NYS Music 20​19

Category: Regions

  • All in the Jamily: Mazzstock Music Festival 2019

    There is a festival where volunteer staff wear t-shirts that read “La Famiglia” and what better way to encapsulate a feeling of family. Many festivals claim to provide a feeling of family, but none better provides a sense of true community than the intimate Mazzstock Music Festival, where founder Lee Mazzola has graciously opened his back yard for music lovers like himself.

    On August 8-11, 2019 the uber-affordable Mazzstock Music Festival took place at Mazzstock Field in Marlboro, NY, within the picturesque and bucolic Hudson Valley Region. Conveniently located 1.5 hours from New York City, 2 hours from Hartford, 3 hours from Philadelphia and 4 hours from Boston, Mazzstock celebrated its 12th year (5th year as a 3-day fest) and drew soaring crowds with another very strong lineup.  

    Mazzstock Music Festival
    Photo by Mickey Deneher

    With the motto “3 days, 2 stages, 1 love, no worries,” Mazzstock Music Festival is something special. It is so intimate and friendly, one feels that they will meet and get along with any one of the smiling faces on the dance floor, in tent city or at concessions. This year included a variety of strong ascending artists. Festival favorite and Mazzstock veteran Zach Deputy returned as a headliner; while Flux Capacitor, Dark Side of the Hudson, Gratefully Yours, Escaper, Cousin Earth and Hayley Jane are just a few offerings from the festival’s varied lineup – which also featured a number of stylized and talented DJs for a very popular late-night silent disco.An impressive set from Kingston DJ, Joey Hernandez, who brought up-tempo house musings. 

    The weather was perfect throughout and there was no cell service so patrons were connected without any distractions. Another bonus was that one could clearly hear each set clearly from their campsite! Lee, Vinny and the rest of the organizing team provided a seamless experience with impeccable amenities including clean porto-potties with stocked toilet paper, always – all weekend.

    Dave Reiss and I Anbassa proved they are a fun band to watch; Flux Capacitor showed why they are invited to play so many festivals, Tom Clancy and Dave Heinzinger led a feisty Sky Daddy set that ignited a tight “Fire on the Mountain.” Will Hanza guided his ascending band, Escaper, to some monster jams while festival mainstay, Alpha Male Gorillas, brought a heavier but contagious groove.

    Mazzstock Music Festival
    Photo By Mickey Deneher

    Tigerman brought the funky rhythms, and stellar guitar work was showcased by ShwizZ Himsef while he adorned a tiger onesie. Dark Side of the Hudson demonstrated they are a premiere Pink Floyd experience with a professional cover rendition of the album Dark Side of the Moon and an exquisite vocal solo on “Great Gig in the Sky.” There were six artists at large, but those from Nyack (ShwizZ Himsef, Natasha May DiMarco, Dan Rappaport, Danielle Sheri Wasserman) shined brightest throughout their plethora of appearances; the bonfire jams were comforting with many bringing voices and instruments of choice for the familiar festivities.

    Highlights of the festival included Cousin Earth, Cosmal and Zach Deputy!

    Cousin Earth  :: East Stage  :: Friday 6:35-7:35pm

    Mazzstock Music Festival
    Photo By Mickey Deneher

    Cousin Earth were a pleasant welcoming committee to the many fans that arrived late Friday evening during the set. Formerly Ukelelian, the quintet has been touring hard over the past year, even doing a vast Southern run, spreading their energetic and innovative sound.  The NY based band, (a member of the Jam Band Syndicate), consists of Terry Brennan (vocals/keys/percussion), Melissa Raye (vocals/percussion), Corey J. Feldman (bass/vocals), Joey Calfa (ukulele/vocals) and Nate Searing (drums). The band was a breath of fresh air with their eclectic songwriting and hard to predict delivery. They are a band to watch as they ascend the ranks of our scene with more visibility.

    The Mazzstock set was electric – fuelled by soaring harmonies and moments of beautiful jam improvisation. “Can You Get to That” was buoyed by the virtuoso guitar work provided by guest ShwizZ Himsef (Ryan Liatis) and his presence on stage with Calfa, who possesses monster chops, was a music lovers delight. “Super Laser Beams” remains a show staple and for good reason– it really showcases the band at its full power with intricate time signatures, blended melodies and trippy surreal solos as part of a musical package that lures attendees in like a laser beam. A recent release, “Don’t Kill Us” is the song that could be a hit as a released and promoted single. Raye’s vocals lead a pleasurable auditory attack with a seriously addictive chorus on a fantastical lyrical romp.    

