Trey Anastasio’s Band stopped at The Stone Pony Summerstage amidst their tour. The place was packed and there were loads of people listening to the concert outside of the gated-off, outdoor venue. This proved to be an incredible show filled with fan favorites, incredible solos by Trey and the horns section and even Natalie “Chainsaw” Cressman’s masterful vocal work on “1977.”
The band opened up with “Set Your Soul Free” which featured the lovely accompaniment on vocals by Jennifer Hartswick & Natalie Cressman. The first set included “Steam,” “Heavy Things,” a roaring “Night Speaks to a Woman,” and a funky “Moma Dance.”
The second set opened up with a Trey original, “I Never Needed You Like This Before.” The sun was going down and the band was settling into a familiar groove with Trey’s solos getting loner and heavier. If this show is foreshadowing the Phish summer tour ahead, we are in for quite a ride! The second set included a personal favorite “Alaska,” which was jammed out entirely with an extensive solo by Trey, “1977” with Cressman’s mesmerizing rapping, an insanely jammed out “No men in No Man’s Land,” and “Everything’s Right” to close out the set.
That last song really helped this writer get through a rough day. The positivity and healing in Trey Anastasio Band’s music have helped greatly and I am sometimes in awe of its power. The band came back for their encore, an a capella “Over the Rainbow” and a shredding “First Tube.”
Set 1: Set Your Soul Free, Simple Twist Up Dave, Evolve, Rise/Come Together, Steam, Heavy Things, Cayman Review, Night Speaks to a Woman, The Moma Dance, Curlew’s Call.
Set 2: I Never Needed You Like This Before, 1977, Acting the Devil, No Men In No Men’s Land, Oblivion, Love is What We Are, Drifting, Alaska, and Everything’s Right.
This past Friday, July 7, the iconic Big Time Rush band from the early 2010s played an incredible show at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. Playing almost eleven years earlier at the same venue, many superfans flocked back to see them—this time all grown up. Concertgoers sported sparkly attire, OG Big Time Rush t-shirts, and posters stating their love for their favorite band member as they waited eagerly in anticipation for their Can’t Get Enoughtour.
Big Time Rush, photographed by Sarah Hyun
Big Time Rush, consisting of members Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Logan Henderson, and Carlos PenaVega, originally began as a TV show for the Nickelodeon channel. They formed in 2009 and garnered a cult audience of superfans, continuing their show with four seasons until their final episode in 2013. The band took a break afterward to allow each member to work on his solo career but recently regrouped in 2021. Big Time Rush has been touring since, and is now at the beginning of their Can’t Get Enough tour, with twenty-five shows left. They previously played at Saratoga Performing Arts Center and are scheduled to play at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater.
Big Time Rush, photographed by Sarah Hyun
With the concert being delayed for almost two hours due to thunder, there was an almost-certain chance that the show was going to be canceled. Although openers MAX and JAX could not take the stage, the boy band made sure that the show went on. Fans were ecstatic. The boys came out on a large platform with bright lights shining behind them to create a silhouette of their bodies. The screams that followed were absolutely deafening and continued that way for the rest of their set. During their song “All Over Again,” the members pointed to different parts of the crowd whilst singing the lyrics “To the left, left, left/On the right, right, right/To the back, back, back/On the side, side, side.” Confetti shot out of cannons during the performance of “Confetti Falling,” and a video montage of the boy band played on the large screen during their intermission song, “I Just Want To (Party All the Time).” At one point in the show, each member chose a female fan from the audience to personally serenade on stage.
During the encore, the band left for a good two to three minutes before re-entering to perform “Windows Down,” their most popular song “Boyfriend,” and “Til I Forget About You.” At the beginning of the encore, the members ran off the stage and into the seated sections to greet some of the fans that were farther away from the stage. Big Time Rush promised that they would definitely be back at Bethel Woods to play more shows in the future.
