NYS Music 2023

Author: daniel bocchino

  • Five Can’t-Miss Shows in Syracuse in June

    By now, Memorial Day has come and gone, the days are getting longer, the sun is shining, and summer concert season is officially underway.  As always, Syracuse has an impressive mix of individual concerts and multiple day festivals to look forward to over the summer months. Here are five can’t miss shows around Syracuse for the month of June.  

    June 9, Meshell Ndegeocello at Homer Center for the Arts

    Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello comes to the Homer Center for the Arts for a performance on Friday June 9th.  The singer-songwriter and bass guitarist is known for blending elements of rap, hip hop, funk and soul in her music.  She has been nominated for a Grammy Award 11 times, taking home the award for best R&B song in 2021.  

    The show starts at 8pm with tickets starting at $40.

    June 15-17,  New York State Blues Fest at NYS Fairgrounds

    The New York State Blues Festival returns to Chevy Court at the New York State Fairgrounds for a three day affair.  The star studded line up features headliner and blues rock legend Buddy Guy, with direct support from Samantha Fish.   The remainder of the three day festival features an impressive line up of both NYS artists and national touring bands.  The daily schedule can be found here.  

    Daily admission is free, however VIP packages are available.

    June 21-25, Syracuse Jazz Fest

    The Syracuse Jazz Fest once again returns to Clinton Square and its surrounding areas for a five day celebration.  This will be the 37th incarnation of the event, which will be co-headlined this year by 14-time Grammy Award winning artist Herbie Hancock and 7-time Grammy Award Winner Gladys Knight.  Hancock will headline the Clinton Square Stage on Friday, June 23 at 9:15pm, with Knight taking the stage on Saturday, June 24 at 9:15pm.  Additional support will include Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, who bring their vintage sound to the Clinton Square Stage on Friday evening, at 7:30pm.  In addition, the five-day festival will feature over 26 additional performances at various clubs, bars, and restaurants, highlighting local artists and other performers with New York State ties. 

    All performances are free and open to the public.  A full schedule can be found here.

    June 25, 95x Locals Only Fest at The Finish Line Bar & Grill

    Curated by Syracuse music legend and local music connoisseur Scott Dixon, 95x is hosting the Locals Only Fest at The Finish Line Bar & Grill.  Headlined by Central New York sensation Sydney Irving and the Mojo, the one day festival will feature a talented line up Central New York musicians.  The line up includes Professional Victims, The Flashing Astonishers, Not Robots, Can’t, Mattydale Music Collective, Everneau, No Bush, and Cooled Jets.  The festival will also showcase an assortment of local artists with proceeds of each ticket sale benefiting the Syracuse Arts Project.  

    Music starts at 12:00pm with tickets starting at $15.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgr4LZ9pE9c

    June 25,  Snarky Puppy at Sharkey’s Event Center

    Fresh off the heels of a spring tour which saw sold out performances in Buffalo and Ithaca, Snarky Puppy once again return to Upstate New York.  The multi-grammy award winning band, known for its blend of jazz-rock fusion boasts an impressive line up of talented musicians.  Led by founder Michael League, the instrumentalist band features a rotation upwards of twenty-five members, with nightly performances featuring eleven musicians. 

    Doors open at 5:00pm with tickets starting at $30.  

  • In Focus: Andrew McMahon Delivers Colorful, Sold-Out Performance at Town Ballroom in Buffalo

    Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness wrapped up a two-week east coast tour with a sold out performance at Town Ballroom in Buffalo on Wednesday, May 24.  The tour, which also featured stops in Syracuse and Albany, was in support of the band’s latest release Tilt at the Wind No More. 

    Few in the music industry today tout the resume that Andrew McMahon has.  His original rise to fame came as the lead singer of the early 2000’s emo rock band Something Corporate.  In 2004 McMahon formed Jack’s Mannequin, and later in 2014 would begin Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, a project that continues today.  All along the way, McMahon has crafted stellar piano-rock tracks and has amassed a large and devoted following of fans who flock to his live concerts.  His current band features Bob Anderson (guitar), Zac Clark (keyboards), Jay McMillian (drums) and Mikey Wagner (bass guitar).  

