Amoramora might be the new kids on the block in the jam scene, but these rocky mountain boys are becoming quite the road warriors, where they are gaining more and more momentum through an unbreakable comradery, as well as great musical talent and exploration. Their 21-date spring tour is coming to a close, with stops in St. Louis, Cleveland, Nashville, Macon and New York, performing at the infamous Cutting Room on April 6, 2019.
This quartet consists of Danny Evans on guitar and vocals, Eric Levine (bass/vocals/trumpet), Michael Lenssen (trumpet/EWI/keys/vocals), and Tyler Hobbs (drums/precussion/vocals). Amoramora blends Funk, bluegrass, jazz and African Highlife, with a main theme of positivity guiding their sound. The band has a great commitment to consistently changing setlists and expanding their extensive catalog of original material.
Zach Belfer: How would you describe Amoramora to a music fan that has never heard of you before?
Danny Evans: It’s like a s’more – crunchy, warm, melty and tasteful.
ZB: How did you come up with the name Amoramora?
DE: To us it means More Love. It’s a made up word inspired by a pet snake we knew in college.
ZB: What venues would you like to play that you haven’t played yet?
DE:Too many great places to pick one… but playing the Brooklyn Bowl or Capital Theater would be pretty mind blowing.
ZB: What was your favorite memory of this tour?
DE: I think that our show in Cincinnati on April’s Fools Day was one of the most creative and dynamic shows we have ever played. It was seriously fat, with tons of tease and laughs throughout.
ZB: Tell us a fun fact about Amoramora, that fans wouldn’t know about.
DE:Both the bass player (Eric Levine) and the keys player (Michael Lensse) have a degree in Jazz Trumpet. Eric went to University of Colorado and Mike went to University of Miami (FL).
ZB: Where can we find your music?
DE: Bandcamp, Apple Music, Spotify, Archive.org, and written on the caves of Altamira.
Setlist: Window To The Stars, Diamond Phillips > Spirit Of Adventure, Rafiki’s Expedition*
Notes: 1 set, 45 minutes, opening for Hayley Jane & The Primates. Danny teased The Flintstones,Mike teased Swingtown and Eric teased In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida in Diamond. Spirit featured a Round The Wheel tease and an In The Streets / 70s Show Intro tease. Mike also teased Rhapsody In Blue in Spirit. Rafiki’s featured Eric on Trumpet and Dan Montgomery sitting in on Bass.
Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial – This large indoor arena, constructed in 1955 as the Rochester Community War Memorial, to this day hosts some of the biggest sporting and entertainment events that come through the city. While the large venue has a variety of events, heavily concentrating on sports, bigger music acts utilize the space when they come through on their tours. Most recently, The Millennium Tour, featuring R&B group, B2K and Mario performed there. Make sure to keep an eye on the arena’s calendar for big upcoming events.
Main Street Armory – This active entertainment hotspot has remained central to the music scene of Rochester for a long time. It began as a military facility hosting center and grew into a hub for sporting events, paintball and, of course, concerts. Holding 6,500 attendees, this venue has hosted a multitude of genres and has upcoming shows to reflect its diversity of sound as well. To name a few highlights off the venue’s calendar, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie will be coming in May with PnB Rock, Lil Baby in June, and Buckcherry with WARPAINT in July.
Theaters
Kodak Center Theater – The Kodak Center is more than just a music venue, as it additionally holds conference and alternative event spaces, as well as a Visitor’s Center. However, the main pull to the center, located just minutes from downtown Rochester, is their main stage, the Kodak Center Theater. The room holds 1,968 attendees in comfortable seating and has produced a variety of shows in the past from comedy to dance shows to children’s camp events to full-on concerts. Some highlights from their calendar for upcoming events include Gary Allen, who will be performing later this week, Derek Hough Live and The Temptations & The Four Tops.
Eastman Theatre – The Eastman Theatre of the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester is located in downtown Rochester and is home to multiple state of the art theaters and venues. Within the facilities are Kilbourn Hall, the ornate and acoustically pure Venetian Renaissance styled theatre that holds 400+ guests, Hatch Recital Hall – the modernly-styled, newest addition to the building that holds an intimate 200+ audience, and a handful of other different rehearsal rooms. The gem of this facility, however, is the extravagant Kodak Hall which opened in 1922 and since then has been a driving force of fine arts in Rochester. It holds 3,352 people and commonly holds a high-quality schedule of musical performances.
Clubs
Sensation Nightclub – Sensation Nightclub claims to be the premiere nightclub experience in Rochester, inspired by the founders’ opinion of the lack of a proper nightlife experience within the city. In addition to presenting a luxurious experience with table bookings, bottle service, and top-notch accommodations, Sensation books high-quality, nationally-touring DJ acts for their late nights. If you are looking for a fun night out accompanied by some electronic music, Sensation is the place to go!
SKYWAY – By day, SKYWAY is better known as Cafe SOL, but at night, the place transforms into a unique and visionary clubbing experience. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, SKYWAY Lounge captivates guests through their “musical collage of seamlessly woven beats” that is comprised of every imaginable genre including Balearic lounge, Caribbean rhythm, soul, disco, pop, hip-hop, and deep house. Bottle service and private event booking is available, but regardless, a good time and good music is always guaranteed. For your next big night out, check out their calendar.
