NYS Music 20​19

Category: Western NY

  • For The Love of Ska: An Interview with Charles Benoit of Some Ska Band

    Being a music writer is a lot of fun, and there’s no one I like to talk shop with more than Charles Benoit. He writes for Reggae Steady Ska about his favorite genre, ska. He also plays tenor sax in Rochester’s most active ska band, aptly named Some Ska Band. They’re opening for The Pietasters on Saturday, April 27 at Flour City Station. We recently caught a quick bite over lunch to talk ska.

    Some Ska Band

    Paula Cummings: Some Ska Band… How did you guys come up with that name?

    Charles Benoit: Well that was a bad move on my part. It was the first thing that came up. I wanted to start a band with three other guys at the agency. Marshall, that was the guitarist and he’s creative director there. Will, our web developer. And Shad, the videographer. Marshall said, “I’ll do the logo. What’s the name of the band?” The first thing I came up with was Some Ska Band and we went with that. I probably should’ve thought it out a lot more, but it  kind of works because Ska bands are such a niche market. Let’s say a band was coming to town called The Plastic Cups. OK, I don’t know anything about them, and I never heard of them. They don’t give any descriptors. I thought it was kind of funny. “Well, who’s playing tonight at The Bug Jar?’ ‘Some Ska Band.’ ‘I like ska, which one?’” We’re the ‘Who’s On First?’ of Ska Band names.

    PC: I know you can’t speak for the others, but why ska? You’ve been all over the world, and exposed to all kinds of music. What brings you back to ska?

    CB: I can speak to the others, and say they play ska because I forced them to. I was only interested in starting a ska band and that’s it. I was first introduced to ska in 1979 when somebody handed me the first Specials album. It changed my life. I fell in love with the message of Two-Tone: the racial unity, fighting against corruption in big government, and the little man view. It’s always attracted me. So I stayed with ska, and quickly ran out of two-tone albums because there were only a handful of bands. I found myself going back to the old traditional original ska of the Skatalites Desmond Dekker, and all the early originators. There was so much there to fall in love with. And then third wave ska came around and you had The Toasters and The Pietasters and all that kind of action that was going on. It’s been a lifelong interest for me. I just love the appeal. “Oh, it’s repetitive, it’s simple, it doesn’t get very deep.” Well, that’s me: repetitive, simple, and I don’t get very deep. It’s what I’ve always liked about the music. As for the rest of the band, none of them came to the band as ska fans, but I think they’re all pretty committed to the cause.

    Some Ska Band

    PC: I’ve noticed that you guys do a lot of covers that are not were not originally written as ska songs.

    CB: It’s something ska band do. The Skatalites, the originators of the sound back in the early 1960s, one of their first songs they are known for is “The Guns of Navarone.” They took a song and put it to the ska. It’s been a tradition.  If you think a song is good, make it better by putting it to the ska. You can take a crappy song and make it better by putting it to the ska.

    PC: In your band’s description it says that you guys got together with the dream of pulling off the biggest diamond heist the world has ever seen. It wasn’t a robbery, but you recently acquired a gem that you played the album release.

    CB: One of my favorite songs in the ska genre is “Easy Snappin’.” It was written by Theophilus Beckford. I got a chance to talk with Monty Alexander once, the famous piano player. He was in the room when they started developing the sound of the ska. Jamaica was newly independent. They were trying to come up with the sound that was strictly Jamaican, not the stuff coming out of Cuba or the Trinidadian soca sound. They wanted something unique to them. They were literally sitting around in the studio and the musicians started playing an upbeat – Ernest Raglin started playing the upbeat. And they messed around with it. Theo Beckford started playing piano. This is early. It is not ‘63. This is late ’50s, but they knew independence was coming. So they’re playing with the sounds and Beckford pumps out this piano tune called “Easy Snappin’.” It’s the first ska song that was deliberately written to be that. When we did our CD release party at The Record Archive, I wanted to let people know about that. I wanted to make that connection. So through a record collector Darren Reggae, that’s not his real name, I got an original 45 that I played at the show.

    Some Ska Band

    PC: In addition to playing ska music, you also interview musicians.

    CB: I interview them for Reggae Steady Ska, which is the world’s leading international ska and reggae website. It’s based out of Bonn, Germany. I’ve been writing for them for about five or six years. This is a great great chance to get to meet some of my heroes. I wouldn’t have been able to meet them at the show, but going through using the website as a writer I get ‘backstage.’ I’ve talked to Monty Alexander, Horace Panter of The Specials, Robert “Bucket” Hingley from The Toasters, Stephen Jackson of the Pietasters. They’re all willing to share because ska is such a small community.

