NYS Music 2023

Author: Brian Ferguson

  • Disco Biscuits Close out 2023 Touring at The Capitol Theatre

    To cap off a wildly successful 2023 touring schedule that spanned every corner of the country, The Disco Biscuits celebrated with two powerhouse shows in the friendly confines of the legendary Capitol Theatre in Port Chester.

    The band is still riding high atop a new wave of creativity and cohesion that’s fostered some of their best performances to date. Friday and Saturday night in Port Chester were no exceptions with the Biscuits doling out some pre-Halloween goodies.

    Friday night initiated with “Hope” in the opener spot, aka a good old fashioned “Hopener” that saw the band fly through this older number with ease. The first of tonight’s two cover song selections came next as the Biscuits took the Men Without Hats hit “Safety Dance” out for a spin. A brief outro jam soon morphed into the beginning of “Caterpillar” that took its time with a nicely extended opening section and the band was off and running. A silky smooth segue into the instrumental “M1” came next before an inverted “Naeba” and the end of “Caterpillar” wrapped up the opening stanza.

    A Biscuits classic in “House Dog Party Favor” kicked off the second set in fine fashion as the band’s iconic light show replete with laser beams coated the walls of the Capitol Theater in a rich tapestry of colors and images. The second set maintained an old school vibe to it early on with the near-20 minute “Helicopters” that came next and featured a well crafted jam with guitarist Jon Gutwillig leading the way. As it reached yet another climax, a slight change in the rhythm then ushered in the second cover of the night, the band’s instrumental take on Donna Summer’s Disco Era hit “I Feel Love.”

    Another funk laden jam with a slow build in intensity served as the foundation for a segue into the ending of “To Be Continued,” another one of the the new batch of Disco Biscuits originals and the first time it’s ever received the “inversion” treatment, with the ending section played immediately before the beginning of the song. Another newer number in “Freeze” followed before a quick re-visit to “Helicopters” to close out a second set that was one long segue of music after the opening “House Dog.” “Times Square” followed by a triumphant and powerful “Morph Dusseldorf” put one last finishing touch on the evening in the encore slot.

    Saturday night’s first set featured another extended bookending as it both began and concluded with another selection from the newer originals, “Twisted In The Road.” Seemingly picking up right where they left off the previous night, a dark, up-tempo jam was the first one out of the shoots. The band continued to show their comfort with the new material with another seamless segue into a monstrous “Buy The Time” that came next and clocked in at close to 30 minutes overall. With infectious melodies provided by Aron Magner on keys and a completely danceable beat, this one is sure to be a live staple for years to come and produced, arguably, the best jam of the entire weekend.

    Near its completion, elements of “Digital Buddha” began to seep in and the Biscuits were soon away with an inverted take on an old crowd favorite. The band then shifted from the old right back to the new with the fittingly-titled “Monster” that came next, only the third time ever this instrumental song has been played live. It featured some familiar chording that had some thinking “Lunar Pursuit” or otherwise instead. As the tempo began to increase, another familiar sound began to emerge, this time the peak of “Crickets” as the band steamrolled through another inverted rendition of a live staple before wrapping up the set.

    The last frame of music for the weekend did nothing but feature more of the same: only a few songs needed with added bountiful jams placed in between each. Things got started with a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Run Like Hell” that started with a slow, patient intro jam before fully kicking into gear. Much like its first set predecessor in “Buy The Time,” a significant chunk of the second was devoted to another new tune in “The Deal,” with this one clocking in at well over 30 minutes in total.

    An inverted (for the first time ever) “One Chance To Save The World” took the yet-to-be-released ‘Space Rock Opera’ took the song to new height, peak performance that found itself slipping into “Basis for a Day.” Fans got a taste of “Basis” in April when the second set of the final night featured multiple segues in and out of portions of the song, fitting newer tunes like “The Deal” and “To Be Continued…” within “Basis.” This evening, just one new song, “Photograph” would be sandwiched in between, an intense, energy driven combination, closing the night over the last 38 minutes.

    An encore of “Home Again” fit the bill nicely, as fans have found the Capitol Theatre to be home base in the New York metro area, with annual – and now bi-annual runs at the original rock palace. Just before truly calling it a night, Marc Brownstein thanked the crowd and dropped the band back into the final portion of “Basis for a Day,” dubbed “Basis for a Tour” in the Nugs recording.

    While the band is done touring for the year, they will be at North Beach Music Festival in Miami in early December, at Palladium Times Square for a late night show on December 28, followed by two nights at Franklin Music Hall in Philadelphia, before heading out west in 2024. Full tour dates can be found here.

