NYS Music 20​18

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  • Lettuce and Turkuaz Bring the Funk To Philly

    On Friday, November 2, Philadelphia turned into a funk lover’s paradise. Lettuce and Turkuaz, two of the biggest names in progressive funk, came together to blow the proverbial roof off the Fillmore. Starting off the evening was The Soul Rebels with their New Orleans inspired funk getting the party started.

    Next up was Turkuaz and they wasted little time mixing old favorites and new jams from their recent release Life in the City to get the near capacity crowd moving. Before long Dave Brandwein and the rest of the Turkuaz crew took their final bow which meant it was almost time for Lettuce and their unique blend of interstellar funk to take over. Deep grooves and sonic explorations ruled the night as Lettuce and the City of Brotherly Love came together for a night that will not soon be forgotten.

    Photography by StrawberryIsland Dweller

  • NYS Presents: A November Full of Live Music

    This November, we are thankful for all the incredible artists that will be rolling through the lovely state of New York and would like nothing more than to share all these shows with you.  Continue reading for your monthly breakdown of all can’t-miss live music near you.

    Rochester – Funk ‘N Waffles

    Funk ‘N Waffles will be closing for the second half of the month of November, but before they say their short farewell, they will be packing the beginning of the month full of incredible performances.

    November 7th – “Orgone delivers dirty, organic, California soul with heart music that grabs you by the collar, pulls you to your feel and shoves you wantingly onto the dance floor,” and they will performing with The English Project on the 7th.  If that description does not send you running towards Funk ‘N Waffles to see them play, then I don’t know what will.  Be sure to check them out! Event link.

    November 9th – Hayley Jane & The Primates will be providing a soulful rock & roll music performance with vibrant stage presence that is sure to have Rochester captivated. Event link.

    November 10th – Alternative country and folk artist, Todd Snider, will be taking the stage with indie swamp artist, Kevin Gordon, on the 10th. Event link.

    Syracuse – Funk ‘N Waffles

    November 8th – Before they hit Rochester on the 10th, come through Funk ‘N Waffles in Syracuse to see Hayley Jane & The Primates the night before for the Bob Weir After Party. Event link.

    November 9th – Kuf Knotz will be bringing the hip- hop, soul and reggae sounds along with special guests, Christine Elise and Red Beard Samurai. Event link.

    November 10th – As dynamic as they sound, Dynamo, the R&B, funk and jazz band will be performing with special guest Chris Eves & The New Normal. Event link.

    November 11th – Sean Rowe will be bringing his alternative folk stylings and stunning voice to Syracuse along with with Mike Powell and Dana Sipos for a very special night of music. Event link.

    November 13th – Zach Deputy mixes hip-hop, funk and folk, with soca and calypso, inspired by his Puerto Rican and Cruzan roots, and makes a beautiful, sunny new sound.  Don’t miss this evening with him in Syracuse. Event link.

    November 15th – Come feel the electricity that is the jazz rock sounds of Lil Ed & The Blue Imperials with Erin Harpe Trio when they come to Funk ‘N Waffles on the 15th. Event link.

    November 17th – Big Sexy & The Scrambled Eggs will be bringing yet another night of high energy music to Syracuse, but in the stylings of psychedelic jam music.  Don’t miss them as they swing through with special guest, Cypher. Event link.

    November 20th – Bob Lanzetti of Snarky Puppy will be performing his mesmerizing guitar stylings with the singer-songwriter, Jean Rohe.  Event link.

    November 23rd – Bendetti Band will be taking over with their rock music along with special guest, Ben Bluju.  Event link.

    November 24th – The progressive Americana string band local to Central New York, Floodwood, will be joined by Pearly Baker’s Best to supply the needed dose of Grateful Dead tributes. Event link.

    November 28th – G-Nome Project is what they would call, “livetronica, electro-funk, organic electronica, grilled cheese funk.”  Come on out and find out for yourself! Event link.

    November 30th – Project/Object’s mission is to keep the magic of Frank Zappa’s music alive through their incredible recreations.  Make sure to come out and see them live. Event link.

