.
Fans, friends, and family were pumped up by the time Firestarter took the stage. They started with the first track off the new album, “One Year Later.” Right off the bat it was apparent that they’ve come a long way from 2013’s New Beginnings and Rooftop Acoustic Sessions. The riffs were heavy, the beats hit hard. The introduction of harsh vocals by bassist Dan Sheehan enhanced lead singer Matt LaPerche’s emotionally charged lyrics.
They were there to have a good time. Sheehan was hamming it up on stage right during the set. But he was sincere in thanking everyone for coming, and made a point to give a shout out to guitarist Mike Held’s dad. They threw themselves into the performance, stomping and spinning around the stage as they played. Drummer Matt Bliss was in the zone. The crowd was feeling it: heads were bopping to the fat beats. It was impossible not to sing along on the amped-up remakes of their hits “Troubled Existence” and “Headstones & Old Bones,” with lines like, “So make the change, fight through the pain and make it through another day.”
The night was over way too soon. Band members hung around afterwards to meet up, sell merch, and sign autographs. Firestarter has a couple gigs lined up in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, and are booking more shows in and around New York. The Weekend Classic makes their way back to the east coast next month with support from Massachusetts’ In Good Nature and Albany’s Young Culture on select dates.
Firestarter setlist: One Year Later, Forgotten Yesterday, Empty Roads, A Light To Guide You Home, Troubled Existence, Headstones & Old Bones, What’s Left Of Us.
Firestarter’s The Time It Takes is available now to stream on Spotify and to purchase on Bandcamp, Amazon, and iTunes. Order a physical copy of the CD and merchandise through their webstore. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates and show announcements.
My husband and I were fortunate enough to be in attendance the last time the Farm Aid lineup rocked Burgettstown in 2002.
This time was extra special as it was the first time our six-year-old son was able to attend a Farm Aid event with us. The life experience he has gained from attending the press conference, being up close to music greats like Farm Aid board members, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews, learning about vermicomposting in the HOMEGROWN Village and eating all the amazing food the local farmers and food vendors cooked up for the show; I can’t even begin to imagine the lasting impact that will have on him. Did I mention that all of the concessions sold at the show were sustainably produced by family farmers using ecological practices and any waste produced was recyclable or compostable? Awesome!
Although the day in many ways is about the music, I want to take a moment to focus on the heart of the cause…the family farmers. Farm Aid has raised more than $50 million to support family owned farms. The press conference held prior to the day long concert, focused on four stories of local farms. They varied from a produce farm that sold to local schools, a dairy farm that was able to stick it out and make things work even in tough times, one of the pioneers of organic farming in the region and an inner city urban farm that invites the community to have a safe haven to commune, work and get a bite to eat if they’re hungry. Pennsylvania was selected to play host to the 2017 Farm Aid concert because it is home to over 58,000 farms. However, those farms are declining at a growing rate. For more information about Pennsylvania farms please visit here. It is no surprise that the 2017 Farm Aid concert sold out the first day tickets went on sale. The lineup was incredible and featured some of the music industry’s best. Farm Aid 2017 featured Willie Nelson, Neil Young with the Promise of the Real, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Sheryl Crow, Jack Johnson, The Avett Brothers, Nathaniel Rateliff &The Night Sweats, Blackberry Smoke, Margo Price, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Valerie June, Insects vs Robots and Blackwood Quartet. We met people who had traveled from Alaska and even Australia to see the show. The day opened with the smooth sounds of the Blackwood Quartet; followed by the experimental psych-rock band Insects vs Robots featuring Micah Nelson, son of Willie. Valerie June brought her beauty and talent to the stage. How many instruments can she play? Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real were on fire. It has been a few years since I have seen them and they have certainly progressed as a band. Lukas has a genuine, likeable stage presence and proved that he has natural talent like his father. In fact, this band is so amazing that they have the distinct honor of being the backing band for Neil Young. Jam-rock band Blackberry Smoke played a set reminiscent of the sound of the Allman Brothers. Farm Aid veteran Jamey Johnson took the stage next. The crowd was starting to fill in as he performed country favorites, “Up on Cripple Creek” and Woodie Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land.” I had heard great things about Margo Price, a newcomer to the alternative country music scene. She did not disappoint. She has a voice that will take her places and a personal reason for championing the Farm Aid cause; her family lost their farm in 1985. Things really started to heat up when Nathaniel Rateliff & the Nightsweats took the stage. It was my first time seeing the band and now I completely understand what my friends have been raving about. What an awesome sound that culminated with their performance of “S.O.B.” The Avett Brothers kept the momentum going. I am unsure of how to describe their sound. You really just need to check it out for yourself. They rocked “Laundry Room,” “True Sadness” and “Slight Figure of Speech.” Jack Johnson is one of the most laid back performers I have ever seen. He opened his set with a highly entertaining parody song aptly titled, “Willie Got Me High and Stole All My Money.” Jack invited Jamey Johnson, Sheryl Crow and Nathaniel Rateliff & the Nightsweats to join him onstage to cover Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released.” To keep the party going, Jack called for someone to find Lukas Nelson so that he could come up and perform with him. Lukas was located and joined him for “Breakdown” which included a snippet from Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker.” Jack Johnson was clearly in the mood to share the stage and the Avett Brothers joined him for the final two songs of his set, “Mudfootball” and “Better Together.” The sun was finally starting to go down and Sheryl Crow was up next. She took the stage and immediately lead with hit song “Every Day Is a Winding Road.” She followed Jack Johnson’s lead by inviting Margo Price to join her for “Strong Enough” and ended her set with The Allman Brothers Band cover “Midnight Rider” with Margo Price, Willie and Lukas Nelson and Jack Johnson onstage to help. The first of the Farm Aid board members, Dave Matthews along with his partner in crime, Tim Reynolds performed next. Matthews and Reynolds laid down some mean guitar tracks during set opener “Don’t Drink the Water.” They pleased their diehard followers by debuting a new song that may appear on an upcoming album release that fans have dubbed “Odds Are Against Us.” Their set felt short. Of course I am accustomed to their nearly three hour long performances. John Mellencamp always puts on a good show. I am convinced he can pull off anything from country, blues, jazz-funk to good ol’ rock n roll. He can sing it all and his band is on point. He played fan favorites “Small Town,” “Check it Out,” an acoustic version of “Jack and Diane” to which Mellencamp said, “I don’t know why I play this song anymore. I guess it’s cause I know you all want to hear it.” “Rain on the Scarecrow” was very moving given it summarizes the heart of the devastation of the loss of a family farm.
I have seen Neil Young perform at Farm Aid several times but this year, he stole the show. Young along with Promise of the Real took the stage by storm with a thundering version of “F*ckin’ Up.” Young was ready to rock and ripped through stunning versions of “Cortez the Killer,” “Cinnamon Girl,” “Heart of Gold” and the crowd went crazy when the opening chords of “Rockin’ in the Free World” hit the air. He summed up the day by stating “Farmers are the American heroes today. They are living a real life.” It was time for the heart and soul of Farm Aid to take the stage… Mr. Willie Nelson. My son was overjoyed that he opened with his favorite Willie song, “Whiskey River.” Willie performed a Toby Keith cover “Beer for My Horses,” “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die,” “On the Road Again” and ended the night with some humor or perhaps satire with “It’s All Going to Pot.”
What can you do to help?
Shop at your local farmer’s market
Join a CSA
Grow your own garden or participate in a community garden
Talk to local farmers and learn about what they do and their farming practices
The atmosphere of the Cayuga Sound Festival perfectly summed up the Ithaca experience. The day-long festival kicked off Saturday, the 23rd, beginning hopefully a new annual tradition. The festival was scheduled during one of the most musical weeks in Ithaca, as locals were gearing up for Porch Fest the following day. The festival kicked off around noon, with the Imperials taking the smaller of the two stages. Unlike most music festivals, the two stages were located side by side. This allowed both venues the classic Stewart Park Lake view beloved by all, and allowed for continuous music to a static audience. The Imperials set the mood of the festival. This local band is categorized as post-rock, and their eclectic musical quality lent itself to the ambient environment of the afternoon. The theme of the festival seemed to be hometown heroes, with the entire thing put together by the X Ambassadors, an indie-band that got its start in Ithaca. Each band that came on played into the atmosphere, calling out the beautiful scenery and talking to the crowd.
