NYS Music 20​18

Author: Alyssa Ladzinski

  • Cousin Earth Lineup Loses Lawton, Rounds up Raye

    For those familiar with the progressive, ukulele-heavy tunes hailing from Brooklyn’s Cousin Earth, then you may be well acquainted with their fun, quirky sound and pleasing melodies. It’s with heavy hearts that Cousin Earth announces Tara Lawton’s decision to part ways with her role as vocalist and keyboardist with the group she’s flourished with over the last five years.

    After months of preparation, Lawton will soon take her final bow with the musical collaboration. The Brooklyn outfit will then welcome Melissa Raye to officially take over vocals, following months of filling in and manning the mic. Celebrating five years of connection, growth and music, Cousin Earth will perform their last gig with Lawton on Thursday, November 29 at Mercury Lounge in NYC with Albany’s own Formula 5.

    NYS Music chatted with Tara Lawton, reflecting on her 5-year stint with Cousin Earth.

    We’re sad to see you go, but know there’s tons of fun memories to dwell on.

    Alyssa Ladzinski: What’s something you wish you could tell yourself 5 years ago at the beginning of this journey?

    Tara Lawton: Nada. The journey was and has been exactly what we needed it to be. The amount of growth I’ve experienced personally, musically and emotionally these past 5 years with Cousin Earth is unsurpassed. I wouldn’t change a thing. Every element, every unexpected twist and turn led to the creation of some amazing collaborative musical art and I think our full length album Human Music shows just how eclectic and electric our journey together has been.

    AL: Try to sum up your experience with Cousin Earth in 5 words or less.

    TL: Crazy-ass music-making life-changing musical expedition. (See how I cheated with the hyphens there…)

    AL: How have you changed as a person/musician in this timeframe?

    TL: How many pages do you have for this article? No really….! I’ve changed immensely. From learning how to write collaboratively (let me tell you it takes love and patience), to playing keys with a band for the first time (I’ve played piano since I was 7 but never with a band before), to making sure we take care of each other as well as we take care of the music we create together. I have become a much fuller and more musically-rounded version of myself as compared to 5 years ago.

    Joey Calfa (ukelele, vox) and I met in Corey J. Feldman’s (U-Bass, vox) project Mercury Landing in May of 2013 and Joe asked me to sing a few duo gigs with him playing ukulele. It’s all a bit blurry now how exactly it took off from there, but the whole of Mercury Landing ended up jumping on-board and shifting into Ukulelien (the band you now know as Cousin Earth). I remember bringing the melodica to the table with this unique idea that I could use it as a rhythm instrument to compliment the uke (who does that?!)…then came the keyboards and it’s all history from there. I cannot express how my musicianship has grown from working with these guys, particularly within the writing and keyboard spaces. I’m eternally grateful for their patience and encouragement as I blossomed into a keyboard player within the band.

    AL: We hope to hear more music from you. What’s coming next for your musical future?

    TL: Great! Me too! The decision to no longer perform with Cousin Earth wasn’t made lightly. I have been given the opportunity to make a living with a full-time singing job which just didn’t leave time to remain a full-time member of Cousin Earth. The collaboration deserves full commitment and I understand why the decision we reached needed to be made. The new singing job is mostly private events, but I am working on some solo stuff to remain in the music community publicly. I’ve never been the singer/songwriter type, so get ready for some one-woman band kinda stuff with tap shoes, accordions and other insanity. In the meantime, you can catch me making an appearance with David Schnurman, writing and singing on Teddy Midnight’s EP French Press (my rapping debut – yes, that is me spitting the rhymes I wrote at the end of the song “Come Over” with the magic of an Ableton Live filter!), playing live original keys and vocal loops for Vinyasa class at Daya Yoga Studio on Monday nights and teaching private voice lessons from my home in Bushwick, Brooklyn. I’m looking forward to further exploring what I can do musically as just one person.

    AL: What do you think Melissa will bring to the group next?

    TL: I’m not overly familiar with Melissa’s work, but from what I have heard her voice is incredible, soulful and full. I will be most interested to hear what she brings to the writing collaboration process and I wish her the best. She seems to have a soul of golden kindness which I’m sure precedes her onto every stage she lights up.

    AL: Which Cousin Earth song has the most meaning to you?

    TL: Again, how many pages you got?! Let’s start from the beginning:

    “Hey Ya” Cover – This was our first musical collaboration making a YouTube video all together as a ukelele band & it will always hold a special place in my heart. I found that glockenspiel used in the video in the trash outside of our rehearsal space in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NYC and we affectionately named her “Trash Glock.” She currently resides with me in Brooklyn.

