Just in time for peak fall foliage, the Blind Owl Band are set to release their third studio album, Skeezy Patty on October 13. Hailing from the beautiful Saranac Lake region of the Adirondack Mountains, this 7-year-old quartet resembles the type of grizzly musicians you expect to see kicking up dust at a bluegrass festival. The self-proclaimed “Freight Train String Music” that they create can be heard heading down the tracks with a thunderous roar that certainly resembles bluegrass, but with a little extra coal added to the fire.
In the third spot, “Hit Em High” clocks out as the longest track on the album and tightly packs a fantastic bass breakdown into the genre-blending composition. Christian Cardiello’s uniquely placed slaps add a jazzy undertone to the heavily bluegrass driven tune which combines the elegance of a downtown Manhattan lounge with the rowdiness of an Upstate NY dive bar. The clever lyrics are sung as a team and give each of the members a voice in the storytelling. Imagine a group of gnarly pirates sitting around a bottle of whiskey as the waves chaotically surround and collide into their ship and that is “Hit Em High” in a nutshell.
“Reloading” was thought up by guitarist Arthur Buezo who exchanges lyrics with James Ford on banjo for the song. As the band developed “Reloading” for live shows some of the stylistic layers were transformed into the current composition. One major addition to the studio version is the voice effect used. It is reminiscent of the Tom Waits appearance on Primus’ “Tommy The Cat” which adds a haunting and sadistic character to the lyrics which cover the topic of rejuvenation. For a band that has played over 700 shows since 2011, they know a lot about being on the road and the importance of time management. “We are stronger than we were” suggests that these periods of reloading have been an integral step to developing their first studio album in almost 5 years and now that they are refreshed, they can showcase their growth on the road.
“The Gates” has a waltzy ballroom feel before energetically dancing back into the bluegrass barnyard realm that primarily rules the album. Buezo’s burly and hellish vocals are complimented by the speedy mandolin playing of Eric Munley. As a special addition, an electric guitar finds its way into the studio full of wood and steel for a rare and powerful moment. “Two Sides of Story” is the final track and once again the intelligently crafted lyrics are the highlight of the piece. It comes as a surprise to hear the hipster-esque “Hey!” chant in the background, but this dark and stormy album is anything but predictable. The straightforward composition is a soothing way to close out an album full of peaks and valleys, much like the land where the band was born.
The first Skeezy Patty release party will take place this Friday, October 13 at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse before making their way east to The Hollow in Albany for round two of their album release. Tickets for both shows are available online or at the box office on the day of the show.
Key Tracks: Hit Em High, Electric Chair, Waterhole
On Friday September 29, folk powerhouse Cabinet landed in Ithaca, NY, and played two long sets at The Haunt. Since their birth in 2006, Cabinet has built a committed grassroots following by providing an eclectic roots sound. They have earned unconditional respect with their commitment to quality songwriting, and impressive ability to cross between genres of bluegrass, country, jam, and psychedelic. Before Cabinet’s foot-stomping performance, NYS Music had the opportunity to sit down with Cabinet co-founder, singer, songwriter, and mandolin player JP Biondo. NYS Music is ecstatic to present you this edition of “In Their Own Words.” Here we have a collection of bite size nuggets of knowledge, quoted directly from J.P Biondo of Cabinet:
On a Musical Childhood:
My first instrument ever was a Tuba. I joined the band as a young teenager in around 1998. As a child, I always loved music. I always loved singing a bunch. I came from a very musical family. Growing up, I was surrounded by music all the time. For example, my dad would teach me how to sing harmonies on car rides.
I come from a very large musical family. My dad has eight brothers and sisters, and so, I have like a whole slew of 1st cousins. There is a total of 35 of us or something like that. The family has at least one family reunion every year at grandma’s house. She lives on a big farm near Scranton, PA. At last year’s family reunion, there was like 180 us. Every year, the sun goes down and everybody knows it’s time to get around the campfire and sing. We sing, play harmonies, and just hang out and have fun. This is how I first learned to sing. At our family reunions, I would pick an elder out for the night and stand by their side and listen to everything they were singing. I would be like, “ohh thats how you do that. Ok cool.” So a lot of my teaching came organically that way.
