NYS Music 20​17

Category: Rock

  • Collar City Faves Blue Machine Rock the Dino

    If you were in the mood to rock out to Classic Rock and British Invasion tunes from The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Troy was the place to be this past Friday, Sept. 22 as Blue Machine made their return back to the venue.

    Blue MachineThis was the first public appearance for the band since last December. The band’s return not only brought in a packed house, the performance was also entertaining, fun and it was a great night for their fans as they rock and rolled in the City of Troy.

    Blue Machine, featuring Kenny Hohman (guitar/vocals), Joe Daley (drums), and Lori Friday (bass/vocals) and front man Tommy Love (vocals/harmonica), have been bringing their own take on many popular Classic Rock and British Invasion tunes for over 10 years throughout the Capital District and New England. For over 21 years, Hohman, Daley and Friday perform as an international and local power trio called Super 400. Love, who at times can sing and sound like various performers such as Robert Plant, Mick Jagger and Jim Morrison, is also a lead vocalist in another local group, Blue Hand Luke.

    Blue Machine performed hit songs throughout the evening, starting with “Come Together” (The Beatles), followed by “Heart Full of Soul” (The Yardbirds), “Set Me Free” (The Kinks), “Badge” (Cream), “Tell Her No” (The Zombies), “Jumping Jack Flash” (The Rolling Stones), “Strange Brew” (Cream), “Born Under A Bad Sign” (Cream), “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” (The Rolling Stones) and “Happy” (The Rolling Stones), among other tunes.

    “We’re going to give you some trippy music,” Love called out to the fans after the band had finished performing “Happy.” Love was making a reference to their next song, “Riders of the Storm” (The Doors) as Hohman began to play the memorable chords of the tune on the guitar. The Doors’ other hit, “Roadhouse Blues,” followed suit. From The Doors came The Allman Brothers Band. The band dedicated “One Way Out” and “Whipping Post” to the late Gregg Allman.

    Watching the band sing and jam out to these two tunes from The Allman Brothers was captivating, magical and entertaining. As Love sang his verses to these songs, the instrumental jam session began in full force. One moment, Hohman would play a soaring guitar solo, Daley would begin soloing on the drums, then Friday would begin her solo routine to Daley’s toned down drum taps for a given moment. As her solo ended, Hohman and Love reunited with the group to continue to perform their song(s) until it ended. The band, being as connected and passionate to these songs as they are, helped make these classic songs come to life.

    Closing out the first set, and then with a following encore performance, was the anticipated Led Zeppelin tribute. The tribute started out with a cover of “What Is and What Should Never Be” (Led Zeppelin II) followed by “Black Dog” (Mothership), “I Can’t Quit You Baby” (Led Zeppelin) and “Thank You” (Led Zeppelin II). Closing out their encore performance with Love on lead harmonica and vocals, Love belted out the lyrics to “Bring It on Home” (Led Zeppelin II). The end of the encore left Blue Machine fans happy and satisfied to know that rock and roll is here to stay in the Capital District.

    Like Blue Machine on Facebook to stay updated on where the band will perform next. Also, check out Dinosaur BBQ’s website to stay informed on the local acts that will be performing in the area.

    Setlist: “Come Together” (The Beatles), “Heart Full Of Soul” (The Yardbirds), “Set Me Free” (The Kinks), “Badge” (Cream), “Tell Her No” (The Zombies), “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” (The Rolling Stones), “All My Loving” (The Beatles), “Strange Brew” (Cream), “Born Under A Bad Sign” (Cream), “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” (The Rolling Stones), “Happy” (The Rolling Stones), “Riders of the Storm” (The Doors), “Roadhouse Blues” (The Doors), “One Way Out” (The Allman Brothers), “Whipping Post” (The Allman Brothers), “What Is And What Should Never Be” (Led Zeppelin), “Black Dog” (Led Zeppelin), “I Can’t Quit You Baby” (Led Zeppelin), “Whole Lotta Love” (Led Zeppelin), “Thank You” (Led Zeppelin),
    Encore: “Bring It On Home” (Led Zeppelin)

    This article was originally published by The Spot 518.

