It was a scorching hot evening to rock and roll as the 2018 Alive at Five Concert Series kicked off a great evening of music inside Jennings Landing on June 7 in Albany. Headlining the event was none other than 1970’s American hard rock band, Great White. The band, featuring members, Mark Kendall (lead guitar/vocals), Audie Desbrow (drums), Michael Lardie (lead guitar/keyboard), Scott Snyder (bass), and Terry Ilous (vocals) are still keeping rock alive on the Alive at Five stage in support of their brand new album, “Full Circle.”
Many Great White fans, even a girl waving around a vinyl record of the group from their earlier days, were in full attendance dancing and singing along to many of the band’s current singles from “Full Circle” as well as their greatest hits including “Save Your Love,” “Rock Me,” “Once Bitten Twice Shy,” among other tunes that the band had sung to their fans. Ilous, animated within his stage presence throughout the evening, even dedicated “Save Your Love” to a married couple that was celebrating over thirty five years of marriage that were watching the band perform from the front row.
For my first time watching Great White perform, I was certainly rocking out to their tunes throughout their set, even though I wasn’t too familiar with their material, only having heard “Rock Me” and “Once Bitten Twice Shy” on the radio. Still, the band had put on a great performance to kick off Alive at Five and will be continuing to still keep rock alive after all these years of performing in front of audiences around the United States and beyond.
Four additional artists have been added to Night Lights Festival’s 2018 lineup including the Syracuse-based band Sophistafunk and a supergroup featuring members of moe., Dopapod, Aqueous and Mungion in a tribute to Pink Floyd.
Sophistafunk courtesy of their website.
Sophistafunk is known not only for it’s 90’s hip hop vibes but for it’s fusion of funk and jam. After the success of their recent single “No More War” on the national circuit their 2018 got a lot busier with additions to their tour including the Night Lights Festival.
Night Lights Festival takes place August 23-25 at Heron grounds in Sherman, NY. This is the festival’s eighth year and will spread over three nights and three stages. This year the festival is trying to diversify it’s lineup and will be featuring a variety of artists spanning over genres. In addition to the music, activities will include yoga, hiking, mushroom walks, and light installations. There will also be food, craft beer, craft artisans and a variety of vendors available on site.
Tickets are $125 in advance. Camping and a Thursday pre-party are included in all weekend passes. Friday and Saturday single day passes are also available. Parking is not included. Gates open at 12 p.m. on Thursday. The lineup for Night Light Festival is listed below.
Complete Lineup:
Lotus, The Motet, Aqueous X 2, FEARLESS – PINK FLOYD TRIBUTE will feature. Chuck Garvey (moe), Mike Gantzer & Evan McPhaden (Aqueous), Eli Winderman (Dopapod) and Matt Kellen (Mungion), Octave Cat ft. Jesse Miller (Lotus), Eli Winderman (Dopapod), Charlie Patierno Anomalie, Tropidelic, Bumpin Uglies, Sophistafunk (tribute to 90’s Hip Hop), lespecial, Pappy (of Cabinet), Wild Adriatic (Led Zeppelin Tribute), Upstate Rubdown, Boss Tweed and the Carpetbaggers, Gatos Blancos, Funktional Flow, Danielle Ponder & the Tomorrow People, Dynohunter x 2, Root Shock, Space Junk x 2 (Disco Biscuits Tribute), Holy Hand Grenade, Lazlo Hollyfeld, Intrepid Travelers, Folkfaces, Soul Roach, Buffalo Brass Machine, Cold Lazarus, Psychedelic Jukebox, Cypher, Kaleidoscope Sky, The Good Neighbors, Able Footing, Neon Veins
For more information on Night Lights Music Festival visit their website.
For more information on Sophistafunk visit their website.
Saratoga Performing Arts Center hosted Dead & Company with John Mayer on Monday, June 11, bringing in over 17,000 head nodding, barefoot dancing, arms-in-the-air, grooving fans to SPAC.
True confession: this was my first experience with a Dead & Company show. And I wasn’t sure what all the fuss would be about. I’d listened to the Dead plenty of times, and while I liked the music, it wasn’t life altering to listen to alone in my room or the car.
