On November 18th, Jinjer from Donetsk took over Anthology in Rochester with All Hail the Yeti from Los Angles, California, and Suicide Silence from Riverside, Californa. Opening the show was All Hail The Yeti with their unique hardcore metal hybrid sound. Anthology has been host to many touring acts, along with unique local shows. Their first album debuted in 2012 with their self-titled album and have since come out with three more after.
The All Hail The Yeti stage setup was a little more unusual than what you would typically see, they had flickering candles, mic stands decorated in leafs, and in front of the singer Connor Garritty was a big display with flowers, banner, and a light up skull. They started off the show with good energy and got the crowd pumped up.
Next up was Suicide Silence and brought the energy to the next level. Since their debut in 2002, Suicide Silence has been a power house in their genre with 6 studio albums under their belt. The reaction from the crowd as Suicide Sillence took the stage was loud as the band themselves. During their set, the front man, Hernan “Eddie” Hermida made a shout out to the band’s previous singer Mitch Lucker, who was the original singer but sadly died in 2012. It wouldn’t be a Suicide Silence set without a wall of death and when Hernan asked for one, the crowd delivered.
Finally, we have what many of the people came out for and that’s Jinjer, who is a Ukrainian metalcore band. Along with Jinjers great performance, their set was accompanied with many lights and a video wall, it was a sight to see. For a weekday show, the turn out was incredible, always great to see a sea of people supporting these shows and venues, and there’s many more to come, just check out Anthology or Rochester Entertainment Events.
Keller Williams has been flowing through the Southern Tier for nearly twenty years. His first Ithaca appearance at The Haunt in April, 2002 included all the elements that has seen him earn the nickname “the one-man jam-band.” Some first heard of “K Dubb” on, K-Rock’s Sunday Night Jam Session, as an on air winner for entry to his various Central New York shows. When he played inside Ithaca College in November, 2004 while running late from Oswego, we had to rely on a Savoy Truffle ninja inside the lecture hall. She was stealth enough to provide some bracelets to gain entry to Williams performance.
I can silently sneak through your halls…I’m a ninja.
His November, 2021 performance at, Homer Center for the Arts, in Homer, New York saw everything come full-circle as Keller laid down two sets of blended covers. The semi seated audience cheered on as Keller brought a Rodney Dangerfield “Back to School” humor to the room. Keller also did a cover of “Back of the Bus” off of G Love’s 2004 alternative hip-hop record, The Hustle. Rhyming,
Get your ass out of bed, Cause you know the bus is coming, If you miss the damn bus well you better start running.
When The Grateful Dead bus came by to a teenage Keller Williams in 1987 he jumped on board for every tour with them until 1993. Bob Weirs words must have resonated in Keller…
It trembled and exploded, left a bus stop in its place. The bus came by and I got on, that’s when it all began.
From 1993 until 2002 Keller crafted an original song book that he weaves in to his sets today. His performances in now defunct rooms like, The Haunt and Terrapin Crossroads have now closed become legendary. His vitality and all-around quality shows inspired Central New York’s John McConnell to add a full looping rig to his acoustic one man show after seeing his 2004 Ithaca performance.
Peach Fest 2015
Not to worry Keller still shared the same “Cumberland Blues” the ‘Dead had in his 2002 set at the Haunt. The Homer Center for The Arts was no different as he treated the crowd to a magical rendition of “Terrapin Station” on the grand piano. Further south down route 81 in Scranton Keller’s, Grateful Grass, project shared the Peach Festival stage with Bob Weir in 2015. In similar fashion Keller invited Floodwood’s mandolinist Jason Barady to the stage for a Grateful Dead classic that really is truer than you think, The duo educated the crowd that “The Women Are Smarter” to close the show at the Center in 2021.
One of the most exciting things about witnessing Williams perform his magic live is the way the audience gets a “backstage” view of the musical production process. While seasoned fans may know right off the bat which song he has begun to piece together, the rest of the crowd can enjoy the pleasure of listening to the slow build-up of the song as he plays, records, and loops live on stage. Waiting for that moment of recognition as he drops a familiar beat or lyric.
