Category: Regions

Frankie and the Witch Fingers Bug Out at the Bug Jar

On a hot steamy summer night in Rochester the last place you want to be is stuffed into a packed Bug Jar. For the voracious music fans among us though, some shows are just too good to pass up, no matter the weather. So when L.A. via Bloomington quartet Frankie and the Witch Fingers made their long awaited return to the venue, enough souls made that music over comfort decision to fill the joint. Toronto’s Hot Garbage and locals CD-ROM rounded out the fuzzed-out psychedelic bill.

Frankie and the Witch Fingers took the stage for their set, did a quick long distance secret handshake thing, then launched into newer tune, “Empire.” And launch they did. Into a firestorm of rocking goodness, with syncopated guitars and bass, intricate guitar leads, tribal rhythms, a little West African psychedelia and enough manic drum fills to excite the most jaded fan.

“Cocaine Dream” went full punk, “Pleasure” got funky with some fat popping bass action from Nicki Pickle, and “Realization” had lead guitarist Josh Menashe in straight shred territory. The band and crowd were slick and sweaty and ready for the meat of the set. A “Cavehead”/”MEPEM” combo went long and deep, whirling and winding and peaking and dropping, but always raging forward. Singer and guitarist Dylan Sizemore bounced and shook and vibrated, every note and rhythm coursing through his body. Pickle grooved on her bass sporting a huge “damn this is badass” grin on her face. Drummer Nick Aguilar directed the energy swell after swell, climaxing with a huge rhythmic closing section.

“Dracula Drug” continued the relentless assault. Slow downs in “Reaper” and “Work” were just fake outs to hit the crowd with surprise knockout hooks. By set’s end both band and audience were ready to call the fight. Sweaty lumps of flesh filed outside to reorient and refresh.

Toronto quartet Hot Garbage made their last appearance of their tour opening for the Witch Fingers. A bass-forward garage rock sound, everything blended together in a greasy mash. They took full control of the crowd. The keys, guitar and bass working the head and torso, kneading and pounding and sculpting. While drummer Mark Henein moved everything from the ass down, shaking and pulling like strings on a marionette. “Easy Believer,” long and droning, featured a delicious bass line you could live inside for days. “Ride” a slow psychedelic march, closed the set, and set them on their way back home.

Rochester’s psych rock band CD-ROM got the night off to fun start with lots of reverb and fuzzed out guitar and synths. Vocalist Jesse Amesmith made creative use of effects using her voice as an instrument, working on off and all around the stage while the keys and guitars and drums matched her moves. Zeppelin-worthy rock outs were met with time-shifting whirlwinds and high-energy punk ragers.

July 21, 2022
Salt City Summerfest will blanket downtown Syracuse for Artsweek

Salt City Summerfest will blanket downtown Syracuse for Artsweek, the last week of July, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. from Tuesday July 26^th through Saturday July 30^th, a great opportunity for those seeking dining and culture in Central New York.

This year, due to popular demand, the second “Salt City Summerfest” will join Artsweek with pop up performances of all kinds. Every downtown sidewalk and patio dining area will be visited by performers of all kinds as an element of Artsweek, which also includes the Arts and Crafts Festival, the Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival.

The pop-up festival is made possible for its second year due to the title sponsorship of Countryside Federal Credit Union as well as public support from Senator Rachel May, Assembly Member Al Stirpe, and other downtown stakeholders.

“We’re excited to support the 2022 Salt City Summerfest this year in support of downtown’s outdoor dining areas during Artsweek. Countryside is committed to Central New York, its rich culture, downtown businesses, and residents that have been impacted by the pandemic the past two years.”
Ken Jardin

Salt City Summerfest brings a national act in residence for the first time. Ricky Alexander, a New York City neo-swing musician, brings his quintet to perform at noon on Wednesday July 27^th in Perseverance Park, then follows that with a 5:30 p.m. show on the Marriot Downtown patio. They will stroll through downtown the next evening. Other festival artists include groups playing in diverse styles, modern dance by Syracuse Ballet, and the Acappella Fellas. The two patio locations, at the Marriott and Salt City Market, will allow for stationary, continuous concerts with dining available.

