NYS Music 20​17

Category: Regions

  • West End Blend to Celebrate 120th Birthday of The Monopole on Nov. 30

    The Monopole in Plattsburgh will celebrate a milestone 120 year birthday, and to get the party going, West End Blend. Last week, NYS Music spoke to Corey Rosoff, owner of the Monopole, about the legacy of the bar’s live music and history in the North Country. Sam Horan, drummer for West End Blend, spoke to NYS Music about Thursday’s show, gave a musician’s view of the venue, and talked about their latest video for “Attitude.”

    monopole birthday
    Pete Mason: Bands seem to pass through The Monopole as a rite of passage. How have your experiences playing The Monopole changed over the years?

    Sam Horan: Our first show at Monopole was back in September and from the moment we stepped into the club it was clear that this place had some serious history behind it. So many great bands have come through their doors and it was great to have the opportunity to do the same. That show was a really great first welcome to Plattsburgh. This will be our second time playing Monopole and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate their 120th anniversary with them!

    PM: What makes The Monopole such a great music venue?

    SH: I think what really makes Monople such a great venue is it’s people. Everyone from the staff to the clientele. The people of Plattsburgh that go out and support shows there. That’s what sold it for us.

    PM: With the release of “Attitude” this past October, what makes this studio release the best representation of West End Blend?

    SH: Every time we make a new record we strive to create something that best represents the band and where we are at in terms of song-writing, line-up and direction. With Attitude, I think we really found a way to capture the band in a way that is very accurate to what you would see live at a current West End Blend show. In comparison to our previous albums, Attitude really shows an edgier and more raw side of the band that you might find with us live. The song writing process has been very natural and shows how we have evolved from our first album. We are very excited about this one and we can’t wait to share it at Monopole!

    PM: Your current tour is one of your most extensive yet. What spots have you hit on the East coast that stand out, and what is coming up the rest of the year for you guys?

    SH: This tour is definitely our most aggressive tour to date and it really marks itself as a big step in this bands touring career. We’re all super excited to be out on the road right now and we look forward to even bigger tours in the very near future. In terms of East Coast stand outs, I think my favorite show so far was our hometown CD release show at Arch Street Tavern in Hartford CT. We are in the middle of a south-eastern tour taking us through Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina right now so its hard to choose favorites until we’ve hit all of these spots! I have a good feeling this 120th anniversary show will be a band favorite…

    PM: Tell us about the experience shooting your video for “Attitude” at ‘Funkhaus’ and how the video captures West End Blend’s energetic live performances.

    SH: That video was a lot of fun to shoot! We basically decided to renovated an old garage next to the Funkhaus and turn it into a large recording space for the shoot. For those who don’t know, the Funkhaus is the house that acts as WEB headquarters. It’s where we record, rehearse and write. This was an ambitious project and we were on a very tight time schedule to finish renovations. I remember at one point, everyone in the band came over the Funkhaus with hammers, screwguns, hack saws and paintbrushes in-hand, and just scrambled to get the space finished before the shoot. It was a crazy amount of work getting the space ready, but when it was finally finished, all of that work was worth it. The space (dubbed Funkhaus Jr.) looks great and we have since used it to recorded some brand new WEB material.

  • Hearing Aide: Vendetta ‘Press Play [and Live]’

    Brooklyn-based alternative hip hop artist Vendetta has released his debut album Press Play [and Live]. After cutting his teeth in the music industry as the front man for Hollywood Drive-By, Vendetta is striking out on his own with this solo project.

    Armed with a microphone, a laptop, and a deep-seated love for rhythm, Vendetta (aka Vijay Ramcharitar) weaves together stylistically divergent influences. Funky rhythms and rocking riffs pave a foundation for his raps. As the moniker Vendetta implies, his lyrical themes are rife with conflict. Urban survival vs. escapism. Violence vs. humanitarianism. Dive bars vs. block parties.

