NYS Music 20​17

Tag: buffalo

  • Best of NYS Music 2017: Best Music Towns

    We’re proud to know that New York is one of the greatest states in the country, if not THE greatest state, for producing musicians and second to none live music experiences. All throughout The Empire State, venues across the state in villages, towns and cities are filled each night with up and coming and established musicians, with something new right around the corner. Your new favorite band might be playing in town tonight, and a few towns over tomorrow, and these are the artists that you can catch early and often, before they rise to stardom. We asked NYS Music’s staff and contributors, along with our readers, what they considered to be the Music Town in New York for 2017, and the winners both come from Western New York, Rochester and Buffalo.

    The venues are not the only reason why New York is such a great place for music. With the amount of national, regional and local acts touring through the state, we get the chance see bands and artists rise from their infancy playing bars and small clubs to playing larger theaters and arenas. In addition to the best music towns, we also asked our staff and readers for what they think are the acts to which we should pay the most attention.

    Best Music Town – Staff Pick

    Rochester

    Western New York had a dominant winner in Rochester as our staff pick of Best Music Town in the state. Rochester’s overall music scene might be one of the most complete in the state, with music legends teaching at the Eastman and Hochstein Schools of Music, the legendary House of Guitars which attracts musicians from around the world, plus venues that cater to a wide variety of music, aiding in the building of a strong scene. The Flour City’s proximity to Buffalo and Toronto also makes it a popular stomping ground for indie bands just starting out, and right off I-90 they bring in touring bands criss-crossing the state. Then there are the talented musicians in obscure bands that are just getting their start, leading to a great deal of artist collaboration, supporting each other as they rise in their respective parts of the overall scene.

    Between cafes, bars, theaters, and parks, live music is prominent throughout the Greater Rochester area. Events like Rochester Fringe, Xerox Rochester International Jazz Fest, Lilac Festival, Park Ave Fest, and Corn Hill Festival keep the city alive from the spring through the autumn, touching on every genre. Funk n Waffles Music Hall opened earlier this year in the former Water Street Music Hall, serving up live music with a side of waffles. The Dome Arena also re-opened this year, providing a larger venue for national acts. Three Heads Brewing has attracted a consistent slate of bands that pair well with any of the brewery’s tasty offerings. The Main Street Armory, Flour City Station, The Bug Jar, Photo City Improv, and Montage Music Hall are a regular spots for catching touring bands passing through town as well as local bands providing support. The Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, home of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, offers a range of world-class events in one of the most beautiful venues in the state.
    Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre

    Rochester is a breeding ground for talent. Rochester has a surprisingly large metal scene, one that is #4 in the country for metal bands, including punk band Primitive Screwheads, death metal band Gutted Alive, and hardcore band REPS. It is a point of pride for Rochester metal fans that Metallica came here to record there first album in 1983. Then there are some lesser-known and up-and-coming acts like Lost Wax Collective, Such Gold, Maybird, St Phillip’s Escalator, Total Yuppies, Tart Vandelay, Area Natives, The Medicinals, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, The Crooked North, Dirty Blanket, Periodic Table of Elephants, The Demos, The Dirty Pennies, So Last Year, Nerds In Denial, Carpool, Druse, Taking Meds, and Talking Under Water. Top notch music education has cultivated phenomenal young talent, such as Pilot the Universe, a band whose members are still in high school but already making waves, and 12-year-old Jack West, who recently had an opportunity to sing on stage with Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. Rochester bands are also getting national and international exposure. Rochester’s King Buffalo toured North America and Europe this summer with Elder. Following the release of their second album, Content, Joywave crossed the country twice this year – playing in support of Young The Giant and then again on a headlining tour. And Bon Iver chose local singer/songwriter/harpist Mikaela Davis to provide support on their European jaunt this year.

    Many famous musicians have called the 585 home, including Lou Gramm (a founding member of Foreigner), Gary Lewis of Gary Lewis & The Playboys, The Chesterfield Kings, composer Samuel Adler, Jazz Brothers Chuck and Gap Mangione, bluesman Joe Beard, and acclaimed drummer Steve Gadd. The roots of Rochester’s music scene can be traced back over a hundred years, to artists like blues legend Son House and jazz musician Cab Calloway. The Rochester Hall of Fame has inducted Beard, Adler, Lewis, and Gramm, House and Calloway, as well as Lew Soloff, who taught at the Eastman School of Music after his many years in Earth, Wind and Fire.

    There’s something for every musical taste in Rochester, whether you’re a lucky resident or visitor.

