Rees Shad and the Convo Combo and are returning to Caffe Lena on January 8th, 2021. Shad is no stranger to the Saratoga Springs club, in 1984 he did open mic nights there. The founder and namesake of Caffe Lena, Lena Spencer, is credited by Shad himself as being the foundation to the start of his career.
Manhattan native Rees Shad has a discography of over 30 albums. He worked for many years as a sideman and studio musician before releasing things of his own. His newest record One Glass at a Time will be performed at the show.
The Convo Combo features drummer Bobby Kay and bassist Jeff Link, who both come together to aid Shad to create a performance akin to that of live jazz, with their twist, providing classy ambiance to any nightclub.
Speaking of the new album, Shad is incredibly proud of the jazz-influenced record.
Taken incrementally, the stories from One Glass at a Time are crafted to resonate and intensify as the lyrics and melodies sink in. This might or might not be an overarching story…the listener might suspect it. The process should be interactive. I’m hoping to help lay the crumbs that they will want to follow…striving to light up listeners’ imaginations.
Rees Shad
Many critics have praised Shad and his music, the Boston Herald saying, “As loamy as 10 yards of Midwestern topsoil and his complex is a nest of small-town relationships … Unexpectedly literate & moving.” The Dallas Observer also had quite a bit to tell, “Unfair to describe this work in terms of another – it’s that personal, that complete, and that well done.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkr34GEuWZM
Rees Shad and the Convo Combo play a song.
Tickets to see Rees Shad and his Convo Combo live at Caffe Lena can be found here, with proof of vaccination required.
Inspiring Capital Region musician Athena Burke has recently released her new album, God is Here, on November 19. Produced by Devon Seegers, the album features eleven songs that address healing amid heartbreak and loss, and finding faith in something greater than what your eyes can see.
With a message celebrating the humble joys in life each day, Athena’s tender yet powerful vocals pair with deeply honest lyrics on an earthy and vulnerable electropop soundscape. Burke is honest about the human experience, saying:
No matter what you’ve done or what you believe, you are held in a love that is eternal, universal, and inclusive. God loves the oddballs and God wants to unite us, not divide us. A new era is dawning and although it is chaotic now, there’s a groundswell of unity pulsing in our world.
Athena Burke
Growing up, Athena was abused as a child, and found the piano as a bastion of harmony as a toddler. This led to her studies at Berklee College of Music, followed by street performing and concerts across the country. Inspired to heal her trauma, Athena trained in meditation, breathwork, and personal growth practices, and in wanting to give back, Athena has given thousands of spiritual guidance and healing sessions and performances worldwide.
Athena Burke sings honestly about the human experience of a devotional person. God is Here is not specifically Christian or derived from any specific religion, but rather about finding the divinity and love in everything, everywhere, in everyone, and every situation.
Athena has been featured on the PBS/WMHT AHA! A House of Arts TV show, as well as receiving extensive airplay on WEXT AND WEQX. She is a frequent performer at her local listening room in Cambridge, NY, The Depot.
Award-winning bluegrass band The Wooks embark on a tour in Spring 2022, bringing their traditional and unconventional form of bluegrass with them to New York. They’ll make stops at Funk n Waffles in downtown Syracuse, and the Jalopy Theater in Brooklyn this coming April.
The Wooks have established a distinctive sound through original songwriting, exceptional musicianship, and outside influences ranging from jam bands to Southern rock. Their third album, Flyin’ High, due out in February 2022, offers a refreshed lineup of the group, even though its members have been crossing paths with each other at music festivals for years.
Band member CJ Cain (guitar, vocals) started the duo in 2014 in Kentucky, with a lineup that now includes Harry Clark (mandolin, vocals), George Guthrie (banjo, vocals) and Allen Cooke (dobro), with the latter three musicians based in Nashville. Various bass players stay in rotation on the road, filling out the ensemble’s driving sound.
Love songs that stand-the-test-of-time tend to come from unlikely origin stories, and until The Wooks’ founder CJ Cain wrote the song “Flyin’ High,” not one of them has been inspired by the crash landing of a buddy’s World War I bi-plane. The resulting tune is a story of two different couples, real folks from the small town of West Liberty, Kentucky, where Cain’s father grew up, that falls somewhere perfectly between the sound of The Band, Van Morrison, and The Wooks’ ever-evolving signature style.
