The second annual Rail Rider Jamboree is coming to Ellicottville on March 18, 2023, at Holiday Valley Resort, with a stellar lineup comprised of new and old faces.
The Rail Rider Jamboree is a weekend filled with music, skiing, snowboarding competitions, brews and so much more. The promoters of Borderland Music + Arts Festival teamed up with the Holiday Valley Resort to bring this weekend to fans. The Jamboree is outdoors with music starting around 1 p.m. on March 18, with doors opening at 12 p.m. at the resort in the field on Rt. 219 across from the SnowPine chair.
The Jamboree will kick off on March 17 with rail jam contests and live music, slopeside at the base of the mountain at the Rail Park, with some free music by a funk improv band from Buffalo, at the Holiday Valley Cabana Bar from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. The next day will bring some exciting music to the resort, like headliners Dark Star Orchestra. They have performed for over 25 years and at some 3,100 shows, performing a show based on a set list from the Grateful Dead’s 30 years of extensive touring.
Also headlining the Rail Rider Jamboree is Eggy, improv rockers comprised of guitarist and vocalist Jake Brownstein, keyboardist Dani Battat, bassist Michael Goodman and drummer Alex Bailey. Another headliner includes Mike Gantzer, guitarist of groove rock band Aqueous, who is assembling a band just for Rail Rider. Also performing will be local bands Grub from Buffalo and the New Orleans style marching band Brass Machine.
Lodging with options to add on lift tickets and other resort activities are available to book with the resort today, with package Jamboree tickets to be announced. The event is for all ages, and tickets are on sale now.
On Saturday, December 17th, Kendall Street Company closed their two-night run at Mercury Lounge in New York City. Based out of Charlottesville, VA, the band headlined Friday and Saturday night in the East Village with opening performances from Litz and One Time Weekend, respectively. Kendall Street Company brings a unique flare comprised of deep, genre-fluid compositions and unfiltered silly banter.
The company opened their second night with their reggae groove, “Marty Song.” After warming up the crowd with the sweet slow beats of the song, the band took the jam in a very dark direction, foretelling of the serious improvisation to come the rest of the night.
Next, the band punched into “Board Shorts.” Lead guitarist, Ben Laderberg shredded through ska and funk scales as Kendall Street continued to glide through different genres in their original composition. Following was a cover of Wet Leg’s “Chaise Longue” whose silly spoken-word lyrics fit perfectly in the song repertoire of Virginia’s most whimsical jam-band.
“Lunar Dude” had interstellar jams leading into an extended jam, and a buttery smooth transition into the chorus of “Walking on the Moon” by the Police and back into the resolution of the spacey jam. The next cover of the set was “I Got Stoned and I Missed It” by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show. Rolling solos from saxophonist, Jake Vannaman carried the fun energy into a rendition of their blissful tune, “Cherry Tree.”
Kendall Street Company then performed one of their newest songs, “California #24” which can be found on their EP, Untitled California Project. This song was written and sung by guitarist Laderberg features spoken-word lyrics and funky guitar solos reminiscent of Frank Zappa.
After this heater, the crowd got to cool down while enjoying the slow acoustic melody of “Lady in Green” from the album The Stories We Write for Ourselves. The waves of energy at Mercury Lounge were brought up with the song “Telephone,” whose extended jam provided a seamless transition into “Say Hey” sung by bassist, Brian Roy before resolving the “Telephone” jam.
Apropos to the holiday spirit, Kendall Street Company played a quick rendition of “Trucking Trees for Christmas” by Red Simpson followed by a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Bertha” in the band’s signature jazz-grass style. The crowd was then treated to “Katz in ze Haus,” whose techno rave vibes are hilarious paired with a silly and ambiguous European accent from Louis Smith, followed by their most streamed hit, “Cars” which came with a KSC-style medley at the end of “Just a Friend” by Biz Markie and Soulja Boi.
Encoring the show with “Wasted,” the room was filled with rattling klezmer scales from Vanaman, as drummer Ryan Wood solos on his toms and caps off the set, the band went into a quick chorus of their song, “Aged White Cheddar” at the request of a fan up front.
Kendall Street Company’s unique art has gained serious traction in the Jam band scene with future performances opening for bands such as, The Infamous Stringdusters, Twiddle, and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong.