    And EVERY MONDAY NIGHT, come out for Dead Night with Pearly Baker’s Best! Music starts at 8:30 pm.  And on November 26th, Dead Night will be hosting a Jam for Tots night where attendees are encouraged to bring a gift, in light of the holiday season, which will be collected by Marines to give to children around the holiday.  Come out and see some great music and take the opportunity to pay it forward.

    Albany

    November 9th – The Ghost of Paul Revere have perfected their own genre they call “holler-folk” that is characterized by call-and-response melodies, sing-along hooks and filled to the brim with harmonies.  To come see them do what they do best with special guest, Charlie Parr, come our the The Hollow Bar + Kitchen on the 9th.  Event link.The Ghost of Paul Revere

    November 10th – Albany-local group Wurliday will be taking over The Hollow on the 10th and is sure to be bringing the most lively and dynamic delivery of funk, soul, and stellar songwriting.  Don’t miss their performance with special guest, Dark Honey. Event link.

    Wurliday

    November 17th – Dark Star Orchestra takes on classic Grateful Dead sets but put their own twist on it with their interpretation of the musical era and improvisation.  Don’t miss their performance at The Hollow on the 17th.  Event link.

    Dark Star Orchestra

    November 23rd – At the Pearl St. Pub, J.E.D.I., or Jazz Electronic Dance Improvisation, and their ever-revolving band of incredible musicians will be taking the stage.  Nothing says Happy Thanksgiving like some deep beats and sonic grooves. Event link.J.E.D.I.November 30th – A returning favorite group, The Lizards will be playing all the Phish music your heart could desire.  Event link.The Lizards

    Cohoes

    November 14th – John Medeski’s Mad Skillet will be bringing the jazz, blues, and R&B sounds that will teleport you straight to New Orleans.  Come experience their, “vast musical universe with limitless potential,” as they plan at Cohoes Music Hall.  Event link.John Medeski’s Mad SkilletNovember 23rd – Bluegrass, country and rock inspired group, Eastbound Jesus, will be returning be playing at Cohoes Music Hall for a show full of infectious energy and incredible music.  Event link.

    November 24th – The Marcus King Group will be bringing their “soul-influenced psychedelic southern rock” with Ida Mae to the Cohoes Music Hall on the 24th. Event link.The Marcus King Band

  • Funk Night Returns with Beau Sasser Escape Plan’s Tribute to Aretha Franklin

    Funk Night returns to Parish Public House, this time, boasting a musical selection of the late Aretha Franklin tunes on Nov. 15. Beau Sasser (Kung Fu) is no stranger to hosting Funk Night in downtown Albany, as he’s done many times prior with Albany’s own Justin Henricks, as well as members of Kung Fu, Turkuaz, Wurliday, Dopapod and more.

    For Funk Night’s latest installment at the downtown Albany brick accented bar and music venue, a changing lineup of Beau Sasser (Hammond Organ), Bill Carbone (Drums) and Justin Henricks (Guitar) of Beau Sasser’s Escape plan will serve up a tasty tribute to the sorely missed Queen of Soul.

    Get your tickets in advance and hold your place in line to boogie. “Ain’t no way” you’re missing this one!

  • Rochester Funk ‘n Waffles location closing

    Funk ‘n Waffles owner Adam Gold announced that he is closing the Rochester location of his unique night spot. The final day of operation will be Sunday, Nov. 11.

    Gold jumped on the opportunity to purchase the former warehouse and site of Water Street Music Hall when it became available last year. As a musician and member of Sophistafunk, Gold fell in love with the location and couldn’t pass on making it Funk ‘n Waffles, version three.

    The unique restaurant and performance space features a menu based around, what else, waffles and live music seven nights a week.

    Gold hopes to re-open in the Rochester area in the near future to a smaller location with better foot traffic. He told the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, “We love Rochester. We did well. It just wasn’t enough for that space.”

    The venue will serve out its final week with a full menu and a full music schedule, including performances from Hayley Jane and the Primates and Todd Snider plus a final brunch on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. See the week’s schedule below. For further information, visit Funk ‘n Waffles’s website here.

    The closure leaves just one Funk ‘n Waffles location, at 313 South Clinton Street in the Armory Square district of Syracuse. The original location, on the Syracuse University hill, closed in February of 2017 due to the building being razed for a redevelopment project in the Marshall Street area of Syracuse.