Ricky Alexander

“The master plan here is to get people out and about to enjoy our urban landscape. Explore a festival or two, have a great meal, expect the unexpected if you dine outdoors, maybe catch some jazz at the Marriott patio, then stroll up to Clinton Square for some great music on three stages at the Northeast Jazz & Wine Fest. What could be more fun? It’s all downtown for the taking.”
Larry Luttinger

Salt City Summerfest Schedule

More information may be found at saltcitysummerfest.org.

July 21, 2022
Dead and Company’s Grand Slam Tour Finale Hits Citi Field

A perfect summer night greeted Dead and Company as the group returned to Citi Field for their two-night tour closing run in Queens over July 15 & 16. After a quick introduction by Bravo Network’s Andy Cohen (also Anderson Cooper’s New Year’s Eve television sidekick and huge Grateful Dead fan), the show kicked off with a high energy version of “Bertha” which set the tone for the weekend.

Drummer Billy Kruetzman had been sitting out most of Dead & Co.’s summer tour due to some back issues but made a humble return for the tour closers. The crowd’s raucous cheers every time the cameras focused on him brought out a smile on his face. Jay Lane had been filling in for Kruetzman for most of the tour and came back out during Saturday’s show to join the band on stage.

Dead & Co.’s setlist was orchestrated with the perfect ebb and flow of leisurely moments and dancing feet while maintaining full speed ahead. Set 2’s “Terrapin Station,” “Standing on the Moon,” and drums/space blended brilliantly with heaters “China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider,” “Not Fade Away,” “Sugar Magnolia,” and the extended jam evolving “Space” into “The Other One.”

With Dead & Co.’s summer tour grand finale at Citi Field, here’s looking forward to what we hope to be more tours from the band. Check out photos from Friday’s show below, as well as setlists from both nights.

Dead and Company – Citi Field – Queens

Friday July 15:

Set 1: Bertha -> Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo. Shakedown Street -> Sugaree, Tennessee Jed, Bird Song -> Don’t Ease Me In

Set 2: Althea. Viola Lee Blues, Terrapin Station, China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider -> Drums -> Space -> The Other One -> Standing on the Moon, Not Fade Away

Encore: Sugar Magnolia

Saturday July 16:

Set 1: Playing in the Band -> Uncle John’s Band, Dear Mr. Fantasy -> Hey Jude, Ramble On Rose, Brown-Eyed Women, Jack Straw

Set 2: Truckin’, Wang Dang Doodle -> Scarlet Begonias -> Franklin’s Tower, St. Stephen -> William Tell Bridge -> The Eleven -> Drums (with Jay Lane) -> Space -> All Along the Watchtower, Morning Dew, Deal -> Playing in the Band Reprise

July 20, 2022
Three Brooklyn-based Acts Release Collaborative Single “Straws”

On July 1, Dogwood Last, Fysics, and Rose Porn – three acts from the Brooklyn area – released their single “Straws” on July 1 via Dogwood Last, Fysics, and Rose Porn

The single was written and produced remotely over the last 12 months and combines the aesthetics of all three Brooklyn acts’ sounds. Dealing with some serious topics such as depression, a lost love, and more, the single combines a feel-good groove with hard-hitting lyricism.

Kory Burrell, a member of the band Dogwood Last, developed “Straws” with signature drum programs and synthesizers as Zach Rosenberg of Rose Porn worked on the production. The outstanding lyrics and many of the vocals come from Josef Lamberti, of the band Fysics.

Long before the groups worked on “Straws,” they were friends first and foremost. Of the track, the group shares, “We spent over a year crafting this song and the production, knowing we were getting at something greater than the sum of our parts. It was the dream quarantine collaboration.”

And a dream quarantine collaboration it was. The “Straws” single will surely draw the attention of fans of popular artists such as Frank Ocean, Jim-E Stack, and Dijon. With a calming opening mixing in tech beats and warped vocals, the song continues to develop into a track meant for indie-pop playlists and your next emotional summer drive.

Fysics

We feel like it’s the summer banger Lil Peep would have made if he were a successful liberal arts undergrad.
– Dogwood Last, Rose Porn, and Fysics on “Straws”

If you are interested in hearing more of this music live, on stage, and right in the moment, catch one of the three acts off of the “Straws” single, Dogwood Last, on August 19 at Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn. To hear more music from some of these talents, see below.

