Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up and coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music fromNext Station, Swamp Baby and many more!
WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.
Next Station
Next Station, an Upstate NY band founded in 2010, released their album The Flow on May 5. The title track is as cool and confident as its name suggests, like an auditory lazy river. “The Flow” deserves to be longer than its runtime of three and a half minutes, and sounds even better on repeat.
Swamp Baby
Albany chamber pop band Swamp Baby is known for their atmospheric ballads. “Identified Submerged Object,” the opener of their 2020 album Water Gods, converts the northern lights on the cover into sound form. The track reaches a crescendo at the halfway point, when its vocals are overtaken by a sweeping piano and string instrumental. Water Gods follows Swamp Baby’s first two LPs, All Fours (2010) and For Baby’s Babies (2012).
E.R.I.E.
E.R.I.E., an indie pop-punk quartet from Albany, uses the tagline “Not yer Dad’s dad-rock.” Based on its title, their song “The Dirt Inside Your Soul” seems to tease a bitter breakup jam, but it’s actually the opposite. Frontman T.J. King vows to love the song’s subject not just in spite of their flaws, but because of them.
Thursday, June 8 was a special day for Syracuse. Not only was this the very first show of the much anticipated “Proud To Be Right Here” Luke Bryan US Tour, it was also the opening night for St. Josephâs Health Amphitheater at Lakeview. This was the first large concert to happen in CNY since COVID had taken it’s toll on the country. With Gov. Cuomo recently lifting restrictions for the entire state, this concert was the light at the end of the tunnel that was so needed.
One thing that was certainly on everyone’s mind going to this show was the rain. It had been raining all day, very hard at times and many were hopeful that it would stop prior to the show beginning. Fortunately enough, the rain stopped just prior to Caylee Hammack taking the stage.
The event was packed with 10,000+ in attendance and fans were showing how they too have missed live music. People laughing, hugging, and toasting drinks were a sight I didn’t I would see for quite awhile.
Opening the night was Caylee Hammack out of Nashville. She came out strong with a good mix of southern rock and Country. Hammack had the crowd singing along to a cover of Dolly Parton “9 to 5” Her set was energetic, fun, and very easy to get into. Dressed in a leopard printed dress and blue jacket, she was definitely having a good time on stage.
Following Caylee Hammack was Dylan Scott, the country pop singer out of Louisiana. His stage presence was very engaging and he sucked the crowd right in with his songs “My Girl” and “Nobody”. His interactions with the audience was a highlight of Scott’s performance. Joking with a couple fans, he asks who could chug a beer faster. This turns into a contest with Dylan grabbing a couple beers and having the fans race each other drinking, which then he leads into his song “Beer Buddies.”
Luke Bryan was set to take the stage next, with the sun setting just after 9pm the atmosphere and intensity of the amphitheater was building. The crowd of people were screaming and singing along to classic rock hits provided by DJ Rock. Finally the lights go dark and the amphitheater erupts as Luke Bryan takes to the stage with “That’s My Kind of Night”. Luke Bryan came right out down the walkway the stage had and wasted no time singing to the fans. Following the opening, Luke Bryan played “Rain is a good thing” which was well accepted considering how much it had been raining that day.
Luke delivered a powerful 20 song set, performing fan favorites “What She Wants Tonight”, the sing along “One Margarita,” and “Country Girl(Shake it for Me). This was a much needed night for everyone in attendance. Not only the fans, but all the artists performing seemed so happy to be back, the employees at the amphitheater were also very friendly and looking glad to be back as well. Overall it was a great experience and great concert that set the bar high for the rest of the concert season.
Luke Bryan Setlist: That’s My Kind of Night, Rain Is A Good Thing, What Makes You Country, Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day, Knockin’ Boots, Kick the Dust Up, Waves, Down To One, What She Wants, One Margarita, All My Friends Say, Crash My Party, Roller Coaster, Strip It Down, Drink A Beer, Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset, Move, Play It Again, Country Girl(Shake It for Me), I Don’t Want This Night To End
For the second week of the City of Albany’s Alive at 5 concert series, funk was on the lineup and Soule Monde and company delivered. Moving to the rain location at the boat lunch under 787, the night started on time with Victory Soul Orchestra, who have been on the rise over the last year with memorable streams and now, live performances.
