NYS Music 20​17

Category: Pop

  • ‘Weird Al’ Tones It Down for 2018 Tour, Several NY Dates Included

    Everyone’s favorite parody musician will once again hit the road, as “Weird Al” Yankovic, has announced dates for an extensive tour of North America in 2018. Yankovic has recently wrapped up one of his biggest tours ever and will return in 2018 with his 70+ city “The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour.” Longtime friend and comedian Emo Phillips, will perform before “Weird Al” takes stage.

    Weird Al 2018Shows will take place in venues with a more intimate feel, and create a little different atmosphere than normal “Weird Al” shows. Yankovic has stated that he and his band will perform original material, rarities, and deep cuts. “Weird Al” will perform songs he and his band haven’t played in years, and songs they have never before played live. He also stated that he and his band have been rehearsing around 60 songs for the trek, and each show on the tour will have a different set list.  Unfortunately, there won’t be any costume changes or running and jumping around by “Weird Al,” as he and the band will sit on stools, and jam out songs for around 90 minutes.

    “Weird Al,” has released 14 studio albums. Four of those fourteen albums reached gold status, while six others reached platinum certifications, including 1984’s “Weird Al” Yankovic in 3-D. He has also won four Grammy awards in his career including Best Concept Music Video for the song “Fat,” in 1989. He has sold over 12 million albums, and has appeared in numerous television shows and on the big screen.

    The tour will kick off on Feb. 27, at the Bardavon 1869 Opera House in Poughkeepsie. New York will see several other stops on the tour throughout the state, including March 1 at the Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown; March 13 at the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts in Buffalo; March 14 at the State Theatre in Ithaca; March 17 at The Paramount in Huntington; and March 23 at The Apollo Theater in New York.

    During a recent interview with Nerdist, “Weird Al” commented on the upcoming tour, his longevity, Emo Phillips and what he hopes fans take away from the tour. “Weird Al” was also asked about his stamina, he replied:

    I’ve definitely had time to relax, reconnect with my family, even take a shower! But yeah, when I’m on the road, it’s pretty exhausting–I get a real workout every night. This upcoming tour shouldn’t be too taxing though. We’re just going to walk out on stage, sit down on stools and play a bunch of songs. No running and jumping around, or changing into thirty different costumes. It’ll be a little rougher on my vocal cords, because I won’t have any video breaks during the show. But the whole vibe of this next tour is going to be pretty laid back. It’s the “Let’s Not Work Up Too Much of a Sweat” tour.

    What he’s looking forward to the most about the tour:

    The band and I are really just looking forward to a change of pace. I’ve been putting on fat suits and riding Segways around the stage, and I just wanted to do something totally different this time out. I don’t think I’ll be making a habit of this: this is quite possibly a once-in-a-lifetime thing. It’ll also be really fun for me to play some of the songs that I was always proud of, but somehow slipped through the cracks. There are only so many songs I can perform in my live show, and the parodies are the audience-pleasers, so we have to focus on those, and as a result, a lot of my original material never makes the cut. But this is not an audience-pleasing show. It’s probably going to be an audience-baffling show. As I’ve said before, there’s a subset of my fan base that’s going to go absolutely nuts for this tour, but it might not be for everybody.

    If he was nervous touring a different type of show for the first time around:

    Well, I wasn’t really nervous until you just brought it up! Yeah, I always get a little nervous right before a tour, and particularly when I’m doing something new. And this tour is extremely different from every other tour I’ve done. I guess I just have to go into it with a good attitude. I know it’s not going to be perfect… it’s not supposed to be perfect. All my other shows were rigidly planned down to the second, and on this tour, we’re literally doing a different set list every night. I’m going to talk a lot more on stage. See, this is really going against my nature and stepping out of my comfort zone. I’m the kind of guy that likes to have everything super-planned out and over-rehearsed and always know exactly what I’m going to do and say. On this tour, I’m just going to walk out on stage and see what happens. It could suck; it could be amazing. That’s a little terrifying to think about… so… I’m going to stop thinking about it.

    On what he hopes fans will bring home from seeing this show:

    Primarily, lots of MERCH. That would be good. Besides that… this tour is geared specifically for the long-time hardcore fans, so I just hope that some of them get their minds blown by hearing some obscure old favorite songs that they never dreamed they’d ever get a chance to hear live. And we’re really pulling out the deep cuts for this show. We’re rehearsing 50 or 60 songs, most of which we’ve either never played live before, or haven’t played in decades. It’s a lot of work. I’d also like to think that, since this show will be comprised almost entirely of my original songs, it might shine a light on the fact that I’ve done some decent non-parody material over the last three decades. But hey, I’m not kidding myself – I know that to 95% of the general population, I’ll always just be the “Eat It” guy.