    Set List:  Pancakes, Burning Up, Window Video Game, Super Fun Laser Beams, Can You Get to That, Please Don’t Kill Us, Fleshy Car/Spain, Capricorn on the Cob

    Cosmal  :: West Stage  :: Friday 12:45-1:45am

    Hailing from New Paltz with over a decade of experience, Cosmal is well known to music aficionados in the Hudson Valley and beyond. Ryan Coyle (guitar/vocals) and his wife, Ali Laz (vocals/live painter), have partnered to unleash a musical experience like no other. A surreal and trippy exploration to the unknown, the dynamic duo has truly mastered the sharing of downtempo moods. Laz is relatively new to sharing her vocals on stage, but performs like a seasoned pro. She has become the consummate frontwomen – sexy, prolific and with a smooth vocal delivery.

    Laz is also an accomplished live painter who creates one of a kind masterpieces on canvas that fans share much adulation for.  The Wizard of Cosmal though is Coyle, who harnesses his brilliance to compose a myriad of uniquely contagious and infectious original sounds. The new song, “Snake Charmer” is meticulously crafted with solid guitar fills. However, it is “Caliente” that takes down the house as the highlight of the gig. Laz sultry sings, “I love the way you touch me” with relentless beats supporting the groove and it really delivers a euphoric vibe ala Gilberto in “Girl From Ipanema.” The song isn’t about sexual lust, but rather the yearning to feel someone’s entire soul. Cosmal are a quickly ascending band that I expect many more pleasant surprises from in the immediate future.

    Set List: Sumatra, Caliente, Ancient Future, Drishti, Realize, Snake Charmer, Final Gear, Way Down, Encore:  Blossom, Moment

    Zach Deputy  :: West Stage  :: Saturday 11:10pm-12:40am

    Zach Deputy returned to Mazzstock Music Festival as the headliner and had the prime Saturday night slot at the Main Stage. There is only one thing you need to learn about ‘Zachy Dee’ – he is a Master Looper. If you didn’t know that, his fiery and upbeat set soon would convince you. Hailing from Savannah, GA Deputy honed his chops at Riders Lounge on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. His unique approach delivered a bevy of bombastic acoustic numbers that inspired the crowd to shake their booty in delight. He shared crowd favorites like the party anthem “Put it in the Boogie,” the infectious “Twisty Twisty” and the rhythmic “Home.” He had the longest set of the weekend and patrons still were boogying at the end and salivating for more. A down to earth, generous, jovial giant of a man gifted fans with an assortment of benevolent ditties and in doing so proved that Santa Claus still delivers.

  • So Last Year debut captivating new song ‘Minutes Away, Worlds Apart’

    So Last Year’s “Minutes Away. Worlds Apart” is a song about that moment in a relationship when one person is having to tell the other that things are just not going to work out. 

    The song came to Logan, lead singer and writer, over the course of a week, and after working on the song he realized that the bridge would be the perfect moment to bring the whole scene together. In the bridge, both people are singing to each other at the same time, one explaining how things aren’t working and the other explaining how there’s still hope to make it work. The song really conveys tension between two people that are at two different places in a relationship, both lyrically and musically.

    Logan’s musical theater background leads him to write in story format often, and this song is no exception. Fans of catchy hooks, funky guitar riffs and toe-tapping drums with be in love from the moment they hear the song start.  You can expect it to be featured on So Last Year’s upcoming album.

    You can find So Last Year on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can find So Last Year on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

  • In Focus: Woods Fest 2

    Woods Fest Music Festival is quickly becoming a “can’t miss” event in Central New York, featuring many of the best emerging and established bands in the region and New England.

    The second annual Woods Fest event at Woods Valley Ski Area in Central New York boasted a lineup that included Annie in the Water, The Old Main, The Black River, Nina’s Brew, Substanance, Les Brers, Los Blancos, Late Earth, and Dark Hollow.

