Guitar extraordinaire Marcus Rezak and Umphrey’s McGee drummer Kris Myers have combned forces once more to release a brand new collaborative track called “Kyoto Cocktail” that’s now available for download. Produced by Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds, this NYC fusion-inspired single also features Chris Duffy from The Magic Beans on bass and Tyler Adams of The Jauntee on keyboards. It comes ahead of a co-headlining show between Rezak’s original Truth in Sound band featuring Myers on drums and Myers’ original fusion project Kick the Cat at Cervantes’ Other Side in Denver, CO on Friday, March 4th, 2022.
“Kyoto Cocktail” is an attempt to capture the energy and sonic grit of a live performance at a New York City dive bar. On a recent trip to said dive bar, Rezak and Myers discussed their mutual love for fusion music emanating from NYC in the ’80s and ’90s – an era renowned for its combination of raw power and commercial catchiness. They attempt to capture this mood with the help of tastefully expressive guitar work and Myers’ syncopated and sophisticated drumming style. Throw in some soaring organ fills and a sturdy bottom end behind some rich melodies and you’ve got yourself a “Kyoto Cocktail,” the latest effort from a collaboration that goes back 15 years now.
Myers is currently on tour with Umphrey’s McGee, having just completed a string of shows in the Northeast, while Rezak is currently embarking on a fully loaded winter tour with his high-octane Grateful Dead tribute group, Shred is Dead, and his original Truth in Sound band to promote his latest release Truth in Sound which features Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski, and the late Tony Markellis of Trey Anastasio Band.
“Kyoto Cocktail” is now available for download through Color Red’s website. And tickets for the upcoming show at Cervantes’ can be purchased here.
John Mayer hit the MVP Arena on Thursday, February 19 for the opening of his much awaited Sob Rock Tour, promoting his most recent album by the same name. The stage design and look of the show gave off the ’80s aesthetic that Mayer has aligned Sob Rock with, invoking the decade of analog, windbreakers and neon.
Chicago-born Alexander 23 opened the show with an incredible 11-song set. Playing a good mix of songs off his just-now released (02/19/22) album Oh No, Not Again! he was an excellent crowd warmer. “Cry Over Boys” and “Brainstorm” were especially fun to dance along to.
When John hit the stage the room filled with cheers of excitement and love for the artist. Opening with “Last Train Home,” the first single from the new album, the legend addressed the audience, “Albany, welcome to the Sob Rock era.” From that moment, the crowd was locked in for a full night of new and classic favorites.
John Mayer has carved himself a place in music history, known for his smooth voice, and blues inspired guitar playing, which was plentiful during the show. His love for playing music is always apparent while he is on stage. The whole show combined the sing-along energy of your favorite popstar’s concerts and the groove of your favorite jam show. Mid-way through the show he told the audience very seriously, “We are prepared to make you move.” And move they did, everyone was on their feet the entire night.
Just as integral to the night was Mayer’s backing band. One highlight includes a jam-battle of John vs. his keys player, Greg Phillinganes, on keytar during a particularly jam-heavy “Helpless.” The audience was also lucky enough to hear perhaps John’s most famous song “Your Body is a Wonderland,” played for the first time with a full band. The song, a classic, was made anew by the full band accompaniment. Even John acknowledged this telling the audience, “Only a band like this could make a song feel that good.” The full arena singing along certainly helped, too.
One fan received a special shout out during the show when John pointed them out saying, “This person understood an assignment that hasn’t even been given yet!” The audience member donned 80’s inspired gear, Walkman attached to them. John was so delighted by this he even took a minute to get the camera on the fan who showed off their look with pride to the audience.
You could sense John was grateful to be there, like many artists who have had their live-touring plans disrupted or delayed these past two years. He even took a minute to share his gratitude with the crowd. “A lot of things have changed in the world, your tastes have changed, but you decided to come back and listen to these songs, and that means the world to me.” Which he followed with an early fan-favorite from his Continuum album, “Gravity,” while audience members held up phone flashlights to make the room sparkle. Even in a full arena, this moment felt intimate and special. The full show ended with an encore, including songs “Born and Raised” and “New Light.”
