NYS Music 20​17

Tag: The Demos

  • 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.

  • Joywave Leaves Fans Feeling More than Just Content on Day One of Tour

    Joywave answered the question off their first LP, How Do You Feel Now? with this year’s second LP, Content.  To promote the new album, they spent the summer touring with Young The Giant and Cold War Kids. Now they’re on their own headlining tour. Thanks. Thanks for Coming 2017 tour began on November 11 with a sold out show at Anthology in their hometown of Rochester.

    The frigid cold weather didn’t stop people from arriving early. An hour before the show, the line had already wrapped around the corner from Anthology in Rochester’s East End district. Once the doors opened, a smoking hot rock ‘n roll performance by The Demos helped to warm people up.

    The Demos

    All-female quartet The Aces wowed the audience with their indie pop prowess. Then KOPPS took to the stage, combining vivacious electro-pop songs with synchronized dance moves. By the time the supporting bands wrapped up, the sleek but chic industrial space had filled to capacity.

    Joywave started with the title track from their new album. In “Content” singer Daniel Armbruster plays with the homonym ‘content’ and the relationship between commercialism and satisfaction. The theme prevails in other songs from the new album, including “It’s a Trip!” and “Little Lies You’re Told.”

    Interspersed between the tracks from Content were songs from across their seven year span, including more obscure tunes like their 2011 single “Golden State” (featuring Armbruster on guitar) and the bonus track from the compilation Swish called “Life In A Bubble I Blew.” They also premiered a brand new song called “Alice.” A Joywave set wouldn’t be complete without songs from How Do You Feel Now?. The crowd went wild with “Destruction,” jumping in time to the beat and singing along, ” Oh my God, there’s nobody who can set me right. I’ve been sent to torch the palace down in broad daylight.”

    Daniel Armbruster of Joywave

    The tour is called Thanks. Thanks for Coming, so named for one of the tracks on Content. It’s also representative of their immense gratitude for everyone who has been a part of their journey. They took a break between songs to thank everyone, including the supporting bands, the venue, and the local alternative radio station.

    The last song of the set was “Going to a Place.” The room resonated with the sound of a thousand voices and a thousand pairs of hands clapping along. Keyboardist Benjamin Bailey extended the outro of the song. He continued to play long after the rest of the band left the stage, before eventually conceding to the end of the song.

    Benjamin Bailey of Joywave

    It didn’t take much to convince Joywave to come out for an encore. Armbruster picked up the guitar again, plucking along to the simple but sincere tune “Confidence.” They picked up the pace with “Nice House” and “Tongues.” The evening concluded aptly with a performance of “Thanks. Thanks For Coming.”

    Joywave is on tour through the end of the month. They will be joined by The Aces, The Demos, and Maybird on select dates. In addition, they are playing a few shows in December. The second leg of the Thanks. Thanks For Coming Tour was just announced. Tickets go on sale Friday, November 17.

    Setlist: Content, Now, It’s a Trip!, Shutdown, Life in a Bubble I Blew, Parade, Traveling at the Speed of Light, Alice, Rumors, Little Lies You’re Told, Golden State, Destruction, Doubt, Somebody New, Going to a Place. Encore: Confidence, Nice House, Tongues, Thanks. Thanks For Coming.

    [FinalTilesGallery id=’988′]

  • Saturday at Rochester Fringe Festival: Rocking with The Demos and Penthouse Views

    Excitement abounded downtown on Saturday September 16, the third day of the KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival. With hundreds of shows on dozens of stages over a span of ten days, there’s a lot to see and do. I made my way down East Main Street of my native town, heading towards Parcel 5 to catch a set by power pop band The Demos and the second and final night of Plasticiens Volants. A sign on the corner of East Avenue invited festival-goers up to the building’s penthouse terrace. I kept that in mind for later, and continued on to the stage.

