Category: Regions

Hearing Aide: Exit Atlas “The Unknown”

The highly creative collaboration from Paul McArdle and Zack Brinn has welcomed a refreshing form of new alternative rock music to New York State. The duo operate as Exit Atlas just releasing their new record The Unknown. The writing, production, and instrumentation for the album were composed in the state and sent to Nashville for finishing touches. The two Canandaigua natives have been collaborating for twenty years. This project came to life in the past two years.

Paul McArdle has spent this time as a guitarist on the Nectars stage circuit scene of the Northeast and Austin, Texas. When Dopapod guitarist Rob Compa formed his solo project, he told NYS Music “Without exaggeration, Paul is one of my favorite guitar players ever, and a huge influence for me, so I’ve always wanted to put something together with him” Paul sat in with Dopapod for a killing cover of the Derek Trucks tune “Kickin Bach” at a special leap year show dated 2/29/20 at the sold out Anthology venue in Rochester, NY. Monroe County’s Steve Gadd told NYS Music the secret of any great gig: “If you can trust the audience is hearing it the way you are, it gets to a spiritual level. In Japan or wherever you are. That’s the goal.”

Dopapod, Paul McArdle, 2/29/20

Paul’s signature tone can be heard on acoustic and electric guitar for every track as part of Exit Atlas. It’s no wonder that Zack Brinn who wrote all the lyrics and handles vocals for The Unknown wanted to weave them with McArdle’s musical style. Zack also takes care of the bass lines, drums, keyboards, programming and synthesizers. Brinn sprinkled some Brian Eno-like ambient sound trails on certain numbers as well.

Zack’s vocal tones are reminiscent of Peter Gabriel from inside the studio. His lyrics on “Annual” also set a familiar vibe, “The autumn sun it falls behind hills and we can watch it go down from here, we are safe, we are home.”

The production on this album reflects the same quality credits as a Peter Gabriel record. Listen for the various textures placed inside “Rain Chant.” The ticking clock intro on “Your Job” immediately addresses the time sacrificing your real dreams for the often required conformity to the machine. The song’s music video has an animation concept that Roger Waters would appreciate.

The seize the day feeling is grasped by the duo from an “Old Park Bench”… “I don’t believe in luck we’re given a choice each new day… sitting here on this old park bench I sing it out like millions are with me. We’re gonna make it.“

The walk from the bench into the great wide open is captured on “Make Some Memories”. Zack’s words resonate, “Time to throw caution to the wind, we’re going on an adventure for the ages, don’t you have a worry about a thing, look around at all your friends waiting.” And very fitting for Halloween, “Did you think I couldn’t tell? Put that costume on the shelf.“

The title track to the The Unknown album starts the record full circle for you, “When the past is knocking on the door, the present comes collecting tolls. A bright future seems to come and go. It’s the only place to stake our hope.” Brinn’s vocals bounce off McArdle’s chilling riff like Chris Cornell on Soundgarden’s 1994 Superunknown album.

Paul McArdle and Zack Brinn told NYS Music the origin of the duo’s name came from the expression “To carry the weight of the world on one’s shoulders.” This comes from the Greek myth of Atlas as his sculpture represents. Exit Atlas new album is a way to help relieve the beast of burden for the unknown scenes that lie ahead for us all.

It’s clear during this record it’s a coming of season combination of the duo’s life and music from the past two decades. In similar style Peter Gabriel officially put out his Woodstock 94’ live set last year with Rochester’s Tony Levin on bass. He is releasing his first studio record since 2002 next year. Twenty years seems to be a good time frame to let great art come to its musical fruition.

Key Tracks: Your Job, The Unknown, Make Some Memories

October 14, 2021
2022 Hudson Jazz Festival Announces Dates

The 2022 Hudson Jazz Festival has announced dates and themes for its 2022 celebration. The festivities will take place across two weekends on February 10-13 & 17-20, 2022 at Hudson Hall in Hudson, 45 minutes south of Albany.

