NYS Music 20​18

Category: Buffalo

  • Interview: Getting to Know Carpool

    This summer, NYS Music premiered the song “Idaho” from Carpool’s debut album. I Think Everyone’s A Cop came out on September 13. The Western NY alternative rock band’s songs contain catchy hooks, emotionally-charged lyrics, mathy riffs, and plenty of guitar pedal effects.

    Carpool weaves together elements from various alt rock sub-genres, which gives them broad appeal. Over the past few years, they’ve opened for a diverse array of national touring acts like Microwave (alternative rock), Tiny Moving Parts (math rock), Roswell Kid (pop punk), and Fossil Youth (Midwest emo).

    Carpool is made of Rochester natives Chris Colasanto (lead vocals/guitar), Blake Weissinger (bass/vocals), Tommy Eckerson (guitar/vocals), and Juan Ortiz (drums). NYS Music sat down with Colasanto to talk about gear, the album, and the Buffalo scene.

    Paula Cummings: Why the name Carpool?

    Chris Colasanto: We originally started as Eyes Wide Shut. It sounded pretentious. So we changed the name to Carpool. It’s about hanging out and sharing good times with your buddies. We actually released an EP, Absolute Loss, under Eyes Wide Shut. It was more straight shoegaze. Carpool is more punky-emo. It’s cutesy – punk, but fun.

    PC: Was this your first time in the studio?

    CC: This was the first time going into a legit studio. We banged it out in four days, 12-hour long days. It’s different from what we used to do. Sometimes we were recording in a bathroom on someone’s computer using Audacity or GarageBand.

    PC: Why did you go with the studio you chose?

    CC: We went with RJ DeMarco at Skyway Studios. Our friends in Ghostpool dropped an EP and we absolutely loved it. We messaged them, and they said to go to RJ. We weren’t pressured, but it felt like everyone was lighting a fire under our asses do our best. We fell in love with Buffalo. It’s why we decided to move here. We visited before, but this was different. We now live in the house we stayed at while we were recording. Everything fell into place nicely.

    PC: What’s the Buffalo scene like?

    CC: Everyone in Buffalo comes out to shows – they go hardcore and support the scene. The demographic is all over. Our last show was at Milkie’s and there were kids, parents, grandparents.

    PC: Tell me about the album.

    CC: We started writing a year ago. The whole thing is about complacency, substance abuse and relationships – like you’re stuck in a stagnant state of molasses.

    PC: I like that, “a stagnant state of molasses.” Your lyrics have interesting ways of turning a phrase.

    CC: We were very conscious of the lyrics this time. We wanted to write songs that everyone likes, that everyone can dance to, but the undertone has more to it. Some of the lyrics are very tongue-in-cheek and quirky. I feel it’s relatable because of those quirks. It’s honest, maybe a little too honest at times.

    PC: Tell me about the gear you used in the studio to create your sound.

    CC: Me and Tommy used my Roland JC120 amp from 1983. It’s awesome, it’s my baby. We used my pedal set-up, primarily Adventure Audio pedals (they’re from Rochester), and Electro-Harmonix and EarthQuaker Devices. Sometimes I get pretty obnoxious with the pedal effects, but it’s fun. Tommy added a BigSky Reverb that added layers and depth – a lot of wet noise. Blake used his Jazz Bass, and he used my Adventure Audio Pedals. It ripped. And we have Juan Ortiz on drums – he’s the man, amazing as always.

    PC: Final question… What would you each sing if you were on Carpool Karaoke?

    CC: Me and Blake would do a duet of “Picture” by Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock. Tommy would do trap rap – “Gucci Gang.” And Juan would do a full 21 Pilots album.

    Purchase I Think Everyone’s A Cop digitally on Bandcamp. Physical copies will be available soon through Syracuse indie label Nothing Feels Good Records. Catch Carpool at Mohawk Place on October 13 with Culture Abuse, Gouge Away, Worse Things, and GOA, or on November 8 with Taking Meds, Teenage Halloween, and Movershaker. Follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for upcoming shows and news.

  • Funktional Flow Launches Search for Drummer

    Funk/Rock/Reggae/Jam outfit Funktional Flow is launching a nationwide search for a drummer.

