NYS Music 20​18

Category: Rochester

  • Hearing Aide: Monte Vayo “Count Me Out”

    I, for one, am delighted at the resurgence of new wave music. Growing up in the 80’s, synth music was everywhere – top 40 radio, movie soundtracks, and record shops. I’ve spent years as a faithful listener of WBER’s New Wave Wednesday show, waiting for the new generation to bring it back. The resurgence of the genre means having new tracks to listen to, with fresh modern takes.

    Monte Vayo’s new EP Count Me Out is a brilliant little gem, clocking in at under ten minutes. The three-song collection leads with the title track “Count Me Out.” Monte Vayo paints a light and airy soundscape with minimal lyrics, which is a theme that carries throughout the entire EP. It is clear the artist is paying homage to the classics of the heyday of new wave, while at the same time adding contemporary elements for a more ambient sound. It’s the kind of thing I like to hear at an upscale coffee shop or have spun by the DJ at my favorite art gallery.

    While the song’s overall tone is breezy, it also showcase’s Monte Vayo’s innate sense of rhythm. It’s hard to sit still while listening to the undulating beats accompanying the melody. So dedicated was Monte Vayo to creating an authentic sound that he purchased some decades-old drum machines in order to compose and record these songs.

    As “Count Me Out” gives way to “Why” and the final song “Find A Way,” it becomes obvious that Monte Vayo is someone who shouldn’t be counted out. His work would fit in just as easily on a mix tape with Pet Shop Boys, Joy Division, and OMD as it would on a Spotify playlist with modern synthwave acts like Electric Youth, Home, and Humble Braggers.

    Key Track: Count Me Out

  • Hear Boy Jr.’s Spunky New Single “Anyway”

    If there’s anything I’ve learned about Boy Jr., it’s to expect the unexpected. Rochester native Erica Lubman has been experimenting with music since childhood, combining her love for garage rock and indie pop with a flair for dramatic fashion. She’s equally likely to turn up on stage in a retro matching tracksuit as a leather skirt and torn T-shirt. As with her wardrobe, she shows off a wide range of songs in her repertoire – from punk to grunge. 

    Boy Jr.’s latest release “Anyway” shows her ability to continue to stretch and grow in innovative ways. “Anyway” pairs guitar-driven rock with spunky girl power (think Cage The Elephant meets Caroline Rose). Give it a spin! 

    Go to Spotify to hear more by Boy Jr. and follow on Facebook for upcoming shows. 

  • Exclusive Premiere: Old Fame ‘Blue Savage’

    Blue: the color of emotion. Savage: a primitive ferocity. Put together, “Blue Savage” is an apt title for a song that juxtaposes emotive vocal styling with heavy, driving riffs. While the four-piece indie rock project Old Fame is brand new, the players are seasoned veterans of the regional music scene: Ben Armes (vocals / guitar), Evan Clark (guitar), Jay Asarese (bass), and Doug Kelley (drums).

    old fame blue savage“Blue Savage” will be featured on Old Fame’s debut self-titled EP due out January 7. The songs for Old Fame were engineered and mixed by Josh Pettinger, and mastered by Greg Thompson at Wicked Squid Studios.

    Catch the band’s first show January 26th at Bug Jar in Rochester. For updates and more events, follow Old Fame on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

  • The Ballroom Thieves Warm the Rochester Winter Once Again

    The Ballroom Thieves returned to the Arbor Loft in Rochester for another show put on by Honest Folk. They stopped by last winter, Valentines Day to be exact, and were back for another frigid Rochester night. The folksy trio was back to let Rochester warm its souls next to their rich musical fire while the cold and snow settled in for the long haul outside.

    They’ve been busy during their ten-month absence and brought with them two new EPs, one of originals and one of covers. The set borrowed heavily from the new material so the show varied greatly from their previous visit and they continued to showcase their evolution as a band.

    On their very first visit to Rochester, back at Abilene, cellist Calin Peters had only recently joined the band. She was a bit shy and hesitant to take control musically. But if Tuesday night was your first time seeing the band, you might determine that the band was built around her specifically. Her beautiful voice led a seeming majority of the tunes and commanded attention unlike any other time we’ve seen them.

    Drummer Devin Mauch and guitarist Martin Earley were both recovering from colds while Peters was limping and in a brace from a minor tour van incident. They jokingly were running at a collective 230%, though you wouldn’t know it from their output. On newer material like the raucous and meandering “Can’t Cheat Death,” the deep fuzzed out blues “Fistfight,” and the bubbling, bouncing and building “Almost Love” they were as energized and active as ever.

    They threw some great new covers in the mix as well. Earley took the stage alone mid-set for a solo take on Tom Petty’s “Time to Move On” while Peters lead the band on Bahama’s spectacular “Lost in the Light,” which is featured on their just out EP, Covers.

    The show ended with a “fake” encore of “Bury Me Smiling,” but there was nothing fake about this show. Honest through and through, including some highly detailed band introductions, including individual Q and A sessions, including such deep dive topics as pets, eating habits and high school accomplishments.

