Born and raised in Rochester, Alyssa has taken the country music scene by storm. Returning home from Nashville, she treated hometown fans to quite the mix of original tunes and covers at Iron Smoke Distillery in nearby Fairport.
Alyssa Trahan @Iron Smoke
Prior to making the move to the country music capital, Alyssa was writing and performing her own work locally, all while learning to play a dozen instruments along way. Quite the Jill of all trades, as she has been often called.
In 2020, during the COVID shutdown, Alyssa never slowed, as she wrote, produced, and played nearly all the instruments on a new album. Released in early 2021, it debuted in the top 10 on iTunes Country Music Album Charts with over 300k downloads. Pretty remarkable for an independently produced album! In addition to writing and producing, Alyssa has managed to be able to share a stage with young and old talents alike, including Lee Greenwood, Maddie & Tae, Sara Evans, and Molly Hatchet. Again, for a budding country artist, this is remarkable.
If you like Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, and Lee Ann Womack, or any combination of these artists, you need to check out Alyssa Trahan as she is quite the blend of them and then some. Trahan’s new album Baby Blues & Stilettos is out now
Frat houses, bars, stadiums, and theatres. Daryl Hall has played them all, including the Oncenter Civic Theatre in Syracuse on November 19. With special guest Todd Rundgren, the mostly over 50 crowd was treated to a night of mellow jams.
Rundgren opened the night with set of approximately 75 minutes including “Hello it’s Me,” “Black Maria,” and “I Saw the Light.” Although he has been playing shows since the late 60s, his look hasn’t changed much as he still flaunts his famous locks and flashy attire while performing.
Touring in support of recently released 2 disc retrospective album, Hall played a great selection on songs from his solo career as well as from Hall & Oates. The stage for this tour is a replica of his house from his 2017 webcast series, Daryl’s House. Lights, props, stairs, everything is there and lighting was amazing.
Highlight for me, personally, was his rendition of 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Eurythmics Here Comes the Rain. With his own little spin on it, Hall made the song his own. By far, my favorite song from Annie Lennox, but Daryl Hall knows how to change it up and make it sound brand new, 30+ years later.
Made famous by Paul Young, Hall also put his piano bar style on Paul Young’s “Every Time You Go Away,” which was a Daryl Hall original in the mid 80s. Truly amazing to hear these songs again, for the first time and live as well.
While the crowd was mostly over 50, there was a surprising amount of under 30 and I heard many of them complaining that Daryl Hall didn’t play any of his heavier songs, as they were falling asleep. I couldn’t help to think maybe they thought they were going to see Dimebag Darrell, which might have been pretty epic in an alternate universe.
Regardless, go see these guys. For me, it was nice change of pace from the chaos I call life, and with the chaos ramping up over the next month or so, I welcomed the opportunity to kick back and chill to a couple of legends.
That being said, get your tickets, get your beverage of choice and kick back for a couple hours.
Todd Rundgren Setlist: Real Man/Love of a Common Man; It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference; We Gotta Get You a Woman; Buffalo Grass; I Saw the Light; Black Maria; Unloved Children; Hello It’s Me; Sometimes I Don’t Know How to Feel; I’m So Proud/Ooh Baby Baby/I Want You; The Want of a Nail
Daryl Hall Setlist: Dreamtime; Romeo is Bleeding; Problem With You; Philly Mood; Cab Driver; Everytime You Go Away; Sacred Songs; Babs and Babs; Here Comes the Rain; Sara Smile; No Can Do; Wait For Me; Can We Still Be Friends; Expressway; Dreams
Bursting onto the scene in 2017, Billy Strings has been selling out arenas big and small, bringing his bluegrass vibes to Rochester on November 9. Playing to a full house of denim, flannel, and tye-dye wearing fans, Strings and his ensemble gave the Blue Cross Arena a solid set of progressive roots-rock that went on for nearly three hours.
Billy Strings
Son of Terry Barber, a bluegrass musician himself, Strings was introduced to the genre at a young age and has been influenced along the way by some of the world’s greatest artists including Jimi Hendrix, Phish, and Black Sabbath.
Since bursting onto the music scene in 2019, Strings has collected some accolades and awards along the way including a Grammy in 2021 for Best Bluegrass Album (Home), 2022 Artist of Year from Americans Music Awards (also nominated previous two years), and 2019 International Bluegrass Music Awards for Best New Artist and Guitar Player of the Year. Assuming things keep going the way they are going, Billy will need a hall to house all his awards!
With the classic bluegrass sounds of the Dave and Deke Combo, Allison Krauss, Doc Watson, and Old Crow Medicine Show all still influential in their own rights, Billy Strings seems to have upped the ante for bluegrass/roots music. Although the classic dualling banjos will never get old, time have changed, and Billy Strings has set the tone.
Billy Strings – Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, NY – Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Set 1: Old Train; Turmoil & Tinfoil; Running the Route; Stone Walls and Steel Bars; Fire Line; Running; Ashland Breakdown; The Train That Carried My Girl From Town; Black Mountain Rag; Love and Regret; Bronzeback; Must be Seven; In The Morning Light; Everything’s the Same
Set 2: Heartbeat of America; Red Rocking Chair; Hollow Heart; While I’m Waiting Here; Pyramid Country; And Your Bird Can Sing; Been All Around This World; The Fire on My Tounge; Air Mail Special; Hellbender; John Deere Tractor; Tipper; Dust in a Baggie; Cold, Cold World
Water Street Music Hall hosted a living legend when they brought in Rakim on Saturday, October 29.
