NYS Music 20​19

Category: Jam/Progressive

  • In Focus: Melvin Seals and JGB recruit John Kadlecik and George Porter for a night at Brooklyn Bowl

    Brooklyn Bowl was treated to a double bill on Friday, October 11 as George Porter Jr. and his trio opened for Melvin Seals and JGB featuring John Kadlecik. Along with Michael Lemmler on keyboards and Terrence Houston on drums, the ageless and eponymous GPJ’s bass and vocals led the way for a 75-minute opening set of NOLA funk.

    The Meter’s “Cissy Strut,” something of a New Orleans anthem, was an authentic offering with signature bass lines and what sounded like a beautiful jazz bar piano interlude thanks to Lemmler’s keyboards. Terrence Houston is an eye catching drummer, delicate when necessary but constantly energetic, somewhere at the nexus of jazz and funk. And for a band that improvises to the point of not even writing setlists, “They Love Each Other,” led by Porter’s bass solos and deep gravelly voice, was the perfect choice to get the crowd ready for Melvin, a perfect funk salad of Jerry tunes whetting our collective palate for the main course.

    John Kadlecik Brooklyn Bowl
    Photo by Zach Belfer

    Taking the stage promptly at 9:30pm, Melvin Seals and JGB feat. John Kadlecik opened with a gorgeous “How Sweet It Is.” John-Paul McLean is a worthy bassist with the chops to take impressive solos and the rhythm section of he and Pete Lavezzoli that impressed all night. Vocalists Mary eL and Lady Chi lit up the stage and their playful back and forth with Melvin is fun to watch. But there’s a reason the big man on the keys and organ gets his name on the marquee, lighting up the Brooklyn Bowl with joy every time he took a solo on the Hammond B3. Largely due to the 18 years he spent playing with the Jerry Garcia Band, his playing just feels so familiar and authentic, bringing joy in spades, spread in a wide arc from the huge smile he always wears.

    A tasty “After Midnight” > “Eleanor Rigby” > “After Midnight” sandwich, made famous by the JGB release of the Kean College show from 2/28/80, highlighted why John Kadlecik’s name now shares said marquee with Melvin. To think that earlier in the night someone was overheard saying Kadlecik’s voice is okay but he can’t play guitar… “Wonderful World” ensued and the love fest was on, at least until “Get Out Of My Life Woman” conflicted the love story woven through the early part of the setlist. Melvin really shone on that one, not to be outdone by a gorgeous bass solo from McLean. “I’ll Take A Melody” again gave the spotlight back to Kadlecik before a rollicking “Cumberland Blues.” 

    John Kadlecik Brooklyn Bowl
    Photo by Zach Belfer

    Melvin took lead vocals for the only time of the night on Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” followed by “Lonesome and a Long Way From Home,” the second Eric Clapton song of the evening (if you count “After Midnight,” a song popularized by Clapton but written by JJ Cale). “Lucky Old Sun” provided a nice bathroom break, an idea apparently shared by most of the sold-out but comfortably crowded venue, and gave others a chance to relocate, particularly stage right to enjoy the show from right under Melvin’s Hammond and soak in his joy from up close. “Sisters and Brothers” dutifully brought the dance party back before the set closing sequence of “Help on the Way” > “Slipknot!” > “Terrapin Jam” > “Midnight Moonlight” which inspired some hair raising goosebumps and left the crowd feeling jubilant. 

    All these cats can really play. What a pleasure it was to join them and dance it up (16,854 steps) as they took JGB’s catalog out for a two-hour stroll through the Brooklyn Bowl.

    Setlist: How Sweet It Is, After Midnight, Wonderful World, Get Out Of My Life Woman, I’ll Take A Melody, Cumberland Blues, Knocking On Heaven’s Door, Lonesome And A Long Way From Home, That Lucky Old Sun, Sisters & Brothers, Help On The Way > Slipknot! >Terrapin Jam > Midnight Moonlight

    • John Kadlecik Brooklyn Bowl
    • John Kadlecik Brooklyn Bowl
    • John Kadlecik Brooklyn Bowl
    • John Kadlecik Brooklyn Bowl

  • Trey Anastasio Band Announces New Tour Dates for 2020

    Phish frontman Trey Anastasio has announced a new set of performances for the Trey Anastasio band for the 2020 calendar year. Following the traditional slate of Phish shows to begin the year, the veteran guitarist will be back on the road for a nine-city run.

    The tour will start off with a two-date stint in Port Chester before heading out west for four consecutive dates, finishing off in the South with shows in Texas and Louisiana.

    After the official announcement, pre-sale tickets were made available and the rest go on sale for the general public on Oct.11.