Setlist: Can’t Get Enough, Elevate, Song for You, Waves, Weekends, All Over Again, Any Kind of Guy, Ask You Tonight, Forget You Now, Love Me Love Me, Paralyzed, Nothing Even Matters, Worldwide, Invisible, I Just Want To (Party All the Time), Famous, City is Ours, 24/Seven, Shot in the Dark, Big Night, Confetti Falling, Big Time Rush
Encore: Windows Down, Boyfriend, Til I Forget About You
It was a career-defining night for Connecticut’s indie-groove sensation Goose on Friday, July 7. Making their debut at the iconic Saratoga Performing Arts Center, it would ultimately prove to be their biggest headlining performance to date, drawing an estimated 11,000 fans from across the Northeast. Rising to the occasion, the high-flying band captivated attendees with their signature sound, all played with purpose, gusto, and pride. A milestone moment in time that was as satisfying for the fans as it was for the members of Team Goose, this show felt special and more like a homecoming celebration for our triumphant underdogs.
Goose made their Saratoga Performing Arts Center debut on 7/7/23
From the dimly lit club scene to lighting up amphitheaters across the country, the meteoric rise of Goose has been a phenomenon rarely seen in today’s music climate. Ever since accepting the proverbial “torch” from a guy named Trey at Radio City Music Hall last summer, the band has been running with it full speed ahead, no brakes and all gas. From making their national television debut to selling out Red Rocks and their residency at the Capitol Theatre, to earning praise from legendary Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Phil Lesh and even comedians like Jimmy Fallon and Bert Kreischer, the widespread appeal of this band seems to span across generations. Even people who don’t listen to “new” music are talking about Goose.
Goose guitarist/lead vocalist Rick Mitarotonda performing at SPAC on 7/7/23
Consisting of Rick Mitarotonda [vocals, guitar], Peter Anspach [vocals, keys, guitar], Trevor Weekz [bass], Ben Atkind [drums], and Jeff Arevalo [vocals, percussion, drums], the buzz surrounding Goose’s SPAC debut was palpable. Coming off major festivals like Peach and the final Resonance, then a pair of sold-out 4th of July shows at the Stone Pony and Portland, ME, the momentum coming into Saratoga had reached a level not seen since, well, Phish. Afternoon rain would make for a bit of a messy shakedown situation, but right around showtime, as if on cue, the clouds turned as fans started filling up the lawn and pavilion. The highly collectible posters commemorating the evening were long gone well before the first note was played.
Goose made a little Saratoga magic during their SPAC debut on 7/7/23
Walking out to a thunderous and sustained standing ovation, the members of Goose were grinning ear to ear upon taking their positions on the storied SPAC stage. Afterward, on social media, the band would reflect on it saying, “We will never forget the energy we felt right at the start of last night’s show, absolute chills.” Soaking it all in for a moment, the guys would suddenly drop into an inspired “Silver Rising,” with Mitarotonda emphatically singing out the opening lyrics:
Peter Anspach lead Goose through “Red Bird,” a touching tribute to his Mother on 7/7/23
Next came the emotional high point of the first set with a personal song near and dear to multi-instrumentalist Peter “Handini” Anspach. Leading the band through “Red Bird” in a fitting tribute to his mother who has supported his music every step of the way, hearing Peter sing it during the biggest show of his career was very touching. After dipping their toes into some gorgeous improvisational type-II territory, a rollicking rendition of “Same Old Shenanigans” (SOS) would send us to intermission and leave the excited crowd buzzing about what they’d just witnessed and what was still yet to come.
Red bird don’t get tired now
You can almost touch the light
Red bird don’t stop singing your song
Fly for tomorrow tonight
– Lyrics from “Red Bird”
The second set started off with the band paying homage to Goose’s precursor project Vasudo. Playing a heartfelt rendition of “The Empress of Organos,” a song that was also played at the final Vasudo show ten years ago, one couldn’t help but be inspired by just how far this band has come during that time. Now playing with a new custom-made guitar appropriately named “The Empress,” Mitarotonda’s tone sounded glorious all night long and the band looked completely comfortable and at home on the big stage. They are simply born for this. Following the 23-minute “Empress” came a beautiful blues-inspired cover of David Gray’s “Please Forgive Me” that saw some serious peak shredding from Snakes.
