NYS Music 20​17

Category: Rock

  • The Beatles vs Stones? The British are Coming to Peekskill’s Paramount Theater

    The British Invasion swiftly swept over the United States in the 1960s, bringing the world pioneer rock musicians that still have the world buzzing in nostalgia over their music decades later. With the Beatles and the Rolling Stones leading the pack, two tribute acts will storm into Peekskill’s Paramount Hudson Valley Theater for a musical play-off of the ages. On Thursday, June 29, tribute acts Abbey Road and Satisfaction– The International Rolling Stones Show, will go head to head during “Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Showdown” as each group swaps time on stage performing a total of three power sets each, with interwoven outfit changes. 

    For many, a show down was only a Sunday afternoon daydream while spinning Rubber Soul and Out of Our Heads with a friend in their bedroom. 

    Some argue the Beatles reign over the rest with Revolver notching the title of Greatest Pop Record of All Time while others credit the Stones with their ongoing ability to create. Nevertheless, both unarguably left an indelible footprint on the music world we currently live in.

    Following reminiscent tunes like “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” Twist and Shout,” “Paint it Black” and “Honky Tonk Woman” as well as an experimental mash-up finale, the end of the night will bring a real-time, rock-and-roll the vote session as the audience determines who rocked the hardest.

    Tickets are range from $30 to $60 and may be purchased online at the Parmount Theatre’s website, by phone at (914) 739-0039 or at the Theatre Box Office.

  • Parkway Drive Brings their Last US Tour of 2017 to the Upstate Concert Hall

    Parkway Drive brings their last US tour of the year to the greater North American area. Thursday, June 22 they paid a visit to Upstate Concert Hall.

    The crowd was off of their feet the second Parkway Drive came on stage and started their set with the song “wild eyes.” With nonstop crowd surfing and moshing throughout the whole set, you could feel the energy and the room shaking from the stage all the way to the back of the venue! You do not want to miss this tour.

    The openers to the show were Wage War and The Word Alive.

    Setlist: Wild Eyes, Carrion, Dedication, Vice Grip, Karma, Sleepwalker, Dark Days, Destroyer, Boneyards, Writings on the wall, Idols and anchors, Romance is Dead

    Encore: Crushed, Bottom feeder.

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  • A Rainbow Shines over Dead and Company Performance at SPAC

    Dead and Company roared into Saratoga Springs on a rainbow for a show at SPAC on Tuesday, June 20 after a hot weekend of shows at Fenway Park. The national tour has Deadheads and Mayerheads alike buzzing about the continued pairing of the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart with John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti. Few tours of this nature attract an audience where grandparents bring grandkids to the show, tying music across generations and inviting fans of all ages to enjoy the music of the Grateful Dead with an infusion of new blood.

    dead and company SPAC rainbow

    Out of the gate, Weir led the troupe through “Hell in a Bucket,” and let Oteil take over on “Next Time You See Me,” laying down the deepest of bluesy grooves that Pigpen would nod at approvingly. “Loose Lucy” and “Mississippi Half Step” had the audience singing along with Bob and John, but “Looks Like Rain” was where the music connected with Mother Nature. Just as Weir returned to the chorus, the skies opened up and a soft sunshower began with a subsequent rainbow appearing over the gleeful crowd moments later. The refreshing rain led to a “Dire Wolf” sing along followed by “Lost Sailor > “Saint of Circumstance” that wrapped up a tight first set.

    The second set started with “Chinacat Sunflower” and instead of expected “I Know You Rider,” Mayer shifted gears into “Deal” where he let off steam, jumping up and down as he led through a rip roaring version of “Deal,” easily the highlight of the night. “China Doll” with Oteil’s heavenly vocals and “Terrapin Station” were the centerpiece of the second set feast. Bass ripples from “Drums>Space” rolled into mellow noodling that soon became “All Along the Watchtower” with Bob charging full ahead before pulling up the reigns for “Black Peter.” To sandwich the set, a patient segue into “Rider” tied the night together with tantric energy built up throughout. For an encore, “Goin Down the Road Feelin Bad” capped the night with a delighted crowd singing loudly and gleefully.

