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
Papadosio just wrapped up a four day tour in the Northeast, stopping in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, New York City, and Bridgeport, CT. For the NYC show, they played at Sony Hall on Saturday, March 25 with 5 A.M Trio as the opener.
5 A.M Trio got the crowd dancing and grooving. The band consists of Sam Andrus, Aaron Harel, and Keith Wadsworth.
Papadosio opened up with “Cubensis.” They displayed their talents through intricate, danceable jams as they weave in and out of grooves. Their captivating visuals greatly accompany their unique sound and leave the audience in a trance like dance for most of the show.
Speaking with some of the members of the band, it seems like their sights are set on sustainability and maintaining healthy family lives.
Brooklyn was the last stop on the band’s debut North American tour before it was shuttered in early 2020, only performing twice. Since then, they have played all across Europe and the UK, finally making their way back overseas this month, hot off the release of their self-released (on Human Season Records) second album, Gigi’s Recovery, this past January.
Much like the album, the show brought a fully realized, introspective post-punk set with dynamic energy that elevated the record for the 650-capacity venue.
The show started with For Everything, the brooding opener off their debut album, When I Have Fears, which released in 2019.
They continued on at a monstrous pace, invoking a few raucous mosh pits, making it to a newer track, Return My Head and onto More Is Less.
There were moments of Radiohead imbued with Bauhaus, sharing a great polyphonic relationship between both guitars and bass, with the drums driving the rhythm amidst every harsh snare hit, most notably in the 2-part song, Slowdance I+II. Frontman James McGovern’s poetic lyricism gracefully complemented every movement, switching between thunderous bellows and spoken pieces.
The North American Gigi’s Recovery Tour continues through April, where the band will make a surely momentous visit to California’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, followed by a few other international festival appearances throughout the rest of the Summer.
The Murder Capital | Music Hall of Williamsburg | Brooklyn, NY | March 28, 2023
Setlist: For Everything, Return My Head, More Is Less, The Stars Will Leave Their Stage, Green & Blue, Crying, A Thousand Lives, Gigi’s Recovery, Slowdance I, Slowdance II, We Had to Disappear, Feeling Fades, Only Good Things, Don’t Cling to Life, Ethel
It was a birthday party like no other on Saturday, March 25th, as members of the Trey Anastasio Band and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead joined forces as LaMP to light up Lark Hall in Albany. The memorable evening of stellar improvisation and infectious grooves was extra special for the venue’s owner, Jennifer Miller. That’s because many of her nearest and dearest friends helped pack the place to capacity in celebration of her turning 50 years young.
FUNGKSHUI kicked off the party at Lark Hall on Saturday, March 25, 2023
Kicking off the festivities with a high energy, fun-fueled set was Asbury Park, NJ young bloods FUNGKSHUI. Pronounced “funk-shway,” the exciting upstarts made the most of the opportunity to share the stage with a few of their musical heroes. Comprised of Jack Reed (guitar), Max Vitale (guitar), Jon Scheps (bass), and Kyle Donovan (drums), the psychedelic funk quartet had Lark Hall moving and grooving from the beginning.
FUNGKSHUI performing at Lark Hall in Albany, NY 3/25/23
With two powerhouse guitar players and an incredibly tight rhythm section, the young band showcased a musical maturity well beyond their years. With irresistible hooks, dynamic soloing, and plenty of room left for improvisation, songs like “Orange Cadillac,” “Sinkhole” and “Blue Rat Bastard” highlighted the set. Clearly grateful to be there, afterwards the band members stuck around to chat with new fans and hand out free stickers, while also managing to create quite a buzz about their upcoming appearance at the nearby Rye Bread Music Festival later this summer. With their debut album also on the way, we expect to hear a lot more from this talented group in the very near future.
Ray Paczkowski, Scott Metzger & Russ Lawton performing together as LaMP at Lark Hall on 3/25/23
After a rain-soaked intermission dampened many a spliff, the party reignited inside with a special performance from the recently revived trio known as LaMP. Made up of Soule Monde/TAB members Russ Lawton on drums and organist Ray “The Milkman” Paczkowski, the time-tested duo was joined by Joe Russo’s Almost Dead/WOLF! guitarist Scott Metzger. The band gets takes its name from the first letters of each members’ surname. Originally debuting in 2018 at Nectar’s in Burlington, Vermont, LaMP released their debut album in the summer of 2020 and to date has only played a handful of gigs together, making each appearance a bit of a novelty and a “can’t miss” affair.
