Author: NYS Music Staff

Older, Wiser and Sexier in Albany: Timberlake Brings Man of the Woods to Upstate

Justin Timberlake kept step with his reputation for fast-paced, almost dizzying energy at his “Man of the Woods” tour on Saturday, October 20th at the Times Union Center. Timberlake and The Tennessee Kids infiltrated hip-hop music with some country vibe with a good outcome to an arena of mostly screaming, gyrating women of varying ages.

In a dramatic entry, complete with laser show and smoke, Timberlake danced in with the same high energy he had as a teen performer in his boy band, NSYNC, but with the sexy confidence of a much wiser, older performer. He appeared to be having a great time, singing and dancing to “Filthy,” and reminding the audience repeatedly that he knew where he was, calling out to Albany during choruses.

Timberlake looked to be broadening his style a bit, showing a music video by the TN Kids covering “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” before coming on stage. But after crooning out the John Denver song, the words, “If you love this country, you’re a country boy” scrolled across the screen, literally reminding fans to be inclusive in their thoughts about what to expect from Timberlake.

Timberlake was dressed in a denim jacket adorned with a pine tree, black denim, and a white T underneath. His white sneakers shone in the light as he moved his feet with grace, appearing effortless as he danced in perfect time with his dancers and fellow musicians.

He sang songs from his new album, “Midnight Summer Jam,” clapping along and highlighting musicianship in his band as much as his dancing. He appeared re-made, in some ways, to highlight a more folksy persona. His songs touched on the topic of love for his famous wife, Jessica Beil, and his young son Sam.

Even so, the athletic performer didn’t shy away from old tunes. He jumped and danced to “Sexy Back,” reaching back to his fans from his first solo releases in the early 2000s. Indeed, some of the fans seemed to love him since his days on the Mickey Mouse Club, singing along with “Cry Me a River” and “Mirrors.” He invited Albany to “shake your upstate ass” as he himself shook his with the vivacity of a much younger hip-hop artist.

Timberlake’s singing and dancing are only part of the show that makes it so much fun, though. He interacted with the crowd, talking with fans and revealing an audience member’s baby’s gender (it was a girl, or as Timberlake stated, “A little princess”) and pointing to audience members who seemed genuinely engaged. The sound at the TU was well balanced, making each syllable accessible to the crowd so that they could participate. Often, Timberlake dropped his microphone and let the audience sing along entire verses with glee.

The screens that dropped from the ceiling, reflecting with videos, added to the visual appeal of the night. This show was different than most pop concerts brought to Albany; it was unexpected and clearly reaching for some creative messages. There were sets that changed: a campfire for a transition portion of the concert that featured the TN Kids’ vocalists, grasses and trees to generate a natural feel, and a background video about accepting all love added to the uniqueness of the experience. And then there were the laser shows, almost never used in our community for concerts.

This was an arena performance.

Most rockers from the 1990s return to Albany to play just their old stuff and stand in one place; Timberlake introduced some new music woven in with older songs, danced like he’s still 16, and helped fans forget they were in the warehouse of the TU for two hours.

After the campfire sub-story, which quite possibly highlighted some of the sweetest voices by TN Kids’ singing Fleetwood Mac, Laryn Hill, Beatles, and John Denver’s covers, Timberlake played a tender “What Goes Around…Comes Around” before transitioning back to his current album. Returning to the main stage for “Say Something,” Timberlake’s recent hit with Chris Stapleton, the energy skyrocketed through the last seven songs.

The high energy performer had fun, and so did his fans who were exhausted just watching him run, dance, jump and sing with his beautiful, velvet tenor voice. There were no bad seats in the house, as Timberlake played to the whole house, moving around so much between stages and on a walkway. For over two hours, Timberlake and the TN Kids tirelessly celebrated on stage.

While it appears Timberlake is reaching for a new branding of sorts, he also appears to know the formula to keep fans blissfully engaged. By expanding to country music a bit, the wise Timberlake is making a nod to his birthplace, Tennessee, that is exploding bluegrass sound at present, while also staying engaged with the hip-hop fan base that grew his popularity the past 20+ years.

His new songs, beautiful personal love songs to his wife and child, certainly show a more grown, mature performer who has the wisdom not to forget the past in search of the future. And his fans are learning from his wisdom: they too, regardless of age, appear to love Timberlake as much today as they did yesterday, if not more.

Justin Timberlake certainly brought sexy back to Albany: an older, wiser, more mature sexy than years past, a sexy that was way more enjoyable than expected.