    How it feels to tour with his longtime friend Emo Phillips:

    I’m really looking forward to that. Emo’s one of my oldest friends, and I think he’s seriously one of the funniest guys in the world. I’ve never traveled with a support act before. For a long time, promoters would hire local comedians to open the show. We never knew anything about them before we got there. Some were good, some were not so good, and some were totally inappropriate. And then, when our show length passed the two-hour mark, we decided to eschew the opening act entirely and make it an “Evening With Al.” But we’re going to try not to bust anybody’s bladder on this tour: Emo’s doing about 30 minutes, and I’m doing about 90. It’ll be really fun; I always have a good time with him, and it’ll be a blast riding a bus with him for 15 weeks. I just hope he doesn’t snore, or perform daily ritual sacrifices or anything. Eh, whatever, I’m sure I’d get used to it.

    The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour Dates:

    Feb. 27 – Bardavon 1869 Opera House – Poughkeepsie, NY
    March 1 – Tarrytown Music Hall – Tarrytown, NY
    March 2 – Foxwoods Resort Casino – Ledyard, CT
    March 3 – The Music Hall – Portsmouth, NH
    March 4 – Wilbur Theatre – Boston, MA
    March 7 – Place Des Arts – Montreal, QC
    March 9 – Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON
    March 10 – 20 Monroe Live – Grand Rapids, MI
    March 11 – Michigan Theater – Ann Arbor, MI
    March 13 – University At Buffalo Center for the Arts – Buffalo, NY
    March 14 – State Theatre – Ithaca, NY
    March 16 – Caesars Atlantic City – Circus Maximus – Atlantic City, NJ
    March 17 – The Paramount – Huntington, NY
    March 18 – American Music Theatre – Lancaster, PA
    March 20 – Music Center at Strathmore – Bethesda, MD
    March 23 – Apollo Theater – New York, NY
    March 24 – Palace Theatre – Greensburg, PA
    March 25 – Playhouse Square – Ohio Theatre – Cleveland OH
    March 26 – Lexington Opera House – Lexington, KY
    March 28 – Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts – Louisville, KY
    March 30 – Virginia Theatre – Champaign, IL
    March 31 – Hoyt Sherman Place – Des Moines, IA
    April 2 – Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall – Rochester – MN
    April 3 – Pantages Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
    April 4 – Pantages Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
    April 6 – Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL
    April 7 – Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL
    April 10 – Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI
    April 12 – Honeywell Center – Wabash, IN
    April 13 – Walker Theater – Chattanooga, TN
    April 14 – Miller Theater – Augusta, GA
    April 15 – Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA
    April 17 – War Memorial – Nashville, TN
    April 19 – Gillioz Theatre – Springfield, MO
    April 20 – S.E.Belcher Jr Chapel and Performance Center – Longview, TX
    April 21 – Paramount Theatre – Austin, TX
    April 22 – Wagner Noel Performance Arts Center – Midland, TX
    April 24 – tafford Centre for Performing Arts Theatre – Stafford, TX
    April 25 – Tobin Center for the Performing Arts – San Antonio, TX
    April 27 – The Majestic Theatre – Dallas, TX
    April 28 – Orpheum Theater – Wichita, KS
    April 29 – Folly Theater – Kansas City, MO
    May 1 – Paramount Theatre – Denver, CO
    May 3 – Avalon Theatre – Grand Junction, CO
    May 4 – Tuacahn Ampitheatre at Tuacahn Center for the Arts – Ivins, UT
    May 5 – Fox Tucson Theatre – Tuscon, AZ
    May 6 – Lensic Performing Arts Center – Senta Fe, NM
    May 8 – Meza Arts Center- Ikeda Theatre – Mesa, AZ
    May 9 – McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts – Palm Desert, CA
    May 11 – The Theatre at Ace Hotel – Los Angeles, CA
    May 12 – Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay – San Diego, CA
    May 15 – Crest Theatre – Sacramento, CA
    May 17 – Golden State Theatre – Monterey, CA
    May 18 – Turlock Community Theatre – Turlock, CA
    May 19 – Fox Theatre – Oakland, CA
    May 20 – Uptown Theatre – Napa, CA
    May 22 – Cascade Theatre – Redding, CA
    May 24 – McDonald Theatre – Eugene, OR
    May 25 – Revolution Hall – Portland, OR
    May 26 – Revolution Hall – Portland, OR
    May 27 – Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox – Spokane, WA
    May 29 – Moore Theatre – Seattle, WA
    May 31 – Grey Eagle Resort & Casino – Calgary, AB
    June 1 – Casino Regina – Show Lounge – Regina, SK
    June 2 – River Cree Casino and Resort Entertainment Centre – Enoch, AB
    June 3 – Esplanade Theatre – Medicine Hat, AB
    June 5 – Burton Cummings Theatre for the Performing Arts – Winnipeg, MB
    June 6 – Fargo Theatre – Fargo, ND
    June 8 – Columbia, MO – Jesse Auditorium – Columbia, MO
    June 9 – Surf Ballroom – Clear Lake, IA
    June 10 – Meyer Theatre – Green Bay, WI

