Phil Lesh and The Midnight Ramble Band joined forces for a recent gig on Saturday, August 20 at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. With the Midnight Ramble Band featuring names like Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, and Amy Helm (daughter of Levon), the powerhouse ensemble delighted all with a mix of The Band and Grateful Dead material. NYS Music’s Howard Horder was in attendance and captured some of the magic with the photos below. And check out archive.org for an audience recording of the show if the setlist below appeals at all.
Phil Lesh & The Midnight Ramble Band Bethel Woods Center For The Arts – Bethel, NY 8/20/22
Set 1: Tennessee Jed, Rubin & Cherise, Scarlet Begonias > Not Fade Away, Brokedown Palace, Franklin’s Tower, Ophelia, Sugaree
Set 2: Shakedown Street, Playing in the Band, Eyes of the World, Chest Fever, Unbroken Chain, Atlantic City, River Deep, Mountain High
Andy Frasco & The U.N. played two new songs, overcame an early fiasco and threw a raging party over a two and a half hour long set with many old favorites on Friday, August 19. It marked his his first time playing at Lincoln Hill Farms in Canandaigua, NY.
The band also announced plans for its New Year’s Eve show at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo on Dec. 31.
Photo by Carla R. Coots
The band was rocking from start to finish; it seemed like everyone else was surely amped up on plenty of energy drinks or something. Except they hit a snag right into the second song “Blame it on Me” when the power went out on some speakers and Frasco’s microphone was cut. The band quickly improvised, as Ernie Chang on saxophone played as loud as he could while he and guitarist Shawn Eckles traded licks back and forth and drummer Daniel Avila kept the tempo going. Frasco pulled out the signature bottle of Jameson whiskey out and it seemed like an appropriate time to have a drink. Whatever technical difficulty happened, it was enough for the whole band to take a break and get off stage.
When they came back, they finished “Blame it On Me” and Frasco and the band seemed like they were ready to get past that mishap and crush the rest of the night.
Frasco shared some new music with the crowd as he went into “I Miss Getting High Just to Get By,” then he played another new one right after with “High On Our Own Supply.”
He then played another two rocking songs with “Love, Come Down” and “Slam Piece” and the band did not slow down one bit. Frasco said, “Let’s get the party started,” and cracked open a beer to dump all over himself. He then took a moment to chat with the crowd and get everyone pumped up as they teased the deep riffs of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” and went into a short version of Van Halen’s “Running with The Devil” which fit the band with their wild energy and crazy hair.
“Pay to See Your Smile” then slowed things up a bit along with the song “Better Day” that gave the band a chance to catch their breath and wipe the sweat off their faces. Chang played keys for the song and the slow start built up into an epic climax with guitarist Shawn Eckles giving it 110 percent.
Photo by Carla R. Coots
They played “Baby, Take the Day Off” and then Frasco said he always wanted to play drums on a farm, so the entire band changed which instruments they were playing. Everyone was still rocking, and it seemed like everyone knew what they were doing on each instrument. Guitarist Eckles continued to crush it on every instrument he played form the keys to drums. Frasco ended up on the bass and it looked good on him.
Back on their normal instruments, and before the next song, Frasco had some jokes for the crowd and then they went into a cover of Sublime’s “Caress Me Down.” They played “Make It Work” and then he said they wanted to play some older songs since this was the first time they played in the area, The band proceeded to go through “Good Man,” “Kind of Crazy” and “It’s Been a Struggle.” Afterwards, they went into a classic rock cover of Foghat’s “Slow Ride” and Frasco said they were going to improvise and play more random songs and then went into “Sunny Day Soldier.”
Next, they had a singing contest, and every member had their chance. Frasco said that Chang never sings in these, but even he participated this time around. The night was also filled with references to the Buffalo Bills, getting the crowd pumped at every mention of Josh Allen and aspirations for a Super Bowl. Frasco will surely be a favorite in New York when the band returns for their NYE show in December.