    The Demos were scheduled to play at Fringe Festival last year, but the show was called off due to rain. This time, the weather couldn’t have been better – a warm and sunny end-of-summer day. Native Rochesterians and visitors filled the square, milling about or relaxing on blankets and lawn chairs. Tonight, the stage was decked out in strands of fairy lights, with lawn flamingos perched about – the same flamingos from the videos The Demos used to promote their show.

    The band wasted little time on sound check, diving right into a cover of Velvet Underground’s “What Goes On.” While The Demos rocked out, the stage was flanked by a pair of girls with light-up hula hoops, who spun the circles with acrobatic skill to the rhythm and tempo of the music. Bubbles floated around the stage, carried by the wind from the street performer on the corner. The atmosphere was buzzing with a sense of fun and excitement, and people were drawn towards the sights and sounds of the stage.

    Members of the band were having fun, too, exchanging smiles and glances as they played “I Don’t Mind” and “Clearly” from their last release, Paramount Clouds. The synthesizer plays a particularly prominent role on these numbers, with Caela Moore grooving out at the helm of a double deck of keyboards. Frontman Jay Milton was on top of his game tonight, putting everything he had into the performance, from rich vocals to on pointe guitarwork.

    A rousing rendition of “Veronica” got the audience clapping along. They added some twists to the song, a few call-and-response-style lines sung by bassist Cal Saunders that aren’t on the version they recorded for their full-length album Lovely. Drummer RJ Papaleo may be the newest member of the band, but he didn’t miss a beat as they dug into the catalog of songs from the band’s archives. Jeremiah O’Reilley is also relatively new to the band, but has been a fan since the early days, and slipped seamlessly into the role of guitarist.

    The crowd continued to swell as the sun started to set. Jay asked the amassing audience who among us has seen the band before. A sea of hands flew into the air, with cheers. He asked who had been coming to see them since he and Cal started 15 years ago. There were still some hands in the air. “This one’s for you,” Jay said as they started playing a song called “Don’t Give Up On Me.”

    The tempo slowed a bit as they did a couple more stripped-back songs, starting with “Shooters and Fixers.” Then they played a new song, “All I Need,” a bittersweet ballad featuring Caela on ukulele, Jay on the keyboard, and Cal singing harmony. Jeremiah, his services not needed on the stage, took the opportunity to come down from the stage and dance with his wife. He hopped back on stage for a couple more new songs.

    The sea of people were nodding and moving along to the new tunes, but when the band followed them with their hit “Hardly Done,” people started singing along. Another new one, “Risin’ Up,” represents a departure from their typical lyrical themes. This anthemic song has more of a political bent. “People rising up, they’ve all had enough,” Jay sings. “Where do we go from here?”

    The pinnacle of the set was “Better.” The groovy pop song with a sweet hook peaked with a solo in which the instrumental sounds came crashing together in a frenzy of noise, amassing in a sheer wall of acoustic energy. The 75-minute long set concluded with an ode to Rochester called “My City.” They took a quick moment to thank their manager, friends and families before being whisked off the stage. Around me, a group was chanting for an encore, but Plasticiens Volants‘ “Big Bang” show was about to begin.

    Still buzzing with adrenaline and not ready to call it a night, I retraced my steps to The Penthouse at One East Avenue to scope out the scene. The 11th story penthouse is now a hip, upscale event venue which offers a unique perspective. The sleek interior does not detract from the view through floor-to-ceiling windows, and glass doors give way to a wraparound outdoor terrace. In the center of it all is a small bar which offers a selection of beer, wine, and spirits. In addition to private events such as weddings and corporate meetings, they’ve also held a series of musical performances and silent disco. Coming up on September 21 is a Bacon and Bourbon tasting, and on October 28 they’ve planned an interactive mystery night. Tonight, they’re open for viewing the events at Parcel 5, including the second and final Rochester performance by French street theater troupe Plasticiens Volants.