    The all-day festival also featured a Super Jam to finish the night on the big stage. The jam saw members of Nina’s Brew and The Old Main joining Annie in the Water on stage to finish the festival. Following the outdoor festivities, the music continued inside the lodge until sunrise.

    • Woods Fest 2
      Dark Hollow
    • Mark Nanni
    • Michael Vincitore
    • Late Earth
    • Andrea Canale
    • Woods Fest 2
      Bruce Gerow
    • Colin Aberdeen of Los Blancos
    • Bruce Gerow & Booth Johnson
    • Anthony Zee Donaldson & TIm Woods
    • Nina’s Brew
    • Giovanina Bucci
    • Isaac French
    • Les Brers
    • Mike Powell
    • The Black River
    • John Hanus & Mike Powell
    • Joe Bell
    • Dom Scicchitano
    • John Hanus
    • The Old Main
    • Nash Robb
    • Dusty Elmer
    • Annie in the Water
    • Brad Hester
    • Michael Lashomb
    • Ryan Trumbull
    • Throwing posters to the crowd
    • Event organizer Tim Woods
    • Tim Woods & Mike Kohli

  • Renovated Lark Hall Opens Doors With Carl Broemel (Of My Morning Jacket) & Deer Tick

    Sunday evening, Justin and Jennifer Miller opened the doors of the beautifully renovated Lark Hall in Albany, NY to friends and family with My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel as the featured artist. Ian O’Neill of Deer Tick opened up the evening on guitar and vocals with help from Dennis Ryan on drums and vocals. They played some originals that were just recorded, songs from their side project Happiness and Deer Tick songs from the album Mayonnaise.

    carl broemel
    Photo by Mathew Golden

    The audience, having just been treated by the Miller’s to a Tex Mex buffet and open bar, was all smiles and an amazing listening room shone brilliantly as the last rays of sunlight came into the hall through the balcony windows.

    carl broemel lark hall

    The invite-only audience of about 70 people was in for a real treat next as O’Neill and Ryan closed their set stating, “Well looks like Carl just got here and we have one more for you, then we are going to come on out there and watch him with y’all!” Carl Broemel, guitar, pedal steel and saxophone player for My Morning Jacket, having just finished a four-night run with his bandmates, had quietly been watching the opening set from the side of the hall. Broemel, who has just released the critically acclaimed Wished Out album in 2018 and 2019’s EP Brokenhearted Jubilee was up next.

    We were incredibly honored and grateful to have Carl join us on our maiden voyage… and none of it would have ever been possible without the support and love of our friends who were there to share the experience with us – Truly a dream come true!”

    Justin and Jennifer Miller

    After a quick stage switch and soundcheck, Carl “Snowy” Broemel took the stage armed with his electric, acoustic and pedal steel guitar and a rig of pedals and loopers. The Miller’s entrusted their close friend Matt Hueston as the event coordinator and the evening was dubbed “A Snowy Evening At Lark Hall.” The sound at Lark Hall was the first thing those lucky enough to be in attendance noticed. The sound technicians and natural wood of the theater made for a crisp and perfect quality as each note rung true. This space is perfect as a listening room, but the hall will surely host some barn burners as well.

    carl broemel
    Photo by Matthew Golden

    Broemel opened the set with “Starting From Scratch” from Wished Out. He moved in and out of his original material from his solo records with the same ease as he moved between looping guitars with harmonies that created a rocking atmospheric funk. Then the pedal steel came in, layered over top. You could hear a pin drop as the audience did not make a peep during this very special set. It is no wonder why Rolling Stone magazine listed Broemel in the top 20 modern guitar players in the world. His command and control of all that was happening on stage was flawless.

    carl broemel
    Photo by Matthew Golden

    Having just finished a solo tour with Tyler Ramsey, Broemel decided to play an M. Ward cover, “Chinese Translation,” that they had done together while on tour. This version soared through the hall and out onto the Albany streets outside like the sweet drops of moonlight touching down through the trees. Another highlight of the evening was “Carried Away” from 2010’s All Birds Say. Finally, Broemel was beckoned back onstage to treat the audience to one more tune and decided to close out the evening with a rollicking version of Tom Petty’s “Last Dance With Mary Jane.”

