NYS Music 20​17

Category: Rock

  • Phish Delivers Strike Three at The Garden

    With two nights in the books, and raised expectations thanks to the lore of the “30th” show, Phish dealt a musical hand that would be hard to beat last night.  The first set played like an epic second set at points and saw an old favorite song get revamped.  The second set featured the Vermont rock stars in peak jaw-dropping improvisational form and was bookended with two of the more legendary songs in Phish canon.  And the encore was filled with thousands of fans singing the keyboardist’s favorite song before “Tweezer Reprise” ended the show in ragingly appropriate fashion. All this and it’s not even 2018 yet.

    phish the garden deliversTo the delight of many, Phish went back to its roots with a classic opening sequence of “Mike’s Song” > “I Am Hydrogen” > “Weekapaug Groove” that was once more than a regular sequence on set lists but seems to have petered out in recent years in favor of different permutations of “Mike’s Groove.”  The iconic opening guitar lick was met with a resounding roar from the crowd and the band never looked back from there. “Hydrogen” gave Lighting Director Chris Kuroda a chance to show off his mood lighting as he added a perfect visual backdrop for the moody instrumental number. No sooner had the closing notes of “Weekapaug Groove” been played before guitarist Trey Anastasio ripped into another iconic opening guitar riff – this one belonging to “Tweezer,” a first set rarity to say the least. By this time, The Garden was in full “bouncy house” mode with the ground noticeably shaking and seemingly moving along in unison with everything else.

    Following a soaring jam that touched on a myriad of themes, Anastasio huddled with Jon Fishman briefly before the drummer belted out the crowd favorite “Ass Handed.”  Before long, the entire crowd, with nothing but the house lights on, was singing along in full unison, the first of two memorable sing-a-longs this evening.  As if not to stem the energy too much, a blistering “Kill Devil Falls” followed that flowed ever so effortlessly into “Bathtub Gin” which had a majestic jam attached to it, further solidifying the second set feel to this first one.  Soon after another energized reception from the crowd, bassist Mike Gordon began soloing in what turned out to be a new take on the old school number “Brother,” with this version taking a slower, more rhythmic approach.  First set closer du jour “More” then capped off a first set that already felt like an entire show’s worth of music.

    Topping a first set like that would normally be difficult, but Phish attempted to do so with another epic jam vehicle, this one being a more traditionally placed “Down with Disease” second set opener.  The ensuing improv was Phish at their finest, with a jam that grew in scale and intensity before settling into “Steam.”  This newer song evoked memories of New Years’ past when the band used it as part of their “gag” and played it while elevated on risers.  “Light” kept the energy going in full force, highlighted by steady play and typical sound melodies from keyboardist Page McConnell. “Farmhouse” then delivered the second set “breather” song everyone had been waiting for before the set was bookended with another Phish staple, a breakneck speed, intense “Run Like an Antelope.”  With no encore even necessary after a performance like that, it did offer the crowd one last chance to join together in song via “Sleeping Monkey” before the expected “Tweezer Reprise” closer blew the lid off the world’s most famous arena…again.  Three special nights of music are now complete as Phish begins plans for its 17th show at Madison Square Garden in the year 2017.  What they have left in the tank is anyone’s guess.

    Setlist via Phish.net

    Set 1: Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Tweezer > Ass Handed, Kill Devil Falls > Bathtub Gin, Brother, More

    Set 2: Down with Disease[1] -> Steam > Light > Farmhouse, Run Like an Antelope

    Encore: Sleeping Monkey > Tweezer Reprise

    [1] Unfinished

  • And Then There Were Three: A Night on the Road with Periodic Table of Elephants

    “Ever want to experience what it’s like to travel with a band?” read the Periodic Table of Elephant’s Facebook post. “Experience travel in a gear-laden vehicle! Participate in the time-honored tradition of unloading! Eat gas station food!” The Rochester-based band had room to take a few people for their headlining show in Tonawanda on Thursday, December 28. It is likely the best ad I ever have or ever will respond to.