Headlining Alive at 5 tonight was Soule Monde, featuring Russ Lawton and Ray Paczkowski from Trey Anastasio Band. The drums and keys duo sounds more like a full band and got the ample crowd up and moving. Deep funky Afrobeat influenced rhythms framed much of the performance, one that paused for 15 minutes following the song seen below, and then continued until the 8pm curfew.
Alive at 5 returns next week with Amy Helm headlining, and The Sea The Sea opening the night.
Multi-platinum artists Fitz and The Tantrums made a summer tour stop at Artpark in Lewiston on July 6.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Alternative band Colony House kicked off the night in an upbeat fashion. The opening act consisted of Caleb Chapman, Will Chapman, Scott Mills, and Parke Cottrell. Popular singles “Silhouettes” and “You Know It” brought the energy to everyone at Artpark.
Fitz and the Tantrums later took the stage and steamrolled the crowd instantly. Their liveliness and distinct stage presence made everyone get up on their feet. They opened their set with the throwback song “Don’t Gotta Work It Out” from their 2010 album.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
The LA-based band is composed of Michael “Fitz” Fitzpatrick (vocals), Noelle Scaggs (vocals), James King (saxophone, flute), Jeremy Ruzumna (keyboards), Joseph Karnes (bass), and John Wicks (drums, percussion). This dynamic group is able to match each other’s intensity on the stage while also keeping the crowd engaged.
The band played songs from their recently released, fourth full length album ALL THE FEELS. This included their well-known hits “123456” and “I Just Wanna Shine.” Additionally, other songs that proved to be crowd favorites were “Out of My League,” and “Fool.” Throughout the night Fitz shared how excited he was to be back singing with a crowd again. Everyone from those on stage, to the crew, to the folks on the lawn, were absorbed in this feeling so many have missed. As Fitz has said, “It’s great to be back!”
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
With a roaring crowd, Fitz and the Tantrums performed their RIAA-certified 2x Platinum single “HandClap” for the encore. After, they finished off the performance with songs “All the Feels” and “The Walker.” Many left the show dancing down the streets as everyone was ready for more.
Artpark has much more in store for the rest of the summer with Lettuce performing on July 14 and a Bright Eyes show on July 27.
“The world is counting on us now, we have to find a way.” Powerful lines are imbued in the new song, “We’ll Come Together,” by Queens based singer and native New Yorker Craig Greenberg.
“I wrote this song the day after the 2020 election, from having a strong positive feeling that I hadn’t had in a very long while about the country,” Greenberg expresses when asked about the message of the song.” Coming off a year of isolation, lockdowns and protests, it’s safe to say that we need a catchy song that promotes unity.
Although the message of the song is, “Getting past our the differences of the previous few years,” Greenberg originally saw this piece as a, “Sardonic type of song in the vain of Randy Newman,” but after really hitting on the positivity message, Greenberg decided to keep it as an uplifting song, going on to say, “And really I just thought, coming out of the pandemic, people could just use an upbeat song.
When asked about any specific lines or images that were meant to be conveyed, Greenberg responded with, We’ll love our country the red white and blue. All the other colors, yeah we’ll stand for them too” really sums up the feeling of the song for me.”
Greenberg has also released a video for the song, which has received a great response from the public, shown above.
Greenberg has self-released 4 albums in the past 10 years, the most recent a 12 track album titled “Phantom Life,” which was released in Dec 2020. He has performed upwards of 1000 shows, since his start playing in bars while living in Chile, and later Spain.
His songs have received praise in American Songwriter, the Huffington Post, Relix Magazine, and have been played on radio stations all around the country and internationally.
Greenberg was born in Bayside, Queens and grew up on the south shore of Long island. His mom was from Manhattan and Westchester, and Dad from Brooklyn. When he was 25, He left NYC to teach English abroad in Chile. He was only supposed to be there for six months, but was offered his first gig playing covers in bars. Preforming six nights a week for another year, Greenberg learned to sing and preform.