Setlist: Filthy, Midnight Summer Jam, LoveStoned, SexyBack, Man of the Woods, Higher Higher, Señorita, Suit & Tie, My Love, Cry Me a River, Mirrors, Drink You Away, Until the End of Time(acoustic), Dreams (Fleetwood Mac cover), Ex-Factor (Lauryn Hill cover) Come Together (The Beatles cover), Thank God I’m a Country Boy (John Denver cover), Morning Light, What Goes Around… Comes Around, (acoustic)Say Something, Montana, Summer Love, Rock Your Body, Supplies, Like I Love You, Can’t Stop the Feeling!

October 22, 2018
Tough Guys: Caroline Jones is Unapologetically Here to Shine

Remember this name: Caroline Jones. The 28-year-old country singer and songwriter released her first album, Bare Feet, in March 2018, and has had an outstandingly remarkable concert season opening for country successes Tim McGraw, Jimmy Buffett, and Zac Brown.

NYS Music caught up with Caroline Jones after she opened for the Zac Brown Band at Saratoga Springs September 29, 2018. Jones’ performance demonstrated great versatility in her 20 minutes on stage. Mashing up John Denver’s melodies with her own, covering Coldplay’s “Fix You,” and even singing her original songs “Bare Feet” and “Tough Guys,” Jones sounded a lot like a female Zac Brown. She even pulled out the harmonica on the last song, unapologetic of her flexibility. She can sing, play guitar and harp, and even writes music.

Jones was unassuming as she sang on a stage washed in blue-violet light. Her petite frame was relaxed as her arched her voice over two octaves. She walked around the stage, dancing and singing about wanting a man to call her baby, and alternatively, telling people it’s tough if they don’t accept her as she is. Her voice training in opera shone through as she managed challenging transitions with ease.

After the performance, she graciously met fans at a meet and greet where she authentically appeared both relaxed and interested in each fan’s words. Smiling for the camera and chatting about fans’ love of her music, Jones was right at home during the meet and greet.

During the interview, Jones revealed her interest in country and pop music started young, at age nine, when she began vocal lessons with a teacher who specialized in jazz and opera. The teacher was her primary coach for many years, eventually guiding her to NYU to study opera. But her love of country was organic to her; she never lost it, and has found her way back to writing her popular tunes.

Jones offered that her parents, featured in the autobiographical song “County Girl,” were from different backgrounds. Jones shared her father is southern, and wanted her to stay connected to her southern values, including humility and a love of nature. She excitedly shared she enjoyed walking the grounds of SPAC earlier in the day and had found a babbling brook and the sunlight filtering through the trees. She admitted she often writes her best music in nature.

When asked about her future, Jones confidently sees herself still writing music in ten years and growing as an artist and woman. She hopes to continue to put out the type of music that communicates her values and connection to nature and womanhood, as she has done so well this year.

Jones had a sea of plaid flannel fans swaying and singing with her during her versatile twenty minutes on stage. Later in the night, she got the nod of approval from Zac himself as they played guitar together.

Remember the name, Caroline Jones. She is quite possibly the biggest name about to burst onto the country scene this year.

October 13, 2018
Repetitive but Never Boring: Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band Cover Old Favorites

Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band brought a bit of nostalgia to Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Friday, September 14, covering 25 well known songs from the ’80s and ’90s. On a stage decked out with a large drape screen-printed with a peace sign, sunflowers, and stars, the former Beatle, Sir Richard Starkey, Jr., brought together an eclectic group of performers. On stage with Ringo in the group were Colin Hay of Men at Work, Steve Lukather of Toto, Gregg Rolie of Santana, and newest member Graham Gouldman of 10cc. Percussion and sax featured Warren Ham, with Gregg Bissonette focused on drums..

Starr bounced out to the stage after everyone else, smiling and singing, echoing back to folks who offered “I love you” praise with “I love you too!” Flashing peace signs and telling jokes that had a canned, somewhat repetitive rhythm, Starr’s fans smiled and seemed to honor his worn humor kindly with the knowledge of a well-seasoned audience. This was Ringo Starr, after all, one of two still living former Beatles. He has earned the right to be silly and predictable. Starr, meanwhile, enjoyed himself tremendously, laughing at jokes tricking the audience and playfully engaging fans with silliness.

The group rotated through their best-known hits from each ensemble they were known for previous performances in, lending a sort of cover band feeling to the night. From “It Don’t Come Easy” to “Evil Ways,” “Black Magic Woman,” “Land Down Under” and “Africa,” the music had a familiar bounce and four count. Fans had to wait for the third song to get a Beatles tune; Starr recalled that piece, “What Goes On,” was co-written by Lennon, McCartney, and Starr – and he lamented playfully that he knew the audience believed as he did that he should’ve had top billing on the authorship.

