Hip-hop superstar and rapper Darryl “DMC” McDaniels drops his latest work, Back From The Dead, The Legend Lives on Record Store Day, Nov. 24. To celebrate the release, he’ll be doing meet-and-greets and talking about his life with fans at record stores throughout the entire weekend:Looney Tunes Records on Long Island (Friday, Nov. 24), Vintage Vinyl Records in Fords, NJ (Saturday, Nov. 25), and The Record Archive in Rochester (Sunday, Nov. 26). Each event starts at 3pm. Fans must pre-order Back From The Dead, The Legend Livesthrough a participating record store in order to get a wristband to attend.
Fans will not want to miss this rare opportunity to meet the legendary Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and hear his inspirational story! The founding member of Run-DMC will be joined at these events by Jason Rockman of Slaves on Dope, who performs on the album. The pair will be available after the talk to take pictures and sign copies of “Back From the Dead, The Legend Lives.” Released on Brookvale Records, the LP is limited to only 4,000 copies.
Friday, Nov. 24
Looney Tunes Music and More (LONG ISLAND, NY)
631.587.7722 www.LTCDS.com
Saturday, Nov. 25
Vintage Vinyl Records (FORDS, NJ)
732.225.7717 www.vvinyl.com
On the eighth day of KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival, the city-wide celebration of performing arts was still going strong. I drove downtown after work on Thursday night to catch a set by Dave DiPrimo Band at Java’s Café. Even on a weeknight, people were out and about, congregating on the sidewalks or making their way to one of the 25 Rochester Fringe venues.
Dave DiPrimo Band Photo: Joseph DiPrimo
When I entered Java’s Café, Dave DiPrimo Band’s set was already in full swing. The mid-size cafe was standing room only tonight for the local indie quartet. DiPrimo, front and center, strummed his acoustic Martin. He was flanked by Ian Benz on bass and Karis Gregory on saxophone. Reid Hoffmeier manned the drums. They were playing a dreamy folk-art song which could be pulled off as a solo singer/songwriter performance, but is made so much richer with a full backing band.
The joy of alternative music is that the rules that govern music writing can be bent. And Dave DiPrimo Band revels in this freedom from needing to conform. Pulling on influences as varied as classic rock, soul, jazz, blues, punk, and even Latin music, they create original tunes that defy convention. Put a saxophone on a folk song? Why not!
Karis Gregory Photo: Joseph DiPrimo
Gregory traded the sax for an electric guitar, and DiPrimo switched to a hallow-body Ibenez for the next song, “Somethings.” DiPrimo was adept in the art of engaging the audience, getting us to sing along in a call and response of melodic oh’s and la’s. He picked up his favored Martin for the heartfelt ballad “Four Letter Word.” Gregroy was back on sax for this one, playing long, low notes full of longing and soulful expression. He stole the spotlight with solos full of fancy trills and flourishes.
The songs got livelier as the night progressed. Midway through the nostalgic “Glory Days,” the music swelled in joyous revelry. That night Benz and Hoffmeier displayed skill, but restraint. Here, they finally had a chance to go all out. Hoffmeier, in his t-shirt from Rush’s 40th anniversary tour, threw himself into the song wholeheartedly. The song also showcased DiPrimos vocal range, from crooning soft contemplative verses to belting out the strong, bellowing chorus.
Dave DiPrimo Photo: Joseph DiPrimo
Before the final song, DiPrimo thanked everyone for coming out. He told us that last year he played Fringe Festival solo, this year as a full band, and joked that next year they might expand even further with the addition of a full backing choir.
They closed out with “Selina.” DiPrimo counted in, in Spanish and the band launched into a spicy Latin-influenced number. It was a shame the room was so packed, there was no room to dance. But that didn’t stop people from moving in their seats and clapping along. In the morning, the members of Dave DiPrimo Band would be back in their college classes, but they still took the time to hang around for a while after the show to talk to members of the audience and pass out cards for a free download of their new single, “Now.”