He had bought this plane at a good price and would soon find out why. He lost oil pressure and had to take her down in front of his family who had gathered in the yard to watch him buzz the farm. Luckily he made it out.
CJ Cain
Rather than repeating the formal studio experiences for past albums, The Wook recorded Flyin’ High over two sessions in Nashville in the home studio of bluegrass guitarist Jake Stargel. As a producer, he brought an easygoing vibe as well as acoustic expertise to the project, which is the band’s first full-length album since the fall of 2018. After Tony Rice’s death in December 2020, Cain wanted to honor his legacy in some way, so he cold-called Bill Wolf to see if he would master the album. Wolf wrote back, asking to hear it – and then elevated Flyin’ High to the next level.
While their origin stories are diverse, all four members of The Wooks have forged a common bond that honors individuality and innovation. But with minimal shows to road-test the material on Flyin’ High, Cooke speaks for the band when he says he’s eager for fans to discover these new songs—on the album as well as the stage. “This band is definitely not a band that is set on keeping things to the way they sounded on the record,” he says. “We’re all about keeping these songs fresh and new-sounding as shows go on.
The Wooks are ambassadors for Can’d Aid, a nationally recognized nonprofit that rallies volunteers from all walks of life to build thriving communities; through their work with Can’d Aid, they’ve performed and donated instruments to schools and underserved youth.
The Wooks 2022 Tour Dates
2/24 – Louisville, KY – Zanzabar 2/25 – Huntington, WV – The Loud 2/26 – Lexington, KY – The Burl 3/1 – Atlanta, GA – Eddie’s Attic 3/2 – Birmingham, AL – The Nick 3/4 – Asheville, NC – Isis Music Hall 3/5 – Nashville, TN – Station Inn 3/9 – Awendaw, SC – Awendaw Green 3/10 – Raleigh, NC – Pour House 3/12 – Roanoke, VA – Martin’s St Patty’s Street Fair 3/13 – Richmond, VA – The Camel 3/16 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern 3/17 – Washington DC – Pearl Street Warehouse 3/18 – Farmville, VA – North Street Press Club 3/19 – Round Hill, VA – B Chord Brewing 3/30 – Ferndale, MI – Otus Supply 4/1 – Newport, KY – Southgate Revival House 4/2 – Morgantown, WV – 123 Pleasant 4/5 – Syracuse, NY – Funk n Waffles 4/7 – New Haven, CT – Cafe Nine 4/8 – Boston, MA – The Burren 4/9 – New York, NY – Jalopy Theater 4/10 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Saint 4/13 – Philadelphia, PA – City Winery 4/14 – Lancaster, PA – Zoetropolis 4/15 – Grove City, PA – Big Rail Brewing 4/16 – Thomas, WV – The Purple Fiddle
Albany’s Empire Live was sold out on Friday, December 17 for The Front Bottoms, Opening act Sydney Sprague was accompanied by her Jazzmaster, and started the show with a solo set that highlighted her singer/songwriter style. Sprague sang a few songs from her new album maybe i will see you at the end of the world, including ‘object permanence,’ ‘quitter,’ and ‘steve.’ Check out Sydney’s site for her future tour dates.
The Front Bottoms came out to a crowd ready to sing the words to every song of the set. Their set featured a range of songs across their discography, and had fans, both new and old, shouting at the tops of their lungs. The Front Bottoms started their set with tracks off of their newest album, ‘In Sickness & In Flames’ and their EP ‘Rose’ before playing through their debut self-titled album in its entirety. The crowd’s energy continued to build throughout the night, and only accelerated as the end approached.
The Front Bottoms left the stage and the crowd began cheering for an encore just a second later. The band got back on stage a minute later to find a crowd that had been pent up a minute too long, and the show erupted to the tune of Tie Dye Dragon and Twin Size Mattress. A wave of energy left the stage and everyone from the guardrail to the bar was moving, shouting, and contributing to the chaos. Fan after fan took their turns crowd surfing as the final minutes of set stretched out and The Front Bottoms played themselves out.
The Front Bottoms are finishing the last leg of their tour, but you can keep up to date with any future show on their site, and can hear their music on YouTube.