Later, when “Yellow Submarine” started, fans howled their approval. This was, after all, why many spent their Friday night at the Spa City venue. Ending “A Little Help From My Friends” with Lennon and Yoko’s “Give Peace a Chance” mixed in, Ringo’s message about peace and love being “the only way” rang out throughout the park.

The audience members, mainly an over 50 set who appeared to adore Ringo as much today as they did when they were in their teens, had already bought that message years ago. But they sang along, swaying in the moment with the peace of their earlier days. The audience even flashed the peace signs back to Sir Ringo.

Ringo Starr and his All Starr band were somewhat predictable in their song choices and repetitive rhythm and vibe. But people didn’t come to hear new music, as much as to remember old favorites. Watching the 78 year-old former Beatle flash peace signs and cue folks to believe in peace and love was oddly reassuring though on this cool night in Saratoga. We need repetition sometimes, to remind us that the simplest messages are often the truest. Be kind. Give peace a chance. Smile more. Just like Ringo and his friends.

September 19, 2018
Listen to Orchard Lounge Camp Bisco VIP set with Allen Aucoin

Formed in Chicago over eighteen years ago, the DJ collective known as Orchard Lounge is made up of Ben Silver, Spencer Lokken and Bethany Lokken. Looking back over an almost two-decade career we start to see some festivals and events that pop up on the radar more often than not. We caught up with Orchard Lounge’s Bethany Lokken to see if we could expect more shows in the coming months, like we’ve seen throughout the year. Well it doesn’t sound like we’ll see a full-fledged tour, it looks like there’s certainly more to come on the horizon, especially after their VIP set at Camp Bisco.

When asked if Orchard Lounge will start to tour again, in the traditional sense, Bethany Lokken had this to say: “It’s just been great to get back out there as a trio over the past year or so. We’ve had spurts of touring and periods of downtime, just like any other project that’s been at it as long as we have. We’re getting back out there, but we’re not forcing anything. We’re not pushing tours because we’re at a point in our careers where we want to focus on quality over quality – 100% of the time. We’ve just been focusing on the rooms that make sense. The sound systems that make sense. And we promise we’ll bring you the music that makes sense. We’re looking forward to the future, and we’re staying focusing on what’s right in front of us to bring you all the best shows possible.”

Orchard Lounge is no stranger to Camp Bisco, and this year marked their tenth performance at The Disco Biscuits annual summer music festival – again returning to Montage Mountain in Moosic, Pennsylvania. A quick review of their 2018 touring schedule and we see two visits to Cervantes’ Masterpiece in Denver. The room is known for cultivating unique lineups and “supergroups” in the jam-rock and electronic music scenes.

Allen Aucoin from The Disco Biscuits makes appearances on both OL bills from this year with Denver’s Tiger Party and again with DJ legend LTJ Bukem. Both times Aucoin joined the trio during their set for live drumming accompaniment. Little did we know these shows were actually giving us a sneak-peak of what went down at Camp Bisco for the late night VIP set, as well as a glimpse at variation of a new project – SilverFameus – that is debuting at Satellite Ranch Music & Arts Festival this coming weekend in Pennsylvania.

The Orchard Lounge VIP set at Camp Bisco was prefaced by some of the most intense downpouring we’ve seen since last year – notably around the same time at Camp Bisco. It’s become sort of tradition there. After thirty to sixty minutes of huddling in the Main Stage tent with five thousand of your closest friends, the fans emerge and diligently trickle back out into the festival grounds to see what remaining music they still can before the night is done.

The window of non-precipitation lasted for about an hour, with Orchard Lounge taking the stage as a trio for the initial third of the set. Moving downtempo tracks textured with high-energy, transient deep house define the mood, Disco Biscuits drummer Aucoin took the stage about half way in, with Ian McGuire joining on the keys shortly after. Aucoin and McGuire are more than familiar with each other’s style – both play in livetronica improv trio CIA, which also includes Particle bassist Clay Parnell. The two click seamlessly with each of the different members of Orchard Lounge, check it out here for yourself:

You can catch Orchard Lounge in their natural state (the trio) next Friday, Sept. 7 in New York City. Their last play in New York was an exclusive show at the Museum of Sex that people are still buzzing about. When they return to play Brooklyn’s Elsewhere next week they’ll be joined by the infamous Doc Martin, who has been DJing since he started in San Francisco back in 1986, as well as Risky Disco’s Greg D.

That new project SilverFameus, featuring Ben Silver and Allen Aucoin, will hit its first sets of ears this Sunday, Sept. 1 at the Satellite Ranch Music and Arts Festival. Attendees will also see Eliot Lipp, Joe Nice, Tweed, Horizon Wireless, Space Bacon, Newpy Hundo, and Bad Leather along with forty other artists total between Saturday’s and Sunday’s performances.