If you are a fan of live music, dancing, feeling like you are a part of a live show, or rugs that really tie the stage together, man, do yourself a favor and buy a ticket next time Keller Williams graces Little Rock with his presence. Little Rock? Wait that’s farther south than the Southern tier. The past two paragraphs are credited to Central New York’s Erin Holland’s show review of Keller Williams at Revolution Music Room in Little Rock for The Arkansas Times in 2013. That’s right the women are smarter. The women are smarter, that’s right.
Scottish synth-pop trio Chvrches returned to New York this weekend with two sold out shows at Manhattan’s Terminal 5. The band is in the midst of a North American tour in support of Screen Violence, their fourth LP and first on Glassnote records. NYS Music was there to catch the first night on Friday, November 26th.
Lauren Mayberry of Chvrches at Terminal 5, 11/26/21 – Photo by Buscar Photo
One week before Chvrches’ opening night at Terminal 5, the band announced that multi-instrumentalist Iain Cook tested positive for COVID-19. Instead of postponing any shows, the band was poised to have touring and studio tech Dave Simpson as well as Lo Moon guitarist Sam Stewart step in and fill Iain’s shoes for the shows in Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburg and Columbus. Iain was able to make his comeback to Chvrches for the New York shows, receiving copious “We Miss You Iain!” chants from the crowd throughout the night.
Screen Violence single “How Not To Drown,” featured The Cure’s Robert Smith. Via YouTube
Screen Violence was released back in August but the band recently issued the expanded Screen Violence: Director’s Cut last month featuring three bonus tracks. The tour continues with a handful of east coast dates before heading west, including a show at Las Vegas’ Brooklyn Bowl on December 11th. The tour concludes a week later with a final show at the Hollywood Palladium.
On Friday, November 26th, 2021, Vermont jam act Twiddle celebrated “Frendsgiving” (the day after Thanksgiving) with a rich and impressive display of their patented hi-def shredding for a nearly sold-out Capitol Theatre venue in Port Chester, New York.
photo by Filip Zalewski
Formed in 2005, the quartet of Brook Jordan (drums), Zdenek Gubb (bass), Ryan Dempsey (Norb) (keys) and Mihali Savoulidis (guitar/vocals) have quickly ascending the ranks as one of the most buzzed about bands in the jam scene with the most popularity this side of Phish and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. With an infusion of jazz, classical, bluegrass, funk and a heavy dose of reggae-tinged jams, Twiddle is a unique experience. It may seem an impossibility that one state would be the home of two of the greatest jam bands in the country, but Vermont can currently boast just that. Twiddle fans are very active on the “iTwiddle” Facebook Group page, which serves as a gateway for information, tickets, discussion and show details. Twiddle is seemingly always touring and pleasing their fans with a massive summer festival circuit.
photo by Filip Zalewski
Since 2004, Mihali Savoulidis has consistently elevated Twiddle to unparalleled heights on the winds of his articulately nimble six-string sorcery, genre-bending essence, and soulful vocal eloquence. The Vermont band has headlined hallowed stages in front of sold-out audiences at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Capitol Theatre in addition to making show-stopping performances at Bonnaroo and Electric Forest and hosting their own annual Tumble Down Festival. Twiddle treats their fans with gratis live show recordings on archive.org. The band has released eight records thus far and specific critical acclaim was directed towards 2017’s Plump. The boys are also well-respected for their involvement in raising funds for their philanthropic White Lights Foundation. One can find info and merch at www.twiddlemusic.com including the most recent musical releases 10/28/21 Eugene and 10/24/21 Santa Clara!
