NYS Music 20​17

Category: News Desk

  • Six Places in NY Ranked Among ‘Best Cities for Music Fans’

    Ever wonder where your city measures up when it comes to the music scene? Value Penguin, a company which compiles information for consumers, compared 200 US cities using more than a dozen variables from reputable sources to create a list of best places for music lovers. Six cities in New York State are in the top 30%: Albany, Rochester, Binghamton, New York, Buffalo, and Syracuse.

    Best Cities for Music Fans

    The top 10 cities in the nation are: Nashville, Honolulu, Seattle, Madison WI, Austin TX, Albany, Tuscon, Rochester, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco. Binghamton came in at No. 20, New York City at No. 26, Buffalo/Niagara Falls at No. 43, and Syracuse at No. 56.

    Cities were rated in three categories: Bands, Crowds, and Intangibles. For bands, factors included the number of musicians and bands per capita, the number of recording studios and labels, and the average hourly wage. The crowd category included information about venues, music-related stores, and number of radio stations. The intangible category was a catch-all for miscellaneous info on weather, public transportation, music schools, and closing time for bars, all of which may impact the quality of the music-going experience. Data was pulled from government sources such as the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Department of Commerce. Additional information came from sites such as Music School Central, USA Today, Songwriter Universe, and Fodors. The information spanned the years 2014-2016.

    The Albany area took a high position, thanks in part to venues like Palace Theater, Cohoes Music Hall, The Hollow Bar and Kitchen, Madison Theater, Troy Music Hall, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Proctors Theater, The Massry Center for the Arts, Times Union Center, EMPAC and many more.

    Rochester was not far behind, known by music lovers for the Eastman School of Music, Eastman Theater, Blue Cross Arena, The Bug Jar, The International Jazz Festival, The Record Archive and The House of Guitars, to name a few.

    You can see the complete list and view the data sources at Value Penguin.

  • Granddaddy of the Jam Scene, Col. Bruce Hampton, Dies While Passing the Torch in Atlanta

    Col. Bruce Hampton (born Gustav Valentine Berglund III) collapsed onstage at a celebration of his 70th birthday at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta May 1. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported his death hours after Hampton was rushed to the hospital by ambulance.

    col. bruce hampton
    Photo: Melissa Ruggieri/Atlanta Journal-Constitution

    Hampton turned 70 on April 30 and was taking part in an all-star salute to him at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre on May 1. He collapsed during an encore performance of “Turn on Your Love Light.” Hampton sang while encouraging 14 year-old guitarist Brandon Niederauer to take a solo. It was during this solo that Hampton collapsed onto an amplifier. Many witnesses to the scene thought it was a ruse. Those thoughts changed to concern as he was rushed off the stage to a waiting ambulance.

    The Colonel’s guest list for the four hour long show exhibited the true multi-generational impact he had on the Atlanta music scene. Joining him onstage for the tribute event were: Warren Haynes, Phish’s Jon Fishman, Drivin’ n Cryin’s Kevn Kinney, R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, John Bell, Dave Schools, Duane Trucks and Jimmy Herring of Widespread Panic, Blues Traveler’s John Popper, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Oliver Wood, Karl Denson, Chuck Leavell, Billy Bob Thornton and major league pitcher Jake Peavy.

    col. bruce hamptonBorn in Knoxville, TN in 1947, Hampton founded the avant-jazz Hampton Grease Band in Atlanta, recording the 1971 album Music to Eat for Columbia Records. This album garnered the title, “Second worst selling record in Columbia history” upon its release, but in a retrospective review of the reissue, The Vinyl District describes the album as:

    The fertile zone where the Mothers of Invention and Captain Beefheart’s Magic Band intersected with the outbound psychedelia of The Grateful Dead and the sturdy blues-rock of The Allman Brothers, as a huge dollop of surrealist humor was slathered over the entire mess. Simply put, Music to Eat is an amazing document.

