NYS Music 20​17

Category: Regions

  • Bastille’s Wild, Wild World Stops by The Palace

    While weeknight shows are sometimes a little bit more difficult to make it to, they are just as worth a show on the weekend. On Sept. 12, Bastille made their second Upstate NY appearance along with some help from FRENSHIP at the Palace Theatre in Albany for a nice chip out of a midweek routine.

    California-based FRENSHIP opened the night with an upbeat electropop set that seemed to impress new ears as well as fans of the band. While the band only released their debut EP last year, they were dynamic on stage, on par with the fact that they’ve been playing together for a few years prior to their EP release.

    When Bastille took the stage silhouetted by the brightly backlit stage, the eagerness of the crowd in the standing area near the stage was like a flock of salmon jumping up a waterfall. The Palace remained tightly attentive to the music from start to finish.

    Frontman and lyricist Dan Smith writes lyrics that are typically rooted in not the brightest of themes (though not always, as in “Glory”) which are paired with upbeat musical moods. Without being aware of the lyrics it is easy to place Bastille in a happy-going dance pop category. It is this conflict between lyric and song that work symbiotically on the subconscious ear.

    It was this balance which kept the balcony and orchestra levels dancing throughout the show and carefully tuned in to the quieter songs such as the hauntingly melodic guitar and vocal duet between Smith and Will Farquarson on “Two Evils.” Bastille also showed off their knack for intelligently mashing two songs together – “No Angels” as a mix of TLC’s “No Scrubs” and the xx’s “Angels” and “Of the Night” as a mix of the two 90’s dance hits “Rhythm of the Night” and “Rhythm is a Dancer.”

    Just as it would seem abnormal for a band like Lynyrd Skynyrd to not end their show with “Freebird,” Bastille rightfully closed their show with their biggest success, “Pompeii,” which got the band in a much brighter spotlight outside of the UK. FRENSHIP came out to jam for the last song, having just as much fun on stage as fans in the audience were having.

    Bastille Setlist: Send Them Off!, Laura Palmer, Overjoyed, Warmth, Flaws, Lethargy, Snakes, No Angels, The Draw, The Currents, Glory, Bad Blood, Oblivion, Blame, Icarus, Of the Night, Fake It, Good Grief

    Encore:
    Two Evils, Things We Lost in the Fire, Pompeii

    [FinalTilesGallery id=’981′]

  • 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.

  • Exclusive: Shouthouse Debuts Video for “ANTS”

    New York City ensemble Shouthouse debuted their single “ANTS” last week on NYS Music, and today, they debut an elaborately choreographed music video for the tune. Watch below.

    Composed by pianist Will Healy, shot and edited by Jack Frerer and colorized by Bobby Wagnerman at Haym Pictures, the music video traverses the city and combines various elements of New York City with “ANTS,” bringing two complex components together for one multi-dimensional video. Healy spoke with NYS Music about the video:

    “Living in New York can become oddly isolating, even though there are so many people living there together. As you move through the streets and subways, it’s easy to feel alone in a crowd. There is an impersonal atmosphere in New York, and any amount of self expression can be seen as bizarre, shocking, or dangerous.

    shouthouse video ants“For this video, I wanted each rapper and dancer to slowly transform from a normal face into the crowd into artists. As the music plays, they are shown walking or standing, and over time they separate from those around them, transitioning into movements and verses that express their inner dialogue.

    “I wanted the viewer to get a sense of the different sides and heights of urban living, progressing from underground in the subways to ground level in Times Square, and finally on a roof overlooking East Harlem.

    “We had a blast shooting this video. Any excuse to interrupt the routine among commuters gets great reactions (especially the shots on the escalator!). There are also so many interesting spots to shoot, the city was our playground for the day. There are three dancers in the video–Taylor LaBruzzo and Zach Gonder from Juilliard, and Quilan Arnold, who is a Brooklyn-based hip hop dancer. It was great to see their different styles interact, and they did a great job visually representing our unique style of music-making through their different genres of dance.”

    Shouthouse performs next at Shapeshifter Lab in Gowanus, Brooklyn, on October 6. More info can be found here.

  • The Local Limelight: Rob The Guitar Guy

    Patchogue Village, The setting of incredible nightlife teeming with live entertainment! Walk down Mainstreet Friday and Saturday nights and you’ll find yourself immersed by one of Long Island‘s greatest music scenes.
    Rob The Guitar GuySurrounded by avid clubs and music venues dawning bright lights, all host such enthusiastic musicians and performers. One in particular performs to achieve one simple objective: Give em’ what they want! This is the essence of the solo act that is Rob (the guitar guy) Baione.
    Step into Patchogue’s neighborhood restaurant and bar The Tap Room located at 114 W Mains St, and you’ll immediately feel a warm environment and feel-good vibes creating the mood for the place where Rob entertains his local audience.
     
