NYS Music 20​17

Tag: Audioslave

  • Mountain of Youth: The 5th Annual Susquehanna Breakdown Recap

    “And they’re off!” On Friday, May 19 the gates lifted in Scranton, Pennsylvania and campers raced to grab the flattest and grassiest space on the The Pavilion Lawn at Montage Mountain.  They were not there for the 142nd Preakness Stakes, which traditionally takes place in Maryland every third Saturday in May, but instead were celebrating a new bluegrass tradition, the 5th annual Susquehanna Breakdown. Some attendees dressed in jockey-like colors and patterns with ridiculous hats and clothing combinations.  Others wore graphic t-shirts splattered with band names like Cabinet, Umphrey’s Mcgee, Greensky Bluegrass and Phish.  By the beginning of the first set at 6:30pm, one thing was clear… everyone was there to place their bets on a winning weekend.

    The Dishonest Fiddlers, orchestrated by founder Dave Brown, are a Scranton local bluegrass act that switches up the bill every time they perform.  The lightweight and easy listening bluegrass invited campers to put down their tent poles and join in the music at the smaller “Breakdown Stage.”  Breakdowners were delighted to discover that Cabinet’s own fiddle player, Todd Kopec, was sitting in during the festival’s opening act.  The Dishonest Fiddler’s performance marked the first of many expected Cabinet sit-ins over the weekend, but that comes as no surprise as the festival is named after one of their songs!  Next up on the bill was the American-festival veteran Keller Williams.  It is hard to think of the word “bluegrass” or just “grass” in general and not think of the pumpkin pie hair-cutted freak bouncing around stage barefoot from instrument to instrument.  Once you have seen one Keller show, you have seen them all, but that doesn’t stop anyone from attending.  Keller Williams got his start in parking lots playing to the energetic crowds that gathered before the main attraction, The Grateful Dead.  For over 20 years, he has been marching to the beat of his own drum, guitar, synth and whatever else he decides to bring on stage.  The completely improvised sets travel through space and time reminiscent of a spun-out music junky that can’t decide which radio station to listen to as they station hop.  Keller closed his roots-filled funky set with a cover of Marian Hill’s “Down,” which lyrically is the most genius song to kick off a festival.  If you hate on modern pop music, give this one a listen.

    As the sun finally disappeared on Day 1 of the festival, the audience was treated to more Keller Williams for the first semi-official Cabinet set of the weekend entitled “Keller & Cabinet.”  Launching into the bluegrass traditional tune, “My Grass Is Blue,” got the fans boppin’ and air pickin’ before a cover of “Float On” by Modest Mouse.  As more and more non-camping 2-day-pass holders made their way into the venue, the atmosphere began to feel less like a backyard BBQ and more like a full-fledged festival.  The communal body heat kept everyone warm as “Ain’t Gonna Work Tomorrow” served as a reminder that Montage Mountain was home for the next 36 hours.  It wouldn’t be Night 1 of a festival without some minor technical difficulties.  After three minutes of tinkering, the stage was back on track and Cabinet allowed Keller to take the wheel for his originals, “Alligator Alley” and “Sing for My Dinner.”  Before the final track of the collaborative set, Keller commented that he wanted to do a reggae version of the upcoming tune but Cabinet insisted on playing it fast.  Much like Ricky Bobby in Talledega Nights, they wanted to go fast, and fast they went through Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab.”  Ironically enough, ambulance lights flickered through the crowd during the Winehouse cover as the first festival attendee maybe had too much too fast. Members of the crowd looked on in hopes that this would be the one and only emergency rescue of the weekend.

    On a brighter note, Cabinet came out swinging for their first major set of the weekend, tackling their catalog of reggae, bluegrass, roots and rock.  “The Smile” breezed into the first slot as the symbolic greeting tune of the evening.  “Hey Baby” gave Mickey Coviello’s guitar and Pappy Biondo’s banjo some focus in the spotlight and afterward they modestly commented it was “groovy as all hell.”  Pappy was once again the center of attention during their rendition of “Diamond Joe.” Building the song up with some fantastic peaks and valleys via JP Biondo’s mandolin and Todd Kopec’s fiddle, the 6-piece band transformed the poetic country tune into a jam-grass meltdown.  The “Diamond Joe” lyrics feature horses, betrayal and payback which are central themes in many old-timey tunes and Cabinet made this timeless piece their own to showcase their talent during this set.  The band mentioned that the crowd size was much larger compared to years past and I took it as a sign of festival growth, strength and some perfect weather.  The friendly fireside vibe of the Cabinet set was not complete without a singalong and “Pine Billy” served as a fitting choice.  The “way up on a mountain” lyrics got extra howls as families and friends belted out “Pine Billy” during the second half the short set.  “Sunday 60 Breakdown” finished off the set and the crowd significantly thinned as their beloved Cabinet went to get some rest before a big Day 2.