    PC: Some Ska Band plays with some big-name bands. I saw you open for Bim Skala Bim last year.

    CB: We’ve played with The Pilfers, which are a on the harder side of ska. We’ve played with El Grande. And we’ll be playing with The Pietasters on the 27th. This is a pretty big deal, because my wife says that after the Pietasters, Some Ska Band is her second favorite.

    PC: To whom or what would you attribute keeping the flame of ska alive here in western New York?

    CB: The person who is bringing some of these bigger names is Adam Smith. Adam Smith is such an incredible powerhouse. It’s such inspiring story for anybody, of any fan of any music. Adam doesn’t play music, doesn’t sing – God no, he doesn’t sing. He loves music, all kinds of music. But he has a special place in his heart for ska. He had his favorite band, The Pilfers, and they were just never coming to Rochester. He couldn’t figure out why they weren’t coming. So I jokingly said to him ‘Why don’t you play promoter and bring the band to town?’ Fast forward about a year later, and he and Coolie Rand of Pilfers run a management company called Elevation. They are handling tours and shows all over the country. It’s a cool story about Adam, but the cooler story is if you like music, you can become a promoter. You do risk losing some money, and I don’t think Adam is ever going to get rich doing this. But, he’s bringing in bands he really loves, and getting to host the parties he’d want to go to. So if you’re a fan and you want your bands in town, don’t wait for someone else to bring them. Play promoter and bring them in.

    PC: Some Ska Band released an album earlier this year. Will that be available at the Pietasters show?

    CB: We’ll have the CD for sale, bargain price of five bucks. You can’t beat that. We appeared in a CD What Do You Know About Ska Punk Volume 2. That’s got 167 songs on it, believe it or not. That’s five bucks. We’ll have T-shirts and stuff like that.

    PC: Anything else you want to add?

    CB: This show we’re welcoming MC Lopez. She’s gonna be joining us on keyboard.

    PC: So that’ll bring you up to nine members.

    CB: We have a tradition in the band: at shows, people are often meeting other people in the band for the first time. And that’s going to be the case at this show. The rhythm guitar player will not have met the keyboard player until we’re there. And here’s the thing – we like bringing people from the audience up on stage. So we’re nine people when we start, but we’ve been a lot more than that when we’re finished!

    Catch Charles Benoit and Some Ska Band with The Pietasters and The Pandemics Saturday, April 27 at Four City Station in Rochester. Tickets are on sale now. And be sure to follow Some Ska Band on Facebook for updates and events.

    Photos by Will Browar

  • NYS Music City Guide: The Flower City, Rochester

    Moving on to our next destination in line to be highlighted in City Guides, we are continuing west to Rochester, aka The Flower City, where music is alive and well in oh so many different ways. You name a genre and Rochester is sure to have a lively presence awaiting you. Contributing to this melting pot of musical variety includes the “hottest music school in America,” The Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, a rich presence of summer music festivals, local cafes eager to host smaller sets, and the city’s rich legacy of talented musicians such as Metropolitan Opera star Renée Fleming, and bass baritone vocalist William Warfield. It’s an eclectic scene that promises something for every and any kind of music lover.

    Rochester

    Arenas / Larger Venues

    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.

  • Hearing Aide: The Dirty Pennies ‘EP’

    With 2017’s Kick Out The Rocks, The Dirty Pennies blend blues with other styles of music, feeling out the boundaries of how far they could push the genre. Now with their new EP (aptly entitled EP) they’ve mapped out their niche: grungy rust-belt garage rock, steeped in surf rock and blues.

    EP is short, but sweet, containing only three songs. “I’m Giving Up” whets the appetite. The song starts off slow and surreal, but picks up by the end of the first chorus, effectively changing the song from an end-of-the-workday dirge to a happy-hour anthem. The music video for this song is a lot of fun, too. It features the band members breaking free of the drudgery of banal workaday life. “I’m a sad man, too. I’m your poor man’s blues,” sings Ryan Klem with a slight warble. “But I know, yeah I know it ends somewhere.”

    “Things You Say” is a heavy-hitter. Drummer Lucas Howe pulls no punches as he shows off with his ability to both unleash the beast within and reel it back in. Joe Mungo holds down the rhythm on bass, keeping the song grounded so Klem can let-fly some lofty guitar riffs.