The experience of the jam music, however, surrounded by thousands of joyful, if not chemically altered, adults was entirely different than anything listening to tapes could prepare you for. The band opened up with “Jack Straw,” a well-loved favorite. The band felt slower than usual, and like they were struggling to get their feet under them. But the audience didn’t mind, grooving along and smiling. There was a long guitar introduction and what felt a bit like an extended warm-up; fans were tolerant and were overjoyed by the band’s very presence.
John Mayer improved the energy, taking the lead on “Easy Wind” and then “Friend of the Devil.” There was an ease to Mayer’s voice and playing that fit the folk feeling perfectly. John Mayer’s ease stepping in Jerry Garcia’s role enhanced the music with a fresh voice and picking soul, refreshing old folk music with a new vibe.
And the music didn’t stop, it simply picked up the pace in the second set. Varying from jam music to bluegrass to soul, the band played for 90 minutes for their first set, with only a short intermission before returning with a roaring cover of “The Weight.” They played furiously to the end of the set, hitting on old favorites like “Uncle John’s Band” and closing with “Touch of Grey.”
While there were some shockers for this writer, including how absolutely stereotypical the drug use and over drinking was among the crowd, the true surprise of the evening was how intensely relaxing and fun the music could be when played live. The mellow groove that shifted into familiar songs as the night wore on made for a really fun community experience with music. Parents with young children, adults who were old enough to know better (but still drank too much), and young people alike danced together, sang together and remembered their common humanity together.
It is worth a visit to a live Dead & Company concert, if only for the social experiences and energy from the band that changes the sound from what you might hear on the radio to a magical community experience.
Setlist: Dead & Company | Saratoga Performing Arts Center | Saratoga Springs, New York | 6/11/18
I: Jack Straw, Easy Wind > Friend of the Devil, Minglewood Blues, Ship of Fools, Corrina, Cassidy
II: The Weight, Other One Jam > Truckin’ > He’s Gone > New Speedway Boogie > Uncle John’s Band > Supplication Jam > Drums/Space > Uncle John’s Band, Black Peter > Good Lovin’
Ommegang knows how to host a party. At what has become one of the hottest concert venues in Central New York, the Cooperstown brewery’s second show of the summer brought the co-headlining show of The Head and the Heart and Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats.
Acoustic singer-songwriter Brent Cowles opened the show, winning over the crowd early in his set. He was followed by the first of the co-headlining bands, The Head and the Heart. It’s safe to say that there were just as many in the crowd there to see the indie folksters as were there to see Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. Many up front were decked in Head and the Heart gear and singing along with the majority of the songs during the band’s hour plus long set, especially the set closer, “Rivers & Roads.”
Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats came out to a packed house, opening with “Shoe Boot,” a slow burner that brings to mind The Band’s “Don’t Do It.” The Night Sweats horn section was on point all night, especially during a raucous rendition of the band’s hit, “I Need Never Get Old.”
Rateliff is a front man with aplomb. His gruff soulful voice and talent to shimmy demand the audience’s attention despite the fact that the rest of the Night Sweats are world class entertainers themselves.
The night ended with all of the evening’s musicians joining together on stage for a rousing performance of Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City.” The energy on stage carried over into the crowd during the finale as the traditional fireworks show led the nearly sold-out crowd into the Otsego County night.
The Head and the Heart Setlist: Sounds Like Hallelujah, Rhythm and Blues, Ghosts, City of Angels, Another Story, Let’s Be Still, Lost in My Mind, Heaven Go Easy on Me, Shake, Down in the Valley, Backwards Poker, Living Mirage, All We Ever Knew, Rivers and Roads
Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats Setlist: Shoe Boot, Be There, Look It Here, A Little Honey, Coolin’ Out, Out on the Weekend, You Worry Me
Wasting Time, You Should’ve Seen the Other Guy, Babe I Know, Intro -> I Need Never Get Old, Hey Mama, S.O.B., Trying So Hard Not to Know
One of New York’s most important indie rock bands, Interpol, is returning to the stage in support of its upcoming album Marauder, which is set to drop on Aug. 24.
Interpol, well known for songs such as “PDA,” “Obstacle 1,” and “Evil,” performed their latest single “The Rover” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last week.
This will be the sixth studio album from the band since receiving critical success for its debut album Turn on the Bright Lights back in 2002.
