NYS Music 20​19

Category: Rock

  • School’s in Session for Schenectady with ‘School of Rock’ at Proctors

    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.

     

  • Hilltop set to release debut album this weekend

    Hilltop, a 5-piece band from Albany that features a blend of rock with funk, jazz, blues and bluegrass mixed in, is set to release their self-titled debut album on Friday, February 8. 

    The band combines original music, diverse covers, and improvisation to create a unique listening experience. The band includes Aris Nieuwkerk (guitar, vocals), George Scherck (keyboards, vocals), David Klang (bass, guitar, vocals), Stephen Perry (drums, percussion, vocals), and Reid Perry (drums, percussion, vocals) who have collective influences of The Grateful Dead, Phish and Miles Davis. All these artists feature many different styles over the span of their careers, and this is what has shaped Hilltop’s sound and how to incorporate various styles into their songs – there is not just one sound or style that defines Hilltop.

    hilltop debut album

    Hilltop was tracked at recording studios at the two colleges band members attend – Schenectady County Community College and Mercy College in Westchester. Mixing was completed at Mercy College and the album was mastered on Long Island at MEI Studios, where David is an engineer. The songs on the album had already been performed live numerous times, with David noting, “This made it easy to get a natural feel for our songs in the studio, giving the listener an accurate representation of what the band sounds like live.”

    This summer, Hilltop plans to hit the festival circuit in New York and the Northeast, and looks forward to building their following so they can spread out beyond the confines of the Northeast. The band knows this is a long journey and is dialed in for just that. “We know it often takes decades for a band to become seriously established outside of a small niche, and I think we’re all preparing ourselves to keep moving forward with Hilltop on a long term basis. We’ll see where it can take us if we can keep it going for a while!” said Klang.  

    The band’s single off Hilltop, “Driftwood” was released on January 18 and a multi-cam studio video of the single was recently released on YouTube. 

    Hilltop’s self-titled debut album drops on Friday, February 8 and will be available on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Bandcamp and Google Play.

    To celebrate the release of Hilltop, a release party will be held on Saturday, February 9 at Parish Public House in Albany. Doors open at 8pm with Glass Pony opening the night at 9pm. Cover charge is $10.

  • Mike Gantzer, Kris Myers and Ryan Stasik drop DOOKIE

    Albany was certainly the place to be Friday, February 1. The Palace Theater hosted Umphrey’s McGee for another always-astounding performance, and the Pearl Street Pub threw a legendary after-show. Once the UM show concluded at The Palace, drummer Kris Myers and bassist Ryan Stasik made their way down the block to meet up with Aqueous guitarist Mike Gantzer.  The three collaborated on an energetic, punk-rock tribute to Green Day‘s 1994 album Dookie that took the Pearl Street Pub’s crowd on a high-speed cruise down memory lane.

    The trio took the stage with attendees anxious to take it all in.  Set one blasted off with “Burnout,” “Having a Blast” and “Chump.” Stasik then dropped into the signature bass line of “Longview,” bringing about a crowd sing-a-long. One highlight of the night was a set of three Ween covers. In between Green Day hits “Longview” and “Welcome to Paradise,” the guys played Ween’s “The Grobe,” “It’s Gonna Be a Long Night,” and “Transdermal Celebration.” The set continued with Dookie tracks in sequential order, mixing in genre-relevant covers from Nirvana, The Ramones and Weezer.  Craftily weaving in a tease that was also featured at the UM show earlier, “Norwegian Wood” (The Beatles) was heard throughout “In The End.”  The end of the evening featured an epic trio of songs including “Brain Stew,” “Geek Stink Breath,” the first single from Green Day’s album Insomniac, and “Bad Mouth,” a Fugazi cover.

    This date marked the 25th Anniversary of the release of Dookie, making the performance a celebratory collaboration.  Mike Gantzer, Kris Myers and Ryan Stasik have performed full covers of the Green Day album on two other occasions: once as a late night tribute set at Summer Camp Music Festival 5/26/17 and again at Brooklyn Comes alive on 9/24/17.