There was excitement and admiration as the audience left the arena following the show. John Mayer is known for his charisma and ability to make people fall in love with him over and over again. There is no doubt that he had succeeded at this once again during this Thursday night show in Albany.
This was the first stop on the Sob Rock national tour. Mayer heads to NYC for a two-night run at Madison Square Garden on February 20 and 21 and will be back in New York State on March 1 at the UBS Arena in Belmont Park, NY. Check out the full list of dates for the Sob Rock tour here. And if you attend one of the shows – don’t forget your Walkman!
Setlist: Last Train Home, Shot In The Dark, I Don’t Trust Myself With Loving You, Who Says, Love On The Weekend, Moving On And Getting Over, Shouldn’t Matter But It Does, Rosie, I Guess I Just Feel Like, Helpless, Stop This Train, In The Blood, Carry Me Away, The Beautiful Ones @, Slow Dancing In A Burning Room, Your Body Is A Wonderland, Wild Blue, All I Want Is To Be With You, Waiting On The World To Change, Gravity Encore: Born And Raised, New Light
On Friday, Manhattan-based pop artist MuMu released “Brooklyn Tonight [Unplugged],” a stripped-down, acoustic version of a single that she released last year.
MuMu
As can be deducted, queerness, women’s rights, and other themes relating to gender and sexuality are imperative to MuMu’s persona. In fact, you may already know the NYC-based artist from her viral song “Free the Nip,” which features the artist doing just that on the streets of the Big Apple. The music video has since racked up over a million streams on YouTube and counting.
‘Brooklyn Tonight Unplugged’ was initially inspired by a friend asking me to write a song about being the only queer person in the room. Then my love brain took over and it turned into a queer lady love song because, well, we need more of those. This is an acoustic version of the original for those queer lady slow jammers.
MuMu
Growing up in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, MuMu has been surrounded by the arts her whole life. At an early age, she attended a performing art high school studying Musical Theatre. She then went on to continue her studies at NYU.
MuMu
Since then, the artist has appeared in plays, movies, and television shows such as Nurse Jackie and Law and Order SVU. MuMu also makes sure to stay loyal to New York during her tours, having a history of performing in Rockwood Music Hall, Arlene’s Grocery, The Bitter End, and Bowery Electric.
Peter, Paul, and Mary were an iconic 60’s folk group formed in New York City. The trio was composed of Peter Yarrow, Mary Travers, and most notably Noel Paul Stookey. Amidst the revival of American folk music, they were incredibly popular in the era that they performed.
Noel Paul Stookey in studio, Photo by Sally Far
The group was initially formed in 1961 after each individual member was cast for their talents. They went on to perform in The Bitter End in Manhattan and quickly gained notoriety and attention. So much so, the group caught the attention of Warner Brothers. After recording, the group released their first self-titled debut album through the media giant and went on to lead successful careers.
Each of us is searching for our own authenticity and the more honest we are, the less we have to hide. My attempt to infuse folk music with what might be considered unusual chord structures has always focused on fulfilling what I see as the promise of a lyric’s emotional content.
Noel Paul Stookey
Six decades later, and at 84 years of age, Stookey is still recording solo albums. The icon’s upcoming release, FAZZ:NOW&THEN, is a twenty-track collection that seeks to infuse traditional American folk with jazzier and more colorful chords. Stookey speaks on the album.
The album will be available on Stookey’s website for a limited time from February, 22nd 2022 to March 22nd, 2022. For that limited period of time, pre-release purchasers will receive autographed copies of the new CD. They will also receive a link to access a private repository of unreleased Noel Paul Stookey songs and performances. After which, the album will be available on streaming services. For more information visit noelpaulstookey.com.
Today marks the anniversary of the start of The Grateful Dead’s fourth and final residency at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester. Affectionately known as “The Cap,” this small theater certainly helped build the legacy of The Dead in New York and beyond. The first show here in 1971 may well be a leading cause of this. Not only does it offer a host of songs from the recently released and acclaimed American Beauty album, it also features a wealth of brand new songs that made their live debut this evening and would become concert regulars in the years to come. Throw in one of the most “beautiful” pieces of collective improvisation that the band has ever played and you’ve got a show for the ages right here.