    EP ends with the five-plus-minute ballad “Kingpin.” It’s heavy and heady, with an undulating psychedelic beat. The washy guitar effects and the repetitive lyric “I get up/I get down” leaves the listener entranced. About halfway through, the tempo changes and they’re injecting some good old fashioned rock and roll. The song comes full circle, winding back down. “You can’t stop me. I’m not as easy as they come. Stuck in the same frame, I’m making my way out on my own.”

    The Dirty Pennies have come a long way since Kick Out The Rocks. You can still hear elements the members’ various musical interests (including Americana, hard rock, and alternative), but they’ve blended them in such a way as to make a sound all their own. Not some polished newly minted copper, but a sound that befits their namesake.

    EP was recorded at Rochester’s Wicked Squid Studios, where it was engineered by Josh Pettinger and mixed and mastered by Greg Thompson. Album artwork credit goes to Mike Turzanski.

    Listen to the release in full on Bandcamp. And while you’re there, check out their merch store stocked with copies of EP and Kick Out the Rocks as well as some new t-shirt designs. Copies of EP will also be available at the release party at The Bug Jar in Rochester on Friday April 19.

  • Losers Club Launches with Catchy Debut Song, Music Video

    New pop rock outfit Losers Club have released their first song “Emerald Eyes” this week. The song is a rallying call for those for whom everything seems to be going wrong, but who never lose sight of hope.

    “At the time I wrote this song, I had no idea Losers Club would even exist. It was just another personal demo I wrote to get my feelings out of my head for a while,” says frontman Nate Blasdell. “I’m currently working full time as a middle school teacher, so my schedule had been super busy. There was an unexpected snow day in late February, so I took advantage of it with the intention of writing a song about things I had been feeling recently. I can’t remember the last time I wrote a song in full and recorded it in a single day, but once I got started on this song, it just took off on it’s own. The lyrics came so easy because it was all stuff I had been felt for so long the previous year. I had just gotten off a Europe tour in December that was the most emotionally tolling tour I had ever done and my mental health just hit rock bottom. That particular tour had numerous obstacles on top of so many things going on back home that I wasn’t there to deal with at the same time. This song was really just putting that whole thing into perspective. “

    The Rochester-based band includes Andy Champion on bass, Aidan Snyder on guitar and vocals, Cody Wagner on drums, and Blasdell on lead vocals and guitar. Active in the music industry since the age of 16, Blasdell has been a member of several bands, including The Bunny The Bear and I Set My Friends on Fire. He’s also got songwriting credits for bands like
    MKTO, The Vamps, and Big Time Rush.

    “Losers Club is kind of a collective of every idea I’ve ever wanted to do but wasn’t confident enough to pull the trigger,” Blasdell says about the project. “Even though most of my platform and social media branding had been built in the metal scene, my heart has always been in Pop-Rock. I’ll openly admit, I was afraid to sacrifice giving up what I had, what I had worked for, and the opportunities in front of me, to ‘start over’ in a different scene that I had been out of for so long and there was a lot of self-doubt.”

    Blasdell continues, “To be honest, I’ve lived a pretty great life and it took me a while to realize that I had my mental health was not nearly as strong as I thought it was. I needed an outlet, so I started writing basement demos for myself with the intention of never showing anyone. It was a new perspective and the first time I was ever really able to be fully honest with the state my mental health was in. Soon after writing the songs, I realized it wasn’t about being ‘good enough’ or what other people thought, and I didn’t have to give anything up. Everything was so ‘all or nothing’ in my head. I could still play metal. I could still tour. I could still be a teacher, but I could do everything I was afraid to do as well. Somehow, I managed to find three best friends that I could relate to on a personal basis but were all incredible musicians as well. None of us cared about ‘being good enough’ or ‘fitting in’ to the industry’s stand point. We’re all goofy guys. We’re all weird. And we’re all fucking losers, but we’re embracing it head on and learning to let go of the things that aren’t Important in the process. These are songs that have helped us and we can only hope they help you too.”

    Follow Losers Club on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date on this exciting new venture.

  • 29th Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival Lineup Posted

    The 29th annual Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Of Music & Dance takes place July 18-21 this year. Held in Trumansburg, the event includes more than 70 musical performances. In addition to hosts Donna the Buffalo, headliners include Hayley Jane & The Primates, Driftwood, Railroad Earth, and Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad. The lineup also includes a diverse array of national and regional acts.

    Other offerings include camping, local food and craft vendors, children’s activities, daily yoga, healing arts and instrument workshops, visual arts exhibits, and so much more. A Culture Camp chock full of workshops, food and dance, will be held July 14-17.