“I was fortunate to have a few good music teachers at my public school in LI, and as well a private guitar teacher, who really opened my eyes and ears. I also had several friends who were more advanced players who I would have show me stuff as well.”
“I’ve been making music as long as I can remember. I knew from a young age that I wanted to affect people and improve their lives, and when I started writing music that just seemed like the ideal way to do that.”
For upcoming events, new music and updates visit craiggreenbergmusic.com
Singer-songwriter, guitarist and drummer Rene Lopez has just released his new single, “Flamingo”. A master of cross-genre work, Lopez’ single features Caribbean roots, rhythmic Jamaican ska drum loops, Cuban son montuno with cha-cha-chá influence. “Flamingo” stands as a direct reflection of Lopez’ multicultural upbringing in New York City, where he resides today.
Son of the famed Puerto Rican salsa musician and trumpet player René López, Rene embraces the traditional roots of his father while incorporating his own unique musical influences, including soul, jazz, funk, and rock.
An audience can audibly hear this melding of genres- with the fusion of Latin rhythms and instruments like timbales, congas, cowbell, flute, trumpet, Cuban tres and melodies similar to the pop musical soundscape today.
It just feels so right to incorporate my roots into my songs.
Rene Lopez
Dubbed “a one-man song factory” by Félix Contreras of NPR’s Alt.Latino, Lopez takes a personal approach to songwriting.
There is also a story that I tell in each song that is basically my own way of dealing with stuff going on in my life [and it] helps me face myself when I sing it out loud.
Rene Lopez
Lopez’ ability to write a autobiographical discography that melds Latin music, funk, rock, doo-wop, and soul is what keeps him hitting the mark with these catchy songs. Throughout the course of his work, Lopez’ music has only continued to become more Latinized, invoking a thematic otherness as an immigrant or being from a certain urban ethnic neighborhood. Keeping his songs close to home has reflected an authentic, nostalgic sound that shows listeners Lopez is “being completely honest with who I am, and a big part of that is my Latin roots,” as well as telling stories of personal relationships and experiences in an unflinching way.
Written as an ode to a “special woman” Lopez fell in love with after he got divorced, “Flamingo” bears Lopez’ vulnerability. He successfully transformed a situation he dubbed “extremely difficult and heartbreaking” into a beautiful tribute to the experience. Simultaneously graceful and outlandish, the flamingo serves as the perfect metaphor to quantify his unattainable love.
The title of the single then alludes to the doomed romance due to the lovers’ star-crossed circumstances. Beautiful and tragic, the song is a Latin lullaby of love and healing. The poetic lyrics serve as the perfect gateway into Lopez’ self and coupled with the personal roots of his past, “Flamingo” serves as a testament to Lopez’ past. And evidently, the song is yet another incredible hit to add to his collection of singles, keeping his growing audience waiting for the future.
The single is streaming on Soundcloud and does not disappoint!
In normal times, music fans in Rochester would be finishing off another Jazz Festival, a nine-day smorgasbord of musical delights. However, for the second straight year, the city is bereft their biggest live music week and all the discoveries that come with it.
Despite the shutdowns, artists still managed to put out some incredible music last year, the Rochester International Jazz Festival alumni among them. So while we sit and wait until the festival returns in 2022, let’s take a look at what ten of our favorite RIJF discoveries released in 2020.
The Made in UK Series brought this trio across the pond in 2016 and we’ve been digging them ever since. With Captured Spirits, saxophonist Jordan Smart, pianist Nick Smart and drummer and percussionist Jesse Barrett build on the sound they’ve been evolving with each release, adding in more electronic influence.
Kat Edmonson enchanted us at the festival both in 2013 and 2015 and she ratchets up the magic in her latest release, Dreamers Do, which reimagines music from the Disney canon to incredible effect. You’ll never want to hear the originals again. Watch out for a guest spot from fest-alum Bill Frisell.
Another trio brought in by the Made In U.K. series, Gogo Penguin made their stateside debut at the festival in 2015 and then returned to wow us again in 2018. The mostly acoustic piano trio has always injected some electronic influence, increasing it with each release. It comes even more to the fore on last year’s self-titled release, though the wordless melodies are still as catchy as ever.