    Set 1: Hell in a Bucket, Next Time You See Me, Loose Lucy, Mississippi Half-Step, Looks Like Rain, Dire Wolf, Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance

    Set 2: China Cat Sunflower>Deal>China Doll>Terrapin Station>Drums>Space>All Along the Watchtower>Black Peter>I Know You Rider

    Encore: Goin Down the Road Feeling Bad

  • Bobby Whitlock and Coco Carmel Perform Intimate Show at The Egg

    Legends of their various genres pass through the Capital District all the time. The Egg’s Roots and Branches series brings acts that can bring an intimate audience together with a legend who has touched their lives through his or her music. June 16 found Bobby Whitlock of Derek and the Dominos in The Swyer Theater at The Egg for an two hour acoustic performance with plenty of story time built in between songs.

    Bobby Whitlock

    I’ve listened to Bobby for years, wearing out burned copy after burned copy of Derek and the Dominos at The Fillmore East 10/23/70 and 10/24/70. Every minute of those shows is pure rock n roll at the start of its greatest decade. By the end, the audience had a different view of Layla and Assorted Love Songs and heard the original songs performed in one of the songwriter’s to the classic album.

    “We just come to play for your guys, we’re not promoting an album or with merch,” Bobby shared with the audience prior to “Anyday” off Layla. Bobby and Coco Sherman, whom has been performing alongside Coco for nearly 20 years, each played acoustic guitars while Reuben Chess from Brooklyn played backup electric guitar.

    Bobby Whitlock

    Chess took his solos with reserved grace so as not to step on the toes of Bobby Whitlock. “Got to get Better in a Little While” was gritty and not rushed. Whitlock shared a story of how he spent a year in England with Clapton, intending to be there for just a week., leading to “I Looked Away,” the first song they wrote together.

    “Keep on Growing” was preceded by an extended story on recording the song with Clapton and George Harrison; the story reflected on how Sam and Dave’s vocals influenced Clapton and Whitlock’s on “Growing.” This story made the audience sit up in their seats and get comfy while they listened to Bobby tell tales from the road.

    Whitlock switched to piano and Carmel to saxophone for “The Captain’s Song,” “Slowdown,” and “Bell Bottom Blues.” The closer, “Layla,” took on its own life – slow and bluesy during the verses, but back up to 38rpm for the chorus. The second half of the song was performed just as God/Clapton intended, and Chess closed the song out effortlessly. In three years, Layla and Assorted Love Songs will be 50 years old – let’s hope we can see Clapton and Whitlock together to perform the one of rock’s most influential and classic albums.

  • Ween Perform New Cover, Rarities and Fan Favorites at The Waterfront in Maine

    On Saturday, June 10, Pennsylvania rock outfit Ween brought their unique brand of hard rock to the scenic waterfront at Thompson’s Point in Portland, Maine. Early on, fans were delighted to hear the high-energy funk anthem “Monique the Freak” for only the second time since their reunion after a four-year hiatus. Soon after, an eager crowd was treated to a slowed down, jazzy version of “Take Me Away,” complete with a walking bassline and an extended talk box intro. Fans were also ecstatic to hear the sultry “Your Party,” as the entire audience sang the chorus in unison.

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    Gene brought out a megaphone to alter his voice on several occasions, most notably during the trudging, creepy classic “Poop Ship Destroyer.” Fan favorite “Ocean Man” featured Gene Ween on mandolin, accompanying Dean on guitar, and Gene displayed his wide range with the crowd-pleasing “Push Th’ Little Daisies.” Ween surprised the audience with a cover of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young’s 1970’s protest song, “Ohio,” for the first time, which allowed singer Gene Ween to showcase his impressive vocal range once again.

    Nearing the end of their set, they played a nearly ten-minute rendition of the punky “I’ll Be Your Johnny on the Spot” that featured a long, patient jam before eventually dropping back into the last chorus. Ween then ended their set with the ethereal “Demon Sweat” before returning to the stage for a lengthy three-song encore. For their encore, they played their oft-covered hit, “Roses are Free” before the scorching, anthemic “Buckingham Green.” They then performed an extended version of the mellow, titular track from “The Mollusk” before bidding the crowd farewell, until next time.