  • Interview: Roan Yellowthorn (Jackie McLean) on her influences and the power of a song

    Jackie McLean, daughter of singer-songwriter Don McLean, best know for his song “American Pie,” is the front woman of Roan Yellowthorn. She adopted this alter ego when returning to music after taking time to complete a university degree.

    She began to gain media attention as a result of her distinct voice and poetic lyrics on her first self-titled EP in 2016. Roan Yellowthorn is expected to release a new album by the end of 2017 displaying the same outspoken singer/songwriter qualities people loved so much on her first EP. In the meantime, NYS Music had the privilege of speaking with Jackie McLean about Roan Yellowthorn’s past releases and some of her biggest influences.

    Roan Yellowthorn Jackie McLean

    Sammy Steiner: Given that “Child in Chief” is a political protest song, how did you hope it would impact your audience and society at large?

    Jackie McLean: I initially wrote “Child in Chief” for myself as a kind of therapy tool to help me process all of the negative feelings I had around the outcome of the election and the entire climate leading up to it. I also hoped that I could give a voice to the fear and anxiety that a lot of other people felt in the wake of the election. I wanted to honor my own feelings of discomfort and apprehension in an artistic and articulate way and, through doing that, I hoped to be able in some way to bring people together in solidarity and resistance. A good song can do that.

    I think music is such a powerful medium because it can convey many things at once. A good song has many layers and a lot of nuance and I love the opportunity to embed artistry into a message. I feel like it was the perfect medium for me to express my emotions and feelings of political dissent.

    SS: Did your father’s (Don McLean) singer/songwriter career influence any aspects of your artistry and if so, how?

    JM: Yes, I think my dad’s career has had a large impact on both my artistic and personal development. On one hand, seeing his job probably normalized for me the idea of having a career in the arts. That’s been valuable. It feels natural to me on some level to have art be my profession. On the other hand, my father’s fame as a musician has inhibited me in some ways- maybe making me feel like I can’t compete or that any success I find is not my own. Those fears have at times contributed to hindering me from becoming confident as an artist and a person. So I’d say it’s a complex issue and there have been benefits and challenges. But it’s all good now. I’ve had to find myself, the same as everyone else, and I like where I am.

  • Premiere: Swedish Pop Group Akaba Releases Video for “Starfly”

    Swedish band Akaba has released their newest video “Starfly,” a collaboration with Kjahart, who used stop motion film and also created the album cover art for The Rust Within, recorded at Roth Handle Studios in Stockholm, Sweden.

    Åsa Carild tells of the song’s background “I used to sing in a band that was, for a little while, very successful. Being very young at the time it became an important part of how I defined myself. When all that faded, I was no longer who I defined myself as. The song is about the struggle with this.”
    Akaba starfly

    Akaba will release their debut album The Rust Within on October 13 and will perform at Pianos in NYC on October 14. Doors open at 6:30, with Akaba performing at 7pm.

    Akaba was born from the ashes of two other prominent Swedish Indie bands, Pineforest Crunch and Reminder. Åsa Carild, Tobias Ljungkvist and Mattias Olsson have toured extensively in Sweden playing everything from Thai restaurants to 600 seat venues, as well as touring the west coast of the United States, Toronto, London and New York City. Follow Akaba on Facebook, Soundcloud, Instagram, and tune in on Spotify or order their album on Amazon.

  • Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson to Play Turning Stone Casino

    Anyone growing up in the 70’s and 80’s will tell you one of their favorite albums of all time was Breakfast in America by Supertramp.  In a day when albums and 8 tracks were the medium of sound, listening from beginning to end was common place.  No skipping occurred, no downloading of one song only. You would sit and listen to the entire album and learn all the songs on the album from start to finish, and the artists paid close attention to this when arranging and choosing songs for the album. Breakfast in America was one of these albums, and the flow from song to song still is just as vivid in our memories. The talent of the group and the voice of Roger Hodgson was unforgettable, and it is with much anticipation and joy that we are able to welcome Hodgson to the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY  on October 8, 2017.  One of the founding members of Supertramp, Hodgson penned and performed hits such as “The Logical Song,” “Dreamer,” “Breakfast in America” and “Take the Long Way Home” to name a few. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Turning Stone webpage, with special packages and upgrades available. Hope to see you all there.