    The search begins a month after the departure of Ryan James Acanfora behind the kit.  Former Aqueous drummer Ryan Nogle has been covering duties for Funktional Flow while the band searches for the right fit.

    Exclusive to NYS Music, Flow noted that they are looking for something more than just a great musician. “Obviously being a great musician is important, but we here at Flow truly consider ourselves a family.  We function on the values of hard work, creativity and mutual respect and are looking for someone who reflects these qualities.”

    Hailing from Buffalo, Funktional Flow is known as a versatile five piece that fuses elements of rock, funk and reggae.  Featured in Relix magazine’s “On The Rise” and with a host of regional accolades, Funktional Flow has become one of Western New York’s most prominent original bands. Recent local awards for the band include Best Original Alternative Band (Buffalo Night Life) in 2016 & 2017 and the Album of the Year Award from Artvoice Magazine for their 2016 release Time Will Tell.

    Funktional Flow has become a staple of the Western New York jam scene, including their own festival Flowfest, now coming into its fourth year. Flow has opened in support of major touring artists including The Wailers, Warren Haynes, Rusted Root, Railroad Earth, Sublime with Rome, Twiddle, Papadosio, Aqueous, Dopapod, Eric Krasno Band, Snarky Puppy and Turkuaz.

    The band has also enjoyed festival appearances at Disc Jam Music Festival, Catskill Chill Music Festival, Night Lights Music Festival, The Great Blue Heron, and Cobblestone Live among others.

    Interested musicians should inquire via e-mail to funktionalflow@yahoo.com.  The band requests inquiries include a brief musical bio and either video or audio samples.

    Funktional Flow features Jeffrey Kuebler (Guitar & Vocals), Ben Whelan (Bass), Joey Lewis (Guitar & Vocals), and Matthew Lester (Keys, Sax & Vocals).

  • Mike Powell set to release new solo EP, ‘Shelter Without Walls’

    Mike Powell has had a prolific few years, performing throughout the northeast with his solo act, his duo, and his full band the Black River.  He also released a solo album and an album with his band. This Friday, Oct. 5, Powell will release his latest solo effort, Shelter Without Walls.

    shelter without walls

    The six song EP features two previously released, but re-worked songs, “Twenty One Rounds” and “Sad Day in Champion” and four brand new heartfelt compositions. The album can be pre-saved on Spotify and Apple Music through this link. It will be available on all streaming services beginning Oct. 5.

    Powell is a unique storyteller who writes with emotion, breaking down walls to allow the listener into the story. He writes best when he draws from personal experiences. “Twenty One Rounds” tells the tale of a mother who lost her son while serving his country; something Powell has knowledge of through his upbringing in Carthage, just outside of the Fort Drum Army Base in Northern New York. This much-loved song gets a rework on the new EP and has lost little of the original’s emotional appeal.

    Writing songs has always been a soul satisfying activity for me. I just have a deep love for words and telling stories. Music is the most impactful medium I’ve found for connecting with people and evoking emotion. Being able to play intimate acoustic sets in tandem with rock n’ roll shows with my band is like scratching two creative itches at once. I feel like I have two separate vehicles that share the same fuel system.

    “Sad Day in Champion” recalls the closing of a paper mill in that same region of the North Country that affected so many of the people in the region as well as those close to the young Mike Powell.

    One of Powell’s new songs, “Poison Diamond” closes the record. A dirgy number, highlighted by Hanus’ trademark guitar and a church-like organ, where the narrator laments, “You took my hand/You stole my heart/ You loved me to pieces/That’s what tore me apart/You set the fire/And it made me cold/You made me higher/And you cut me down low/That’s what tore me apart/I need some glue, or something heavy I can hold on to/This old bottle here will do/I’m never together with you.”  This is one of the Powell’s most powerful recordings to date, from the lyrics to the delivery to the musicianship within the song. The subdued duet with a female voice on “I’m never together with you” hits the listener in the heart. This song could be Powell’s launching pad to a wider audience.

    shelter without walls

    “The Polite Rebel” will also embark on the most ambitious month of his professional music career beginning Friday. The busy month kicks off with the Black River opening for Canadian rockers The Trews at Exhibition Hall in Watertown this Friday, Oct. 5. Following the Watertown gig, Powell and his duo partner, John Hanus trip down to Goshen, CT for a main stage gig at the Black Bear Americana Music Fest on Oct. 6. The weekend wraps on Sunday with an intimate gig at The Sinclair in Skaneateles on Oct. 7.

