NYS Music 20​18

Tag: honest folk

  • 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

  • Marty O’Reilly and the Old Soul Orchestra Worth the Wait for Honest Folk

    Honest Folk has been around for almost exactly two years, and they’ve been itching to book San Francisco’s Marty O’Reilly and the Soul Orchestra ever since. The dream became reality on Tuesday night at Good Luck, and it was well worth the wait.

    marty O'reillyMore than midway through their show, lead vocalist and guitar slinger Marty O’Reilly apologized that they weren’t playing straightforward folk music. Of course, no apology was necessary.  The crowd had already been moved to multiple standing ovations and were visibly having a hard time containing their gyrations to the confines of their seats. No apology was necessary, regardless, because their music was their music and no one in the room was there to judge its purity. While the promoter’s name may be Honest Folk, the ‘folk’ could just as well refer to the people, not the genre. That is, the people who book the shows, the people who support the shows, the people who attend the shows and the people who play the shows, honest folk one and all.

    And what about their music? Genre-less for sure. We know so far that it isn’t exactly folk. It’s also bluesy, but not the blues, soulful but not soul, and rocking but not rock. O’Reilly’s band mates, Chris Lynch on fiddle, Ben Berry on upright bass and Matt Goff on drums and percussion, aka the Old Soul Orchestra, are old souls pumping with new blood. The band’s origins stem from the blues which certainly shines through. But even in covering some traditional blues, like Muddy Waters’ “Smokestack Lightning” or Skip James’ “Hard Time Killing Floor,” the lyrics are the same, but the music is rewrote to give them a freshness all their own.

    marty O'reillyThe band is touring behind their recently released album Stereoscope, a labor of love that was years in the making, featuring songs conceived of from a cabin in picturesque Santa Cruz, California. O’Reilly’s emotional and weathered voice could evoke those landscapes on new ones like “Stereoscope,” “Ghost” and “Let the Wind In,” though they were being played on a drearily rainy and cold day in Rochester, New York. The cozy and dimly lit brick confines of Good Luck made for just as perfect a setting for the rich tapestries being constructed between the finger picked guitars and vibrantly ethereal fiddle. Goff’s drums, which meandered between intricately understated and invigoratingly punctuated, and Berry’s bass boomed and moaned at all the right junctures. They weren’t afraid to let the music take control of the band. The reins were loose and the tunes stretched their legs, arriving at some rather brilliant moments, delighting the band and audience alike.

    The show finished, as most of these shows seem to these days, with the band leaving the stage to join the audience, unmic’ed. Chairs were pushed aside and space made for the four members to play from the floor, as they broke into a stirring rendition of “Cold Canary Gaslight” off of their Pray for Rain album. The audience got to join in on the music-making fun with a finishing singalong of Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s “Up Above My Head.”

    Hopefully it doesn’t take another two years to get these guys back to Rochester, but if it does, at least we know it’ll be worth the wait.

  • The Ballroom Thieves Spend Valentine’s Day in Rochester

    Valentine’s Day. The perfect occasion to spend an intimate evening alone with your loved one, or as was the case Wednesday night in Rochester, the perfect occasion to spend an evening with a few hundred live music lovers for an intimate show with The Ballroom Thieves. It was apparently an easy choice for many, as the show at the Arbor Loft, a beautiful event space above Hart’s Grocers in the East End, was sold out in advance.

    The trio from Boston, returned for their third Rochester show, and first in over two years. They played two near-hour long sets, both with their own unique overlying flavor. Guitarist Martin Earley strapped on his electric guitars throughout the opening set, while Calin Peters picked up her electric bass for a good portion. In the second set, Earley went almost entirely acoustic, while Peters spent the majority on her cello. The energy ramped up throughout the first half, up until a blood-pumping fervor in the set-closing “Wolf.” The second set was more subdued on the whole, eventually winding all the way down to a show-closing encore performance of Paul Simon’s “American Tune,” completely unmiked.