  • The Local Limelight: Rob The Guitar Guy

    Patchogue Village, The setting of incredible nightlife teeming with live entertainment! Walk down Mainstreet Friday and Saturday nights and you’ll find yourself immersed by one of Long Island‘s greatest music scenes.
    Rob The Guitar GuySurrounded by avid clubs and music venues dawning bright lights, all host such enthusiastic musicians and performers. One in particular performs to achieve one simple objective: Give em’ what they want! This is the essence of the solo act that is Rob (the guitar guy) Baione.
    Step into Patchogue’s neighborhood restaurant and bar The Tap Room located at 114 W Mains St, and you’ll immediately feel a warm environment and feel-good vibes creating the mood for the place where Rob entertains his local audience.
     
    When becoming a solo act, songs began to take on a new life when stripped down to an acoustic guitar and a vocal. Selections range from classical to country, rock to rap, folk to metal, etc. There’s a song for everybody. Audiences are always entertained by his charisma and ability to include them in the show! 
     
    One way Rob the Guitar Guy does this, is by allowing the audience to choose the songs. “It’s like having your own personal jukebox. No one wants to leave when they hear ‘their song’ played.” 
     
    Each show is unique and you never know what to expect! But one thing is for sure, you’ll always leave feeling good, and that was definitely the case last week at The Tap Room. 
     
    You can find Rob performing there the 3rd Friday of every month, with a musical repertoire growing larger and larger each return!

  • Interview: One For The Braves

    One For The Braves just debuted their first music video, for the song “Dirt Nap” off their latest release Does Anybody Honestly Care.

    The EP’s a mile-a-minute pop punk revelry, with pop culture references bringing levity to heart-on-sleeve lyrics. The quintet from Poughkeepsie features Adam “Radam” Rebillard on vocals, Avery Avello and Brian Morgan on guitars, Nick Ferraioli on bass, and Sean Mercado on drums. NYS Music spoke with Rebillard about the band, their latest release, and their first music video.

    Photo: Sabrina Leviton

    Paula Cummings: When and why did you start writing songs?

    Adam Rebillard: I started writing lyrics when I was really young, mostly just to kill time. When I got older, I got bored of doing it. Then I discovered punk and pop punk and all those wonderful styles of genres. It sounded fun to me, so I started singing and putting melodies to some of the lyrics. Then my freshman year in college I met our guitar player Avery, and the two of us started jamming together and it kept going from there. We got a few new members over the years.

    PC: How would you describe your band?

    AR: We take the nostalgic pop punk style, which would be bands like New Found Glory, and mix it with a newer style like The Wonder Years and Story So Far. We find ways to make it our own, so we’re not a clone of another band. That’s not what we want.

    PC: What was your most memorable show so far?

    AR: We did a show back in January. It was our first headline show at our local venue, The Loft. It was fun to finally be the main event of a local venue that we all grew up going to. We had a good turnout. We were on with some of our best friends’ bands. It was laid-back. Everyone was happy, having a good time. We do everything we can to grab an audience and keep their attention. I personally move around a lot. We incorporate solos in our songs. We do our best to get the audience interactive, talking between songs.

    PC: You recently released your sophomore EP. Tell me about the team you recorded this one with.

    AR: The first EP we did over at New Paltz. But the sophomore EP, Does Anybody Honestly Care, we did at Nada Studios in Montgomery. It was awesome. We recorded these songs with another studio, and got it back, but it wasn’t what we were looking for. We emailed Eric and Nada, told him what we were looking for, and that we wanted to record again from the ground up. We went in and he had ideas to bring to the songs. We made this amazing EP that we’re all so proud of.

    PC: What was it like to film your first music video?

    AR: It was weird, but it was fun. Like I said, I like to move around a lot – jumping, spinning. I’m doing my usual stuff. We’re filming and the guy’s like “Hey, man, that’s really cool but you need to stay in one spot so I can keep up with you.” We did it at a high school track. The song we did it for is called “Dirt Nap.” The idea behind the song is regardless of what people think you keep moving forward in life. People are going to like you, people are going to not like you. You can’t let that get to you. So when I feel anxious or whatever, I go run on a track, so one day I got the idea. So we drew up some signs and had people stand around holding these signs. The idea was to keep going regardless of the signs and what people think, and keep moving on and pushing forward.