Photo by Graham Fielder
After Imperials, Stone Cold Miracle took the Main Stage. Another locally based band, their soul-infused style played perfectly off the energy created by Imperials. The crowd for the first few concerts was primarily locals, with lots of families running around the grounds. Stations were set up for face painting while the lake side of the stages were lined with local favorite food trucks like Silo’s. The day crowd stayed small enough that wait times were short. The longest line was for the ice cream, as the crowd tried to beat the heat. Still, a consistent group of enthusiastic fans stuck by the stage. The group was hemmed by couples and families in lawn chairs and on blankets. The rest of the concertgoers spent their downtime sprawled out by the lake, which was filled with boats as people flooded to get as close to the music as possible. Although Ithaca is frequently dominated by the two large colleges in town, the festival was marketed to all ages, which allowed the true relaxed and friendly spirit of Ithaca shine through.
Following on the Lake Stage was Izzy True, an indie-rock band. Their mood was less joyful than that put out by Stone Cold Miracle, however, their lead singer had instant charisma with the crowd, who were found nodding along. A few even broke into dance as the pace picked up. Jukebox the Ghost continued this energy. Although still within the aesthetic of the festival, they were the most pop-oriented group of the day. The younger audience was really engaged through their energetic performance style, and their songs were a mix of their older acoustic-based music and more recent indie-pop songs.
Photo by Graham Fielder
Sammus completely changed the mood as the young rapper took the stage. The artist is known for her evocative lyrics paired with heavy beats, and although she gave an incredible and resonating performance, it was a sudden derailment from the relaxed family-friendly vibe set by the earlier groups. The crowd thinned out to mostly young adults and college students, with Sammus being a clear favorite for many concert goers. She fit the theme of powerful women set forth by Izzy True that would be repeated again in K.Flay and Tei Shi’s performances.
Crush Club’s funk mix brought back the earlier vibe, along with grabbing the attention of some surprised older concert goers who were drawn to the band’s sound. Their set was fun and light-hearted without losing the attention of the younger group that Sammus had drawn.
The largest issue that arose during the festival seemed to be around scheduling, as The Knocks ended up canceling the day of the concert. Although times were shifted to accommodate this, many later performers didn’t seem to get the memo. This was unfortunate as it created musical gaps in the well-planned schedule. It also gave concertgoers a chance to relax along Cayuga Lake, indulge in the delicious food, or just hang out with a beer. During these breaks, the atmosphere was relaxed instead of stressed. People hula-hooped, played Frisbee, and even napped.
The music got progressively heavier as the sun set. This was fitting, as the crowd shifted from families to college students and young adults. K. Flay’s music picked up the energy, with her making several shout-outs to being in Ithaca. Savior Adore’s pop-infused music kept the crowd dancing as more and more people began to trickle in for the night’s main event. By the time Tei Shi took the stage, the crowd had easily doubled from the daytime group. Gone were the lawn chairs, replaced by a crowd ready to dance, jump, and jam with the three headliners.
By the time X Ambassadors took the stage, the crowd was going wild. This marked a homecoming for the band, and their excitement to be back was palpable. Their set was one of the most memorable of the night, as they mixed popular and newer songs together to create a show that suit both avid fans and more passive listeners. Finally, The Roots made it to the main stage. Their performance included their beloved music, reaching back into the ‘90s for some crowd favorites. By now the crowd was huge, spilling over the area in front of the stage so people were dancing in the field and even down on the shore of the lake. The Roots were perfectly suited to this festival, as their sound appealed to all ages of audience. Many families had left by the time The Roots stepped out on the main stage, however the audience as still a great mix of local Ithacans and college students. The fireworks following the concert tied together a beautiful day, hopefully one that will be repeated in years to come!
Elise Hughey and Dave Chisholm make beautiful music together. The pair recorded an acoustic version of “Gravity,” a song from their band’s debut self-titled album Talking Under Water. “Gravity” is a melancholy tune about trying to break free from the weight of the world.
