It’s no secret that the Disco Biscuits are touring, improvisational machines. The trance-fusion foursome offers their die-hard fan base countless opportunities to catch them on the road throughout the year, even if they tend to favor the East Coast, their home base in Philadelphia, PA and the renowned Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado. What remains annually constant, is their long-running Montage Mountain mania. Camp Bisco is now boasting a ‘save the date’ and offering alumni pre sale tickets to bring your ass to the party, taking place from July 12-14, 2018.
After being held in a total of four different locations and taking a break in 2014, Magner, Barber, Brownie and Allen will bring their flair to Montage Mountain, with Scranton acting as the festival’s residence for the fourth consecutive year. While freshly crafted festivals are popping up each year, Camp Bisco managed to hold its own, on and off since ‘99. With its 16th festival and year in operation, the recurring party provides six Biscuits sets, mesmerizing laser shows, abundant art and camping, cool downs in the pool, 5k marathons, zany color wars and other activities over the course of three jam-packed days. Although hosted and heavily based around the Biscuits, fans favoring a multitude of genres, specifically electronic dance music, find their way to the mountain. In the past, favorable acts have included STS9, Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, Gramatik, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Lotus and more.
Partying isn’t the only thing taking precedence over the weekend, the quartet makes sure they give back to the community by promoting fundraising and food drives, having raised money for hurricane relief and even gathering young fans to register to vote.
An alumni pre-sale begins this Thursday, Dec. 21 at noon at the Camp Bisco website with the password: ALUMNI. You can catch The Disco Biscuits for the last time in 2017 at NYC’s Playstation Theater from Dec. 28-31.
The Camp Bisco 2018 lineup is still TBA but check out the official 2017 aftermovie and NYS Music’s coverage of last year’s fest here to hold you over:
Music Festivals are constantly curated and in recent times, unfold in abundance as live music lovers today are spoiled to have their preferred picks of summertime get downs. However, there’s only one original festival that can be credited with truly sparking an endless movement–Woodstock. We’re lucky enough to see footage, listen to wild tales of the 1969 live music renaissance and visit the stomping grounds where the magic of Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin and so many more were unleashed. Now, New York State has big plans to step in with financial funding to commemorate the fest with a 2019 50th Woodstock anniversary event.
After rumors have circulated among fake bills, rock music fans can rest knowing that a dream will soon be reality. According to LocalSyr, “The Regional Economic Development Council announced earlier this week includes nearly $690,000 for the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts — that’s located on the site of the original Woodstock Music Festival.”
Promoter Michael Lang put together two previous anniversary versions of the iconic festival; the first in nearby Saugerties at Winston Farm in 1994. The event featured a raucous mud-throwing performance from Green Day, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Primus and Bob Dylan. The 1999 edition, held on a deactivated air force base in Rome, is most remembered for its tumultuous ending. Attendees rioted, starting fires and looting vendors as the final bands performed. Allegations of rape throughout the weekend also tainted the festival, putting any further incarnations of it in doubt.
Having showcased three days of peace, music and love to over 400,000 attendees, the 2019 event will offer the same three-day setup at the 11-year old venue. Bethel Woods oozes history from its amphitheater to its Woodstock Museum that often showcases clothing and special effects from its generation’s biggest stars, offering you a way to get lost in time and get on the bus for a bit.
We won’t get to see Hendrix shred the “Star-Spangled Banner,” hear Jerry Garcia sing songs to fill the air or listen in awe as Joplin unleashes her raspy vocals to an endless crowd but we can only expect the biggest names to make their way out to the late 1960s and 1970s resurgence. No one who was there will ever be the same, and we’re hoping this statement at least holds up half way for its 50th anniversary bash.
Relinquishing their debut full-length album to the world, Sun Parade successfully tugs at familiar emotions to send listeners on a 12-track sensory highway. Shuggy Mtn Breakdown boasts airy pop-rock blended with vibrant psychedelia that comes crashing down in waves. The 5-piece Northampton, MA outfit take you on a journey through self discovery with thematic commonalities all humans endure–love, life, questioning happiness and how to pursue it.
With infectious melodies and light-hearted vocals, Chris Marlon Jennings (vocals, guitar), Jeff Lewis (vocals, guitar), Max Wareham (bass, vocals), Karl Helander (drums, vocals), and Eli Salus-Kleiner (keyboard) are able to instantly grab a listening ear through their radio-ready sound while remaining comfortably candid. Reminiscent of elements of the White Stripes’ prominent and punchy vocals, Tame Impala’s airy singing and the Black Keys‘ american rock tone, the indie, power-pop album was recorded in a one-room studio on the 4th floor of an old industrial Brooklyn building. It’s no surprise that Rubblebucket’s own Ian Hersey sat in the producer’s chair to extend a helping hand and trained ear.
