Category: Western NY

Chautauqua Institution Continues Impressive 2022 Summer Assembly

On July 23, Chautauqua Institution began its fifth week of the nine-week 2022 Summer Assembly season. With weekday lectures and popular entertainment, the entire season examines various themes and invites an impressive lineup over the course of the summer.

Chautauqua Institution Ampitheater

Each week of the Chautauqua Institution’s Summer Assembly has a specific theme, and Week Five is “The Vote and Democracy.” The week includes famed musician Lyle Lovett whose 14-album career spans elements of genres such as folk, country, jazz, swing, gospel, blues, and more. The Grammy award winner is a legendary performer and artist beloved in popular music today and will play on July 29 at 8:15 pm.

Other special guests joining the institution’s week five program include New Yorker staff writer Jelani Cobb, president of the Campaign Legal Center Trevor Potter, former CEO of the Partnership for American Democracy Diana Aviv, acclaimed author Wajahat Ali, and the family of comedy legend Carl Reiner.

Other upcoming popular acts to look forward to coming to Chautauqua include NYO Jazz on August 1, country music star Brett Eldredge on August 5, British vocal ensemble VOCES8 on August 9, and many more.

Week Four of the Summer Assembly included singer-songwriter Gina Chavez and a combined performance of the professional Chautauqua Symphony and pre-professional Music School Festival orchestras. The week’s theme, “The Future of History,” also included other entertainment such as historians Jon Meacham and Annette Gordon-Reed, and comedian Jay Leno.

Chautauqua Institution was founded in 1874 and was originally known as the Chautauqua Lake Sunday School Assembly. The not-for-profit has expanded its community reach immensely, hosting 7,500 people in residence daily during a nine-week season, and hosting many public events.

For the full list of Popular Artists coming to the Chautauqua Summer Assembly for the summer, see below. For ticket information, visit the Chautauqua Institution website, here.

July 29 – Lyle Lovett

August 1 – NYO Jazz

August 5 – Brett Eldredge

August 9 – VOCES8

August 17 – Matthew Whitaker

August 19 – Girl Named Tom

August 20 – Hiss Golden Messenger & Aoife O’Donovan

August 21 – Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas

August 22 – Deeper Than The Skin

August 22 – Punch Brothers

August 23 – Rhiannon Giddens

August 24 – The Avett Brothers

August 25 – Emmylou Harris and Mary Chapin Carpenter

August 26 – The Beach Boys and The Temptations

August 27 – Chita Rivera

August 28 – Steamboat Bill Jr.

July 28, 2022
David Loss of Aqueous Takes Time Off To Start a Family

David Loss from the band Aqueous announced he is taking time away from the band to welcome his new baby into the world. Fans speculated a breakup but were met with a sweet and emotional announcement.

David Loss

Aqueous is a Buffalo-based groove band with a loyal following who put on spectacular shows. David Loss is the guitarist and keyboardist who does vocals with the band and is gaining notoriety as one of the most skilled, actively touring guitarists in the industry. His sound is unmistakable and keeps fans coming back show after show.

The band has been quiet lately and should have announced a fall tour, however, they proudly announced that Loss is welcoming a child with his wife. He is taking the rest of the year off to take care of his child. The pandemic has taught us life can be disrupted abruptly, and we take the little things for granted. Life is all about balance and being present, and Aqueous are taking this time to reevaluate the culture of the band by not touring as much to get back to their roots.

David Loss spoke about the decision with me, and the band’s future.

I knew it was the right decision for me to make. When my son is born it’s going to be such a life changing experience that I want to fully be there for all of it. I don’t want to miss a thing! A lot of first time things and time you just can’t get back later. I know my wife will be very happy to have me home more as well. She has always been so supportive of me in everything I’ve done, which makes me feel ever more that I need to be there with her as much as I can. The only hesitation that I had really was that I didn’t want to let anyone down. That includes all of our fans and friends as well as the rest of the band. Especially since the guys are some of my best friends. We’ve been doing this thing for a long time now! It’s tough to take that long of a break from playing shows, but again I knew it was what I had to do and I feel very lucky that everyone has been very supportive of my decision. I’m happy that the guys will be able to play a handful of shows without me too. So keep an eye out for those sets!
David Loss

It is beautiful to bring a child into the world, and even more complicated when you are a musician with a hectic touring schedule and music to make. Loss taking the time and being present for a while is something all father’s with hectic schedules should do. Fans may be sad they won’t be able to see Aqueous for a while, but the music is still there, and they also teased a new album for next year, as well as more tours.