    Does Anybody Honestly Care is available on Bandcamp. Follow One For The Braves on Facebook or Twitter for updates and show announcements.

  • Sunday Fun Day at Rochester Fringe Festival with Tart Vandelay at Java’s Cafe

    KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival is still going strong. In its fifth year, the entertainment offerings are better than ever. After a couple nights at the main stage on Parcel 5 at Fringe Festival, I took a detour down Gibbs Street to check out one of the smaller Fringe Festival venues, Java’s Cafe. On Sunday, they featured a musical performance by art pop duo Tart Vandelay.

    Tart Vandelay Java's CafeJava’s Cafe is situated beside the Eastman Theatre and across from the Eastman School of Music, making it a natural place for musicians and music-lovers to congregate. The wooden interior, warm lighting and art-lined walls lend to the cozy atmosphere. The venue is a perfect pairing for local indie pop artists Tart Vandelay. Tonight they performed as a duo rather than a full band. The founding members, Katie Halligan  with her microphone and looping station and Martin LoFaso with his guitar, set themselves up in the corner of the shop, the tables already filled to capacity with family, fans, and people who came to see them for the first time. Among the crowd were members of The Demos, a testament to how supportive the local music scene is of each other’s work.

    Tart Vandelay Java's CafeThey started the set with a cheery song called “Spin.” Halligan worked her magic with the looping station to create repeating layers of playful vocalizations (“ba-da-ba”s and “ooh”s) and percussive beats with handshakers. Over-top this foundation, she began to sing in dulcet tones the optimistic chorus, “Spin, spin. Go with the flow. Let my orbit carry me where I need to go.” LoFaso chimed in on guitar, and his solo replicated the melody of the chorus. They radiated pure joy as they played, and the feeling was contagious. The audience was drawn in by their charisma. The typical coffee shop chatter and bustle seemed to be put on hold, as all eyes and ears were fixated on the splendor that is Tart Vandelay.

    Tart Vandelay continued to spin an intricate web of acoustic strands, deceptively simple yet completely spellbinding. The set included all the songs from last year’s debut EP Frontier Pioneer, and a couple new ones that they’ve been working on. One of the new ones, “I’m Gonna Try,” is a great example of how they incorporate wordplay into their songwriting. The chorus “Try, try, do my best and do it again” was repeated with slight variations of melody and layered over each other. It’s like having an entire choir of Halligans, a delightfully enchanting concept that she is able to bring to life using modern musical technology. It was easy to let oneself get lost in the enchantment of sounds as the duo continued to weave their magic spell. The set was over way to quickly, time seemingly suspended and the world having faded away for a too-brief period of time. Halligan dedicated the final song to her father, who was in the audience: a heartfelt cover of Julia Easterlin’s “Go Straight Away.”

    https://soundcloud.com/tartvandelay/spin

    Tart Vandelay Java’s Cafe Sunday Setlist: Spin, Alien, I’m Gonna Try, Not Alone, Bells, How Hard Could It Be?, High Life, Go Straight Away (Julia Easterlin cover)

    Tart Vandelay makes another appearance at Java’s Cafe on Thursday, September 21 at 9pm. Frontier Pioneer is available on Bandcamp, Soundcloud, and Spotify. Follow Tart Vandelay on Facebook for news and upcoming events. To read more about the band, see their recent interview with NYS Music.

    Java’s Cafe offers a wide variety of environmentally-friendly and socially-conscious menu items, including free-trade coffee, an exotic collection of teas made from loose leaves, hormone-free dairy from a local farm, and allergen-free baked goods. They’re providing free entertainment during Fringe Festival.

    Remaining Fringe Festival Shows at Java’s Cafe:

    September 20 – 6pm – Cherrytree Jukebox (duo covering singer/songwriters of the past century)

    September 20 – 8pm – An Evening With Logan Miller (singer/songwriter)

    September 21 – 7pm – Dave DiPrimo Band (alternative rock)

    September 21 – 9pm – Tart Vandelay (indie pop)

    September 22 – 11pm – Ponder the Giraffe (alternative jam)

    September 23 – 2pm – Daniel Henry (tribute to Frank Sinatra and Friends)

    Rochester Fringe Festival continues through Saturday, September 23. Shows at Java’s Cafe and several other venues are free – arrive early for seating. Ticketed shows have been selling fast, so it’s best to purchase them in advance. For more information, visit RochesterFringe.com.