    Finger GrassRoots Headliners:Donna the Buffalo – Taj Mahal Quartet – Willie Watson – Railroad Earth – Rising Appalachia – Todd Snider – Ryan Montbleau Band – Hayley Jane & the Primates – Driftwood – Tony Perez Band  BKO – Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band – Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad – Garifuna Collective – Nativos Jammin’ Orchestra – Sammus

    New Finger Lakes GrassRoots Acts: Jose Albizu Jazz Trio – Swamp Kids – Root Shock – Feufollet – The Turbans – The Crucials  Ephniko DJ Evo Evolution – Oliver Bates Craven – Aaron Lipp & the Slack Tones – Dirty Blanket – ¡Viva Mayhem! – Ruth Rosenblatt & George Cooke – PA Line Drank – The Gold Tattat – Folkfaces – Vicious Fishes

    Finger Lakes GrassRoots AllStars: Jim Lauderdale – Preston Frank & His Zydeco Family Band – Richie & Rosie Cortadito – Sim Redmond Band –  Gunpoets – The Campbell Brothers – The Blind Spots – Mosaic Foundation – Keith Secola & His Wild Band – Ithaca Bottom Boys – Sihasin – Fall Creek Brass Band – Jones Benally Family Dance Troupe – The Flying Clouds Of South Carolina – Moontee Sinquah – Walter Mouton & the Scott Playboys –  Kevin Kinsella – Hank Roberts – Tenzin Chopak – Empire Kings Double Tiger – Traonach – Mac Benford & Up South – Mary Lorson – KidBess & the Magic Ring – Bubba George String Band – Nery Arevalo – Plastic Nebraska – The Fly Rods Laila Belle – The Sutras – Ithaca Underground – Move-Along Songs w/John & Diane – GrassRoots Chamber Orchestra

    Tickets are on sale now.

  • The Final Four of NYS Music’s March Madness

    Two weeks ago, we started with 64 artists from New York State, representing all genres and corners of the state. Now we have reached the Final Four of NYS Music’s March Madness and these four remaining artists represent four different genres – folk, rock, rap and jam – an eclectic mix of what makes New York State a breeding ground for all types of music. 

    The winner of the Buffalo Iron Works region is legendary singer-songwriter and Forest Hills native Paul Simon. He’ll face Talking Heads, winners of the Anthology region.

    Beastie Boys bested Billy Joel to take the crown in the TIP the Band region, and they will face off against the lone Upstate victor in the Final Four, moe., fittingly, out of the Funk n Waffles region.

    Vote below for who you think is the best artist from New York State in the past century! The finals will start this Thursday, April 4. You can also vote on Twitter!

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  • Phish Announces ReCurveball Festival

    In a surprise announcement from Phish, ReCurveball Festival will be held in Watkins Glen, NY this August 9-11, on the same grounds as Phish’s cancelled 2018 Curveball festival.

    “After last summer’s sudden cancellation of Curveball, we immediately made plans to get back to Watkins Glen. We found a guy who said he could take care of the water issue and you know what, we trust him,” said Trey Anastasio. “We owe it to the fans.”

    curveball
    “Water will not be an issue at ReCurveball” – Andy King

    With Woodstock 50 being held at Watkins Glen International the following weekend, Phish and Woodstock Ventures teamed up to ensure that both ReCurveball and Woodstock 50 go off without hitches. Operations director C. Wallob said of the plans, “Holding ReCurveball festival the weekend before ensures that we can not only prepared the grounds for the influx of thousands of fans the following weekend, but any issues that come up can be sorted out in advance. We really want to make ReCurveball a success, and hopefully Woodstock 50 can feed off our success at Watkins Glen. We certainly don’t want another Woodstock 99 to happen. If anyone is going to burn Watkins Glen to the ground, it’ll be Phish.

    “Plus,” Wallob added, “Phish fans will certainly leave it clean for Woodstock 50 attendees.”

    curveball
    photo via Phish.net

    Phish plans to reuse the silver ball for the special late-night set, and unsold merchandise from Curveball will be rebranded with new dates added. More information can be found at ReCurveball.com.

  • Woodstock Co-Creator Michael Lang Addresses Opposition to Modern Lineup

    In a recent interview with TMZ, Woodstock co-creator Michael Lang spoke about some of the backlash received over the announcement of the lineup for this summer’s Woodstock 50 festival taking place in August at Watkins Glen International Speedway.

    The festival is marking the 50th anniversary of the iconic 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts festival held in Bethel, NY which Lang co-created along with Artie Kornfeld and others at Woodstock Ventures.