Opening their set with a funky rendition of the title track from 2021’s Mimi Digs It, Metzger immediately fits right in with the guys from Soule Monde. Tastefully adding guitar textures and subtle melodies to the otherwise drum and organ instrumentals, The Milkman, as always, pulled double duty by supplying the bass lines on the lower deck of his vintage Hammond organ. All warmed up and full of smiles, LaMP then cooked up something fresh for the curious cats who still weren’t sure what the band was all about. Pro-shot footage of “Out of Curiosity” has been posted on the band’s Facebook page at the link below, courtesy of our friends at Mirth Films.
Ray Paczkowski, Scott Metzger & Russ Lawton performing together as LaMP at Lark Hall on 3/25/23
The avant-groove compositions continued on with “Hit Return,” “Ollie ‘ 88” and “Hey Francis.” Each song undeniably groovy and each with a different feel, every member had ample opportunity to shine and empty their bag of musical tricks. Following “Seven Days” came one of the biggest highlights of the set in the form of “Q Division.” It was here where guitarist Scott Metzger really let things rip, playing off Paczkowski’s funky Clavinet lines and launching into one of the biggest shreds of the evening. Afterwards, an excited Paczkowski would get on the mic and tell everyone how much he loves playing improvisational music with these guys and that it was for moments just like that. Lightning in a bottle.
Scott Metzger performing with LaMP at Lark Hall on 3/25/23
LaMP would continue socking it to the Lark Hall faithful with “Sock Full,” then an extra greasy rendition of “Bernard,” which saw drummer Russ Lawton in complete command behind the kit. Showcasing a wealth of styles and versatility while diving in-and-out of groove pockets with a cool confidence, Lawton would use every inch of his instrument, at one point even banging on the side walls of his kit, cross-sticking it to great effect yielding a huge pop from the crowd.
LaMP’s Russ Lawton got sound from every inch of the drum kit on 3/25/23
The bumping progression of “Elsie’s River” came next, followed by “Allah Uya,” which had the entire room moving and grooving to the world-beat. “Clipse Dog” would then bring the main portion of the show to a close and leave the audience hollering for more. Happy to oblige, the LaMP trio returned to the stage with some very kind words about the venue, its staff, and to wish it’s owner a very happy 50th birthday. “Tinyland” was chosen as the night’s only encore.
LaMP packed the house at Lark Hall on 3/25/23
Truly masters of the craft, the years of experience and chemistry between these three talented musicians is something rarely seen in a live setting. Seamlessly blending together a myriad of styles and creating a sound that simply couldn’t be replicated by anyone else, it was another special night of music at Lark Hall and a birthday party The Millers will never forget. Not only does Brick Tamland love LaMP, it’s safe to say Albany does too.
Up next, the guys will head downstate for a performance at Brooklyn Bowl on March 30th before returning to Burlington for a pair of sold out shows at Nectar’s this weekend. With each member of the group balancing extremely busy touring schedules with their “other” bands, there’s no telling when fans will get another chance to see LaMP light it up again. If you have the opportunity, I would highly suggest going to see this incredible act while you still can. For those unable to make the trip, free livestreams of both Nectar’s gigs will be available via Volume.com.
LaMP | March 25, 2023 | Albany, NY | Lark Hall
Setlist: Mimi Digs It, Out of Curiosity, Hit Return, Ollie ’88, Hey Francis, Seven Days, Q Division, Sock Full, Bernard, Elsie’s River*, Alla Uya**, Clipse Dog Encore: Tinyland
*Abdullah Ibrahim cover **Ali Farka Toure cover
FUNGKSHUI:
LaMP (Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger and Ray Paczkowski):
On Friday, March 24th, Pink Talking Fish teamed up with Escaper at Sony Hall to honor the 50th Anniversary of Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd’s most famous album. PTF played the album in its entirety, with opener, Brooklyn’s Escaper, closing their set with a masterfully psychedelic “Set the Controls for the Heart of The Sun”.
Will Hanza & Luke Bemand of Escaper
Escaper opened up the night with an exciting set filled with face melting solos by Will Hanza. An incredible and very emotive guitarist, Will is a thrill to photograph. It was great to see him and Luke Bemand’s stage chemistry and how well they play together. Escaper invited Cal Kehoe up for the Pink Floyd cover to end their set.
