Rochester’s Druse is taking to the road. They’ll be co-headlining a fall tour with Charleston’s Innerout. The East Coast tour includes shows in Rochester at The Bug Jaron September 28 and The Well in Brooklyn on September 30. This North & South pairing of bands highlights each of their unique talents on the cutting edge of post-hardcore indie rock.
Delightfully eclectic, to confine Druse to the label of post-hardcore screamo would be a disservice. They defy convention, incorporating elements of melodic metalcore, dreamy shoegaze, and lo-fi grunge to create a sound that has crowds swaying in a trance one moment and moshing the next. Last year’s EP The Way We Ache is their most intricately composed work to date. Emotionally charged lyrics explore the role of pain as part of what it means to be human, and how it ultimately brings us closer to each other.
Innerout from South Carolina self-identifies as pedalcore, a label that describes the blending of pedal-gazing with post-hardcore. Their sound is tinged with bits of southern flair. Case in point: the country-inspired intro on “Fair Play,” the lead track on their latest release, Say, followed by the echoes of southern rock in the fluidity of some of the guitar riffs throughout the rest of the EP.
Both bands challenge post-hardcore stereotypes – not content with what it is, but re-imagining what it can be.
Tour dates:
Sept. 19 – Baltimore, MD – The Raven Inn (Druse only)
Sept. 19 – Wilmington, NC – Randal 9000 (Innerout only)
Sept. 20 – Richmond, VA – TBA
Sept. 21 – Charleston, SC – TBA
Sept. 22 – Orlando, FL – Uncle Lou’s
Sept. 23 – Gainsville, FL – Hardback Cafe
Sept. 24 – Atlanta, GA – TBA
Sept. 25 – Louisville, KY – Spinelli’s Downtown
Sept. 26 – Columbus, OH – Middle Earth
Sept. 27 – Cleveland, OH – Mahalls Locker Room Sept. 28 – Rochester, NY – The Bug Jar
Sept. 29 – Boston, MA – TBA September 30 – Brooklyn, NY – The Well
Oct. 1 – Philadelphia, PA – TBA
On the evening of August 16, 2017, Blues Hall of Famer Joe Louis Walker graced the Photo City Improv stage in Rochester, NY. Joe Louis Walker has been playing the blues since the 1960’s and is still rocking both classic and contemporary styles. Earlier this year, Joe Louis Walker’s new album, “Everybody Wants A Piece” received a nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 59th annual Grammy’s. Before their show at Photo City Improv, NYS Music had the humbling opportunity to sit down with Joe Louis Walker’s drummer, a Syracuse NY native, Byron Cage. Here are some bite size nuggets of knowledge, quoted directly from Cage:
On Working With Joe Louis Walker:
I’ve been playing with Joe Louis Walker almost four years. It’s been a wonderful four years. I am learning and growing as a musician, and as a young man. Joe is my mentor. He’s a complete mentor. He’s a great guy onstage and off stage.
Joe has taught me to be proud of who you are and be proud of what you do. To be able to share the blues with the world is privilege. It’s a cultural experience, and you want to represent yourself well.
We try to keep our music authentic and stay true to the roots of the blues. There is nothing wrong with new age experimenting or adding new things… A lot of spontaneous things happen every night. But, when traditional blues is called for, that’s what we play. When it’s time for electric or rockin’ blues, we can do that too. It’s fun to exercise all these different music muscles in one night. We work together as a team; we are a real band. Our chemistry off stage shows on stage. We all genuinely care for each other as people and musicians. This is represented in our live performance, and everything else we do.
On Live Music:
When you play music, the sky is the limit. You don’t level out unless you want to. You can keep growing and growing as long as you push for it. There’s always something new to learn. There is always something new to experience and explore musically. That’s what we want to do. Keep it fresh.
Music is a universal language. No matter where we go, from Australia, to Asia, to Europe, to Brazil, we connect through the feeling of the music. We vibe together. I believe that is what life’s about.
At the end of the day, the goal is to share something positive. There is so much crazy stuff happening in our world. People are dying senselessly. We are experiencing a whole new wave of hate. What better way to fight against that hate than to pull everybody together to enjoy some music- to smile and laugh with one another. Then, we shake hands at the end of the night, and create good memories. It’s a beautiful thing. I’m happy to be a part of it.