    Early arriving fans on Wednesday night were treated to an opening performance by Griffin William Sherry.  Known for his work with independent-folk rock band The Ghost of Paul Revere, Sherry delighted the audience with a set of acoustic folk tracks.  At times, Sherry’s strong vocals channeled singer/song writers such as Nathaniel Rateliff and Chris Stapleton.

    andrew mcmahon buffalo

    Up next were The Unlikely Candidates, from Fort Worth, Texas.  To describe their set as high energy would be an understatement.  From the cryptic opening guitar rift of “Sunshine” to the final notes of set closer “Novocaine”, singer Kyle Morris took captive hold of the audience.  Morris strutted the stage, leapt in the air,  twirled his microphone, at times throwing it high in the air before catching it.  Morris would lean in close over the audience, locking eyes with those in the front row, never missing a lyrical beat.  A mid-set cover of the A-ha classic “Take on Me” had the showroom bursting with energy. The band was sure to gain many new fans following their set.

    andrew mcmahon buffalo

    Finally, it was time for Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness.  The standing room only club was packed elbow to elbow with little room to maneuver, with the crowd in eager anticipation of the band’s arrival.  Once the houselights dimmed, a lone spotlight shone into the crowd.  The light illuminated McMahon, who was standing in the back of the club, and began performing the slow moving, reflective “Nobody Tells You When You’re Young”.  McMahon made his way slowly to the stage, providing brief and intimate performances for those whose path he encountered.  Once arriving to the stage, McMahon was joined by his bandmates who immediately launched into “The Mixed Tape,” a familiar fan favorite from McMahon’s Jack’s Mannequin days.  

    andrew mcmahon buffalo

    While the music was at the forefront, the spectacle of an Andrew McMahon performance was not missing on this night.  McMahon donned a colorful, light up cape during “Stars”.  He crowd surfed while riding an inflatable llama, making it all the way to the top tier of the club.  During “Synesthesia”, McMahon brought a multi-colored parachute into the crowd, singing the song’s chorus from underneath.  In all, McMahon and his band would roll through a 23 song set, spanning over twenty years worth of music.  It was a memorable evening for those in attendance, one that would be sure to have fans clamoring for a return performance in the near future.

    andrew mcmahon buffalo

  • In Focus: The Avett Brothers Deliver Two Nights of Sold Out Performances At Beak and Skiff

    Beak and Skiff kicked off their Summer Concert Series this past weekend with a pair of sold-out performances by The Avett Brothers on Friday May 19 and Saturday May 20.  

    The Avett Brothers hail from Concord, NC and consist of brothers Scott (vocals, banjo, guitar, piano and Seth Avett (vocals, guitar, piano) along with Bob Crawford (bass, double bass, violin), Mike Marsh (drums), Joe Kwon (cello), Bonnie Avett-Rini (piano) and Tania Elizabeth (fiddle).  The band have built a devoted fan base with over two decades of touring, and more than ten studio albums.

    While the weather could not have been more perfect during the day on Friday, as show time approached wind gusts and rainclouds moved over the venue.  This did not dampen the spirts of thousands of concert goers as the early arriving sold-out crowd packed the standing area in front of the stage, while more fans spread lawn chairs out across the field.  At 7:15, Scott Avett led the band to the stage and was greeting with a thunderous ovation. 

    The band jumped right into “Laundry Room”, a stand out track from 2009’s I and Love and You.  Scott and Seth dazzled the crowd with their harmonious vocals.  “Stop your parent’s car, I just saw a shooting star,” Scott sang, to another loud ovation from the crowd, as the song exploded with energy.  Next was the folk classic “Old Joe Clark”, which built off the already existing energy.  Each band member took their turn displaying their talents, and the song broke into instrumental duals between the various members.  Scott and Seth took turns wandering to the front of the stage, and onto the speaker cabinets to further excite the crowd.  The remainder of the evening featured several stand out songs from the band’s catalog, including “Headful of Doubt,” “Murder in the City,” and “I and Love and You”.