“I need to run away, I need to fly away,” Chisholm sings while playing his acoustic guitar, “But there’s so much gravity. This planet is too big for me.” Hughey accompanies on her cello, playing the stirring notes with elegance and grace. This intimate performance of the Talking Under Water duo was captured on film by Dave Drago and Jon Lewis at 1809 Studios in Macedon, New York, and edited by Drago.
Visit Talking Under Water online or follow on Facebook for updates. Sign up for their mailing list to receive special features like free song downloads and exclusive previews of videos.
The full-length debut Talking Under Water is available to stream on Spotify and purchase on Bandcamp and iTunes. For more about the album, read the NYS Musicreview.
On the eighth day of KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival, the city-wide celebration of performing arts was still going strong. I drove downtown after work on Thursday night to catch a set by Dave DiPrimo Band at Java’s Café. Even on a weeknight, people were out and about, congregating on the sidewalks or making their way to one of the 25 Rochester Fringe venues.
Dave DiPrimo Band Photo: Joseph DiPrimo
When I entered Java’s Café, Dave DiPrimo Band’s set was already in full swing. The mid-size cafe was standing room only tonight for the local indie quartet. DiPrimo, front and center, strummed his acoustic Martin. He was flanked by Ian Benz on bass and Karis Gregory on saxophone. Reid Hoffmeier manned the drums. They were playing a dreamy folk-art song which could be pulled off as a solo singer/songwriter performance, but is made so much richer with a full backing band.
The joy of alternative music is that the rules that govern music writing can be bent. And Dave DiPrimo Band revels in this freedom from needing to conform. Pulling on influences as varied as classic rock, soul, jazz, blues, punk, and even Latin music, they create original tunes that defy convention. Put a saxophone on a folk song? Why not!
Karis Gregory Photo: Joseph DiPrimo
Gregory traded the sax for an electric guitar, and DiPrimo switched to a hallow-body Ibenez for the next song, “Somethings.” DiPrimo was adept in the art of engaging the audience, getting us to sing along in a call and response of melodic oh’s and la’s. He picked up his favored Martin for the heartfelt ballad “Four Letter Word.” Gregroy was back on sax for this one, playing long, low notes full of longing and soulful expression. He stole the spotlight with solos full of fancy trills and flourishes.
The songs got livelier as the night progressed. Midway through the nostalgic “Glory Days,” the music swelled in joyous revelry. That night Benz and Hoffmeier displayed skill, but restraint. Here, they finally had a chance to go all out. Hoffmeier, in his t-shirt from Rush’s 40th anniversary tour, threw himself into the song wholeheartedly. The song also showcased DiPrimos vocal range, from crooning soft contemplative verses to belting out the strong, bellowing chorus.
Dave DiPrimo Photo: Joseph DiPrimo
Before the final song, DiPrimo thanked everyone for coming out. He told us that last year he played Fringe Festival solo, this year as a full band, and joked that next year they might expand even further with the addition of a full backing choir.
They closed out with “Selina.” DiPrimo counted in, in Spanish and the band launched into a spicy Latin-influenced number. It was a shame the room was so packed, there was no room to dance. But that didn’t stop people from moving in their seats and clapping along. In the morning, the members of Dave DiPrimo Band would be back in their college classes, but they still took the time to hang around for a while after the show to talk to members of the audience and pass out cards for a free download of their new single, “Now.”
Dave DiPrimo Band Photo: Joseph DiPrimo
Dave DiPrimo Band’s Thursday Setlist: American Dream, End Of The World, Know You Best, Out In The Cold, Now, Somethings, Four Letter Word, Glory Days, And It Goes, Selina
Dave DiPrimo Band’s music is available on CD Baby, iTunes, and Spotify. Watch for their new full-length album, coming out this fall. Follow on Facebook for updates.
Most people might not know this, but The Pixies got their hometown start at UMass Amherst back in 1986, when two of the founding members were neighbors. Over 30 years later, they still play like the 90’s never ended. On September 20, their alt-punk-rock filled the John M. Greene Hall in Northampton, MA. With no set list, the band came out to a packed crowd and played hit after hit. After each song, the lights would dim while Black Francis would choose where the band would go next, feeding off the energy of the crowd. They have a few more shows in the northeast and Canada before moving westward. Do not miss these guys. Check out photos below from Zatchmo Lives Media.
