Saves the Day made an appearance at SkyLoft in Albany on Sunday August, 11. Not only did they deliver a high energy filled performance, but also took the crowd through the last two decades of their amazing musical journey.
The set list immediately caused heads to bob and feet to groove with the unforgettable guitar-riff filled song “Anywhere With You.” Saves The day continued to classics such as “Say You’ll Never Leave,” “The Last Lie I Told You” and “Freakish.”
But it was the songs that were performed from “All-Star Me” to “Suzuki” from their latest album, 9, that audience to relive the bands journey.
All in all, the set list was solid and left the crowd screaming “ENCORE” by the end. Saves the Day not only saved the summer with their performance, but they also saved many emo hearts.
Setlist: Anywhere With You, Bones, You Vandal, A Drag, Say You’ll Never Leave, The Last Lie I Told, Nightingale, Do You Know What I Love the Most?, Jukebox Breakdown; Holly Hox, Forget Me Nots; Firefly, When It Isn’t Like It Should Be, Freakish, Houses and Billboards, Suzuki, Eulogy, Kaleidoscope, Z, In Reverie, All-Star Me, Cars & Calories, Three Miles Down; Sell My Old Clothes, I’m Off to Heaven.
In This Moment brought their unique stage set and put on such an amazing performance. ITM puts on more than a show, it is truly a mesmerizing performance that leaves you wanting to see more. They ended their set strong with “Whore.” Their dancers came out dressed in Handmades Tale costumes, which was such a great nod to the series and leaves you wondering why thier song hasn’t been used in the series.
Headlining the show was Five Finger Death Punch. The tour was a mini break from their new album recording. It is amazing seeing how far this band has come. The band has had its ups and downs, but this show they gave everything they had to make it a great experience for Binghamton fans. You can tell singer Ivan Moody has found his happiness again on stage and that he loves connecting with their fans.
Five Finger Death Punch will be going out on another Headlining tour this Fall starting in November and this was a great warm up mini tour.
Our obsession with Joywave continues. They’ve just released a new music video and announced that they’ll be touring with Bastille this fall. The video, shot entirely on Kodak film, consists of a series of trailers for fictional movies. With their signature wry humor, band members depict themselves as stars or directors of movies from a variety of genres including westerns, horror, action, and drama. The song “Obsession” is the second single from their forthcoming album, set to release in the next year.
The video release comes ahead of their upcoming fall tour. Joywave plays Madison Square Garden on Sept. 24. See the full list of tour dates below. These tour dates are in addition to the final performance of their intimate “Posession Sessions” series in London on Nov. 20.
JOYWAVE
ON TOUR WITH BASTILLE
Sept.16 – The Met – Philadelphia, PA
Sept. 17 – Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion – Boston, MA
Sept. 18 – Place Bell – Montreal, QC
Sept. 20 – Budweiser Stage – Toronto, ON
Sept. 21 – The Anthem – Washington, DC
Sept. 22 – Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA
Sept. 24 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
Sept. 27 – Mohegan Sun Casino – Uncasville, CT
Sept. 28 – Virginia Credit Union LIVE! – Richmond, VA
Sept. 29 – Express Live! – Columbus, OH
Oct. 1 – Masonic Temple Theatre – Detroit, MI
Oct. 2 – Chicago Theatre – Chicago, IL
Oct. 4 – The Mission Ballroom – Denver, CO
Oct. 5 – Salt Air Pavilion – Magna, UT
Oct. 7 – Theatre of the Clouds – Portland, OR
Oct. 8 – Thunderbird Sports Centre – Vancouver, BC
Oct. 9 – WaMu Theater – Seattle, WA
Oct. 11 – The Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley – Berkeley, CA
Oct. 12 – Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
Oct. 13 – Open Air Theatre – San Diego, CA
Oct. 15 – Comerica Theater – Phoenix, AZ
Oct. 17 – South Side Ballroom – Dallas, TX
Oct. 18 – White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX
Oct. 19 – Austin 360 Amphitheater – Austin, TX
Oct. 21 – BJCC Concert Hall – Birmingham, AL
Oct. 22 – Municipal Auditorium – Nashville, TN
Oct. 23 – Coca-Cola Roxy – Atlanta, GA
Oct. 25 – Red Hat Amphitheater – Raleigh, NC
Oct. 26 – Daily’s Place Amphitheater – Jacksonville, FL
Till The Earth will be performing live at Chatham Brewing on Friday September 6 at 9:00PM. The five piece rock outfit has been creating and performing music around the Capital District since 2017 and is primarily comprised of former members of the now de-funk Bohemian Slacker and Conehead Buddha.