“Just like anything new or old, it’s going to evolve. The music hits on the deeper side of house and techno… we’ll spare you that bio cliché that pitches our music as ‘undefinable, mind-bending crossover of genres X, Y and Z’. The music is growing. It’s electronic and it’s organic – much like people. We’re not putting a label on it. Ben and I have been cultivating this for a while now, and we’re looking forward to the test drive this weekend.”

Orchard Lounge, Ben Silver’s solo project, DrFameus, SilverFameus and CIA share a common thread as part of the artist family at Full Circle Music Productions – stay tuned to their calendar for announcements and upcoming events.

August 31, 2018
Evanescence and Lindsey Stirling – Orchestration and Ballet at a Rock Show

Evanescence and Lindsey Stirling shared the headline at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Saturday, July 28^th, cutting through the humid and steamy night with ethereal vocals and punchy, athletic dancing.

Juxtaposed with the ballet at SPAC the previous week, and the Philadelphia Orchestra which is scheduled to open Wednesday at the venue, both Amy Lee and Lindsey Stirling hosted local musicians on stage to fill a full orchestra. Complete with graceful professional dancers, a LED screen with coordinating visuals, and well-timed light shows, both artists offered thoroughly enjoyable and unique performances.

Amy Lee took the stage promptly at 8, and Evanescence opened with “Overture,” which served both to check and tune the instruments as much as to tune the audience into the heavier orchestrated sound. Lee’s vocals were on pitch as she moved between piano and the microphone on “Never Go Back” and “Lacrymosa.”

Singing some incredibly sad songs, Lee spoke optimistically to her fans. She voiced gratitude to the musicians on stage with her, and would later remind audience members to be present and “enjoy the music tonight.” Her just be here now message brought a roar of approval from fans, many of whom have followed Lee for 20 years.

A highlight of the evening was Evanescence’s cover of the Beatles tune “Across the Universe.” Lee was backlit with images from nature as she sweetly sang the lyrics “Nothings gonna change my world.” While better known for heavier sounds contrasted with her voice, Lee’s vocals on this cover shifted the mood during her longer set of seventeen older tunes. “Hi-Lo” followed, with Stirling dancing on stage at the end with her fiddle.

Lee’s rendition of their famous song “My Immortal,” while still beautifully performed, lacked the usual punch from the bass and orchestration typically associated with the piece. There were a number of moments that the balance seemed a bit off, perhaps due to having different musicians each night in the orchestra, or simply a sound issue? Either way, Evanescence’s performance was still a treat.

Evanescence ended the set, bowing with bringing their children on stage to wave at fans and enjoy the applause. There was a moment of recognition that Evanescence has traveled a long way as a group, not just this summer, but over the past 20 years, to bring this experience to us. Their coordination with local musicians on songs, old and newer, and ease of performance reflect their experience and wealth of confidence.

After a brief stage change, Lindsey Stirling’s set began with a video of her quoting Teddy Roosevelt’s famous words from “The Man in the Arena.” She seemed set immediately to disprove judges from America’s Got Talent, who previously reflected Stirling’s talent, while interesting, wasn’t “enough” for her to hold an audience and fill a show. She entered in costume, kicking and dancing with her fiddle on her arm, as she performed her piece “The Arena.”

Stirling is a dancer and a performer, and each song demonstrated that while her violin playing might not be up to par for a classically trained orchestra, her fiddling while dancing can entrance young and old alike. Her costume changes, use of set, and even role-playing as she danced with the other performers told stories and held the audience’s attention in her unique presentation. She battled ghosts using her feet and bow in dance, she “flew” above the crowd on a rising platform, and she danced with wood nymphs as she rescued them from magic.

Stirling took a few long breaks to talk to the crowd, including one during which she showed her fifteen-year-old self-dancing with her high school friends to an Evanescence song. She expressed high regard for Amy Lee and spoke to young fans about being willing to chase dreams. “I was not good enough at anything,” Stirling said, “but I was willing to work enough.”

And she worked the crowd beautifully, inspiring the young faces who looked upon her graceful and playful dancing with dreamy eyes and pursed lips, perhaps imagining their own dreams coming to life.

Amy Lee joined Stirling, singing vocals on “Shatter Me.” Stirling kept the energy and imagination moving through her set of fourteen pieces, ending with a dramatic “Phantom of the Opera” encore for her fans.

Stirling offered a unique performance, one you couldn’t get from listening to her CD. She captivated the crowd with motion, and while her fiddling was only mediocre, her spirit soared with her feet as she chased her dream around the stage.