July 20, 2022
Peekskill Music Festival Will Kick off on July 23

Peekskill Music Festival will kick off on Saturday, July 23, 2022 in Downtown Peekskill, from 4pm to 10pm. Seven Bands will perform live on two stages which is free and open to the public. In addition, there will be kids activities, food trucks, indoor and outdoor dining options at participating restaurants, arts, crafts and community vendors, and a wide selection of cold draft beer for purchase.

Peekskill Music Festival

Downtown Peekskill today is Westchester’s most vibrant downtown community, unique in its mixture of historic architecture, ethnic diversity, bustling nightlife, foodie hot-spots, and community of artists, craftsmen and entrepreneurs. Peekskill Music Festival is sponsored by The Peekskill Business Improvement District: The Peekskill Business Improvement District, which was founded in 1996 and works to promote the growth and development of downtown Peekskill as an attractive place to live and do business.

“We are so excited to have such an amazing music line-up and that we can invite such world class performers to Downtown Peekskill. It will be great to see residents and visitors dancing in the streets again and supporting our local business community.”
Bill Powers

Peekskill Music Festival Lineup

Days of Wild at 4pm

Days of Wild is a combination of friends from different bands from around the tristate/New York City music scene. With an ever-changing lineup of musicians from around the world, DOW is renowned worldwide, and members are known for their skill, positivity, and dedication to funk.

Anthem Reggae Band at 5:15pm

Anthem Reggae Band comprised of talented musicians who all sing lead as well. Since uniting their efforts in 2000, the members of the group have captivated fans with their signature sound that has taken the music scene by storm. They has played with international reggae artists and has also been featured with Sister Carol on the Conan O’Brian show.

Alex Smith at 6:30pm

Alex Smith is a four-time Grammy-winning pianist, organist, composer, arranger, and educator. She is the keyboardist and arranger for Lady Gaga’s jazz quintet. He will join a band on Hammond Organ, with Tony Jefferson on drums, Vanessa Perea on vocals, and Ron Affif on guitar.

Chico Alvarez and RAN KAN KAN at 7:45pm

Chico Alvarez will perform with his Latin dance band, Ran Kan Kan. Chico Alvarez is a multi-talented Afro-Cuban musician, radio host, and Latin Jazz USA lifetime achievement awardee. Born in Brooklyn, grew up in Cuba, and has performed as a singer throughout the New York tristate area for the last four decades. He has directed several bands and orchestras including his 10-piece conjunto, Mafímba.

Soul Synergy at 9pm

The Soul Synergy Collective is a five – eight member ensemble comprised of artists from unique bands from the Tri-State area. The ensemble has performed at the Inaugural Ball for President Barack Obama with Hugh Masekela and more. The music of Prince, Chaka, and Luther comes to life with the sounds of real R&B.

Soul Synegy

Ahlfabet Swing Band at 4:30pm on Esther Street

The Ahlfabet Jazz Band plays traditional swing jazz in the various stylings of artists. Their music is rooted in the Jazz tradition taking elements from Ragtime, Blues, Swing, Dixieland, and Be-Bop to get a unique blend of sounds.

Premik’s World Music Ensemble at 6pm on Esther Street

Premik, a composer, recording artist, instructor and accomplished multi-instrumentalist performs on various flutes, soprano, alto and tenor saxophones, wind synthesizer and lap steel guitar. For the Peekskill Music Festival, the band will feature styles from classical to jazz to East/West fusion and lots in-between. Premik’s World Music Ensemble consists of: Premik on axohones, flutes, wind synth; Steve Sandbergon piano; Anupam Shobakar on guitar; Michael O’Bria on bass, Patrick Carmichael on drums.

Premik Russell Tubbs

Parking is free at on-street meters and at metered spaces in surface lots and garages. And for more information about Peekskill Music Festival please visit www.discoverpeekskill.com.

July 20, 2022
Paper Mill Island Amphitheater Announces Summer Concert Series

The Paper Mill Island Amphitheater will host a series of summer concerts this season in Baldwinsville, located just outside of Syracuse.

On July 23, Badfish returns to the amphitheater for a Sublime tribute. Badfish expertly replicates Sublime’s unique sound and captivates any audience. Special guest The Frank White Experience, a hip-hop tribute band, will be joining the band during the show.