The whimsical opening track of “Sleep Alone” warmly welcomes listeners into a dream-pop state of mind before launching into the cheeky “Cheer Up,” which does just as its title implies with both tempo and mood simultaneously picking up. Distorted noise and spoken word vocals shine on “Steal My Thunder” while “Game Boy” brings forth an extremely relatable message, embracing hooks and easy-to follow lyrics.
A relaxed and slowed down “Braindrain” flips a genre switch as it walks away from the bubblegum sound and introduces a more delicate, soul-leaning attitude, complete with mesmerizing synth sounds and whistle-along tangents. The hard hitting and emotional rock track “Psycho” follows with wailing vocals and gritty grunge guitar breakdowns you didn’t see coming but can’t imagine the album without. “Shuggy Mtn” holds its own as the album’s party anthem. The namesake song dives into sonic exploration and punk tendencies by blending psychedelic rock elements with wailing vocals and hard hitting on the drum kit.
The second to last track on the album, “Echoes of My Heart,” softens the tone and slows the release’s pulse with a quick, dreamy interlude before “Tear (Can’t Stop Believing),” wraps Sun Parade‘s initial release and circles back to the album’s blunt storytelling and hopeful tone.
Through airy vocals and melodic exploration, the quintet proved they aren’t afraid to have fun and dip their toes in a pool of myriad genres while getting emotionally raw with their audience. Shuggy Mtn Breakdown aims to be timeless, allowing their hopeful and tender lyrics to appropriately contrast and offset its darker rock and roll musical elements.
Touring in support of their release, Sun Parade will storm through Rochester’s Bug Jar on Dec. 10 just ahead of Swordpaw on Dec. 15. Listen to Shuggy Mtn Breakdown in it’s entirety below:
Key Tracks: “Steal My Thunder,” “Braindrain,” “Psycho”
Mastering the headlining slot across the country, invading the studios at Paste Magazine and announcing a fresh run of gigs for Winter tour with a pass through Rochester’s Anthology, Greg Ormont, Jeremy Schon, Ben Carrey and Alex Petropulos have channeled their full potential into their latest studio effort.
With their ‘Pizazz’ tour in full swing hitting every square inch of North America, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong have perfected their explosive live energy and demanding presence with each passing show. Never slowing momentum and bringing the “better than the last” mentality to every gig, they stormed the freshly introduced Brooklyn Steel on Nov. 24, just before P4 brings their “Fun in Funk” to Saratoga Springs’ newly renovated Putnam Den just over one year from their Dopapod opening set.
NYS Music got to chat with Ormont, the wide-eyed front man on a rare day off, ahead of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong‘s Putnam Den resurgence. Here’s what he had to say about song-writing evolution, evanescent free time and the group’s steadfast efforts, all with interjections from wrestling foster cats.
Alyssa Ladzinski: Hey Greg! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me tonight. You’re in between gigs, where am I catching ya today?
Greg Ormont: I’m in Baltimore where we live when we’re not touring all the time so I’m at home which is always appreciated! Ready to get this interview rollin’.
AL: Let’s do it. Well as far as NY state shows go, you hit Brooklyn Steel a few days ago and being from Port Washington, LI yourself, how can you describe the atmosphere of that NY show and playing in a freshly opened and energized venue?
GO: Oh, Brooklyn Steel is fantastic. It’s very “Brooklyn” in the sense that you’re walking outside of it and it kinda looks like a warehouse, you really wouldn’t expect it to be this awesome venue from the outside but once you’re inside, its expansive, everyone can see the stage, the sound is great and on our end, the crew was awesome and super helpful. We had a smooth time at a new venue in Brooklyn. The energy in the room was off the charts. I had a few friends from LI in the crowd but it was hard to see them because fortunately a lot of people came out, so it was a blast. We even debuted a new Stevie Wonder cover that seemed to go over well.
AL: The last time you played Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs you opened for Dopapod. This time around, you’re headlining. Are you approaching this show any differently than you did nearly one year ago?
