NYS Music 20​18

Category: Syracuse

  • FLOTUS talk ‘Sundance’ EP ; New Music Video, CitrusTV

    A group of fresh faces by the name of FLOTUS are taking over the Syracuse, NY music scene. FLOTUS, consisting of guitarist and vocalist Eric Thompson, keyboardist Ryan McKeown, bassist Blake Trexler and drummer Sean Ferguson, took home the glory at an annual Battle of the Bands competition held by Orange Music Group (OMGSyracuse) at Syracuse University.

    FLOTUSThis landed the group 6 hours of free recording time at SubCat Studios in downtown Syracuse. With this prize, the group has launched their first EP, Sundance, which is available for listening on Spotify and iTunes. FLOTUS has also just dropped their first ever music video, “Swim To Me,” which is linked below. This video is fun for the summer and features bright, bold visuals, with vocalist Eric Thompson shot singing along to the tune. 

    Brianna Skelly: Hi, guys!! How are we doing here? 

    FLOTUS: Hey, it’s going good!! It’s great to be talking to you.

    BS: Great, it’s wonderful to become acquatinted with you all. Now, I’ve heard that the name “FLOTUS” was inspired by Michelle Obama’s Twitter handle. Would you mind telling me more about that? 

    Blake Trexler: Yeah, of course. Well, the guys and I were messing around at practice one day, just tossing names back and forth and FLOTUS was thrown into the mix. We liked it. It’s actually become a running joke between the band. We like to switch up the acronym at our shows. Keeps things interesting. 

    BS: That’s so unique! So, how did the four of you meet? 

    Sean Thompson: Well, we’re all music majors at Syracuse University, so we all happened to meet by chance in a class, but Ryan and I went to the same high school. 

    BS: That’s amazing. What are your majors underneath music? Are you all majoring in performance or something different?

    Ryan McKeown: Eric and I are sound recording technology majors. Blake and Sean are both majoring in music industry. 

    BS: Wonderful. Both great areas take up as a music major. Being students, do you find it hard to balance school work, shows, and band practices? 

    Eric Thompson: Time management is always tight, but we try our hardest to make it work and practice as much as we possibly can, even if we have to get together at night after classes. I think what helps us the most is that we became friends before the band formed. We met in class our first semester, and after that things came together. I think it’s important to have a personal connection with people you’re spending so much time with. There has to be a balance. Like, we’ll have practices where we need to buckle down and focus and then practices where we’re just hanging out while we play. Having fun with it. 

    BS: I think that’s important, too. A balance between work and play, if you will. You can’t have one without the other. Now, getting more into the music. Are there any venues or local cafés that your band frequents? 

    ET: Yes. We played our first gig as a band at Funk n’ Waffles. It was a good atmosphere. Super rough performance, but we made the most of it. We were opening for a friend and I went out on stage and I had to improvise for a long time. I just remember looking backstage and the guys couldn’t come out because this dude was telling us to move our car in this alleyway. It was definitely a gig the band won’t ever forget, but it was a good time in spite of everything.

    BS: Wow, that’s rough. I’m glad it worked out in the end, though. Do you guys have a permanent vehicle? 

    SF: No. We’re trying our hardest to save for a van. We’re lucky that we have loved ones in our lives that care for us, but there have been times where we’ve had to load equipment into taxis. I even remember a number of times where we’ve had to walk with heavy amplifiers and drum sets to shows because we didn’t have the transportation available that we need. 

    BS: Now, that is some serious dedication to your music. I’ve never heard anything like that. Keep up with that ambition and it will take you extremely far. 

    BT: Thank you so much. 

    BS: Of course. So, your EP Sundance came out this February. What inspired your EP, if anything? 

    ET: Well, the opportunity came along because our group won a Battle of the Bands competition at our university. The prize was 6 hours of recording time for free. We couldn’t afford any extra time in the studio, so we buckled down and actually got the entire EP recorded within that 6 hour time frame. We didn’t have any time for many editing technicalities, either, so we ran the songs and the recording quality came out sounding very homemade. It’s extremely similar to what you’ll get from a live performance of ours. Also, where we go to school, it’s incredibly cold. I remember once we played a house show in an attic, and it was so cold that you could see your breath throughout the entire performance. It was memorable, though, not just because of the cold, but because of the atmosphere. I think that’s what is most important to our band and the main idea of this EP, as well. We like making light of things and remembering the sunshine when times are hard. We want everyone to find a place in our music and to find the sun beyond the clouds. That was the main inspiration behind it. 