A few days after Badfish comes to the Paper Mill Island Amphitheater, Almost Queen will arrive on July 30. The Queen tribute band will transport attendees into an intricate performance worthy of any Queen super-fan. With authentic costumes, real spirit, and signature four-part harmonies, Almost Queen does the band much justice.

Bruce in the USA – a Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band tribute – will grace audiences with a great performance on August 5. The band began back in 2004 along the Las Vegas Strip, where they were met with critical acclaim and a great atmosphere which they continue on to this day.

On August 11, Philadelphia-based band, Get the Led Out, will celebrate the music of Led Zeppelin like never heard before. Get the Led Out features six musicians, who deliver earlier Zed tracks, deeper songs seldom heard in concert, and an energy few bands can replicate. The act includes Paul Sinclair (vocals/harmonica), Paul Hammond (guitar), Tommy Zamp (guitar), Eddie Kurek (keyboards, guitar, vocals, percussion), Adam Ferraioli (drums/percussion), and Phil D’Agostino on bass and vocals.

https://youtu.be/8qmSuDl40Lc

Later in the season on September 2, Twiddle with special guest Annie in the Water will join the impressive Paper Mill series lineup. The Vermont quartet Twiddle will promote their fifth full-length studio album, Every Last Leaf. Featuring Mihali Savoulidis (vocals, guitar), Ryan Dempsey (keys, organ, synth), Brook Jordan (drums), and Zdenek Gubb (bass) the band has toured for 18 years and is sure not to disappoint. The group has previously performed in festivals such as Bonnaroo and Electric Forest.

For tickets to the upcoming shows at Paper Mill Island, and for more information, visit the link available here.

July 20, 2022
Kronos Quartet Soundtrack Live Documentary at Celebrate Brooklyn!

The Kronos Quartet have a long history of creating unique and visceral music for a variety of different platforms. Last week, the San Francisco based string quartet came to the Lena Horne Bandshell and performed their live documentary, A Thousand Thoughts for the Celebrate Brooklyn! summer series. Directed by Sam Green, the documentary chronicles the string quartet’s history, various member lineups, and takes a deeper look into the musical theories behind some of the group’s more iconic work.

The Kronos Quartet at Celebrate Brooklyn! 7/14/22. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

The show began with Sam Green introducing the concept of the “live documentary” and how he went about convincing the group to take part. As the band took the stage, they also appeared one-by-one on the screen behind them as part of their interviews for the film. They each joked and seemed confused about the concept of performing music for a documentary live. As the show went on, the uniqueness of the presentation became more apparent. Seeing Dave Harrington and others talk about the music on screen while they were performing on stage in front of you truly gave you new perspective to the music.

The Kronos Quartet at Celebrate Brooklyn! 7/14/22. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

Green talked about the persistence of natural music in our every day lives and even had the audience take a full minute to sit in silence and tune into our surroundings at the start of the show. Described as a “meditation on music itself-the act of listening closely to music, the experience of feeling music deeply” the film tends to focus on how the members of the group discovered various musical styles that caught their attention. Hank Dutt told a story about how he discovered throat singing from a CD he packed for a long international flight, becoming fixated on one song for the entire trip, and the urge to find that artist in order to learn more and collaborate.

The Kronos Quartet at Celebrate Brooklyn! 7/14/22. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

The documentary began with a history of recorded music, including the first known audio recording called “The Lost Chord.” The presentation shifted between bits of interviews with the quartet members, anecdotes about the creation of some of their projects, and their perception as a “modern string quartet” that were breaking the rules and revolutionizing what a string quartet could be.

The Kronos Quartet at Celebrate Brooklyn! 7/14/22. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

A Thousand Thoughts is only performed as a live documentary, and the screening for Celebrate Brooklyn! was the last scheduled performance this year. Alongside the interviews of the members quartet, the film also well known collaborators of the group such as Philip Glass, Laurie Anderson, Steve Reich, and more. The group has been performing since the premiere of the film in 2018, so keep an eye on their website for future screenings next year.

July 19, 2022
Tony Trischka Premieres New Show On July 20 At Joe’s Pub

On Wednesday, July 20 at Joe’s Pub in New York City, Tony Trischka will pay tribute to the music of Earl Scruggs. Earl Scruggs, pioneer of the three-finger banjo style and one of the two most important musicians in bluegrass.