Kendall Street Company – Mercury Lounge, Manhattan – Saturday, December 17, 2022
Setlist: Marty Song, Board Shorts, Chaise Longue [1], Lunar Dude, I Got Stoned and I Missed It [2], Cherry Tree., California #24, Lady in Green, Telephone > Say Hey!, Truckin Trees for Christmas [3], Bertha [4], Catz in Zeh Haus, Cars > Just a Friend > Crank Dat [5] [6]
Encore: Wasted [7]
[1] – Wet Leg [2] – Little Feat [3] – Red Simpson [4] – Grateful Dead [5] – Biz Markie [6] – Soulja Boy [7] – Tease of Aged White Cheddar at end
The CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival will feature the great Bonnie Raitt on June 27th at the Festival’s 20th-anniversary edition. More than just a best-selling artist, expressive singer, and accomplished songwriter, Bonnie Raitt will bring her “Just Like That…Tour” on Tuesday, June 27th, 2023. The festival will be held from June 23rd to July 1st, 2023, in downtown Rochester.
The infamous Raitt has become an institution in American music. Born to a musical family, the ten-time Grammy winner is the daughter of celebrated Broadway singer John Raitt and accomplished pianist/singer Marge Goddard. Raitt was raised in Los Angeles where she grew up to have a respect for the arts and a commitment to social activism.
Bonnie is as known for her lifelong commitment to social activism as she is for her music. She has long been involved with the environmental movement, doing concerts around oil, nuclear power, mining, water and forest protection since the mid 70’s.
She even stated, “I’ve always wanted to make a record here, and once vaccinations made traveling safe again, we were thrilled to get everyone back together.” The mix of sounds and approaches on Just Like That…reveals how, 50 years after the release of her debut album, Bonnie Raitt continues to personify what it means to stay creative, adventurous, and daring over the course of a life’s work. “I think the absolute joy and relief of reuniting to play live music is really palpable on this record.”
With Just Like That…, this is her twenty-first album and first new release in more than six years. Rolling Stone even named her as both one of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” and one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bonnie Raitt continues to draw on the range of influences that have shaped her legendary career.
Tickets for Bonnie Raitt at CGI Rochester International Jazz Fest range in price from: Boxes $140, Orchestra $125, Loge/Mezzanine $105, Balcony $85. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 16th at 10am. To purchase, click the link here or call (585) 454-2060.
Tim Reynolds brought his rock trio TR3 to the historic Strand Theater in Hudson Falls in December. The merry crowd was treated to a blend of acoustic-rock and jazz-fusion instrumentals, with a couple of classic covers thrown in for good measure. TR3 really loves the Strand Theater and it is obvious both in their banter and in the way they play. You can see the pleasure in their faces as they showcase their talented chops. Peter Harris writes this about their visit in January 2022 at The Strand Theater: “[Tim] has a special knack for tailoring moods, creating ambience, and shredding tastefully.”
Tim Reynolds at The Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.
For those that don’t know, the Strand Theater has a historic past. It began as a movie theatre in the early 1920s. The transformations it had include being a warehouse and eventually a county court house. It was a “white, stale municipal building” as Director Jonathan Newell says to the Times Union. This theater is anything but that now. Gorgeous inside and out! A perfect place to jam for TR3 with Tim Reynolds leading the way.
TR3 at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.
TR3 featuring Tim Reynolds wraps up their December tour this weekend on Friday and Saturday in Concord, NH and Fall River, MA, respectively. Catch them if you can, and Tim’s trio will have your feet tapping along. Just the way Tim likes it! Be sure to check out the photos below to see this beautiful theater and the trio in action.
Tim Reynolds – Strand Theater, Hudson Falls, NY – December 13, 2022
Setlist: Dirty Feet, All By Design, Everything Could Be OK, So Am I, Watch It!, Radar Contact, On This Mountain, Sweet Spot, Mutant Swarm, Sun is Still There, U Can U Have U Will, Wanna Get With You, Going Places, Bone to Pick, Kabbalah, Riders on the Storm, Bowie Encore: Chicago
Tim Reynolds at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Dan Martier at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Mick Vaughn at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.TR3 at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Tim Reynolds at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Mick Vaughn at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Dan Martier at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Tim Reynolds’ guitars at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Mick Vaughn’s bass guitar at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Dan Martier’s drums at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Mick Vaughn at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.The Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Mick Vaughn at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Dan Martier at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.TR3 at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.