The band has announced a world tour with US dates beginning on Sept. 11 in Boston and will finish at home in New York City on Feb. 16 at Madison Square Garden. They will be joined by fellow Matador recording artists Car Seat Headrest and Snail Mail.
Interpol will be having another show in New York on Aug. 24 at Brooklyn’s House of Vans. That will be a free show for fans who will be able RSVP in time.
Tickets for Interpol’s tour will be on sale Thursday, June 14 at 10 a.m.
Interpol Tour Dates:
June 25 – Arena Wien Open Air – Wien, Austria – w/ Paramount Styles
June 26 – Sexto Nplugged – Sesta Al Reghena, Italy – w/ Covent Garden
June 27 – INmusic Festival – Zagreb, Croatia
July 1 – TRNSMT Festival Glasgow, UK
July 5 – Roskilde Festival – Roskilde, Denmark
July 7 – Hyde Park London, UK – w/ The Cure
Aug. 23 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA – w/ Honduras Aug. 24 – House of Vans – Brooklyn, NY
Sept. 11 – Orpheum Theatre – Boston, MA – w/ Sunflower Bean
Sept. 12 – Olympia Theatre – Montreal, QC – w/ Sunflower Bean
Sept. 13 – Rebel – Toronto, ON – w/ Sunflower Bean
Sept. 14-16 – Riot Fest – Chicago, IL
Sept. 16 – Royal Oak Theatre – Detroit, MI – w/ Sunflower Bean
Sept. 17 – Express Live! Indoor Stage – Columbus, OH – w/ Sunflower Bean
Sept. 27 – Bomb Factory – Dallas, TX – w/ Sunflower Bean
Sept. 28 – Bass Concert Hall – Austin, TX – w/ Sunflower Bean
Sept. 29 – White Oak Music Hall Lawn – Houston, TX – w/ Sunflower Bean
Oct. 1 – The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ – w/ Sunflower Bean
Oct. 4 – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA – w/ The Kills, Sunflower Bean
Oct. 5 – SDSU Open Air Theater – San Diego, CA – w/ The Kills, Sunflower Bean
Oct. 6 – Greek Theatre – Berkeley, CA – w/ The Kills, Sunflower Bean
Nov. 6 – Akasaka Blitz – Tokyo, Japan
Nov. 14 – Royal Albert Hall – London, UK – w/ Nilüfer Yanya
Nov. 16 – O2 Apollo – Manchester, UK – w/ Nilüfer Yanya
Nov. 18 – Olympia Theatre – Dublin, Ireland – w/ Nilüfer Yanya
Nov. 23 – Mehr! Theater – Hamburg, Germany – w/ Nilüfer Yanya
Nov. 24 – TAP1 – Copenhagen, Denmark – w/ Nilüfer Yanya
Nov. 25 – Tempodrom – Berlin, Germany – w/ Nilüfer Yanya
Nov. 27 – Tivoli Vredenburg – Utrecht, Netherlands – w/ Nilüfer Yanya
Nov. 28 – Forest National – Brussels, Belgium – w/ Nilüfer Yanya
Nov. 29 – La Salle Pleyel – Paris, France – w/ Nilüfer Yanya Feb. 16 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY – w/ Car Seat Headrest, Snail Mail
During the seemingly unending winter, Rochesterians yearn for a glimpse of the warming sun. As soon as the summer hits however, a large number of them start ducking in and out of dark halls, churches theaters and clubs, now yearning for a glimpse of some of the greatest musical talent the world over. From June 22 through 30, 2018 Rochester Jazz Fest will once again become one of the hottest destinations for live jazz, and music in general. The 17th edition of the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Fest is bringing 1500 artists from 20 countries to play over 300 shows in 20 different venues. 214 club pass shows, 97 free shows and 5 headliner shows all happening over a 9-day stretch inside 1 square mile. That’s a lot of numbers to crunch, and you just want to see some music. Thankfully we’re here to do the math, calculating the perfect slate for any music lover. Whatever you’re pleasure, there’s a number that fits. Check out our picks below, and don’t forget to also read our tips for the best way to enjoy your time at the fest.
1 Voice
These are the singers we’ll have our eyes on:
https://youtu.be/JJYzPOYHOao
Songs of Freedom Drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. originally put together this show for a special gig at Lincoln Center. It features not just one, but three amazing voices singing songs from not just one but three iconic singers. The show explores the 1960s through through the music of Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell and Abbey Lincoln and will feature the singers Theo Bleckmann, Alicia Olatuja and Joanna Majoko.