    Best Music Town – Reader’s Pick

    Buffalo

    Buffalo, being the second largest city in the state and one of the largest in their region of the country, sees a lot of music come through its various venues, ranging from small clubs and bars to the large New Era Field. Buffablog organizes an annual event Herd Fest, a SXSW-style multi-venue showcase featuring some of the best musicians in the region. This year’s WLKK holiday music festival stretched out over three days. Then there are numerous venues including Nietzche’s, Tralf Music Hall, Shea’s Buffalo, Canalside, Kleinhans Music Hall, Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, Mohawk Place, Town Ballroom, Buffalo Iron Works, Sugar City, Key Bank Center, and first year fest Cobblestone Live.

    Many popular music acts got their start in Buffalo including the Goo Goo Dolls and Spyro Gyra. One of the current popular bands, Aqueous, whose latest EP, Best in Show, was our staff pick for album of the year and named once again to be a Band on the Rise by our readers. And a wide variety of artists having gained or gaining a fan base from the Queen City. NYS Music 87/90 artists Intrepid Travelers and Folkfaces, folk rock icon Ani DiFranco, Rick James, Cannibal Corpse, Cute Is What We Aim For, Every Time I Die, On The Cinder, Del Paxton, Green Jelly, moe., Willie Nile, Billy Sheehan, and Wyatt Coin.

    Grammy Award-winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra has shared their stage at the landmark Kleinhan’s Music Hall with such greats as Sergei Rachmaninoff, Aaron Copland, and Yo-Yo Ma. With venues catering to a young adult audience, from the all-ages Sugar City to shows on the SUNY Fredonia campus, Buffalo is a fertile market for twenty-something alternative bands like Head North, Super American, MAGS, Previous Love, Ugly Sun, Made Violent, and Mason-Jar.)

    Buffalo is also home to recording studios who help regional artists lay down their work, but are talented enough to attract major recording artists. GCR Audio is a state of the art recording studio which attracts local as well as big-name artists, with a list of clients which includes A-listers like James Taylor, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and Lil Wayne. Outer Limits Recording Studio has been serving regional and national artists for more than two decades, and its client list includes Eminem.

    But more than just the brick and mortar venues and studios, it’s the sense of community that makes the Buffalo music scene great. Artists are supportive of each other, cross-promote, and join in collaborative efforts between musicians to help each other create and grow. Overall, the bands, venues, and industry professionals are conscientious of the needs of audience members to not only have fun but also to provide a safe environment.

  • Kerfuffle Before Christmas Night Two

    Buffalo had its first snowfall of the year this past Wednesday, but that didn’t stop flocks of people from coming out to Buffalo Riverworks to see the second night of The Kerfuffle Before Christmas.  Upon arrival, people were lined up in thirty two degree weather almost forty five minutes before the doors opened. People were in their holiday gear and it was great to see the Christmas spirit alive and well.

    Saint Motel took the stage first and brought the charisma that night as they kept fans on their feet with all the antics they did during their set. Front man A/J Jackson sang and played keyboard while using his charming personality to sway the audience, girls and guys alike. Guitarist Dak Lerdamornpong mastered the stage while Jackson was working his way up the scaffolds, pulling a Barns Courtney from TKBC night 1, but upped him by climbing all the way to the top instead of only halfway. Then, towards the end of his set, he decided to run into the crowd and up the balcony, dancing with patrons,  only to run back down the stairs and stand on one of the bar tops reminding patrons to tip the bartenders that evening.

    Børns was second to hit the stage. He was teamed with all female musicians that died down the audience in comparison to Saint Motel’s performance. His music is what you would call ‘hypnotizing.’ It`s not necessarily a loud vocal dynamic, but more within a range that you could relax to, but also dance with your friends.

    The band most people were waiting for was Jimmy Eat World. It’s a lot of pressure being the headliner and they delivered in all aspects that night. Bringing the most energy and also a certain nostalgic factor, playing an assortment of their newer stuff such as “You With Me” and longtime classics like “The Middle” and “Sweetness.” The band set the stage with a minimal appearance but it was adorned with 3 street lights that were placed above the drummer, guitarist and bassist. The lights flashed in sync with the music and it was the perfect addition to the stage without overdoing it. Doing several encores really pleased the audience and you can see it from the expressions and overhearing what fans were saying as they left.

    The Kerfuffle Before Christmas was a success and there is one night left of this magnificent concert series. The last one will be held on Sunday, December 17. Performing are Cold War Kids, lovely the band and AJR. Tickets are still available for purchase and can be found at any FYE store and Alternativebuffalo.com

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  • The Kerfuffle Before Christmas Night One

    Christmas is almost upon us and what better a way to spend leading up to it than at a concert with three great acts.  Alternative Buffalo 107.7 hosts The Kerfuffle Before Christmas (TKBC) every year. This year was different; they split it into 3 separate concerts. The last Thursday of November was the night one of three, hosted at Buffalo Riverworks. The venue itself isn’t too new, but they are new to putting on large concerts.

