Rochester is home to some long standing music venues, one in particular is Montage Music Hall. This venue has seen many acts from locals to national artists ever since it opened its doors many years ago, it has been host to bands such as Tantric, All That Remains, Clutch, and many other big names. On October 5th, Montage Music Hall hosted Attila on their “Day Drinking Tour,” along with Jynx and with local support from Destroy//Create, and Perspectives. The show had a great turnout and energy throughout the night, especially for the show being on a weekday. Head over to the Montage Music Halls site to find out what shows are next.
Goose made it look almost all too easy to sell out their second night of Terminal 5 on October 9, 2021. The Connecticut-based quartet undeniably took the audience on a full fledged journey that encompassed the multitude of genres that have influenced the band, thus far. Lucky New Yorkers had a chance to experience the powerhouse that transported us somewhere outside New York City this weekend.
Stage lights dim welcoming Rick, Peter, Trevor, Ben, and Jeff on stage, accompanied with a roar from fans begging “GOOSE”, echoing from all three stories inside the terminal. “Tumble” opened the show where Ben Atkind (drums) did us the favor of pulling us into the groovy funk dictating the addictive dancey beat that defines Goose. Rick Mitarotonda (guitar, vocals) spoke indefinitely through the gorgeous Paul Reed Smith Hollowbody II, putting the audience in a trance with his guitar shredding improv through Bob Don.
Peter Anspach makes his first lead vocal debut of the night with a new song from the band, Life On the Shelf. Clearly an unreleased hit, without knowing any words fans were hooked on the chorus, dancing and swaying to the sincere folk tune, highlighted by Rick and Peter’s buttery harmonies. Followed with “Jive Lee” and “Jive II,” Peter’s funky solos and Trevor Weekz thick bass lines brought the crowd furiously jumping and screaming once again. Without any hesitation the audience was pulled into a surprise cover of “Rock the Casbah” from the Clash shaking the floor until the end of set I.
“Wysteria Lane” kicked off the second set with a smile and Peter’s earnest vocals, with some help from the Luigi plush on one of his three dazzling double casio keyboards. Unbelievable Goosian-shredding kept the crowd mesmerized cheering with each cadence as both Rick and Peter swiftly moved up and up the neck leaving the audience asking if they came to a hard rock concert. Rick guided us through Seekers on the Ride I and II with ease reminding fans of their versatility as artists. The loudest cheers of the night broke when Rick’s eccentric solos pushed to the well known hard twangy intro of “Hot Tea.” Ending with “Dragon Fly I & II,” Rick eased our anxieties with a smile “Don’t worry we have one more set.”
“Get The Funk Out of My Face” was not the only cover of set III, but Goose’s folk rock cover of Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” made it sound like Goose could’ve written the song. Just when we thought Trevor Weekz might just be too cool for us, being the backbone of Goose with his 5-string bass and sunglasses, the spotlight shined on him as he read a “Acquainted with the Night” by Robert Frost backed by Ben Atkind (drums) and Rick filling some eerie melodies. The band endurance was unrequited through three full set of nonstop music eventually wrapping with an Encore of “Hot Tea.”
Goose – Terminal 5 – Friday, October 8, 2021
Set 1: So Ready, Look Out Cleveland, Honeybee, Indian River, The Whales, All I Need
Set 2: 2021> Old Man’s Boat >2021, Rosewood Heart > Into the Myst, Echo of a Rose > 2021
Encore: Flodown
Goose – Terminal 5 – Saturday, October 9, 2021
Set 1: Tumble, Bob Don, Life on a Shelf*, White Lights > Jive 1 > Jive Lee > Rock the Casbah
Set 2: Wysteria Lane > It Burns Within, Seekers on the Ridge [Part I & II], Hot Tea > Dragonfly [I&II]
Set 3: Get The Funk Out Ma Face, Creatures > Pumped Up Kicks, Madhuvan** > Turn on Your Love Light > Madhuvan
Video game covers and dark medieval Prog-Rock were on hand for Friday, October 8 as Comic Con came to a close, ShwizZ, You Bred Raptors?, and Bonus Level treated New York City to a night of technically sound musicians, nostalgic video game inspired covers, and a lot of booty shaking at The Loft at City Winery.