Dave DiPrimo Band Photo: Joseph DiPrimo
Dave DiPrimo Band’s Thursday Setlist: American Dream, End Of The World, Know You Best, Out In The Cold, Now, Somethings, Four Letter Word, Glory Days, And It Goes, Selina
Dave DiPrimo Band’s music is available on CD Baby, iTunes, and Spotify. Watch for their new full-length album, coming out this fall. Follow on Facebook for updates.
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.
Java’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.
They 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)
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.
YES is best known for their influence on rock history and classic songs including “Roundabout,” “I’ve Seen All Good People,” “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” and countless others. On their recent YESTIVAL tour, YES featured a setlist of greatest hits from the band’s studio work, performing at least one song from each of the first 10 albums, starting with YES (1969) through Drama (1980). Matt Richards, keyboardist for Formula 5 spoke with YES keyboardist Geoff Downes about his gear, YES’ best compositions and the rock legacy of YES as they near the half century mark.
Matt Richards: How has the YESTIVAL tour stuck out to you compared to your previous tours with YES?
Geoff Downes: It has been very different so far because we have been doing the chronological tracks from each of the first ten albums. That has seemed to be something the fans really like because they get to hear tracks that are not in the normal YES repertoire and haven’t been played for quite some years. I think being on the bill with Todd Rundgren and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy has been a nice mixture to be able to have a whole feast of music rather than just the standard YES classics. In the past we have been doing albums in their entirety and it has been nice to move away from that and look at a much more historical view of the band’s catalogue.
MR: How is touring in The United States different from touring in The UK?
GD: A lot of the venues in The US are better designed for concerts in the modern age. The backstage areas and load-in areas are much more accessible. The British venues are not designed for big stage trucks to come through and some of the theaters in the UK are very old. There is a bit of a logistical problem in that regard but audience-wise, we’ve got a following in the UK as well as the United States that is very receptive to the music of YES
MR: Is there one song you find the most representative of the music of YES?
GD: I think there are certainly a few but I find “And You And I” from the Close To The Edge album is the most representative of YES’s music in terms of the changes in the sections, the dynamics, and the great uplifting finale. In a lot of ways, dynamics is what YES’s music is all about. It has the same application that classical music does where the orchestra is not going full torque all the way and it features certain instruments at certain times. That’s what makes YES’s music very interesting and appeal to a wide range of generations. It is always uplifting to play that one live and I look forward to it coming up in the setlist because it is such a great piece of music.
MR: As a keyboardist do you find there is any particular keyboard that is the most representative of YES’ sound?
GD: The music has been very focused since the early days with Tony Kay on the acoustic piano and Hammond organ rolls. That was extended more by Rick Wakeman when he started to introduce Melotrons and the Minimoog. I think those elements have always been key to YES’ music and progressive rock music in general. When I joined the band in 1980 that is when the real explosion of synths and digital keyboards was just beginning. I think I injected that into the Drama album. I tried to take it a step further and bring the technology in line with what was happening in music in general.
MR: Is there any keyboard that you are currently touring with that is your favorite to use in your performance?
GD: I use Mac laptops for recreating a lot of those old sounds because the software now is so sophisticated that we are capable of doing that. I have always been very interested in not only the musical side, but the technological side of keyboard playing. It is sort of a dream to be able to create these wonderful sounds with virtual synths.
MR: What program do you find is best to recreate the classic synth sounds?
GD: I use Apple’s Mainstage which is a development from Logic. Logic Pro X is the main program and it is great because you can create all these virtual layers of keyboards. It is a very powerful piece of design.
MR: With such an emphasis on composition in YES’ music, what role does improvisation have in the live performance?
GD: Generally, we try to remain fairly close to the original recording in terms of core parts of the pieces because that’s what people mostly have as their highlights of our music. There are occasions where solos have more flexibility and some of the arrangements will be chopped around while still recreating the songs accordingly.