In the last festival staged, back in 2019, no band wowed us quite like Girls in Airports. The Danish quintet moved through “ethereal soundscapes, intense evil marches and organ-rich spacey grooves, mixing in infectious rhythms and melodies,” and it’s more of the same on 2020’s Dive, a must-listen.
Sometimes the much-beloved International aspect of the festival brings otherworldly sounds. Other times it shows off the inescapable influence of American music. Another fest-alum out of Denmark, Ibrahim Electric exemplifies the latter, exploring the organ-trio oeuvre (and well beyond) with aplomb on the aptly-named Time Machine.
Ukrainian quartet DakhaBrakha had the Big Tent venue in awe during their 2017 appearance. A blend of traditional ethnic folk music with varied and at times avant-garde influences, the music complemented their colorful quasi-traditional garb. It was an expansion of most of the audience’s musical universe for sure. Alambari touches on almost everything that made their performance so thrilling, minus the visuals of course.
Every Rochester International Jazz Festival boasts at least a handful of badass funk outfits that invigorate the generally staid crowd into a dancing frenzy. Seattle’s Polyrhythmics were just one band and with their latest, Man from the Future, they have us hoping for a return visit soon. This thing cooks!
One of the most frequent visitors to the festival, NYC-based drummer Matt Wilson always brings something a little different. When we last caught him in 2018 it was pure joy mixed in with some serious statements on politics and humanity. Likewise on last year’s Hug, you might not find a happier jazz track than the title cut, while “Space Force March/Interplanetary Music” takes an overt but fun political turn.
A decade ago the young Swedish guitarist, Samuel Hallkvist, really caught our attention. And with last year’s Epik, Didaktik, Pastoral he proved he’s only improved with age. It’s impressive and compelling set of adventurous avant-garde jams.
We’ll close this out highlighting another artist from England. More than any of the previous in the list, saxophonist Nubya Garcia has shapeshifted the most. When we saw her in 2019 she blew us away with her fiery playing and mind-expanding jazz compositions. With SOURCE she has broken free from the jazz shell to produce something uniquely brilliant that has been met with widespread critical acclaim and commercial success. If you haven’t already, definitely give this one a listen.
Based in Bovina, NY, Esquela released their fifth studio album A Sign From God on June 25th. The album features 10 tracks, produced by Eric “Roscoe” Ambel, and was recorded entirely remotely throughout the COVID-19 pandemic which prevented members from getting together to record during the Spring and Summer of 2020.
Esquela, via bandsintown.com
Over the course of several months, Finn wrote all the songs on the record, except the final track, “Wait For Me” which utilized a poem by Konstantin Simonov and was arranged musically by Becca Frame and Brian Shafer. He then sent bits of songs to Roscoe, involving Keith Christopher on bass, Brian Shafer on guitar, Becca Frame on vocals and Matt Woodin on guitars and mandolin, and Mike Ricciardi on drums with the audio engineering accompaniment of Jeff Stachyra. Their individual parts were woven together by their brilliant engineer, spinning a 70’s style overdub in a completely remote 2020 world.
Once the reality of COVID 19 hit us, nobody knew what was going to happen and for how long our normal routines would be disrupted. Since I was homebound for the duration – I decided that I should get my home recording studio up and running again. After weeks of technical frustration– I was finally able to get my home setup cobbled together with a Universal Audio Apollo interface and my MacBook, using Protools recording software.
Bandleader John “Chico” Finn
Amidst a race war and global pandemic, the album captures the cultural conversation surrounding the time, including addressing sensitive topics that unfolded during the year like racism, sexual assault and climate change. The first track on the album, which premiered ahead of the others, addresses climate change and humanity’s impact on Earth. “Not In My Backyard” was inspired by a conversation that transpired between Finn and a friend about fracking in West Virginia. Between the rhythmic guitar riffs and pulsing drum beat, a larger message lies at the core of the song.
The bottom line is that energy is cheap right now…in order for the climate to improve will mean people will have to pay more for their energy source, and I am afraid it won’t happen anytime soon, sad to say.