Today the lineup was announced for the Peach Music Festival, a four-day event coming to Montage Mountain in Scranton, PA from June 29 to July 2.
The Peach Music Festival was created in 2012 as the first-ever Allman Brothers Band-inspired festival in the Northeast and has quickly evolved into one of the most highly-anticipated summer musical events loved by music enthusiasts from across the nation. It is a one-of-a-kind festival, as it features food and craft vendors on the grounds and access to the scenic Montage Mountain Ski Resort’s large water park.
The 2023 edition of the festival sees Goose, Tedeschi Trucks Band, My Morning Jacket, and Ween headlining. For the past few years, Goose and the Tedeschi Trucks Band have been performing, as they are popular acts people love to go see. My Morning Jacket released their self-titled album last year, and have been touring all year. Ween has yet to play at the Peach Music Festival, and their alternative rock style will be a great addition to the diverse range of artists on the bill.
Other great artists will be performing at the unique festival, including Duane Betts, Andy Frasco & The U.N., TAUK ft. Kanika Moore, Magic City Hippies, Dogs In A Pile, and more. There will also be features, like founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, Jaimoe, performing as Jaimoe and Friends, duo Brother and Sister, and a special appearance by Trouble No More, featuring Brandon “Taz” Niederaurer (Guitar, Vocals), Daniel Donato (Guitar, Vocals), Dylan Niederaurer (Bass Guitar), Jack Ryan (Drums), Lamar Williams Jr. (Vocals), Nikki Glaspie (Drums), Peter Levin (Keys) and Roosevelt Collier (Pedal Steel Guitar), performing the Allman Brothers Band album Brothers & Sisters.
Also appearing at The Peach Music Festival 2023 are Lawrence, Thumpasaurus, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Karina Rykman, Ghost Light, Tapers Choice, Son Little, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Mihali, Raq, TAZ Plays Hendrix, Circles Around The Sun, Melt, Mo Lowda & The Humble, Oh He Dead, Cris Jacobs Band, Friends of the Brothers, Couch, Psycodelics, Yam Yam, Hans Williams, Ally Venable, Parrotfish, Will Evans, Wax Owls, Brown Eyed Woman, Veronica Lewis, Baked Shrimp, Quinn Sullivan, Kanika Moore Presents The Broadband, The Sweet Lillies, JB Strauss, Kendall Street Company, One Time Weekend, Proper Tea, RoastJohn, and more.
Tickets for the 2023 Peach Music Festival are on sale now, and new this year will be a GA+ ticket allowing fans with a General Admission ticket access under the pavilion for headliner sets (in the 200-level seating area) for $149.
A flocking good time was had in downtown Albany as two of the jam scenes hottest acts – Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Dogs in a Pile – teamed up for an unforgettable evening of ‘bird-dogging’ at Empire Live on Friday, December 9th. Packing out the venue and lighting up the crowd with a healthy dose of high energy funk, top-shelf improvisation, psychedelic dance grooves and plenty of good old-fashioned shredding, the evening also served as birthday celebration for Dogs’ keyboardist Jeremy Kaplan.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong performing at Empire Live in Albany (12/9/22)
Flanked in tie dye and smothered in patchouli, fans flocked to the venue early enough to catch the opening act Dogs in a Pile. One of the most talked about up-and-coming bands around, 2022 has been a huge year for the young New Jersey quintet. Consisting of Jimmy Law and Brian Murray on guitars, Sam Lucid on bass, Joe Babick on drums and the Jeremy Kaplan on keys, the exciting group wasted no time showing everyone what all the buzz is about.
Dogs in a Pile performing at Empire Live in Albany (12/9/22)
Launching into the song “Look Johnny” and seamlessly transitioning into “Frosty” and “Fenway” before coming up for air, it was clear the Dogs were determined to make the most of their allotted time. Weaving together a tapestry of colorful sound with an undeniable charisma, Albany fans were then treated to the live debut of “Let U Go.” Rounding out the short, but impressive set was “G Song” followed by “Bent Strange,” but it wouldn’t be the last time we’d see members of the dog pound on stage this night.
