NYS Music 20​18

Category: Jam/Progressive

  • The Black River Release Debut Album, ‘Classic Universe’

    Syracuse’s The Black River, led by singer-songwriter Mike Powell, has released its first album, entitled Classic Universe. The soulful quintet, who take their name from the North Country river that passes by Powell’s childhood home, came together just over one year ago and have been quickly making their name known throughout New York.

    black river Classic UniverseThe album was produced by Jeff Aderman at Utica’s Big Blue North Studio and exhibits The Black River putting an impressive foot forward in its debut. In the year since the band debuted, they have opened for such artists as The Sadies, Shooter Jennings, The Trews, Mondo Cozmo and Eric Tessmer. A powerful afternoon set at last year’s moe.down also won the band new fans.

    “One of the things we always talk about when we are sculpting these songs is to be sure to listen to one another. That may sound like a very simple concept but when you’re creating a collective sound it’s important that no player be on a sonic island. We aim to be one connected land mass of sound,” Powell said when asked about the goal of his new band. “I have surrounded myself and my songs with monster players that could easily step out and flex their muscles at anytime but all of us understand the importance of doing what is best for the song first.”

    Powell’s assessment of this band is certainly true. All come from different musical backgrounds to forge a sound that isn’t easy to categorize. Longtime Powell collaborator, guitarist John Hanus’ metal chops and experimental solos add an unexpected yet welcome edge to Powell’s personal songwriting and the soulful force created by keyboardist Shane Kelsen and the rhythm section of Joe Bell and Dom Scicchitano. The band’s frequent live performances have helped hone its unique sound over the past year and the band is gelling as a unit at the perfect time.

    black river Classic Universe

    To celebrate the release of the new album, the Black River recently performed the inaugural live session for Syracuse radio show Soundcheck at SubCat Studios. You can view that peformance below. The show, hosted by long time Syracuse radio personality and SAMMYS Hall of Famer, Dave Frisina, has been on the air since 1979. It showcases local and regional musicians each Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. on 105.9 The Rebel.

    Frisina’s new series is called Live @ SubCat Studios and will feature a different local act performing live in front of a studio audience each month.

    The Black River’s Classic Universe is available now on all streaming platforms. Recent performances have included stops at the del Lago Resort and Casino in Waterloo and Three Heads Brewing Company in Rochester. They’re also scheduled to perform at Al’s Wine and Whiskey Lounge in Syracuse in March and Funk ‘N Waffles Syracuse in April. Follow The Black River on Facebook or at their website for information on upcoming performances.

  • Kyle Hollingsworth Band Bringing New Jams to Funk ‘N Waffles

    Music fans are in for a treat this weekend if they are heading out to see the Kyle Hollingsworth Band.

    “As of right now, I’m excited about this little run in the Northeast,” said Kyle Hollingsworth. “I’m excited about hitting the road a little bit and playing some of these tunes I’ve been working on the last year or so — testing out live performance of the songs. And raging the best we can.”

    The keyboardist for String Cheese Incident brings his solo project to New York for a show on Friday in Rochester and another in Syracuse on Saturday, both at Funk ‘N Waffles.

    “We have a new lineup of musicians and it’s more jam-oriented than I’ve ever made it,” he said.

    Hollingsworth’s tour coincides with the release of his new solo album 50 — coming out March 2.

    NEW SONGS

    Fans attending the shows on this tour will be the first ones to hear the new songs played live from the album.

    “There will be some debuts,” he said.

    While he has played about half of the album live already, he said it’s fun playing songs for the first time because people don’t know them and he does more experimentation and jamming.

    “If we screw up the song, people won’t know because they haven’t heard it before,” he said.

    NEW ALBUM, BIRTHDAY

    The album 50 comes out a day before Hollingsworth’s birthday, when he turns 50. Reflecting on that milestone, Hollingsworth is not slowing down at all.

    “I still feel super creative and very active,” he said. “I feel very young still.”

    Regarding the title he laughed and said: “What the hell was I thinking? Why’d I call it 50. I’m gonna call it 25 Again.”

    Hollingsworth describes the album as exploratory and epic. “The album starts out as if you walked into the club and the band is already raging,” he said.