Born and raised into the culture of New Orleans, Louisiana, The Soul Rebels have been a brass ensemble since 1991. Fast forward to 2017, the band has toured Africa, China, Japan, Australia, Europe, and beyond. They have regularly collaborated live with Talib Kweli, Nas, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Marilyn Manson, Metallica, and many others. In His Own Words: Lamar LeBlanc, co-founder and snare drummer of The Soul Rebels, spoke with NYS Music before their show at Photo City Improv in Rochester on August 12.
For audio of the entire conversation, please listen to the Rochester Groovecast episode at the bottom of this page.
On The Soul Rebels:
When we first started Soul Rebels, our message was so strong. The band was based on the premise of freedom. Freedom for individuals to distinctively show their own personal individuality. That’s what the name personifies, freedom of the soul.
We rebel for, not against, but for freedom of expression, love, peace, and strength.
You have to have camaraderie because you are together so long, so many hours, and so many days. If you don’t have some type of connectedness interpersonally, it’s not gonna work. If it’s not connecting vibe wise, it’s definitely going to show in the musical representation of the group.
Cyril Neville and Milton Batiste always stressed, be real and be yourself. Don’t try to be someone else. Don’t try to imitate someone else, because you can’t be better than that person at doing what they do, you can only be the best at what you do.
Soul Rebels has always tried to be different. And not just be different to be different, but be ourselves…It was a struggle because New Orleans had already had a foundation of how they felt a brass band should be.
We always wanted to play the hip hop and funk. We always wanted to have the swag that we have…Kind of a Public Enemy fight the power type vibe…Bob Marley warrior type spirit…still infused with love and freedom.
On Aspirations To Start A Podcast:
We’re blessed to have survived the ills of the community of the ghetto. We often just talk about all of the issues, from politics, to financial situations, to marriage, to interpersonal connectedness with people.
We’re trying to see how we can connect more with the young people. This will go a long way to keep the future preserved. We think we can do that with a podcast.
Women, relationships, that’s definitely a topic we want to touch on. We see the woman as being very powerful and very influential on all of these issues. So, we can’t do it without a powerful woman. It wont work. I don’t care how strong a man thinks he is, if you don’t have a strong woman there, it’s not gonna work.
You have to get a woman’s perspective. You have to hear it from them. Feel it from them. They have to speak for themselves.
On The Aftermath Of Hurricane Katrina:
Katrina affected the city. It affected the culture. The people are so strong and resilient, but, they did lose a lot. It’s functioning and back but it’s no way near completely what it was prior to Katrina.
A lot of new buildings, new infrastructure, but before, it was the raw New Orleans that had been around for so long. The demographics are different now, down to the type of resident and everything, but, it still has it’s authentic culture.
You can’t fight God. The people are so strong and they love the city.
On Touring:
It’s amazing how music can transcend so many different lines of communication. It can cut through all the B.S and go straight to a person’s soul. No matter where they are. No matter where you’re from. That’s the gift of music that I’ve seen. We can’t speak the language…but, when you play the music, oh man, I don’t care where we are, the people come and galvanize around.
Management have made it so everywhere we go we get treated well. I’ve never had that bad experience. That’s not to say maybe a plane wont lose your luggage or something, but, I got it back, so it was still positive.
On Personal Development:
I was always a sponge…I always look at myself as a student…one who is constantly learning.
I read constantly. That’s a gift I got from my mom. I just love reading. Even in this day and age, I still love the physical texture of a book.
On Fashion:
My passion beside music…God…family…I really love fashion. My store, my more or less boutique…I probably would call it LeBlanc, I think it’s a cool last name that my family gave me.
Rap metal heavyweights, Hollywood Undead and metalcore band Butcher Babies recently announced their North America 2017 tour. Anthology in Rochester will be one of their stops on Friday Nov. 17.
Both bands have new unreleased albums but only Hollywood Undead have officially released details on their new album titled Five (stylized as V), while Butcher Babies have only stated on social media that they have finished recording a third full length album only referred to as BB3, presumably Butcher Babies 3. Tickets go on sale Friday July 28 at 10:00 a.m., with prices ranging from $25 to $30. This show will be 16 and up.
The McLovins dropped some initial tour dates for fall 2017, including three stops in New York this month including a stop at New York City’s Mercury Lounge for a Phish Baker’s Dozen after party.
Hailing from Hartford, Connecticut, the McLovins have been making waves since their start in 2009 playing alongside big names in music like the Gin Blossoms, Buddy Guy and George Porter, Jr. They’re currently working on two EPs as a followup to their 2015 self-titled album McLovins, which should be released this fall.