    Hampton went on to form what would become his most well known band, the Aquarium Rescue Unit, featuring Oteil Burbridge, Jimmy Herring, Rev. Jeff Mosier, Matt Mundy and Jeff Sipe, all prominent members of the early jam community. From there, he joined forces with Bell, Popper, Eric Schenkman of the Spin Doctors and all four members of Phish to put together the H.O.R.D.E. Tour in 1992. Inspired by Perry Farrell’s alternative traveling festival Lollapalooza, H.O.R.D.E. outlasted Lollapalooza and in its wake, inspired the second wave of improvisational jambands.

    Aside from his musical hi-jinks, Col. Bruce Hampton also had a role alongside Billy Bob Thornton in the 1996 movie Sling Blade, was the subject of the 2012 documentary Basically Frightened: The Musical Madness of Col. Bruce Hampton, Ret. and also appeared in the 2014 Run the Jewels video for “Blockbuster Night, Pt. 1.” He also starred in Mike Gordon of Phish’s first feature length film Outside Out in 2001 as a guitar “out”-structor and as the voice of Space Ghost’s mentor, a potted shrub, in a 1998 episode of Space Ghost Coast to Coast entitled “Warren.”

    Hampton lived his life outside the lines, influencing generations of musicians. He went out exactly the way he should have, performing an encore of “Turn on Your Love Light” among several generations of those he influenced, passing the torch to a young guitarist who will always have Hampton in his life.

  • Baked Potatoes Released Video for ‘Unity’

    Baked Potatoes released a music video for their song “Unity” off their debut album Loaded.baked potatoes loadedBaked Potatoes, a ska/punk band from Oneonta, recorded a video, the band’s first, for their song “Unity.” The video was released on April 20, the one year anniversary of their debut album Loaded.

    From the band:

    During the harsh upstate NY winter the Potatoes got together in The Warehouse, a DIY punk venue that was converted from the loading dock of an abandoned bakery.  A venue known for almost exclusively punk-rock and hardcore shows, The Warehouse turned out to be the perfect setting for “Unity.” The ska-punk horn filled anthem sings about positive mental attitude, questioning authority, and being stronger united than divided.

    Loaded is available for streaming and purchase through the usual sites.

  • Downtown Barn 2017 Season Announced

    The Downtown Barn in Liberty announced its 2017 season, which opens May 5 and closes out on Oct. 20. The season features many local acts, including Slam Allen, Breakfast for the Boys and Upstate Rubdown.

    Liberty’s Downtown Barn, as with every season, kicks off on May 5 with New York Blues Hall of Famer Slam Allen, who also closes out the season on Oct. 20. The 2017 season features 26 affordable shows with most shows priced at $12 in advance and $15 at the door. This season features a number of local and national artists, including Gruppo Mondo, which features Peter Gabriel’s drummer Jerry Marrotta, on May 19 and Sept. 16, Gregg Allman’s music director Scott Sharrard on June 2 and Walter Parks, lead guitarist for Richie Havens, on July 1.

    The Downtown Barn opened in the center of the village of Liberty, tucked away in the Catskills, in 2013 as a small event space with a capacity of 120 seats. The stage was built from hardwood tongue and groove boards reclaimed from one of the silos on Max Yasgur’s farm, the location of the original 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Fair.

    Season passes that get you access to all 26 shows are available for $235.

    Downtown Barn Local Act Shows
    May 5 – Slam Allen
    May 6 – Shlomo Franklin
    May 29 – Chris Raabe
    June 10 – Lee Delray
    June 16 – Breakfast for the Boys
    June 30 – Rivergrass Revival
    July 7 – Jazzmosis
    July 15 – Halley Hiatt
    Aug. 4 – Cold Flavor Repair
    Aug. 11 – Rick Rourke and Lost Wages
    Aug. 12 – Cathy Patty
    Aug. 18 – Dead on the Tracks
    Aug. 19 – Chris Raabe
    Aug. 25 – Upstate Rubdown
    Sept. 9 – Yesah
    Sept. 23 – Chris Bergson and Ellis Hooks
    Oct. 7 – Rick Rourke and Lost Wages
    Oct. 20 – Slam Allen

  • Paul McCartney to Perform at Carrier Dome in September

    Sir Paul McCartney is making his way to Syracuse for a show at the Carrier Dome September 23.