Vertex – Another notorious and long-standing club in Rochester happens to be the club Vertex. For over 20 years now, this goth club has continue to operate, while seeing multiple changes in locations, it still continues to bring great music for this scene within the city. Operating on the usual schedule of Thursdays with DJ Noname, Fridays with Silver Crash, and Saturdays with DJ Darkwave, the standard set still packs the house. Throw their Facebook page a like and a follow to stay up to date on their events.
Flour City Station – Flour City Station is a different breed of club, aside from the usual EDM sets at most. For a late night fix of all categories and genres ranging from DMB and The Grateful Dead cover bands, 90’s throwback parties, to ska, funk, and beyond, the Station is the place to go. Don’t miss out on the stacked upcoming events.
Venues
Anthology – An undeniable personality within the Rochester music scene, Anthology is a re-invented multi-level auto warehouse in the East End of the city. It holds about 1,000 people, providing enough space for a large scale audience for local acts and an intimate audience for nationally touring acts, which the venue finds a solid balance between. The facility is beautifully remodeled and has been known to host memorable shows, so keep an eye an out to catch one of your favorite artists there.
Montage Music Hall – Montage Music Hall is a small but mighty, long-standing staple in Rochester’s music scene. This 400-capacity venue has been kicking for over 20 years and has never failed to promote an overwhelming variety of genres. Some past notable acts that have played the venue include The Arkells, Max Creek, Melvin Seals, and Attila, and their calendar is set to include many more dynamic acts to come for the summer and beyond.
Bug Jar – It is safe to say that there is always something going on at the Bug Jar. Whether it be a comedy show, trivia night, DJ set, or live band set, their calendar is packed full, 7 days a week. It is a local favorite and a can’t miss when addressing the city’s musical landscape.
Festivals
Rochester Summer Soul Festival – Set to take place on Friday August 23 and Saturday, August 24, Rochester’s Summer Soul Music Festival is an event that will serve to highlight the bright array of musical talent in Rochester coupled with a great family environment and local food vendors. It will be held at Frontier Field and the lineup is set to be announced soon.
Rochester International Jazz Festival – Right in the heart of Rochester is one of the world’s leading jazz festivals that has been going strong since 2002. Hosted by M&T Bank and spanning a whole nine days, this celebration of music features over 1,500 artists yearly with over 320 shows that take place in over 20 venues around the city. It is a small citywide takeover that lights the city up with good vibes and good music. If you catch yourself in Rochester between June 21 and June 29, you’re sure to be in for a good time. Be sure to check out the lineup.
The Gateways Music Festival – In association with Eastman School of Music, from August 6 until the 11th, The Gateways Music Festival will be gracing Rochester once again with over 50 performances throughout the area. The festival aims to be a resource for classical musicians of African descent and will feature more than 125 musicians from their ever-growing database of now 700 musicians. The tickets are cheap, but the organization will be accepting donations to support their ongoing cause. For more information click here.
Party in the Park – For the 22nd consecutive year, the City of Rochester presents Party in the Park every Thursday from June 6 until August 8. The weekly event transforms Martin Luther King Jr. Park into a treasure trove of local vendors, incredible food, and awesome musicians. Check out the website for more details and this summer’s lineup.
Hidden Gems
Lovin’ Cup – Lovin’ Cup has become Rochester’s one-stop-shop for all the city’s coffee, food, bar and entertainment needs. From breakfast, lunch, dinner, to drinks, Lovin’ Cup has got you covered. Upcoming on their calendar for live music includes The Klick, Hey Mavis, Hanna and the Blue Hearts, and plenty of Open Mic Nights and Salsa Nights to get involved in.
Record Archive – For over 40 years, this record store has been providing Rochester with quality music on vinyl. Beyond it’s primary purpose, Record Archive has two live stages within the store with which they host their own events. A favorite place for locals and a popular attraction for tourists, the Record Archive keeps people coming back with their wide array of records and stellar live events.
Sofar Sounds Rochester – Something that adds an interesting dynamic to local music scenes and does it incredible job of highlighting local musicians in intimate and unusual venues is Sofar Sounds, and Rochester is fortunate enough to have this active organization in their area. If you’ve ever wanted to see acoustic sets in a neighbor’s home, an office building, or a rooftop, Sofar Sounds is one to watch for your next favorite small concert experience.
If you’re looking for a place to get away and lose yourself in music, Rochester holds a promising array for lovers of any genre. This guide is only the tipping point of all the endless possibilities and incredible musical experiences awaiting in this city.
Music transcends all. The staff (more like family) at Modern Day Music School, snugly located in an unassuming plaza on Route 9, understand this. All family members use this knowledge to make a difference in the lives of those they touch. The school, known for its powerhouse students Moriah Formica and Madison VanDenburg, has more behind the door, and in its heart, than the voices it trains and musicians it tunes.
“I once had a student who had a friend pass away and for whatever reason, she couldn’t go to the wake,” said vocal coach and musical instructor, Laura Beth Johnson. “The student came in here and said, ‘I want to write a song about this.’ So, we put pen to paper and she was able to write through the grief and use her music as a way to channel that grief into something positive and productive.
“I was so grateful and honored to be a part of that process and help her find her voice,” said Johnson.
Johnson (one of fourJohnson family members who work at the studio) was amazed at how her student has grown since that day.
“She’s writing all the time,” said Johnson. “It has given her the confidence she needs and she has blossomed since that day into even more of an artist.”
This is just one example of the way that Modern Day Music School is able to be there for its students. In music, you’re vulnerable. You’re open. You’re bearing your soul. For some, it’s incredibly intimidating at first. For others, it’s a relief right away. For all, the studio is a sanctuary; a place where they can be free, vulnerable and most importantly, themselves.