    When becoming a solo act, songs began to take on a new life when stripped down to an acoustic guitar and a vocal. Selections range from classical to country, rock to rap, folk to metal, etc. There’s a song for everybody. Audiences are always entertained by his charisma and ability to include them in the show! 
     
    One way Rob the Guitar Guy does this, is by allowing the audience to choose the songs. “It’s like having your own personal jukebox. No one wants to leave when they hear ‘their song’ played.” 
     
    Each show is unique and you never know what to expect! But one thing is for sure, you’ll always leave feeling good, and that was definitely the case last week at The Tap Room. 
     
    You can find Rob performing there the 3rd Friday of every month, with a musical repertoire growing larger and larger each return!

  • Head North Announces Coast to Coast Fall Tour Dates, with Stops in Brooklyn and Buffalo

    Buffalo’s Head North announced this week that they will be supporting Australian punk pop band Trophy Eyes on a North American Tour. They’ve also booked a series of headlining shows in the Midwest leading up to the extensive 21-date tour. A hometown show at Mohawk Place in Buffalo is slated for Tuesday, Dec. 12. They play New York City at Brooklyn Bazaar on Thursday, Dec. 14. The tour promotes Head North’s recently released debut full-length album The Last Living Man Alive Ever In The History Of The World, a concept album which explores themes about coming of age in a dystopian society. Tickets are on sale now.

    Head North. Photo: Eli Ritter

    Head North burst onto the pop punk scene in 2015 with their EP Bloodlines and toured relentlessly – crossing the country three times with bands like Knuckle Puck and Have Mercy. After taking time off, they came back this summer with the self-released LP The Last Living Man Alive Ever In The History Of The World, departing from their early angst-driven work and making a foray into indie rock.

    The way we operated our band, and the trajectory that we were on in 2015, helped us decide what type of band we wanted to be and how we wanted our sound to reflect that,” drummer Ben Lieber told NYS Music in a recent interview. “And I think what it came down to was being genuine. The sonic direction was a result of personal growth as well as realizing what we didn’t want to do.”

    The Last Living Man Alive Ever In The History Of The World is available to stream on Spotify and can be purchased digitally on iTunes and Bandcamp. Physical copies on CD and vinyl, in addition to other merchandise are available on Head North’s webstore.

    Tour Dates:

    Headlining Shows:
    Nov. 14 – Indianapolis, IN – Hoosier Dome
    Nov. 15 – Chicago, IL – Camp/Us
    Nov. 16 – Dubuque, IA – Olliewood
    Nov. 17 – Ames, IA – The Pine House
    Nov. 18 – Omaha, NE – The Commons

    With Trophy Eyes and Free Throw:
    Nov. 24 – Seattle, WA – The Funhouse
    Nov. 25 – Portland, OR – Analog Lounge
    Nov. 26 – Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone
    Nov. 27 – Los Angeles, CA – Echo
    Nov. 28 – Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction
    Nov. 29 – San Diego, CA – The Irenic
    Nov. 30 – Phoenix, AZ – Rebel Lounge
    Dec. 2 – Dallas, TX – Dirty 30
    Dec. 3 – Houston, TX – Walters
    Dec. 5 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
    Dec. 6 – Nashville, TN – The End
    Dec. 7 – Columbus, OH – Woodlands Tavern
    Dec. 8 – Detroit, MI – The Shelter
    Dec. 9 – Cleveland, OH – Mahalls
    Dec. 10 – Toronto, ON – The Hard Luck
    Dec. 12 – Buffalo, NY – Mohawk Place
    Dec. 13 – Boston, MA – Sonia
    Dec. 14 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bazaar
    Dec. 15 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry
    Dec. 16 – Washington D.C. – DC9
    Dec. 17 – Asbury Park, NJ – House Of Independents

  • The Young Dubliners East Coast Tour Begins

    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.

  • Interview: One For The Braves

    One For The Braves just debuted their first music video, for the song “Dirt Nap” off their latest release Does Anybody Honestly Care.

    The EP’s a mile-a-minute pop punk revelry, with pop culture references bringing levity to heart-on-sleeve lyrics. The quintet from Poughkeepsie features Adam “Radam” Rebillard on vocals, Avery Avello and Brian Morgan on guitars, Nick Ferraioli on bass, and Sean Mercado on drums. NYS Music spoke with Rebillard about the band, their latest release, and their first music video.