Later on, I started to take playing very seriously. I started playing guitar when I was about 14 or 15. I learned every Dave Matthews song in the book–like any young kid does. I just loved it. I always loved music. Until this very day, music pulls me like nothing else in life. When it came to playing music, I didn’t really have a choice in the matter.
On Songwriting:
I don’t have a specific goal. Every song is different for everybody. I like to write about life experiences, For example, I wrote a song called “The Tower,” about this place where I grew up, we called it the “Dry Dam.” It’s a dam that was supposed to provide drinking water for the town of Scranton, but, for whatever reason or another, it didn’t end up working. The lake stayed there, and above this dam there was a big tower. It was like 30 or 40 feet high. As kids we would climb up the tower and jump off into the lake. We also would just hang out, drink under age or whatever, all the stuff kids do. It was a big time hang out spot for me and friends. I had a lot of fun experiences there. I like writing about my personal experiences and hopefully, someone can relate to them in some sort of way.
Advice For a Kid or Young Adult With A Passion For Music:
Follow your heart…Decide if music is something you’d like to make money at or if it’s something you just enjoy doing. Try to decide that as soon as you can, and either way is fine, but, just make that decision at some point and know where you’re at with it.
At the age of 12, Roger Hodgson was given a guitar that would mold his destiny of writing and composing music. For anyone who has listened to Roger’s music, you can tell it’s written from the heart as it touches those that hear it in a way that is personal to them. The lyrics are meaningful, melodies well thought out and it’s composed as a classical piece of music is, with thought and organization. As one of the founders of Supertramp, Roger Hodgson would have numerous Top 10 hits, sell out arenas and live a life that most musicians strove to achieve. However, in the height of success, Hodgson chose to leave the group in 1983. The decision would speak volumes and give his fans an insight to his personal character. When faced with a choice of continuing on a trek of selling out arenas or being present in the lives of his wife and children, he chose the latter.
Arriving early to take my seat at the Turning Stone Showroom, I anxiously awaited a moment I never thought I would get to experience: hearing the voice of Supertramp. As a child of the ’70s and ’80s, the band disbanded by the time I was old enough to be able to go to concerts on my own. I was only able to listen to recordings and mentally visualize a show. It was a moment I didn’t think I would have an opportunity to experience, and one I was relishing in as a teenager in an adult’s body.
Roger Hodgson got right into his set, starting the party with “Take the Long Way Home.” Most artists don’t come right out of the gate with such force, especially when they have a two hour set to play. Not to worry though, with a catalog of popular hits both with Supertramp and that of his solo career, the choice of songs to perform was more of the struggle rather than filling the two hours with music the crowd would love.
A successful leader, whether in the corporate world or musical in this case, surrounds himself with the best of the best to bring out the best in themselves. This is the case with Hodgson’s band. He’s surrounded himself with some of the best musicians in the business and their ability to play together is seamless and without effort as they feel the music and perform as a cohesive team. Front and to stage right you’ll find Aaron MacDonald on saxophones, harmonica, keyboards and backing vocals; behind the plexiglass is Bryan Head on drums; behind Roger stage left is Kevin Adamson, also on keyboards and backing vocals; and center stage behind Roger is David J Carpenter on bass and backing vocals. Not to take away from the original band, but to close my eyes and listen to the music I wouldn’t have known it wasn’t the same band as these guys played without effort and with the same passion I heard time and again in the music I grew up with. It was refreshing to see Roger share the stage with these guys and see the respect he gave them as they played their parts along with him. It is apparent that they are a musical family.
Throughout the night Hodgson played many of his hits such as “Breakfast in America,” “The Logical Song,” “Dreamer” and “Give A Little Bit,” to name just a few, demonstrating his fluid keyboards and hitting all the same high notes as he did all those years ago. But it was with his solo music that this multi-faceted artist blew me away. With hits such as “Had a Dream,” he blew me away with his guitar skills, and with “Fools Overture” I saw the musical genius he had as he took three songs that didn’t stand up on their own and melded them together in a musical composition that one must listen to many times to truly appreciate the sound. As I listened to it for the first time last night, I could hear musical influences of the times in the piece such as the sound effects interspersed within, and the story line that took you someplace else. The music itself took you on a roller coaster ride with highs and lows of sound, bringing you back home with meaningful lyrics. I urge you to check his recording out on his Youtube channel as he’s accompanied by an orchestra which truly punctuates the genius in this number.