“The students develop these incredible bonds with their coaches and teachers that makes them want to work even harder,” owner Paul Benedetti said. “They come in for this 30-minute session. Sometimes, they only sing for about five minutes of that. They’re working through something tough in their personal life and they feel safe enough to come in here and talk to us. We want them to feel safe.”
These bonds were evident as our staff visited the studio on a rainy Friday afternoon. As pictures were being taken, Formica and VanDenburg were belting into a mic. Their vocal coach, Lesley O’Donnell, was standing outside the sound-proof booth. The doors were open, the vibe was good. As the girls tried to find their pitch, O’Donnell was offering encouraging words even though the girls were just goofing around.
“There it is!,” O’Donnell exclaimed as the teen stars belted out an impressive harmony. “There we go! Awesome!” A smile spread across her face. “It’s amazing,” she said.
Benedetti started Modern Day Music School in 2011 with a partner, who he bought out in 2013. The need for the school was a response to his own son’s musical talent. When his oldest son was a teenager, he was playing drums and decided he wanted to start a band. The problem was, there was nowhere in the area that made it easy to coordinate young musicians who wanted to get together with peers. Benedetti said it was a “nightmare” because there was always curve balls thrown; some kids really wanted to play, while others weren’t ready for the commitment it held. On top of that, where the bands would eventually play weren’t kid-friendly. The teens would play at house parties, where Benedetti didn’t feel was a good place for these young musicians.
“I come from the studio business and I’ve been playing, teaching and singing forever,” he said. “My partner and I had a thought during this time period; wouldn’t it be awesome to create a space where these kids could find like-minded students, and even better, have a safe space to play?”
The school opened with its well-known band program. Essentially, students signed up and are paired into a band with three to four other students with the same essential goal. Benedetti said these kids usually don’t know one another at first, and even more, they don’t always want to play the same thing or even like the same music.
“It’s not only a music session, it’s team-building,” he said. “These kids learn that you sometimes have to work with people you wouldn’t pick at first for whatever reason. That’s something you’ll run into regardless of where you end up in life.”
It sometimes takes a bit for the band to adapt. The band program is offered in three-month sessions. Despite the initial uncertainty, the kids not only learn to work well together, but they become friends and will often ask to play together again at the beginning of the new session.
“They’ll want to do more, work harder and see where they could potentially go as a cohesive unit,” said Benedetti. “If we feel it works as a whole, we will happily try to accommodate those requests.”
The band program eventually was joined by music lessons when Benedetti realized how needed it was. Now, the studio employs at least a dozen coaches with all different abilities and talents. While those like Formica and VanDenburg are jumping into the mainstream, 7-year-old Ella Dane Morgan is a student with a different passion — performing on stage. At 5 years old, she was starring with pop sensation Sara Bareilles in the singer’s smash hit “Waitress.”
“I have reverse stage fright,” Morgan explained. “I don’t really like performing in front of friends and family, but I love performing on stage.”
Morgan’s mother Laura agreed, explaining she’s had to physically carry a crying Morgan as she pleaded to get back on stage, long after the curtains closed.
“We were bitten by the Broadway bug at a young age,”said Laura Morgan. “Once she got the taste for it, she wanted in. We sometimes commute between here and the city three to four days a week for whatever she has going on.”
The young Broadway star has learned so much from her three years of instruction. Laura Morgan said they picked Modern Day Music School because of the school’s command of music — they know what they’re doing. There are not a lot of roles for children on Broadway, but the Morgans have made it work and the young star has been consistently in her element, doing what she loves most.
“I’ve learned to belt by opening up my mouth like a cave,” Ella said. “I pretend I’m stuffing all of these marshmallows in my mouth. It’s helped.”
Another belter, 11-year-old Ashlynn Boyce, has been working on the same techniques. The two-time winner of Clifton Park American Idol has always known she could sing, surprising even her parents.
“I was shocked when I first heard her,” Boyce’s father, Jesse, said. “None of our family has this skill and she can command it so well.”
Boyce has been attending Modern Day Music School for two years. Having just relocated from Pittstown, Boyce and her dad were passing through one day and she saw the sign for the school.
“I just knew I wanted to go here,” she said. As shy as she is, she knows what she wants. “I had a feeling about it.”
Jesse Boyce put all his trust in Benedetti. Soon Boyce, who was sent home early from Clifton Park American Idol the first year she tried out, was in command of her talent like never before.
“She can be so successful at this,” he said. “You just want the best for your kid. No place is perfect, but this is pretty close.”
Boyce said her warmups have completely changed her. They help her get ready for the big notes she loves to hit, ones she hopes to sing with Demi Lovato someday. Two years later, she still wants to go here. It’s become as much of a sanctuary for her as anyone.
Students like Boyce are how the teachers summarized what they feel the school does for students. The initial intimidation of coming in and bearing a part of your soul that many are self-conscious about — even those who know they have talent — is overridden when they step into that studio and feel validation about something they’ve worked on for so long.
“It’s music. That’s what we know,” said O’Donnell. “It makes sense for us to teach it. We are simply the vehicles for these kids to hone in on the thing they love so much.”
Tony Garza, the jack of all trades of the school, agrees. Garza teaches guitar, bass and ukelele. He is the head of the school’s Little Rockers program and is the rock school director. For him, it comes down to helping the students learn important life lessons, like they have to be ok with not being perfect.
