NYS Music 20​17

Tag: String Cheese Incident

  • NYS Music’s Guide to 2017 New Years Eve shows around New York State

    NYS Music combed the state, across I-90 and I-87, up into the North Country and down into the Southern Tier, and has compiled a comprehensive list of all events coming up this New Year’s Eve. Make your plans for New Years Eve 2017 and say hello to a brighter 2018! (If we missed a show, email details to editors@nysmusic.com)

    Buffalo and WNY

    Join Intrepid Travelers and Folkfaces in their Buffalo hometown at Nietzsche’s. Event Link

    2017 new years eveRing in the New Year at Buffalo Iron Works with Moon Hooch, Gnomedad & Honeycomb. Get your tickets in advance – this show is sure to sell out! Event Link

    Aqueous has a Gorillaz-themed set planned for their bash at Town Ballroom. Event Link 

    Renown Pink Floyd Tribute band The Machine will be performing at Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls. Event Link 

    North Tonawanda’s Strand Theatre has Miller & The Other Sinners with special guest Cinnamon Jones. Event Link

    Celebrate The New Year in Jamestown at Jamestown Eagles Club with the Kates Brothers Band. Event Link

    Ithaca

    Big Mean Sound Machine’s Big Mean New Year’s Eve will mean of night of getting down at Lot 10. Event Link

    Get a double dose of folk rock at The Haunt with Driftwood. Event Link

    Rochester and Finger Lakes

    Rochester’s hottest new venue, Radio Social, has a hot show planned featuring harp-playing singer/songwriter Mikaela Davis. Event Link 

    Mosh your way into 2018. Floated Magazine is hosting a hardcore show a show at Bug Jar with REPS, The Weight We Carry, Kodivk, and Bone Mask. Event Link

    Funk n Waffles Rochester: Dirty Blanket & Root Shock. Event Link 

    Anthology has two nights of fun planned. Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad plays both nights. On December 30 they’re joined by John Brown’s Body and Thunder Body. And on New Year’s Eve, they share the stage with Easy Star All-Stars (performing Dub Side of the Moon) Event Link

    Syracuse and CNY

    In Syracuse, Sophistafunk and Skunk City will rock out at Funk N Waffles Downtown. Event Link

    Or catch The Ripcords at the Fireside Inn in Baldwinsville.

    Verona – Mick Adams and The Stones at Turning Stone Casino. Event Link

    Capital District

    Throughout Albany, Schenectady and Troy this New Year’s Eve, celebrate responsibly. Call for a free cab in the Capital Region during New Year’s Eve, courtesy of Martin, Harding, & Mazzotti LLP.

    Twiddle will ring in the New Year, with a second performance at the Palace Theatre in Albany with special guest Giant Country Horns. Event Link.

    Join in on the mystique of Albany, at the Hollow Bar + Kitchens NYE Masquerade party with live music by The Late Shift, and Mirk. Event Link

    The Albany Hilton will host a NYE ’80s theme party, with music by The Refrigerators. Event Link

    A Pirate, and mermaid themed Shipwrecked party will take over The Desmond Hotel in Albany, with live music by The Audiostars, Skeeter Creek, and DeeJay Element. Event Link

    Playing With Fire Band, along with many others, will perform at Bethlehem’s First Night, in Delmar. Event Link

    Ring in the New Year at the annual First Night, in downtown Saratoga, where there will be a wide range of activities and live music. Event Link

    Vapor Nightclub at the Saratoga Casino and Hotel, with feature the biggest balloon drop in the Capital Region along with music by The New York Players. Event Link

    Motown will take over the Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, as R&B and Funk legends, The Commodores, are set to ring in the New Year in the Electric City. Event Link

    Proctors Theater in Schenectady will hold their own Motown NYE bash with music by The Chronicles. Event Link

    Soul Provider will rock in the New Year at the Rustic Barn Pub in Troy. Event Link

    The Shop in Troy, along with other neighboring spaces, will host a Masquerade party with Burlesque performers and live jazz bands. Event Link

    Hudson Valley

    Kingston’s BSP Lounge will host Rubblebucket and local organist Marco Benevento. Event Link 

    Bearsville Theater will welcome Gratefully Yours on New Year’s Eve for a night of Grateful Dead music. Event Link

    In Woodstock, check out The Big Takeover at Colony Cafe. Event Link 

    North Country

    In Plattsburgh, The Monopole will host Groovestick for all night party with some Grateful Dead added in! Music starts at 10pm and goes until 6am. Event Link