    BS: That’s an incredible message to express to your listeners. Also, incredible time management skills. Getting an EP done in 6 hours is impressive. You’re an ambitious group of guys. You mentioned wanting everyone to find a place in your music. Is there a specific musical influence driving your band? 

    RM: I think we all have personal influences musically, but that’s what makes it work. Each of us brings our own individual style to the group. 

    SF: Right. We also try to make music that is accessible for everyone, whether you like jazz or rock or funk. We want to make stuff that real musicians can appreciate and we try to be versatile. We’ll cover any song. We want to have a place for everything and everyone inside of our music. 

    BS: I like the inclusive mindset. Being versatile is a smart move. Can your listeners expect an album on the horizon anytime soon? 

    ET: Our listeners can expect new songs. We plan on writing and touring lots over the summer. Our goal is to be touring all around the country. An album is definitely in our thoughts, but its a long-term goal. 

    FLOTUS is a great live group with terrific energy onstage and a terrific stage presence, as well. Linked below is a video of FLOTUS where you can find the group performing, as well as talking new music with CitrusTV. FLOTUS has plans of touring throughout the summer, and they are a great new group to give some attention in the coming months.

  • Chiggin is Starting to Sizzle

    Chiggin, a funk band hailing from Syracuse, has started booking tour stops through Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica and NYC off of the buzz surrounding their recently released EP, “Original Recipe.”

    Max Rips frontman of Chiggin. Photo courtesy of Chiggin’s website.

    “Original Recipe” is a four-song EP containing the songs, “Funky Elbeaux,” “Stevie Wonder’s Morning Breath,” “Eggistential Barnyard,” and “Waiting for Marmalade (Between the Busses)” which keep to the bands funky nature known and loved by Syracuse locals at venues, like Funk ‘n Waffles, where they have become a fan favorite.

    The video for their debut single, “Stevie Wonder’s Morning Breath” (which was shot and directed by Kevin Brite) was released April 6th via YouTube. The video has a classic music video format jumping between a recording studio and a live performance, which accompanies the upbeat funk sound Chiggin’s carries, perfectly.

    Chiggin formed in July of 2016 in Syracuse and quickly built a name for themselves because of “their fun stage show and their untamed musicality,” according to their website. The band consists of Max Puglisi, Sam Roux, Gavin George, Nick Fields, Ethan Wojcik, Brian Caswell, and Jacob Penner and is currently pushing their plan forwards for an east coast tour in 2018 starting with some shows in Syracuse, NY.

    Upcoming shows:

    May 31 – Al’s Wine & Whiskey – Syracuse, NY
    Chiggin w/ Tiger Chung Lee (Buffalo) – 9:30pm, Free

    June 9 – Funk n’ Waffles – Syracuse, NY
    Ghost-Note (Members of Snarky Puppy) w/s/g Chiggin – 9:30, $10 Adv/$15 DOS

    For more information visit their website.

  • The Record Company Carries the Rock and Roll Torch Into the Westcott

    “I don’t make enough to hire someone to tune my guitar, so bear with me,” said the Record Company’s guitarist/vocalis Chris Vos as he tuned his acoustic guitar between songs. It’s only a matter of time before Vos will be able to afford his own guitar tech. If Saturday night’s show at Syracuse’s venerable Westcott Theater is any indication, this band won’t be lugging around their own gear much longer.

    The Record Company, a Los Angeles-based blues rock trio, returned to Syracuse’s Westcott Theater almost exactly one year since their last visit, playing to a larger, more enthusiastic crowd and paying that multi-generational crowd back in spades with a spectacular performance.

    The band kicked off the show with Elmira native Marc Cazorla’s swinging drumbeat on the latest single from the upcoming album, All of This Life, “I’m Getting Better (And I’m Feeling It Right Now).” Vos’ harmonica quickly turned this swing number into a bluesy stomp, his voice eerily reminiscent of an exuberant Mark Sandman, the late Morphine front man. The late arriving crowd was into the groove immediately and Vos fed off this vibe the entire night. It would be accurate to call this band a power trio; the power coming from the stage was electric all night.