    Night two began in similar fashion, albeit with heavier rains and cooler temperatures.  The weather appeared to be clearing as show time approached, however heavy showers again moved in at showtime.  The band took the stage armed with kazoos and immediately jumped into the upbeat instrumental piece “The D Bag Rag”. Next was “Talk on Indolence,” a track which dated back to the band’s early blue grass days.  Brothers Scott and Seth hopped about the stage and the crowd, who at this point had forgotten about the heavy rains, danced along with them. 

    The band would roll through over two hours of career spanning tracks, and even included the Doc Watson Family cover, “Groundhog.”  As the set came to a close, the band performed the upbeat “Ain’t No Man.”  The song featured both brothers taking turns on vocals, as they strutted and danced about the stage.  The audience’s pleas for an encore were honored by the band, who returned to perform four more songs.  The band would close two days of stellar performances with “No Hard Feelings,” a heavy and emotional track about staying free from harboring enemies, sharing love and ultimately about accepting death.  

    In all, the Avett Brothers delivered two nights of incredible performances at Beak and Skiff, featuring unique set lists, with over forty different songs played.   Despite the weather, it was truly a special start to the summer concert season.  

  • In Focus: Andrew McMahon Headlines Syracuse’s Food Truck Battle

    Summer festival season could not have kicked off with a more perfect start on Saturday, as the Syracuse Food Truck Association hosted their third annual Food Truck Battle at the New York State Fairgrounds.  The event featured over fifty local and regional food trucks as well as a day filled with local and national music alike, culminating with a headlining set from Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness.

    Andrew McMahon performs at the 2023 Syracuse Food Truck Battle

    Festival attendees were treated to a line up of over fifty local and regional food truck of varying cuisine.  The trucks lined the road ways around the Fair’s Chevy Court.  Happy festival goers packed the streets, hoping to try some of their long standing favorites, or perhaps venture into a new cuisine.  A panel of local celebrity judges sat stage side, sampling fare from each truck, and would later present several awards.  Festival goers were also encouraged to vote for their favorites.  

    Quality food wasn’t the only thing on the menu, as the day’s agenda featured a diverse mixture of both local musicians and national touring acts.  The day’s music kicked off with a set by local favorite, Just Joe.  Just Joe, formerly of heavy metal band Brand New Sin, delivered a set of classic rock covers played entirely on the piano.   His set was followed by a high energy performance by My So Called Band, who played a set of 90’s rock covers.  Fondu was up next, and by now the festival grounds were starting to pack in with the afternoon crown.  The area around the stage began to fill with dancing concert goers, who were enjoying the disco-party atmosphere provided by Fondu.  The Brownskin Band followed, delivering a set of R&B music. Finally, Hard Promises wrapped up the local music portion of the day, with a set of 70’s classic rock covers.  

    Fondu performs at the 2023 Syracuse Food Truck Battle

    Following an intermission to present the day’s awards, national touring act Michigander took the stage.  Led by lead singer Jason Singer, the four piece band performed a set of indie pop-rock tracks.  They opened with “Superglue”, the catchy first single off the band’s latest EP, It Will Never Be the Same.  The song’s chorus is one everyone in attendance could sing along with, even if they had never heard it before.  The band’s set had fans dancing and swaying in the area surrounding the stage.  One group off to the side danced and sang along to every word and even caught the attention of Jason Singer.  “You guys are awesome.  When you play a new city, you never know if anyone will show up.  Thank you so much.” 