“I always tell my students they are good, they are special and they are worthy,” Garza explained. “I want to help them find their voice.”
Katie Johnson, another vocal coach and the song writing teacher, agreed. “Music has changed the lives of these kids, and they’ve changed all of us,” she said. “They come in not believing in themselves and they find who they are through the music.”
The teachers are assisted by the helpful Benedetti and Cailin Burke, the studio manager. Burke explained students are not just randomly assigned — rather, the studio takes the talents of each individual into consideration and pairs them with the coach that can address those specific needs.
“No curriculum here,” was echoed by every single employee of the studio. Benedetti added, “We use music that the students want to learn about to construct our lessons. If they love Taylor Swift, we will visit her music and learn notes, harmonies and how the song is constructed. We want to make learning fun for these students. Curriculum is great, but we want to take an individualized approach to each student. This is not one size fits all.”
Eighteen-year-old Formica, 17-year-old VanDenburg and 15-year-old Cassie Cenzano are on their way to superstardom. All three said they owe so much to their coaches; while it’s taught them how to sing, it’s also taught them how not to.
“I hate it when people come up to me and tell me how they’ve never taken lessons,” said Formica. “We take pride in our lessons because they’ve taught us how to maintain our voices. Not taking lessons is great, but when you accidentally blow out your voice because you didn’t maintain it, that’s definitely not fun.”
Formica and Cenzano landed at Modern Day Music School around the same time, right after the school opened. Formica is a rock powerhouse, effortlessly having both the voice and stage presence to make audiences question why rock went away. Cenzano is influenced by the sultry vocals of Adele and Stevie Nicks, a stark contrast to Formica. VanDenburg finds her influence in singers like Celine Dion and once said she prides herself in the ability to sing ballads “decently well.” As her recent appearance on “American Idol” has shown, she was maintaining the level-headed kindness and humility all three girls embody.
“Moriah was actually the one who encouraged me to come here,” said VanDenburg. “I think that’s what sets this place apart from everywhere else. It’s welcoming, it’s chill and our coaches genuinely want to get involved in our lives and provide the support we need outside of this.”
Cenzano agreed. Her low, soothing voice articulates her gratefulness to the studio for its ability to reach out to her. She’s in the studio too, working as hard as her peers.
“The key to these lessons is listening and taking it all in,” she said. “We all practice a lot. We’re open to what we’re being told. We want to learn.
“Being a musician is always in you,” Formica concluded. “True artists, like the three of us and those who are here with us, love music in all of its forms, and we love that we can make our own music.”
Benedetti chalks up his impressive staff and students to the “vibe” he puts out. While they frequently get applications for new employees, Benedetti said it’s so much more than having the ability to sing or play.
“If you can come in here and you have the talent, great,” he said. “But the vibe is so important. We want to create a modern, safe, welcoming space. We want to give our students an experience, not just a lesson.”
Modern Day Music School is actually looking to expand its team, with Benedetti promising new staff members will have the qualifications, vibe and personality its customers have come to know and love.
“When we are told by parents that their child is excited about that 30-minute lesson, I know we are doing something right,” he said. “It’s 30 minutes, once a week. Yet, the students long for the time here. They have siblings come and hang out while they practice, and we provide a space for them to grow too with whatever they need.
“I know we are doing something right when we see these kids so happy,” he concluded. “We want things to make sense for each individual student, and we think we’re achieving that.”
This article was originally published by The Spot 518, is property of Spotlight Newspapers in Albany, N.Y., and appears as a special to NYSMusic. TheSpot518 and NYSMusic work in partnership to provide readers with in-depth coverage on the local music scene in the Capital District and New York state, respectively. For more, visit TheSpot518.com
If you haven’t heard of Cream before, you must live under a bloody rock. Although short-lived, the trio went on to write countless hits from “Sunshine Of Your Love” to “White Room” and perform the renowned blues cover “Crossroads,” originally by Robert Johnson. Moreover, TheCream’s third album, Wheels Of Fire, was the first LP to reach double-platinum status in 1968, shortly before their disband.
Sitting in a white room, backstage of Wall Street Theatre, we waited. Classic blues, the heart to rock n’ roll, turned in the background as if being scratched on an old Victrola. The bare walls left the mind open to get lost, solely in the music and a conversation-to-come. Will Johns, nephew of Eric Clapton, strolled in wearing black hoodie and tie-dye scarf, blending in with typical production-crew-attire. In fact, Will’s father Andy Johns was a seasoned engineer working with The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull and, of course, all three Cream members’ solo releases. Humbling, for someone of such colourful lineage.
“I was practically born in the recording studio,” said Johns. “My earliest memories were of a multitude of little lights, the smell you get, of electricity and musical equipment. It’s a particular smell.” His London accent emphasised the details, little lights and smell, drawing to precise memories or tangible things. Having people around that were creative from day one overstimulated Johns with endless musical possibility. And then you’d have your normal life. After a split-second debate, Johns lands on “Shit or Shinola,” brightly. “You sort of go towards the light,” now smiling ear to ear.
Johns continued to recount his earliest musical memories, a story he would tell to the audience with his immense wit. “I started hitting on the drums, first of all. I used to go to Uncle Eric’s house; he had a studio and a drum kit set up. I used to smash on it,” again his accent broke through. “One morning he was like: hmmm, maybe you should play a different instrument.” May it be Clapton’s musical genius or fate, simply put, guitar was in Will’s DNA.