The dogs were back in town on 12/9/22
After a brief break in the action, it was finally time for the long-awaited return of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong who had not played in Albany since March of 2019. Now celebrating 15 years as a band and touring in support of their sixth independent full-length album Perspective, some longtime fans could be heard reminiscing about seeing their first P4 show at the significantly smaller Red Square (now the Public Parish House) just down the block back in 2012. One of the most fan-friendly and hardest working bands going, their continued growth and popularity should come as a surprise to no one.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong performing at Empire Live in Albany (12/9/22)
Taking the stage and genuinely thanking everyone for coming out before even playing a single note, front man ‘Scrambled’ Greg Ormont was all smiles while giving his customary pre-show p-p-p-pep talk. Reassuring everyone that they were in for some serious fun, the party on North Pearl Street kicked off with “Porcupine” from the band’s 2017 album Pizazz. All warmed up and feeling good, things fell into place nicely when “Fall In Place” landed on a surprise Beatles cover of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” that boasted an absolutely gorgeous guitar solo from ax-man Jeremy Schon and a lengthy “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” (Led Zeppelin) tease for good measure.
Jeremy Schon of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong performing at Empire Live in Albany (12/9/22)
Now calling on a little help from their friends, it was at this point the band invited “the other Jeremy” out, welcoming Dogs in a Pile keyboardist and the birthday boy himself, Jeremy Kaplan back to the stage to sit on “Sunny Day.” Adding a whole new dynamic to an already funky sound, Kaplan’s contributions were huge here and he seemed like a natural fit, finally answering a question that’s been dogging P4 fans for years: “What would they sound like if they added some keys?” Quite the way to ring in your 24th birthday indeed. Keeping the dance party going strong, the one-two punch of “Move Like That” into “Live It Up” had the crowd worked up into a sweaty frenzy as the band brought the lengthy opening set to a close with “Elephante.”
Jeremy Kaplan sits in with PPPP on his 24th birthday (12/9/22)
Back with more positive vibes, Pigeons started the second frame with “Live Life” before going all in on an “Upfunk” sandwich that featured a jaw dropping drum solo from Alex “Gator” Petropoulos smack dab in the middle. Always clever with their setlists, a bit of an aquatic theme seemed to emerge as “Beneath the Surface” gave way to fan favorite “Poseidon” resulting in one of the biggest peaks of the evening courtesy of Schon’s incendiary shredding.
Ben Carrey of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong keeps it heady in Albany (12/9/22)
Master of disguise and purveyor of cool, bassist Ben Carrey was keeping it heady all night long, but perhaps his bass bombs were never more physically felt than on the next combination of songs, “Twitch” and “Water.” A scorching “High As Five” would bring the second set to a close and leave fans begging for more. Giving it 100 percent max effort and always happy to please “the flock”, Pigeons would take flight one final time, returning for an encore of” Schwanthem” and sending the hot crowd into the cold night with huge feelings of satisfaction. A fantastic evening of live music, song and dance, shared joy and vibe that quite simply downtown Albany hasn’t seen since before the pandemic.
Melting Lights: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong performing at Empire Live (12/9/22)
Up next for the band, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will head to Harrisburg, PA next weekend for a pair of shows at XL Live before closing out the year with a two-night New Year’s Eve celebration in Pittsburgh with the Magic Beans.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong | 12-9-2022 | Empire Live | Albany, NY
Set 1: Porcupine, Fall In Place > While My Guitar Gently Weeps* > Sunny Day^, Move Like That > Live It Up, Elephante
Set 2: Live Life > Upfunk > Drums > Upfunk, Beneath The Surface, Poseidon, Twitch > Water, High As Five
Encore: Schwanthem
* w/ “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” and “25 or 6 to 4” teases ^ w/ Jeremy Kaplan (Dogs In A Pile) on keys
Dogs in a Pile | 12-9-2022 | Empire Live | Albany, NY
Setlist: Look Johnny, Frosty, Fenway, Let U Go*, G Song, Bent Strange *Live Debut
Carnegie Hall will present the 18th annual Music Of fundraising performance, produced by Michael Dorf Presents, spotlighting the work of Paul McCartney, on March 15, 2023.
Paul McCartney has been bringing people together for decades with his influential music, spanning from one of the most popular groups ever, The Beatles, to his group Wings, and of course his extensive catalog of solo music. McCartney is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, and he has written or co-written a record of 32 songs that have topped the Billboard Hot 100.