    After the concert, Broemel signed posters, t-shirts and hung out in the hall talking to fans for hours. He even joined fans in a ping pong match in the adjacent Lark Street Yoga Studio run by Jennifer Miller, just voted a Top 5 Woman Operated Business in Albany. All the facilities at the beautifully renovated Hall and Yoga Studio are state of the art. The sound is amazing. The framed posters that line the walls and decorations are incredible. Those lucky enough to attend “A Snowy Evening at Lark Hall” had a once in a lifetime experience and also witnessed the start of what will surely be a successful venture and true listening space for artists to play and feel like family.

    Event organizer Matt Hueston said, “What a magical night, and I don’t think there was one second I didn’t have a smile on my face. I wanted to put this event on not only because I love Carl, My Morning Jacket, and Deer Tick, but to show my appreciation for all of the kindness that strangers, who are now amazing friends, have shown me during my musical adventures. Music brings us together in a way very few things can. Be kind, spread positivity, and as always rock on!” Hueston seems to be onto something here, as Broemel expressed his desire to come back and play this brand new venue again. Be on the look out for so much more from the Miller’s new venue Lark Hall! Scroll past the pictures for the venue’s Mission Statement.

    carl broemel

    Lark Hall is a Historic performance arts and community venue located at 351 Hudson Avenue in Albany, New York.  Located in the heart of Albany’s Lark Street neighborhood, this 14,000 square foot building was constructed in 1916 by the Daughters of the Eastern Star as a meeting and performance hall that includes street level retail and meeting spaces and a 3,000+ square foot venue space with 22’ ceilings, proscenium stage, intricate mezzanine areas, and an artist’s green room and living quarters located above the stage.  Owned and operated from 1977 to 2017 by Electric Body Arts, Inc., Lark Hall was most recently utilized as a not-for-profit dance and fitness school maintaining all original historic details.

    Purchased in March 2018 by a group led by Jeff Buell and Justin Miller, Lark Hall is being developed into a multi-tenanted performance arts and community venue that will build on the neighborhood’s longstanding arts and community-oriented culture.  Carefully designed and engineered, Lark Hall will be developed to provide not only an unmatched guest experience, but also to serve as a one-of-a-kind residency for artists to perform, stay and hone their craft in a comfortable oasis from touring.The building’s first floor at street level boasts over 3,000 square feet of commercial space that hosts Lark Street Yoga Studio (1,400 square feet of high end yoga and fitness studio space) and related amenities, along with an additional approximately 1,000 square foot lobby and common space that will host Lark Juice Bar, Lark Hall Box Office and new elevator bay for ADA and load in access to the upper hall. 

    An additional 1,200 feet of first floor space is under construction to host a locally-owned coffee shop.The main hall currently contains nearly 3,000 feet of main open floor space fronting an approximately 10 x 30 proscenium stage, along with built in mezzanine space on one side that provides incredible sight lines and acoustics in current format.  The hall will be upgraded to include expanded mezzanine amenities for reserved-level ticketing with private bar and bathrooms.  The main floor level will include a large bar area and new bathrooms to service the main floor area.  Among the significant building upgrades to be installed to support the hall and support spaces include a new elevator, extended stage area, bar and related service and office spaces, building-wide sprinkler and fire signaling, HVAC systems and air handling, along with building-wide electrical systems, lighting and tech backbone to support state of the art sound, lighting and front of house equipment. 

    For first phase of built out, Lark Hall will be rated for ~300+ occupants and feature unparalleled acoustics and unrestricted sight lines for every single guest.The hall also boasts a unique 2-3 bedroom apartment located above the stage that is directly connected to the stage and mezzanine areas.  This amenity will be offered to artists and support crew for use during and after performances.  This living space will be a one-of-a-kind green room and residency area to attract and retain artists for multi-night residencies and unique performance opportunities.  This living space also adjoins approximately 1,200 square feet of practice and recording space that will be offered to artists and recording professionals for use as part of regular bookings and extended practice and recording opportunities. 

    All photos by Matthew Golden

    Facility Highlights: Historic ~500 capacity venue with unique multi-level mezzanine layout, 22 foot ceiling and proscenium stage.  The main Hall includes tech and monitor rooms built into the wings of the stage area, with multiple access points from stage to private artist residence areas.Both GA floor and mezzanine levels for reserved ticketing opportunities, along with flexible seating formats to accommodate ADA and general seating preferences for select shows.Artist focused living and practice space to attract and retain local, regional and national touring acts.  Living space may be available for short term stays to support community meetings, weddings and other hall offerings. 