Based primarily in Columbia County, the band features: Tom Williams (bass, guitar, vocals), Seth Falon (guitar, vocals), Scott Basil (guitar, bass, vocals), Eugene Datri (percussion, vocals) and Jack Darraq (saxophone, bass clarinet, vocals). All veteran players of the music scene in Columbia and Greene County, Till The Earth bring a vast collective knowledge to the stage that only performing live can provide.
Till The Earth brings a jam band sensibility to their sets and have been featured regularly at the Chatham Brewery for past year or so, developing a contingent of loyal fans that grow every time they perform. Their performances primarily focuses on a variety of original works that the players have penned over the span of their musical careers, but also feature covers by bands such as The Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers, Neil Young and more!
For the past seven years, LOCKN’ has been a true musical haven for improvisation, acting as a base for some of the most famous and remarkable collaborations. This year was no exception as some of this music scene’s most influential artists came together to share moments with festival patrons that won’t be forgotten any time soon.
The atmosphere at LOCKN’ this year was unique in that the festival felt smaller in scale compared to some of the past years when the grounds were overflowing with festivalgoers by virtue of acts like Phish, Disco Biscuits, The String Cheese Incident and Widespread Panic. In a way, the experience was more intimate and special as a result, with the performing artists’ music sweeping out into the crowd to bring their audience on a journey that was curated for their experience and their memories only.
It is always interesting to see the year-to-year tweaks that the festival implements to change the mood or improve the experience for patrons. This year, the thing that stood out was the late night shows in Garcia’s Forest, which included Circles Around the Sun, Soulive and Galactic.
Never miss a LOCKN’ sunset. Oteil & Friends
For those of us that have been six-to-seven year patrons of the festival, it is nostalgic to remember back to a widely favored and heralded set at LOCKN’ by the Tedeschi Trucks Band in 2014 in the Garcia Forest. What a trip, so many years later, to experience the powerhouse group headlining the festival, joined by superstar Trey Anastasio as the key acts of the weekend.
R.I.P Neal Casal, pictured at his last performance with Oteil & Friends.
Festivalgoers of this year’s LOCKN’ will forever evoke the memories of Neal Casal’s final performances, before our music community tragically lost him the Monday following the festival. This past weekend, Neal Casal performed late night on Thursday night with his outfit, Circles Around the Sun, which was orginially formed back in 2015 to record the interlude music for The Grateful Dead’s 50th Anniversary Fare Thee Well shows. Joe Russo performed a surprise sit-in with the group Thursday evening, in light of a collaborative EP that is due to release later this fall. Neal was seen again on stage with powerhouse group Oteil Burbridge & Friends, which also included Bob Weir and Duane Betts. Here is a clip of his solo on Thursday night with Circles Around the Sun:
“Interlocking” sets was the theme of the weekend, as always, at LOCKN’. Bob Weir graced a number of sets as a guest, as usual, including Oteil & Friends’ set where he sat in for “Cassidy” and a “Happy Birthday” song to Oteil; he joined Twiddle with Eric Krasno and John Popper for “Eyes of the World;” Old Crow Medicine; and Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians for “Deep Elem Blues.” Bob Weir was also “sitting in” during Joe Russo’s Almost Dead set when the camera spanned to him sitting side stage on a couch listening to JRAD’s set that included cuts like “Ruben and Cherise,” “Peggy-O,” “The Other One,” “Casey Jones” and “Uncle John’s Band,” to name a few.
Other notable moments of the weekend include one of the early sets of the weekend, when Trey played with the Thai-funk improv outfit Khruangbin, adding his legendary guitar licks to songs like, “Lady & Man” and “People Everywhere (Still Alive).” Moon Alice performed with the T Sisters and Lester Chambers and his son Dylan Chambers on Friday on classics such as “Uncle Johns Band” and “Attics Of My Life,” in addition to a few Moon Alice classics. Melvin Seals & JGB played a set together with John Kadlecik and the Pigeons Playing Ping Pong set had a sit-in from the Revivalist horns, to name a few more “Lockn’ Moments.” Honorable mentions should go to Fruition, who brought a sizable crowd to an 11 a.m. Garcia’s Forest set, finishing their performance with a crowd-requested “The Meaning.” Free Union started off the main stage performances on Saturday by inviting members of the Audacity Brass Band to play with them after their set was cancelled due to the storm on Friday.