    Officials announced the concert at a Tuesday morning press conference from the turf inside the dome. The show is being presented by the Bowery Presents.

    paul mccartney carrier dome septemberManaging Director of the Carrier Dome, Peter Sala, told Syracuse.com about the booking, “This is one of those performers we’ve been working very hard to bring to the university, to the campus. To me, it’s an honor. Paul McCartneys don’t come along every day. It’s an unbelievable moment to bring him to the Syracuse University campus.”

    McCartney, a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, rose to fame with the Beatles in the early 1960s. Following their breakup in 1970, McCartney embarked on a solo career with contributions from his wife Linda. This collaboration morphed into the band Wings, which enjoyed a successful run throughout the 1970s.

    Following the breakup of Wings, McCartney then pursued a successful solo career, collaborating with such music legends as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Elvis Costello and David Gilmour. Recent years have seen Sir Paul working with Krist Novaselic and Dave Grohl from Nirvana as well as Rihanna and Kanye West.

    McCartney was scheduled to appear at the Carrier Dome in 1993 but cancelled the show due to a live broadcast for Fox Television. He last appeared in Upstate New York in 2015 at Buffalo’s First Niagara Center.

    Tickets for the show go on sale Monday, May 1 at 10 a.m. McCartney announced an additional New York show at Nassau Colleseum in Uniondale Sept. 26. Tickets for that show go on sale May 5.

    https://youtu.be/KDz5wVc-4QI

  • Ivan Moody Clarifies His Comments About Leaving Five Finger Death Punch

    Several metal and hard rock fans, and various music industry insiders, have always had a lot to say when it comes to Five Finger Death Punch frontman Ivan Moody. Over the last few of years, fans, music journalists and everyone else that has an opinion on this subject has always felt when it comes to Moody and his constant “meltdowns,” and “alcohol/substance abuse” problems, many are surprised that Moody has not been kicked out of the band.

    Moody was even replaced by All That Remains frontman Philip Labonte, to end the band’s 2016 run with Shinedown and Sixx: A.M., after Moody fell “ill,” and could not finish the remaining dates. As reported by NYS Music, many feel that Labonte’s time filling in for Moody was actually an audition and a possible glimpse into the future. So, at first, when several music news sites started reporting that Moody was departing Five Finger Death Punch after his 2017 commitments to the band started to circulate, not many were surprised that some kind of split between the band had finally happened.

    Hours later, Moody released a new statement saying that he’s not going anywhere.

    Moody’s KBPI statement read:

    I had a meltdown. I was like Kanye West without the money. To be completely honest with you, Death Punch and I have kind of come to a crossroads. We’re very proud of what we’ve done – years and years and years of work… It’s time for us to take our way and go do something else, so after this year… my new band, Villain… I’m so excited.

    After several hours, and no response for anyone in Five Finger Death Punch, Moody released a statement on the band’s Facebook page stating that Moody “sets the record straight,” with a link to the band’s website post of Moody’s statement about his comments to KBPI:

    It’s no secret that this has been a tough year for me and for my bandmates in Five Finger Death Punch. When you put everything you have into making music, both on and off the stage, it can be very frustrating when the music you work so hard to create is not allowed to see the light of day. I know we share this frustration with our fans too, who have come to expect new music from us – fans who mean everything to us. It is true that Five Finger Death Punch has come to a crossroads – and that crossroads is we’re all at a place where we will never again let someone or something hold us back from making music for our fans.
    The lawsuit by Prospect Park holding our new album hostage has taken a toll on me. I was in a rehabilitation facility when Prospect Park decided to sue the band last year, and that was very difficult for me to handle all at once.
    Yesterday I made a statement that was taken out of context by the media – a media always looking to create headlines that will make people click them. The truth is, I want to start a side-project like Corey Taylor has with Stone Sour or Maynard has with A Perfect Circle and I want to do it when Five Finger Death Punch’s deal with Prospect Park is over and we are out of this lawsuit.
    THIS DOES NOT MEAN I PLAN ON LEAVING FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH!
    The great thing about being a musician today is that you can explore your creativity in multiple ways without compromising your primary focus.  I learned this watching people like Corey and Maynard and I think their fans are glad they’ve put more music out into the world. I hope my fans are, too.
    All that said, Five Finger Death Punch fans can expect our next album via Prospect Park and we are geared up to tour all throughout 2017.  We are about to leave for South America and Europe and we have other dates TBD.
    All of us in the band have worked incredibly hard over the last 10 years to build this band and none of us are going to let that go just because our record company is trying to sabotage us.  I am sorry if the media took my statement as a resignation, but I assure you it wasn’t.” IVAN MOODY – vocalist Five Finger Death Punch

    Moody’s side project Villain will consist of members from Gemini Syndrome and Coal Chamber.

  • John Mayer Launches his Search For Everything World Tour

    The musically acclaimed John Mayer kicked off his latest tour at the Times Union Center in Albany, NY on March 31, 2017. This tour is in support of his recently released studio album entitled The Search For Everything.

    Search For EverythingThe format of his concert included five chapters to help guide the audience through the show, which featured songs from his entire repertoire of music. The sets consisted of a digital backdrop that projected different scenes for each song. Mayer began by playing a set with his full band stretching as far back as his 2006 Continuum era to open the show with “Belief” and later playing “I Don’t Trust Myself (With Loving You).” During this first chapter, in addition to live debuting “Helpless,” Mayer stepped away from his sidekick guitar with a microphone in hand to engage with his audience during “Moving On and Getting Over.” He decided to play the hook back multiple times varying the speed and melody while breaking out unusual dance moves rarely seen in his live performances.

    Not only is John Mayer a brilliant lyricist with a distinguishable voice, but he is also an incredibly talented guitarist. The second chapter of his show was composed of three well-known songs and referred to as the ‘acoustic’ set, allowing him to display his mesmerizing guitar skills. In this chapter specifically, the crowd could be caught singing along to every word of “Daughters” and his infamous cover of Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” where he was accompanied by band-mate and fellow guitarist David Ryan Harris.

    Search For EverythingEvery concert on this tour also features songs from John Mayer Trio (JM3) during which Mayer excitedly invites the legendary bass player Pino Paladino and drummer Steve Jordan to perform alongside him. The trio reunited on stage to play both original JM3 songs and covers from the greats such as Chuck Berry and Jimi Hendrix. Each show on this tour features well-known, new and obscure tracks from Mayer’s vast musical library.

    Some highlight performances from the fourth chapter were songs from his earlier record “Why Georgia.” Mayer also reminisced on the making of Paradise Valley before playing the light-hearted “Dear Marie.” After leaving the stage and returning for his full band encore, playing songs like the anticipated “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room,” Mayer exited the stage for what the audience thought was the last time, only to return a few minutes later to booming applause from the audience.

    Search For EverythingFor this final chapter, the entire stage set was transformed into a blank white page except for the word ‘Epilogue’ which flashed on the screen. Mayer appeared alone on stage sitting at a white piano which he used to accompany himself for the final song, “You’re Gonna Live Forever in Me.” At the conclusion of the song, he walked through a stage door in the middle of the white screen that was not visible to the audience, leaving one to wonder if his passage through this door is meant to symbolize his continual Search for Everything.