The Hudson Jazz Festival aims to give a voice to artists as they respond to transformative events in our nation’s history. This year’s festival will focus on Black History Month and will be using Lift Every Voice as its theme. Held over two weekends in February which is Black History Month the festivities will feature performances, art, film, spoken word and community events. The festival hopes to honor the spirit of the unofficial Black national anthem Lift Every Voice through its celebration creating a joyous and optimistic new era of hope for equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The festival will feature six performances that include some exceptional talents. The big names include Jazzmeia Horn who is a multi-GRAMMY-nominated singer and The Baylor Project who are a multi-GRAMMY-nominated duo, GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist/composer Jimmy Greene and his quartet, and spoken-word artist, activist and TONY-nominated actor Daniel J. Watts. Some of the rising stars who may not be as well known in the line up are vocalist Alexis Morrast and acclaimed vibraphonist Warren Wolf.

Tickets to the 2022 Hudson Jazz Festival start at $25. People who are 25 and under may pre-purchase single tickets for $15 each using the discount code UNDER25. Tickets are currently on sale for members of the Hudson Hall with sales to the public opening up Friday, October 15, 2021.

For more information on the 2022 Hudson Jazz Festival and on Hudson Hall visit their website.

October 14, 2021
Diggin’ Roots Festival Holds Incredible First Year
Tucked away in the hills of Coeyman’s Hollow, NY at Magic Forest Farm, artists, vendors, and fans alike came together for the first ever Diggin’ Roots Festival. Sugar Productions, Lyons Den Productions, and co-founder Koryn Shear put in countless hours, days, and months making this cozy little farm with a name to match a haven for the few hundred fans who would descend upon it.

The two-day festival started Friday evening with solo artist Matt Cosgrove covering plenty of 90’s rock hits and some amazing originals. Local Favorites, Raisinhead, were the first to grace the main stage with a few sit-ins from harmonica extraordinaire, Junebug. Ted Grey of Raisinhead stayed on stage for the next set as Quantum Cosmic came on, comprised of him and members of Annie in the Water, The Switch and the Reflexions. Last but surely not least, the Deadbeats rounded out the night with two hour long sets.

Saturday, music began at the crack of noon with the Token Locals. And no, not the heads just waking up from the night before. The wonderful Laura Leigh Band was on next. Laura and companions put on and amazingly whimsical and beautiful performance, setting a light mood for the remainder of the afternoon for Hilltop and the Lousy Slaughters.

As the day grew dark, local legends, the Wheel rolled out a classic set of Grateful Dead tunes before stepping aside for Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets. These two Captiol Region favorites have been playing here for many years, Dr. Jah looking at close to 30 years of incredible Reggae.

Hailing all the way from Harrisburg, PA, you might remember Yam Yam from their recent set at Alive at Five, Albany’s free summer concert series. Shane Spillinger of Sugar Productions noted how well they were received that night, making sure to bring them back for this festival. As the band came on stage the crowd chanted “Yam Yam! Yam Yam!” continuing, whether they liked it or not, after every song.

Long Island’s Baked Shrimp was the last band of the night, playing a quick hour set before giving way to Danish DJ David Maros who played deep into the night.

Their inaugural year was an absolute success and we at NYS Music hope there will be plenty more in the years to come as the new festival continues Diggin’ Roots.
October 14, 2021
Meet Stella Prince, The Hudson Valley Songwriter With A Voice Beyond Her Years

At only 17, Hudson Valley singer-songwriter Stella Prince has a voice and sensibility well beyond her years. Her eerie soprano simultaneously evokes Americana and traditional choral music. But her raw lyrics, which evoke the anxiety and open-heartedness of Gen Z with a rare clarity, even further reflect an old-soul songwriter. After a new single and many solo shows, Prince is looking to take a lifelong dream to the next level.

