Modest Mouse wrapped up a four night stay at Bushwick’s Brooklyn Steel on Saturday, August 14th in celebration of their seventh LP The Golden Casket. Providing a different setlist each night, Modest Mouse played a significant portion of the new record along with songs from their entire catalog.
Modest Mouse at Brooklyn Steel, 8/13/2021. Photo by Buscar Photo
The Golden Casket was released this past June, six years since the band’s previous record Strangers to Ourselves came out back in 2015. For nearly a quarter century, Modest Mouse have been making pop-infused indie rock and amassing a devout following. That was on clear display at Brooklyn Steel last week; arguably a smaller venue for the group, but four nights quickly sold out and the audience would have stayed there all night had they kept playing. Even after a 2 hour show with a 6-song encore, barely anyone left the floor until security began ushering the crowd out.
Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse. Photo by Buscar Photo
The new record draws on Modest Mouse’s signature sound, with a more psychedelic edge. Songs like “Leave a Light On” and “We’re Lucky” showcase shimmering guitar and horn loops while “Wooden Soldiers” and “The Sun Hasn’t Left” are reminiscent of Magical Mystery Tour era Beatles. These songs combined with quintessential Modest Mouse indie rock tunes and an artistic theme filled with rainbows and bright colors give The Golden Casket it’s own distinct place in the band’s discography.
Modest Mouse at Brooklyn Steel, 8/13/2021. Photo by Buscar Photo
The lengthy ‘MMXXI’ tour continues with a dense schedule all the way through the end of October. You can find the full list of dates and ticket links on the band’s website HERE. Check out the music video for The Golden Casket lead single, “We Are Between” as well as the full photo gallery from night 3 at Brooklyn Steel below.
As of Monday, August 16th, New York City is requiring proof of vaccination for most indoor activities including concerts, indoor dining and gyms. Depending on the show in question, negative COVID tests may be required in addition to vaccination. Make sure to check the policy of the show and venue in question. You can find Bowery Presents policies HERE.
Imagine if you will, the Zac Brown Band’s “The Come Back Tour” as a Phoenix rising from the depths of musical silence. The 2021 tour, running from August to October, incorporates a host of rotating special guests to help reinvigorate those who had fallen into the abyss of the last year. The stop at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Upstate New York featured Ashland Craft opening and Teddy Swims in the middle spot with Zac Brown Band headlining
Ashland, inducted into CMT’s Next Women of Country Class of 2021, took to the stage with an “it’s time to party and let’s get it going” demeanor. In shorts and knee-high boots, Craft and band reinforced the vibe with “I Smoke Weed” and the classic rocker “American Woman.”
Teddy Swims opened his set strutting from one end of the stage to the other, deviating from a pure country sound to one with rap induce lyrics. He is a performer who can traverse many musical paths. At mid set, Karl Michael joined Swims on stage. The two performed their just released single “Liar.” From this point on, Swims’ vocal power became apparent. Closing with the powerful and emotional anthem “Bed on Fire,” Teddy solidified why he is part of the tour.
The Zac Brown Band
The Zac Brown Band offered the packed house a two-hour night of music that reached well beyond country. Throughout the night, Brown introduced tunes from his upcoming album release The Owl, most notably “Same Boat.” Classics such as “As She’s Walking Away” and “Whatever It Is” were standouts to his extensive catalog and not left by the wayside.
Zac appears like a warrior onstage: big, bold, and defiant with his guitar strapped to his barrel chest, ready to take on anyone who would challenge him. Mid-way through the night, he stripped down to a microphone for “Colder Weather.” That song found Brown opening himself up to the audience as if to expose his vulnerabilities. The sold-out crowd reciprocated back with big love for this genuine gesture that found Brown tapping his hand over his heart in humble appreciation.
To be clear, this is The Zac Brown Band and not Zac Brown supported by a group of musicians. Members of the band, affectionally called (musical) ninjas by Zac, stepped up front and center throughout the night sharing their musical abilities.