The Empress: Rick Mitarotonda’s new custom ax sounded glorious under the SPAC pavilion on 7/7/23
The SPAC show will be remembered for a lot of things, but for me, the real “get down” took place during the SPAC “Thatch.” One of the funkiest and crunchiest grooves this side of Phish’s “Moma Dance,” the band originally debuted the song just up the road in Glens Falls last November while opening for the Trey Anastasio Band. Nearly doubling its length with this version (while also managing to sneak a “Tequila” tease in), the song is destined to become a fan favorite and setlist staple for years to come. Check out pro-shot footage of “Thatch” here:
Easing us into the comedown was another beautifully executed version of “This Old Sea,” one of the most tender ballads in the band’s arsenal, it would also be the shortest song played all night. Seamlessly transitioning into the title track from the band’s latest studio album, 2022âs Dripfield, the mesmerizing climax and stunning light show courtesy of LD Andrew Goedde left Goose fans dripping for more.
On your way to kill the beast
You meet the child, the only one you know
And he sings to you, “Let go,
May the nighttime be your home
-Lyrics from “Factory Fiction”
After hanging backstage for a minute to bask in the ovation and savor the moment, there was only one song that made sense for an encore; a song reserved for only the most special and monumental occasions. As the opening notes of the rare “Factory Fiction” rang out (or ‘Spactory Fiction’ as some fans are already calling it), the excitement and jubilation could be felt by everyone who was there and collectively sent chills down your entire body. Bringing the band full circle on this surreal summer night, from beginning to end, their performance made an emphatic statement. The golden Goose has arrived, and buckle up because their time is now
Goose played their biggest headlining show to date on Friday, 7/7/23 at SPAC
Up next, the band will return to the Newport Folk Festival for their first appearance on the main stage. Later this fall, Goose will return to New York to headline the Borderland Music Festival in Buffalo, before heading across the pond to play their first European tour in November.
For more information, tickets, and tour dates, visit here.
Set 1: Silver Rising, California Magic, Animal, Red Bird, Same Old Shenanigans
Set II: The Empress of Organos, Please Forgive Me (David Gray cover), Thatch, This Old Sea, Dripfield
This past Wednesday, July 5, the iconic 80s band Tears for Fears took the stage at Bethel Woods for a night of new-wave nostalgia. The English band, consisting of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, with Lauren Evans supporting the two on vocals, put on a fantastic show for their The Tipping Point Part II tour.
Tears for Fears, photographed by Sarah Hyun
Tears for Fears originated in Bath, UK in 1981 and disbanded for a nine-year-long period in 1991. After reuniting in 2000, the two released albums Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, The Hurting, and their most recent release, The Tipping Point. Tears for Fears recently played a show at Madison Square Garden and Saratoga Performing Arts Center. With nineteen dates left in the North American / European leg of their tour, the duo will be busy playing shows until late November.
Tears for Fears, photographed by Sarah Hyun
Orzabel and Smith have been playing shows virtually their whole lives. The two know exactly how to work for a crowd, as thousands of fans in middle age and older stood up in their seats to get a good view of the stage. Concertgoers danced, jumped, swayed, and clapped along to iconic songs like “Shout,” “Head Over Heels,” and their most popular track, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” After playing “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” Orzabel paused for a moment and said, “This song gets a million streams every day, which would be remarkable if they weren’t all from us.” A sustained laugh from the crowd. During their performance of “Mad World,” fans screamed in excitement as the two scaled the stage, singing and dancing as colorful lights flashed about.
The end of the show was exciting yet bittersweet, as the two closed the night with a powerful performance of “Change” and “Shout.” Although they do not have any more scheduled tour dates in New York State, the two are sure to come back again as they have in the past.
Setlist: No Small Thing, The Tipping Point, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Secret World, Sowing the Seeds of Love; Long, Long, Long Time; Break the Man, My Demons, Rivers of Mercy, Mad World, Suffer the Children (sung by Lauren Evans), Woman in Chains, Badman’s Song, Pale Shelter, Break It Down Again, Head Over Heels / Broken
Bolstered by charismatic rock-star energy and a one-of-a-kind voice, the legendary live band known as My Morning Jacket lived up to all expectations and then some on Friday night, delivering a max effort, powerhouse performance to the storied city of New Haven, CT on the last day of June 2023.