  • 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.

  • Farm Aid Brings Music For A Mission Back To Burgettstown, PA

    My husband and I were fortunate enough to be in attendance the last time the Farm Aid lineup rocked Burgettstown in 2002.

    This time was extra special as it was the first time our six-year-old son was able to attend a Farm Aid event with us. The life experience he has gained from attending the press conference, being up close to music greats like Farm Aid board members, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews, learning about vermicomposting in the HOMEGROWN Village and eating all the amazing food the local farmers and food vendors cooked up for the show; I can’t even begin to imagine the lasting impact that will have on him. Did I mention that all of the concessions sold at the show were sustainably produced by family farmers using ecological practices and any waste produced was recyclable or compostable?  Awesome!

    Although the day in many ways is about the music, I want to take a moment to focus on the heart of the cause…the family farmers. Farm Aid has raised more than $50 million to support family owned farms. The press conference held prior to the day long concert, focused on four stories of local farms. They varied from a produce farm that sold to local schools, a dairy farm that was able to stick it out and make things work even in tough times, one of the pioneers of organic farming in the region and an inner city urban farm that invites the community to have a safe haven to commune, work and get a bite to eat if they’re hungry. Pennsylvania was selected to play host to the 2017 Farm Aid concert because it is home to over 58,000 farms. However, those farms are declining at a growing rate. For more information about Pennsylvania farms please visit here.

    It is no surprise that the 2017 Farm Aid concert sold out the first day tickets went on sale. The lineup was incredible and featured some of the music industry’s best. Farm Aid 2017 featured Willie Nelson, Neil Young with the Promise of the Real, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Sheryl Crow, Jack Johnson, The Avett Brothers, Nathaniel Rateliff &The Night Sweats, Blackberry Smoke, Margo Price, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Valerie June, Insects vs Robots and Blackwood Quartet. We met people who had traveled from Alaska and even Australia to see the show.

    The day opened with the smooth sounds of the Blackwood Quartet; followed by the experimental psych-rock band Insects vs Robots featuring Micah Nelson, son of Willie. Valerie June brought her beauty and talent to the stage. How many instruments can she play?

    Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real were on fire. It has been a few years since I have seen them and they have certainly progressed as a band. Lukas has a genuine, likeable stage presence and proved that he has natural talent like his father. In fact, this band is so amazing that they have the distinct honor of being the backing band for Neil Young.

    Jam-rock band Blackberry Smoke played a set reminiscent of the sound of the Allman Brothers.  Farm Aid veteran Jamey Johnson took the stage next. The crowd was starting to fill in as he performed country favorites, “Up on Cripple Creek” and Woodie Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land.”

    I had heard great things about Margo Price, a newcomer to the alternative country music scene. She did not disappoint. She has a voice that will take her places and a personal reason for championing the Farm Aid cause; her family lost their farm in 1985.

    Things really started to heat up when Nathaniel Rateliff & the Nightsweats took the stage. It was my first time seeing the band and now I completely understand what my friends have been raving about. What an awesome sound that culminated with their performance of “S.O.B.”

    The Avett Brothers kept the momentum going. I am unsure of how to describe their sound. You really just need to check it out for yourself. They rocked “Laundry Room,” “True Sadness” and “Slight Figure of Speech.”

    Jack Johnson is one of the most laid back performers I have ever seen. He opened his set with a highly entertaining parody song aptly titled, “Willie Got Me High and Stole All My Money.” Jack invited Jamey Johnson, Sheryl Crow and Nathaniel Rateliff & the Nightsweats to join him onstage to cover Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released.” To keep the party going, Jack called for someone to find Lukas Nelson so that he could come up and perform with him. Lukas was located and joined him for “Breakdown” which included a snippet from Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker.” Jack Johnson was clearly in the mood to share the stage and the Avett Brothers joined him for the final two songs of his set, “Mudfootball” and “Better Together.”