Photo by Carla R. Coots
They then went into “Smoking Dope N Rock & Roll” and if things weren’t already turned up, the band heated it up even more with a “Blame It On The Pussy” that got everyone back in full rage mode. Frasco then played the fan favorite “What More Can I Say” as the crowd sang all the lyrics along with him. He then got into the crowd to kick off the Shabbat with a Hora as the band played “Hava Nagila” as the crowd went left and right according to Frasco’s instructions.
The band closed the set with “Dream” and came back out for an encore starting with “Change Of Pace.” Frasco had a heart-to-heart with the crowd and sent us off with his positive song “Keep On Keepin’ On.” But before things were over, he sent everyone back into full rage mode with a cover of Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing In The Name Of.” The crowd knew what they were in for as a circle opened up and it turned into a hardcore show for the last few minutes.
Organ Fairchild opened the show and Andy Frasco’s main bassist Supa Man was not at the show, with Chris Lorentz filling in.
Andy Frasco & The UN Lincoln Hill Farms – Canandaigua, NY Aug. 19, 2022
Setlist: Find A Way, Blame It On Me, I Miss Getting High – (First Time Played), High On Our Own Supply (First Time Played), Love, Come Down, Slam Piece, Running With The Devil (Van Halen cover), Pay To See You Smile, Better Day, Baby, Take The Day Off, Caress Me Down (Sublime cover), Make It Work, Good Man, Kind Of Crazy, Make It Work, It’s Been a Struggle, Slow Ride (Foghat cover), Sunny Day Soldier, *Singing contest*, Smoking Dope N Rock & Roll, Blame it on the Pussy, What More Can I Say?, Hava Nagila, Dancing Around My Grave, Dream
Encore: Change of Pace, Keep On Keepin’ On, Killing In The Name Of – (Rage Against the Machine cover)
The Yardbirds recently announced their Fall 2022 U.S. tour dates with six shows in the month of Sept. The English rock band will come to Daryl’s House in Pawling on Sep. 21 after stops in Massachusetts.
Known for their experimental blues-rock sound, the Yardbirds brought the world some of the greatest musicians including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page, and spurred British blues in the 1960s. The current lineup for the group includes original drummer/composer Jim McCarty, lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist John Idan, bassist Kenny Aaronson, lead guitarist Godfrey Townsend, and Myke Scavone of The Doughboys on harp, percussion, and backing vocals.
With their chart-topping hit “For Your Love,” the Yardbirds captured fans’ attention and continue to meld heavy rock, wild jams, blues, and more. The band’s most recently released the super deluxe version of their 1966 album, Roger the Engineer, in 2021. The album features multiple versions of tracks, mixes, and more with 40 tracks total.
The Yardbirds continue to influence generations of bands and artists today making any show of theirs a testament to that inspiration. See below for the complete list of the six September Fall tour dates for the Yardbirds. Tickets are currently available via the band’s website.
The Yardbirds 2022 Fall Tour Schedule:
September 17 – West Yarmouth, MA – Music Room Cape Cod
September 19-20 – West Springfield, MA – The Big E
On Aug. 19, Anthrax was set to play their 40th-anniversary tour at the Armory in Rochester. With support from the Black Label Society and Hatebreed, but that did not fully happen. Only Hatebreed got to play a part of their set before ending early. They were supposed to play 17 songs but only played 13 of them. Then almost an hour later, it was announced to the fans there was an issue and the rest of the show would be canceled.
Due to unforeseen production issues, the show tonight at the Main Street Armory in Rochester had to be canceled by both ANTHRAX and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY as it was unsafe for the bands to perform. ANTHRAX and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY do not cancel shows lightly but we could not put the health and safety of the bands and crew at risk. All of the bands tonight apologize for the inconvenience and disappointment. We will be back to Rochester to rock another time. Refunds are available at the point of purchase starting Tuesday, August 23.
Statement from the band
ANTHRAX’s guitarist Scott Ian also took to his personal Twitter to write: “Rochester we didn’t want to cancel, we had to. The stage was broken, the venue did not fix it and it was not safe to continue the show. It’s shitty for you, it’s shitty for us. We’ll be back my friends, on a real stage.”