June 27, Kilbourn Hall, 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.; $35 or Club Pass
Zara McFarlane An award-winning singer from the UK with roots in the Caribbean, McFarlane’s sound adds reggae and soul to a jazz base, but it doesn’t stop there in breaking down new barriers in music. She’s in the thick of a new and young British jazz renaissance and is joined on her latest release by XRIJF alums Moses Boyd, Binker Goldings and Shabaka Hutchings. This won’t be your typical jazz vocal set.
June 25, Christ Church, 6:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
The Suffers
We could easily throw this Houston band into the next category because they’ll certainly get you moving with their big band Gulf Coast soul music, but it all comes back to Kam Franklin and her big time pipes. They’ve wowed at many a festival all around the world, but now it’s Rochester’s turn.
June 28, Harro East, 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
Also check out:
Liz Vice June 27, Montage Music Hall, 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
Deva Mahal June 30, Harro East, 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
2 Feet
In the mood to dance? Here are some artists that will get your body moving:
St. Germain An innovator of house music, St. Germain is the stage name of Frenchman Ludovic Navarre. He combines jazz, blues and African music with electronic music. Even if you’ve never heard of him, you’ve likely heard him, his songs like “Alabama Blues” and “Rose Rouge” were widespread hits. Even his music that is now decades old sounds fresh and new today.
June 29, City of Rochester East Ave and Chestnut St Stage, 9:00 p.m.; Free
Tower of Power
Going further back, Tower of Power have been blasting their tunes for 50 years and are celebrating as such all year. As appropriate a name in a band as you will find, this horn-based funk and R&B band is truly a towering power, with charting hits like “You’re Still a Young Man”, “So Very Hard to Go”, “What Is Hip?”, and “Don’t Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream)”.
June 30, City of Rochester East Ave and Chestnut St Stage, 9:00 p.m.; Free
Moon Hooch
Moon Hooch resides somewhere in between St. Germain and Tower of Power, the up-and-coming three piece combines bombastic saxophones with eclectic drumming to arrive in an electronic music space via a more organic path. It’s unique and will make your mind spin, but it’ll also get your feet moving.
June 24, Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, 8:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
June 25, Montage Music Hall, 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
Also check out:
Ghost-Note with Mononeon June 27, Harro East, 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
June 28, Squeezers Stage at Anthology, 7:45 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
Mwenso and the Shakes June 23, Xerox Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
6 Strings
Here are some musicians that will be lighting fires with axes:
Scott Sharrard
You may have caught Sharrard a couple of years ago as a part of the late Greg Allman’s band when he headlined at the Eastman Theatre. Sharrard was a long-time member and musical director of Allman’s band, but he also has a long solo career of his own. Now he’s fronting his Brickyard Band, playing raw and vital blues rock. They’ll be bringing material from their forthcoming album, Saving Grace.
June 22, City of Rochester East Ave and Chestnut St Stage, 9:00 p.m.; Free June 23, City of Rochester Jazz St Stage, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; Free
Stephane Wrembel
The mantra of the festival might be “It’s not who you know, it’s who you don’t know,” though after 17 years it’s tough not to have return visits. Wrembel is coming back for the 5th time, and has been a fan favorite every year. He returns almost yearly for non-festival shows and even recorded a live album in town at the Lovin’ Cup a few years ago. We probably don’t need to tell you, but you won’t want to miss his set this year either.
June 29, Max of Eastman Place, 6:15 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
Ron Artis II and the Truth
If you’re looking for a fresh-faced axe slinger to blow you away, look no further than Ron Artis. This Hawaiian band oozes soul and backs it with exhilarating instrumentation. They’ll bring material from their recently released debut album, Soul Street, and will leave town with a whole bunch of new fans.
June 22, Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, 8:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
June 23, Montage Music Hall, 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
Also check out:
Jack Broadbent June 23, Harro East, 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass June 24, Xerox Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
Torben Waldorff June 27, Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
50 Stars, 13 Stripes
That’s the flag we’re referencing there, and these are acts steeped in Americana:
Pokey Lafarge
Another returnee, Pokey Lafarge is coming back to the festival after six years away. In our review of his Lilac Festival set a few years back, we noted “his music does pull from many early music influences like Western swing, ragtime, old-time country and jazz, it manages to rise above a simple throwback.”