    Nov. 6 – Siena Facciolo, Dream Float and Ava Sauer – 8:00 p.m.
    Nov. 7 – Orgone with The English Project – at 8:00 p.m.
    Nov. 8 – Closed
    Nov. 9 – Hayley Jane and The Primates – 10:00 p.m.
    Nov. 10 – Todd Snider with Kevin Gordon – 8:00 p.m.

  • Wurliday: A Whirlwind of Funk to play Hollow Bar Albany

    Albany’s Wurliday will fill The Hollow Bar in downtown Albany on Saturday, November 10, for the final release of a two part EP-series, Bedtime Blazer.

    Bedtime Blazer Vol. II is a more-produced studio effort, where core bandmates come together in full fruition. In comparison to the 2017 EP, the six-track response takes a risky and adventurous leap. The music pushes and pulls constantly around soulful lyrics and enticing melody.

    “The idea behind Bedtime Blazer Vol. II was collaboration; taking a Steely Dan approach and making a record featuring special guests,” said bandleader/songwriter Justin Henricks (Beau Sasser’s Escape Plan/The Chronicles). “From the moment we step on stage I become another piece of the puzzle, but it has been really cool to see the band transform into something we can take on the road. In the grand scheme, we all do our thing and I am just there to drive the ship.”

    The opening track “Mill House” is infectious; Wurliday’s energy cannot be concealed. A guitar slide-in and hi-hat backbeat leaves the music weighted in your chest – juxtaposed to airy funk-guitar licks and spunky bass, as the full band takes force. The sound is refined and booms throughout your body. Synth spurts and complementing pads color higher frequencies, while drums texture the groove with up-beat ride bell and hi-hat splashes.

    “For the first record, the band was all playing in a live room together, right to tape. It was raw with track bleed,” said Henricks. “I was excited to embrace the studio in Vol 2. We really used the recording process to our advantage – for a more isolated, more produced, sound. We got deep into synth parts, layering guitars, strings and vocal harmonies.”

    Despite the synthetic creation, Bedtime Blazer Vol. II captures the essence of Wurliday live, wholeheartedly. The evolution of Vol. II is a realtime sight-window into Henrick’s effort with his new adventure. Each song brings a new vision, panning-out on the bands’ boundless limits.

    “Give It Up” is a tight-driving funk-rock track, spotlighting Girl Blue’s (Arielle O’Keefe) soaring vocals. Whereas, “Who Are You Anyways” is vibey – complemented with a pocket-sealed shuffle on drums. Girl Blue’s voice stands firm in the track at intimate and forte levels, while the rhythm section floats with the tide. Both songs were co-written by O’Keefe and Henricks, in addition to “Mill House” and “Take Me There.”

    “Clyde,” which was nothing more than an interlude track, morphed into one of Henrick’s favorites. It features master-talkbox and multi-instrumentalist Steveland Swatkins, who is relentless. “We had a little riff at the studio and I didn’t think much of it,” said Henricks. “I asked Steve if he was down and it just came together organically.”

    The collective of Bedtime Blazer Vol. II does not stop there. Both parts of Bedtime Blazer were recorded with Alan Evans at Iron Wax Studio in Millers Falls, MA. Vocals were recorded in a ‘dope attic studio,’ where Henricks used to live and Keyboards were tracked with Paulie Phillipone (West End Blend) at Funkhaus Nebularium in Hartford, CT. “We spent several long days tracking keyboards and live guitars, as he [Paulie], likes to do,” added Henricks. The Jazz-Funk group takes on Pop-Punk influence from longtime friend and State Champs frontman, Derek Discano, who has producing credits on the record. Henricks coins him as a ghostwriter. “It takes a village, man.”

    “The strengths in our band hinge on sticking true to the art of songwriting and having a really strong chorus’. There is depth and meaning in our lyrics that will get you dancing,” said Henricks. “Of all the songs we know and love, you could sing one back to someone immediately if asked to – because they have strong melody and lyrical content. We bridge that gap. It’s music we can all eat and get behind; while creating, being innovative and making something you can believe in – all at the same time.”