    “Universoul” -Our first music video! What a time we had making that music video. All of the palpable love shared in that room and the cinematic brilliance brought by Michael Varley and Jessi Highet! I was in the T-Rex suit in the video because our good friend and super-fan Evangeline Rera wasn’t feeling well enough to be in full dino costume. The “viral” T-Wrecks Tap Dancing video came from that day as well. They made me into a meme! Crazy. What a time to be alive!

    “Alive” (Track 7 on Human Music) – Writing this song was truly our first full-band collaborative experience. Corey wrote it on ukelele, hence the trading of uke for u-bass live, and brought some lyrics that Joe & I worked with to turn into the song you hear today. I remember work-shopping the song at Corey’s Williamsburg apartment and writing a rough melody that we recorded a scratch track of and sent off to the others. Next rehearsal Joe shows up with a killer bass-line, Nate (always) brings the finesse with that smooth beat and Terry adds stellar interesting, echoing harmonies…bam. Alive.

    “Peculiar Patterns” (Track 1 on Human Music) – This song is particularly special to me because of the vocal work and harmonies. I wanted an opportunity to improvise vocally in a similar manner to how Joey improvises on uke and it was provided for me in the middle section of this tune. (Thanks, guys!) Corey came into a rehearsal one night with awesome lyrics and a vocal line over Joey’s beautiful ukulele composition. Terrence Brennan (vox, keys, kazoo) throws on a harmony and I remember having missed that rehearsal because the next time I was in rehearsal I heard for the first time what Terry and Corey were singing and I didn’t even have to think twice about my high harmony part. A harmony that follows the curves of the verses, adds a smooth lyrical element over the dancey B-sections and “falls” down from the top like the rain as the other parts rise slowly from underneath to meet the challenges of that very rainfall. That rehearsal was magic for me and I remember it vividly. There was no thought, the song wrote itself.

    While recording “Peculiar Patterns” with Matt Einsidler at Audio Workstations, Inc. where we recorded the album, I was going through honestly probably thee hardest experience of my lifetime and I poured my soul into the singing and recording of this track. It’s actually difficult for me to listen to still to this day, particularly around 4 minutes and 18 seconds when I let out a large vocal wail. I can hear and feel all of the pain I was experiencing…so fresh and so raw at that time in my life and it remains a doorway to that place of intense longing, vulnerability and inability to understand. I can’t help but feel for my younger self as she struggled to accept the circumstances. It’s a story for another time, but this song has my heart in a way that is so very, very special to me and it always will. My boys in Cousin Earth also allowed me to NOT BE AUTO-TUNED on this album (which is unheard of in 2018) and so here I shall use my bragging rights I have reserved. I will forever be grateful to them for allowing just me, my voice to be captured on Human Music.

    “Keep On (Show Me the Numbers, Ian)” [Track 9 on Human Music] – My baby. My first tune I’ve written and recorded with a full band. Dope. The weirdest song you will ever hear; I admit I wrote it to be difficult. I wanted a very challenging musical piece and I got it, but in hindsight I definitely would have done some things differently while writing that piece to make the listening experience more fluid. What is life experience if we do not learn from it, eh?

    The guys were lovely enough to indulge this crazy idea – a theatrey, jazzy sounding A-section juxtaposed by an off-tempo eerie sounding B-section that I originally wrote as a vocal loop with my Boss Loop Station. Drummer Nate Searing helped to pull this song together by mastering the challenging tempo changes and developing the syncopated hits in the middle section of the song which Corey brought to the table (a true collaboration!). The lyrics are odd, but if you listen closely it tells our Cousin Earth love story. This song is the only sort of love song I would willingly write, and it is for my love of the four amazing men, my brothers that make up Cousin Earth. I am proud and grateful to have this song on Human Music and we will be playing it live for my last show with Cousin Earth at The Mercury Lounge in NYC on Thursday, November 29 (doors at 9pm; show at 9:45pm with Formula 5 of Albany, NY). It’s likely to be the last time the band ever plays the song live. Please join us in celebration!

    AL: Do you have a message for the fans?

    TL: I’m not going far. If you’ve read this entire article, I promise I love you and I thank you for your support both of my personal career and Cousin Earth. Whether at shows of my fellow musician family, sitting in or performing solo, I’ll see you out there…in the words of Cousin Earth…WAY out there.

  • Funk Night Returns with Beau Sasser Escape Plan’s Tribute to Aretha Franklin

    Funk Night returns to Parish Public House, this time, boasting a musical selection of the late Aretha Franklin tunes on Nov. 15. Beau Sasser (Kung Fu) is no stranger to hosting Funk Night in downtown Albany, as he’s done many times prior with Albany’s own Justin Henricks, as well as members of Kung Fu, Turkuaz, Wurliday, Dopapod and more.

    For Funk Night’s latest installment at the downtown Albany brick accented bar and music venue, a changing lineup of Beau Sasser (Hammond Organ), Bill Carbone (Drums) and Justin Henricks (Guitar) of Beau Sasser’s Escape plan will serve up a tasty tribute to the sorely missed Queen of Soul.