MR: What role does YES play in the world of music?
GD: It is a very unique volume of music in the history of rock music. There is a very positive and uplifting experience that drew many listeners to the band from the beginning. The name of the band and the positivity emanating from that is carried on into the music. I think people find that not only something nice to listen to but also a spiritual experience. I think YES is quite unique in that respect that they can actually convey that feeling to people, making them feel good and want to say “Yes!” as they listen.
Excitement abounded downtown on Saturday September 16, the third day of the KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival. With hundreds of shows on dozens of stages over a span of ten days, there’s a lot to see and do. I made my way down East Main Street of my native town, heading towards Parcel 5 to catch a set by power pop band The Demos and the second and final night of Plasticiens Volants. A sign on the corner of East Avenue invited festival-goers up to the building’s penthouse terrace. I kept that in mind for later, and continued on to the stage.
The Demos were scheduled to play at Fringe Festival last year, but the show was called off due to rain. This time, the weather couldn’t have been better – a warm and sunny end-of-summer day. Native Rochesterians and visitors filled the square, milling about or relaxing on blankets and lawn chairs. Tonight, the stage was decked out in strands of fairy lights, with lawn flamingos perched about – the same flamingos from the videos The Demos used to promote their show.
The band wasted little time on sound check, diving right into a cover of Velvet Underground’s “What Goes On.” While The Demos rocked out, the stage was flanked by a pair of girls with light-up hula hoops, who spun the circles with acrobatic skill to the rhythm and tempo of the music. Bubbles floated around the stage, carried by the wind from the street performer on the corner. The atmosphere was buzzing with a sense of fun and excitement, and people were drawn towards the sights and sounds of the stage.
Members of the band were having fun, too, exchanging smiles and glances as they played “I Don’t Mind” and “Clearly” from their last release, Paramount Clouds. The synthesizer plays a particularly prominent role on these numbers, with Caela Moore grooving out at the helm of a double deck of keyboards. Frontman Jay Milton was on top of his game tonight, putting everything he had into the performance, from rich vocals to on pointe guitarwork.
A rousing rendition of “Veronica” got the audience clapping along. They added some twists to the song, a few call-and-response-style lines sung by bassist Cal Saunders that aren’t on the version they recorded for their full-length album Lovely. Drummer RJ Papaleo may be the newest member of the band, but he didn’t miss a beat as they dug into the catalog of songs from the band’s archives. Jeremiah O’Reilley is also relatively new to the band, but has been a fan since the early days, and slipped seamlessly into the role of guitarist.
The crowd continued to swell as the sun started to set. Jay asked the amassing audience who among us has seen the band before. A sea of hands flew into the air, with cheers. He asked who had been coming to see them since he and Cal started 15 years ago. There were still some hands in the air. “This one’s for you,” Jay said as they started playing a song called “Don’t Give Up On Me.”
The tempo slowed a bit as they did a couple more stripped-back songs, starting with “Shooters and Fixers.” Then they played a new song, “All I Need,” a bittersweet ballad featuring Caela on ukulele, Jay on the keyboard, and Cal singing harmony. Jeremiah, his services not needed on the stage, took the opportunity to come down from the stage and dance with his wife. He hopped back on stage for a couple more new songs.
The sea of people were nodding and moving along to the new tunes, but when the band followed them with their hit “Hardly Done,” people started singing along. Another new one, “Risin’ Up,” represents a departure from their typical lyrical themes. This anthemic song has more of a political bent. “People rising up, they’ve all had enough,” Jay sings. “Where do we go from here?”
The pinnacle of the set was “Better.” The groovy pop song with a sweet hook peaked with a solo in which the instrumental sounds came crashing together in a frenzy of noise, amassing in a sheer wall of acoustic energy. The 75-minute long set concluded with an ode to Rochester called “My City.” They took a quick moment to thank their manager, friends and families before being whisked off the stage. Around me, a group was chanting for an encore, but Plasticiens Volants‘ “Big Bang” show was about to begin.