This was not a night devoted solely to country. Not at all. The set included the Beatles “Blackbird,” Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” (performed with Teddy Swims), Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” to name a few, offering something for everyone and acknowledging the bands apperception for good music, no matter the groove. The encore proved entertaining starting with an eight-song medley (Black Betty / I Want You to Want Me / Two Tickets to Paradise / La Bamba / Come Together/ Jump Around / Love in an Elevator / What’s Up), followed by Elton John’s “Rocket Man.” Of course, no Zac Brown Band show could end without “Chicken Fried” filling the hall to take everyone home. At the end of a hot night on the hollowed grounds of Bethel Woods, the musical horizon was once again ablaze with music, sweet music.
Phish began its three-night siege of Atlantic City last night with a concert on the beach that was a year in the making. Like most of this summer tour, this was the rescheduled date after being postponed last year due to the pandemic. With plenty of fans still masked up and partying safely, Phish more than made up for lost time with a show that surely stood out among the other customary bright lights along the iconic Jersey boardwalk.
photo: Dave DeCrescente
In a fitting nod to the locale, “Cars, Trucks, Buses,” the notable New Jersey Turnpike driving lane designation, was tapped to open the show. This gave way to an “AC/DC Bag” that followed, with Trey Anastasio ad-libbing a “put ’em on the beach” lyric much to the crowd’s delight. The ensuing jam bled nicely into “Blaze On” and Phish was off and running. The first set later featured an appearance from drummer Jon Fishman and his trusty vacuum for “I Didn’t Know” and an explosive “Funky Bitch” contained the first of two distinct “Fire” (Ohio Players) teases from Anastasio this evening. In an all too fitting selection, an exploratory “Sand” later closed out the opening set in grandiose fashion as fans danced and kicked it around on the beach.
In a move that surprised no one, the second set continues to be a warehouse of monstrous, type-II jamming from Phish and the first night of Atlantic City would prove no different. The intensity on the beach reached a new level once the opening notes of “Tweezer” rang loud and true. True to form, “Tweezer” could have been jammed out for the entire second set and there would have been few complaints. Instead, after an extended visit, the music slowly veered into the opening notes of another classic jam vehicle “Bathtub Gin.”
At one point, it seemed like the set could very well be just a few songs, all jammed extensively. Instead, Phish threw in a couple more songs, starting with the upbeat and uplifting “Everything’s Right.” A rambunctious “Possum” popped up later in the set, only to be steered directly into an intense “2001” that set off the entire beach into a synchronized frenzy. The late second set “Harry Hood” was perfectly placed and performed to perfection. However, fans will have to wait (at least) one more night for the anticipated “Tweezer Reprise” as the lone encore this evening was a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Loving Cup,” leaving plenty on the table for nights two and three to follow.
photo: Dave DeCrescente
Setlists via Phish.net
Friday, August 13, 2021
Soundcheck: Theme From the Bottom, My Soul, We Are Come To Outlive Our Brains, Lonely Trip
Set 1: Cars Trucks Buses, AC/DC Bag > Blaze On, Wolfman’s Brother, I Didn’t Know, Funky Bitch, Rift, Sand
Set 2: Tweezer > Bathtub Gin > Everything’s Right > Possum > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Rise/Come Together > Harry Hood > More
Encore: Loving Cup
On Saturday, slow Llamas got Drowned as Phish took stage for night two of their three night run in Atlantic City. The Vermont quartet immediately set the tone with a slow “Llama” to get the funk going. Page McConnell immediately got scratching on his clavinet and stayed atop of the clav for more funk on “Tube” with Trey’s Wah pedal still in effect.
Any first set “Reba” that unfolds naturally like it did on Saturday immediately set the crowd off into a frenzy. A nod to beach side reggae ensues with Bob Marley’s “Soul Shakedown Party” The first set ended with Page’s solo over the quiet ocean for “Squirming Coil.”
photo: Dave DeCrescente
“I Never Needed You Like This Before” a new tune that breathes rock and roll while including Phishy tension. Roger Daltery’s words “Let me get back to the ocean, let me get back to the sea” carried across the Atlantic on a raucous cover of The Who’s “Drowned.” Trey and Page reunited on the wah funk pedals and clavinet during a second set “Ghost” that came full circle with Chris Kuroda’s lights and”No Quarter” by Led Zeppelin brought in another chilling cover for the night.