    Practice and studio space will also be available for use as part of enhanced ticketed performances (a la midnight preserves), and for lease and/or management by third-party recording professionals.Built-in flex space on first level that will provide dedicated box office, merchandise counters and flex space availability within yoga studio to support artist meet and greets and integrated gallery space for artist support industry (gallery for pop-up poster artists and photographers, sound check party amenities, and general flex space to support events built around ticketed performances).Designed for both fans and artists, Lark Hall will provide an unparalleled live music and performance experience.

  • Artists and Industry Execs Connect at the Inaugural Hudson Valley Music Summit

    “Something that won’t necessarily be discussed today, just because we don’t have enough time, is how to do all of this outreach. How do you send that e-mail? How much is not enough, or too much and too annoying? But we should have this discussion, either in a separate function or one-on-one, and you can come talk to me. Because I want this region to do well; there is too much talent here.” Joel Feinberg, CEO of DeWolfe Music, said this at at the end of an engaging panel discussion titled Licensing Update: Moving Beyond Commercials at the inaugural Hudson Valley Music Summit, held August 9 in Kingston, NY.

    Feinberg, who calls New Paltz, NY home, is certainly right: The Hudson Valley comprises the section of New York reaching from Upstate to the the edges of the big city itself. And while that’s a vast stretch, it’s a strongly connected one, with many fast-growing musical and artistic performance scenes burgeoning within them. Representing this area and its continually multiplying numbers of talented, independent artists in the context of the music industry is an important and noteworthy, albeit long term, cause. 

    That’s where the Hudson Valley Music Summit comes in, the single day event planned and organized for as long as over a year by author and independent musician David Hoffman.  

    Beginning bright and early at 9 A.M. and lasting through a more informal, live music event at Kingston’s BSP lounge, the Summit was a chance for local artists and music career professionals to both connect with highly successful and renowned members of the industry and learn trade secrets from them. Across a series of panel discussions, hosted by a moderator and joined by a small handful of talking heads, the summit’s aim was to demystify the often intersecting, co-dependent niches of the music industry, and offer insight into the many diverse ways to achieve financial, creative, entrepreneurial success within it. 

    In that Licensing panel, for starters, Feinberg along with a handful of others, like panel moderator Sharon Tapper, CEO of Pivot Music Group, answered questions about the myths, misunderstandings, and gems of truth about getting one’s content into the hands of publicists, label executives and more. When discussing writing music for commercial, “Upbeat always beats depressed in the numbers,” was just one insight of many upon which the panel unanimously agreed.

    In a panel titled Conceiving a Coherent Image for a Strong Merchandising Strategy, Mara Frankel, Senior Directive Creator of Atlantic Records led a very intriguing conversation on artists’ best approach to visual mediums and making them work for their brand. At one point during this session, John Warner, owner of Hi-Line Merchandising, held up Keller Williams’ newest album, Add, to the crowd and succinctly explained its direct yet effective use of a single title single image to communicate the one-man-jamband’s thematic intention.  

    Some of the day was less study session and more nifty. One of the day’s highlights, for instance, was a lunch hour overseen by an intimate discussion between Relix Editor-in-Chief Dean Budnick and Capitol Theatre owner Peter Shapiro. Budnick pressed Shapiro for details on the recent success of The Cap, Port Chester’s renowned rock music venue, along with tidbits about its sister venues The Brooklyn Bowl and the now-defunct, yet ever famous, Wetlands Preserve.

    One of the more intriguing questions asked of Shapiro concerned how bands might able to transition from playing one size venue to a larger one, to which he offered: “Keep in touch with bookers, and let them know where you’ve played. Also be open to opening, tell bands and bookers you can bring this many people to their show. Go crush Garcia’s and you’ll probably get a phone call from us.” 

    And, in response to a question from the crowd asking, “Why staff at The Capitol Theatre love Shapiro so much?” which is something you don’t see too much,” Budnick actually answered for Shapiro, giving an answer that seemed to fit. “It’s because he’s there, at the shows. He’s down in it, just like any fan watching a show, and I think that’s what anyone should aspire to.”