Setlist: Leaf Pile, Vacation Town, West Virginia, Montgomery Forever, Love at First Sight, Awkward Conversations, Jim Bogart, Peach, Cough it Out, Flashlight, Maps, Looking Like You Just Woke Up, Mountain, Rhode Island, The Beers, Father, Swimming Pool, The Boredom Is The Reason I Started Swimming. It’s Also The Reason I Started Sinking, Bathtub, Legit Tattoo Gun, Hooped Earrings Encore: Tie Dye Dragon, Twin Size Mattress
Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon brought their acoustic duo tour to Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on Wednesday December 15. The venue has been a sought after performance destination by various artists since the 20th century. The original padded wooden seats help absorb a layer of sound. Listeners in even the deepest seats hear the effect of the entire room. Leo & Mikes acoustic bass and guitars resonated just right into acoustic ear candy at the performance on the Hudson.
Photo by Dave Decrescente
The visual and historic appeal of the Hall must not be overlooked in any discussion of its acoustic character. The ear and the eye are inseparable in the concert-going experience in Troy. The room with equivalent acoustics could not sound as good without also being visually vibrant.
Mike Gordon took note of the Hall’s history on his Instagram by saying
Classical performers consider this room to have the best acoustics in the country. I can’t believe I get to share a chair with Leo Kottke to play in it tonight. Heavenly.
Mike Gordon
Photo by Dave Decrescente
There is even a black and white shot of Leo on the Halls walls from 1996 along side all the other great performers to grace the stage. Leo took lead on alot of the numbers through out the evening. Mike had the best seat in the house next to Kottke as he listened with audience to his various tales coming off the band stand. Mike did jump in front for a cover of Hank Williams Jr “Old Habits”.
I hope you don’t mind how lost I am. I’m just having a real good time up here.
Leo told the crowd of American modernist composer Charles Ives and his struggles to get his work out. Overtime he hired Burlesque dancers to enhance attention on his Concord Sinata 2. After becoming acknowledged for his work someone told Ives over time… “I can tell it’s good music but it doesn’t sound very good” Ive’s reply:
Whats sound got to do with music?
Charles Ives
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Leo also read a passage of Sunday Morning by Wallace Stevens to the Troy Music Hall crowd.
All Pleasures and all Pains, remembering the bough of summer and the winter branch. These are the measures destined for her soul
Wallace Stevens
Photo by Dave Decrescente
The duo covered a lot of material from their 2020 Album Noon. They also brought the crowd back to their first album collaboration Clone by performing “From Pizza Towers To Defeat” In true Leo fashion the duo sat through the encore so that “we could all leave the room at the same time” They finished with “Invisible” off their Sixty Six Steps album.
The duo truly gave a history lesson on the shores of the Hudson. They split the bill down the middle in Troy for an evening of composition, and improvisation. The live performance that unfolds in front of you is credited it to the moment that we all can share in before leaving the room at the same time. The tour concludes in Plattsburgh’s Strand Theater on Sunday December 18 2021. The venue is 2.5 miles from where Mike performed at the Cilfford Ball in 1996.
Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, December 15 2021:
Set List: Rings, Living in the Country, Tiny Island, Old Habits, The Last Steam Engine Train, Airproofing, Ojo, You are My Flower, Twice, Flat Top, From Pizza Towers to Defeat, Invisible
Don McLean is set to embark on his 2022 50th Anniversary Tour celebrating “American Pie,” with 20 additional cities throughout the United States and Canada. A Grammy award honoree, Songwriters Hall of Fame member, and BBC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, McLean will entertain fans across America throughout nearly 30 cities from Honolulu to Toronto and everything in between, including stops in Albany at The Egg, and Town Hall in Manhattan.
As tragic as the backstory behind the song “American Pie” is with the much too early death of the new rock’n’roll-hope Buddy Holly, the track is also magnificent and legendary. “American Pie” still goes to heart as soon as originator Don McLean plays this classic at his concerts. But the 76-year-old McLean has numerous other hits, including “Vincent (Starry Starry Night),” “Castles in the Air,” “And I Love You So,” and “Cryin’,” all of which will be heard and reveled in along with newer pieces on the upcoming tour.
After spending the past 18 months at home, I am thrilled to be getting back on the road with my band. 2022 marks the 50th anniversary from when American Pie landed at the #1 spot on the Billboard chart and we will be celebrating on tour all year long. We will be performing all the songs from the American Pie album plus many of the other hits that fans will be expecting to hear.