Not quite the ballet, and not quite the orchestra, both Evanescence and Stirling demonstrated similar components (orchestra, dance) used to entertain Saratoga Springs. And while not classically executed, both performances were unique in offering their authentic voices to the mix of what SPAC brings each summer and, like their classical counterparts, brought great joy to their fans.

July 31, 2018
Aqueous Sets Sail at Riverboat Bar in Alex Bay

When the doors to The Riverboat Bar in Alexandria Bay opened up a little over an hour before Aqueous was to take the stage on Friday July 20, there was a feeling of anticipation for what was about to transpire. Most certainly the smallest and most intimate room the band still plays in New York State, The Riverboat was about to host the band for the 6th consecutive summer as a part of their Summer 2018 Live Music Series. As Aqueous fans began to filter into the venue, many of whom had put in hours of driving to see the show, there was a collective feeling that we were about to witness something special. The small stage set up and intimate layout of the room may have come as a shock to those who were now used to seeing the band play in larger music halls and festivals.

When the band, consisting of Mike Gantzer on guitar/vocals, Dave Loss on guitar/keys/vocals, Evan McPhaden on bass and Rob Houk on drums, made their way through the crowd to take the stage, high fiving their fans on the way, the energy in the room was apparent and everyone was eager for the band to begin their groove rock assault. With increasing airplay on Sirius XM’s JamOn station as well as high profile sets at large music festivals all summer, the band has continued to build a rabid fan base. Their fans, or AQuaintances, pack their shows and stream all of their past shows on nugs.net and the fans in attendance were ready to hear if their favorite AQ jam was going to be the opening song of the evening.

When the band broke into “20/20” from their 2014 album Cycles to open the first set, loud cheers could be heard from the crowd directly in front of the band, on the balcony above the stage and from those still waiting to get in the door or watching through the windows outside of the venue. From there the packed crowd was treated to renditions of “Complex Pt. II,” also from Cycles and old favorite “Marty” from 2011’s Giant Something before the band unleashed their breakthrough song “Origami” from 2012’s Willy is 40. At this point there was no mistaking that this was going to be a special and memorable evening. Following “Origami” the band continued on with “Dig It Good” and Steely Dan’s “Josie” before seamlessly transitioning back into “20/20” to close out the first set.

The second set was pure fire kicking off with “Strange Times” from Willy is 40 and concluded with a powerful version of “Kitty Chaser (Explosions)” from Cycles with nearly everyone in attendance singing along to the chorus of “Explosions in the sky, reflected in their eyes, another way to get to know the tiny street you live on.” After thanking The Riverboat for all of their support over the years, guitarist and vocalist Mike Gantzer delivered a heartfelt thank you to all of their fans for coming out to the show, supporting their original music and setting the vibe for a great show. A rocking cover of “Lithium” by Nirvana served as the encore to end a three and a half hour, 2-set show and left those near the front of the stage searching for setlists, posters and autographs to commemorate a great night of live music.

With the band’s profile and fan base increasing by the day, it remains to be seen if Aqueous will return to The Riverboat in Alex Bay next summer for a 7th annual AQ in ABAY performance. But one thing is for sure: everyone in attendance on this night is hoping for another one of these unique and intimate shows with their favorite band and keeping the tradition alive.

The Riverboat Bar Summer 2018 Live Music series continues this weekend with a FREE show by Albany, NY featuring jam rock favorites Formula 5 on Friday July 27 and Cleveland, OH jamtronica funk band Broccoli Samurai on Saturday July 28. The series continues through the month of August.

Aqueous Riverboat Bar, Alexandria Bay, NY

Set 1: 20/20 > Complex Pt. II, Marty > Origami, Dig It Good, Josie (Steely Dan cover) > 20/20

Set 2: Strange Times, Underlyer, Aldehyde > Uncle Phil’s Parachute, Kitty Chaser (Explosions) Encore: Lithium (Nirvana cover)

Upcoming Summer 2018 Live Music Series dates at The Riverboat are listed below:

July 27 Formula 5
July 28 Broccoli Samurai
August 4 The Old Main
August 5 Adapter. with special guests The Northmen
August 10 Nina’s Brew
August 11 Quantum Cosmic featuring members of Annie in the Water, Lord Eelctro, Knot Dead and Raisin Head
August 17 Gang of Thieves
August 18 Barroom Philosophers
August 24 Blind Owl Band Uncle Sam’s boat tour party
August 24 Folkfaces Blind Owl Band after party
August 25 TBA

Photos courtesy of Emily VanderWiel and Andy Gilbert. Words by Andy Cavallario.