    Upon entry, you could see some people were in the Christmas spirit and were dressed to accompany it. Barns Courtney kicked things off for the night and got the crowd on their feet. At one point, he climbed the scaffolds that were part of the stage, singing to the fans as he went higher and higher. His voice, practically faultless throughout the pop rock morsels he delivered, and the adoring audience singing most of the words back to him only cemented his newfound rock star status.

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    In her first appearance in Buffalo, NY, Bishop Briggs, legally known as Sarah McLaughlin, then walked onto the stage. You could sense a little nervousness in her just based on her mannerisms, but soon enough those were shaken off and she ran the stage effortlessly. Her stage name stems from her family’s hometown of Bishopbriggs in Scotland. Sarah is most famously known for her hit “River” that she sang second song in and that really sparked energy in the crowd. A good portion of female singers portray themselves in a seductive manner when they are singing – not Bishop. She was wearing a track suit and was running back and forth on the stage as her long black pig tails followed right behind her. She didn’t stop smiling the whole time as if the whole thing was surreal. She is new to the music world and soon enough I think she will be dubbed queen of dark pop.DSC_6039

    Headlining the night was the ever so popular New Politics who have created such a cult following over the last several years. Buffalo is their second home base, they come here several times a year. They make it well known that they are very humbled to be here, met with such open arms. They sang classics such as “Harlem” and their newest hit, “One of Us.” They also debuted a new song called “Color Green” which is about David Boyd’s new daughter, Wolfgang, whom he recently had with girlfriend Christian Marie Serratos who is famously known for being Rosita on The Walking Dead.  These guys never disappoint when it comes to a performance, from crazy antics like break dancing moves that you’d find at the NYC subway stations to flawless solos from guitarist Søren Hansen.DSC_6131

    Night one of Kerfuffle was a success. If this is any indication as to how the other two shows will be, we are in for quite the treat. Tickets are still available for both shows. You can find them on www.alternativebuffalo.com or at local FYE stores.

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  • Roots of Creation Announces 2017-18 Tour

    Roots of Creation wishes all of their fans a “Happy HoliBlaze” as they kick off their 2017-18 tour. They’ll be playing four New York-based shows spanning from Buffalo, Brooklyn, Kingston to Canton from December through April. Of course this is a busy time of year, so those caught up in the holiday rush can also catch them just outside the city in Bridgeport CT as well as Stanhope NJ. Tickets are available now on the band’s website.

    There’s evidence that these will be some of their most energetic and memorable shows, as seen in a recent performance on their Facebook page featuring a “Rage Against the Dead” show, which garnered a large virtual and live audience. There is also reason to believe that they will be showcasing a number of Grateful Dead covers with a reggae twist due to their hype over the soon the be released album, Grateful Dub. RoC has asked fans to help fund the album by giving a donation, which is coupled with great incentives ranging from early album access to studio time with the band. Visit their PledgeMusic page for more information.

    Roots of Creation Tour:

    Nov. 25 – Portland, ME – East Coast Cannabis Conference & Awards
    Dec. 17 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Iron Works [18+]
    Dec. 19 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl
    Dec. 23 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall [18+]
    Dec. 28 – Bridgeport, CT – The Acoustic [21+]
    Dec. 29 – Stanhope, NJ – Stanhope House [18+]
    Dec. 30- Kingston, NY – BSP Kingston [18+]
    Dec. 31 – Plymouth, NH – “NYE Grateful Ball”
    Jan. 5 – Providence, RI – The Strand Ballroom & Theatre (Lupos)
    April 12 – Canton, NY – Java Barn at St. Lawrence University

  • Gwar Ruins the 1 Percent at Town Ballroom

    The day after Halloween the ghouls were still out play and people were ready to rock with mutant metal band Gwar. The intergalactic band bestowed mere earthlings of Buffalo in support of their latest album “The Blood of Gods”. Town Ballroom housed all the humans and extraterrestrial bands that night. Brent Purgason was pulling double duty, his band U.S. Bastards, the most earthling related of the group kicked things off.

    Next up was Doyle, The Misfits guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein, His singer Alex Story gave everyone a good laugh, before every song he said “This is a love song; you can dance to it if you want too.” In a girlish voice that complimented his mini skirt and fishnet stockings.