An outstanding evening of song and dance, hugs and headbanging, and music with enough substance and depth to make even the most jaded concertgoer feel alive, fans who couldn’t make it to their headlining Peach Festival set the following night were treated to a far more intimate experience at the Westville Music Bowl. Featuring bust-outs, rarities, and songs played for the first time on this tour, the two-and-a-half-hour, career-spanning set felt inspired and special and showed exactly why many consider MMJ to be one of the greatest American bands of this generation.
My Morning Jacket performing live at Westville Music Bowl on 6/30/23
A timeless attraction, My Morning Jacket possesses a rare appeal that spans across generations. Consisting of frontman Jim James on vocals and guitar, multi-instrumentalist Carl Broemel, bassist Tom Blankenship, drummer Patrick Hallahan, and keyboardist Bo Koster, after more than two decades on the road the Louisville quintet have remained innovators of their genre and a creative force to be reckoned with. Still one of the “hairiest” bands out there, their look often harkens back to the glory days of 70’s rock n roll, while their sound has continually evolved to include more sonic experimentation and a wider palette of styles ranging from country to soul to psychedelia to even a bit of pop — all of it would be on full display on this hazy, humid Friday in New Haven.
With the bowl in Westville slightly more than half-packed, one could only assume the draw was directly impacted by The Peach Festival happening at the same time; the same festival My Morning Jacket would headline the very next night. But make no mistake, this was no “warm-up” gig for the band. In fact, they’d been on tour for several weeks already at this point, doing different setlists in each city, and by all fan accounts, have been having as much fun playing together as we’ve seen in years, acting reinvigorated and ready to rock out.
My Morning Jacket performing live at Westville Music Bowl on 6/30/23
After taking the New Haven stage accompanied by some hypnotic orchestral music and, of course, the colorfully dressed bears, Pooch and Denise, fans would see the light early as the show kicked off with the tour debut of “The Dark” from My Morning Jacket’s earliest album, 1999’s The Tennessee Fire, letting everyone know they were in for a treat tonight and to buckle up for the ride. Flowing directly into the thought-provoking crowd-pleaser “Compound Fracture,” vocalist Jim James, wearing heart-shaped sunglasses, would put his guitar down and work his way out to the front of the stage, locking eyes with the audience and drawing them in closer with his every movement and gesture; his presence was simply magnetic.
There’s no evil, there’s no good Only people doing as they should There is life in love and sound Get as much as you can keep around Before they put you into the ground
For who knows how long? (paradise calling)
-Lyrics from “Compound Fracture”
Now strapping back up with an acoustic guitar, James would go back to his childhood way with the title track of 2011’s Circuital before flowing directly into the classic MMJ rock anthem “Anytime.” A reimaged rendition of “I’m Amazed” featuring a Beatles-esq intro brought out goosebumps when the whole crowd shouted “Where is the justice?” in unison. Our next tour debut was the delicate song “Sooner” which saw multi-instrumentalist Carl Broemel move over to the slide guitar for one of the very few times in the evening. The show was already seven songs deep before the band would play anything from their most recent self-titled studio album, uncorking a seven-plus minute version of “Least Expected” that featured a beautiful extended keyboard solo from Bo Koster. Next came the song which perhaps best summed up the overall message of the night with “Love Love Love.”
Jim James of My Morning Jacket was all about love on 6/30/23
In another setlist surprise, “One Big Holiday,” a signature song usually reserved for the encore slot, dropped early and would feature James improvising lyrics over its outro, expressing his love for the “beautiful, scenic, historic, and wonderful people of New Haven,” leading us directly into one of My Morning Jacket’s most cherished songs and my personal favorite, “Steam Engine.” Played under hazy skies and a cool jeweled moon, the lyrics felt particularly potent on this number; complete with a beautiful saxophone solo from Broemel and a piano outro that seamlessly segued into a powerful rendition of “Feel You” that would see the members of the band huddle around Patrick Hallahan’s drum riser to headbang in unison, something the band often does when they are locked in and “feeling it.”
My Morning Jacket performing live at Westville Music Bowl on 6/30/23
A well-received “Victory Dance” would then set the tone for the real meat-and-potatoes of the show, putting in motion a series of songs that would alligator together through “Cobra” and see the incredible light show come to life before your eyes. After giving the crowd a chance to show off their best falsetto voices, “Wordless Chorus” took on a particularly funky groove before transitioning back into the hard-rocking second part of “Cobra.” Somewhat reminiscent of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” here, the chugging low end was easily the heaviest of the night. “Cobra Pt 2” would then morph into the anthemic rocker “Wasted” which would evoke a dynamic, delayed pause that would send the audience into a frenzy, before reaching its high-octane peak.