GO: Well we approach all our shows more or less the same with the full amount of energy that we can muster. With a headlining show, we have more time to jam and extend songs. I think the only difference will be that we’re able to dig into our catalogue more and extend jams for however long we want. When you’re opening, you’re always looking at the clock trying to wrap up with enough time for the next band to go on. We have a lot more freedom headlining and hopefully it’ll reflect in the music.
GO: *Hold on, time out. I have to break up a cat fight. Come on! Enough! Sorry, you can include this in all the quotes. Or don’t.*
AL: You bet I will. It’s all gold. I feared my cats would do the same.
GO: Go upstairs! My fiance fosters a lot of animals so I have an old geriatric dog barking at random cats. OK they’ve been separated. We should have a smooth interview from here. We have a bunch of cats walking around. This dog will bark at its reflection for a while. Animals have been separated, adrenaline is pumping, let’s keep movin’!
AL: Colorful is one word that comes to mind when thinking of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. Let’s say you, Jeremy, Ben and Alex are each your own crayons. What color would each of you be and why?
GO: Holy moly I really didn’t see this question coming. Well Jeremy would be green and we’re gonna go with snake green. That’s because our guitarist has always been into snakes, lizards and frogs and stuff. He’s the kinda guy that will pick up a frog if its hopping around and I believe his first screen name was greensnakeman, maybe greensnakeman88. For some reason I’m thinking Alex would be red. I haven’t played with crayons in a while. He’d be a ragin’ red. And then I really wanna be blue but I’d have to pick a better adjective.
AL: I’m channeling a Blazin’ Blue.
GO:Blazin’ blue, that’s not bad! I’ll take help from NYS Music. Boy, and Ben would be the only one that changes color. He’d be the chameleon crayon. Everyday is different, every song is different and he changes outfits right in front of your eyes on stage. He’s a chameleon crayon straight-up and I’m blazin’ blue courtesy of NYS music.
AL: That’s what we’re here for! You announced even more winter tour dates on this ‘Pizazz’ run- how do you take time to rejuvenate with every show during this expansive and rigorous touring schedule?
GO: Well we just appreciate the times that we’re home and try to pour as much energy into our home life as we do on stage and on tour. We keep pretty busy off the road between working on new material, upcoming shows and we’ll be announcing a theme for our New Year’s show very soon. Jeremy and I throw Domefest, so you know I would like to rejuvenate more but I definitely don’t have any complaints. Now is the time for us. I know that and I love hustlin’, it’s good to stay busy. Even on tour we have some sweet off days. We went out in New Orleans this past tour and blew off some steam day drinking and wandering around the city. We recently went jet skiing in San Diego with our original drummer which is a great way to rejuvenate and keep the spirits exploding. It’s also another way to stay completely exhausted on tour on your one day off but it’s a sacrifice we’re willing to make.
AL: A lot of these tracks have been performed over the course of the years with your extreme live presence and are already fan-favorites. Which track are you happiest made the cut onto Pizazz?
GO: I’m definitely proud of “Ocean Flows.” That’s a song that I wrote the basic ideas for a while ago and it took us a while as a band to agree that it’s one we should play live. It’s one of the band’s more favorable songs to play to keep the energy flowing all the way to the end. It’s always cool listening to the finished products and remembering how they were written. Some being in spur of the moment goofy situations and it’s amazing people are listening and playing it on the radio when it was just a fun little diddy that developed into a song. A lot of times it boils down to if you picked up the guitar that day. One day I pick up the guitar and stumble across a fun new song that we love playing live, then it’s onto the album and radio station. You can always bring it back to “what if I never picked up the guitar that day.” Reminds me to take chances and strike now but at the same time keep it loose and not worry about where the song is going. If it ends up on an album that’s great, but if not, that’s also fine because fortunately the jam community allows us to play a lot of different kinds of music.
AL: Let’s talk the Flock and the Coop, your Facebook fan page and marketplace. Your fan base exponentially grows as does the sale of your pins. Are you surprised to see how much money people are willing to drop on them? I’ve even seen a few go for around 300 bucks.
GO: It’s pretty wild people are collecting our pins so feverishly. I kinda shut that type of stuff out. I stopped looking at the Flock as much as well its better I just focus on writing music and making plans for upcoming shows and not getting bogged out whats going on with the outside of things. I’m very appreciative people are psyched about our artwork and the band and we hope that whoever is flipping these pins are doing something good with the money. We prefer that go to charity or something but nonetheless, we’re excited that people are stoked on it and we love working with local artists and people from all over the country to make new artwork and keep pushing the envelope with how wacky we can get with a band named Pigeons Playing Ping Pong.