    In a special panel that closed out the day, Manager’s Roundtable, the Summit gathered together the managers of The Wood Brothers, Wilco’s Nels Cline and others to paint a picture of a day in their life. The four members and moderator Linda Lorence-Critelli (president of the New York chapter of the GRAMMYs) all agreed firmly upon a simple yet paramount idea, one that seemed to sum up the entire day. In response to an audience member’s question about how to make get inside a manager’s door and establish a connection, they said, “It comes from relationships.” Hard Head Management founder and wife of Warren Haynes, Stephanie Scamardo, went on to describe how she recently also became manager of rock sensation The Revivalists, noting that it stemmed from a friendly conversation that led to a lunch date, and then ultimately a strong partnership. 

    Hopefully, that’s what the collection of local musicians, marketers, content producers and more found in attending the Hudson Valley Music Summit: the chance to connect with an industry leader or two, learn a thing or two, and possibly even offer services to one another or vice versa.

     

  • Hootie & the Blowfish with Barenaked Ladies: Sounds Like a Party to Me

    The Group Therapy Tour was just the medicine needed for more than 15,000 fans of Barenaked Ladies that packed into CMAC this past Friday night. This being the first time they’ve toured in over a decade, Hootie & the Blowfish was not only celebrating the 25th anniversary of Cracked Rear View Mirror‘s release back in 1994, but also announced their upcoming album Imperfect Circle, due for release this fall.

    Opening and getting the night started was the Barenaked Ladies. With Ed Robertson on lead vocals and guitar; Jim Creeggan on bass and vocals; Tyler Stewart on percussion and vocals; and Kevin Hearn on keyboards, guitar and vocals; this quartet have perfected their harmonies and playing over the years, but it’s their stage presence that really lifts them above most bands. The one thing that hits you first (if this is the first time you’ve seen them live) is they have so much fun playing together. Racing across the stage, playing to not only the crowd but to each other, fun has to be their middle name (Barenaked Fun Ladies), just has to be.

    They are known for their improvisation – their number one hit “One Week” was added to the album Stunt to demonstrate their flair of improv and the energy they exude during their live shows. Capturing it perfectly on the album and again Friday night, these fun loving guys have proven they still have what it takes to get the crowd out of their seats, dancing and singing. In fact, if the band “Had a Million Dollars,” they wouldn’t have to buy their love because it was right there in front of them as the crowd sang the lyrics word for word while the band pitched and knocked stuffed animals out of the park. Closing the set out with a mash up of some favorite rock songs, percussionist Tyler Stewart demonstrated what his and the other band members’ strongest qualities are: their versatility and talent, both vocally and musically.

    With a quick changeover, it was just minutes before Hootie & the Blowfish took the stage. The moment they came out, the crowd rose to their feet. With hands in the air and phones on record, the crowd ate up every moment they played, hungry for more.

    The setlist was outstanding, giving the crowd a taste of an expanse of music from their library, those that have influenced them along the way, and just favorites of both the crowd and the band. Joining them a few songs into their set, one of the best moments of the night was when Barenaked Ladies sat in for a cover of the Beatles’ “A Little Help from My Friends.” This classic song was just an epic choice to feature all these talented musicians and what they bring to the stage.

    Like a storybook unfolding, Darius told a story the whole evening through music. Sharing past hits from music that influenced them, such as R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion,” and showing how music can soothe and collectively unite as he and the band dedicated “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” to the families and victims of the past week’s shootings, it once again demonstrated how music heals and is a universal language to which everyone can relate.

    With a new album to be released on September 6, those in attendance got just a taste of what’s to come. This will be the first album they’ve released since 2005’s Looking for Lucky. A performance of “Rollin’“ as an appetizer left the crowd wanting more, at least it did for this photojournalist.

    Despite a slow start to the evening that included the massive number of people coming in to the venue, the issues with ticketing (CMAC is a Ticketmaster venue so buying from third parties is not encouraged or honored) and a strange rain storm that occurred in the beginning of the evening, (rain on one side of the amphitheater and not the other), all in all, it was an amazing night of music that made all the gray moments shine like the rainbow that appeared right before the show began.