    (Unofficial Setlist)

    Burnout, Having a Blast, Chump > Longview, The Grobe (1), It’s Gonna Be a Long Night (1), Transdermal Celebration (1), Welcome to Paradise, Pulling Teeth > Basket Case, She, Drain You (2), Sassafras Roots, When I Come Around, Coming Clean, I Wanna Be Sedated (3) > Blietzkreig Bop (3), Emenius Sleepus, In The End (4) > F. O. D. > All By Myself, My Name Is Jonas (5), Say It Ain’t So (5), Undone – The Sweater Song (5), Brain Stew

    Encore: Geek Stink Breath, Bad Mouth (6)

    1- Ween cover
    2- Nirvana cover
    3- The Ramones cover
    4- Norwegian Wood (The Beatles) tease
    5- Weezer cover
    6- Fugazi Cover

  • Hearing Aide: Tijuana Danger Dogs ‘All My Friends: Vol. 1’

    All My Friends : VOL.1

    The family band has a certain quality that’s tough to emulate. In Binghamton, there’s a band that is doing just that. Composed of Michael Toyryla (guitar), Jesse Wheeler (guitar), Keagan Toyryla (bass/vox) and Caleb Wheeler (drums), Tijuana Danger Dogs are a rock and roll family. Michael and Jesse met in 1999, subsequently gigging in various hard-rock projects. In 2010, an accident left Michael unable to perform live. Continuing to pursue the passion, Michael worked at recovery and the duo were able to find their niche in the studio. Here they cut their teeth songwriting and producing. Eventually, after a miraculous recovery, Tijuana Danger Dogs were able to start performing live again. This time, each of the original two members brought their son on board. Keagan and Caleb rounded out the lineup and the rock family was in full action. Their new release, All My Friends: Vol. 1 finds the band with various featured vocalists. Each song offers a different view of the group and leaves a lot to look forward to in future releases.

    Overall the album has an encompassing rock n’ roll theme, dipping into such influences as Pearl Jam, Radiohead, and Green Day. The featured vocalists provide nice variety in every tune and tend to be the solidifying factor in the atmosphere of each song. While the rock is relentless throughout, the songs sometimes lack a certain build and dynamic range, which is partly a product of the production quality which can come off as more lo-fi. The hooks on the songs are great, and the melodies stack up well against the instrumental backdrops. The second track, “All My Friends (f. Tim Ruffo)” is a nice country themed song that highlights some of the band’s best qualities. The harmonies are executed well and the lead guitar offers a colorful solo. The drum performance is tight and meshes well with the bass line.

    There are some Fueled by Ramen (record label) type aesthetics on here, particularly in the third song, “Getaway (f. Asia Toyryla)” where the vocal inflections tend towards pop-punk. Little soundscape additions at the end of the tune add character to the recording and outline some of the interesting ideas the band includes in their tracks that will differentiate them from other rock families. The album runs the gamut of rock influences and dips into some of the budding ideas the band has of their own. Each track has a nice variety, though the energy is often static on portions of tracks. This isn’t to say the energy isn’t that of typical rock style- there are some hard hitting parts. It will be interesting to hear what the Tijuana Danger Dogs have planned next- future studio work and live shows are on the horizon for a band whose potential is evident in this release. Check out the album on their website and catch them live as they begin to hit the road again.

    Key Tracks: All My Friends, Getaway, Talk

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axKLUc49grU

  • Interview: Maybird’s Josh Netsky on Music and Mixtapes

    Rochester/Brooklyn band Maybird will soon be launching their second release on 30th Century Records. The first song off the recording, “Don’t Keep Me Around,” is indicative of the unique sound the band has crafted over the past six years – an amalgamation of indie and roots rock, filtered through a psychedelic veil. The four-piece band consists of singer/songwriter Josh Netsky, guitarists Kurt Johnson and Sam Snyder (aka Overhand Sam), and drummer Adam Netsky. NYS Music checked in with Maybird’s frontman to get the scoop on the inspirations and collaborations behind the new work.