The McLovins fall tour starts tomorrow for a Phish Baker’s Dozen after party at the Mercury Lounge in New York City. The tour takes them up and down the eastern seaboard with several dates in Georgia and Alabama, closing out at Milkboy in Philadelphia on Nov. 22. In addition to tomorrow’s show, they play two other shows in New York. They hit up the Photo City Improv in Rochester on Aug. 17 and play the Big “G” Jam in Hannibal on Aug. 19. They also make a stop in nearby Erie, Pennsylvania on Aug. 12 at the Kings Rook Club.
McLovins Fall Tour 2017 Dates Aug. 5 – Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
Aug. 12 – Kings Rook Club, Erie, PA Aug. 17 – Photo City Improv, Rochester, NY Aug. 19 – Big “G” Jam, Hannibal, NY
Sept. 1 – Port City Music Hall, Portland, ME
Sept. 14 – Doc Taylor’s, Virginia Beach, VA
Sept. 16 – The Whiskey, Wilmington, NC
Sept. 21 – Dingus Magees, Statesboro, GA
Sept. 22 – Nowhere Bar, Athens, GA
Sept. 23 – The Thirsty Turtle, Macon GA
Sept. 28 – Green Bar, Tuscaloosa, AL
Sept. 29 – Zydeco, Birmingham, AL
Sept. 30 – Bourbon Street, Auburn, AL
Oct. 6 – Harvest Ball, Starks, ME
Nov. 2 – The State Theatre, State College, PA
Nov. 22 – Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA
Tart Vandelay is as fun and feisty as their name. With bopping beats and catchy choruses, they’ve been winning the hearts of music lovers in Western NY and beyond with their live shows over the past year. Next month, they’ll be playing two sets during Rochester Fringe Festival.
Charismatic couple Katie Halligan and Martin LoFaso started the project while studying at Berklee College of Music, and have since added band members Pete Zamniak on bass and Christopher Dubuc-Penne on drums. Last fall’s EP Frontier Pioneer is a zesty little delight. Blending art with inspiration, the collection of songs are the acoustic equivalent of a novella which celebrates the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.
NYS Music met up with Halligan and LoFaso at Village Gate, an eclectic multi-use community in the heart of Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts. We talked about the joy of making music, and they created a playlist of some of their indie faves.
Paula Cummings: The name Tart Vandelay, does everyone get that it’s a Seinfeld reference, or are there people who don’t?
Martin LoFaso: They either do or they don’t. If people are too young or their parents didn’t watch Seinfeld, they don’t get it. But they still appreciate it, it’s still kinda goofy for them, so they still like it. But I was raised on Seinfeld, and I always loved the name Art Vandelay. George is my favorite character. He’s the despicable person who stands out in a group of despicable people. Even compared to other despicable people, he’s bad. It’s just funny to watch and I was always into that name. Luckily, Kate suggested Tart Vandelay.
Katie Halligan: I thought that adding a letter in front of it, and changing it slightly would just make it a fun play on words.
PC: What instruments do you play?
KH: I sing. I also have a looping station that I use, and I play ukulele and auxiliary percussion – different types of shakers.
PC: When you use the word “sing” you also mean vocalizations, not just words.
KH: I loop vocal percussion, and then I add harmonies on top of myself to fill out the sound and make it sound like there’s a chorus.
ML: You also play bass and keys and sax, but not for the band yet.
KH: I play a lot of other instruments. The next one I will be incorporating into the live performances is keys, the piano.
ML: In the band, I just play guitar and do backing vocals. I can play other instruments – bass and keys and the drums. She likes being a multi-instrumentalist, and I really like guitars. Any of the writing I do is on guitar. It’s just the instrument that speaks to me the most.
PC: I’ve seen you on stage, and it looks like you’re having so much fun.
ML: I’m glad that comes across. What’s interesting about the live show is trying to communicate that feeling. That’s what bands are selling. The good ones are selling a specific feeling at a live show, and it changes based on the band. Have you seen our full band?
PC: Not yet. That is one of my questions, the difference between playing as a duo and as a full band.
ML: There’s a lot more energy as a full band, but we still try to retain the cheery disposition. Just having fun. But I think a lot of our songs, especially as a duo, become very meditative. I think we still try to retain that with the full band because that’s the feeling that we’re selling, this sort of transcendence. As opposed to if there was a band that was heavier and wanted to sell more of like an angsty feeling, an aggression feeling. There’s nothing wrong – there’s no wrong feeling to feel. It’s just different bands sell you different feelings. And maybe that’s the feeling that we’re trying to get across.