June 29, City of Rochester Stage at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, 9:00 p.m.; Free
Alison Krauss
Grammy-winning bluegrass, folk and country singer Alison Krauss comes to the festival behind her critically-acclaimed new album Windy City, her first without Union Station in a decade. Her smooth-as-silk voice will be even more front and center than usual and the show will be as captivating as you’ve come to expect.
June 27, Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, 8:00 p.m.;$115/$105/$85/$70 or Club Pass
Dustbowl Revival
One of our favorite finds from last year’s fest, Dustbowl Revival, “a string band with a horn section, used each of its eight pieces to their advantage, moving from swing to ska to folk to blues to funk to rock and everything in between.” Anyone who caught them last year will certainly be on their way to see them again.
June 24, Harro East, 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
Also check out:
Junior Brown June 26, Squeezers Stage at Anthology, 7:45 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
As always there’s plenty of piano talent to go around, these are the ones we’re most excited to check out:
The Bad Plus
Genre-bending trio The Bad Plus premiered material from a forthcoming album featuring singer Wendy Lewis at the festival in 2008. It was quite the surprise at the time. Ten years later they finally return, and again have a lineup change. Pianist Ethan Iverson left the band at the end of last year, and was replaced by Orrin Evans. The band promptly released a new album, Never Stop II, and we’ll get a peek at some of that material and a lot more.
June 23, Temple Building, 7:00 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
Pilc Moutin Hoenig Heavily improvised and inventive, this trio out of New York featuring Jean-Michel Pilc, Francoise Moutin and Ari Hoenig. Each brings their individual instrumental prowess together to form something wholly unique. For the full experience, you can also catch Pilc perform solo piano at the Hatch Hall on the next night (at 5:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.).
June 28, Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
Gogo Penguin
They played their first ever North American gig in Rochester when they nearly topped our list of the 10 best sets of the 2015 festival. They’ve expanded their reach and have been winning fans the world over. “The music is thoroughly melodic, not veering into traditional solos, and taking cues from both classical and pop music for a unique sound that isn’t immediately identifiable as jazz.” Our most anticipated returning artist is a toss-up between Gogo Penguin and The Bad Plus. We wouldn’t miss either!
June 28, Xerox Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
Also check out:
Django Bates Beloved June 23, Christ Church, 6:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
The skies the limit with these artists who push the boundaries of music:
House of Waters
It’s your one chance to see the hammered dulcimer at the festival, so thankfully it’s a player, Max ZT who NPR calls the “Jimi Hendrix of hammered dulcimer.” Forget everything you know about the instrument as ZT has all but reinvented the sound. With jazz bassist Moto Fukushima and South American drummer Ignacius Rivas Bixio, House of Waters creates a musical blend unlike any you’ve ever heard.
June 26, Max of Eastman Place, 6:15 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
Matt Wilson’s Honey and Salt Band
Wilson’s latest project, the Honey and Salt Band, plays music inspired by, and including the words of the poetry of Carl Sandburg. It is off-beat and quirky, funny and fun and will have you smiling ear to ear for the duration of their set. You kind of just need to go see it.
June 30, Kilbourn Hall, 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.; $35 or Club Pass
Beats and Pieces Big Band
A big band for the next generation, bandleader Ben Cottrell conducts this 14-piece outfit out of Manchester, England. Their music is equal parts rocking, jazzy and ethereal. The band’s lineup hasn’t changed much in ten years making for a supremely tight group that has incredible agility for a band of this size. Expect the unexpected.
June 24, Christ Church, 6:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
Also check out:
Trail of Souls June 25, Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
Shake Stew June 27, Xerox Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.; $30 or Club Pass
Be sure and check out the full schedule and download the app at rochesterjazz.com to construct your own nightly schedule.
The Thursday on the Village Green concert series is kicking off on July 12th in Hamilton, NY. The concert series takes place in downtown Hamilton and is known for being a 100-year tradition with music on the Village Green dating back to 1902.
Courtesy of Thursdays on the Village Green press release.