    Tickets can be purchased via Anastasio’s website.

    The Trey Anastasio Band’s full list of tour dates can be found below:

    Jan. 10 – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY
    Jan. 11 – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY
    Jan. 16 – The Observatory North Park – San Diego, CA
    Jan. 17 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
    Jan. 18 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
    Jan. 21 – The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ
    Jan. 24 – ACL Live at Moody Theatre – Austin, TX
    Jan. 25 – House of Blues – Houston, TX
    Jan. 26 – Bomb Factory – Dallas, TX
    Jan. 28 – The Tobin Center – San Antonio, TX
    Jan. 31 – The Civic Theatre – New Orleans, LA
    Feb. 1 – The Civic Theatre – New Orleans, LA

  • Watch “Loose Lucy” and “Uncle John’s Band” from Grateful Dead Giants Stadium Box Set

    “The Swamp,” as Giants Stadium was affectionately known, hosted Grateful Dead shows in 1987, 1989 and 1991. In 1987, the band saw their hit “Touch of Grey” reach the Top 10 and the band’s stadium rock years hitting their peak. The latest box set from the godfather of jam bands, GIANTS STADIUM: 1987, 1989, 1991 features five previously unreleased Grateful Dead shows from Big Blue’s home in East Rutherford, NJ: July 12, 1987; July 9 and 10, 1989; and June 16 and 17, 1991.

    Originally recorded by John Cutler, each show has been mixed from the multitrack master tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Bob Weir’s TRI Studios in San Rafael, CA and mastered in HDCD by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering. The first three shows are mixed from 24-track masters. The final two from 1991 are the only Grateful Dead shows ever recorded to 48-track masters.

    This release is limited to 10,000 individually numbered copies and available via Dead.net. Find more details on the Giants Stadium box set here.

    Grateful Dead archivist and legacy manager David Lemiuex says of the “Loose Lucy” from the June 17, 1991 show, “Gone from the repertoire for 16 years, 1974-1990, when it made its return at the Capital Center on 3/14/90, it was in its slower 1973 arrangement, and was incredibly well-received, with one of the most inadvertently self-referential choruses in the Dead’s canon. Were they thanking us for a real good time? Were we thanking them? Regardless, it was a blast to sing along with Jerry when he was clearly having fun singing this classic.”

  • November 17 dont’ miss the next MFDF Funk Night at Nietzsche’s

    Buffalo’s MFDF Funk Night returns to Nietzsche’s on Thursday, November 21, with special guests Sam Pavlovich (Intrepid Travelers) on bass and Matt Felski (Scarlet Begonias) on drums. They’ll be joined by hosts Matt Fantini of Space Junk and Donny Frauenhofer of Intrepid Travelers, DF3 and The Truth.

    Presented by NYS Music, MFDF Funk Night is only $5 for two sets of fun(k) starting at 9pm at Nietzsche’s. Hosts Fantini and Frauenhofer bring a rotating cast of local, regional, and national artists each month for a night of improvised heavy funk.

    The final funk night of 2019 is set for Thursday, December 21. Save the date!

  • In Focus: White Denim Rocks Jersey City

    White Denim blew the proverbial roof off of the new White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, bringing their sweet Austin, Texas rock sound to the East Coast and fans throughout the tri-state area. The two-hour headlining set from the high powered rock outfit never skipped a beat and was virtually non-stop. Night after night, this band displays communal showmanship and a loud lesson for how to make rock and roll work very well in 2019. White Denim presented a two hour clinic is proof that a diversified rock sound played by very talented musicians still deserves a spot in the debate of today’s best contemporary music.

  • Widespread Panic announce 5 nights at The Beacon Theatre

    Widespread Panic will return to New York City for the first time in seven years, with five nights planned in early 2020. The Athens, GA band will hold a five-night residency at the legendary Beacon Theatre, February 27, 28, 29th and March 1 & 2nd. Tickets are on sale Friday, October 11th at 11am ET. Click here for more info.

    Check out our coverage of Panic’s last performance in NYC, at Madison Square Garden Theater in November 2013.

  • Cohoes Music Hall is chock full of great music this fall

    The historic Cohoes Music Hall just north of Albany is hosting an incredible slate of music this fall. Built in 1874, the venue has been the hub for entertainment and culture in the Spindle City, with an ornate style, brilliant acoustics and intimate setting for shows of all genres, as well as musicals and more. All shows are all ages, with doors opening at 7pm and music starting at 8pm. Click here for more info on the shows.