KH: Definitely transcendence, with all our music. Being honest about the human experience. We’re trying to translate that on stage. Hopefully people in the audience not only enjoy it, but explore a lot of different feelings.
ML: I think making people cry is the best. Especially if you’re going out to a live show. A lot of people have built up defenses about being that vulnerable in public in front of people. I can totally understand that – a room full of strangers watching you bawl your eyes out. But really, we’ve been able to get through to people like that before just with a song, the message cuts so deep for them. That’s the thing, it’s just such a deep connection – it’s the deepest I think – to create that vulnerability, get people to feel the most raw that they can feel.
KH: But not always in a sad way.
PC: You have a song “Alien” that speaks to a lot of people about feeling out of place in the world.
KH: You’re taught from when you’re young that the nail that sticks out gets hammered. But we really try to embrace that because what else do we have but our differences? It’s a beautiful thing. I definitely wrote that pretty autobiographical. I’m glad that it speaks to other people. How could somebody not feel the same way at some point in their life and somehow relate to it? And I like the groove, too. That was one of the songs that wrote itself.
ML: It was the first one you finished.
KH: Yeah, that was the first. The first Tart Vandelay song.
PC: So were you in the dorm room at Berklee when you wrote that?
ML: We had an apartment along the subway line. Yeah, I wrote the guitar part.
KH: It started as a project he was doing.
ML: That’s usually our writing process – I’ll get the skeleton as far as the guitar line and bass of the song. Then it goes to her to write lyrics and rearrange.
KH: If I feel it needs a bridge or something, I send it back to him.
ML: Like Katie said, that one was autobiographical. I think they all are in a way. I think we’ve made a concerted effort as far as the writing itself. If we’re really after something that’s universal to the human condition and at the root of something that everyone is able to go through, then it should resonate even if it comes from an individual standpoint. The universal timeless things we all go through, existential questions and stuff like that. We don’t have to write for other people. We write for other people by writing for ourselves. It’s just a matter of getting people to surrender, to go to the feelings that deep.
PC: You have some creative pursuits outside of music as well?
KH: Right now, I’m a professional henna artist. Also, in my spare time I enjoy drawing and painting.
PC: What do you like to listen to?
ML: This year in September will be the 20th anniversary of my favorite album. It’s called Dots and Loops by the band Stereolab. I can appreciate their music, but I really only listen to that album. Some of our other favorite bands are Wilco…
KH: My Morning Jacket-
ML: Grizzly Bear, St. Vincent-
KH: White Denim, Dirty Projectors. We’ve been compared to Dirty Projectors.
ML: Tune-Yards.
PC: How do you like to listen to music?
KH: Usually in the car, because we’re always on our way to someplace else.
ML: I’ve been using Spotify. I have mixed emotions about Spotify. As a consumer, it’s just so easy.
PC: And easy to curate playlists.
ML: Which is mostly what I do, make a bunch of playlists.
KH: It’s mostly through Spotify that we listen to stuff. Sometimes we still use CD’s and mix tapes that we’ve made.
ML: Sometimes radio. Rochester has amazing radio stations. Both WRUR and WITR are great. 95.1 WAYO is great. WBER is an institution. Both of our jazz stations. We listen to local radio in Rochester, but if there’s nothing on at the moment that I like, I’ll go back to Spotify.
PC: If you made a playlist right now, which songs would you include?
ML: I would grab maybe the song “Diagonals” from Stereolab.
KH: I would grab “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream, Part 2” by My Morning Jacket.
ML: That one’s great. I’ve been really digging Wilco’s album they put out last year. It’s called Schmilco. It’s pretty low key and acoustic. I would probably put “If I Ever Was a Child” on that.
KH: My next song would be “Huey Newton” by St. Vincent.
ML: “Unto Ceasar” by Dirty Projectors.
KH: I just thought of one. We didn’t mention the band earlier, but the song, I love it so much. “Great Curve” by Talking Heads. I love Talking Heads.
PC: What would you name this playlist?
ML: We might call it something like “Summer Slummer.” We usually aim for cheesy puns when naming things. More fun that way.
PC: Let’s talk about Fringe Fest. You will be playing at Java’s. Have you played there before?