Hatebreed
Drummer Matt Byrne. Photo credit- Mike Miller
Hatebreed is an American metalcore band from Bridgeport, Connecticut, formed in 1994. The band released its debut album Satisfaction is the Death of Desire in 1997, which gave the band a cult following. The band signed to Universal Records and released Perseverance in 2002, which hit the Billboard 200. Combining elements of hardcore and heavy metal, the band is often described as metalcore, hardcore punk, and beatdown hardcore band. They have played a major role in the Connecticut hardcore scene.
The Strokes are an alternative rock band from New York City, often credited with influencing the revival of 1960s-style rock in the early 21st century. The band was formed in 1998 and was arranged by singer Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture, and drummer Fabrizio Moretti.
How The Strokes became “The Strokes“
Eventually, after playing in clubs throughout New York’s Lower East side, the Stokes revival began to make a name for themselves. For instance, The Strokes sold out shows such as The Capitol Theater. But why are the Strokes called The Strokes in the first place?
The band’s bassist, Nikolai, revealed to NME, “We had a running joke that every time we met up, we had to have a certain number of names. Some were horrible. One day Julian said, ‘How about The Strokes?’ And it was the one name we all didn’t disagree on.”
Although The Strokes were becoming very popular in NYC, Albert Hammond Jr is the most business-like out of the band’s members. In the early days, he booked shows and harassed record executives claiming to be the band’s manager, and using the fictitious name, Paul Spencer.
The Strokes Influenced Many Popular Artists Today
While Tom Petty, The Ramones, Blondie, and Television have had a heavy influence on their early sound, The Stroke’s music has inspired numerous artists and created a distinct 2000s alternative sound.
Bands such as The Killers, Artic Monkeys, The Kooks, MGMT, and more became inspired by their sound and broadened the alternative genre. Along with the White Stripes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Strokes revival helped shape the sound and look of alternative rock in the 2000s.
“Is This It” and It’s Aesthetic
In the 2000s, The Strokes’ unique sound sparked a revival of alternative rock within New York City. Primarily, their recording of “This Is It” has influenced younger teens to have a “late 90s grunge aesthetic.”
Along with this, frontman Julian Casablancas embodied this look. The aesthetic consisted of using the social media staple Tumblr, worn leather jackets, tattered denim, and cigarettes.
The Breakup of The Strokes
The Strokes were big throughout the early 2000s, but over time began to lose their spotlight. The band members began to lose their harmony and took a break from performing together, some took their own ways and started other projects.
After some time apart, the band came back together and released their newest album “The New Abnormal” which has been a huge hit with all the millennials.
The era of “The New Abnormal” and its Fame
The Strokes’ newest album, “The New Abnormal,” is a huge hit today. For instance, the song “The Adults Are Talking” is currently trending on social media like TikTok, inspiring kids across the new generation. The album was released on April 10th, 2020, and is their first album in seven years. It’s not every day that a band can come back strong, but using their signature sound and melodies, they have become popularized once again.
On the eve of the 53rd anniversary of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair, blues/rock artist Kenny Wayne Shepherd brought with him living blues legend Buddy Guy and up-and-coming blues man Christone “Kingfish” Ingram to the Bethel Woods stage for three sets of incredible music. The showcase of three generations of blues musicians is the inaugural edition of the touring Backroads Blues Festival. In addition to a remarkable evening of music, Shephard spoke with us about the tour and the entire interview can be seen at the end of this article.
The Backroads Blues Festival’s inaugural run is visiting six venues between the Northeast and Virginia and included two stops in New York. Christone Ingram, a Mississippi native who goes by the nickname Kingfish, has had an impressive career so far for only being only 23 years old. While he has a bit of a name for himself, the show was a fantastic introduction for new fans. Though a younger musician, he blazed through his guitar work with emotion as if the blues were his primary language.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who conceived the idea of this festival and curated the show, took the stage with his own band between Kingfish and headliner Buddy Guy. Shepherd is a musician who knows the business and how to draw his audience in to his music and guitar with his stage presence. Shepherd’s set included not only his own work, but concluded with a hat tip to the legendary B.B. King with “You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now.” Headlining the show was Buddy Guy, who celebrated his 86th birthday over the summer. There is a lot to be said for seeing and hearing Buddy perform which is why his shows are not just a performance, but an experience. He works the crowd with his wit, humor, and a sharp sense of being in the moment with his band to deliver pure, unfiltered blues.