    Photo by Teagan West

    Paula Cummings: You have a new song out called “Don’t Keep Me Around.” What is the story behind the song? Why did you choose to lead with this one?

    Josh Netsky: We’ve been playing “Don’t Keep Me Around” live for well over a year now, so our fans are familiar with it and it’s just been waiting to be heard for a long time. We haven’t really explored many of the other songs on the record in a live setting yet, so it felt right to set this one free first. I wrote this song very quickly during a spontaneous recording session with producer Sam Cohen. Quickly in comparison to my usual writing process, at least. Quick songs are usually better in my experience… if you don’t have to think too much about it, that’s a good sign.

    PC: Your songwriting has always been influenced by your own personal experiences. What people, places, or events lit the spark that led to the creation of your new songs? 

    JN: Some of the songs go pretty far back – I think the oldest track was written in 2012. So there are a lot of very different answers here from years of experiences and inspirations. But the overall arc of the album deals with a few main themes. Seeking purpose and clinging to memories/trying not to forget are the big ones. Kurt Vonnegut’s novel The Sirens of Titan was a huge inspiration for the album and put these ideas into perspective for me in the first place.

    PC: Who did you work with on the album, and how did these industry professionals shape your work?

    JN: For “Don’t Keep Me Around,” we worked a lot with Sam Cohen, who’s an amazing producer and our label-mate on 30th Century Records. He also mixed our entire album. Aside from that, we did most of the work ourselves independently. We all have small studio setups of our own, mostly we worked out of a studio that Sam and Kurt had set up in Ontario, NY. A few of our Rochester comrades put down some horn parts and extra instrumentation.

    PC: Can you share any details about the new album? 

    JN: We’re looking at a late spring release, the date will be announced soon I’m sure. But we will be releasing singles up to that point, so there will be a constant flow of music from here forth. Plus we’ve got some videos and other material that we’re psyched to share alongside the tracks. 

    PC: Maybird’s Spotify playlist contains some great indie music. Which bands or musicians spur you forward by setting a benchmark that you’re striving to reach?

    JN: I love having a Spotify playlist and updating it frequently. That’s exactly what it does, keeps inspiration flowing. We call it Maybird Mixtape. The whole thing started with an actual physical mixtape. We used to dub a bunch of tapes and give them to fans at shows to share what we were listening to. Spotify is obviously a lot easier to manage, but we still make the physical tapes every once in a while. I have a very open ear and use Shazam all the time. If I hear something that I would like to examine closer for whatever reason, whether it’s at a restaurant, in a store, on the radio or whatever… always Shazaming. A lot of what ends up on Maybird Mixtape is from that. I found this band Billy & Dolly that way, for example, and their album ended up being one of my favorites of 2018. Excellent songwriting and production. That’s really the only benchmark – to keep pushing forward in the writing and production… Cass Mccombs, Deerhunter, Daniel Ramano, Kendrick Lamar, Tame Impala, The Voidz, Danger Mouse, Wilco, Sly & The Family Stone are a few regulars on the mixtape. It’s all over the place, it’s all just really good. I think our sound is all over the place as well, and that’s the way we like it.

    Check out Maybird’s new song over on Flaunt magazine. And be sure to follow Maybird on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to catch their latest music and videos and find out about upcoming shows.

    Photo by Teagan West.

  • Sister Sparrow Shines, Dirty Birds Delight at Levon Helm Studios

    Arleigh Kincheloe, aka Sister Sparrow, mesmerized a full house at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock Saturday night, with the Dirty Birds backing her, as she held the audience entranced, proving one’s presence can dwarf their stature. The setting, a barn-turned-showroom, was ideal as onlookers surrounded the band and Sister Sparrow’s voice reverberated majestically.