“People get a kick out of hearing that one note for note, and I know that I get a kick out of playing it, right.”
After his Uncle Eric tangent, Johns told the crowd how he just really wanted to play “Crossroads.” Johns fumbled over each note, learning them in real time, sucking us back when he was six years old. He would lean in and out stretching his thoughts into a literal expression along with the neck of his guitar. As the iconic riff became audible, the crowd roared. Johns energy built with each increasing BPM.
Musical spawn of Cream’s bassist, Malcolm Bruce enters backstage and sits alongside his brother, facing my father. His forefinger was beyond blistered from the furious bass-playing from the night before, kicking off the tour, also marking his birthday. He was as witty as his partner-in-crime, clever, and sophisticated in far more than music. The energy in the room was towering and their sinergy was overwhelming. Mind you, Kofi Baker, son of the infamous drummer, would make is first appearance on stage. The record played on.
Charles DeFilippo: You guys were born into this rich culture of music and…
MB: RICH! (pauses) Or rich, creatively?
Before the chance to complete the sentence, asking about his first sparks of musical inspiration as a child, considering, Will chimes in, digging into the ‘CH’ and chuckling.
WJ: Yeah! We haven’t seen any, RICH, yet ourselves.
Malcolm leads, “I hear a lot of music,” BUT I DON’T SEE NO MONEY, they completed in unison.
Not only is music of a way of communication, but also of self expression. Combine this with a musically supercharged childhood, raised by industry legends and tied with a unbreakable bond of brotherhood. It was baffling to witness firsthand. It was so strong in that moment. The sum of two persons, finishing each other’s sentences, quite literally, on and off stage.
“We weren’t running in the same circles until our late teens, early twenties. Having said that. Will’s dad and my dad were best buddies for quite a long time,” said Malcolm. Will confirmed.
WJ: Malcolm’s dad was actually the best man, at my Mum and Dad’s wedding.
MB: They were dear, dear friends.
“You don’t always think about what you have, do you? Whoever you are. There’s a perception of rockstars and their kids, a fascination with that stuff as a culture, but maybe we see it more of being a musician. That’s where my dad came from, his idea wasn’t to be a rockstar, he was a working class Scottish man who wanted to be a jazz musician, or play in a blues band. So the very early 60’s when he started out was a different thing…where everything flowered and changed.”
In the midst of his breath, “Farewell Daddy Blues” turned in the background.
” I think it is amazing what my dad achieved as a writer and a performer. I am kind-of going my own way. This is just a great way to honour this amazing tradition. We just happen to be apart of that. Will came and jammed with my dad [back in the day], so it is all very natural for us.”
“[The music of Cream was] addressing anything from experimenting with drugs to baby boomer generations, before that, people were expected to live a certain way. There was that little window of opportunity for people to stand as equals with the middle classes, or whatever. We were born into that, but whether we saw ourselves as special or not, I don’t know. It was just what we knew,” Said Bruce.
On stage Malcolm and Will interject notes in between one another, copying syncopation and challenging each others’ melodies. Both of which fell in and far outside the worlds of Cream. Kofi’s whimsical speech about “now it’s time to take a break and go to the bathroom,” before a thunderstorm of a solo, only reeled the audience deeper into the second generation trio. Cream became a byproduct of this beautiful tradition, of musicians simply playing music.
“I wouldn’t say it has been smooth sailing. The original guys, our parents, our uncle, were ya know (snaps) – like that,” said Malcolm. That created an energy about the music. “With my dad and Ginger, they had a lot of history before Cream, had been in bands and thrown knives at each other on stage. In a similar way, without the knives, we have a certain freneticism between us. We are all quite strong personalities.”
“We all have thoughts… and feelings…,” said Will, cutting Malcolm’s words with a blade-sharp precision, as if they were his own.
Will’s counterpart continued. “For this kind of music, improvised rock, it’s a really good energy to have. You don’t want to make it too easy. The willingness to make mistakes. The willingness to put yourself out on the fringes of, beyond safety. That is part of the uniqueness, you get into the moment and see what happens.”
The guitarist weighs in. “It makes the music real, which I hate to say, is so rare these days. The motivation, and the actual, attack of the string, right down to every single note, is, very, important. What we’re doing is the old way,” said Johns. “It’s real music. It’s musicians playing with each other. It’s an equal footing. And like Malcolm says: A willingness to go there. Wherever there ends up. To listen and react, without control.”
After Kofi’s solo, Will was mickey-moucing to the resonance of each drum stroke, re-entering from behind the black curtains. Even on deaf-ears the music was heard in each exuberant motion. Their harmonies belted together as Kofi roared up and down the toms, as his father did in the 2005 live recording at Royal Albert Hall in London.
“We are not a tribute act,” said Malcom. “The overarching feeling is to take the music and play it, adopting it as our own. It is silly to be them. Who would want to be them anyway,” chuckling.
Johns will allude to exact Cream parts such as the “Crossroads,” solo, being hailed as one of the greatest guitar solos of all time. “People get a kick out of hearing that one note for note, and I know that I get a kick out of playing it, right.”
Fifty years from when the original Cream were around until now, nothing has really changed. It is so breathtaking to witness the lineage, not in tribute, but to commemorate the pivotal anchor of rock music and all that it stood for in the 1960’s. The Music Of Cream: 50th Anniversary World Tour is perfect for the non-Cream fan because what’s not to love about real music, and the digging edgy-blues of “Spoonful.”
