Category: Jam/Progressive

Start Off Your New Year With Live Music, Presented by NYS Music

A very Happy New Year from NYS Music! If your New Year’s resolution is to see more memorable shows in 2018, NYS Music is bringing you the rundown of all the can’t-miss shows around you in New York this January. The featured cities this month include Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester.

Buffalo – Nietzsche’s

January 6th – Come out to Nietzsche’s for some funk and soul music from the group Tiger Chung Lee, accompanied by Rhubarb. Hit the event link for more details! Event link.

January 13th – For a night full of dynamic funky music, come see the English Project take Nietzsche’s with their groovy improvisation with Mosswalk, the progressive rock group who brings an immersive live music experience, and 18 Wheels and a Crowbar.  Event link.

January 20th – The group LITZ blends together a multitude of genres to bring a new, exciting sound for listeners that has the power to transport audiences to another place, free from the stresses of life. To hear a variety of everything from soul, electronica, jam and funk, catch them at Nietszche’s with Cold Lazarus. Event link.

January 26th – Nietzsche’s is bringing you a day packed full of live music on the 26th. Start early with a free show at Happy Hour featuring The Fibs. Then come back for more at 10 PM to see Swimmer, Skyepilot and Haewa for a mix of experimental rock-fusion, genre-bending psychedelia, and rock ‘n’ roll. Event link.

Syracuse – Funk ‘N Waffles

As per usual, Funk ‘N Waffles is providing Syracuse (and Rochester) with live music 7 days a week. All shows are 18+ unless advertised otherwise.

January 5th – The soul powerhouse group, West End Blend, will be at Funk ‘n Waffles with special guest Akuma Roots, the reggae, afro beat, and dance hall group. Event link.

January 6th – The Last Revel, the Americana trio will be showcasing their blend of folk, rockabilly, rock and old time string band sounds with hauntingly beautiful vocal harmonies with special guests the Slocan Ramblers Event link.

January 12th – Don’t miss the dream-like indie-rock sounds of Major Player with special guest Multi-Fonz. Event link.

January 16th – Nick Moss with special guest Jimmy Wolfe will be at Funk ‘n Waffles for a night of bluesy rock and roll. Event link.

January 17th – “Three dudes making one hell of a racket!” Don’t miss MonkeyJunk’s swamp roots rock on the 17th.  Event link.

January 18th – The Rochester-native 12 piece reggae and afro-beat band, The Medicinals, will be performing for the first time with Brooklyn Producer Double Tiger featuring Jay Sparker of JBB. Event link.

January 24th – Come out and see the pre-war blues and string band inspired sounds of the Ben Miller Band with special guest Tim Herron. Event link.

January 25th – For a unique bluegrass version of the Grateful Dead, come see the Grass is Dead with David Gans. Event link.

January 26th – Blue Rootz, the funk and soul band from Buffalo will be performing with Burlington-based indie group Barika. Event link.

January 27th – Brutal by Design Presents: Mushroom Cloud with Big Sexy and the Scrambled Eggs for a night of explosive rock music. Event link.

January 31th – Independent soul artist Joanna Teters will be at Funk ‘n Waffles with special guests Ramshki Alley and Doug Mason. Event link.

Rochester – Funk ‘N Waffles

January 5th – Before The Last Revel and Slocan Ramblers perform in Syracuse, catch them in Rochester for a bold blend of Americana inspired sound.  Event link.

January 12th – Milkgang Presents: Space Junk with SKYwalker. Come out for an always unique performance by these dynamic artists. Event link.

January 13th – Mumur a Tribute to R.E.M. will be bringing their dynamic and precise recreation of the sounds of R.E.M. to Rochester. Event link.

January 17th – Don’t miss the original Americana and roots sounds of the group Stay the Plow with Michael Jerling on the 17th.  Event link.

January 18th – MonkeyJunk will be moving onto Rochester following their Syracuse show. Event link.

January 19th – After the Medicinals with Double Tiger take Syracuse with Jay Sparker of JBB, they’ll be bringing Rochester another can’t-miss show. Event link.

January 24th – To remind the people of Rochester about the power of rock ‘n’ roll, River Lynch & The Spiritmakers will be performing with special guests The Mighty High and Dry as well as Dangerbyrd. Event link.

January 25th – Hosted by David Abdoch with headliner Mike Bova, the NY native, award winning comedian and inspirational speaker, and featuring Big Ern, The Big and Tall Comedy Tour is coming through Rochester and is sure to keep you laughing.  Event link.

January 26th – Jack Martini will be bringing his hip-hop/60’s rock-inspired and playfully humorous music accompanied by rock, ska, and jazz blended sound of The Saplings. Event link.

January 27th – If you miss Blue Rootz and Barika at Syracuse, make sure to catch them on the 27th for another night of incredible music. Event link.