Don McLean
The eight-and-a-half-minute ballad “American Pie” has been making history since its release in 1971, leading to the song being voted “Song of the 20th Century,” alongside songs by Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Woody Guthrie, and Aretha Franklin. The handwritten lyrics to the song were auctioned off for more than $1.2 million in 2015, and the composition was added to the Library Of Congress National Recording Registry two years later.
Over the years, the song has been covered again and again by music icons like Madonna and Garth Brooks. Rapper Drake repeatedly sampled McLean tunes and hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur also cited him as an important influence.
In 2018, Don McLean released his 19th studio album, Botanical Gardens, which received rave reviews. Songs from it subsequently proved themselves in a live setting may find their way into the setlist next year, alongside “American Pie” and many others. Tickets for the upcoming tour are available now.
Don McLean 2022 North American Dates
Jan. 28-30 – Honolulu, HI @ Blue Note Hawaii Feb. 3 – Clear Lake, IA @ Surf Ballroom Feb. 5 – Grand Forks, ND @ Chester Fritz Auditorium Feb. 11 – The Villages, FL @ Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center Feb. 12 – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL @ Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Feb. 14-18 – Port Canaveral, FL @ Rock Legends Cruise Feb. 19 – Clearwater, FL @ Bilheimer Capitol Theatre Feb. 24 – Tucson, AZ @ Fox Tucson Theatre April 29 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater May 1 – Indianapolis, IN @ Clowes Memorial Hall May 7 – Toronto, Canada @ John W H Bassett Theatre May 12 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium May 13 – Atlanta, GA @ Atlanta Symphony Hall May 19 – St. Louis, MO @ Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center May 20 – Springfield, MO @ Gillioz Theatre June 2 – Albany, NY @ The Egg June 3 – Boston, MA @ Shubert Theatre June 4 – New York, NY @ Town Hall June 11 – Baltimore, MD @ the Lyric June 12 – Tysons, VA @ Capital One Hall June 17 – Grand Rapids, MI @ DeVos Performance Hall June 18 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Pabst Theater June 24 – San Antonio, TX @ Tobin Center for the Performing Arts June 25 – Houston, TX @ Cullen Performance Hall June 26 – Austin, TX @ Paramount Theatre July 7 – Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre July 8 – Grand Junction, CO @ the Avalon Theatre July 9 – Phoenix, AZ @ Orpheum Theatre
Don McLean 2022 European Dates:
Sept. 11 – Cardiff, U.K. @ St. Davids Sept. 13 – Ipswich, U.K. @ Ipswich Regent Theatre Sept. 14 – Birmingham, U.K. @ Symphony Hall Sept. 16 – Bath, U.K. @ The Forum Sept. 17 – Torquay, U.K. @ Princess Theatre Sept. 18 – Bournemouth, U.K. @ Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre Sept. 20 – Brighton, U.K. @ Brighton Dome Concert Hall Sept. 21 – Southend-on-sea, U.K. @ Cliffs Pavilion Sept. 23 – Manchester, U.K. @ Bridgewater Hall Sept. 24 – Gateshead, U.K. @ Sage Gateshead Sept. 25 – Glasgow, U.K. @ The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Sept. 27 – Edinburgh, U.K. @ Usher Hall Sept. 28 – York, U.K. @ York Barbican Sept. 30 – Leicester, U.K. @ De Montfort Hall Oct. 1 – Sheffield, U.K. @ City Hall Oct. 2 – Liverpool, U.K. @ Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Oct. 4 – London, U.K. @ London Palladium Oct. 7 – Dublin, Ireland @ 3Arena Oct. 9 – Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Concertgebouw de Vereeniging Oct. 10 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Koninklijk Theater Carré Oct. 14 – Bergen, Norway @ Peer Gynt Salen Oct. 15 – Stavanger, Norway @ Stavanger Kuppelhallen Oct. 16 – Oslo, Norway @ Sentrum Scene Oct. 18 – Göteborg, Sweden @ Lorensbergsteatern Oct. 20 – Turku, Finland @ Logomo Oct. 21 – Helsinki, Finland @ Kulttuuritalo Oct. 23 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Göta Lejon Oct. 24 – Malmö, Sweden @ Palladium Oct. 25 – Greve, Denmark @ Portalen Oct. 27 – Hamburg, Germany @ Fabrik Oct. 28 – Neuruppin, Germany @ Kulturkirche Oct. 29 – Berlin, Germany @ Admiralspalast Nov. 1 – Antwerp, Belgium @ De Singel Nov. 11 – Munich, Germany @ Prinzregententheater Nov.13 – Linz, Austria @ Posthof
Rolling Stone’s “new folk-rock heroes” Mt Joy stopped in Buffalo for their Fall 2021 tour on December 6.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Amy Allen opened up the show at Asbury Hall with eloquent vocals paired with her emo song writing skills. Her past work writing alongside Harry Styles, Halsey, and more has built her reputation, but her additional ability to captivate the crowd stood out greatly. She performed a couple of her hits such as “Tom Brady,” and “A Woman’s World.” Allen and her guitarist Griffin were the perfect duo for creating the appropriate ambience before Mt. Joy took the stage.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
From the back of the pit to the sides of the balcony had so many people pumped for Mt. Joy. Even Buffalo Bills fans came out during game day to see the folklore legends. The energy for the Bills transcended across the band members and the crowd while chants spread through the venue. Mt. Joy consists of members Matt Quinn (singer/guitarist), Sam Cooper (guitarist), Michael Byrnes (bassist), Sotiris Eliopoulos (drummer), and Jackie Miclau (keyboardist).