Melting back into the conclusion of “Cobra” then slithering into the danceable electro groove of “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt 2” (as popularized by the band’s guest appearance on Fox’s animated series American Dad), the song would see a bit of a different arrangement here, jamming out with more intensity and yielding a rocking, hair swishing, shred fest that would bring the impressive near 40-minute frame of uninterrupted music to a close. Not done pummeling the audience yet, “Holdin’ On to Black Metal” would get the crowd singing along once again before the band would disappear behind the smoke-filled stage to leave fans begging for more.
Fissure is the thrill of the day Forget about feeling, that’s not what pays But you know, all of this can change Remember the promise as a kid you made
Ah, ooh, ah, ah, aha Aha, ooh, ah, ah
We are the innovators, they are the imitators C’mon, hey, don’t you know how we started We forgot about love, but weren’t brokenhearted
-Lyrics from “Wordless Chorus”
My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel letting it rip at Westville Music Bowl on 6/30/23
After a brief break in the action, the band would reemerge from the shadows and Jim James would candidly address the audience, letting them know how special this moment together was, saying “Thank you so much, New Haven, wow, what a beautiful bunch. We’re so grateful to be here, so honored that you’re here. Were so glad to all be together, all be alive right now, right here on this beautiful planet. All together just having a beautiful, beautiful night.” The band would then slowly strum the opening chords of another bust outplayed for the first time on this tour in “Old September Blues” which also included a healthy nod to the Santo & Johnny classic “Sleep Walk.”
As if the show hadn’t been epic enough already, My Morning Jacket would then uncork a monstrous nine-minute version of “Spring (Among the Living).” A bit of freestyle pandering in the middle of the song would again feature Jim giving the audience some love, singing “Among the living in beautiful New Haven now, among the living in historic New Haven town, wooo” before breaking it down into one of the funkiest grooves heard all night to coincide with perhaps the most impressive light show of the night. With the venue’s early curfew now rapidly approaching, there was time left for just one more song. With fans shouting out dozens of titles still on the table, it would be the time-tested favorite “Magheetah” that was chosen as the final sing-along, sending fans home gleefully into the night with huge smiles on their faces, bringing the powerhouse performance to a close.
My Morning Jacket performing live at Westville Music Bowl on 6/30/23
In a city with such storied history, on the way out some fans could be heard drawing comparisons between Jim James and Jim Morrison. While the band never blatantly acknowledged The Doors’ influence, upon reflection, certain moments of the show certainly seemed to conjure up images of the Lizard King. From the opening lyrics of “The Dark,” to the cool jeweled moon above the venue, to the fact that Morrison became the first ever rock star ever arrested on stage in this same city, you couldn’t help but wonder if it was all a happy coincidence. Either way, both men should be considered icons of their era and two of the greatest frontmen in rock n roll history.
Strike a Pose: Jim James of My Morning Jacket performing live in New Haven, CT 6/30/23
After headlining the Peach Festival the following night, My Morning Jacket will get a few weeks of rest before returning to the road at the Newport Folk Festival at the end of July. Fans in New York will have plenty to look forward to this fall, as the band will return to the beautiful Beacon Theatre for a three-night run celebrating the 20 anniversary of their album It Still Moves. The fall tour will also see My Morning Jacket’s highly anticipated debut at the Place Theatre in Albany.
Setlist:The Dark *, Compound Fracture, Circuital, Anytime, I’m Amazed, Sooner*, Least Expected, Love Love Love, One Big Holiday, Steam Engine, Feel You, Victory Dance, Cobra (Pt 1) > Wordless Chorus > Cobra (Pt 2) > Wasted > Cobra (Pt 3) > Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 2, Holdin On To Black Metal
Encore: Old September Blues* > Sleep Walk **, Spring (Among the Living), Mahgeetah.
