In support of Frames Per Second, the most recent album from Philadelphia instrumental rockers Lotus, the band came to Buffalo for two celebratory nights at the Town Ballroom.
With four sets spread out over two days there was plenty of time to explore tracks both old and new much to the delight of the capacity crowd. Getting things started each night was the Portland, Maine collective Jaw Gems.
Rich harmonies, moving melodies and distinctive arrangements are abound in Healing, the new record released by Hudson Valley-based folk and soul sextet, Upstate. Produced by Wood Brothers’ percussionist, Jano Rix, with engineering helmed by GRAMMY-winner Justin Guip, Healing represents a self-proclaimed metamorphosis for the band. It’s the first full record with vocalist Allison Olender and the first release since the shortening of the band’s original name, Upstate Rubdown. In advance of the album’s release, Upstate shared a video for “Marietta,” along with a performance at City Winery in NYC.
Much of what makes Upstate unique is amplified in this record. The group features a cajon, but no drum kit, and a mandolin, but no guitar (mostly). This allows Ryan Chappell’s mandolin, Harry D’agostino’s bass and Dean Mahoney’s cajon to take turns weaving melodic and percussive elements into the arrangements. Meanwhile, Olender, Melanie Glenn, and Mary Kenney trade lead vocals and infuse the spaces with harmonies.
Mirroring the radical evolution of the band, Healing introduces some new instrumentation. “Sarah” has D’agostino on electric bass, while Glenn and Olender lend their guitar playing in “Crawl In” and “I’ll Be Fine,” respectively. These changes represent a larger effort by producer Rix to experiment with the recording process. Encouraging the band to delve deeper into their non-traditional structure allowed Upstate to nail down its characteristic tone and sound.
Emotions arrive in waves, as the record journeys from the swaying softness of “I’ll Be Fine” to the high energy drive of the eponymous track, “Healing.” While rooted in soulful folk, some tracks stand out as boundary-pushing explorations of genre. In “Mother,” what starts as a vocal ode to a mother’s influence, then moves into a jazzy, moody, groove filled song with ambient sound, culminating with a sax solo by guest musician, Christian Joao.
The Austin, Texas based duo, The Wind and The Wave are no strangers to hard work. Since their formation back in 2012, Dwight Baker and Patty Lynn have recorded three full length albums, multiple EPs, endured an exhausting roller-coaster of extensive touring, created their own podcast and have developed a rabidly devoted fan base.
It is evident that their hard work is paying off. Their latest effort, Human Beings Let You Down, which was independently released by The Wind And The Wave, made it in the top 10 most downloaded albums on iTunes during its debut week, late October 2018. The band has been prominently featured on the longtime ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, which provided coveted national exposure for the pair.
Baker and Lynn provided the show’s producers with refreshing interpretations of a multitude of cover tunes that were featured on the successful drama. These original adaptations of classics include “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol and the Simple Minds 80’s classic, “Don’t You Forget About Me.” Lynn and Baker vocally put a definitive Wind and Wave spin on these covers, in turn creating a sound distinctly different than the original compositions.
Lynn’s writing is always extremely personal and in the title track she lyrically accesses where her life’s journey has taken her, while following her passion of music. She recounts that this journey, while ultimately rewarding, can sometimes be extremely overwhelming. “Follow Your Heart Around,” is a catchy tune that musically illustrates the cohesion and trust that the duo has developed over many years together, making their third full album top notch.
One of the most interesting songs on the record is the third track, “Lay Me Down.” Lynn skilfully describes what a grind touring on the road with a band can become. With lyrics like: Standing weak beneath the shower head or faced down on a bleached out bed, thinking about what I miss the most, Patty illustrates the flip side to the excitement and glamour of performing music on stage. The lyrics are a huge contrast to song’s upbeat tempo and joyful rhythms that the duo created musically for the piece. Those stark differences between these two characteristics create a complex and layered listening experience.
Overall the tunes on Human Beings Let You Down are more cultivated and refined than its predecessor, 2016’s Happiness Is Not A Place, which had a distinctly raw and unpolished theme to its production. The final result is a work that is reminiscent to their debut release, 2014’s From The Wreckage. This similarity may also be due to the fact that Baker was at the helm producing both of those records; and is illustrative of his sensibilities behind the mixing board. The final result is a strong and moving group of very personal songs penned by Lynn that will keep the listener grooving to the musical beat of this very special duo.
Key tracks: Neon Prayers, Human Beings, Follow Your Heart Around
Boston ambassadors of funk, Ripe stopped by Brooklyn Steel on February 8, checking off another sold-out night on their winter 2019 tour. Be sure to check out this seven piece groove-machine as they grow, pushing their music to new heights.