    Michigander performs at the 2023 Syracuse Food Truck Battle

    After a short stage change over, it was time for Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness.  The area surrounding the stage had filled in almost entirely by this point with fans of McMahon, both young and old.  Taking the stage promptly at 8:30pm, the band launched into the high energy “Stars”, off their latest release Tilt at the Wind No More.  McMahon, who sings and plays piano, bounced around the stage between stints on the piano.  He danced on top of the piano, at times leaping into the air.  He ran through the crowd singing, without missing a beat.  In all, the band delivered 90 minutes of stand out tracks spanning McMahon’s career, one that has seen him play in three different bands.   The crowd, who packed the area in front of the stage, sang and danced along the entire set.  They pleaded for an encore, one which McMahon quickly obliged. Returning to the stage with guitarist Bob Anderson, the two delivered a haunting rendition of “Nobody Tells You When You’re Young” followed by “Cecilia and the Satellite” the later which was written for McMahon’s daughter, who frequently accompanies the band on tour. It was a climactic ending to a wonderful day of food and music.

  • In Focus: Mikaela Davis Kicks Off Spring Residency At Funk ‘n Waffles In Syracuse

    A quick walk through Syracuse’s Armory Square on the evening of Thursday, May 4 would have provided an astute listener the sounds to give hope that another winter was behind us.  Conversation drifted from sidewalk tables, birds sang from nearby trees, and the music of Mikaela Davis poured from Syracuse’s Funk ’n Waffles, as the band kicked off their “Here Comes Sunshine” spring residency.  This was the first of three scheduled performances at Funk ‘n Waffles for the band.

    Davis, a native of Rochester, is a classically trained harpist who has toured extensively over the last decade.  She has built the reputation of being one of the brightest rising stars in the music industry.  In 2018 she released her debut solo album, Delivery.  Soon after the release, she joined forces with her backing band Southern Star.  The band, who consist of brothers Shane (bass guitar) and Cian McCarthy (guitar), Alex Cote (drums) and Kurt Johnson (pedal steel, guitar), have compiled an impressive touring resume. They have previously shared the stage with artists such as Bob Weir, Bon Iver, Lake Street Dive, and will tour with The Mountain Goats and later this year.  The five members have contributed to the band’s unique and refreshing sound.

    Of late, the band has become known for their seasonal residency concerts;  three concerts over consecutive weeks in the same city.  The concert consists of two sets of music; one set of original music, and a second set of Grateful Dead covers. After selling out many residency shows across New York State this past winter, the band have again returned for a spring slate.  

    Shortly after 8pm the band took to the stage and launched into the groovy “Don’t Stop Now”.  The song’s drum and bass rhythm would soon be joined by the familiar sounds of Davis’s harp plucking and the night would be under way.  The first set would consist of tracks from 2018’s Delivery as well as offerings from the band’s upcoming release And Southern Star.   The songs placed Davis’s talents on full display, with her vocals and signature harp style blending beautifully with the band’s accompaniment.  A highlight of the first set would be the band’s performance of “Far From You”, the the hauntingly beautiful first offering off of And Southern Star.

    After a short intermission, the band would return to the stage for a set consisting entirely of Grateful Dead covers.  The stage, which was draped in bohemian decor, offered a fitting backdrop for the remainder of the evening.  During this portion of the evening, the band’s musical talent’s were really able to shine.  Grateful Dead classics turned in to musical jam sessions, while the near capacity audience filled the area closest to the stage and danced along.  During one jam session, Davis abandoned her seat at the harp, and each band member took a different percussive instrument.  They led the audience on an extended drum solo jam, much to the audiences’ delight.  

    After a brief encore, the band returned to the stage and closed out the evening with their rendition of Grateful Dead’s “Bird Song”.  The combination of Davis’s vocals and harp playing allowed for the classic track to soar to new heights.  The evening’s combination of original music along with Grateful Dead classics make for an evening of must see music.  Be sure to catch the band on one of their upcoming residency shows.  