Luke Bemand & Scott Chasolen of The Machine join PTF on stage to play “Tweezer”
Pink Talking Fish started their show by playing “Dark Side of the Moon” in it’s entirety. A daunting task which PTF has performed incredibly many times before, this time was no different. The vocal part in “Great Gig in The Sky” and the sheer funkiness of “Any Color You Like” stood out.
Cal Kehoe-eidescope
The second set was a medley of Phish, Talking Heads, & Pink Floyd. Favorites from that set included Phish classics like “Alumni Blues”, “Letter to Jimmy Page”, “Frankenstein” which included a key-tar solo, “Tweezer” with Luke Bemand on bass and the keyboardist from The Machine Scott Chasolen, and if you play “Tweezer” you know you have to play “Tweezer Reprise”. The band encored with “Sabotage > Eclipse Reprise”.
Pink Talking Fish – Sony Hall, NYC – Friday, March 24
Set 1: Speak To Me > Breathe > On The Run > Time > Breathe Reprise, Great Gig In The Sky, Money1, Us And Them1 > Any Colour You Like > Brain Damage > Eclipse
Set 2: Burning Down The House, Alumni Blues > Letter To Jimmy Page > Frankenstein2 > Letter To Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues, Mother, Houses In Motion, Tweezer1,3 > Tweezer Reprise1,3, Wish You Were Here, Crosseyed And Painless
Encore: Sabotage > Eclipse Reprise
1 w/ Matt Wayne on sax 2 w/ Steve on keytar 3 w/ Luke Bemand on bass & Scott Chasolen on keys
Joshua Bassett recently played at the Hammerstein Ballroom on Friday, March 24th with opener Lindsey Lomis for his only New York date during his The Complicated Tour.
The two put on an unforgettable performance for their audience of 2500, with Bassett playing various songs from his EPs, Different, Sad Songs In A Hotel Room, and Joshua Bassett. Thousands of fans, many of them wearing sparkly tops, colorful pants, and pink cowboy hats, waited in anticipation for Joshua’s incredible set.
Joshua Bassett
Bassett, initially gaining popularity for his role alongside Olivia Rodrigo in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, resides in New York City but grew up in San Diego, California. The 22-year old pop singer is currently in the middle of his tour and has various dates left in the US and across Europe.
Joshua first entered the stage yelling “New York City!” and jumped up and down during his upbeat song, “Feel Something.” The crowd lost it when he jumped off of the stage, greeting fans and accepting flowers from one girl, whilst encouraging everyone to get into the groove of the music. During his song, “i’m sorry,” Bassett truly awed the crowd with his deeply intimate lyrics as he touched on subjects like depression, addiction, breakups, and loneliness.
He made his way into the middle of the audience during “Common Sense,” as he sang his first ever release acoustically to his starstruck fans. In the chorus of “Different,” he disappeared from the stage and made his way to the upper balconies to greet the rest of the crowd. Finally, at the end of his last song, “Set Me Free,” Joshua climbed onto a piano and jumped off at the drop of the beat, while confetti shot out of cannons on either end of the stage.
Bassett ended his set with a long wait before the crowd began shouting, “One more song, one more song!”, where he reentered and put on a final performance of “SHE SAID HE SAID SHE SAID.”
Setlist: Feel Something, Secret, Doppelgänger, LA, Used To It, Finally Free, Medley (Joshua Bassett EP), Heaven Is You, Sad Songs In A Hotel Room, Lie Lie Lie, Common Sense, Lifeline, All In Due Time, Empire State of Mind, Pt. 2 (Alicia Keys cover), would you love me now?, i’m sorry, Different, Smoke Slow, Iris (The Goo Goo Dolls cover), Beautiful City (Stephen Schwartz cover), Set Me Free Encore: SHE SAID HE SAID SHE SAID
Fresh off live scoring The Fifth Element at The Caverns in Tennessee, The Disco Biscuits marched north to Port Chester for three nights at The Capitol Theatre over March 23-25, quite possibly their strongest run at the ‘Original Rock Palace,’ dating back to 2016.
Few bands display the consistency the Disco Biscuits have displayed as of late, going back nearly a year to their last Capitol Theatre run, which has been followed by more than a dozen original song debuts that have quickly become part of the rotation.