Before the evening concluded, both Shepherd and Kingfish joined Buddy Guy on stage to trade solos and do some call and response traditional to the style. As Buddy Guy usually does at the end of his shows, he set his guitar down and let his band (along with Shepherd and Kingfish) jam and play him out while he paraded around the stage to toss some guitar picks into the crowd.
The Backroads Blues Festival was a unique experience of listening to three generations of musicians fit into a touring concert format. The crowd was left energized by the music with conversations about each of the three performers drifting through the air when the lights came back on. While the festival tour is wrapping up this weekend, we’re looking forward to the future versions of the Backroads Blues Festival coming back around to New York.
Interview with Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Steve Malinski: You mentioned during the show that the, this touring festival’s kind of been a dream of yours for a few years. So what inspired that dream to bring a few gen generations of blues musicians together like that?
Kenny Wayne Shepherd: Well, I felt like there’s something, you know, there’s an opportunity for something like this. There’s kind of a void and I was looking to fill it. When I was a kid, there was an annual touring blues festival that B.B. King did. And, you know, I went to it several times over the years as a spectator, as a fan and saw some of the greatest talent in blues from Etta James, B.B. King, Joe Cocker, Stevie Ray and Jimmy Vaughan, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy. I mean, the list goes on and on, right. And then not too long after I joined it as an artist and did the tour myself with my band several times over the years. So, I mean, I just have a lot of really fond memories of that festival and those kinds of experiences. And I think I wanted to give the fans the opportunity to have their own experience like that, you know? I also think the genre still needs something like that. The multi-generational approach where you had three different generations of kind of the hottest names in blues. But I mean, the goal is just to have the best bands that are out there right now. I mean, it doesn’t necessarily always have to be representative of three generations, but I thought that was a really perfect way of kicking off the tour.
SM: Yeah, it’s kind of a neat way of doing that.
KWS: Yeah, I think it was good. I mean, Kingfish, he’s one of the big up and comers, he just won a Grammy. I mean, he’s kind of really blazing a trail and making a name for himself. And then, I’m the generation before and then Buddy’s, obviously the generation before that and everybody’s kind of at the top of their game. And so, it was a really strong lineup.
SM: So how’s the experience been so far with it having a few shows in the books already?
KWS: I think it’s great. I mean, to be honest with you the first night in Providence was completely packed. And it was a really great opening night. Bethel had a great crowd as well, but, you know, we were getting constant feedback. My people who were out in the merch area and the crew that was scattered throughout the venue and even myself at the end of the night… all the people that were working at the venue as they were leaving were just extremely complimentary about the show, said it was one of the best shows that they had there all season.
So you know, that’s great. I mean, obviously, this is my project and it’s very important to me, but I mean, I’m telling you every single person that walked outta that venue that walked past me told me how great the show was. So that’s really satisfying. It’s very encouraging, especially because we’re trying to establish the brand here, because we want to move forward with this on an annual basis. They said they would love to have us come back again.
SM: Yeah. One of the things I was going to say is I see huge potential for this growing into something more than just the limited run of shows you’re doing this summer.
KWS: Yeah, this tour is more to get the word out, establish the brand and kind of like a proof of concept for lack of a better term. But back in the day the B.B. King fest would have around four headlining acts and then they would also have local acts that would perform, you know early on in the day. I mean the whole thing would start, and the local act was playing at like 4, 4:30 in the afternoon, you know? So it was a bit of a longer event and I’m hoping that we can grow into that. And the goal is to be inclusive. We’re gonna have, the hottest women of the blues, the hottest artists. Also, it’s like everything doesn’t always have to be electric either. There might be, you know, some more acoustic driven blues artists that will be included in the bill going forward and things like that. But regardless, it’s gonna be the top performers in the genre for sure.