The band has embarked on an ambitious tour this fall season with two stops at The Cap. A virtuoso, constantly showing off his songwriting prowess, Mihali has a refreshing and inspirational outlook on life and coined the phrase “relax and dream.” Having often been labeled by many as “the next Phish” for years, the band delivers a vastly different experience. The Vermont-based quartet held the last three Frendsgiving runs at the Port Chester, New York venue from 2017-2019, and each year has been chock full of surprises and epic sit-ins.
photo by Filip Zalewski
The show Friday night contained many highlights including at 8:08pm when noted troubadour and looping master, Keller Williams, took the stage for a subtle yet electrifying set which culminated with a spicy “Scarlet Begonias.’ Twiddle faced an eager and enthusiastic crowd at 9:34 and delved right into a racous “Zazu’s Flight.” The New Jersey-raised Mihali, dressed in a red tie-dyed outfit complete with tie-dyed sneakers, led the way with long and complex improvisational jams. He was like a knight in shining armor wearing a white hat. The fifteen minute high energy opener showcased each of the band member’s talents with numerous solos.
The music was buoyed by Dempsey’s intense fills and Jordan’s heavy hitting behind the kit. The crowd responded with adulation at the line “Damn I smoke a lot of weed!” The song segued into a tight “Doinkinbonk” and it was danceable until the music turned heavier with the offering of the fun, “Too Many Puppies” where Gubb took over the lead in a rare show of vocal force. There was an intense light show with lasers shooting out into the crowd at various angles and speeds. The crowd plowed through the old ditty “Amydst the Mydst” with authority playing like grizzled veterans as a cohesive unit. At times, Mihali proves to be the master of the axe and he explores new worlds using crescendo to create an effective musical peak. Keller walked out with his acoutisic, creating a fine mix with the band, for an intricate set closer of “Best Feeling.”
photo by Filip Zalewski
The classic song “Apples” opened the second set and delivered just the right tone as an impetus to get the crowd involved for another set of music. It was a lengthy inspired take on the band staple complete with a riff that was reminiscent of Phish’s “Contact.” One of the best songs on Plump is “Every Soul” and this crowd-pleasing version shared here didn’t disappoint. With Norb, adorning a hockey jersey, pounding hard on his five keyboards to lead the intense underlying groove of the tune. The crowd was in a frenzy at this point with the danceable interludes in full effect. Fan favorite and regarded by casual fans as their best song, “Lost in the Cold” ended the second set in a special way. One time child-prodigy, Brandon “Taz” Neiderauer, joined the fray on stage, trading guitar licks with Mihali as only he can adding an adrenaline rush to the proceedings. The reggae-soaked song hit a bouncing level of ecstasy for those in attendance and the band meshed well with Taz. He rejoined the boys for an electric “All Along the Watchtower” encore that would have made Hendrix proud. It was an apropos choice considering Dylan had just played the Cap 2 days before.
When asked about playing someday at the Cap in in 2014, Mihali told me, “The ultimate goal is to get the band to the next level and headline the Capitol Theatre. To get a chance to play at the Cap at some point is insane. It’s a legendary club.” Mihali had dreams and now he can relax knowing he has reached such a lofty goal. They have come a long way since 2004 when Mihali and Ryan were collaborating in their freshmen dorms at Castleton State College and then playing bars and people coming out to hear “Jamflowman” over a decade ago. Now they are bonafide superstars. Don’t forget to catch their New Years show in Worcester!
Twiddle ‘Frendsgiving’ – The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY – November 26, 2021
Set 1: Zazu’s Flight, Doinkinbonk!>Too Many Puppies>Keep Going, Amydst the Myst, Best Feeling1
Set 2: Apples > Every Soul > Apples, River Drift, The Box, Slippin’ In The Kitchen, Lost In The Cold2
Encore: All Along The Watchtower2
1 w/ Keller Williams 2 w/ Brandon “Taz” Niederauer
Twiddle ‘Frendsgiving’ – The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY – November 27, 2021 Set 1: Blueberry Tumble, GooBerry Jelly, Blueberry Tumble, Hattie’s Jam, When It Rains It Pours, Daydream Farmer1, Earned To Keep, Mildew Man, Stroganoff
Set 2: Complacent Race, Collective Pulse, The FRENDS Theme, Latin Tang, Tiny Dancer2, Brown Chicken Brown Cow3
Encore: Beethoven and Greene
1 Find Your Cloud tease 2 w/ Scott Hannay & Jake Brownstein (Eggy) 3 w/ Zazu’s Flight Reprise
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram brought his 662: Juke Joint Live (XXIX) tour to the Homer Center for the Arts on Tuesday, November 2. The 62nd annual Grammy awards just nominated the 662 from Alligator Records for Best Traditional Blues Album. Kingfish was in the Southern Tier over the summer with Robert Randolph who spoke with NYS Music at Jus Sum Jazz Lounge in Syracuse. Robert Randolph, who played the New York State Blues fest and Chenango Blues Fest with Kingfish, called the lounge a “Modern Day Juke Joint.”