    Powell’s intense schedule continues Oct. 10 and 11 as he makes his solo debut at Ani DiFranco’s 9th Ward at Babeville in Buffalo and Lovin’ Cup in Rochester. Oct. 12 sees Powell closer to home at the Brewerton Center for the Arts for another solo show.

    The most highly anticipated nights of the month occur at the historic Nelson Odeon, a renovated former Grange Hall located in the rolling hills of Nelson, near Powell’s current hometown of Cazenovia on Oct. 13 and 14. These shows will be used to record Powell in both solo and duo formats as well as certain selections with the Black River, to be included in a future live Powell album.

    The Odeon is one of Powell’s favorite rooms to perform and is the reason he chose this historic building for the recording of his first live album. He says of the building:

    The Nelson Odeon stands for everything I love about music. It’s like stepping back to a simpler time. I have always dreamed of releasing a live record and this is the perfect room to try and bottle up a moment in time. It will be a special night.

    The Black River, in addition to their gig opening for The Trews on Oct. 5, will take up a Thursday residency at King of Clubs in Syracuse’s famed Armory Square on Oct. 4 and 18. Dubbed “The Thursday Night Rock Show,” this ongoing event is hosted by the band and features some of the region’s top acts. Capital District rockers Wild Adriatic will join the Black River in a November session of “The Thursday Night Rock Show.”

    Finally, on Oct. 19 Powell makes a trip to Blue Mountain Lake for a performance at the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts and wraps up with a songwriters and on Oct. 20 the 18 Songs Tour visits Casita del Polaris in Ithaca. This set brings together three of Central New York’s premier singer songwriters for a night of music – 18 songs- with Powell joined by Charley Orlando and Chris Merkley.

    When not on the road, Powell will be in the studio recording the Black River’s sophomore effort. The band released its debut, Classic Universe in January.

    Check out the video for “Sad Day in Champion” below featuring Powell and members of the Black River.

  • Autumn is the new Summer at first Borderland Festival

    On the equinox, the border between summer and autumn, just outside Buffalo at the border between the US and Canada, emerged a brand new festival showcasing music, arts, and crafts bordering in and around roots and Americana. The first Borderland Festival was, by all measures, a huge success in its inaugural year, establishing itself as a viable extension to the Western New York festival season and an event worthy of a summer’s long anticipation.

    The festival was gorgeously situated at Knox Farm State Park. Parking was on polo grounds, craft vendors were set up inside horse stables (a few of which actually housed horses), and craftsmen were scattered about, demonstrating their expertise in sheep shearing, cigar rolling, beer brewing, horseshoeing and more. Tasty local food and beverages were available via tent and truck, and a consciousness for the environment was on display with many people drinking from available reusable metal cups and volunteers assisting in proper disposal of all garbage, recyclables and compostables.

    Though with non-stop quality music filling the air, there really was time for little else. Two main stages, the Grasslands Stage and the Split Rail Stage, sat mere yards apart and featured alternating sets for a continuum of music across the entire day. A short walk past the horse stables sat the Homespun stage where local talent held court, filling time as viable alternatives to the main acts. Buffalo roots bands like Folkfaces, The Observers and 10 Cent Howl kept the party rambling with down home jams and singalongs. All of the stages were within a few minutes walk and fans could easily catch some of everything with little sacrifice.

    And O, the music! Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds gave a little preview of their forthcoming album, busting out the upbeat and catchy “Ghost” and showcasing singer Arleigh Kincheloe’s incredible vocal range on the soulful “Gold.” Montreal’s Barr Brothers made a rare appearance in the area, opening with “Come in the Water” and closing with “You Would Have to Lose Your Mind” in a set chock full of their warm and eclectic folk rock. With harps, pedal steels and 12-string guitars, it was a rich tapestry built of many strings, and even one thread which Brad Barr pulled through his guitar for a spacey sonic vibration that reverberated across the farm.