This legendary run at The Cap starts off with a new song that’s soon to become a Grateful Dead staple, a rip-roaring “Bertha.” It’s only the third one ever played after two live performances in December of 1970 and the first time it’s ever opened a show. It seems a little quicker than its customary tempo, with Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir nailing the harmonized vocals. After a presumable audience request for “Casey Jones,” Jerry Garcia notes the next song “isn’t driving a train, but it’s almost as good” before the Dead launch into “Truckin’.” This American Beauty tune has a little more experience under its belt in the live setting and an extremely crisp and cohesive version ensues, with a short bluesy jam spearheaded by Garcia on the tail end. Batting in the third spot this evening is Pigpen, who steps up to the plate, harmonica in tow, and maintains the early blues vibe with a classic rendition of “It Hurts Me Too.”
After some more post-song extended tuning, a tradition Weir notes is “older than music itself,” Garcia jumps back on the mic and leads the band through another new number. This time it’s “Loser,” the first one ever performed live. It’s a well honed version that’s again a little faster than its successors but played beautifully (a sign of things to come) with a hair-raising guitar solo thrown in by Garcia. A chatty Bob Weir then begs for indulgence from the audience for another brand new song to follow that winds up being “Greatest Story Ever Told.” It’s a quick take that fizzles out shortly but instead of more post-song tuning, the Dead keep it going and immediately segue into a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.”
Weir maintains his presence on lead vocals for the cautionary tale of “Mama Tried” that follows before handing the baton back to Pigpen for his signature cover of Otis Redding’s “Hard To Handle.” This yields another significant blues-inspired jam with drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart helping set the pace. What follows this may be one of the most awe inspiring and notable sequences of Grateful Dead music in their storied history. It’s a “Wharf Rat” sandwich with two mesmerizing slices of “Dark Star” serving as the bread. “Dark Star” starts off extremely patient and melodic before Garcia comes in with the opening verse. After petering out into full ambience, Garcia seems to hit the opening note of “St. Stephen,” which often followed “Dark Star” in this era, but instead the Dead collectively turn on a dime and unleash another newcomer with the heartfelt and poignant first ever “Wharf Rat.” As it comes to end, the second serving of “Dark Star” emerges. But before it truly begins, the Dead continue to noodle around and steer the music into a joyous, euphoric piece of improv that’s simply known as the “Beautiful Jam.” This serves as the vessel that carries the music back into “Dark Star,” which completes this awe inspiring section of music that’s included on the Dead’s five-disc So Many Roads the celebrates the band’s entire career.
Many years later, bassist Phil Lesh seems to be brought almost to tears after listening to this heralded piece of music from The Cap thanks to Dead historian David Gans.
Somehow this doesn’t even complete the first set this evening. The Dead throw in a “Me And My Uncle” to close it out and earn themselves a well-deserved set break. The band emerges from this clearly in high spirits, giving some recommendations for the house light settings before starting the second set with an energized “Casey Jones” aka “that train driving” song. This sets the stage for yet another live Dead debut at The Cap that would go on to be an integral part of their history: “Playing In The Band.” It stays pretty close to the vest and doesn’t produce a drawn out, show-defining psychedelic jam like future ones will, but all the signs of a live show staple for years to come are there.
Photo by Peter Corrigan
Weir stays on lead vocals for the cover of “Me And Bobby McGee” that comes next before Garcia takes over for another number from American Beauty with a vintage rendition of “Candyman” that even includes harpsichord-like fills from Pigpen along with some more soulful vocal harmonies.
Pig then gets to take lead one last time and rips through another blues cover, this time it’s Jimmy Reed’s “Big Boss Man.” Then the last Beauty song of the evening emerges in “Sugar Magnolia.” It’s another fairly short yet explosive take that sees Garcia using the wah-effect on electric guitar to its full capabilities. This gets a warm reception from the Cap crowd, surpassed only by the one that the beginning notes of the “Saint Stephen” that follows receives. With the “William Tell Bridge” shelved as of 1969, instead Kreutzmann and Hart lead the percussive-heavy charge into “Not Fade Away” as the second set’s closing sequence begins to unfold.