Bob Weir and John Popper of Blues Traveler sit in with Twiddle.
But the weekend recap wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the extraordinary delicacy of seeing Trey and Derek performing together. Trey and Derek, certainly not strangers to each other’s guitar licks as the first time they played together was 20 years ago, had no trouble showing their respect for each other’s craft by adding the perfect additions to their respective sets. Starting with Friday night, Derek sat in for the entire second set with Trey Anastasio Band for songs like “Set Your Soul Free,” “Ghost,” and “Blaze On” with an additional sit-in from Susan on “A Life Beyond a Dream” and “Rise/Come Together.” On Saturday, Trey sat in with TTB for covers from the Derek and the Dominos’ classic album Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs while TTB proper followed with “Keep On Growing,” “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” and “I Am Yours.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaJ4auxoI0E
Derek Derek Derek Trey Trey Trey
Once again, the spirit at LOCKN’ was alive and well this year, and is rooted deeply now for the tradition to continue next year all over again.
Night Lights Music Festival 2019 once again warmed the souls of music lovers with a diverse lineup on the Heron Farm and Event Center in Sherman, NY. Patrons from Western New York and far beyond descended upon the beautiful grounds for three nights of revelry and artistic expression. Topping the bill this year was Night Lights staples Aqueous along with !!!, Big Something, and mash-up DJ extraordinaire Girl Talk. Check out some of the action at the gallery bellow by strawberry island dweller.
To fully appreciate Intelligence Is Rising one must step back from the business (and busyness) of everyday life. As the nature shot on the album cover suggests, the music draws its inspiration from singer/songwriter Chaz Hearne and their getaways to national parks.
In the title track, Chaz Hearne & The Dazzlers encourage the listener to set down their devices and go out seeking enlightenment. This jaunty tune leads us deep into a lush soundscape. Layers of sublime harmonies and a medley of stringed instruments and piano send spirits soaring as high as the treetops on the album cover. No, higher. And the mood continues to lift through the next few tracks, cresting like the lofty mountaintops referenced in the songs “Montana” and “All The Peaks Sing.” The reverb on vocals resounds like echoes in the canyons. And twinkling piano notes spill over in a rambling cascade in “Under The Falls.”
“Now We March” starts like a typical folk song, featuring Hearne’s signature banjo-playing, perhaps signifying the start of a hike with one foot in front of the other. “Match your stride to meet my own / Now we’re two never alone,” Hearne sings. About halfway through the song, the trumpet breaks out in joyous celebration, like that moment when a wooded trail opens to a breathtaking vista.
The collection takes a turn with “Holy Moly.” The heavier musical elements lend an air of gravity to this song about the damage people have inflicted upon the environment.
Well we thought it never ended so
We lived with no consequence didn’t we
And we didn’t want a drastic solution
But it was too late, isn’t it
Isn’t it
Is it?
– lyrics from “Holy Moly”
At times infused with rock and at other times pulling in psychedelic dream-pop elements, Intelligence Is Rising surpasses expectations. You’ll find Hearne’s trademark fingerpicking on the banjo and clear tenor timbre. He also recorded the guitar, piano and organ parts for these songs. For this project, he was joined in the studio by a host of “dazzling” musicians: Susanna Rose on vocals, John Delmonico on cello, Emily Dipaola on trumpet, Willa Finck and Katie Knudsvig on violin, Reilly Solomon Taylor-Cook on bass, and Hannah Weidner on drums. The album cover was photographed and designed by Jacqueline Goodman.
Intelligence Is Rising represents both a celebration of nature and a call to action to protect and preserve the environment. Chaz Hearne & The Dazzlers have created an instant classic you’ll want to add to your playlist for your next back-to-nature road trip, or for anytime you need a breath of fresh air in your life.
The 8th annual JazzFest White Plains features a lineup of internationally renowned musicians celebrating jazz, culture and community from September 11-15. The five-day festival is produced by ArtsWestchester, The City of White Plains and The White Plains BID.
JazzFest takes place during the White Plains Jazz & Food Festival from noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15. Music and entry are free, with food and beverage vendors taking over Mamaroneck Avenue in front of the historic ArtsWestchester building. Five bands will perform throughout the day, ending with the New Orleans sounds of two-time Grammy-nominated trumpeter Alphonso Horne and the Gotham Kings.