    Their music is derived from the blues and one can hear similarities to other minimalist blues-based outfits from the 2000s like The Black Keys and White Stripes. The difference is The Record Company also pivots between a soulful, gospel style and, with its latest offerings, some pop sensibilities and bass. Alex Stiff is a monster on the bass. The influences on this band range from Al Green to Led Zeppelin to The Grateful Dead to John Lee Hooker to the Beastie Boys and everything in between.

    Their second number, “Baby I’m Broken,” had Vos break into Chuck Berry’s patented duck walk across the stage as he threw down a blistering solo. Bassist Alex Stiff featured prominently throughout the night, but especially in “On the Move,” from the band’s Grammy-nominated debut album Give it Back to You. His bass lines served as both a lead and keeper of the groove simultaneously.

    The woeful hit “Rita Mae Young” showcased Vos’ lap steel prowess and soulful vocals, something he takes great pride in and with good reason – he shreds. He was assisted on the chorus by those in attendance, inducing a chuckle and an admission that he had forgotten to sing because he was distracted by the audience’s vocals.

    Over the course of the near-90 minute performance, the band’s appreciation for their audience increased exponentially. The feeling was obviously mutual. Prior to busting into the new song “Life to Fix,” Vos commented, “There’s been rumors going around that rock and roll is dead. I say, ‘Fuck that!’ Come see a rock and roll show before you say that.” This was met with uproarious applause and the opening riffs to the new single.

    Usually, when a band breaks out a new song during a show, especially one on an album that has yet to be released, you can count on a number of people to take that opportunity to refresh their beer or visit the rest room. Not so on this night, and it did not go unnoticed by Vos. This show opened with a new song and had several others sprinkled throughout. Vos thanked the crowd following “You and Me Now,” saying, “Thanks for listening to the new stuff. We don’t practice it because it might take some of the edge off.”

    The main set finished with the appropriately titled “The Burner,” which did exactly that. Vos threw his acoustic guitar across his lap and ripped into the slide intro and that Vos falsetto. The lap steel is his go-to and he made his guitar absolutely wail during this version of “The Burner.” The crowd clapped along to the call and response from the lead man while Stiff kept the beat. Vos dropped a Stones’ reference before manically kicking up dust onstage to finish off the sweaty set.

    Vos came out solo for the first of two encore songs, performing a heartfelt acoustic song titled “I’m Changing.” His bandmates were visible backstage singing along with his introspective lyrics: “I got devils in my eyes, tapping in my night…” Much of The Record Company’s songs have soul-searching lyrics. This one foots the bill perfectly. But while they tend to reach into their hearts and souls in their original compositions, they aren’t above just having a helluva party. Exhibit A: The final song of the night, a bluesy take on the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage.” Last year’s Westcott performance featured another Beasties’ cover “So Whatcha Want.” The Record Company ended the night on a satisfying note with the crowd pogoing and shouting along with Stiff’s distorted bass lines and beat box drumming from Cazorla on this mid-90s Beasties punk classic.

    Opening act, Tthe Suitcase Junket, otherwise known as Matt Lorenz, is a one-man band, employing a unique style of guitar where he employs a dumpster-found, amplified, acoustic guitar with flailing strings, along with an array of original percussion instruments and a unique throat vocal that somehow sounds like a tin whistle.

    The lack of accompanying musicians is virtually unnoticed with Lorenz’s act. He sounds like a full band, incorporating such unorthodox instruments as a gas can baby shoe foot drum, a circular saw blade bell and a box of bones and silverware that serves as a high hat. He’ll, at times, sing into his guitar’s pickups, creating a distorted vocal effect, followed immediately by his throat vocal, all while throwing down some heavy power chords.

    This one-man band is also a one-man Vaudeville show. In between songs, he took jabs at himself and his instrumentation, introducing his “band,” discussing what each “member” of his “band” contributed to the sound of the Suitcase Junket. His self-deprecation banter between songs endeared him to the audience right away, a rarity for an opening act. Record Company lead man Chris Vos, while thanking the Junket for performing, mentioned that Lorenz is the artist who has opened for The Record Company the most times. The Suitcase Junket was the perfect opener for the Record Company – an artist true to the art form and original.

    Syracuse has always been championed as a blues town. The support shown to The Record Company on this night is a testament to this. At one point in the show, Vos asked the crowd who had never seen them perform before and who had seen them perform. The number of people who had seen them far outnumbered those who hadn’t, at least according to this unscientific survey. Syracuse IS a blues town. And now, Syracuse is also a Record Company town.