Dating back to the late 1980s, there have been countless MCs making music and trying to earn their 15 seconds of fame. Among the best, according to people like Marley Marl, Dr. Dre, and Kool Moe Dee, was Rakim.
Rakim center stage in Rochester NY
Rakim burst onto the scene in 1985 as half of the duo Eric B. and Rakim and immediately gained praise and recognition as a skilled MC and lyricist. Working together until 1992, the duo released 4 studio albums, including the debut Paid in Full and their final album in 1992 Don’t Sweat the Technique, both of which were big sellers and remain highly regarded to this day.
Moving on to a solo career, Rakim released The 18th Letter in 1997 and is now touring as he celebrates the 25th anniversary of this lyrical masterpiece.
Setting up the crowd for Rakim was Rochester, NY based The Frank White Experience (Notorious B.I.G. tribute band) and Styles P., both of which were welcomed by the crowd. If you are a fan of Biggie, The Frank White Experience needs to be on your radar as they cover the late rapper with their own unique twist. Styles P played the crowd for about 45 minutes with some street style raps and eventually did a little freestyle set in the crowd.
B-Real, Sen Dog, Bobo, and Dj Lord, better known as Cypress Hill, took to the stage at The Vine, at Del Lago Casino in Waterloo, NY on Friday October 21, as the band celebrated 30 years of mainstream hip hop and rap, as well as promoting new album, Back in Black.
The Vine @Del Lago
Activists for legalization of cannabis, the band members routinely take the stage with blunts in hand and enjoy the Mary Jane throughout the show and this show did not disappoint! After an approximately 18 minute intro by DJ Lord who seemed to be in his own little haze, B-Real took the stage with blunt in hand and continued to get the crowd pumped up with collaboration of “Roll It Up, Light It Up, Smoke It Up,” “I Wanna Get High,” “Cisco Kid,” “Dr. Greenthumb,” and “Hits From the Bong.”
30+ years and 10 albums later, these guys from South Gate, CA can still kick it and toke it just as hard as they did in 1988. Fans were in the aisles, on the steps, and on section dividers grooving and moving as the beat played on.
Setlist: DJ Lord intro/ Roll It Up, Light It Up, Smoke It Up, I Wanna Get High, Cisco Kid, Dr. Greenthumb, Hits From the Bong/Real Estate/Hand on the Pump/Sound of da Police/When the Shit Goes Down/Tequilla Sunrise/Lowrider/Illusions/Latin Lingo/Lick a Shot/How I Could Just Kill a Man/Throw your set in the Air/I Ain’t Going out like that/(Rock Superstar)/Insane in the Brain/Jump Around (House of Pain cover)
Formed in 1969, Little Feat, celebrating the 45th anniversary of ‘Waiting for Columbus’, played the stage at Point of the Bluff Vineyards in Hammondsport, NY September 26 and the eclectic crowd was ready to groove.
Although formed in LA in 1969, Little Feat plays a strong Southern rock vibe. A subtle mix of The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Marshall Tucker with a hint of Grateful Dead flow to your ears and get your head bopping and feet tapping.
Kenny Gradney of Little Feat playing in Hammondsport NY
While members have come and gone over the years, the band tours in 2022 with Bill Payne on Keyboards and Vocals; Sam Clayton on percussion and vocals; Fred Tackett on guitars and vocals; Kenny Gradney on the bass; Scott Sharrard doing guitars and Vocals; and Tony Leone banging the drums
Follow the band as they continue on with their commemorative tour Little Feat.
Little Feat at Point of The Bluff Vineyards
Setlist: Join the Band, Fat Man in the Bathtub, All That You Dream, Oh Atlanta, Old Folks Boogie, Time Loves a Hero, Day or Night, Mercenary Territory, Spanish Moon / Skin It Back, Dixie Chicken, Tripe Face Boogie, Willin’, Don’t Bogart That Joint, A Apolitical Blues, Sailin’ Shoes, Feats Don’t Fail Me Now, Let It Roll
Playing for over 4 million fans since 1988, The Australian Pink Floyd Show showed Rochester why they are the ultimate Pink Floyd tribute band after performing at the Kodak Theatre on September 21. Right down to the light show and lasers, Australian Pink Floyd, as they are sometimes called, got toes tapping and heads rocking right out of the gate.
Immediately, fans were transported back in time with remarkable renditions of classics like “Obscured By Clouds,” “Time,” “Money” and of course, “Another Brick in the Wall Pt 2.”
Hailing from Adelaide, group consists of Luc Ledy-Lepine (guitar), David Domminney-Fowler(guitar/vocals) Steve Mac (guitar/vocal), Jason Sawford (keyboard), Paul Bonney (drums), Ricky Howard(bass/vocals), Mike Kidson (sax), and the amazing Chris Barnes on vocals. Backup singers are Lorelei McBroom, Emily Lynn, and Lara Smiles.