    The sun was finally starting to go down and Sheryl Crow was up next. She took the stage and immediately lead with hit song “Every Day Is a Winding Road.” She followed Jack Johnson’s lead by inviting Margo Price to join her for “Strong Enough” and ended her set with The Allman Brothers Band cover “Midnight Rider” with Margo Price, Willie and Lukas Nelson and Jack Johnson onstage to help.

    The first of the Farm Aid board members, Dave Matthews along with his partner in crime, Tim Reynolds performed next. Matthews and Reynolds laid down some mean guitar tracks during set opener “Don’t Drink the Water.” They pleased their diehard followers by debuting a new song that may appear on an upcoming album release that fans have dubbed “Odds Are Against Us.” Their set felt short. Of course I am accustomed to their nearly three hour long performances.

    John Mellencamp always puts on a good show. I am convinced he can pull off anything from country, blues, jazz-funk to good ol’ rock n roll. He can sing it all and his band is on point. He played fan favorites “Small Town,” “Check it Out,” an acoustic version of “Jack and Diane” to which Mellencamp said, “I don’t know why I play this song anymore. I guess it’s cause I know you all want to hear it.” “Rain on the Scarecrow” was very moving given it summarizes the heart of the devastation of the loss of a family farm.

    I have seen Neil Young perform at Farm Aid several times but this year, he stole the show. Young along with Promise of the Real took the stage by storm with a thundering version of “F*ckin’ Up.” Young was ready to rock and ripped through stunning versions of “Cortez the Killer,” “Cinnamon Girl,” “Heart of Gold” and the crowd went crazy when the opening chords of “Rockin’ in the Free World” hit the air. He summed up the day by stating “Farmers are the American heroes today. They are living a real life.”

    It was time for the heart and soul of Farm Aid to take the stage… Mr. Willie Nelson. My son was overjoyed that he opened with his favorite Willie song, “Whiskey River.” Willie performed a Toby Keith cover “Beer for My Horses,” “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die,” “On the Road Again” and ended the night with some humor or perhaps satire with “It’s All Going to Pot.”

     

    What can you do to help?

    • Shop at your local farmer’s market
    • Join a CSA
    • Grow your own garden or participate in a community garden
    • Talk to local farmers and learn about what they do and their farming practices
    • Contribute to Farm Aid 
    • Write to congress and tell them they need to support family farms not factory farms

  • Tom Petty Dead at 66

    Tom Petty lived a life that was one of persistence and a never say die attitude. The same could be said of his death. On Monday, reports began circulating that Petty had been found unresponsive in his Malibu home due to cardiac arrest. He was transported to UCLA Medical Center, placed on life support then removed from life support due to no brain activity. Reports of his death began populating social media despite the fact that there was never any official indication that he was dead.

    tom petty deadLate in the day, news of his death was retracted. Petty had been taken off of life support but began breathing on his own. He was fighting death just as he had fought record labels throughout his career.

    Late Monday, Tony Dimitriades, Petty’s long time manager, confirmed the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s death, “We are devastated to announce the untimely death of our father, husband, brother, leader and friend Tom Petty,” Dimitriades said on behalf of the family.

    He died peacefully at 8:40 p.m. PST Monday surrounded by his family, bandmates and friends.

    Petty was a rare artist who transcended generations. Throughout the day Monday, tributes to Petty were posted on social media from fellow musicians and fans both young and old. His songs have been staples of FM radio since the late 1970s, beginning with the debut album Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers through the 1980s as a member of the supergroup the Traveling Wilburys with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne.

    Petty took pride in the fact that the band maintained an ability to attract young fans over the decades. He headlined both the 2006 and 2013 Bonnaroo Festivals and told Rolling Stone about the experience, “We’re one of those old, lucky bands: Young people come to see us. It makes a difference. There are people who have picked up on you fairly recently, or they’re just learning about you. It brings a different excitement into the crowd.”

    Recent years saw Petty reuniting his original Gainesville, FL band Mudcrutch as well as the Heartbreakers. Petty and the Heartbreakers just wrapped up a 40th anniversary tour last week at the Hollywood Bowl.