    Walking the length of the balcony, I witnessed the city alive with lights across the skyline glowing and traffic bustling down the main arteries. A crowd was already jockeying for position along the railing for a look at the multi-media show by Plasticiens Volants, featuring balloons the proportions of Macy’s Day Parade handled by puppeteers who walk through the crowd, a mix of narration and world beat music, pyrotechnics, lights and mirrors. For a more in-depth description, read the review from Friday night’s performance.

    The Demos’ next show is the Floated Halloween Bash at the Bug Jar on October 21. Find their music online at Bandcamp, iTunes, and Spotify. Read more about the band in their interview with NYS Music.

    The Demos’ Setlist: What Goes On (Velvet Underground), Regal Dimensions, I Don’t Mind, Clearly, Bobby Pins, Veronica, Impossible, Another Day, Only Want The World, Nervous, Truth & Lies, She Lives in Pictures, All I Need, We Could Do Anything, Elegant Ties, Not Coming Down, Hardly Done, Risin’ Up, Life’s A Gas (T. Rex), Better, My City

    Rochester Fringe Festival runs through September 24, with a wide variety of music, theatre, comedy, and other entertainment. Advance ticket purchases are recommended, as shows do sell out. For more information, visit RochesterFringe.com.

  • Interview: The Demos Prepare to Take The Parcel 5 Stage at Rochester Fringe Festival

    The Demos, a mainstay of the Rochester music community, are prepping for their set at KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival. They play on Saturday, September 16 at 6:30pm at Parcel 5 on Main Street. The 75-minute long set will span the power pop band’s fifteen-year career, which they’ve spent continually writing, recording and gigging. With a couple EPs and a full-length album already under their belt, they’re in the studio again working on a new project.

    Over the years, The Demos have been through a few lineup changes. Singer/guitarist Jay Milton and bass guitarist Cal Saunders have remained the core of the group, with the addition of Caela Moore on keys, Jeremiah O’Reilly on guitar and the newest addition, RJ Papaleo on drums. They took time away from rehearsing for the big show to talk with NYS Music about Rochester Fringe, The Demos’ body of work, and identifying their spirit animals.

    Paula Cummings: I’ve seen the promos you’ve been posting to promote your set at Fringe Festival. How excited are you for this year’s event?

    Jay Milton: It’s really exciting to play in such a huge space in the heart of the city that most of us grew up in.

    CS: And that we call home.

    JM: This is our home and it’s awesome. A very unique venue, and a free show. I always feel it’s great to play a free show. I love doing free stuff.

    Jeremiah O’Reilly: I think what appeals to me most is that I think sometimes when you play at specific venues around town, you run into the situation where you’re often playing for the same people. Playing at an outdoor free concert during a festival allows you to play to a different variety of people in the community. It’s nice to be able to share and express ourselves to those people as well as the ones who come to our Bug Jar shows.

    JM: And it can be a family show. We’re PG.

    https://soundcloud.com/younglionofthewestrec/sets/the-demos-lovely

    PC: You’re recording songs for the next album. Will some of those songs be on the set list?

    CS: For sure.

    JM: It’s going to be a very eclectic set from us. It’s a lot longer than we usually play. Most of our sets are 45 minutes or so. So this is a double set almost. So we’re digging deep into our catalog. Me and Cal have been together in this band for 15 years. So we’re going back and playing songs from every era of our time as a band, from our first EP’s in the mid-2000’s. We’ll be playing songs off Lovely which is our full length from 2012.

    CS: The notes on that are that it was the one that went #1 on FMQB.

    PC: That was the one that was big in Japan, right?

    CS: We’re very proud of that.

    JM: It was big in Japan. That was the one that got us the Tokyo billboard. And obviously, we’ll play songs from our latest EP, Paramount Clouds, which came out last year. And then a whole bunch of new songs, and a few covers for good measure. Obscure though. We can’t be playing songs that everyone knows. Because then they’ll know how bad we play them.

    (Laughter)

    CS: We kind of make them our own.

    PC: Although the Andy Kaufman cover was awesome. It might be the wrong crowd for that one.