    Thursday, October 10 – Melvin Seals & JGB

    Melvin spun his B-3 magic with the Jerry Garcia Band for 18 years and in doing so helped pioneer and define what has now become “Jam Band Music”. From blues to funk to rock to jazz, Melvin Seals serves up a tasty mix with a little R&B and gospel thrown in to spice things up. John Kadlecik will be joining the band on lead guitar.

    Saturday, October 12 – Marco Benevento with special guest Mikaela Davis

    Touring in support of his new record ‘Let It Slide’. Dubbed “one of the most talented keys players of our time” by CBS Radio, Benevento’s released six critically acclaimed solo albums over the last decade, performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall and Newport Jazz to Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo. “It’s safe to say that no one sees the keyboard quite like Marco Benevento’s genre-blind mashup of indie rock, jazz and skewed improvisation,” the LA Times raved, while NPR said he combines “the thrust of rock, the questing of jazz and the experimental ecstasy of jam.”

    Friday, November 8th – Marc Cohn

    After winning a Grammy for his soulful ballad “Walking in Memphis,” Marc Cohn solidified his place as one of this generation’s most compelling singer-songwriters, combining the precision of a brilliant tunesmith with the passion of a great soul man. Rooted in the rich ground of American rhythm and blues, soul and gospel and possessed of a deft storyteller’s pen, he weaves vivid, detailed, often drawn-from-life tales that evoke some of our most universal human feelings: love, hope, faith, joy, heartbreak.

    Saturday, November 16th – North Mississippi Allstars

    Founded in 1996 by brothers Luther (guitar and vocals) and Cody Dickinson (drums, piano, synth bass, programming and vocals), the now venerable blues rock band are entering their third decade. “This is a very exciting time for North Mississippi Allstars,” Cody says. “There’s been this explosion of creativity lately and it’s encouraging that for a band who has been around for twenty years now, our music is as vital and fresh as ever. It’s like the opposite of burnout — I can’t explain why but it feels totally brand new again.”

    Wednesday, November 20th – Tommy Castro & Tinsley Ellis

    Tinsley Ellis wears his Southern roots proudly. Born in Atlanta in 1957, he grew up in southern Florida and first played guitar at age eight. Averaging over 150 live shows a year, Ellis has played in all 50 states, as well as Canada, Europe, Australia and South America. Whether he’s out with his own band or sharing stages with major artists like Buddy Guy, The Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule or Widespread Panic, he always digs deep and plays, as Guitar Player says, “…as if his life depended on it.” 

    Whether Tommy Castro is squeezing out the deepest blues or playing the funkiest soul grooves, legendary blues and soul giant Tommy Castro knows how to ignite a crowd. Over the course of his still-unfolding career, the guitarist, vocalist and songwriter has released 15 albums ranging from horn-fueled soul and R&B to piping hot blues to fiery rock ‘n’ roll.

    Thursday, November 21st – Lotus with special guest Wax Future

    Lotus has always been difficult to define musically; an instrumental jamband that has favored groove-based improvisation instead of gaudy solos and noodling. Influences of classic electronic dance music, funk, post-rock and dance-rock have all made their way into the Lotus sound. Approaching two decades together, Lotus has toured actively throughout the US working their way up from dingy basement clubs to world-class venues such as Red Rocks.

  • The Moho Collective Blasts Rochester with ‘Akra’ Release

    The Moho Collective trio will once again return to Lovin’ Cup on October 11, 2019 to celebrate the release of their new EP Akra. Ben Proctor of  The Crooked North is set to provide a solo act to open the show. The Moho Collective will then be joined by a seven-piece ensemble that will include members from The Mighty High and Dry, The Eastman Jazz Ensemble and The Saplings, as attendees will enjoy hearing Akra performed in its entirety.

    Lovin’ Cup is a venue located in Rochester, NY and has hosted the band’s release parties since their first in 2010. This includes the EP Soma that was released just last year. Though The Moho Collective previously spent much of their early career touring the North-East, they decided to go in a different direction and take time off to record tracks with the Temperamental Recordings label out of Geneseo, NY. Soma and Akra are both the result of this studio time, with more releases to come in the future.

    Even with the trio deviating from their usual form of practicing new music live until it is perfect, staying true to form Akra is anything but stagnant. The crowd at Lovin’ Cup can expect more musical experimentation and the trio’s first ever vocal performance. Not only is Akra just as unique as the rest of their recordings but listeners will also hear guest performances from Dana Colley of Morphine and Mike Brown, owner of Temperamental Recordings.

    Doors open at 7 PM with the show starting at 8 PM. Tickets are available ONLINE or at Lovin’ Cup, which includes a copy of the EP.