AL: What advice do you have for first time flockers catching the Putnam Den show?
GO: Oh man, well just relax and if you feel like dancing like a monkey go for it, no one’s gonna judge you if you dance like a monkey. We’ve had a few monkeys at our shows that have impressed us and inspired us to play more jungle style music. Just let it flow and don’t forget to smile.
AL: What actor would play you in a movie based on your life?
GO: Oh I hope me, that would be so cool! Do people do that? Maybe John C. Reilly but we’d have to act quickly. Wouldn’t want to do that in 20 years, that would be older Dewey right before he has a heart attack on stage. I think he could pull it off. Maybe Idris Elba. A strong combo of Idris Elba, John C. Reilly and a dash of Jack Black.
AL: Spitfire round! Choose the first answer that comes to mind.
AL: Kiwi or mango?
GO: Kiwi!
AL: Lemon or lime?
GO: Lemon
AL: New York or California?
GO: Ah. I know it’s supposed to be quick but I’m from New York and I really like California and I WANT to say California but my heart says New York.
AL: Sweet or savory?
GO: Sweet
AL: White or dark chocolate?
GO: White, and you know, I really would choose milk chocolate and in retrospect, I’d probably go lime but I said lemon. But that’s what it’s all about! It reveals things to me that I didn’t know about myself. In most interviews I don’t learn a lot about myself so thank you for this introspective line of questioning. I’ll be up all night thinking about the crayons and who would play me in a movie. I’ll text you later if i think of a better answer. Also feel free to take a poll! If any of our readers know who would play me in a movie, let’s hear it!
AL: We’ll put a call out! Thanks so much for entertaining these questions with some fun answers and anecdotes. Really looking forward to catching you at the Den.
GO: That was fun! You really threw me off. I normally get more standard questions. If I seriously think of anything else I’ll text you a follow up and you can say ”Greg texted later that it’s really “Sahara orange.”
Catch Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at Putnam Den on Saturday, December 2nd with the help of Flamingosis in the opening slot. Doors open at 8:30pm with the show to rage shortly after at 9:30pm.
Rangers, the lineup is here. The 12th annual Rock on the Range has announced all of the artist that will appear at the three day festival starting May 18-20, 2018 in Columbus, OH, at MAPFRE Stadium.
Nearly 60 bands will perform over three days headled by Tool, Avenged Sevenfold, and Alice In Chains. Tool frontman, Maynard James Keenen will not only appear with Tool, his other band, A Perfect Circle, will also appear sometime during the festival.
Daily lineups are yet to be announced but other artists scheduled to appear among the three stages the include Godsmack, Stone Sour, Breaking Benjamin,Three Days Grace, Stone Temple Pilots, Bullet For My Valentine, Black Veil Brides, Asking Alexandria, I Prevail, Greta Van Fleet, Trivium, 10 Years, From Ashes To New, Like A Storm, Shaman’s Harvest, and Stitched Up Heart to name a few.
In a recent Blabbermouth article, Avenged Sevenfold frontman, M. Shadows, commented on headlining ROTR. He stated:
Rock On The Range is the undisputed champion of American rock festivals. The team over there has done an incredible job of curating a potent mix of all the types of rock ‘n roll that any fan could ask for. It’s an honor to play at the top of the bill, and we cannot wait to see everyone in May.
Several ticket packages have already sold out, with several options to choose from still available, but they won’t last for long as ROTR seems to sell out quicker each year. Weekend passes include Field VIP – $349 plus fees, Field General Admission – $299.50 plus fees, and Stadium General Admission – $149.50.
Uber Ranger camping packages are available while supplies last along with bronze, silver, gold, and diamond hotel packages. For more information, visit the festival website here.
As our favorite legendary artists grow older, its only inevitable, that one day we will hear the sad news that one has passed away. Sadly, AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young will join several other legendary artists at the “Music Festival in Heaven.”