    The Record Company Setlist:

    I’m Getting Better (And I’m Feeling it Right Now), Baby I’m Broken, Everybody’s Gonna Make a Movie, Rita Mae Young, Feels So Good, Turn Me Loose, On the Move, Life to Fix, This Crooked City, Off the Ground, You and Me Now, The Burner. E: I’m Changing (Vos solo), Sabotage (Beastie Boys cover)

  • Blues Music Awards Honor Chenango Blues Festival Performers

    The Blues Foundation held its 39th Blues Music Awards on Thursday, May 10, in Memphis, Tennessee. Several award winners have appeared recently in Central New York, most notably at the Chenango Blues Festival. Victor Wainwright took home the prestigious Pinetop Perkins Best Instrumentalist – Piano Award, and Jason Ricci was named Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica. Both Wainwright and Ricci delivered jaw-dropping, show-stopping performances at the 2017 Chenango Blues Festival, reviewed by NYS Music’s Mike Kohli here.

    Jason Ricci

    Other winners that have appeared at Chenango through the years include Curtis Salgado, Soul Blues Male Artist; Southern Avenue, Best Emerging Artist Album; Ronnie Earl, Best Instrumentalist – Guitar; Samantha Fish, Contemporary Blues Female Artist; Mike Ledbetter, who won with Mike Welch for Traditional Blues Album for Right Place, Right Time on Delta Groove Records; Mike Zito, Rock Blues Artist; Rick Estrin, who won Band of the Year, Traditional Blues Male Artist, and Song of the Year, for “The Blues Ain’t Going Nowhere;” and the late, great Luther Allison, Best Historical Album for Luther Allison – A Legend Never Dies, Essential Recordings 1976-1997 (Ruf Records).

    Other BMA nominees that have appeared at Chenango include Paul deLay, Guy Davis, Shemekia Copeland, Janiva Magness, Mitch Woods, Chris Cain, John Nemeth, Upstate New York’s own Tas Cru,  (whose latest release, Memphis Song, was recorded at SubCat Studios in Syracuse), Anson Funderburgh, Savoy Brown, Vanessa Collier, Sugaray Rayford, Anthony Geraci, and the North Mississippi All Stars. 2018 Festival performers Toronzo Cannon, The Cash Box Kings, and Elvin Bishop were also nominated.

    Emerging Artist nominees Larkin Poe, quickly gaining followers and national attention, will headline opening night of the NYS Blues Festival in Syracuse on June 28.

    Some of this year’s Blues Music Award winners can be seen throughout New York State this summer. Here is a partial list:

    Mike Zito is at The Tralf in Buffalo on May 17.

    Keb Mo plays at the Tarrytown Theater on May 25.

    Jason Ricci can be seen in Ellicottville on June 2, and in Lima, NY on June 3.

    Samantha Fish can be seen June 2 in Rochester at Flour City Station, June 7 at Daryl’s House in Pawling (already sold out), June 12 at Funk ‘n Waffles, Syracuse, and will return to Chenango on August 18. A NYS Music review of her appearance at the Westcott Theater on February 9, 2018, can be viewed here.

    Robert Cray stops in Vestal on June 13, and in Geneva on June 15.

    Victor Wainwright will perform at Funk ‘n Waffles Syracuse with an early 6:00 p.m. show on July 6.

    Beth Hart is on the bill with Kenny Wayne Shepherd at Albany’s Palace Theater, July 27.

    Trombone Shorty visits Bethel, NY on August 11, and Lewiston, NY on August 14.

    Rick Estrin & the Nightcats are scheduled to appear at Wakely’s on Varick, in Utica, NY on August 11.

  • Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Played Host to a Marathon Party at Syracuse’s Landmark Theatre

    It was a busy Thursday night in Armory Square in Syracuse. The bars and restaurants were filled with revelers, with the overabundant party spilling out into the streets. Did their beloved Orange just win a big game? Not quite. Today’s premiere Grateful Dead cover band, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD), was making it’s upstate New York debut at the nearby Landmark Theatre. As the clock struck 8, the streets, bars and restaurants all quickly emptied and quiet returned. For a few hours at least. The party continued, and ramped up into full swing, inside the confines of the historic theater.

