NYS Music 20​17

Tag: The Westcott Theater

  • Hearing Aide: Blind Owl Band ‘Skeezy Patty’

    Just in time for peak fall foliage, the Blind Owl Band are set to release their third studio album, Skeezy Patty on October 13.  Hailing from the beautiful Saranac Lake region of the Adirondack Mountains, this 7-year-old quartet resembles the type of grizzly musicians you expect to see kicking up dust at a bluegrass festival. The self-proclaimed “Freight Train String Music” that they create can be heard heading down the tracks with a thunderous roar that certainly resembles bluegrass, but with a little extra coal added to the fire.

    In the third spot, “Hit Em High” clocks out as the longest track on the album and tightly packs a fantastic bass breakdown into the genre-blending composition.  Christian Cardiello’s uniquely placed slaps add a jazzy undertone to the heavily bluegrass driven tune which combines the elegance of a downtown Manhattan lounge with the rowdiness of an Upstate NY dive bar.  The clever lyrics are sung as a team and give each of the members a voice in the storytelling.  Imagine a group of gnarly pirates sitting around a bottle of whiskey as the waves chaotically surround and collide into their ship and that is “Hit Em High” in a nutshell.

    “Reloading” was thought up by guitarist Arthur Buezo who exchanges lyrics with James Ford on banjo for the song.  As the band developed “Reloading” for live shows some of the stylistic layers were transformed into the current composition.  One major addition to the studio version is the voice effect used.  It is reminiscent of the Tom Waits appearance on Primus’ “Tommy The Cat” which adds a haunting and sadistic character to the lyrics which cover the topic of rejuvenation.  For a band that has played over 700 shows since 2011, they know a lot about being on the road and the importance of time management.  “We are stronger than we were” suggests that these periods of reloading have been an integral step to developing their first studio album in almost 5 years and now that they are refreshed, they can showcase their growth on the road.

    “The Gates” has a waltzy ballroom feel before energetically dancing back into the bluegrass barnyard realm that primarily rules the album.  Buezo’s burly and hellish vocals are complimented by the speedy mandolin playing of Eric Munley.  As a special addition, an electric guitar finds its way into the studio full of wood and steel for a rare and powerful moment.  “Two Sides of Story” is the final track and once again the intelligently crafted lyrics are the highlight of the piece.  It comes as a surprise to hear the hipster-esque “Hey!” chant in the background, but this dark and stormy album is anything but predictable.  The straightforward composition is a soothing way to close out an album full of peaks and valleys, much like the land where the band was born.

    The first Skeezy Patty release party will take place this Friday, October 13 at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse before making their way east to The Hollow in Albany for round two of their album release.  Tickets for both shows are available online or at the box office on the day of the show.

    Key Tracks:  Hit Em High, Electric Chair, Waterhole

  • Young Dubliners Bring the Party to the Wescott

    As the Young Dubliners made their way through New York on their East Coast Tour, they certainly liven up Hump Day for those brave enough to venture out to The Westcott this past week.

    Those in attendance for this mid-week concert were there to dance and have a good time as they had an inside track to what they were in store for. Immediately apologizing for not keeping his word to play on a Friday night, you wouldn’t know it wasn’t a Friday as they brought the party with them for their captivated audience.

    Opening for the band were New York locals Waydown Wailers. Although a great band in their own right, I don’t think those in attendance were able to appreciate their unique sound.  More of a southern rock band, these talented locals from Canton played to a group of Celtic loving souls, and left them scratching their heads and feeling a bit quizzical in what they just heard. With more than enough local Celtic performers to choose from as openers, I believe when booking opening bands for shows, the Westcott needs to start pairing bands together that play to the same crowd.  Not only will it appease the crowds, those bands that are opening, will begin to reach more of the audience they wish to reach.

    As the L.A. lads took the stage, they jumped feet first into a fully charged setlist that included many favorites from their large catalog of music. With Keith Roberts on lead vocals and guitar, he quickly engaged the crowd with his edgy vocals and charismatic personality, not to mention the stage full of talent that accompanied Keith with David Ingraham on percussion, Brendan Holmes on bass, Bob Boulding on lead guitar, and Chas Waltz on fiddle, mandolin, and harmonica.  Each musician was as impressive as the next as they melodically mesmerized their audience leaving them wanting more.

    For those that made their way to the Westcott to see the talented Young Dubliners, they were treated to an awesome performance and enough energy to last them till the next time they can make their way back east.