Longtime bandmate, friend, and AC/DC frontman, Brian Johnson, posted a statement on his website about the passing of Young titled, “For 32 years, we stood side by side on stage.” His letter stated:
I am saddened by the passing of my friend Malcolm Young, I can’t believe he’s gone. We had such great times on the road. I was always aware that he was a genius on guitar, his riffs have become legend, as has he. I send out my love and sympathy to his wife Linda, his children Cara and Ross, and Angus, who will all be devastated…. as we all are. He has left a legacy that I don’t think many can match. He never liked the celebrity side of fame, he was too humble for that. He was the man who created AC/DC because he said “there was no Rock,n,Roll” out there. I am proud to have known him and call him a friend, and I’m going to miss him so much. I salute you, Malcolm Young. – Brain Johnson, November 2017
MalcolmYoung passed away on Nov. 18 at the age of 64, after suffering from dementia for the past few years. He formed AC/DC with his brother Angus in 1973. Besides playing guitar, Malcolm was a producer and songwriter, who help create some of the biggest rock and roll anthems in history, such as “Hells Bells,” “Back In Black,” “Highway To Hell,” and “You Shook Me All Night Long,” to name a few. He retired from the band in Sept. 2014, after being diagnosed with dementia in April 2014. Young and his AC/DC bandmates have sold over 110 million albums, are were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.
Rolling Stone posted several comments from various artist, once the news of Malcolm’s death started to circulate throughout the music industry including Eddie Van Halen, Nancy Wilson and Slash. You can read those comments below:
Steven Van Zandt (E Street Band): “Malcolm was the essential rhythm guitarist of the world’s greatest working class hard rock band. An irreplaceable loss.”
Slash (Guns N’ Roses): “Malcolm Young was one of the best ever rhythm guitarists in rock and roll. He was a fantastic songwriter and he had a great work ethic too. I toured with AC/DC on their ‘Stiff Upper Lip’ tour. I found Malcolm to be a really cool, down to earth fellow. The entire rock and roll community is heartbroken by his passing.”
Nancy Wilson (Heart) “Malcom Young was the embodiment of rock itself. His rhythm guitar style needed no embellishment. He laid down the simple solid guitar truth that taught us all about the ‘less is more ethic.’ The wild power of simplicity and the head banging hair flipping joys of turning it up really loud and dancing with the vibrations. Thank you, Malcom for being the real deal. We are all going to miss that shredding music that only you and your brother could make together.”
Eddie Van Halen: “It is a sad day in rock and roll. Malcolm Young was my friend and the heart and soul of AC/DC. I had some of the best times of my life with him on our 1984 European tour. He will be missed and my deepest condolences to his family, bandmates and friends.”
Dave Mustaine: “I have to go…I am losing it that Malcolm is gone. I hate this…” Kiss’ Paul Stanley added, “The driving engine of AC/DC has died. A tragic end for a sometimes unsung icon. One of the true greats. RIP.” Tom Morello praised Young as “#1 greatest rhythm guitarist in the entire history of rock n roll.”
They say all good things, come to an end, and with the recent post on the Vans Warped Tour social media pages, it looks like the multi-genre tour will end and make its final cross-country run in 2018 after 23 years of touring the festival.
The final nail in the coffin will take place in 2019, where organizers of the tour stated that the 2019, 25th Anniversary edition, will be the end, and will be a special showcase to celebrate the tour’s storied history, not a tour.
A picture posted on the tour’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages with a quote from Warped Tour creator Kevin Lyman stated, “Today, with many mixed feelings, I am here to announce that next year, will be the final, full cross-country run of the Vans Warped Tour.” Once the news posted, fans began commenting on the news with memories, speculation, wise remarks and anger, which prompted Vans to respond.
Some fans who commented on the news, received a reply from Warped Tour. In response to one fan who said the tour will run a couple more years with limited dates, Warped Tour stated:
The 25th anniversary small celebration in 2019 will 100% be the end – but we are working to make this year’s full tour an awesome one!
When another concerned fan asked if the tour would in fact still run with very limited dates, Warped Tour responded:
2018 will be the FINAL tour we are working to make sure this 2018 cross-country tour is one to remember. The 25th anniversary celebration in 2019 will NOT be a tour, but a special showcase to celebrate the tour’s storied history.
In response to a concert-goer who said the tour ending was sad, asked why it was ending. Warped Tour replied:
Right now, we are working to make sure this 2018 cross-country tour is one to remember. The 25th anniversary will not be a full cross-country tour, but it will be a special showcase to celebrate the tour’s storied history. We simply don’t know more details on the 25th anniversary celebration yet – our team is working hard on the 2018 tour first
It will be sad to see this tour go because the Vans Warped tour is a special kind of tour that gives several upcoming artists a platform to get their feet wet playing live shows and touring across the country. Many of those artists have made a name for themselves in the music industry since their first appearance on the tour, with many returning to headline one of the various stages the tour offered. Some of those artists include Black Veil Brides, Asking Alexandria, Beartooth, Motionless in White and many more.
Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, posted an extensive response on the situation through Warped Tour’s website. He stated:
I have been a very lucky person to have traveled across the country and sometimes around the world as one of the founders and producers of the Vans Warped Tour. Today, with many mixed feelings, I am here to announce that next year will be the final, full cross-country run of the Vans Warped Tour. I sit here reflecting on the tour’s incredible history, what the final run means for our community, and look forward to what’s to come as we commemorate the tour’s historic 25th anniversary in 2019.
In 1995, I had already worked many years in the music business, including spending four summers on the Lollapalooza tour, and I thought, ‘for one summer I would like go out and put on my own show’ mixing music and action sports. With the support of so many people, I have now spent the last 23 summers bringing that show to a city near you. We have brought that show to over 11 million people around the world and watched that same world change while doing so.
I have been proud to work with so many artists who have grown to be some of the largest stars in the world. Countless bands have played in hot parking lots and through summer storms for you at some point.
Bands like Quicksand, Sublime, L7, No Use for A Name and No Doubt jumped on in the very first year.
Touring many summers with my friends and peers like – Pennywise, Social Distortion, NOFX, Bad Religion, The Descendents, Less Than Jake, Dropkick Murphys, The Bouncing Souls, Rancid, Flogging Molly, Anti-Flag and The Offspring are just some of my fondest memories. More include, having Blink-182 travel on my bus in 1997 when the world opened up to them and made them the superstars they are today.
The Vans Warped Tour was the platform to witness the rise of pop punk with Sum 41, Simple Plan, MXPX, New Found Glory and Good Charlotte.
The birth of Emo – with bands like Thrice, Thursday, The Used, Taking Back Sunday, The Starting Line, Motion City Soundtrack and Jimmy Eat World.
Fast-forward to the summer in 2005 when TRL and Warped Tour helped launch the careers of Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance and Avenged Sevenfold.
I witnessed Warped alumni like The Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, No Doubt and even Kid Rock play the Super Bowl. I’ve even had the pleasure of seeing Green Day play the Rose Bowl.
More recently, I’ve watched bands start out on a small stage and work their way up to the main stages by meeting as many fans as possible and continuing to hone their craft while on the tour. Bands like Paramore, A Day To Remember, Sleeping With Sirens, Pierce The Veil, Echosmith, Motionless in White, Black Veil Brides, Every Time I Die, Neck Deep, Beartooth and so many more.
What has always made me proud was when I read that Warped was the most diverse show of the summer where you could find Eminem and Ice-T on the same stages as Sevendust, Pennywise, and 7 Seconds.
I am so grateful to have worked with more than 1,700 bands over the last 23 summers. I wish I could thank every band that has played the tour.
The Vans Warped Tour has become the community I had always hoped for. We have worked with over 90 non-profits each summer shining a light on new and growing groups giving our community the resources they need to connect with people who can help them, but also encourages our community to help each other. To Write Love on Her Arms, Music Saves Lives, Feed The Children Now, Keep a Breast, Hope For The Day, Canvas Foundation, Living The Dream and A Voice for the Innocent have built their organizations from the Warped Tour parking lots across the country. This even inspired me to start my own foundation Unite the United.
The work we do each summer on “give back days” has become part of our DNA. My brain is etched with the image of the church ladies after Katrina serving beans and rice to The Casualties with their upright mohawks, finding a common ground where no one was judging anyone. Then finding out the only working business in the county seemed to be the moonshine still and the locals showing up with a crate to share with the crew later that evening.
The long hot days that ended around a BBQ with food, drink and more music are some of the best times. Enjoying the days off, taking people jet boating, house boating, river rafting and sometimes even skydiving. I witnessed lifelong friendships being made, sparks of romance that led to ‘Warped weddings,’ and unfortunately now, more notices of passings where a proper good bye was not able to be said.
I want to thank my supportive family who has been through the highs and lows, Darryl Eaton at CAA, Steve Van Doren and Vans, Kate, Julie, Allison and Steph. My hard ass working crew who puts that show up and down each day, the sponsors which without them this tour would not happen, the bands and their crews, the promoters who took a risk on us at the beginning and continue to be supportive.
It will be bittersweet each morning when I see the sun rise and then watch it set knowing that this will be the last time I get to witness it from that exact spot.
Though the tour and the world have changed since ’95, the same feeling of having the ‘best summer ever’ will live on through the bands, the production teams, and the fans that come through at every stop.