    Setlists via Biscuits Internet Project

    Disco Biscuits – The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY – Friday, October 27, 2023

    Set 1: Hope, Safety Dance > Caterpillar > M1 > Naeba 1 > Caterpillar
    Set 2: House Dog Party Favor, Helicopters > I Feel Love > To Be Continued 2 1 > Freeze > Helicopters
    Encore: Times Square, Morph Dusseldorf
    1 inverted
    2 first time inverted

    Disco Biscuits – The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY – Saturday, October 28, 2023

    Set 1: Twisted in the Road > Buy The Time > Digital Buddha 1 > Monster 2 > Crickets 3 1 > Twisted in the Road
    Set 2: Run Like Hell 4 > The Deal > One Chance To Save The World 5 1 > Basis For A Day > Photograph > Basis For A Day
    Encore: Home Again, Basis For A Day 6
    1 inverted
    2 LTP 3/12/22 (108 shows)
    3 w/ Gamma Goblins tease
    4 unfinished
    5 1st time inverted
    6 reprise

    Photos by Brian Ferguson

  • In Focus: Osees Crush Cleveland

    Psych-punk rockers Osees, or Oh Sees, or Thee Oh Sees, or The Oh Sees or OCS played the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern in Cleveland on September 17.

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    Touring in support of their new album Intercepted Message, an album that was a bit of a throw back to earlier sounds, and heavy on the synthesizer; the album is what you’d get if you threw John Dwyer and Devo in a blender. Osees have a monster sized catalog to choose from, and they tend to represent the band’s many sounds and eras throughout the show.

    John Dwyer and his Osees have gone through many line-up changes and different sounds. The current iteration has a two drummer setup, Dan Rincon and Paul Quattrone are completely locked in and give the show a driving, chugging force. Tim Hellman does a fantastic job holding down the bass and Tomas Dolas adds some color on the keyboards. John Dwyer is the main attraction though, he twists and gyrates and contorts his body to seemly push out the music.

    Do not miss a chance to see these guys when they come to your town, but make sure to bring some earplugs.

    Upcoming The Osees Shows

    9/28 – GONERFEST
    9/30 – Hotel Vegas in Austin, TX
    10/01 – Hotel Vegas in Austin, TX
    10/3 – Albuquerque, NM – Sister Bar

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  • In Focus: Phish Shine at The Pavilion at Star Lake

    Making their way into to the Northeast, Phish made a two-night stop at The Pavilion at Star Lake, located in Burgettstown, PA, just outside of Pittsburgh. Two nights of exploratory jamming and a few debuts had fans eagerly anticipating tonight’s show in Syracuse at St. Joseph’s Amphitheater at Lakeview.

    Friday night began with a pair of first set openers, “Party Time” and “AC/DC Bag” followed by a fiery “46 Days.” A few songs later, “Stash” was the jumping off point for the first major jam of the night, dark and introspective. Likewise, “Leaves” jammed out nicely, setting the stage for a “Maze” that had Page McConnell furiously hammering the organ, standing up so others could get down. “Scents and Subtle Sounds” would close the set, although tonight the crowd got the full version, unlike Wilmington, NC on Wednesday night where the band was forced to cut the song off due to torrential rain.

    The second set featured some of the biggest jams of the run, with “Sigma Oasis” clocking in at more than 16 minutes, “The Final Hurrah” providing a segue to the wonderful debut of “Pillow Jets” – a light and fluffy song with a jam to match. “David Bowie” was the highlight of the set though, the band making the most of each space created following the composed portion. During “Bowie,” Page teased “Eleanor Rigby”, as well as in “Ruby Waves” that closed the show. And while “Fuego” did provide the awesome visual of the lighting rig descending to just above the band’s heads, although “Cities” could have had a chance to breathe ahead of the segue to “Fuego.” The encore of “Character Zero” and “Slave to the Traffic Light” would wrap things up and send the crowd out to the lots for a Cosmic burrito and slow crawl out of the venue parking lot.

    Friday, July 21 setlist via Phish.net

    Set 1: Party Time, AC/DC Bag > 46 Days, Birds of a Feather, Bouncing Around the Room, Stash, Leaves, Maze, Scents and Subtle Sounds

    Set 2: Sigma Oasis -> The Final Hurrah > Pillow Jets > David Bowie, Cities -> Fuego > Ruby Waves

    Encore: Character Zero > Slave to the Traffic Light

    On first glance, Night 2 of Phish at Star Lake felt a little more pedestrian compared to Friday, but a cleansing Set 1, with three energetic numbers – “I Never Needed You Like This Before,” “Turtle in the Clouds,” and “Llama” – beginning the night. With the sunset glaring down on the band, a half dozen ‘take em or leave em” numbers were peppered in, with the valley rising to a peak with “Ass Handed” and “Sand” closing out the set on a high note. No complaints, no notes, this was an enjoyable Saturday evening first set.