  • Saturday at Rochester Fringe Festival: Rocking with The Demos and Penthouse Views

    Excitement abounded downtown on Saturday September 16, the third day of the KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival. With hundreds of shows on dozens of stages over a span of ten days, there’s a lot to see and do. I made my way down East Main Street of my native town, heading towards Parcel 5 to catch a set by power pop band The Demos and the second and final night of Plasticiens Volants. A sign on the corner of East Avenue invited festival-goers up to the building’s penthouse terrace. I kept that in mind for later, and continued on to the stage.

    The Demos were scheduled to play at Fringe Festival last year, but the show was called off due to rain. This time, the weather couldn’t have been better – a warm and sunny end-of-summer day. Native Rochesterians and visitors filled the square, milling about or relaxing on blankets and lawn chairs. Tonight, the stage was decked out in strands of fairy lights, with lawn flamingos perched about – the same flamingos from the videos The Demos used to promote their show.

    The band wasted little time on sound check, diving right into a cover of Velvet Underground’s “What Goes On.” While The Demos rocked out, the stage was flanked by a pair of girls with light-up hula hoops, who spun the circles with acrobatic skill to the rhythm and tempo of the music. Bubbles floated around the stage, carried by the wind from the street performer on the corner. The atmosphere was buzzing with a sense of fun and excitement, and people were drawn towards the sights and sounds of the stage.

    Members of the band were having fun, too, exchanging smiles and glances as they played “I Don’t Mind” and “Clearly” from their last release, Paramount Clouds. The synthesizer plays a particularly prominent role on these numbers, with Caela Moore grooving out at the helm of a double deck of keyboards. Frontman Jay Milton was on top of his game tonight, putting everything he had into the performance, from rich vocals to on pointe guitarwork.

    A rousing rendition of “Veronica” got the audience clapping along. They added some twists to the song, a few call-and-response-style lines sung by bassist Cal Saunders that aren’t on the version they recorded for their full-length album Lovely. Drummer RJ Papaleo may be the newest member of the band, but he didn’t miss a beat as they dug into the catalog of songs from the band’s archives. Jeremiah O’Reilley is also relatively new to the band, but has been a fan since the early days, and slipped seamlessly into the role of guitarist.

    The crowd continued to swell as the sun started to set. Jay asked the amassing audience who among us has seen the band before. A sea of hands flew into the air, with cheers. He asked who had been coming to see them since he and Cal started 15 years ago. There were still some hands in the air. “This one’s for you,” Jay said as they started playing a song called “Don’t Give Up On Me.”

    The tempo slowed a bit as they did a couple more stripped-back songs, starting with “Shooters and Fixers.” Then they played a new song, “All I Need,” a bittersweet ballad featuring Caela on ukulele, Jay on the keyboard, and Cal singing harmony. Jeremiah, his services not needed on the stage, took the opportunity to come down from the stage and dance with his wife. He hopped back on stage for a couple more new songs.

    The sea of people were nodding and moving along to the new tunes, but when the band followed them with their hit “Hardly Done,” people started singing along. Another new one, “Risin’ Up,” represents a departure from their typical lyrical themes. This anthemic song has more of a political bent. “People rising up, they’ve all had enough,” Jay sings. “Where do we go from here?”

    The pinnacle of the set was “Better.” The groovy pop song with a sweet hook peaked with a solo in which the instrumental sounds came crashing together in a frenzy of noise, amassing in a sheer wall of acoustic energy. The 75-minute long set concluded with an ode to Rochester called “My City.” They took a quick moment to thank their manager, friends and families before being whisked off the stage. Around me, a group was chanting for an encore, but Plasticiens Volants‘ “Big Bang” show was about to begin.

    Still buzzing with adrenaline and not ready to call it a night, I retraced my steps to The Penthouse at One East Avenue to scope out the scene. The 11th story penthouse is now a hip, upscale event venue which offers a unique perspective. The sleek interior does not detract from the view through floor-to-ceiling windows, and glass doors give way to a wraparound outdoor terrace. In the center of it all is a small bar which offers a selection of beer, wine, and spirits. In addition to private events such as weddings and corporate meetings, they’ve also held a series of musical performances and silent disco. Coming up on September 21 is a Bacon and Bourbon tasting, and on October 28 they’ve planned an interactive mystery night. Tonight, they’re open for viewing the events at Parcel 5, including the second and final Rochester performance by French street theater troupe Plasticiens Volants.

    Walking the length of the balcony, I witnessed the city alive with lights across the skyline glowing and traffic bustling down the main arteries. A crowd was already jockeying for position along the railing for a look at the multi-media show by Plasticiens Volants, featuring balloons the proportions of Macy’s Day Parade handled by puppeteers who walk through the crowd, a mix of narration and world beat music, pyrotechnics, lights and mirrors. For a more in-depth description, read the review from Friday night’s performance.

