NYS Music 20​18

Category: Capital Region

  • Greensky Bluegrass Takes Flight at the Egg

    Greensky Bluegrass returned to The Egg in Albany, NY on January 24 for their first East Coast show of 2018. The Michigan band was joined by Billy Strings, who opened the show with a selection from his 2017 album, Turmoil & Tinfoil. This sold-out crowd was treated to two sets of fantastic bluegrass on this “Casual Wednesday” with a number of egg jokes thrown in for good measure.

    greensky bluegrass egg

    The Quintet from Kalamazoo opened their first set with “Past My Prime,” which was greeted with a thunderous applause from the crowd. They followed that up with “Bringing In The Georgia Mail” and “Jaywalking.” Each featured a flurry of impressive solos with an eerie Dobro solo from Anders Beck. Both the band and the audience threw out egg jokes before and after launching into “Gumboots,” “Against the Days” and “Into the Rafters.” The bird jokes continued before starting “Reverend” and then following that with “Clinch Mountain Backstep.” The boys ended the set with “Nine Days” and fan-favorite, “Worried About The Weather.” This was the longest song of the set and received the loudest response from the fawning crowd.

    The beer line quickly faded as the lights dimmed, signaling the start of a magnificent second set. “Cryin’ Holy Unto The Lord” was the uplifting opener everyone needed to start dancing again. The highlight of the night was “All Four,” an 18 minute gem which featured a rousing jam that dazzled and amazed everyone in attendance. “What’s Left of the Night” was next and Michael Arlen Bont’s incredible banjo solo was spectacular. The band brought the jam down to an ephemeral lullaby before bringing it back up to finish the song and move into “Miss September.” This was the catchiest song of the night and Paul Hoffman really shined on Mandolin during this track.

    Greensky slowed things down with a spacey intro into “Bottle Dry,’ whose roaring peak was followed by the frenetic “Radio Blues.” The band’s fingers were a blur as they played each verse of this toe-tapping hit. The Egg received even more compliments during an appropriate “Casual Wednesday.” Anders came out and said this was an “Eggs-quisite room that was really Grade-A” and the crowd couldn’t agree more. Without missing a beat, they were off like a shot with “Broke Mountain Breakdown.” After some bombastic back-and-forth playing, they broke into a wavy, ambient jam before they brought it all back together with an effect-laden scorcher of a solo on the pedal steel.

    Things weren’t over yet as the band ended the second set with the Michael Jackson hit, “Beat It.” Mike Devol’s bass playing had everyone moving as this song got everyone out of their seats to end the set. As the crowd gave a standing ovation, Dave Bruzza welcomed Billy Strings out on stage to help with their encore. The audience went silent as all 8 players played an unplugged encore featuring the solemn “Tear Down The Grand Ole Opry” and the upbeat “Sunny Side Of The Mountain.”

    Setlist via PhantasyTour

    Set 1: Past My Prime, Bringing in the Georgia Mail, Jaywalking> Gumboots, Against the Days, Into the Rafters, Reverend> Clinch Mountain Backstep, Nine Days, Worried About the Weather

    Set 2    : Cryin’ Holy Unto The Lord (Rock Where Moses Stood), All Four, What’s Left of the Night> Miss September> Bottle Dry, The Radio Blues, Casual Wednesday, Broke Mountain Breakdown> Funk Jam> Beat It

    Encore: Tear Down The Grand Ole Opry* Sunny Side of the Mountain*

    * w/ Billy Strings Band, acoustic at the lip of the stage

  • BoomBox Helps Reopen the Den as Putnam Place

    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

  • Funk Night returns this February with members of Dopapod, Kung Fu and Wurliday

    Funk Night in Albany will return on February 15 at Parish Public House with members of Dopapod, Kung Fu and Wurliday. Featuring Rob Compa (Dopapod), Beau Sasser (Kung Fu), Adrian Tramontano (Kung Fu) and Justin Henricks (Wurliday), this night of funk will shake off any Valentine’s Day blues that may be lingering. Tickets available now or at the door.

    funk night dopapod kung fu

    Watch “Will it Go Round in Circles?,” from Funk Night in September featuring Starbird-Mazer/Skursky/Smith, Joe Davis from Formula 5, Scott Hannay of Mister F and Connor Dunn from Let’s Be Leonard.