January 8, 2018
Saranac Lake Winter Carnival 2018 Fast Approaching; Donna The Buffalo, Sophistafunk, and Lucid Among Headliners

The 121st Saranac Lake Winter Carnival starts February 2, 2018 and features 17 acts over eight days. Among the list of local and national bands slated to perform are regional favorites Donna The Buffalo, Sophistafunk, and Lucid. All performances take place at The Waterhole Music Lounge in Saranac Lake. For the first time ever, VIP passes are available, which entitle the purchaser to all shows during the carnival as well as special cocktail hours. Tickets are available at the Waterhole or online. The folks at The Waterhole also put together a Spotify playlist of all the featured artists:

Saranac Lake Winter Carnival 2018

February 2 – O’Death with Tigerman Woah & Arthur Buezo – 9pm $13 Adv $15 Door
February 3 – Kung Fu with The English Project – 9pm $17 Adv $20 Door
February 6 – Swampcandy – FREE SHOW 9pm Downstairs
February 7 – Sophistafunk with Jiggawaltz – 9pm $10 Adv $12 Door
February 8 – Donna the Buffalo with The Old Main – 8:30 pm $18 Adv $22 Door
February 9 – Lucid with Bella’s Bartok – 9pm $20
February 10 – Post Parade Party with Raisinhead – 2pm “After the Parade” FREE SHOW
February 10 – West End Blend with The Big Takeover – 9pm – $10
February 11 – The Plate Scrapers at Bloody Mary Sunday – FREE SHOW – 2pm Downstairs

January 8, 2018
Aqueous Rings in New Year to Sold Out Crowd in Buffalo

Groove rockers Aqueous began a stellar new year with a sold-out show at the Town Ballroom in the band’s hometown of Buffalo. The capacity crowd put a giant exclamation point on an already amazing year for the four-piece. Aqueous treated fans to two sets of music and closed out the night with a tribute to the virtual English pop band Gorillaz. Local Buffalo art post rock outfit Lazlo Hollyfeld opened in support.

The evening marked an historical notch in the band’s musical belt, Aqueous’ headlining debut at the city’s famed venue. The band had opened in support of Vermont jam quartet Twiddle at the venue this past March.

Frontman and guitarist Mike Ganzter told NYS Music that the venue holds “sacred ground” for the band. “Our musical minds were shaped and influenced in that room by watching bands we loved over the past twelve years, and it was literally a childhood dream to perform there, let alone headline a show,” he revealed.

Fans of the band, known as AQuaintences, showed full support with the show being marked a sell out more than 24 hours prior to doors. Gantzer said that it’s the backing of the band’s fans that has been crucial to bringing the band to this milestone.

“Really, it’s everything to us; it’s a driving force, a constant motivation to push our boundaries, and having their love and support is something we take seriously and try to bring justice to,” he noted. “Music is such a powerful, transformative thing, and we’ve witnessed some true joy and healing from our vantage point on stage over the years. Our fans are so encouraging, enthusiastic, and fun to play for. We’re here because of them, and we respect that an awful lot.”

Fans poured into the Ballroom ready to celebrate on the heels of the Buffalo Bills’ first playoff berth since 1999, ending the longest post season drought by any team in professional sports history. In honor of the historical evening, the band took to the stage as the Isley Brother’s “Shout”, the Bills seminal theme song, incited the energy into a frenzy. Aqueous then kicked off the night with the fan favorite “Origami.”

AQ has spent the better part of 2017 delighting crowds across the country with 20-minute plus openers, extended jams and pristine improvisation. Their return to Buffalo showcased the last four months of Aqueous’ “on the road” antics as the band spent their first set exploring just four songs, much to the crowd’s delight.

Set two featured a mix of Aqueous originals as well as the music of Gorillaz. While the jams were shortened in set two, Aqueous brought high energy into the new year. The band took to the stage shortly before midnight with Gorillaz’ “M1A1.” The music flowed seamlessly as they segued in and out of their original tune “Warren in the Window” and then into the Gorillaz classic “Clint Eastwood” featuring Buffalo rapper and famed wordsmith Dr. Ooo.

The band and crowd rang in the new year in traditional celebratory fashion. As the crowd counted down to midnight, two thousand gold, silver and white balloons rained down from the Town Ballroom’s ceiling while the band played “Auld Lange Syne.” Three giant blue inflated whales, a nod to the band’s logo, were released into the packed crowd just as the band cranked up the energy with another fan favorite, “Don’t Do It.”

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Aqueous continued to weave in and out of their own original music and several selections from the Gorillaz catalog for the remainder of the evening. Screens to the side of the venue’s stage showcased Gorillaz’ animated artwork throughout the night. The evening’s silent MVP was the band’s sound and light designer Ryan Bress who has continued to add to the Aqueous live show with thoughtful and seamless light displays that perfectly compliment the band’s stage show. AQ ended set two with their powerhouse classic “Kitty Chaser.”

As Aqueous returned to the stage, the crowd erupted into a “Let’s go, Buffalo” chant while the band concluded the night with a two song Gorillaz encore of “Empire Ants” and “Feel Good Inc.”