Another number that truly impressed me and brought me to another place was “Death and a Zoo” from Hodgson’s fourth solo album, Open the Door. Not only could you imagine what it would be like, you could feel through the music the question he posed – as a wild animal faced with the choice of death or living your life out in a zoo, which would you chose? A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
As a teenager at the time Breakfast in America came out, this album was one that I enjoyed from start to finish. I would put on my headphones and lose myself for hours, song after song. There was one song in particular on this album that spoke to me. This song would be my ‘go to’ song when feeling confused, sad and misunderstood, as most teenagers tend to be during those years. Heck, even as an adult we find solace in music. It was uplifting to me then and still is today as it helped me find faith in times I need it most. As Roger spoke to the crowd about this song, it was comforting for me to hear that he wrote this as a teenager, and that it was a way for him to find a voice in those years as well. Years later, he would sit there and tell us how his music touched others, and that perhaps it was because he writes from the heart for himself that it also can touch those heartstrings for so many others. I made a special request that he play “Lord Is It Mine,” and as he called out my name and that of another mother and daughter that had also requested he play it, he dedicated it to us all. It was difficult to hold my composure as I felt a full circle moment occur. Yep, it was pretty darn cool. Thank you Roger for writing this beacon of a song, and for making it even more special to me last night with your dedication.
You know how sometimes you’re glad that you didn’t experience something as a child but instead as an adult? This was that situation for this journalist. Like the crowd, I truly appreciated this show, this music and the story of this amazing musician that chose to love his family first. That mindset is what makes this musician so talented, his music has heart and he gives that heart to all he loves. Last night, it was his musical family that he shared his heart with.
Setlist: Take the Long Way Home, School, In Jeopardy, Lovers in the Wind, Breakfast in America, Hide in Your Shell, Along Came Mary, The Logical Song, Lord is it Mine, Death and a Zoo, The Awakening, Had a Dream, Child of Vision, Fool’s Overture Encore: Dreamer, Give a Little Bit
I’m not even sure where to begin; my mind is spinning out of control trying to wrap itself around the news of yet another massive tragedy on American soil.
The headlines read something like “50 Dead, More Than 200 Injured in Las Vegas Mass Shooting,” and I still cannot process this. A 64-year old man from the 32nd floor of a resort hotel mowed down concertgoers attending a performance by country music superstar Jason Aldean.
Human beings who went out to smile, dance and engage with like minded people were destroyed with clicks of a trigger.
This is not OK.
In fact, as I sit here at my desk with tears streaming down my face, all I can envision is being in that field, bobbing my head in tune with the melody, only to have that moment of zen blown up and turned into a bloody mess of fear, terror and horror.
Music is a unifying force in our world. Since the dawn of time, humans have trekked all over the world to enjoy to take in one of the oldest and most pure forms of art. Its subjectivity is what makes it so unique and uncanny; whatever music you love, it’s the best, and no one can take that from you.
This guy has now taken that elation away from so many. But unfortunately, I view this act of terror as one that will ultimately lead to all sorts of arguments on gun control and all that comes along with it.
I’m not talking about any of that here. I am talking about not allowing a monster to instill fear into people, and thus making people all over question whether to attend the concert they have tickets to next Friday night. We escape the mundane when we go to a show.
We leave our problems at the office, the stress of daily life at home, when we go out and dance.
Yet, now people are growing wary and scared of going into large crowds because a coward of a man destroyed the lives of so many.
What used to be a unifying force — music — is now linked to what is creating a divide, and I am here to tell you that we must fight that with all our might, will and passion.
Always be vigilant when in public. Take note of things that seem out of place. Try to keep things safe in whatever way you can.
But don’t you dare skip that concert. Don’t throw away your tickets and definitely don’t stop seeing your favorite music live.
If you do allow the fear to take over your ways, you allow people like this man to win.