Still buzzing with adrenaline and not ready to call it a night, I retraced my steps to The Penthouse at One East Avenue to scope out the scene. The 11th story penthouse is now a hip, upscale event venue which offers a unique perspective. The sleek interior does not detract from the view through floor-to-ceiling windows, and glass doors give way to a wraparound outdoor terrace. In the center of it all is a small bar which offers a selection of beer, wine, and spirits. In addition to private events such as weddings and corporate meetings, they’ve also held a series of musical performances and silent disco. Coming up on September 21 is a Bacon and Bourbon tasting, and on October 28 they’ve planned an interactive mystery night. Tonight, they’re open for viewing the events at Parcel 5, including the second and final Rochester performance by French street theater troupe Plasticiens Volants.
Walking the length of the balcony, I witnessed the city alive with lights across the skyline glowing and traffic bustling down the main arteries. A crowd was already jockeying for position along the railing for a look at the multi-media show by Plasticiens Volants, featuring balloons the proportions of Macy’s Day Parade handled by puppeteers who walk through the crowd, a mix of narration and world beat music, pyrotechnics, lights and mirrors. For a more in-depth description, read the review from Friday night’s performance.
The Demos’ Setlist: What Goes On (Velvet Underground), Regal Dimensions, I Don’t Mind, Clearly, Bobby Pins, Veronica, Impossible, Another Day, Only Want The World, Nervous, Truth & Lies, She Lives in Pictures, All I Need, We Could Do Anything, Elegant Ties, Not Coming Down, Hardly Done, Risin’ Up, Life’s A Gas (T. Rex), Better, My City
Rochester Fringe Festival runs through September 24, with a wide variety of music, theatre, comedy, and other entertainment. Advance ticket purchases are recommended, as shows do sell out. For more information, visit RochesterFringe.com.
The city was alive with the sound of music Friday, September 15. Dozens of venues throughout the downtown Rochester area are participating in the fifth annual KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival, featuring more than 500 music, art, and theatrical performances over a 10-day timeframe. I spent the evening at Parcel 5, the site on Main Street on which Midtown Plaza once stood. The plan for tonight was to catch a theatrical performance by French troupe Plasticiens Volants and a set of music by local legends Teagan and The Tweeds.
Teagan and The Tweeds
Upon approach to Parcel 5, I heard strains of syncopated reggae rhythms filling the air. Festival goers lingered around the lot, some heading closer to the stage, and others staring in fascination at props for the Plasticiens Volants show, and others joining the lines of food trucks parked along the street. Reggae music, courtesy of Rochester’s Noble Vibes, gave way to the sound of bagpipes from Rochester Scottish Pipes and Drums, as people continued to pour into the square.
The sun went down, and the lights came up on the far end of the lot. Plasticiens Volants began to perform a show they call “Big Bang.” Although the French street performance troupe was founded in 1976, this is their first time on tour in the US.
Curiosity abounded as people young and old were drawn to viewing a video projected onto an inflatable globe. Narration spoke about the origin of life. A film began, which showed the evolution of civilization. The significance of the experience was not lost on those who grew up in Rochester, the birthplace of modern photography and film.
Shadow puppets were incorporated into the visuals, and speakers pumped world music with a heavy techno beat. Suddenly, large inflatable balloons came to life, lifted by puppeteers who carried them through the crowd. Seashells and fantastical beasts and planets soared above the crowd, dipping and swaying to the music.
Children on tiptoe stretched their arms to the star-studded sky to brush the balloons with their fingertips. The music and narration told the story of The Big Bang as a sci-fi fantasy. The magnificently choreographed spectacle ended in a light display, with mirrors like facets of diamonds catching spotlights and splaying beams of light across the city skyline.