The enduring spirit of the Vans Warped Tour remains as bright as ever, continuing to inspire creativity and ambition in new and exciting ways as we prepare for a 25th anniversary celebration in 2019.
I truly look forward to seeing as many of you as possible during this final cross country run, and getting to thank you for your support on this wild adventure. Until then, take care and be safe. – Kevin Lyman (Founder of the Vans Warped Tour)
Warped will hit the road for the last time on June 21 in Pomona, CA, and end on Aug. 5 in West Palm Beach, FL. New York will see two stops on the final run. Darien Lake will host the festival on July 25 and Wantagh’s Jones Beach Amphitheater on July 28. Artists are still to be determined and will be announced in early 2018.
For the past six years during the Autumnal Equinox in late September, what has been described by hosing band Lespecial as a “Pagan inspired multi-media mini-fest” has taken place. After making its rounds at various venues in both Boston and New York, Lespectacle VII landed at one of the top music clubs in the country, Brooklyn Bowl, which Rolling Stone ranked the venue 20th in the nation in 2013.
This year the “psychedelic, haunted circus” not only featured stage design provided by The Reliquarium, a multi-media light and visual show from Vin Pugliese, and was boasting the best lineup of musical acts the mini-fest has seen yet, it was also moved to be held on October, 31… Halloween night. Oh, and did I mention Lespecial would be taking the opportunity to release their second studio album, Cheen? Trick or Treat Lespecialists… Happy Hallo-CHEEN!
Supporting acts included Dallas’s “The Funky Knuckles,” New York’s own Horizon Wireless, as well as a set from Oakland California’s legendary hip-hop act Zion I with non other than your hosts Lespecial as the backing band. That collaboration first came about with a set at The Great North Music Festival. After working with Zion I, Lespecial decided to feature the MC on the 4th track of the new album titled “Sound That We Do.” The set at Lespectacle 7 was the second time the cross-genre on-stage collaboration took place. Luke Bemand’s heavy bass and Jonathan Grusauskas’ sampled sounds and synth-scapes lend themselves well to the prolific word flow Zion I has been bringing to the stage since the early 2000’s.
As for the new sophomore studio album, Cheen, we find a band unafraid to challenge the concepts of traditional genres. They have taken a step further in refining their style by not adhering to the preconceived notions of what that style should be. In fact there is hardly a genre this album doesn’t touch. They have become known for their metal/funk mash up sound on tracks like “Skull Kid” featuring samples of Jack Nicholson as the Joker in the Tim Burton’s 1989 film Batman, and the Primus-esque “American Apocalypse” However the track “Stolen Land” brings in a roots-rock/dub sound, and tracks like “Sounds That We Do” and “Donut Ghost House I” and “Donut Ghost House II” bring a hip-hop sound to the album. It’s as if someone said “It’s all been done before” and Lepecial said “Then let’s just do it all.” Spotify player below.
Connecticut rock power trio, Great Blue have hit the road for the first leg of their tour in support of the band’s new self titled album, Great Blue. The first portion of the tour will see the band travel for two months throughout the eastern U.S., hitting 20 different cities. Great Blue is planning a second leg of the tour and currently working out the details for that run.
The tour kicked off on Oct. 27 at the Centre Street Pub in Schenectady and will conclude at home, on Nov. 25, at the Arch Street Tavern in Hartford, CT. New Yorkers can catch Great Blue play one more show on the first leg in N.Y. state at the Java Barn in Canton.
Rocking together for 10 years, Great Blue is made up of Peter Anspach (guitar/bass), Nick Hanna (drums), and Ethan Michael (guitar/bass). The band’s new self titled album was mastered by 13-time Emmy winner, Andy Gundell. The band has recently released the music video for their new song “Seeker.” Great Blue’s style of music has the melodies, grooves, and riffs to keep the energy electrifying and crowds moving.