    Lead track “The Getaway (Vendetta Day)” is a groovy number about getting away from the stress of city life for a cruise along the East Coast. The song melds together an array of influences, from old-school hip hop artists like Tupac to alternative rock in the vein of Red Hot Chili Peppers. “Two Things” further explores the impact that music has to uplift spirits in the face of adversity. The chorus goes “Two things I remembered: the CD that I picked / And the feeling I got when I pressed play and lived.” The feel-good summer jam “BBQ Sauce” features the vocal styling of friend and fellow musician Rocksteady (Jason Hernandez).

    Press Play [and Live] was recorded at Westfall Recording Company, Farmingdale NY, with production and engineering by Nick “Karate” Gallick.

    Key Tracks: The Getaway (Vendetta Day), Two Things, BBQ Sauce.

  • Exclusive Premiere: Tart Vandelay “Cloudy Doubts”

    Rochester indie pop group Tart Vandelay has released the first single, “Cloudy Doubts,” off their upcoming EP Flow, which is due out on Friday, December 1. Like others on the EP, “Cloudy Doubts” uses nature as a metaphor for personal trials and tribulations, overcoming challenges and adversity. The idea is to see how nature flows and functions and use that as a guide to narrate one’s own life. The EP was recorded at Wicked Squid studios and was produced by Josh Pettinger.

    Tart Vandelay Cloudy DoubtsYes, that band name is inspired by a classic Seinfeld, but this group is a sonic importer/exporters that began as a duo featuring musical couple Marty LoFaso and Katie Halligan. The two began dating in 2011 while studying music in their hometown of Rochester, NY. After moving to Boston, MA, the couple officially formed Tart Vandelay in the summer of 2014. The duo added a rhythm section recently, adding Stephen Petoniak on bass and Christopher Dubuc-Penney on drums in spring of 2016, and in 2017 Pete Zamniak replaced original bassist Stephen Petoniak. Stay up to date with Tart Vandelay and listen to “Cloudy Doubts” below.
     

    Follow Tart Vandelay on Instagram, Bandcamp, Facebook and at their website.

  • Provocado “Only You” Video takes a look at New York City

    New York-based Provocado – the duo of Derek Chilvers and Eric Essebag (owner and curator of Caché Life) melding eclectic backgrounds with R&B compositions, pop, rock and more, debut with their single “Only You.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOhN63GHCgg

    “Only You” features Chilvers’ soothing baritone vocals over meticulous keyboard patterns and Essebag’s unique guitar riffs soar over subdued production. The black and white video portrays a day-in-the-life of a metropolitan woman walking the streets of Manhattan. The viewer observes her as she appears seemingly reluctant to find satisfaction and inner peace from the everyday lifestyles of New York City, but captures the subtleties and nuances of city life in a truly mesmerizing way.  Listen to “Only You” on Spotify.

  • John Carpenter Live Anthology Tour 2017 Wraps up at The Palace Theatre

    It’s the first snowy evening of the season on November 19 and I can think of no better way to spend it than by checking out the “Master of Horror” John Carpenter and his incredibly talented band on the final date of their live Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998 tour. What a treat for those in attendance at the Palace Theater in Syracuse. They got to see the famed movie director change up roles and get behind a synthesizer to perform themes from his beloved horror flicks with clips from the films playing on a giant screen behind him.

    Carpenter took the stage promptly at 7:30 and showed that he is a man of many talents. He made eye contact, danced and pointed at fans as he worked his way through his impressive catalog. Carpenter came well-armed with a gifted back-up band comprised of Tenacious D’s drummer Scott Seiver, their guitarist John Konesky, their bassist John Spiker and Carpenter’s son Cody Carpenter on lead synth and his godson whom Carpenter described as, “the prince in waiting” Daniel Davies on lead guitar.