    Setlist: Paddy’s, Adhainn Mor, Fall, Say Anything, Brown Dog, Howaya Girls, Come Back Home, Bodhran, Apart, Liverpool, Seeds of Sorrow, Tell Me Ma, Foggy Dew, Ashley Falls, Waxies, Pari of Brown Eyes, Chas Solo, We The Mighty, Carlow, Fall from Grace, Rosie, and Rocky Road

  • The Record Company Rocks the Westcott

    “We’re the Record Company, and we play rock and roll.” This is how the Record Company’s lead vocalist/guitarist/harpist Chris Vos often introduces his band at the start of a performance. While said in an understated fashion, it is no understatement.

    Throughout the nearly hour and a half performance at Syracuse’s Westcott Theater May 20, The Record Company proved time and again that they do indeed play rock and roll. Steeped in a blues tradition but still maintaining a contemporary rock sound, the Record Company is out to prove that rock is not dead.

    Before The Record Company hit the stage, opening act, Nashville-based duo Smooth Hound Smith, won over the crowd early with some self-deprecating humor and foot stomping blues. The husband and wife duo, Zack and Caitlin Smith had a great stage presence and could easily have passed as the headliner on this night.

    Zack Smith plays guitar, harmonica and foot drum as well as handling the majority of the vocals, a virtual one-man band. He has a country-blues feel with a touch of rockabilly. Caitlin Smith adds percussion and lush vocals with a bit of a Nashville touch and the occasional Janis Joplin wail to round out the Smooth Hound Smith sound.

    The Record Company, Vos, Alex Stiff on bass/vocals and Elmira native Marc Cazorla on drums/keys are as cohesive a unit as you’ll find in music today. The rhythm section is tight and Vos is a multi-instrumental maestro. Vos’s bluesy vocal style was perfectly complemented by Stiff and Carzola’s harmonies all night.

    One can derive many influences in the music of The Record Company – Delta and Chicago blues, gospel, mid-70s stadium rock and even hip hop. The latter was exhibited in a spirited, bluesy cover of the Beastie Boys “So What’cha Want” that had the near capacity crowd happily bouncing along.

    Vos leans heavily on his weathered Fender lap steel at shows and for good reason, he made that thing sing, especially on the greasy blues dirge “Rita Mae Young.” His harmonica style, especially in the band’s single “Hard Day Comin’ Down” beckons Bob Dylan.

    Speaking of Dylan, midway through the show, the band worked in a three-song acoustic mini-set, anchored by a scorching version of “Subterranean Homesick Blues.”

    The set closed with Vos lying his acoustic guitar across his lap for lesson in the slide. Stiff and Cazorla kept the back beat while Vos furiously worked the guitar and later the harmonica on the appropriately titled, “The Burner.” Cazorla was often pulling double duty on his bass, sometimes playing it as a lead instrument as well as using a slide.

    The show closed with a one-song encore, a new one from the band’s latest album. “In the Mood” is a blues, via Mod era Who, romp that ended the night on a high note, including crowd participation on the chorus. The band took a collective bow with appreciative smiles, the audience reciprocated, another audience won over. This is a band that is on to bigger things, dragging honest rock and roll along with it.

    The Record Company Setlist: On the Move, Baby I’m Broken, Hard Day Coming Down, Night Games, Rita Mae Young, Feels So Good, Crooked City (acoustic), I’m Changing (acoustic), Subterranean Homesick Blues (acoustic) (Bob Dylan cover), Don’t Let Me Get Lonely, So What’cha Want (Beastie Boys cover), Turn Me Loose, Off the Ground, The Burner
    E: In the Mood

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  • Westcott Theater to Feature Grammy Nominee The Record Company

    What a difference a year makes. Los Angeles based trio The Record Company released their Concord Records debut album, Give It Back to You, on February 12, 2016. Exactly one year later, they were among the nominees for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards.

    “Off the Ground” and “Rita Mae Young” are infectious songs showcasing Chris Vos’ gritty vocals and greasy slide guitar, as well as the rhythm section of bass player Alex Stiff and drummer Mark Cazorla.

    “I always think of any performance as one less time, not one more time.” says Vos, “Nobody can say how many shows you get to play in your life. So we try to play our guts out, leave it all on the table, and have fun doing it”.

    The Record Company with special guest, Smooth Hound Smith, will appear at The Westcott Theater in Syracuse, New York, on Saturday May 20th, along with opening act Smooth Hound Smith. Doors open at 8:00, show begins at 9:00. Tickets are still available.