Tetracube, aka Chris Gironda, played DJ sets between the bands throughout the night. The night kicked off with ShwizZ; any combination of musicians including Andy Boxer on drums and Ryan Liatsis on guitar is an all-time great lineup to witness. With the new additions of Scott Hogan on bass and Will Burgaleta on keys, ShwizZ continues to deliver that powerhouse flavor with a couple of new spices to give it zest.
Following ShwizZ was a band that was well worth the wait. From the first second You Bred Raptors? started playing, you felt as if you had been teleported into an orchestra conducted by Tim Burton, as if Jack Skeleton was the inspiration behind their twists and turns of their demonic symphony.
To close the Comic Con night, Bonus Level, a new project consisting of Corey J. Feldman and Nate Searing of Brooklyn-based band Cousin Earth, along with Tom Tompkins on guitar and Darren Denman on keys took us through a journey of classic video game covers and improvisational Easter eggs. The crowd was extremely impressed with how well they created different paths of spontaneity, while also staying true to the original soundtracks. Their Type II video game jams made for a fun combination of musical prowess and nostalgia at its finest.
The phrase ‘this darkness has got to give’ originates in the Robert Hunter penned Grateful Dead song “New Speedway Boogie,” a line that speaks of hope and aspirations of a brighter future ahead.
In June 2020, NYS Music started the series “This Darkness Has Got to Give,” amid uncertain times where we did not know what the next few weeks or months would provide for the musicians, venues, music industry staff and employees, as well as patrons across New York State. We hoped for the best, and while the era of streaming sufficed for a time and is permanently ingrained with bands and venus, live music has returned.
Sort of, at least. We have had some false starts, with tours cancelled shortly after they are announced, tours scaled back, and artists opting to require patrons to show proof of vaccination, as well as wear a mask inside venues. All of these are not major asks for patrons who have been deprived of live music, just as musicians have been deprived of audiences in the last year and a half. Given the tight COVID-19 protocols in place for touring musicians and at music venues, especially here in New York State, the result has been the return of live music to many venues, the arrival of crowds to outdoor and indoor events alike, and a feeling of normalcy, even if things don’t seem all the way normal just yet.
We are still not out of the woods yet. So long as mask policies are abided by and those eligible to be vaccinated do so, the full live music experience – at venues, music festivals, on cruise ships or in basements of college houses – can return in all parts of the state and country.
This edition of “This Darkness Has Got to Give” has a different angle to it. While we are looking at the music venues that dot the landscape all across the Empire State, we take a look this time not just at the venues, but at the crowds of fans who have flocked back to support their favorite artist and venue, and recharge ourselves through the power of live music. We begin where we started the series in June 2020, in Western New York, courtesy of Contributing Photographer Samantha Rychlicki.
An iconic venue located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, known for being a hotbed for indie talent since the early-1990s, the Mercury Lounge welcomed country singer-songwriter sensation Maggie Rose on Tuesday, October 5. An emerging star based in Nashville by way of Potomac, Maryland, Maggie Rose has created her own original recipe of the rock, pop, blues and soul genres.
No stranger to the road or to the stage, Maggie Rose is approaching the century mark for appearances at the legendary Grand Ole Opry, while also touring extensively over the past few years with the likes of Sheryl Crow, Kelly Clarkson, Heart, Joan Jett, Emmylou Harris and Jason Isbell, just to name a few. Having honed her power-packed vocal talent since getting her first start in 2009, Maggie Rose is currently in the midst of a headlining tour in support of her third album titled Have a Seat(Starstruck Records), released this past August and recorded at the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. On this early autumn night, her frequent touring collaborator Them Vibes (a sextet formed in 2013 and also hailing from Music City) would once again be backing her.
The night’s proceedings were kicked-off by Dylan Hartigan, the “Jersey Boy” who calls home only a short distance away, when he casually walked onto the stage with the confidence of a seasoned veteran. Dylan Hartigan was officially introduced to the music industry in 2018, as a contestant on “The Voice,”where he impressed many. One of those who praised Dylan’s musical talents was Maggie Rose herself, who would go on to co-produce his brand new album out this week, titled The Way My Bones Creak.
In the short time that it took for Dylan Hartigan to remove his sneakers, adjust the height of his microphone and grab his acoustic guitar, the patrons I navigated around the bar entrance to the stage minutes earlier had seamlessly appeared around me, drinks in hand. I was now a witness to the exhilarating scene of Dylan’s friends, family and loyal fans of his Americana music, jam-packed from wall-to-wall, joyfully singing along to his lyrics. One highlight of Dylan’s 30-minute set was a song called “Tucson, Arizona,” introduced by him revealing to us that he wrote the lyrics based entirely on someone telling him that “it gets so hot there that you can fry an egg on the sidewalk.”