The Music Of Paul McCartney will feature Lake Street Dive, Allison Russell, Bettye LaVette, Peter Asher, Ingrid Michaelson, Glen Hansard, Lyle Lovett, The Cactus Blossoms, and Shovels & Rope among others, each performing a song from McCartney’s vast collection of songs. Joining the lineup are Grahm Nash, Bruce Hornsby, Natalie Merchant, Sammy Rae, and The Head and the Heart’s Jonathan Russell. Michael Dorf Presents, established by Michael Dorf in 2003, founder of the Knitting Factory and City Winery, has been putting on the Music Of series at Carnegie Hall for 18 years.
What an honor to work with one of the greatest singer/songwriters in history and have him interested in our annual show at Carnegie Hall. We have missed doing this during the pandemic and looking forward to this special night. Of course, we will miss Rita Houston of WFUV, our longtime MC who passed from a battle with cancer and to whom we will also be paying tribute this year. Christine Stone of SiriusXM will be joining us this year.
Michael Dorf
Previous Music Of tributes has spotlighted the work of Carly Simon, Prince, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, the Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, and more. Every year, the tributes have sold out and contributed 100% of the net proceeds, about $100,000 from the evening to different music education programs for underserved youth.
Tickets to The Music Of Paul McCartney at Carnegie Hall on March 15, 2023, are on sale now.
Bono announced added dates to his “Stories of Surrender” show at New York’s iconic Beacon Theatre, starting April 16.
Nov 1 saw the release of Bono’s memoir titled “SURRENDER: 40 Songs, One Story,” the story of the remarkable life he’s lived, his challenges, and his friends and family. The subtitle, “40 Songs, One Story,” refers to the book’s 40 chapters, each named after a U2 song. Bono has also created 40 original drawings which will be featured throughout the book.
Bono takes readers from his early days growing up in Dublin, including the sudden loss of his mother when he was fourteen, to U2’s unlikely journey to becoming one of the world’s most influential rock bands. The band has released 14 studio albums and won numerous awards, including 22 Grammys and the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience award. In 2005, U2 was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Bono is embarking on a Beacon Theatre run starting in April for his show “Stories of Surrender.” The Beacon is a perfect place for this as Bono’s life is alive and very present on the stage. He will be joined by musicians Gemma Doherty (Harp, Keyboard, Vocals) and Kate Ellis (Cello, Keyboard, Vocals), as well as Musical Director Jacknife Lee for an evening of “words, music, and some mischief…”
Tickets go on sale starting Dec. 15, at 10 a.m. local time, and will be available here. His memoir is also available for purchase here. Due to overwhelming demand, more shows have been added to Bono’s “Stories of Surrender” stop at the Beacon Theatre.
‘Stories of Surrender’ – Bono at the Beacon Theatre, New York, 2023 Sunday April 16, 2023 Monday April 17, 2023 Friday April 21, 2023 Saturday April 22, 2023 Wednesday April 26, 2023 Friday April 28, 2023 Saturday April 29, 2023 Wednesday May 3, 2023
Ween closed 2022 with a bang on Sunday, December 11 at The Fillmore in Maryland, busting out rare gems and fan favorites to a packed house. The end-cap to a three-show early winter mini-tour, Ween crushed the year like The Hulk, with a couple shows at The Met in their hometown of Philadelphia, ending in the devastation of Silver Spring, with a line over four blocks long to get in.
Kicking off with their most popular opener, “Buckingham Green,” Ween pulled songs off nearly every album, with hugely popular tracks like “Take Me Away,” “Doctor Rock,” “Spinal Meningitis,” and “Bananas and Blow” deftly delivered into the eager ears of their ardent fans, along a few personal favorites, “The Golden Eel,” “Polka Dot Tail,” and “Ocean Man.” Most of their songs were fierce, with a few mellow trippy interludes, such as “Albino Sunshine Girl” (with heavy phase effects on Gene’s vocals) and “Ice Castles,” with its chilly harpsichord and melodic bass & guitar interweaves. It was abruptly followed by a slamming “Final Alarm,” with Dean delivering sonic whiplash on his Alembic (named “El Cabron”, which he rarely breaks out, except for special shows). They ended their long set with the venge-core anger-fueled ballad, “You Fucked Up,” thanking the audience for their commitment.