    I hitched a ride with bassist Greg Horton in his gear-laden station wagon, and we picked up a friend of his on the way to the gig. Cruising along I90, he filled me in on the origin story of the band, which is known as PToE for short. While Horton is the newest member of PToE, he’s not new to playing with the other members, Sean McGinnis Scanlon and Jason Pariseau. They were in a band together until Horton moved out of state three years ago. Before leaving, he suggested changing the name to Periodic Table of Elephants. Pariseau and Scanlon carried on as a duo in Horton’s absence, until he made a return to New York this fall.

    This was my first time at Stamps in Tonawanda. The bar is located in a stone building on Main Street. Inside, a long and inviting bar stretched back to a mid-sized room with a stage, some tables and seating, and a pool table. Pariseau and Scanlon arrived before us. After a warm welcome, I was introduced to their entourage of friends and loved ones.

    It was still early, so we threw back Coronas by the bucket while the guys held a pool tournament. Pariseau had picked out some epic rock anthems on the jukebox: Social Distortion “Story of My Life,” Queen’s “Somebody to Love” and Goldfinger’s cover of “99 Red Balloons.”

    Scanlon was wearing his Lil Bub t-shirt and told us all about meeting the phenomenal feline at a recent appearance at Black Sheep in Buffalo. Lil Bub is a miracle cat, having several rare conditions including dwarfism, extra toes, and the only cat diagnosed with osteoporosis. She’s become a poster child (er… rather poster cat) for disabled and homeless cats, and helps raise awareness and funds for charities. Sean is a cat-lover, and he and his wife share their home with several rescue cats. 

    The conversation turned to music, and we talked shop for a bit. PToE has been selected for again to play the Homegrown festival at Lovin’ Cup in Rochester. They’re one of seven bands on the bill for the day-long celebration of Rochester’s indie music, food, and beverages. The annual event is scheduled for January 20. They also talked about re-entering the studio to work on a follow-up to last year’s debut EP Henry.

    Attention was then directed to the stage, which is lined in vinyl records, as singer-songwriter Jordan Potter took to the mic. The solo performer from the Southern Tier played a handful of originals and finished with a cover of Oasis’s “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” Potter was followed by Buffalo-based progressive band Jon Rizzo & The Conference of The Strange. Imaginative art rock originals incorporating vocals, drum, bass, keyboard and mellotron were intermixed with a handful of holiday classics.

    Before starting to play, Horton, a proponent of hearing loss prevention, offered complimentary earplugs to members of the audience. It was a good idea to take him up on it, because these guys play loud. From the first note of the set to the last, PToE put the pedal to the metal and didn’t ease up. They started with their garage rock anthem “Kung Pao Chicken.” It begins with a simple guitar chord progression before Pariseau lets loose the guttural cry, “In America” signaling the onset of earth-shaking rhythms and grungy guitar riffs.

    While PToE was doable as a live duo, the addition of Horton to the band gives their performance extra oomph. Not only does he contribute to the added dimension of sound on bass, but also with his stage presence. There’s a dynamic energy between the trio and it’s fun to watch them go all out on stage together. Scanlon is easily one of my favorite drummers to watch play live. He goes at the drums with exuberant expression, and the waves of pure unadulterated joy he emanates are downright contagious.

    It was great to enjoy the show among the herd of Elephants fans, surrounded by the friends and family who’ve supported them for years. Playful banter between the stage and crowd erupted between songs. 

    PToE did a bunch of their most popular songs, and tried out a new one. “Lost” is full of crashing waves of sound, reminiscent of 90’s rock. In a fun twist, they also covered a song from their previous iteration as a band, a punk rock rager called “Lament.” They ended strong with the bar-brawl riot theme “Better Off Dead.”

    In the car on the way back home, we listened to some classic rock tunes (Talking Heads, The Kinks, David Bowie, and the like) and talked about shows we’ve been to and the ones we plan to hit up this year. Horton has seen an impressively long list of legendary artists, including Pink Floyd and The Grateful Dead. We arrived back in Rochester after midnight, thoroughly exhausted, but still riding that post-show adrenaline high.

    To keep up to date with events, follow Periodic Table of Elephants on Facebook. Read the NYS Music review of Henry. You’ll find their EP and their live album to stream on Spotify or purchase through Bandcamp.