    Barenaked Ladies Setlist: Bringing It Home, Odds Are, It’s All Been Done, Gonna Walk, The Old Apartment Matter of Time, Brian Wilson, Lookin’ Up, Pinch Me, Big Bang Theory Theme, One Week, If I Had a Million Dollars, Barenaked Rap: Shallow / Old Town Road / Sicko Mode / High Hopes / Whole Lotta Love / Another One Bites the Dust

    Hootie & The Blowfish Setlist: Samuel L. Jackson Ezekiel 25:17, Hannah Jane, State Your Peace, I Go Blind (54-40 cover), Sad Caper, Not Even the Trees, With a Little Help From My Friends (Beatles cover with Barenaked Ladies), Hold My Hand, I Will Wait, Let Her Cry, Hey Hey What Can I Do (Led Zeppelin cover), Will the Circle Be Unbroken?, Desert Mountain Showdown, I Hope I Don’t Fall in Love With You (Tom Waits cover), Alright (Darius Rucker song), Running From an Angel, Losing My Religion (R.E.M. cover), Time, Rollin’, Wagon Wheel (Old Crow Medicine Show cover), Old Man & Me, When I Get to Heaven / Fight the Power / Freaks of the Industry Encore: Goodbye, Go and Tell Him (Soup cover), Only Wanna Be With You / Get Down on It, Country Roads (John Denver cover)

  • Marcia Ball to Flood Louisiana Swamp Blues to Caffè Lena

    Hailing from Vinton, Louisiana, Marcia Ball will be bringing her unique sound to Caffè Lena on Friday, August 30. USA Today described her music as being a combination of “Texas Stomp Rock” and “Louisiana blues-swamp,” an intriguing combination. Each performance of Marcia Ball’s becomes a musical party of joyful music and triumphant vocals, and every note comes with a twist that is all her own. 

    Marcia Ball has won many accolades over her career, including a recent induction into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2018. In 2002, she won the Blues Music Award for “Blues Album Of The Year” for Presumed Innocent. In 2004, her album So Many Rivers was nominated for a Grammy Award and won the 2004 Blues Music Award for Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year, as well as the award for Contemporary Blues Female Artist Of The Year . She has been awarded a total of ten Blues Music Awards, ten Living Blues Awards and has been nominated for a Grammy five times.

    Clearly, Marcia Ball is an incredibly talented musician who has cultivated a sound and style that can only be described as her’s. She will be performing two shows at Caffè Lena, an early show at 6:00, and a late show at 8:30. To get tickets to the early show, go here. To get tickets to the later performance, go here. 

  • In Focus: Guster Strikes SummerStage in Central Park like Lightning

    Guster made the best of weather malfunctions at SummerStage 2019 in Central Park on Thursday, August 8. The beautiful stage and lush canopy of trees created a secluded, intimate environment in the heart of New York City. The day was filled with beautiful skies, and the weather forecast was partially cloudy without indication of showers, up until later on in the day.

    Rubblebucket has delicious clouds as they perform

    Indie rockers, Rubblebucket, opened for Guster, and were fortunate to have blue skies and incredible cloud mood throughout the show. The Brooklyn based bunch includes: Alex Toth (trumpet, leader), Kalmia Taver (vocals, saxophone), Adam Dotzon (trumpet, vocals, flutero), Ryan Dugre (guitar), Noga Shefi (bassa), Jeremy Gustin (drums), and Sean Smith (trumpet). Their vibrant, colorful outfits and art-pop spirit descended upon Central Park, and offered synchronized dancing on stage, as well as a high level of connectivity as they grooved together. At one point, the energetic Taver had the audience sing “Love, Love, Love, Love” while pointing with one finger in the air, transitioning into “Came Out of a Lady.” Rubblebucket made many new fans that night.

    Kalmia Taver interacts with the audience

    Boston, MA’s Guster took the stage at 7:46 pm, with storm clouds moving Northeasterly, towards the Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. Guster consists of Ryan Miller (guitar and vocals), Adam Gardner (guitar and vocals), Brian Rosenworcel (drums and percussion), and Luke Miller (bass). They brought their signature blend of rock and roll as long as they could, starting with “What You Wish For” from Lost and Gone Forever.