    Bedtime Blazer Vol. II was released this past Friday in-junction with a show at Arch Street Tavern in Hartford, CT; tying in Henricks’ roots as a Hartt School music graduate. A second show followed in New Haven, CT at Pacific Standard Tavern which was a mass of wind. This trifecta of shows roots Wurliday in the musical ecosystems to which they were born, and will take it all home for their Albany show next weekend.

  • 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

  • String Cheese Incident Make Halloween Shine in Philadelphia

    The String Cheese Incident are finishing up an eastern stint of shows, with last night and tonight seeing them play at Worcester, MA’s Palladium Night Club. Earlier this week, the band spent Halloween in Philadelphia, performing two back to back shows at the city of brotherly love’s The Fillmore.

     After a monumental weekend at Hulaween, in which three headlining nights from the band included plenty of guest sit-ins and lots of musical surprises, the hype for String Cheese’s Fillmore run was pricked with anticipation. Many were wondering if they had steam left after delivering such a jam-packed weekend, and others had no doubt at all.

    Fillmore Night One

    That these were going to be some strong shows was definitely clear soon enough into night one’s firs set. A “Song in My Head” > Can’t Stop Now brought the first smiles of the run, and the band was at least in tight form, if not risk-taking right away.” Way That it Goes” through “Believe” saw incredibly heavy Cheese. The intensity, not to mention the sheer decibel level, on even an old school jazzier number like “Pirates,” was pretty staggering. A first set “Sympathy For The Devil,” sung by Keith Mosely, was our Halloween nugget for the night, and it certainly seemed appreciated given the enthusiasm emanating from the crowd all the way through. 

    Set two invited the most electronic side of Cheese to party, with a “Tinderbox” to start that saw the band enter full-on dubstep style. The crowd appeared to dig on it, though, and so the band followed it soon after with a similarly crystallized version of “Bumpin’ Reel.” Kang broke out the fiddle here, and buttoned up this wildly looped jam with some choice intermittent soloing.There were a few big gems of this two-night run, and arguably the first came in night one’s final, towering segment that kicked off with a “Miss Brown’s Teahouse.” While this was a straightforward version, it rolled on in mystical fashion towards a highly received “Land’s End,” perhaps one of the most appreciated songs in the Cheese catalogue. The band took their time gracefully here, treading thoughtfully through a section of space, comprising a “Glory Chords” jam, but soon enough took off running into a “Just One Story” to close out—another one of Cheese’s most appreciated numbers.

    This magical combo worked with the encore to leave The Fillmore fully satisfied for night one. The encore which might have actually stood out in the context of the whole run. A very fun “Born On The Wrong Planet” segued with ease into an “I Know You Rider” that saw the latter of those two tunes fleshed put nicely, complete with a slowly cascading reggae jam, to be a standout version.

    Fillmore Night Two

    While Halloween have default regard as special shows, it stands that String Cheese’s second night in Philadelphia came as the better of two nights—nothing damnable about making the next show better than the last! Again, the band made fast moves to show their chameleon-like ability to divert musical styles and moods. After a welcomed “Don’t It Make You Wanna Dance” opened it up, the engine for the evening really starting revving with a funky, murky jam coming out of ‘Eye Know Why.” The band was in sync, and they were making improvisational choices with confidence.

    The “Shine” to end the first set was fine and feel good as any other, but the “Outside and Inside” coming before it was the real ticket: a type two version that flung itself into the first set ender with pure adrenaline. But, if you were to listen to just one song from this entire two night run, make it the “Lonesome Fiddle Blues” that blew out the doors of The Fillmore on night two, set two. The crowd was caught off guard with the insanity of this one, and when Hollingsworth helped catapult this eruptive version, with an organ solo that still has this writer shaking his head, nearly everybody in that room went from chill to berserk in seconds flat.

    The set only evolved from there, with the band venturing into some of the most improvisational territory yet with a fantastic “Best Feeling.” After some cosmic interplay led to a tension-tinged climax, “Feeling” dropped succinctly into “Illegal,” a song that has been a big hit with Cheese fans this year. Over the last week, the band has been cycling through the new material penned by each member of the band, and this one, composed by drummer Michael Travis, is a doozy. It’s neat, coastal-vibe like chorus gives way, in back and forth style, to a wicked prog-rock like instrumental section, which the band nailed here at The Fillmore with a real tenacity.