There’s a family-friendly theme to go alongside the concert each night this year in hopes of expanding on the traditional musical performances by incorporating these family-friendly themed nights. The family themed activities will start at 5:30 p.m. and music will take place from 7-9 p.m. There will also be local food trucks and 200 ice cream sandwiches provided each week by Hood Dairy. The concert series has no cover charge and is open to the public.
The kick-off event is on July 12th and will include the American Blues Roots band Chris Merkley’s Rocky Bottom Trio paired with a First Responders Night where the local police and ambulance will be present.
Event dates listed below:
July 12 – Chris Merkley’s Rocky Bottom Trio and First Responders Night – Hamilton, NY
July 19 – The Old Main and Comic-Con Night – Hamilton, NY
July 26 – Loren Barrigar and Education Night – Hamilton, NY
Aug. 2 – Nate Gross Band and Racing Night with Matt Janczuk – Hamilton, NY
Aug. 9- Sanguine Penguin and Healthy Hamilton Night – Hamilton, NY
Aug. 16 – JJ Murphy and Veterans Night – Hamilton, NY
Governors Ball Music Festival returned to Randall’s Island Park last weekend for its eighth year in a row, bringing a mainstream savvy lineup that spanned an array of genres as well as several decades in music. Nearly 150,000 people trekked to the scenic Manhattan locale, to rock and dance it out to the newest in electronic pop, the hippest in indie folk, some of the best in hop hop, and much more.
FRIDAY
Friday kicked off by bringing both some newer, big solo artist names and a few modern rock legends. Something interesting to note about Gov Ball’s lineup this year was the high percentage of non-US-based artists. On the Bacardi Stage, British foursome Wolf Alice tore through a ferocious set of their brand of garage rock, whipping up the first day audience into a frenzy right away and holding them there for the duration of their performance. Meanwhile, Canadian breakout artists Alvvays, whom took to the Gov Ball Main Stage, and Australian four piece Pond, whom rocked the Honda Stage, brought in their sets shades of dreamy shoegaze and psychedelic pop.
Maggie Rogers, later on, was beaming from the Gov Ball stage in a fluorescent stormy weather dress, channeling a hipster, young version of Ms. Frizzle. She, like many of the other breakout artists lighting up GovBall 2018, expressed her humility at getting to perform the event. She quipped at the end of her set:, “Can you believe that mother****ing Karen O is about to be standing on this stage in just a bit??” Karen O did indeed take the stage just a bit later, with her defining alternative rock group Yeah Yeah Yeahs, for one of the first hugely anticipated rock sets of the weekend.
Governors Ball did well to line up their Honda Stage with some very fresh names in the music world. Shawn Mendes was announced closer to the event as a special set and, as he explained to GovBall’s Friday crowd, it was personally special to him. He told the audience that the Governors Ball was one of the first music festivals he had ever attended. Rapper Post Malone was certainly another highly anticipated act of the first day, and he delivered the goods on many of the songs that have accompanied his fast recent rise, like “Candy Paint” and “Paranoid,” and a set closer of “Congratulations.” Damian Marley, meanwhile, brought his reggae-inspired hip-hop to the lineup for a very fun performance that even included a story about telling Bruno Mars to smoke pot. Eventually, towards the end, he offered great, danceable covers of his father’s “Exodus” and “Could You Be Loved?”
Jack White returned to Governors Ball for his first appearance at the event since 2014. After an early surprise of “Lazaretto,” the guitarist offered much from the White Stripes’ catalogue, including “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground,” “Hotel Yorba,” and “Black Math.” White is a guitar player of a strict artistic sense—it may not pull the ripcord quite like other heavy hitters, but every time the solo is sure to be unique in both tone and melody. He split up of some of the sonic madness with a brief acoustic portion featuring tunes like “The Same Boy You’ve Always Known” and “We’re Going to Be Friends.”
Opposite him, James Blake delivered quite a different kind of closing show—deep, mellow, at times almost downright sullen in his surreal kind of new age soul. While Jack White basked in a backdrop of bizarro blue light, Blake’s set was a cool, minimalist light show that silhouetted himself and his two bandmates. The effect complimented the soft intensity of his songs and kept the focus on the singing and the playing.