The Dead offer up one final sandwich to The Cap with a “Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad,” replete with Weir’s wailing vocals, that feeds right back into “Not Fade Away.” And to cap things off (no pun intended), the music then immediately flows into a show closing “Uncle John’s Band” that’s played to perfection. Although there would be another five shows still to come in Port Chester, this one serves as the end of an era of sorts, with drummer Mickey Hart leaving the band the following day for his three-year self-imposed hiatus.
Grateful Dead Capitol Theater – Port Chester, NY 2/18/71
Set 1: Bertha, Truckin’, It Hurts Me Too, Loser, Greatest Story Ever Told > Johnny B. Goode, Mama Tried, Hard To Handle, Dark Star > Wharf Rat > Dark Star > Me And My Uncle
Set 2: Casey Jones, Playing In The Band, Me And Bobby McGee, Candyman, Big Boss Man, Sugar Magnolia, Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away >Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away > Uncle John’s Band
Saranac Lake’s Winter Carnival 2022 is in the books, an event that drew thousands of tourists to the heart of the Adirondacks over February 4-13. Celebrating 125 years since the first Winter Carnival, the event was dialed back compared to past years, but the crowds indicated the event was coming back strong after 2021.
With the annual parade on Saturday, February 12, onlookers and locals took part in the annual spectacle, before heading to The Waterhole for The Big Takeover’s post-parade show. With 10 days of shows, The Waterhole was the place to make a pit stop at during any journey to Saranac Lake, regardless of the season.
West End Blend, no strangers to The Waterhole – having released Live at The Waterhole in 2018 – took the stage following a raucous set from Rochesters The Sideways. When it comes to the Hartford-based West End Blend, you’ll find yourself at a show wondering “Where does the band go wrong?” They hit on every note, take every chance and deliver on opportunities to drive the audience to a frenzy. There are no wrong turns here, simply a fantastic funk band, immersed in a united delivery of a stellar show, every time.
Tonight was no different, with original songs peppered throughout their two sets, with songs by Prince and Paul Simon driving the Totally 80’s theme to new levels. You can catch West End Blend this winter in Portland, ME on February 26, and at The Snow Barn in West Dover, VT on March 19. More info can be found here.
West End Blend – The Waterhole, Saranac Lake – February 12, 2022
Set 1: Dangerous, Controversy, Voodoo, Workout, Mama Said, Sirache, Too Heavy, I’m Time, Reprise, Call Me Al Set 2: 1999, Say Hey, Kane Guru, Day Dreamer, Still About it, WIAA, Attitude, Hard Luck, Sunrise, Burning Down, Smile, Scene Encore: All You Got->Purple Rain
On Monday, February 14, multi platinum Grammy award winning band Imagine Dragons brought their Mercury World Tour to Long Island’s brand new UBS Arena, marking the band’s inaugural performance at the venue.
ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Imagine Dragons’ highly anticipated fifth studio album Mercury – Act 1 was released on September 3, 2021. Teaming up with esteemed producer Rick Rubin and with its title drawing inspiration from the word “mercurial,” Mercury – Act 1is a candid album that abandons metaphorically charged lyrics and instead embraces emotional extremities, holding nothing back. It marks the band’s first album since 2018’s ORIGINS.
ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)
The band mesmerized fanswith their impressive catalog of hits including songs like “Believer”, “Thunder” and “Whatever It Takes” as well as tracks of their latest record such as “My Life” and “Wrecked”. The Live Nation promoted tour will continue globally across North America and Europe with 48 stops including Los Angeles, Seattle, Montreal, Switzerland, Germany and more. The Mercury World Tour will also feature support from grandson and MØ on select dates.
ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds and Wayne Sermon of Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Ben McKee, Wayne Sermon, Daniel Platzman, and Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds and Wayne Sermon of Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Daniel Platzman, and Ben McKee of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Ben McKee, Wayne Sermon, Daniel Platzman, and Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds and Wayne Sermon of Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds and Wayne Sermon of Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Wayne Sermon of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Ben McKee, Wayne Sermon, Daniel Platzman, and Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds and Wayne Sermon of Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)ELMONT, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14: Dan Reynolds and Wayne Sermon of Imagine Dragons perform at UBS Arena on February 14, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Imagine Dragons Mercury World Tour Dates
Wed Feb 16 – Allentown, PA – PPL Center >
Sat Feb 19 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena >
Mon Feb 21 – Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse >
Wed Feb 23 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center >
Fri Feb 25 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum ^
Sun Feb 27 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center ^
Wed Mar 02 – Boise, ID – ExtraMile Arena ^
Sat Mar 05 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena ^
Mon Mar 07 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena ^
Wed Mar 09 – Portland, OR – Moda Center ^
Sat Mar 12 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena ^
Mon Mar 14 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center ^
Sun Apr 10 – Victoria, BC – Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
Wed Apr 13 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
Fri Apr 15 – Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome
Sun Apr 17 – Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre
Tue Apr 19 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
Fri Apr 22 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
Sun Apr 24 – London, ON – Budweiser Gardens
Tue Apr 26 – Quebec City, QC– Centre Videotron
Thu Apr 28 – Moncton, NB – Avenir Centre
Sun May 01 – Quebec City, QC – Centre Videotron
Tue May 03 – Montreal, QC – Centre Bell
Wed May 04 – Montreal, QC – Centre Bell
Sat May 28 – Prague, Czech Republic – Letnany Airport
Mon May 30 – Prague, Czech Republic – Letnany Airport
Wed Jun 01 – Riga, Latvia – Mezaparks
Fri Jun 03 – Kyiv, Ukraine – Olimpiyskyi National Sports Complex
Sun Jun 05 – Moscow, Russia – Luzhniki Stadium
Tue Jun 07 – St. Petersburg, Russia – Gazprom Arena Stadium
Thu Jun 09 – Bern, Switzerland – Stadion Wankdorf
Sat Jun 11 – Milan, Italy – I-DAYS (Festival)
Tue Jun 14 – Hannover, Germany – Expo Plaza
Thu Jun 16 – Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg – Rockhal Open Air (Festival)
Sat Jun 18 – Milton Keynes, UK – Stadium MK Milton Keynes
Sun Jun 19 – Landgraaf, Netherlands – Pinkpop (Festival)
Thu Jun 23 – Vienna, Austria – Ernst-Happel Stadion
Sat Jun 25 – Odense, Denmark – Tinderbox Festival (Festival)
Mon Jun 27 – Koengen, Norway – Berrgenhus Fortress
Wed Jun 29 – Gdynia, Poland – Open’er Festival (Festival)
Fri Jul 01 – Stockholm, Sweden – Lollapalooza Stockholm (Festival)
Sat Jul 02 – Werchter, Belgium – Rock Werchter (Festival)
Ithaca is a town in New York State, and was originally a place in Greece. However, the Ithaca that we’re here to discuss is a music group from London, whose new album, They Fear Us, will be out July 29th.
So now that we all know why we have gathered here today, let’s talk about the first single from that album, which is also the title track for They Fear Us.
The genre tags for this album are a mix of metal and hardcore, with the sub-genres listed as melodic hardcore and emotional hardcore. If you fine readers are aware of hardcore, you’ll know that it is usually based off of slamming riffs, screamed vocals, attitude, and a no holds barred use of power.
As the track begins you’ll hear some intense vocal work, and they have a lot of the hardcore sound. The guitar riff is rooted in that genre as well, and has a cool, bouncy feel going on.
As things progress there is a heavy Killswitch Engage influence, and that holds through the chorus section too, while the vocals remind me more of the cleans from Miss May I; both of those bands are amazing, so hearing their influence here is a reminder of that, and of how much they really inspired other bands.
While the full They Fear Us album won’t be released for another 5 months, we feel that you should go check out the single on Bandcamp today. They may not be breaking much new ground in terms of the genre, but what Ithaca put together is quite good, and we eagerly anticipate their next release.
It wasn’t quite Valentine’s Day, but on the evening of February 11th at The Hollow in Albany, it felt like a holiday nonetheless. For night one of their two-night run, The Seapods made their long-awaited and triumphant return with a rare treat — a reunion show for the hungry masses.