July 27, 2022
Rage Against the Machine’s Tour Rips Buffalo to Shreds

On Monday July 25th, Rage Against the Machine (RATM) stopped in Buffalo for one of their many stops on their current tour. After an eight-year hiatus, Rage Against the Machine announced in November 2019 that they were reuniting for a world tour, which was initially scheduled to start in 2020, but was ultimately postponed to 2021, and then to 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The opener of the show was Run the Jewels, an American hip-hop super-duo comprised of EL-P and Killer Mike.

photo credit- Mike Miller

Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles during 1991. RATM consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello, and drummer Brad Wilk.

It has been many years since RATM has played in Buffalo, but on their current tour they just played Toronto, Canada on July 23. A fan jumped on stage and security tackled the guitarist Tom off the stage in error. Luckily for everyone he was ok and able to continue playing shows. Earlier in the tour the singer Zack injured his foot and has had to sit during each performance now. This tour will be visiting 12 countries, 40 cities and 51 shows in total.

photo credit- Mike Miller

The whole night the crowd was filled with energy and singing along to all of their hits. “Testify”, “Killing in the Name Of”, and “Bulls On Parade” were some of the songs the crowd was seen screaming along and head-banging to.

photo credit- Mike Miller

August 8th through the 14th, Rage Against the Machine will be playing as MSG in New York City

Rage Against The Machine – Keybank Center, Buffalo – July 25, 2022

Setlist: Bombtrack, People of the Sun, Bulls on Parade, Bullet in the Head, Testify, Take the Power Back, Wake up, Guerrilla Radio, Close Your Eyes, Down Rodeo, Know Your Enemy. Calm Like a Bomb. Sleep Now in the Fire, War Within a Breath, The Ghost of Tom Joad, Freedom, Township Rebellion, Killing in the Name

July 26, 2022
Aqueous Sets Last Show Of The Year With Buffalo’s Inaugural Great Flamingle

Aqueous has announced one last final appearance before year’s end and the band is making the very most of it. The Buffalo natives have just announced the inaugural The Great Flamingle which is scheduled to take place Saturday, September 3 at the outdoor lot stage at Jack Rabbit in the band’s hometown. The event, with music, vendors and other experiences curated by the band will mark the last full band show on record for 2022, with keyboardist David Loss set to take paternity leave shortly.

The Great Flamingle will feature two sets from Aqueous as well as performances from lespecial and The Talking Dead Heads, plus supporting acts from fellow locals Space Junk and Tortoise Forest on an outdoor lot stage.

This is something we’ve wanted to do forever…We’re all very excited to throw a unique, AQ-curated experience from the music, the vendors, the fan experiences, and beyond! We’re looking forward to building on The Great Flamingle in the years to come, too.
~ Aqueous guitarist Mike Gantzer

Tickets for The Great Flamingle, this last scheduled Aqueous gig of 2022, are on sale now here with both VIP and general admission options available. VIP ticket holders will have access to an intimate indoor performance along with a meet and greet with Aqueous plus complimentary food and two drinks from the Jack Rabbit Kitchen and Bar.

July 23, 2022
GWAR Announced “The Black Death Rager World Tour” with Halloween at Irving Plaza

American heavy metal band GWAR are pleased to announce the fall leg of “The Black Death Rager World Tour,” in support of their new album “The New Dark Ages”. The tour starts off September 10th in Alton, VA and runs through November 3rd in Baltimore, MD.

The band will vist Niagara Falls at Rapids Theater on October 22nd and New York City at Irving Plaza on October 31st.