    Electric, acoustic, no matter. This trio is greater than the sum of it’s parts. Their unique mix of instruments and variety of playing styles kept their sound fresh and invigorating throughout the two-hour show. Devin Mauch is more percussionist than drummer. He serves as not only the beat-keeper, but a third melodic instrument. Utilizing multiple mallets, wire brushes, and traditional sticks, he coaxed a smorgasbord of sound from his minimalist kit, which included an unusual hand-powered bass drum. Peters’ could hold down the low end with the bass during unexpectedly rocking moments, pluck out a more gentle bass on the cello, play foil to Earley’s leads or carry the load with lush bowed flourishes. Earley’s guitar sounds ran the gamut; electric, acoustic, finger style, flat picked.

    The band had a full toolkit, but also knew when and where to use it. There might be no drums, no cello, or just Earley solo; almost every song had a unique mix. Their gorgeous three-part harmonies were nearly ubiquitous though. And with good reason, it’s what elevates this trio to the next level and makes The Ballroom Thieves sound like The Ballroom Thieves. Even a cover of The Heartless Bastards’ “Low Low Low” turned into a song of their own (Earley jokingly wanted to claim that it was), as Mauch sang with just a hint of Erika Wennerstrom’s distinct vocal delivery.

    Nothing fills the heart quite like an intimate evening of genuine and earnest music, even if the messages conveyed weren’t always all that romantic. As they wrapped up the evening with the aforementioned bare bones “American Tune,” there wasn’t a person in attendance who didn’t believe that The Ballroom Thieves was the right choice for Valentine’s Day, love songs or no.

    Setlist
    Set 1: Peregrine, For Mercy, Lantern, Pocket of Gold, Oars to the Sea, Here I Stand, Trouble, Saint Monica, Do Something, Wolf
    Set 2: Blood Run Red, Wild Woman, Coward’s Son, Bury Me Smiling, Archers, Bees, Only Lonely, Low Low Low (Heartless Bastards), Sea Legs, Anybody Else
    Encore: American Tune (Paul Simon)

  • David Wax Museum Offered an Alternative to the State of the Union at Good Luck

    For Honest Folk’s first show of 2018, and their 10th show ever, they brought David Wax Museum, who themselves are celebrating their 10th year as a band. As they’ve made their way around the country, carting along their two kids, eating their kale and kimchi salads in parks or Wendy’s/Gas Station hybrids, they’ve made friendships at show stops along the way, with years separating meaningful contacts. On their drive to Rochester, with the cold and snow blustering in, they wondered if it was such a good idea to visit in January. But they remembered, people need the sense of community and warmth an intimate concert would bring, now more than ever. Right they were.

    On a different stage. in a different place, the President was celebrating his first year in office with his State of the Union. David Wax and his wife Suz Slezak, traveling as just a duo for this tour, presented their audience with a different vision of reality. While one was promising walls and deportations, this couple were breaking down barriers and blending cultures. Inspired by an early introduction to Buena Vista Social Club and collaborations with a musically-gifted Paraguayan exchange student, Wax travelled to Mexico where he learned their music and absorbed their culture. He developed a unique sound blending traditional Mexican and American folk music.

    Wax and Slezak blended the sounds of guitar, ukulele, fiddle, accordion with traditional Mexican percussion by way of a donkey’s jawbone and a tarima, a small wooden stage to stomp on. The diversity of the instrumentation provided plenty of different flavors throughout the show. On the gentle and moving “Wondrous Love,” Slezak plucked out an echoey melody on her fiddle reminiscent of Andrew Bird. They sang into a single mic on “Turn This Love Around,” which built up, finishing with a gorgeous mesh of guitar, fiddle, vocals and stomping.

    In the studio, the band would warm up by playing traditional Mexican folk songs. They shared a couple of them during the evening, including “El Toro Zacamandu,” a song Wax first heard in an ice cream parlor in Missouri of all places. They plan to record another album this year, and also introduced a pair of the new songs that will probably make it, “Line of Light” and “Be Patient.” With those as a sampling, it appears the future of their union continues to be bright.

    In a Democracy, citizens are offered the opportunity to participate in the process. The same was true during this concert. During “Yes, Maria, Yes,”  the audience was split into two sides down the middle. One side stood and sang, “Yes, Maria, Yes,” while the other stood and sang, “No, Maria, No” in quick succession, up and down and back and forth like a good congressional debate. In a more immersive bit of participation, the crowd was asked to close their eyes during “Every Time Katie” to experience a ‘concert in the blind’. Wax and Slezak walked through the room, playing guitar and bells, providing an intimate surround-sound moment of calm and beauty. A rare feat in this day and age.