  • Ampevene Debut “Valencia” off Upcoming Album “Ephemagoria”

    Prog rockers Ampevene have released the first video, “Valencia,” from their upcoming live album Ephemagoria, set to be released on February 9. The live album featured classic and never before recorded Ampevene songs as well as covers, capturing the feel of a live performance at The Recording Company in Esperance, NY, and mixed by Tim Lynch with mastering by Alan Douches of West West Side Music.

    Ampevene will hold an album release party on February 9 at The Hollow Bar and Kitchen in Albany, with Brooklyn’s Cousin Earth joining for the night.

  • Show Some Love for Rosie’s at Albany’s Low Beat

    The legendary Low Beat in Albany will be hosting a benefit rock show on Saturday January 27th for the Rosie’s Love Foundation. The charity, which was established in 2000, supports families who are affected by the scourge of childhood cancer.  The benefit, which kicks off at 7:00PM,  was organized by Albany’s own preeminent hard rock band, The Crimson Tips.  

    rosie's loveThe bill additionally features homegrown hard rocking act, The Hard Luck Souls and Lake George based power trio Iudica  wraps up the night’s festivities. The event is free but the organizers request that attendees offer a simple donation of a children’s toy or provide a financial donation to the foundation.

    Rosie’s Love Foundation was formed after the death of it’s namesake, two-year-old Rosemary Frances Johnson, who passed away after a valiant battle with neuroblastoma.  Her family wanted to give something back for all the love Rosie received while being treated for her illness at Albany Medical Center.  The foundation provides fun activities and toys for children receiving in-patient cancer treatment and offers various types of assistance to those children’s family members. 

  • Ominous Seapods reunite for first shows since 2011

    It’s been six years since the last Ominous Seapods show, but after two sell out shows in Cohoes and a first time performance at Brooklyn Bowl, you’d be remiss not to wonder why they don’t reunite more often. With fans flying in from as far as the Carolinas, Germany, and the west coasts of America and Australia (where gitarist/vocalist Dana Monteith has made his home in Perth), three impressive reunion shows found audiences reuniting and excited for all that was in store. As Mike Wren mentioned in passing that night “Every so often, it’s a bookmark you come back to,” and perhaps that best describes the audience support and reverence for the Seapods. 

    ominous seapods reuniteThe Ominous Seapods have a lasting legacy of influence on musicians in the jam scene. They are held with reverence by fans and music journalists who are still enamored (and rightly so) by the jam scene of the ’90s, and continue to inspire awe and musicians today. Promoter Greg Bell of Guthrie/Bell Productions spoke on January 12 about his history with the band dating back to 1992, and was all smiles throughout the night, having brought back to Albany the elder statesman of the jam scene. Despite it being a warm night outside, it was far from a warm up night inside, as the band hit the ground running and hit all the marks, right off the bat.

    Cohoes Music Hall was the perfect venue for this show, as it has been for Max Creek, Garcia Project, and soon Turkuaz and Melvin Seals with JGB. The fourth oldest music venue in New York, the 1871 hall has undergone a transformation in the past two years and become an excellent show location that fits perfectly between clubs like The Hollow and Putnam Den, and larger rooms such as The Egg. So with two sold out shows, bassist Tom Pirozzi’s 50th birthday and a reunion of Plattsburgh Mutants on tap, the Music Hall was abuzz early thanks to Stone Brewing’s DidgeriDoom IPA, a nod to Monteith, who moved to Perth, Australia following the last Seapods show in 2011 at Valentines. Monteith also sported an AC/DC shirt, perhaps a subtle reference to their then-final show where they performed “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll).”