KH: No, this will be our first time playing there. We love going there, so it will be nice to play there. I think our music always translates well in a coffee shop setting. Especially because Java’s is artsy and perfect for Fringe Fest.
Tart Vandelay will perform as a duo at Java’s Cafe in Rochester on Sunday, September 17 at 5 pm and Thursday, September 21 at 9 pm as part of Rochester Fringe Festival. Both shows are free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early for seating/standing room.
From Beethoven to the Beatles, Haydn to Harry Potter, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s coming season will delight classical and contemporary music lovers alike. The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s 95th season starts with a special performance by violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman in September and ends in June with The Classical Mystery Tour (tribute to The Beatles) and a performance of Schumann’s Fourth.
We have an incredible season planned, with drama, romance, passion, and power as central themes, presented in many different forms throughout the year,” says RPO Music Director Ward Stare. “As always, audiences will experience music they know and love while hearing many new sounds along the way. There truly is something for everyone in our dynamic season ahead.”
Highlights of the season include breathtaking feats by PUSH Physical Theatre and illusionist Michael Grandinetti. Magic fans will also enjoy hearing the scores of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and E.T. The Extraterrestrial played live while watching the movies. The Planets: An HD Oddysey will pair space-themed music with NASA footage. The tunes of video games will come to life at RePlay: Symphony of Heroes – with arrangements from Halo, Kingdom Harts, BioShock, Final Fantasy, and more.
Michael Christie
This season also includes tributes to some of the greatest musicians of the past century. A cELLAbration: The Music of Ella & More showcases the powerful vocals of Carmen Bradford. Homage will be paid to the Beatles in celebration of the anniversary of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and The White Album at the two nights of The Classical Mystery Tour. The Night of Symphonic Rockwill feature classic rock favorites including songs by Foreigner, Aerosmith, Queen, and Led Zepplin.
World-renown vocalists will accompany the orchestra. Award-winning superstar Audra McDonald will return for one night only to sing hits from Broadway, as well as some of her personal favorites. Ashley Brown makes her RPO debut with a selection of show tunes and Disney classics. Irish American folk singer Cathie Ryan is engaged for a celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. In a celebration of Spanish music, Ravel’s Bolero will be sung by Isabel Leonard and folk songs will be sung by Enrique Granados and Manuel de Falla.
Classical music abounds with several nights dedicated to the music of composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Haydn, Vivaldi, Mahler, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Schumann. An annual tradition, The Nutcracker ballet returns to Rochester on Thanksgiving weekend. The RPO partners with the Rochester City Ballet again on February 8 and 10, performing Slavonic Dances by Dvorak. OrKIDstra returns, introducing children to the joy of classical music. The series includes Peter and the Wolf and Beethoven Lives Upstairs.
Tickets for individual shows are on sale Friday, July 28. Tickets for series have been on sale since February. The Itzhak Perlman performance on September 12 is nearly sold out. Through August 2, a “Buy One, Get One at 50% Off” special is being offered for Grieg’s Piano Concerto & Cinderella and A cELLAbration: The music of Ella and more. The offer is good on seats in zones 1 and 2 with promo code “RPOBOGO50.”
RPO 2017-2018 Season:
Sept. 12 – Itzhak Perlman – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Ward Stare, conductor; Itzhak Perlman, violin.
Sept. 15 & 16 – A cELLAbration: The Music of Ella & More – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Jeff Tyzik, conductor; Carmen Bradford, vocals; Herb Smith, trumpet; Joe Locke, vibes; Brian Scanlon, saxophone.
Sept. 21 & 23 – Season Opener: Grieg’s Piano Concerto+ Cinderella – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Ward Stare, conductor; Inon Barnatan, piano.
Oct. 5 & 7 – Ravel’s Bolero – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Ward Stare, conductor; Isabel Leonard, mezzo-soprano.
Oct. 8, 2017 – Iolanthe: Opera for Kids 2 – Hochstein Performance Hall – Michael Butterman, conductor; Eastman School of Music vocal and opera students.
Oct. 19 & 21 – Seaman Conducts Mozare & Sibelius – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Christopher Seaman, Conductor Laureate; Joyce Yang, piano.
Oct. 26 – rePLAY: Symphony of Heroes – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Amy Andersson, guest conductor.
Oct. 29 – RPO Section Spotlight: Dvorak & More – Hochstein Performance Hall – Ward Stare, conductor.