    He said it starts that way in the beginning with the song “Onset” and keeps the theme throughout while the last song is titled “Offset.”

    BREWING BEER

    If it doesn’t seem like Hollingsworth has enough on his plate, he also has a new brew to wash things down. Ground Score IPA came from a collaboration between Hollingsworth, Relix magazine and Sweetwater Brewing Company. The launch party for the 7.1 percent ABV brew coincides with the first date of the tour on and will be served at the first venue they play at, Brooklyn Bowl in New York City.

    “I’ve made about 30 beers with people all around the country,” he said. “And this is one of my more favorite ones,” he said. “It is more unique in their (Sweetwater) style of beer.”

    Hollingsworth picked up homebrewing as a hobby from his brother.

    “I always did anything my brother did,” he said. “He started watching the Grateful Dead, so I started. He started smoking pot, I started smoking pot, and he started brewing beer, so I started.”

    Hollingsworth compares brewing to making music because it gives him the same creative outlet.

    “Once you get it on your fingers, whether it is playing piano or brewing beer, it is fun to improvise and drift from the process, and some of that is where the magic happens,” he said.

    He appreciates the experimentation aspect of both hobbies.

    “It could be a great beer, or it could be a terrible solo,” he said. “Sometimes you win sometimes you lose. Sometimes you have a great beer; sometimes you have a terrible solo.”

    VISIT TO NEW YORK

    Hollingsworth said the beer he made with Relix and Sweetwater was inspired by some of the great Northeastern breweries. He can’t wait to try more local New York brews.

    “I’m excited. I don’t know much about the area,” he said.

    He also invites people to share their creations or favorite local beers with him.

    “People are always welcome to bring me tasty beers,” he said. “Either their home brews or local microbrews — I’ll try them.”

    He also plans to ski in some of his free time on tour. He said he has never heard of a garbage plate, but he would definitely try one.

    STRING CHEESE INCIDENT

    Hollingsworth said String Cheese Incident is in the studio working on a new album.

    “When I’m not running around making beer or touring, I’m in the studio full time with String Cheese,” he said.

    He cannot wait to let loose and get creative in their studio known as SCI Lab.

    Since he keeps himself busy with many projects, he doesn’t get much time to see many shows, but he said at festivals he enjoys drifting to the smaller stages and finding inspiration in what he hears. He mentioned he enjoyed seeing a DJ by the name of Elohim and My Morning Jacket, and he is always finding something new.

    “When I see music, for me, it is just wandering Electric Forest or Hulaween to smaller stages,” he said. “I try to find what inspires me. When I hear something magical, it draws me to the stage.”

    FRIDAY, FEB. 9

    WHAT: Kyle Hollingsworth Band; Sophistafunk opener

    WHERE: Funk ‘N Waffles 204 N. Water St., Rochester, NY

    WHEN: Doors 8 p.m.; Show 9 p.m.

    TICKETS: www.funknwaffles.com

    SATURDAY, FEB. 10

    WHAT: Kyle Hollingsworth Band; Sophistafunk opener

    WHERE: Funk ‘N Waffles 307 Clinton St., Syracuse, NY

    WHEN: Doors 8 p.m.; Show 9 p.m.

    TICKETS: www.funknwaffles.com

    Kyle Hollingsworth Band’s new album “50”

    1. Onset
    2. Wyatt Earp’s Tale
    3. Let me in
    4. All Falls Apart
    5. Finding Our Way
    6. Prime
    7. Stuff
    8. Tumbling
    9. Come On
    10. So Fine
    11. Take the Ride
    12. Offset

  • moe. Returns With a Vengeance for Sold Out Capitol Theatre Run

    After a 7-month break due to bass player Rob Derhak’s battle with cancer, Buffalo rockers moe returned to the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York to deliver two sold out shows on February 2nd and 3rd. Their first shows with the full lineup since July featured a variety of fan favorites as well as four brand new songs from four of the five band members. The first night featured an opening act, with the high-energy funk outfit Kung Fu properly warming up the crowd for the main event.