In addition to dozens of free and affordable concerts taking place throughout the city, headlining performances will include artists such as Mwenso & the Shakes, Camille Thurman, and Emmet Cohen with George Coleman and Jimmy Cobb.
Janet Langsam, CEO of ArtsWestchester, explains: “The 2019 JazzFest White Plains lineup presents a diverse roster of path-breaking artists from young rising stars Joel Ross (vibes), Melissa Aldana (sax), Emmet Cohen (piano), and Camille Thurman (voice/sax) to jazz legends George Coleman (sax) and Jimmy Cobb (drums). Featured artists are known for their work as performers and composers, bringing jazz into conversation with Afro-Brazilian music, Colombian folk rhythms, Cuban charango, hip-hop, Ashanti drumming, funk and reggae. There’s truly something for everyone at this year’s JazzFest.”
The 2019 JazzFest White Plains Lineup: Wednesday, Sept. 11 Noon |Downtown Music at Grace Church, 33 Church St. Nanny Assis Trio (FREE) Bahia native Nanny Assis is a singer, drummer, percussionist and songwriter. He is a master of Brazilian Jazz, Afro-Brazilian music and other popular and folkloric sounds from his homeland. 12:30 pm |Court Street Farmer’s Market, 59 Court St. Kristina Koller (FREE) As a vocalist, arranger and composer, Kristina Koller pushes “vocal jazz” in a new direction. Her music melds different genres with uplifting traditional jazz standards. 5:30-9:30 pm | Downtown White Plains Jazz Stroll (FREE) 5:30 pm | Mediterraneo White Plains (189 Main St.) Albert Rivera Quartet -Saxophonist Albert Rivera has toured North America and played at venues such as the River Room in Harlem and Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Lincoln Center. In 2009, he was the recipient of the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award. 6:30 pm | Morton’s The Steakhouse (5 Mamaroneck Ave.) Pablo Mayor’s Folklore Urbano -NYC Trio Pablo Mayor is one of the leading contemporary voices of Colombian music. His trio combines the native rhythms of Colombia with Jazz, Salsa, and Cuban Charanga. The Folklore Urbano NYC Trio has been heard throughout the USA, including renowned venues across the NYC area, as well as Canada and Colombia. 7:30 pm | The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester (3 Renaissance Square) The Brian Carter Quartet -Jazz drummer Brian Carter has affiliations with many musicians, including Bob Baldwin, Gil Parris, Bernie Williams, Eddie Henderson, Wali Ali, Nico Morelli and the late Didier Lockwood. 8:30 pm | Sunset Restaurant Bar (49 Mamaroneck Ave.) Gilberto Colon Jr. & Ensalada De Pulpo- Gilberto “Pulpo” Colón Jr. is a pianist, composer, arranger, producer and band leader best known for his role as Musical Director for salsa superstar Héctor Lavoe. Colón has worked & recorded with some of Latin music’s most popular artists. Thursday, Sept. 12 Noon | Jazz at Noon: White Plains Public Library Plaza, 100 Martine Ave. Eunha So Quartet (FREE) -Pianist and composer Eunha So plays across genres, from classical to jazz. She has trained under several prominent artists, including Eric Gunnison, Art Lande, and Pete Malinverni. She is a graduate of SUNY Purchase’s graduate program in Jazz Studies. 6:30 pm | Outdoor Plaza at 5 City Place Keyon Harrold (FREE) – Keyon Harrold, who was raised in Ferguson, Missouri, was schooled in the straight-ahead jazz tradition. The trumpeter has been featured on more than one hundred jazz, R&B, hip-hop, gospel and blues albums, in addition to Miles Ahead, the Grammy Award-winning movie about Miles Davis. Harrold has recorded or performed with Gregory Porter, Prince, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige and many others. 8:00 pm | ArtsWestchester, 31 Mamaroneck Ave. Pete Malinverni’s Jazz-Chester, feat. Ralph Lalama, Mike Migliore and Aaron Seeber ($25) – Pete Malinverni is Head of Jazz Studies at the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College. He has been a fixture on the New York City jazz scene since moving there in the early 1980s, and has recorded fourteen times as a leader in solo piano, trio, quartet, quintet, big band and choral contexts. During his time in NYC, Malinverni has recorded and performed with a host of masters, including Joe Lovano, Vernel Fournier, Charles Davis, Mel Lewis, Dennis Irwin, Jon Faddis, Karrin Allyson, Steve Wilson and many others. 