  • Umphrey’s McGee Adds New Deal, Billy Strings to 20/20 Tour Dates

    Umphrey’s McGee has released the first batch of tour dates for next year for their ‘Hindsight 20/20’ Tour, including two-night runs in New York City, Detroit and Asheville, which will all have umVIP packages available. The tour will also be making a stop in Pellham, TN at The Caverns, where UM will perform in a gorgeous underground amphitheater.

    The Caverns in Pelham, TN

    The tour kicks off with a two-night run at Beacon Theatre in New York City on January 17 & 18, and then the band will stick around to play Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn. The tour will then make its way through PA, stopping at Stage AE, and the month of January ends with a two-night run at The Filmore in Detroit, MI. The tour continues into Tennessee, where UM will make a stop at The Carverns on February 13.

    Additionally, Umphrey’s will welcome The New Deal for a handful of dates, as well as Billy Strings and Empire Strikes Brass. The Toronto-based live electronic trio returns with new drummer Davide Di Renzo, joining Jamie Shields (keyboards) and Dan Kurtz (bass) to create the third incarnation of the dance party powerhouse, The New Deal. Singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Billy Strings takes the stage in Asheville with his unique take on psychedelic Americana, after Asheville’s own Empire Strikes Brass opens the two-night run with their blend of high energy brass, funk, and rock.

    See the full list of Hindsight 20/20 Tour dates below, tickets are on sale now.

    Umphrey’s McGee Tour Dates

    Jan. 17 – Beacon Theatre – New York, NY
    Jan. 18 – Beacon Theatre – New York, NY
    Jan. 19 – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY
    Jan. 23 – Penn’s Peak – Jim Thorpe, PA*
    Jan. 24 – Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA*
    Jan. 25 – Express Live – Columbus, OH *
    Jan. 29 – Clyde Theatre – Fort Wayne, IN*
    Jan. 30 – MGM Northfield Park – Northfield, OH*
    Jan. 31 – The Fillmore – Detroit, MI*
    Feb. 1 – The Fillmore – Detroit, MI *
    Feb. 12 – Soundstage at Graceland – Memphis, TN
    Feb. 13 – The Caverns – Pelham, TN
    Feb. 14 – ExploreAsheville.com Arena – Asheville, NC^
    Feb. 15 – ExploreAsheville.com Arena – Asheville, NC^

    * with The New Deal

    ^ with Billy Strings and Empire Strikes Brass

    Umphrey’s has also just announced Hall of Fame: Class of 2018, a robust collection of the best of the best live tracks performed by the band in 2018 as voted on by the fans. Available in a limited edition, double LP set featuring splattered three-color vinyl, this year’s HOF collection contains four-and-a-half hours of music and enough improv to confuse pop fans everywhere.

  • Fish House Road team up with NJ brewery for beer inspired by latest single

    Fish House Road, a New Jersey-based power jam/rock band, has released their latest single “Honey Drip” in collaboration with 2nd Act Brewery.

    The Dover-based brewery teamed up with Fish House Road as part of their mission to produce musically inspired brews. “Like the 2nd Act of a concert, 2nd Act Beer is the up-and-coming main event, ready to take the stage,” and with early collaborations like this, there is great potential for this craft brewery.

    “Honey Drip” also features artwork developed by the owner of Y’all Art Project, which uses art as the catalyst to heal and empower victims of child abuse and others traumas. Printed copies of the artwork will be featured on t-shirts, posters and more, with proceeds donated back to the non-profit.

    The beer itself, Honey Drip, is a 6.5% abv, hop-forward ale from that is pale in color and brewed with local organic honey from Bird and the Bee honey and a touch of vanilla. The beer is dosed with two dry-hop charges, lead by amarillo and supported by motueka and saphir, which combine for lemon/orange citrus characteristics with herbal undertones. 

    Fish House Road, who blend shades of funk, blues, trance, and Americana, have a unique sound that connects with audiences of classic rock and jam band enthusiasts. It’s easy to be drawn in by roaring guitars, sweet harmonies, and a dynamic rhythm section, found on originals that translate from studio to stage. The group, comprised of Nick Deblasio (vocals, ukulele, harmonica, percussion), Rocky Tironi (guitar, keyboards, banjo), Dan Morrell (guitar), Kayne Neugebauer (bass) and Nick Van Leer (drums), started out in 2011 and have performed across New Jersey with shows in New York, Pennsylvania and New England mixed in as well. Check out their upcoming shows here.

    You can catch Fish House Road on Friday, October 4 with After Funk at Barranquilla Studios in Brooklyn; January 3, 2020 at Mercury Lounge; and they’ll be at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ with Splintered Sunlight on Saturday, October 12.

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