    Get your tickets in advance and hold your place in line to boogie. “Ain’t no way” you’re missing this one!

  • Phish Break a Record and Kick off Fall Tour in Albany

    Two nights into their Fall Tour kick off, Phish is already breaking records to make up for their harsh Curveball fallout. Ousting Billy Joel with all time attendance at Times Union Center, a brand-new, celebratory banner welcomed the deep grooves and thoughtfully selected set lists to come from the Albany double-header.

    Moma Dancin’ their way back into the NY state capital after nine lingering years, a delicious take on the The Story of the Ghost tune got the packed party underway as Kuroda quickly proved his light show came to steal part of the opening show. “Tube” followed next as phans waited to see what territories the experimental track would wander into. It’s foundation was uprooted in its entirety and before you could predict it, the quartet threw you right back into familiar grounds. While all four members rode the high-energy wave of the tour opener, Page kicked it into high gear, grabbing the reigns throughout the course of the jam and foreshadowing his exuberant and demanding presence throughout the night.

    “Theme From the Bottom” emerged to ignite smiles as the crowd recited lyrics near and dear to their hearts. “Keep what’s important and know who’s your friend,” chimed throughout the TUCenter and hit home for many of the North Easterners who suppressed low spirits following the demise of Curveball. At its pinnacle of a capella entertainment, a quick segue picked the crowd up and placed them a the light-hearted “Free.” Kuroda offered up some tricks and treats with new patterns and Pac-Man looking motion lights. The rigs swirled above like rolling waves, at times mesmerizing the sold-out dance party over the action on stage.

    Short and to the point, “Halley’s Comet” made a fleeting appearance before finding its way into summer tour favorite “Everything’s Right.” Gordon took the opportunity to bask in the glory of psychedelia among his moments in the spotlight, bold slaps and bassy vocals. An appropriate rendition of the Talking Heads’ “Cities” rang through the pulsating downtown venue, making locals pretty happy that Albany’s the city they’ve found themselves living in. A heavy hitting “Walls of the Cave” closed out an exemplary start to fall tour to an approving arena.

    Appealing to the October chill in the air and Halloween peaking around the corner, “Ghost” corralled the crowd for set two before leading into pleasantly welcomed Big Boat number, “No Man in No Man’s Land.” The duo opened up the set with high energy that continued with “Piper.” Wandering down a evil tunnel, a gritty “Twenty Years Later” welcomed three rounds of raging applause and earnest praise. The metal leaning performance conjured devil horns proudly raised in the stagnant, smoky air. After a brief “Show of Life” interlude, Phish came out guns blazin’ again with a classic “2001” -> “Character Zero” close to the set, the latter a frequent set closer in Albany going back to 1997. A favored “Harry Hood” encore sealed the deal on a wild fall tour opener, notching a high-bar for Wednesday night’s gig to follow.

    Setlist via Phish.net
    Set 1: The Moma Dance, Tube, Theme From the Bottom > Free, Army of One, Halley’s Comet > Everything’s Right -> Cities > Walls of the Cave

    Set 2: Ghost > No Men In No Man’s Land > Piper > Twenty Years Later > Show of Life > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Character Zero

    Encore: Harry Hood

    Night 2 offered up a second helping of Phish, with fans filling into the arena earlier this evening due to the on and off wind and rain that peppered downtown Albany. The first set opened with “Crowd Control,” which was hardly an issue at the Times Union Center this run, as compared to past Phish shows where maneuvering around the sold out crowd can be harrowing.

    The first set was the highlight of the night, with a 16-minute version of “Chalkdust Torture” leading the way for Jam of the Run honors in the same spot where “Tube” shone the night before. “Wolfman’s Brother,” “Steam,” and a set closing “Bathtub Gin” each took a lengthy spin, with energetic numbers found in between with “Scent of a Mule,” “NICU,” and “Gumbo.” Throw in a few minutes of Jon Fishman on the electrolux vacuum for “I Didn’t Know” and you have a throwback to the “Bathtub Gin” jam on 9/8/00 where Fishman led us in an ambient vacuum-laden jam.

    Set 2 kicked off with the new “Set Your Soul Free,” which has already found its place as a set opening jam vehicle in only five appearances. A rusty “Birds of a Feather” followed, along with the misplaced “Mercury,” which has its moments in the middle improv section but otherwise fell flat as the set tried to pick up steam. It did just that with a 11-minute “Light” but “The Wedge” failed to capitalize on that energy, and by the time “Wading in the Velvet Sea” started, not even “Wilson”->”Slave to the Traffic Light” could find the initial energy from the set’s beginning.

    As always, “Julius” got the crowd up and dancing for the encore, and then Trey took a moment to remark that these shows in Albany were like hometown shows, and with that, the band threw in “Rocky Top,” a song of home-sweet-home, to close it out.