Buffalo’s Head North announced this week that they will be supporting Australian punk pop band Trophy Eyes on a North American Tour. They’ve also booked a series of headlining shows in the Midwest leading up to the extensive 21-date tour. A hometown show at Mohawk Place in Buffalo is slated for Tuesday, Dec. 12. They play New York City at Brooklyn Bazaar on Thursday, Dec. 14. The tour promotes Head North’s recently released debut full-length album The Last Living Man Alive Ever In The History Of The World, a concept album which explores themes about coming of age in a dystopian society. Tickets are on sale now.
Head North. Photo: Eli Ritter
Head North burst onto the pop punk scene in 2015 with their EP Bloodlines and toured relentlessly – crossing the country three times with bands like Knuckle Puck and Have Mercy. After taking time off, they came back this summer with the self-released LP The Last Living Man Alive Ever In The History Of The World, departing from their early angst-driven work and making a foray into indie rock.
The way we operated our band, and the trajectory that we were on in 2015, helped us decide what type of band we wanted to be and how we wanted our sound to reflect that,” drummer Ben Lieber told NYS Music in a recent interview. “And I think what it came down to was being genuine. The sonic direction was a result of personal growth as well as realizing what we didn’t want to do.”
The Last Living Man Alive Ever In The History Of The World is available to stream on Spotify and can be purchased digitally on iTunes and Bandcamp. Physical copies on CD and vinyl, in addition to other merchandise are available on Head North’s webstore.
Tour Dates:
Headlining Shows:
Nov. 14 – Indianapolis, IN – Hoosier Dome
Nov. 15 – Chicago, IL – Camp/Us
Nov. 16 – Dubuque, IA – Olliewood
Nov. 17 – Ames, IA – The Pine House
Nov. 18 – Omaha, NE – The Commons
With Trophy Eyes and Free Throw:
Nov. 24 – Seattle, WA – The Funhouse
Nov. 25 – Portland, OR – Analog Lounge
Nov. 26 – Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone
Nov. 27 – Los Angeles, CA – Echo
Nov. 28 – Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction
Nov. 29 – San Diego, CA – The Irenic
Nov. 30 – Phoenix, AZ – Rebel Lounge
Dec. 2 – Dallas, TX – Dirty 30
Dec. 3 – Houston, TX – Walters
Dec. 5 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Dec. 6 – Nashville, TN – The End
Dec. 7 – Columbus, OH – Woodlands Tavern
Dec. 8 – Detroit, MI – The Shelter
Dec. 9 – Cleveland, OH – Mahalls
Dec. 10 – Toronto, ON – The Hard Luck Dec. 12 – Buffalo, NY – Mohawk Place
Dec. 13 – Boston, MA – Sonia Dec. 14 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bazaar
Dec. 15 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry
Dec. 16 – Washington D.C. – DC9
Dec. 17 – Asbury Park, NJ – House Of Independents
Canadian indie-rock collective Broken Social Scene opened their US tour, their first in six years, at the State Theater in Ithaca on Saturday, September 16. They’re touring behind Hug of Thunder, their first album in seven years. With the exception of some one-off festival shows here and there (mostly there), the band has essentially ceased to exist.
As soon as the lights went down, the much-less-than-sellout crowd left their assigned seats en masse, as if it were planned, tightly packing the theater halfway. What they lacked in size, they made up for in energy and excitement. Ring leader Kevin Drew took notice and set the tenor for the evening. He said the tour manager warned of a light crowd, but they didn’t care, they were going to throw a “private party” in Ithaca. And gracious hosts they were. Indeed they broke out quite a social scene. Drew, always a showman, was especially high-spirited and chatty on this evening.
They may not have played as a regular unit in a while, but this wasn’t a mere reunion show featuring just a couple of the original members. They brought the core band that has been together since the early days of the band, Drew, Brendan Canning, Charles Spearin, Justin Peroff, Andrew Whiteman, Amy Milan, Sam Goldberg along with some horns and percussion and Ariel Engle, the relative newcomer on vocals. Members came and went and switched instruments at will for a constantly fluctuating lineup that maxed out at 11 people. The guitarist became the bassist became the keyboardist became the trumpeter became the drummer, and so it went.