    The show, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds’ second at Levon Helm Studios, was long-awaited. SS&TDB were scheduled to make their first appearance in Woodstock since 2012 last December 29. Due to illness, however, the concert was rescheduled for January 26. If good things are worth the wait, the band can be forgiven for the near-seven year hiatus; they were excellent.

    When concert-goers arrived in Woodstock, they waited a little longer for the headliner as Melanie Glenn, Mary Kenney and Allison Olender, of the band Upstate, opened with an a capella set. While they typically play with a backing band, the set highlighting the singers was apropos for the intimate Levon Helm Studios.

    The sincerity of their voices manifested in calls and responses, gospels mixed with folk, and the three young ladies had evident chemistry. Expressive and at ease on stage, each singer had her own style and personality: Glenn took the limelight at one point with an acoustic guitar and Olender later came to the front with her electric Fender. Kenney anchored the set, standing center throughout. While Sister Sparrow would come out to steal the evening, Upstate’s harmonies set the mood wonderfully.

    After a brief intermission, the Dirty Birds took the stage and, with the audience’s enthusiastic encouragement, Sister Sparrow crept up to the spotlight. With a playful look of surprise for the applause (“Who– me?”) and a shake of her long, red hair, she grabbed the mic and it was off to the races.

    She’s tiny. She’s huge. The microphone stand rivals her in stature, but Sister Sparrow’s presence is titanic. With her mother watching from the crowd and her brother Jackson supporting on the harmonica, Sister Sparrow banged her bright red tambourine, swung the mic, and belted out invigorating tunes.

    While Sister Sparrow’s stage presence is as cool as watermelon on a summer afternoon, the band, a menagerie of supporting musicians, has a full, clean rock ‘n’ roll vibe. With his shoulders curling and head nodding, drummer Dan Boyden played with a nonchalance that imbibed the spirit of Levon Helm. During a cover of Toto’s “Rosanna,”  trumpeter Phil Rodriguez and saxophonist Brian Graham turned and nodded to each other as if to say, “Yeah, we’re gettin’ it!”

    The sounds ranged from pop to folk, prominently featuring funk and soul. Sister Sparrow’s candid mien was positive and jocular, her voice captivating. The show was intimate yet energetic, and, from the beginning, there was a feel in the air that something special was taking place: refreshing music created by from experienced entertainers.

    The Barn at Levon Helm Studios had a church-like feel Saturday night. Rows of worshipers sat in awe as Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds held the pulpit. The music had a soul-cleansing component and the crowd was a lowercase-c catholic cluster of Dirty Bird disciples. While it was my first time attending a Sister Sparrow sermon, I most certainly hope it’s not my last.

    Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds

  • The Revivalists Sell Out The Beacon Theatre

    On Thursday January 17 The Revivalists closed a sold-out two night run at The Beacon Theatre, bringing that sweet New Orleans soul to Broadway. The high energy critically acclaimed rock band had a packed house on their feet, and in the palm of their hand, as they moved through new and old songs for the entire night. From the first verse of the popular new song , “All My Friends,” the audience was lured to get down with each of the eight band members.

    It’s actually hard to believe that everyone in Manhattan didn’t hear this show. Guitarists Zack Feinberg, two-drummer-setup Andrew Campanelli  and Paulet “PJ” Howard, pedal steel player Ed Willams, bassist George Gekas, saxophonist Rob Ingraham and keys and trumpet player Michael Girardot incorporated the twang from pedal steel, a rich guitar sound, NOLA style horns to roar a full Rock n Roll sound – shaking the hollowed halls of the Beacon Theatre. The extremely talented lead singer, David Shaw made this sold out audience get out of there seats and sing every lyric at the top of their lungs.

    David Shaw is one of the top frontmen in music today; a full package blend of entertainer and musician, with such a powerful voice and meaningful lyrics. He commands and manipulates the audience with ease, having even the casual fan singing their hit song, “Wish I Knew You”. He shined on a cover of The Rolling Stones “Miss You,” adding his own style and sound to the classic. It was a joy to see Shaw perform from a place of joy and share that with a captive audience.