  • Boogie Low Holds Album Release Party at the Westcott Theater

    On March 18, Boogie Low took the stage at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse, NY for the release of their highly anticipated, self-titled debut album. With Matthew West (lead guitar/vocals), Loudon Smith (rhythm guitar/vocals), Tommy Dennis (bass guitar), and Brandon Au (drums/percussion). The energy was electric as you walked through the doors with Syracuse natives Barroom Philosophers, who kicked the night off with a set filled with groove heavy funk/rock tunes.

    boogie lowIf one observation from the night was made, it was that the crowd came to dance. Boogie Low opened their set with “Eldin,” a fan favorite, and cheers rang out as they began jamming through their reggae influenced brand of jam rock. Each song was met with enthusiastic cheers from their loyal fan base, and it was clear why so many people braved the cold for this event.

    Vocalist Loudon Smith emphatically thanked the fans for the continued support they’ve showed and was genuinely grateful to experience such a positive response from the crowd. Boogie Low jammed for nearly two hours, playing favorites like “Mckenna” and “Walk On,” and also introduced live for the first time ever “Dirt Nap” from their new album. They also invited David Koegel of Barroom Philosophers on stage to add his exceptional vocals to “Shadows” which sent the crowd into a dancing frenzy, and the night came to an end with an encore of Grateful Dead’s “Love Light,” leaving the audience longing for more.

    This was an event that won’t be forgotten, and the positive vibes and energy radiated off the crowd as they emptied into the cold Syracuse night. If you are a fan of reggae and rock acid fusion I strongly suggest making it to one of Boogie Low’s upcoming shows, where you can purchase their new album “Boogie Low.” It will also soon be available on Spotify and iTunes. You can catch Boogie Low at JP’s Tavern in Baldwinsville NY on March 25 and Funk ‘n Waffles in downtown Syracuse on April 21. Get your tickets for their show on April 21 with Mosaic Foundation here.

    Setlist: Eldin Back 2 Nothing Amie Mckenna Dirt Nap Roots, Walk On, Tommy’s, Better Way, Miss Bliss, Better Days, Land Ho, Trust Ourselves, Colas in the Sky, Mystic River, Shadows, Mexico

    Encore: Turn on Your Love Light

  • How Sweet It Is: Melvin Seals at The Westcott Theater

    On Wednesday, March 8, Syracuse celebrated the spirit of Jerry Garcia in spectacular fashion with help from Melvin Seals & JGB at the Westcott Theater.  The intimate evening began with the Upstate NY native band, Los New Yorkers.  The four-piece consisted of three middle aged men and one woman that hopped from one instrument to the next.  The feel-good and upbeat originals reminded me of something that might get chosen as the theme song for a 90’s sitcom on TGIF.  Members not only switched back and forth from guitars, washboard, drums, keys and bass but each member also brought their own original song to the table.  While most lyrics consisted of life-changing events, their love for New York State and generic happy moments, Los New Yorkers did not ignite that Jerry spark that many Deadheads in the crowd were seeking.  If I ever hear this band again, it will probably be while I am buying cotton candy at the New York State Fair because that is exactly how it made me feel.

    Melvin Seals Westcott TheaterWord has spread up and down I-81 about a Scranton-based bluegrass group known as The Dishonest Fiddlers, and the quartet did not disappoint.  This collection of traveling ramblers were chosen by Dave Brown, founder of the band, who swaps artists for every show, making the “About Page” on their Facebook profile dishonest.  The unique idea of taking musicians from different parts of the country allows Brown the freedom to mix it up at the drop of the hat and the pluck of a string. One downfall of never having the same band twice is that practice time is limited, therefore they are often forced to fight for space backstage.

    At The Westcott Theater, the foursome found themselves practicing in front of the men’s bathroom line, which welcomed them with clinched legs and open arms.  The first song of their actual set was dedicated to the “new friends in the bathroom line” as they channeled the folkie side of Garcia with a beautiful, “Rosa Lee McFall.”  The remainder of the seven-song set consisted of all originals and the crowd seem to genuinely enjoy every minute of it.  As the room began to fill up for Seals and JGB, Brown was hoping to elicit some crowd participation during “There Ain’t Enough Water in the Water” which was minimally responded to, at best!  As couples locked arms and rowdily stomped their feet, The Dishonest Fiddlers’ time was up and Brown thanked the Central NY crowd for their support during the band’s first ever visit to Syracuse.  For the sake of bluegrass music, I hope they return to the Empire State very soon.