Photo Credit: Lily Prince

“Ever since I was like 4 I had it in my head that I wanted to be a famous singer,” Prince said. “But I feel like during the pandemic I really just realized that this was meant to be, and it really started growing incredibly quickly.”

Prince has released three new singles this year, each more arresting than the last. Though the unassuming honesty and plucked guitar evoke idols of her own like Taylor Swift, her more unconventional tastes shine through as well. As a pre-teen, Prince hosted her own radio show where she primarily played tunes from the ‘30s and ‘40s. She’d grown up with the genre, and liked the idea of playing something unique. Furthermore, she already respected the era’s influence on her, and wanted to share it.

“I was just drawn to it,” Prince said. “It taught me so much about music.”

Sharing something deeply personal is inherent in Prince’s musical philosophy. Prince describes her goal as bringing “an authentic, acoustic sound back to contemporary music.” Stella Prince believes making something timeless and catchy, that diverse audiences can relate to, doesn’t have to mean sacrificing the words in your heart.

The urgency of Prince’s lyrics is nearly palpable in her singular voice, which effortlessly recalls the measured melodies of classic folk. Even on the highest notes, Prince’s voice holds a softness and lightness. Over careful and striking guitar lines, she all but lulls you into a trance. It’s a unique and memorable sound thats led her to critical acclaim.

Prince’s first live show, at the iconic Bluebird Cafe in Nashville in early 2020, left her both elated and intimidated. She dropped her guitar onstage, breaking all of the strings. But she thought fast, used the house guitar, and continued to perform. The “traumatizing” experience is far behind her now, and these days Prince’s biggest dream is to play a stadium someday. But Prince said she ultimately gained something from the early mishap.

“You have to learn when you’re performing that all of these things can go wrong,” she said. “There’s so many things that can go wrong, and you just have to deal with it.”

Photo Credit: Lily Prince

Since gaining her associates degree at 16, Prince has split her time between Nashville and Los Angeles. Prince credits her parents’ support with keeping her sane as she travels more and more for her career. COVID-19-withstanding, Prince has maintained a growing and consistent touring schedule around the East Coast since her graduation. Still a minor, she always travels with her parents. Prince said she’s grateful they’re fellow artists: her father is a writer, and her mother a painter.

“I think their work ethic really inspired me growing up,” she said. “They worked all day on their art, and I saw that from a really young age.”

Despite her newness in the studio, Prince has already begun solidifying her own tastes into a style. She got a taste for producing with her last single “The Rain Might Fall,” and hopes to continue honing that skill, and control over her sound, in the future.

In the track, over a twinkling and methodic melody, Prince grapples candidly with the confusion and turmoil of adolescence. “The Rain Might Fall” finds her unsure of what’s coming next and where she’s going, but aware she must go. Singing “I’ve been staring at the ocean/ mesmerized by motion/wondering why,” Stella Prince effortlessly captures the moment you realize just how big and mysterious the world can be.

“I think, you know, in terms of songwriting I really knew exactly what I wanted to say,” she said of developing the track. “Because I think the song for me really just talks about what its like to not know.”

It’s here that Prince’s young age comes through in an arresting way. Her existentially questioning, and sometimes painful, lyrics poignantly reflect the specific anxieties of Gen-Z’ers. Her peers around the world face an uncertain future and rapid change, in a way that feels both collective and personal.

On the spare “Scared,” Prince faces that uncertainty head on, as bravely as she did years ago with a broken guitar at the Bluebird Cafe. She sings: “In the end I really have to trust myself/ Once again I can’t wait for someone else/ To fill my dreams, I’m scared it seems/ Its up to me.” The lyric beautifully captures the moment of anxiety right before you do something big, on your own. With confidence and grace, Prince seems well on her way to filling those dreams herself.

For more on Stella Prince, visit her website,

October 13, 2021
HR (of Bad Brains), Aliens and Public Nature at The Kingsland in Brooklyn
On Sunday, October 10th, HR (who is best known as the frontman for the iconic punk band Bad Brains) performed at The Kingsland in Brooklyn. Opening acts included local punk bands Aliens and Public Nature.