    Setlist: Kung Pao Chicken, Head Trauma, Machines, Duck, Whatever, My Youth, Lost, CBT, Lament (Ack! cover), Better Off Dead

  • Best of NYS Music 2017: Bands on the Rise and Artists You Should Know

    As we continue our look at the best of and the brightest in music in 2017, we shift our focus to up and coming bands that are ready to burst on to the national stage.  While our staff picks may mirror those of last year, NYS Music readers have voted for a new act that’s ready to join the ranks of other popular New York bands with bight futures.

    And if you’ve missed any of our previous voting results from earlier this week, check out our winners for Best Venues, Best Albums and Best Festivals.

    Bands on the Rise

    Staff Pick

    Aqueous

    For the second year in a row, our staff has selected Aqueous as a band on the rise as the Buffalo, NY quartet continues their steady progression towards national relevancy.  Playing bigger festivals, opening for acts like The Disco Biscuits, and collaborating with members of moe., fellow Upstate New Yorkers, in addition to a steady touring schedule have all contributed to this band’s surge in popularity.  This should come as no surprise to Buffalo area music fans who have been singing the group’s praises for years now.  They’ll get to enjoy Aqueous back in their hometown as they ring in the new year at Town Ballroom.  Tickets are still available and can be purchased here.

    Readers Pick

    The Other Brothers

    At least the readers of NYS Music have offered up a new taste this year for their Band on the Rise selection as they’ve chosen The Other Brothers.  Fresh off the heels of their recently released EP Jones, this band has seen a steady rise in prominence in 2017 thanks to increased exposure this summer at local festivals like Disc Jam and strong word of mouth.  They hang their hat on being able to mix delicate ballad-like songs with focused and heavy jamming in the live setting.

    Artists You Should Know

    We’re always looking for new music, especially bands from New York State, and this year we stepped up our game and found bands from all corners of the state playing our local bars and clubs, just getting started.

    We checked in with our readers, and they overwhelmingly suggested three New York artists: The Backseat Bullets (for fans of shoegaze and a 90s grunge influence), Aqueous (jam stalwarts of Buffalo), and Hartley’s Encore, the new funk powerhouse in Albany.

    The Backseat Bullets

    Aqueous

    Hartley’s Encore

    Meanwhile, we asked the staff who were some artists readers should know about, and we ended up with an impressive list of 21 different artists to check out. There’s no sense in sending you off to listen to three or four bands worth checking out when there is so much variety in store. So here’s the NYS Music Staff list of Best Artists You Should Know for 2017.

    St. Phillip’s Escalator

    Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats

    Sydney Worthley

    Big Mean Sound Machine
    King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

    The Honey Smugglers

    lespecial

    Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

    Vulfpeck

    Turkuaz

    oh wonder

    The Seratones

    Sofus

    Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals

    Portugal. The Man

    The Wood Brothers

    Root Shock

    Parquet Courts

    Mary’s Blood (Japan)

    Highly Suspect

    Royal Jelly Jive

  • Save the Date: The Disco Biscuits Announce Camp Bisco 2018

    It’s no secret that the Disco Biscuits are touring, improvisational machines. The trance-fusion foursome offers their die-hard fan base countless opportunities to catch them on the road throughout the year, even if they tend to favor the East Coast, their home base in Philadelphia, PA and the renowned Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado. What remains annually constant, is their long-running Montage Mountain mania. Camp Bisco is now boasting a ‘save the date’ and offering alumni pre sale tickets to bring your ass to the party, taking place from July 12-14, 2018.

    After being held in a total of four different locations and taking a break in 2014, Magner, Barber, Brownie and Allen will bring their flair to Montage Mountain, with Scranton acting as the festival’s residence for the fourth consecutive year. While freshly crafted festivals are popping up each year, Camp Bisco managed to hold its own, on and off since ‘99. With its 16th festival and year in operation, the recurring party provides six Biscuits sets, mesmerizing laser shows, abundant art and camping, cool downs in the pool, 5k marathons, zany color wars and other activities over the course of three jam-packed days. Although hosted and heavily based around the Biscuits, fans favoring a multitude of genres, specifically electronic dance music, find their way to the mountain. In the past, favorable acts have included STS9, Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, Gramatik, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Lotus and more.

