NYS Music 20​17

Tag: punk

  • Vans Warped Tour Coming to an End

    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.

  • Hearing Aide: Evolfo ‘Last of the Acid Cowboys’

    Raunchy, horny, raw and unfiltered.  No, this isn’t an organic cocktail description from a Williamsburg bar, it’s Evolfo’s debut LP, Last of the Acid Cowboys.  This Brooklyn-based 7-piece has been filling up clubs and basement dance parties since their infestation into the music scene in 2011. A mix of intelligent lyrical grittiness, swampy horns out of the deep South and cleverly executed compositions have granted them access into the underground indie culture.   If you are lucky enough to catch this tornado of sound live, expect to hear a smorgasbord of musical influences crammed into their short sets as tightly packed as the band members on stage.   NYS Music covered an Evolfo gig at Shea Stadium in Brooklyn last summer and the sweaty night reminded me of a Wodka Vodka advertisement: “Escort quality, hooker prices.”

    When asked about the methodology behind their newest album, lead singer and song writer, Matt Gibbs said, “I think generally bands have one of two experiences in regards to studio time. Some bands write an album first and then spend a while figuring out how to bring that stuff to their live show. In the case of Evolfo, we had to buckle down and figure out how to capture the live energy onto an album.” 

    The opening track, “Vision of Sin,” has an all-encompassing psych soul rhythm which seems like it traveled through time to capture sounds from each of the past six decades.  About a minute and half into the chaos, there is a funky breakdown where the horn section reminds listeners that you gotta have that funk.  The seeds of the first track begin germinating into the second as “Moon Eclipsed the Sun” slowly crawls its way from a slow and melodic beginning to a fiery and powerful chorus.  Think Black Keys featuring the Nitty Gritty Brass Band.  Mesmerizing lyrics with punchy guitar riffs and backing vocals keep this satellite of a song hovering around the planet and clocks in as the longest track of the album at a whopping 3 minutes and 50 seconds.

    “Bloody Bloody Knife” has a 60’s punk  feel that makes you feel guilty for listening.  The paranoia felt from this track is one example of how these talented writers create horror-movie terror when they feel like it.  “Why am I hiding if I have done nothing wrong?” I ask myself as Rafferty Swink finger bangs the keyboard during this zombie apocalypse national anthem.  The decision making on track placement is as ambitious as the tracks themselves.  The blood thirsty “Bloody Bloody Knife” gives way to “Don’t Give Up Your Mind” which sounds like it belongs on Side B of a classic 70’s soul album.  The eclectic variety of music changes so much from song to song that the mish mash arrangement of musicians seems to shift form.  Do not be mistaken, this album is in no way a compilation album of different artists, but instead, it is a Megazord where each member is displaying a different source of inspiration and power.  “Rat City” is the mod-punk sound that frat maniacs across the country will embrace as they nose dive head first into the shallow end of a pool.  Serving up a slice of pie that any pizza rat would enjoy, Evolfo cooks up “Rat City” with a simple and aggressive recipe that paralyzes the taste buds and ear drums on any garage rock connoisseur.

    “Last of the Acid Cowboys” reminds me of something a resurrected Jim Morrison would bring into the studio with The Doors. The added brass section in the title track makes for a layered, yet comfortable journey; not your average psychedelic rock piece.  The sweet sounding “Peachy” has the loungiest feel of the record.  Subtle percussion accompanied by haunting horns in the far distance create a dreamy landscape for listeners to embrace during this final track.  After a true genre-blending 10-song adventure, my only complaint is that the incredible album clocks out at 28 minutes, much shorter than your average cowboy’s acid trip.

    Buy Last of the Acid Cowboys now and see them on tour ASAP!

    Key Tracks: Rat City, Don’t Give Up Your Mind, Last of the Acid Cowboys

  • Fishbone Reunited at the Fairfield Theater Company

    It was an interesting night for all of those that attended the Fairfield Theater Company on March 23. Most guests were obvious die hard fans of the eclectic group. People of all different ages were dressed for the occasion, bobbed their heads to every song, mouthed out lyrics and moshed their way through the center of the floor. But those who were unaware of the strange nature of Fishbone, seemed to be unpleasantly surprised by the brash and outrageous group.  Eight band members mobbed the stage, which was just a few too many for the venue to hold – there always seemed to be a competition between instruments and voices. It didn’t seem to bother those who were familiar with the music because they were recognizable inflections, but there were times when it was hard to make out the melody being sung from horn section, which made up a third of the band.