    Luke Reynolds of Guster is loving his job

    A deep orange and pink sunset began during Ganging Up on the Sun’s “The Captain,” followed by “Don’t Go” from Look Alive. “Stay with Me” brought lightning in the west, and the orange sky transitioned into black clouds. Drops were felt during their final song, “Satellite,” another tune from Ganging Up on the Sun. 

    The stunning pink and orange cotton candy sunset behind Guster at SummerStage

    At 8:04 pm, the rain came down, the venue cancelled the show, and the band announced that everyone needed to leave immediately. Within 10 minutes, ferocious lightning strikes rolled in, and pouring rain soaked anyone who wasn’t under cover. Mother nature took over to end the evening, but outstanding musical performances and great summer vibes were had until that point.

    These Guster fans soon wished those clouds were not there!

    Guster Setlist: What You Wish For, The Captain, Don’t Go, Stay With Me Jesus, Satellite…

  • In Focus: Rob Thomas’ Chip Tooth on Syracuse

    Rob Thomas stopped at the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview on July 23 on the Chip Tooth Tour. Opening acts were direct support Abby Anderson and Chris Trapper.

    Setlist: I Love It, Real World ’09, Lonely No More, Her Diamonds, If You’re Gone (Matchbox 20), Can’t Help Me Now, The Great Unknown, Street Corner Symphony, One Less Day (Dying Young), Little Wonders, Fire on the Mountain, Let’s Dance (David Bowie), Early in the Morning, 3AM (Matchbox 20), Ever the Same, Someday, I Am an Illusion

    Encore: Something to Be, Unwell (Matchbox 20), Smooth, This is How a Heart Breaks

  • Hearing Aide: Dysfunktone ‘Collective Perspective’

    Dysfunktone is a four piece jam rock band from Long Island, comprised of Rob Meza (guitar/vocals), Brandon Hanna (guitar/keyboards/vocals), David Wolfsohn (bass/vocals), and Dakota Henry (drums). The group released their first studio effort in 2017 with EP, Illegitimate Business, a mix of funk, rock, soul and rap, that gave the world its first look into the band’s sound. Last month Dysfunktone put out their first full length record, Collective Perspective, which expands on their melting pot sound and gives the world a detailed look at what the group is capable of.

    Dysfunktone

    Collective Perspective features a fairly consistent vibe throughout the album, creating this dreamy, sonic landscape that each track seems to relate back to. The music flows, yet is progressive and funky, and lyrical themes deal with different aspects of life that the majority of listeners can relate to.

    “Dementia,” is a highlight of the album, with lyrics coming from the perspective of a person dealing with the confusing headspace of dementia, such as: “swim in memories, but always drown, my thoughts are nowhere to be found, my world is upside down.” The musicianship on the track is impressive, melding reggae vibes of the verses with the swirling, psychedelic sounds of the chorus and funky interstitial sections, all crescendoed by a blazing guitar solo that drops the tune into its instrumental counterpart, “Reflection Collection.”

    Another highlight is “Hourglass,” which is part of a larger suite of songs that flow into each other, preceded by “Clouded” and “Mirror.” The track features just a handful of verses, and is instrumental for the majority of the song, but the lyrics leave the listener inspired to take hold of their life and make themselves who they want to be. The instrumental section flies through several different musical styles and the tension builds with each shift, with just the last minute of the track bouncing from progressive riff rock to a middle eastern sound and into a heavy metal breakdown -exemplifying that melting pot sound, mentioned before.

    The aforementioned “Clouded” is a song worth checking out, melding its laid back, yet dark lyrics with its funky instrumental sections, featuring the best solo on the album.

    Collective Perspective as an album is a good representation of Dysfunktone’s sound, merging several different genres together to create an album that takes the listener on a musical journey, though it could improve on one thing. Some of the songs sound a little too similar musically during the lyrical sections, all sharing that flowy sound mentioned earlier, which helps keep the vibe of the album consistent, but leaves the listener kind of tired of that sound by the end of the album. That being said, the album as a whole works well, and the musicianship on tracks like “Toasty” and “Feelin’ Time” is really impressive. The album is definitely worth listening to if you’re a fan of jam rock. Catch Dysfunktone at Art Jam 2019 in Whitingham, VT from September 6-8 and purchase Collective Perspective on the group’s Bandcamp here.

    Key Tracks: Dementia, Toasty, Clouded, Mirror, Hourglass

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