    Phish heads to Hampton, Nashville, Chicago and Las Vegas for the rest of their tour. Stay tuned to NYSMusic for updates!

    Setlist via Phish.net
    Set 1: Crowd Control, Chalk Dust Torture, All of These Dreams > Wolfman’s Brother > Scent of a Mule, NICU > Gumbo, Steam > I Didn’t Know, Bathtub Gin

    Set 2: Set Your Soul Free > Birds of a Feather, Mercury > Light, The Wedge, Wading in the Velvet Sea, Wilson > Slave to the Traffic Light

    Encore: Julius > Rocky Top

  • Phallbany: Get Phishy in Albany as Fall Tour Kicks Off!

    A 48-hour, tie dye wave will splash over downtown Albany just in time for Phish’s back-to-back opening Fall Tour gigs. The famed jam quartet’s October 16 and 17 shows will appropriately notch their 16th and 17th shows ever played in the state capital of ‘Phallbany’ and the buzzing city is chock-full of opportunities to celebrate the mid-week shakedown while quickly exploring historic and artistic surroundings. NYS Music is here to give you the rundown on all things Phish, including helpful navigation tips and how to make your mid-week visit to Albany as smooth as possible.

    No strangers to the Times Union Center, some notable moments have come out of their many meetings with the 28-year old Albany venue. Over the years, Phish entertained crowds in some cozier quarters just around the corner at the Palace Theatre.

    With Albany’s extensive history of Phish, we went to IHOZ – the International House of ZZYZX and looked up some stats from all past shows in NY’s capital, aside from Pauly’s Hotel in 1989 where there is no known setlist.

    October 16th marks the first ever Tuesday show. In the last five shows there have been four debuts: Windora Bug and Mellow Mood (2000) and Golden Age and Tomorrow’s Song (2009). Given the frequency of songs below, “You Enjoy Myself” is quite a safe bet, as are “Bouncing Around the Room” and “Guyute,” and while “Jam” isn’t a song, that much is guaranteed over the two nights.

    Phish has yet to play “Divided Sky” in Albany, and we have yet to have a proper “Mike’s” -> “I Am Hydrogen” > “Weekapaug Groove,” with the H2 never showing up in the Capital District.

    Most commonly played since 1992, “You Enjoy Myself” holds the heavyweight title with a total of seven plays, while “Bouncing Around the Room,” “Guyute” and “Jam” come in second at five plays. “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” “Chalk Dust Torture,” “Ghost,” “Good Times Bad Times,” “Harry Hood,” “Maze,” “NICU,” “Possum,” “Prince Caspian,” “Sparkle,” and “Stash” tie at four performances each.

    Tuesday, October 16:

    Pre Shows: If you’re looking to get the party started early, join The Deadbeats around the corner from the venue at town-favorite gastropub, City Beer Hall. They’ll get you bouncin’ round the room from 5PM-8PM before Phish takes over.

    10/16 Afterparty:  Dynamic Albany outfit Wurliday will host a Phunk Night at Parish Public House, just one block away from the show! The Phish after party will be hosted by Albany’s own Wurliday, featuring Natalie Cressman (Trey Anastasio Band), Chris Bullock (Snarky Puppy),Beau Sasser (Kung Fu), Adrian Tramontano (Kung Fu), Chris DeAngelis (Kung Fu), Justin Henricks (Wurliday) and Ilana J. Morris (Wurliday).

    Wednesday October 17:

    Phish Pre-Show Yoga Jam: Phans are generally all about the love and light, which means many of them crossover as yogis. Two of Albany’s newest ventures, Lark Street Yoga and Lark Hall are teaming up with Heartspace Yoga and Healing Arts for a for two hour, donation based yoga event. “Sharin’ in the Groove” proceeds will benefit the Waterwheel Foundation and the phun vinyasa class will be set to live phish tunes and taught by John Smrtic, E-YRT, JD from Heartspace. When sacred movement, jammin’ music, elevated intention, and connection to the spirit through breath comes together in ceremony and celebration, the potential exists to step into the groove. Book your spot from 12:30AM-1:30PM for $25 and check out Albany’s latest phan-friendly yoga studio and music hall.

    Peakin’ at the Knick:  Acting as the mullet of Wednesday’s activities, PEAK Builders Network will keep business in the front of the mind and partying safely tucked in the back. The conference filled with networking and mutual love of music will take place at the Hampton Inn, five guest speakers will share stories of their personal business and career empires and what goals they’re working towards next. The interactive conference encourages attendees to join the conversation and bounce YOUR ideas around the room with like-minded business professionals. Goodie bags, light snacks and a free drink await your 1PM arrival.

    Pre Show: Starting at 5pm, the Left Ear trio keeps the second day momentum rolling for a jazzy pre-show get down at City Beer Hall.