    Thomas Earl Petty was born in Gainesville on Oct. 21, 1950. His admiration of cowboys led him to take up the guitar. He once stated, “I always liked the idea of the guitar, because cowboys played the guitar.” This passion escalated when his uncle took the 10 year-old Petty to the set of a movie Elvis Presley was working on. It was this meeting that propelled him to make music his life passion.

    The band’s 1976 eponymous debut took time to gain traction in the U.S. Once it did, the single  “Breakdown” crept into the lower reaches of  the Billboard charts.

    Petty famously battled record labels early in his career. When MCA Records attempted to buy out his contract with ABC Records, Petty declared bankruptcy, claiming the contract signed with ABC was made under duress. Petty was able to renegotiate his contract and MCA resigned the band, releasing its third album Damn the Torpedos under its own imprint, Backstreet Records. Torpedos went on to sell over two million copies behind the strength of Petty classics as “Refugee” and “Don’t Do Me Like That.”

    Prior to the release the band’s next album Hard Promises, MCA wanted to cash in on Petty’s celebrity, introducing a new level of pricing for superstar LPs. The label planned to price the new release at $9.98. Petty relented, even threatening to name it The $8.98 LP. MCA eventually caved and released it at the $8.98 price. Hard Promises furthered Petty’s superstar status with the hit “The Waiting.”

    The mid-’80s had Petty and the Heartbreakers branching out. They performed at Live Aid in Philadelphia in 1985, collaborated with the Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart on the Alice in Wonderland themed video for “Don’t Come Around Here No More” and toured with  Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead.

    Petty joined Harrison’s Traveling Wilburys in 1988. This collaboration of rock royalty resulted in a triple platinum album and renewed success for Petty after a disappointing Let Me Up (I’ve Had Enough) in 1987. He parlayed that success into Full Moon Fever, his first solo release, although accompanied by Lynne and the Heartbreakers in the studio.

    https://youtu.be/L8s9dmuAKvU

    In 1994 Petty began a working relationship with producer Rick Rubin for his second solo album Wildflowers. The album again sold in the millions, earning him a legion of new fans. Rubin then recruited Petty and the Heartbreakers to be Johnny Cash’s backing band for the landmark 1996 album Unchained, which earned a Grammy for Best Country Album of that year.

    The end of the Wildflowers tour also resulted in the end of his 22 year marriage to Jane Benyo. Petty moved from their home and fell into a heroin habit. He eventually cleaned up after entering detox and the resulting album, 1999’s Echo revealed a dark side of Petty that he has rarely visited since.

    In 2001, he married Dana York Epperson while beginning work on The Last DJ an indictment of the recording industry that he saw as having little regard for the art or artists it promoted. This period of Petty’s career didn’t generate radio hits, despite solid efforts both solo and with the Heartbreakers but he was still a successful touring act.

    In 2007 Petty reunited with his old bandmates in Mudcrutch (Tom Leadon and Randall Marsh along with Heartbreakers Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell) for a self-titled album and a brief tour. They released a second album, 2 in 2016 that was followed by a national tour.

    Petty and the Heartbreakers returned in 2014 with the band’s first ever number one album Hypnotic Eye. They had toured behind it in 2017, a tour that also celebrated the band’s 40th anniversary.
    Prior to the tour, Petty told Rolling Stone, “I’m thinking it may be the last trip around the country.” Sadly, it was.

    Petty is survived by his wife along with a brother, Bruce; his daughters, Adria and AnnaKim; his stepson, Dylan Petty; and one grandchild.

  • Young Dubliners Bring the Party to the Wescott

    As the Young Dubliners made their way through New York on their East Coast Tour, they certainly liven up Hump Day for those brave enough to venture out to The Westcott this past week.

    Those in attendance for this mid-week concert were there to dance and have a good time as they had an inside track to what they were in store for. Immediately apologizing for not keeping his word to play on a Friday night, you wouldn’t know it wasn’t a Friday as they brought the party with them for their captivated audience.