SATURDAY
Saturday morning started big and bright with a few up and coming singers. New Nashville crooner Mikky Ekko shined with “Stay,” his hit song which features guest singer Rihanna, while Cuco and his backing band kicked off the American Eagle stage. Early on the Honda stage, GovBall spanned the US, first bringing Los Angeles’ The Regrettes—punk in a clean package—followed by NYC’s own VHS Collection. As the name might suggest, VHS Collection throw fresh digs on an old school sound, and the result encompasses, in a way, a lot of the musical aesthetic running through GovBall’s lienup—a love note to the past that’s written in shiny, forward-looking letters.
Galantis, for instance, are about as fresh as live electronic music gets. Their jam is club music made for a sunny day in a New York City park, so they were right at home Saturday mid day at GovBall. Galantis grooves are mechanical yet often feel good at times, all while keeping a sense of nuance and experimentation in their work—as if to say, we’re serious about our craft here but not without having some fun. And some big fun at that: for their set’s end, the electronic duo were leaping among exploding columns of smoke and glitter.
Rivaling Post Malone and Shawn Mendes and James Blake for big time single name performer was the Grammy Award-nominated Halsey. Thousands of fans flocked to catch her flawless presentation of pop magic. In her path towards super stardom, Halsey has remained a down-to-earth artist for the people. She sung her heart out on songs about tackling the patriarchy, dealing with drug issues, LBGT rights, and more.
Of course, many, many GovBall attendees were waiting to see the hyped-up debut performance of Silk City—the combined talents of electronic superstar Diplo and mega music producer Mark Ronson. The result was a nicely dressed combo of beats and remixes that mixed in touches of coastal-groove, hip hop and more. Many acts helped to dazzle out Governors Ball weekend with visually striking and ambitious set pieces, and Silk City were not in the least in that department. A mini cityscape towered behind, boasting all kinds of street sigs, while Ronson and Diplo did their thing above a bright blue, emblazoned signature of their name.
With the hard-hitting “Stay Vicious” revving things off, The Gaslight Anthem took to the Gov Ball main stage Saturday night and charged their way through a tremendous twenty-five songs—twelve of which comprised the entirety of the band’s groundbreaking album The 59 Sound. Quite the big to-do, but the band certainly delivered all the favorite bits of the record: like the heavy “Even Cowgirls Get The Blues,” and the extra tender “Here’s Looking At You, Kid.” As Anthem furrowed through a third block of songs for their GovBall set, the rain started and would soon enough be a “true test of will” kind of downpour. But the show raged on, especially also for Travis Scott, taking the Honda Stage opposite Anthem. Scott gave live versions of tracks he’s collaborated on with some of the biggest in the game—”4 AM” with 2 Chainz, “Through the Late Night” with Kid Cudi, “Goosebumps” with Kendrick Lamar.
SUNDAY
An early highlight of the festival’s third morning were Middle Kids—another breakout foursome from Australia that, like many other artists on this year’s lineup, have been successful in taking the indie world by storm, and after debuting their brand of folky garage rock only a couple of years ago. While other artists on the list ride high on the rock charts, Margo Price might be considered the newest queen of country. In addition to her own material, she offered covers of Willie Nelson’s “Whiskey River” and Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.” Even after laying down a full set of her pop Americana, she enthralled the crowd all the more by jumping on a second drum set for a crazy breakdown ending.
Across the way, Khalid delivered a soulful, emotional set of his many beautiful songs. Kicking off with favorites like “8TEEN,” “American Teen” and “Coaster,” Khalid had one of the most massive daytime crowds of the weekend. One of the most thankful offerings was “Silence,” the song that Khalid introduced as having written with his good friend, EDM producer Marshmello. At the same time, Third Eye Blind amassed a surrounding of their own sort, perhaps more nostalgic but no less enthusiastic. After they had cranked out a few rocking early numbers, a grateful Stephen Jenkins said to TEB’s ecstatic audience, “Thank you for keeping our music alive.”
Shortly after them, one the most bombastic sets thrown down the whole weekend came from N.E.R.D, the hip-hop hard rock group centering around Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, and Shay Haley. In a curious surprise opening bit, N.E.R.D had a young kid address the Honda Stage crowd with a moving speech about working hard for your dreams and overcoming adversity. Once done, Pharrell and company rushed the stage and alighted the scene fast. The performers never once stopped moving, circumventing the stage with a raucous energy matched also by their jubilant dance troupe. Pharrell, in between bringing hits from both N.E.R.D’s early days from over a decade ago and newer favorites, called out the crowd to help bring about all the vintage gems of intimate rock concert—crowd surfing, mosh pits, and getting everybody to get off the ground simultaneously.