    What awaited in the second set were jams tucked inside jams – “Everything’s Right” had a distinct “Slave to the Traffic Light” jam within, so if you went to your car Friday night as “Slave” encored, you got a second chance to enjoy this one. “Soul Planet” and “Twist” each had their own solid jams, with McConnell’s Vida Blue composition “Most Events Aren’t Planned” appearing at the right moment, giving the second set from Friday a run for the money. Tonight’s second set debut tune “Monsters,” joining “Pillow Jets” and the previously played “Oblivion” as having strong potential for future Type II exploration. “2001” appeared out of thin air, held its own and gave way to Lou Reed and Velvet Underground’s “Rock and Roll,” a rarer treat these days.

    A triple encore of “Grind,” and short but sweet versions of “Tube” and “Ghost” (first ever in an encore slot) would close the night and send the crowd off to hotels, with visions of Oranges dancing in their heads.

    Phish plays tonight in Syracuse – never miss a Sunday show.

    Saturday, July 22 setlist via Phish.net

    Set 1: I Never Needed You Like This Before, Turtle in the Clouds, Llama, Clear Your Mind > Sample in a Jar, Taste, Ocelot, Julius, Saw It Again > Sparkle, Ass Handed, Sand

    Set 2: Everything’s Right > Soul Planet -> Twist > Most Events Aren’t Planned, Monsters, Also Sprach Zarathustra > Rock and Roll

    Encore: Grind, Tube > Ghost

  • In Focus: My Morning Jacket at Artpark

    The anticipation was palpable as My Morning Jacket took the stage at the Artpark Amphitheater in Lewiston on June 26. The crowd erupted in cheers as the band launched into their set with the powerful and infectious “War Begun.”

    From that moment on, it was clear that this would be a night to remember. My Morning Jacket flawlessly navigated through their setlist, effortlessly blending old favorites with newer tracks. “Circuital” and “Mahgeetah” showcased the band’s signature sound, with Jim James’ distinctive vocals soaring above the intricate guitar work and driving rhythm section.

    The band’s musicianship was on full display throughout the night. The intricate guitar solos and dynamic drumming added depth and complexity to each song. Whether it was the introspective beauty of “Golden” or the raw energy of “One Big Holiday,” My Morning Jacket commanded the stage with a magnetic presence that held the audience in rapt attention.

    As the evening progressed, the crowd was treated to a range of emotions. The hauntingly beautiful “Never in the Real World” and the introspective “If All Else Fails” showcased the band’s ability to delve into more introspective and introspective territory. The energy reached its peak during fan-favorite anthems like “Wordless Chorus” and “One Big Holiday.”

    The encore was a fitting culmination of an already exhilarating performance. “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 1” enveloped the venue in a wave of sound, with its infectious rhythm and soaring vocals. The atmospheric “Spring (Among the Living)” provided a brief moment of reflection before the band unleashed the explosive “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 2.” The combination of these three songs created an electrifying finale that left the audience wanting more.

    Setlist: War Begun, I Will Sing You Songs, Circuital, Love Love Love, Mahgeetah, Golden, Never in the Real World, Anytime, One Big Holiday, Death Is the Easy Way, Feel You, If All Else Fails, Lay Low, Friends Again, Off the Record, Evil Urges, Wordless Chorus

    Encore: Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 1, Spring (Among the Living), Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 2

  • In Focus: Dave Matthews Band Amuses at Darien Lake

    On June 14th, Dave Matthews Band took the stage at Darien Lake, delivering an electrifying performance that left the crowd buzzing.

    Dave Matthews Band darien

    From the energetic opener “When the World Ends” to the soulful encore of “You Never Know” and “Shake Me Like a Monkey,” the band captivated the audience with their musical prowess and heartfelt lyrics. One of the highlights of the night was a fantastic version of “Don’t Drink the Water.” The song featured a weird and exploratory intro, which sounded similar to something you’d hear at a Phish show. As the venue is close a Native American reservation, the song about the slaughter and colonization of the Native Americans was extremely poignant.

    Dave Matthews Band darien

    As it often is, “Lie In Our Graves” was the standout of the night. Probably the longest song of the night, they stretched out the classic and the Darien Lake crowd loved it. The night was heavy with new songs from their recently released album, 2023’s Walk on the Moon, but it was also sprinkled with some deeper cuts to keep everyone happy.

    From the infectious energy of their opening song to the soul-stirring encore, the band showcased their exceptional musicianship and their ability to create an unforgettable live experience.