The Black Death Rager World Tour

Prior to the Fall tour, GWAR are headed overseas on the European leg of “The Black Death Rager World Tour.” This run kicks off July 29th in Tilburg, NL and runs through August 18th in London, UK.

The new album The New Dark Ages chronicles GWAR’s adventures in the Duoverse, which will be out on CD and digital. The album and the show concepts are tied to a companion graphic novel, “GWAR In the Duoverse of Absurdity” released by Z2 Comics which depict the battle of the band with their evil twins and the specter of rogue technology as they were sucked off into an alternate univers.

“Long ago, GWAR broke the frame of what a rock concert can be. We’ve pushed the envelope of live performance for decades, but this time around, we wanted to do something different. This is the first GWAR show conceived to go along with a graphic novel and an album, all working together as one massive hunk of hot steaming shock rock performance ART! A can’t-miss cavalcade of chaos, a trash culture trilogy, a shocking extravaganza that will leave you utterly spent, soaking wet, and bawling uncontrollably. We’ve got the coolest storyline, unbelievable new characters, more blood, gore, and gags than ever before. Come, unload your worries, human scum, and let GWAR transport you to the Duoverse of absurdity just in time for the NEW DARK AGE!”
Berserker Blothar

“The Black Death Rager World Tour” With Light The Torch, Nekrogoblikon and Crobot

9/10 – Alton, VA @ Blue Ridge Rock Fest*
9/11 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl
9/13 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
9/14 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue
9/15 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
9/16 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr Smalls
9/17 – Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest*
9/19 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
9/20 – Little Rock, AR @ The Music Hall
9/21 – Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
9/23 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life
9/25 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre
9/26 – Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater
9/27 – Casper, WY @ Gaslight Social Outdoors
9/28 – Billings, MT @ Pub Station Outdoors
9/30 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
10/1 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
10/3 – Vancouver, BC @ The Vogue#
10/4 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
10/6 – Boise, ID @ Revolution Concert House
10/7 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock*
10/8 – Ventura, CA @ Ventura Theater
10/9 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco
10/10 – Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl
10/11 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
10/12 – Flagstaff, AZ @ Pepsi Amphitheater
10/14 – Dallas, TX @ Amplify
10/15 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
10/16 – Austin, TX @ Empire Live
10/18 – Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl
10/19 – Orlando, FL @ The Beachum
10/20 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
10/22 – Niagara Falls, NY @ Rapids Theater
10/23 – Detroit, MI @ The Crofoot
10/26 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
10/28 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
10/29 – Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall
10/30 – Richmond, VA @ The National
10/31 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
11/2 – Toronto, ON @ The Phoenix
11/3 – Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage
*Festival
#Without Light the Torch

For more information click here.

July 21, 2022
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
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
NKOTB Mixtape Tour 2022 stops in Buffalo at Keybank Center

On Sunday July 17th, The Mixtape tour 2022 invaded Buffalo with multiple acts appearing. It featured multiplatinum selling pop super-group New Kids On The Block (NKOTB), Salt-N-Pepa, Rick Astley, and En Vogue who last visited Buffalo in 2015.

One of the first big ‘boy bands’ of the 1980s, New Kids On The Block hail from Dorchester, Massachusetts and consists of brothers Jonathan and Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood.

Fans heard chart-topping hits and legendary catalogues spanning generations all night long. It follows the colossal commercial and critical success of NKOTB’s 2019 tour by the same name. Which was their biggest since reuniting in 2008 which grossed $53.2 million, sold more than 650,000 tickets and pioneered a super-sized show each night with multiple acts (Salt-N-Pepa, Tiffany, Naughty By Nature and Debbie Gibson).

Donnie from NKOTB walking around the floor taking photos with fans. Photo credit- Mike Miller

The crowd was mostly filled with female fans, but all the fans in attendance seemed to know the words to every song. There were two stages on each end of the floor which made some fans closer than usual. With a bar style single row seating layout along the edges of each stage, fans got up close and personal.

