NYS Music 20​17

Category: Blues/Jazz

  • Carrie and The Cats IBC Fundraiser at Big Kahuna

    The fundraiser held on the evening of September 30 at the Big Kahuna in Huntington, NY was filled with many talented acts joined together by an appreciation of music and support for fellow musicians. The event was organized by the headlining act, Carrie and The Cats, the winners of the 2018 International Blues Challenge and are representing Long Island this January at the national competition that will be held in Memphis. TN.
    Carrie and The Cats are a ‘new-school’ blues band from Long Island, New York. They are led by the incredible talent of Carrie Lynn Wicks and feature Will “Wee Wee” Bart on guitar, Bill “Bad Bones” Hanley on  tenor/alto Saxophone, Joe Conserva on bass, and Russ Benjamin on drums. The band had its start in early 2016. It channels the soul and passion of classic acts like the Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead, and Aretha Franklin, while adding a flair reminiscent of Amy Whinehouse and John Mayer Trio.
    Carrie and The Cats
    Throughout the evening there were contests held with gift baskets and raffles auctioned off, including two members of the band themselves. The money being raised is all going towards the many expenses accumulated to travel the five musicians and musical equipment over 1,000 miles from home to the Volunteer State.
    In support of Carrie and The Cats, there were performances by: The Proletarians, Good Luck Lapis, The Chris Ruben Band, Necter, and MJT.  The Cats covered such ambitious songs including ‘I Feel Good (I Got You)’ by James Brown, ‘Hit the Road Jack’ by Ray Charles, ‘Hound Dog’ by Elvis Presley, and ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ by Bill Withers. The crowd danced and applauded vigorously upon hearing these tunes played. The group also had some fantastic originals mixed in that exemplified their synchronization to one another and rooted influences. The originals performed that night were titled ‘Bad Company,’ ‘All Over Town,’ ‘Groove It,’ ‘Trapped Under Ice,’ ‘Gotta’ Go,’ ‘Don’t Know How,’ ‘Cross Roads,’ ‘No Peace in Me,’ and ‘Sunny Day.’ 
    Carrie and The Cats
    One in particular, that really harnessed the group’s essence and musicianship was “Crossroads.” The song was a mid-tempo ’50s and 60’s inspired doo-wop and soul ballad with a rock edge. Guitar arpeggio, heavy sax and groovin’ beat filled the swells of the ballad. Carrie’s voice is very acrobatic, infusing controlled rasps with a beautiful high range. Her vocals resonated with the style of the king and queen of soul, as she belted and swayed to the music on stage. Bill and Will each shared the limelight with intricate and sustained power that came from their sax and guitar. Each of them soloed and improvised on numerous tracks and the audience held praise. Joe Conserva and Russ Benjamin delivered smooth backbone in rhythm support and a well mannered tempo, keeping the set running smoothly.
    Here is a glimpse of their performance during the night.

    Carrie and the Cat’s music and EP ‘All Over Town‘ can be found on all major music streaming services Spotify, Apple Music and SoundCloud.
    The group is extremely excited and grateful for the awesome experience and if you wish to help them raise money in an effort to hit their goal, you can! Donate here. Any amount helps and donations over $15 include a signed copy of The Cat’s album, opportunities to hear them perform and a chance to book them to play a full length set at any event.
    For more info visit their website

  • Dave DiPrimo Band Returns to Rochester Fringe Festival

    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.

    Photos by Joseph DiPrimo.

  • Rochester Fringe Festival Starts Off with a Bang

    The city was alive with the sound of music Friday, September 15. Dozens of venues throughout the downtown Rochester area are participating in the fifth annual KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival, featuring more than 500 music, art, and theatrical performances over a 10-day timeframe. I spent the evening at Parcel 5, the site on Main Street on which Midtown Plaza once stood. The plan for tonight was to catch a theatrical performance by French troupe Plasticiens Volants and a set of music by local legends Teagan and The Tweeds.