SM: Awesome. So I’ve seen Buddy Guy a handful of times, and he always talks about learning, not from the book, but just from what he hears and picks up from others. What have you kind of picked up on as inspirations from working with Buddy Guy and Kingfish as you’ve gotten ready for this tour?
KWS: Well, I mean, I’ve learned a lot from Buddy Buy. And so has any other guitar player in the past, you know, 50 years probably. I mean, Jimi Hendrix was a huge fan of Buddy Guy’s. So Buddy influenced, you know, the guy who’s regarded as the greatest guitar player of all time. So people, whether they even realize it or not have been influenced and affected by Buddy Guy and who he is and what he does. So, I mean, the main thing is he’s just incredible at age 86, you know, that he can perform at the level that he’s still performing at. And he’s a true show. And I just, I try and absorb that to the best of my abilities and, and take, things from people like that and incorporate them into what I do. And, that’s the tradition for all of us.
SM: As you know, the Woodstock anniversary is this week. So being on that historic site, were any special feelings that you had performing at Bethel Woods?
KWS: Yeah. You know, I’ve gotten to play this venue more than a few times over the course of my career. And, I’ve been to the site and done that whole thing. It’s certainly cool. I mentioned it earlier on, I think on one of my social media posts, especially because we are doing a music festival and launching a music festival… It’s like that place is sacred ground for music festivals. It was one of the biggest of all time, one of the most historic music festivals of all time took place there. So I thought it was an amazing opportunity to try and do the inaugural run of my festival and play one of our dates at that location.
SM: I noticed you have a tour coming up leading into next year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of your album Trouble Is…. So looking back to 1997 and before, when you signed your first record deal at a six as a 16 year old kid in the early 90s, how do you reflect back on that?
KWS: The first album [Ledbetter Heights] came out in ‘95, right after I graduated high school. I had recorded that one when I was 17. And then the one that we’re celebrating is the second album Trouble Is…, and that came out when I was like 19 years old in 1997. I mean, you know, I was young by any means. To compare to anything that’s a very young age to start a career and have that kind of success. And now I’m 45 years old and certainly, you know, a lot of time has passed. I mean, I think one of the most satisfying things we have accomplished a lot – we’ve sold millions of records. I’ve got several golden platinum albums hanging on the wall, awards on the shelf, all of those great things that any artist could ever hope for. But to me, the biggest accomplishment is the fan base that we have acquired over the years. You know, because people that are fans of this music, the music is timeless. It’s not stuck in an era. So, it’s not like pop music that has a certain sound from a certain era which then people move on from that. This is timeless music. And generally people who become fans of this kind of music kind of dig it for life, you know? And so as a result, that’s why 30 years later I’m out here and we’re still accomplishing things and we’re still making new achievements and we’re still, you know, selling tickets to concerts and selling out venues and moving into bigger venues, into new markets and things like that. That’s the biggest accomplishment because without the fan base that we have, then, none of it would be possible. And so they’ve stuck with me and they’ve kind of hung in there with me for 30 years now and they continue to make it possible for me to pursue, my dreams.
SM: Going off of that, have you run into a lot of younger musicians who are looking up to your middle generation of blues musicians as inspiration?
KWS: So, everybody knows that I started so young. I mean, over the entire 30 years of my career, I’ve run into a lot of younger musicians that come because they heard about my story and, you know, they’re aspiring young guitar players and, and things like that. And so, there’s no shortage of young people that are interested in music and there’s never any void of young people that are interested in blues and for some, it’s a stepping stone and they move on to other genres. And for some people like Kingfish, they try and make a life’s career out of it. But, my job is to be a good example and to be encouraging to them and just kind of do what I can do while I’m here and make my contribution, you know, as solid as possible.