    The group produced an impressive sound. They took fans through the main title theme from “Escape from New York,” “Assault on Precinct 13” and “The Fog.” In an excellent tribute to the late “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Harry Dean Stanton, Carpenter and the band donned sunglasses as they performed “Coming to L.A.” from “They Live.” This drew a large roar of applause from the crowd. The fans also went wild when Carpenter stated, “I believe in love and I believe in love that lasts forever,” as he introduced the opening notes to his infamous “Halloween” theme. Fans of Carpenter’s Halloween will be excited to note that it appears he will be releasing a follow up to the 1978 film due to hit theaters October 2018. It is even rumored that Jamie Lee Curtis will reprise her role as Laurie Strode. Yeah, I’m excited!

    The group ended the main set with the theme from the ever creepy “In the Mouth of Madness.” Do you read Sutter Cane? They barely stepped off stage for a moment before returning and punching through a four-song encore that culminated with Carpenter advising everyone to “drive home safely this evening. Christine’s out there.” They ended their set with “Christine Attacks.” It was fantastic to see Mr. Carpenter bring his work to life in such a unique way. He seemed to be legitimately having a great time and proved that he is in fact a “master of horror.”

    Setlist: Escape from New York: Main Title, Assault on Precinct 13: Main Title, Village of the Damned: March of the Children, The Fog: Main Title Theme, Vortex, Mystery, They Live: Coming to L.A., Starman: Starman Leaves (Jack Nitzsche), The Thing: Main Theme – Desolation (Ennio Morricone), Distant Dream, Big Trouble in Little China: Pork Chop Express, Wraith, Halloween Theme – Main Title, In the Mouth of Madness: In the Mouth of Madness

    Encore: Body Bags, Vampires (Santiago), Prince of Darkness: Darkness Begins, Christine: Christine Attacks (Plymouth Fury)

  • Previous Love Releases Music Video “Caffeine”

    Buffalo-based band Previous Love has debuted their first music video, for their song “Caffeine.” The catchy alt rock tune is from their self-titled EP, which was recorded and released over the summer. The  video montage documents their coffee-fueled recording sessions.

    “We wanted to really take our fans into the studio with us but still capture the emotion of the song,” bassist Steven Browne told NYS Music. “We get asked a lot what it’s like being in the studio for the first time as a  young band. I believe this really captures our experience while still staying true to the intent of the song.”

    The video features band members Steven Browne (bass), Charles Campanella (guitar),  John Perdue (drums) and Gary Sheedy (vocals and guitar) working alongside producer Jay Zubricky. Filmed in and around GCR Audio, it includes shots of them traveling to the studio, recording, and hanging out. Visual effects such as cross-dissolves, slow motion, time lapse, reverse footage create a surreal effect that suits the “Caffeine” theme.

    “It’s exciting being in the studio, capturing those moments that make a record special,” said Browne. “At the end of the video it actually is the footage from the moment we captured the ending to ‘Caffeine.’”

    Follow Previous Love on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Their debut self-titled EP Previous Love is available for purchase on Bandcamp (name your price) and streaming on Spotify. For more about the EP, read the NYS Music review.

  • A Perfect Circle and The Beta Machine Deliver Powerful Performance

    A Perfect Circle made a stop on their current North American tour at the War Memorial at the Oncenter in Syracuse, NY on Sunday. The band is on the road as a prelude to their touted upcoming album to be released sometime in 2018. A new single, “Doomed,” was issued this past October to pacify the anxious fans. APC has not released an album since their 2004 collection of covers titled Emotive.

    The show started promptly at 7:30. Opening act The Beta Machine is on tour in support of their debut EP release All This Time. Despite a few technical difficulties, the band stayed calm and worked their way through a melodic and harmonious set. Bassist Matt McJunkins promised that he and drummer Jeff Friedl would be back in a few minutes before leaving the stage since they’re both in Keenan’s other spin off band, Puscifer, as well as A Perfect Circle.

    Between sets there were multiple warnings about the use of cell phones, cameras and other electronic devices resulting in ejection. This policy was hardcore. I got yelled at for trying to send a quick message to my son’s sitter in between the sets. Not sure who or what I was taking pictures or videos of when there was no one on stage, but be warned, they are very serious about this policy.