Kingfish, Niagara Falls
The 22 year old natural blues man from Mississippi reminded everyone in the Empire State what his name is with “She Calls me Kingfish.” He then played his cut that has been dominating the B.B King’s blues satellite radio channel with “Fresh Out.” The studio track features Buddy Guy who has played The Experience Hendrix Tour at the Landmark Theater and the New York State Blues Fest. Kingfish has been interviewed by Sir Elton John during his Rocket Hour podcast. His music even got caught creeping with legendary funkadelic artist Bootsy Collins.
The highlight of the evening’s live performance occurred when Kingfish took his solo during “Too Young to Remember” from the stage into the center’s aisles up through the 2nd floor balcony and back to the bandstand for a 20-minute spectacle. He also quieted the room down with his acoustic play. “I don’t know where I came from or how i got this way, Well I can still hear Grandma saying child you’ve been here…here before.“
The songs off 662 are an homage to where Kingfish grew up. The area code in Northern Mississippi is 662 and Kingfish tells you that there is a church on every corner. Let’s prey that 662 makes its way into the 62nd Grammy awards. The 150 year old Baptist church turned music venue really was a perfect fit for his ensemble to play in rural Homer, New York.
The Hendrix tune appeared out of thin air during the encore of “Long Distance Woman” from the Grammy-nominated 662 album. Fish sang about life’s distance on the road from the lady that’s always too far apart. “My job keeps me rolling. I never stay in one city too long, being apart and missing your touch, it’s hard to keep a good thing strong.” Kingfish crosses the pond to Europe in 2022.
Steely Dan Closed their 2021 Absolutely Normal American Tour at the Syracuse Landmark Theater on Tuesday November 23. The fully renovated Landmark has reached its peak performance potential after this year’s final renovations of the seats and the legendary marquee that has been on Salina St since 1928.
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen’s musical concepts they first drafted up together in Brooklyn in 1968 still hits in today’s music world. Donald and Walter received honorary Berklee Degrees, four Grammy Awards and inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001
Steely Dan always brought the highest quality caliber of musicians to work on their catalog in the studio throughout the years. The musicians on the Landmark Theater stage were part of the unbroken chain of greats to contribute their voice on this music. Ana Popovic covered Steely Dan’s Night by Night at Homer Center for the Arts last month.
The band now boasts another all-star lineup: it includes Keith Carlock on drums; “Ready” Freddie Washington on bass; Jim Beard, keyboards; Jon Herington, guitar; Walt Weiskopf and Roger Rosenberg, saxes; Michael Leonhart, trumpet; Jim Pugh, trombone; and vocalists Carolyn Leonhart, Catherine Russell, LaTanya Hall and Cindy Mizelle.
The group just released Northeast Corridor celebrating their first live album since 1995. From the comfortable corridor of Rochester, NY drummer Steve Gadd was able to contribute on the iconic studio recording for the title track off “Aja” in 1977.
Fagen revealed that the song was inspired by a relative of someone he knew, who married a Korean woman by the name of Aja. He explained that the song was about the “tranquillity that can come of a quiet relationship with a beautiful woman.” When asked to play drums on this song Gadd was instructed “to play like hell”. He certainly did set the tone for any Drummer to take it on a live stage over the years. The song is a jazz fusion masterpiece and completely killed on the Landmark stage.