    Saranac Lake at The Waterhole will feature Annie in the Water and Nina’s Brew. Event Link

    Westchester

    Portchester’s Capitol Theatre brings in Colorado’s String Cheese Incident for 3 sets! Event Link

    New York City

    Brooklyn

    They Might Be Giants at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Event Link


    Brooklyn Bowl will host the legendary funk troupe Lettuce along with rising dance artists Jaw Gems. Event Link 

    Rich Medina presents HOME at C’mon Everybody  in Brooklyn, performing house, rare groove and garage classics. Event Link

    Soul Clap will keep the Crew Love real this New Year’s Eve with special live performances from rhythmic house duo No Regular Play and Afro-Futuristic pilots The Illustrious Blacks. Event Link

    Budos Band will hit The Knitting Factory with Evolfo and Electric Citizen. Event Link

    Bell House hosts The Rub NYE featuring DJ Ayres, DJ Eleven, Makossa Brooklyn Cookout and Prince Klassen. Event Link

    Manhattan

    Holly Bowling will perform her annual pre-show at The Cutting Room at 4pm on NYE. Event Link

    Electric Love Machine hosts a FREE pre-party at American Beauty before Phish. Event Link

    Gov’t Mule will host ‘The Rockin Mule Revue’ at The Beacon Theater, with special guests including Jackie Greene, Shawn Pelton, The Chronic Horns and The Better Half Singers. Event Link

    Gramatik throws a dance party like no other at Terminal 5 on NYE. Event Link

    Prefer Jazz to kick 2018 off? Try The Birdland Big Band at Birdland. Event Link


    Three sets of Disco Biscuits await their loyal fans at The Playstation Theater in Times Square. Event Link


    Macy Gray’s soulful voice will be singing the crowd into 2018 at Iridium Jazz Club. Event Link


    John Digweed and Tara Brooks headline a bevy of DJs at Output. Event Link

    and of course, Phish at Madison Square Garden. Event Link

    Followed by and one final Phish After-party, this one with Kung Fu, Wyllys, Jerry Lounge Experience and more at American Beauty. Event Link

  • String Cheese Incident Announces Thanksgiving and New Years Eve Runs

    The String Cheese Incident is known to shake things up with its tours this Thanksgiving and New Years Eve. This is not the type of band to have an East-Coast, West-Coast, and Mid-West tour, evenly spaced throughout the year. This year alone they’ve played in Mexico with Dead and Company, Los Muertos Con Queso (Get it?), played a string of Mid-West intimate venue shows, a two night run in Atlanta, and are playing a sleuth of new festivals like Summer Meltdown, The Oregon Eclipse Festival, and Element Festival in Princeton, BC, (not to be confused with Elements Fest in Brooklyn).

    The only thing that seems normal this year is the annual three night run at Red Rocks Amphitheater that just took place July 21-23. After thanking the fans for a wonderful hometown throw down, the band announced that this year it will be playing a pair of Thanksgiving weekend shows in Chicago on November 24 and 25 at the Chicago Theater. SCI also announced it they will ring in the New Year with a three night stint at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY.

    This comes as a huge surprise to fans, as this will be the first year not held at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield Colorado since 2012. Cheese heads in the Northeast are rejoicing as they plan ahead for what will be a weekend to remember. This past New Year’s Eve, the band welcomed Big Gigantic for an entire set of the “Big Gigantic Incident” and The Floozies for their own set the following night. We can only guess what cheesy goodness they’ll serve up to us this year.

    Ticket info and details are expected to drop soon. And remember, Life is Gouda.

  • Mountain Jam 2017 Keeps Pumping out Great Jams

    Mountain Jam Music Festival in Hunter, NY celebrated their 13th anniversary with a tremendous lineup of legendary, famous and diverse musicians. Passes to Mountain Jam were an unforgettable gift for Fathers Day!

    You know you’re on a ski resort when you see ski lifts overhead and snow machines beside you.  RV’s and tents were discretely and comfortably located making for exceptional accommodations.  Only a bit of cool light rain cast a shadow, but it’s cooling was welcome.

    The Thursday night pre-party crowd packed The Healy Brothers Automotive stage in Hunter Lodge for Marco Bennevento Band, who  warmed up the audience with their rendition of Sunday’s Headliner Steve Miller Band’s “Fly Like an Eagle.” Most of the hits they played were from their newly released album Live from Woodstock. Closing out the pre-party and reappearing on Friday night was adopted Brooklyn son Sinkane. He’s an English man via Sudan who blends kraut-rock, progressive-rock, electronica, free rock, funk and Sudanese pop, creating one big late night dance party.

