The Werks arrived in Bearsville, NY fresh off a performance at Last Daze of Summer Music Festival in Sterling, NY. They capped off Labor Day weekend with their first ever show at Bearsville Theater, with an opening performance by Dharma Bums.
Photos by Jim Rice
Setlist: Fire Eater, Fly Like an Eagle, Slab, Waiting Room>Lights Out, Drop, Duck Farm
Encore: Into the Moss
Three festival weekends each summer, Sterling Stage Kampitheater (‘The Pines’) returns to Sterling, NY for four days and nights of music, dancing and art. This year’s Sterling Stage Folkfest and Sterling Stage Ameribeat have passed us by, however, Sterling Stage Last Daze of Summer 2017 is just around the corner.
This summer’s annual Sterling Stage Last Daze 2017 will take place Thursday August 31 through Sunday September 3.
Take a glance below and click the play button. You’ll find a Rochester Groovecast podcast episode. This episode is a preview of the upcoming Sterling Stage Last Daze of Summer Festival. During the episode, you’ll listen to The Werks, The Blind Owl Band, Root Shock, The Honey Smugglers, Creamery Station, Los Blancos, Electric Mud, Personal Blend, Boogie Low, Subsoil, and Chris James & Mama G. All of these bands will be at this year’s Sterling Stage Last Daze of Summer. If you scroll even farther down, you’ll find a detailed episode timestamp. Get your tickets here!
Episode Timestamp:
00:00: The Werks- Into The Moss
03:41: Episode Introduction
07:21: The Werks– Magic
13:24: The Blind Owl Band- Map With Roads
18:03: The Blind Owl Band- Sailor Song
23:44: Root Shock- Freedom
27:55: Root Shock- Sage
33:55: The Honey Smugglers- Nasty Old Man
37:49: The Honey Smugglers- Should Have Been A Farmer
45:49: Creamery Station- Back To You
49:03: Creamery Station- Wash Away
53:56: Los Blancos- Backbeat Rhythm
59:26: Los Blancos-Get Along
1:04:45: Electric Mud- Cover of Eddies Gospel Groove By Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters
1:10:55: Electric Mud- Cover of T-Bone Boogie By T-Bone Walker
1:14:31: Personal Blend- Judgement
1:18:10: Personal Blend- Wiseman
1:23:15: Boogie Low- Mckenna
1:28:38: Boogie Low- Miss Bliss
1:34:00: Subsoil- Joe Rogan
1:37:39: Subsoil- On The Bus
1:41:49: Closing Comments
1:43:48: Chris James & Mama G- Thank You For The Diamonds
1:48:22: Chris James & Mama G- Further
The Werks kicked off the first night of Bakers Dozen after parties at American Beauty on Friday July 21. The band teased “In the End” by Linkin Park as a tribute to the late Chester Bennington.
Setlist provided by guitarist Chris Houser via The Werkers Union.
Set I: Chillin Groove, Duck Farm, Into The Moss[1], OG[2], Waiting Room[3]> Life During Wartime> Waiting Room
Set II: Fire Eater, Fall[4], The Answer, Moonset
[1] Blister in the Sun tease
[2] “In The End” (Linkin Park) vocals
[3] A Capella intro
[4] Plain White Toast tease
At this point in their career, The Werks are one of the best established jam acts on the circuit today. Through brilliant marketing with their festivals and events, relentless touring, and (most importantly) their entirely unique
brand of rock and roll. All of these facts considered, it should come as no surprise that their newest album, Magic, released on March 17, finds the Ohio natives sounding more comfortable in the studio than ever before. Their familiarity with the recording process is evident upon first listen, even without the knowledge that this is their fourth full length studio album since 2009; no small feat considering the studio presence (or lack thereof) that most groups of the genre display.
Written in their ‘sonic dojo’ The Werkspace, the album features eight inspiring tunes which traverse several different genres of rock. Right out of the gate with the first two tracks, the delightfully upbeat “Wide Awake,” followed by the title track, the listener realizes that this isn’t going to be another pentatonic wank session that seems much too common in today’s rock landscape. The Werks have an eclectic sound, reminiscent of 70’s rock gods yet avoids coming off as a cheap imitation. “Slab” really hits the spot, with a gut buster of a riff that offers a pleasantly abrasive counterpoint to the smooth lyrical caress of the first few tracks.
“Moonset” sees the boys moving in an even more experimental realm; a trance-fusion arrangement matched with ruthlessly proficient lead guitar that could get any naysayer’s head bobbing as if they were raging the Big Tent around 3 AM at the old Bisco. The track took full advantage of the Sonic Lounge studio’s 1 of 13 in the world soundboard, found in Grove City, Ohio. “Moving On” is the longest track of the album, coming in at 8 minutes and 36 seconds, providing a well needed canvas for perhaps the single most diverse track of the record. Beautiful melodic hooks and a jaunty rhythm pull rock aficionados in like a sirens call, while the bridge section exhibits some bass runs that’d make Getty Lee pay attention. “Lights Out” wraps the album up with some assistance from Ohio’s own Hoodoo Soul Band, who laid down some one of a kind horn riffs over the concluding tune.
Key Tracks: Slab, Moonset, Moving On
Magic can be yours today for the wonderful Name Your Price option on The Werks’ bandcamp. Be sure to visit their website as well for upcoming tour dates, possibly near you!