The Weight Band, an assemblage of veteran musicians with connections to Woodstock, Levon Helm, and The Band, have announced the release date of their debut recording, World Gone Mad.
Throughout the storied history of the Midnight Ramble performances at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, New York, there have been multiple configurations of some of the same musicians for different host bands at “the barn.” The Levon Helm Band had morphed into the Midnight Ramble Band, followed by the Dirt Farmer Band, and most recently The Weight Band. Each of these ensembles has relied on a strong belief in the collaboration of all band members. The entire bands were the focus, rather than any individual being featured above the others. That spirit of collaboration is evident in the writing and recording of The Weight Band’s first full-length album, World Gone Mad, scheduled for CD and digital release on February 23.
Inclusion of two previously unreleased songs co-written by Levon Helm, “You’re Never Too Old (To Rock N Roll)” and “Common Man,” along with guest appearances by Jackie Greene and Randy Ciarlante, and a cover of the Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter song, “Deal” give some added flavors to the half dozen original songs by The Weight Band.
Central New York music fans may recall a previous incarnation of the The Weight Band, with Byron Isaacs on bass and Ciarlante on drums from their appearance at The Camden Music Festival in 2014. Eventually, Albert Rogers and Michael Bram found their way into those respective slots, joining Jim Weider (guitar), Brian Mitchell (keys/accordion), and Marty Grebbs (keys/saxophone). All five members of the band contribute vocals to their sound.
The title song was a phrase Jim Weider has said he had kicking around in his head for about a year, until a bit of a melody came along to join it, and he collaborated with the renowned Canadian singer-songwriter Colin Linden to complete the tune. Weider and Linden had previously joined forces on several songs. These include “Remedy,” a version of which is included on World Gone Mad.
https://youtu.be/aouEP5OjB-0
The Weight Band will tour in support of their pending release,including four New York State appearances.
TOUR DATES:
Feb. 9 – Bergen Performing Arts Center – Englewood NJ
Feb. 10 – The Warehouse at FTC – Fairfield CT
Feb. 16 – Infinity Music Hall – Hartford CT *Album pre-release concert Feb. 17 – Levon Helm Studios – Woodstock NY *CD release ramble March 9 – Sportsmen’s Tavern – Buffalo, NY March 10 – Anthology – Rochester, NY March 11 – Center for the Arts of Homer – Homer, NY
March 30 – Beacon Theatre – Hopewell, VA
March 31 – McGlohen Theater at Spirit Square – Charlotte, NC
April 1 – City Winery – Atlanta, GA
April 4 – Crest Theatre – Delray Beach, FL
April 5 – King Center for the Performing Arts – Melbourne, FL
April 6 – Capitol Theatre – Clearwater, FL
April 7 – Center for Performing Arts – Bonita Springs, FL
April 19 – Narrows Center – Fall River, MA
April 27 – Fox Tucson Theatre – Tucson, AZ
April 29 – Belly Up Tavern – Solana Beach, CA
June 24 – Rocks, Ribs & Ridges Festival – Augusta, NJ Aug. 20 – Camp Cripple Creek at Full Moon Resort – Big Indian, NY
The Syracuse Area Music Awards held a press conference Tuesday morning to announce this year’s Hall of Fame class and nominees in 14 categories for the 25th anniversary of the awards. Recipients of the Educator of the Year Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award were also announced at the presser at Eastwood’s Palace Theater.
The 2018 SAMMYS honor albums from Central New York musicians released in 2017. This year’s ceremony takes place March 2 at the Palace Theater of Syracuse. Advance sale tickets for the awards show are $20 and can be purchased through the Syracuse Area Music website.
This year’s SAMMYS Hall of Fame class includes a mix of musicians and music industry professionals. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place March 1 upstairs at the Dinosaur BBQ in Syracuse. Tickets for this are $25 and also available through the Syracuse Area Music website. Honorees this year are Stacy Waterman, a production manager responsible for many of the biggest concerts in Central New York over the past 20 years. She has had a hand in handling shows such as moe.down, the Saranac Concert Series, Taste of Syracuse, K-Rockathon as well as her most proud accomplishment, the Salt City Waltz, a celebration and tribute to the music of The Band and their farewell concert, The Last Waltz.