Teagan Ward of Teagan and The Tweeds posted a video of Platiciens Volants on social media as they prepped for their set, the final event of the night at this location. People gravitated towards the stage as the band cranked out boot-stomping tunes.
This was my first time seeing the band, and I was completely enraptured. My jaw dropped as I watched Teagan, a barefoot blonde bombshell, belt out whiskey bar blues.
Once the mesmerized gathering got over their initial shock, an impromptu dance floor opened up in front of the stage. Drummer Alfredo Encina provided a strong backbone and bassist Jeremy Stoner laid down grooves as deep as the day is long. They provided a foundation for Katy Wright’s stellar performance on the keys and Lou Giglio’s fancy fretwork. Tommy Formicola took it on home with his pedal-steel guitar.
The people behind me must have been fans, because they knew all the words to “Morning Glory” and “Give It Up or Let Me Go.” They even played a new song, “Route 100.”
Elsewhere, the city-wide party was still going strong. A silent disco was about to rage around the corner at the Speigeltent. Attendees donned headphones, through which they could switch between channels as three DJ’s in the tent dueled for the crowd’s favor. The dance wound down at 2am. (If you missed it, don’t worry, they’ll do it again on Saturday September 16, Friday September 22, and Saturday September 23.)
Plasticiens Volants will reprise their performance on Saturday, September 16 at 8pm. Arrive by 6:30 to catch local pop band The Demos, and plan to stay late for Ithaca’s Big Mean Sound Machine.
Rochester Fringe Festival runs through Sunday, September 24. For a complete listing of events, go to the website. Advance ticket purchases are recommended, as several shows have already sold out.
Ocular Panther, a prog rock band hailing from Rochester, NY, recently released their new album Insistences. With interesting chord progressions and guitar riffs, each song has a new, fresh sound that is easily distinct from the rest. Each track has an extremely full sound through the harmonies of each instrument, giving way to one large, almost orchestral sound. The band consists of members Jason Gilly (bass), Michael Pantano (guitar/programming), Collin Jones (guitar), and Tristan Greene (Drums).
The largest thing that sticks out is the repetition of the beginning riffs. Everything starts out simple and gradually builds almost to the point of being out of control but is as chaotic as can be while remaining clean. In “Protactinium” the basis of the whole song stems from the beginning guitar riff, which is gradually added on to with accents from other instruments, leading up to a finale ripping guitar solo and finally ending with a sudden halt amidst all the disarray while avoiding a sloppy finish.
The final track “Ellipses” is easily the most avant garde of the whole album. Filled with white noise and other sounds indicative of outer space, the title of the track is a message that there is a lot more to come from this band. So, prog rock fans get ready, because Ocular Panther isn’t finished yet!
The lineup for this year’s KettleFest includes Anastazja, Some Ska Band, Ruckus Juice Jug Stompers and String Chickens. The one day celebration of sustainable farming takes place in on Saturday, Sept. 16 at Kettle Ridge Farm in Victor, NY. In addition to music, there will be workshops, children’s events, crafts from local artisans, and a wide selection of food and beverages.
Admission is $6, and children under 13 are free. Kettleridge Farm is located at 515 Log Cabin Road in Victor, NY. For more information, visit the Kettlefest website.
Music Schedule:
Main Stage:
– 10:15 a.m. – Anastazja
– 12:15 p.m. – Some Ska Band
– 2:15 p.m. – Ruckus Juice Jug Stompers
The Demos, a mainstay of the Rochester music community, are prepping for their set at KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival. They play on Saturday, September 16 at 6:30pm at Parcel 5 on Main Street. The 75-minute long set will span the power pop band’s fifteen-year career, which they’ve spent continually writing, recording and gigging. With a couple EPs and a full-length album already under their belt, they’re in the studio again working on a new project.