    After a brief word of thanks from a very emotional Rob, the band wasted little time diving into the flagship “Rebubula,” Rob’s anthemic ode to his wife, Rebecca. They quickly transitioned into the funky “Akimbo” which featured a slap-happy bass interlude that made the hungry crowd explode. This was followed by the twangy, energetic “32 Things” and then a brand new song titled “What Can I Say,” written by guitarist Al Schnier. “What Can I Say” was originally debuted earlier in the week during the band’s pre-show webcast, though this was the first time the song had been played in a live setting. Fans then belted out the opening lines to the fan-favorite “Spine of a Dog” which was followed immediately by “Plane Crash,” which felt particularly deserved, with Rob screaming the words “I don’t wanna die” at the end of the final chorus at the top of his lungs.

    Set 2 started off with a bang with the Pink Floyd-inspired “Silver Sun” and then Rob was able to showcase his brand new tune, “LL3” which he wrote in transit to his chemotherapy treatments. “LL3” already shows great potential as a jam vehicle, and will probably appear on the new album that the band is cooking up. The rest of Set 2 was a continuous battery of rock and roll as they interweaved “Moth,” “Captain America,” the instrumental “Hector’s Pillow,” the legendary “meat.” and finally closed with the end of “Moth,” completing a sandwich that took up the majority of the second half of the show. Guitarist Chuck Garvey then led the band in an encore rendition of “Wind it Up,” that had the entire audience collectively singing the lines “Be on my side, I’ll be on your side” with the band.

    A veritable army of excitable moe.rons showed back up to the scenic Capitol Theatre for Round 2 on Saturday, for a performance that was somehow even better than the previous night, this time with no supporting act. It was a night of pure moe. and once again the crowd was deafening when a happy and healthy looking Rob Derhak took the stage.

    The band opened with the crowd-pleasing “Okayalright,” which segued smoothly into “Not Coming Down,” once again showcasing Rob’s bass skills. This was followed by the entrancing instrumental “Wormwood,” which then seemlessly transitioned into the slide guitar-heavy intro to “St. Augustine.” Next, percussionist and multi-instrumentalist debuted his new song, the dark and moody “I Can Never Remember,” which he sang with his signature rasp. This was followed by the short and pleasant Chuck Garvey tune “All Roads Lead to Home.” After “All Roads” came “Opium,” and Rob showed how well his voice has healed, demonstrating his impressive vocal range. The first set closed out with a monstrous version of the jam beast, “Recreational Chemistry” before they took a short set break.

    Set 2 started with a powerful rendition of “Brent Black” which featured not one or two, but three bass solos from a smiling, enthusiastic Rob as well as a fearsome drum-off between Jim Loughlin and drummer Vinnie Amico. Afterwards, Al Schnier led the band in a spirited version of “Mexico,” telling the story of his tumultuous 21st birthday. This was followed by “Timmy Tucker,” once again proving that Rob still has his vocal chops. Chuck Garvey then debuted his newest song, “New Hope for the New Year,” which definitely shows great promise for future shows and the new album in the works. The rest of the set was vintage, heavy, dark, creepy, spacey moe. as they played “Yodelittle” into the high energy protest song “George,” back into “Yodelittle” and then into the sing-a-long “Buster,” every moe.ron’s favorite song about a flying pig. They encored with “Nebraska,” complete with a ripping talk-box solo from Garvey, and finally the hard-hitting “Annihilation Blues” to cap off the back-to-back performances. 

    moe. proved this past weekend that they are far from done, and after Rob’s recent cancer scare and recovery, he is clearly eager to please his fans and write new music. The historic Capitol Theatre projected a series of images of Rob from different stages of his career throughout the shows, and moe. brought an anxious crowd to their knees. Once again, it’s so good to have you back Rob. We hope for many, many more years of music and laughter from you.

    February 2 Setlist

    Set 1: Rebubula > Akimbo, 32 Things, What Can I Say (FTP), Spine of a Dog > Plane Crash.