Malcolm Bruce and Will Johns are deep into their own musical journeys, bioth with upcoming albums on the way. Furthermore, Bruce is half-way-funded to a full on London Opera production. Although it’s hard to beat Cream. Catch the The Music Of Cream as the second-generation trio carries on for the last leg of their tour with repeating dates across Florida and Texas, New Orleans and Nashville. Be sure to stay up to date with Kofi, Malcolm and Will on their solo endeavours.
All photos taken by NYS Photographer, Mickey Dehener Friday, March 29 in New York at Tarrytown Music Hall
What better place to start NYS Music’s City Guides series, a monthly musical tour through New York State’s cities, than far West, on the shores of Lake Erie, in The Queen City of Buffalo. Home to the die-hard Buffalo Bills fans, surrounded by the sweet smell of Cheerios from the General Mills cereal plant, and comprised of stunning neoclassical architecture, this city is a little slice of snowy heaven packed full of action.
One of its longstanding claims to fame is the musical talent that seemingly is bred in Buffalo, NY. From activist singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco, R&B singer and instrumentalist Brian McKnight, to drummer and co-founder of the alternative rock band Weezer, Patrick Wilson, and finally, to the masterminds behind everyone’s favorite karaoke jam, “Iris,” The Goo Goo Dolls, Buffalo has supplied music with some staple artists from a plethora of genres throughout the years. The music scene of the city now is as hot as ever and this article highlights all the can’t miss music action in Buffalo.
Theatres
Shea’s Performing Arts Center – Shea’s is not only one of the most treasured gems in Buffalo, but also a National Historic Site as the theatre was built in 1925. Extensive amounts of work and volunteering has been put into renovating and ensuring that this theatre is still up and running for Buffalo and beyond to enjoy. It now hosts a plethora of installments of Broadway shows, as well as huge musicians such as Mariah Carey and Bob Weir. This versatile venue is devoted towards sustaining a classic theatre that the youth can enjoy art in for years to come. Take a look at their upcoming schedule.
University at Buffalo Lippes Concert Hall – Every year, at the University at Buffalo’s state of the art facility, the Department of Music hosts over 150 public performances. Here anything from string quartets, to pianists, guitarists, jazz ensembles, and even computer music concerts can be experienced and heard. This is yet another somewhat hidden gem of Buffalo as locals can see the fresh faces of music that are learning and perfecting their craft in their hometown.
Arenas
Key Bank Arena – Not only is this massive entertainment home to the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, but it also houses some of the world’s biggest musicians as their tours come through Buffalo. Since the grand opening of the venue in 1996, the arena has hosted over 23 million guests at its countless events in its over 19,000 seating capacity space. In the months to come, the KeyBank Center will host huge tours such as Ariana Grande, Fleetwood Mac, Cher, Justin Timberlake, Twenty One Pilots, and Carrie Underwood, among many others. For large-scale fun and entertainment all year long, this staple of Buffalo is a go-to.
Darien Lake Amphitheater – About 40 minutes outside of Buffalo, is Western New York’s destination for summer concerts. This large amphitheater is where many Buffalo natives travel for summer concerts of all genres including country, rock, and reggae to name a few. Alternative Buffalo 107.7|104.7 hosts most of their larger shows here, including the upcoming shows for The 1975, as well as Beck and Cage The Elephant. Other shows for this upcoming summer include Chris Young, Zac Brown Band, 311 & The Dirty Heads, Heart, and KISS.
Music Festivals
Cobblestone Live Music and Arts Festival– Presented by Buffalo Iron Works & Lockhouse Distillery & Bar, this year will the third annual Cobblestone Live Music & Arts Festival. It will be held on August 2nd and 3rd in the historic Cobblestone district of downtown Buffalo, with two outdoors main stages, one inside Buffalo Iron Works, and an electronic stage and lounge inside the Distillery. Spread across these 4 stages, there will be over 25 artists featured, to be announced in the coming months, as well as festival games, local food trucks, vendors, cider, beer and a specialty beverage menu courtesy of the two producers of the festivals’s venues. The festival has been growing and will be sure to continue to grow in years to come, making it one to watch in the Buffalo area.
Beau Fleuve Music Festival – Not only is this festival a staple in the Buffalo area, but it is internationally recognized as a trendsetting, one of a kind celebration of arts and music that bridges the gaps between generations, cultures, and beyond. The festival has been a great success in the past, bringing in a diverse lineup of artists. Keep your eyes peeled for updates on this year’s events.
Notable Venues
Rec Room – Rec Room is the newcomer in Buffalo’s venue scene. Following the closing of the beloved Waiting Room, former owner Chris Ring poured his energy into opening this new venue that he hoped would have something for everyone. On top of stellar live music, the venue hosts parties and karaoke nights that keep the fun going at all times. The venue opened for “test” shows in August and fully set sail in September and has been making waves ever since. The future of this venue looks promising as their upcoming shows are pretty stacked.
Town Ballroom– Yet another historical piece of Buffalo’s musical lineage. Town Ballroom was originally called The Town Casino in the 1940s and ’60s and hosted performances from legendary musicians like Frank Sinatra, Nat “King” Cole, John Coltrane, and Les Paul. After a turbulent few years and switching ownership, the venue was restored to the former glory of the original venue in 2005 and has since been continuing its legacy of incredible shows. Upcoming shows include Action Bronson, Snarky Puppy, and Tom Morello.