Bad Brains formed in Washington D.C. in 1977. They are regarded as the pioneers of harcore punk although the bands members have objected to the term to describe their music. They also feature elements of other genres of music like reggae, funk, heavy metal, hip hop and soul. The band has had several members over the years, but the classic line up includes singer HR, guitarist Dr Know, bassist Darryl Jenifer and drummer Earl Hudson.

In more recent years, HR’s performances have become more mellow focusing on primarily reggae and rasta. His current backing band includes guitarist Ezekiel Zagar, bassist jfreshi and drummer Adam Williams. HR’s distinct voice still sounded the same as he performed songs from his solo career as well as some new ones that will be featured on his new album coming soon.

Public Nature opened the show on Sunday night. The band consists of lead singer/guitarist and founder Oscar Canas, bass player Robbie Harrison and drummer Scott Lehman. They sounded terrific as they ripped through songs from their catalogue such as “Old Bus”, “My Friend”, “Find My Baby” and “Summer Rain.” The band has a very Nirvana esque sound with heavy rips and melodic melodies. Oscar came to New York via MedellÃn, Colombia in 2014 with songs he had written over the years and released his first single under the band name Tender Beats. You can check out more of his music here.

Next was New York hardcore punk band Aliens. The band consists of frontman Blake Sandberg on guitar/vocals, Kevin Jones on bass and Miguel Vela on drums. They also put on a tremendous performance with songs from their inventory such as “Committed to Wind”, “Neversleep”, “Reflex Motor” and “The In Side. This band has played historic NYC venues such as CBGB, The Knitting Factory, Bowery Electric and has toured the US. Blake has also recorded with Hunt Sales (Iggy Pop/David Bowie) and The Rammellzee. You can find Alien’s music here.

Setlists:

Public Nature: Old Bus, My Friend, Play Love, Elephant Man, Find My Baby, Every Day Saturday, Summer Rain, Sentimental, Boo, She Said, Hey You

Aliens: Committed to Wind, Moving Parts, Neversleep, Shape Shifter, Guinea Pig, Enjoy Killing Time, Stow Away, Reflex Motor, Leave Luck To Heaven, Storage Space, Watch and Learn, The In Side

HR: Psalm 100, Easy, Attitude, Everything You Do, Peace and Love II, Let Luv Lead the Way, Married Again, Mighty Comforter, Sovereignty Prayer, I And I Survive, I Luv I Jah, Shame In Dem Game, Rasta
October 13, 2021
The Struts Play to a Packed House at Irving Plaza

The Struts played Irving Plaza on Friday, October 8, part of a huge U.S. tour that started in August and takes them across the U.S. until mid-November. They were as tight as you’d expect from a band that’s been on tour for months, rocking thru a long set that included many new songs from their last record, Strange Days. It was written and recorded during the pandemic lockdown, and the title song’s chorus is an apt description of that time…

Oh these are strange days, In many strange ways, Science fiction I believe, Has become reality, Oh these are strange times, Lost in our minds, We don’t know, it’s unclear, Where we’ll be this time next year

the Struts

Thankfully the next year finds them onstage, where they belong. Their recorded music is made for packed shows with the crowd singing along, and Friday night was exactly that. From the second singer Luke Spiller swaggered onstage, the audience was singing and cheering at his command. Spiller is a natural performer, constantly moving and thriving on the audience’s feedback, never letting their set’s energy decrease.

the Struts

From the opening notes of “Primadonna Like Me” he controlled the entire show, engaging the crowd between every song by demanding more applause or encouraging them to do complicated sing alongs, reminiscent of Rob Halford of Judas Priest. He introduced every track with a description like ‘the next song is about my favorite thing’ before “Dirty Sexy Money” or ‘the last song was the foreplay and now we’re gonna turn down the lights, so get out your phones’ before the venue went dark and they played “Mary Go Round” by the light of the crowd’s phones.