Also honored this year is Maryjo Spillane. Spillane is a tour and production manager who has risen through the ranks of a primarily male dominated industry to become one of the most respected in the injury. Her clients have included Kelly Osbourne, Slayer, Dolly Parton and Heaven & Hell (the latter day Ronnie James Dio-fronted version of Black Sabbath). She has been thrice nominated as a Pollstar “Road Warrior” and made the publications “People to Watch” list, the first woman to ever receive both honors.
Guitarist John Cadley is the third member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2018. Cadley learned to play guitar at the age of 13, playing along with Kingston Trio records. He formed his first band, the Rum Runners, at boarding school and continued to play with various bluegrass bands throughout his college years. He was a member of the Long Island folk group the Glencoves, who score at top 40 hit in 1963 with the song “Hootenanny.” Cadley continued his career into graduate school, where he connected with Tony Trischka and Tom Hosner to form the Down City Ramblers.
https://youtu.be/hIrb9f7MdjY
The final 2018 inductee is the band DOVE. DOVE was a five-piece outfit influenced by the early ’70s glam movement. Setlists of the time often included covers of David Bowie and Jethro Tull, along with DOVE originals “Kidd” and “I Know.” From 1971-1973 Howie Bartolo (vocals, sax, flute), Rick Cua (bass, vocals), Dave Hanlon (drums, percussion), Larry Serafini (guitar, vocals) and Larry Arlotta (keyboards) packed venues across Upstate New York.
DOVE
The 2018 Educator of the Year Award recipient is the Director of the Fillius Jazz Archive at Hamilton College, Monk Rowe. Rowe has an extensive resume of performing, educating and presenting throughout the Mohawk Valley and beyond. Since beginning his teaching career at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School in 1974, Rowe has taught in various schools right up to the present day. As Director of the Fillius Jazz Archive, he has conducted oral histories of over 330 jazz personalities throughout the United States.
PHOTO: NANCY L. FORD
The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to 105.9 The Rebel DJ and Program Director, Dave Frisina. Already a member of the SAMMYS Hall of Fame, Frisina has been a champion of local music since beginning his local music spotlight show “Soundcheck” in 1979, which airs at 9 p.m. on Sunday nights. Frisina has also incorporated a weekday “Local Lunch” into his regular 2-6 p.m. slot on The Rebel. Throughout his 40 years in Syracuse radio, Frisina has been the rock behind the local music scene, not only through his Sunday night programming but at local venues. If there’s a show happening in the Syracuse area, chances are Frisina is in attendance.
Dave Frisina
All Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at a ceremony Upstairs at the Dino on Franklin Street in Syracuse on Friday March 1. Awards for the 25th Annual SAMMYS will be presented on March 2. Musicians performing at the awards show include a reunited DOVE, the Merry Pranksters, Elephant Mountain, Professional Victims and Count Blastula.
The People’s Choice Awards, selected through online voting that is ongoing leading up to the ceremony will be awarded in the categories of Best Artist, Best Venue and Best Festival or Music Series. Voting can be done at the Syracuse Area Music website.
The Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist will also be presented that night. The award is voted on by industry professionals and music journalists. The winner of Best New Artist will receive six hours of recording time at SubCat Music Studios.
The full list of nominees is below. Of particular note is the presence of multiple nominees, Chris Eves (Floodwood, Skunk City and Chris Eves & the New Normal) and Billy Harrison (All Poets & Heroes, Jess Novak Band).
Best Pop
All Poets & Heroes – Where We Lived and What We Lived For
Nate – Summer is the Cure
Sera Bullis – The Road to Marcellus
Ben Mauro – Good Day
BEA – Old Habits
Best Jazz
Peter Allen Alt Jazz – It Was Just About That Time
Tim Herron – Thinquisition
Robert Holz – Visions: Coast to Coast Connection
E.S.P. – Zero Gravity
Best Hip Hop or Rap
Sophistafunk – Real Vibration
Seth Dollar – Vanity
Wigs – No Turning Back
Steve Cook – M.I.D. Twenties
Suppa Satty – Who You Thought It Was?