    Melvin Seals Westcott TheaterNow past 11:00pm, fans were finally ready to embrace Melvin Seals & JGB and it was well worth the wait!  Aware of the time, the crowd let it all hang out as the group opened with a funky jam sequence leading into “After Midnight.”  While the famous Eric Clapton version of the classic fast-paced hit clocks in under three minutes, Seals kept this monster jamming for over 15 minutes!  While on the topic of iconic rock-n-roll, The Beatles were gently sandwiched in the middle of the Jerry-influenced “Midnight” jam as “Eleanor Rigby” made its appearance as it regularly did in the late-70’s and early-80’s.  The “Fab Four” from England were also covered during the next song of the evening, “I Want to Tell You,” which once again featured Zach Nugent filling in for Jerry on vocals.

    After the smoking hot start to the show, “When I Paint My Masterpeice” peacefully calmed the audience down and was highlighted by Nugent paying tribute to Garcia with his delicate and passionate playing.  “Neighbor, Neighbor” featured strong backing vocals from Cheryl Rucker and Shirley Starks, and on the night of International Woman’s Day 2017, the crowd was thoroughly glad to have these lovely ladies in their lives.  In the heart of the set list, the Garcia/ Hunter gem, “Mission In The Rain,” somberly described a lost soul searching for redemption and where Nugent’s vocal abilities fell below Garcia standards, his guitar solo was sorrowful and spot on.  The playful and gospel-influenced “Evangeline” lifted everyone’s spirits after the emotional “Mission” before the bluesy “Think” featured yet another powerful vocal collaboration.

    Melvin Seals Westcott TheaterBassist, John-Paul McLean, exchanged smiles and notes with Seals during the classic R&B cover of “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” and to the delight of Deadheads in the room, Starks and Rucker pointed to the audience while they sang the chorus.  Love had captivated the audience throughout the entire show, but especially at the end of the evening when they transitioned from “Somebody to Love” to “How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You.”  Seals introduced the band and gave one more stellar B-3 organ solo during the extra sweet version.  Although the show ended past 1:00AM on Thursday morning, the band was not ready to say goodbye to their loyal fan base as Seals & JGB hung out by the merchandise table to chit chat with ticket holders.

    Seals has spent over 30 years in the spotlight mesmerizing audiences with his swirling keyboard-synth magic, but he is still the humble, welcoming, and sincere man he was when he first met Garcia.  As a child of the 90’s I have never gotten to see Garcia play live. Although I have listened to thousands of hours of recorded material, read numerous books and stared at videos on Youtube until my eyes were blood shot, I never had the opportunity to be a part of the touring community that was cherished by millions.  Thanks to bands like Melvin Seals and JGB, fans like myself and long-time fans alike can come together and share love, smiles and gratitude with their sisters and their brothers.

    Melvin Seals Westcott TheaterThe Dishonest Fiddlers Setlist: Rosa Lee McFall, My Brand New Jalopy, There Ain’t Enough Water in the Water, Steve, Sam’s Cigar, The TV Store, Steamtown Blues

    Melvin Seals and JGB Setlist: Jam, After Midnight*, I Want to Tell You, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Neighbor, Neighbor, Mission In the Rain, Evangeline, Think, Everybody Needs Somebody To Love, How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You

    *w/ Eleanor Rigby jam

  • Melvin Seals & JGB Return to Central NY

    This Wednesday, March 8, Melvin Seals & JGB will return to The Westcott Theater in Syracuse.  The “Keepers of the Flame” are no strangers to Central New York, having played the same venue less than six months prior and every year since 2012.

    The folky Dishonest Fiddlers as well as Upstate’s own Los New Yorkers are opening for Seals and his band, so fans can expect a little bit of everything on this upcoming hump day.   The Syracuse show is the third stop in the Empire State this tour, following their Friday night performance with special guests Ron Holloway and John Kadlecik at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester and the Tuesday night gig at the Buffalo Iron Works with Pink Talking Fish.

    Melvin Seals and JGB continue to show their love for New York as they return to the Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs on Saturday, March 11 and the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock on Sunday, March 12.  The different bills feature eclectic opening acts from all over the Northeast, so prepare for something unique and special to happen at every show.

    Tickets for Wednesday night’s show at the Westcott Theater are still available and the remainder of the tour dates can be found here.