During the encore Phish sublimated the crowd with the “Life Beyond a Dream” before revisiting the “Tweezer” that started Set 2 Friday night, with “Tweezer Reprise” certainly sending everyone back to the dunes with a smile.
Saturday, August 14, 2021
Set 1: Llama[1], Tube, Destiny Unbound > Ya Mar, 46 Days, Reba[2], Soul Shakedown Party, Split Open and Melt, The Squirming Coil
Set 2: I Never Needed You Like This Before, Drowned > Ghost -> Scents and Subtle Sounds[3] > Chalk Dust Torture[4] > No Quarter > Slave to the Traffic Light > Suzy Greenberg
Encore: A Life Beyond The Dream, Tweezer Reprise
[1] Performed in slow, funk style
[2] No whistling
[3] Did not contain the intro
[4] Unfinished
Never miss a Sunday show. It’s been a mantra for Phish fans since the 1990s, and once again the band delivered an excellent closing to what could easily become a regular stop for the band.
Opening up with the rare “The Landlady” caught everyone’s attention shortly before 8pm. The band dipped into the intro section of “Scents and Subtle Sounds,” which clocks in at under two minutes, but the final line “the moment never ends” segued perfectly, and lyrically, into “The Moma Dance.” Fans who caught this subtle connection were elated, but who couldn’t be when a 16 minute “Moma” was in store for the beach. A well placed “Mike’s Groove” filled the middle of the set, while an energetic 20-minute “You Enjoy Myself” closed the set.
A fiery “Carini” lit up the beach to start the final hurrah of the weekend, leading into “Set Your Soul Free,” giving a release of energy for the thousands elated to be dancing to live music once again. The most perfect placement for the weekend goes to “Beneath a Sea of Stars Part 1” which followed. The timing of this serene and at times ambient number from Ghosts of the Forest has found a home in the exhaust of jams, breathing new life for the crowd here together.
A top notch “Piper” followed, a highlight of the weekend for some, with the requisite “Waves” following and sending fans into the ocean, if they hadn’t been already. The set closed with “First Tube,” as energetic as ever, and setting the stage for a double encore of “Fluffhead” and “Backwards Down the Number Line.”
For a weekend on the shore, amid concerns of large gatherings, Phish pulled off a memorable as ever run of shows in Atlantic City, ones that stand free of time as their best in America’s Playground.
Set 1: The Landlady, Scents and Subtle Sounds[1] > The Moma Dance[2] > The Final Hurrah > Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, The Sloth, Roggae > Back on the Train, You Enjoy Myself
Set 2: Carini > Set Your Soul Free > Beneath a Sea of Stars Part 1 > Piper -> Carini > Waves > Simple > About to Run, First Tube
Encore: Fluffhead > Backwards Down the Number Line
[1] Intro only[2] Unfinished Scents and Subtle Sounds was only the intro. The Moma Dance had a Scents and Subtle Sounds tease and was unfinished. Mike’s Song had a Strawberry Letter 23 tease from Trey. Set Your Soul Free had teases of I’m a Man, Carini, and Linus and Lucy. The soundcheck’s jam contained Soul Planet quotes from Trey.
On Tuesday, August 10, NYC based band We Are Scientists were scheduled to play a one-off warm up show at Brooklyn’sElsewhere Rooftop. Right as doors were set to open, severe thunderstorms rolled in and forced the band to postpone the show (now scheduled for September 20th at the Rooftop). The crowd waiting in the loft was told that We Are Scientists would come out and perform an impromptu acoustic set in the empty Hall downstairs. Not quite knowing what to expect, fans filed down the stairs and into the main venue at Elsewhere.
We Are Scientists, Elsewhere 8/10/21. Photo by Buscar Photo
At about 9:15pm the band came out on the empty stage armed with an acoustic guitar, a snare drum, and three voices. Keith and Chris engaged in some comedic back and forth with the crowd, joked about the lack of amplification and the barrier still in place in front of the stage, then treated the fans to a 20 minute acoustic performance (plus one air-bass solo) of old and new songs. Any disappointment over the postponed show quickly evaporated as the crowd engaged in an enthusiastic sing along. In spite of the circumstances, the guys were able to give their fans a special treat that will surely be cherished by those who stuck out the rain.