    For many it was their first taste of this revelatory refreshing of the catalog left by one of the all-time great American rock bands. Though many others had caught them elsewhere, as this is a band worth traveling for, cover band or no.

    As is usually the case, the band, Joe Russo on drums, Marco Benevento on keys, and for this night on the theater’s baby grand, Tom Hamilton and Scott Metzger on guitars, and Dave Dreiwitz on bass, began the night with a warmup jam. It started quietly, loosely based around Tom Petty’s “Breakdown”, before slowly building in volume and complexity and exploding into “Mississippi Half-Step.” A couple lengthy jams eventually dissolved into a groovy space reminiscent of Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter” which wound wonderfully into “Estimated Prophet.”

    The Dead’s catalog served as a template, a coloring book for the band to fill in with their own color. But, in the true spirit of the music, they had a liberal and creative way with the colors and styles with which they fill the spaces, frequently and almost by rule coloring outside of the lines. Common traditions are bucked, new ones written. The songs sound like the ones you know and love, but the band quickly jumps ship and bring it to a nebulous no man’s land.

    “Estimated” broke into a weird and wild freeform space where disparate pieces of “China Cat Sunflower” emerged. Like a puzzle, the different pieces fit together and like that the crowd found itself shaking to a new groove. The band could break the songs down into parts, shake them up, all the while mixing in new on-the-spot improvisations along with parts from other songs. Bits and pieces of other songs, some Dead many otherwise, were thrown into the mixer and given a few more good shakes. It made for a dizzying and disorienting musical experience that left listeners blissfully lost in the haze. Depending on how keen one’s ears were they may have heard Herbie Hancock’s “Fat Mama,” “Farmer in the Dell,” Radiohead’s “Airbag,” Harry Belafonte’s “Banana Boat Song,” the Drifters’ “On Broadway” along with the Dead’s “Iko Iko,” “St. Stephen,” “Let It Grow,” and many others jumbled into the pot at various points in the evening.

    The traditional “China > Rider” combination was expectedly untraditional as they stuffed it with “Good Lovin’” and “Cats Under the Stars.” As “I Know You Rider” came to a finish, the band had been playing for 90 minutes straight with nary a second of silence. The first set was all but assumed to be over. Though, Russo, after introducing the band, indicated that because of a strict 11pm curfew they were also going to buck the traditional set break. Benevento jokingly laid atop the piano, almost posing for a painting, though it was the band who needed to get back to their painting. Russo announced “Set Two,” and the band immediately kicked off “Row Jimmy.”

    Without the break available to reorient themselves, the crowd dizzily jumped back into the mix while the band continued their long explorations for another non-stop hour. By the time it was all through, “Saint of Circumstance” was taken the distance and the usual “Scarlet > Fire” was once again untraditionally broken up with Bob Dylan’s “Sylvio.” The band wasn’t above the traditional encore, and a relatively quick “Promised Land” ended the indoor party at the Landmark, 3 hours and thirteen songs later. The quiet streets outside were once again bustling with the giddy energy of the crowd, and so the party continued…

    Setlist:
    Jam> Mississippi Halfstep> Estimated Prophet> China Cat Sunflower> Good Lovin> Cats Under The Stars> I Know You Rider, Row Jimmy> Lost Sailor> Saint Of Circumstance> Scarlet Begonias> Silvio> Fire On The Mountain

    E: Promised Land

  • Hearing Aide: Townhouse Warrior ‘Words, Unsaid,’

    Reigning from Upstate New York, the group Townhouse Warrior are set to release their third full-length album on March 20. This four-man punk rock band released their debut album just three years back and followed it up with their sophomore album in 2016. The group is back with their newest project and is ready to share it with the world. The latest addition to their group is guitarist Tim Hall who joins original members Zack Fitzgerald on lead vocals/guitar, Kyle Malfa on drums and Joshua Rivet on bass to take their high-energy sound even further.

    Words, Unsaid, features twelve songs; each one is a powerhouse track in its own right. Every song brings a level of upbeat intensity starting with track one, “Echoes.” The opening to track three, “So Left, It’s Right,” slightly differs from the others as the guitar and drums are panned left and right respectively. This adds more layers to the song and encourages a head-bobbing reaction to its rhythm right off the bat.