Best Americana
Mark Wahl – Circadia
Austin MacRae – Keeper
Jane Zell – Almost Real
Harmonic Dirt – Anthracite
Ruddy Well & The Region Legion – Common Ground
Best Alternative
The Action! – 5
Goodnight Forever – Dim Lit Motivation
Mattydale Music Collective – Dreamwyld
Phantom Chemistry – Everything’s Great
Against The Giants – Harden Your Heart
Best Rock
Flashcubes – Forever
The Alpha Fire – Embers
Tommy Gunn – Talk of the Town
Jess Novak Band – Fireworks
The Penetrators – Legacy
Best Hard Rock
Ecliptic Vision – Omphalos of the Void
Sampere – World of Illusion EP
Jeremiah’s Razor – Jeremiah’s Razor
Breaking Solace – The Stand
Between Hope and Fear – With the Water
Best Other Style
Answer the Muse – Now
Leo Crandall – The Art of Swimming
A Cast of Thousands – The Fifth
John Harris – Wake the Dead
Harriet Tubman Freedom Music Festival – Music for Freedom: Harriet Tubman Freedom Music Festival Live! Vol 2
Best Jam Band
Late Earth – The Prevail
Barroom Philosophers – Barroom Philosophers
John McConnell – By Design
Chris Eves & the New Normal – Find Your Way
Old Deer Ensemble – Festival
Best Singer/Songwriter
Amanda Rogers – Heavy Blue
Alex Gideon – Know Different Than Before
Cam Caruso – On the Other Side
Sydey Irving – Hello Stranger
J. Schnitt – How to Be Happy About the End of the World
Best Blues
Bad Mama’s Blues Band – There Goes the Rent
Matthew Black and the Blues Dragons – Matthew Black and the Blues Dragons
Moon Dog Howlers – One Track Mind
Best R&B
Skunk City – Sparked
Kings of the Fall – The Ascension
Diana Jacobs Band – Good Metticine
Best Country
Floodwood – Till I Die
Matt Dunn Band – I Am this Road
Best Electronica
Leper Pony – White Savior
Mazedude – American Pixels
Man Woman Machine – Ultra-Xenosonic
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.
The 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.
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.
New Hartford native, Joe Bonamassa, teams up once again with multi-talented blues rocker Beth Hart, on their newly released album Black Coffee, which covers some classic recordings from legendary soul artist.
Black Coffee will see the duo perform ten, time-honored soul tracks by artist like Ike & Tina Turner/Steve Marriot, Edgar Winter, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Lil’ Green, LaVern Baker, Howlin’ Wolf, Lucinda Williams, and Waldeck. The Grammy nominated duo turned to a familiar face in producer Kevin ‘Caveman’ Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, Rush, and Bonamassa himself) who helped produce the duo’s Seesaw album in 2013.
Bonamassa and crew sought out some of the best musicians in the music industry to help collaborate on Black Coffee including Anton Fig (Drums/Percussion), Ron Dziubla (Saxophone), and Lee Thornburg (Horn Arrangements/Trumpet/Trombone) and welcomed in Reese Wynans (Keyboards), Michael Rhodes (Bass), Rob McNelley (Rhythm Guitar), Paulie Cerra (Saxophone), Mahalia Barnes (Backing Vocals), Jade Macrae (Backing Vocals) and Juanita Tippins (Backing Vocals). The album was recorded at the Studio at the Palms in Las Vegas in five days.
Producer Kevin Shirley talked about past sessions behind Black Coffee, and what they were tying to achieve on the album. He stated, “We’re trying not to dig into a playbook that’s been done many times which is the old soul classics. We try and find a different spin on it, originally it was about trying to find some songs that people didn’t know at all and bring them back to people’s attention.” Bonamassa added, “For me I’m able to explore the kind of music I have always admired from afar, but you don’t want to hear me singing Ella Fitzgerald…” Hart chimed in saying, “I would never do Ella Fitzgerald without being with Joe, the things I get to do with you are things I think I grew up always wanting to do, but never believed I could.” Bonamassa went on to explain, “It’s really predicated on the vocals. We can’t cut these tunes without Beth singing and once she starts singing, it’s the glue that inspires us to get the extra 10% out of the playing. If we just cut them and sang later, the magic wouldn’t be there.” Hart agreed adding,”That’s something the two of us stopped doing many, many years ago. There was all this layering and layering and then it’s time for you to sing and it’s like you’re not even making music any more. There’s nothing like being able to sit there live and see Joe, seeing the drums, seeing the bass, being able to see Kevin. I can feel the vibrations, it changes the whole thing.”
Bonamassa became intrigued by Hart after seeing her perform on television, and even more impressed after seeing her perform a show in Switzerland. He would cross paths with her several times during separate runs of Europe. Wanting to try something new, Bonamassa was inspired to pair himself with a female musician with Hart being his first choice.