    Excitement amongst long-time fans started buzzing from the moment Mayer announced his tour. His opening show exceeded my expectations as the emphasis was placed upon the music with a tasteful amount of production elements. I personally can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve for future shows and encourage all who have the opportunity to see him on this tour.

    Setlist: (Full Band): Belief, Helpless, I Don’t Trust Myself (With Loving You), Love on the Weekend, Moving On and Getting Over (Acoustic): Daughters, In Your Atmosphere, Free Fallin’ (Trio): Who Did You Think I Was, Promised Land, Wait Until Tomorrow (Full Band Reprise): Blues Run the Game, Queen of California, Edge of Desire, Dear Marie, Why Georgia, In Repair

    Encore: Stitched Up, Slow Dancing in a Burning Room (Epilogue): You’re Gonna Live Forever in Me

  • Bringing the Boy Back Home: Brit Floyd Bassist and Syracuse Son, Ian Cattell Discusses Playing a Hometown Show

    The spectacular Pink Floyd experience known as Brit Floyd visits the Crouse Hinds Theater at the OnCenter in Syracuse Tues. April 18. The band has been proclaimed, “The World’s Greatest Pink Floyd Show.” The spectacle and grandeur of each Brit Floyd show leaves few to argue that point. The Immersion World Tour celebrates the 40th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s 1977 album Animals. Tickets for the show are still available through Ticketmaster and the OnCenter box office.

    Recently, NYS Music sat down with Brit Floyd bassist Ian Cattell, who grew up in the Syracuse area, to discuss the current tour; the pressure to perform Floyd material and playing in his hometown.

    brit floydBrit Floyd has been touring the world performing the music of Pink Floyd since 2011 but has its genesis in the Australian Pink Show back in 2005. Cattell has performed with both units in addition to playing in several prog-oriented outfits as an up-and-comer in the Central New York Scene.

    Cattell moved to Syracuse at the age of 10 and lived there throughout high school. He played with several local outfits that gathered some large followings during his time in Syracuse: Crazy Diamond and Childhood’s End, both Pink Floyd tribute projects; the United Booty Foundation, a popular funk-disco band and Seconds Out, a Genesis cover band. It was through these endeavors that Cattell honed his prog-rock chops, leading to his current gig with Brit Floyd.

    When you’re performing the music of such an iconic band in rock history, there is already a built-in fan base looking for note-for-note replication of that band’s work. When asked if he ever feels that pressure or if he places any pressure on himself, Cattell responded,

    Oh, definitely. If we were out doing original music, you can kind of do it however you like. It’s yours. Whereas, there are so many Floyd fans that listen to the albums over and over again and they’re so familiar with every last detail. We try to put a little bit of our own flavor into it for our own fun, but it’s only to a point, because people are expecting to hear how it is on the album.

    Cattell performs both David Gilmour and Roger Waters songs but finds his natural singing voice closer to that of Gilmour’s. He first “tried his Roger Waters vocals on with Childhood’s End” around 2001. He does admit to his voice being “in character” while singing Waters’ vocals. See below for Cattell in character during “The Trial” section from The Wall. Cattell goes full-on Waters. First timers may be fooled into thinking the Floyd bassist is making a guest appearance onstage.

    When attending a Brit Floyd show, expect to spend the night. Each show is approximately three hours long, with songs spanning Pink Floyd’s career. This tour focuses on not only the 40th anniversary of Animals but also the 1994 release The Division Bell, with other eras being represented as well.

    When asked what makes playing in his adopted hometown different from other venues, Cattell states, “Each time we play in Syracuse, it’s quite amazing. I feel like I know at least half the audience. If not from having done gigs or going to see gigs or through Facebook…I get a vibe off the Syracuse crowd like no other because I know so many people there. I do so many gigs where I don’t know anybody…but Syracuse is unique where it’s that the people I know are everywhere I look.”