    Set 2: Silver Sun, LL3 (FTP), Moth > Captain America > Hector’s Pillow > Moth > meat. > Moth

    Encore: Wind it Up

    February 3 Setlist

    Set 1: Okayalright > Not Coming Down > Wormwood > St. Augustine, I Can Never Remember (FTP), All Roads Lead To Home, Opium, Recreational Chemistry

    Set 2: Brent Black, Mexico, Timmy Tucker, New Hope for the New Year (FTP), Yodelittle > George > Yodelittle > Buster

    Encore: Nebraska, Annihilation Blues

  • Turkuaz Brings a High Energy Wednesday Show to Cohoes

    The nine-piece funk group Turkuaz played the Cohoes Music Hall in Cohoes, NY Wednesday January 31. This was the group’s first time playing in Cohoes and managed to leave a great impression. No matter if it was your first or tenth time seeing Turkuaz, there was a song for everyone. Just a couple songs into their set, the group played “Mountain,” one of their signatures songs with a long dramatic pause keeping the crowd on their toes.

    turkuaz cohoesThroughout the whole show the energy stayed consistantly high. Turkuaz ended the set with “Monkey Fingers.” Lead guitarist Craig Brodhead and Sax player Josh Schwartz traded off solos pushing the song to its limits.

    turkuaz cohoesSetlist: Typa-Lika, Mountain, M’Lady, Nightswimming, Snap, Crypto, Fall Asleep, Famous, Holy Ghost, On the Run, 20 Dollar, Slippery People, Habitat, noise, Percy, The Rules, Coast, Don’t Do It, Monkey Fingers

    Encore:  Back To Normal

    [ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”2167″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_thumbnails” override_thumbnail_settings=”0″ thumbnail_width=”150″ thumbnail_height=”150″ thumbnail_crop=”1″ images_per_page=”0″ number_of_columns=”0″ ajax_pagination=”1″ show_all_in_lightbox=”0″ use_imagebrowser_effect=”0″ show_slideshow_link=”1″ slideshow_link_text=”[Show as slideshow]” template=”/home/nysmusic/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/products/photocrati_nextgen/modules/ngglegacy/view/gallery-carousel.php” ngg_triggers_display=”always” ngg_proofing_display=”0″ order_by=”pid” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

  • 5 Shows to See in Rochester in February

    We’re back with another great slate of shows for you to see in Rochester in February. The typical winter slowdown doesn’t seem to be happening this year. These suggestions just scratch the surface, so time to break out of your cabin fever and go see some live music!

    Saturday, February 3
    Huntertones @ Abilene Bar and Lounge

    During the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester gets to experience some of the best music the world has to offer. The artists, in turn, get to experience the best Rochester has to offer as a music town. Lucky for us, this gets many of the acts to return, even in the off season. The Huntertones were a hit with their sets at this past year’s festival and they’re back for an encore at the intimate Abilene Bar and Lounge. The old juke joint will be jumping with their big brass sound. They’re not afraid to throw in some uniquely surprising covers in the mix; their version of “God Only Knows” was a highlight this summer.

    Monday, February 5
    Honeysuckle @ Funk ‘n Waffles Music Hall

    Boston’s Honeysuckle bring their acoustic trio to Funk ‘n Waffles Music Hall. It’s traditional in nature, with guitar, banjo and mandolin. But throw in a kick drum and some non-traditional song structures and it becomes something unexpected and exciting. Three-part harmonies and wonderful songwriting bring this young group to the next level. Fans of Americana looking for something fresh but familiar will find lots to warm to here.

    Wednesday, February 14
    The Ballroom Thieves @ Arbor Loft

    Another folk-trio from Boston, The Ballroom Thieves have been a band on the rise the past couple of years. We caught their show here a few years ago and had this to say: “It begins with Earley’s guitar work. Then sprinkle on the unique rhythms from Mauch and engaging cello work from Peters. Layer upon that what might be this bands strongest attribute, their soaring 3-part harmonies. Working all together to perform the music they’ve written, a varied collection of rockers, ballads, hymnals, barroom blues and on.” Can you think of a more perfect way to spend your Valentine’s Day?!

    Saturday, February 17
    Critt’s Juke Joint @ Anthology

    Buffalo’s multi-instrumentalist Eric “Critt” Crittenden plays a fun mix of jazz, funk and soul he has dubbed “Soulprovisational.” His band, Juke Joint, is actually an ever-evolving, rotating cast of musicians. For this iteration he’s employed DJ Logic, Turkuaz’s Michael Carruba (drums) and Craig Broadhead (guitar), and Harry Graser on keys. Put your dancing shoes on and head down to Anthology for a funky good time.