John “Chico” Finn
Premiering as Esquela’s first album since 2017, the band chose to tackle pressing issues about the world, spreading a message while telling a narrative throughout each song. The last song, “Wait For Me,” has a more stripped sonic atmosphere with soft acoustic guitar and less processed vocals. The song tells the story of Konstantin Simonov and a poem he wrote as a homesick Russian soldier during World War II. Esquela uses the poem as a vessel to acknowledge racism in the deep South, much like the French village of Oradour Sur Glane destroyed by Nazis within the poem.
With Esquela, challenge brings creativity. The album is a true testament that challenge breeds creativity amidst the pandemic. Even prevented from taking a band photo all together for the cover art, they crafted a creative solution to replicate images of them in a fun illustration pictured below. While COVID-19 forced the members to send over the tracks individually, the cohesiveness of these tracks expands beyond Roscoe’s phenomenal work as a producer. These songs tell a narrative about what we need to change as a society in 2020 (and now, its roots have spread into 2021).
The album is now available on Bandcamp or Spotify, with a music video for “Not In My Backyard” on Youtube.
Jess Novak, winner of Best Pop Artist at the 2021 SAMMY Awards, is out on the road this summer across Central New York. But first, she has “The Joke” to share with you.
With Joker inspired song lyrics and an accompanying music video where Novak channels Harley Quinn, “The Joke” creates Novak’s own version of the super villain – sweet, yet angry, with a custom jacket by Adirondack Ink – allowing the singer to step outside herself as she got into character.
Written and recorded by Jess Novak and The Jess Novak Band at Hobin Studios in 2020 and filmed by DripNetwork and Lights on Fayette in 2021, “The Joke” captures her love of music videos and the inspiration drawn from the film.
A huge music video nut when I was a kid, I had wanted to make music videos for a living. I love the idea of telling a whole story in five minutes using a song. It’s always thrilled me. In the past we’ve made really fun videos, but this is the first that really tells a story and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Jess Novak
Setting out to make a video that goes deeper, and teaches people about the world and themselves, “The Joke” was shot at Lights on Fayette in their new warehouse on West Fayette Street in Syracuse, where they plan to hold more photo and video shoots, record music and hold live performances.
The concept came directly from the lyrics and was something Novak had in her head since she wrote the song. Moved by the origin of the classic supervillain, she had begun writing lyrics for the song before she left her second screening of the film.
My mom always said when I was growing up that the villains were her favorite part of Disney movies because they had more depth, more story – and it took a long time for me to understand that. Joker really proved it.
I appreciated that movie because it not only provided an alternate perspective, but it made me root for the bad guy, which I found fascinating. It also touched on the subject of mental health, which I feel is often skirted around in mainstream entertainment. Artists talk about it, but they don’t dive so deeply into it because it’s scary and almost taboo. But Joker took it head-on.
Jess Novak
The lyric “I hope that my death, it makes more sense from my life” is a direct draw from the movie, one that connected with Novak.
I really hoped the movie would make people see that people who are “bad” or do “bad things” are really just a product of their environment, which is what this song is saying, too. We place too much blame, or in reverse, pride, on people when really, they are just formations of their upbringing and situation.”
Jess Novak
For the music video, Novak’s concept has drawn out a storyboard and then the team took it from there, altering it to make the video more like a movie, with action scenes and a short plot. Starting with Novak as the villain, her boyfriend splits and leaves her to deal with the cops. Betrayed, she chooses to stand up, get out of the handcuffs and wreak havoc. This theme is explored on the album Standing Now, that “The Joke” is featured on.
Novak is already talking about the next video with the same team for a song they are currently recording, “Devil’s Walk”, a follow-up to her 2016 song “Counting on Love.” Look for this video and more this fall from Jess Novak.
The Jess Novak Band members featured in “The Joke” video include Novak, Byron Cage, Anthony Saturno, Nick Fields, Gavin George and Jabare Mckinstry. “The Joke” was directed by Mac Cushing and edited by Bryan Wolcik.
The latest album from Jess Novak Band, Standing Now is available here and you can watch “The Joke” below. Pre-order her new album A Thousand Liveshere.