From the crowd, the band looks like they’re having a blast on stage, rocking out to the music they’re creating, feeding off their own creation just as the fans are, creating a live camaraderie that is rarely seen. From the stage, one can see the band is getting down while watching the fans do the same, all while creating live electronic music to an unmatched degree of quality, making it look like just another day at the office.
Typically, Thursday of a three-night Cap run has been more of a ‘‘warm up night,’ as the band gets comfortable in the room. The shows have been great, but have been overshadowed by stellar Friday and Saturday shows. This was not the case this weekend, given the way the band has been playing, as there was no warm up needed and Thursday was on par if not stronger than the next two nights.
Starting the run with a jam that evolved into an almost 20-minute “Gangster,” a “Spacebirdmatingcall” sandwiched “Cyclone” that found Jon “Barber” Gutwillig hitting next level peaks as the industrial techno beat took over. As the set reached the second half, two rarely played songs, “Trooper McCue” and “Floes” appeared, a double dose of early Biscuits, with the more recent “Lake Shore Drive” fitting in nicely in between.
A rarely played “Park Ave” made its third appearance since 2011, and second this year, opening up the second set, then dipping into an inverted “Shelby Rose” which was last performed inverted style at the Capitol Theatre in 2019. The flowing set continued with an inverted “Reactor” which found Barber taking a section for “a couple of laps” as bassist Marc Brownstein put it. The set would close with ”Evolve,” a 2021 composition that gives off a late 90s Eurodance vibe, segueing into a 20-minute set closing “Caterpillar.” With a short encore slot leftover, “Portal To An Empty Head” put a exclamation point on a night that to some was the highlight of the run, but if anything, simply foreshadowed the greatness of the next two nights that followed.
The Disco Biscuits – Thursday, March 23 – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester
Set 1: Jam > Gangster > Spacebirdmatingcall > Cyclone > Spacebirdmatingcall, Trooper McCue, Lake Shore Drive > Floes Set 2: Park Ave > Shelby Rose 1 > Reactor 1 > Evolve > Caterpillar Encore: Portal To An Empty Head 1 inverted
Friday night featured opener Dogs in a Pile, a New Jersey band that was making waves prior to the pandemic and who have not looked back in that time, touring across the country and building a ‘Dog Pound’ fanbase in the meantime. The full set is worth a listen, especially the final tune, “Time Stands Still,” with Ben Pinnola on saxophone.
When it comes to the Disco Biscuits, anything can be a jam vehicle, nearly everything is in play – new songs, old songs, fan favorites, rare covers – and that is what makes the band so enjoyable to see show after show, no matter if you last saw them a week ago or five years ago.
Cracking open the first set was “Shocked,” which stands to be the first song from the band’s forthcoming “Space Rock Opera,” and had fans shouting “Shocked” as if the tune was a longtime part of the repertoire. A stand alone “Digital Buddha” followed, with the pace accelerated by Barber and drummer Allen Aucoin to a furious froth, giving unparalleled energy as the song reached its peak.
Among all new debuted songs, a clear fan favorite is “Twisted in the Road,” which would proceed to sandwich three songs in between a “Twisted” 22 minute jawn, with lyrics “Let it run and let it roll” becoming a mantra for Biscuits fans in the process. “Bombs” made a return appearance at The Capitol Theatre (played in 2017 and 2019) after being brought off the shelf by fan request at a Drive-In show in May 2021. “Orch Theme,” the ever-welcome dark electronic Conspirator song arrived out of “Bombs,” bringing the rare “Rainbow Song” from the ashes of “Orch Theme,” before winding back into “Twisted in the Road” to close the set and reach the halfway point of the run.
Set 2 began with the fresh “Freeze” that ran for nearly 25 minutes and exemplified one of the best elements of the Disco Biscuits – you can easily forget what song you’re dancing to, and happily so. In the moment, it doesn’t matter what song it is when they’re jamming at this level of consistency, making song chasing secondary to enjoying these jams more than ever before. Anything is in play with improvisation opportunities found at all turns.
The middle section of “Crickets” gave way to “Another Plan of Attack” and “Space Train,” and then an inverted “Above The Waves” that clocked in at a raging 20 minutes. “One Chance To Save The World” closed the set with “King of the World” celebrating this powerful set in the encore slot.