Night One of the Seapods
From beginning to end The Seapods absolutely brought the heat and it was impossible to tell they have only played together a few times over the past two decades. They knew we were hungry too, so this band packaged and delivered three whole sets of delicious and filling music. Each set was a slightly different tone from the last. It was a veritable feast and everybody left feeling full and very satisfied.
Set one started out with Max Verna (guitar, vocals) solo. He was later joined by Tom Pirozzi (bass), Brian Mangini (keyboards), and Ted Marotta (drums) with a special sit-in during set two by guitarist Todd Pasternack.
This was my first time seeing The Seapods perform and I was enchanted immediately by the fact that every single band member up there looked like they were having the time of their lives. These dudes absolutely love what they do from the bottom of their hearts and it’s contagious. Everyone in the crowd had a blast too.
Friday, February 11 Setlist
Set 1 (Acoustic): Stephen O’Rourke She Makes The Journey Millworkers’ Lament Long Black Veil (Lefty Frizzell) Something Like Olivia (John Mayer) It Takes A Lot to Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry (Bob Dylan) Matchmaker Guardian Angels Sunrise Branch’s House Switchblade (Marv Albert) Set 2 (Electric Set 1): Theme For Another Enlightened Rogue > Keep In Mmind Token Time > The Guide To Roadside Ecology Here To Remind You Money To Burn The Pull From Adirondack Blue > Till Then Reelin’ In The Years (Steely Dan) Set 3 (Electric Set 2): Waiting 4 Da Bomb To Drop > Schizophrenic Rain Josephine’s Grand Motion > Jet Smooth Ride John Henry’s Hammer Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley (Allen Toussaint) Blackberry Brandy Encore: Get Out Of My Life Woman (Allen Toussaint) Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’ (The Rolling Stones)
Night One Photo Gallery
Night Two of the Seapods
On Saturday, February 12, the Seapods came back for night two of their two-night run at The Hollow in Albany. I wouldn’t have thought it possible to impress me more than they did on night one, however, this shockingly talented group of musicians blew me away yet again on night two.
Bluegrass, Rock, and Everything in Between
Set one on night two was a lovely warm-up of our souls with some bluegrass to get us all in the groove. It wasn’t just any old set of bluegrass, though. We had electric banjos and several sit-ins as well. Sam “Zucchini” Brewton sat in on drums; Crick Diefendorf on banjo and guitar; and Josh Himmelsbach on mandolin.
Set two was pretty stacked with some rocking tunes. The high-energy set left everyone wondering where The Seapods could possibly go for set three. Well, set three was absolutely the cherry on the sundae. It was all about the long jam and it could not have been a more perfect ending for a delightful two nights of music.
Saturday, February 12 setlist
Set 1 (Acoustic): John Henry’s Hammer (Max solo banjo) Shady Grove (traditional) Pig In A Pen (traditional) Dire Wolf (Grateful Dead) Galway Girl (Steve Earle) Rocky Top (Osborne Brothers) Oberon And Titania Ruby Red Josephine’s Grand Motion The Pull From Adirondack Blue Set 2 (Electric Set 1): Michael Murphy Rusted Michael Murphy 3 Until I Break That’s How They Got Along Stephen O’Rourke > La Fiesta! If I Had A Smile Cary Suite Anything Is Possible Set 3 (Electric Set 2): Animal > What’s The Buzz? (Jesus Christ Superstar) > Passengers en Route > Gunshot Static > Somedays Leaving The Monopole Jump For Joy (Kingfish) Encore: Ship
The Connecticut-based band Goose ended their two and a half week winter tour in Pittsburgh after spending most of their time on the road out west this time. A cold Saturday night in Pittsburgh at Stage AE seemed like the perfect place to celebrate, the venue was packed with fans new and old and a freestream was even offered to all those who couldn’t make the show.
Wether you were in attendance or not there will be plenty of opportunities to see the band in the coming weeks starting with the rescheduled Goosemas taking place on Saturday February 26th at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.
Goose – 2/12/22 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
Set 1: Silver Rising, Butter Rum, Turned Clouds, Red Bird, Tumble
Set 2: Rockdale, Seekers On The Ridge Pt. 1 > Pt. 2, American Woman, Empress Of Organos, Slow Ready