    Opening for the band were New York locals Waydown Wailers. Although a great band in their own right, I don’t think those in attendance were able to appreciate their unique sound.  More of a southern rock band, these talented locals from Canton played to a group of Celtic loving souls, and left them scratching their heads and feeling a bit quizzical in what they just heard. With more than enough local Celtic performers to choose from as openers, I believe when booking opening bands for shows, the Westcott needs to start pairing bands together that play to the same crowd.  Not only will it appease the crowds, those bands that are opening, will begin to reach more of the audience they wish to reach.

    As the L.A. lads took the stage, they jumped feet first into a fully charged setlist that included many favorites from their large catalog of music. With Keith Roberts on lead vocals and guitar, he quickly engaged the crowd with his edgy vocals and charismatic personality, not to mention the stage full of talent that accompanied Keith with David Ingraham on percussion, Brendan Holmes on bass, Bob Boulding on lead guitar, and Chas Waltz on fiddle, mandolin, and harmonica.  Each musician was as impressive as the next as they melodically mesmerized their audience leaving them wanting more.

    For those that made their way to the Westcott to see the talented Young Dubliners, they were treated to an awesome performance and enough energy to last them till the next time they can make their way back east.

    Setlist: Paddy’s, Adhainn Mor, Fall, Say Anything, Brown Dog, Howaya Girls, Come Back Home, Bodhran, Apart, Liverpool, Seeds of Sorrow, Tell Me Ma, Foggy Dew, Ashley Falls, Waxies, Pari of Brown Eyes, Chas Solo, We The Mighty, Carlow, Fall from Grace, Rosie, and Rocky Road

  • Bencoolen Premieres new single “The Crown”

    Bencoolen has released their latest single, “The Crown,” recorded this past summer at Inner Ear Studios and produced by Don Zientara.

    The song combines hard hitting songwriting, dynamic shifts, and tells the story of driving to a music festival to encounter someone struggling with addiction. The lyrics set the scene of the drive in, the sights and sounds of the festival, and an ironic throne on which he sits.

    The Washington D.C. based group transitioned into a touring act in February 2016, bringing together founding members Teddy Scott (guitar) and Paul Gregg (vocals/guitar) with Jack Bentsen (Alto Sax), Ben Suarez (bass) and Will Lockery (drums) joining them. Together, Bencoolen has evolved into a ‘more is more’ rock group with soaring vocals, powerful guitar works and soulful saxophone. They’ve supported Big Something, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Atlas Road Crew, the Mowgli’s, and Marcus King Band, among others, and has been hitting the road hard in the Mid-Atlantic area.

    bencoolen the crownThey’ll be in New York on November 17 for a performance at Arlene’s Grocery with Youth Yamada and supporting Maradeen.

  • Strange Machines Ready to Drop New Studio Album

    The long awaited first full-length studio album from Strange Machines, Voice of Color, will be released on Oct. 6. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, the electro-funk quartet is ready to deliver a beautifully mastered LP. With some older tracks their fans will recognize, and some new tracks, this will become a staple in anyone’s catalog. This album has it all, from power ballads to reggae, some psychedelic rock and a lot of funky jams. Catch them at their album release party being held at Jewel in Manchester, NH on Oct. 7.

    The album will be available through iTunes, Spotify, Bandcamp and all other major music streaming outlets. You can check out their brand new single, “Motion Potion,” below.

  • Watch Talking Under Water’s Live In-Studio Acoustic Video For ‘Gravity’

    Elise Hughey and Dave Chisholm make beautiful music together. The pair recorded an acoustic version of “Gravity,” a song from their band’s debut self-titled album Talking Under Water. “Gravity” is a melancholy tune about trying to break free from the weight of the world.

    “I need to run away, I need to fly away,” Chisholm sings while playing his acoustic guitar, “But there’s so much gravity. This planet is too big for me.” Hughey accompanies on her cello, playing the stirring notes with elegance and grace. This intimate performance of the Talking Under Water duo was captured on film by Dave Drago and Jon Lewis at 1809 Studios in Macedon, New York, and edited by Drago.

    Visit Talking Under Water online or follow on Facebook for updates. Sign up for their mailing list to receive special features like free song downloads and exclusive previews of videos.