    The Demos’ next show is the Floated Halloween Bash at the Bug Jar on October 21. Find their music online at Bandcamp, iTunes, and Spotify. Read more about the band in their interview with NYS Music.

    The Demos’ Setlist: What Goes On (Velvet Underground), Regal Dimensions, I Don’t Mind, Clearly, Bobby Pins, Veronica, Impossible, Another Day, Only Want The World, Nervous, Truth & Lies, She Lives in Pictures, All I Need, We Could Do Anything, Elegant Ties, Not Coming Down, Hardly Done, Risin’ Up, Life’s A Gas (T. Rex), Better, My City

    Rochester Fringe Festival runs through September 24, with a wide variety of music, theatre, comedy, and other entertainment. Advance ticket purchases are recommended, as shows do sell out. For more information, visit RochesterFringe.com.

  • Interview: The Demos Prepare to Take The Parcel 5 Stage at Rochester Fringe Festival

    The Demos, a mainstay of the Rochester music community, are prepping for their set at KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival. They play on Saturday, September 16 at 6:30pm at Parcel 5 on Main Street. The 75-minute long set will span the power pop band’s fifteen-year career, which they’ve spent continually writing, recording and gigging. With a couple EPs and a full-length album already under their belt, they’re in the studio again working on a new project.

    Over the years, The Demos have been through a few lineup changes. Singer/guitarist Jay Milton and bass guitarist Cal Saunders have remained the core of the group, with the addition of Caela Moore on keys, Jeremiah O’Reilly on guitar and the newest addition, RJ Papaleo on drums. They took time away from rehearsing for the big show to talk with NYS Music about Rochester Fringe, The Demos’ body of work, and identifying their spirit animals.

    Paula Cummings: I’ve seen the promos you’ve been posting to promote your set at Fringe Festival. How excited are you for this year’s event?

    Jay Milton: It’s really exciting to play in such a huge space in the heart of the city that most of us grew up in.

    CS: And that we call home.

    JM: This is our home and it’s awesome. A very unique venue, and a free show. I always feel it’s great to play a free show. I love doing free stuff.

    Jeremiah O’Reilly: I think what appeals to me most is that I think sometimes when you play at specific venues around town, you run into the situation where you’re often playing for the same people. Playing at an outdoor free concert during a festival allows you to play to a different variety of people in the community. It’s nice to be able to share and express ourselves to those people as well as the ones who come to our Bug Jar shows.

    JM: And it can be a family show. We’re PG.

    https://soundcloud.com/younglionofthewestrec/sets/the-demos-lovely

    PC: You’re recording songs for the next album. Will some of those songs be on the set list?

    CS: For sure.

    JM: It’s going to be a very eclectic set from us. It’s a lot longer than we usually play. Most of our sets are 45 minutes or so. So this is a double set almost. So we’re digging deep into our catalog. Me and Cal have been together in this band for 15 years. So we’re going back and playing songs from every era of our time as a band, from our first EP’s in the mid-2000’s. We’ll be playing songs off Lovely which is our full length from 2012.

    CS: The notes on that are that it was the one that went #1 on FMQB.

    PC: That was the one that was big in Japan, right?

    CS: We’re very proud of that.

    JM: It was big in Japan. That was the one that got us the Tokyo billboard. And obviously, we’ll play songs from our latest EP, Paramount Clouds, which came out last year. And then a whole bunch of new songs, and a few covers for good measure. Obscure though. We can’t be playing songs that everyone knows. Because then they’ll know how bad we play them.

    (Laughter)

    CS: We kind of make them our own.

    PC: Although the Andy Kaufman cover was awesome. It might be the wrong crowd for that one.

    CS: But I think though at Fringe, it’s weird enough that if you did it people would laugh, which is the point.

    JM: Andy Kaufman is my hero in life.

    CS: He’s your spirit animal.

    JM: He’s definitely my spirit animal. I have been obsessed with him most of my adult life. And the thing I love about him is the more I learn about him the less I understand him. Which is what I love about it. Every time you think you’re getting deeper into what it was about, it seems you’re just opening millions of other things which go nowhere. Which to me is… Life as performance art, perhaps.

    CS: The whole world’s a stage.

    JM: I actually own Andy Kaufman’s childhood record player. And his smoking jacket as well.

    Jay with Andy Kaufman memorabilia, Photo: Jeremiah O’Reilly

    PC: So we’ve got your spirit animal. What would you say yours is, Cal?

    CS: Billy Martin, a friend of ours, once told me that he thinks Chris Robinson from the Black Crowes is my spirit animal.