    Coming back for the encore, Hollingsworth recounted warmly he grew up down the street from The Fillmore, and that all six of his siblings were in attendance. Nershi commented: “Seeing family come to all the shows makes us feel like we’re doing this thing right. And you all of course are our family too.” The band played a textbook “Restless Wind” to finish out, highlighted with a great few minutes of solo trading between Kang and Nershi, and brought a terrific two-night stand down for a soft landing.  

    String Cheese Incident’s next scheduled concert appearance is their highly anticipated three-night New Years Eve run at 1st Bank Center in Denver, Colorado. For more information visit their site at http://www.stringcheeseincident.com.

  • WinterWonderGrass comes to Vermont in December

    WinterWonderGrass arrives this weekend at Stratton Mountain Resort from December 14-16 in Stratton Vermont. Locals introduced to this traditionally Colorado music festival can expect craft beers, tasty treats, outdoor winter fun, and the intimate family atmosphere that WWG is famous for fostering. At the popular mountain resort located just a short drive from both Boston and New York City, concert attendees can enjoy a perfect winter backdrop for WWG’s inaugural New England appearance.

    Here’s this weekend’s schedule including ‘Grass after Dark’ shows held nightly.

    WinterWonderGrass vermont Single day tickets are currently $59 for Friday and Sunday, while Saturday tickets are $79.  The best priced ticket package is the three-day ticket ($149). On top of three days for WWG musical offerings, three-day tickets include three hours of beer, cider, tea and Switchel samplings each day.

    After each day’s main headliner, fans are welcome to attend special performances at the Soapbox featuring Pickin on the Dead on Friday, Rumpke Mountain Boys on Saturday, and the Jon Stickley Trio to wrap up on Sunday. Committed to community engagement, WWG is also hosting free afternoon meetings for WWG artists and local musicians interaction. Bring your own instrument, refreshments will be provided.

    Be on the lookout for more bluegrass events at the festival, more is still to come for the evening.  WWG is preparing to announce ‘Grass after Dark’ late night shows on Nov. 13. The late shows will bring guests to more intimate peaks and settle the concert into a more casual vibe. Connecting artists with the local community, these events bring you up close and personal with bluegrass icons as they improvise musical conversations with ease.

    WinterWonderGrass is a low-impact event with music throughout the day. Get to know the lay of the land, what beers will be available for sampling (daily from 2-5p), what food trucks will be on hand, where the Kids Zone is and more.

    If you still need lodging options, WinterWonderGrass has partnered up with a few local options to ensure maximum comfort during your visit. Shuttles will run from select properties in Manchester as well.

    In 2018 alone, WinterWonderGrass diverted more than 23,000 lbs of waste from landfills due to their composting, recycling and food donation program. WWG has long been a partner with Waste-Free Earth out of Burlington. Get to know their company and how big of an impact they’ve made on our festival community.

    Check out the dining options around the resort outside of the festival grounds and for more info, check out WWG’s additional FAQs with anything and everything you need to know to have the best possible WWG experience. From what to wear, what not to bring, what’s allowed and so on. See you in Stratton!

  • Hearing Aide: The Breakfast ‘Phantasmagoria’

    It’s been twenty years since the jam band The Breakfast formed. Originally known as Psychedelic Breakfast and based out of Connecticut, the band is releasing their 20th anniversary album, Phantasmagoria, featuring freshly revamped tracks filled to the brim with exploratory attitude. Consisting of members Tim Palmieri on guitar, Chris DeAngelis on bass, Jordan Giangreco on keys and Adrian Tramontano on drums, the long-awaited new album is nothing but explosive energy right out of the gate.

    phantasmagoria

    With eager anticipation, “Metropolis” kicks off with light tones that increase in energy as the tune progresses. DeAngelis and Palmieri take turns strutting their guitar magic midway through, while Tramontano keeps the tune rolling with tireless drumming. The calmest track rears its head second song in as “Shotgun Butterfly” slinks by with sharp lyrics and edgy bass before “Rush” wastes no time jumping in with a brisk tempo and harmonized lyrics. The track takes a surprising twist as the tune creeps into a psychedelic melody crammed with Giangreco’s kaleidoscopic keys. Close your eyes and disappear into a dreamlike state as this tune takes hold of your earholes.

