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
Beginning at 2 P.M. and ending at 9 P.M., the festival is a one-day event but will hold various activities to enjoy in the days leading up to the annual fest on the 28. Known as one of Buffalo’s most diverse festivals, the event hosts multiple genres of music, art, and culture for attendees to enjoy.
The Beau Fleuve Music & Arts celebration will bring international musical acts across multiple stages including Stove God Cooks, DNTWATCHTV, Q Brock, Lindsay Niccs, Grace Greenan, and many more. Audiences can expect the festival to represent multiple genres throughout the day.
Festivalgoers can also enjoy art installations, a silent disco, poetry-spoken word, speaker events, fashion, backyard games, street art, and a family-fun area. Food and drink will also be available with a beer and wine garden and food trucks.
In addition to the traditional Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Festival on Aug. 28, there will be fun events for attendees to enjoy leading up to the event in Buffalo. Entertainment includes a comedy show on Aug. 25, a happy hour on Aug. 26, and a field day with a softball game on Aug. 27.
For more information about additional music performances, art curators, and ticket purchasing, visit the Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Festival’s website. Single and group general admission tickets are now on sale.
Best known as lead vocalist and main songwriter for the infamous band The Strokes, Julian Casablancas turns 44 years old today, August 23. Julian has played a significant role in influencing the revival of 1960’s alternative garage music in the early 2000’s.
Born in New York City on this day in1978, Julian Casablancas cites The Doors as one of his earliest musical influences, though he specifies that he was influenced by their musical style rather than the public image of their vocalist and lead singer Jim Morrison. He has also cited Lou Reed of The Velvet Underground as a major influence on his lyrics and singing style.
As a solo artist, Casablancas set out with an intention to say what was on his mind, both musically and lyrically. Speaking of his experience as a solo artist versus releasing music with The Strokes, the singer has put it simply, “It’s like touring with me or with five of me,” meaning that each member has their own opinionated state of mind.
While such statements raised much concern for the relations between the band members, Casablancas claims that in pursuit of a solo career, he is protecting the integrity of the [Strokes] vibe. In having a musical project separate from The Strokes, he can “chase down any idea [he] wants”, which he would refrain from doing with the band.
Being the lead vocalist and songwriting in The Strokes sparked a major revival of 1960s alternative rock music, starting in New York City. With their unique alternative sound, the Strokes have inspired many known alternative artists today.
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
Brooklyn artist Tyrin unveiled the new music video for his latest single “It’s All Alright”. With daydreaming hues and visuals, this cinematic music video is fulfilled with nostalgia.
Tyrin
Tyrin is an evolving creative artist born and raised in Brooklyn. He is never afraid to reflect on what keeps him up at night while he has a genreless approach to composition. Influenced by the pop-punk and hip-hop, Tyrin started making music in 2010 to explore the realm of rap. With years of progress, he has accumulated his influence and been continuously growing while working and performing alongside his band to produce a truly unique soundscape.
Tyrin recently unveiled “Its All Alright”, a song explaining and concerning mental health. He hopes to give out his energy to reduce his listeners’ loneliness as he new music video offers a meditative visuals to enjoy.
The blaring basslines and an ecstatic realm of sound in “Its All Alright” illustrated the comfort with dreamy hues and euphoric visuals. Tyrin hopes listeners will find a minute for themselves within his latest tune. Sitting atop echoing vocal energy, relentless melodies and a truly encapsulating rhythm, his latest release and accompanying visuals make for an idyllic pairing.
“It started with heavy Hip-Hop roots, and through the few months of working on it with my engineer the song started to evolve and mimic my true musical influences. ‘Its All Alright’ uncovers my truly impressive musical persona, I wrote this song to affirm that even with my flaws, I have value.”
Tyrin
Tyrin is looking across the alternative genre and inject his passion for hip hop and euphoric rap into something truly extraordinary. With enriched performing experience in pervious performances at numerous larger venues like Webster Hall and The Gramercy, he is nurturing a blossoming community in the heart of New York City.
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.
Multi-instrumentalist Marco Benevento has announced additional tour dates to his upcoming fall tour including a stop at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn this November. The run is in support of the artist’s recent studio album released this June titled, Benevento.
Based in Hudson Valley, Benevento begins his tour on Sept. 3 in Portland, Maine, at the Ghostland Festival before closing out in Holyoke, Massachusetts, at Race Street Live on Nov. 19. The newly added dates and Brooklyn stop will bring the artist back to the place where he was a resident for almost 20 years.
Benevento recorded his recent album in the middle of the pandemic at his home studio in Hudson Valley. His solo jam sessions spurred inspiration as did the ability to experiment with instruments and equipment that had been unused for some time. While most of the record was solely Benevento, his wife and daughter contributed to the album as vocalists.
The album was released with rave reviews from listeners. The 11-track album includes elements of lo-fi dance jams, psychedelic, and West-African groove, and is a 40-minute record of creative experimentation.
For the complete tour schedule of the upcoming shows, see below. Tickets are on sale now and available on the artist’s website, here.
The three-day festival focuses on raising awareness for climate change initiatives in association with Brian Eno’s EarthPercent organization. In a statement, the organization felt they couldn’t produce the event in a way that met the high standards for participation, impact and sustainability, which are the foundations for the festival.
They take those fighting for survival on the front lines of ecological disaster and environmental justice incredibly seriously, therefore postponing the event until 2023 was the correct move. They acknowledged the amount of time and effort that went into the behind the scenes planning of the event, and they are looking forward to bringing a renewed platform “for those who truly inspire us with their commitment to creating a more just, equitable and habitable planet.”
Refunds will be issued at the original point of purchase, and if you ordered through AXS, a refund will automatically be issued to the credit card you used to purchase within 30 business days.