The group got together for their iconic sophomore album Rearrange Us which gave them major breakthroughs and achieved new records. Their new work had high expectations following their 2018 masterpiece, but it did not disappoint. Crowd favorites proved to be “Acrobats,” “Let Loose,” and “Strangers.” These newer works brought a sense of psychedelic reflection to Quinn’s poetic words.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Mt. Joy still goes back to their folk-stomp roots though with singles “Sheep,” and “Jenny Jenkins.” These classics create an atmosphere that is particularly resonate with the youth in an age of chasing one’s dreams while simultaneously adjusting to the turbulence of getting older. Of course, this group finished off the night with their #1 hit on the AAA Radio Charts, “Silver Lining.”
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Make sure to check out upcoming shows at Asbury Hall at Babeville Buffalo. Tig Notaro takes over the venue on January 15 and Brian Fallon performs on January 16.
Setlist: Acrobats, Strangers, I’m Your Wreck, Let Loose, Phenomenon, Sheep, Jenny Jenkins, Lemon Tree, Cardinal, Astrovan, Mt. Joy, Every Holiday, Evergreen, Julia
The Bearsville Theater put the spotlight on one of Woodstock’s most famous couples, legendary musician John Sebastian and his photographer wife Catherine, at a joint all-star concert/art opening on Friday, December 3.
The concert and the photo exhibit provided a look back at the many famous musicians, like Fred Neil, Tim Hardin and Sebastian himself, who cut their teeth in the folk and jug band scene of Greenwich Village in the ‘60s before migrating to Woodstock.
Fritz Richmond, Paul Rishell, James Wormworth, Annie Raines, John Sebastian & Jimmy Vivino. Group shot during rehearsal for an appearance at the “Late Nite with Conan O’Brian” show
The evening kicked-off with an introduction to the two dozen photos in the exhibit “Catherine Sebastian at Bearsville: The Jug Band Years.” A star in her own right, Catherine’s work has graced album, book and magazine covers featuring Pete Seeger, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Mick Jagger, Kathy Valentine (of The Go-Go’s), Lady Gaga, Debbie Harry, Dr. John, Paul Butterfield, Edina Menzel, Levon Helm and the RCO All-Stars and many more.
The photos date from the ‘60s through today, with many featuring John and his musical cohorts from the J-Band, a jug band formed in the ‘90s which has included Fritz Richmond, Yank Rachell, Jimmy Vivino, Paul Rishell, Annie Raines and other notables. The collection boast many classic shots of Sebastian with Tim Hardin, Happy Traum, Fred Neil, Paul Butterfield and even his father John, who was an internationally renowned harmonica virtuoso in the classical idiom. Also featured are shots of Sebastian’s J-Band in performance, at the Bearsville Theater in 1994, on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and more. Not to be missed is a shot of John inside his famous tie-dyed tent in Laurel Canyon. This is where he learned to craft the colorful fashions for the jeans and jeans jacket he wore at Woodstock ‘69. Framed and unframed prints are available for purchase at the Bearsville Theater and their website,
Annie Raines
98-8 frame 25 John Sebastian and Annie raines
Immediately before the concert commenced, John, Catherine and the musicians headed outside where Bearsville impresario Lizzie Van dedicated the recently rebuilt back porch, “The John Sebastian & Fred Neil Deck.”