    Post show: Funky Albany ensemble Hartley’s Encore will bring it on back to City Beer Hall for a night sponsored by Fiddlehead Brewing Company while Pearl Street Pub hosts Tweed, Desolation Angels and McZwang for $10.

    Phish Food: Albany is buzzing with local restaurants at your disposal, spanning all types of cuisine, diets and cravings. For a morning wake up call and your AM fix of coffee and donuts, stumble over to Cider Belly Doughnuts for some of the most delicious and creative flavors imaginable.

    If you believe Herbivores ate well cause their food didn’t ever run, then you might want to check out Berben and Wolff’s and Healthy on Lark, both serving up tasty vegan meals to the public on Lark Street. For the carnivores ready for a meatstick and a beer to help wash it down after, look no further than Albany Pump Station, a brewery that boasts hearty meals and tasty craft beers. The Hollow and Ama Cocina each have a wide array of American and Mexican fare respectively, adding to the downtown Albany hustle and bustle with their energetic atmospheres and love for live music.

    Honorable mentions go to Steuben Street Cafe, with grab-n-go, delicious smoothies and sandwiches just down the road from the venue. For classic late-night, greasy grub, Pizzeria Sapienza usually stays open for a quick slice while crowds are flooding out of the arena.

    Parking tips: Don’t be a slave to the traffic light and be sure to consider your parking game plan beforehand. Aside from fighting for competitive street parking, garages are sprinkled throughout downtown Albany with fluctuating event pricing. If you’re lucky enough to snag a spot, there’s a parking garage attached to TUCenter with entrances on both Market Street and Beaver Street for a price. Throughout the downtown blocks you’ll stumble across Riverfront Garage, Green-Hudson Garage and Osborne Street Garage that are all reasonable parking options for the weekend. And of course, Albany has Uber and Lyft for access to downtown from your hotel.

    In its most natural habitat, Albany is thriving in its own glimmer of a golden age with up and coming professionals, passing artists and growing businesses. Add phans funneling down Pearl Street into the TUC like quicksand and we’ve got quite the mid-week renaissance to look forward to in six short days. The countdown continues…

  • Adirondack Independence Music Festival Closes Out Summer in Lake George

    Just in time to close out the summer, Adirondack Independence Music Festival snuck in a final taste of carefree living and beaming sunshine with a two-day jam in Lake George. Tucked away in upstate New York, the cozy site with two alternating stages backdropped the Labor Day Weekend everybody needed with familiar faces and top-notch talent across the early September lineup.

    Ready to launch festival goers into two straight days of live music, The Melting Nomads took the stage as the opening act. Featuring members from Annie In the Water’s last lineup, the fresh-on-the-scene artists played about an hour set. Next up was Jen Durkin & the Business on the Improv Stage. Steal your Peach band entertained in classic fashion with covers of The Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers over two sets. Keller Williams brought a real blue grass, jazz vibe to the entire grounds while Twiddle’s Mihali brought out his guitar to jam alongside Keller. Following Keller Williams was the renowned Sublime cover band Badfish. Twiddle closed out the night for the second year in a row, with an outstanding performance that had everyone on their feet. The band brought out special guests such as Joshua West of The Melting Nomads and Lowell Wurster. Attendance was nearly double of what the festival brought in the year prior, reaching nearly 3,5000 attendees.

    Ready to follow the kinetic atmosphere of day one with high energy, Let’s Be Leonard jump started Sunday funday and got the crowd moving in the early afternoon. Their laid back personalities and welcoming sound are the first to reel you in but their individual talents bring an extra flair to their live performance as a whole. The quintet played a few tunes from their sophomore release, Static, among the zany crowd favorite, “Brad Paisley.”

    Back to School Special followed punctually on the adjoining stage of the 25-acre Charles R. Wood Park. The first-time super group crafted by Turkuaz drummer Mikey Carubba, laid down the funk as they offered up impressively tight playing and fun splashes of covers throughout the hour set. With a highly skilled lineup consisting of Carubba, Beau Sasser (Kung Fu keys), Craig Brodhead (Turkuaz guitarist) and Sam Kininger (former Lettuce Sax), the experienced quartet instantly blended together to create quality tunes and a professional sound you’d think they’ve been crafting for years.The first double set at AIM Fest was taken on by Lucid, who draws a familiar and devoted crowd from Plattsburgh NY.

    Bringing Woods Rock to the forefront of the ADK stage, the North country musicians tapped into an eclectic selection of genres including harmonica solos throughout their two-hour gig. Previously introduced to Lucid or brand new to their sound, their catalogue and live performance is equipped with something for everyone. Right in the middle of a Lucid sandwich, Swift Technique came as a fresh pop of flavor delivering Philly funk with charisma, booming voices and a horns section demanding to be heard. Stellar crowd engagement from all band members and light-hearted messages to take care of one other truly reaffirmed what the upstate festival setting was all about. The entertaining outfit ended their set with Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” and passed the mic back to Lucid for their final set, which found a performance of “Backwoods,” featuring Lowell Wurster’s father and Scott Hannay (Mister F, Wild Adriatic).