With the opening set nearing its completion, and while standing on the edge of the stage sans guitar, Hatigan acknowledged the crowd for their support. In near darkness behind him, the band members of Them Vibes were quietly taking to their instruments. Suddenly, the stage lights exploded back to life, fully revealing Them Vibes at their respective stage positions. Dylan Hartigan once again collected his guitar and closed out his thrilling and emotional set.
After a brief intermission, Them Vibes reappeared for the middle set of the night. Only a few moments after their frontman Larry “Brother Love” Florman lit an incense stick and its smoke began to bellow across the front of the stage, this rock and funk band pounced into their first song with an inspired and electric fervor. As he navigated around the intimate stage, Brother Love’s uniquely raw and intense energy was immediately apparent, with sweat quickly running down each side of his face as he twirled around the stage. Maggie Rose delighted her fans by appearing onstage for Them Vibes’ last song of their set, “Right On,” taken from their 2017 EP titled Electric Fever, which also featured Maggie’s passionate vocals.
With the moment we had all been waiting for now upon us, Maggie Rose took to the stage for her second turn, greeted warmly once again with applause and whistling. The first seven offerings from her 16-song set were taken from 2021’s Have a Seat, including the show opener and first single “Do It,” along with the gospel-powered “Saint.” After performing “Smooth” from her second album released in 2018 (Change the Whole Thing), the apex of the evening was capped by Maggie’s performance of “Crazy” with Dylan Harrington, who thrilled the “hometown” crowd with his reappearance and newest single. The final song of the night, “The Letter” (a 1967 cover by The Box Tops), left everyone in attendance still wanting more.
If you want to see more of Maggie Rose, you still have the chance as she continues her North American tour with several more shows over the next few months, commencing on December 18 in Chicago. Tickets are available here.
Setlist: Do It > Telephone > What Makes You Tick > For Your Consideration > Are We There Yet > Now and Then > Saint > Smooth > You Got Today > Best In Me > Crazy (with Dylan Hartigan) > Help Myself > Pull You Through > What Are We Fighting For > It’s You > The Letter (The Box Tops cover)
On October 8th, Jake Miller, Fly By Midnight and Just Seconds Apart packed a crowd at Buffalo Iron Works for the “hi, i missed you tour.”
Just Seconds Apart, a trio of triplets from Arizona, opened the show with an incredible performance. Followed by the duo Fly By Midnight, who brought the energy and kept it going through their entire set. Lastly was Jake Miller and the crowd was absolutely nuts over him.
Before he stepped on stage, I talked to a few people who were in the crowd because I had never really listened to his music before. I stood next to a young woman who told me this was her tenth time seeing him. She told me that his music saved her life. This felt fitting as soon as Jake came out singing his song “Saved Me.” This made me a little teary-eyed.
Just Seconds Apart. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
This wasn’t Miller’s first performance in Buffalo as he performed at the Kissmas Bash at the Key Bank Arena “I remember that performance,” Jake said “It was my first real time singing in an arena and I was nervous that not a lot of people would know my music. Then I stopped singing and the whole arena kept it going. It’s a memory that I will never forget.”
Jake Miller, Fly By Midnight and Just Seconds Apart provided a fun, high energy concert. The talent of each performer made it hard for you not to become a fan of each group, if you weren’t already.
Jake Miller. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Slavo of Fly By Midnight. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Ari of Just Seconds Apart. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Alex of Just Seconds Apart. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Justin of Fly By Midnight. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Justin (left) and Slavo (right) of Fly By Midnight. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki.
Fly By Midnight. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Sela of Just Seconds Apart. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Proclaiming the longevity of Shake Your Money Maker, The Black Crowes took to the road this year to celebrate its 31st anniversary. The Black Crowes tour, originally scheduled for 2020, included 37 dates across the U.S., culminating at Bethel Woods in Upstate NY.
Putting stories of infighting between Chris and Rich Robinson in the rear-view mirror, the two could be seen grinning from ear to ear during this final night of the tour. The show opened with The Texas Gentleman. Dirty Honey had been supporting the Crowes during the run. A switch was made for the closing date. The Dallas based band proved satisfactory as a warmup. With a Jim Carrey styled lead singer/keyboard player at the helm. Paying homage to the Woodstock music scene, they closed out with The Band’s “The Shape I’m In.”