“When Lizzie said she wanted to name a part of the space after Fred and me, I was kind of puzzled as to where it would be,” laughed Sebastian. “When she said it was going to be the porch, I said ‘ that’s perfect.’ Because if me and Fred were going be anywhere it would be out on the porch… smoking something we probably shouldn’t be smoking!”
The concert that followed had the intimate and casual feeling of a living room session, with Sebastian greeting the hometown audience with a boisterous “Good evening, my town.” He began solo with a few selections from Fred Neil, with whom he recorded and toured for two years before forming the Lovin’ Spoonful. The highlight here was his ambling version of “Other Side of This Life” from Neil’s classic 1965 debut album, “Bleecker and McDougal.”
Sebastian then turned his tales and musical talents to another friend, Tim Hardin. Sebastian lovingly joked: “Timmy was really not the cuddly guy who wrote Misty Roses. But the coolest guy of all of us, someone best known by listening to his early nasty tunes!” Sebastian followed with a solo performance of one of these, the knotty blues You Got A Reputation. He then brought on longtime J-Band member, Paul Rishell, for a solo on one of Hardin’s most covered compositions, “Reason to Believe.”
Sebastian’s cohorts in the J-Band and another aggregation, The Black Italians, then came to the stage. Guitarist Jimmy Vivino and the always smiling drummer/washboard whiz James Wormworth, joined by Lovin’ Spoonful bass man Steve Boone, partook a spirited run through the Lovin’ Spoonful’s Lovin You. Next up came another Woodstock legend, Cindy Cashdollar, who added her slithering, bluesy dobro runs to another nugget from early in John’s career, The Even Dozen Jug Band’s All Worn Out.
The energy was upped when another harmonica virtuoso, Annie Raines, joined for Sebastian’s Jug Band Music and You’ve Been A Good Old Wagon But You’ve Done Broke Down. The latter is a blues composed in 1895 and popularized in the 1920s by Bessie Smith, to which Raines added wailing harp and throaty vocals.
After a trip through the traditional Fair Thee Well and Jimmie Rodgers’ Miss the Mississippi and You, blues great Joe Louis Walker came onstage for a high-energy romp through Viola Lee Blues, with Sebastian on harp. John’s playing proved his mastery of the blues’ most portable instrument, and why he has been called upon to play it on classic tunes by the likes of Crosby Stills and Nash, The Doors and many others. His still stellar chops were further evidenced on the following, a two-harp duet with the equally fierce Raines.
Sebastian saluted important friends and mentors, the blues greats Sleepy John Estes and Yank Rachell, with soulful covers of their Milk Cow Blues (Leaving Trunk) and Tap That Thing respectively, with the latter featuring contributions on the jug and stage banter from John’s son Ben. Sebastian also performed the wonderful jazzy ballad to a love lost, My Passing Fantasy, from his 2014 duet disc with David Grisman. He then donned a harmonica holder and banjo to round out the set taking the all-star band through a rollicking rendition of K.C. Moan, a 1929 classic from the Memphis Jug Band.
After a well-deserved standing ovation, Sebastian and crew returned to perform two of his best loved Lovin’ Spoonful hits, Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind and You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice. With Cashdollar’s swirling dobro, Vivino’s smooth guitar licks and Wormworth’s percolating washboard and ever-present smile, these tunes sent John’s audience off into the wintery Woodstock night winter with very warm feelings indeed.
The Egg was packed this past Wednesday, December 1st, for two legendary groups: The Midnight Ramble Band and Hot Tuna. Fans of both groups were present and full of energy from the moment The Ramble Band took the stage. Throughout the night, these concert-goers cheered on what proved to be a clinic in musicianship.
(Pictured left to right: Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, Amy Helm, and Jim Weider)
There’s a reason most bands have three to five members: because it’s really freakin’ hard to play in large groups. The Ramble Band’s ten members, however, made it look easy. This ensemble had no defined leader, and the crowd’s attention was masterfully directed all over the stage. It seemed as though each and every song featured a different band member taking over lead vocals, while different groups of instruments took the spotlight during breakdowns.
Larry and Jim led the way on guitar while Adam and Tony kept the groove going on bass and drums. Their parts were punctuated by the horn section, who left plenty of room for Amy and Teresa to steal the show with their powerful vocal performances. The crowd appreciated The Ramble Band’s high energy set that showcased each member’s raw talent.