the Struts

“Body Talks,” “One Night Only” and “Kiss This” are hit songs so it’s expected people joined in, but it was impressive how well the audience knew all the words to their new songs, including “I Hate How Much I Want You,” where they took over the part of the backing vocals sung on the album by Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott and Phil Collen. Other new songs played were “Wild Child,” (written with Tom Morello) that started with guitar player Adam Slack alone onstage in a spotlight for an extended introductory solo, and the sultry “Am I talking to the Champagne” that had Spiller singing at the piano.

the Struts

The last song was a long version of “I Do It So Well,” and Spiller introduced Slack, bass player Jed Elliott and drummer Gethin Davies, and then split the audience down the middle into Slack and Elliott’s sides, and pitted them against each other in a spirited cheering contest. After going back and forth for awhile Spiller said ‘fucking hell New York that was all right’ and then kept the song going, directing everyone to crouch down as they decreased the tempo and volume, and the place got hushed until Spiller told everyone to leap up and scream as loud as they could and the place went crazy. The song volumed soared and the crowd jumped up and down in unison, shaking the whole place. At the end they walked offstage leaving the audience chanting ‘one more song’ at the end of the set (which was selling the encore short because there were two songs left on the setlist.)

the Struts

Spiller came out alone and began “Strange Days” at the piano and the place went silent, appreciating his playing and impressive vocal range. They ended their show, unsurprisingly, with their smash hit “Could Have Been Me,” leading the crowd in one last sing along before taking a sweaty bow. It’s pretty common to find the Struts opening for the world’s biggest rock acts or playing festivals, so it was special to see them in a smaller venue like Irving Plaza.

the Struts

The Starbenders, from Atlanta, were the opening band. The crowd was mostly full and enjoyed their set, their moody stage lighting and sound were reminiscent of My Bloody Valentine or The Jesus and Mary Chain. They are playing several other dates on this Struts tour.

The Struts – Irving Plaza – October 8, 2021

Setlist: Primadonna Like Me, Body Talks, Kiss This, Hate How Much I Want You, Fire, One Night Only, Dirty Sexy Money, Low Key in Love, Mary Go Round (acoustic), Put Your Money on Me, Medley, Champagne, Wild Child, I Did it so Well
Encore: Strange Days, Could Have Been Me

the Starbenders

the Starbenders

the Struts

the Struts

the Starbenders

the Struts

the Struts

df

October 13, 2021
360 Venue in Grand Central Creates Immersive Way to Experience Coldplay; World Tour Dates Announced

Coldplay and Amazon Music have teamed up for the ultimate debut two-day event in the heart of New York City. The audience will hear Music of the Spheres in a whole new light inside “The Atmospheres” – an intergalactic audio-visual experience at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal.

The audience will be inside the custom-built installation perfect for Coldplay’s new album, Music of the Spheres, that will be officially released October 15th which features The Spheres, the distant solar system that where each of the twelve tracks is twinned with a different planet.

“The Atmospheres” will find a worldwide audience, coming to New York as well as London, Tokyo, and Berlin. These big cities will bring you to redesigned exhibits of the alien worlds Coldplay has created.

“The Atmospheres” has also created interactive features for their fans where they can create their own alien language messages and snap selfies in an augmented reality photobooth. The jaw dropping environment will be soundtracked with the highlight album People of the Pride, mixed in Dolby Atmos to better exhibit the exclusive 360 visuals.

Coldplay fans will not be able to resist this two-day pop-up event, running from Friday, 15 October through Saturday, 16 October in London, New York, Tokyo, and Berlin. Dolby Atmos “The Atmospheres” will have their viewers perplexed and by exhibiting a new way of experiencing music in the most immersive way possible. Register for tickets here.