Chris and Rich Robinson
To begin their part of the evening at Bethel Woods, the Black Crowes assembled at a what appeared to be a dive bar situated in the back corner of the stage. Separately, Chris Robinson sat on a drum riser in the dark, hidden by a large umbrella with the Black Crowes logo on it. A woman stepped out from the shadows and headed to an old-fashioned juke box located mid stage. Dropping a coin in and selecting a song, Elmore James’s “Shake Your Money Maker” filled the house and the show was on.
On cue, the band stepped forward, plugged in, and started with “Twice as Hard,” the opening track from Shake Your Money Maker, following the sequence of the album (“Jealous Again”, “Sister Luck”, etc.). At the midway mark, Chris called out praise for “The Big O” (Otis Reading) before the opening beats of “Hard to Handle” was heard.
Chris Robinson had his dancing shoes kicking his heels up and twirling with every number…
You could feel the energy from the band exceeding its limits as if the governor had been ripped off this rock and roll engine. Chris Robinson had his dancing shoes kicking his heels up and twirling with every number leaving no part of the stage untouched. Rich Robinson, offering a somewhat a stoic stance through the night, let his powerful guitar chops show this was not a one-man band
Guitarist Isaiah Mitchell stood out with power solos confirming his supporting role. Backup singers Mackenzie Adams and Leslie Grant along with keyboard player Joel Robinow helped add that little extra something to acknowledge the Money Maker milestone. With the completion of side two of Shake Your Money Maker, the band continued on. Pulling out tunes from their long career including “Thorn In My Side” and “Remedy.”
To close the night out, the encore gave praise to The Velvet Underground with a cover of their song “Rock & Roll.” Was this night a fairy tale? A happy ending for the brothers Robinson? One thing is for sure, it was not grim.
Miles Francis captivated their late-night audience on Wednesday, October 6, at Baby’s All Right. Originally set to perform at 10 p.m., scheduling delays led to a slightly later start to the already late-night show. Despite the wait, the audience at Baby’s All Right was buzzing.
The New York City native lived up to their reputation as one of the best-kept secrets of the local music scene. The show began with Francis walking through the crowd and jumping on stage enveloped in a silver morph suit. An intrigued audience watched as Francis acted out hurriedly ending a phone call.
After quickly unzipping their morph suit, Francis and their supporting band jumped into an energetic opening number. Francis performed a carefully curated mix of their discography, making sure to perform their two latest releases, “Service” and “Popular.” With their effortless dancing and humorous stories rounding out the set, it’s clear that the stage is a second home for Francis.
Miles Francis is currently working on their debut album, set to release in late 2021. Listen to his latest single, “Popular” here.
The Tedeschi Trucks Band continued their fall residency tour at the Beacon Theater on Wednesday making it their 43rd Show at the historic venue. Special guests Jorma Kaukonen and Marcus King sat in with the full 12-piece band on their material and incredible covers by great blues artists.
TTB opened their set with a spectacular cover of The Lovin Spoonful’s “Darling Be Home Soon.” After that, they performed “Signs, High Times” off their most recent album with Mike Mattison and Susan trading lead vocals. Derek stepped in with an incredible guitar solo that left the crowd awestruck.
Another highlight of the night was a cover of The Allman Brothers Band “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin” with Gabe Dixon on lead vocals. Once again Derek’s guitar playing was masterful and left me with chills. For me it’s a bit nostalgic to see an Allman Brothers tune played at this historic venue where so many legendary ABB shows have taken place.
After the band performed “Hear Me” and “Do I Look Worried” they brought back Jorma to the stage for two more songs. The first was a Bob Dylan cover of “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” with Derek trading guitar licks with Jorma who I’m sure is one of his heroes based on the expression he had on his face. The next song they performed was another cover, this time of Charles Segar’s “Key to the Highway.” Once again, Mike Mattison stepped up with extraordinary vocals while Jorma and Susan traded licks and Derek closed the tune with his renowned slide guitar. Jorma got a much deserved standing ovation as he left the stage.
Rising star Marcus King made a surprise appearance for a blues heavy performance of Sleepy John Estes’ “Leaving Trunk,” also featuring Mattison on vocals. King also stuck around to perform a cover of Rahsaan Roland Kirk’s “Volunteered Slavery,” a tune originally recorded in 1968. Marcus also received a huge ovation from the sold out crowd at the conclusion of the song.