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    Setlist (courtesy of Brownbase):
    Marble Tulip Juicy Tree, Happy Colored Marbles, Bananas and Blow, Monique the Freak, Never Squeal, Fat Lenny> Cold and Wet, The Stallion pt 1, I Gots a Weasel, Your Party, Poopship Destroyer, Take Me Away, Wayne’s Pet Youngin, Seconds, Ocean Man, Even If You Don’t, I’ll Be Your Jonny on the Spot, I Got to Put the Hammer Down, She Fucks Me, Push th’ Little Daisies, Ohio, Big Jilm, Demon Sweat
    Encore: Roses Are Free, Buckingham Green, The Mollusk

  • Saranac Jams Lineup Includes Taking Back Sunday, Dark Star Orchestra, Dirty Heads, Get The Led Out

    Saranac Brewery has booked some exciting jams and shows this summer. American Reggae bands Dirty Heads and SOJA will be taking the stage on Tuesday, June 20. Zeppelin tribute band Get the Led Out will perform Friday, July 21. Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra will be playing on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Alternative rockers Taking Back Sunday are slated to play alongside Every Time I Die and All Get Out on Friday, Aug. 18.

    Saranac Jams

    Saranac Brewery, located at 830 Varick Street in Utica, offers summer music events, a tavern on site, tours, and a gift shop. See the website for more information and hours of operation.

    Saranac Jams Lineup

    June 20 – Dirty Heads & Soja with the Green, RDGLDGRN
    July 21 – Get The Led Out
    Aug. 1 – Dark Star Orchestra
    Aug. 18 – Taking Back Sunday with Every Time I Die, All Get Out

  • Phoenix Rises From Red Ashes at Red Rocks

    There are certain things in life that move you in the most harmonious manner, that it sends chills down your spine. Phoenix was the cause of that exact sensation on a splendid and spectacular evening at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in colorful Colorado on Wednesday, June 7. The night was simply captivating, as giant natural rock formations surround you at this outside venue. An occasion like this should definitely be on a bucket list for those of you who have not had the chance to experience such an event at this magical place.

    phoenix red rocksThe night started off with an energetic group called The Lemon Twigs, who demonstrated their capacity to jam all while rocking funky outfits and made the crowd pop with extreme intrigue and positive responses. The audience slowly filled the arena and nature’s light began to dim. As their performance came to a close, boulders as crimson as can be started to glow underneath the moonlight in the background, and Miike Snow entered the stage not too long after that. As a Swedish indie pop band, they incorporated a sense of synthpop and alternative dance flare and gave fans a sweet taste for what’s to come next.

    Everyone was fooled that night; what was once a clear starry night moments before, took a turn for what was least expected. When it rains, it pours. However, the heaviest of downpours and even slight hail that evening surely didn’t stop the crowd from going wild. The weather gods somehow knew Phoenix was about to perform and it almost seemed like the rain was a grand opening display before an incredibly riveting performance. This French ensemble conquered the stage while standing on a giant LED platform and created a tantalizing memory to store in everyone’s minds. Thomas Mars soothed the surroundings with his vocals, Christian Mazzalai rocked on guitar, Deck d’Arcy on bass and keyboards, and Laurent Brancowitz on guitar and keyboards. The group included their touring members Robin Coudert on keyboards and percussion, as well as Thomas Hedlund on drums and percussion.

    This group’s style has developed over time only to create distinct soundwaves that hit one’s pleasure centers even more. Flavors of synth pop, alternative rock, and new wave filled the atmosphere all while including the French language in some of their masterpieces. This particular show at Red Rocks was actually the last one before they released their newest album, Ti Amo, which is now available for all to listen. It holds a unique and upbeat essence that puts the move in groove. They performed a couple fresh tunes off the new album such as “J-Boy” and “Ti Amo” as well. Certain underlying musical elements are discovered in the back beats of their songs. Other oldies magically graced the air including “If I Ever Feel Better,” “Lasso,” “Girlfriend,” “Trying to be Cool,” “Fences,” “Lisztomania” and “1901.”