    A short opening set by Odetta Hartman married electronics with acoustic folk. Drummer/percussionist Jack Inslee laid down landscapes of sound ranging from seaside and train noises to banjo melodies to backing choruses, while Hartman’s angelic voice and banjo, guitar or fiddle floated above. Inspired by the wedding-esque surroundings, they eschewed their usual spooky setlist for a more love-based repertoire.

    Ballroom Thieves, Arbor Loft – Rochester

    Setlist: Anybody Else, Can’t Cheat Death, Saint Monica, Only Lonely, Time to Move On (Tom Petty), Bartering, Trouble, Fistfight, Lost in the Light (Bahamas), Do Something, Almost Love, Bury Me Smiling

  • Hearing Aide: Jackson Cavalier ‘Spellbound’

    Jackson Cavalier is well-known in his hometown of Rochester as a solo act. As a one-man band he has won the city’s Best Busker contest year after year. With guitar in hand and harmonica at the ready, he keeps time with his toes tapping at the tambourine and a rustic suitcase bass drum. His first solo LP entitled Full Moon sounds a lot like his live act, but with a few extra touches. Now, within a span of less than a year, Cavalier has released his second full-length solo album, Spellbound.

    Like the black and white labyrinthine album art, the music at first seems deceptively simple. It soon becomes apparent to the listener that the songs are comprised of multiple layers of acoustic texture and lyrical meaning. Spellbound comes out of the gate at a full gallop with the title track, an acoustic song heavy on guitar and harmonica. The Southwest-inspired finger-picked tune sets the tone for a bewitching tale about trying to avoid a spell, but finding it’s too late. The shanty sets the tone for the entire 12-track album, which shares the common theme of being enchanted – whether by love, death, or even time itself.  

    Cavalier uses the medium of Indie Folk Rock to take listeners on a journey through an anthology of timeless tales. “Mt. Hope Blues” is set in the hills of Rochester’s Victorian cemetery, and told from the perspective of a ghost watching his beloved pick wildflowers for his grave. The boot-stomping song “Sister Prim” tells a story of revenge by a woman scorned. “Razor Wire Death Song,” the one single pre-released before the album, is perhaps the most poetic: “I see the reaper grim and tall / scythe and cloak and horse and all. / He’s not a specter on a hill to be feared, / he’s standing right in front of me beside this mirror.” Later in the album Cavalier reels it way back for the sparse and sentimental ballad “Ribbons.”

    Whereas Cavalier’s earlier original songs with his full band The Fevertones had a more traditional Americana folk styling, with accompaniment by violin and upright bass, his sound has evolved into a distinctive style of folk rock with country flair. The songs on Spellbound have a rich, full quality, in part from the addition of Thomas Draper on bass guitar and Joey Small on drum kit & auxiliary percussion. The tunes are accentuated by a subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) sprinkling of melodica and Glockenspiel.

    The harmonious pairing of the music and storytelling has a mesmerizing effect. The result of Cavalier’s adept musicianship is a work that has come by its name honestly, as it truly leaves the listener spellbound.

    Spellbound is available for purchase on Bandcamp or streaming on Spotify. Follow Jackson Cavalier Music on Facebook for the latest news and events.

  • Lettuce Announces Busy January Tour

    Lettuce launches the far-reaching and fast-paced Vibe Up 2019 tour in Rochester on Jan.10. The funk group will return to New York later for performances at the Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park on Jan. 12 and at Brooklyn Steel on Jan. 19.

    The band’s legendary career spans two decades. Their sound has matured and “stewed” to perfection over time as evidenced on their latest album Witches Stew. The new album is contemporary jazz fusion inspired by and in tribute to Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew. It would be an oversight to ignore that music like Davis’ was what influenced and initially drew the group together at Boston’s Berklee College of Music in 1992.

    Out-of-state, the tour will bring Lettuce to major cities like Boston, Nashville, Philadelphia, Detroit, Atlanta, Cleveland, and more over the course of one month. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit the Lettuce website here.

    [Witches Stew] “…groundbreaking release, the effort allows Lettuce to do justice to their influences, while still retaining their own collective persona.” – All About Jazz

    Affectionately referred to as “Everybody’s favorite funk band” by Red Bull Music, Lettuce only has one performance left for 2018. Currently touring Witches Stew now, the last opportunity to see Lettuce live in 2018 is a special one-night only show with the Colorado Symphony in Denver on Nov. 10. See below for the full January 2019 Vibe Up Tour schedule.