Coldplay Music of the Spheres World Tour 2022

MARCH

18: San Jose, CR – Estadio Nacional (Support: TBA)

22: Santo Domingo, DR – Estadio Olímpico (Support: TBA)

25: Monterrey, MX – Estadio BBVA (Support: H.E.R.)

29: Guadalajara, MX – Estadio Akron (Support: H.E.R.)

APRIL

3: Mexico City, MX – Foro Sol (Support: H.E.R.)

23: Santa Clara, CA – Levi’s Stadium (Support: H.E.R.)

26: Los Angeles, CA – SoFi Stadium (Support: H.E.R.)

MAY

3: Phoenix, AZ – State Farm Stadium (Support: H.E.R.)

6: Dallas, TX – Cotton Bowl Stadium (Support: H.E.R.)

8: Houston, TX – NRG Stadium (Support: H.E.R.)

28: Chicago, IL – Soldier Field (Support: H.E.R.)

JUNE

1: Washington, DC – FedExField (Support: H.E.R.)

4: East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium (Support: H.E.R.)

5: East Rutherford, NJ – Metlife Stadium (Support: H.E.R.)

8: Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field (Support: H.E.R.)

11: Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Support: H.E.R.)

14: Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium (Support: H.E.R.)

JULY

2: Frankfurt, DE – Deutsche Bank Park (Support: H.E.R.)

3: Frankfurt, DE – Deutsche Bank Park (Support: H.E.R.)

8: Warsaw, PL – PGE Narodowy (Support: H.E.R.)

10: Berlin, DE – Olympiastadion Berlin (Support: London Grammar)

12: Berlin, DE – Olympiastadion Berlin (Support: H.E.R.)

16: Paris, FR – Stade de France (Support: H.E.R.)

17: Paris, FR – Stade de France (Support: H.E.R.)

AUGUST

5: Brussels, BE – King Baudouin Stadium (Support: H.E.R.)

6: Brussels, BE – King Baudouin Stadium (Support: H.E.R.)

12: London, UK – Wembley Stadium (Support: H.E.R.)

13: London, UK – Wembley Stadium (Support: H.E.R.)

16: London, UK – Wembley Stadium (Support: London Grammar)

23: Glasgow, UK – Hampden Park Stadium (Support: H.E.R.)

SEPTEMBER

10: Rio De Janeiro, BR – Rock in Rio Festival

October 13, 2021
Orebolo – Featuring Members of Goose – Announce Winter Tour Stops in Tarrytown and Homer

Orebolo, an acoustic trio featuring Goose members Rich Mitarotonda (vocals, guitar) Peter Anspach (vocals, guitar), Jeff Arevalo (upright bass) have announced a series of six winter tour dates.

In December, the trio will make stops in Upstate New York at Tarrytown Music Hall, and Homer Center for the Arts, as well as Spruce Peak Performing Arts in Stowe, followed by a three shows in Colorado in late January.

The group has built a faithful following nationwide, following a series of virtual festival appearances in 2020, and an acclaimed performance at Lockn’ Presents FRED The Festival in August 2021. Formed during the height of the initial COVID-19 surge, the members of Orebolo shared a home and found comfort in learning new covers and creatively exploring Goose’s deep catalog acoustically.

Starting this project was a source of relief for all of us, especially during such a crazy time. Our initial practice and recording space was inside our solarium – the vibe was really tranquil, and we wanted our listeners to share in that feeling. I’m stoked we have the opportunity to take this out on the road and perform in some incredible rooms.
Peter Anspach

Pre-sale tickets will be available Wednesday, October 13 at 10AM venue local time using the code ‘OREBOLO’. The general on-sale will follow on Friday, October 15 at 10AM venue local time. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit orebolo.com.

October 13, 2021
The Montage Music Hall host Attila Day Drinking tour

Rochester is home to some long standing music venues, one in particular is Montage Music Hall. This venue has seen many acts from locals to national artists ever since it opened its doors many years ago, it has been host to bands such as Tantric, All That Remains, Clutch, and many other big names. On October 5th, Montage Music Hall hosted Attila on their “Day Drinking Tour,” along with Jynx and with local support from Destroy//Create, and Perspectives. The show had a great turnout and energy throughout the night, especially for the show being on a weekday. Head over to the Montage Music Halls site to find out what shows are next.