The Peach Music Festival returned to Montage Mountain for its 11 year in a row showcasing headlining acts like My Morning Jacket, Ziggy Marley, Les Claypool, Umphrey’s McGee, JRAD, Goose, and many more. Along with music veterans were a large number of newer bands such as Dogs in a Pile, Thumpasaurus, Andy Frasco, Brown Eyed Women, & much more.
The festival takes place on a ski slope/water park. The trek up the mountain to camp or even between stages is physically demanding, but the leisurely vibe of the waterpark provides much needed relaxation.
Security was definitely beefed up this year, probably due to the recent shooting at an EDM festival on the west coast. There were dogs sniffing for explosives and some nonsensical rules enforced by security. The photo pit was entirely too small and quite dangerous. I scraped my legs on metal bars many times trying to maneuver in there around a slew of other photographers. We maintained civility in the pit, everyone was very kind and respectful.
The first day started off with Friends of Brothers followed by Thumpasaurus who played a very energetic set to get the crowd going. Next up was Twiddle, opening up with funky favorite “Jamflowman.” The band also performed the fantastic “Slipping in the Kitchen” and heart-touching “Out in The Cold.” The first night concluded with two monstrous sets of Goose. Their set started with “Feel it Now,” showcasing Rick Mitarotonda’s vocals. Their first set ended with “Butter Rum,” and the set was filled with clever improvisation and classic Goose jams. The second set featured “Fish in the Sea,” a Fat Freddy’s Drop cover, “Red Bird,” “Hollywood Nights,” a Bob Sager cover, and concluded with “Thatch.” “Hollywood Nights” had everyone in the house grooving and “Red Bird” featured some tasteful solos.
On Friday all three stages were open and the day was packed with music! Trouble No More brought out Daniel Donato to sit in with them, playing a full set of Allman Brothers tunes including an incredible “Blue Sky” and a shred-filled “Whipping Post” to close out the set. Dogs In a Pile are quickly getting popular and they packed the Mushroom Stage with dancing fans. They started and ended with “Wipeout” and played a masterful “Jack Straw.” Umphrey’s McGee played a heavy set that had the main stage raging, with songs like “Remind Me” and “Escape Goat.” Tauk played an incredibly energetic set with the help of the ever-talented Kanika Moore on vocals. Ween was up next with a great set filled with exceptional vocals and guitar solos, spanning 25 songs.
Fans were going crazy for favorites like “Roses Are Free” and “Piss Up a Rope.” LP Giobbi played a two-hour set of Grateful Dead house remixes which was very danceable but left fans with mixed reactions. Due to a food vendor’s propane tank exploding, the pathway to the Mushroom Stage was temporarily blocked off for about an hour. When security finally figured out a path around, I had made it for the last hour of Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Peach which was much more Lotus-like jamtronica rather than the country vibe I was expecting.
Day three was epic. Circles Around the Sun played an incredibly funky, spacey set with Mikaela Davis on the harp. Andy Frasco is quite the entertainer. This year they put him on the main stage, and that wasn’t going to stop him from stage surfing. There was a guy being held up by the crowd on a board while he was throwing jello shots into the crowd via slingshot. Then it was Andy’s turn, he crowd surfed from the stage all the way to the lawn! The set included sit-ins with Dogs in a Pile, Mike Dillon, & Mihali as well as raging covers of “Teenagers” by My Chemical Romance and “Ramble On.” The energy was high and Mike Gordon delivered with his band playing new songs off his album like “Guilty Pleasures,” “Mull,” and crowd favorites “Cities,” as well as a raging “Carini” to close out the set. The place was going wild.
Les Claypool played an epic set including Pink Floyd’s Animals album in its entirety with masterful solos by Sean Lennon. Les wore a pig mask for a song and a disco ball helmet on “Whamola” to close out his set. My Morning Jacket played an absolutely rocking set with incredible vocals by Jim James including a Beatles cover of “The Ballad of John & Yoko” and a Rolling Stones cover of “Happy”. The place was lit up like a giant disco ball and everyone was dancing hard. Australian Pink Floyd put on a spectacle, playing Dark Side in full with three incredible female vocalists doing the vocal parts in “Great Gig in The Sky.” They covered favorites like “Wish You Were Here” and “Comfortably Numb” as well as digging deep in the archives with “High Hopes” and “See Emily Play.” Their stage antics included a giant teacher monster the size of the stage during “Another Brick In The Wall” as well as a giant inflatable bouncing Kangaroo.