    Opening up with “I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon,” the first big jam of the night came from “Theme for Another Enlightened Rogue” and the segue into “The Guide to Roadside Ecology” with Dana getting down to business early, and often. A few acoustic numbers came next, notably “Branch’s House” which grew smoothly into “The Pull from Adirondack Blue” and “Waiting 4 the Bomb to Drop” and Pirozzi and guitarist/vocalist Max Verna driving the set ending sandwich of “Sally” > “Cali” > “Sally.”

    The energy continued to flow out of the setbreak with “Leaving the Monopole” getting checked off everyone’s ‘must hear’ list. The Seapods’ signature song still finds fans today who visit the ‘Single Stick’ in Plattsburgh and explore the lore that influenced the band’s writing. A debut of “Cumberland Blues” caught a few off guard, but it was pleasantly surprising that the band chose to throw a new cover into the mix this weekend. The jam of the set was around “Schizophrenic Rain,” which bookended “Oberon and Titania” and “Passengers En Route” and served as the most fluid and dialed in portions of the night, with a keys/bass/drums jam in the midst of the medley. A rockin “Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley” kept the flow of the night going, with “Hey Donnie Osmond” closing the set out. An encore of “That’s How they Got Along” and “Michael Murphy 3” left a great deal of tunes in the tank for Saturday night.

    Setlist, January 12, 2018
    Set 1: I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon, 1/4 lb. Hot Dog, Theme For Another Enlightened Rogue ->
    The Guide To Roadside Ecology, Millworker’s Lament*, Long Black Veil**, Guardian Angels*** -> Candy Cane Flame***, Branch’s House**** -> Jam -> The Pull From Adirondack Blue, Waiting 4 The Bomb To Drop, Sally Simpson -> First Day In California ->. Sally Simpson,

    Set 2: Econobrain intro^ -> Old GP, Leaving The Monopole -> Counting Time -> Cumberland Blues^^, Schizophrenic Rain -> Oberon And Titania -> Passengers En Route -> Schizophrenic Rain -> Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley, Hey Donnie Osmond

    Encore: That’s How They Got Along, Michael Murphy 3

    *Max solo acoustic
    **Lefty Frizzell cover, first time played, without Mangini, Verna on acoustic guitar and Pirozzi on upright bass
    ***Verna on acoustic guitar
    ****Monteith on acoustic guitar
    ^with Doug Burns
    ^^Grateful Dead cover, first time played

    Entering night two with much colder weather at their back, fans returned to Cohoes Music Hall sporting a variety of flannel on par with an L.L. Bean outlet.  “Jet Smooth Ride” lifted the crowd up and into the night. “Cary Suite” and “Final Destination” had the band finding the pocket and staying there, jamming without the drawback (or benefit, if you will) of ADD. The jams were even more on point and didn’t let up or evaporate before their time. The set ending pair of “Anything is Possible” with Monteith on egg beater and “Blackberry Brandy”

    A second set that flowed freely was on tap, starting with a more than 15 minute “Jump for Joy” opener. Monteith took some time to mention how hard it was for him to leave Perth to get to New York for these shows, but expressed casual gratitude for the response from fans. A string of segues led to a 12 minute “John Henry’s Hammer” and a second “Pull from Adirondack Blue” in as many nights. “Bong Hits and Porn,” one of the best song titles ever, was slid into a sweet groove and held on for nearly 15 minutes and found Monteith back on eggbeater.

    For the final song of the night, Pirozzi took over on guitar for “Ship,” and led the crowd in the sing-along. With fans cheering for one more, my friend David leaned over and said “You can’t finish the weekend without “Leaving the Monopole,” and lo and behold, they would not. Once again, we got the Seapods tune, and the fans who were only there that night revelled, danced and sang the words as easily as they did in 1995.