Over the years, The Demos have been through a few lineup changes. Singer/guitarist Jay Milton and bass guitarist Cal Saunders have remained the core of the group, with the addition of Caela Moore on keys, Jeremiah O’Reilly on guitar and the newest addition, RJ Papaleo on drums. They took time away from rehearsing for the big show to talk with NYS Music about Rochester Fringe, The Demos’ body of work, and identifying their spirit animals.
Paula Cummings: I’ve seen the promos you’ve been posting to promote your set at Fringe Festival. How excited are you for this year’s event?
Jay Milton: It’s really exciting to play in such a huge space in the heart of the city that most of us grew up in.
CS: And that we call home.
JM: This is our home and it’s awesome. A very unique venue, and a free show. I always feel it’s great to play a free show. I love doing free stuff.
Jeremiah O’Reilly: I think what appeals to me most is that I think sometimes when you play at specific venues around town, you run into the situation where you’re often playing for the same people. Playing at an outdoor free concert during a festival allows you to play to a different variety of people in the community. It’s nice to be able to share and express ourselves to those people as well as the ones who come to our Bug Jar shows.
PC: You’re recording songs for the next album. Will some of those songs be on the set list?
CS: For sure.
JM: It’s going to be a very eclectic set from us. It’s a lot longer than we usually play. Most of our sets are 45 minutes or so. So this is a double set almost. So we’re digging deep into our catalog. Me and Cal have been together in this band for 15 years. So we’re going back and playing songs from every era of our time as a band, from our first EP’s in the mid-2000’s. We’ll be playing songs off Lovely which is our full length from 2012.
CS: The notes on that are that it was the one that went #1 on FMQB.
PC: That was the one that was big in Japan, right?
CS: We’re very proud of that.
JM: It was big in Japan. That was the one that got us the Tokyo billboard. And obviously, we’ll play songs from our latest EP, Paramount Clouds, which came out last year. And then a whole bunch of new songs, and a few covers for good measure. Obscure though. We can’t be playing songs that everyone knows. Because then they’ll know how bad we play them.
(Laughter)
CS: We kind of make them our own.
PC: Although the Andy Kaufman cover was awesome. It might be the wrong crowd for that one.
CS: But I think though at Fringe, it’s weird enough that if you did it people would laugh, which is the point.
JM: Andy Kaufman is my hero in life.
CS: He’s your spirit animal.
JM: He’s definitely my spirit animal. I have been obsessed with him most of my adult life. And the thing I love about him is the more I learn about him the less I understand him. Which is what I love about it. Every time you think you’re getting deeper into what it was about, it seems you’re just opening millions of other things which go nowhere. Which to me is… Life as performance art, perhaps.
CS: The whole world’s a stage.
JM: I actually own Andy Kaufman’s childhood record player. And his smoking jacket as well.
Jay with Andy Kaufman memorabilia, Photo: Jeremiah O’Reilly
PC: So we’ve got your spirit animal. What would you say yours is, Cal?
CS: Billy Martin, a friend of ours, once told me that he thinks Chris Robinson from the Black Crowes is my spirit animal.
JM: I’d believe it.
CS: But it’s not that easy. My struggle is endless. I seem to go around, which makes me think serpentine, like a snake. I’m year of the dragon, too.
JO: I think I’m an earth dragon.
JM: What’s the difference between a dragon and an earth dragon?
JO: So there’s different parts, like your animal that’s part of the Chinese zodiac, and then an element that goes along with it.
CS: Like earth, water, fire.
JM: I thought maybe an earth dragon was one that couldn’t fly, or something.
JO: I’m like the black sheep of dragons. I guess that’s my spirit animal.
PC: Is it too soon to divulge any details about the next album?
JM: We don’t know when it will be ready. I would say by this time next year, there will be something.
PC: Jeremiah, this is your first time recording with these guys?
JO: Yeah, I’ve known these guys for a while. I actually went to one of their shows back in 2005. When I was a wee little lad. One of my best friends Alex Northrup was one of the founding members of The Demos. And I’ve been playing music with him.