    Dave Matthews Band – Darien Lake, Darien Center, NY – June 14th 2023

    Setlist: When the World Ends, Stay or Leave,Funny the Way It Is, All You Wanted Was Tomorrow, Madman’s Eyes, So Damn Lucky, Busted Stuff, Grey Street, Looking for a Vein, Don’t Drink the Water, The Space Between, Lie in Our Graves, Walk Around the Moon, Louisiana Bayou, Break Free, You Might Die Trying, Jimi Thing, Brick House (Commodores cover)

    Encore: You Never Know, Shake Me Like a Monkey

    Dave Matthews Band darien
    Dave Matthews Band darien

  • In Focus: The Flaming Lips Bring Yoshimi to Cleveland

    The Flaming Lips delivered an unforgettable performance at the Agora Theatre in Cleveland on June 11. With two mesmerizing sets, they took the audience on a journey filled with nostalgia, energy, and musical brilliance. Wayne Coyne serves as the bands psychedelic ringmaster, constantly pulling things out of his bag of tricks or egging the crowd on to be as silly and to have as much fun as possible. The Flaming Lips treat every concert like it’s the last one on Earth, because you never know, it could be.

    In their first set of the night, The Flaming Lips paid homage to their iconic album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by performing it in its entirety. The crowd was immersed in a sonic adventure, as the band flawlessly captured the essence of the album’s whimsical melodies and thought-provoking lyrics. Accompanied by mesmerizing visuals, their performance breathed new life into the beloved tracks, evoking a wave of both nostalgia and renewed appreciation.

    As the night drew to a close, The Flaming Lips left the stage, but their impact lingered in the hearts and minds of everyone present. Their two-set performance was a testament to their artistic vision, their ability to captivate and transcend boundaries, and their unwavering commitment to creating a transformative live experience. The Flaming Lips once again solidified their status as masters of their craft, leaving the audience with an insatiable craving for more of their musical magic.

    Set 1: Fight Test, One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 2, In the Morning of the Magicians, Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell, Are You a Hypnotist??, It’s Summertime, Do You Realize??, All We Have Is Now, Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia)

    Set 2: Sagittarius Silver Announcement, She Don’t Use Jelly, Mother I’ve Taken LSD, How??, Always There, In Our Hearts, Feeling Yourself Disintegrate, Assassins of Youth, Will You Return / When You Come Down, Borderline(Madonna), Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung

    Encore: My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion, A Spoonful Weighs a Ton, Race for the Prize

  • In Focus: Dan Deacon plays No Fun in Troy

    Dan Deacon brought his colorful glitch pop to No Fun in Troy on Thursday, June 8th. This is his first tour since the pandemic, he had a huge tour planned in support (he was scheduled to play Ithaca) of his studio album from 2020, Mystic Familar, and it was just about to kick off as everything shut down.

    During the downtime, Dan turned his energy towards writing numerous film scores, including the Academy Award-nominated documentary “Ascension”, and the Adam Sandler Netflix film “Hustle.” The Troy show was almost at end of a scattered tour that started in March, and even though he was pulling double duty (there was an early and a late show) the passion of his performance had not faltered or aged from years past, once the music started, he still had the charm of a mad man possessed.

    Joining Dan Deacon on the tour was drummer Jeremy Hyman. Hyman has played for Ponytail, Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks and also toured with Animal Collective when Panda Bear decided to sit out on drums during the Painting With tour. You know that if Panda Bear turned over the drumsticks to Jeremy for a tour, that he is an absolute monster behind the drum kit.

    Starting out the night was Jeremy Hyman with a DJ set of some lovely ambient/house music that was the perfect appetizer for the night. His set entranced the crowd with some tripped out soundscapes, while occasionally locking into a deep house beat that would get the crowd moving. After his set he came back out with Dan to play drums, and since there were two shows and he played both sets, that made for an impressive 4 sets over the course of the night for Jeremy Hyman, a monster indeed.

    Seeing a Dan Deacon show isn’t an average electronic music dance party, it is that, but it’s also an interactive slumber party with some like-minded strangers. It’s like going to a concert and all of a sudden that day in gym class breaks out where you didn’t have to play sports, and you just got to play silly games with a parachute. There is a lot of focus on the crowd and their dancing, which makes everyone feel silly and goofy, which is perfect mood for the kind of insane pitched up, ADHD-riddled, electronic pop music providing the soundtrack to all of this. Dan Deacon has really built up a nice catalogue of tunes to play live, and when you really distill down all of those earcandy electronic pop songs into a single show it’s a very impressive concert, musically, along with everything else going on. With the tour wrapped up and all of those scores under his belt, I think it’s a safe bet that Dan will be returning to the studio at some point in the near future for his next full length album.

    Setlist: Become a Mountain, The Crystal Cat, Change Your Life (You Can Do It), Learning to Relax, Arp I: Wide Eyed, Arp II: Float Away, Arp III: Far From Shore, Arp IV: Any Moment, Wham City, Snookered, Sat By A Tree, Paddling Ghost, When I was Done Dying, Feel the Lightning