    Mikaela Davis Residency Shows

    5/8 – Ithaca NY – Deep Dive

    5/9 – Buffalo NY – 9th Ward at Babeville

    5/10 – Albany NY – Parish Public House

    5/11 – Syracuse NY – Funk ‘n Waffles

    5/15 – Rochester NY – Lilac Festival

    5/16 – Buffalo NY – 9th Ward at Babeville

    5/18 – Syracuse NY – Funk ‘n Waffles

    5/19 – Albany NY – Parish Public House

  • In Focus: The Furious Bongos Deliver Fabulous Show At The Westcott Theater

    The sounds of Frank Zappa were in the air on Sunday, March 26, as The Furious Bongos took the stage at The Westcott Theater, in Syracuse.  

    Based out of Wisconsin, The Furious Bongos are a nine-piece progressive rock band who focus on delivering quality renditions of Frank Zappa songs. The band consists of Lo Marie (vocals, rhythm guitar, Conrad St. Clair (bass guitar, music director), Chris Huntington (lead guitar), Flip Fjellstrom (drums), Zachary Bowers (percussion), Scott Fischer (vocals, keyboard), Jonathan Sindelman (keyboards), Willow Dougherty (vocals), and Vince Szynborski (saxophones).  

    At promptly 8pm the house lights dimmed and the band took the stage.  The theater was quickly filled with the groovy bass notes of the opening number, Chunga’s Revenge.  The song built layer upon layer of sound, with each band member joining along until the theater was filled with a symphony of sound.  

    Through out the evening, the band would perform various songs from the Frank Zappa catalog.  Lo Marie, Willow Dougherty and Scott Fischer would delight the crowd with their vocal deliveries, while each band member traded turns putting their musical talents on display. The band’s stage manager, Mike Stehr, would join in the fun, taking lead vocal duties during the Zappa classic, Cosmik Debris. Through out the evening, the audience sang and danced along, even earning muffins from the band to reward their participation.

    Through out the two and a half hour set, the band put on display the qualities which made Frank Zappa a legend;  complex and diverse musical arrangements along with comical, satirical, and at times racy song lyrics.  The band delivered on these concepts with the precision and the eccentric delivery which made Zappa famous.   They are a must band see for any music fan.

    The Furious Bongos – The Westcott Theater, Syracuse – March 26, 2023

    Set 1: Chunga’s Revenge > Zoot Allures > Zomby Woof > Uncle Remus > Let’s Move To Cleveland > Find Her Finer > Heavenly Bank Account > Andy > Inca Roads > Cosmik Debris

    Set 2: Dirty Love > Doreen > What’s New In Baltimore > Peaches En Regalia > Montana > Village of the Sun > We Are Not Alone > Advance Romance > Sam with the Showing Scalp Flat Top > Black Page #2 > Hot Plate Crew Slut Heaven > City of Tiny Lites

    Encore: The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing > Willie the Pimp

  • The Furious Bongos To Bring Music of Frank Zappa to Upstate New York

    Frank Zappa fans unite! The Furious Bongos are bringing their spring tour to Upstate New York this weekend. The band has shows scheduled for Saturday, March 25 at The Linda in Albany and Sunday, March 26 at The Westcott Theater in Syracuse. 

    furious bongos frank zappa
    Photo Credit – Colleen Brady

    Billed as “A bunch of professional musicians with pretty diverse backgrounds…” the band boasts an impressive and talented nine member lineup.  Originally hailing from Southern Wisconsin, the band is embarking on a nine date tour spanning the northeast.  While the band’s primary focus is to deliver musical renditions from the Frank Zappa catalog, the band promises to deliver “a show that pays respect to Zappa’s legacy, but is still new and different and dangerous and FUN, with lots of eyebrows”.

    Tickets for each show start at $20.  Don’t hesitate to grab your tickets for what promises to be a fun filled musical evening.  