10:00 pm | ($10) ArtsWestchester, 31 Mamaroneck Ave. Jazz Jam – Audience members can sign up for a jazz jam led by Jake Robinson of the Music Conservatory of Westchester, Ed Palermo of Hoff-Barthelson Music School, Bob Gingery from Concordia Conservatory and Pete Malinverni from SUNY Purchase College. Friday, Sept. 13 Noon | Jazz at Noon: White Plains Public Library Plaza, 100 Martine Ave. The Marcio Garcia Trio (FREE) -Dominican pianist, composer and educator Marcio Garcia has performed at the Stanford Jazz Institute, the 2016 Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival, Five Points Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, Blue Note NYC, Birdland and Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. 5:00 pm | White Plains Plaza, 1 N. Broadway Kotoko Brass (FREE) -Kotoko Brass melds the traditional drum rhythms of Ghana, the sturdy bass and keyboards of the Caribbean, and the joyous horns of New Orleans to forge a new sound of its own. The band has shared the stage with Femi Kuti, the California Honeydrops, Vieux Farka Toure, Innov Gnawa, Take 6, the Boston Pops and more. 7:30 pm | ArtsWestchester, 31 Mamaroneck Ave. Joel Ross ‘Good Vibes’ ($20 for 7:30pm | $35 for both 7:30 & 9pm) Chicago native Joel Ross, twice selected as a Thelonious Monk Institute National All-Star and a 2013 Young Arts Jazz Finalist, has performed with established artists like Herbie Hancock, Louis Hayes and Christian McBride, as well as with cutting-edge contemporaries like Gerald Clayton, Jon Batiste and more. He’s also performed at the Brubeck, Monterey, Seattle and Chicago Jazz Festivals, and internationally-celebrated venues like Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in New York, SF Jazz in San Francisco, and Club Vibrato in Los Angeles. Ross recently completed a two year fellowship with the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet in California. 9:00 pm | ArtsWestchester, 31 Mamaroneck Ave. Joel Ross ‘Good Vibes’ feat. Melissa Aldana ($20 for 7:30 pm | $35 for both 7:30 & 9 pm) – Chilean saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana has had a remarkably rapid evolution, from being a six-year-old sax prodigy to now being widely considered one of the most compelling tenor saxophonists on the scene. In 2013, Aldana became both the first female instrumentalist and the first South American to win the Thelonious Monk Competition. She is also a recipient of the Martin E. Segal Award from Lincoln Center and a double recipient of the Altazor Award, Chile’s prestigious national arts prize. Aldana has released four recordings as a leader. Recently, she premiered the commissioned suite, Visions for Frida Kahlo, before touring Brazil, Europe and Australia with her quartet.
Saturday, Sept. 14 11:00 am | Court Street Farmer’s Market, 59 Court St. Tim Veeder Quartet (FREE) – The Tim Veeder Quartet electrifies audiences locally, nationally and abroad with jazz/funk/fusion originals in addition to fresh, funky takes on jazz standards. Veeder has shared the stage with many notable artists, including Bucky Pizzarelli, Richie Cannata, Jay Azzolina, drummer Richie Morales and many others. 2:00 pm | Galleria White Plains, 100 Main St. Jazz at the Galleria Youth Showcase (FREE) 2:00 pm |White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Ave Hands-On Jazz for Families (FREE) – Join teachers from The Music Conservatory of Westchester for a participatory music event at the White Plains Public Library. 8:00 pm | White Plains Performing Arts Center, 11 City Place Emmet Cohen Quartet feat. George Coleman & Jimmy Cobb ($29-44) Recognized as a prodigy who began playing at age three, multifaceted American jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen has emerged as one of his generation’s pivotal figures in music. Cohen is the recent winner of the American Pianists Association’s prestigious 2019 Cole Porter Fellowship. In this performance, his ensemble will be joined by two of jazz’s greatest figures, George Coleman and Jimmy Cobb. Among countless accomplishments, Coleman was recognized as a National Endowment of the Arts “Jazz Master,” played in Max Roach’s band, was a member of the Miles Davis quintet with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams, and played on Hancock’s landmark Blue Note recording, Maiden Voyage. Jimmy Cobb made his name in support of Dinah Washington, Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery and Sarah Vaughan, and on hundreds of studio sessions. As the drummer on Davis’ legendary album Kind of Blue, Cobb may be the most frequently heard drummer in jazz history. Sunday, Sept. 15: Noon-5:30 pm | Mamaroneck Ave. at Main St. White Plains Jazz & Food Festival (FREE ENTRY) Noon-12:45 pm | Lagond Music All-Stars – Lagond Music School presents a lineup of some of Westchester County’s finest young musicians. The ensemble performs a range of music from Latin jazz to danceable funk. 1:05-1: 50 pm | Art Bennett and The Organic Ensemble – Saxophonist Art Bennett was born and raised in White Plains, where he first began studying jazz. Active in the “Loft Jazz” movement of the 1970s in New York City, he has performed with greats Lonnie Smith, Rashied Ali, Roy Brooks, Willian Parker, and many others. 