    The announcement of the lineup of the 50th anniversary festival came with some dissent from Woodstock 1969 “purists” who saw names like Miley Cyrus, Jay-Z, and Chance the Rapper in the lineup. When asked, Lang told TMZ that he “wanted to make it a contemporary show for the audience we are expecting (which is young), and make it a show that touches all genres…This is a contemporary Woodstock for today.”

    Each of the three days of Woodstock 50 includes several of the original 1969 performers and nods to those original acts including Dead and Company (of Grateful Dead fame), Carlos Santana, John Fogerty (Creedance Clearwater Revival), John Sebastian, Melanie, Amy Helm (daughter of Levon Helm from The Band), David Crosby (of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young), Canned Heat, and Hot Tuna.

    woodstock co-creator Michael Lang

    Back in November 2018 at the Long Island Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony, in which Melanie and Woodstock co-creators Lang and Kornfeld were inducted, Lang skirted around discussing details about the who, when, and where of a 50th anniversary event as plans were in progress at the time. However, Melanie wasn’t shy about suggesting her interest in being part of a reunion or anniversary event during a recollection of her part in the 1969 festival.

    Melanie sharing some stories and laughs at the November 2018 Long Island Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony

    Woodstock 50 is happening at Watkins Glen August 16 – 18; visit woodstock.com for full lineup and more information.

  • The Archive Ravens to Premiere Songs from ‘Trobaritz’ at Free Concert

    Rochester trio, The Archive Ravens, are holding a free concert at Rochester’s Lyric Theatre on Saturday, March 30. The event runs from 4-6 pm and is open to the public. The concert will include a preview of songs from their forthcoming album Trobairitz, as well as a selection of classical songs that celebrate the coming of spring.

    “Trobairitz is a collection of original pieces, each a separate vignette transporting the listener to somewhere new… Trobairitz seeks to capture the essence of many disparate cultures, in attempts to unearth the threads of humanity shared between us all.” – Ava Sauer, The Archive Ravens

    Follow The Archive Ravens on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

    https://youtu.be/CHdLOM4XL0M

  • Rubblebucket with a Bang in Rochester

    For a band, that by normal band-conventions shouldn’t even exist, Rubblebucket is stronger and as vibrant as ever. Leaders and remaining original members, Kalmia Travers and Alex Toth, have both climbed personal hurdles over the last couple of years, including the end of their romantic relationship. Instead of breaking up the band, they shuffled up the other members and put out a new album, Sun Chaser, last summer. Still in heavy support of their new release, they played through the entire record at their tour opener in Rochester, albeit in a modified order.

    A proper review of Rubblebucket’s show might be a dense word-cloud of adjectives and verbs, all punctuated with exclamation points. The stage was a constant blur of action and color. Their past antics were like a low budget Flaming Lips or Of Montreal, but here it was more reminiscent of the Talking Heads and David Byrne. Less party, more art. White fabric screens were hit with splashes of light, orange and green, red and blue, purple and magenta. Band members turned into psychedelic dancing silhouettes when they went behind the screens.

    The crowd was engaged 110% from note one, moving and grooving with every beat, singing along with every lyric. When prompted to help out with the chorus of “Annihilation Song,” they needed no instruction,  already acting as the collective backing chorus. Crowd and band merged at the inevitable march of the horns, including new trumpet player Sean Smith, down the length of the venue and again at the post-encore acoustic session in the back by the bar. Kal heaped praise on the Rochester audience frequently, even calling out a trio of front row fans with matching rainbows, who gifted her with a rainbow boa.

    The new rhythm section was a crack trio of New York City musicians (Ryan Dugre on guitar, Noga Shefi on bass, Jeremy Gustin on drums) who were more than up for the task, but mostly stayed in the background. As a bit of a palette cleanser after the set, they emerged on stage first for the encore, showing off their wares more overtly with a few minutes banging deep grooves.

    The night began with Alex Toth who mixed his live guitar and trumpet playing with effects pedals and pre-recorded material including beats, cellos, backing vocals in a preview of what is sure to be a very good album out in May.

    Mikaela Davis then showcased her harp-led pop-folk from her superb 2018 album Delivery, adding in a few new songs which mostly featured her playing keys. Her band was joined by Maybird’s Kurt Johnson on pedal steel and guitar throughout the entire hometown set. Davis, who sat in with Bob Weir in Syracuse last November, added a beautiful cover of “Brokedown Palace” to close out her night on stage. Davis will rejoin Rubblebucket midway through their tour, which will wind it’s way back to Upstate New York with a show at the Westcott Theatre on April 25.

     

     

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