    Teagan and The Tweeds

    Upon approach to Parcel 5, I heard strains of syncopated reggae rhythms filling the air. Festival goers lingered around the lot, some heading closer to the stage, and others staring in fascination at props for the Plasticiens Volants show, and others joining the lines of food trucks parked along the street. Reggae music, courtesy of Rochester’s Noble Vibes, gave way to the sound of bagpipes from Rochester Scottish Pipes and Drums, as people continued to pour into the square.

    The sun went down, and the lights came up on the far end of the lot. Plasticiens Volants began to perform a show they call “Big Bang.” Although the French street performance troupe was founded in 1976, this is their first time on tour in the US.

    Curiosity abounded as people young and old were drawn to viewing a video projected onto an inflatable globe. Narration spoke about the origin of life. A film began, which showed the evolution of civilization. The significance of the experience was not lost on those who grew up in Rochester, the birthplace of modern photography and film.

    Shadow puppets were incorporated into the visuals, and speakers pumped world music with a heavy techno beat. Suddenly, large inflatable balloons came to life, lifted by puppeteers who carried them through the crowd. Seashells and fantastical beasts and planets soared above the crowd, dipping and swaying to the music.

    Children on tiptoe stretched their arms to the star-studded sky to brush the balloons with their fingertips. The music and narration told the story of The Big Bang as a sci-fi fantasy. The magnificently choreographed spectacle ended in a light display, with mirrors like facets of diamonds catching spotlights and splaying beams of light across the city skyline.

    Teagan Ward of Teagan and The Tweeds posted a video of Platiciens Volants on social media as they prepped for their set, the final event of the night at this location. People gravitated towards the stage as the band cranked out boot-stomping tunes.

    This was my first time seeing the band, and I was completely enraptured. My jaw dropped as I watched Teagan, a barefoot blonde bombshell, belt out whiskey bar blues.

    Once the mesmerized gathering got over their initial shock, an impromptu dance floor opened up in front of the stage. Drummer Alfredo Encina provided a strong backbone and bassist Jeremy Stoner laid down grooves as deep as the day is long. They provided a foundation for Katy Wright’s stellar performance on the keys and Lou Giglio’s fancy fretwork. Tommy Formicola took it on home with his pedal-steel guitar.

    The people behind me must have been fans, because they knew all the words to “Morning Glory” and “Give It Up or Let Me Go.” They even played a new song, “Route 100.”

    Elsewhere, the city-wide party was still going strong. A silent disco was about to rage around the corner at the Speigeltent. Attendees donned headphones, through which they could switch between channels as three DJ’s in the tent dueled for the crowd’s favor. The dance wound down at 2am. (If you missed it, don’t worry, they’ll do it again on Saturday September 16, Friday September 22, and Saturday September 23.)

    Plasticiens Volants will reprise their performance on Saturday, September 16 at 8pm. Arrive by 6:30 to catch local pop band The Demos, and plan to stay late for Ithaca’s Big Mean Sound Machine.

    Rochester Fringe Festival runs through Sunday, September 24. For a complete listing of events, go to the website. Advance ticket purchases are recommended, as several shows have already sold out.

  • Vulfpeck Rocks Brooklyn Steel With Sold Out Show

    The Ann Arbor, Michigan born quartet Vulfpeck took the Brooklyn Steel stage Friday, September 8, as well as the following weekend, before departing for their upcoming tour in Europe. The venue holds a max capacity of 1800, as well as multiple bar areas and a mezzanine. The Brooklyn Steel is a popular new theatre in Brooklyn, and was the perfect setting for Vulfpeck to perform a great show. The show was entirely sold out, but the crowd was very laid back before the show started, something not common in a crowded setting like this.

    Multi-instrumentalist Joey Dosik was the opening act for the night, but he was not alone, accompanied by Vulfpeck’s Theo Katzman. Katzman played both bass and drums for this portion of the evening. Dosik elicited large amounts of excitement from the crowd, who seemed to be starstruck by his acapella rendition of “Stories” by Bill Withers. His tone and dynamic control were something to behold, and he seemed to be humbled by the praise he received. When his set ended, he then joined Vulfpeck on the stage and played along side them for the rest of the night, this time equipped with a saxophone. The vibe of the show was incredible.