    I am personally a big fan of the album title namedrop in the song “Fake Confrontations.” The lyrics tell the story behind the title Words, Unsaid, giving this title a deeper meaning. Other noteworthy tracks on this album include “Toll Taker,” as it begins with an almost soothing electric guitar solo before introducing the sound from rest of the band. Likewise, “Daydreaming” is an inherently dynamic song as takes its listeners on a journey through soft and high-energy segments.

    In my opinion, Townhouse Warrior is the perfect fit for the DIY music scene. Their fast-paced musical style has the power to electrify an audience and I would personally love to catch them performing in a basement venue.

    Key Tracks: Echoes, Far Away, Daydreaming

  • Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare to Host First Rock for Recovery Benefit

    The Black River will headline a March 9 benefit for Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare at the Palace Theater on James Street. The event features a who’s who of the burgeoning Syracuse music scene while raising funds for SBH programming for substance abuse recovery and mental health care.

    The unique showcase will feature performances from some of the best talent in the Syracuse rock scene. In addition to the Black River, performers include Atkins Riot, Late Earth, Molina and Climbing Stars. The show will be also have an infusion of stories of recovery from the effects of substance abuse, mental illness and other health issues. On-air personality, Scott Dixon (DXN) of 95X will be the event’s emcee.

    The March 9 show begins at 7 p.m. Advanced sale tickets can be purchased for $10 through the SBH website. Tickets at the door will cost $15. All proceeds from the event will go towards promoting SBH programming for recovery from the effects of substance use and mental health disorders through healthcare programs at every stage of the recovery process.

    The Black River, one of the hottest bands in the Syracuse scene, recently released its debut album Classic Universe and is currently playing shows throughout Upstate. Their album is available on all streaming services. A live video of the Black River’s “Roomful of Flies” can be seen below.

    Alt-rockers Atkins Riot features veteran members of the Syracuse music scene. Their riff-heavy eponymous debut is picking up steam around the Syracuse scene and can be purchased at their shows. You can check out a couple of their songs via SoundCloud below.

    https://soundcloud.com/user-257333986/too-much-whisky

    Late Earth has been nominated for a Syracuse Area Music Award for their album The Prevail. This young band’s album is an original sounding, genre-spanning work with influences ranging from ’90s alt-rock to blues to ska to reggae. Check out some tracks and purchase the SAMMY nominated album through their BandCamp page.

    Binghamton-area alt-rockers, Molina released their debut EP, Swing Devotion in 2015. Their single for “Wasted Years” boasts a heavy influence from The National and Interpol. Take a listen in their official video below.

    Climbing Stars recently recorded a “Live @ SubCat” session for 105.9 The Rebel’s weekly show, “Soundcheck.” The band’s bio states that they “pick up where grunge left off.” They are currently in the studio recording their debut album. In the meantime, you can hear the single “Angel From Afar” on their BandCamp page.

    Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare (SBH) promotes recovery from the effects of substance use and mental health disorders through healthcare programs at every stage of the recovery process through inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation as well as residential rehabilitation. In the past year, SBH programs have helped 6871 people in the Central New York area. For more information on Rock for Recovery and the services SBH provides, visit their website here.

  • Latest Live Phish Release Features 1998 Vernon Downs Show

    The latest addition to the Live Phish series is Phish’s show from Central New York’s harness racing mecca, Vernon Downs, on Aug. 12, 1998.

    The only show Phish has ever performed at this venue worked perfectly into Phish’s wordplay throughout the night. The “Makisupa Policeman” lyric, “Woke up this morning, burning down,” was met with rapturous applause due to its resemblance to the venue’s name. Later in the show, the band performed a cover of the Talking Heads classic “Burning Down the House,” which took on a new persona as Trey Anastasio sang, “Vernon Down the house,” much to the delight of those in attendance.

    The show was also somewhat of a hometown show for drummer Jon Fishman, a graduate of nearby Jamesville-DeWitt High School. Anastasio refers to him as “Bob Weaver” during the show. He also continuously busted Fishman’s chops throughout the show, referring to his old high school band, Frodo, on several occasions.

    As far as Phish shows go, this one has to be one that would convert many first-timers. Covers of ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Talking Heads and the Rolling Stones, along with several popular Phish standards, definitely converted many in attendance for the first time.