The Disco Biscuits – Friday, March 24 – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester
Set 1: Shocked, Digital Buddha, Twisted in the Road > Bombs > Orch Theme > Rainbow Song > Twisted in the Road Set 2: Freeze > Crickets 1 > Another Plan of Attack > Space Train > Above The Waves 2 > One Chance To Save The World Encore: King of the World 1 middle only 2 Inverted
Opening Saturday night was Eggy, who has been on the rise as of late and had recently opened for Twiddle at The Capitol Theatre in November 2022. This remarkable Connecticut band has excellent stage presence and precision jamming, with Jerry Garcia Band’s “Gomorrah” a fitting cover for the room.
The Biscuits’ first set opened up with stand alone versions of “Story of the World” and “Astronaut,” a departure from the sandwiching of other tunes inside segments of these compositions. A classic “Little Shimmy In A Conga Line” had a percussion segment that was unique and fit the jam well, and may have been exploring a shift into “O Fortuna” (a cantata by Carl Orff), from the Biscuits’ catalog of classical covers. Shortly after, “Shimmy” started to give off “Digital Buddha,” but having already played “Buddha” the night before, this meant the audio doppleganger for “Buddha” – “Tricycle” – was on the horizon.
The last two minutes of “Shimmy” made it seem as though the band would be dipping into one of their most high energy songs for a segue. Then out of left field came a short, sweet and nasty “Tempest” that provided a bridge to the full on “Tricycle,” which had the crowd singing along in unison like no other in recent memory, the four fully dialed in for this fusion of sound and bringing the audience along with them for the ride. The newer “Vibes” hit the spot out of “Tricycle” and found its way into the ending of “Svenghali” to close the set on a high mark.
The first set had so much energy and hit all the right spots, contending quickly for ‘Set of the Weekend.’ The general consensus at setbreak gave no notes, no criticisms and no hot takes other than ‘these guys are on fire.”
Sorry if that sounds like hyperbole, but the dedicated fan base is in agreement that the band is as dialed in and consistent as they’ve ever been. So when it came time for Set 2, the crowd was abuzz as the setlist was confirmed to be written by longtime Biscuits audio engineer Rich Steele, celebrating his 300th show this evening. The set unfolded as a dissection of one of the Biscuits’ earliest songs, “Basis For a Day” spread out over the 90 minute set with four of the newer ‘Space Opera’ songs woven in between, leading fans to coin the fluid set “Spaces for a Day.“
If you hadn’t heard “Basis For a Day” in a minute, you were in for a treat. The band opened up with “Basis,” segueing into “The Wormhole” before finding their way back to “Basis.” Despite only debuting nine months ago, “Who’s In Charge” has found its home in regular rotation and followed the second “Basis,” with a driving beat behind Barber’s repeated query “Who’s in charge….. of this place right here?” From there, it was back into “Basis” for round 3, followed by “The Deal,” a song so new it had only been played three times prior to this evening. Back into “Basis” and then “To Be Continued,” with a new wave/techno riff from Aron Magner, seeming to be a song towards the end of the Space Opera. By the time they went back into “Basis” for a final time, nearly 90 minutes had passed but fans didn’t notice as they were far too busy getting down.
You couldn’t find a stronger way to cap the run with a set of this nature, where knowledge of the band’s collective level of consistency in performance and songwriting was put high on a pedestal for all to see. Weaving the band’s unnamed/unreleased “Space Opera” in and out of one of their most performed songs was a master stroke and paid dividends for everyone in attendance. A fitting encore of “We Like To Party” framed the three night run, with the band and fans in unison proclaiming enthusiastically, loudly and proudly, “We like to dance, sorry if you don’t.”
Don’t sleep on the Disco Biscuits – they’re in Colorado this coming weekend for four shows, head down south for four more in May before heading to Iceland for their first international jaunt in well over a decade. Tour dates for the summer have just been announced, which find the band touring up the east coast in June for eight shows, starting in South Carolina on June 7 and closing out with two nights at Mulcahey’s in Wantagh. Here’s hoping for more details on the upcoming “Space Opera” as the year progresses.