    Veteran indie-rockers Dr. Dog are no strangers to Western New York and they were treated like old friends by the crowd which was dancing and singing along from note one. Decked out in matching festival sweatshirts, they treated the audience to an energetic career-spanning set, featuring classics like “The Breeze” and “That Old Black Hole” while also working in a solid chunk of their 2018 release Critical Equation. The slinky groove of “Listening In” turned heavy and dark while “Go Out Fighting” built an deep energy that reached a My Morning Jacket-style intensity level.

    The Sam Bush Band showcased their unique take on traditional music, delving into Bush’s newgrass roots on the instrumental “Greenbriar” and getting funky on a fine cover of Alan Toussaint’s “Sneakin Sally Through the Alley.” There was still room for some classic bluegrass stomps with “Howling at the Moon” and “Big Rabbit” and even some social action with “Stop the Violence.” Another Canadian crossing the border for the Borderland Festival, Sam Roberts thanked the area fans for being his first American audience to take him in. Roberts and his band, with stylish guitar-heavy grooving rock, delighted the audience with fan favorites like “Brother Down” and “Mind Flood.”

    The clouds persisted for most of what was a perfectly brisk first day of fall. But just as the sun was setting, the clouds parted enough for a beautiful sky filled with reds, oranges, yellows and purples to flow over the festival. It was against this backdrop that New Orleans octet The Revivalists took the stage for the final set of the evening. The crowd kept plenty in the tank and were ready to rage along as the band brought an infectious energy to the stage. Blasting horns, tight rhythms, shredding guitars and a soaring pedal steel formed a crunchy American rock sound that jammed and grooved its way through the darkening night. Autumn was officially here, but for one small corner of the world, a few thousand people were still holding on tight to the spirit of summer.

  • Episode 10 of Empire State Music Podcast features Buffalo Witty Tarbox

    Buffalo homies Witty Tarbox are a “jam-based ensemble of considerable versatility and dexterity, Witty Tarbox’s freewheeling sound embellishes their blues- based rock progression with elements of funk, indie, and surf rock, lending their songs a stylistic malleability and improvisational flair.” Cody Tarbox, Bryan Williams, Alex Khoury, Colin Gray and honorary fifth member Seth Bykowski join host Andy Hogan to discuss their debut EP, The Adventures of Schmitty ISSUE #1 v RARE, their upcoming album currently in the works, tour dates and more.

    Buffalo witty tarboxSeptember 28: Funk n’ Waffles (ROC) w/ Space Junk and Cypher
    October 5th: Buffalo Iron Works w/ The Magic Beans
    October 19th: Mohawk Place (Buffalo) w/ The Tins
    October 27th: Thin Man Brewery (Buffalo); Forever 27 Halloween Party
    December 13th: The Haunt (Ithaca) w/ Strange Machines
    December 14th: Nietzsche’s (Buffalo) w/ Strange Machines
    December 15th: Funk n’ Waffles (ROC) w/ Strange Machines

    https://soundcloud.com/nysmusic/esmp-episode-10-witty-tarbox

  • Funktional Flow Turns Up the Heat in Buffalo at Iron Works

    It was a hot night in Buffalo, the same night that Elton John was playing at Key Bank Center for his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. Parking was difficult since the Elton John show was a sellout, but neither the heat nor the traffic could deter people from showing strong for Funktional Flow‘s show at Iron Works. Even with a sold out event next door, the Buffalo-based group never fails to draw a crowd of eager attendees to one of their main home-base venues. As per usual, the Funktional Flow team was able to enlist the support of another great act; the Syracuse-based reggae group Root Shock. Anyone coming early was lucky enough to catch a preview of the light show for the night. The lighting at Iron Works was vamped up and prepped to go, with a spectacle of mixed colors and effects. It’s always a pleasure to catch a show here.

    Root Shock opened up the night for Funktional Flow

    The crowd started flowing through a few minutes into Root Shock’s set. Root Shock came off as a weathered group, utilizing all the tools present in their 6-piece outfit. Guitarist Phil Grajko and Jessica Brown traded off on vocals, while the extended rhythm section showcased their ability to create intricate reggae grooves. Their set had great transitions, giving the audience some slower songs to rock to, and some faster ones to get down. From the balcony of the venue, it was cool to see a group of dancers doing tricks with hula hoops and getting the audience moving. The band also got the crowd dancing, and even played some songs that they’ll be recording this upcoming weekend- always a treat to hear unreleased material. As Root Shock finished, it was a good idea to venture closer to the stage to get a spot near the barrier. One could overhear chatter that there was a line out the door. 11 pm came around and the crowd cheered as Funktional Flow took the stage.