Nov. 3 & 4 – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (TM) – In Concert – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre.
Nov. 5 – A Tour of World Flutes with Orchestra – Hochstein Performance Hall – Matthew Kraemer, guest conductor; Tereasa Payne, flute.
Nov. 9 & 11 – Olga Kern Plays Beethoven’s “Emperor” – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Ward Stare, conductor; Olga Kern, piano.
Nov. 16 & 18 – Beethoven’s Ninth – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Ward Stare, conductor; Eastman-Rochester Chorus.
Nov. 19 – Mendelssohn’s “Reformation” – Hochstein Performance Hall – Michael Butterman, conductor; Nazareth College Chamber Singers & Concert Choir.
Nov. 22, 24-26 – The Nutcracker – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Michael Butterman, conductor; Rochester City Ballet; Bach Children’s Chorus.
Dec. 10 – OrKIDstra Holiday Special: The Snowman and The Bear – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
Dec. 14 & 16 – Vivaldi’s Four Seasons – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Michael Christie, guest conductor; Juliana Athayde, violin.
Dec. 21-23 – Gala Holiday Pops – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Jeff Tyzik, conductor; Festival High School Chorale.
Jan. 12 & 13 – E.T. the Extra Terrestrial in Concert – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre.
Jan. 14 – Bach & Brahms – Hochstein Performance Hall – Matthew Kraemer, guest conductor.
Jan. 18 & 20 – Night on Bald Mountain – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Marcelo Lehninger, guest conductor; Andrei Ionita, cello.
Jan. 25 – Audra McDonald – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
Jan. 28 – Peter and the Wolf – Hochstein Performance Hall – Nazareth College Dance Ensemble.
Feb. 2 & 3 – Broadway’s Ashley Brown – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Jeff Tyzik, conductor; Ashley Brown, vocals.
Feb. 8 & 10 – Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Ward Stare, conductor; Rochester City Ballet; David Halen, violin.
Feb. 23 & 24 – Latin Heat with the Mambo Kings – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Jeff Tyzik, conductor; The Mambo Kings; Camille Zamora, vocals.
March 1 & 3 – Bernstein Centennial Celebration – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Ward Stare, conductor; Misha Dichter, piano.
March 8 & 10 – Mahler 4 – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Ward Stare, conductor; Emily Birsan, soprano.
March 16 & 17 – Celtic Celebration with Cathie Ryan – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Ward Stare, conductor; Cathie Ryan, vocals.
March 22 & 24 – Tchaikovsky 5 + World Premiere – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Ward Stare, conductor; Erik Behr, oboe.
April 13 & 14 – Breaking Boundaries with PUSH Physical Theatre – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Jeff Tyzik, conductor; PUSH Physical Theatre.
April 15 – Anderson & Roe Play Mozart – Hochstein Performance Hall – Michael Butterman, conductor & pianist; Anderson & Roe, pianists
April 19 & 21 – The Planets: An HD Odyssey – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Hans Graf, guest conductor.
April 28 – A Night of Symphonic Rock – Kodak Center for the Performing Arts
May 10 & 12 – Brahms 2 + World Premiere -Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Ward Stare, conductor; Yolanda Kondonassis, harp.
May 11 – Michael Grandinetti – Illusionist – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
May 20 – Classical Kids: Beethoven Lives Upstairs – Hochstein Performance Hall
May 24 & 26 – Carmen in Concert – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Ward Stare, conductor.
June 1 & 2 – Classical Mystery Tour: 50th Anniversary of Sgt. Pepper and The White Album – Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Jeff Tyzik, conductor; Classical Mystery Tour.
June 3 – Schumann’s Fourth – Hochstein Performance Hall – Michael Butterman, conductor; Juliana Athayde, violin; W. Peter Kurau, horn.
We all know there are bands that ladies just dig, and groups with lyrics that can get the booty shaking while keeping it gritty enough for the guys to be able to pump their fists to as well are even better. You know there is a band that many of us can enjoy when we want a party type of sound. There is one band from Rochester, NY who can supply such great tunage. Who is this group that promises nothing but good grooves and chaos? Diluted of course my dear friends! With their EP, Never Fit In, you will find yourself dancing and shaking more than the time you tried to reenact the bar dancing scene from Coyote Ugly! Let us get this album review in full swing boys and girls!