Keith Murray of We Are Scientists – Photo by Buscar Photo
The postponed warm-up show will be made up at Elsewhere on September 20th with a full European tour kicking off on November 24th in the UK. In between, the band’s new record, Huffy, will be released on October 8th on 100% records. Full tour dates can be found HERE – check back in September for a review of the show and the new record. You can watch the music video for latest single “Contact High” below.
For two nights in early August, moe. played to a faithful crowd, much as they always do this time of year in Central New York. Whether at Saranac Brewery in Utica, Snow Ridge Ski Resort in Turin, or Apple Valley in Lafayette, moe. is a summer staple, and a perfect time to shake off the dust and get down with fellow moe.rons.
Saturday night was highlighted by an always stellar “Recreational Chemistry” to start Set 2, and a trio of “Big World” > “Ricky Marten” > “Mar De Ma” to follow. A cover of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” stole the show, and worked its way into “Opium” and “Plane Crash” to close the night.
Marco Benevento opened Sunday night with a rousing set, accompanied by Karina Rykman on bass and Andy Borger on drums. moe. came out for their first set at 6:30pm for an ideal set to watch the sun set behind the stage. A unique take on “St. Augustine” featured “Tubing the River Styx” and “The Pit” being sandwiched in between sections of “St. Augustine.” A nod to Jerry Garcia, who passed away 26 years ago this day, came in the form of “West L.A. Fadeaway,” which was accompanied by a rainbow in the distance.
Set 2 found moe. getting dark, starting out with “Meat” that moved into “Kyle’s Song” and smoothly into “Bearsong,” which gave birth to “Timmy Tucker.” A jazz bass breakdown from Rob Derhak was met with Chuck Garvey’s furious guitar work, leading to the jam of the night. Al Schnier took charge later in “Timmy”, leading the band unexpectedly into “Moth”, and again jumping back into “Meat” (on a dime) to lead to the end of a triumphant set. “Spine of a Dog” and a jam on “Franklin’s Tower” closed the night at Apple Valley.
moe. – Apple Valley Park, LaFayette, NY – Saturday, August 7, 2021
Set 1: Captain America > Bullet > Hector’s Pillow, Bring You Down, Where Does the Time Go?, LL3 Set 2: Recreational Chemistry, Bring it Back Home, Big World > Ricky Marten > Mar De Ma, Along for the Ride > Comfortably Numb > Opium, Plane Crash Encore: Wind It Up
moe. – Apple Valley Park, LaFayette, NY – Sunday, August 8, 2021
Set 1: Understand > St. Augustine > The Pit > St. Augustine, The Pines and the Apple Trees, Mexico* > West LA Fadeaway Set 2: Meat > Kyle’s Song > Bearsong > Timmy Tucker > Moth > Meat Encore: Spine of a Dog* Franklin’s Tower jam
Wednesday, August 4 kicked off the Capital Concert Series at the Empire State Plaza in Albany and it did not disappoint with headlining act 90s favorite R&B singer, Ginuwine and opening act Freedom Stratton.
Gracing the Albany stage for the first time in 25 years, Ginuwine kept the crowd dancing and smiling with hits like “In Those Jeans” and “Pony.” While a large crowd was drawn to the Plaza with the chance to see an old school performance on a warm summer night, they had the perfect warm-up in the form of an opening act that came across as an artist with years in the business.
Setting off the night of dancing was a young local artist Freedom Stratton. Popping onto the stage with an energy that reached beyond his stature, his vocals and movements took up the massive staging area. Slated to do two 10-minute sets, Stratton focused on his newly released singles. During the first set, listeners got to hear Stratton’s singles ‘Ray Banz’ and ‘Prophecy’, which gave them a taste of Stratton’s clever lyrical power.