    The endurance award goes to the energetic Andy Frasco and the UN. The joyous smiling Frasco with his giant wavy afro played five different times during Mountain Jam. Twice he performed impromptu because he’s so much fun to dance to. Andy’s energy is so contagious the audience just needs to let loose.

    The star of Friday and perennial crowd favorite was Colorado’s own The String Cheese Incident. For their debut to Mountain Jam the band played a distinct blend of rock and jam grass for about three hours. They played twenty songs spanning their 23-year career. They encored with their song “Nothing but Flowers.”

    Seattle’s own The Head and The Heart also performed earlier on Friday playing energetic folk rock blended with beautiful harmonies. Their catchy tunes made for a fun sing-along. Also from Colorado was Elephant Revival who delighted Hunter Mountain with a mix of folk and bluegrass exporting the Rockies to create a Colorado high that was thoroughly delightful

    Toronto’s own highly anticipated Glassnote recording artists The Strumbellas brought an exciting mix of pop folk rock. Their performance of “Spirit” lived up to The Mountain Jam video preview with the whole crowd singing along almost knowing all the words.

    Warner Brothers recording artist Gary Clark Jr, a recent guest on the CBS show NCIS New Orleans brought soulful blues which rocked the mountain. He sure did not disappoint the ladies. His shredding on the guitar echoed legendary blues musicians in a Louisiana blues tradition. He’s scheduled to open for Eric Clapton in Los Angeles in September. (Did I tell you the line up was fabulous? Let me say it again).

    Shovels and Rope project a big booming sound for a Southern rock duo. Hailing from South Carolina the couple delighted the crowd featured their 2013 song of the year “Birmingham.”

    Saturday’s headliner Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers would have been great alone but bringing out Marty Stuart was a bonus guest playing on a classic hit. He also played plenty of hits including “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” “I Won’t Back Down,” “Free Falling” and “Refugee” which turned Mountain Jam into one big sing-along. The crowd knew every word of all his songs including songs from the 90’s album Wildflower.

    The handsome 6’4″ Matisyahu, a Jewish American reggae vocalist and beat boxer played hits like “King without a Crown” and “One Day.” Best of all Matisyahu introduced his new album Undercurrent. Performing with his band, we were truly wowed by his control of the audience

    Michael Franti, a Bay area native led the crowd in the Sunday morning yoga session. Later he and his band Spearhead played a really fun afternoon love-dance set. Encouraging the crowd to dance together and mingle was just more joy to compliment the beautiful sun shining day. His special guests were Lucas Nelson and his percussionist to magnify his great party atmosphere on this beautiful bright sun shining day, playing his hits “Say Hey” and “Sound of Sunshine.” His spouse, an ER nurse inspired their foundation Do it for the Love, supporting the terminally ill. Please go to their website and nominate a deserving hero today. It’s free for all to do.

    Nashville and Hollywood Walk of fame recipient Peter Frampton sparkled as ever with phenomenal musical energy playing all his hits including “Show Me the Way” and “Do You Feel Like I Do.” He played “Black Hole Sun,” a tribute to acknowledge the recent loss of former tour mate Chris Cornell. His use of the talk box made it one of the coolest cover renditions I have ever heard.

    Top headliner Steve Miller Band closed out the fabulous Jam. Recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee The Steve Miller Band played an energetic sing along set including their most popular hits “Abracadabra,” “The Joker” and “Fly Like an Eagle.” The hi-light of the set was when he brought out Peter Frampton to play a rocking blues hit that awed the audience with all their skills.

    With so many great bands playing with such beautiful weather, Mountain Jam 2017 was one great festival, so if there are some bands on the lineup you love, buy some early bird tickets and go jam on the mountain because you will have a blast!!!

  • Hearing Aide: String Cheese Incident ‘Believe’

    Those crazy kids from Colorado are it again. String Cheese Incident, one of the true pioneers of the modern jamband scene, has just released a feature length LP entitled Believe, their seventh studio produced LP and second with famed Talking Heads producer Jerry Harrison playing a prominent role.  Spawned from an intensive, full band writing session in Sedona, Arizona in 2014, the songs on this album range from simple and laid back to complex and intense, showing just how much of a range SCI can navigate through these days.