Iron Works – Right next to the musical giant of Buffalo, the KeyBank Center, is the live music, full bar, and your go-to destination for chicken wings: Iron Works. Voted “Best Music Venue in Buffalo” in 2017 by the Buffalo Spree Awards, this venue hosts a variety of acts such as local bands, cover bands, and national touring acts such as the upcoming KT Tunstall show in May. Check out their upcoming events to plan a night of good music and good food.
Riverworks – Located right on the banks of the Buffalo River is another versatile venue of the city. In addition to skating, rope courses, a brewery, and river boat tours, Riverworks puts on a variety of live music shows throughout the year. Their space can produce both indoor and outdoor shows, and hosts artists from every genre from rock, country, to dance music.
Nietzche’s – They say it best themselves, “Life without music would be a mistake.” A longstanding favorite of NYS Music, Nietzche’s has been a staple venue of Buffalo for over 25 years. Notable for its welcoming reputation to national and regional touring acts alike, and for being the jump-off points for big musicians, Nietzche’s is still kicking and going strong. Currently hosting a multitude of local acts from not only Buffalo, but all across New York State, Nietzche’s is always serving up good times and great music.
Sportsman Taven – Opened in 1985, the Sportsmens Tavern has won over the hearts of Buffalo natives and quickly became one of the best venues in the county. It is another great place in Buffalo to catch local acts on one of their Emerging Artists nights, local bands, and bigger nationally touring acts. The undeniable character and longstanding charm of this venue is a “can’t miss” of Buffalo. Check out their upcoming shows.
Unique Venues
Asbury Hall – Once a Gothic Revival-style sanctuary, this eye-catching venue within Babeville, the arts space founded by Ani DiFranco and Scot Fisher, has been completely remodeled into a music hall with plenty of character. Asbury Hall can accommodate a more intimate crowd of 1,200, compared to Buffalo’s large scale event spaces, and has hosted incredible singer-songwriters such as its own Ani DiFranco, Sufjan Stevens, and Tallest Man on Earth. While Asbury Hall is regarded as one of the most intimate concert venues within Buffalo, Babeville also houses The Ninth Ward, a subterranean bar and listening room, and an art gallery, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center. Check out the events calendar to catch a show at this iconic venue.
PAUSA Art House – Honorable mention for a unique and intimate art experience in Buffalo has to be PAUSA Art House. An intentionally small audience, and ritual of pre-show and post-show receptions bring a new and refreshing atmosphere to experiencing a wide array of musicians that perform here. This art space, wine and tapas bar focuses on showcasing the artists local to Buffalo and the surrounding region, but also welcomes international and national touring acts. Check out their upcoming events and be sure to make a reservation to ensure your spot for this one of a kind atmosphere.
Wherever you turn, in any season, Buffalo will be bustling with the music that it’s been breeding since it all began. While some venues and festivals may come and go, Buffalo’s musical roots are definitely here to stay. Hopefully this guide will help you make your way through all the incredible experiences that Buffalo has to offer your ears.
After being bought in 2017 by Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment and AEG Presents from long time owners the Ballingers, Webster Hall has announced the reopening of the historic New York City venue with their Spring 2019 lineup. The historic night club was closed for extensive renovations with its last show on August 9, 2018.
The Hall will reopen this Spring with a full schedule of performances, including Patti Smith, who last performed at Webster Hall on December 30, 2014. Joining the lineup for the reopening is the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, MGMT, and Sharon Van Etten among those lined up to perform. While Smith and company are the first scheduled show slated for May 1, 2019, a true reopening date and headliner have yet to be announced. For more information on the reopening of Webster Hall, visit the Hall’s website.
Among the network of musicians in Albany, there are select venues that are known to be “off the beaten path” but still provide the listener with the intimate experience many are searching for from live music. Since the unfortunate closure of Valentine’s in 2014, the need for these spaces has increased, leading to house venues popping up across the area to cater to fans. With no particular venue picking up where Valentine’s left off, the mission of getting a PA and inviting your friends over for a show got the ball started for house venues such as the Chateau. One of these artists, Girl Blue, was recently profiled by NYS Music, and we present the premiere of Girl Blue’s Chateau Shows performance.
The Chateau was born in 2014 with the first show in 2015, and since then, roughly 15 shows a year, or 1-2 a month are held at the house. Dan Maddalone says of Chateau, “It’s not a money maker, just something for fun and a sign of the healthy and continually growing music scene, both above and underground, in Albany.”
Albany native turned international performer Meg Duffy (Hand Habits) and beloved DIY stalwart Lomelda have both performed at Chateau, making it a utility space for musicians on their way up. More established acts like Spoon, White Denim, and White Reaper have also performed in the space due to Maddalones previous involvement with the radio station WEQX.
Thanks to venues like The Chateau, bands can build an audience in Albany and branch out to other towns without traditional airplay and booking. “House shows are an incubator for a small part of the scene, for a talented group of people who do a lot of great art and create amazing things.” As the industry has broken down, artists have found a new way to prosper and The Chateau is but one small part of an international movement. But make no mistake, Maddalone says, “This has always been happening in Albany and abroad, and will continue to happen forever. We are but one tiny part of a long running DIY methodology.”
Chateau is one of many house venues in Albany. Normally, house venues last between six months to two years, depending on who manages them. Traditionally, it is college students who take on the practice and either move on or pass the house onto another group when their tenure is up. Chateau has such a long legacy due to it being owned and operated by the same persons year after year.