  • In Focus: Regina Spektor Captivates Sold-Out Ithaca Crowd

    Regina Spektor made her long awaited return to Ithaca on Wednesday, March 1, playing to a sold-out crowd at the State Theater.  The much-anticipated performance was Spektor’s first in Ithaca since 2016 and was the first stop on her spring solo tour.  The show, originally scheduled for October 2022, had been postponed after Spektor contracted Covid-19. 

    regina spektor

    As the clock approached 8:30, excitement in the theater became palpable, with the sold-out crowd eagerly awaiting Spektor’s arrival.  Moments later, the house lights dimmed, and Spektor strutted to the front of the stage.  She greeted the crowd with an excited wave and a curtsy before launching into the a-cappella track “Ain’t No Cover.”  Spektor immediately had a captive hold of her audience. 

    regina spektor

    Following the opening number, Spektor took her familiar seat in front of her piano and continued her diverse musical journey.   A classically trained pianist at heart, Spektor has been performing on the piano since the age of six. Tracks like “Folding Chair” and “Better” took new life while being stripped to their piano-laden foundation. She delighted the audience with the quirky “Reginasaurus” (while her guitar was being tuned for “That Time,”), sang in three languages on “Apres Moi”, and showed off her storytelling abilities with the cryptic and political “Ballad of a Politician”.  Despite the emotional nature of her music, Spektor kept the mood light between songs, telling comical stories of failed rehearsal attempts prior to the evening’s show.

    regina spektor

    With the evening winding to a close, Spektor delighted the crowd with “Fidelity,” a standout track from her 2006 album Begin To Hope.  The audience joined in, singing along on the catchy chorus.  Following the song, Spektor left the stage briefly, to a standing ovation. She returned moments later, and obliged the audience with a previous request; by performing the emotional ballad “Samson”.  The audience, in complete silence, hung on her every word until the end.

    regina spektor

    It is a rare feat in this day and age to see an audience so fully immersed in a live performance, but Regina Spektor clearly held a captive spell over the theater.  A glance around the room was not met with the glow of cellphones, but rather audience members hanging on Spektor’s every note.  It is a true testament to her talents as a songwriter and performer.  

    regina spektor

  • In Focus: Alter Bridge Rock Del Lago in Waterloo

    Alter Bridge made their long-awaited return to Central New York on Friday, February 10, playing to a near-capacity crowd at Del Lago Casino in Waterloo.  The band is touring in support of its 2022 release, Pawns & Kings, and brought along Mammoth WVH in support.

    Formed in 2004 in Orlando, Florida, Alter Bridge has released seven studio albums as well as several live albums.  The band consists of Myles Kennedy (vocals, guitar), Mark Tremonti (guitar, vocals), Brian Marshall (bass guitar), and Scott Phillips (drums).  

    The evening kicked off promptly at 8 o’clock with Mammoth WVH playing to an already full house.  The band, fronted by Wolfgang Van Halen (son of Eddie Van Halen), tore through a set of classic rock tracks off their 2021 self-titled release.  Wolfgang delighted the crowd with his pristine vocals and his indisputable guitar talent, tearing through several guitar solos reminiscent of his father.  After a forty-minute set, the band left the stage triumphantly, to a sea of metal horns from the crowd.  

    Excitement in the venue quickly became palpable as the Alter Bridge backdrop rose from behind the stage.  Shortly after the band entered and launched into “Silver Tongue.” With a howl from Myles Kennedy, the set was underway.  The band tore through a mixture of tracks from throughout their nineteen years together.  Kennedy’s vocals, powerful enough to fill a stadium, soared through the venue.

     After a short acoustic set which saw Kennedy play a solo rendition of “Watch Over You,” followed by a Kennedy and Tremonti duet of “In Loving Memory,” the band returned to the stage.  With their return, the opening notes of “Blackbird” by The Beatles were strummed.  The crowd rose in anticipation as the band segued into their song of the same name.   Perhaps the pinnacle of the Alter Bridge catalog, “Blackbird” is a hauntingly beautiful track about the loss of a close friend.  The slow-building track soon erupted into another memorable solo from Tremonti.  

    Like all great things, this evening had to come to a close.  Alter Bridge ended the night where they began nineteen years ago: with their first single, “Open Your Eyes.” The crowd joined, erupting into a full-fledged singalong before the band was through.