(Pictured left to right: Brian Mitchell, Larry Campbell, Teresa WIlliams, Steven Bernstein, Erik Lawrence, Jay Collins, Amy Helm, Adam Minkoff, Jim Weider, and Tony Leone)
The Midnight Ramble Band and its members can be seen performing at Levon Helm Studios – Woodstock, NY, and across the country. Check out their future shows here.
(Jack Casady: bass, Justin Guip: drums, Jorma Kaukonen: guitar/vocals)
After The Midnight Ramble Band, Hot Tuna took the stage, and the blues rock trio picked up right where the big band left off. Jorma and Jack have been playing together since they were teenagers, and both went on to join Jefferson Airplane in 1965. This close connection was evident from the start of the set as the duo locked into their groove.
The crowd peppered the show with shouts of “WOO!” and “HOT TUNA!” throughout the night as Jorma and Jack showed The Egg just how sharp they are. The duo played through their set with strong intention; Jack’s grooves were full of space, and Jorma’s licks followed suit. Their music seemed to breathe while notes were held, ringing out, allowing their tones to fully develop. By the end of the night there was no question about the fact that Hot Tuna and The Egg are a perfect match.
Hot Tuna are closing out the Northeast leg of their tour on Dec. 4 at The Capitol Theatre, then Dec. 5 at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ, then finally on Dec. 7 at Carnegie of Homestead Music – Munhall, PA. For all dates, visit their website.
Brooklyn-based folk-pop duo, Late Night Thoughts’ new EP Bridges & Tunnels, including their hit single “Sacrifice,” released earlier last month. The duo like to describe their unique sound as “home-grown pop” evolving from just two classmates in a songwriting course in college, to blessing us with their third EP.
Embodying a singer-songwriter feel, each song is undeniably earnest, opening an intimate dialogue between both artists and their audience. Warm, thick vocal harmonies consistently present themselves across the record, mixed with groovy acoustic guitar strumming and sincere messages. This time we hear a more polished, mature sound from the two artists, now with the utmost potential after amassing over 3 million streams for their first two EPs.
Every facet of our being has taken a giant leap forward, from the clothes we wear to the videos we make and the music itself. This EP will take you on a journey through what life has been like for us as young adults trying to live out our dreams while struggling with our fears and holding on to love
Late Night Thoughts
An all new sound has debuted on Bridges & Tunnels especially listening to “Faith” where Late Nights Thoughts’ transition to a ballad format execute their message in a more fitting form. The sheer rawness of their lyrics with minimal instrumentation somehow tugs on our heart strings just a little harder. Brian Rauch’s ability to encapsulate the struggles of a long distance relationship makes us think that he may have just read our mind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frjCfaNFvlw
The piano power ballad “analyzes the struggle of a long distance relationship,” according to the band. “It was influenced by a time in one of our relationships when long distance seemed like it was an impossible hurdle to climb, despite the love being so strong.” Rauch’s silky voice over Harlow’s piano makes you feel like it’s just you and the artists.
Mifflin Street Music produced the confidence boosting “Get Back Up” encouraging us to preserve through dark times through a catchy hook releasing a powerhouse chorus of “Push me down I’ll get back up, I always do/My motivation is strengthened by every bruise.” You can find the perfect blend of upbeat classic foot-tapping classics to more somber tracks with serious notes, the EP as a whole is meant to encapsulate a journey.
Brian Rauch serenades us enunciating the countless uphill battles that a relationship may take you on like “Love Ain’t Cheap”. Michael Harlow gives us his signature syncopated groove on guitar and we can’t help be be engrossed in dance. A type of song that will make you uncontrollably break out with some embarrassing dance moves hoping nobody will watch you.
Late Night Thoughts true secret sauce lies in their vulnerable songwriting. Yes, their songs will make you burst out in dance and sing your heart out, but when taking a closer listen one might be amazed in what and how LNT is able to describe the many journeys we take in life. “Inches” is a good representation of their ability to illustrate crucial memories through lyric and song: “It’s giving and taking/ I’ll make it my mission for more than an instant/ For minute by minute/ We take it by inches.“
These 5 tracks present LNT as comfortable with their audience and happy to share their introspective ideas. Listeners may take an enduring walk through the EP to discover something new about themselves, but should not be afraid because you can always confide with Late Night Thoughts.