En Vouge Photo credit- Mike Miller

NKOTB hit the stage on the MixTape Tour 2022 to perform fan favorite #1 hits like “Hangin’ Tough,” “I’ll Be Loving You (Forever),” and “Step By Step” while tour mates Salt-N-Pepa (“Push It,” “Shoop,” “Whatta Man”), Rick Astley (“Never Gonna Give You Up,” “Together Forever”) and En Vogue (“Don’t Let Go [Love],” “Free Your Mind,” “Give It Up, Turn It Loose,” “Hold On”) kept the party going with music that catapulted them to stardom and solidified their places in music history.

Throughout the show, confetti was blasted in the air with cannons. Everyone got covered in it almost like snow falling. On the main stage, they used pyro vertical fire blasts for multiple songs. There was a huge video screen above the main stage so people in the back could see what was going on. The security and the guest experience was top notch at Keybank Center. Everyone had smiles on and enjoyed the night which brought back memories from the 80’s and 90’s.

Rick Astley at Keybank Center. Photo credit Mike Miller

Over the past two years, Rick Astley has amassed million YouTube followers with a series of covers from his studio. Rick has become a major force on TikTok with 1.7 million followers. “Never Gonna Give You Up” was recently featured on the critically acclaimed series Ted Lasso on Apple TV+ and its video has been viewed more than 1 billion times.

NKOTB. Photo credit- Mike Miller

At the very end of the show, all of the acts got on stage to perform “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley.

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July 19, 2022
Femi Kuti at Point of the Bluff Vineyards: The Heart of Afrobeat in the Heart of the Finger Lakes

On the Periodic Table of Music, if there were such a thing that is, Kuti (Ku) would most definitely be it’s own element. Fela Kuti pioneered Afrobeat, an infectious blend of West-African and American funk and jazz. It’s a sound that’s influence has found it’s way into a huge swath of music since, but is a bit more difficult to find in it’s purest form. Fela’s son Femi Kuti has helped carry the torch forward. And Kuti’s son Made has in turn continued the tradition. Femi and his band, The Positive Force, including son Made, turned a quaint lakeside winery into a Nigerian dance party on Sunday afternoon. An event as unlikely as it was enjoyable.

The beauty of the Finger Lakes was not lost on Kuti, “I woke up to one of the best views I’ve ever seen,” he remarked soon after walking on stage. And his afternoon view from the stage at Point of the Bluff Vineyards, of the sloping grapevine covered hill down to Keuka Lake’s shores was stunning. On stage though, the beauty was all Nigerian. Kuti led the 12-piece band through a rapid fire 90m African soundscape and political-sphere.

The music was a flurry of movement, as were the people playing it. Three female backup singers shook and gyrated in mesmerizing fashion while Femi Kuti bounced and bounded across the stage. The energy emanating from the band was infectious. Pure elemental Kuti pinged off the stage and into the crowd, zapping each and every person with pure Kuti energy until everyone was dancing in the best way they knew how.

Fun and funky, but not without function. Ingrained within were messages of love, peace, and freedom. “There’s a storm coming … they teach us the to be scared … we need to change the narrative, let the storm bring love!” “I’ve got too much on my mind / I believe with time everything will be fine.” “You can’t fight corruption with corruption.” The messages were a constant.

So too was the music. Just as soon as applause arrived, the next song quickly drowned it out. Kuti vowed to play with as much energy as every other night, even on this, their second-to-last show of a 30-date tour. At 60 years old, he did it and then some.

The show ended with a passing of the torch of sorts. First with a father and son sax jam. Then, father Femi left the stage and Made led the band for a song, a reggae-ish groove with rhythmic singing, highlighted by the band building behind a single note Made held on his soprano sax for a good two minutes, before releasing to a huge explosion of sound. The Kuti torch is in good hands for years to come.

Local singer Danielle Ponder opened the show with a stripped down trio of Avis Reese on keys and Rayelle on bass, in her first gig with Ponder. She continues to work, even wearing her working overalls for this gig, winning over fans everywhere she goes, previewing material off of her debut album arriving later this summer.