    Thursday, February 22
    Oval Sandwich @ Flour City Station

    Lastly this month we have Oval Sandwich. You’re forgiven if you’ve never heard of them. This will be their first show and there might not be many to follow. Dopapod is taking 2018 off from touring. Rob Compa, the guitarist, is keeping busy with other musical endeavors. He put together this Rochester supergroup of sorts (Paul McCardle: guitar – Doja, English Project, Will O’Riley: keys- The Niche, Swooners, Tristan Greene: drums – Doja, Ocular Panther and Justin Rister: bass – Moho Collective) and right now the only two shows will be this one and one in Syracuse the next night. To find out more about how he put the band together and other things he’ll be up to on the break check out an interview he did with our own Pete Mason. As to how this will sound, your guess is as good as ours. But we definitely recommend being there to find out!

  • Behind the Gear: Karina Rykman

    Karina Rykman is the bassist of Marco Benevento’s solo band. Karina brings her beefy bass tones and funky grooves to Marco’s upbeat music. Her enthusiastic presence onstage is sure to infect any crowd with enough energy to dance for hours. Check out Karina’s playing at this Brooklyn Bowl show from February 2017, footage courtesy of LazyLightning55a.

    Bass

    1978 Fender Precision Bass (w/ a single coil in the bridge position)

    karina rykman

    Amp/Cabinet

    MarkBass Big Bang into a Fender 1×15 cabinet

    karina rykman

    Pedalboard

    Signal Chain- Korg Pitch Black Tuner > 3Leaf Octabvre > MXR Phase 90 > Akai Deep Impact > ProCo RAT > Eventide H9 > JAM Pedals Delay Llama +

    Behind the Gear: What drew you to using a P Bass as opposed to a J Bass or something with active pick ups? Do you plan on changing your axe anytime soon?

    Karina: I love my P Bass – it’s a 1978, and I picked it out with Dave Dreiwitz so it feels like it has extra good vibes in it! It does have a J pickup in it, so if I want that brighter sound – which I must admit, I never really do – I always have that option. It’s the most reliable bass I’ve ever owned, and it’s incredibly versatile. I used to play a Rickenbacker which was GREAT for straight rock, but didn’t have enough low end for when I wanted to drop the proverbial bomb, or get it real funky. It also has a hipshot, so switching from drop D back to standard is super easy. I have a guy talking to me about building a custom bass…and honestly I’m going to completely model it after this one. I’d just try to make it slightly shorter scale, and lighter. The P Bass is heavy as all hell and basically breaks my back nightly. Wouldn’t have it any other way, though!

    karina rykmanBTG: How do you feel having the many options of pedals like your Eventide H9 and Akai Deep Impact has allowed you to expand sonically live? What are some of your favorite sounds from those pedals?

    KR: The kind folks at Eventide gave me that H9, and I’ve been having way too much fun with it. My favorite preset is called “Mosquitos”…shit gets real weird real quick. That pedal is like a goddamn computer – it does EVERYTHING, and then there’s an app for it, where you can fine tune every preset. It’s a little much, but it’s so ridiculously fun to scroll through. The Deep Impact is the finest synth pedal of all time. So many others just sound out of place when you try to integrate them into a band setting, but the Deep Impact somehow seemingly just blends right in there. I love setting #6. I once did a gig where I basically played on 6 for like 20 minutes – felt great. To me at least!

    BTG: I’ve read in other interviews that your ProCo RAT is a pedal you couldn’t live without; could you speak about why you love the RAT so much?

    KR: The RAT pedal is my choice distortion for when I take my fuzz solos in Marco’s band. It’s not traditionally used with a bass, but I just love the dirty growl of it. It definitely cuts a bit of the low end, which makes me turn it up louder than I probably should. But I love it! I love imperfect shit like that. It’s super brown. I carry around a spare RAT with me everywhere, just in case one malfunctions. In the Marco set, it’s truly the one pedal I couldn’t do without. The rest are all gravy.

    BTG: What are some of your favorite pedal combinations to play with live?

    KR: I love the RAT with the Delay Llama by ToneConcepts and the Phase 90 turned up all the way. That’s tried and true combo for me. If I need a little more low end juice, the Octabvre and the Deep Impact come out together, often with the RAT as well. That’s when things go from recreational to medical, if you know what I’m saying.