    If you miss Tuesday’s show in Syracuse, Brit Floyd will be performing in Schenectady at Proctor’s Theater Wed., April 19.

  • Confirmed: Mysteryland 2017 Canceled

    Looks like the rumors are true. After various reports, it has been confirmed that the Mysteryland USA Music Festival will not happen in 2017 and is canceled. The event was supposed to take place at the Original Woodstock Grounds in Bethel, NY on June 9-12. The event has been held in Bethel since it’s debut in 2014. Mysteryland has given no explanation as to the reason why the festival has been scrapped. Mysteryland was set to feature headliners G-Eazy, LCD Soundsystem, and Major Lazer during the 3-day event.

    The rumors started after several scheduled artist, started making moves on social media, making it obvious that the festival was leaning toward being cancelled. G-Eazy and LCD Soundsystem pulled the date from their upcoming shows, and Ekali, one of the many artists set to perform at, confirmed the rumors with his post on Reddit, stating that he was informed the festival was a no go. The post was deleted shortly after.

    Dancing Astronaut posted that a source from within the festival confirmed the show was canceled. Organizers were said to be left in a bad position when one of their PR firms parted ways with the festival, leaving them looking for a replacement firm. This would coincide with another rumor that the festival didn’t garner much interest due to a poor lineup and bad ticket sales.

    Mysteryland promoters spoke on social media about the cancellation and how to get your ticket purchases refunded:

    Dear Nomads,
    Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mysteryland USA will no longer take place in 2017.
    Since 2014, we have strived to produce the best possible experience for our festival attendees, and are truly humbled by all of the love and support that you, the artists, the beautiful venue of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and the Town of Bethel have shown us as we celebrated life through music, culture and art.

    Paylogic has started the refund process. Full refunds will be issued automatically to the bank account used to pay for the order within the next 3-5 business days. Paylogic will send all ticket buyers an update with more details about the refund process. The refunds will be processed automatically. No further action is required from your side.

    Mysteryland will mark another ID&T produced festival to march off into the sunset, after 2015 saw the end of TomorrowWorld. With the Mysteryland cancellation, Electric Zoo is the only major EDM festival left standing in the NYC area.

    Fans who already had plans to attend the festival, and were looking forward to a weekend full of live music can explore another option, although a different type of festival, Disc Jam will take place around the same time as Mysteryland was originally scheduled,  in Stephentown, NY, on June 8-11. Disc Jam will feature some of the best jam bands across the nation including Pink Talking Fish, Tauk, Aqueous, Dopapod, and Kung Fu.

  • TPR will Figuratively Set Fire at Two Upcoming Shows

    For some lucky rock n roll music fans, the end of April will usher in some rough around the edges, ecstatic basement rock by the name of TPR. What do those three letters stand for? Guess you’ll have to turn up at one of their two shows scheduled later this month in the Capital District and Central NY.

    TPR formed in the rugged Adirondacks by Will Scheifley (guitar), Justin Schultz (bass), Kevin Lewis (guitar) and Sam Egan (drums). Now they’re migrating from the forests to assist live music seekers with dancing their pants off. To not miss out, rock fans are strongly encouraged to attend at least one but preferably both of their upcoming appearances. Their sound concoction incorporates flavors of Pink Floyd vocalists David Gilmour and Roger Waters, seared to a golden brown with early 2000’s rock akin to Jet and the Hives, finished with a garnish of punk rock spice. Don’t regret not seeing them and supporting local homegrown music. Go dance and have fun. You deserve it.

    See them Friday, April 28 at 8 p.m. with special guests Good Hair & Robo-France 29 at Our Place Bar & Grill in Mechanicville, NY. Can’t make that date? Try the following night where TPR will be joined by the Thirds at the Beer Barrel Inn, in Oneonta, NY on Saturday, April 29 at 8 p.m. In the meantime, check out this NYS Music review of their live album and get pumped by listening to it on their Bandcamp.