    An upbeat “Reel Time” is a clean tune immersed in sleek vocals, dynamic keyboard tones and crisp guitar. Sliding in and out of time changes makes for a dramatic song full of surprises around every note. Meanwhile, “Rust” electrifies the senses as Palmieri’s masterful guitar delivers by continuously elevating the track just when the listener thinks his solo will come to an end. Intense is a mild word to describe the energy built up during this tune.

    “Episode III (Awakening)” does just that – awakens and stimulates the brain as the track flows in and out of varying musical styles. A rocking, heavier backbone glues the track together while hinting at a touch of jazz, as well as a more classical style, before swinging back into the heavier melody. A bluesy beat also makes an appearance before, once again, sliding right back into a harder tone.

    Wrapping up the album is an expansive 23-minute “Hard Luck Harry.” This final track has the air of accomplishment and triumph streaming throughout a diverse range of tones. Darker notes emit their shadowy depths midway, tiptoeing along the rim of multi-colored tones that dive deep into an exploratory rhythm that stays parked for a good long while. This is one track to listen to in the dark, with headphones on and eyes closed, in order to truly experience the energy created throughout. A sense of being thrown into deep space takes hold while plummeting through the musical rabbit hole of this melody.

    Phantasmagoria is a welcome reprieve from the usual jam band numbers. Tracks throughout are a breath of fresh air. Unexpected tones, experimental melodies and time change treats make this album an innovative blend of musical delights that awaken all the senses. To fully experience this album in all of it’s musical glory, make sure to listen with headphones to capture the true depth of the masterfully produced numbers. If you’re seeking a fresh sound, this album delivers, hands down. The Breakfast is back and better than ever.

    Key Tracks: Reel Time, Rust, Hard Luck Harry

  • Photo Gallery: Phish dresses up as Kasvot Växt, Faceplants Las Vegas into Rock

    Phish fans got a trick, and a treat on Halloween. For their Halloween show, Phish didn’t cover a classic rock album like fans hoped, but instead did something far scarier – they performed brand new music as Kasvot Växt to a sold out MGM Garden Grand Arena in Las Vegas, NV.

    kazvot vaxtCombining their 2013 (Wingsuit) and 2014 (Chilling Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House) costumes, Phish created something completely different, brand new and unique, to say the least – they invented a band, backstory and full album to cover, performing as Kasvot Växt, a Scandinavian prog rock outfit dressed all in white and bringing an incredibly fresh sound to Phish’s legacy of Halloween runs.

    kasvot vaxtWearing all white suits on an all white stage and playing all white instruments, Phish performed i rokk, which when combined with Kasvot Växt translates as ‘Faceplant into rock.’ All 10 songs were brand new Phish, or Kasvot Växt, depending on how you look at it.

    What was most amazing about the show is the level of secrecy that kept this set so under wraps that no one knew what would really happen until the first notes of the set. Performing a new album has been done before in 2013 with Wingsuit, and again in 2014 in Las Vegas with Chilling Thrilling, but combining those two efforts and writing 10 songs in a prog rock/metal-ish style AND the Kazvot Växt persona to go along with it is a level up, even for Phish.

    Setlist via Phish.net

    Set 1: Buried Alive > Ghost > Crazy Sometimes > Free, More, Halley’s Comet > Ocelot > Theme From the Bottom > First Tube

    Set 2: Turtle in the Clouds[1], Stray Dog[1], Everything is Hollow[1], We Are Come to Outlive Our Brains[1], Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.[1], The Final Hurrah[1], Play by Play[1], Death Don’t Hurt Very Long[1], Cool Amber and Mercury[1], Passing Through[1]

    Set 3: Set Your Soul Free > Tweezer > A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing > Backwards Down the Number Line > Meatstick, Bug > Run Like an Antelope

    Encore: Loving Cup > Tweezer Reprise

    [1] Debut.

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