July 27, 2018
Charlie Puth Checks All the Boxes for Heartthrob at SPAC

Charlie Puth brought his tour “Voice Notes” to Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Sunday, July 22^nd, much to the delight of thousands of teen girls. After a longer set of familiar pop songs by Hailee Steinfeld, his opener, Puth took the stage dramatically behind a white curtain. Fans swooned and screamed as Puth’s silhouette was first seen on stage, and went wild as the curtain dropped as he crooned “The Way I Am.”

Puth energetically met the crowd, bouncing and singing in his sugary tenor voice to familiar tunes “Slow it Down” and “How Long.” He impressively controls pitch, demonstrating exceptional vocal talent. He also talked the crowd up a bit, reading their signs and conversing easily with fans about his love of all things Japan. He endorsed that he is lyrically open before singing “LA Girls,” admitting he made some mistakes in love. Melodic and perfect for the radio, Puth’s songs were easy to remember and predict.

The crowd was overjoyed by him. Even though the setlist was short (only 16 songs), fans knew almost every song and screamed along with Puth. During “We Don’t Talk Anymore,” Puth held the microphone out for the audience to join in, which they did with zeal. For many teens, this was clearly a first concert and a delight.

Charlie Puth checked all the boxes for a teen heartthrob on tour. He sang familiar love songs, almost all of which had him as the hero. He played keyboard, and also sang and danced. Throughout the night, he unbuttoned his bright green shirt, and by song ten had the shirt completely off. He chatted with the teens like the boy next door, sharing just enough to seem believably ordinary and safe. He wore familiar chinos and sneakers and leaned into the crowd with good eye contact. And of course, there is that voice, that amazingly sweet tenor that was consistently on pitch in its vertical climbs.

But there was something missing. Perhaps it was authenticity that was lost in Puth’s personality when he checked off all the boxes, and inadvertently put himself in one? Or perhaps he is simply shy, which is what his promoters have reported in the past. Either way, Charlie Puth’s performance, while still a gift to SPAC, is limiting. And somewhat disappointing.

Because a voice of that talent shouldn’t be checking off boxes, or put in a box, but allowed to sing its true song.

Let’s hope Puth unleashes his true voice before he gets stuck in that teen heartthrob box forever. Because it’s gorgeous and worth risking some vulnerability to keep him in the music scene beyond a few hits. Puth’s writing and skills could go the distance if he’s brave enough to go.

Set List: “The Way I Am;” “Slow It Down;” “How Long;” “Empty Cups;” “LA Girls;” “Marvin Gaye;” “Patient;” “Change;” “We Don’t Talk Anymore;” “Somebody Told Me;” “Done For Me;” “Suffer;” “One Call Away;” “Attention;” “BOY” and “See You Again”

July 26, 2018
A Friend in the Berkshires: James Taylor Doesn’t Disappoint Fans in Timeless Concert

Berkshires resident and world-loved music legend James Taylor crooned to a sold-out crowd at Tanglewood July 3, the first night of his traditional two nights at the rural venue near his summer home. The crowd filled every inch of the manicured lawn with blankets, tables, chairs and fine dining accessories, clearly reflecting that this wasn’t the first JT concert attended by most fans. Inside seats were filled as the crowd sat in high humidity and heat, waiting with anticipation for the first set.

James Taylor was the first artist to set foot on the stage a little after 8:00, and he was met by cheering fans who quickly forgave the brief tardiness. The 70-year-old star appeared in his long pants, dress shirt and cap, and after brief waves, he slung his guitar over his shoulder as he sang “Carolina on My Mind.”

Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert

Taylor transitioned through both well-known pieces and some lesser-known songs in the first set. The light show, coordinated with the chorus and highlights of “Country Road,” seemed intent to remind the audience that they are indeed at a rock concert, not a folk concert.

It would be a bumpy first set, though, marked by amp problems, some pacing issues, and low energy from artist and crowd alike. At one point after “Frozen Man,” seasoned Taylor matched the key of the reverb from the amp and joked, “Do we have any songs in that key?” Using humor and his incredibly flexible vocals, Taylor kept the crowd engaged through some slower moments. He introduced band members throughout the first set, and indeed the band members, including 2 percussionists, a trumpet player, flute and saxophone player, three backup singers, pianist, fiddle and of course the customary guitar and bass, are an all-star band. Taylor turned to look at each artist as he or she performed, and genuinely reflected an appreciation for sharing the music with the artists.

Folksy and dancing little jigs, Taylor covered “(I’m a) Road Runner” and danced around the stage. This seemed to wake the audience back up, but there was a bit wrong with the rhythm section and the band seemed off the pace with one another. “Copperline” saved the set, though, with Taylor’s infallible voice finding its vertical pitches with beautiful ease. They rolled into “Handyman” and “Mexico,” bringing the crowd to it’s feet.