    While Vulfpeck performed, everyone in the venue became a unit. There was a magnetic pull that draped over the crowd like a blanket, and it seemed that not one person was standing still. With high energy, dancing, and lots of hollering, the people of the crowd could be seen having the time of their lives, living in the moment and through the songs the band banged out with expertise. Vulfpeck’s setlist for the evening contained some of their most iconic songs, such as “Daddy’s Got A Tesla,” “Game Winner,” and “Back Pocket.” However, not one song was played live in the same style as the studio version. Improvisation was a driving force at this show in the best way possible. They fed off of each other musically, trading ideas and including the crowd whenever possible.

    vulfpeck brooklyn steelThe crowd harmonized as a group a number of times, the harmonies led by Theo Katzman. Not only that, but Vulfpeck spoke to the crowd like they would to a friend. The atmosphere was comfortable, and Vulfpeck made it easy to relax and enjoy a quality night of music. The acoustics of the venue were crisp, making each sound travel smooth and clear. Vulfpeck is a force to be reckoned with, being arguably one of the most diverse and unique music groups in the scene as of right now.

  • Walter Becker, Founding Member of Steely Dan, Dead at 67

    Walter Becker, bassist and guitarist for the highly successful rock duo Steely Dan died Sunday at the age of 67. His death was announced on his website with a simple diptych of Becker as a child and an adult with the caption, “walter becker feb. 20 1950 – sept. 03 2017.” No further details on the cause of death were provided.

    walter beckerBecker missed both July Steely Dan dates of the Classic West and Classic East shows due to a procedure, his performing partner Donald Fagen revealed in an August interview in Billboard. Fagen didn’t elaborate. The band also recently announced a fall tour with a scheduled stop at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo Oct. 17.

    Becker was born in Queens and graduated from Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan in 1967. He met Donald Fagen while both were students at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York that same year. A quick friendship was formed when both realized similar interests in music and the beat poets. They performed in various local groups, including the Leather Canary, which included comedian Chevy Chase on drums.

    Upon Fagen’s graduation in 1969, the two moved to Brooklyn. Becker and Fagen became touring musicians for Jay and the Americans for a brief time before leaving due to a pay dispute. Their biggest success while still in New York was Barbra Streisand’s recording of their song “I Mean to Shine.” The duo recorded a series of demos and scored a soundtrack for an early Richard Pryor film before making tracks to Los Angeles.

    The move to Los Angeles proved fruitful for the eventual Steely Dan. It was here that they connected with ABC Records producer Gary Katz. Katz hired Becker and Fagen as staff songwriters for the label and would go on to produce all of Steely Dan’s 1970s output.

    It was in Los Angeles where the two musicians struck out on their own, recruiting guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, drummer Jim Hodder and singer David Palmer to form Steely Dan. The name was chosen as a nod to beat writer William S. Burroughs. The “Steely Dan” was a sex toy mentioned in Burroughs’ Naked Lunch.

    What followed was one of the most unlikely string of successful albums put to tape. From Steely Dan’s debut,
    Can’t Buy a Thrill in 1972 through the 1977 pinnacle album Aja to 1980’s Gaucho, the band’s penchant for obscure references, dark humor, quirky time changes and studio perfection landed them in an unlikely spot on the Billboard charts time and again.

    The duo parted ways in 1981, with Becker taking his family to live in Maui, HI where he quit using drugs and, according to the Steely Dan Timeline, became “a gentleman avocado rancher and self styled critic of the contemporary scene.” During this time, Becker began producing in earnest as well as working with English pop band China Crisis.

    Despite the inactivity of Steely Dan, Becker and Fagen still managed to work together formally and informally during their hiatus. Becker sat in with Fagen’s New York Rock and Soul Revue in 1991, which led to his producing Fagen’s 1993 solo album, Kamikiriad. Fagen returned the favor, producing Becker’s 1994 solo outing 11 Tracks of Whack. These collaborations renewed the Steely Dan spark and led to the band’s first tour in 19 years.