The Syracuse crowd got a funk composition tale about an old San Francisco audio artist and LSD chemist named Owsley Stanley. Becker and Fagen named him and the track “Kid Charlemagne” off their heavily illustrated Royal Scam Album. The life of Owsley was worth noting musically as he created the Grateful Dead’s infamous “Wall of Sound” for a tour of the world and supplied the Beatles with LSD during their Magical Mystery Tour recording. Nicknamed “Bear” you can still see his art spirit as the legendary “Dancing Bear” of The Grateful Dead brand. Peg…it will come back to you. you see it all in 3-D, its your favorite foreign movie
Reeling in all the years of this musics catalog was celebrated during the encore. Before playing the classic Fagen dedicated the song to the Landmarks newest legend. Not the Ghost of Clarissa who is said to be seen in the balcony but of a naked man who was found living inside the theater’s walls last month. “Did you hear about that? this song goes out to that guy” He thanked all of their legendary crew and stagehand that were part of the tour closing show in Syracuse. How appropriate for Donald to sing ahead of the holiday week… When Black Friday comes I’m gonna dig myself a hole, gonna lay down in it , Til I satisfy my soul.
Walter Becker, Donald Fagen
Donald Fagen has taken on a Ray Charles glow behind his shades in front of the piano still playing off this musical concept he founded in Brooklyn with Becker. Music to be played improvisational and in the moment on any given night. Donald told Variety magazine this year about his old band mate Walter Becker and their work…When Walter and I were together, I think there was something more journalistic.
Steely Dan – Landmark Theater, Syracuse New York – November 23, 2021 (Tour Finale)
Setlist: Phantom Riders, Night by Night, Hey Nineteen, Black Friday, Aja, Kid Charlemagne, FM, Time Out of My Mind, The Goodbye Look, Home at last, Dirty Work, Crusaders, Josie, Peg, Bodhisivattah, Encore: Reelin in the Years, A Man Aint supposed to Cry
Coming fresh off the heels of a Halloween show at Stephen Talk House in the Hamptons, Samantha Fish brought her band to Homer Center for the Arts in Homer, New York on November 3. They laid down some voodoo, bulletproof blues to the 150 year old brick Baptist venue with the center stage having taken on a Jimi Hendrix “Electric Church” vibe this season.
This past Summer Fish performed a festival with Eric Gales who just played the Center in October. Alongside Gales and fellow blues disciples Robert Cray, Ana Popovic, and Kingfish who played the night before her at the Electric Church this season. Fish covered new material from her 12th official album release Faster. She spoke to NYS music about her journey of playing New York State over the years. This tour included stops in Brooklyn, Amagansett, Buffalo, Homer, and Albany.
Samantha Fish spoke with Matthew Romano of NYS Music about her thoughts on performing across New York State:
I remember we did the Dinosaur BBQ circuit for a while. It was always fun, the food was so killer, and the room so intimate. It took on a Groundhog day like vibe after a while there because it always so great. We got the run of the gamut from Buffalo down to these towns like Homer all the way to New York City.
My memories of playing Manhattan always stick out. I remember how special it was playing The Cutting Room for the first time. A different energy around those days, with that pressure of getting through the city and to the gig on time. Ya know that New York expectation after the ticket to the show is bought…OK I have to win Ya’ll over now but it keeps you on your toes. I love playing New York.
We have great people out this way. Its more or less about the people…they travel from all over to see us. This is my third time playing here at Homer Center for the Arts. What I love about this venue is that it is a listening room. The audience gets quiet at the right times and really can feel the music the way we do. A place like this tonight is a warm welcome from start to finish.
The eighteen-song set featured Samantha killing the slide on the legendary cigar box guitar. A similar style model Paul McCartney slid on “Cut Me Some Slack” at Madison Square Garden with Nirvana on December 12, 2012. “Bulletproof” off her Kill or Be Kind record kicked some 12 bar blues to close the show out…You got me trained to sit on a stage Not show my rage for you You got my love, it’s not enough I need to prove it to you.