    JM: I’d believe it.

    CS: But it’s not that easy. My struggle is endless. I seem to go around, which makes me think serpentine, like a snake. I’m year of the dragon, too.

    JO: I think I’m an earth dragon.

    JM: What’s the difference between a dragon and an earth dragon?

    JO: So there’s different parts, like your animal that’s part of the Chinese zodiac, and then an element that goes along with it.

    CS: Like earth, water, fire.

    JM: I thought maybe an earth dragon was one that couldn’t fly, or something.

    JO: I’m like the black sheep of dragons. I guess that’s my spirit animal.

    PC: Is it too soon to divulge any details about the next album?

    JM: We don’t know when it will be ready. I would say by this time next year, there will be something.

    PC: Jeremiah, this is your first time recording with these guys?

    JO: Yeah, I’ve known these guys for a while. I actually went to one of their shows back in 2005. When I was a wee little lad. One of my best friends Alex Northrup was one of the founding members of The Demos. And I’ve been playing music with him.

    CS: He’s the Syd Barrett of The Demos.

    JM: That’s actually very accurate.

    JO: I was 16 back in 2005, so I’ve known you guys for a while. But I’ve only been playing with them for 8 months. It’s been a blast.

    PC: And now you’re no longer the newest member of the band.

    JO: I am not the newest member.

    CS: We’re like a restaurant. We change staff as much as we change clientele sometimes.

    The Demos: Jeremiah O’Reilly, RJ Papaleo, Cal Saunders, Jay Milton, Caela Moore

    JM: Honestly, I think we’re just intense workers when it comes to music. We just pour everything into it.

    JO: It frightens some people.

    CS: Or people have lives.

    JO: Aren’t you glad you found me – I have no life!

    JM: That’s the worst thing about being a musician in a place that has such a great local scene is that it’s hard to work on music and do things. Tart Vandelay is playing tonight and I’d love to go do that, but we’re doing this and then we’re going into rehearsing right after. And if we’re not in the studio, then we’re rehearsing, or we’re writing. It’s hard to do cool things, like watching other people play music, when you’re so focused on doing it yourself. That’s my least favorite part. We’re very dedicated.

    CS: We’re dedicated, honest, and hard working.

    JM: Every moment that we’re not working on music, we wish that we were.

    JO: Me and Jay text each other at work saying, “I wish we were in the studio.”

    (RJ Papaleo arrives)

    PC: Hey, we’re just wrapping up. What is your spirit animal?

    RJP: I feel like it would be a bird of some kind.

    JM: Maybe like a pterodactyl.

    PC: And what is Caela’s spirit animal?

    JM: A fox.

    Catch the Demos live at what is sure to be a memorable performance Saturday, September 16 at 6:30 at Parcel 5 on at 285 East Main Street in Rochester. Get ready by listening to their catalog of music on Bandcamp. Follow on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates on this and other shows.

  • Teenage Halloween to Play in Rochester and Albany in Advance of Upcoming Release “Eternal Roast”

    Teenage Halloween will be playing at Vineyard Community Space in Rochester on Sept. 16, and then at The Rice House in Albany on Sept. 17. Both venues offer safe spaces to showcase indie talent in home-like settings, promoting diversity, respect, and inclusion.

    Teenage HalloweenThese are values that Teenage Halloween embraces, as they deliver upbeat numbers about self-acceptance and empowerment served youthful exuberance and a twist of whimsical irony. Just this week they announced a new release, entitled Eternal Roast.

    In Rochester, Teenage Halloween will be sharing the stage at Vineyard Community Space with their tour mates from New Jersey, Secret Mountain, and local bands Full Body (celebrating their new release), as well as Taking Meds and California Cousins (on the final night of their East Coast tour). Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show ends by 10 p.m. The suggested minimum donation is $7.

    In Albany, Teenage Halloween and Secret Mountain will be joined by local bands Jouska, Hate Club, and i feel okay. The show runs from 8 p.m. to midnight. Entry is $5. 

    Members of Teenage Halloween hail from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The entire octet was in the studio to record the latest release: Luke Henderiks on vocals and guitar, Brandon Hakim on Saxophone, Kevin Sabik on trumpet, Lynn Tuimil on bass, Brian DeSeno on drums, Danni Ciminnisi on keyboards & vocals, Eli Frank on lead guitar & Connor Egan on trombone.

    Eternal Roast is the follow-up to Teenage Halloween’s 2015 EP It Was Weird But It Worked, and will be available on Oct. 20 in a variety of formats (including vinyl). The limited-edition cassette is now available for pre-order on ‘Get Better Records.’