These venues are all several steps above house parties due to the focus being put on the music. The setting typically involves a house kit, PA system, with some lights and decoration in the ‘venue’ part of the house, which is often an attic or basement. In non-venue parts of the house lie comfortable living quarters for bands to rest before moving on to other shows. Between bands, guests are typically welcome to wander about the house sipping whatever they brought with them, and chatting with friends.
The atmosphere of the Chateau and other house venues offer a different musical experience than what you typically find at a club or bar. Performances at clubs can foster a passive and inattentive crowd, but at house venues, the focus is intently upon the performer with a small audience of 30-80 people gathered to see something new, special, and intimate.
All around Albany, a music scene continues to thrive in venues of all sizes and styles. The Capital Region has produced nationally touring bands already because of venues like The Chateau, Valentine’s, and The Hollow. Supporting artists from the ground up ensures a healthy breeding ground for future musicians down the road. House venues like The Chateau may be the place to catch your new favorite band.
Girl Blue video was produced at The Chateau by Chris and Brian Leary of Chrome Glass Productions along with Dan Maddalone. Girl Blue audio was engineered, mixed, and mastered by Troy Pohl with engineering assistance from Judybelle Camangyan.
Legendary musician Steve Gadd has performed on many Grammy-winning albums, but this year he was awarded the first one for one of his own projects. The Steve Gadd Band’s self-titled album won Best Instrumental Album. The modern jazz band includes Steve Gadd on drums, Walt Fowler on trumpet and flugelhorn, Kevin Hays on keyboard, Jimmy Johnson on bass, and Michael Landau on guitar.
Steve Gadd is hailed as one of the most accomplished and skilled drummers of his generation. Born in the suburbs of Rochester, Gadd took up drums when he was seven years old. When he was 11, he sat in with Dizzy Gillespie, launching a lifetime of work with some of the greatest artists of our time. He has performed in studio and on tour with iconic artists such as Paul Simon, James Taylor, and Eric Clapton. He continues to make music in conjunction with other artists and with the Steve Gadd Band. He was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1984, and the Rochester Music Hall of Fame in 2018.
Gadd will be touring with Dave Matthews in March and James Taylor later this spring. Steve Gadd Band is on the bill for the Rochester International Jazz Festival and Montreal Jazz Festival. They’re also booked for a three-night stand at Iridium in NYC in June.
Girl Blue has a passion for music, vocals and a stage presence to draw you in – listen. The stage name of Arielle O’Keefe, Girl Blue is one of the Capital District’s emerging singer-songwriters, alongside peers Sean Rowe, Sydney Worthley, Sawyer Fredericks, and Moriah Formica. On Thursday, January 24, she will open for Dar Williams at Cohoes Music Hall.
O’Keefe’s drive for music goes back to her childhood in Bayshore, Long Island, where she started playing piano at age 5 and guitar at age 12. From this, she sees music adhered to her identity, throughout her life. “It’s sort of a raging ambition inside me, it feels like all I have is this thing to work on.” After a move to Dallas during high school, she headed north to New York City and finally to Albany, to move her career forward. She chose her stage name, Girl Blue, from two musical inspirations – the Nina Simone album, Little Girl Blue, which she listened to a great deal growing up, and the Stevie Wonder song “Girl Blue,” where the character described was much like Arielle.
Girl Blue received broad exposure when her first single, “Fire Under Water,” was picked up by Spotify for New Music Friday, and was eventually placed in a Las Vegas tourism commercial. From there it went viral, racking up over 2.5 million plays. This led Spotify to pick up her cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” a stripped down version of the original. “I would play with vocals and looped them along with one or two guitar lines. The song is so emotional and almost creepy. I wanted to do something that was really broken down and make it a little more epic, so I covered it with just vocals and guitars, then went in and produced the final version.”
When O’Keefe is on stage, she commands attention to her performance. “When I was younger, I went to different types of venues, hip-hop showcases and singer-songwriter performances and saw singers that you have-to-listen-to, instead of being forced to listen. I do that for myself, making it so that people have to lean in.” After 14 years, this has developed into Girl Blue’s remarkable stage presence.
A range of vocal inspirations – Ella Fitzgerald, Joni Mitchell, Roberta Flack, Ani DiFranco and Tori Amos – as well as comparisons to Carole King, Laura Marling, Bonnie Raitt and Jeff Buckley, give you an idea of the powerhouse-vocals and songwriting Girl Blue has in her skill set. She looks towards Frank Ocean as one of the defining voices of the current generation. “He has a voice with character and is a talented singer, who has that intangible quality to translate emotion through his voice. He makes people feel, and that will stand the test of time. His style has been copied over and over already; that says a lot if everyone wants to be Frank Ocean.”
Last May at Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady, Girl Blue performed as part of Capitol Records Live, an event bringing together a half-dozen local artists to take on the songs of The Beatles’ – The White Album and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Singing “Glass Onion,” “Blackbird,” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “Getting Better,” her performance stood out among a lineup that included Wild Adriatic, Eastbound Jesus and Let’s Be Leonard.
Currently, Girl Blue is recording with Dan Dekalb and Jimi Woodul from Dark Honey, with plans to release a stripped down album in May, and the full album slated for later this year.
On March 2nd, Girl Blue will perform at The Linda in Albany with Belle Skinner and Zan Strumfield, but first, she opens for Dar Williams at Cohoes Music Hall on Thursday, January 24. Tickets are still on sale.
Girl Blue posts monthly exclusive songs and behind the scenes content online on Patreon. Click here to subscribe and support her work.