    CS: But I think though at Fringe, it’s weird enough that if you did it people would laugh, which is the point.

    JM: Andy Kaufman is my hero in life.

    CS: He’s your spirit animal.

    JM: He’s definitely my spirit animal. I have been obsessed with him most of my adult life. And the thing I love about him is the more I learn about him the less I understand him. Which is what I love about it. Every time you think you’re getting deeper into what it was about, it seems you’re just opening millions of other things which go nowhere. Which to me is… Life as performance art, perhaps.

    CS: The whole world’s a stage.

    JM: I actually own Andy Kaufman’s childhood record player. And his smoking jacket as well.

    Jay with Andy Kaufman memorabilia, Photo: Jeremiah O’Reilly

    PC: So we’ve got your spirit animal. What would you say yours is, Cal?

    CS: Billy Martin, a friend of ours, once told me that he thinks Chris Robinson from the Black Crowes is my spirit animal.

    JM: I’d believe it.

    CS: But it’s not that easy. My struggle is endless. I seem to go around, which makes me think serpentine, like a snake. I’m year of the dragon, too.

    JO: I think I’m an earth dragon.

    JM: What’s the difference between a dragon and an earth dragon?

    JO: So there’s different parts, like your animal that’s part of the Chinese zodiac, and then an element that goes along with it.

    CS: Like earth, water, fire.

    JM: I thought maybe an earth dragon was one that couldn’t fly, or something.

    JO: I’m like the black sheep of dragons. I guess that’s my spirit animal.

    PC: Is it too soon to divulge any details about the next album?

    JM: We don’t know when it will be ready. I would say by this time next year, there will be something.

    PC: Jeremiah, this is your first time recording with these guys?

    JO: Yeah, I’ve known these guys for a while. I actually went to one of their shows back in 2005. When I was a wee little lad. One of my best friends Alex Northrup was one of the founding members of The Demos. And I’ve been playing music with him.

    CS: He’s the Syd Barrett of The Demos.

    JM: That’s actually very accurate.

    JO: I was 16 back in 2005, so I’ve known you guys for a while. But I’ve only been playing with them for 8 months. It’s been a blast.

    PC: And now you’re no longer the newest member of the band.

    JO: I am not the newest member.

    CS: We’re like a restaurant. We change staff as much as we change clientele sometimes.

    The Demos: Jeremiah O’Reilly, RJ Papaleo, Cal Saunders, Jay Milton, Caela Moore

    JM: Honestly, I think we’re just intense workers when it comes to music. We just pour everything into it.

    JO: It frightens some people.

    CS: Or people have lives.

    JO: Aren’t you glad you found me – I have no life!

    JM: That’s the worst thing about being a musician in a place that has such a great local scene is that it’s hard to work on music and do things. Tart Vandelay is playing tonight and I’d love to go do that, but we’re doing this and then we’re going into rehearsing right after. And if we’re not in the studio, then we’re rehearsing, or we’re writing. It’s hard to do cool things, like watching other people play music, when you’re so focused on doing it yourself. That’s my least favorite part. We’re very dedicated.

    CS: We’re dedicated, honest, and hard working.

    JM: Every moment that we’re not working on music, we wish that we were.

    JO: Me and Jay text each other at work saying, “I wish we were in the studio.”

    (RJ Papaleo arrives)

    PC: Hey, we’re just wrapping up. What is your spirit animal?

    RJP: I feel like it would be a bird of some kind.

    JM: Maybe like a pterodactyl.

    PC: And what is Caela’s spirit animal?

    JM: A fox.

    Catch the Demos live at what is sure to be a memorable performance Saturday, September 16 at 6:30 at Parcel 5 on at 285 East Main Street in Rochester. Get ready by listening to their catalog of music on Bandcamp. Follow on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates on this and other shows.