On a cold and rainy Wednesday night, the Los Angles based band, Dawes brought An Evening With Dawes: Passwords Tour to the The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y. The weather didn’t damper those in attendance, as the band took a full house on a journey through its catalog of songs. The band opened the show with “Living in the Future,” from their most recent release Passwords. Throughout the night Taylor Goldsmith roamed the stage engaging his band mates and the audience. By the end of the night, all were one. The band played two sets, finishing the night with “All Your Favorite Bands” from All Your Favorite Bands.
Set 1: Living in the Future, If I Wanted Someone, Right on Time, Quitter, Never Gonna Say Goodbye, Things Happen, Just Beneath the Surface, Now That It’s Too Late, Maria, Time Spent In Los Angele, Feed the Fire, A Little Bit Of Everything.
Set 2: None of My Business, My Greatest Invention, My Way Back Home, From A Window Seat, Picture Of A Man, Coming Back To A Man, Don’t Send Me Away, Most People, Crack the Case, Roll With The Punches, When My Time Comes, All Your Favorite Bands.
Slow down, stay a while and unwind with something like you have never heard before. Troy, NY natives, BURLY, have created a lush, warm and plain relaxing collection sure to help you let go of the days struggles – sinking into your chair for a spell. You won’t find anything else like it, and it just might be your odd cup of tea you never knew you needed.
The album is laced with jazz, folk and indie influences with poetic lyrics layered over the top of each track. They’re literally poems. The “Infinite Broken” lyrics are lifted directly from one of the non-performing member’s own poems. Lyrically, it’s intriguing. But what really sets this group apart is the instrument arrangement: jazz inspired percussion, airy guitar, breathy saxophone, thoughtful bass and mellowing vibraphone. This ensemble is reminiscent of pivotal jazz groups and it’s warming to see a modern revival of this set up. That being said, the group is still in their grassroots stages, so there is a lot of experimentation happening here. We find rockish songs, ones with a western feel and some that are plain melancholy.
We start out with “Branches of Blood” and to be honest, the whole song is perplexing. Highly interpretive lyrics, unique instrumentation and odd time signatures and tempos make the song intriguing, and a bit discomforting. But it’s still very good. It’s obvious that everything is done with intention and diligence. The fact that the group can evoke so many emotions within the songs is incredible. It’s a great way to kick off the album, but as stated before, things keep changing.
Another one of their best is “Happy Birthday 2001,” a song about a “half-remembered birthday party of a high school friend.” Lyrically, it’s pretty comical because we’ve all been to those awkward parties, finding the piano in the basement and “stabbing at the piano keys,” playing video games and “smoking weed out of a corn cob pipe” and “talking to cousins, trying not to seem like a kid”. Beyond that, we find a style that’s high energy and rockish, a much different feel compared to the rest of the album. Yet, it still holds a jazzy feel thanks to the vibraphone and sax. “Happy Birthday 2001” gives an otherwise cringeworthy story, a light hearted and airy feel. It’s just fun to listen to.
“Kent Lame” brings the vibe down. Way down. We’re told a story about, what we can only suspect, is drugs use and the effect it has on people. “I met crystal hazard… two days with two friends of mine confused on acid.” One can only assume. It’s accompanied by a very fitting tone – a soft bed of slow and deliberate instrumentation. This is the vein of the group and they’ve mastered it.
This is one of the most interesting albums I’ve heard in a long time. And although BURLY has done an incredible job creating such a unique atmosphere, I would hope to see more work like “Happy Birthday 2001” in the near future. And whatever you do, don’t get rid of that vibraphone.
Key Tracks: Branches of Blood, Happy Birthday 2001, Kent Lame
Soul and hip hop group, Entreband from the Albany area booked their first multi-date tour which starts March 13 at SUNY Oneonta college. They will be joined by hip hop artiasts D3v and B. Chaps at ten dates including shows in Pittsburg, Cambridge, Brooklyn and Albany.
Entreband houses Souly Had with other producers and vocalists. His songs such as “Deja Vu” have collectively received over 1.5 million listens after an unexpected boost from being added to a highly-visited public Spotify playlist. Amongst the ranks are Mac Moon, Deo Worldwide, and MostlyEverything with Tomcbumpz and DJ Siroc handling many of the instrumental beats. The group has also built a following by performing live along side artists such as The Age and Clear Mind.
Openers D3v and B. Chaps also find themselves rising in popularity. D3v just launched a provocative new music video “Mad @ Me,” while B. Chaps has a project out called “Clips” which experiments with a plethora of genres. Delirium Entertainment will run point on the tour and has all information available on social media and internet platforms.
Hudson Valley acoustic septet, Upstate, released their sophomore album, Healing on Friday. Ahead of the release, the band performed at New York’s City Winery. Check out video from that performance below.
Upstate evolved out of Upstate Rubdown. They employ a blend of jazz, folk, R&B, gospel and rock with gorgeous three-part harmonies and unorthodox instrumentation to produce a unique sound.
The band is currently on tour with several New York dates lined up. The album is currently available on most streaming services.