    Stepping on stage as if they were walking in the front door of their childhood homes, Pink Talking Fish comfortably let loose and connected with the vibrance of their musical predecessors. Momentum kept rolling through a seemingly sped up version of Phish’s “Cities,” giving phans who missed out on Curveball a reason to groove and shake about. A dive into Pink Floyd’s “Breathe” surely found bodies swaying in unison, with the song’s lyrics acting as a reminder to cherish the final moments of festival season. The Allman Brother’s Band “Whipping Post” made a surprise set-list appearance, acting as a bookend to a drum heavy “What’s the Use?” with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong drummer Alex Petropulos dropping by for a tasty breakdown.

    Lespecial hit the stage at dusk, taking the setting sun as an opportunity to bring the hard hitting funk metal and entrancing beats. The multi-talented trio has a way of mesmerizing festival goers with their gritty, unique sound. They loop their live performances and indulge in genres from electronica and house to progressive rock and dark metal. Known for their musical parallels and tendency to cover Primus, Lespecial took on “Jerry Was A Racecar Driver” to begin closing out their set in style with drummer Rory Dolan nailing the Les Claypool vocals.If there was any comfortable space around you, it was instantly absorbed by the time 8 o’clock rolled around. Bodies quickly assembled and flocked towards the front of the stage as Saturday night headliners Pigeons Playing Ping Pong closed out the fest with high spirits and optimal animation. With two sets of straight funk, the unstoppable touring machines pulled out all the stops, including a “Funk E. Zekiel” opener, a number of hits from their latest album, Pizazz, and two sit-ins from the Swift Technique horns on “F.U.N.K.” and Pink Talking Fish keyboardist Richard James on “Cliffs”> “Once In A Lifetime”> “Cliffs.” Always at the top of their craft with wacky facial expressions, in sync jamming and polished dance moves, the quartet have perfected their stage presence. With a tune self explanatory of the entire weekend, PPPP appropriately shut down AIM Fest with fan-favorite, “Fun in Funk.”

    Mirroring a similar feel that the tight-knit Disc Jam community gives off and what has been missing since Catskill Chill shut down, AIM Fest continues to emerge on the scene at the right place and time. It’s fourth year in operation proved to be the best yet and a fitting, colorful sunset to a noteworthy summer of live music.

  • Celebrate 23 Years of Albany Latin Fest this weekend

    Culture and nationalism are often based around beloved traditions, zany family, tasty food and festive music alike. For its 23rd year in operation, Albany LATIN FEST calls on the diversity and flavor of Hispanic culture in the Capital Region to come together for a family-oriented day filled with live talent, traditional recipes, arts and craft vendors, child entertainment, information booths and more. 

    Albany’s Washington Park acts at the event’s annual stomping grounds from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25. LATINFEST celebrates the widespread diversity and beauty of Hispanic cultural heritage and pinpoints the contributions made by Hispanic Americans on all levels from local and state to national and international. Through this non-profit organization and event, the community is given a unified voice to speak for an often under served and underrepresented group of people.

    Having already created a name for themselves in the Capital Region, the annual celebration is chock-full of musical acts both local and international and provides the ability for patrons and businesses to engage with one another in an effort to address world issues and disaster relief aid.

    In 2017 after hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, ALFA crafted Una Noche Espléndida where all proceeds went to the Puerto Rico Disaster Relief Fund as well as a Benefit Concert where all money would go to Puerto Rico Disaster Relief. Over $10,000 were raised in an extremely rewarding effort.

    This year, attendees can look forward to letting loose to the Latin flavor from three well-known acts. Bachata Heightz began as four men in Manhattan, veering away from the streets and towards their musical passions. Climbing the ladder of success, they’re sure to bring tropical hip hop vibes while the south Bronx’s Don Sonero welcomes salsa beats to the stage paired with creative lyricism and social messages. Also making an appearance on the lineup is the seven-piece, Conjunto Cuboricua, ready to unleash the mixed musical stylings of Cuba and Puerto Rico with meringue and Caribbean nods as one of the Hudson Valley’s favorite acts.

    Past festivals have displayed talents such as Tony Vega, Ray de la Paz, Jorge Blanco, Raulin Rosendo, Hector Tricoche, Alex Torres & his Latin Orchestra, Tito Rojas, Tony Swing, Anissa Gathers, Michael Stuart, Ismael Miranda, Jose Alberto ‘El Canario’, Chembo Corniel, Puerto Rican Power, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Frankie Negron, Kevin Ceballo, Luisito Carrion, Nestor Torres, Jimmy Bosch, Brenda K. Starr, Choco Orta, Larry Harlow and the Latin Legends, Joe Cuba, and many others.