The state of the jam scene is currently solid. Not since Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Twiddle playing Garcia’s in 2014 has the infusion of infectious improvisational music been so exciting. With Goose, and now Dogs in a Pile, the ascending acts in today’s foray are strong. Dogs in a Pile performed a sold out show at Garcia’s on Thursday, August 11 and it was a storied affair. Becoming grizzled veterans quickly, the show served as the band’s ninth performance at the famed space.
Formed in 2018, (guitarist Brian Murray joined the lineup in 2019) Dogs In A Pile consists of Sam Lucid (bass), Jeremy Kaplan (keys), Joe Babick (drums), Brian Murray (guitar) and Jimmy Law (guitar). Based out of Asbury Park, NJ, the band is blowing up – having already performed at a gamut of respected festivals including Peach Music Festival, Summercamp, Domefest, ADK fest and Beardfest. DIAP is influenced by a wide range of esteemed acts including The Grateful Dead, Steely Dan, Phish, Frank Zappa, Dopapod, Twiddle and Jade Cicada. They have dropped a full-length studio album called Not Your Average Beagle, which is available on all streaming platforms. They also have live recordings that have been released through platforms such as Bandcamp, Nugs.net and YouTube.
Starting their career by playing Grateful Dead music together, they evolved into composing original material – everyone writes and composes the material, but Brian and Sam are the primary songwriters. They currently have a catalog of 51 original songs. The band hopes to release their next studio record in the upcoming months and it is currently untitled. The group’s name derives from the Grateful Dead classic “He’s Gone.” Bassist Sam Lucid, one of the many Berklee School of music grads in the band, exclaimed, “There are lots of exciting future plans, including the release of a new studio album, tour dates across the country as well as some exciting supporting tours that have yet to be announced!”
It was hard to remember Garcia’s being so crowded. The energy was palpable before the start with partygoers crowding the stage – it reminded one of DIAP’s most popular songs, “Can’t Wait for Tonight” (45,000+ streams on Spotify) with the lyrics, “Let’s go to the show, I hear the Dogs are back for more!” It’s hard to choose just a few highlights from all the offerings. Dogs In A Pile still shares a penchant for playing the Grateful Dead and this was demonstrated with a first set highlight of a delightful take on the obscure Grateful Dead ditty, “Dupree’s Diamond Blues.” Sang by Kaplan, it was a fast, fun and infectious romp. Any list of the band’s assets begins with the vocals – a smooth and rich sound that reminds one of a close friend coming over for dinner. The jams were tight and took one on a stellar journey to the unknown.
The familiar chords of “Bubble” marked the beginning of the highlight of the second set – a song from the band’s studio album. A jam laden tune, it builds to crescendo and shows intricate guitar interplay between the members before seamlessly segueing into “EDM.” Three songs debuted on this night: “Frosty,” “Appleseed,” and a bombastic cover of the Rolling Stones “Shine a Light.” The harmonies were lush and layered and offered an exquisite depth of sound The set was festive with rambunctious high-energy and one could hear the influence of Phish in some of the improvisational jams. When the show concluded, the venue was still packed. It was as if no one wanted to leave. With an impeccably crafted two sets of exploratory music, Dogs in a Pile left satiated revelers and left them with “nothin left to do but smile, smile, smile.”
Dogs In A Pile Garcia’s – Port Chester, NY 8/11/22 Set 1: Crazy, Westward, Blues for Brian > Snow Day, Thomas Duncan Part 2, Dupree’s Diamond Blues, G Song Set 2: Stranger, Frosty, Bubble > EDM Song, Bent Strang), Spun > Appleseed, Shine A Light, Charlie
On Sept. 8, DJ and music producer Steve Aoki will headline Marquee’s New York Fashion Week Kick-Off Party.
Aoki has an impressive history of performances at festivals such as Coachella, Ultra Music Festival, Lollapalooza, and many more. The two-time Grammy nominee will be previewing new music from his forthcoming studio album HiROQUEST: Genesiswhich is set for release on Sept. 16.