    The lighting was a huge highlight for this set. A backdrop of colors and textures adds so much to the atmosphere of the show, and the effects lined up well with the music the band played. You can tell that these Iron Works shows are special by how in sync the band and the sound and light crew were. Funktional Flow’s set was rock solid; their mix of flavorful reggae and funk rock works to great effect live. They also had a couple of feature percussionists for this event: Ryan Nogle on drums and Griffin Brady on auxiliary percussion. This added a lot to the groove which was simultaneously being fortified by Ben Whelan’s melodic and percussive bass lines. Joey Lewis flashed his technical prowess with scathing guitar solos and carried some of the vocal duties along with singer Jefferey Kuebler. One of the coolest parts of these Funktional Flow sets is when Jefferey and Joey lock in on a guitar riff and get a classic rock type guitar duel going. Matthew Lester provided a heap of energy as he ripped solos on the saxophone and held down the keys to round out a huge live sound. The highlight of the night was hearing their original song “Trouble” with the night’s lineup. The album version from Time Will Tell is great, but the added meat from the auxiliary percussion, on top of Nogle’s huge drum sound and lightning fills, differentiated the tune and revealed a whole different dimension of the song. That’s what these live shows are all about! Definitely catch these two bands if they come through your town and be on the lookout for their music.

    Matthew Lester provides energy through his stage presence and concise solos

    Ben Whelan (right) holds down the groove while Joey Lewis (middle) nails riff after riff

    The variety of lighting textures added to the audience experience

    Ryan Nogle and Jefferey Kuebler (right) lock in with Ben and Joey (left)

    Iron Works filled up with eager supporters

  • West End Blend announces expansive fall 2018 tour plus ‘Live at the Waterhole’ Album Release

    The soulful funk group, West End Blend, shared this week that their impressive Fall 2018 tour will be expanding across cities in the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest. In what Sam Horan, the band’s drummer, has described as “one of our most exciting tours to date,” eager fans can expect performances including surprises such as a Secret Location TBA for Halloweekend.

    This tour will mark the band’s next step to spread their unique sound as they claimed: “We’re visiting some brand new cities and we look forward to expanding that WEB family!” Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased via the band’s website.

    This announcement is only the first of many plans for this upcoming fall. West End Blend prides themselves on their own vibe and flair and what better way to do that than with a live album release. Horan mentioned that they have been getting so many requests for this project because “Everyone can agree that while our studio albums sound great, they just don’t quite capture the raw energy and vibe that you see from us live.” It’s the ultimate way to provide the most authentic content possible and Live at the Waterhole will be released Oct. 5.

    Recorded during a two-night long session at the Waterhole in Saranac Lake, the album sees technical contributions from GRAMMY Award-winning engineer Brendan Morawski. By building a studio-style soundboard side stage, Morawski was able to capture studio quality recordings of both evenings. This was also taken into consideration for which songs would be included on the album since the objective was to pick those which have taken on new arrangements and morphed significantly from the studio album versions. This direction the band is taking will demonstrate how they want the utmost interactive experience for the fans and how they are constantly rearranging their songs during live performances to showcase their progression as a group.

    See Tour Dates and Tracklist below:

    Live at the Waterhole Tracklist:

    1. Attitude
    2. Say Hey
    3. Get By
    4. I’m Time
    5. Too Heavy
    6. Day Dreamer
    7. Is that All you got
    8. The Scene

    West End Blend Tour Dates:

    Sept. 18 – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY *
    Sept. 19 – Buffalo Iron Works – Buffalo, NY *
    Sept. 20 – Funk n Waffles – Syracuse, NY *
    Sept. 29 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA ^
    Oct. 5 – Toad’s Place – New Haven, CT #
    Oct. 6 – H.O.M.E. – Portland, ME
    Oct. 12 – The Hollow – Albany, NY
    Oct. 18 – Woodlands Tavern – Columbus, OH
    Oct. 19 – Emporium – Chicago, IL
    Oct. 20 – Founder’s Brewery – Grand Rapids, MI
    Oct. 27 – Halloween Horror Camp – Secret Location TBA
    Nov. 7 – Hofgarden – Richmond, VA
    Nov. 8 – The One Stop – Asheville, NC
    Nov. 16 – Pour House Music Hall – Raleigh, NC
    Nov. 17 – Heist Brewing – Charlotte, NC
    Nov. 24 – Riverwalk – Nashua, NH
    Nov. 30 – Tropicalia – Washington DC
    Dec. 7 – King’s Rook Club – Erie, PA
    Dec. 22 – The Haunt – Ithaca, NY @

    * w/ Five Alarm Funk
    ^ w/ Strange Machines
    # w/ Bella’s Bartok
    @ w/ Root Shock

  • Yo La Tengo Puts a Spell on Buffalo

    Thursday, September 13 saw iconic indie rockers Yo La Tengo settle into an evening within the confines of Asbury Hall at Babeville in Buffalo. With no opener the first set found the trio testing their footing with a concise selection of mostly mellow tunes showcasing Ira Kaplan’s whisper sung lyrics. In contrast, the second set wasted little time upping the tempo and intensity as the band delved into the more sonically adventurous side of their catalogue.

    Photography by Matt Shotwell / Strawberry Island Dweller

  • Premiere: ponder releases new single “Fits the Scene”

    Ponder this – Buffalo alt-rock group ponder (small p) today premieres “Fits the Scene,” a groove-oriented, jazz and funk inspired song arranged over dozens of shows with different musicians of varying influences as ponder’s lineup was solidified. The Buffalo alt-rock group has been on a journey since their formation at SUNY Geneseo and have found a sound and lineup that has them on a track for success.

    “Fits the Scene” was originally slated to be released in mid-2017, but when ponder’s original drummer left the band, the song was placed on the back burner while the group decided what the fate of the band would be going forward. With hard work already put into the project and with much on the horizon for the band, Gabe Birkby (guitar/vocals) and Andy Hogan (bass/vocals) chose to rally and rapidly began recruiting as many musicians in the Buffalo area who they knew would help drive the band sonically.

    “Fits the Scene” is ponder’s first release since April 2017’s These Words and acts as a definitive statement of how they have re-invented themselves. “These Words was a hodgepodge of punk, blues, funk, and indie elements — we were more or less absorbing all of our childhood influences and throwing them all against the wall to see what stuck. This new tune builds on those earlier songs like fan favorites “Toast” and “Shot Down” said Hogan. Andy Fischer (trumpet) and Paul Sottnik (keys) are also featured on “Fits the Scene.”

    Ponder’s current line up is stronger than ever with Gabe and Andy with Marcus Peters (drums) and Sam Shafer (lead guitar) helping to launch the band into its next phase. Catch them this fall across New York:

    September 14: Nietzsche’s, Buffalo, NY, with Litz
    September 28: The Firehouse Saloon, Rochester, NY with Adventure Dog
    October 18: TBA
    October 19: CyberCafe West, Binghamton, NY
    October 20: The Black Oak Tavern, Oneonta, NY
    November 1: Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo, NY with The Werks

  • Rabbit Jaw responds to anti-immigration policies through music

    Erin Bahn is a singer, a dancer and a humanitarian. Through her art, she expresses her passionate messages against oppression and authoritarian regimes, and she is backed by her band of equally revolutionary-minded musicians. The Buffalo-based art-rock band Rabbit Jaw has released a music video for their song “Stowaway,” which is in response to right-wing American anti-immigration policies.

    Bohn, who choreographed and directed the video, recently told Buffalo Rising, “This film is one take, played in reverse. Within this film, although it is played in reverse, I wanted to play with concepts of restoration of dreams and dreamers.”

    Rabbit Jaw will be playing two shows in Buffalo on September 29: The Tabernacle from 6-8pm and then Dinosaur Bar-B-Que from 10-midnight. To stay up to date on news and events, follow Rabbit Jaw on Facebook.

    rabbit jaw
    photo by Glenn Murray