CS: He’s the Syd Barrett of The Demos.
JM: That’s actually very accurate.
JO: I was 16 back in 2005, so I’ve known you guys for a while. But I’ve only been playing with them for 8 months. It’s been a blast.
PC: And now you’re no longer the newest member of the band.
JO: I am not the newest member.
CS: We’re like a restaurant. We change staff as much as we change clientele sometimes.
The Demos: Jeremiah O’Reilly, RJ Papaleo, Cal Saunders, Jay Milton, Caela Moore
JM: Honestly, I think we’re just intense workers when it comes to music. We just pour everything into it.
JO: It frightens some people.
CS: Or people have lives.
JO: Aren’t you glad you found me – I have no life!
JM: That’s the worst thing about being a musician in a place that has such a great local scene is that it’s hard to work on music and do things. Tart Vandelay is playing tonight and I’d love to go do that, but we’re doing this and then we’re going into rehearsing right after. And if we’re not in the studio, then we’re rehearsing, or we’re writing. It’s hard to do cool things, like watching other people play music, when you’re so focused on doing it yourself. That’s my least favorite part. We’re very dedicated.
CS: We’re dedicated, honest, and hard working.
JM: Every moment that we’re not working on music, we wish that we were.
JO: Me and Jay text each other at work saying, “I wish we were in the studio.”
(RJ Papaleo arrives)
PC: Hey, we’re just wrapping up. What is your spirit animal?
RJP: I feel like it would be a bird of some kind.
JM: Maybe like a pterodactyl.
PC: And what is Caela’s spirit animal?
JM: A fox.
Catch the Demos live at what is sure to be a memorable performance Saturday, September 16 at 6:30 at Parcel 5 on at 285 East Main Street in Rochester. Get ready by listening to their catalog of music on Bandcamp. Follow on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates on this and other shows.
These are values that Teenage Halloween embraces, as they deliver upbeat numbers about self-acceptance and empowerment served youthful exuberance and a twist of whimsical irony. Just this week they announced a new release, entitled Eternal Roast.
In Rochester, Teenage Halloween will be sharing the stage at Vineyard Community Space with their tour mates from New Jersey, Secret Mountain, and local bands Full Body (celebrating their new release), as well as Taking Meds and California Cousins (on the final night of their East Coast tour). Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show ends by 10 p.m. The suggested minimum donation is $7.
In Albany, Teenage Halloween and Secret Mountain will be joined by local bands Jouska, Hate Club, and i feel okay. The show runs from 8 p.m. to midnight. Entry is $5.
Members of Teenage Halloween hail from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The entire octet was in the studio to record the latest release: Luke Henderiks on vocals and guitar, Brandon Hakim on Saxophone, Kevin Sabik on trumpet, Lynn Tuimil on bass, Brian DeSeno on drums, Danni Ciminnisi on keyboards & vocals, Eli Frank on lead guitar & Connor Egan on trombone.
Eternal Roast is the follow-up to Teenage Halloween’s 2015 EP It Was Weird But It Worked, and will be available on Oct. 20 in a variety of formats (including vinyl). The limited-edition cassette is now available for pre-order on ‘Get Better Records.’
Fans will not want to miss this rare opportunity to meet the legendary Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and hear his inspirational story! The founding member of Run-DMC will be joined at these events by Jason Rockman of Slaves on Dope, who performs on the album. The pair will be available after the talk to take pictures and sign copies of “Back From the Dead, The Legend Lives.” Released on Brookvale Records, the LP is limited to only 4,000 copies.
Java’s Cafe
They 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.”
Admission is $6, and children under 13 are free. Kettleridge Farm is located at 515 Log Cabin Road in Victor, NY. For more information, visit the Kettlefest 
These are values that Teenage Halloween embraces, as they deliver upbeat numbers about self-acceptance and empowerment served youthful exuberance and a twist of whimsical irony. Just this week they announced a new release, entitled Eternal Roast.