Sylvan Esso delivered a black and white set of sorts, showing the range of their appeal. The first half of their hour on the Bacardi Stage stayed to a very mellow side of their electronic pop. But by the time the duo had to take their leave, they had found their way into a zone and were syncing up beats and vocals brilliantly, and the energy was overflowing through the finish. “The only way I can describe this feeling of playing Governors Ball,” a wide-eyed, out-of-breath Amelia Meath said, “is that I hope, one day, you also get to perform in front of thousands of people in the finest ice skating leotard imaginable!”
At the conclusion of Governors Ball 2018, Randall’s Island fought a second battle with some vicious rain, but that didn’t stop a dynamic, larger-than-life set from the lineup’s musical crown jewel for the weekend, Eminem. Droves of people, groups of friends, aged from mid teens to mid forties, were screaming along with the modern hip-hop phenom. Halfway through, for a huge surprise, the performer invited up another legend in 50 Cent, who stayed for versions of “Patiently Waiting,” “In Da Club,” “I Get Money” and “Crack a Bottle.” Eminem steered the end of his tenacious, spot-on performance with a slew of the classics, including “My Name Is” followed by “The Real Slim Shady.” People who had retreated to dodge the increasing rainfall were sprinting back through the mud once “Lose Yourself” was dropping as the big encore.
Central New York funky big band, Big Mean Sound Machine announced summer tour dates through June and July throughout New York, Vermont, and Massachusetts. The stretch of shows leads up to the fourth annual Big Mean BBQ festival in August.
The festival is set to take place in Trumansburg, just outside Ithaca. Curated by Big Mean the festival has extended to a two-day weekend, featuring over 22 bands and two headlining performances by the band themselves.
Weekend camping and RV passes are on sale now, to purchase passes head to the festival’s website. It l kicks off on Saturday Aug. 24 and features bands Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad, Driftwood, the Blind Owl Band, Marco Benevento and Kat Wright. For the full list of participating acts and ticket information, visit the festival website.
Nestled near the west bank of the Genesee River, Kaleidoscope Collective invites you to step into your new favorite dance venue, Ecstatic Dance Rochester. Trying something new is never out of season, and whether you’re new to ecstatic dance or well versed in the art of spontaneous movement, all are welcome to join us in our cozy dance studio and allow the music to take you wherever you want to go.
At an ecstatic dance event, you set the mood for your own dance experience. The soundtrack of the evening is curated by either a DJ or live musical act. It begins with tranquil tones to ease you in, each song building the intensity up to a musical climax of heavy bass to get your heart pumping- feel free to twerk it out if you feel so inclined. The music will come full circle as the soundtrack gradually descends back to a calming state, creating a dynamic, fulfilling experience that offers opportunities to play with whatever type of movement the music inspires you to explore.
Dance alone, dance with your friends, or dance with someone new. If you want to explore movement with someone new, be respectful and ask for consent. Not sure how? A fun and non-invasive way to dance with someone is to mirror their movements. If you want to make contact, try reaching a hand out. If it’s not reciprocated, that’s okay. Not everyone wants a dance partner. Remember- no talking! Part of ecstatic dance is learning to navigate the realm of nonverbal communication.
As our collaborator Arthur Gold eloquently phrased it, “This is a no booze, no shoes/inside shoes event so wear your fanciest of socks and pack your swankiest water bottle.” That being said, if you need shoes for comfort and/or medical reasons, that is perfectly okay. If you want to take a break from dancing or chat with a friend, relax on a comfy couch in the lounge attached to the studio. If you fancy a cup of tea, an eclectic selection of teas will be available for purchase to soothe your senses courtesy of Stick Joint Teahouse.
Join us Tuesday, June 26 at 7pm for the first Ecstatic Dance Rochester event! We will facilitate some quick introductions to get acquainted before dancing begins at 7:30pm. We’ll groove until 8:45, and round out the evening with a quick debrief to reflect on the experience and get feedback for future events. Ecstatic Dance Rochester will meet monthly with future events scheduled for July 17, August 7 and September 25.
This event is $15 at the door, with sliding scale donations accepted. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Don’t miss out on this exciting new movement happening in Rochester. Join our community.