Before breaking for intermission, Taylor looked at the setlist and joked with the audience, pacing them for the twenty-minute break and promising “a lot of hits” in the second set. In between, he was on stage, signing autographs and taking pictures with fans.

The second set delivered on the hits, and more than compensated for any troubling moments from earlier in the night. Fans sang along to the most famous James Taylor tunes, swaying in the heat to “Something in the Way She Moves.” Taylor impossibly made himself even more human and relatable with a song about his dog, Sunny, and shared adorable pictures of the pug. Each song in the second set related to the human experience: loving someone, losing someone, having a dog, being a friend.

Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert

And that’s really why people go to see James Taylor – the articulation of their own very human experience. We go to be reminded that we aren’t alone in these hard emotions, and in fact everyone struggles with sadness, joy, and how to show love. “Shower the People You Love” brought the crowd to its feet, singing along and encouraging folks to do just that – show the love to those around you.

From “Sunny Skies” and “Walking Man,”the set transitioned to the faster, more intense rock feel of “Steam Roller.” Playing on a baby blue electric guitar, Taylor’s only electric guitar song featured some impressive riffs by the pianist, bassist, and sax players. Taylor waved his cap over the instruments, and jumped on one leg like an old time rock star, bringing gasps of joy and screams of love from the audience.

Filled with folks who had traveled long distances to get to Tanglewood, the crowd talked to each other with civility, gentleness, and a genuine interest in one another in the shed. Couples surrounding this reviewer came from New Haven, Rochester, and even Philadelphia. It had become an annual pilgrimage for many of them. When asked why the same smile crossed their lips, heads shook a bit in disbelief, and no one could really articulate a specific reason beyond loving the music. But with the encore of “You’ve Got a Friend,” fans were truly speaking their hearts. James Taylor is their friend, their company in easy and hard times alike.

Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert

During this time of low civility, isolation, and sad news of disparities in our country, the concert offered a quaint respite in songs lending empathy, kindness, and intelligence. As long as he’s performing at Tanglewood, clearly James Taylor has thousands of friends overjoyed to have him – and each other – on this American holiday weekend.

Setlist

Set One: Carolina in My Mind, Country Road, The Frozen Man, Never Die Young, Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Road Runner, Nothing Like a Hundred Miles, Raised Up Family, Copperline, Handyman, Mexico

Set Two: Something in the Way She Moves, Sunny Skies, Walking Man, Up on the Roof, Steamroller, Sweet Baby James, Fire and Rain, Your Smiling Face, Shower the People, How Sweet it Is

Encore: Shed a Little Light, In the Midnight Hour, You’ve Got a Friend

July 6, 2018
Music as the Last Real Magic: Imagine Dragons Cast a Spell on Saratoga

Imagine Dragons brought the sound, look, and energy of a big-time rock show to Saratoga Springs on Friday, June 29 on their EVOLVE Tour. With Grace Vanderwaal opening, the group rolled into town with high energy, showmanship, and a unifying message of music as healing.

Grace Vanderwaal, the Upstate teenager who made it big on America’s Got Talent, opened promptly at 7pm, bopping onto the stage singing “Dancing in the Moonlight.” Families sang along with the upbeat and likable Grace, who chatted up the audience and reminded folks she was originally from the area. Playing the ukulele and dancing barefoot, she brought a wholesome and organic positive energy to the night.

The crowd had to wait a bit for Imagine Dragon stars to take the stage but were entertained by a slowly building classical score in the backdrop as folks filed in. Then, with steam, smoke, lights and a wall of sound, musicians were lifted on a stage above the main stage as they sang the very well known “Radioactive.”

With the energy of big-time stars and a larger venue, Imagine Dragons musicians danced, sang and transported their audience with hit after hit. Lead singer Dan Reynolds appeared shirtless, bringing screams and gasps from many in the audience as he sang and jumped across the stage. ‘High energy’ isn’t sufficient to describe the band’s excitement and mood as they welcomed their fans; dynamic and vigorous, the group members’ smiles were matched with the audiences’ powerful spirited responses.

Reynolds thanked the audience early in the evening for joining the band, specifying that music is the last real magic that unites people. In a climate of divisiveness, the American born band was clearly making a statement about acceptance and unity at a time when racism and hatred are more pronounced than ever.

The bands’ vivacious musicianship pounded through the night with a wall of sound paired thoughtfully with visuals to match. Reynolds acted as a conductor, engaging the audience in singing lines like “I’m never changing who I am.” Shaking his finger at the fans, squatting to get closer to the audience, and even rolling his arms toward him in a circle, he drew the magic directly from the young families, teens and older couples who screamed lyrics of hope and self-assurance.