Take a stand. Go buy concert tickets. Enjoy the show.
Be part of overcoming terror, and not succumbing to what those horrendous people want.
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.
Syracuse hardcore band West Berlin just dropped the music video for “Sun.” The working-class anthem clocks in at under three minutes, but packs a powerful punch. It’s the title track off their latest EP which was released during the week of this summer’s solar eclipse. Shot in classic black and white by Dalton Lampo, the video documents their recent tour and includes footage from their high-energy performances and time spent on the road.
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
Don’t let the weather deceive you, believe it or not, autumn began on September 22. Festival season in New York is nearing it’s close and festival goers are itching for a few last hurrahs. Next weekend, locals will be traveling to The Fall Down Music Festival at The “G” Lodge in Hannibal, NY. Presented by local booking and promotion company Hey Dude After Hours, The Fall Down is an intimate Central NY based music festival specializing in string music, jam bands, and singer-songwriters. Progressive string band Floodwood will be the headliner. Floodwood is lead by national talents of Vinnie Amico (moe) and Tony Markellis (Trey Anastasio Band). The Fall Down will take place next week at The “G” Lodge (81 Keller Rd, Hannibal, NY) on October 6th and 7th. Get your weekend passes for $50 here!
Take a glance below and click the play button. You’ll find a Rochester Groovecast podcast episode. This episode is a preview of the upcoming 2nd annual The Fall Down Music Festival. During the episode, you’ll listen to The Crooked North, Floodwood, Haewa, The Dwayne Johnsons, Folkfaces, Dirty Blanket, Timothy Braley, and Jungle Steve & The Gysophelias. All of these bands will be at this year’s The Fall Down Music Festival. If you scroll even further down, you’ll find a detailed episode timestamp.
Timestamp: 00:00: The Crooked North- Hop High My Lulu Gal 03:24: Introduction 06:19: The Crooked North- You Don’t Fit In 10:02: Floodwood- Waiting For The Punchline (Moe Cover) 18:58: Floodwood- Caught 24:22: Haewa- Chem De-Vision 28:04: Haewa- Swampin 33:37: The Dwayne Jonhsons- About That 37:17: The Dwayne Johnsons- Cold Pizza 41:24: Folkfaces- Angels And Demons 44:31: Folkfaces- Freedom Fries 48:24: Dirty Blanket- My Getaway 54:28: Dirty Blanket- Getting In The Way 57:58: Timothy Braley- Graceland (Paul Simon Cover) 1:02:15: Conclusion 1:03:55: Jungle Steve- Safe & Sound
The atmosphere of the Cayuga Sound Festival perfectly summed up the Ithaca experience. The day-long festival kicked off Saturday, the 23rd, beginning hopefully a new annual tradition. The festival was scheduled during one of the most musical weeks in Ithaca, as locals were gearing up for Porch Fest the following day. The festival kicked off around noon, with the Imperials taking the smaller of the two stages. Unlike most music festivals, the two stages were located side by side. This allowed both venues the classic Stewart Park Lake view beloved by all, and allowed for continuous music to a static audience. The Imperials set the mood of the festival. This local band is categorized as post-rock, and their eclectic musical quality lent itself to the ambient environment of the afternoon. The theme of the festival seemed to be hometown heroes, with the entire thing put together by the X Ambassadors, an indie-band that got its start in Ithaca. Each band that came on played into the atmosphere, calling out the beautiful scenery and talking to the crowd.
Photo by Graham Fielder
After Imperials, Stone Cold Miracle took the Main Stage. Another locally based band, their soul-infused style played perfectly off the energy created by Imperials. The crowd for the first few concerts was primarily locals, with lots of families running around the grounds. Stations were set up for face painting while the lake side of the stages were lined with local favorite food trucks like Silo’s. The day crowd stayed small enough that wait times were short. The longest line was for the ice cream, as the crowd tried to beat the heat. Still, a consistent group of enthusiastic fans stuck by the stage. The group was hemmed by couples and families in lawn chairs and on blankets. The rest of the concertgoers spent their downtime sprawled out by the lake, which was filled with boats as people flooded to get as close to the music as possible. Although Ithaca is frequently dominated by the two large colleges in town, the festival was marketed to all ages, which allowed the true relaxed and friendly spirit of Ithaca shine through.