To end this incredible evening, the band pulled out a cover of George Harrison’s “Isnt It a Pity” and a Derek Trucks Band Cover of “Get What You Deserve.” There are still two more Tedeschi Trucks Band Beacon shows left on this run, but TTB has shows scheduled through 2022. You can see the complete list of upcoming shows here.
Setlist: Darling Be Home Soon (The Lovin Spoonful), Signs, High Times, High and Mighty, It’s So Heavy, I Know (Derek Trucks Band), Right On Time, Don’t Keep Me Wondering (The Allman Brothers Band), Hear Me, Do I Look Worried, Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright (Bob Dylan)(with Jorma), Key to the Highway (Charles Segar)(with Jorma), Midnight in Harlem, Leaving Trunk (Sleepy John Estes)(with Marcus King), Volunteered Slavery (Rahsaan Roland Kirk)(with Marcus King), Bound For Glory, Isn’t It a Pity (George Harrison), Get What You Deserve (Derek Trucks Band)
Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue put on two soul crushing shows at the brand new 500-person capacity Brooklyn Made stage to start this week. The club just opened on September 30 and this was the band’s third and most intimate New York show this year, having performed in Rochester at Manhattan Square Park in August and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park in September.
photo by Russell Mangicaro III
New Orleans legend Tony Hall told NYS Music in August about Troy Andrews. “We have known Shorty since he was young. Coming up he’s always been extremely bad ass. In the beginning he used to do some shows with us and then did his own shit. Then blew up. He’s the man and puts on a hell of a show. Phenomenal player on the trumpet and trombone. It’s like nobody can touch him. But he also plays everything else like drums, keyboards and sings.”
The Orleans Avenue Band – guitarists Pete Murano and Joshua Connelly, sax-men Dan Osteicher and BK Jackson, drummer Joey Peebles and bassist Mike Ballard, and vocalist Tracci Lee – all took center stage at Brooklyn Made on top of the speakers throughout the show. They made the new Bushwick club feel like the historic Tipitinas in New Orleans.
Shorty opened the show asking for assistance in getting his heart back on “Where it At?” “I tried to find you, baby, did my best, But love don’t come with any GPS.” They brought it from the East River to the Mississippi with a Meters cover of “It Ain’t No Use” and Allen Toussaint’s “On Your Way Down.” Trust me when I tell you their approach on these tunes was truly an explosive expression on funk classics. The Shorty original “The Craziest Thing” is another call out to the lovers in the crowd. “Ask me to bring you the moon, I’ll put the sky in your room, I’ll die trying.” The highlight of the night occurred during the Ernie K. Doe New Orleans classic “Here Come the Girls.”
photo by Russell Mangicaro III
Mid-groove on “Uncle Potato Chip,” sax player Dan O took the song to another galaxy and back on baritone before the closing verse. “Fire on the Bayou” helped keep the Cajun sounds sizzling.
Trombone Shorty first took the stage at four years old with Bo Diddley at the 1990 New Orleans Jazzfest. 31 years later he was bouncing his solos off all the other band members like a true front man. It also came as no surprise that sax player BK Jackson used to play with Prince. Joey Peebles took his only break of neo soul drum beats for the night, with Mike Ballard and Shorty sharing syncopated bass and trumpet solos on stage that took you back to Birdland.
Vocalist Tracci Lee’s backing soul helped bring every song full circle exchanging tambourines throughout. Guitarists Joshua Connelly and Pete Murano electricity was directly plugged into your head on the Brooklyn Made stage. Tuesday night’s show had a Red Hot Chili Peppers musical intro as a nod to his tour with the group in 2016 opening for them at Madison Square Garden and Buffalo’s KeyBank Center. He brought the crowd back to his first record Backatown with the track “Suburbia.”
Ray Charles’ classic “I Got A Woman” on Tuesday night was a standout as well. In true New Orleans fashion, they closed both nights with Shorty’s “Hurricane Season” mixed with “When the Saints Go Marching In” that sent the crowd strutting back into the Bushwick scene.
A Monday and Tuesday night with Trombone Shorty at Brooklyn Made like this really made his tune “Long Weekend” resonate – “Cause you never know what could happen on a long weekеnd…” Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue head back to New Orleans on Monday, October 11 for his first ever “Shorty Fest.”