    Photo: Sabrina Leviton

    Paula Cummings: When and why did you start writing songs?

    Adam Rebillard: I started writing lyrics when I was really young, mostly just to kill time. When I got older, I got bored of doing it. Then I discovered punk and pop punk and all those wonderful styles of genres. It sounded fun to me, so I started singing and putting melodies to some of the lyrics. Then my freshman year in college I met our guitar player Avery, and the two of us started jamming together and it kept going from there. We got a few new members over the years.

    PC: How would you describe your band?

    AR: We take the nostalgic pop punk style, which would be bands like New Found Glory, and mix it with a newer style like The Wonder Years and Story So Far. We find ways to make it our own, so we’re not a clone of another band. That’s not what we want.

    PC: What was your most memorable show so far?

    AR: We did a show back in January. It was our first headline show at our local venue, The Loft. It was fun to finally be the main event of a local venue that we all grew up going to. We had a good turnout. We were on with some of our best friends’ bands. It was laid-back. Everyone was happy, having a good time. We do everything we can to grab an audience and keep their attention. I personally move around a lot. We incorporate solos in our songs. We do our best to get the audience interactive, talking between songs.

    PC: You recently released your sophomore EP. Tell me about the team you recorded this one with.

    AR: The first EP we did over at New Paltz. But the sophomore EP, Does Anybody Honestly Care, we did at Nada Studios in Montgomery. It was awesome. We recorded these songs with another studio, and got it back, but it wasn’t what we were looking for. We emailed Eric and Nada, told him what we were looking for, and that we wanted to record again from the ground up. We went in and he had ideas to bring to the songs. We made this amazing EP that we’re all so proud of.

    PC: What was it like to film your first music video?

    AR: It was weird, but it was fun. Like I said, I like to move around a lot – jumping, spinning. I’m doing my usual stuff. We’re filming and the guy’s like “Hey, man, that’s really cool but you need to stay in one spot so I can keep up with you.” We did it at a high school track. The song we did it for is called “Dirt Nap.” The idea behind the song is regardless of what people think you keep moving forward in life. People are going to like you, people are going to not like you. You can’t let that get to you. So when I feel anxious or whatever, I go run on a track, so one day I got the idea. So we drew up some signs and had people stand around holding these signs. The idea was to keep going regardless of the signs and what people think, and keep moving on and pushing forward.

    Does Anybody Honestly Care is available on Bandcamp. Follow One For The Braves on Facebook or Twitter for updates and show announcements.

  • Lettuce Brings the Funk to Buffalo

    People from all walks of life gathered together in Buffalo at the intimate Tralf Music Hall Sunday, September 17 to experience the long-awaited return of the Boston-based funk machine that is Lettuce. While it was a typical, dreary September Buffalo night outside, the crowd and aura of the dancefloor gave the feeling that you were at a late Saturday night festival show.

    lettuce funk buffaloThe show began with a high energy DJ set by the up and coming electronic artist Maddy O’Neal. The 45-minute set showcased a great combination of bone shaking bass drops, obscure drum beats, and well-placed sound effects as she sampled songs that were both familiar and unfamiliar to the crowd. O’Neal’s energetic movements blurred the lines between the crowd and the performer as red, blue and yellow lights swirled around the stage and inspired the mostly timid crowd to get up and dance. By the end of her set nearly the entire dancefloor was filled and grooving, and the crowd was warmed up and ready for the meat- or vegetable- of the show.

    The audience was ecstatic when Lettuce took the stage, with a few extra cheers and whistles directed towards keyboard player Nigel Hall who emerged from behind the curtain in a Bill’s hat and old-school O.J. Simpson jersey. The band took no time getting going as they opened with an electrifying “Requiem,” a song that wove jazz and funk influences as drummer Adam Deitch and bass player Erick “Jesus” Coomes held down a steady funk groove while trumpet player Eric Bloom and saxophonist Ryan Zoidis skillfully whirled through a Middle-Eastern melody.

    The tight stage and small venue created a college-basement feeling as the crowd was now shoulder to shoulder, bobbing and spinning just feet from the almost comically over-packed, tiny stage of musicians. The next two songs kept the energy high as they blasted through “Get Greasy” and “Chief,” two fat funk instrumentals which gave the band multiple opportunities to showcase their ability to control the energy in the room and build to a peak out of almost thin air. The crowd clearly appreciated the heavy funk to start the show because by the end of the third song multiple heads of lettuce could be seen flying around the audience.