  • Round 1 of NYS Music 2017 March Madness

    It’s March and it’s time for the 2017 NYS Music March Madness, Round 1! We bring together 64 up and coming bands from across New York State for a friendly tournament style competition throughout the month of March for readers to discover new artists who call New York home.

    These are 64 bands you might not know about, but should. Recommended for inclusion in our field of 64 by NYS Music staff, contributors and readers, we hit every corner of New York State, from Long Island to Buffalo, The Catskills to the North Country and all points in between. NYS Music March Madness is a great way to discover a new and upcoming band in your area and show your support and love for bands you see often. We focus once again this year on the bands who are on the cusp of greatness. There was only room for 64 but we made some great choices and picked a wide array of genres to bring to you this year.

    We’d like to thank our regional sponsors The Hollow Bar and Kitchen, Nietzsche’s Buffalo, The Downtown Barn and Castle Studio. These small businesses represent the best of what New York State has to offer and celebrate music while inviting local and touring bands to perform for growing local scenes across the state.

    First round matchups in Nietzsche’s Buffalo region include:

    Mister F (jam/prog) vs Subsoil (hip-hop)
    Funktional Flow (funk n jam) vs Gowanus (jamtronica)
    Folkfaces (bluegrass) vs Phineas and the Lonely Leaves (indie rock)
    Sly Fox & the Hustlers (rock) vs King Buffalo (blues/stoner rock)
    Lucky Jukebox Brigade (indie/pop/punk) vs The Other Brothers (jam)
    The New Daze (psychedelic jam rock) vs Druse (post hardcore)
    Ire Clad (metal) vs Raibred (Progadelic)
    Tart Vandalay (indie) vs Lord Electro (jamtronica)

    In the Castle Studio region we have these 8 matchups:

    Teddy Midnight (electro jam) vs Vaporeyes (jam)
    Super Killer Robots (stoner rock/metal) vs Intrepid Travelers (improv/jam)
    Space Carnival (psych groove rock) vs Murder in Rue Morgue (Metalcore/groove metal)
    Mike Powell (folk) vs Let’s Be Leonard (jazz/jam fusion)
    Talking Underwater (indie rock) vs Let Go Daylight (hard rock)
    Annie in the Water (acoustic rock) vs Hot Mayonnaise (rock n roll)
    Candy Ambulance (grunge rock) vs Jeremiah’s Razor (heavy rock)
    Red Shift (rock) vs Ampevene (prog rock)

    The Hollow Bar and Kitchen region features:

    St. Philip’s Escalator (rock) vs The Medicinals (reggae)
    Root Shock (reggae) vs Schmave (indie)
    Breakfast for the Boys (rock) vs North and South Dakotas (y’allternative)
    Last Daze (black country rock) vs Oogie Wawa (alternative/reggae)
    Castle Creek (blues rock) vs Unknown Woodsmen (funklove)
    Humble Braggers (indie ambient) vs Barroom Philosophers (reggae rock)
    Wavy Cunningham (soul) vs Chris James and Mama G (Ameribeat)
    Ocular Panther (prog/electro) vs SchwizZ (prog funk rock)

    The final 8 matchups are in The Downtown Barn region:

    Frank Palangi (solo rock) vs Boogie Low (acid rock)
    Skeptic (death metal) vs Cousin Earth (folk rock fusion)
    Fall of Humanity (metal) vs Dead Superstars (metal)
    Kimono Dragons (surf rock) vs Further Unsound (psych rock)
    Love Deep (jam/blues/rock) vs The Demos (indie pop)
    Big Mean Sound Machine (funk) vs Danielle Ponder & Tomorrow People (soul)
    EVHO (rock) vs Space Bacon (jamtronica)
    Stellar Young (indie punk rock) vs Formula 5 (jam rock)

    First Round voting begins at 10AM EST on Monday, March 11, and closes at midnight on Wednesday, March 13. Second Round begins at 10AM EST on Thursday, March 14 with the remaining 32 teams. Vote now for your favorites and discover some of the great up and coming music that New York State has to offer!

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