For the summer, you can catch her solo, duo or full band performances across Central New York.
Jess Novak Summer 2021 Tour Dates
June 29 – Great Northern Mall Food Truck Fest – Clay, NY – 6 p.m. – DUO June 30 – The Taste Smokers – Bethlehem, PA – 8 p.m. – SOLO July 1 – Tiki Island – Baldwinsville, NY – 6 p.m. – SOLO July 2 – Homer Hops – Homer, NY – 6 p.m. – DUO July 3 – Middle Ages – Syracuse, NY – 4 p.m. – JNB July 4 – Steamers – Oswego, NY – 3 p.m. – DUO July 8 – Heritage Hill – Pompey, NY – 6 p.m. – JNB July 9 – Rome Summer Concert Series – Rome, NY – 7 p.m. – DUO July 12 – Northside Bar and Grille – Surf City, NY – 6 p.m. – TBD July 18 – Willie’s Chop Shop – Sylvan Beach, NY – PIRATE’S WEEKEND – 2 p.m. – DUO July 22 – Meier’s Creek – Cazenovia, NY – 6 p.m. – SOLO July 23 – Gibby’s – Oswego, NY – 7 p.m. – SOLO July 24 – Skaneateles Brewery – Skaneateles, NY – 3 p.m. – DUO July 25 – Concerts on the Waterfront – Sackets Harbor, NY – 3 p.m. – JNB July 28 – Alex’s on the Water – Oswego, NY – 6 p.m. – SOLO August 4 – Perseverance Park – Syracuse, NY – 12 p.m. – NOVAK/SATURNO August 5 – La Parrilla – Oswego, NY – 6 p.m. – NOVAK August 7 – McConnellsville Golf Club – Blossvale, NY – 7:30 p.m. – NOVAK August 7 – Lukins – Utica, NY – 10 p.m. – LAST CALL KINGS August 8 – The Nest – Tully, NY – 5 p.m. – DUO August 10 – Farmers Market – Clinton Square, Syracuse, NY – 11:30 a.m. – NOVAK August 12 – Heritage Hill – Pompey, NY – 5 p.m. – NOVAK August 13 – Stinger’s – Manlius, NY – 6 p.m. – NOVAK August 14 – Private Event – SAFE WORD BAND August 15 – Willie’s Chop Shop – Sylvan Beach, NY – 2 p.m. – NOVAK August 16 – Levitt AMP Music Series – Utica, NY – 6 p.m. – JNB August 18 – The Preserve at 405 – Syracuse, NY – 6 p.m. – DUO August 19 – Duskees – Phoenix, NY – 6 p.m. – NOVAK August 20 – Canale’s – Oswego, NY – 7 p.m. – DUO August 21 – Private Event – DUO August 22 – Steamers – Oswego, NY – 3 p.m. – JNB August 24 – New York State Fair Experience Stage – Syracuse, NY – 2 p.m. – JNB August 25 – Alex’s on the Water – Oswego, NY – 6 p.m. – NOVAK August 26 – Hops Spot – Clayton, NY – 6 p.m. – NOVAK August 27 – Bellevue Country Club – Syracuse, NY – 6 p.m. – NOVAK August 28 – Clinton Music and Arts Festival – Clinton, NY – 3 p.m. – NOVAK August 28 – Tiki Island – Baldwinsville, NY – 7 p.m. – JNB August 29 – Panther Pub – Allamuchy, NJ – 5 p.m. – NOVAK
On Saturday July 6, 1974, Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, NY held the first ever concert in its history. Eric Clapton and his band would serve as headliners, with The Band serving as a warm up for Slowhand. Tickets for the show were $8.50 each ($46 in 2021 dollars) and caught one of rock’s biggest legends upon the release of his classic 461 Ocean Boulevard.
The show was held one year after opening as the new home of the Buffalo Bills, going 9-5 in their inaugural season. More affectionately known as ‘The Ralph’ in the late 90s, the Buffalo-based multi-national food company Rich Products gave the stadium its original name, signing a 25-year, $1.5 million dollar deal, one of the first sales of naming rights in American sports.