    Set One: La Grange, Makisupa Policeman, Funky Bitch, Possum, Roggae, Character Zero, Ramble On, Slave to the Traffic Light

    Set Two: Mike’s Song> Simple> Rift, Loving Cup, Sleeping Monkey > Weekapaug Groove, The Squirming Coil

    Encore: Burning Down the House, You Enjoy Myself

  • Samantha Fish Throws Curveballs to Westcott Audience

    In baseball, one of the most effective tools in a pitcher’s arsenal is to throw a pitch the batter isn’t expecting. Kansas City resident and unabashed Royals baseball fan Samantha Fish was equally effective in keeping a Syracuse audience guessing what was coming next by throwing a variety of aural curveballs at them during her performance on February 9 at the Westcott Theater.

    samantha fishA blustery winter evening saw over two hundred music fans turn out at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse, New York for a double bill of Judge Gazza and headliner Samantha Fish. Both of these artists held surprises for anyone expecting straight ahead blues music. Gazza is a ubiquitous presence at Central New York live music events, supporting his fellow artists and promoting future shows. A burly, barrel-chested man with some prominent chin whiskers, he opened the show accompanied by Joel Reissig on drums. Gazza played slide and finger-picking style on a colorful folk art style cigar box guitar decorated with his name on the fretboard. His vocals were a gruff, gravel-throated sound that took some getting used to, but fit well with a number of the more aggressive tunes in a spectrum that drew from from Mississippi hill country blues to punk rock. Overall, his set was reminiscent of everything from Social Distortion and the White Stripes to Sleepy John Estes and R. L. Burnside, whose “Poor Black Mattie” was covered by Gazza.

    samantha fish

    Samantha Fish has built a reputation as a popular festival act touring for nearly a decade as a blues trio, with a large slice of cigar-box slide guitar playing of her own. Her latest album and her latest touring band are a decided sonic shift from many of her previous recordings and performances, more roots rock than blues. That may have been unexpected for some attendees anticipating only her older repertoire. Fortunately, Fish’s guitar skills, vocals, and the dense layers of sound that her five piece backing band added were enthusiastically received by the vast majority. Her songs had elements of soul, gospel, country, and Americana, and she was sure to show off her guitar chops on the more blues-tinged numbers, as well as on a roaring cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Heartbreaker.” The variety of styles and sounds kept Fish’s guitar tech busy, frequently changing between an offset Telecaster, Fender Jaguar, Gibson SG, Taylor acoustic, and a gorgeous custom Delaney guitar, before making her way to a cigar box guitar for a second encore.

    Among the highlights were the beautiful, plaintive “Need You More,” and the infectious “Somebody’s Always Trying,” accented by the punch of Alex Massa on trumpet, Chris Spies on saxophone and the driving beat of Scott Graves on drums that had dozens of folks up and dancing. Rounding out the band were Chris Alexander on bass guitar and Phil Breen on keyboards.

    Fish’s set consisted primarily of songs from her two most recent recordings, Chills and Fever, and her latest, Belle of the West, both on Ruf Records. Each of these 2017 releases have received prominent critical acclaim. The former was named in NY Times music critic Jon Caramanica’s Best of 2017 list. Regarding the latter, Rolling Stone, despite calling Fish a country artist, said, “it sounds like the intersection of coffee-shop folk and juke-joint blues, performed in a sophisticated jazz club.” A broad but apt description, as Fish would likely appeal to fans of artists as diverse as the retro sounds of Duffy or Amy Winehouse, the alt-country of Maria McKee and Lone Justice, to the blues and soul of the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Perhaps most remarkably, Fish now has five studio albums to her name, thousands of performances, international acclaim, and is not yet thirty years old. The future is bright for the Kansas City-based artist, and you should be part of it the next time she’s playing nearby.

    Judge Gazza Setlist: Nobody’s Fault But Mine, Going to Brownsville, Jelly Roll, Black Mattie, Bunny Foo Foo, Up Da Punx, Amen, Black Betty, Rollin’ & Tumblin’, Dirty Get Down, You Gotta Move> Nobody’s Fault But Mine

    Samantha Fish Setlist: Hello Stranger, American Dream, Blood in the Water, You Can’t Go, Chills and Fever, Little Baby, Don’t Say You Love Me, Need You More, No Angels, Somebody’s Always Trying, Belle of the West, Gone for Good, Nearer to You, Cowtown, Daughters> Heartbreaker

    Encore: Go Home, Unidentified (cigar box guitar)

  • SAMMYS 25th Anniversary Inductees and Nominees Announced

    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

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