Tony Trischka credit to ArtistWorks

Born in Syracuse in 1949 and raised in a home filled with music, Tony Trischka is now a renowned musician. Trischka fell in love with the banjo by way of the Kingston Trio’s 1959 recording of “M.T.A.,” and was able to experience the New York-centered folk revival by trekking to the Newport Folk Festival in the early to mid-’60s. His latest album Shall We Hope is an exploration of the Civil War, and features Michael Daves, Maura O’Connell, the Violent Femmes, Catherine Russell, Guy Davis and John Lithgow.

Joe’s Pub, a program of the Public Theater, is an independent, non-profit music venue, dedicated to supporting performing artists at every stage of their careers. They fulfilled the Public’s mission to serve audiences and artists alike, as an active member of New York City’s creative community while they pair vibrant culture with genuine hospitality every evening.

“Earl is my North Star, a lifetime pathway. And I’m not alone. Through his music, this shy kid from Flint Hill, North Carolina went on to enrich countless thousands of lives. At the age of 13, when I first heard 16 notes of Scruggs style banjo playing, I put down my folk guitar and mercilessly pestered my parents to buy me a banjo. Once in my hands, that 5-string became my obsession and has been for close to 60 years. The depth of his genius becomes ever more apparent when I transcribe his solos, which I’ve been doing my entire musical life and with renewed vigor. Discovering new twists and turns in his playing is pure joy and in fact the inspiration for this tribute show.”
Tony Trischka

Together with his band—Michael Daves on vocals and guitar, bassist Jared Engel, fiddler Alex Hargreaves (from Billy Strings’ band), and mandolinist Maddie Witler— Tony Trischka will trace the story of Scruggs from his childhood to his final years. He is recently possessed with the recordings of jam sessions with Scruggs and John Hartford, some of which will be debuted at Joe’s Pub.

The show will start at 7:00pm.

July 19, 2022
JRAD to make SPAC Debut in August, Lawn Tickets now on Sale

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) will make their Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) debut on Thursday, August 25.

The Grateful Dead tribute band has been performing since January 2013, when guitarist Scott Metzger, bassist Dave Dreiwitz, keyboardist Marco Benevento and guitarist Tom Hamilton joined forces with drummer Joe Russo at Freak’s Ball, held at Brooklyn Bowl. The result was a band that has toured the country and amassed a dedicated following thanks to their improv-heavy interpretations of the Grateful Dead catalog, in addition to unique covers.

Tickets for all three concerts go on sale to the general public this Friday, March 18 at 10 a.m. ET. Passwords for a band presale, which Tuesday, March 15 at 12 p.m. ET, and can be found posted on JRAD’s Facebook Page.

Lawn tickets have just gone on sale as of July 19, with a special offer on lawn tickets for just $20.00 plus fees while supplies last. Tickets are available at livenation.com or through Ticketmaster.

On April 7, JRAD announced they will make stops in Pittsburgh, PA at Stage AE on July 8, in Bonner, MT at KettleHouse Amphitheater on July 21, and in Stanford, CA at Frost Amphitheater on August 13.

JRAD will follow up their SPAC debut with a a two night run at Leader Bank Pavilion August 26-27 in Boston.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead’s Facebook presale starts Tuesday, April 12 at 1 p.m. EST.

July 19, 2022
Dip into Finger Lakes Music with Geneva’s Live After 5 series

Live After 5 is the local Friday night Summer music series in the Finger Lakes town of Geneva. On select Fridays, listen to music while sitting in a lawn chair on the beautiful waterfront at the Geneva Wyndham.

Geneva has been settled by Americans since the late 18th century, being inhabited previously by the Algonquin, Senaca Nation who were members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The shores of Seneca Lake served as a military outpost for British Loyalists, with settlers moving in after 1792, bringing in others from New England, Maryland, Virginia, eastern New York and Pennsylvania for farming. Geneva itself was incorporated as a village in 1806 and a city in 1897.

One of the largest music events in the Finger Lakes, music for Live After 5 begins at 5:30pm and ends at 9:30pm, with performances held rain or shine.

Live After 5 Lineup

July 8th Ruby Shooz

July 22nd Jon Lamanna

August 12th Flint Creek

August 26th Prime Time Funk

July 19, 2022