    At the end of the performance, Thomas Mars of Phoenix entered the Red Rocks crowd as a personal closing of the night and shared that special moment with everyone around. ‘Twas a heart-warming and sincere performance with a sprinkle of friendliness. Phoenix rose and thus vanished into the night after wooing the crowd with their delectable sound.

  • So Last Year Embarks on Summer Tour, with a Little Help from Their Friends

    So Last Year celebrated the first night of their summer tour with a hometown show at The California Brew Haus on June 3. The send off included performances by bands they’ve been sharing a stage with for some time: Maple Hill, Daily Milestone, Pilot The Universe, and Nostalgic Stereo. See the photo gallery at the end of the article for more pictures.

    So last year
    Logan Van Epps, Curtis Matteson, and Jason Campbell – So Last Year Photo by Corinne Cummings

    What The California Brew Haus lacks in style, it makes up for in character. The furnishings are worn in. Musicians load and unload gear through exit doors covered in band stickers. The wall behind the stage is plywood, hand painted with the name of the bar. But the food is good, the patrons are friendly, and the live shows rock.

    This night was no exception. We arrived when Maple Hill was taking the stage. The lively pop punk band from Ithaca played a set which included “Stomping Ground” from their 2016 album Headspace and “Well, Well, Well” from their earlier EP. Daily Milestone performed next. They had the audience clapping along to their catchy song “Silence.” It was announced that the drummer, Austin Porrata, will be moving to Nashville soon. He picked up an acoustic guitar and delivered a touching rendition of “Learning How To Love,” originally by Colony House.

    Then So Last Year was on. Frontman Logan Van Epps asked the audience to sing along to the intro. The band started playing the theme song to the show “Reading Rainbow,” and the crowd belted out the lines enthusiastically. They kept the momentum going with their song “The End of My Excuses pt.II,” a vibrant rock anthem with a strong beat. Fans clapped along and sang the chorus, “One day all we’ll have is stories and songs, but this is our chance to sing along… tonight.” They followed with their ballad  “You Can Imagine The Wild Times,” which showcases Van Epps’ vocal range, from soft and low to soaring heights.

    Also included in the set was the love song, “In Light of Summer,” which featured Van Epps on keyboard. This title track from their second album is also notable for its phenomenal guitar segments. Lead guitarist Jon Stowell positioned his hand over the top of the neck of his Les Paul, working over the fretboard with unbelievable speed and dexterity. Jason Campbell and Curt Matteson were a dynamic duo, and it was fun to watch them play rhythm guitar and bass, respectively. While Mitch VanDenBerge is a new addition to the band, he is a seasoned musician and performed admirably. They ended with “The Enchantment of Our Youth,” a song from the 2013 debut album.

    The disappointment of the end of So Last Year’s set was quickly replaced with curiosity as a group of kids (one decked out in a Boy Scout uniform and another in a karate school windbreaker) started setting up their gear. They hung up their band banner, with their logo and name Pilot The Universe. Jaws dropped when they started jamming some funky originals composed in band class. The five-piece outfit included a keyboard player, and the lead singer also played saxophone.

    Set included their most recent creation, “Koto.” Immediately following was Nostalgic Stereo from nearby Williamson. Playing exclusively alt rock covers from the past few decades, this is the band that time forgot. They got everyone to sing along to hits from Blink 182, Fallout Boy, and Yellowcard. Mid-set, lead vocalist Alan Overslaugh announced, “Let’s do something different.” Drummer Ty Palmer grabbed an acoustic guitar and the pair launched into a medley of emo ballads originally performed by the likes of We The Kings, Mayday Parade, and Dashboard Confessional. The finale was Blink 182’s “Dammit,” ending with Overslaugh saluting the audience from atop the monitor box, a thank you to the audience and send-off to So Last Year as they embark on their summer tour.