    Partying isn’t the only thing taking precedence over the weekend, the quartet makes sure they give back to the community by promoting fundraising and food drives, having raised money for hurricane relief and even gathering young fans to register to vote.

    An alumni pre-sale begins this Thursday, Dec. 21 at noon at the Camp Bisco website with the password: ALUMNI. You can catch The Disco Biscuits for the last time in 2017 at NYC’s Playstation Theater from Dec. 28-31.

    The Camp Bisco 2018 lineup is still TBA but check out the official 2017 aftermovie and NYS Music’s coverage of last year’s fest here to hold you over:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULVS34FlHus

  • New York State to Aid 2019 Woodstock Anniversary in Event Funding

    Music Festivals are constantly curated and in recent times, unfold in abundance as live music lovers today are spoiled to have their preferred picks of summertime get downs. However, there’s only one original festival that can be credited with truly sparking an endless movement–Woodstock. We’re lucky enough to see footage, listen to wild tales of the 1969 live music renaissance and visit the stomping grounds where the magic of Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin and so many more were unleashed. Now, New York State has big plans to step in with financial funding to commemorate the fest with a 2019 50th Woodstock anniversary event.

    After rumors have circulated among fake bills, rock music fans can rest knowing that a dream will soon be reality. According to LocalSyr, “The Regional Economic Development Council announced earlier this week includes nearly $690,000 for the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts — that’s located on the site of the original Woodstock Music Festival.”

    Promoter Michael Lang put together two previous anniversary versions of the iconic festival; the first in nearby Saugerties at Winston Farm in 1994. The event featured a raucous mud-throwing performance from Green Day, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Primus and Bob Dylan. The 1999 edition, held on a deactivated air force base in Rome, is most remembered for its tumultuous ending. Attendees rioted, starting fires and looting vendors as the final bands performed. Allegations of rape throughout the weekend also tainted the festival, putting any further incarnations of it in doubt.

    Having showcased three days of peace, music and love to over 400,000 attendees, the 2019 event will offer the same three-day setup at the 11-year old venue. Bethel Woods oozes history from its amphitheater to its Woodstock Museum that often showcases clothing and special effects from its generation’s biggest stars, offering you a way to get lost in time and get on the bus for a bit.

    We won’t get to see Hendrix shred the “Star-Spangled Banner,” hear Jerry Garcia sing songs to fill the air or listen in awe as Joplin unleashes her raspy vocals to an endless crowd but we can only expect the biggest names to make their way out to the late 1960s and 1970s resurgence. No one who was there will ever be the same, and we’re hoping this statement at least holds up half way for its 50th anniversary bash.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKAwPA14Ni4

  • Hearing Aide: Sun Parade’s ‘Shuggy Mtn Breakdown’

    Relinquishing their debut full-length album to the world, Sun Parade successfully tugs at familiar emotions to send listeners on a 12-track sensory highway. Shuggy Mtn Breakdown boasts airy pop-rock blended with vibrant psychedelia that comes crashing down in waves. The 5-piece Northampton, MA outfit take you on a journey through self discovery with thematic commonalities all humans endure–love, life, questioning happiness and how to pursue it.

    With infectious melodies and light-hearted vocals,  Chris Marlon Jennings (vocals, guitar), Jeff Lewis (vocals, guitar), Max Wareham (bass, vocals), Karl Helander (drums, vocals), and Eli Salus-Kleiner (keyboard) are able to instantly grab a listening ear through their radio-ready sound while remaining comfortably candid. Reminiscent of elements of the White Stripes’ prominent and punchy vocals, Tame Impala’s airy singing and the Black Keys‘ american rock tone, the indie, power-pop album was recorded in a one-room studio on the 4th floor of an old industrial Brooklyn building. It’s no surprise that Rubblebucket’s own Ian Hersey sat in the producer’s chair to extend a helping hand and trained ear.

    The whimsical opening track of “Sleep Alone” warmly welcomes listeners into a dream-pop state of mind before launching into the cheeky “Cheer Up,” which does just as its title implies with both tempo and mood simultaneously picking up. Distorted noise and spoken word vocals shine on “Steal My Thunder” while “Game Boy” brings forth an extremely relatable message, embracing hooks and easy-to follow lyrics.