    Setlist: January 13, 2018
    Set 1: Jet Smooth Ride, Cary Suite, Final Destination > She Makes the Journey, Serpents in the Sand, Railyard Scene > Somedays > Stephen O’Rourke > The Fiesta, Anything Is Possible (w double Eggbeater jam) > Blackberry Brandy

    Set 2: Jump For Joy, Sad Corner > What’s the Buzz, Keep in Mind > Waiting Room > Gunshot Static > John Henry’s Hammer > The Pull from Adirondack Blue, Bong Hits & Porn*

    Encore: Ship, Leaving the Monopole
    * with Monteith on eggbeater

    For the final set of the reunion, a performance at Brooklyn Bowl was the perfect closing to the weekend. Owned by former Wetlands owner Pete Shapiro, having Ominous Seapods perform at Brooklyn Bowl brings them full circle and to a stage built on the shoulders of former Wetlands staples like themselves. The performance was an opening slot for the Zen Tricksters, and would be a distilled, “best of” set compared to the previous two shows. Fan Gabe Sasso noted that the crowd ate up how tight the band sounded, with one standout highlight “Josephine’s Grand Motion” which was not played the previous two nights. And with the final note of “Bong Hits and Porn,” Mutants are back to waiting for the next reunion shows to be announced, and based on response from these shows, one would hope it will be less than six years between shows.

    Setlist, January 14, 2018
    Set 1: Blackberry Brandy, Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley, The Guide To Roadside Ecology, Michael Murphy 3, Josephine’s Grand Motion, Sally Simpson > First Day In California > Sally Simpson, The Pull From Adirondack Blue, Leaving The Monopole, Bong Hits And Porn

  • Behind the Gear: Joe Davis 12/30/17

    Behind the Gear, a new website from Jared Lindquist, covers the fine details of the gear that helps to create a musician’s sound. Each week, NYS Music will bring you Jared’s latest in depth coverage of various musician’s gear.

    Joe Davis is the guitarist of Albany-based band Formula 5. Joe is one of the most precise players on the scene, shredding with a tone so wonderful that you can’t help but smile. He brings the heat every time he takes a solo, and can settle into any groove the band throws at him. Check out his playing on Formula 5’s recent live release from November 24th.

    Guitar

    2012 Gibson SG ’61 Reissue

    Joe’s SG has some serious meaning to him, saying, “It was gifted to me by my Father and has accrued some serious road rashes, including having its headstock snapped off after a show in Canadaigua, NY. It was repaired by Dan Neafsey who built Mihali’s (Twiddle) guitars and speaker cabinets amongst other things in his rig and Zdenek’s (Twiddle).”

    Amp/Cabinet

    Amp: Traynor YBA-1 Bass Master (ca. ’72-75)
    Cab: Fuchs 2×12 w/ Jensen Jets (Debadged)

    Joe runs a pretty impressive head and cab, saying, “My amp setup hasn’t changed much over the last few years. I use a Traynor YBA-1 Bass Master head, which based on the serial number I can date to roughly 1972-75. It’s an old amp and it’s using the original tubes that were in it when it was gifted to James (bassist of Formula 5) from a friend’s dad. Not sure on the model but they are old and sound GOOOD! The head actually needed to have the original ungrounded power cable removed and replaced with a grounded one after it got wrapped around a tube during a show at Mojo’s in Jamestown, NY. Ryan Nogle, gear wizard and former drummer of AQ fixed it for us and we had a good time trying to get the head out of the enclosure chasis. Let’s just say the things a tank and they don’t make em like they use to. My Cabinet ironically is also owned by James Woods and was formerly owned by Andrew Chamberlaine the original guitarist of Mister F and Timbre Coup. Andrew hooked it up with the road case too. That cabinet is a huge part of my tone, loaded up with two Jensen Jet speakers rated for 100 watts each. The thing can SCREAM whilst being buttery smooth.”