Born and raised in Albany, Freedom Stratton very recently celebrated his 21st birthday only days before the performance but is no stranger to the struggle and beauty of making music in the 518. At an early age, Stratton fell in love with musical theater, which led to his participation in high school plays, studying modern dance at Berkshire Ballet, and also a slew of performances in community productions across the Capital Region.
During the second set, he got the crowd dancing to more r&b/pop inspired singles ‘Tell Me What You Need’ and ‘New Things’. The audience bounced and grooved along all the way until Ginuwine took the stage. After Stratton’s second performance NYS Music had a chance to sit down with the budding artist.
NYS Music: What started your career in music?
Freedom: About three years ago I started working with BChaps. Then I had this idea to get a bunch of artists together for an album called “The Future” and it broke over 400,000 streams in less than a year. Then I knew.
NYS Music: What sets you apart from other artists?
Freedom: The drive. The drive to know that nothing is going to happen without you doing something to make it happen.
NYS Music: Do you have a dream collaborator and why?
Freedom: Anderson Paak. Oooh. He’s spicy. He’s spicy right there. I feel like that’s one of the most influential people to me in the music industry. It’s like that newer version of the old school.
NYS Music: Do you have any music that you often listen to these days? And who are the musicians that inspired you?
Freedom: Jason Derulo, gotta throw him in there. Ariana Grande. Justin Bieber, I ain’t gonna lie. I really mess with pop, like Dua Lipa. It’s the kind of music that I’m pushing for. More mainstream but at the same time they can make a heartbreak song, or a happy song, or a love song. I just love the diversity pop brings.
NYS Music: How would you like to see music help the community?
Freedom: Bringing people back together, you feel me? People are literally scared to be around each other. Music can bring us back together.
Things shifted in 2018 though once it became clear to Stratton that pop stardom would achieve his goal of leaving “a legacy. Something that will carry on forever and be able to touch people for generations”. Stratton began working with local music producer, Brian Chiappinelli(B.Chaps) to capture music that makes people happy. All the hard work has already begun to pay off. Just last year Stratton released his first full-length studio album dubbed “The Future”. With a loaded roster of other 518 artists, Stratton pushed himself out of his typical style comfort zone. Not only did the success of the album cause him to release a deluxe version that included a whopping thirty songs but “The Future” was also picked up for distribution by record label Rexius Records in Sweden.
Already back in the studio, Stratton has 2 singles set to be released this month. ‘First Love’ with Kortnee Simmons is dropping on Empire Media on August 13 and ‘For The Summer’ with B. Chaps and Money Montage is dropping on Foundation Media on August 20.
Freedom Stratton is available on all major streaming platforms (iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, and Google Play).
There was one overall concensus from Sunday’s show at Lark Hall on August 1st, and that is Sammy Rae is going to be big. The energy that this young woman brings to the stage is really unmatched at her level. Sammy’s voice and the band’s energetic soul would have been given a warm welcome at the Copacabana in the 50’s.
Lark Hall played host to one of its biggest crowds to date as hungry fans filled the great hall. Sammy Rae had them roaring on their feet from before she even came on stage and with every note and gesture they sang her praises. The band itself was exceptionally tight with a pair of backup singers who were actually front and center, and a duo of saxophones with a full band behind them. Sammy moved around the stage like a conductor, feeding off of the crowd and the band.
If you missed out then fret not as they have an extensive tour ahead of them and this was only show number three. After finishing up their summer tour and festival season at Green River Festival in Greenfield, MA, the band moves it’s way to a few shows in the southeast and then a massive run in the Northeast including stops in Brooklyn and Syracuse. Keep this young lady on your radar, because she is coming in hot.
The energy was high in Trumansburg for the final weekend of Grassroots Live. The shows were switched to the Grandstand Stage at the fairgrounds due to damage to the infield stage but that didn’t keep the people or performers present from having a great time. Friday night brought two Grassroots Festival veterans, Jimkata and Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad and Saturday 90s rock group The Spin Doctors graced the stage.