Black Coffee Tracklist:
Give It Everything You Got
Damn Your Eyes
Black Coffee
Lullaby Of The Leaves
Why Don’t You Do Right
Saved
Sitting On Top Of The World
Joy
Soul On Fire
Addicted
Baby, I Love You * Bonus Track
To kick off Black History Month, Kendrick Lamar yesterday shared the artwork and tracklisting for the soundtrack to Marvel Studios’ Black Panther movie.
With three consecutive Album of the Year Grammy nominations, Lamar keeps churning out hit after hit, and the highly anticipated film gets an equally anticipated soundtrack to accompany it. Rappers include SZA, Future, Jay Rock, 2 Chainz, Vince Staples and Anderson .Paak highlighting the album along with The Weeknd, Mozzy and SOB x RBE, R&B stars Jorja Smith and Khalid on the 14-track album.
The soundtrack from Kendrick Lamar, for Black Panther will be released on Friday, Feb. 9 via Interscope Records and Marvel’s Black Panther will be released nationwide on Feb. 16. Listen to the first single from the album “All the Stars,” featuring Kendrick Lamar and SZA.
Plans are in motion to move Higher Ground one city over to Winooski, from South Burlington, VT
Winooski City Manager Jessie Baker is excited for the proposal for her city.
‘We as the city are very excited about the potential and we are excited to welcome them back to the city,’ she said. ‘They would be a great community partner and it would bring a lot of vibrancy downtown. We would welcome them with open arms.’
The proposed venue will include 1,500 seats and will also have 20,000 square feet of office space. It will be a four-story building on Main Street.
The next step in the process will be between the development partner and a potential tenant to negotiate ownership structure and figure out financing for the project, Baker said.
“I am confident that both parties are working hard to make it happen,” she said. “It is pending financing.”
Higher Ground currently has two separate venues. The Ballroom holds 750 people, while the Showcase Lounge has a capacity of 300.
Higher Ground moved from Winooski to South Burlington in 2004.
Upstate NY has been lucky enough to have a musical haven in the heart of Saratoga Springs, just 30 miles north of Albany and a straight shot up the highway. Always counting on Putnam Den for an eclectic lineup of jam shows, rap artists and electronic music, lovers of live music confidently had a venue to call home. Having witnessed the Den’s transformation over the last few months, Putnam Place is ready to take shape as an updated music hall with an already stacked roster of musical acts listed for the coming months. BoomBox, a disco house/vintage psychedelic outfit will help kick off the re-opening with a gig tonight, Jan. 24.
With Putnam Place‘s schedule still filling out, dates are already notched for ChowderFest and Super Bowl parties among anticipated gigs like Formula 5 with Strange Machines, Richard James’ Krewe Orleans: A Mardi Gras Experience (featuring members of Pink Talking Fish, Trey Anastasio Band, Turkuaz and more) in February, as well as spring performances by Wyclef Jean, Grammy Award-winning Rebirth Brass Band, Start Making Sense, Enter the Haggis, Perpetual Groove, Pink Talking Fish and more.
Since first jumping into the scene in 2004, the duo of multi-instrumentalist Zion Rock Godchaux and DJ Harry have been quietly seasoning this simmering recipe to perfection. However, it reaches a boiling point on BoomBox‘s forthcoming album, Western Voodoo and its impending string of east coast Winter tour dates, including tonight’s 9 p.m. party at Putnam Place.
“I remain open to anything you would hear coming out of a boombox,” Godchaux, son of Grateful Dead’s Donna Jean explains. “There are a lot of different vibes and angles, but it still adheres to a universal rhythm. This new record is the most musical and varied, yet it’s tightly wound in respect to that syncopation. There are only a few rules. It should be heavy groove. It should make you want to move. Overall, I’ve further developed the sound people are used to.”
Putnam Place’s face lift includes a giant new LED video wall and high-quality sound system, new technicolor lighting advances and a fresh coat of paint paired with interior design remodeling. The bathrooms that were once adorned with every square inch of band stickers are now a pale pink, at least in the ladies room, and come complete with bathroom attendants making the flow of traffic effortless. Events have taken place in the midst of the renovations, including a New Year’s party fully-equipped with an ice luge and soft seating.
While it may be the new Place to be, for some, it’ll always be the Den.