    Lettuce January Dates:

    Jan. 10 – Anthology Live – Rochester, NY*
    Jan. 11 – House of Blues – Boston, MA*
    Jan. 12 – Upstate Concert Hall – Clifton Park, NY*
    Jan. 13 – Higher Ground Ballroom – South Burlington, VT*
    Jan. 15 – The Vogue – Indianapolis, IN*
    Jan. 16 – St. Andrew’s Hall – Detroit, MI*
    Jan. 17 – Rex Theater – Pittsburgh, PA*
    Jan. 18 – Infinity Music Hall & Bistro – Hartford, CT*
    Jan. 19 – Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, NY
    Jan. 22 – Whitaker Center – Harrisburg, PA
    Jan. 23 – House of Blues – Cleveland, OH
    Jan. 24 – Madison Theater -Covington, KY
    Jan. 25 – Marathon Music Works – Nashville, TN
    Jan. 26 – Center Stage – Atlanta, GA

    * with Ghost Note

  • Hearing Aide: Animal Sounds ‘Ennui’

    Animal Sounds EnnuiHaving originally started as a funk-based instrumental group, Animal Sounds is debuting their record Ennui, that will soon define them as one of the indie powerhouse bands that call Western New York their home. The five-piece group released an all instrumental EP back in 2015 titled Fling Mingus which had well written guitar duos and harmonically vibrant compositions that didn’t get too complex, making for an easy and interesting listen. A couple years later, the band released a single titled “Ghost” which had lyrics- marking a change in the group’s direction. Composed of Erik Gordon (vocals), Shawn Brogan (guitar), Alex Brophy (guitar), Angel Figueroa (bass/keys), and Theo Schirmuhly (drums), Animal Sounds presents a versatile and eclectic sound that doesn’t veer far from their roots while also solidifying the band’s progression into a vocally driven sound with intriguing instrumentals. While this new release, Ennui, can take a very strong cue from the group’s main influences, there’s enough in this 8-track album to warrant a close look at how well the band is able to execute these sounds and create a product that oozes the stylings of some big-name alt rock/indie groups.

    A major highlight of the album are the guitar performances. The clean lead duos are reminiscent of Minus the Bear, with both guitars playing melodic parts that mesh as one voice. This is apparent right from the get-go, with the second track “Hesitation” starting off with a conversation between the two guitars, one just slightly grittier than the other so as to differentiate the voices enough. Schirmuhly’s drums do a great job to accent both the bass and guitar lines. On the seventh song, “Wanderlust”, the hi-hat accentuates beats in a way that makes different parts of the guitar line pop out, while the bass drum syncs with the bass to achieve a really big lower end without the frequencies getting muddied in the mix. The bass overall keeps a steady groove in each song, never becoming too flashy but also not becoming redundant or droney. It leaves room for the guitars to shine and will even jump in on a well composed trio part like in “Antelope”.

    The vocals are very strong from top to bottom. Gordon weaves his way through already melodically layered songs, finding open spots to color the music with his own melody. The lyrics seem to ride on one theme- a dissolution with the current state of one’s being and how growing into adulthood amplifies those feelings. It’s a darker lyrical focus, which matches the melancholy mood of the songs well. The harmonies are a big stand-out, with numerous vocal parts being layered to create atmospheric backdrops to mesh with the ethereal guitars. The group displays a lot of chemistry, and strong song structuring.

    One thing that comes out a bit much are the sounds from the group’s influences. A few of the tracks instrumentally sound very similar to a Tame Impala song, sometimes Minus the Bear. Despite these parallels, the songs are well written and do a very good job of nailing down the timbres and subtleties those groups use in their music- an achievement regardless. Animal Sounds has a lot of chemistry, and it’d be interesting to hear a bit less of the influences and more of the unique sound the band can bring to the table. The group puts on a very strong live show too, covering tunes that are complete departures from their influences and making them their own. If you enjoy the album, get out to one of Animal Sound’s shows in the WNY area!

    Key Tracks: Hesitation, Wanderlust, Kid Dankë Schon

  • Premiere: Animal Sounds debut ‘Antelope’ off upcoming album “Ennui”

    Indie psych rockers Animal Sounds from Rochester, NY will release their debut LP Ennui on Friday, October 26th and today premiere with NYS Music “Antelope.”

    animal sounds antelope

    Guitarist Shawn Brogan had this to say about the track: “Dating in the millennial age is confusing and the lack of communication often results in one person wanting completely different things than the other. “Antelope” was written about witnessing a friends-with-benefits situation turn ugly and the emotional turmoil that came with it.”

    Animal Sounds upcoming LP Ennui showcases a variety of songwriting capabilities and progressive song structures, with influences such as of melodic guitar riffs from Minus The Bear, psych groove’s of Tame Impala, and the rock n roll energy of Cage the Elephant found throughout the LP. Follow Animal Sounds on Soundcloud, Bandcamp and Instagram.

  • 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.

  • Rob Compa joins Empire State Music Podcast for Episode 11

    Guitarist Rob Compa joins Empire State Music Podcast host Andy Hogan to discuss time away from Dopapod, life in Burlington, various musical side projects, his upcoming debut solo album, and more!

    rob compa empire statePlus get an exclusive look into Compa’s guilty pleasure bands you will not want to miss. Visit robcompaguitar.com for music, tour dates, and more!