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad opened Friday night with powerful and unifying reggae vibes. The band’s traditional sound was layered with extra horns, percussion, and vocals from local Ithaca talent. A couple of dancers joined in for a majority of the show who mirrored and increased the joyful atmosphere. Lead singer, Chris O’Brian spoke about the power of reggae music in spreading from Jamaica to corners of the world like Rochester and Ithaca and bringing people together. The whole set contained originals and covers weaved together seamlessly. A highlight of the show was a bouncy rendition of Bob Marley’s “Soul Shakedown Party” that seemed to kick the crowd into high gear.
The anticipation and excitement for Jimkata’s return to the stage was palpable. The Ithaca born band went on hiatus in 2016 after treating audiences to dynamic sets at festivals and opening for bands like Papadosio. There were many people talking about the last time they saw Jimkata and many were decked out in band merch that they had clearly had for a while. Lead vocalist and guitarist Evan Friedell walked out to the stage to adjust his pedals and was greeted at the front of the stage by what seemed like old friends.
On the heels of their new album Bonfires the band launched into a set full of synth and vocal melodies and washed the crowd in light and sound. Weaving between new songs and recognizable classics, the audience never seemed to stop moving. One would have found it hard to not dance around a bit during the sequences of dreamy rhythmic jams. Jimkata always brought a cerebral experience kept lively by clean locked in musicianship and an emotionally fueled light show. This set was no different and felt like a triumphant return.
Bred in NYC, The Spin Doctors had an extremely successful run in the 90s and have continued to put on one hell of a show. Lead singer Chris Barron charismatically introduced each song with anecdotes and banter that kept the audience engaged. The humorous interplay between bassist Mark White and Chris during the banter kept things light. Mark would roll his eyes, shoot rubber bands at Chris, and even took a seat and pretended to make a phone call during a particularly long story.
Musically, the band still holds up after all these years. The vocals sound honed in and each member of the band excels at their craft. Chris’s voice carries the familiar tunes, guitarist Aaron Comess brings clean classic rock tone and licks to the stage, Mark’s funky and energetic style is nestled perfectly in with the rest of the sound, and drummer Eric Schenkman carries the band on his hard hitting beats. The band played their hits such as “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” and “Two Princes” and even played some new material. The audience went nuts and sang along whenever the hits were played but both jammed out moments and new songs were equally as danceable and welcomed.
As the lights went down at the end of the show, the last attendees of the year at Grassroots left the fairgrounds smiling. It was clear in the smiles and stories of the past few weekends that Trumansburg was treated to some wonderful moments of light and sound in July.
Friends and family gathered at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts on Long Island on Monday, August 2 to bid farewell to music legend Biz Markie, with a funeral attended by hip hop icons including Busta Rhymes, Kid Capri, Treach (Naughty by Nature), Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, Ice-T and more. The eulogy was delivered by the Rev. Al Sharpton.
Markie was born in Harlem but raised on Long Island. He is best known for his 1989 single “Just A Friend.” His career took off after that. He acted, performed comedy, DJ’d and produced music for numerous artists. He also had a radio show on SiriusXm on LL Cool J’s Rock the Bells Radio.
In April 2020, Markie was hospitalized for complications of Type 2 diabetes. He died at a Baltimore hospital surrounded by family on July 16th at age 57. R.I.P. Biz!
Wednesday, July 28th brought the 2021 season of Albany’s Alive at Five to a close. The weather was perfect, and for the first time this season, the concert was held at its usual location, Jennings Landing. Albany’s own Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band opened for 80s hair metal band Warrant who celebrated the 30th anniversary of their second and most successful studio album Cherry Pie. Check out the set list and photo gallery below.
Setlists
Warrant: Sure Feels Good To Me, Love in Stereo, Bed Of Roses, Your The Only Hell Your Mama Ever Raised, I saw Red, Song And Dance Man, Mr. Rainmaker, Blind Faith, Train, Train, Down Boys, D.R.F.S.R, Sometimes She Cries, Louder Harder Faster/Machine Gun, Heaven, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Cherry Pie
Joe Mansman & The Midnight Revival Band: Moon Vixen, Sellout, Live For Thrills, Renegade Love, Cut Out My Tongue, Below or Above, Wild Woman, Take It Easy, Lips On Fire, Dead As It Gets, Reap and Sow, Blood Grain Cocaine, Cheap Looks, Revels, Dagger