The Disco Biscuits – Saturday, March 25 – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester
Set 1: Story of the World, Astronaut, Little Shimmy In A Conga Line > Tempest > Tricycle > Vibes > Svenghali 1 Set 2: Basis For A Day > The Wormhole > Basis For A Day > Who’s in Charge > Basis For A Day > The Deal > Basis For A Day > To Be Continued > Basis For A Day Encore: We Like To Party 1 end only
It was an electrifying night of sonic diversity, high-octane improv and jaw dropping prog-inspired grooves on March 23rd when homegrown Albany rock-fusion favorites Timbre Coup and buzz-worthy Colorado up-and-comers Squeaky Feet teamed up for a rowdy Thursday night throw down at The Hollow Bar + Kitchen. The show was presented by Guthrie/Bell Productions.
Albany prog-rockers Timbre Coup made their triumphant return home to The Hollow on 3/23/23
Putting their best foot forward, the exciting evening of music kicked off with a stellar set from Squeaky Feet. The talented quintet comprised of Colin Shore (guitar/vocals), Greg King (guitar), Jimmy Finnegan (bass/vocals), Brian Keller (keyboards/sax/flute/vocals), and Kevin D’Angelo (drums) originally formed while attending Berklee College of Music and have seen a steady growth since relocating to Denver, CO in 2018. Holding it together through the pandemic and arguably growing even tighter because of it, the band has been hitting the road hard since the return of live music.
Colorado jammers Squeaky Feet made their Albany debut at The Hollow on 3/23/23
Opening with a tune called “Chance to Grow,” the technical prowess of each member of the band was on display early. Blurring the lines between psychedelic funk jams, intricate jazz rock fusion, and at points just downright metal, the vibe got comfortably spacey on a fully realized rendition of “Outer Ring.”Making a bit of a return to his old stomping grounds, between songs guitarist Colin Shore, formerly of Mister F, a side project of Timbre Coup, would take a moment to say how nice it was to see so many of the old 518 music family in attendance.
Sneaky Feet guitarist Colin Shore got his start in Albany with Mr. F, a side project of Timbre Coup
Now humbly wearing the colors of his new band, presumably because he’s out of clean clothes from being on tour, Shore dug deep on the next tune “Shovelware,” leading the charge through the songs unique arrangements and head-banging peaks.
Squeaky Feet multi-instrumentalist Brian Kelle had his hands full at The Hollow on 3/23/23
With time left for just one more, multi-instrumentalist Brian Keller would impress with his dexterity, busting out both a saxophone and a flute while simultaneously playing the keyboards during the course of the epic 16-minute “Little Bit Further” set closer. You can check out fan shot video of that in the clip below, or listen to the soundboard of the entire set on nugs.net. Immediately following this tour, Squeaky Feet will return to the studio to finish up recording their highly anticipated debut album. If the songs played in Albany are any indication, there is a lot to look forward to from this promising young band.
After a brief break in the action, fans rushed in from the rain the moment local hometown prog rockers Timbre Coup took the stage. That’s because longtime followers of the band know that every time they play together is a rare and special occasion. Originally formed in the small village of Altamont just outside of Albany, the charismatic quartet has gained a reputation for throwing one hell of a live show. Once a band that toured around the country and always on the cusp of breaking out, in recent years the band has been laying low and picking their spots. Consisting of Dan Gerken (guitar, bass, vocals), Andrew Chamberlaine (guitar), and brothers Ben (bass /guitar) and Matt Pickering (drums), on this Thursday night in Albany, Timbre Coup came out of the gates ready to party and have a good time. You could see on it on all of their faces.
Timbre Coup rocked the 518 faithful to their core on 3/23/23
Showcasing their complex and unique sound from the start, crossing somewhere between progressive rock and psychedelic jamtronica, the signature duel-guitar “improg” style has been a calling card of Timbre Coup ever since forming in 2007. A bit of a Gregorian theme started taking shape early as the opening song “January” soon turned the calendar over to “May.” From there we got our first cover of the set with Gerken channeling his inner Josh Homme for a spot on ride through the Queens of the Stone Age smash hit “No One Knows.” Armed with considerable chops and plenty of natural showmanship, Gerken and Ben Pickering then traded off instruments with each other, swapping bass for guitar and going headfirst into a lengthy “Verbal Kint” jam before returning to theme with “July” and then “October.”
Dan Gerken pulled doubly duty on 3/23/23, frequently switching between bass and lead guitar
Pushing the music in a heavier direction was fan favorite “Arnold Schwarzeneggar,” which saw even the oldest fans in the room throwing down through the songs pummeling peak. After “Bunnies,” Timbre Coup would give proper thanks to the fans who came out on a rainy Thursday, the promoter and their former manager Greg Bell, and local artist Shanti Payne who did the beautiful gig poster for the show and was also in attendance doing live sketches.