HiROQUEST: Genesisfeatures multiple collaborations with artists such as Taking Back Sunday, Kane Brown, MOD SUN, Santa Fe Klan, Snow Tha Product, John Martin, Lil Xan, and more. The 26-track LP blends elements of contemporary Latin, pop, pop-punk, and dance.
Steve Aoki as a fashion designer, artist, entrepreneur, and Dim Mak Records founder is one of the most in-demand acts in the world. Previous collaborations with Aoki include BTS, Maluma, Snoop Dogg, Linkin Park, blink-182, One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, Machine Gun Kelly, and Lil Uzi Vert. The upcoming album is the artist’s highly-anticipated seventh studio album.
New York Fashion Week, held in February and September of each year, is a semi-annual series of events when international fashion collections are shown to buyers, the press, and the general public.
The New York Fashion Week Kick-Off party will be located at the Marquee Nightclub at 289 10th Ave. Tickets and table reservations for the Steve Aoki event are currently available on the nightclub’s website.
Keep Flying headlined at Nail Creek Pub & Brewery in Utica on Aug. 18. The band was excited to perform following their recent debut EP Revival. When stepping on stage most performers work hard to encourage the crowd to stand up and dance, this wasn’t quite the case for Keep Flying.
Northeast six-piece punk-rock band, Keep Flying features a horn component and revealing lyrics that hit close to home. Although it was the band’s first show in Utica, they plan to make a reappearance soon. Keep Flying is currently touring the United States.
Nail Creek Pub & Brewery has an outdoor stage. The pit and seating area were at maximum capacity. Opening performances from Pepper on the Salad and Career Mode warmed up the large crowd.
Keep Flying began their set promptly at 9:30 P.M. Moments after the group began, a mosh pit formed and others in the crowd who didn’t participate were jumping and fist-pumping. Several people surfed throughout the set, even the show host, AJ Bates. The precise sound of the saxophone played by singer, John Ryan, was played with a significant amount of high energy as he danced and jumped around the stage while playing.
At the tail end of the show, the crowd cheered “another song!” repeatedly. With their final burst of energy, Keep Flying played an encore. The group is an absolute must-see act that left all in the crowd desiring more.
State Champs have announced their Kings Of The New Age tour which will begin in November and end in the band’s hometown of Albany in December. The tour is in promotion of the group’s new album and special guests Hunny, Between You & Me, Young Culture, Games We Play, and Save Face will join for select dates.
State Champs released their 4th studio album, Kings Of The New Age, earlier this year. Comprised of Derek DiScanio, Tyler Szalkowski, Ryan Scott Graham, and Evan Ambrosio, the group has been on the pop-punk scene for years. Guest vocalists on the newest album include Chrissy Costanza, Mitchell Tenpenny, and Four Year Strong. At 35 minutes long, the 11-track work doubles down on the vibrant sound State Champs has produced for over a decade.
Kings of The New Age is our fourth album, the one that we spent the most time on, and the one that makes the biggest statement. After writing over 30 songs, we narrowed it down to 11 that best represent our mission as a band, and sonically, match the energy level we wanted to captivate heading into this new chapter.
– State Champs
State Champs began in bedrooms and basements in 2010 and grew into a band with a faithful legion of fans. The upcoming tour brings the Albany band to various states and cities across North America for great nights of pop-punk sound. On Nov. 13, the group will play at the Brooklyn Steel before returning to New York for the final show at Empire Live on Dec. 10.
Photo Credit: Alex Mcdonell
I’m particularly excited for the KOTNA Tour because of how much we as a band are focusing on the aesthetic and flow of the show … this will be the first tour where it feels more like an experience rather than just a band on stage playing songs. The stage production is by far the most unique and badass it’s ever been, and you bet the mixture of songs in our catalog (new songs, old songs, and some surprises) will create a wild setlist. Best night ever.
-Vocalist Derek DiScanio
Tickets are available now at the band’s website and for the full list of tour dates and special guests see below.
Upcoming State Champs Tour Dates
Sep 10 – Washington, PA – Four Chord Music Festival
Sep 13 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit^
Sep 14 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady Music Center^
Sep 30 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre Berkeley^