The love song “Next To Me” seemed to speak directly to anyone who has loved and received unconditional love regardless of errors. Reynolds spoke of lovers and loners, reminding everyone that love needs to start with themselves before it is shared with another.

Guitarist Wayne Sermon’s riff screamed out his own intense talent during “I’ll Make it Up to You.” For a brief moment, we were back in the 1980s with guitarists whose talent could steal the entire show. Sermon’s control of his instrument and confidence in the vertical riff brought gasps from the audience; it almost didn’t belong in the pop feel of the night, except to remind us that Imagine Dragons is, in fact, a rock band.

After a beautiful rendition of “Mouth of the River,” complete with backdrop visuals of sunset, the group moved to a second stage embedded in the audience for three acoustic songs. This set, if not moving simply due to the closeness to fans, ended with a heart rendering “I Bet My Life on You,” a song about how parents give up much for their children with little in return, and yet everything in return.

As if all this emotion and movement wasn’t enough, the band returned to the stage for a powerfully intense version of “Demons.” With fans singing along, Reynolds spoke directly out about depression and seeking help rather than facing demons alone.

The fevered pitch of the concert had multiple peaks, including confetti and balloon drop punctuated moments during songs about love, appreciation, and the vitality of life. Finishing with “On Top of the World” and “Believer,” fans were mesmerized.

Imagine Dragons reminded us: music really is the last real magic in the world.

It unifies us. It reminds us to care for ourselves. It connects us to others. It reminds us to hope. And it stays with us, even after the last note is played.

Setlist: Radioactive, It’s Time, Whatever It Takes, Yesterday, Walking the Wire, Next to Me, Shots, I’ll Make It Up to You, Start Over, Rise Up, Gold, Don’t Know Why, Mouth of the River, Born to Be Yours, Amsterdam, I Bet My Life, Demons, Thunder, On Top of the World, Believer

June 30, 2018
Mayer and Company Offer Their Weirs to a Packed SPAC

Saratoga Performing Arts Center hosted Dead & Company with John Mayer on Monday, June 11, bringing in over 17,000 head nodding, barefoot dancing, arms-in-the-air, grooving fans to SPAC.

True confession: this was my first experience with a Dead & Company show. And I wasn’t sure what all the fuss would be about. I’d listened to the Dead plenty of times, and while I liked the music, it wasn’t life altering to listen to alone in my room or the car.

The experience of the jam music, however, surrounded by thousands of joyful, if not chemically altered, adults was entirely different than anything listening to tapes could prepare you for. The band opened up with “Jack Straw,” a well-loved favorite. The band felt slower than usual, and like they were struggling to get their feet under them. But the audience didn’t mind, grooving along and smiling. There was a long guitar introduction and what felt a bit like an extended warm-up; fans were tolerant and were overjoyed by the band’s very presence.

John Mayer improved the energy, taking the lead on “Easy Wind” and then “Friend of the Devil.” There was an ease to Mayer’s voice and playing that fit the folk feeling perfectly. John Mayer’s ease stepping in Jerry Garcia’s role enhanced the music with a fresh voice and picking soul, refreshing old folk music with a new vibe.

And the music didn’t stop, it simply picked up the pace in the second set. Varying from jam music to bluegrass to soul, the band played for 90 minutes for their first set, with only a short intermission before returning with a roaring cover of “The Weight.” They played furiously to the end of the set, hitting on old favorites like “Uncle John’s Band” and closing with “Touch of Grey.”

While there were some shockers for this writer, including how absolutely stereotypical the drug use and over drinking was among the crowd, the true surprise of the evening was how intensely relaxing and fun the music could be when played live. The mellow groove that shifted into familiar songs as the night wore on made for a really fun community experience with music. Parents with young children, adults who were old enough to know better (but still drank too much), and young people alike danced together, sang together and remembered their common humanity together.

It is worth a visit to a live Dead & Company concert, if only for the social experiences and energy from the band that changes the sound from what you might hear on the radio to a magical community experience.

Setlist: Dead & Company | Saratoga Performing Arts Center | Saratoga Springs, New York | 6/11/18

I: Jack Straw, Easy Wind > Friend of the Devil, Minglewood Blues, Ship of Fools, Corrina, Cassidy

II: The Weight, Other One Jam > Truckin’ > He’s Gone > New Speedway Boogie > Uncle John’s Band > Supplication Jam > Drums/Space > Uncle John’s Band, Black Peter > Good Lovin’

E: Touch of Grey

June 13, 2018