    A relaxed and slowed down “Braindrain” flips a genre switch as it walks away from the bubblegum sound and introduces a more delicate, soul-leaning attitude, complete with mesmerizing synth sounds and whistle-along tangents. The hard hitting and emotional rock track “Psycho” follows with wailing vocals and gritty grunge guitar breakdowns you didn’t see coming but can’t imagine the album without. “Shuggy Mtn” holds its own as the album’s party anthem. The namesake song dives into sonic exploration and punk tendencies by blending psychedelic rock elements with wailing vocals and hard hitting on the drum kit.

    The second to last track on the album, “Echoes of My Heart,” softens the tone and slows the release’s pulse with a quick, dreamy interlude before “Tear (Can’t Stop Believing),” wraps Sun Parade‘s initial release and circles back to the album’s blunt storytelling and hopeful tone.

    Through airy vocals and melodic exploration, the quintet proved they aren’t afraid to have fun and dip their toes in a pool of myriad genres while getting emotionally raw with their audience. Shuggy Mtn Breakdown aims to be timeless, allowing their hopeful and tender lyrics to appropriately contrast and offset its darker rock and roll musical elements.

    Touring in support of their release, Sun Parade will storm through Rochester’s Bug Jar on Dec. 10 just ahead of Swordpaw on Dec. 15. Listen to Shuggy Mtn Breakdown in it’s entirety below:

    Key Tracks:  “Steal My Thunder,” “Braindrain,” “Psycho”

  • Kerfuffle Before Christmas Night Two

    Buffalo had its first snowfall of the year this past Wednesday, but that didn’t stop flocks of people from coming out to Buffalo Riverworks to see the second night of The Kerfuffle Before Christmas.  Upon arrival, people were lined up in thirty two degree weather almost forty five minutes before the doors opened. People were in their holiday gear and it was great to see the Christmas spirit alive and well.

    Saint Motel took the stage first and brought the charisma that night as they kept fans on their feet with all the antics they did during their set. Front man A/J Jackson sang and played keyboard while using his charming personality to sway the audience, girls and guys alike. Guitarist Dak Lerdamornpong mastered the stage while Jackson was working his way up the scaffolds, pulling a Barns Courtney from TKBC night 1, but upped him by climbing all the way to the top instead of only halfway. Then, towards the end of his set, he decided to run into the crowd and up the balcony, dancing with patrons,  only to run back down the stairs and stand on one of the bar tops reminding patrons to tip the bartenders that evening.

    Børns was second to hit the stage. He was teamed with all female musicians that died down the audience in comparison to Saint Motel’s performance. His music is what you would call ‘hypnotizing.’ It`s not necessarily a loud vocal dynamic, but more within a range that you could relax to, but also dance with your friends.

    The band most people were waiting for was Jimmy Eat World. It’s a lot of pressure being the headliner and they delivered in all aspects that night. Bringing the most energy and also a certain nostalgic factor, playing an assortment of their newer stuff such as “You With Me” and longtime classics like “The Middle” and “Sweetness.” The band set the stage with a minimal appearance but it was adorned with 3 street lights that were placed above the drummer, guitarist and bassist. The lights flashed in sync with the music and it was the perfect addition to the stage without overdoing it. Doing several encores really pleased the audience and you can see it from the expressions and overhearing what fans were saying as they left.

    The Kerfuffle Before Christmas was a success and there is one night left of this magnificent concert series. The last one will be held on Sunday, December 17. Performing are Cold War Kids, lovely the band and AJR. Tickets are still available for purchase and can be found at any FYE store and Alternativebuffalo.com

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  • Hearing Aide: Jorian Holka ‘Loser With Ambition’

    Buffalo rocker Jorian Holka is at it again. Not long after the release of his debut EP, EP1, he went right back at it to bring us his new single, “Loser With Ambition.” The track starts off with a pounding drum intro that immediately gets the blood flowing, and leads into a melodic swirl of fast paced, hard rock riffs from what feels like a small orchestra of distorted guitars. The lyrics are a raw reflection of what it feels like growing up differently than everyone else, and what it is like breaking away from the status quo as a youth by rejecting what is forced down your throat by society.