  • moe. Return to the Capitol Theatre after Hiatus

    Buffalo jam legends moe. return to The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York for two sold-out shows after a 7-month hiatus. The band took a break from touring starting early last summer in light of bassist Rob Derhak’s cancer diagnosis, but has recently announced their triumphant return to the stage. With Rob out of commission for several months with oropharyngeal cancer, the other members pursued various side projects including performances with Mike Dillon and Everyone Orchestra, but will finally reunite to perform two nights at the historic Cap. He is now cancer-free and ready to return for a 6-show tour, Summer Camp Music Festival, and Peach Fest.


    moe.’s last show at the Capitol Theatre was a special holiday performance in December of 2016, and they managed to fill the room despite only giving fans a little over a month’s notice. This show featured several cuts from their Christmas album, as well as a Kinks cover, and a whopping three debuts of new moe. songs. They also sold out a smaller acoustic performance, in the attached bar, Garcia’s. In previous years, they have performed at the Cap with Nate Wilson on keys, and played a moe. and Friends show in honor of the anniversary of the Wetlands closing. moe. has historically delivered powerhouse performances at the Capitol, and a very eager fan-base has been waiting months for Rob’s return to health, and of course, moe.’s return to the spotlight. Listen to the December 2016 show on Archive.

    Fans should also be sure to check out renowned photographer Jay Blakesberg’s work at Garcia’s, where he will be exhibiting and selling his merch. Night One will also feature opening act Kung Fu, one of the world’s premier touring funk bands, which will hopefully lead to some sit-in action with moe. and a high-energy dance party, and perhaps the lucky moe.rons in attendance will get to hear some brand new moe. material. Welcome back, Rob. You have been sorely missed.

  • Let’s Be Leonard offers live preview of Summer release ‘Static’

    Let’s Be Leonard will be releasing their sophomore album Static in July, and they’ve shared a live preview of some tracks that will be on their next studio effort. The recording comes from Caffe Lena and was produced by F. Cavone Productions. 

    Video setlist: Balloons*, Comet* -> High N’ Dry, How Do You Fall in Love, Most Days*

    *appears on Static

  • Strangefolk close out Northeast run at The Warehouse

    Strangefolk wrapped up their three-night run of New England on Sunday, January 21 at The Warehouse at FTC in Fairfield, CT. With Dave Diamond Band opening up the night, the crowd filtered into the 500 cap room early, crowding to the rail for Strangefolk, who continue to have a dedicated following more than 20 years since they started at UVM in Burlington. The group recently recorded a new song, and first since 1998, as the title track of the new Reid Genauer & Folks upcoming album Conspire to Smile.

    Setlist: Sinner, Fountain, Utterly Addled, Furnace, 40 Reasons, In Deep, Folka Polka -> Alaska, Elixir, Faces, What Say You?, So Well, Take It Easy on Me, Rachel, Lines & Circles, Sidestep Blues

    Encore: Westerly -> Lay The Dust -> Westerly

  • Photo Gallery: The Seventh Annual Wintercourse

    The 7th Annual Wintercourse was held at The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on Saturday, January 20, 2018 on a warm and wonderful winter night filled with smiles, hugs, and good music.

    wintercourse 2018Space Carnival brought the heat early, showcasing their dance laden jams as well as their heavier prog side, ending on a high note of their newly released single “Queen of Cups.” Six year Wintercourse veterans Cousin Earth played a set stacked full of high energy originals and unique covers including a throwback to Saturday Night Live’s “Natalie Portman Rap” and the Disney after school classic, “Tale Spin.” Headliner Bella’s Bartok puts on a show like no other, with a high energy dance party of klesmer and punk that was absolutely magnificent.

    Teddy Midnight took the stage as the final act of Wintercourse 2018, delivering a set filled with surprises. The group brought up Tara Lawton and Joey Calfa of Cousin Earth, with Tara singing on “American Boy” by Estelle (complete with rapped verses by band members) and Calfa to ripping up the Teddy classic “Turkish Silva.” Bringing their trademark live house vibes, they covered Daft Punk’s “Face to Face” as well as a heavily improvised New Deal/Daft Punk Medley to round out the night.

Built in Breakdance