Timber Coup’s Ben Pickering lays down the low end at The Hollow on 3/23/23
Up next came perhaps the longest jam of the single set show, “Z#” off the bands most recent studio album, 2021’s Sudden Urge. The band would then jam their way back into the monthly theme and appropriately enoughm finally land on “March,” bringing the main portion of the performance to a close. After a little begging from the hometown faithful, the guys came back out to deliver a stellar version of one of their oldest and most beloved compositions, sending the audience home happy and sweaty with fully funked out version of “I Didn’t Know She Had a Mustache.”
Timbre Coup performing at The Hollow on 3/23/23
Just starting to rediscover their stride and clearly having fun jamming on older originals, up next Timbre Coup plans to do some recording for the remainder of March and into April. Their next scheduled gig comes on June 8th at Nanola in Malta, NY. Later this summer the band will take part in the annual GEM Arts and Music Festival in Glens Falls.
Squeaky Feet | March 23, 2023 | Albany, NY – The Hollow Setlist: Chance to Grow, Outer Ring, Shovelware, Little Bit Further
Timbre Coup | March 23, 2023 | Albany, NY – The Hollow
Setlist: January, May, No One Knows (QOTSA cover), Verbal Kint>Jam>July, October, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Bunnies, Z#, Jam>March
2x-Grammy-nominated DJ and producer Steve Aoki brought the heat to the stage during his electrifying performance on the HiROQUEST: Genesis Tour at Terminal 5 on March 17. With an explosive mix of EDM bangers, stunning visual effects, and his signature cake-throwing antics, Aoki had the crowd jumping and dancing non-stop all night long. Fans left the show with unforgettable memories and eagerly anticipating his next performance.
Steve Aoki is a world-renowned DJ, producer, and entrepreneur, known for his energetic live shows and collaborations with top musicians such as BTS, Kid Cudi, and Linkin Park. Born in Miami and raised in California, Aoki began his music career in 1996 in college by producing DIY records and running underground concerts out of his room at UC Santa Barbra, and has since released multiple studio albums and produced countless chart-topping tracks. He is also the founder of the record label Dim Mak Records and has expanded his brand into fashion, food, and philanthropy. Aoki’s most recent release is fiery new single “New York” with multi-platinum DJ and producer Regard, and featuring alt-pop artist mazie. Together on “New York,” the upbeat dance club jam joins mazie’s dreamlike, twisted musical tendencies through a seamless combination of Regard’s unmistakable production and Aoki’s high-powered creativity for a song that arrives just in time to become the pop anthem to kick off the new year.
The first opener, NYC based DJ Callie Reiff is a force to be reckoned with in the electronic dance music scene. A rising star since her early teens, she’s been smashing stages with her high-octane sets and bold beats. Armed with a fearless attitude and an infectious energy, Callie has been pushing boundaries and breaking down barriers, redefining what it means to be a woman in EDM. With an impressive list of collaborations under her belt, including Diplo, Sofi Tukker, and Borgore, Callie’s sound is a dynamic fusion of genres, blending elements of trap, bass, and techno to create a sound that is uniquely hers. From playing major festivals like Electric Daisy Carnival and Ultra Music Festival to headlining her own shows, Callie Reiff is on a meteoric rise and shows no signs of slowing down.
Following Callie Reiff was Juuku; a rising star in the world of electronic music, known for his genre-bending sound and emotionally charged productions. With a background in classical piano and guitar, this mysterious producer has been captivating audiences with his unique blend of future bass, trap, and indie-pop influences. Hailing from an undisclosed location, Juuku’s music is a reflection of his personal journey, infused with raw emotion and a deep sense of introspection. Since emerging on the scene in 2020, Juuku has quickly gained a loyal following, with tracks like “Gone” and “Leaving” racking up millions of streams on Spotify. With support from major tastemakers like Zeds Dead, Juuku is poised to take the music world by storm with his innovative sound and undeniable talent.