    Check out the Albany Latin Fest musical schedule below:

    August 25 at Washington Park:

    11 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. – Washington Park Rumberos

    11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Triquis Sin Fronteras

    12 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. – SUNY Albany Great Danes Marching Band

    12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Salsa Class

    1 p.m. –  2 p.m. – Cuboricua

     2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Local acts

    2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – DJ

    3 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Don Sonero

    4 p.m. – 5 p.m. – DJ

    5 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Bachata Heightz

  • Phish Releases Compilation Album, ‘Live Bait Vol. 14’

    After dropping the news of an exclusive, first-ever vinyl pressing of the 1997 live album Slip Stitch and Pass,” Phish followed up fast by releasing an entirely free edition to their Live Bait compilation series. Live Bait Vol. 14 includes a total of seven carefully hand-picked jams by Phish archivist, Kevin Shapiro.

    The chosen few span from an 8/7/97 “Harry Hood” to a well-loved “Tweezer”> “Prince Caspian” from 2015’s Magnaball festival in Watkins Glen, NY. This year’s Curveball Festival will round the phans back up to the same watering hole from August 17-19.Live Bait Vol. 14

    The innovative compilation is entirely free and can be downloaded at LivePhish.com or streamed on the LivePhish app.

    Full track list:

    Live Bait Vol. 14

    Harry Hood (8/2/97 Gorge Amphitheatre – George, WA) 18:11

    McGrupp And The Watchful Hosemasters (10/29/98 Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA) 11:45

    Wolfman’s Brother (9/24/99 South Park Meadows – Austin, TX) 18:55

    Gotta Jibboo > Saw It Again > Magilla (7/4/00 E Centre – Camden, NJ) 39:28

    What’s The Use? (6/25/00 Alltel Pavilion at Walnut Creek – Raleigh, NC) 9:52

    Runaway Jim (7/9/99 Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD) 12:21

    Tweezer > Prince Caspian (8/22/15 Magnaball, Watkins Glen International – Watkins Glen, NY) 34:17

  • Phish Reveal Exclusive ‘Slip Stitch and Pass’ Vinyl Release at Curveball

    As the masses are prepping their festival checklists for August in the gorges of Western NY, Phish announced that their own JEMP Records will reveal the first vinyl release of Slip Stitch and Pass exclusively at this summer’s Curveball Festival.

    As noted by Phish Dry Goods, the exclusive, festival-ready release will be “pressed on two-color splatter (blue and purple), foil numbered LPs.” A celebratory, limited edition Drew Millard screen print will also be tossed in for purchasers during the August 17-19 weekend in the woods. Slip Stitch and Pass is Phish’s second live album and is compromised of highlights from their March 1, 1997 performance at the Markthalle in Hamburg. Originally, it was released on October 28, 1997.

    Slip Stitch and Pass

    For collectors immediately alarmed by the issue of safely protecting a vinyl in the dead summer heat, the JEMP Record store will provide an air conditioned merch-check so the records can Cool it Down all Curveball weekend long. Be sure to check out the vinyl listening station, where festival goers can get an all senses, in-person feel for the album. Alongside the new LP will be pressings of Billy Breathes, A Live One, The White Tape, Junta, Lawn Boy, Rift, A Picture of Nectar and a variety of side projects.

    If you have to skip out on Phish’s 11th festival and wait for your next show during Fall tour, a non-colored Slip Stitch and Pass vinyl will be available later in the year on Phish Dry Goods.

  • Dead Ahead: Second Rock the Dock Festival

    Things you can buy with ten dollars: one beer in NYC, a chipotle burrito, almost a full priced movie ticket, OR you could save three dollars and buy a FULL priced ticket to Rock the Dock Music Festival.

    Ready to toot their own foghorn for the fest’s second gathering, bringing their familiar Upstate, NY jams back to the steel pier of the Lake George Steamboat Company on July 13, 2018.

    Driving a tough bargain, the improvisational powerhouse is offering advanced ticket sales for just $7 a pop to enjoy a fun-for-all-ages summer day, filled with live music, vendors, beer, food and crafts. Boasting a handpicked lineup of Soule Monde (Featuring Ray Paczkowski & Russ Lawton of Trey Anastasio Band), Strange Machines and Let’s Be Leonard, the entertainment can be appreciated from any of the three historic Lake George vessels that appropriately dock around the stage, acting as musical grandstands and welcoming wandering folk to explore free of charge.

    “Rock the Dock was started as a way to celebrate the Lake George Steamboat Company‘s 200th anniversary by doing something that the company has never done in its history, hold a concert on the pier. The free concert was a way of giving back to all the loyal patrons as well as showcase the talents of local artists and food trucks. This year’s festival will also be focused on giving back, with 25% of all ticket proceeds benefiting the FUND for Lake George, to help with their efforts to keep the lake clean and pristine for years to come,” Luke Dow, event manager for Rock the Dock, shared about bringing the event to the docks on Lake George.