    They continued to tour and in 2000 dropped an album of all new material, Two Against Nature that garnered Steely Dan four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. In 2001, Steely Dan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was honored with an Honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music.

    Another Steely Dan album followed in 2003, with Becker making his vocal debut on the track “Slang of Ages” and the band continued touring through the mid 2010s, including a headlining spot at 2015’s Coachella Festival in Indio, CA.

    Becker’s work left an indelible mark on the music industry and musicians worldwide have been offering tribute to him since his death was announced. Josh Kroop, former manager for Connecticut jamband Kung Fu shared professionally shot video of the band’s The Royal Scam set from two years ago, featuring members of the Steely Dan band, Bernard Purdie on drums and Jon Herington on guitar.

    On Sunday, Fagen shared a note remembering his long-time friend and collaborator. The full text is below:

    Walter Becker was my friend, my writing partner and my bandmate since we met as students at Bard College in 1967. We started writing nutty little tunes on an upright piano in a small sitting room in the lobby of Ward Manor, a mouldering old mansion on the Hudson River that the college used as a dorm.

    We liked a lot of the same things: jazz (from the twenties through the mid-sixties), W.C. Fields, the Marx Brothers, science fiction, Nabokov, Kurt Vonnegut, Thomas Berger, and Robert Altman films come to mind. Also soul music and Chicago blues.

    Walter had a very rough childhood – I’ll spare you the details. Luckily, he was smart as a whip, an excellent guitarist and a great songwriter. He was cynical about human nature, including his own, and hysterically funny. Like a lot of kids from fractured families, he had the knack of creative mimicry, reading people’s hidden psychology and transforming what he saw into bubbly, incisive art. He used to write letters (never meant to be sent) in my wife Libby’s singular voice that made the three of us collapse with laughter.

    His habits got the best of him by the end of the seventies, and we lost touch for a while. In the eighties, when I was putting together the NY Rock and Soul Review with Libby, we hooked up again, revived the Steely Dan concept and developed another terrific band.

    I intend to keep the music we created together alive as long as I can with the Steely Dan band.

  • Gary Clark Jr. Rides into the Stone Pony

    Gary Clark Jr., aka “The Chosen One”, brought his high energy fusion of blues, rock and soul to the Jersey Shore’s iconic Stone Pony on Saturday August 26th. The Austin, Texas native was accompanied by London, England’s Michael Kiwanuka, and New York City’s Tangiers Blues Band. The Tangiers feature photography legend and New Jersey home town hero Danny Clinch on harmonica. It was a perfectly curated trio of blues bands on a cool late summer evening in front of a capacity crowd. With the sunset behind the stage and the ocean across the street, fans flooded the open air venue for a memorable night with a powerhouse guitarist at the helm.

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  • 25th Celebration of Chenango Blues Fest Made it Rain

    The Chenango Blues Festival has annually attracted many of the top names in the field. This year was no exception with headliners North Mississippi Allstars with John Medeski and Victor Wainwright. The two-day affair, hosted by the Chenango Blues Association, drew record crowds for its Silver 25th Anniversary fest at the Chenango County Fairgrounds in Norwich Aug. 18 and 19. A mid-afternoon storm did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd or performers, as many crowded under the tent enjoying one of the most talked about performances of the day from Jason Ricci and J.J. Appleton with Cliff Schmitt on stand-up bass.

    As he gestured with a harmonica in his left hand, Ricci said, “I’ll tell you what, man. Check it out. More people, this is a fact, I checked it out. You know they have internet on computers now, and more people have been in outer space than have made a living playing this thing.” People all over the world have noticed Ricci’s prowess, as just two days prior to his Chenango performance, in Tulsa, Ricci was awarded the 2017 Player of the Year Award by the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica. Ricci then launched into an exhausting seven minute solo, complete with blues, jazz, train sounds, and a tease of “Low Rider” that left the crowd in awe of his abilities. Other notable performances during the set were covers of “Black Limousine” by the Rolling Stones, with Appleton on vocals, and Ricci’s ferocious vocals on Otis Rush’s “Double Trouble.”