The final day had come but it wasn’t over yet. Ghost Light played a packed set at the Mushroom Stage including the very catchy “Keep Your Hands to Yourself.” Tom Hamilton would later return to the Main Stage to play an electric set that had every deadhead grooving on their feet. This featured crowd favorites like “Shakedown Street,” “Hell In a Bucket,” “I Need a Miracle” and a Jack Straw to close out the set that had Tom Hamilton shredding a solo like a madman! Rain delayed Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel since the Mushroom stage is uncovered, but they eventually got around to playing an incredible set featuring a cover of his father Dickey Bett’s “Blue Sky.”
Ziggy Marley was up at the main stage keeping the energy very…high. This included Bob Marley songs like “Jammin” and “War” as well as originals like “Look Who’s Dancing.” There were some rumors going around about Tedeschi Trucks Band not playing that night, but boy did they prove us wrong. The crowd was a bit tired at this last set but still going strong. The combination of Derek’s masterful shredding, Susan’s vocals, and their diversely talented big band proves to be a true powerhouse. Their set included covers like the opener “Woman to Woman” by Joe Cocker and “Dreams” by the Allman Brothers as well as many originals like the epic “Midnight in Harlem.” The band came back out for a massive encore ending with “Space Captain” a Matthew Moore cover that featured a dueling drum solo and a guitar solo by Derek that almost blew the roof off.
This festival is filled with incredible music and loving fans. Both old and young are happy to see music veterans they love and discover new younger bands. With a gathering so big on a ski slope is logistically difficult and there will always be some hiccups, but this year went off rather smoothly aside from maybe one small food vendor explosion and a very long shuttle line on the last day. Other than that everything was more than Peachy and filled with respectful people for the most part. In conclusion, I’ll leave you with a lyric from an Allman Brothers song I recently discovered I love called”Blue Sky.” “You’re my blue sky, you’re my sunny day. Lord, you know it makes me high when you turn your love my way.” Another Peach Fest is in the books, see you on the mountain next time!
Ziggy Marley is currently hitting 19 dates around the country with the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Reggae listeners know and love Ziggy, this listener included. His music was somewhat lost on the crowd at SPAC that evening. There were only sporadic dancers through the crowd grooving to Ziggy’s roots flavored reggae. Ziggy Marley and the Tedeschi Trucks Band continue their tour through August 13 with Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue as their special guest.
Photos by Derek Java
Setlist: Rebellion Rises, Beach in Hawaii, Dragonfly, The Lucky One, Be Free, Personal Revolution, Wild and Free, Circle of Peace, See Dem Fake Leaders, Justice / Get Up, Stand Up, We Are the People, Love Is My Religion, Is This Love
Each Sunday evening from 7-9 pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up-and-coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from Gozer and Grandstand Jockeys.
WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.
Gozer-“The Beast That Lies”
Gozer are a band also from Albany, consisting of members Mykah Dillenger, Sean Murphy, Nick Kossor, and Seth Maset. They are an original hard rock band and music contributors to various podcasts/movies. Their track “The Beast That Lies” from their March 2023 release The Far Realm will be played on EQXposure.
Grandstand Jockeys-“Change”
Grandstand Jockeys is a group from Waterford, New York, combining hard-edge rock with pop sensibilities. Their EP Place is out now, and their song “Change” from the EP will be played on EQXposure.
The Tedeschi Trucks band, featuring Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, brought their gutsy, blues-oriented rock-n-roll to Saratoga Performing Arts Center. The crowd was eager to gobble up the throaty singing of Susan Tedeschi and the equally soulful guitar licks of Derek Trucks. It was a good crowd, and the band fully entertained their audience. TTB can be caught on tour this summer and even in Japan this fall!