Remaining Great Blue Tour Dates:
Oct. 31 – Zenbarn – Waterbury, VT Nov. 2 – The Java Barn – Canton, NY
Nov. 4 – The Pompei Lounge – Staunton, VA
Nov. 7 – The Local – Boone, NC
Nov. 8 – The Nick – Birmingham, AL
Nov. 9 – Green Bar – Tuscaloosa, AL
Nov. 10 – Congress Street Social –
Nov. 11 – Palmetto Brewing Co. – Charleston, SC
Nov. 13 – Preservation Pub – Knoxville, TN
Nov. 14 – Nowhere Bar – Athens, GA
Nov. 16 – Isis Music Hall Lounge – Asheville, NC
Nov. 17 – The Whiskey – Wilmington, NC
Nov. 18 – Surf Bar – Folly Beach, SC
Nov. 19 – Tiki Hut – Hilton Head Island, GA
Nov. 20 – Cary St. Café – Richmond, VA
Nov. 24 – La Boca – Middletown, CT
Nov. 25 – Arch Street Tavern – Hartford, CT
Primus has never fit the mold of conventional music, so it was only fitting the trio helped kick off Halloween weekend in appropriately eccentric style. Playing to a sold out crowd of not only those who grew up on Primus in the eighties, the packed Palace Theatre housed an audience that ranged from elementary-aged, youthful rockers to unsuspecting parents with college students. Having only performed in Albany three times prior, the fourth run-around brought tricks on stage and treats in unique encores as bodies dressed head to toe in spider webs, sequin dresses and spooky masks trashed around for a three-hour show. Yes, Primus still sucks.
Equipped with video screens behind them, Les Claypool, Larry LaLonde and Tim Alexander began the night with the help of quirky British flash animation series, Saladfingers, as the first set was jam-packed with Primus favorites. Quickly following, “Too Many Puppies” spiked ultimate excitement in the regal downtown Albany venue. While the short, hard-hitting tracks seemed fleeting, “Sgt. Baker” found its way into an energizing “Too Many Puppies” sandwich as technicolor prisms were projected onto the Palace ceiling and Claypool stomped circles around the stage with grit. More classics like “Last Salmon Man,” “Mr. Crinkle” with a Zeppelin “Kashmir” tease and “My Name is Mud” popped up throughout the set with tempo-matching, psychedelic video footage before a fun “Candy Man” called for clips of hypnotizing and colorful candy-like claymation.
LaLonde and Les Claypool left the stage for an anticipated drum solo as a hooded Alexander led the show. Claypool shortly returned while sporting a pig mask and breaking out the Whamola for entrancing sounds. This time, the video projections offered clips of instrument strumming, as it matched up perfectly in sync with the live strums of Claypool’s Whamola. Interacting with the audience every so often with small interjections like “beautiful building you’ve got here,” Les Claypool asked the crowd to guess the ending track of set one with the firm strike of one note. Without a doubt– “Jerry Was A Racecar Driver” would close out the night with clips from the music video displayed symbiotically.
Trading in a pig mask for a ram head, set two unleashed the force behind the Ambushing the Storm tour as Primus shredded through their latest studio effort, The Desaturating Seven, finding applause during every passing silence. Eerie cartoon goblins found their way dancing across the screens in the Palace, the same ones from an Italian children’s book, The Rainbow Goblins. The newest album was heavily influenced on the Ul De Rico-written book, one Les Claypool used to read to his children. Played front to back, the unique seven-track album reminded everyone why Primus still sucks after all these years. On the heels of ending a grimy Halloween weekend performance, the trio ended with a triple-header of an encore with special dedications to the devastating fires in California. “Groundhog’s Day,” “Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver” and one they rarely ever play, “Tommy the Cat,” all welcomed extended guitar solos and wicked improvisation from LaLonde as well as shrieks and rock on symbols from the crowd.
With their last Palace Theatre gig in 2014 and before that 2009, for some this was a short-lived chance to catch the seasoned rockers in person. There are two situations where walking by talking animals and skipping pirates is the norm: during halloween festivities and leaving a Primus show, as a satisfied audience quickly flooded out of the venue and infiltrated an already amped up South Pearl Street crowd.
This year the “psychedelic, haunted circus” not only featured stage design provided by 
LaLonde and Les Claypool left the stage for an anticipated drum solo as a hooded Alexander led the show. Claypool shortly returned while sporting a pig mask and breaking out the Whamola for entrancing sounds. This time, the video projections offered clips of instrument strumming, as it matched up perfectly in sync with the live strums of Claypool’s Whamola. Interacting with the audience every so often with small interjections like “beautiful building you’ve got here,” Les Claypool asked the crowd to guess the ending track of set one with the firm strike of one note. Without a doubt– “Jerry Was A Racecar Driver” would close out the night with clips from the music video displayed symbiotically.
With their last Palace Theatre gig in 2014 and before that 2009, for some this was a short-lived chance to catch the seasoned rockers in person. There are two situations where walking by talking animals and skipping pirates is the norm: during halloween festivities and leaving a Primus show, as a satisfied audience quickly flooded out of the venue and infiltrated an already amped up South Pearl Street crowd.