Aqueous will take a much needed and well deserved break for the majority of January. The year ahead is already looking to capitalize on the band’s momentum. Aqueous will launch into 2018 with their Jam Cruise debut at the end of the month. The band has recently announced dates in support of both moe. and Papadosio that have them back on the road this February and March. Gantzer also revealed that the band has a new album slated for release sometime in 2018, although no release date has yet been officiallly announced.

Gantzer summed up the band’s outlook on the new year by noting, “There’s so much on the horizon for 2018, it’s gonna be a good one!”

Aqueous – Town Ballroom, Buffalo NY – 12/31/2017

Set 1: Origami, Second Sight*, Dave’s Song**> The Median^

Set 2: M1A1+> Warren In The Window> Clint Eastwood+%> Dr. Ooo Improv I%> Auld Lang Syne> Don’t Do It> D.A.R.E+> Aldehyde, Last Living Souls+> Glitter Freeze+> Kitty Chaser (Explosions)> Tomorrow Comes Today+> Kitty Chaser (Explosions)

Encore: Empire Ants+> Feel Good Inc.+%> Dr. Ooo Improv II%> Feel Good Inc.

*Let’s Go Buffalo Chant
**Little Drummer Boy teases
^Dirty Harry (Gorillaz) teases
+First time played, Gorillaz
%Featuring Dr. Ooo

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January 3, 2018
Phish Sets Sail into 2018 bound for a Soul Planet

For their 11th New Years at Madison Square Garden, Phish found a new way to combine their creativity within the World’s Most Famous Venue and their annual celebration of the beginning of a new year. In the past, Phish has moved the stage to the center (2013), and the other side of the arena (2015), and this time set sail upon a ship, with the stage serving as the bow of the boat that would chart the crowd into 2018 on a Soul Planet.

Fans arrived at their seats to bracelets that were designed to assist them on their voyage of cosmic discovery, and when this was learned early in the day, the buzz and potential for the participatory light show sent fans buzzing. In 2012, Coldplay used similar devices to engage fans on their Mylo Xyloto Tour, which had fans giddy with excitement leading into the waning hours of the year.

Kicking off a more than 80 minute set was a powerhouse, no-let-up set that will serve as a standard by which other NYE first sets can be measured. “Carini” as set opener was the bellwether for a strong, full force set that chugged forward into the night. Diving into “Fluffhead” early into the set, the electric crowd was plugged in for the rousing “Fluff came to New York” announcement, a hallmark of a fiery MSG New Years Eve sets. “Reba” continued the stellar set, capped by heavy hitters “46 Days,” “Maze,” and “Character Zero.”

For set two, another six song second set, the third of the run, was on par with previous years that kept the Garden bouncing deep into the final hours of the year. “Possum” kept energy from set one up, and a Type II “Fuego” lit the room. “Gotta Jibboo” went Type II as well and stayed there for one of the best jams of the run, while “Golgi Apparatus” foreshadowed the audience using their bracelets, a memento of their ticket stubs, visibly on their hands for later in the show. As a twist, the audience was thrown for a loop into “What’s the Use,” the only thing close to a breather during this heater of a set. “You Enjoy Myself” served as the perfect closing to the set with a large, extended vocal jam.

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The curated third set featured rope access technicians coming to the stage shortly after the start of “Soul Planet,” a debuted catchy and jammy number that kicked things off right out of the gate. As the techs jugged up and down the rope, the sail began to unfurl and rotate to face each side of the crowd as the song’s refrain “Oceans are rough, Soul Planet” was repeated over a steady jam that grooved the audience through the last 15 minutes of 2017. With cannons exploding to countdown the last ten seconds of 2017, and the S.S. MSG headed full steam into 2018.

With fans a part of the art, the stage serving as both bow and stern of the boat, the crowd was the sea and glowed with changing light patterns from the LED bracelets. Fresh from “Auld Lang Syne” roared an invigorating “Free” that pushed forward into a nearly 20 minute “A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing,” mirroring the beauty of the Baker’s Dozen version. Seaworthy version of “Moma Dance,” “Prince Caspian” and “Wading in the Velvet Sea” followed, then a lifesaver in the form of “First Tube” constituted the finale for this well crafted set. “Loving Cup,” one of only two covers the entire run, closed the show with a beautiful buzz and capped 17 shows at Madison Square Garden in 2017. Only Phish, and only in New York.

Setlist via Phish.net

Set 1: Carini > Suzy Greenberg > My Friend, My Friend, Fluffhead, Reba, Poor Heart > 46 Days > Maze > Character Zero

Set 2: Possum > Fuego > Gotta Jibboo > Golgi Apparatus > What’s the Use? > You Enjoy Myself

Set 3: Soul Planet[1] > Auld Lang Syne > Free, A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing > The Moma Dance > Prince Caspian > Wading in the Velvet Sea > First Tube

Encore: Loving Cup

[1] Phish debut

January 1, 2018

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