Rarer tracks had more play last night than their last few shows, such as the chainsaw guitar-driven “Mononucleosis” (30 times ever played), “Pollo Asado” (very rare – only 8 times ever played, with Gene sitting on a stool to deliver the drive-in monologue), “Cornbread Red” (only 12 times ever played), and the rarest of the night, “Flies on My Dick,” which has only been played 5 times ever, not played in over 250 shows.
Brooklyn native Dave Dreiwitz hopped back and forth across stage, often joining Gene and Dean in a tight circle on the same mic, or whispering “yes…” and “no….” at the blissfully quiet audience during “The Mollusk.”
After sinking a monster setclocking in at nearly 3 hours, Ween resurfaced for a 4-song encore, starting with the raucously speedy “Wavin’ My Dick in the Wind,” a shredtastically intense “Licking the Palm for Guava,” trippy screaming in “Mushroom Festival in Hell” (with Gene on megaphone), ending with an absolutely explosive rendition of Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades” to close out the night and the year in classic Ween fashion.
Ween is certainly not everyone’s cup of blue tea. They are a special kind of weird, highly accomplished musicians and songwriters with a massive repertoire and a devoted fanbase. Because of the pandemic, Ween only played 14 shows in 2021. However, they’ve played a total of 28 shows in 2022, which along with rare gems suggests they may ramp up in 2023, as one can only hope.
Ween – The Fillmore, Silver Spring, Maryland – Sunday, December 11, 2022
Setlist via Brownbase.org: Buckingham Green, What Deaner Was Talkin’ About, Light Me Up, Piss Up a Rope, Take Me Away, Gabrielle, Sweet Texas Fire, Mononucleosis, Touch My Tooter, The Golden Eel, Your Party, I Don’t Want It, Sorry Charlie, With My Own Bare Hands, Ice Castles, The Final Alarm, Albino Sunburned Girl, Bananas and Blow, Cornbread Red, Stroker Ace, Doctor Rock, Pollo Asado, Vallejo, You Were the Fool, Spinal Meningitis (Got Me Down), Polka Dot Tail, Flies on My Dick, Roses Are Free, The Mollusk, Loop de Loop, Ocean Man, You Fucked Up Encore: Waving My Dick in the Wind, Licking the Palm For Guava> Mushroom Festival in Hell, Ace of Spades
The Paramount Hudson Valley Theater in Peekskill is a big stage to fill for anyone. Over the decades, the historic theater has been graced by the music greats the likes of B.B. King, Toto and Patti LaBelle, as well as high-profile comedians such as Tracy Morgan and Sinbad. However on this particular night, the stage was shared not by star-studded celebrities but instead by four Westchester and NYC based bands, Platinum Moon, No Grudges, Lovehoney and The Bluechips.
Paulie Beladino guitarist and singer of The Bluechips, performing at the Paramount in 2019
The event, advertised simply as a “rock n’ roll show” was a definitive, but not unwelcome departure from the Paramount’s usual lineup. For local bands struggling to make it on the scene, this was a unique opportunity to transcend from dive bars to the big stage. For audience members, this was a chance to experience their favorite local bands in a new light or to discover brand new artists for themselves.
The show was put together by River Towns Music Group, a local music production and event company who has taken the live music scene by the storm over the past few years, hosting widely popular battle of the bands competitions as well as previous shows at the paramount.
First up was Platinum Moon, featuring vocalist Ava Anduze (21), lead guitarist Anton Klettner (19), keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Joseph Klettner (17), drummer Ethan Grosman (20) and bassist Toby Dorfman (18). The young band earned their spot on the Paramount stage by winning River Towns Music Group’s Battle of the Bands completion in the fall. Composed of members from Mt. Kiscoo, Lewisboro, Chappaqua and Putnam Valley, the group has played all throughout Westchester and built up an impressive resume opening for the band X Ambassadors at the Pleasantville Music Festival this summer and winning various other music competitions across the tri state.