    Pedalboard

    Quick note from Joe, “Missing from my chain currently is my Fulltone Deja Vibe, which is on the mend, and my Electro Harmonix Switchblade + A/B Switch that switched between just my amp and the Motion Sound Pro 3 Rotary Speaker.”

    Signal Chain

    Dunlop 535Q Wah > Digitech Whammy II > Ibanez CP-835 Compressor II > Ibanez TS-9 (no mod) > J Rocket Audio Archer Ikon > Xotic Effects EP Booster > Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe (with Preset Controllor) > Mad Professor Silver Spring Reverb
    img_1539

    He says that a huge part of his tone is the vintage gear he uses, especially his Ibanez CP-835, “The Ibanez Compressor I received as a gift from my sister, Shannon, for Christmas the year I joined Formula 5. Being a huge Trey fan my entire life, I was searching for a set and forget, always on, comp that would smooth out my clean tone and give a lil more transparency to my fully saturated TS-9 tone whilst adding sustain. Another thing I was looking for was a comp that was very quiet during operation. Most comps I tried had a lot of noise and hiss when engaged. A lot of that is to do with requiring 9V power; this old beast, which dates to roughly 1981 and is an original model, runs on an 18 V 1/8 inch power supply and is eerily quiet, even with the sustain rolled to 5. I don’t use it to squash as my sustain knob rests at 9 o’clock, but I use it to boost the signal from my guitar to my amp just a tad to really brighten the attack. That pedal is never off and is a huge staple of my tone.”

  • Hearing Aide: Ignis “The Face of Mars”

    Albany two-piece Ignis released their first full-length album The Face of Mars on January 9, premiering their blend of folk, rock, and Americana. The album evokes a feeling of timelessness, seeming to borrow from many iterations and generations of rock music, from a Bowie-esque 70’s quality to a post-punk 90’s Seattle sound. The singing is memorable, somewhat reminiscent of Mark Sandman of Morphine and Ian Curtis of Joy Division, with an impressive vocal range and a very moody quality. Ignis manages to shift deftly between slow build-ups and high-energy releases.

    The album opens with a slow ballad titled “AS,” that showcases the emotional side of their songwriting, and then follows it with the faster paced, grungy “Not Yet.” The third song out, “Don’t Go” starts with atmospheric guitar and then allows the drums to slowly build up to a satisfying crescendo.

    “Chloe Dancer” features singing that reminds the listener of singers like Morrissey, while allowing the pianist to show his talents. “Paper” presents a change of pace, with the guitarist adopting a different, sultry style as the song takes on a jazzy feel. Each song of this album is short and to the point, with a definitive style and tone that encompasses much of the record.

    “273” is a huge departure from the general tone of the album, beginning with a danceable funk riff then dropping back into a Smiths-inspired vocal melody and some sludgy guitar work. The following song, “Sink,” takes a mellower approach, while still boasting their signature guitar tone.

    “Tunnel Vision” features a memorable riff set to sad lyrics, while “Could it Be” ventures into power ballad territory. The album then closes out with “Follower,” which hearkens back to the 80’s. Ignis presents a promising first effort, successfully melding a variety of styles into an atmospheric, original record. Available on Bandcamp, Itunes and Spotify.

    Key Tracks: Tunnel Vision, Could It Be

  • Known to the World as “Mr. Misunderstood,” McKinley James is Playing the Guitar and Making a Name for Himself

    McKinley James, the 16-year-old, self-proclaimed “rock and roller,” was featured in Eric Church’s 2014 release Mr. Misunderstood of which he also appeared on the cover and the corresponding video.

    James has since been making himself more understood by those listening to him play the blues and good, old-fashioned rock and roll with his guitar. He just recently dropped a live EP, McKinley James Live in Nashville, and is currently on tour. He’ll come rolling into town this week to play at The Ale House in Troy on Sunday, Jan. 14, at 8 p.m. For tickets and information, go to brownpapertickets.com.