Fish invited Jonathon Long out for the encore for a spin of a 1937 delta blues song “Shake Em on Down” by Bukka White. The same year this song was released the cigar box guitar had a resurgence and was heavily played in the jug band and delta blues scene circuit. A much needed source of entertainment in trying times. In true jug band fashion fashion Long used the Homer stage mic as a slide to accent Fish’s guitar to help close the evening out. If you caught a glimpse of the Center’s stained glass windows fogged up at the end of the night you know why. Catch Fish before she heads across the pond to Europe in 2022.
Samantha Fish – Homer Center for the Arts, Homer, NY – November 3rd 2021
Setlist: Loud, All Ice No Whiskey, Twisted Ambition, Chills and Fever, Forever Together, Highway, Hypnotic, Better Be Lonely, Kill or Be Kind, Watch it Die, Solo acoustic X2, Go Home, Bitch on the Run, So Called Lover, Faster, Dreamgirl, Bulletproof
Fresh off the heels of another legendary Halloween performance in Vegas and two iconic shows in Hampton, Phish rolled into Albany for the second to last stop on their legendary Fall 1998 tour. It sees the band at the height of its powers, mixing in new, fresh material to go alongside a bevvy of cover songs that have been unearthed this year. With a rare one-night only appearance in Albany, Phish lets it all hang out in a show that often gets overlooked, but certainly shouldn’t be.
Tonight’s festivities begin with the signature guitar intro to “Punch You In The Eye,” which receives a giant roar of approval from the Pepsi Center. Page McConnell shines early with some stellar runs on both the electric keys and grand piano as the Gamehendge-adjacent number revs up an already rabid arena even further. At its conclusion, another familiar guitar riff emerges. This time it’s the bluesy intro to “My Soul,” a cover song Phish first started injecting into their live shows the year before. McConnell again dazzles with a ferocious piano solo before handing off to Trey Anastasio who returns the favor in kind and then some on guitar. Phish then eases off the gas pedal a bit with another new number, “Roggae,” one of the tracks from The Story Of The Ghost which was released just last month.
The musical setting then shifts back to Gamehendge with “AC/DC Bag.” Anastasio again takes the reigns on a patiently developing jam that gets plenty of noticeable assistance from Mike Gordon on bass and drives the crowd into a certified frenzy by the end. McConnell has a little fun on piano as well, stretching out the ending until Phish changes lanes once more and jumps into the increasingly rare “Lifeboy.”
Afterwards, Jon Fishman’s familiar hi-hat drumming signals the introduction to “David Bowie,” which is stretched out and teased beautifully before being cleared for launch. Phish then absolutely obliterates the song’s composed section, playing at a near manic pace, before embarking on a jam that serves as one of the show’s true highlights. It’s patiently crafted, with Anastasio and McConnell parrying back and forth early and often. As the jam continues to build in intensity, Phish does the same with the ending, stretching it out for all its worth to complete a 19-minute journey that blows the roof off the Albany arena.
Few would complain if the first set ended right there, but instead the band throws out one more change of pace pairing. Trey jumps on acoustic guitar for only the sixth ever “Sleep,” a song first debuted earlier this tour, and “Driver,” both songs that would be included on the band’s forthcoming 2000 release Farmhouse. To cap things off, Phish throws in a cover of Led Zepelin’s “Good Times, Bad Times,” with another incendiary guitar solo from Anastasio escorting the Albany faithful to set break.
After a little spacey ambiance, another familiar Fishman drum beat starts up set two. This time it’s “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” aka the theme to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Again, Phish takes their time in slowly building up the song’s introduction, going well past five minutes before the first signature guitar lick rings out. The jam that ensues is flavored by some tremendous Mike Gordon bass play before coming to a rousing finish. “Golgi Apparatus” serves as another throwback song to the days of yore and goes off without a hitch before they get into another jam vehicle, this time a cover of The Who’s “Drowned.”