    Ghoul performed with their potato sack masks,  like something you would see out of a old scary movie. The band’s thematic set is heavily influenced by Gwar. Ghoul had various characters that squirted fake blood — from an odd dictator in a cape and gas mask to their dreaded voodoo magician complete with his large fake chicken that streamed red liquid into the crowd. Also, who wouldn’t love a giant distorted looking turnip to end a set?Black Sabbath`s “War Pigs” came over the speakers and the earthlings started getting wrestles. Fans started singing the first verse at the top of their lungs. GWAR walked onto the stage and started “War on the Gwar” playing the first track off the new album The Blood of Gods. Other new tracks included the catchy “I’ll Be Your Monster Baby” which is probably the closest thing you’ll ever get to a love song by GWAR. Blothar proceeded to covered the front section of the crowd with fake blood from his cow utter like penises

    The crowd of monster lovers also partied to older blood-filled songs like “Hail, Genocide!” and “Saddam a Go-Go.” Everyone who attends a Gwar show knows there is no hold bar with them, they poke fun at politics, corporations, social media and of course religion. During the new song “El Presidente” they brought out a Jabba the Hut looking Donald Trump which received “Boos” from the crowd as well as a mutant version of Hillary Clinton. Both were slaughtered for the gluttonous fans who wanted blood. Politics doesn’t matter at a GWAR show, mutants rule their world.

    “Do you want Blood?” asked Blothar. The already soaked crowd wanted more and they got it. GWAR ended the night with a cover of AC/DC’s “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got it)” Bone Snapper came out with his infamous sawblade spinning machine which spat out waves of blue into the audience.

    After all the recent sad events going on in the world GWAR and the other bands gave people a chance to escape from their troubles and have a great time full of singing laughter and of course blood.

  • Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad Links Kingston to Buffalo

    With the bustling, vibrant music scene which Buffalo has remarkably fostered, there are often many places a music lover can find solace on an active Saturday night. Despite the many options, it seems many WNY music lovers knew the place to be on Saturday, September 30 was in Buffalo at The Tralf Music Hall to catch a nearly sold out performance by Rochester’s own reggae powerhouse Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad (GPGDS).

    Attendants were in great spirits as they frolicked through the doors and found a place to put their recently located jackets and sweatshirts on Buffalo’s first truly chilly Autumn night. The festivities began right on time with Hip-Hop Duo Level 7 Experience acting as the night’s MC and performing on the floor in front of the stage to better engage with the audience while the bands set up.

    The crowd was loose and ready to dance once Level 7 Experience finished their first set and the opening band, Thunder Body, took the stage. The multi-instrumental, Rochester-local Dub group took no time to get started as they performed a bouncing set, spanning multiple genres. Jumping from reggae to ska to outward psychedelia, the well-rehearsed band did an excellent job using their horn section, percussionists, and theremin to create a very distinct sound of their own. It seemed as though they could play all night and everyone would have been okay with it, but unfortunately time was not on their side and they had to leave room for the main course.

    After a well-earned standing ovation, Level 7 Experience took to the floor once again to entertain the crowd while the stage was set for GPGDS. Now that people were a bit more liquored up and frisky, the duo played to the room and performed more call and response songs than their first set. By the time they finished their last number and thanked the crowd, GPGDS took the stage leaving almost no time between performances.

    As the band took the stage, the screen behind them featured a homage to the city by displaying the Bill’s logo with the buffalo replaced by a panda. It quickly became clear that this was a reoccurring symbol as many people in the crowd wore shirts with the logo, indicating how invested and committed the reggae band’s fanbase was in the area.

    A long, slow drum segment started out the set, leading to an explosion of funk and reggae with bass player James Searl and drummer Chris O’Brian holding down the low end while guitarist Dylan Savage played a scratchy rhythm to get the crowd grooving. After the long intro, O’Brian mixed things up by playing a Latino-inspired beat prompting Searl to holler a Marley-inspired rap with quick, impressive alliteration. Following a breakdown and nailed composed ending, the band slowed things down and segued perfectly into a slower reggae number.

    The light, minimalist reggae tune transformed the Tralf from a dark, oddly shaped room to a refreshing summer day just relaxing by the pond. Reggae fans experienced exactly what they came for as keyboardist Tony Gallicchio sprinkled light-hearted fills throughout the tune while the rest of the band kept things easy. From there they shifted the tempo once again to a faster reggae number which allowed guitarist Dan Keller to showcase his musical expertise by taking the quick reggae tune to space, infusing his love of reggae with that of psychedelia.

    One of the most impressive aspects of GPGDS is their ability to jump from song to song without any stopping and constructing their setlist to feel seamless. They controlled the energy in the room throughout the night with few breaks in the music and making the show feel like a sound wave; going up and down as they played songs with varying tempos one after another.