    The evening was not over yet as late night funk trio Organ Freeman treated the mountain to an ass shaking dance party.  Drummer Rob Humphreys, organist Trevor Steer and Erik Carlson on guitar answered the age-old question “Won’t you take me to Funkytown?”    For those in attendance looking for poppy instrumental jazz or experimental and danceable funk, they found it right off the bat with “We’re On Our Way.”  The band tested out several new songs during their set and considering most in the audience didn’t know the names to their originals anyway, it was all new and exciting to us.  The first cover came in the form of Stanton Moore Trio’s “Pie Eyed Manc.”  It was clear that Moore’s sound has a strong influence on Organ Freeman as they worked their layered grooves into every jam they went into.  My one critique is that at 1:30 in the morning, instrumental jazz begins to all sound the same.  As many non-campers such as myself began exiting the venue, it was incredible to clearly hear the echoes of funk during the entire walk back to the parking area thanks to mountain’s valley walls, which acted as natural amplifiers.  The successful first night of music was complete and the main attraction was only hours away.  The Breakdowners were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of mandolins played in their heads.

    CABINET FRIDAY NIGHT SETLIST:

    A Smile, Treat Me So Bad, Hey Baby, Diamond Joe, Mysterio, Eleanor, The Dove %, Pine Billy, Sunday 60 Breakdown

    % Brief Power Failure occurred twice during The Dove

    KELLER WILLIAMS SETLIST:

    My Grass is Blue, Float On*, Ripped 6 Pack, Ain’t Gonna Work Tomorrow, AGWT Reprise (post Power Failure), Alligator Alley, The Tower, Sing For My Dinner, Rehab **
    * Modest Mouse Cover ** Amy Winehouse Cover  (Setlist credit: Rich Stoler)

    ORGAN FREEMAN SETLIST:
    We’re On Our Way, (New Track 1), Only If You Mean It, Putin And I Get Along Fantastic, Life’s A Bench, Reptile Moonshine, Pie Eyed Manc*, Change For A Nickel, The Green Green Grapes, You Said You Quit Drinkin’, (New Track 2), Verve, Byrd vs Fish, (New Track 3), Go By Richard, Not By Dick  ENCORE: Hit The Ground Running, Come out Swinging
    *- Stanton Moore Trio

  • Chris Cornell, Dead at 52

    Within an hour of completing a performance at Detroit’s Fox Theatre, Soundgarden lead vocalist Chris Cornell was found unresponsive in his room at the MGM Grand Hotel after a concerned call to a friend from his wife, Vicky. Cornell was declared dead at the scene. The medical examiner later determined his death was self-inflicted by hanging.

    chris cornellMost famous as the front man for the Seattle grunge-era band Soundgarden and later Audioslave (formed with the remaining members of Rage Against the Machine after Zack de la Rocha’s departure), Cornell was the voice of a generation with a commanding stage presence. A Cornell performance demanded your attention.

    With his long mane of dark curly hair swirling as he delivered dark and introspective lyrics, Cornell’s image became the calling card of the fledgling Sub Pop Records and the developing Seattle scene of the late 1980s. The band’s mix of metal and punk, informed by the Sonics and the Wailers, helped forge a new sound in American rock.

    Cornell struggled with drug abuse and depression from a young age. He quit school at the age of 14 after his parents divorced, taking a job to help support his mother. He used music as his refuge during this period, eventually forming Soundgarden in 1984 with guitarist Kim Thayill and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. Cornell originally pulled double-duty on drums and vocals before Scott Sundquist joined to allow Cornell to focus on vocals. Sundquist subsequently left the band in 1986 to spend time with his new family and was replaced by Skin Yard’s Matt Cameron. The band signed to Sub Pop records in 1987, releasing its debut EP Screaming Life that year. The combination of Thayill’s drop-D tuning and Cornell’s four octave vocals, laid the groundwork for what would become the grunge scene.

    Soundgarden was the first of the big four Seattle bands (Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains round out the four) to score a major label deal, signing with A&M for 1989’s Louder Than Love, but it wasn’t until 1994’s Superunkown, that the band became a household name. Managed by Cornell’s then wife, Susan Silver, who also managed Alice in Chains, she was the band’s biggest champion. Cornell and Silver’s marriage came to an acrimonious end in 2004.

    chris cornell

    In 1990, Cornell contributed to a tribute album to his former roommate, Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone vocalist Andrew Wood, entitled Temple of the Dog. The band was comprised of former members of Mother Love Bone (Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament, both later of Pearl Jam), Mike McCready (also a future member of Pearl Jam) and Matt Cameron (a member of both Soundgarden and Pearl Jam). Eddie Vedder also appeared on the album that was largely unnoticed until the success of Pearl Jam’s debut in 1991 earned the album recognition. The single “Hunger Strike” featured Cornell and Vedder trading vocals. Cornell later stated about the session, “He sang half of that song not even knowing that I’d wanted the part to be there and he sang it exactly the way I was thinking about doing it, just instinctively.”  Temple of the Dog did a brief reunion tour in 2016 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the album.

    chris cornell emek
    Poster credit: emek.net

    Following Soundgarden’s breakup in 1997, Cornell began recording as a solo artist, releasing his solo debut, Euphoria Morning in 1999. The single “Can’t Change Me” was nominated in the Best Male Vocalist category at the 2000 Grammy Awards. During this period, he also contributed songs to several films, including Mission Impossible 2 and Casino Royale.