    The full-length debut Talking Under Water is available to stream on Spotify and purchase on Bandcamp and iTunes. For more about the album, read the NYS Music review.

  • Dave DiPrimo Band Returns to Rochester Fringe Festival

    On the eighth day of KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival, the city-wide celebration of performing arts was still going strong. I drove downtown after work on Thursday night to catch a set by Dave DiPrimo Band at Java’s Café. Even on a weeknight, people were out and about, congregating on the sidewalks or making their way to one of the 25 Rochester Fringe venues.

    Dave DiPrimo Band Photo: Joseph DiPrimo

    When I entered Java’s Café, Dave DiPrimo Band’s set was already in full swing.  The mid-size cafe was standing room only tonight for the local indie quartet. DiPrimo, front and center, strummed his acoustic Martin. He was flanked by Ian Benz on bass and Karis Gregory on saxophone. Reid Hoffmeier manned the drums. They were playing a dreamy folk-art song which could be pulled off as a solo singer/songwriter performance, but is made so much richer with a full backing band.

    The joy of alternative music is that the rules that govern music writing can be bent. And Dave DiPrimo Band revels in this freedom from needing to conform. Pulling on influences as varied as classic rock, soul, jazz, blues, punk, and even Latin music, they create original tunes that defy convention. Put a saxophone on a folk song? Why not!

    Karis Gregory Photo: Joseph DiPrimo

    Gregory traded the sax for an electric guitar, and DiPrimo switched to a hallow-body Ibenez for the next song, “Somethings.” DiPrimo was adept in the art of engaging the audience, getting us to sing along in a call and response of melodic oh’s and la’s. He picked up his favored Martin for the heartfelt ballad “Four Letter Word.” Gregroy was back on sax for this one, playing long, low notes full of longing and soulful expression. He stole the spotlight with solos full of fancy trills and flourishes.

    The songs got livelier as the night progressed. Midway through the nostalgic “Glory Days,” the music swelled in joyous revelry. That night Benz and Hoffmeier displayed skill, but restraint. Here, they finally had a chance to go all out. Hoffmeier, in his t-shirt from Rush’s 40th anniversary tour, threw himself into the song wholeheartedly. The song also showcased DiPrimos vocal range, from crooning soft contemplative verses to belting out the strong, bellowing chorus.

    Dave DiPrimo Photo: Joseph DiPrimo

    Before the final song, DiPrimo thanked everyone for coming out. He told us that last year he played Fringe Festival solo, this year as a full band, and joked that next year they might expand even further with the addition of a full backing choir.

    They closed out with “Selina.” DiPrimo counted in, in Spanish and the band launched into a spicy Latin-influenced number. It was a shame the room was so packed, there was no room to dance. But that didn’t stop people from moving in their seats and clapping along. In the morning, the members of Dave DiPrimo Band would be back in their college classes, but they still took the time to hang around for a while after the show to talk to members of the audience and pass out cards for a free download of their new single, “Now.”

    Dave DiPrimo Band Photo: Joseph DiPrimo

    Dave DiPrimo Band’s Thursday Setlist:  American Dream, End Of The World, Know You Best, Out In The Cold, Now, Somethings, Four Letter Word, Glory Days, And It Goes, Selina

    Dave DiPrimo Band’s music is available on CD Baby, iTunes, and Spotify. Watch for their new full-length album, coming out this fall. Follow on Facebook for updates.

    Photos by Joseph DiPrimo.

  • Pixies Rocked an Incredible Hometown Throwdown

    Most people might not know this, but The Pixies got their hometown start at UMass Amherst back in 1986, when two of the founding members were neighbors. Over 30 years later, they still play like the 90’s never ended. On September 20, their alt-punk-rock filled the John M. Greene Hall in Northampton, MA. With no set list, the band came out to a packed crowd and played hit after hit. After each song, the lights would dim while Black Francis would choose where the band would go next, feeding off the energy of the crowd. They have a few more shows in the northeast and Canada before moving westward. Do not miss these guys. Check out photos below from Zatchmo Lives Media.