    Why did the band drive to Rochester in the dead of winter? Because they trusted in the integrity and vitality of the Honest Folk music series, of which they were happy to be a part. A full house of attentive music lovers certainly made it worth their while. And they promised to be back, hoping to bring their full band back to Monty’s Krown, the first place they ever played in town way back when.

    As with all Honest Folk shows, there were also tangible answers to the state of our union. On the environmental front, Impact Earth was on hand to help make it a zero-waste event. And 10% of the concert’s proceeds were donated to The Center for Youth, whose Executive Director, Elaine Spaull, spoke about the center’s mission to provide a safe space for LGBTQ youth.

    Setlist:
    Set 1: Singing to Me, Don’t Lose Heart, El Ahualulco, Line of Light, Wondrous Love, Harder Before It Get’s Easier, At Least I Tried, Yes Maria Yes

    Set 2: The Least I Can Do, ?, Turn This Love Around, Be Patient, El Toro Zacamandu, Every Time Katie, Unfruitful, Guesthouse

  • 5 Shows to See in Rochester in February

    We’re back with another great slate of shows for you to see in Rochester in February. The typical winter slowdown doesn’t seem to be happening this year. These suggestions just scratch the surface, so time to break out of your cabin fever and go see some live music!

    Saturday, February 3
    Huntertones @ Abilene Bar and Lounge

    During the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester gets to experience some of the best music the world has to offer. The artists, in turn, get to experience the best Rochester has to offer as a music town. Lucky for us, this gets many of the acts to return, even in the off season. The Huntertones were a hit with their sets at this past year’s festival and they’re back for an encore at the intimate Abilene Bar and Lounge. The old juke joint will be jumping with their big brass sound. They’re not afraid to throw in some uniquely surprising covers in the mix; their version of “God Only Knows” was a highlight this summer.

    Monday, February 5
    Honeysuckle @ Funk ‘n Waffles Music Hall

    Boston’s Honeysuckle bring their acoustic trio to Funk ‘n Waffles Music Hall. It’s traditional in nature, with guitar, banjo and mandolin. But throw in a kick drum and some non-traditional song structures and it becomes something unexpected and exciting. Three-part harmonies and wonderful songwriting bring this young group to the next level. Fans of Americana looking for something fresh but familiar will find lots to warm to here.

    Wednesday, February 14
    The Ballroom Thieves @ Arbor Loft

    Another folk-trio from Boston, The Ballroom Thieves have been a band on the rise the past couple of years. We caught their show here a few years ago and had this to say: “It begins with Earley’s guitar work. Then sprinkle on the unique rhythms from Mauch and engaging cello work from Peters. Layer upon that what might be this bands strongest attribute, their soaring 3-part harmonies. Working all together to perform the music they’ve written, a varied collection of rockers, ballads, hymnals, barroom blues and on.” Can you think of a more perfect way to spend your Valentine’s Day?!

    Saturday, February 17
    Critt’s Juke Joint @ Anthology

    Buffalo’s multi-instrumentalist Eric “Critt” Crittenden plays a fun mix of jazz, funk and soul he has dubbed “Soulprovisational.” His band, Juke Joint, is actually an ever-evolving, rotating cast of musicians. For this iteration he’s employed DJ Logic, Turkuaz’s Michael Carruba (drums) and Craig Broadhead (guitar), and Harry Graser on keys. Put your dancing shoes on and head down to Anthology for a funky good time.

    Thursday, February 22
    Oval Sandwich @ Flour City Station

    Lastly this month we have Oval Sandwich. You’re forgiven if you’ve never heard of them. This will be their first show and there might not be many to follow. Dopapod is taking 2018 off from touring. Rob Compa, the guitarist, is keeping busy with other musical endeavors. He put together this Rochester supergroup of sorts (Paul McCardle: guitar – Doja, English Project, Will O’Riley: keys- The Niche, Swooners, Tristan Greene: drums – Doja, Ocular Panther and Justin Rister: bass – Moho Collective) and right now the only two shows will be this one and one in Syracuse the next night. To find out more about how he put the band together and other things he’ll be up to on the break check out an interview he did with our own Pete Mason. As to how this will sound, your guess is as good as ours. But we definitely recommend being there to find out!

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