    This showcase offers a wide range of music that can all be classified under the wide umbrella of the blues. This year’s artists included the delta offerings of Alvin Youngblood Hart, the soulful and powerful Muddy Magnolias to the jump blues of the Mannish Boy Allstars.

    Lead vocalist of the Mannish Boy Allstars, Sugaray Rayford endeared himself to the Norwich faithful, leaving the stage to mingle with those in attendance mid-song.  The Mannish Boys are truly an all-star act, culling its lineup from the best the blues has to offer. Accompanying the charismatic Rayford were Anthony Geraci (keys), a Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year Award nominee; Kid Ramos (guitar), who has worked with Roomful of Blues and the Fabulous Thunderbirds; and Willie J. Campbell (bass) and Jimi Bott (drums), who both also worked with the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Allan Walker, a sideman for the Temptations, the Four Tops, the Drifters and Marvin Gaye, rounded out the Mannish Boys lineup on the main stage.

    Festival favorites, the Memphis-based Ghost Town Blues Band had the most unorthodox entrance of the festival with a New Orleans style second line parade. The band entered through the crowd while playing “When the Saints Go Marching In” marching onto the stage to raucous applause.

    Following a three song open that included the Beatles’ “Come Together” and “Norwegian Wood” into Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” lead singer Matt Isbell took a ribbing from one of the audience members asking, “Do you know any blues numbers?” With that, they broke into a new original “Shine” that featured the most entertaining man of the festival, Suavo Jones on trombone. Guitarist/vocalist Matt Isbell has a gruff soulful voice that evokes that of both Gregg Allman and Warren Haynes. Ghost Town closed its set with a blistering cover of the Allman Brothers Band’s “Whipping Post” as another round of rain pounded the fairgrounds.

    Following the festival, Ghost Town Blues Band laid down a particularly greasy set at the downtown Norwich bar the Blarney Stone. Utica harmonica player and Beale Street veteran Matt Lomeo sat in for two songs during the late night set.

    Following a lengthy 40 minute weather delay, Tommy Castro and the Painkillers took to the main stage. Castro hosted Richard “Magic Dick” Salwitz, most famously of the J. Geils Band in the rain-shortened set. Castro ripped through some soulful memphis blues before welcoming Salwitz to the stage for a number of J. Geils Band songs including “First I Look at the Purse,” “Give it to Me,” and Magic Dick’s signature solo, the crowd pleasing “Whammer Jammer.”

    One of the most highly anticipated sets of the festival was that of Victor Wainwright and the Train. Wainwright, a Georgia born and bred pianist, reminds one of a young Dr. John with his honky-tonk boogie style. Wainwright didn’t disappoint. His hands were a blur the majority of the set. He injected stories about his songs, including one about a rollicking song his 87 year-old granddaddy, who is still playing, taught him called “Alabama Jubilee” which was one of the highlights of the set. Guitarist Pat Harrington, who is from Buffalo, had several friends and family members on hand. He laid down a particularly blistering solo during “I Wanna Be Like You.”

    The North Mississippi Allstars with special guest, keyboard maestro John Medeski closed out the festival. Touring behind their latest release Prayer for Peace, NMAS have a renewed vigor and have gone back to their Mississippi roots on this outing. Guitarist Luther Dickinson has established himself as one of the premier slide guitarists in music today. He mentioned that when discussing the set list with drummer and brother Cody Dickinson, the question arose of what the Chenango audience might want to hear. Luther thought the crowd was in the mood for “some of that Mississippi stank.” And some of that Mississippi stank is what they got.

    The raunchy set saw seamless interplay between the the Dickinsons and Medeski, who has a history with the brothers and Robert Randolph in the gospel outfit The Word. Luther and Medeski fed off of each other with Medeski’s keyboard magic taking the bluesy stomp to another level. A cover of the traditional blues classic “Deep Ellum Blues” sung by drummer Cody and accompanied by Medeski’s keys, proved to be a highlight of the set.