    Saratoga Springs’ Let’s Be Leonard kick things off at 4 pm for an hour long set of rock n’ roll jazz explosion before passing the baton to New England-based Strange Machines at 5:15 pm for a melting pot of funky rock and livetronica fusion. At 6:45 pm, Soule Monde will take the stage, featuring Russ Lawton and fellow Trey Anastasio band member, Ray Paczkowski. An ideal union of swagger and raw talent, the duo is colorful, bold and highly responsive to one another’s artistry. Lake George’s own Formula 5 will once again take shape as this year’s headliner at 8:15 pm. 

    “It’s pretty cool growing a band from such a little town. We play all over the Eastern watershed and to have so many people gather in a place that molded who I am, it’s pretty special,” said drummer Greg Marek. “This place is pretty special. I’m just happy I can share the beauty of the lake along with our music to such wonderful people.”

    If the music and cheap ticket price isn’t enough to reel you in, food trucks like The Plaid Pancake, Wood Shack Pizza and Sunshine Catering will keep your bellies full while a beer truck and bars on all three ships will keep your thirst quenched. Vendors will include Buffalo Bannon Designs and Adirondack Aromatherapy as well as other unique craftspeople selling soaps, oils, jewelry, festival gear and more.

    Day-of ticket prices for this year’s festival are $10 for ages 12 and up, and is free for everyone under 11. Advance tickets are for sale for only $7 at rockthedocklakegeorge.com. 25% of the ticket proceeds will be donated to Mayor Blais’s FUND for Lake George to help in it’s efforts to keep Lake George clean, pristine, and free of invasive species.

    Visit Lake George on July 13, support local causes, vendors and artists, and get ready to Rock the Dock!

  • Album Review: Hartley’s Encore ‘Hartley’s Encore’

     

    hartley's encore albumJoining the ranks of Albany’s tasteful and expansive live music scene over the last two years, Hartley’s Encore has become a recognizable name, plastered on fliers at favored venues and taking on hosting duties for local funk nights, and after rounding up a collection of distinguished tracks, the spunky Capital Region locals finally put forth their first, self-titled album on April 20, 2018. 

    The 6-track effort was recorded and mixed by Soulives’ Alan Evans at Iron Wax Recording Studio in Millers Falls, MA and comes stacked with talent, including Luke Malamood (Lead and Backing Vocals, Keyboards, Hammond B3, Percussion), Chris Oliver (Guitars, Backing Vocals), Jeff Nania (Saxophones), Josh Gordon (Bass: tracks 1, 3, 4, and 6), Mike Gilet (Drums: tracks 1, 3, 4, and 6) and the help of Erik Pravel (Drums: tracks 2, and 5), Phil Chow (Trumpet) and Brad Monkell (Bass: tracks 2, and 5).

    From the album’s opening notes, it’s apparent the assortment has one goal in mind: create funky, dance-leaning tracks that leave the live crowd and listener at home no choice but to groove in their immediate proximity. “Take ‘Em Down” and “Can’t Fake the Funk” are full embodiments of dance anthems, complete with transitions between soulful vocals and an impressive horn section splashed throughout. Groovy, harmonized background vocals and a splash of falsetto are quick to grab an ear as well as carefully placed elements of rock and roll.  Although generally funky and soulful, a fiery nugget of psychedelic rock is thrown into the mix with wailing guitar solos by Oliver.

    Rotating focus on which instruments shine, “Keep That Bright Light Shining,” “All My Funky People” and “Hooklynn” highlight the ability to swap musical hats with tasteful drum lead-ins, tickling of the keys and fleeting solos on guitar. Appropriately named “Hartley’s Encore” and placed as the closing track of the album, the repeated mantra of “gonna give you an encore” paired with jazzy pockets of saxophone and trumpet leave you feeling the funk up until the final notes.

    Over six tracks, Hartley’s Encore manages to fuse their chosen genres in a seamless way, weaving rock and roll amidst funk and jazz while keeping the message lighthearted and fun. Between catchy hooks, tasty riffs and feel-good tunes, the up and comers pieced together a collection of tracks suitable for those live on the dance floor, cookin’ and dancin’ at home or anxiously wiggling in the car during rush hour traffic.

    A record release party took place on Friday, April 27 at The Hollow in Albany with special guest Victory Soul Orchestra and was hosted by Guthrie/Bell Productions. They will also perform at Bowery Electric on May 18 in Manhattan. Hartley’s Encore is now available on Spotify and Apple Music.

    Key Tracks: (Keep That) Bright Light Shinning, All My Funky People, Hartley’s Encore