Platinum Moon featuring Ava Anduze, Anton Klettner,Joseph Klettner, Ethan Grosman and Toby Dorfman
Platinum Moon came out with something to prove, jumping around stage amidst a flurry of power chords as they launched into their first song “Into A Minefield.” Anduze demanded the audience’s attention with growling vocals worthy of Axl Rose and a fiery swagger as she moved across the stage. The next number “Hey Beautiful,”- the band’s most popular song with over 100,000 streams on Spotify – showcased every member with a mix of funky bass solos, bright keys and searing guitar licks.
The young guns closed out the set with their newest single Lockdown NRG, a Black Keys-esque song with pounding kick drum, grungy guitars and a punchy chorus. Overall, the band brought an abundance of energy to the stage with incredible synchronicity rivaling that of veteran rock bands.
No Grudges featuring Crystalla Gonzalez and Gabriel Castellar
No Grudges, was next, a funk/punk duo influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Iggy Pop. The band brought maturity in sound and vocals to the stage, further rounded out by the addition of bass and drums. Frontwoman Crystalla Gonzalez dominated with charismatic vocal runs and a dramatic flair reminiscent of Amy Winehouse, while guitarist Gabriel Castellar echoed her vocals with wah-induced solos and screaming bends. The two had undeniable chemistry having performed together for over 10 years and having dated since high school. This connection was further highlighted with a vocal duet of their song “Put It Together,” that navigated funky guitar chords in the verse and a more metal hook in the chorus. The band’s cover of Jimi Hendrix’s Foxy Lady was another crowd pleaser that highlighted Gonzalez dynamic personality and raspy vocals along with Castellar’s distorted guitar solos..
Lovehoney, was the first of the two main acts composed of Aly Quinones on vocals, Tommy White on guitar, Tom Gelhaus on drums and Meghan Rose on bass. The band clearly took influences from 60’s psychedelic rock and blues. White’s guitar solos were reminiscent of a man possessed with face-melting distorted solos a la Hendrix. Meanwhile, Quinones kept the audience entertained with playful banter and strong, diverse vocals capable of smooth and soulful melodies as well as throaty growls.
Lovehoney featuring Aly Quinones, Tommy White, Tom Gelhaus and Meghan Rose (not pictured)
The band also stood out with its slower R&B and soul-inspired ballads like “Liquid,” which featured Quinones’ silky yet spicy vocals accented with splashy guitar, tight snare hits and smooth baselines. Still, the band could also pack a punch on songs like “Little Soldier” featuring a “voodoo child” style guitar intro and the catchy, “Feelin’ No Way” which recalled the likes of Black Sabbath’s Iron Man.
Still, If there was any doubt who the crowd was there to see, the Bluechips, dispelled all uncertainty. The Peekskill/HudsonValley based-band brought serious “hometown hero” energy to the show, with a devoted fan base that knew every word.
The Bluechips feautring Paulie “Pasta” Beladino, singer and drummer Jake Albi and bassist Tom Davis
Of all the bands on the bill, the Bluechips were the only ones to have rocked the Paramount previously, performing back in 2019. They’ve also performed at similar venues like Garcia’s at the Capitol Theater.
The trio, made up of singer and guitarist Paulie “Pasta” Beladino, singer and drummer Jake Albi and bassist Tom Davis, had a lush sound further filled out by two and sometimes three part vocal harmonies, highlighted on original tracks such as “Go Blind” and the fan favorite “San Diego” a catchy ballad with jazz, rock and pop influences melding into a infectious and playful chorus. In general, the band had the most memorable originals of the night, and the vocal interplay between Beladino’s high-pitched voice and Albi’s deeper, powerful vocals made for a refreshing combo.
The band also had some exciting covers like Oasis’ “Don’t Look Back In Anger” and their encore song, “Time” by Pink Floyd, fueled by vicious drum fills and guitar solos that cut like a knife. The band was also the only group that succeeded in rousing the audience from their seats, bringing nearly half the crowd to the front row, where fans moshed and chanted for the rest of the set, an impressive feat considering the typically reserved nature of the sit-down theater.
Altogether, it was an incredible night filled with diverse music, an extremely supportive audience and overwhelming talent. There’s also something to be said about the importance of highlighting local bands on a big stage such as the Paramount. The younger-than-average crowd for the venue goes to show how new bands can bring new fans to older venues in a mutually beneficial way. When all was said and done, the show lasted over 4 and a half hours, and for a ticket price of less than $20, it was well-worth the price of admission.