    Jorian Holka Holka reminds listeners that it is okay to think differently, and that doing so is often a good thing, even if others believe you are weird for it. The incredibly catchy chorus makes a statement that even if other people might not see the world the same way as us, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are comfortable with who you are and doing the best you can, so you should not care what other people think.

    While the song may provide a very positive message, that does not mean it does not rock. It does, hard. The guitar solo following the second chorus highlights Holka’s technical knowledge on guitar, reminding listeners that although he may be playing every instrument on the track, the guitar is where his true talent lies. As he creates more music, it is very clear that Holka is becoming a more proficient songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpCsV9XOYHM

  • Interview: Trevor Lewington of Enter the Haggis Prepares to enter Putnam Den

    Canada’s finest Celtic music export, Enter the Haggis, will return to the Putnam Den this Saturday, December 9, with Albany’s Black Mountain Symphony kicking the night off. Haggis Heads will unite for an energetic night of Celtic rock as part of the group’s “Broken Arms” Tour.  Trevor Lewington (guitar, mandolin, keyboard, vocals for Enter the Haggis) spoke with NYS Music this week to discuss their New York fans, the Irish connection found at shows around the state, and how their studio work remains fresh after more than 20 years.

    enter the haggis interview

    Pete Mason: Given New York’s large Irish community spread out around the state, do you find the crowds to be different when you play in New York, or are Haggis Heads a universal fanbase?

    Trevor Lewington: There’s a strong connection between the US and Ireland so just about anywhere you go in this country you’ll find people with Irish roots. That said, obviously New York has one of the largest expat Irish populations so when you play in a band with pipes and fiddle, there’s big support. Our music also blurs the lines between a number of styles and many Haggis Heads across the country have little or no connection to Ireland, which is cool too. There really is something about Irish and Celtic music in general that draws the listener in and tends to get people dancing and having a good time.

    PM: How was your recent show at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse? And you’ve got shows in February in Buffalo and Rochester coming up?

    TL: We’ve definitely been busy recently! Besides the Upstate shows, the last couple months have taken us to California, Texas and Ireland. The Westcott show was awesome as usual – we play a wide range of venues from seated theaters to standing rock clubs and the Westcott (and Putnam Den) are two of the most rockin’.

    PM: How do you feel your music has evolved over the past few years?

    TL: We started as very much a Celtic/Irish Rock band and over about 10 albums have gone in all sorts of directions. Leading up to our last couple of releases we were getting further from the Celtic sound and then had a furious swing right back to our roots as a band. I think we needed a little time away from it to get excited about Celtic Rock again. We’ve also come to realize that for whatever reason this band plays Celtic Rock music in a very natural and authentic way – it helps having a Scottish piper and a fiddle player who grew up competing on the Canadian fiddle circuit.

    PM: Given that 2012’s The Modest Revolution was written based on stories found in a 2012 edition of Toronto’s The Globe and Mail, and another album was written based on letters from fans, how does giving your albums themes keep the studio experience fresh?

    TL: Not only did it keep things fresh but it was a great way to engage listeners. Plus, it’s usually our songs that are based on specific stories that seem to connect with our fans. That said, we’re embarking on a new record and this time I mostly just pulled lyrics from the depths of my heart and brain… and my liver… this is starting to sound a bit like haggis.

  • Cait Devin Returns to Funk n Waffles

    Cait Devin will once again grace the stage of Funk ‘n Waffles Downtown on Friday, Dec. 8 from 6-8 p.m. The 16-year-old singer/songwriter from Westmoreland got her start at open mikes, like the one at Funk ‘n Waffles. Now she’s playing shows throughout the Central New York region, performing a mix of indie pop originals and classic rock covers. You can also catch Cait solo on Dec. 9 at the Villa Verona Vineyard and Bistro in Verona and with her band Triple Threat at Copper City Brewing Company in Rome on Dec. 28.

    She is currently working on her first EP of original material, recording at Big Blue North Recording Studio in Utica. Follow Cait on Facebook for updates.

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