Attila

Perspectives

Destroy//Create

Jynxy

Attila

October 12, 2021
In Focus: Goose Sell Out two nights at Terminal 5
Goose made it look almost all too easy to sell out their second night of Terminal 5 on October 9, 2021. The Connecticut-based quartet undeniably took the audience on a full fledged journey that encompassed the multitude of genres that have influenced the band, thus far. Lucky New Yorkers had a chance to experience the powerhouse that transported us somewhere outside New York City this weekend.

Stage lights dim welcoming Rick, Peter, Trevor, Ben, and Jeff on stage, accompanied with a roar from fans begging “GOOSE”, echoing from all three stories inside the terminal. “Tumble” opened the show where Ben Atkind (drums) did us the favor of pulling us into the groovy funk dictating the addictive dancey beat that defines Goose. Rick Mitarotonda (guitar, vocals) spoke indefinitely through the gorgeous Paul Reed Smith Hollowbody II, putting the audience in a trance with his guitar shredding improv through Bob Don.

Peter Anspach makes his first lead vocal debut of the night with a new song from the band, Life On the Shelf. Clearly an unreleased hit, without knowing any words fans were hooked on the chorus, dancing and swaying to the sincere folk tune, highlighted by Rick and Peter’s buttery harmonies. Followed with “Jive Lee” and “Jive II,” Peter’s funky solos and Trevor Weekz thick bass lines brought the crowd furiously jumping and screaming once again. Without any hesitation the audience was pulled into a surprise cover of “Rock the Casbah” from the Clash shaking the floor until the end of set I.

“Wysteria Lane” kicked off the second set with a smile and Peter’s earnest vocals, with some help from the Luigi plush on one of his three dazzling double casio keyboards. Unbelievable Goosian-shredding kept the crowd mesmerized cheering with each cadence as both Rick and Peter swiftly moved up and up the neck leaving the audience asking if they came to a hard rock concert. Rick guided us through Seekers on the Ride I and II with ease reminding fans of their versatility as artists. The loudest cheers of the night broke when Rick’s eccentric solos pushed to the well known hard twangy intro of “Hot Tea.” Ending with “Dragon Fly I & II,” Rick eased our anxieties with a smile “Don’t worry we have one more set.”

“Get The Funk Out of My Face” was not the only cover of set III, but Goose’s folk rock cover of Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” made it sound like Goose could’ve written the song. Just when we thought Trevor Weekz might just be too cool for us, being the backbone of Goose with his 5-string bass and sunglasses, the spotlight shined on him as he read a “Acquainted with the Night” by Robert Frost backed by Ben Atkind (drums) and Rick filling some eerie melodies. The band endurance was unrequited through three full set of nonstop music eventually wrapping with an Encore of “Hot Tea.”

Goose – Terminal 5 – Friday, October 8, 2021

Set 1: So Ready, Look Out Cleveland, Honeybee, Indian River, The Whales, All I Need

Set 2: 2021> Old Man’s Boat >2021, Rosewood Heart > Into the Myst, Echo of a Rose > 2021

Encore: Flodown

Goose – Terminal 5 – Saturday, October 9, 2021

Set 1: Tumble, Bob Don, Life on a Shelf*, White Lights > Jive 1 > Jive Lee > Rock the Casbah

Set 2: Wysteria Lane > It Burns Within, Seekers on the Ridge [Part I & II], Hot Tea > Dragonfly [I&II]

Set 3: Get The Funk Out Ma Face, Creatures > Pumped Up Kicks, Madhuvan** > Turn on Your Love Light > Madhuvan

Encore: Teaprise

* first time played
** Trevor poetry read

photos by Matt Shotwell
October 12, 2021