As another whirlwind musical excursion slowly comes to an end, Anastasio quietly starts the beginning of “Prince Caspian” and the rest of the band quickly follows along. After another stout feedback-heavy guitar solo, the music comes to a crawl and then “Piper” emerges, with it’s now “classic” slow build which fits in perfectly with the show tonight. The slow build yields another manic jam, with McConnell furiously pounding away on the baby grand piano. With the Albany crowd once again supercharged, Phish then drops a “You Enjoy Myself” on them in what’s already a full second set of music.
The closing sequence for this show is straight out of 1998 and not one to be duplicated anytime soon. As “YEM” and its customarily eerie vocal jam concludes, instead of taking a bow, Phish bursts into “Been Caught Stealing,” the Jane’s Addiction song that made its debut earlier in year during the “Summer of Covers.” Until a certified bust out at Walnut Creek in 2011, this was the last one played. A rip roaring “Llama” then closes out the second set in fine fashion. For the encore, Phish breaks out yet another cover selection, this time its The Beatles’ “Something,” penned by George Harrison and covered by Phish only on this Fall 1998 tour. To date, it’s the last time it’s ever been performed. “Guyute,” another pick from the recently released Ghost, follows this before an a capella “Free Bird,” as only Phish can do, closes out yet another sterling Albany gig.
Listen to show at PhishTracks or see complete audio recording below.
Phish Pepsi Center – Albany, NY 11/25/98
Set 1: Punch You In The Eye > My Soul, Roggae, AC/DC Bag > Lifeboy, David Bowie, Sleep, Driver, Good Times Bad Times
Set 2: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Golgi Apparatus, Drowned->Prince Caspian > Piper, You Enjoy Myself, Been Caught Stealing > Llama
Cold played in the equally cold Niagara Falls on Monday November 22 at The Rapids Theater. Cold, comprised of Scooter Ward (lead vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Sam McCandless (drums, percussion), Lindsay Manfredi (bass, backing vocals), Nick Coyle (lead guitar, backing vocals), and Jonny Nova (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), brought with them Waiting For Eternity and Otherworldly Entity as the opening bands.
Cold has been on their current tour since September. and are coming to the end of their current tour with only a few shows left. The band performed 12 songs tonight including their hits “End of the World” and “Just Got Wicked.”
Cold – The Rapids Theater, Niagara Falls, NY – Monday, November 22
Setlist: Back Home, Happens All the Time, No One, When Angels Fly Away, End of the World, Another Pill, Ocean, A Different Kind of Pain, Just Got Wicked, Suffocate, Remedy, Bleed
Alexander 23 played a sold-out show at Webster Hall in New York City on Friday, November 19. Signing to Interscope records in 2019, the artist has quickly garnered a massive audience with his soft pop masterpieces. His debut single, “dirtyaf1s” instantly went viral and catapulted the artist to the top of streaming charts.
His knack for delicately layering airy vocals with unexpected instrumentals has not gone unnoticed. The artist has written and produced for fellow musicians, such as Role Model and mxmtoon. He also co-produced one of 2021’s biggest pop songs, “good 4 u”, performed by Olivia Rodrigo.
Despite the “Oh No, Not A Tour!”tour being his first-ever North American headline run, Alexander 23 commanded the stage with ease. Opening the show with “Cry Over Boys” off of his latest EP, Oh No, Not Again!, he instantly energized his young audience. As the night progressed, he played hits such as “girl”, “IDK You Yet”, and “Come Here and Leave Me Alone”.
Towards the end of his setlist, the artist took a moment to stray away from his releases and played a cover of Katy Perry’s hit single, “Teenage Dream”. The audience roared with approval and sang along so loudly that it became hard to hear Alexander 23’s vocals.
In between songs, the artist profusely expressed his gratitude for being able to make music and tour for a living. The crowd danced and sang along to each and every song, filling the room with the hallmark of a good concert — a light scent of sweat.