    We were able to exchange a few emails back and forth to find out what’s going in James’ life, and what people ought to know about Mr. Understood.

    Michael Hallisey: You’re a teenager in Nashville. You as a music lover, that’s got to be a wonderful place to live.

    McKinley James: Moving to Nashville was a really exciting move, there is great live music happening everywhere. Also moving here has inspired me to practice much more, everywhere you turn is an amazing guitar player.

    MH: You’re originally from Webster, NY — when did you move to Tennessee? What was that like for you?

    MJ: We moved about a year and a half ago, it was exciting. We had visited Nashville many times before we moved so my parents could figure things out like where we should live, so when we were there my dad would take me out to clubs so I could see as much live music as I could.

    MH: Your taste in music is not “normal,” and you are aware of how far-reaching your curiosity and tastes lead you. How did your appreciation in the blues develop?

    MJ: I grew up with listening to all my dad’s (Jason Smay of The Los Straitjackets) records and he’s a big fan of blues music, plus he played in lots of blues bands so I was always around it.

    MH: How much did your father play a role in your love for music?

    MJ: A lot! My younger brothers know a lot about music, too, because it’s always on at the house.

    MH: Blues music is more than just a genre — can you share with me how you feel while you listen and when you play?

    MJ: Well, that’s a tricky question. Blues music to me is the base for all the styles of music I love and play. I consider myself more of a rock and roller. I try to play what feels good, not necessarily a certain genre. In my live shows we play rock ’n’ roll and soul music, too.

    MH: Please break down for me how you wound up associated with Eric Church for “Mr. Misunderstood”?

    MJ: That’s a really long story! But, short version is, we were visiting Nashville staying with Mr. John Peets who is Mr. Church’s manager. How we got to stay there is another story, but Mr. Peets met my brothers and me while we were there, and I guess he noticed me wandering around all day in the house, outside playing my guitar, and that I was a greaser and only 13. Fast forward a few months and Mr. Church delivered his new record to Mr. Peets, and the title track “Mr. Misunderstood.” Mr. Peets said it hit him that I was that kid! Didn’t care about anything but what I was into, which is music, and for me going the opposite direction than the crowd never bothered me.

    MH: How was that experience for you, and what did you learn?

    MJ: The experience was awesome. Mr. Peet’s is one of the coolest guys I’ve met. His love for music is awesome, and he treated my family and me like we were his family. Getting to meet Mr. Church was great. He is a super nice guy, too. As is his awesome band. I’ve actually become good friends with Jeff Cease, lead guitar player in Mr. Church’s band. I learned that in the music business opportunity can happen anywhere and at anytime.

    MH: You are in the midst of a tour, do you have a record release in the works?

    MJ: We are starting to put demos together for a session later this spring.

    MH: With the old stereotype of blues being something for older men and women, what kind of reception do you get on stage?

    MJ: I think that with all music if you are true to what’s in your heart and enjoy performing, people can connect young or old. it’s the feeling that gets people, not necessarily the genre. I love some Dr. Dre songs and get as excited as when I hear Bobby Blue Bland.

    This article was originally published by The Spot 518

  • The Ominous Seapods Reunite to wish Tom Pirozzi a Happy 50th Birthday

     A Plattsburgh State undergrad once asked Max Verna to define an Ominous Seapod. “I don’t really know,” he said, providing no explanation behind the name of his band for the young reporter working on a feature for his student newspaper. “I do like the sound of it, though.”

    The Ominous Seapods, one of the most popular jam bands here in upstate New York in the 1990s, is coming back out for a two-night engagement at the Cohoes Music Hall on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 12 and 13.

    “They were a name I would always see on old show flyers amongst other names that are still big in the scene today,” said Kim Neaton, WEQX-FM radio personality. “I wasn’t familiar with them when they were active, but their name often pops up in conversation and I always would think, ‘Damn. I wish I got to catch a Seapods show!’”