Photo by Derek Java
Setlist: Woman to Woman (Joe Cocker), It Hurt So Bad (Susan Tedeschi), Fall In, Yes We Will, Take Me as I Am, Circles ‘Round the Sun, Pasaquan, Just Won’t Burn (Susan Tedeschi), Gin House Blues (Bessie Smith), Part of Me, Looking for Answers (Susan Tedeschi), I Wish I Knew (Billy Taylor), Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) (The Rolling Stones), I Want More >, Beck’s Bolero (Jeff Beck)
Encore: Keep On Smilin’ (Wet Willie), Stand Back (The Allman Brothers Band)
Weezer delivered an electrifying performance on their Indie Rock Roadtrip tour at CMAC on July 3, catering to audiences new and old with their expansive and iconic discography. For almost thirty years Weezer has been churning out hit after hit, including the notable “Buddy Holly” to “Island In The Sun,” as well as their infamous cover of “Africa” by Toto.
Photo by Jamie Mohr for NYS Music.
With storms earlier in the day, the clouds lightened up and the beautiful hot sun pounded down on those ready to see a night full of great indie music. Punk rock band Joyce Manor was the first opener of the night, with their grunge-esque sounds and aesthetic, the group kept the audience engaged and in the mood for the night ahead.
The second opener, Future Islands, was a whole different vibe and experience than the band before it. With their futuristic-sounding instrumentals, unique and intimidating vocals, and a stage presence like no other, the almost 20-year-old band pulled from their extensive and creative discography for a set like no other. Lead singer Samuel T. Herring put on quite the show with his immersive and passionate performance, moving all around the stage and even falling to the floor a few times.
Future Islands, photo by Jamie Mohr for NYS Music.
Finally came the moment everyone was waiting for, Weezer taking the stage. Founded in 1992, the band features Rivers Cuomo (lead), Patrick Wilson (drums), Scott Shriner (guitar), and Brian Bell (bass). Since its inception, Weezer has sold more than 35 million albums worldwide, finding fame with their 1994 record Weezer, dubbed “the Blue Album.” When the curtain fell to start the show, the stage emerged into a car, with the radio and wheel, and graphics showing different roads throughout the whole night, very fitting to the Indie Rock Roadtrip name.
Photo by Brian Ferguson for NYS Music.
Weezer opened with “My Name Is Jonas” an iconic and nostalgia-infused track from their first record. The crowd immediately started jumping and moving back and forth as the music started, with the band just as hyped. Quickly moving through tracks, the band performed one of their most famous tracks “Beverly Hills,” featuring the audience screaming the lyrics, “Beverly Hills/That’s where I want to be.”
Photo by Jamie Mohr for NYS Music.
Keeping up with the pace, the band grooved to their instrumental track “Return to Ithaka,” and brought out some oldies including “The Good Life,” “Pork and Beans,” “Pink Triangle,” and “El Scorcho.” During “You Gave Your Love to Me Softly,” Weezer brought out the lead singer of Joyce Manor, Barry Johnson, to sing, adding more vocals to the already perfected harmonies the band has. At this point, I was already spent from dancing and singing, but I carried on because the show was so energetic and infectious.
Things got softer in the middle of the show to give the audience the much-needed break, with Rivers Cuomo performing solo acoustic tracks like “I’m Just Being Honest,” the live debut of the track, and the infamous “Only in Dreams,” bringing out the rest of the members for the songs long instrumental break.
Photo by Brian Ferguson for NYS Music.
The rest of the concert was exciting and fun with more popular tracks like “Island in the Sun” bringing out new stage effects like a giant sun, and other tracks like “Say It Ain’t So,” seeing the crowd at their loudest. My favorite part of the night was the encore because the crowd was the most hype they had been so far, with songs like “Surf Wax America,” and “Buddy Holly,” ending the most perfect evening. Overall, Weezer’s Indie Rock Roadtrip was exciting, fun, and very tame, leading to a great experience full of amazing music.
Set: My Name Is Jonas, Beverly Hills, Return to Ithaka, The Good Life, Pork and Beans, Pink Triangle, El Scorcho, You Gave Your Love to Me Softly, Blast Off!, Undone – The Sweater Song, I’m Just Being Honest, Susanne, Only in Dreams, The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn), Island in the Sun, Perfect Situation, All My Favorite Songs, Say It Ain’t So, Run, Raven, Run (instrumental only), Hash Pipe, and Thank You and Good Night.
Encore: The Waste Land, Surf Wax America, Buddy Holly.