    A Perfect Circle took the stage behind a semitransparent curtain and led off with “The Package” from Thirteenth Step. The shadows of band members Billy Howerdel, James Iha, Maynard James Keenan, Matt McJunkins and Jeff Friedl could be seen moving around the stage; it was a pretty cool effect. A few notes into the second song, “The Hollow,” the curtain dropped. Howerdel was the most active, running around the stage, engaging fans. Maynard remained hidden in low lights and a cloud of smoke for much of the show. James Iha also remained in the background allowing McJunkins to take the lead.

    APC worked their way through a nineteen song setlist. Keenan’s vocals melded flawlessly with Howerdel’s and McJunkin’s on the John Lennon cover “Imagine” and the Brinsley Schwartz cover “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding.” The guitars and drums created a rhythmic grind in the politically charged “Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums.” The live version gave me chills.

    The band did not take any breaks. Keenan paused only for a moment to introduce the band. Iha took the spotlight for a quick satire on the cold weather in Syracuse and they were right back to the music. They played a two-hour set that culminated with their new single, “The Doomed,” followed by “The Outsider” and they ended the evening with the softer melodic tune “Feathers.”

    Setlist: The Package, The Hollow, The Noose, Weak and Powerless, Rose, Imagine (John Lennon cover), By and Down, Thomas, (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (Brinsley Schwartz cover), Orestes, Vanishing, Magdalena, A Stranger, 3 Libras (All Main Courses Mix), Hourglass, Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums, The Doomed, The Outsider, Feathers

  • Quixotic and the Desert Dwellers Astonish the Ogden Theatre in Denver

    A sense of wonder. It’s that wide-eyed gleam that happens when any other breed of dog spots a poodle for the first time.  It is that sixth sense so rare in adulthood that it has been referred to as the superpower of children.  It is so potent a gift that marine biologist, Rachel Carson once exclaimed, “If I had influence with a good fairy, I would ask that her gift to each child be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life.”

    Luckily, I have found that such magic does exist. One reminder came last week in form of Quixotic, an innovative performance art collective that fuses mind boggling imagination with technology, dance, aerials, projection mapping and live music. Quixotic started an an experimental artistic collaboration in Kansas City, Missouri in the mid-2000s has exploded into a worldwide performance phenomenon.

    Last week, Quixotic, along with world-beat electronic music group, the Desert Dwellers, transformed the Ogden Theatre into an awe-inspiring house of wonder imbued with fierce athleticism, grace, and lilting beauty. The performance, aptly titled, “Beyond”, explored the boundaries of what is commonly thought possible in visual/music performances. The performers challenged the boundaries of human limitation in a show that featured risky aerial hoop performances and astonishing contortionist dance movements accompanied by dramatic live and electronic music.

    If I had influence with a good fairy, I would ask that each adult have the opportunity to witness such a performance that possesses such an indestructible sense of wonder. Its effect would last a lifetime.

  • Dave DiPrimo Band’s Latest Single “Know You Best”

    Rochester alternative folk group Dave DiPrimo Band has released their latest single, “Know You Best.” The song comes from their forthcoming sophomore album Reflections, which is set to release on Saturday, November 25.

    “Know You Best” is the first track on the new full-length LP. In this intensely emotional tale of longing for connection, pleading lyrics give way to bellowing vocals in the chorus. The song establishes the nostalgic tone that pervades the entire album.