Amping up the show to a whole new level was Timmy Trumpet. Sporting his Pitbull-esque sunglasses, a trumpet, and copious amounts of alcohol, Timmy escalated the show tenfold. Timmy Trumpet is an Australian DJ, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who has been making waves in the electronic dance music scene since the early 2000s. With a background in jazz and classical music, Timmy brings a unique musicality to his high-energy performances, incorporating live trumpet playing into his sets. Known for his explosive live shows and infectious party anthems, Timmy has become a global sensation, headlining major festivals and clubs around the world. His chart-topping hits, including “Freaks” and “The Buzz,” have become instant classics, with millions of streams and views on platforms like Spotify and YouTube. With a tireless work ethic and an unwavering commitment to his craft, Timmy Trumpet is a true superstar in the world of EDM, constantly pushing the boundaries and delivering electrifying performances that leave audiences in awe.
During Timmy’s set, he climbed the stage and started boxing the air, doing pushups, and cheering as he downed shots of tequila on stage and set off gas canisters. Timmy pulled out all the stops, taking off his shirt, spraying champagne, handing out glasses and hats, throwing out “100 dollar” bills, and even humping a giant inflatable trumpet. He celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with Irish dancing and dumped an entire bottle of tequila on stage. Timmy also sang Happy Birthday to a fellow Aussie and held his trumpet high as a trophy or a guitar, cementing his place as a true showman and a legend of the EDM world.
Steve Aoki’s set was a visual and auditory feast for the senses. The videos playing in the background, featuring music videos and lyrics, added an extra dimension to the music. Images of funky aliens with vibrant colors and bored ape NFTs on blimps further enhanced the experience. A hyped-up entourage backed Steve up around the DJ booth, as he played fan-favorite “Hungry Heart” featuring Hayley Kiyoko and a new track set to release next month. The visuals during “My Heart Will Go On” were unforgettable, as Jack and Rose were replaced by Steve himself. He even took off his shirt and threw it into the crowd, followed by more champagne and his infamous cake-throwing tradition. Fans went wild as they caught CDs of his most recent album and fought to become bigger targets for the cake-throwing. Steve even filmed the crowd going crazy during a new song, turning it into a music video. The concert ended with a shower of streamers and confetti, and fans throwing phones onto the stage in excitement. Steve Aoki’s performance was truly a party that nobody wanted to leave.
Timmy Trumpet will be busy performing sets at multiple different shows and festivals, but will be back in NYC on Saturday May 6th at the Marquee.
Though the Genesis Tour has wrapped, you can find Steve Aoki still performing at many different miscellaneous shows, including May 6th at Bamboozle Festival in Atlantic City, NJ. Stay up to date on show/tour announcements here.
Electronic artist Kayzo performed for Buffalo locals at the Town Ballroom for his Unleashed XL tour on Thursday, March 16. His blend of EDM and rock has introduced a new wave of dubstep, bringing drums and guitar into his live shows to add a unique aspect to his sets.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Openers of the night included Automhate who at just 15 years old is making a name for himself on this tour. Followed by riddim producer Infekt and popular dubstep artist Ray Volpe. All of which kept the crowd pumped up before Kayzo took the stage and even blew a speaker beforehand.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Kayzo, also known as Hayden Capuozzo, had his career first take off in 2012 when he won Insomniac’s Discovery Project challenge. This then started a ripple effect for his growing fandom around the world. He later started playing for renowned festivals and venues. In 2018 Kayzo launched his very own record label Welcome Records further leaving his imprint in the scene as well as bringing attention to other new talent.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
When Kayzo took the stage at the Town Ballroom a wave of electric energy filled the venue. The popular producer not only knows how to hype up a crowd but also introduce different elements into the EDM scene that make his shows a new experience. Joined by Tyler Lacca on drums and Ben Havok on guitar, the trio were undeniably rage worthy.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Kayzo performed many of his hits like “Battle Drums,” “Domination,” and “Suffocate.” He also performed remixes from various artists such as Sullivan King, John Summit, and Fred Again. The EDM producer does not shy away from doing what is different. As many EDM artists do he samples from popular songs. Although, what makes Kayzo standout is how he incorporates old school rock and metal into these tracks.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
This blend of live music and bass is something that fans don’t know they’re missing out on until they hear it live. Which paid mind to the nonstop mosh pits that opened up throughout the show. Opener Automhate even joined in on the moshing for his birthday celebration.
Overall, the night in Buffalo was a hit for both metal and dubstep lovers alike. Make sure to checkout upcoming shows at the Town Ballroom. Hawthorne Heights perform March 23 and The Movement take the stage March 29. Get tickets here.