    The band slowed things down a bit with “Dump,” the first song featuring vocals, which sounded like a cross between James Brown and Stevie Wonder. Hall did a magnificent job handling the vocals with his delicate yet dominating voice, as the band played softly around him.

    The next few numbers highlighted the band’s ability to create ambience while at the same time holding on tight to their funk roots. The intro to “Ready to Live” gave the feeling that you were being ominously watched as you went scuba-diving through an abandoned shipwreck at the bottom of the ocean, eventually being pulled up to the surface by the funky breakdown.

    High energy jazz solos by guitarist Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff was a clear highlight to the diverse crowd before the band took a quick break leaving Deitch alone on stage to hammer out an intense, Bonham-like drum solo. When the band returned to the stage, they might as well have come back with George Clinton with them because they brought the funk. The crowd exploded with the band, and there was not a single person whose neck wouldn’t be sore in the morning from the trance-like grooving.

    The band ended their set with two songs containing more vocals than they had utilized the entire night. During “Shmink Dabby” Hall taunted the audience in a James Brown-like fashion yelling “Buffalo, Hit Me!” while Zoidis let out a powerful saxophone solo. They ended their set with “Sounds Like a Party,” a fun song that does in fact sound like a party. During the breakdown, each band member took a small solo before coming together as one entity to leave the crowd on a high note.

    The band did not leave the stage for long before the crowd began a “One More Song!” chant, forcing the musicians back out almost immediately. The band thanked the audience and gave them a little more of what they wanted with a bustling rendition of “The Flu.” Hugs, high fives, and smiles were exchanged as the crowd left the venue, with every soul feeling just a bit richer thanks to the night of funk they had just experienced together.

    Setlist: Requiem > Get Greasy > Chief > Dump > Ready to Live > Purple Cabbage > Kron Dutch > Blaze > Phyllis > Lettsanity > Shmink Dabby > Sounds Like A Party

    Encore: The Flu

  • Hearing Aide: Deadrider ‘Reaper’

    Living in Central New York, you will find some great talented musicians lurking at your favorite dives and music venues. Oh yes, these creatures still exist and they seek out souls to join their ranks. The energy and the aggression in the material these bands crafted will have it become as if it was forged into your DNA! A perfect example that the music scene in my hometown is still  baring teeth is no other than the mighty and destructive Deadrider! With their 2017 album Reaper, you will join the ranks of  the CNY  metalheads!

    deadriderDeadrider is a heavy metal and thrash inspired group containing the talents of John V Bustos (lead singer/lead guitar), Antonio Labbe (drums), Michael V Visconti (guitar and backing vocals) and Mike Losert (bass). If you go to the local shows in the area, I bet you will meet these rocking dudes! With so many great influences on the album from the late 80s and early 90s, the best track that encompasses these elements would be the track. “Heavy Metal Deadride.” With amazing guitar work  with searing guitar solos from both Bustos and Visconti , your ear will pick up the how the track is deeply rooted into bands like Anvil and early Iron Maiden days. With a dangerous cocktail of power and aggression, this jam becomes a whiplash worthy type of track; prepare for bangovers! The melodies are infused with g-force speed and allows this piece to come alive. It will eat you up! The vocals will create a fire in your blood as if it was your last ride. Ready for their last ride and hot damn it makes it addicting. With such speed you can see this element on other tracks on the release like “Brainwashed” to keep you windmilling for days.

    What I love most about Deadrider is the hints of thrash in their material. Let me tell ya brother, I love my thrash as much as I love my crafted beer. One of my favorite tracks to give me my thrash fix is the necksnapping “Skulls and Bones.” This thrash based track with neck breaking riffs will have you sore for days! The drums are wild and sparadic and it fits the overall approach of this song quite well. This will make you pick up your feet and mosh as if your life depends on it. Losert brings that nice old school 80s bass tone to it. Labbe with his great approach and dynamic style, really allows the lower and bottom end in great form. This allows both the bass and drums to shine like a sword after it is folded into the perfect weapon. Show no mercy when this song is blasting.

    The band’s track “Iron Angel” is one hell of a catchy grooved based tune. With the mindset of the end is coming towards the listener and your possible enemies, it really feeds that urge to have destruction take hold. If Venom had a bastard son, this would be the track! This one is indeed for the metal fans of the all or nothing type of attitude. It is one my personal favorite tracks on the album. Along with “Through The Trenches” the added variable of the formula to this album of fighting to the last breath will  make this your go to release to get pumped before the show. Like pumped and ready to scream!