    Things pop instantly on the first and title track “Believe” with a quite funky, techno-ish groove that snakes in and out of some glossed up vocals led by guitarist/violinist/string wizard Michael Kang.  “Sweet Spot” gives Keith Moseley a chance to shine on vocals on a feel good, simple number featuring his always steady bass play. One of the jewels of this recording is “My One and Only” which masterfully mixes the band’s rhythmic cohesiveness and heartfelt lyrics over a bed of pleasant violin and acoustic guitar before abruptly transitioning into an Irish folk dance ending of sorts, reminiscent of something from Riverdance.  Along with vocal support supplied by Elephant Revival’s Bonnie Paine, it’s no surprise this song is in constant rotation on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Jam On channel.  “Get Tight” is another one of those classic SCI songs that’s beautiful in its simplicity and catchy as all get out. Although it is very similar in nature to “Sweet Spot,” both songs elicit a relaxing, summertime vibe that would seem to fit perfectly in a first set when played live.

    The following track, “Stop Drop Roll,” quickly changes things up and represents one of the true “dance” tracks on the album with evident elements of Daft Punk and Talking Heads (see: Harrison, Jerry).  This one seems to be heavily influenced by the rhythm section of Michael Travis (drums) and Jason Hann (percussion) which would make sense as they comprise EOTO, an established EDM act that is no stranger to late night festival sets.  “Flying” is really the only track that gives guitarist and founding member Bill Nershi a chance to take center stage and has a somber yet airy feel to it. “So Much Fun” gives keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth a turn on lead vocals and has so much of an 80s pop rock classic feel to it that you almost expect Huey Lewis to jump in and sing a few bars.  And perhaps no other track on Believe serves as a better example of the band’s current sound than the last one, “Beautiful.”  Already well established in the live setting, this song meshes String Cheese Incident’s signature sound texturing and heartfelt, joyous, lyrics all while being powered by an infectious electronica-type groove.

    Overall, this album does a nice job of keeping the listener engaged and mixing up different sounds and styles almost track to track.  It showcases the band’s musical chemistry that comes from decades of playing with one another and a simple yet heartfelt songwriting approach, serving as a great example of both the band’s history and their current sound.  This is a recommended purchase certainly for any SCI fan, but also for anyone who may be out of the loop and is curious what these rockers from the Rockies sound like today.

    Key Tracks: My One and Only, Beautiful

  • Mountain Jam Lineup Finalized, SCI Joins Petty, Miller as Headliner

    The field for the 13th edition of Mountain Jam is set. The annual Catskills festival, held at Hunter Mountain, announced its lineup and headliners, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Steve Miller Band back in November. Friday, the full line up was announced, including additional headliner String Cheese Incident.

    Also added to the June 16-18 bill are indie folk artists the Head and the Heart, reggae rapper Matisyahu, Brooklyn-based sax buskers Moon Hooch, Sudanese pop, krautrock, free jazz artist Sinkane, country legend Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives and “hometown” girl Amy Helm and the Handsome Strangers.

    Helm is the daughter of the late Band drummer Levon Helm, whose studio, affectionately known as “the Barn,” is located in nearby Woodstock.

    Matisyahu, Moon Hooch and Sinkane will participate in the Late Night Jam. The full lineup is available here.

    Noticeably absent from this year’s bill are festival hosts Govt Mule and Mountain Jam regular Grace Potter. However, festival mainstays Michael Franti and Spearhead and Gary Clark, Jr. will appear. Also appearing is Peter Frampton, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Holly Bowling, TAUK, White Denim and the Big Takeover.

    Mountain Jam prides itself on its family inclusive environment and the kids can expect to see sets from the Paul Green Rock Academy and Ratboy Jr. along with kid friendly activities in the Kozy Kids area.

    Three-day general admission tickets, camping and parking passes as well as several VIP packages are available at the festival’s website.

  • Everyone Orchestra at Warren Station

    The eclectic Everyone Orchestra performed a three-night run in Colorado, with the first night of the small tour at Warren Station in Keystone on January 12. The intimate venue positioned at the base of the ski resort was the perfect place for the group to host their jam filled night. This show’s all star line up conducted by Matt Butler, included Shira Elias and Josh Schwartz of Turkuaz, Chuck Jones and Eli Winderman of Dopapod, Eddie Roberts of the New Mastersounds, Michael Travis of the String Cheese Incident, and Mihali Savoulidis of Twiddle.
    The enthusiastic crowd danced the night away and sang along as the super group performed many jams guided by the project’s creator, Matt Butler.  The lively night ended with a reggae tune which got the whole crowd singing “Keystone let the snow fall.” The group performed the next two nights in Denver and Fort Collins.

    Everyone Orchestra Warren Station