    While Phish and Dave Matthews Band led the charge in a jam band culture described in 2001 as a phenomenon by the New York Times, moe., the Disco Biscuits and the Ominous Seapods pulled up the rear. At the time, both the Seapods and Disco Biscuits were signed under Hydrophonics Records, a subsidiary of Megaforce Records which itself earned success years earlier by introducing Ministry and Metallica.

    “These guys can rip,” wrote Dean Budnick, of the Seapods. The Relix Magazine editor named the group in a well-crafted Who’s Who directory of upcoming bands in his 1998 book “Jam Bands: North America’s Hottest Live Groups.” “The humor of the players often celebrates the absurd, resulting in some memorable, spontaneous interactions between each other and between band and audience. … Such as the time it hosted an eight-track release party.”

    Verna, Dana Monteith, Tom Pirozzi, Brian Mangini and Ted Marotta toured the nation, playing 200-plus gigs a year, a reputation recognized by SPIN Magazine, and appreciated by an online fanbase supported by a website at Dartmouth University affectionately called the Podnet. “We have some really loyal fans on the Podnet who have taken it upon themselves to get the word out and to spread tapes,” Tom Pirozzi told Budnick. “So we’ve walked into a bar in Iowa City where the place is just packed full of people who have heard about us, know our music and are excited to have us there.”

    At one point, the website boasted of having more than 300 subscribers, known as mutants. It was maintained by David Merrill, a Dartmouth technician nicknamed The Bourbon Cowboy. It was a place to find setlists, lyrics and pictures. In its heyday, fans could swap tapes from live shows. The internet was still in its infancy in the late ’90s. Social media and smartphones, absolute requirements for networking and navigating new landscapes, did not exist. So, most fans found out about shows by signing up to the band’s mailing list — postal, not email. (At the

    band’s height, that list contained more than 10,000 names.) Fans could also call the band’s dedicated phone line connected to an answering machine that listed upcoming show dates. The Podnet is still online, but the ’90s design suggests it hasn’t been maintained for years. Some of the mutants, including Merrill, have since moved on to Facebook.

    Pirozzi recently shared his amazement over the power of social media. He said he posted word of the Seapods upcoming Cohoes show on Facebook twice. Once on his page, and another on the Mutants’ page. A short time later, he said, the Saturday evening show was sold out.

    “It sold out in five days,” said Pirozzi. “I was surprised, actually. I knew we’d do well, and thought maybe by the day of the show we’d sell out, or be close to sold out. I didn’t expect to sell out in advance. We were all shocked by that.”

    The band opted to offer a second show on the preceding Friday, Pirozzi’s 50th birthday. (It, too, is close to selling out.) Pirozzi said he’s humbled by the response from fans, and looks forward to seeing faces he hasn’t seen in 20 years.

    “I could see on Facebook, people coming in from Colorado, from North Carolina, California,” asid Pirozzi. “I think it’s just going to be a great reunion for people I haven’t seen in years. Obviously, people I haven’t seen in 20 years. I’m looking forward to that.”

    The definition of an Ominous Seapod, initially sought by a Plattsburgh State undergrad, is less elusive today than it was nearly 30 years ago.

    “By all accounts the band and their fans know how to have a real great time,” said Neaton, who now associates herself with Guthrie Bell Productions. “And, if Greg Bell says a band knows how to party, I think the Cohoes Music Hall is perhaps in for a party unlike anything it’s seen before. It’s really cool to be part of a reunion that’s bringing so many people in from out of town to celebrate a band that meant a lot to the jam scene for so long, especially in a room as special as this.”

    This article was originally published by The Spot 518 and is the property of Spotlight Newspapers in Albany, N.Y., and appears as a special to NYS Music. TheSpot518 and NYS Music work in partnership to provide readers with in-depth coverage on the local music scene in the Capital District and New York state, respectively. For more, visit TheSpot518.com.