Following a sellout show at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh the night before, the Buffalo show would not be Clapton’s finest hour by any means. July 5 was Robbie Robertson’s 31st birthday, and with The Band guitarist on the road with the hard-partying Eric Clapton, its possible that Clapton indulged too much the night prior, affecting his performance the next day. Clapton reportedly said “It’s Robbie’s birthday today and … there’s gonna be some bovver tonight.”
Not much is known about The Band’s set beyond their final song, which may have been the most pivotal part of the evening. Joining the opening band for a song is not unnatural for a headliner, but rarer still, as the impact of the main act’s arrival is lessened. When Clapton joined The Band on July 6 for an encore of “Chest Fever” in the support slot, the performance was disjointed and led to the drunken Clapton needing to be carried off stage.
photo by Watt Casey, Jr.
The Band setlist via Setlist.FM
Hard Times the Slop (Noble “Thin Man” Watts cover), Just Another Whistle Stop, Stage Fright, The Weight, The Shape I’m In, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Across the Great Divide, Endless Highway, Up on Cripple Creek, The Unfaithful Servant, Smoke Signal, The Genetic Method, Chest Fever (with Eric Clapton)
Clapton’s band included George Terry (guitar), Dicks Sims (keyboards), Carl Radle (bass), Jamie Oldaker (drums), and Yvonne Elliman (backing vocals). Also joining the lineup was Freddie King, who was flown in specially for these shows.
Geetarz shares insight on Clapton’s performance, which is widely reported as the worst show of the 1974 tour, and a low point for sure. Eric was reportedly massively, incoherently drunk, and unintelligible at times. As the show begins with Clapton giving an outro to emcee “Legs” Larry Smith, a member of the crowd would shout “Clean Up Yer Act!,” a sign of the times indeed.
photo by Watt Casey, Jr.
Drunk and stoned, Clapton would start playing songs without getting the band on the same page, starting the show with a rambling “Last Train to Brownsville”, where he seemed to start engaging with the audience who had apparently been throwing fireworks at the Clapton, saying “To be serious … one more of them, I’ll tell you, and you’re out of here! One more of them silly fucking fireworks and you are out of here! Behavior!”
After “Let it Grow,” Clapton shouted “I am drunk and I am ready for fuckin’ trouble!,” and then brought up Freddie King, but Eric was far from ready and was outshone by King. Clapton even gave a drunken intro for King: “He’s strapping on his guitar, moving to the guest spot, and if you haven’t heard of him, you don’t fucking deserve him! His name is Freddy.”
photo by Watt Casey, Jr.
You would think that bringing on stage a blues guitarist he looked up to would keep Clapton on his toes, but he was outshined in Buffalo and reportedly unable to keep up during this performance of “Have You Ever Loved a Woman?” Doubling down, when King sang the line ‘It’s a shame and a sin’, Clapton weighed in unnecessarily: “Don’t believe them! There’s no shame, there’s no sin…” a revealing moment for Clapton who was at the time secretly in love with Patti Boyd, then married to his friend George Harrison.
Capping off the show with “Little Queenie,” Clapton was now more incoherent and ready to end the night. Rambling during the Chuck Berry song, and apparently triggered by the repeat mentions of the Queen, Clapton said “Meanwhile, in Birmingham …. England, that is, not here, in Alabama …. they’re making Persian carpets … at 19,000 quid apiece … there’s only 10 Pakistanis here! They can’t be bad – who am I?”
photo by Watt Casey, Jr.
The next night in Jersey City was reportedly a somewhat better show for Eric Clapton, and likely The Band as well, with a recording available below that offers an idea of what the July 6 show sounded like. Rich Stadium has seen many more shows over the years, with Clapton setting the bar low for all to exceed in the years that followed.
Going To Brownsville*, Smile, Let It Grow, Hideaway**, Have You Ever Loved A Woman**, Tell The Truth, Willie And The Hand Jive, Get Ready, Steam Rollin’ Man, Little Wing, Blues Power, Presence of The Lord, Little Queenie, Crossroads * with Legs Larry Smith ** with Freddie King
Photos below are by Watt Casey Jr., who was working for Showco, this being his first show.