    In this era of flailing and failing festivals, the Chenango Blues Fest does it right. The volunteers are all cheerful and helpful to a fault and the organization is top notch. The festival has grown over its 25 years to gain the reputation as one of the best blues festivals on the circuit. This is a testament to the community, the organization and the numerous sponsors.

    The Chenango Blues Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established to foster an appreciation of blues, zydeco, jazz and gospel. The group is run by a group of volunteers who not only organize the Chenango Blues Festival each year, but also curate a summer-long free concert series in Norwich each year. In 2016 the Chenango Blues Festival was the recipient of the Blues Foundation’s Keeping the Blues Alive Award. For more information on the Chenango Blues Association and the work that they do, visit their website.

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  • Hearing Aide: Joe Mansman And The Midnight Revival Band ‘Bastard’

    Bluesy hard rock is alive and well. Right in our very backyard in Glens Falls resides Joe Mansman And The Midnight Revival Band.  Their latest album Bastard dropped on July 14.  If you’re a fan of the New Orleans blues rock or LA-style rock and roll, this album is sure to please your ear drums.

    Joe Mansman And The Midnight Revival BandBastard is an easy listen, not too short, not too long and perfect for the commute to work.  I highly recommend the slower tracks such as “Den Of Thieves” and “Nobody’s Sun” simply for the bluesy style.  The piano/keyboards add more depth to the album, however, the other upbeat rocky tracks are well done, very comparable to Theory Of A Deadman or Wolfmother.   Very much worth a listen and keep an eye out for this Joe Mansman And The Midnight Revival Band.

    Key Tracks: Den Of Thieves, Nobody’s Sun, Cut Out My Tongue

  • The Great NYS Fair Has Your Local Music Fix

    The 2017 NYS Fair opened its gates Wednesday, August 23, and aside from the food, music, especially local, is arguably the biggest attraction at the New York State Fair. The main stage acts at Lakeview Amphitheater and Chevy Court draw the most attention, but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find a plethora of acts across the fairgrounds. From the various pavilions to the bars that set up camp at the fair, there is music of all types to be found.

    The Empire Experience Stage features live performances three times a day, free with fair admission. The complete 13 day schedule can be found here.

    Among the acts performing at the Empire Experience Stage are several tribute bands (Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews Band, Jimmy Buffet, Rush, David Bowie, AC/DC, the Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd and Sublime); Latin music featuring Edgar Pagan’s Grupo Pagan, Alex Torres and his Latin Orchestra, Orquesta La Muralla, Afrikan2 and BombaRoc along with local polka legends, Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame honorees and SAMMY Hall of Fame inductees, Fritz’s Polka Band.

    Aug. 28-31 features several original local acts presented by local rock station 95X. Oneonta’s Baked Potatoes kicks off the series Aug. 28 at 4 p.m., followed by Utica-area act Our Common Roots at 6:30 p.m. The Black River closes out the stage at 8:30 p.m.

    Other artists included in the local showcase at the Empire Experience Stage include Oswego’s Ethernauts (Aug. 29 at 4 p.m.) along with Syracuse’s Professional Victims (Aug. 29 at 6:30 p.m.), Spring Street Family Band (Aug. 29 at 8:30 p.m.), Ahnest! (Aug. 30 at 4 p.m.), Townhouse Warrior (Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m.), Toronto’s Bleeker (Aug. 30 at 8:30 p.m.), Mattydale Music Collective (Aug. 31 at 4:30 p.m.), Stacy White Suite (Aug. 31 at 6:30 p.m.) and Barroom Philosophers (Aug. 31 at 8:30 p.m.). Barroom Philosophers will also be performing at the West End Bar & Grille at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 3.  SAMMY Award recipients, Americana band the Ripcords will also be performing the Empire Experience Stage (Sept. 1 at 4 p.m.).