    The Revivalists are a hard working band that embody a direction that music deserves to be going in. Selling out two nights at the historic Beacon Theatre proves they are well on there way to achieving that. I highly recommend their new album Take Good Care and really look forward to seeing where this band goes next.

     

  • Warm up at the Waterhole during Saranac Lake Winter Carnival

    The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is a legendary two-week party in the middle of winter, in the most northern part of New York State. This year’s edition, the 122nd, takes place from Feb. 1 – 10. The sometimes blustery elements of this idyllic mountain town take a backseat to celebrate the warmth of music, friends,food and fireworks. The Waterhole Music Lounge is Northern New York’s central hub for the best in live music. The venue historically has played host to a dynamic range of bands, across several genres over ten days. This year’s line up carries that tradition onward.

    waterhole

    Over the past decade or so some of the best in hip hop, rock, and jam have played huge sets to rowdy crowds coming in off the streets after a day of parades. Some notable names include: The Ominous Seapods, Rubblebucket, Donna the Buffalo, Sophistafunk, Twiddle, Hot Day at the Zoo and so many more. This year’s lineup offers the return of Plattsburgh powerhouse and long standing Winter Carnival performers Lucid. Buffalo’s own and NYS Music 87/90 artist, Folkfaces open up the night on Feb. 2.

    The Waterhole in Saranac Lake has been a big part of what makes the music scene in Upstate New York amazing, a slice of rock and roll history nestled up the mountains. The venue is a three floor experience that has seen some big time names play the stage. Del McCoury, Colonel Bruce Hampton, Gov’t Mule, Bela Fleck, moe., Leftover Salmon, Soulive, and Turkauz have all performed memorable sets here. In continuing with the tradition of bringing quality acts, this year’s line up promises to offer up those “wish I were there” sets from the artists both established and on the rise.

    Other bands making the trip to grace the stage are West End Blend, Barika, Lady Moon and the Eclipse, The Gibson Brothers, The Melting Nomads, The Swampkids, Annie in the Water, Driftwood and Swampcandy. Look forward to special performances in the Downstairs bar of The Waterhole from Kevin Sabourin, Nina’s Brew and Dirty Blanket. There will be plenty of opportunities for entertainment after a day of snowshoe ultimate, skating or skiing. Grab a convenient week long pass for $65 for a discounted way to catch all the music. For more information about live music at The Waterhole check out their website.

    Check out the full schedule below:

    Feb. 1 – Driftwood w/s/g Swampcandy- 8:00 p.m. doors, 9:00 p.m. show; $10.00 advance / $12.00 door 

    Feb. 2 – Lucid wsg. Folkfaces – 8:00 p.m. doors, 9:00 p.m. show; $17.00 advance / $20.00 door  

    Feb. 3 – Kevin Sabourin (Of Lucid) – 2:00 p.m. Downstairs – free show

    Feb. 5 – Nina’s Brew – 9:00 p.m. Downstairs – free show

    Feb. 6 – Annie in the Water – 8 p.m. doors, 9:00 p.m. show – $10.00 

    Feb. 7 – The Gibson Brothers w/s/g Old Sky – 7:30 p.m. doors, 8:30 p.m. show; $18.00 advance / $22.00 door

    February 8th – Lady Moon & The Eclipse, Melting Nomads & Swamp Kids (Feat Members of Big Mean Sound Machine & Chris English) – 8:00 p.m. doors, 9:00 p.m. show; $10.00

    Feb. 9 – Post-Parade Party with The Big Takeover – 2:00 p.m. – Free Show

    Feb.9 – West End Blend w/s/g Barika – 8:00 p.m. doors, 9:00 p.m. show – $10.00 

    Feb. 10 – Dirty Blanket – 2:00 p.m. Downstairs – Free Show

    waterhole

    written by Derick Borst

  • The Who is Back on the Road for the ‘Movin’ On’ Tour

    The Who has announced a 2019 Tour including three New York dates.  Key Bank Center in Buffalo, Madison Square Garden in  New York City and Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh.  The Movin’ On Tour spans across 29 cities and is in support of the first new album from The Who in 13 years.

    Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend will be accompanied by a symphony along with guitarist/backup singer Simon Townshend, keyboardist Loren Gold, bassist Jon Button, and drummer Zak Starkey.

    Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, Jan. 18 through Live Nation.  Full Tour listing below.

    The Who 2019 Tour Dates:
    May 7 – Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI
    May 9 – KeyBank Center – Buffalo, NY
    May 11 – Jiffy Lube Live – Bristow, VA
    May 13 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
    May 16 – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
    May 18 – Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center – Noblesville, IN
    May 21 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago, IL
    May 23 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre St. Louis – St. Louis, MO
    May 25 – Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia, PA
    May 28 – Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI
    May 30 – PPG Paints Arena – Pittsburgh, PA
    June 1 – Scotiabank Arena – Toronto, ON
    Sept. 6 – Xcel Energy Center – St. Paul, MN
    Sept. 8 – Alpine Valley Music Theatre – Alpine Valley, WI
    Sept. 10 – Blossom Music Center – Cuyahoga Falls, OH
    Sept. 13 – Fenway Park – Boston, MA
    Sept. 15 – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, NY
    Sept. 18 – State Farm Arena – Atlanta, GA
    Sept. 20 – BB&T Center – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
    Sept. 22 – Amalie Arena – Tampa, FL
    Sept. 25 – Toyota Center – Houston, TX
    Sept. 27 – American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX
    Sept. 29 – Pepsi Center – Denver, CO
    Oct. 11 – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA
    Oct. 13 – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA
    Oct. 16 – Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl – San Diego, CA
    Oct. 19 – T-Mobile Park – Seattle, WA
    Oct. 21 – Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena – Vancouver, BC
    Oct. 23 – Rogers Place – Edmonton, AB

  • Syracuse label, L.R.S. set to release album by Baldwinsville HS pep band

    Plan Bee, the Baldwinsville HS Pep Band, is celebrating its 10th anniversary Saturday Jan. 19 at the Palace Theater in Syracuse with a performance and release of its first full-length LP, Bee Sides.The album is being released by Syracuse label L.R.S. Records.

    Record sales and the performance, which also includes appearances by ’90s tribute act My So-Called Band and Matthew Blake & the Blues Dragons, will help defray costs for the Baldwinsville Marching Band’s trip to the 2020 Rose Bowl Parade.

    The pep band’s origins are owed to band director, Casey Vanderstow. Describing the creation of the band, Vanderstow stated, “A lot of these students are in our field band program. When that ends in the fall, there is indoor drum line, and winter guard, but there wasn’t anything for brass and woodwind players who wanted to keep playing. So this band was formed for students to continue playing, and it has grown over the past decade.”

    The band also acts as the Carrier Dome’s house band when the Syracuse University pep band is off for the semester break. Below is some video of their performance of “Land of 1000 Dances” at Syracuse’s game versus Old Dominion on Dec. 15 of last year.

    Vanderstow modeled the band on his alma mater, Syracuse’s popular pep band, the Sour Citrus Society, and they now boast a repertoire of more than 60 songs ranging from classic rock to top 40 music.

    Plan Bee’s partnership with L.R.S. Records began three years ago, with an idea to record a vinyl LP with digital download. Over that time, L.R.S. recorded the band at various venues, including basketball games, at the Onondaga County War Memorial and at the band’s annual summer appearances at Baldwinsville’s Paper Mill Island Amphitheater.

    The album will feature arrangements of songs by the White Stripes, Daft Punk, the Beastie Boys, Elton John, Aerosmith and others.

    Tickets for the show are still available through the Baldwinsville band website and range from $15 to $50.

    _________________________________________________________________________

    Editor’s note: This article was corrected to reflect Saturday as the proper day of the event.

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