    Tour Dates:
    June 11 Boston MA – House Show
    June 15 Akron OH – The Overlook
    June 16 Kent OH – The Outpost
    June 17 Pittsburgh PA – Black Forge Coffee
    June 18 Buffalo NY – Buffalo Iron works
    June 25 Syracuse NY – Spark Art Gallery

  • Coheed & Cambria Energize the Crowd at Terminal 5

    There are not too many rock bands anymore that pursue the art of the concept album. There are even fewer that have a concept across several albums. Enter the world of Coheed & Cambria – a science fiction prog rock band originally hailing from Nyack, New York. The band, getting its start in the early 2000’s put out some of it’s best records based on lead singer Claudio Sanchez’s Amory Wars comic book series. Coheed and Cambria’s tour through the US during April and May celebrated their third album Good Apollo: I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness. The record is a fan favorite, spawning some of the band’s most memorable songs such as “Welcome Home,” “Ten Speed (of God’s Blood & Burial)” and “The Suffering.”

    Coheed & CambriaWith Coheed and Cambria being a band originally from New York, the home crowd truly turned out with some of the most diehard fans I’ve ever seen for any kind of band ever. Coheed made it’s first NY stop of it’s tour on May 5, 2017 at Terminal 5 in Manhattan, NY. Terminal 5 has a very open lay out with most of the venue being general admission standing, and three levels above the main floor with a “mezzanine” type layout where people can spectate from above. The general admission floor and all of the mezzanine levels were packed to capacity with fans anxiously awaiting Coheed and Cambria to grace the stage. Opening for the main event was The Dear Hunter, a prog rock band from Providence, Rhode Island. Coheed fans showed much love to the prog rock stylings of The Dear Hunter performing a tight, groovin’ set with a good deal of energy.

    Coheed & CambriaWhile I’ve been to a couple of Coheed and Cambria shows I have not been to one that was quite as crazy as this show. I made the mistake of purchasing a beer and finding a good spot closer to the front of the venue. I will explain my “mistake” in a moment. The show began with the intro from Good Apollo: I’m Burning Star IV Vol 1 which is a violin lead overture. Claudio Sanchez then stepped on the stage and the crowd immediately went wild for him – he started with the acoustic performance of “Always and Never” (track 2 on the album) as the rest of the band got on the stage. Here’s where my mistake occurred – Coheed and Cambria really kicked off the show with the in-your-face fan favorite “Welcome Home” while I had a full beer in my hand. The crowd immediately went nuts to the intro riff and there was a sudden rush from the back of the crowd pushing everyone to the front. Most of my beer wound up all over myself and probably everyone within a four-foot radius of me. “Welcome Home” shows off Coheed and Cambria’s metal side with it’s prog rock elements so it makes sense the crowd went crazy.

    Coheed & CambriaConsequently, after Coheed played their next song “Ten Speed,” I found myself near the stage looking up at Claudio Sanchez going nuts on his guitar. As he delivered his signature high pitched, charismatic and unique vocals over a punk rock-ish chorus, his famous long puffy hair was flying in all sorts of directions. As Coheed and Cambria played through the album, there wasn’t a song fans couldn’t recite. About halfway through the set, while guitarist Travis Stever was swapping guitars, Claudio took a back seat to his band’s ever impressive rhythm section of Josh Eppard on drums and Zach Cooper on bass. The jam broke down first into one of the dopest bass solos I’ve heard in a while – in fact, how often do you hear a bass solo? Then, Josh Eppard got into a super tight, high energy drum solo for which the crowd made a ton of noise. Playing the style of music that they do, each band member holds their own as an extraordinary musician.

    The night of excellent music was closed out by an encore of three of my favorite Coheed songs – the first being “Island” off their 2015 release The Color Before the Sun. When the album was coming out it was announced that this would be the band’s first album not connected to Claudio Sanchez’s Amory Wars comic book series but would instead reflect on the band’s personal lives. Claudio tied this in by giving some back story to the song and his family that was in the audience who the song related to. He also stated that the band has been performing while having the flu and required some assistance from the crowd. Who would have known anyone in the band was sick with all of the energy they put out? The night ended with “Delirium Trigger” and “Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3” which is the title track of the album preceding Good Apollo I’m Burning IV Vol 1 (and my personal favorite album from Coheed and Cambria). In the universe of the Amory Wars, “Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3” tells the epic tale of one of the protagonists leading a resistance against a formidable space armada/army, with the battle cry “Man your battle stations!” being a big part of the chorus. It was insanely cool to hear a group of people chant something that epic as though we really were going into battle. Claudio Sanchez barely had to do much singing as the crowd really took charge of the lyrics on the final song of the night – you could even see a smile from Sanchez as though he was truly humbled by the fact that his art really resided in the hearts of a room full of people.