    Each member of the band was proficient at what they played and took turns on lead vocals. Throughout the night the band excelled at giving the crowd a genuine reggae performance while at the same time incorporating different genres to establish a sound of their own. By welcoming guest spots from the previous acts, there was never a dull moment throughout the show as you could not predict what was coming next.

    Had you told me I would be walking out of this show and entering the humid streets of Kingston, I might have believed you after that performance. It is clear why GPGDS has such a strong following among reggae fans, and they can truly do justice to a genre of music that so many bands tend to butcher.

    giant panda buffalo

  • Lettuce Brings the Funk to Buffalo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Encore: The Flu

  • Interview: A Casual Conversation With Funktional Flow

    Sitting down to drink a beer with a band is an experience for which every journalist yearns. I had the pleasant opportunity to sit down with Guitar/Vocalist Jeffery Kueber and Keyboard/Saxophone/Vocalist Mathew Lester of Buffalo’s Funktional Flow for an interview

    The meet-up took place at Three Heads Brewery in Rochester, NY.  Over a heady Three Heads Brewery beer, we discussed Flowfest, Night Lights Music Festival, The Great Blue Heron Music Festival and Cobblestone live.  We also discussed the birth of the band, their long-term growth and a few of their influences.  In reality, we just sat down and chatted.  It was a ton of fun!

    The conversation was recorded in full and used as a “Rochester Groovecast” podcast episode.  The episode also contains two Funktional Flow tracks, “Back Door” and “Time Will Tell.”

    Click the play button below to listen!

    Keep in touch with Funktional Flow!
    www.funktionalflow.com
    Facebook: www.facebook.com/FunktionalFlowMusic
    Twitter: twitter.com/FunktionalFlow
    Instagram: www.instagram.com/funktionalflow/
    ReverbNation: www.reverbnation.com/funktionalflow
    Bandcamp: funktionalflow.bandcamp.com

  • Train Brought All the Love to Darien

    Upon arrival, you’d think there wasn’t much going on at Darien Lake Amphitheater, but once you entered the venue, it was a whole different story. It was pretty packed inside and fans were scrambling around to get to their seats before O.A.R came on. You could see the dividing wall between casual concert goers and ones who were die hard based on the shirts or what they sang, for every song that both bands played that night. Whichever side you fell on, you were not to be disappointed by the upcoming performances.

    Train is led by singer/guitarist Pat Monahan and the stage made it clear who was in charge. Except for a couple of occasions, everybody stayed on their designated risers, leaving the front of the stage to Monahan. He’s full of stage tricks, seeing which side of the crowd can sing louder or turning a video camera onto the audience. During the song “If It’s Love,” Pat grabbed cell phones from the audience and would take a selfie while flawlessly singing the song. He also brought out Natasha Bedingfield to sing the song “Bruises” and it was a perfect duet to say the least.

    O.A.R.’s music is a genial blend of straightforward rock and light reggae. They are a six-piece band from Rockville, Maryland and a mighty band indeed. From start to finish, their presence was strong and most members had quite the facial expressions and charisma. Guitarist Richard On was engaging with the crowd and even at one point tossed a pick to a little girl in the front row. Vocalist Marc Roberge was all smiles during the show and had the fans singing along with him swaying to and fro. The night went without a hitch and not one individual seemed to leave displeased by the night’s performances.

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  • PA Line Folk-ed Up Buffalo Iron Works

    PA Line is a five-piece band hailing from Buffalo. Forming just two years ago, they are yet another band on the rise in the plump music scene in our beautiful Queen city. The band consists of Trevor Stribing (vocals, guitar, percussion), Pat Brown (banjo), Adam Nicpon (mandolin), Alyssa Wainwright (violin, vocals) and Lucas Honig (bass, vocals).

    The 2016 Western New York Music Awards winners of both Best Folk Band and Best Indie Band lived up to those credentials for their third ever performance at Buffalo Iron Works. Their set provided high energy and the band seemed to feed off of the crowd’s positive reaction. Filming was completed for their first official music video throughout the duration of their set at Iron Works. Stay tuned to NYS Music for when that drops.

    PA Line will be announcing some upcoming tour dates in the very near future.  The band had this to say: “All of us at PA Line love performing and when the crowd has great energy, we really feed off that. Its a priceless feeling when everyone at the show is just having fun and good energy is in the air. With that being said the fans were absolutely amazing last night, definitely a night we wont forget.”

    Setlist: Breathe, Time, Baby Don’t Go, Scream Out, Open, Shadows, Shut Up, The King, Liar, Escape

    Encore: The End