The band, or at least some of them, kicked into the opening notes of “7/4 Shoreline” shortly after arriving to the stage. Drew stopped them, saying they weren’t playing that yet. They recollected themselves and reached further back in their catalog for the opening “Cause=Time,” which was immediately followed by the aforementioned “7/4 Shoreline.” The band was loose in spirit and playing, but still incredibly tight, like they’d been playing hundreds of shows a year.
Drew’s strict adherence to their predetermined setlist was eventually abandoned. Midway through the set he started openly taking requests from the audience. It was a “private party” after all. “We’re for you, not us, don’t forget that,” explained Drew. “Almost Crimes” opened up the request faucet. “Texico Bitches” also came by request, though as the band started into it, Drew said, “Oh we’re really doing this?” The leader became the follower, reluctantly. They wouldn’t oblige all requests though, “Swimmers” was too deep to be dredged up. Nonetheless, that the somewhat out-of-practice band of 11 was willing and able to take random requests was most impressive. That’s not an easy ship to steer.
Someone, perhaps angry their request wasn’t granted, threw their cup on stage, nearly hitting Drew. Security quickly apprehended the guilty party and dragged them out of the venue. Drew, watching the action unfold, responded, “Aww, I liked that guy!” But he wouldn’t be invited back to the party.
Right before “Sweetest Kill,” Drew took a video of the crowd wishing his friends congratulations on their wedding, which he was sad to be missing due to this show. A message from one “private party” to another. “And now we’re going to sing a song about divorce,” he kidded.
“Ibi Dreams of Pavement” closed the set, but the word ‘closed’ is used loosely. It was announced as the closer, and the band started leaving as it finished up, but before the entire band left Drew managed to wrangle a few to stay as he said, “That was the last song, but I gotta do this for this guy.” Another request which, as the host of the party, he couldn’t let pass. So the crowd was treated to “Major Label Debut,” and as more and more band members got back on stage, it eventually finished with the full band. One more song with more from the ladies, so they played their early infectious hit, “Anthem for a Seventeen Year Old Girl,” which mirroring the start of the show, featured a false start and a do over. But they still weren’t finished, and would grant one last request, this one from the back of the stage, as drummer Justin Peroff asked to play another early one, “KC Accidental.” After a rocking romp through that classic, the band waved their goodbyes and stood together off to the side of the stage for one last look at their party guests. Egged on by a lingering guitar swirl from Whiteman, a few members grabbed an instrument and kept the jam going. A couple more minutes of incredible instrumental Broken Social Scene were squeezed into the end of the show, it was the kind of party no one wanted to leave.
One last pearl of wisdom from Drew as they finally left the stage, “We’re relying on you, so help someone out, it’s the best feeling in the world.” Earlier in the evening, he wondered aloud if he was talking too much. He was looking forward to reading the review of the show that complained about his excessive banter. This isn’t that review.
Setlist: Cause=Time, 7/4 Shoreline, Halfway Home, World Sick, Victim Lover, Protest Song, Superconnected, Fire Eye’d Boy, Almost Crimes, Gonna Get Better, Sweetest Kill, Stay Happy, Hug of Thunder, Texico Bitches, Stars and Sons, Ibi Dreams of Pavement, Major Label Debut, Anthem for a Seventeen Year Old Girl, KC Accidental
of Montreal played to a full room at The Haunt in Ithaca on September 11. They brought with them their experimental pop led by lead singer and founder, Kevin Barnes. Barnes, who is sort of an androgynous David Bowie type, kept the crowd into it with his energy and interactions with the fans, along with the costumed performers that intermittently crashed the stage. You can check out their latest EP Rune Husk from early this year. They are still touring though the end of they year, but you’ll have to be down south or on the west coast to catch them.
The all-local show included support from Barbarosa, California Cousins, and Taking Meds. Two members of Such Gold did double duty, as they also play in Taking Meds: Kotin (guitar) and Jon Markson (bass). Such Gold is rounded out with Nate Derby on guitar and Matt Covey on drums. They performed work from their eight-year span, including a handful of songs from last month’s release Deep In A Hole. Both in their studio recordings and at live shows, they’re energetic and fun.