    Dave DiPrimo Band is: Dave DiPrimo on vocals/guitar/keys, Reid Hoffmeier on drums, Ian Benz on bass, and Karis Gregory on saxophone (and sometimes guitar). While based in the folk tradition, DDB weaves in influences from genres as far flung as soul and punk to create a sound that’s both timeless and contemporary.

    https://soundcloud.com/nysmusic/know-you-best

  • Chris Frantz of Talking Heads interviews Emerging Artist Pierce Fulton ahead of FTC Performance Nov. 27

    On November 27 at Fairfield Theater Company, the Brody Wilkinson Emerging Artist Series will feature two electronic artists, Pierce Fulton and NVDES as they stop by The Warehouse at FTC on their “Better Places Tour.” Talking Heads alums Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, along with record producer Peter Katis will also be on hand for this performance.

    Chris Frantz, founder of the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, and one of the curators of the emerging artist series, interviewed Pierce Fulton to learn more about his roots, influences, and connection to Fairfield, Connecticut.

    chris frantzChris Frantz: We are looking forward to your upcoming show at FTC in our Emerging Artists Series. Have you ever been to Fairfield, CT before? Have you ever performed here?

    Pierce Fulton: I’m really looking forward to it too!! And it’s funny because I was born in Bridgeport, CT! I lived in Fairfield until I was 9 and then moved to Vermont for middle school, high school and
    college. A very large majority of my family lives in Fairfield so it’s always still felt like home and playing at FTC will be my first time playing in Fairfield which is big for me! The fact that it’s an all
    ages show means my entire extended family can come and see me play, young cousins, aunts, uncles etc!

    CF: How would you describe your musical style at the moment or do you prefer to avoid categorization?

    PF: Well a majority of my music falls under the Progressive House categorization, which is totally accurate and I’ve mostly made Progressive House over my years pursuing music full time. I’ve been playing music my entire life though; well before producing electronic music I was playing guitar in bands and picking up various instruments in school music classes. 3 years ago, after I’d
    established myself in the electronic scene a bit, I decided to bring back those early influences by injecting more recorded music into my electronic songs. The combination is what I describe as “electronic music with a live band feel” because typically I play and sing all of the recorded parts on my songs so it’s basically a band of myself with featured vocalists from time to time.

    CF: Do you have any musical heroes, influences or mentors that people should know about?

    PF: Like my past, my influences totally come from opposite sides of the spectrum. I was very fortunate to be raised by parents that have an excellent ear for music. My childhood was filled with the Rolling Stones, The Doors, Grateful Dead, Neil Young, and lots of really timeless rock music. And on the flip side, what got me into electronic music were artists like Eric Prydz, Above & Beyond, Paul Kalkbrenner and a lot of the more melodic house and trance sounds that came out of 2007-2010. After years of experimenting and teaching myself the ins and outs of producing and engineering on the computer, all of those influences started blending together unintentionally.

    CF: How do you feel about protest music and people expressing their political views in song?

    PF: I think it’s both very good and very bad. There are a lot of issues that people are too afraid to even think about, let alone talk about, and to be able to express that with music is so powerful in the really good way. But then I think about all of the mixed messages that one person can take in between the media, the art world, their family, friends, colleges, etc. Anyone’s opinion can get in front of millions of people these days so it scares me to think about how many are flying around the internet and how people who have a hard time having their own opinion might latch onto someone else’s.

    CF: What can people expect from your show production wise?

    PF: So I’ve been building up to a tour like this since I first started sprinkling live instruments into my electronic music. I’ve been collecting gear, learning live show tips, and slowly preparing my
    songs to be played live rather than on turntables for close to 3 years. I even did some mock up sets in private years ago just to test techniques out that I was positive I’d one day turn into my actual show. And that was all just preparation for the past 3 months that I’ve spent deconstructing my entire catalog for a completely live and unique show experience each night, programing a light show that is tied to each musical element of each individual song (which means I can rearrange my set at any given moment wooo!), and simply practicing playing and singing my songs. As I said, I’ve been planning to make my show like this for a very long time so I’m putting 110% of myself into this tour and so far it feels incredible.

    Join Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, and record producer Peter Katis for Pierce Fulton and NVDES’ debut in The Warehouse on Monday, November 27. Tickets, information, and samples of the music can be found at Fairfieldtheatre.org.

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