Following on the Lake Stage was Izzy True, an indie-rock band. Their mood was less joyful than that put out by Stone Cold Miracle, however, their lead singer had instant charisma with the crowd, who were found nodding along. A few even broke into dance as the pace picked up. Jukebox the Ghost continued this energy. Although still within the aesthetic of the festival, they were the most pop-oriented group of the day. The younger audience was really engaged through their energetic performance style, and their songs were a mix of their older acoustic-based music and more recent indie-pop songs.
Photo by Graham Fielder
Sammus completely changed the mood as the young rapper took the stage. The artist is known for her evocative lyrics paired with heavy beats, and although she gave an incredible and resonating performance, it was a sudden derailment from the relaxed family-friendly vibe set by the earlier groups. The crowd thinned out to mostly young adults and college students, with Sammus being a clear favorite for many concert goers. She fit the theme of powerful women set forth by Izzy True that would be repeated again in K.Flay and Tei Shi’s performances.
Crush Club’s funk mix brought back the earlier vibe, along with grabbing the attention of some surprised older concert goers who were drawn to the band’s sound. Their set was fun and light-hearted without losing the attention of the younger group that Sammus had drawn.
The largest issue that arose during the festival seemed to be around scheduling, as The Knocks ended up canceling the day of the concert. Although times were shifted to accommodate this, many later performers didn’t seem to get the memo. This was unfortunate as it created musical gaps in the well-planned schedule. It also gave concertgoers a chance to relax along Cayuga Lake, indulge in the delicious food, or just hang out with a beer. During these breaks, the atmosphere was relaxed instead of stressed. People hula-hooped, played Frisbee, and even napped.
The music got progressively heavier as the sun set. This was fitting, as the crowd shifted from families to college students and young adults. K. Flay’s music picked up the energy, with her making several shout-outs to being in Ithaca. Savior Adore’s pop-infused music kept the crowd dancing as more and more people began to trickle in for the night’s main event. By the time Tei Shi took the stage, the crowd had easily doubled from the daytime group. Gone were the lawn chairs, replaced by a crowd ready to dance, jump, and jam with the three headliners.
By the time X Ambassadors took the stage, the crowd was going wild. This marked a homecoming for the band, and their excitement to be back was palpable. Their set was one of the most memorable of the night, as they mixed popular and newer songs together to create a show that suit both avid fans and more passive listeners. Finally, The Roots made it to the main stage. Their performance included their beloved music, reaching back into the ‘90s for some crowd favorites. By now the crowd was huge, spilling over the area in front of the stage so people were dancing in the field and even down on the shore of the lake. The Roots were perfectly suited to this festival, as their sound appealed to all ages of audience. Many families had left by the time The Roots stepped out on the main stage, however the audience as still a great mix of local Ithacans and college students. The fireworks following the concert tied together a beautiful day, hopefully one that will be repeated in years to come!
NYS Music welcomes the Young Dubliners once again to New York as they begin their east coast tour, making their first of three New York appearances tomorrow evening in Cohoes at the Cohoes Music Hall.
Often considered one of Celtic Rock’s hardest working bands, The Young Dubliners blend their musical backgrounds and styles to create a unique sound that encompasses an electric mix of influences which of course includes a Celtic rock sound. Touring the entire year across the United States and Ireland, these few shows are their only east coast appearances scheduled this year in our area. Don’t hesitate to grab your tickets and take in a show as their energy as a live band is a must see.
Sept. 22 – The Kate – Old Saybrook, CT Sept. 23 – Cohoes Music Hall – Cohoes, NY Sept. 25 – Mercury Lounge – New York, NY Sept. 27 – Westcott Theater – Syracuse, NY
Sept. 28 – World Cafe Philadelphia – Philadelphia, PA
Sept. 29 – Stouts Irish Sports Pub – Providence, RI
Sept. 30 – Amp by Strathmore – North Bethesda, MD
You can stream the Young Dubliners’ latest release NINE here.
Arriving early to take my seat at the 