    In addition to the Empire Experience, there are several other stages to take in live music. The Pan-African Village is a cooperative effort between the NAACP and the New York State Fair. The village highlights New York’s African-American heritage and features vendors and performers with African and Caribbean roots. Performances are held several times per day throughout the fair’s run. Featured performers at the Pan-African stage include SAMMY Award Winner Bobby Green (Aug. 25 at 8 p.m), Matte Mase (Aug. 26 at 3:30 p.m.), Tanksley with two performances (Aug. 26 at 5:30 p.m. and Aug. 28 at 8 p.m.), Modern Mudd (Aug. 26 at 8 p.m.), Five to Life (Aug. 27 at 2 p.m.), Steve Wolf performing twice (Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. and Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.), Colleen Kattau & Dos XX (Sept. 1 at 4 p.m.), Soft Spoken (Sept. 1 at 8 p.m.), Hev’n Ayn and Friends (Sept. 1 at 6 p.m.), Afrikan2 (Sept. 3 at 2 p.m.), and the Brownskin Band (Sept. 4. at 6 p.m.).

    Some CNY favorites will take to the Dairyland Stage, appropriately located in the Dairy Building. Artists performing at this mini-stage-in-the-round include Just Joe on Aug. 31 (11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.). Joe will also be performing at the Courtside Grill Aug. 23-27 for two sets each day (12-1:30 p.m and 3:30-5 p.m.) Castle Creek for three half-hour sets on Sept. 2 (11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m.) and Max Scialdone on Sept. 4 (11 a.m., 2 p.m and 5 p.m.).

    Several bars take up residency during the fair and many also offer live music. The West End Bar & Grille is a NYS Fair institution. The bar is located just inside of gate six on the west side of the fairgrounds and offers live music every night of the fair. Solvay’s own Rhythm Method brings its blend of metal and classic rock to the West Side twice during the fair (Aug. 24 and Sept. 2, both shows begin at 7:30 p.m.). They will also perform at Bosco’s on Restaurant Row Aug. 28 and 29 at 6:30 p.m.

    Syracuse R&B and soul group the Horndogs bring their horn-driven funk to the West Side on Aug. 25  and alt-country musician Steve Cali performs a Sunday set on Aug. 27. Other bands performing the West End include 3 Inch Fury, Brass, Inc., the PEP Band and Kat Tale. All shows at the West End begin at 7:30 p.m.

    The Empire Room, one of the fair’s air conditioned venues, will host live music twice per day over the course of the fair’s thirteen day run. Utica-based harmonica player, Matt Lomeo will perform three days with a different partner joining him each day. On Aug. 24, Lomeo will be joined by guitarist Brian Mulkerne. On Aug. 27 Syracuse-based guitarist and leader of Morris and the Hepcats, Morris Tarbell joins Lomeo. Finally, on Aug. 29, Lomeo is accompanied by celebrated jazz saxophonist and pianist, Monk Rowe. All of Lomeo’s appearances at the Empire Room are 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

    Chris Eves will make two appearances at the Empire Room, one as a solo act on Aug. 25 at 3 p.m. and the other with his band, the New Normal for a Party on the Patio Aug. 27, also at 3 p.m.

    Verona-based Opus Black String Quartet brings its unique take on classical meets contemporary to the Empire Room Patio Aug. 30 from 3-7 p.m.

    Syracuse legend and SAMMY Hall of Fame inductee, Joe Whiting brings his exciting act to the Empire Room twice. On Aug. 31, Whiting will be joined by guitarist Loren Barrigar at 3 p.m. and hosts a Party on the Patio Sept. 2 at 3 p.m.

    The Suds Factory Courtside Grille is yet another spot to catch some hot local talent throughout the fair’s run. Just Joe makes several appearances Aug. 25-27. Utica-area southern rock band the Swamp Drivers, renowned for their arsenal of homemade instruments, perform at the Grille Aug. 25-26.  High energy Syracuse hard rock and metal aficionados, Scars n’ Stripes hit the Grille for two sets on Aug. 24 (6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.).