Upstate Tour:
Feb. 8 – Higher Ground – South Burlington, VT
Feb. 9 – Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT
Feb. 10 – City Winery – Boston, MA
Feb. 11 – City Winery – New York City, NY
Feb. 13 – Thin Man Brewery – Buffalo, NY
Feb. 14 – The Haunt – Ithaca, NY
Feb. 15 – The Colony – Woodstock, NY
Feb. 16 – Flour City Station – Rochester, NY
Feb. 20 – Magic Rat Live Music – Fort Collins, CO
Feb. 21 – Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom & Cervantes’ Other Side – Denver, CO
Feb. 23 – WinterWonderGrass – CO – Steamboat Springs, CO
Feb. 24 – WinterWonderGrass – CO – Steamboat Springs, CO
Feb. 27 – WTVP – Peoria, IL
Feb. 28 – Martyrs’ – Chicago, IL
March 1 – The Refectory Restaurant and Bistro – Columbus, OH
March 2 – Riverdog Retreat – Wakeman, OH
March 3 – Club Café – Pittsburgh, PA
March 7 – Weinberg Center for the Arts – Frederick, MD
March 8 – Richmond Music Hall – Richmond, VA
March 9 – PURPLE FIDDLE – Thomas, WV
March 10 – The Grove – Fayetteville, WV
March 12 – Eddie’s Attic – Decatur, GA
March 14 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC
March 16 – Free Range Brewing – Charlotte, NC
March 29 – WinterWonderGrass – CA -Olympic Valley, CA
April 6 – Chautauqua Auditorium -Boulder, CO
Aug. 2 – Arise Music Festival – Loveland, CO
School of Rock: The Musical takes Schenectady, NY by storm with its five-night performance at Proctors in the heart of downtown. Based on the Paramount film, written by Mike White and starring Jack Black, the musical follows suit. With lyrics by Glenn Slater and new music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, in addition to director Laurence Connor’s vision, this musical takes the movie into a completely different light.
School of Rock follows failed rock star Dewey Finn, played by Merritt David Janes, as he takes a class of straight-A prep school kids and turns them into rock stars. With the pressure of needing to pay rent from his roommate and best friend Ned and Ned’s bossy girlfriend Patty, Dewey finds himself in an unusual predicament. With Ned being a substitute teacher, the principle of Horace Green Prep School calls in need of a fill-in. And thus, the kids at this prestigious prep school go from model students to rock and roll stars, playing in battle of the bands and learning to go outside their comfort zone.
Opening the show was an announcement allowing the audience to know that the children in the musical do play their own instruments. Right in tune with the opening announcements, the musical was treated as a live rock concert and began with a performance in which Dewey was originally in – which was refreshing compared to most musicals.
Throughout the show there was a balance of musical numbers and dialogue that both adults and children were able to enjoy. Keeping up with the humor that fans of the movie came to enjoy, the musical had plenty of laughs for everyone. With jokes referencing Harry Potter and making light of hot topics like, “the man” can also be a woman, it kept the crowd pleased and laughing.
The show also had songs that everyone could relate to and enjoy. One song sung by the students called “If Only You Would Listen,” allowed children in the audience to relate to what the actors were saying. The song featured four of the students and showed us what home life was like with their parents, and the expectations parents had for their children. This song resonates not only with the children watching, but even adults because at some point we have all felt the pressure of our parents. Another song that also was relatable and hilarious was when Dewey was teaching the students to learn to relax. “Stick It to the Man” rang through as more of an anthem for the musical as a whole; the idea behind it was to teach the kids to loosen up – what rock and roll is all about. Throughout School Of Rock the audience watched how these kids went from being shy and rule-bound, to loosening up and having fun. But it’s not just the kids who go through a transformation, Dewey does as well. He goes from being a selfish, fame hungry, failed rocker to someone who realizes what it’s like to be in a band and part of a team. Dewey becomes someone the students can confide in and trust.
The stage set up and lighting was just as impressive as the cast. The backdrops for each scene was easily movable by either sliding up, or to the side and even turning around. For the opening number and the finale of the show, the audience gets thrusted into a rock and roll concert. The kids performing for battle of the bands had their parents in the audience watching in awe, as well as us being a part of the show. With the lighting matching to that of an actual concert, bright and flashing, we were part of the show, cheering on the band of students aptly named School of Rock.
This show was both engaging and fun. With a great cast and song selection to keep the audience both engaged and interested, School of Rock knocked it out of the park. It is both a new and inventive show, fun for all ages. The music was meaningful and there are songs that will resonate with each person. School of Rock: The Musical enhances the movie to a whole new level of interactions. Altogether the show was enjoyable and kept you laughing at every turn.
Performances will take place at Proctors in Schenectady Tuesday through Sunday. Following the Capital Region, the tour will makes its way to Boston.
Arizona rockers Spafford‘s winter tour has them heading east and found them playing to a packed house at Buffalo Iron Works on Wednesday, February 6th. See our photo gallery below.