    Reaper has the fix for that raw thrash and old school heavy metal approach that will fill any bar and music venue in the area! I would rate this album 5 out of 5! Check them out on Facebook and their website.

    Key Tracks: Iron Angel, Brainwashed, Skulls and Bone

  • Sunday Fun Day at Rochester Fringe Festival with Tart Vandelay at Java’s Cafe

    KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival is still going strong. In its fifth year, the entertainment offerings are better than ever. After a couple nights at the main stage on Parcel 5 at Fringe Festival, I took a detour down Gibbs Street to check out one of the smaller Fringe Festival venues, Java’s Cafe. On Sunday, they featured a musical performance by art pop duo Tart Vandelay.

    Tart Vandelay Java's CafeJava’s Cafe is situated beside the Eastman Theatre and across from the Eastman School of Music, making it a natural place for musicians and music-lovers to congregate. The wooden interior, warm lighting and art-lined walls lend to the cozy atmosphere. The venue is a perfect pairing for local indie pop artists Tart Vandelay. Tonight they performed as a duo rather than a full band. The founding members, Katie Halligan  with her microphone and looping station and Martin LoFaso with his guitar, set themselves up in the corner of the shop, the tables already filled to capacity with family, fans, and people who came to see them for the first time. Among the crowd were members of The Demos, a testament to how supportive the local music scene is of each other’s work.

    Tart Vandelay Java's CafeThey started the set with a cheery song called “Spin.” Halligan worked her magic with the looping station to create repeating layers of playful vocalizations (“ba-da-ba”s and “ooh”s) and percussive beats with handshakers. Over-top this foundation, she began to sing in dulcet tones the optimistic chorus, “Spin, spin. Go with the flow. Let my orbit carry me where I need to go.” LoFaso chimed in on guitar, and his solo replicated the melody of the chorus. They radiated pure joy as they played, and the feeling was contagious. The audience was drawn in by their charisma. The typical coffee shop chatter and bustle seemed to be put on hold, as all eyes and ears were fixated on the splendor that is Tart Vandelay.

    Tart Vandelay continued to spin an intricate web of acoustic strands, deceptively simple yet completely spellbinding. The set included all the songs from last year’s debut EP Frontier Pioneer, and a couple new ones that they’ve been working on. One of the new ones, “I’m Gonna Try,” is a great example of how they incorporate wordplay into their songwriting. The chorus “Try, try, do my best and do it again” was repeated with slight variations of melody and layered over each other. It’s like having an entire choir of Halligans, a delightfully enchanting concept that she is able to bring to life using modern musical technology. It was easy to let oneself get lost in the enchantment of sounds as the duo continued to weave their magic spell. The set was over way to quickly, time seemingly suspended and the world having faded away for a too-brief period of time. Halligan dedicated the final song to her father, who was in the audience: a heartfelt cover of Julia Easterlin’s “Go Straight Away.”

    https://soundcloud.com/tartvandelay/spin

    Tart Vandelay Java’s Cafe Sunday Setlist: Spin, Alien, I’m Gonna Try, Not Alone, Bells, How Hard Could It Be?, High Life, Go Straight Away (Julia Easterlin cover)

    Tart Vandelay makes another appearance at Java’s Cafe on Thursday, September 21 at 9pm. Frontier Pioneer is available on Bandcamp, Soundcloud, and Spotify. Follow Tart Vandelay on Facebook for news and upcoming events. To read more about the band, see their recent interview with NYS Music.

    Java’s Cafe offers a wide variety of environmentally-friendly and socially-conscious menu items, including free-trade coffee, an exotic collection of teas made from loose leaves, hormone-free dairy from a local farm, and allergen-free baked goods. They’re providing free entertainment during Fringe Festival.

    Remaining Fringe Festival Shows at Java’s Cafe:

    September 20 – 6pm – Cherrytree Jukebox (duo covering singer/songwriters of the past century)

    September 20 – 8pm – An Evening With Logan Miller (singer/songwriter)

    September 21 – 7pm – Dave DiPrimo Band (alternative rock)

    September 21 – 9pm – Tart Vandelay (indie pop)

    September 22 – 11pm – Ponder the Giraffe (alternative jam)

    September 23 – 2pm – Daniel Henry (tribute to Frank Sinatra and Friends)

    Rochester Fringe Festival continues through Saturday, September 23. Shows at Java’s Cafe and several other venues are free – arrive early for seating. Ticketed shows have been selling fast, so it’s best to purchase them in advance. For more information, visit RochesterFringe.com.

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