    Boonville native Shawn “Big Sexy” Smith, a 2013 contestant on NBC’s  The Voice brings his talents to the Grille for two sets Aug. 28 (3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.). Syracuse-area classic rock and blues band The Barndogs perform Aug. 28, 29 and Sept. 3 from 6-11 p.m. and Brian McArdell and Mark Westers perform acoustic classic rock Aug. 30 (12:30 and 3:30 p.m.).

    Prior to and following Brett Michaels’ free show at Chevy Court, attendees can take in LaFayette country rockers Country Swagg. The band performs Aug. 30 from 6:30-8 p.m. and again following Michaels’ set. Syracuse funksters Skunk City close out the fair at the Grille Sept. 4 with two sets (4:30 and 9 p.m.). A regular at Funk n’ Waffles Downtown, this eclectic collective is sure to end the 2017 NYS Fair with a groove.  For Courtside Grille set times for all of the above musicians and many others click here.

    Finally, Bosco’s at the Fair and Shamrock’s host Syracuse-area country workhorses the TJ Sacco Band with both solo and full band performances. Sacco performs solo sets at Shamrock’s Aug. 24, 28, 29 and 30. He’ll be joined at Shamrock’s by the full band on Aug. 26, 27 and Sept. 2 and 3. All performances at Shamrock’s are at 5 p.m. Bosco’s will host the band Aug. 25 (7 p.m.) and Sacco solo Aug. 31 (7 p.m.). Solvay’s eight-piece funk outfit In Too Deep drops the beats at Bosco’s Sept. 2 at 6 p.m.

    Bottom line: One can attend the NYS Fair each of its 13 days and spend the entire day taking in nothing but spectacular live local music. Check a few of them out and let them know you appreciate their efforts. They’ll remember it and when they hit the big stage you can brag that you saw them when. Remember, every band was local once.

  • In Their Own Words: Byron Cage of The Joe Louis Walker Band

    On the evening of August 16, 2017, Blues Hall of Famer Joe Louis Walker graced the Photo City Improv stage in Rochester, NY. Joe Louis Walker has been playing the blues since the 1960’s and is still rocking both classic and contemporary styles. Earlier this year, Joe Louis Walker’s new album, “Everybody Wants A Piece” received a nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 59th annual Grammy’s. Before their show at Photo City Improv, NYS Music had the humbling opportunity to sit down with Joe Louis Walker’s drummer, a Syracuse NY native, Byron Cage. Here are some bite size nuggets of knowledge, quoted directly from Cage:

    On Working With Joe Louis Walker:

    I’ve been playing with Joe Louis Walker almost four years. It’s been a wonderful four years. I am learning and growing as a musician, and as a young man. Joe is my mentor. He’s a complete mentor. He’s a great guy onstage and off stage.

    Joe has taught me to be proud of who you are and be proud of what you do. To be able to share the blues with the world is privilege. It’s a cultural experience, and you want to represent yourself well.

    We try to keep our music authentic and stay true to the roots of the blues. There is nothing wrong with new age experimenting or adding new things… A lot of spontaneous things happen every night. But, when traditional blues is called for, that’s what we play. When it’s time for electric or rockin’ blues, we can do that too. It’s fun to exercise all these different music muscles in one night. We work together as a team; we are a real band. Our chemistry off stage shows on stage. We all genuinely care for each other as people and musicians.  This is represented in our live performance, and everything else we do.

    On Live Music:

    When you play music, the sky is the limit. You don’t level out unless you want to. You can keep growing and growing as long as you push for it. There’s always something new to learn. There is always something new to experience and explore musically. That’s what we want to do. Keep it fresh.

    Music is a universal language. No matter where we go, from Australia, to Asia, to Europe, to Brazil, we connect through the feeling of the music. We vibe together. I believe that is what life’s about.

    At the end of the day, the goal is to share something positive. There is so much crazy stuff happening in our world. People are dying senselessly. We are experiencing a whole new wave of hate. What better way to fight against that hate than to pull everybody together to enjoy some music- to smile and laugh with one another. Then, we shake hands at the end of the night, and create good memories. It’s a beautiful thing. I’m happy to be a part of it.