The first track off this album “Better Living Through Hennessy” goes from 0-60 in less than 2 seconds into the album. The guitar styles of Helmer and Coffey will take you by storm. Their funky yet hardcore approach for this track is nothing but full of life! You will have yourself singing along with the lyrics while moving those two left feet of yours. Let me tell ya, nothing beats a good old fashioned song you can find yourself singing to in the car. This song is one of those jams I can see the whole venue singing along to with a couple drinks in hand!
If you like groups like Faith No More, who has a nice little mix of rap flow blended with some great punk related attitude, the track “Hipster Helmets & Harpsichords” will make those feet of yours go manic! I really enjoy this track from the get go! Like seriously digging it with my whiskey right now! The vocal approach by Mulligan and Coffey reminds me of the glory days of my youth with such bands like Neurosonic and Skindred. Excellent destructive vocal execution fused with modern hip-hop type of lyrical construction made this song stand out the most to me personally. The most fascinating part of this track is the communication between West (drums) and Kimak (bass), which really lays down the foundation for the energy of this sweet tune! The beat is never lost and you can really swing your body to it all the way through! This will be the jam the ladies will be losing their minds to. Look out fellas, we have some bonafide lady killers on our hands!
Now this album has some great party songs on it, but it also contains great heavy tunes like “Sledge Hovercraft.” Much like the other tracks on the EP, it has a great flow with both the lyrics and musicianship. You can tell the boy’s formula is spot on with this gem! The screeching sound of the vocals on the track will make you bang your head! If you want some Red Hot Chili Peppers type funky style with your hardcore music, but want to be mad as hell at the same time, well this track is for you. This song is made for the guys hands down. If you get drunk enough and want to start a bar brawl, this will be your theme song for the ring.
Over all there are so many other great tracks on this album from Diluted. I wouldn’t think I would find myself enjoying a band like this, but I am hooked and I cannot stop blasting this. My fingers are starting to bleed from pressing the repeat button so many times! Go out and buy this sick product of jams! 4 stars out of 5 for sure! Go check out their page. You will not regret it, I promise you!
Key Tracks: Better living Through Hennessy, Sledge Hovercraft, Hipster Helmets & Harpsichords
Lakeshore Record Exchange announced that it will be closing the doors of its retail shop this summer. This cornerstone of the Rochester music community specialized in alternative music, especially rare and imported items. Starting next week on Monday, they will begin liquidating their inventory. The store will close once it’s empty. A farewell event is scheduled for September 20, with a live performance from Australia’s Severed Heads.
Time, technology and the ways in which people consume music have have changed, and in doing so have brought the Lakeshore Record Exchange’s purpose for being to its natural conclusion. – Andrew Chinnici, President
While the store at 307 Park Avenue is closing, the ancillary activities will continue. AlternativeMusic.com will continue to deliver alternative music online and through streaming apps. The Alternative Music Film Society will also live on with monthly screenings at the Memorial Art Gallery, located at 500 University Avenue. This month’s offering, Garbage One Mile High Live, will take place on Thursday, July 20 at 6:45 p.m. Admission is free.
The farewell show will also take place at the Memorial Art Gallery. This is one of a handful of U.S. shows Severed Heads will be playing this fall. The event starts at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Tickets are on sale for $20 in advance at Lakeshore Record Exchange or Memorial Art Gallery, or online with a small delivery fee. Tickets will be $25 on the day of the event.
Follow Lakeshore Record Exchange on Facebook for more information and updates.
Both bands have new unreleased albums but only Hollywood Undead have officially released details on their new album titled Five (stylized as V), while Butcher Babies have only stated on social media that they have finished recording a third full length album only referred to as BB3, presumably Butcher Babies 3. Tickets go on sale Friday July 28 at 10:00 a.m., with prices ranging from $25 to $30. This show will be 16 and up.
Paula Cummings: The name Tart Vandelay, does everyone get that it’s a Seinfeld reference, or are there people who don’t?
PC: I’ve seen you on stage, and it looks like you’re having so much fun.
PC: What do you like to listen to?
The first track off this album “Better Living Through Hennessy” goes from 0-60 in less than 2 seconds into the album. The guitar styles of Helmer and Coffey will take you by storm. Their funky yet hardcore approach for this track is nothing but full of life! You will have yourself singing along with the lyrics while moving those two left feet of yours. Let me tell ya, nothing beats a good old fashioned song you can find yourself singing to in the car. This song is one of those jams I can see the whole venue singing along to with a couple drinks in hand!