Jan. 24 – Putnam Place – Saratoga Springs, NY
Jan. 25 – Aura – Portland, ME
Jan. 26 – White Eagle Hall – Jersey City, NJ
Jan. 27 – Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA
Jan. 28 – Higher Ground – Burlington, VT
Jan. 31 – Rex Theatre – Pittsburgh, PA
Feb. 1 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
Feb. 2 – Saint Andrews Hall – Detroit, MI
Feb. 3 – 20th Century Theatre – Cincinnati, OH
March 17 – Pot Of Gold Music Festival – Chandler, AZ
After a successful inaugural event last year, Relix will host a two-day music conference May 8 and 9. Held at Brooklyn Bowl, the 2018 Relix Live Music Conference will feature panels, discussions, and presentations by industry professionals, with the goal of informing and educating musicians and music fans and is designed to shed light on the fast-paced and ever-changing live music business. The event only has a handful of tickets left, so check out the details and pick up your pass today!
This year’s panels include Building Businesses in theMusic Space (moderated by Dean Budnick of Relix Media Group), Management (moderated by Dan Berkowitz of CID Entertainment), Agenting (moderated by Jason Miller of Live Nation), Livestreaming (moderated by Jonathan Healey of Dayglo Ventures), TalentBuying (moderated by Lucas Sacks of Brooklyn Bowl), Activism (moderated by Jay Curley), Sponsorship, Festivals, Touring & Album Cycle, Restoring a Rock Palace, and much more.
There will also be daily presentations by Brendan Sheehan (Mr. B’s), Cameron Smith (HUB Entertainment Insurance), Amy Striem (The Rock and Roll Playhouse), Jon Bahr (CD Baby), Allen Cook and Jeremy Rollinson (TourTech), and Scott Owens (DoStuff Media)
Follow Relix for updates on this year’s events and ticket availability and watch last year’s conference highlight was a keynote discussion between Ron Delsener, Peter Shapiro and David Fricke:
Rochester post-hardcore phenoms Druse announced that they have signed with Head2Wall Records. They’re heading into the studio to record a full-length album under the Ohio-based label. The release date is projected for this summer. Before they start recording, they’re playing one more hometown gig with their friends in California Cousins, Dais, Chrmr, and Derelict Vessel at the Bug Jar this Saturday, Jan. 13.
Druse. Photo by Spencer Chamberlain
Head2Wall released a statement, which reads in part:
With their unique take on the style of heavy, emotive, technical post-hardcore fleshed out in late ’90s by bands like Botch and Frodus, Druse has spent the last three years carving out a place of their own in today’s fickle and ever-evolving heavy music community. With a handful of powerful and infectious EPs, and an indefatigable work ethic, Druse has proven themselves a force to be reckoned with.”
While waiting for the new album, fans can order a 12” vinyl containing their last two EP’s from the Head2Wall webstore.
American Beauty, the mid-town Manhattan venue that quickly became a staple for the Big Apple’s jam scene, is no more. In a statement on Friday, following the January 1st shuttering of their doors, American Beauty issued the statement below:
It is with a heavy heart that we announce our doors closed after December 31st 2017. Our home at 251 West 30th Street was purchased by Herald Square Properties in 2016, who are renovating the building and renting to new tenants. We’d like to thank our loyal staff, customers and every artist who’s performed on our stages for a magical run.
Although it’s sad to say goodbye to our Midtown party factory for now, we are happy for the memories that will live on with those who experienced it. Fare Thee Well.
Touring bands, as well as pre and post show events surrounding Phish and Dead and Company shows at Madison Square Garden, were a huge draw to American Beauty, located just 2 blocks from MSG. Events held during these runs filled the bar’s three floors with vending, music, beer and free pizza, causing a great deal of surprise from fans, patrons, and the musicians who performed there. Seth Eisenstein, saxophonist at Polyvamp, called the venue home, and lamented its closing, saying “American Beauty always felt like our home away from home. Polyvamp was able to grow our sound playing that room, and always had a blast doing it. We want to thank American Beauty for everything and wish the great staff all the best in their next step.”
While American Beauty is closed, the space has been a music venue under other names for years, leading to the hope that perhaps the room will open under another name, given the history of the location. The final show at the venue was a Phish after-party featuring Kung Fu and Wyllys and went late into the night.
The album was produced by Jeff Aderman at Utica’s 