    Coheed & CambriaOverall, while I left the show soaked in probably everyone else’s sweat and I’m pretty sure someone’s shoe flew across the room and hit me, it was the most fun I’ve had at a rock concert in a long time. Coheed and Cambria has the blessing of having some of the most loyal fans in the world, especially in New York City. I left the show with more energy than I walked in the door with and Coheed played probably one of the tightest sets they could ever have played. They later returned to Terminal 5 on May 22, 2017, playing a similar setlist.

    Setlist: Keeping the Blade, Always and Never, Welcome Home, Ten Speed, Crossing the Frame, Apollo 1: The Writing Writer, Once Upon Your Dead Body, Wake Up, The Suffering, The Lying Lies & Dirty Secrets of Miss Erica Court, Mother May I, The Willing Well I: Fuel for the Feeding End, The Willing Well II: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness, The Willing Well III: Apollo II: The Telling Truth, The Willing Well IV: The Final Cut, Island Delirium Trigger, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3

  • Mountain of Youth: The 5th Annual Susquehanna Breakdown Recap

    “And they’re off!” On Friday, May 19 the gates lifted in Scranton, Pennsylvania and campers raced to grab the flattest and grassiest space on the The Pavilion Lawn at Montage Mountain.  They were not there for the 142nd Preakness Stakes, which traditionally takes place in Maryland every third Saturday in May, but instead were celebrating a new bluegrass tradition, the 5th annual Susquehanna Breakdown. Some attendees dressed in jockey-like colors and patterns with ridiculous hats and clothing combinations.  Others wore graphic t-shirts splattered with band names like Cabinet, Umphrey’s Mcgee, Greensky Bluegrass and Phish.  By the beginning of the first set at 6:30pm, one thing was clear… everyone was there to place their bets on a winning weekend.

    The Dishonest Fiddlers, orchestrated by founder Dave Brown, are a Scranton local bluegrass act that switches up the bill every time they perform.  The lightweight and easy listening bluegrass invited campers to put down their tent poles and join in the music at the smaller “Breakdown Stage.”  Breakdowners were delighted to discover that Cabinet’s own fiddle player, Todd Kopec, was sitting in during the festival’s opening act.  The Dishonest Fiddler’s performance marked the first of many expected Cabinet sit-ins over the weekend, but that comes as no surprise as the festival is named after one of their songs!  Next up on the bill was the American-festival veteran Keller Williams.  It is hard to think of the word “bluegrass” or just “grass” in general and not think of the pumpkin pie hair-cutted freak bouncing around stage barefoot from instrument to instrument.  Once you have seen one Keller show, you have seen them all, but that doesn’t stop anyone from attending.  Keller Williams got his start in parking lots playing to the energetic crowds that gathered before the main attraction, The Grateful Dead.  For over 20 years, he has been marching to the beat of his own drum, guitar, synth and whatever else he decides to bring on stage.  The completely improvised sets travel through space and time reminiscent of a spun-out music junky that can’t decide which radio station to listen to as they station hop.  Keller closed his roots-filled funky set with a cover of Marian Hill’s “Down,” which lyrically is the most genius song to kick off a festival.  If you hate on modern pop music, give this one a listen.

    As the sun finally disappeared on Day 1 of the festival, the audience was treated to more Keller Williams for the first semi-official Cabinet set of the weekend entitled “Keller & Cabinet.”  Launching into the bluegrass traditional tune, “My Grass Is Blue,” got the fans boppin’ and air pickin’ before a cover of “Float On” by Modest Mouse.  As more and more non-camping 2-day-pass holders made their way into the venue, the atmosphere began to feel less like a backyard BBQ and more like a full-fledged festival.  The communal body heat kept everyone warm as “Ain’t Gonna Work Tomorrow” served as a reminder that Montage Mountain was home for the next 36 hours.  It wouldn’t be Night 1 of a festival without some minor technical difficulties.  After three minutes of tinkering, the stage was back on track and Cabinet allowed Keller to take the wheel for his originals, “Alligator Alley” and “Sing for My Dinner.”  Before the final track of the collaborative set, Keller commented that he wanted to do a reggae version of the upcoming tune but Cabinet insisted on playing it fast.  Much like Ricky Bobby in Talledega Nights, they wanted to go fast, and fast they went through Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab.”  Ironically enough, ambulance lights flickered through the crowd during the Winehouse cover as the first festival attendee maybe had too much too fast. Members of the crowd looked on in hopes that this would be the one and only emergency rescue of the weekend.