    The group is known for their diverse musical styles and tones. They range from funky and technical ska, to bold and brash thrash. But different venues work well for different bands and genres. For example, seeing Metallica at the Blue Note wouldn’t be very fitting, nor would putting John Coltrane at Red Rocks. This is all an outsider’s point of view as well.  Again, those die hard fans were having the time of their lives. But there were many out of place patrons (ones lacking leather clothing and chains) that left early or lost interest halfway through. Fishbone was undoubtedly very talented and professional and the venue has hosted some incredible shows that were perfect for it’s size,  but they  just didn’t have the space to let Fishbone loose. There were too many sounds and tones to be shoved through their PA system, which ranged from a theremin, to a fret-less acoustic bass guitar. It felt unintelligible at times, which was only true during the heavy parts.

    It wasn’t all indeterminable noise. As stated before, Fishbone is well known for there buck-wild performance and expansive genre selection. They played a well-balanced setlist, oscillating from ska, to punk, hard rock and back over again, so it wasn’t a constant barrage of sound the entire night. Ska and reggae styled songs like “Unyielded Conditioning”  were very well done. Each instrument could be heard clearly and it was enjoyable for everyone. But songs similar to “In The Cube” a ten minute hard rock/metal track about sitting on the toilet, were musically all over the place and contained too many tone variations for the sound system to handle, especially during the heavier parts.

    Again, no one was at fault here. The Fairfield Theater Company is a fantastic venue with a huge stage, open area, and Fishbone and Rebuilder, the opening act, did their jobs and did them well. Rebuilder is a punk/ rock band out of Boston Massachusetts and gave 100 percent. Their sound was a little familiar, pulling out all the stops listeners would expect from a punk band. But it was reassuring to see that genre of music still thriving.  Fishbone gave it their absolute all as well because this is the first time all of the original members have shared a stage for sometime. But somethings aren’t meant to go together. Like pineapple on pizza – great for some people, but just not a good mix for others. And when a band is trying to make a come back like they were, they need to appeal to as many people as possible, and a more intimate venue in central Fairfield was not the place to gain a larger audience.

    This may seem like the interpretation of an older, less tolerant soul. But rest assured, loud and brash music is still fantastic to see live, but only in the proper setting. Fishbone is a group known specifically for their wild performances, but just be sure to see them in the right venue to give listener’s ears some space to enjoy the music instead of leaving them ringing.

  • Hearing Aide: Periodic Table of Elephants ‘Henry’

    If there ever was a formula behind the iconic music of the 90s, many would say it would be “Guys with instruments & vocals” + “Guttural feelings” + “Garage.” While rock is not as dominant on today’s airwaves, some artists such as Rochester, NY’s Periodic Table of Elephants keep this classic formula alive and well. With Jason Pariseau on vocals and guitar and Sean McGinnis on drums, the Periodic Table of Elephants (PToE for short) puts together a rough guttural punch-your-boss-in-the-face sound sure to cause a riot at a pub or dive bar. As of a few months ago, PToE released their first EP titled Henry.

    Periodic TableWhile PToE sights influences such as Green Day, Biffy Clyro and Blink 182, the vocals on this EP remind me of Smashing Pumpkins and instrumentals remind me of Canadian rock duo Death From Above 1979. What I mean by this is that Jason Pariseau chooses a guitar tone with a lot of bass in it to compensate for lack of a bass player, while Death From Above 1979 utilizes a bass guitar with various distortion pedals which yields a similar sound in lieu of a guitarist. Overall the production on the four-song EP was delightfully under-produced. Too often do you see up-and-coming bands using excessive production to polish their albums to the point where it no longer sounds organic. While this may boil down to preference, many purists prefer when drums hits aren’t 75 percent sound replaced.

    In terms of the songs themselves on the Henry EP, the lyrics while straightforward, do the job in terms of connecting with the listener’s gut. The track “Better Off Dead” is the mosher’s anthem when played at a local show. The lyrics literally capture the intent of rage in the song with a lyrical pattern of coming back to a statement of physical action, each time increasing in violence. For example, things escalate from “I’m gonna punch you in the face” to “I’m gonna punch you in the throat” to “I’m gonna punch you in the dick”…ouch… Not the most poetic lyrics but the song was meant make an audience go wild. Out of the four songs on the EP, three of them are in your face and are very grungy while “Pile of Bones” is the one that breaks up that sound with something a bit softer and lyrically deeper. This is the track on the EP where PToE puts it all together in my opinion. It seems like Jason and Sean channeled their inner Foo Fighters on this track.

    Periodic TableThe Henry EP is a good start for Period Table of Elephants. As with any band’s first EP, this is the band trying to establish their identity and sound. The rough-around-the-edges feel will appeal to angsty millennials and Gen Xers looking for something that relates to their high school and college days. On the same token, this particular sound won’t appeal to those looking for mainstream appeal. With that being said, this EP is a tribute to the spirit of 90s alt rock…that RATM mantra of “F*ck you I won’t do what you tell me.”

    Key Tracks: Pile of Bones, Better Off Dead