Ponder’s songs are written from her personal experiences. Speaking on her songwriting process, she said when she is raw and truthful, the freer she feels. The emotions of the subject matter carry over perfectly to her performances.

The songs seemed to ask more questions than they answered. On “Someone Like You,” accompanied by a slinky bass groove and bending echoey keyboard notes, “Why won’t the stars align? Someone tell me.” On “Fray”: “Anybody out there know this pain?” Even the powerful cover that closed out the set, Radiohead’s “Creep,” asked “Do I belong here?”

There is certainly no question however, Ponder’s career is set on a meteoric upward course. Stay tuned.

July 18, 2022
iMatter Festival Returns to Horseheads Following Two Year Hiatus

After having a two year hiatus, shows and festivals of all sizes are coming back and coming back strong. One such festival that has been a staple for many years which brought people from all over the state and out, this festival, is iMatter. If you ever been to Warped Tour, you may get a similar vibe, with multiple vendors, bands with merch tents, two stages(way less than Warped Tour).

IMatter’s home is located in Horseheads at The L, and while not big in comparison to the other cities like Rochester or Buffalo, many flock to this area every year for it. One thing that shocks many, is the fact that this festival is free, which seems impossible and has been since the start. There is a lot more to talk about but who better to explain than the current organizer Adam Bunce.

Joe Booth: So, how would you describe iMatter Festival to someone who’s never been?

Adam Bunce: The iMatter Festival is a free annual festival featuring hard rock, metal, and alternative bands from local to national acts. The festival counter suicide, self-harm and self-doubt by promoting unearthed value, unveiled purpose and defiant hope to this generation.

JB: What was your inspiration for the festival and the name?

AB: The iMatter Festival is a free concert hosted by the iMatter Foundation promoting life, hope and value to our communities. Its message is simple: every life matters. The festival began in 2007 because the founder, Scott Lowmaster, wanted to give everyone in attendance something for free, and ask nothing in return from them for attending.

JB: What makes iMatter special for you?

AB: iMatter is special to me because it’s truly something unique and one of a kind. A festival like this would normally run upwards of $50-$500 to attend, yet we have found a way to make it free for those that choose to join us each year.

JB: What has been your favorite iMatter or memory?

AB: For me personally it was probably the year that Underoath headlined the festival. Underoath has always been one of the most influential bands for me over the last 20 years. It was always a dream of mine to book them and we had that opportunity in 2018.

JB: After being on hiatus for two years, were there any challenges to bringing back the festival?

AB: We’ve had a lot of issues this year, issues are always a thing when it comes to booking a festival. Unfortunately, we weren’t granted our mass gathering permit from the county. This is the main reason we had to move the location of the festival to The L. The L is an iMatter run venue that we opened up in September of 2021. As much as the festival is what helped us birth the venue, the venue just isn’t large enough to give iMatter the “feel” that an open field provides. We hope that in 2023 we’ll be able to get this all back up and running as an outdoor festival, it was either move to The L in 2022 or not run for a 3rd straight summer.

JB: I’m sure with the festival almost here, you still have lots of planning going on but do you have any goals for next year and beyond?

AB: Yes, we are always trying to make sure that we are offering something unique to those who attend. Its always our mission to keep the festival free, and we will continue to follow that model. But we love what some of the VIP packages have allowed us to offer those that are willing to pay for an enhanced experience on the day of the festival.

JB: Thank you for your time, would like to add any final thoughts?

AB: We are just ecstatic that we can bring iMatter Festival back after having a 2 year hiatus. Even if it’s just a smaller version of what iMatter has been historically, it’s a step towards what it was originally intended to be.

In case you haven’t seen it, this is the lineup for this year and even though this is a free event, the capacity is limited and all free tickets have been claimed but there’s still plenty of VIP packages you can buy. We will see you July 30th at The L for iMatter Festival Reset.

Take a look back at iMatter Festival in 2018 and 2019.

July 18, 2022