    On a brighter note, Cabinet came out swinging for their first major set of the weekend, tackling their catalog of reggae, bluegrass, roots and rock.  “The Smile” breezed into the first slot as the symbolic greeting tune of the evening.  “Hey Baby” gave Mickey Coviello’s guitar and Pappy Biondo’s banjo some focus in the spotlight and afterward they modestly commented it was “groovy as all hell.”  Pappy was once again the center of attention during their rendition of “Diamond Joe.” Building the song up with some fantastic peaks and valleys via JP Biondo’s mandolin and Todd Kopec’s fiddle, the 6-piece band transformed the poetic country tune into a jam-grass meltdown.  The “Diamond Joe” lyrics feature horses, betrayal and payback which are central themes in many old-timey tunes and Cabinet made this timeless piece their own to showcase their talent during this set.  The band mentioned that the crowd size was much larger compared to years past and I took it as a sign of festival growth, strength and some perfect weather.  The friendly fireside vibe of the Cabinet set was not complete without a singalong and “Pine Billy” served as a fitting choice.  The “way up on a mountain” lyrics got extra howls as families and friends belted out “Pine Billy” during the second half the short set.  “Sunday 60 Breakdown” finished off the set and the crowd significantly thinned as their beloved Cabinet went to get some rest before a big Day 2.

    The evening was not over yet as late night funk trio Organ Freeman treated the mountain to an ass shaking dance party.  Drummer Rob Humphreys, organist Trevor Steer and Erik Carlson on guitar answered the age-old question “Won’t you take me to Funkytown?”    For those in attendance looking for poppy instrumental jazz or experimental and danceable funk, they found it right off the bat with “We’re On Our Way.”  The band tested out several new songs during their set and considering most in the audience didn’t know the names to their originals anyway, it was all new and exciting to us.  The first cover came in the form of Stanton Moore Trio’s “Pie Eyed Manc.”  It was clear that Moore’s sound has a strong influence on Organ Freeman as they worked their layered grooves into every jam they went into.  My one critique is that at 1:30 in the morning, instrumental jazz begins to all sound the same.  As many non-campers such as myself began exiting the venue, it was incredible to clearly hear the echoes of funk during the entire walk back to the parking area thanks to mountain’s valley walls, which acted as natural amplifiers.  The successful first night of music was complete and the main attraction was only hours away.  The Breakdowners were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of mandolins played in their heads.

    CABINET FRIDAY NIGHT SETLIST:

    A Smile, Treat Me So Bad, Hey Baby, Diamond Joe, Mysterio, Eleanor, The Dove %, Pine Billy, Sunday 60 Breakdown

    % Brief Power Failure occurred twice during The Dove

    KELLER WILLIAMS SETLIST:

    My Grass is Blue, Float On*, Ripped 6 Pack, Ain’t Gonna Work Tomorrow, AGWT Reprise (post Power Failure), Alligator Alley, The Tower, Sing For My Dinner, Rehab **
    * Modest Mouse Cover ** Amy Winehouse Cover  (Setlist credit: Rich Stoler)

    ORGAN FREEMAN SETLIST:
    We’re On Our Way, (New Track 1), Only If You Mean It, Putin And I Get Along Fantastic, Life’s A Bench, Reptile Moonshine, Pie Eyed Manc*, Change For A Nickel, The Green Green Grapes, You Said You Quit Drinkin’, (New Track 2), Verve, Byrd vs Fish, (New Track 3), Go By Richard, Not By Dick  ENCORE: Hit The Ground Running, Come out Swinging
    *- Stanton Moore Trio