2:10–3 pm | Mwenso & The Shakes -Taking from the stylings of Fats Waller, Muddy Waters, James Brown and other American musical legends, Mwenso & The Shakes put on an electrifying show. Immigrating from Sierra Leone, London, South Africa, Greenwich Village, Madagascar, France, Jamaica, and Hawaii, the Shakes now call Harlem their home. 3:20–4:10 pm | Camille Thurman with The Darrell Green Trio -Camille Thurman is a “rising star” (Downbeat Magazine) who excels in both saxophone – from which energy soars, and vocals – from which she embraces a soulful dynamism and spirited “Fitzgerald-esque” (All About Jazz) scat. She has performed for audiences throughout the world. 4:30–5:30 pm | Alphonso Horne and The Gotham Kings -Two-time Grammy Award-nominated trumpeter Alphonso Horne has put together a band that weaves the sound of New Orleans into a rich musical fabric that demonstrates the history of the trumpet and the story of jazz. Inspired by the music of King Oliver Creole Jazz Band, The Gotham Kings use the virtuosity of the young Louis Armstrong and innovative genius of King Oliver to take you on a journey of sound that encompasses rags, stomps, shouts and funk.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the festival website here.
Sunday night in beautiful Hamilton, NY at Good Nature Farm Brewery, the Felice Brothers drove on over from the Hudson area and put on a rollicking rock show for a great crowd. It was the perfect late summer evening as The Old Main warmed up the crowd enjoying the sun in the courtyard. Diana Demuth played a beautiful short set as well before turning the stage over to The Felice Brothers.
Courtyard Opening Set – Photo: Aurora Roe
Ian (guitar) and James (organ, accordion) are the brothers that make up this rootsy Americana four-piece band. Both brothers are at the top of their game in songwriting. Each tune uncovers the beauty and horrors of modern life; James can leave you swooning with a ballad while Ian can channel The Band and touch your heart with the poetry of a laid back folk song and the next minute shred through a barnburner, trading licks with his brother.
The set started with some of the songs off their new album Undressed, “Salvation Army Girl” and “The Kid” were huge crowd pleasers. The band had a magnetic draw and the audience crept forward during the night and was fully dancing and rocking away as The Felice Brothers dove into some of their older material like “Whiskey In My Whiskey.” They closed the night with two encores: “White Limousine,” which is an absolute ripper, was followed by “Frankie’s Gun,” a fan favorite from their self-titled album. James Felice said of the night, “I feel a close connection with the people of Upstate, where we were born and raised. We play all over the world, but nothing beats home. It’s just an honor people come see us play, whether it’s for thousands or just a room of ten.”
James Felice on accordian – Photo: Aurora Roe
The Felice Brothers have 13 albums and are on numerous soundtracks. With the songwriting ability, fun stage presence, hysterical banter with the audience and ability to perform in any space, these rockers have had a great career that can only keep getting better. The sound at Good Nature Brewery was on point and the band was exceptionally tight all night. Folks enjoyed craft beer and wine and incredible food, and old fans were smiling the night away while the band made many new fans, especially with returning Colgate University students moving back to campus enjoying the show. It was a great night and the first time they had played this new venue, but hopefully they will be back again soon. Ian Felice said after the show, “We love this place, the folks treated us great and it was a fun crowd. We love finding new places!”
Summer is slowly coming to a close, and the Capital Region of Albany has had a trove of music this summer. Starting with Tulip Fest in May, to the Music Haven series in Schenectady, an incredible summer calendar at SPAC, to local weekly series that bring communities together and, of course, Albany’s Alive at Five, the quad-cities of New York have some of the most eclectic music offerings around the state. Check out the final performer at Alive at Five, Marco Benevento Trio and get ready for his set at Adirondack Independence Music Festival this weekend in Lake George!