    In 2001, Cornell partnered with the members of Rage Against the Machine following the departure of de la Rocha. The ensuing supergroup, Audioslave, was well-received from the start. Guitarist Tom Morrello described Cornell’s introduction to the band:

    He stepped to the microphone and sang the song and I couldn’t believe it. It didn’t just sound good. It didn’t sound great. It sounded transcendent. And … when there is an irreplaceable chemistry from the first moment, you can’t deny it.

    Cornell left Audioslave in 2007 citing “musical differences” as reason for his departure. Rumors of a Soundgarden reunion began to surface in 2009 and the band eventually returned to the stage, headlining Lollapalooza in 2010. The band released its sixth album, King Animal in 2012 and has been touring since. Thayil has indicated that the band has been working on material for another Soundgarden release.

    In 2012, Cornell and his wife formed the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation to help children facing homelessness, abuse and neglect. Cornell suffered from depression throughout his life, discussing it openly in interviews. He did not leave a note prior to his suicide and gave no indication of his intentions. The investigation is ongoing. Devastated family and bandmates are cooperating in the investigation.

    If you or someone you know is showing signs of depression or thoughts of suicide, help is available. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day (1-800-273-8255). The National Institute of Mental Health has information on how to identify symptoms of depression and resources available to those suffering. Additional information, about how a mental health diagnosis can be empowering can be found here.

    The shocking death has been felt throughout the music world. Tributes, including a quickly organized memorial at seminal Seattle radio station KEXP, expressed the effect Cornell had on the music world. The Seattle landmark, the Space Needle, also went dark from 9-10 p.m. in tribute to Cornell Thursday night. Dave Mustaine of Megadeth paid tribute while on tour in Japan, performing a version of “Outshined.”

    Chris Cornell was a game-changer, an instrumental part in the early grunge scene and its doorway to the world, Sub Pop Records. He helped forge a sound that challenged and changed the music industry and in turn helped put Seattle on the rock and roll map. He is survived by his wife of 13 years, Vicky Karayiannis, their two children, Toni (12) and Christopher (11) and his daughter with Susan Silver, Lillian Jean (17).

    https://www.facebook.com/KIRO7Seattle/videos/1612291538790593/

  • This Week in Protest Music – Audioslave Reunites, new tracks by Arcade Fire and Dumpstaphunk

    A vast history of protest music has been written in response to events in our American history. Songs well known (“This Land is Your Land,” “Masters of War,” “Fortunate Son”) and lesser known (“Waist Deep in the Big Muddy,” “Ashes of War,” “Hardsome Johnny“) have been written and popularized thanks to the American right to peacefully assemble and speak freely, without fear of persecution. Artists of all genres and popularity take part in this American tradition, one that we at NYS Music hold dear. We begin this week with our new series, This Week in Protest Music. This is not a time for silence by the media, nor is it a time to ignore the voices of the people whose voices strive to be heard, in particular those who are amplified by musicians. Dissent is patriotic.

    We will share the most current and relevant protest music that is written in light of the events surrounding the new administration’s ascent to power. Neil Young took four weeks to write “Ohio” in the wake of the Kent State shooting in 1970. Thanks to technology and the immediacy of news, songs in response to unpopular actions will be more frequent and plentiful in number.

    Music is universal. Music speaks for us all. Music takes a stand.

    We share that music with you.

    This week in protest music:

    Audioslave reunited at a Prophets of Rage show at Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles. The event also featured Vic Mensa, Jackson Browne, Jack Black and the Los Angeles Freedom Choir. 

    Arcade Fire were joined by Mavis Staples for “I Give You Power.”

    Dumpstaphunk debuted the video for “Justice,” featuring Trombone Shorty. Regarding the song’s message, Ivan Neville told Relix, “The human part is that major common thread that some other humans have the ability to ignore.” He added, “This song is to remind people that we are all in this together no matter what your beliefs, race, or any other perceived differences. When you look at how far we’ve come and think about all the progress we’ve made and then think about how far we still have to go. That’s when you need justice in all its form.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp_tdt61EVA

    The National headlined a Planned Parenthood benefit and debuted “Turtleneck.”

    In honor of the Women’s March this weekend, Fiona Apple debuted “Tiny Hands.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geQPkEYJtf4